Retreat they fell into Rout and Confusion in all parts of their Army so that a miserable slaughter ensued which had been much greater but that Night put an end to the pursuit and a mighty Storm of Hail falling compelled the English to shelter as many as could in the neighbouring Towns and Villages and the Flyers to betake them to Woods and other places of Refuge though on either side before this could be done many were grievously hurt by the falling of the Hail Stones which were of a prodigious bigness and did much mischief both to Cattle and People in divers other places This Defeat as considerable as it was discouraged not the Danes for being recruited they sent their Ships about to the Southern part of the Island with some â—orces to amuse the English by Landing at Southampton Plymouth and other Sea Ports and with what Plunder they could get immediatly retired to their Ships though many came short as being slain by the Peasants however this made them more revengful for gathering strength from new comers of their Nation who Landed from a Fleet on the Southern Coast they wasted Hampshire stormed Winchester defended by a good Garison and layed it in Ashes but the King coming suddainly with an Army a great number of them were slain and the rest compelled to retire to their Ships several of which were Burnt by Wild-Fire thrown amongst them before they could get to Sea and divers of the Danes perished in the Flames and involving Waves In his time two Blazing Stars appeared one in the North East and another in the South West both within half a Year of each other the first continued Fourteen Days and the latter Seven He began his Reign Anno Dom. 860 and Dyed Anno Dom. 865 having held a troublesom Reign for the space of Five Years He was Buryed at Sherburn Remarks on Cambridgshire c. CAmbridgshire is for the most part exempted from Hills and Woods being much applyed to the breeding of Cattle though it abounds in Corn-Fields and is Watered with many pleasant Streams and has belonging to it the fertil Isle of Ely It is Bounded with Northfolk Suffolk Essex Hartfordshire Bedfordshire Huntingtonshire and Lincolnshire It Contains One Hundred and Sixty Three Parishes Eight Market Towns and One River also the Bishoprick of Ely It sends Members to Parliament viz. Six Cambridge two for the Town and two for the Vniversity and two Knights of the Shire As for the Places Noted in it the first in rank is Cambridge which CAMBRIDGE SHIRE tho' no City is enobled above many others for its many famous Structures dedicated to Learning as Caius Colledge Founded by John Caius Doctor in Physick Anno 1557. Christs Colledge Founded by Queen Margaret 1506 Clare Hall Founded by Elizabeth Daughter to Gilbert Clare Earl of Leicester Anno 1326 Corpus Christi Colledge by John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster 1344 Emanuel Colledge by Sir Walter Mildmay 1588 Jesus Colledge by Doctor John Alcock Bishop of Ely St. John's Colledge by the afore named Queen Margaret 1506 Catharine Hall by Doctor Woodlack Provost of Kings Colledge 1459 Kings Colledge by King Henry the sixth 1441 Magdalen Colledge by the Lord Audley 1509 Pembrook Hall by Mary Countes of Pembrook 1343 Peter House by Hugh Balsam Bishop of Ely 1280 Queens Colledge by Margaret Queen to King Henry the Sixth Anno Dom. 1448 Trinity Colledge by Henry the Eighth Anno Dom. 1546 Trinity Hall by William Bateman Anno Dom. 1354. These famous Structures are Renowned for the many Learned Divines and Statesmen that have been brought up in them to the Honour and Credit of the Kingdom giving it considerable advantages of that kind over others there is in this Renowned Town many stately Churches and Antient Monuments of very curious Workmanship Ely the Bishops Seat from whence the Diocess takes its Name is held to be Built by Audry Wife to Tombart a Prince in those Parts and afterward Marryed Egbert King of Northumberland from whom departing she here betook her self to a Devout Life Building a Monastery of which she became the first Abbess and is famous for the Birth-place of divers Learned and Eminent Persons as Andrew Millet Sr. Thomas Ridley Doctor of Laws Richard Parker c. The next Places of Note are Everton Triplow Everden Caxton Wisbich Linton Milton Mildred from which places proceeded many Eminent Men both in Church and State At Caxton was Born William thence sirnamed Caxton who first set up the Ingenious Art of Printing in England It is likewise Beautified by divers Seats of the Nobility viz. Thorney-Abby the Seate of William Duke of Bedford Newmarket belonging to the Earl of Suffolk Kertling alias Catlidg belonging to the Lord North and Grey of Rolston Ely Place and Wisbich Castle the Seats of the Lord Bishop of the Diocess It is Watered with many small branching Rivers but the chief of Note is Cam on whose Banks Cambridge is advantageously seated and gives the County its Name The Reign of Ethelred Fifth Sole Monarch of England EThelred the Third Son of Ethelwolf upon his coming to the Crown Anno Dom. 866 found himself engaged in a dangerous War against the Danes who with their main Strength almost in all parts Invaded the Kingdom so getting strong footing with several Armys in the North East and South he was at a stand into which quarter he should advance which gave them opportunity to over-run many fertil Counties and being as yet Pagans they used unheard-of Cruelties under the Leading of Hungar and Hubba two of their Dukes who by some are stiled Kings They took the City of York by Storm and set it on Fire upon which Walketulus an Earl of the East Angles gave them Battel but was Overthrown and most of those he commanded slain and flushed with this Victory they destroyed many famous Churches also the Monasteries of Croyland Berdoxey Midlesham side or Peterborough and Ely and the Abbess of Coldingham to prevent Ravishment cut off her Nose and upper Lip and by her Example the Nuns did the like to preserve their Chastity by their Deformity but were nevertheless Defloured and afterward in despight Immured in their House and Fire being put to it they perished in the Flames And so terrible they became in those Parts That Burthred Vice Roy of Mercia to save the ruin of the Country made Peace with them as likwise did Offride and Ella stiled Dukes of the Northumbrians and were thereupon constrained to joyne their Forces with them against Ethelred which some Authors call a Rebellion and that with great reason for it was taking part with Invaders against their Lawful Soveraign These things happening whilst the King was busied in other Parts of the Land he no sooner found a little leasure but taking courage he Marched Northward and in a great Battel Overthrew the Dainish Northern Army in conjunction with many of his Subjects whom they had compelled as is said to the Field under their East Angle and Mercian Leaders
French hasted out of the Field with their Prisoners and Spoil as having had hot work on it already and not willing to try a second Encounter The King was much troubled at this Overthrow and the death of his Brother but resolving Revenge he sent the Earl of Mountague to succeed him in the Command of the Provinces and assembling a Parliament caused to be laid before them the State of both Nations whereupon to enable him in his Wars the Temporality gave him one Fifteenth and the Clergy two and for Expedition the Bishop of Winchester Advanced 20000 l. and received it again out of the Tax Granted by Parliament whereupon an Army consisting of 24000 Men was Transported under the Command of John Duke of Bedford the King's Brother driving the Dauphin from the Siege of Chartieres from thence the Duke Marched to Paris and was soon joyned by the Duke of Burgundy with 4000 Horse nor was the King slow in following his Army having with him James the Young King of Scots who with his own People Besieged and Took Direux and delivered it to King Henry and so they chased the Dauphin out of all his strong Holds compelling him to take Refuge in Berry whither the King thought not fit to tire his Army in following him but having taken in a great many places repassed the Loire About this time Queen Catharine was delivered of a Son at Windsor which News coming to the King very much troubled him because he had charged her not to Lye-in there but being unexpectedly taken in Labour necessity compelled her to do it The King's Reason for it was grounded on an old Prophecy Predicting No Prince Fortunate that should be Born there Whereupon in a Passion he said to the Lord Fitz-Hugh his Chamberlaine Good God! I Henry of Monmouth shall have but a short Reign and Win much but Henry of Windsor shall Reign long and Loose all But God's Will be done Soon after this the King having Reduced the Isles of France and almost all other Places fell Sick and unable to Travel whereupon he committed the charge of the Army to his Brother John Duke of Bedford Then calling together his Nobles and sending for the Queen he appointed the Duke of Bedford Regent of France and Lieutenant General of Normandy and his other Brother Humphry Duke of Glocester Regent of England and Protector of his Son's Person Exhorting the Nobles to maintain the Friendship with the Duke of Burgundy and always to be at Union among themselves to be faithful to his Son and Queen and never to conclude a Peace with the Dauphin till he submitted to his Son Soon after this he Dyed August 31st Anno 1422 at Boice Le Vincenois in France of a Burning Feavour and Flux in the 30th Year of his Age when he had Reigned 9 Years 5 Months and 10 Days and his Body being brought over was Buried among his Noble Ancestors at Westminster with extraordinary Solemnity SUSSEX By I. Seller Remarks on the County of Sussex c. SUssex is a very pleasant open County in most parts and much advantaged by its lying open on its South side to the Sea It produces a considerable sprinkling of Corn flocks of Sheep and many Large Cattle Fruit great store and much Pasture-Ground It abounds in Butter Cheese and some Honey Flax and Hops on the West it is Bounded with Hampshire on the North with Kent and Surry and on the East with the Sea and some little part of Kent It contains 1 City viz. Chichester which is a Bishops See 65 Hundreds Parishes 312 Market Towns 17 1 Castle 2 Rivers 10 Bridges and 33 Parks It sends Members to Parliament 20 viz. Arundel 2 Bramber 2 Chichester 2 East Grinstead 2 Horesham 2 Lewis 2 Midhurst 2 New Shoreham 2 Steyning 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Besides the Cinque Ports viz. Hastings 2 Rye 2 Seaford 2 and Winchelsea 2. Chichester in this County is held to be Founded by Cissa a South Saxon and the Bishoprick was Translated thither from Sesley by William the Conqueror at Lewis King Ethelston Coined his Money and a strong Castle was Built there by Earl Warren and a Bloody Battel fought near it between King Henry and his Barons at Pensey or Pevensey the Conqueror Landed when he won England and near Hastings the great Fight was fought between William and King Harold for the Kingdom and the place is called to this day Battel-Field at Buckstead the first Great Iron Guns in England were Cast The Waters in this County produce the best Carp in the Island and on the Sea Coast store of Lobsters are taken Near Walsal are store of Lime Pits Sesley is famed for Cockles near Tenderden Steeple is a Stone that sensibly appears to Grow by the falliag of the Rain The Seats of the Nobility are Arundel Castle belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Buckhurs and Stoneland belonging to the Earl of Dorset part of Bolebrook to the Earl of Thanet Herst Monceux to the Earl of Sussex Cowdrey Battel-Abby and Poynings to the Lord Montague Petworth-Place to the Duke of Sommerset Eridg to the Lord Abergavenny Up-Park to the Lord Grey and Chichester Palace to the Bishop of the Diocess And many sightly Houses belonging to the Gentry c. The Reign of HENRY the Sixth commonly called Henry of Windsor HENRY the Sixth being at the Death of his Father not above three Months Old a Parliament was soon after called and he Crowned at Westminster at five Months Old the Queen holding him in her Lap whilst the Ceremony was performed and likewise brought into the parliament-Parliament-House where the Lords paid Homage to him as their Rightful Soveraign a Speech on his behalf being made to them by the Queen Exhorting them to be stedfast and Unanimous in securing his Right and opposing his Enemies c. which they promised to be and endeavour to the utmost Not long after this King Charles the Sixth Dying the French Nobles began to bethink themselves that it stood little with their Honour to be subject to a Prince of another Nation whilst they had a Son of their King amongst them and forgeting their Oaths and Fealty they began on a suddain to grow cold towards the English and seemed desirous to shake off their Yoak of which the Regent giving notice to his Brother in England care was taken continually to send him over Men and Money to compell them if necessity required it to their Obedience but first he used all manner of fair Means minding them if they persevered in their Loyalty the happy conclusion would make them Rich and Fortunate win to them the Love and Favour of their Young King as he grew up and increased in Wisdom and Years c. However the Dauphin got himself Crowned by his Party under the Title of Charles the Seventh and with his small Army took the Field sending the Lord Grandval to Besiege Pont-Melance on the River Seine which he had the fortune to surprize before the
