them But King Edward being returned into England he summoned a Parliament to York giving the Scots a day to appear at it which they not doing nor acknowledging that they ought so to do he entred Scotland with a mighty Army where when he was near the enemy as he was putting his foot into the stirrup his horse being affrighted with the sudden shout of the Scotch Army threw him down and striking with his heels broke two of the Kings ribs who nevertheless proceeded to battle Captain Wallis encouraged his men with this short speech I have brought you to the King hop gif ye kun In this battle fought at a place called Fawkirk and English slew of the Scots 70. thousand After which victory King Edward took sundry places in Scotland then returned into England where in Parliament holden at London and Stamford he confirmed Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta and yielded that there should be no Subsidy or Taxation levied upon the people without consent of the Prelates Peers and people And for the more ample satisfaction of some then discontented he left out this Clause in the end of his Grants Salvo jure Coronae nostrae Saving the right of our Crown upon the Popes request he set John late King of Scotland at liberty who departed into France And then the King made it his whole affair to finish the annexation of Scotland to the Crown of England to which end Rob. Winchelsey A. B. Cant. he passed with a dreadful Army into Scotland where the Scots not being able to withstand him by force of Arms they procured inhibitory Letters from the Pope but these the King set light by swearing per sanguinem Dei that he would not desist And when the Scots threatned that if he would not desist his hostility the Pope would take the matter upon him the King with a disdainful smile answered Have ye done homage to me as to the chief Lord of the Kingdom of Scotland and do ye now suppose that I can be terrified with threatning lies as if like one that had no power to compel I would let the right which I have to go out of my hand Let me hear no more of this for if I do I swear by the Lord I will consume all Scotland from Sea to Sea To which the Scots replyed that in defence of Justice and their Countrys rights they would shed their blood Howbeit that the King might not seem altogether to neglect the Court of Rome he sent the Earl of Lincoln thither in justification of his proceedings and at the instance of the Pope he granted Truce to the Scots from All-Saints to Whitsuntide But the Pope not long satisfied with this directly opposed the King in his martial proceeds against that Nation wherefore the King in a Parliament holden at Lincoln by the consent of the whole Representative body of the Realm returned a copious defence of his whole proceedings with protestations first That he did not exhibite any thing as in form of judgment or tryal of his Cause Gualter Renold A. B. Cant. but for satisfaction of his holy Fatherhoods conscience and not otherwise And because the Pope required that the King should stand to his decision for matter of Claim the Earls and Peers to whom the King wholly referred it with one mind directly signified That their King was not to answer in judgment for any rights of the Crown of England before any Tribunal under Heaven and that by sending Deputies and Atturneys to such an end he should not make the said truth doubtful because it manifestly tended to the disinherison of the said Crown which with the help of God they would resolutely and with all their power maintain against all men To the which they all being an 100. Peers subscribed their Names Dated at Lincoln 1301. The Names of those Worthy Patriots who withstood Papal Usurpation JOhn Earl Warren Thomas Earl of Lancaster Ralph de Monthermer Earl of Glocester and Hereford Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hartford and Essex Roger Bigod Earl of Norfolk Guy Earl of Warwick Richard Earl of Arundel Adomer de Valence Lord of Monterney Henry de Lancaster Lord of Monmouth John de Hastings Lord of Bergevenny Henry de Percy Lord of Topclife Edmond de Mortymer Lord of Wigmore Robert Fitz-Walter Lord of Wodham John de St. John Lord of Hannake Hugh de Vere Lord of Swanestampe William de Breuse Lord of Gower Robert de Monthault Lord of Hawarden Robert de Tateshall Lord of Wokeham Reinold de Grey Lord of Ruthin Henry de Grey Lord of Codnore Hugh Bardolph Lord of Wormgay Robert de Clifford Chatellaine of Appleby Peter de Malowe Lord of Mulgreen Philip Lord of Kime Robert Fitz-Roger Lord of Claverings John de Moham Lord of Dunestar Almerick de St. Amound Lord of Widehay William