Offended each other in Deed or Word Or since the Parish Clark said Amen Wished your selves unmarried agen Or in a Twelve-Month and a Day Repented not in thought any way But continued true and in Desire As when you joyn'd hands in holy Quire If to these Conditions without all fear Of your own accord you will freely Swear A Gammon of Bacon you shall receive And carry it hence with love and free leave For this is our Custom at Dunmow well known Tho' the sport be ours the Bacon's your own And pursuant hereunto it appears upon Record That â—ichard Wright of Badsworth in Norfolk in the 23d â—f Hen. 6. and Stephen Samuel of Little Easton in Essex â—n the 7th of Edward the 4th and Thomas Lee of Coxhall in Essex in the 2d of Hen. 8. Took the aforesaid â—ath and demanded and received their Bacon Amongst the many Noble Seats in this County That â—oyal House called Audley-End not far from Saffron-Walden justly claims the first place Built by Thomas â—oward Earl of Suffolk Treasurer to King James the first â—hen there is New-Hall a very Noble Seat of the late Duke of Albemarles and Bently belonging to the Earl of Oxford Copt-Hall a seat of the Earl of Dorcets Leez â—riory a seat of the Earl of Manchester St. Osith a â—at of the Earl Rivers Havering a seat of the Earl of â—indseys Park-Hall a seat of the Earl of Angleseys â—oulsham-Hall Moulsham Friery and Bishops-Hall â—ats of the Lord Fitz Walter Gosfield-Hall and Spring-â—lace seats of the Lord Grey of Wark Easton-Lodg â—nd Achdon-Place seats of the Lord Maynard Tolsâ—ury a seat of the Lord Howard of Escrick Lawfield-Hall the Lord Carews Seat It contains likewise many â—urious Parks Chases Warrens and is stored with Fish â—owl and all other Necessaries The Reign of Edward Thirteenth Sole Monarch of England and by some Sirnamed the Martyr EDward Eldest Son to Edgar began his Reign upon the Death of his Father Ann Dom. 975 he was Crowned at Kingston on Thames by Dunstan who had been promoted to the Bishoprick of Canterbury by his Father At his Accession to the Throne a terrible Blazing Star appeared which rising East by South continued visible twenty Nights ushering in a grievous Famin so that the poorer sort were compelled to Eat Grass Leaves and Bark of Trees whereupon many Thousands dyed yet it continued but a Year and then another mischief succeeded which had like to have put the Nation in confusion viz. Several Years past tho' the Popes Cannons prohibited it the Clergy had priviledg to Marry without any hinderance to them in performing their Functions and keeping their Spiritualities But Arch Bishop Dunstan who aimed at the Popedom or at least aspired to a Cardinals-Cap finding it was displeasing to the Roman See because the charge of Wives and Children must of necessity debar the Clergy from sending to Rome such liberal Contributions as otherways they might have done and so hinder Grist from coming to the Popes Mill he to ingratiate himself with that See stired up the Monks and Vnmarried Priests against those that had taken Wives and they dealing underhand with divers unthinking People Tumults arose thereon and much mischief was done For Duke Alfarus encouraging the Married Priests and their party the King with all his Authority had much ado to prevent a General Insurrection At last it was agreed That an Assembly of both Parties should meet and dispute the matter according to Scripture and Cannons and a place for that purpose was prepared in a large upper Room where Dunstan as chief Orator for the Monks had cunningly placed his Chair on a Post or Beam strongly fixed and as some Authors believe had contrived a Device by taking out some Pins to let the Floor fall upon a signal given so the press being very great after a hot Debate had been held for a while and nothing Agreed on Dunstan stamping and saying They shall fall before us c. The Floor first trembled as with the motion of an Earthquake and then fell down leaving nothing but Dunstan's Chair that had been surely seated aloft which being looked upon as and cryed up for a Miracle in the behalfe of the Monks they thereupon carried the day And the Married Priests were left at liberty to Enjoy their Wives but outed of their Benefices This is that Dustan of whom a story goes That to prevent Idleness he was working at the Goldsmiths Trade in a Cell near Glassenbury and whilst he was framing a Chalice of Gold the Devil in the shape of a Beautiful Woman appeared to him endeavouring to Tempt him to Lewdness but he by Inspiration knowing it to be a Fiend Transformed on a suddain as it was peeping over his Shoulder he catched it by the Nose with red hot Tongs and made the Devil rore so loud that all the People in the Village were Affrighted at the horrid Noise and thereupon the seeming Lady Vanished GLOCESTER SHIRE King Edward being thus made away was in a manner privately Buryed at Waltham and afterward his Body removed into the Monastery at Shaftsbury He Reigned 4 Years and was the 13th Sole Monarch of England Remarks on Gloucestershire c. GLoucestershire is made Fruitful by the River Severn Branching almost unto all parts of it it contains much Woodland and Gradual Hills Feeding great store of Tame Cattle and Venison It abounds in Corn Wool Cheese and Butter On the North it is bounded with Worcestershire and Warwickshire on the East with Oxfordshire and Wiltshire on the South with Somersetshire and part of the Severn on the West with Herefordshire and Monmouthshire It Contains one City a Bishops See viz Gloucester 30 Hundreds divided into 280 Parishes 27 Market Towns and 12 Rivers It sends members to Parliament 8 viz Cirencester 2 Gloucester 2 Teuksbury 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Gloucester City is the antient Gelenum of the Romans In it Robert Brother to the Empress Maud was kept Prisoner being taken in the War against King Stephen its Cathedral is of Excellent Architecture and much noted for its Whispering Place wherin the least sound may be distinctly heard at a considerable distance It was won from the Britains by Chewlin King of the West Saxons Anno Dom. 570 and in this City a Monastery of Nuns was Founded by Osrick a Saxon wherin 3 Queens of the Mercians were successively Prioresses In Alny-Isle a place near Gloucester was fought the Combate between Edmund Ironside the Saxon King and Canute the Dane and the division of the Kingdom therupon made as in his Reign will further apear Cirencester or Circester was an antient Station of the Romans in it was born the Learned Thomas Rutham some time Bishop of Durham The next places of note are Dursly Cam Todington Yate Westbury Sudly Castle Tewksbury in whose field the Fatal Battel was fought which ruined at that time the House of Lancaster Anno 1471 in which Prince Edward was slain Queen Margaret taken Prisoner and the
again It is famous for being the Prison of many Nobles as David King of Scots John King of France c. In it were Murthered Henry the Sixth the two Princes Edward the Fifth and his Brother Richard Duke of York by Crookback Richard's Command within its Walls on the Green divers Nobles have been Beheaded as Robert Earl of Essex the Lady Jane Grey a little before Proclaimed Queen and the Lord Dudly her Husband and many others too numerous to mention Here Sr. Tho. Overbury was Poisoned and Arthur Capell the Noble Earl of Essex in King Charles the Seconds Reign was found Dead his Throat being Cut from Ear to Ear. In London one Gallus a Roman Leiutenant being Slain at a Brook it was called thence Galbrook now corruptly Wallbrook The famous Cathedral of St. Pauls was Founded by Sigebert King of the East-Angles and Ethelbert King of Kent where before a Temple was erected to Diana In the Reign of Edmund Ironside this City was closely Besieged by the Danes but the Siege soon raised by that Valiant King Anno 1133 the greater part of it was consumed by Fire In King Richard the Second's time was the great Rencounter in Smithfield with the Rebells Wat Tyler and Jack Straw where the former was killed by Sr. William Walworth the Valiant Lord Mayor For which the Dagger is added to the City Armes This City has had the Honour to Entertain several Kings and Princes King Stephen kept his Court where Crosby Square stands in Bishopsgate-street King Edward the Third in Cornhill where the Popes-Head-Tavern stands King John had his Chappel where the Stone-House on London-Bridge stands and kept his Court in Holy-Well-Lane by Shoreditch King Henry the Eighth held his Palace in Blackfriers and some times in Bridwell where he Lodged the Emperor Charles the Fifth It s Monument on Fish-street-Hill is very famous Erected in Memory of the dreadful Fire Anno Dom. 1666 Sept. the 2. which consumed 13000 Dwelling-Houses besides the Cathedral of St. Pauls and almost all the Churches Chappels Halls and other Publick Buildings To Islington near this City comes a pleasant Stream from a small Spring in Hartfordshire called Amwell and supplies it by Wooden Pipes with Water in abundance Bow Church in this City has a Steeple accounted the finest in Europe It s Exchange in Cornhill is Beautified with the Statues of the Kings and Queens and is a very stately Structure Its Conduits are curious Ornaments to the City as also are the Halls of the Companies and likewise St. Paul's Cathedral the East End and about a Third Part of it being Finished containing the most excellent Workmanship that ever was wrought in Stone Christ's Hospital St. Bartholomew's the Charter-House Bethlehem and Bridwell are very famous for Charity In Christ Church three Queens were Buryed viz. Margaret second Wife to Edward the First Isabell Wife to Edward the Second and Joan her Daughter Married to David King of Scots Westminster the second City standing in this County has the River of Thames pleasantly on the South side of it and has been the most constant Residence of the Kings and Queens of England till White-Hall was Builded by Cardinal Wolsey in the Reign of Henry the Eighth and yet claimes the Coronation and Burials of them in its stately Abby Built in a place once called The Isle of Thorns in Henry the Sevenths Chappel and has also given Birth to many great Princes This City is very Antient viz. about 1660 Years The Palaces of White-Hall and St. James are very Stately but the more to be noted for being the ordinary Residence of our Kings and Queens His Majesties Palace at Kensington is accounted one of the Pleasantest Seats in the County and extraordinary much delighted in by the late Queen Isleworth or Thistleworth is a Village pleasantly situate on the River Thames where Richard King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwal had a stately Palace which was Burnt to the Ground by a Tumultuous Sally made by the London Mob Chealsea is pleasantly seated on the River and above all Beautified with its stately Colledge dedicated to the Vse and Relief of decay'd or disabled Souldiers and Officers Cambray-House beyond Islington is of very Antient Building first Founded by a Grocer and takes a fair Prospect of London Highgate and Hampstead are situate on pleasant Hills giving a large Prospect The next of note are Edger Acton Wilsdon Edmonton Tatnam Highcross Harow Drayton Hackney Newington Hampton famous for its stately Court which is one of the finest in England Built by the great Cardinal Wolsey The Seats of the Nobility in this City and County are many viz. Norfolk-House in Arundel Buildings belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Wallingford-House one of the seats of the late Duke of Buckinghams Albemarle-House one of the seats of the late Duke of Albemarle Soho-Square a seat of the late Duke of Monmouths Clarkenwell-House belonging to the late Duke of Newcastle Cleveland-House to the Dutchess of Cleveland Worcester-House to the Duke of Beaufort Highgate-House to the Duke of Northumberland Winchester-House to the Duke of Bolton Halifax-House to the Marquess of Halifax Kent-House to the Earl of Kent Bedford-House to the Duke of Bedford Thannet-House to the Earl of Thannet Leicester-House to the Earl of Leicester Cambray-House to the Earl of Northampton Warwick and Holland Houses to the Earl of Warwick and Holland Clare-House to the Earl of Clare Mulgrave-House to the Earl of Mulgrave Chealsey-House to the Earl of Lindsey St. Albans-House to the Earl of St. Albans Essex-House to the Earl of Essex Cardigan-House to the Earl of Cardigan Anglesey-House to the Earl of Anglesey Cravan-House to the Lord Cravan Ailesbury-House to the Earl of Ailesbury Burlington-House to the Earl of Burlington Powis-House to the Marquiss of Powis Macclesfield-House to the Earl of Macclesfield Conway-House to the Earl of Conway Campden-House to the Earl of Gainsborough Faulconberg-House to the Lord Viscount Faulconberg Mordant-House to the Lord Viscount Mordant of Avelon Sion-House to the Duke of Sommerset also Northumberland-House in the Strand Drayton to the Lord Paget Hackney-House to the Lord Brook Charterhouse-Close to the Lord Grey of Wark a House at Whitton to the Lord Culpeper Lord Berkley Barron of Stratton his seat Stratton-House alias Berkley-House in Pickadilly and at Twickenham a seat of the Lord Bennets Barron of Ossulston The Bishop of London's seats london-London-house and Fullham-house As for Medicinal Wells in this County there have been lately found out divers at Islington Hoxdon and other Places by many highly approved for the Cure of divers Distempers The Reign of HENRY the First Sirnamed for his great Learning Beau-Clark or Fine Schollar WHen King William the Second was unfortunately Slain Robert his Eldest Brother Fortunate in all his proceedings save only in his Succession to the Crown of England was Victoriously Warring in the Holy Land against the Turks and Sarazens but hearing of his Brothers Death he declined the Kingdom of Jerusalem to which
the Christian Princes had Elected him and hasted home yet left most of his Troops behind him But by means of his Absence Henry his Youngest Brother so cunningly dealt with the English and Normans that he got much into their Favour and the more because he was Born in England after his Father was Crowned King and for as much as he was of a mild disposition many Princely Virtues making it apparent that his Government would be accompanied with many Honourable Atchievements Gratful Safe and Profitable to the Church and Commonweal so that all things working to his Advancement He was Crowned at Westminster by Maurice Bishop of London Anselm Arch Bishop of Canterbury being Absent on Sunday the 5th of August Anno Dom. 1100 but before his Coronation the Nobles constrained him to Swear he would Ease the People of the oppressing Taxes and other Grievances and Restore to the English the use of Lights and Fire in their Houses which they had been denied for the most part after the Ringing the Evening Bell for the space of 33 Years After his Coronation to make him more Easie in the Throne he caused the Great Seal to pass on several wholsom Laws Subscribing them with his Name and commanded divers of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal to do the like and caused Copies of them to be sent into every County to be kept in the County Courts The Heads of the Laws were in these Branchâ—s 1. That the Church should be free from Oppressions and Reservation of their Possessions upon vacancy 2. That the Heirs of the Nobility should Possess the Lands of their Fathers without Redemption from the King which Favour likewise should be Granted by the Nobles to their Tennants 3. That the Gentry might give in Marriage their Daughters and Kinswomen without the Kings License so it were not to the Kings Enemies 4. That the Widow should have the Jointure and not against her Consent be compelled to a second Marriage 5. That the Mother or the next of Kin should be Guardian of the Lands of their Children 6. That Coiners of False and Counterfeit Money should be Capitally Punished and a Measure to the Length of the Kings Arm should be a Standard of Commerce among the People And 7. That all Debts to the Crown before his coming to it should be forgiven and all Murthers before the day of his Coronation to be Pardoned With other such like Indulgences He also at this time Confirmed King Edward the Confessor's Laws Now tho' this went a great way with the People who found themselves easie in these Concessions he yet used other Policies as expecting a storm from the Norman Coast as soon as Duke Robert should Arrive whom he had notice by his Espialls was on his way for having Seized on the plentiful heaps of the last Kings Treasure he Liberally disposed of it among such of his Subjects as he knew would stand him in the greatest stead if things should come to Extremity Then he placed the more Popular Nobles in the chief Offices of State and satisfied the Leading Gentry with Titles of Honour and Places of a lower station absolutely acquitting the People forever from the Tax of Dane Gelt it having been much lessened in the former Reign and from all other Demands and unjust Payments Imposed on them by the two former Kings giving leave to the Nobles and Gentlemen for their Recreation to Inclose Parks for their Deer and free Warrens for their Conies Hares and such like Game And as Traytors to his Virtues State and Kingly Government he Exiled from his Presence and Court Sycophants Parasites Flatterers Niceness in Behaviour Lascivious Conversation Sumptuousness in Apparel Superfluity in Diet c. He made it Death for any to Robb on the Highways and with Indefatigable Endeavours he Corrected and Reformed the Monstrous Pride Intollerable Covetousness Secure Negligence and Sloath of the Clergy Yet the better to please them he Recalled Ansâ—â— from Banishment and Restored him to his Arch Bishoprick of Canterbury giving him full Power to Assemble Convocations and Synods at his pleasure and for the amendment of such Irregularities as were insufferable in the Church he left it wholly to the Pope as also to Invest Bishops by giving them the Ring Cross and Pastoral Staff All such Ecclesestical Promotions and Dignities as by the Lewd Advice and Councel of Reynulph Bishop of Durham his Predecessor had Seized in his hands and converted to his use he voluntarily restored and conferred on honest and grave learned Men and Committed the Bishop of Durham a Prisoner to the Tower of London from whence he Escaped and going for Normandy earnestly Incited Duke Robert by many moving Orations to Invade England who prone enough of himself so harkened to him and relying on the Aids he had promised him here on his Landing raised a great Army of which Henry having timely notice thought fit yet to strengthen himself more by Marriage and in order to it he took to Wife Maud Sister to Edgar King of Scots who was Daughter to Malcolm by Margaret Sister to Edgar Etheling and Daughter to King Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside the Victorious Saxon King These Nuptials were no sooner consummated and a firm League made with Scotland but Duke Robert Landed his Army at Portsmouth which put the English into apprehensions of being involved in a doubtful War but this threatening storm was soon blown over by the discreet mediation and counsel of Friends on both sides so that a friendly Peace ensued between the two Brothers upon such like Conditions as had been Agreed on in William Rufus's Days whereat the Norman Lords were much displeased and returned discontented with the Duke so that the King fearing he would not long rest contented with the Agreement resolved to be beforehand with him and therefore raising a gallant Army he Sailed to Normandy and was joyned by many of the discontented Nobles giving the Duke two great Overthrows After which he being in a manner forsaken shifted from place to place when in the mean while the King pressing his good Fortune won the strong Cities of Roan Caen Valois and others and putting them in trusty hands returned for England where he was received in Triumph The Duke perceiving his Fortune grew worse and worse those that he most Trusted growing Treacherous and betraying his Councils to the King as being Bribed so to do by which means he was almost stripped of his Dutchy of Normandy he Resolved to make an adventurous Experiment and in order to it came privately into England and humbly submitted himself to his Brother leaving it in his discretion to dispose of him and his Dutchy as he pleased but the King desirous to Annex Normandy to his own Dominions turned from him in a slighting manner and commanded him out of his presence which great Indignity roused the Dukes Courage so that in a great Rage he flung out of the Court and returned to Normandy resolving rather to dye by
times the beating of a Drum is heard and People say it is usually the Alarm or Forerunner of Wars or Changes of Government and indeed before the late Revolution it was for many days together heard very plain It has a very fine Church a Free-Sohool and an Almes-House Peterborough is famed for its Building and the curious Work of its Cathedral It is seated as Northampton and Oundle are on the River Nen. At Higham Ferries was Born Henry Chichely Cardinal and Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the Reign of Henry the Sixth who Founded All Souls Colledge in Oxford Edgcot on Danes Moor near this place a Bloody Battle was Fought Anno 1469 between Robin of Risdale and Sr. John Coniers against William Herbert Earl of Pembrook the Lord Rivers and others At Fotheringay Castle Mary Queen of Scots was kept a long time Prisoner and at last Beheaded in it The other Towns of Note are Towcester Daventree Wellingborough Kettering Brabrook situate mostly on pleasant Streams that branch in all parts of this County At Wellingborough are Medicinal Waters upon the account of which Queen Mary the First Lay there for several Weeks In the midest of the River Nen South of Peterborough is a deep Gulf so Cold in the Summer no Swimmer is able to endure it yet never Frozen in the Winter The whole County is pleasantly sprinkled with Woods and Tufted Groves wherein great store of Hares shelter The Seats of the Nobility are Grafton Regis a seat of the late Duke of Grafton Burghly Worthorp and Wakerly belonging to the Earl of Exeter Apethorp and Sewlhay Lodg to the Earl of Westmerland Brayton Luswick alias Lowick Thrapston and Sudborow to the Earl of Peterborough Althorp to the Earl of Sunderland Dean to the Earl of Cardigan Winwick to the Earl of Craven Holdenby to the Earl of Feversham Kerby to the Lord Viscount Hatton Baron of Kerby c. Astwell to the Lord Ferrers Easton Mauit to the Lord Grey Boughton and Barnwell Castle to the Lord Montague Rockingham Castle Warmington and Stoke Albony to the Lord Watson Stean to the Lord Crew Peterborough-Pallace and Castle to the Lord Bishop of the Diocess Besides these there are many stately Houses of the Gentry that give a curious Prospect to most Roads in the County The Reign of King STEPHEN THough King Henry thought he made the Crown of England and Dutchy of Normandy sure to his Daughter Maud and her Issue yet for a whole Reign it was debarred from them for Stephen Third Son to Stephen Earl of Bloyce by his Wife Adilicia or Alice Third Daughter to Willian the Conquerer having insinuated himself into the Favour of the leading Nobles Sailed for England and Landed at Whit-Sand Bay with whom came a wonderful Tempest attended with Thunder and Lightening He was Crowned at Westminster on the 26th of December Anno Dom. 1135 by William Corbell Arch Bishop of Canterbury and so well was he Instructed in the former Examples That by Wisdom and Policy he laboured to lay a sure foundation for his Advancement and because Riches are the Sinews and Strength of the Strongest Kings he therefore to Enrich himself seized on the Treasure of the Deceased King and Bountifully disposed of it to such as either by Arms or Council were most likely to stand him in stead he also created sundry Noblemen and Dignified many others with the Honour of Knighthood which made him find many fast Friends and because benefits received are more frequently pleasing to the Vulgar than Right or Reason to ingratiate with the Common Sort he remitted several Taxes of â—hose Grievance they had complained in the latter end of the last Reign but could have no Redress causing the better to confirm this Concession a Charter to be made to the People under the Great Seal for an Assurance of his not Revoking what he had consented to he also made a Mitigation of the Severeties and Penalties of divers Laws and by Solemn Oath bound himself to Observe and Keep the same he likewise Renounced the future Seisures of all Ecclesiastical Dignities and Promotions when they should become Vacant the better to Endear the Clergy to him giving to the Church and Church-men such Graceful and Profitable Priviledges and Immunities as they would demand exempting them among other things from the Authority of the Temporal Magistrate for all Offence whatsoever unless the Ordinary consent to give them up to the Secular Power And to prevent suddain Disturbances that might arise he Builded many Forts Fortresses Bullwarks and Castles Licensing the Nobles Gentry and Clergy to do the like for their Security And to keep fair with David King of Scots who was Unkle to Maud the Empress he gave him the County of Cumberland to hold it in Fee of the Crown of England and do Homage for it when he should be so required and Created his Eldest Son Henry Earl of Huntingdon yet this sufficed not that restless King for soon after he entered England in the Empresses Quarrel and laid many Towns and Villages Waste but being Encountered by Thurston Arch Bishop of York he was Overthrown and flying into Scotland left about 10000 of his Men Dead behind him Nor were the Welsh less troublesome tho' he had Banished Baldwin D' Redvers for Rebelling against him but greatly infested the Western Parts whereupon an Army was sent and gave them Battel but by the Negligence of the Commanders for want of due order the English were put to the Rout and many Slain tho' more taken Prisoners many of which were lead away by the Welsh-women and so great a number were Drowned by the fall of a Bridge over Tweed That a Passage was made over the Water with their Dead Bodies In the Sixth Year of this Kings Reign the Empress Maud being accompanied by her Brother-in-Law Robert Duke of Glocester Landed in England with an Army which as it Marched was much encreased by the comming in of many English and soon after joyned by Randulph Earl of Chester with a Body of Welsh hereupon the King reposing no confidence in delay but Experience advising him that time would be the chief enabler of his Adversaries Success he Levied a strong Army and Marched against them so that a cruel Fight with equal hopes was Fought for many hours between them but at length the common Souldiers on the Kings part striving faintly rather endeavouring to save themselves than to defend their Prince they at last betook them to Flight and left him with a few Nobles and Gentry yet with his Battel-Ax in his Hand like an enraged Lion he stoutly maintained the Combate Slaying many of the Enemy till at last being surrounded and in vain demanded to yeild he made a War himself against whole Troops till being beaten down with a weighty Stone cast on him at a distance he was taken Prisoner and carried to Bristol Castle where remaining about three Months he was exchanged for the Duke of Glocester who in the mean while was made
and thence to Norwich where it now remains The Seats of the Nobility are Dukes-Place belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Oxnead-Hall and Paston-Hall to the Earl of Yarmouth Reynam-Hall and Stif-key-Hall to the Lord Viscount Towusend Castle-Rising to the Duke of Norfolk Norwich-Palace and Ludham-Hall to the Bishop of the Diocess Besides divers sightly Houses of the Gentry The Reign of King HENRY the Second commonly called Henry Fitz-Empress AT the time when King Stephen Dyed Henry was in Normandy Besieging a strong Castle the French had a little before taken by Surprize and being advised by some Nobles about him to pass over for England and leave the Siege least another in his Absence might step into the Throne as before had happened he made a Reply full of Discretion and true Valour to this effect The Kingdom of England shall henceforth be at my Command in despight of those that dare to cross me most and so shall these Intruding Frenchmen ere I raise the Siege This resolution redoubled his honour among his Friends and brought fear on the Enemy for when they knew it they surrendered the Castle and submitted themselves to his Mercy and so having settled Affairs in that Dukedom with a Noble Train of Lords and Gentlemen he came for England where he was Crowned three times viz. By Theobald Arch Bishop of Canterbury at Westminster Then at Lincoln and lastly at Worcester He chose his Council of the Gravest Wisest and most Learned Peers and made Thomas of Becket Chancelour and appointed such Judges and Learned Men in the Laws by Industry and Labour to Refine them That the Common Laws were greatly Mended and Improved being rendred more tolerable and profitable to the People and after this he divided the Kingdom into six Circuits and for the better administration of Justice and Trying of Causes between Subject and Subject he appointed his Judges to go those Circuits twice a Year which Order yet continues He Banished the greatest part of Strangers who in those days by multitudes flocked hither and by their extraordinary Sparing and painful Industry procured much Wealth and Begger'd the Natives He Exiled many of the Nobles who contrary to their Duties had adhered to King Stephen and differing much from the Opinion of his Predecessor he affirmed that strong Castles and Forts maintained in the heart of the Kingdom did rather Animate Great Men upon any displeasure to Revolt than Fear them into Obedience whereupon he caused most of them to be Razed to the Ground and Seized such Mannors Lordships Possessions as his Predecessors had either Sold or Given from the Crown holding it to be the Duty of every Subject to refuse the Gift or Purchace of such things as do immediately concern the Honour and Maintenance of a King And the like he did in the Northern Parts where many Great Men Commanding as they list had wrought themselves and their Posterity into many Honours Castles Mannors which properly appertained to the Crown He likewise took into his hands the Provinces of Cumberland Northumberland and the Earldom of Huntingdon which David King of Scots and Henry his Son had received as a Gift from King Stephen to favour his Wars against the Empress However the King entered into Amity with Malcolm King of Scots upon the same Conditions as were Agreed on in Henry the Firsts time and in Token of his Subjection the Scot Offered his Bonnet and Saddle upon St. Peter's Altar at York And about this time Theobald Dying Becket was made Arch Bishop of Canterbury This King even in time of Peace had generally an Army on foot and rarely kept them Idle but would often Transport them to Normandy and there having Exercised them would bring them back again so that on all occasions they were found ready and expert Souldiers And now an advantage opened a way to the English for the Conquest of Ireland For the Eastern part along the Sea being possessed by Dormat-Mac-Mahur King of Leinster his Cruelties had highly incensed his Subjects against him especially upon taking away the Queen of Morice King of Meath so that the Injured King Confederating with Roderick O Conor King of Connought they beat him out of his Country so that he fled for England and craved Aid of King Henry to Restore him which upon taking an Oath of Fidelity and Subjection was harkened to when the better to encourage the design the King for a Sum of Money obtained leave of Pope Adrian an Englishman then advanced to St. Peter's Chair that he might Conquer Ireland promising moreover throughly to Establish the Christian Religion therein and bring it to an acknowledgment of the See of Rome but whilst he was preparing for this Expedition new Troubles arose in Normandy which required his Presence to pacifie but he granted his Letters Patents by which he gave leave with Encouragement to his Nobles and such others as were willing to go for Ireland Dormat impatient of Exile laid hold of this first Advantage and Solicited the Nobles but above all he promised Richard the Kings Son a Young Prince of a Warlike Spirit his Daughter a very Beautiful Young Lady and all his Countries after his Decease to be made over to them he likewise incited one Fitz Stephens who with a Band of Valiant Welshmen was the first that Landed and maintained his Ground with much Courage till the Prince and divers Nobles came over and with little trouble they seized the Town of Wexford which was given to Fitz Stephens for his part of the Charge of the War and soon after many of the petty Irish Kings being Overthrown Dormat was Restored and Dublin the chief City Submitting to him he put to Death by many Cruelties such of his Capital Enemies as he found there However the Prince went Conquering on and Subdued all before him of which King Henry had no sooner Notice but fearing this might flush Ambition and make him practice with his own Subjects for the Crown he speedily returned to England and sent Mandates Commanding all the English under great Penalties to return rallying the Nobility for suffering the Prince in his Absence to go over he was in this so far Obeyed that the Prince was left in Dublin with a small Train the Irish was not slow in taking the advantage of this Retreat and therefore Besieged him in that prime City with an Army of 30000 Men upon which he Sally'd with about 1500 and utterly Routed them taking great Spoils and so in obedience to the Kings commands returned for England where he surrendered into his Fathers hands all the Forts and Cities he had taken Anno 1172 the King Landed in Ireland with a Royal Army and found Dormar to be Dead however he brought such a Terror on the Country That Roderick and most of the other Princes submitted to him intreating him to take the Government on him as their Supream Lord which he Accepted with their Oaths of Fealty and at Christmas he made a Royal Feast in