de Ferrers Lord of Groby Alane de Zouch Lord of Ashby Theobald de Verdon Lord of Webberley Thomas de Furnivall Lord of Schefield Thomas de Multon Lord of Egremont William Latimer Lord of Torby Thomas Lord Berkly Fowlk Fitz-Warren Lord of Mitingham John Lord Segrave Edmund de Eincourt Lord of Thurgerton Peter Corbet Lord Caus William de Cantelow Lord of Ravensthorpe John de Beauchamp Lord of Hacke Roger de Mortimer Lord of Pentethlin John Fitz-Reinold Lord of Blenleveny Ralph de Nevil Lord of Raby Brian Fitz-Allane Lord of Bedale William Marshal Lord of Hengham Walter Lord Huntercombe William Martin Lord of Cameis Henry de Thies Lord of Chilton Roger le Ware Lord of Isefield John de Rivers Lord of Angre John de Lancaster Lord of Grisedale Robert Fitz-Pain Lord of Lainnier Henry Tregoze Lord of Garinges Robert Hipard Lord of Lumford Walter Lord Faucombridge John Strange Lord of Cnokin Robert Strange Lord of Ellesmere Thomas de Chances Lord of Norton Walter de Beauchamp Lord of Alecester Richard Talbot Lord of Eccleswell John Butetourt Lord of Mendesham John Engain Lord of Colum Hugh de Poinz Lord of Comualet Adam Lord of Wells Simon Lord Montacute John Lord Sulle John de Melles Lord of Candebury Edmund Baron Stafford John Lovell Lord of Hackings Edmond de Hastings Lord of Elchunhonokes Ralph Fitz-William Lord of Grinthorpe Robert de Scales Lord of Neusells William Tuchet Lord of Lewenhales John Abadan Lord of Deverstone John de Haverings Lord of Grafton Robert la Ward Lord of White-Hall Nicholas de Segrave Lord of Stowe Walter de Tey Lord of Stonegrave John de Lisle Lord of Wodton Eustace Lord Hacche Gilbert Peche Lord of Corby William Painell Lord of Trachington Roger de Albo Monasberio Foulk le Strange Lord of Corsham Henry de Pinkeny Lord of Wedon John de Hodeleston Lord of Aners John de Huntingfield Lord of Bradenham Hugh Fitz-Henry Lord of Ravenswath John Daleton Lord of Sporle Nicholas de Carr. Lord of Mulesford Thomas Lord de la Roche Walter de Muncie Lord of Thornton John Lord of Kingstone Robert Hasting the Father Lord of Chelessey Ralph Lord
had homage done him by many of the Scotish Lords at Dumfres he next took unjust revenge on Walter Langton Bishop of Chester by Imprisoning him and seizing all his temporal goods and credits because that in his Father K. Edward's life-time the Bishop had gravely reproved him for his misdemeanors and had complained on Pierce Gavestone whereon ensued young Edward's Imprisonment and Gaveston's banishment Then he sailed into France where at Bolein with wonderful magnificence he was married to young Isabel Daughter of Philip the Fair and at his return for England brought back with him his beloved Minion Pierce Gaveston who was a Gentleman stranger brought up with him Which Gaveston the King suffered now to Lord it over the chief Nobles to fill the Court with Buffoons and Parasites and the like pernicious instruments to wast the wealth of the Kingdom in revellings and riotous courses to transport riches into foreign parts bestowing upon him his own Jewels and Ancestors treasures and even the Crown it self of his victorious Father Not sticking to profess That if it lay in his power he should succeed him in the Kingdom being wholly ruled by him Therefore to repress Gaveston's exorbitances the Lords in Parliament procured though with no good-will of the Kings that Gaveston Earl of Cornwall should be perpetually banished they gratifying the King with a subsidy of the 20th part of the Subjects goods Howbeit shortly after the King contrary to his Oath made unto the Parliament called Earl Gaveston home out the Ireland himself meeting him at Flint-Castle and then bestowing on him to Wife Joan of Acres Countess of Glocester resolving for this leud mans sake to put Crown Life and all in hazard And now the insolent Earl strives to outgo himself in his former courses consuming the Kings treasures and means so that there was not sufficient left for the necessities of the Court and drawing the King into such debaucheries that the Queen conceived her self injured thereby as well as the Nobles Whereupon Gaveston is a third time forced out of the Realm into which he again returned the following Christmas when the King welcomed him as an Angel from Heaven and forthwith advanced him to be principal Secretary But the Lords as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal resolved by force of Arms utterly to extirpate him chusing for their Leader in this design Thomas Earl of Lancaster And at Datkington this infamous Earl Gaveston was surprized by Guy Earl of Warwick who conveyed him to Warwick-Castle and