Earl of Bristol Hinton St. George Court of Ewick Lenn Court and Walton to the Lord Paulet Connington to the Lord Clifford Wells Palace and Banwell to the Bishop of Bath and Wells Bristol Palace to the Bishop of Bristol With divers Houses of the Gentry pleasantly Sighted c. The Reign of EDWARD the Third commonly called Edward of Windsor EDWARD upon the offer of the Crown to him in his Fathers Life time not being Fifteen Years of Age refused it with Tears and Detestation till Mortimer and the Queen his Mother by Threats and Perswasions wrought him to some compliance nor then would he yeild to be Crowned till his Father had Resigned nor then till he was made sensible by some faithful Counsellors it was the only way to secure the Life of the Deposed King and the Crown in the Right Line For many feared that Mortimer being great with the Queen and high in her favour would find some means to rid her of her Husband and by Marrying her place the Diadem on his own Head for which reason he ever after hated that aspiring Lord and laboured to Revenge the Indignity and Death of King Edward the Second which in time he in some measure did in the Execution of Mortimer as will hereafter appear In the beginning of this Kings Reign the Scots denounced War against England thinking to make their Advantage in the Kings Minority but he tho' Young being of a Martial Spirit scorned to be outbraved whereupon he raised an Army of 50000 valiant Men and Marched into Scotland chasing the Scots from place to place who nowhere durst appear in the Field in any Number and having seized several Towns and Castles and finding his Soldiers tired out in following through Woods Marshes and over Craggy Hills he resolved to return which he did and assembled his Parliament at Northampton in which the two Executed Spencers and Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter who had been put to Death by the Londoners were Attainted of High Treason and all their Goods Lands c. Seized into the Kings hands and then the King by the direction of his Mother and Mortimer concluded a dishonourable Peace with the Scots releasing them of their Homage Fealty and Service due from that Kingdom to the Crown of England and delivered up the Grand Instrument or Charter called Ragman which under the Hands and Seals of their Late King and of the Nobility of Scotland testified their Tenure and Subjection to the Kings of this Realm After that he Married his Sister to David Son to Robert Bruce and created Mortimer Earl of March at which the Generality of the Nobility were exceedingly disgusted Mortimer upon his new Advancement to Honour and relyance on the Queens favour tho' he found the Nobles were not in his Interest bore it with a higher hand than formerly and perceiving Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent the Kings Unkle stood most in his way and crossed his aspiring he and the Queen so laboured with the Young King That infecting him with a Jealousie that the Earl had Designs upon his Life and Crown which being backed by false Witnesses he â—dvisedly gave way to Articles that were suggested â— brought in against him so that by Mortimers Creaâ—es he was found Guilty and Beheaded to the great â—ef of all True Englishmen being a Person of singular â—lour a great Statesman Prudent and Virtuous but â— Blood so Treacherously spilt was not slow in â—ying for and procuring Vengance for the King â—ing made sensible of a familiarity between Mortimer â—d his Mother more than was decent and much to â—er dishonour by being got abroad among the Vulgar â—using many scandalous Reports he would not howâ—ver lightly believe it yet one time being assured she â—as at Mortimer's Castle he with a resolute Band of â—is Followers privately in the Evening entered a back â—way and seizing such Servants as he met to prevent â—iscovery went by the direction of one of them to â—he Chamber where the Queen Lodged and there â—ound her in Bed and Mortimer undressing in order to â—leep with her This so exasperated the Young King â—hat calling him Trator and Villain he seized him with his own hands and delivered him to the Guards he not offering to resist or call for help tho' he had a far greater number of Attendants in the Castle than the King brought with him and being Committed to Prison free liberty was given for any that would to Exhibit their Complaints against him which were summed up in the following Articles 1. That he had wickedly contrived and procured the Murther of the Kings Father 2. That by his false Accusations and sinister Counsels he had caused the King to take away the Life of his Vnkle who was truly Noble Religious Devout Honest and a strong Pillar of the Commonwealth 3. That too familiarly he conversed with Queen Isabel the Kings Mother to her just Reproach and the dishonour of the King 4. That he received of the Scots a Bribe of 20000l for which he procured the Kings Retreat out of Scotland and the Releasment of his Signory and Homage due for that Kingdom 5. That he had deceitfully couzened and beguiled the King of his Wards and Treasury converting the Monies and Profits to his own use and behoof For these Wicked and Treasonable Practices he was Tryed and Condemned and afterward Hanged at Tyburn where he remained Hanging unpittied for two Days And in a little time after the King abridged the Queen his Mother in her Dowry allowing her but 1000 l. per Annum restraining her within a certain Limit In the Fifth Year of the Kings Reign Philip D' Valois who Succeeded Charles in the French Throne required him to come over and pay Homage and Fealty for his Dutchey of Guyan and accordingly he went and was kindly entertained till he refused to do it by any more Ceremony than Words but that not being Accepted he returned to England and upon a Second Summons sent it in Writing under the Great Seal which was not looked on as sufficient yet this submission displeased the English Nobility who told him he ought not to pay any Homage for as much as the Crown of France in Right of his Mother properly belonged to him and thus stated his Title viz. Isabel was Daughter to Philip the Fair Son to Philip the Hardy That Philip the Hardy the Queens Grandfather had two Sons viz. her Father who was King and Charles D' Valois who was also King after him Philip the Fair had three Sons all which Dyed without Issue Male he had also a Daughter which was this Isabel Married to King Edward the Second and that Charles D' Valois the Second Son of Philip the Hardy was Father to Philip D' Valois who then Reigned in France and although by the Salique Law of France Women are barred to Rule yet King Edward being a Male of the Elder branch ought to take place before a Male of the Younger though coming by a
joyntly with Coventry the Cathedral was Builded by Oswin King of Northumberland upon a Conquest gained over the Mercians and here Wulferre and Celred two Saxon Kings were Buried It was for some time an Arch Bishoprick by the means of King Offa. At Blore Heath in this County a Battel was Fought between the two Houses of York and Lancaster and 2400 of the Yorkists slain STAFFORD SHIRE The Seats of the Nobility are Blore Hall belonging to the Noble Family of Newcastle Newborough to the Earl of Bridgwater Cherley Castle to the Lord Ferrers Throwley to the Lord Cromwell Beudesert and Seaney Park to the Lord Paget Rolleston to the Lord North and Grey Gerards Brumley Sandon and Wislow to the Lord Gerard of Brumley Hamstal Ridware to the Lord Leigh Dudley Castle and Hinley to the Lord Ward Litchfield Close and Eccleshal Castle to the Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry The Houses of the Gentry are likewise many and spacious The Reign of RICHARD the Second commonly called Richard of Bourdeaux RICHARD the Second Son and Heir to Edward the Black Prince was Crowned Anno 1377 not much exceeding 11 Years in Age so that Charles the French King taking advantage of his Minority set out a great Fleet Sack't and Burnt the Towns of Dartmouth Plimouth Portsmouth Hastings Rie and others on the Sea-Coast of England but after they had roamed up and down doing great Mischief for three Weeks they were beaten off with considerable Loss by Edmund Earl of Cambridge the Kings Unkle and others nor were the Scots Incited by the French King less troublesom Burning Roxborough and taking by surprize the Castle of Berwick but the People breaking down the Draw-Bridge shut them out of the Town and being straightly Besieged all the Scots in the Castle were put to the Sword except Alexander Ramsey who was reserved for a large Ransom yet the French though they had been beaten off not giving over their designs Landed again and did much mischief at Winchelsea Dover Gravesend and other places on or near the Sea-coast So that the King to Enable him to set out a Fleet and Transport an Army that might put a check to these Insolencies fummoned a Parliament at Westminster in which a Subsidy was Granted him of Four Pence a Head on all Persons above the Age of Fourteen Years which was looked on in those days as a very grievous Tax and the Gathering it was attended with bad consequences However the Money set out an indifferent good Fleet and an Army were sent into France under Lord Thomas one of the Kings Unkles who wasting all in his way joyned with the Duke of Britanie and much anoyed the French Recovering many Towns and Castles but whilst this was doing abroad a dangerous Mischief befell at home John Wall a Factious Priest by his going from place to place and Preaching to the inferiour sort of People That they were Free by the Law of Nature and that Laws were made by Crafty People to keep them Poor and Low so to Enslave them and that by their Pedigree derived from Adam the good things of the Earth should be equally divided amongst them and not some grow Fat and Rich whilst others Pine and Starve And moreover no Taxes were due on any pretence but People Free Born in their Liberality ought to be left Free This and such like Cant being sutable to their humor and wishes mainly wrought with them to become Levellers so that these pernicious Insinuations spread soon into most parts of England before the Magistrates were aware to suppress it and to bring about what was wished by some cunning Knaves to Inrich themselves in the Spoil of others they raised Tumults and possess'd the Country People with a belief That the City of London was at their devotion and only waited till they came to take possession of it whereupon they flowed thither like an outragious Torrent from Kent Essex Sussex Bedfordshire and other places stiling themselves The Kings Men and the Servants of the Weale Publick chosing as their chief Captain one Wat Tyler by profession a Taylor and as his subordinate Officers Jack Straw Jack Shepherd and some others and to this Rout the Incendary of a lewd Priest John Wall Chaplain and being Encamped in Kent and Essex they sent to the King to come and Treat with them but he was disswaded by his Nobles Whereupon those in Essex crossed the Thames and joyning the Kentish Rebels came to Southwark which they Plundered and finding London-Bridge Fortified against them intended to have Burnt the Suburbs on the South side and have Murthered such as they had notice were not pleased with their Proceedings But the Citizens to prevent so great a Mischief let down the Draw-Bridge and admitted them into the City Feasting and Carressing them rather out of fear than good-will however they Burnt the Duke of Lancaster's House at the Savoy and Murthered all his Servants they found in it They ransacked the Inns of Court and Law Offices Burning all the Law Books and Records that came to their hands Plundering the Churches and Religious Houses and Wat Tyler having seized Richard Lyon his Master with whom he had been Apprentice caused his Head to be Cut off and carry'd before him on a Lance because in his Service he had sometimes Beat him for his Rogueries They Plundered likewise the Houses of all Strangers They likewise forced into the Tower where the King Lay Plundered his Mothers Lodgings and broke her Head because she reproved them for their Insolency They Murthered Simon Tybald Arch Bishop of Canterbury because he had some time before Imprisoned Wall for his Seditious Doctrine and after several meetings the King finding he could do no good with them their Behaviour being so Audacious and their Demands so Insolent and Unreasonable he laboured to make the Citizens his Frinds and resolved to repel them by force Whereupon a Conference being appointed in Smithfield the King beforehand thinking to bring them to better Terms without Extremity if possible sent them several of his Ensigns and their Pardons as a token that he owned them for his good Subjects and freely forgave them for what had happened and then meeting them as appointed he perswaded them to desist from all Violence assuring them that upon tryal they should find him to be their Good Lord and Gracious King But Tyler with a frowning countenance insolent behaviour and rough speech refused to accept the Kings Grace and Favour proudly telling him That all those Troops and many more Thousands were at his dispose to Execute whatsoever he would command Then he commanded Sr. John Newton one of the Kings Attendants who bore the Sword to deliver his Dagger which by the Kings command he did Then he Insolently proceeded to demand the Sword but he stoutly Answered It was the Kings Sword and should not be given to a Knave which so incensed Tyler That he Swore he should lose his Head before himself would Eat or Drink commanding the