in a place called Blacklow afterward Gaveshead caused his head to be cut off as a subverter of the Laws and an open Traytor to the Kingdom Which act caused a lasting hatred in the King to his Nobles John Offord A.B. Cant. though for the present the Kings displeasure was allayed by the mediation of the Prelates and especially of Gilbert Earl of Glocester who stood neutral But whilst the English King minded only his pleasure undaunted Bruce now the received King of Scotland industriously prosecuted his design for setting his Country at liberty from the English driving them out of most places of his Realm and making great spoil in Northumberland Which awakning K. Edward he marched with a very great Army against him though many of the Nobles refused to attend him in this service because he delayed to ratifie their desired Liberties and provisions for better Government so often consented unto by himself At Bannocksbourn the English and Scotch Armies came in sight each of other when the enemy left nothing undone that might be for their advantage digging before their Battalions certain trenches wherein they stuâ—k sharp Stakes covering them with Hurdles which miserably afflicted the English Cavalry falling into them at unawares thereby procuring to the Scots the greatest victory that ever they had over the English In this fight K. Edward did gallantly behave himself nor would he fly till by the importunity of friends he was thereunto forced for his preservation Now was slain the Earl of Glocester the Lord Clifford with other Lords and about 700 Knights Esquires and mâ—n of Armories Humphry de Bohun was taken Prisoner and a great booty the Scots gained for the English in this expedition had adorned themselves as for a triumph with all sorts of riches gold silver and the like in a kind of wanton manner corresponding to the Prince they followed In those times the Scots made such-like scoffing Rhimes as this on the English Long Beards heartless painted Hoods witless Gay Coats graceless makes England thriftless This Conquest incouraged the Scots to make inroads into the English Northern Counties where they made great spoil some of the disloyal Englishmen joyning with them The King nevertheless could not forget his Gaveston whose body with great pomp he caused to be transferred from Oxford to Kings-Langley in Hartfordshire himself in person honouring the Exequies Then in Pierce Gavestons place the King advanced into his favour the two Spencers Father and Son whose intolerable insolencies and oppressions seemed to exceed those of Gavestons against whom the Barons did swell with such impatience that not content with the wast of their Lands by threats of civil War they procured their Banishment The Queen who hitherto had been a Mediatrix betwixt the King and his Lords having received the denyal of one nights lodging at the Castle of â—eeds in Kent which belonged to one of the Barons whom she perceived to take too much upon them now turned her Spleen against them incensing the King her Husband against them so highly that King Edward resolved to dye in the quarrel or to bring the factious Lords into a more becoming carriage towards him The judgment given against the Spencers he procured to be reversed Some of the Delinquent Lords render'd themselves to the King others of them were apprehended amongst whom were the two Roger Mortimers Father and Son who were committed to the Tower Howbeit the Earl of Lancaster in the North resolved with what forces he could procure to fight for his security against whom the King marched and at Burrowbridg encountred him where Humphrey de Bohun was slain with a spear from under the bridg and the Earl of Lancaster with other principal men Barons and Knights to the number of above ninety were taken by Andrew de Herckly Captain of Carlisle afterward created Earl of that place The Earl of Lancaster a few days after was beheaded at Pontfract the Barons and Knights were drawn hang'd and quarter'd The Lord Badlesmere who refused to let the Queen lodg at Leeds was executed at Canterbury Never did English earth at one time drink so much blood of her Nobles as at this time in so vile a manner shed One Earl and Fourteen Lords suffering death most of them by the halter But that this Tragedy of the Lords was exploited by others and not by the Kings free inclinations appears for that when some of the Courtiers and Favourites pleaded for the life of one of a mean Family