Cursing any that should afterward Build it yet this Sorrow wasting by time to strengthen his Alliance he Sailed to France and took the Lady Isabel Charles the Sixth's Daughter to Wife and brought her to England with her Nurse and a great Train of Ladies and not exceeding Seven or Eight Years she was called The Baby Queen the King having contracted not to Bed her till she should be Fourteen Years of Age and a 30 Years Peace was concluded whereupon the King gave up to the Duke of Britany the strong Town and Castle of Brest which much offended the English Nobles especially the Duke of Glocester his Unkle who plainly told him he had dishonoured himself and the English Nation by tamely parting with such an important Place which had not been gained but at the expence of much Blood and Treasure this so angered the King that he privately Swore to be Revenged on him and such other Noblemen as he said usually checked and controuled him in his Proceedings and accordingly getting a Parliament to his mind Sir John Bushe one of his Creatures being Speaker of the Lower House This upstart Speaker boldly Accused Thomas Arundel Arch Bishop of Canterbury who fitting in the House of Peers by the King was ordered not to Answer and it should be no damage to him his silence nevertheless was taken for Confession and he was Banished the Realm the Earls of Arundel and Warwick in this Parliament were Attainted of High Treason upon which the former lost his Head and the latter being confined to the Isle of Wight through Grief and want of Necessaries shortly Dyed But the Duke of Glocester stood too high in the Peoples Favour to be reached this way therefore he was privately seized at his own House hurried to Callice and there by the command of Thomas Moubray then Earl of Notingham and for this wicked exploit created Duke of Norfolk the Valiant Prudent Virtuous and Renowned Duke was Smothered to Death tho' in the manner of it Authors disagree some will have it by pressing and keeping him long between Feather-Beds others that he was thrown into and headed up in a Butt of Malmsey However here he was wickedly made away and never seen afterward to the great grief of all but the King and his Favourites who hugged themselves with joy to think they had removed out of their way the great Obstacle that hindered their Advances to Arbitrary Power After this Moubray proceeded to Accuse Henry Duke of Hartford Son to the Duke of Lancaster of Speaking Treasonable and Scandalous Words of the King whereupon Hartford Challenged his Accuser to the single Combate to try by the Sword the Truth and Justice of his Accusation but when they were both entered the Lists and prepared for the Encounter the King threw down his Warder staid the Combate Banished Hartford for six Years and Moubray forever who Travailing to Venice there Dyed miserably confessing his Guilt and trouble for the Death of the Noble Duke of Glocester but Hartford was honourably Entertained by Charles the French King who would have Married him to a Beautiful Lady Daughter to the Duke of Berry his Unkle but King Richard industriously prevented it as fearing such an Alliance might enable him to grasp at his Crown and when the Duke of Lancaster Dyed he seized on his vast Treasure tho' he had given his Cousin Henry leave on his departure to appoint his Attorney to Act for him and take care of his Inheritance But these Proceedings bred much Mischief For the King having lost most of his old and getting a new set of Counselors viz. The Earl of Wiltshire Sir John Bushe Sir James Bagot and Sir John Green they advised him to many things contrary to the Advice of his grave Council and much troubled the People and now the Irish Rebelling the King to Raise an Army Farmed the Kingdom and all his Revenues belonging thereunto for certain Years and Sailed for Ireland The Duke of Hartford who wanted no Intelligence how matters went in England looked on the Peoples Ferment and the Kings Absence to give him a very favourable advantage to shake off his Chains wherefore as privately as he might he came to England accompanied by the Banished Arch Bishop and many other trusty Friends declaring to the People he only came to take quiet Possession of his Dutchy of Lancaster which by the Death of his Father was his Undoubted Right so that Trousands flocked to him And finding how the People were bent to favour his cause he Raised a considerable Army and seized the before named Counsellours whom they Beheaded King Richard in Ireland hearing of these Stirs setled Affaires there as well as he could and hasted over with a small Army but before he could pass Wales most of them had Deserted him and then being ascertained that his Counsellours in whom he had reposed much trust to Levy Forces for him were taken off despairing of any safety to be gained by force he came to Henry Duke of Lancaster of his own accord and publickly owned his Insufficiency and Weakness to Govern well praising the Duke's rare and singular Virtues his absolute worthiness to be a King c. profering to make him an absolute Surrender of his Kingdom if he would accept of it The Politick Duke who well knew this proceeded not cordially from him but from the effects of fear and constraint however refused it for tho' he much affected the wearing of a Crown yet he thought it more advisable to receive it at this time from the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty and hereupon he caused the King with a very respective and honourable Attendance to be conveyed to the Tower and a Parliament being called in his Name Twenty Four Articles were Exhibited against him for Mismanagement and ill Conduct in Government and many henious Crimes which in his Restraint he seemed to confess and own and by an Instrument under his Hand and Seal he Resigned his Crown and Kingdom to Henry of Bullenbrook Duke of Lancaster which being publickly and generally Ratified and Approved by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled in Parliament Henry stood up and made this Challenge to the Crown viz. In the Name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster Claim the Realm of England and the Crown with all the Appurtinances as coming by the Blood Royal from King Henry the Third and the Justice which God of his Grace hath sent me by the help of my Friends for the Recovery of the said Realm which was at the point of Perdition through default of Government and breach of Laws These words being said all the Estates acknowledged him for King and Richard was formally Deposed in the words and in manner Recited in Edward the Seconds Reign and thereupon was sent to Pomfret Castle but long he had not been there ere upon some practices of his Favourites to Reinstate him he was villanously Murthered by Sir Pierce of Exton and Eight others of whom he
Casholton Kingston upon Thames Wandsworth and other places but the River Thames which is a great part in this County is the most Remarkable and the little River Mole that runs a great way under Ground and rises again It sends Members to Parliament 14 viz. The Borough of Southwark 2 Rygate 2 Blechenley 2 Gatton 2 Guilford 2 Haslemore 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire SURREY By J. Seller The Seats of Pleasure are Richmond belonging to the Royal Family Albury and Waybridge to the Duke of Norfolk Nonsuch to the Duke of Southampton Rowhampton to the Duke of Devon Byflet to the Duke of St. Albans Flanchford to the Earl of Plymouth Rygate Place to the Lord Mordant Towting Graveny to the Lord North and Grey and the Bishop of Winchesters Place in Southwark called winchester-Winchester-House The Reign of HENRY the Fifth commonly called Henry of Monmouth THis Henry the greater part of his Fathers Reign was much lead away by evil Company and was not free from committing in his Frolicks Robberies on the Highway especially on his own Receivers and one of his Gang being taken and about to be Sentenced in the Court of Kings Bench he rushed in and laboured to pull off his Irons in order to set him at Liberty but the Lord Chief Justice commanded him to desist whereupon in a rage he went up to the Bench and Struck him on the Face for which after he had given him some mild Reproofs as that the Bench he sat on was the Kings and that himself in that place represented his Person and what Injury was done to him was done to the King and if he shewed such evil Examples none would Obey him when he came to Reign he sent him to the Kings Bench Prison till the Kings pleasure should be known in the matter The King no sooner heard of it but he commended the Judge for his Courage and Impartiality wishing all his Ministers were like him and though the Prince was Enlarged yet for this he was put from his Presidentship in the Council and his Younger Brother Thomas Duke of Clarence placed therein to his great Grief These and other Irregular Passages of his past Years when he was Crowned by Arundel Arch Bishop of Canterbury at Westminster he wisely considered and to repair what had been amiss strictly forbid the Leud Companions of his Youth to enter his Court or any where come near his Person till he had some cause to believe they had reformed and mended their Manners yet ordered some of them who had run out their Estates in pursuing his wild Extravagancies small Pensions to Subsist on till they could better provide for themselves Electing none for his Councel nor into Places of Justice or publick Government but such as were of known Integrity Wise Sober and not to be Biased through fear or favour greatly labouring to Reform the Abuses of the Clergy and for the better security of the Marches he caused the Castles and Towns thereabouts to be Repaired and Strongly Garisoned by which means he Awed the Scots and Welsh and kept his People free from their former fears and apprehensions of danger And the better to shew he had no hand in nor was consenting to the Death of King Richard he caused his Body to be brought from Langley to Westminster in much Funeral Pomp and to be Interred by Queen Ann his beloved Wife In the Second Year of his Reign he Assembled a Parliament at Leicester wherein he was Importunately Addressed to supress Religious Houses where they were ill mannaged and in stead of promoting Godly Lives had been made the Nurseries of Gluttony Idleness Pride and all Uncleanness considering they would yield into his Coffers an Annual Rent of 20000 l which might be better Employed for the Support of the Crown and Honour and Safety of the Kingdom in maintaining 15 Earls 1500 Knights and more than 6000 Men at Arms besides a great Number of Almes Houses for the support and relief of the Poor This much startled the Abbots Priors Fryers Monks Nuns c. as fearing to be Vn-Hived and forced to Labour for their Livings which they were little able to do considering they had so long been inured to a habit of Idleness and therefore to turn the Stream another way at their instant Entreaties Henry Chichesly who Succeeded Thomas Arundel in the Archiepiscopal See of Canterbury took an opportunity in a very Learned Oration to make the King sensible of his Right to the Crown of France inciting him to Claim it as his proper Inheritance and in the Clergies behalf for the carrying on the Wars he offered a large Sum of Money whereupon the other business was laid aside and nothing now considerably debated or spoken of but how the King might Recover France The People every where shewing a willingness to Embark in the Undertaking And a Noble Embassy was sent to King Charles the Sixth peremptorily to demand the peaceable delivery of the Kingdom together with the Dutchies of Aquitain Normandy Anjou and whatever had formerly appertained to the Crown of England and if the French King without Effusion of Blood would yield to his demands he would take the Lady Catherine the Kings Daughter to Wife and Endow her with all the Dutchies and Provinces and be tractable in every thing tending to the French King's Honour and Estate but upon the Refusal he would attempt the gaining it by the Sword and bring on that Kingdom all the Miseries that are inseparable attendants on a cruel War The unexpected strangeness of this Message so amazed the French King and his Nobles that they could make no ready Answer but promised to send Ambassadors to King Henry who should endeavour to Adjust this weighty Affair yet the Dauphin of France had no sooner notice of the King's Demands but despising his Youth and holding him unfit to attempt a matter of so high a consequence in a scoffing manner sent him a Tun of Racket-Balls to sport with in his Tennis-Court This so Angered him that He Vowed by Gods assistance ere many Months were over he would toss so many Iron Balls within the Kingdom of France that their strongest Rackets should be too weak to turn them And hereupon he Levied a puissant Army so that the Dauphin seeing him in earnest began to repent of his Rashness and governing Affairs under his Father whose Imbecility rendered him not very capable of it he sent Ambassadors to Inform King Henry That if he would desist from his Purpose and Live in Amity with that Nation and take the Lady Catharine his Sister to Wife he should then receive with her a large Sum of Money with some small Territories and Possessions in that Kingdom To this King Henry Replied That unsess with the Lady he might have the Dutchies of Normandy Anjou Aquitain and all the other Signories to him and to his Crown justly appertaining he would not wave his Title to the Crown of France but attempt by all Hostile means to win it
of Money to Betray him over which he earnestly laboured to do shewing him the Kings Letters in a Loving stile wherein he invited him into England promising at his Arrival to give him his Daughter Elizabeth in Marriage and by this means the Treacherous Treasurer trained the Earl to St. Malloes where a Ship and Equipage lay ready to Transport him But no sooner had John Chevelet the Earls Friend truly informed the Duke of Brittany that this pretended Marriage was designed for the Earls destruction but he commanded his Treasurer oâ— pain of Death to re-possess him of his Person who accordingly stole him from the English whilst himselâ— made merry with the Ambassador and caused his Servants to thrust him into a Sanctuary whose priviledgâ— might not be violated excusing and laying it on theâ— own Negligence for not taking more care to keep â—im when in their custody This Loss both of Money and of Prey made King Edward exceeding Angry but there being no remedy he seemed slightly â—o pass it over Not long after this by the instigation of the Duke â—f Gloucester and others the King grew exceeding Jeaâ—ous of his Brother the Duke of Clarence being the more incited to it by an old Prophecy which Predicted 〈◊〉 G should Reign after an E and this Dukes Name â—eing George he verily believed he was meant by it â—alling freshly into his mind his Practices with Warwick â—nd what had been done concerning him in Parliament â—nd thereupon by his contrivance he was accused of High Treason for Conspiring his Death and Aspiring â—o the Throne and after a few days Imprisonment â—e was found Drowned in a Butt of Malmsey leaving â—ehind him but two Children Edward and Margaret who were both Unfortunate for Edward being creaâ—ed Earl of Warwick was Imprisoned very Young and â—auslesly Beheaded in the Reign of Henry the Seventh â—n a surmize he intended to Escape Prison and joyn with Perkin Warbeck to raise Commotions And Marâ—aret was Married to Richard De La Poole Earl of Salisâ—ury who being a Widow after the Earls Death was â—eheaded in the Reign of Henry the Eighth so strange â—â— is that Competitors for Crowns rarely enjoy that Calm and Tranquility that attends on a meaner Estate Nor do Historians excuse this King from being of a â—ruel Temper as causing a Mercer in Cheapside to be â—anged at his own door for Jestingly saying to his â—ttle Son If he would be a good Boy he would make him â—eir to the Crown meaning his House bearing that Sign â—ut it being otherways wrested it cost him his Life â—e also caused one Thomas Burdet Esq to be Beheaded upon a very slender occasion viz. Being on his Progress in Warwickshire he chanced to Hunt in one of Burdel's Parks and among others killing a White Buck which he highly esteened News of it was no sooner brought but the Gentleman in a passion wished The Horns in the Belly of those that Counselled the King to kill him This being told by some Pick-thanks to Edward with this addition viz. That he wished the Horns in his Belly the Judges soon construed it that thereby he wished the King's Death who with those Horns in his Belly could by no means Live and so the poor Gentleman in lieu of the great Entertainment he had given the King and his Nobles at his House lost his Life at Tyburn being there Beheaded The King in the latter-end of his Reign contrary to his former Generous humour grew exceeding Covetous and Nigardly so that to encrease his Treasure he extorted much Money from his People by vexing them with the execution of Penal-Laws which quenched their Love and Affections very much with this Money he proposed to Match his Daughters and sent to the French King to mind him of his Oath sworn to in the Articles that he should send over for the Lady Elizabeth and Marry her to the Dauphin but he never intending it excused it only with fair promises that he would do it speedily and whilst this was on foot James the Third King of Scots required the Lady Cicilia another of the Kings Daughters in Marriage with his Son and Heir apparent which was agreed to and part of her Portion paid before hand but instead of her being sent for and a Friendly Allyance concluded the King of Scots with this Money raised Forces and entered England committing many cruel outrages 〈…〉 The Duke of Gloucester was sent with a 〈◊〉 â—â—ble Army forcing his way into the Town of Berwick and Besieging the Castle defended by Earl Bothwel but purposing to March into Scotland he left the Lord Standly with 4000 Men to maintain the Siege and pursued the Scots King wasting his Country with Fire and Sword Till the Nobility perceiving the miserable estate of the Realm humbly sued to the Duke for Peace which was granted on these Conditions viz. That full Restitution should be made to King Edward 's Subjects for the Injuries done them That the Scots King should Restore his Brother the Duke of Albany who was in the English Army to his Honours c. That the Castle of Berwick should be Yeilded or not Rescued from the present Siege and the Marriage Money Re-paid The First of these they performed not as being unable but the other were observed and the Castle of Berwick soon Surrendered But the French King utterly broke all Frindship with King Edward by denying the Yearly Pension and Marrying the Dauphin to the Lady Margaret Daughter to Maximillian Son of Frederick the Emperour which Affront had certainly caused a War had King Edward lived to have prosecuted what he had projected but falling Sick of a Surfeit with Eating too excessively at a Banquet he grew daily weaker and weaker and a visible decay of Nature appearing in him he called his Nobles about him and laboured to make Friendship between his Wives kindred and his own causing them to Embrace and give Solemn assurances of it in his presence then recommending to them the care of his Queen and Children earnestly Exhorting them to live in Unity he gave up the Ghost at Westminster on the ninth of April 1483 in the 40th Year of his Age and 23d of his Reign His Body being buried in a Chappel of his own foundation at Windsor In this Kings Reign John Hust was Burnt on Tower-Hill for the profession of a good Conscience A Rose-Tree in the beginning of the calamitous Wars between the two Houses Bore on one Branch a White and a Red Rose the Cognizances of York and Lancaster and a Spring of Blood gushed out near Lancaster Amazing Voices were heard in the Air Firey Meteors and Blazing-Stars c. appeared as also Fiery Armies Fighting furiously Remarks on Westmorland c. THis County is partly Hilly and partly Plain It produces Cattle a good sprinkling of Corn store of Wild-Fowl and in some places abounds in Fish Venison c. It is Bounded with Yorkshire Lancashire and Cumberland It is divided into five Wards containing 26
said to shed some Tears and wish it had not been done However he came to London and summoned a Parliament wherein to ingratiate with the People many good Laws were made which are highly in Esteem to this day But God shew'd him an early token of his displeasure by taking away his only Son being all the Children he had he falling from a Horse dyed of the Bruise Bishop Morton as is said being committed to the Duke of Buckingham's Custody that sagacious Prelate so wound himself into his favour and good opinion that finding he was Ambitiously enclined he spared nothing to encrease his aspiring thoughts to that height as to make him look with envious Eyes on King Richard's Crown and fancy it would sit more comely on his own Head He was indeed of the Royal Blood by the Female side but at a considerable distance However King Richard having broke Promise with him by detaining the Earldom of Hartford tho' he had been chiefly instrumental in Advancing him to the Royal Dignity That for many Reasons the Bishop urged he began to hate him which more and more encreasing from new disapointments and disfavours and in fine the Duke however seemed to decline the Crown it was urged by the Bishop he might be Instrumental to do good to his Country and gain Immortal Fame by Uniting the Houses of York and Lancaster in promoting a Match between the Lady Elizabeth Eldest Daughter to Edward the Fourth and Henry Earl of Richmond Son and Heir to Margaret Countess of Richmond Daughter and Heir to John Duke of Sommerset his great Unkle Son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Fourth Son to Edward the Third This he attentively harkened to and thereupon the Bishop desired to go into the Isle of Ely and there he would raise Men and Money to forward this matter But the Duke considering his Absence would be charged on him and be a means to discover the Intrigue and that also he should want his Counsel at need refused to consent however the Bishop in disguise soon after got away and escaped to the Earl of Richmond Counselling and Animating him to prosecute the Project laid in England King Richard hearing there were secret Cabbals held against him in Britany by the Earl of Richmond and others renewed his Brothers Stratagem to get him into his hands But tho' it cost him much Money yet his Counsels being revealed he also was frustrated in his expectations But by this time having notice of Buckingham's discontents he by Friendly invitations entreated him to come to Court but the Duke excused it on pretence of Indisposition but King Richard well informed to the contrary knew it was rather an Indisposition of Mind than Body sent a second Summons peremptorily commanding him to make his personal appearance which made him believe his design was discovered and thereupon he stoutly replied by the Messenger That he reputed him a Monster a Tyrant Murtherer and not his Lawful King and therefore would not trust his Person in his hands who was cruelly unmerciful to his nearest Relations And so with many of his Friends raised Forces in Wales whilst Sir Edward Courtney did the like in Devonshire and Cornwal Sir Richard Guilford gathered many of the Kentish Commons and in Yorkshire the Marquess of Dorset leaving Sanctuary drew a great Number to him This Storm that threatened Ruine to the Usurper roused him to Arms so that Levying a considerable Army he Marched against the Duke to give him Battel ere he joyned his Friends supposing if he could rout him the rest would soon be Subdued The Duke was as resolute as he and intended to pass the Severn at a low Ford near Gloucester to meet him but that Night and for Ten days after such abundance of Rain fell that the River over-flowed its Banks drowning all the Meadows so that he could not pass and by lingering his Victuals growing scanty most of his Forces left him which unexpected misfortune made him shift for himself when coming to the House of one Humphery Banister near Shrewsbury who had been his Steward and got a good Estate under him he was there sheltered for a time but King Richard Proscribing him and setting a Thousand Pounds on his Head that Treacherous Servant discovered him to the Sherif of Shropshire who apprehended him in poor Apparel digging in the Garden and conveyed him to the King at Salisbury where in hopes of favour he made an ample confession but it availed not for without any Legal Proceedings he was Beheaded upon which the rest dispersed The Earl of Richmond knowing nothing of this disappointment having gotten some Forces of the Duke of Britany put to Sea for England but by contrary winds was driven into Normandy where the French King not only succoured him with Money and other Necessaries but gave him safe conduct through his Territories to Britany where he found a great number of his Friends Arrived before him and there making a sollemn promise to Marry the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to Edward the Fourth if his success answered his expectations they owned him in a manner as their King vowing to adventure their Lives to settle him on the Throne King Richard in the mean while was busied in Fortifying the Sea-Ports and cutting off by terrible Executions all that he thought favoured the Earls Interest getting him and his adherents attainted in Parliament so that he seized their Lands and Effects bestowing them on his Creatures which caused much murmuring among the People And one Collingborn an Esquire of good Estate being in a Poetical strain reflecting on Richard's three Favourites viz. Sir Richard Ratcliff Sir William Catesby and the Viscount Lovel in this Distich The Rat the Cat and Lovel our Dog Rules all England under a Hogg Was Executed for it at Tyburn the Judges construing the last word to allude to the King because he had the White Boar for his Cognizance and so in their opinions the Scandal was wrested to Treason And then he laid another Trap for the Earl of Richmond by Bribing Peter Landoys the Duke of Britany's Treasurer but he escaped it on timely notice and fled to the French King however King Richard made an Alliance with James King of Scots by Marrying the Lady Ann one of his Neices to the Duke of Rothsey his Eldest Son and with large Presents and fair Promises so won on the infatuated Queen Dowager his Brothers Widow as to deliver her Daughters into his hands tho' she was sensible he had Murthured her Sons Then he caused it to be given out that Queen Ann his Wife who was Daughter to the great Earl of Warwick and had been Wife to Prince Edward Son to Henry the Sixth was suddainly Dead and though then very well yet soon after she was found unexpectedly dead not without suspicion of Poison which he so little regarded that he immediatly tendered Courtship to Elizabeth his Brothers Daughter who fearing her own and her Sisters safety put him off with
Salisbury that he might make the King sensible of what he had done invited him to an Entertainment and so ordered it that he should pass to it through a Room wherein he had placed four Tables and on each Table Five Thousand Pounds in Silver when the King came into the Passage he started as amazed at the sight having never before seen such a Sum and asking the Treasurer the meaning of it The Treasurer told the King It was the Boon he bad given to Sir Robert Carr Swounds Man says the King which was the Oath he usually swore but Five Thousand Pounds shall serve his Turn By which means the Lord Treasurer sav'd the King Fifteen Thousand Pounds This shewed how easie he was to be impos'd upon giving his Favourites what they pleas'd to ask without knowing what it was His letting the Dutch redeem their Cautinary Towns upon their own terms and letting them also dispossess the English of their Factory at Amboyna in the East-Indies by the most horrid Massacre that any Age had heard of without any reparation or satisfaction for it however it might Entitle him to be Rex Pacificus it could never be an Argument of his Wisdom nor make him appear a Second Solomon which his Flatterers usually stiled him In the beginning of this King's Reign a Plague raged of which in London and the Liberties in one Year Dyed Thirty Thousand Five Hundred Seventy Eight Persons A terrible Blazing Star appeared before the Queens death and the breaking out of the Wars in Hungary Anno 1603 John Lepton Rode Five times between York and London in Five Days beginning his Journy on Monday finishing it the Friday after Anno 1605 William Calverly of York Esq Murthered two of his own Children in his House Stabbed his Wife and went out with intentions to have Kill'd his Child at Nurse but was prevented and was Pressed to death for refusing to Plead The Reign of King CHARLES the First KING James dying at Theobalds on the 27th of March 1625. The same Day his only Surviving Son Prince Charles was Proclaimed King of Great Britain France and Ireland On the 7th of May following were Celebrated the Funerals of the Deceased King whose Body being brought from Sommerset-House was Interred in the Abbey at Westminster with great Magnificence the King himself being the chief Mourner The next thing after the Celebration of the Funeral was to hasten the coming over of the Queen Henrietta Maria youngest Daughter of Henry the Fourth of France Deceased and Sister to Lewis the 13th then Reigning who had by the King's Proxy the Duke of Chevereux been Espoused to him on the first of May at our Ladies Church in Paris Upon Trinity-Sunday at Night she arriv'd at Dover where being met by the King the next Morning they went from thence to Canterbury where they were Married which the third Day after was Declar'd at White-Hall with great Rejoicing On the 18th of June following the King Summon'd a Parliament to meet at Westminster where he urged them for Supplies for the carrying on the War against Spain for the Recovery of the Palatinate upon which the Commons gave two Subsidies and the Clergy three In this Parliament Dr. Mountague the King's Chaplain was Questioned for certain Tenents in his Answer to a Book called the Romish Gagger and his Defence thereof Intituled Apello ad Caesarem and he being brought before the Bar of the House the Speaker declared their Pleasure That they would refer his Censure till their next Meeting and in the mean time he should stand Committed to the Serjeant's-Ward till Two Thousand Pounds Bail could be procured for his Appearance next Sessions And tho' the King by Bishop Laud's means took him into his Protection as his Servant yet his Bond remained Uncancell'd Divers Laws were Enacted in this Parliament and a Bill for Tunnage and Poundage passed the House of Commons but it Miscarried in the Lords House because it was Limitted to a Year whereas it had been Granted to the King's Predecessors during their Lives And then the Plague greatly encreasing the Parliament was Adjourn'd to Oxford where the King again Soliciting for more Money in order to the setting out the Fleet the Commons entred into a Debate about Grievances and were about drawing up a Remonstrance to present to the King but it bearing hard upon Buckingham the King 's great Favourite they were immediately Dissolved And soon after a Fleet was fitted out and sent against Spain but having staid Considering what to do till they lost the Opportunity of Destroying the Spanish Fleet in Cadiz which at first might have been easily done they Sailed to the Southern Gape in expectation of meeting their Plate-Fleet but the Contagion having got into the Fleet they made an Untimely return without doing any thing but four Dayes before the Fleet came This unprosperous Success of the Fleet very much Displeased the King who prohibited Wimbleton the General for some time from his Presence but he excusing himself laid a great part of the Miscarriage on the Stubbornness of the Earl of Essex But tho' all were Blam'd yet none were Punish'd for the ill Conduct of this Expedition And now the War growing very Chargeable since Parliamentary Aids fail'd the King as advis'd by his Council resolved upon raising Money by way of Loan by Letters of Privy-Seal sent to the Ablest Persons in the Kingdom in each of which Letters the King promised in the Name of Him and his Heirs and Successors to re-pay the Money in Eighteen Months after the Payment thereof to the Collector and the Collectors were Ordered to pay the Sums received into the Exchequer and to return the Names of such as went about to Delay or Excuse the Payment of the Money required of them This manner of Proceedings was by all Wise Men thought very improper for by the Law no Man was bound to lend the King Money so this instead of Supplying the King only tended to Alienate the Affections of his Subjects from him and render things more Difficult in the next Parliament Which after the Coronation was over met the 6th of February but with no better Success than the last For the House of Commons began where they left off at Oxford with matters of Religion and publick Grievances viz. The Miscarriage of the Fleet to Cadiz the Evil-Counsellors about the King Mis-government and Mis-imployment of the King's Revenues and an Account of the three Subsidies and three Fifteenths Granted the 21th of King James That new Impositions and Monopolies were multiplied and settled to continue by Grants Customs inhanced by the new Book of Rates and that Tonnage and Poundage was Levied tho' by no Act of Parliament and the Guard of the Seas neglected In this Parliament also five particular Articles were drawn up against Mr. Richard Mountague wherein he had broken the Laws and Statutes of the Realm and disturbed the Peace both of the Church and Common-wealth Upon all which the House of
Peace which was soon Concluded as had been with France before On the 29th of May 1630. the Queen was deliver'd of a Son who was Christened Charles and Succeeded in the Kingdom At whose Birth it is Remarkable a very bright Star appeared at Noon-day which being shewed the King as he came from his Devotion he greatly Rejoyced thereat as taking it for a fortunate Presage Soon after Dr. Leighton Writing and Publishing a Book Entituled Sion's Plea was Censured for it and Sentenced to have his Nose slit his Ears cropp'd and a Mark or Brand in his Fore-head which was inflicted on him Anno 1631 Mervin Lord Audley Earl of Castle-Haven was tryed by his Peers on the Petition of his Son and Heir for a Rape and Sodomy and being found Guilty lost his Head on Tower-hill The King hearing of some Murmurrings and Discontents in Scotland went thither in Person hoping to give his People of that Kingdom Satisfaction and being solemnly Crowned at Edenborough he called a Parliament But they fearing the bringing in of Episcopacy and the Form of Prayer and other Services in England seemed more and more to be Disgusted However the King having Confirmed and Ratified some Laws which the Scots construed to the worst Sense And which was indeed in order to the establishing Episcopacy there which King James the First had introduced Anno 1616. and which was apparent by the King 's giving Order to the Dean of his Royal Chappel in Edenborough to have Prayer read therein according to the English Liturgy c. In the Year 1632 the King incited thereto by Bishop Laud set out a Declaration for Tollerating of Sports on the Lord's-day which gave great Offence to all sober Men and for refusing to Publish it many of the best Ministers were Suspended and deprived of their Benefices Octob. 13. 1633. The Queen was delivered of her second Son named James afterwards Duke of York and after his Brother Charles his Death King of England c. And at that time the Arch-bishop of Canterbury dying Bishop Laud was made Arch-bishop in his place After this a Fleet was set out by the Supply of a Tax called Ship-money which removed the Hollanders who had Confederated with the French from before Dunkirk and the Flandrians with the assistance of the Spaniard soon Routed the French Army by Land The King Considering the good success of this Fleet sent out an other which Sailing Northward scoured the Seas of the Dutch Busses and spoiled their Fishing-trade so that they were constrained to purchase their leave to Fish on our Coast on Valuable Considerations Several Gentlemen being Dissatisfied with the raising of Ship-money and being done without consent of Parliament refused to pay it upon which the King referr'd it to his Judges of whom Ten were for the Legality of it and subcribed their Names to be Enrolled in the Courts of Westminster but Hutton and Crook refused and thereupon Mr. Hamden of Buckinghamshire refusing to pay it had Judgment given against him which occasioned murmurings among the people of which Dr. Bastwick Prin and Burton taking the Advantage writ Books reflecting on the Bishops and Government for which they were sentenced to pay 5000 l. Fine lose their Ears in the Pillory and Imprisoned during the King's pleasure And Dr. Williams Bishop of Lincoln was fined 10000 l. and Imprisoned in the Tower During pleasure and left to the Censure of the High Commission Court as to what concerned them wherein the Bishop had very hard Measure his Offence being chiefly that he approved not of Archbishop Laud's Exorbitant Actions And now new Troubles arising about the Book of Common-Prayer in Scotland the King marched thither with an Army and the Scots met him near Berwick But a Treaty being began by means of the Scots Nobility a Peace was soon Concluded but they kept it no longer than the King's return to London which occasioned him to make a second Expedition but by this time they had entred into a solemn League and Covenant for the Extirpation of Episcopacy and Establishing of Presbytery On the 13th of April 1640. After twelve Years interval a Parliament met at Westminster to whom the King promised That if they would Supply him to maintain the War against the Scots he would quit his claim of ship-money And the Parliament seemed to have a great Disposition to comply with the King's desires but it being demanded in the House of Commons what supply the King expected It was answered by Mr. Secretary Vane Twelve Subsidies whereas at that time the King only desir'd Six This large Demand put the House into such a Ferment made things look so ill that the King Dissolved the Parliament the next Day having only sat 22 Days The Scots not yet quieted enter into England with an Army and having defeated the King's Forces at Newborn seized upon New-castle and Durham upon which the King is willing to hear their Grievances and receives a Petition from them wherein they require a Parliament to be called in England without which they could have no Redress Declaring their Intention not to lay down Arms till the Reformed Religion was settled in both Nations upon sure Grounds and the Causers and Abetters of their present Troubles Laud and Strafford were brought to publick Justice in Parliament After which several Peers the City of London and divers other places Petition'd the King for the sitting of a Parliament whereupon the King Summon'd another Parliament to meet Nov. 3. 1640. when the People were every where in a Ferment and Prejudice inveighing if not against the King yet against his Ministers of State In this Parliament all Ceremonies in the Church were suppressed except those used in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Strafford Arch-bishop Laud and Bishop Wren were Impeached of High-Treason and committed to the Tower Divers of the Judges that had declared for Ship-money were Voted Delinquents and Judge Berkley Arrested by the Usher of the Black Rod for High-Treason as he sate in the King's-Bench-Court The King being vexed at the proceeding of the Commons complained to the Peers who promised to Labour for a Moderation and good Understanding between the King and his two Houses But matters yet running high he removed divers Ministers of State and Officers in Trust appointing a new Lieutenant of the Tower which greatly displeased the Commons insomuch that tâ—â—â— Articled against the new Lieutenant to be Peers wâ—â— refused to meddle in it it being the King's Prerogative to â—â—nt in whom he pleased But not long after a multitude of â—â—prentices and others came to the Peers House clamouriâ—â—â—o have the Lieutenant removed and Threatning on refusaâ— to turn all Topsy-turvey they also demanded that the Bishops might be excluded the House of Peers And then going into Westminster-Abbey in their unadvised Fury spoiled the Vestments Organs Sepulchres and what else was comely and decent And as they returned by White-Hall uttered very opprobrious Threatnings against the King and his
Counsellors which made him Fortify his Pallace and accept of a Guard of the Inns of Court Gentlemen who offered their Service to defend his Person from any Insults The Parliament hereupon apprehending a fear of Danger that threaten'd them assumed a Guard for their Defence constituting the Earl of Essex Captain of it and appointed an extraordinary Assembly in the City of London and soon after committed twelve Pishops Prisoners to the Tower which scared most if not all the rest from giving their Attendance and many Ministers of State were Accused and Censured And the Earl of Strafford upon his Tryal being accused of many things and plainly answering all that by Articles was laid to his Charge and the Court Adjourning without prefixing any time of meeting the Commons proceeded to draw up and dispatch a Bill of Attainder against him which the King with great difficulty and some reluctancy of Mind Signed but the Warrant for his Execution he laboured much to defer saying He had heard the Cause and believed in his Conscience the Earl was not guilty of Treason and yet he could not clear him of Misdemeanour but hoped a way might be found out to satisfie Justice and their Fears without oppressing his Conscience and had consulted about it with his Judges and Bishops before he had Signed the Bill as also a Bill for the sitting of the Parliament during the pleasure of both Houses which last was occasioned for satisfying the Scots who required vast Sums of Money However the Earl was Executed tho' the King laboured much to save him proposing his perpetual Imprisonment and many other things He was attended at his Execution on Tower-Hill by the Arch-bishop of Armagh and to this Effect addressed him to the People viz. That he was come thither to pay the last Debt he ow'd to Sin with a good Hope of rising to Righteousness that he Dyed willingly Forgave all and patiently submitted declaring himself Innocent of the Crimes charged against him wishing Prosperity to the King and People He advised his Adversaries to repent of their violent Proceedings against him saying He thought it a strange way to write in Blood the beginning of Reformation and Settlement of the Kingdom however he wished his Blood might rest and not cry against them declaring he Dyed in the Communion of the Church of England for whose Prosperity he Prayed and concluded with a Desire that the Spectators would pray for him And then had his Head stricken off There having been about this time some Tumults made about White-Hall and Westminster and the King being inform'd they were encouraged by the Lord Kimbolton and five Members of the House of Commons the King demanded those five Members whom he accused of High-Treason as also the Lord Kimbolton a Member of the House of Peers but they were refused to be delivered Whereupon he came with about 500 armed Men to the House of Commons where the Speaker resigned the Chair to him but looking about and not seeing those he expected for upon Notice they were withdrawn he declared his good Intentions to the Parliament saying He hoped they would send him those Members against whom he had matters of high Concern But they were so far from doing it that they put the City of London in Arms and Adjourned their sitting for five days forbidding the Citizens to help the King to find out any of the accused Members and so far were they from it that the Parliament sitting again they carry'd them in Triumph and placed them in their Seats shouting and threatning as they passed by White-hall and to lessen the King's Power the Parliament sent Letters to the adjacent Counties commanding the Militia to draw up in Arms Whereupon they found that upon occasion more than 20000 Men could be got in a Readiness These proceedings made the King withdraw to Hampton-Court whose absence much encreased the Parliaments Authority among the People and to endear them to the Citizens they adjourned from Westminster to London and sent their Mandates to the Governors of Sea-port Towns strictly forbidding them to Obey any of the King's Orders unless they were confirmed by them This more weaken'd his Power than all their former Proceedings which the King by an early precaution in Garisoning those parts might have prevented The King considering that things were likely to go ill and that he had given away his Power and could not dissolve this Parliament he endeavoured by mild Terms to win them to his Interest and Writ from Windsor protesting his good meaning towarâ—s both Houses and that he would be ready to any thing that might be for the good of his People whereupon they sent Messengers to desire him to return to London but for some Reasons he refused it Hereupon the Commons drew up an humble Remonstrance which seemed so unreasonable to the Peers as to what therein they proposed that they rejected it till they saw the Commons uniting against them and then Messengers were sent to the King with it who with some Reservation yielded to part of it and denyed the rest which not satisfying them they proceeded to Petition the King That the accused Members might be freed from all imputation of Guilt which was Granted During the King's being busie in Scotland a horrid Conspiracy and Rebellion broke out in Ireland which was discovered but the Night before it began to the Lords-Justices by Owen O Conally by which means Dublin and some other places were secured and divers of the Conspirators apprehended However it was carry'd on with such a Rage and Fury by the Encouragement of the Popish Priests Monks and Fryars that nothing for a time but Slaughter and miserable Cruelties on the English and Scots were to be seen in most of the Provinces the Romish Priests loudly declaring that they were Hereticks and ought to be Extirpated from the Earth that it it was no more Sin to kill them than Dogs and a mortal one to Relieve and Protect them giving the Sacrament to divers on condition that they should spare neither Man Woman nor Child saying It did them a great deal of Good to wash their Hands in their Blood and they were told If any of the Murtherers in this Attempt were slain they should immediately go to Heaven so that nothing but Blood-shed and piteous Cries were to be seen and heard in most parts of that Kingdom The King to Redress this Solicited the Scots Parliament to send ovâ—r Forces but they refused Alledging It was a dependant Kingdom on England and if the English Parliament would make use of and pay any of their Men they might raise them or otherwise they would not intermeddle And the Parliament of England being slow in sending over Succours about 200000 of all sorts fell in this unparrallel'd Massacre but Forces going over the Cut-throats were every where Routed many Slain and the rest betook themselves to their Fastnesses and the state of Affairs were restored to some good Order The Contendings between the
and there being attended on a Scaffold before the Banquetting-House by Dr. Juxon Bishop of London he made a Profession of his Innocency and of his Faith forgiving his Enemies and praying to God not to lay his Blood to their Charge seeming troubled that he had consented to the Sentence against the Earl of Strafford and after this and much more to the like Purpose he kneeling down gave the Sign to the Executioner by stretching out his Arms and at one Blow had his Head separated from his Body which being put in a Coffin covered with Velvet was carried to Windsor and buried in a Vault in St. George's Chappel Thus without President fell King Charles when he had Reigned 23 Years 10 Months and 3 Days being the 24th Year of his Reign and 49th of his Age. Put to Death by the Hands of his own Subjects contrary to all Law and Justice universally Pitied but unable to be help'd by his People He was one of the Chastest Princes that ever sate upon the Throne being all along so true to his Queen that he never Defil'd his Marriage-bed And had he not given too much heed to Buckingham Laud and some other fâ—attering Parasites and Courtiers who were continually Buzzing into his Ears nothing but Absolute and unlimitted Power putting him upon Dissolving his Parliaments and then raising Money and Ruling without them as appear'd by his Twelve Years interval of Parliaments viz. from Anno 1628 to 1640. whereby he lost the Love of his People he had never been brought to that dismal Catastrophe but might have Liv'd and Dy'd a Happy Prince And this may be observ'd from this King's Reign as well as from several before That never any Prince fell out with his Parliament and went about to Establish an Arbitrary Power but he not only found himself Mistaken but also thereby made himself Miserable Before the breaking out of this unnatural War amazing Sights were seen in the Air of Firey Men and Horses running at each other with Launces encountring with great Blasts of Lightning and noise of Thunder In Gloucester-shire Spectres were seen in a large Field not far from that City drawn up in Battalia furiously Engaging and then Vanishing to the Amazement of the Beholders The Reign of King CHARLES The Second KING Charles the First being put to Death the Relicks of the Parliament began to take out of the way such Nobles and others as they supposed would obstruct their Proceedings and particularly Duke Hamilton the Earl of Holland and the Lord Capel were Beheaded for Treason pretended against them And now to make their Power the Stronger they combined with the Army-Officers And tho' Charles Son to the preceding King had an undoubted Right to the Kingdom they proceeded to bar him and all the Royal Line as they hoped from the Crown or any other from being King or chief Magistrate unless by Publick Act of Parliament so appointed and that it should be Treason in any to attempt to further King Charles the Second by them generally called Charles Stewart in his Designs to possess the Crown by Proclaiming him or any Assistance given to him taking great care not to admit the Secluded Members lest they should put a stop to the Current of their Proceedings taking down every where the King 's Arms and placing the Harp and Cross in their places called the States Arms and having taken down the late King's Effigies from the Royal-Exchange they caused to be inscribed in the place where it stood in Letters of Gold Exit Tyranus Regum ultimus Anno Libertatis Angliae Restitutiae Primo Anno 1648. Jan. 30. All Titles in Processes of Law were altered and instead of Carolus Dei Gratia c. was put in Custodes Libertatis Angliae c. The King's-Bench was called the Vpper-Bench and a new Stamp was made for Money having on the one side the Cross and on the other the Cross and Harp inscribed The Common-wealth of England on the one side and God with Vs on the other also a new Great Seal was prepared with the Cross and Harp on the one side with this Inscription The Great Seal of England and on the other side the Picture of the House of Commons with these Words In the first Year of Freedom by God's Blessing restor'd 1648. Things being thus Moddelled whilst King Charles was in France Solliciting for Aid to possess him of his Kingdoms Fairfax out of some dislike to the Patliaments proceedings laid down his Commission which was given to Oliver Cromwel who from this time laid the Projection of his future Greatness And indeed in his attempts on Ireland and Scotland he was so Successful as to reduce them to the English Obedience with incredible Slaughter of the Natives However King Charles was proclaimed by his Friends in England and Ireland and soon after in Scotland And now Money being wanting to maintain the Parliaments Armies c. the Crown-Lands Dean and Chapter and Bishops Lands were Sold with many stately Houses and most of the Castles in England Demolished and all Persons expelled from Places of Trust in Church and State that Subscribed not to be Conformable to the New-modelled Government The Scots all this while were Debating how to Restore the King who was in the Isle of Jersey and coming to a Result sent the Laird Libberton and Mr. Windram to him with Proposals the Heads being these 1. That he should Sign the Solemn League and Covenant 2. That he should Pass divers Acts concluded on in the two last Sessions of Parliament in Scotland 3. That he should recall the Commissions given to Montross 4. That he should put from him all Papists and appoint some place in Holland to treat with their Commissioners and give them a speedy Answer And Sir William Fleming being sent by the King to the Estates of Scotland Breda was appointed for the place of Treaty and Commissioners were sent to represent the Kirk and State who delivered what they had in Charge to the same Effect as has been mentioned But whilst the Treaty held the Marquess of Montross making new Attempts was Surprized in Scotland where with much Indignity he was brought to Execution and Hanged on a Gibbet of extraordinary height Dying with a Courage and Bravery suitable to that wherein he had Lived and Quarters were set up in divers places This being done in a full Treaty greatly Displeased the King because he had his Commission and had acted in his Cause but the necessity of his affairs made him pass it over and he Condescended to most of the Proposals The Parliament of England soon heard of their Treaty and to prevent its taking effect sent an Army under Cromwel into Scotland and manning out a Fleet Admiral Blake fell in with Prince Rupert's Squadron sinking and burning most of the Ships he Commanded for the King however matters being agreed on the King hastened to Scotland and Landed at Spey where several Lords came to him and the Town of
in the Year 1682. The chief Witness against him was Rumsey who Swore That the Declaration for a Rising being read Alderman Cornish being present and being ask'd how he lik'd it he answer'd Very well and what poor Interest he had he would join in it And yet this Fellow at the Lord Russel's Tryal Swore Cornish was not there when the Declaration was read nor knew nothing of it However the Alderman's Death was resolved on and both Judge and Jury being agreed he was found Guilty Condemn'd and on the 23th of the same Month executed in Cheapside over against the Guild-Hall of the City Declaring his Innocency as to what he was Condemn'd for to the very last And indeed Heaven it self attested it for him for his Execution was follow'd with such a dreadful Storm of Wind attended with Thunder Lightning and Rain as the like has scarce happened at that time of the Year in the Memory of Man His true Crime was That he was a Zealous Protestant that had serv'd the City Faithfully in his Shrievalty and had Examined Fitz-Harris in Newgate and had like to have discovered the Depth of that cursed Design against the Protestants The same Day also one Mrs. Gaunt a Woman of great Goodness and Charity was burn'd at Tyburn for relieving a Lieutenant under Monmouth in the West himself being the Witness against her for which he had his Pardon And now the Parliament met again and the King tells them how he had Defeated Monmouth and that several Popish Officers had been very useful to him therein that he could not be without their Service and that the Militia was not sufficient without keeping up a standing Army and hopes they will help him to Defray the Charge but the Parliament address to him to Disband his Popish Officers and offers to pass an Act to Indempnify them from the Penalties they had already incurr'd in serving without having taken the Test appointed by Law This Address of the Commons was very surprising to the King who expected from them absolute Obedience without Reserve But the King was much more Surpriz'd when he understood that the Bishop of London had made a motion in the House of Lords to take the King's Speech into Consideration as fearing the Lords would concur with the Commons in their Address But the King was resolved to prevent it and therefore first Prorogued and soon after Dissolved the Parliament who had been so large in their Supplies the first Session that now too late they saw he was able to live without them The Parliament's questioning of the Popish Officers had put them all into a Fright but the Parliament being Dissolved they were all at ease again and nothing but Popish Officers and Priests and Jesuites are seen about the Court who were grown to an unparallell'd degree of Impudence And yet to find Fault with them was a Crime next to High-Treason But the King finding the Penal Laws and Tests stand as a mighty Obstacle in his way was resolv'd to remove them In order to which the Lord-Keeper North dying while Jefferies was keeping the Bloody Assizes in the West at his return back he had the Seals given him with the Title of Lord-Chancellor as a Reward for his good Service in destroying the Western Hereticks and as an encouragement to him to destroy the Penal Laws and Tests the great Bulwark against Popery And therefore dispensing Power in the King is that which must next be set up in order to effect it And the Judges must be dealt with to give their Opinions for it And I have been certainly told That the King Closetting Sir Thomas Jones about it Sir Thomas was not enough thorow paced but boggled at it and told the King He could not do it to which the King answering He would have twelve Judges of his Opinion Sir Thomas Replyed He might have twelve Judges of his Opinion but he would scarce find twelve Lawyers of his Opinion But the King was as good as his Word and made such Judges as gave their Opinions That the King might dispense with the Penal Laws and Tests out of Parliament The Papists having always look'd upon the Church of England with an evil Eye did so now more than ever they having writ several Elaborate and Learned Books in opposition to the principal Errors of Popery which they were never able to answer But they were resolv'd if they could not deal with them one way they would another and therefore the King granted a Commission for Ecclesiastical Affairs expresly contrary to Law thereby to Curb them This Commission was Granted to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury the Lord Chancellor Jefferies the Earl of Rochester the Earl of Sunderland the Bishop of Durham the Bishop of Rochester and the Lord-Chief-Justice of England But the Arch-bishop of Canterbury refusing to act in it the Bishop of Chester was added Before these Commissioners the Bishop of London was Cited and Suspended for not Suspending Dr. Sharp for Preaching a Sermon against the Corruptions and Frauds of the Church of Rome In Ireland the King having recalled the Duke of Ormond from his Lieutenancy made the Earl of Clarendon Lieutenant and Sir Charles Porter Lord-Chancellor who after their arrival there declared according to their Instructions that the King would preserve the Acts of Settlement and Explanation inviolable as the Magna-Charta of Ireland But at the same time the King having given to Collonel Richard Talbot a Man not at all belov'd by the Protestants an Independent Commission to reform the Army and he turns out those Officers that were firm to the Protestant Religion and the English Interest and puts Notorious Irish Papists in their Room and serves not only the Officers but even the private Troopers and Soldiers that were Protestants in the same manner So that one of the best principled Armies in the World both with respect to Loyalty and a firm adherence to the Protestant Religion was turn'd out and Disbanded and a parcel of Irish Popish Cut-Throats entertain'd in their places which seemed strange to the English Protestants there and not at all agreeable to what my Lord Clarendon and Sir Charles Porter had told them who were not themselves pleased with it but knew not how to help it But in England the King having established his Dispensing Power puts forth a Declaration for Liberty of Conscience pursuant to which the Goals all over England that were fill'd with Protestant Dissenters were clear'd and the Dissenters set at Liberty Who having been long oppress'd and almost ruin'd by severe Prosecutions for several Years together were now glad of a little Ease tho' the most Judicious among them saw clearly enough it was not for their Sakes but to introduce Popery that this Indulgence was principally Granted and therefore were always afraid of the Snake hid in the Grass The Episcopal Clergy who in the late Reign and the beginning of this also had been very severe to Dissenters began now to see they had