under the Great Seal as the King in his youthful humour had granted to some Courtiers Also the Kings over-freeness to the Queens Countrey-men the Bohemians discontented many The ancient Nobles they envied that Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford was created Marquess of Dublin and Duke of Ireland and Michael de la Pool a Merchants Son Earl of Suffolk and that the King had them in too great favour These were held for great grievances nor would the Parliament grant the King any aids against his forreign foes unless these Lords were removed and degraded This the King could not well digest but consulted the Learned in the Law concerning certain Articles of Treason within the compass of which he might take the popular Lords And at Nottingham Robert Trisilian Chief Justitiar Robert Belknap Chief Justice of the Common Pleas John Holt Roger Fulthorp and William Burgh Justitiars John Lockton the Kings Sergeant at Law All subscribed to certain Articles of Treason made against the Lords which afterwards cost them dear Judg Belknap foresaw the danger therefore unwillingly consented saying There wants but an Hurdle Horse and Halter to carry me where I might suffer the death deserved For if I had not done this quoth he I should have dyed for it and because I have done it I deserve death for betraying the Lords And now the King and Lords prepare themselves for the field the Lords march up to London with an Army of about Forty thousand men against whose coming the King not being able to match their power shuts himself up in the Tower whither the factious Lords Glocester Derby Arundel Warwick and Marshall send him word That if he come not quickly to Westminster according to appointment they would chuse them another King who both would and should obey the Counsel of the Peers Hereupon the King though with no good-will attends their Lordships pleasure at Westminster where he yeilded to remove from about his person Alexander Neville Archbishop of York the Bishops of Durham and Chichester the Lords Zouch and Beaumont with divers others and amongst them certain Ladies Other of his friends were made prisoners And at the Parliament which was shortly after the Judges were arrested as they sate in Judgment and most of them sent to the Tower Trisilian that had fled being apprehended and brought to the Parliament in the forenoon had sentence to be drawn to Tyburn in the afternoon and there to have his throat cut which was done accordingly Divers other Knights also were sacrificed to their revenge The Duke of Ireland and others had their estates confiscated to the Kings use by Act of Parliament This while the Scots invaded the North of England under the conduct of Sir William Douglas whom Henry Hot-spur fighting with hand to hand slew but the Earl of Dunbar coming with an excessive number of Scots took Hot-spur and his brother prisoners A. D. 1396 Peace was concluded with the French the Scots and Spaniards being included therein And in September 1397 a Parliament called The Great for the extraordinary number of Peers and their retinues which came thereunto was held at London wherein the sanctuary of former Laws and all particular Charters of pardon were taken away from Thomas Duke of Glocester the Earl of Arundel and others for their treasonable practises and all the Justitiars who stood for the King were cleared from dishonour and such Articles as they had subscribed were publickly ratifyed and the offenders against them pronounced Traytors Richard Earl of Arundel was beheaded on Tower-Hill where at his death he utterly denyed that he was a Traytor in word or deed The Earl of Warwick confessing himself a Traytor in open Court was only banished to the Isle of Man The Duke of Glocester whom as the peoples darling it seemed not safe to bring to a publique Tryal was secretly smothered with pillows and feather-beds at Callis The King at this Parliament created himself Prince of Chester and to his Escutcheon-Royal added the Armories of Edward the Confessor his Cousin Henry Earl of Derby he made Duke of Hereford and advanced the Titles of many other Nobles Not long after which Henry Duke of Hereford accused Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk for speaking certain words to the Kings dishonour which Mowbray constantly denying it should have come to a combat within Lists but the King ended the controversy otherwise by banishing Norfolk for ever and Hereford first for ten years then for six only In the year following the Duke of Lancaster dyed when the King unjustly seized upon the goods of that mighty Prince his Uncle and determined to banish for ever his son the Duke of Hereford now Duke of Lancaster by his Fathers death But whilst King Richard was in Ireland to qualify a disturbance there Henry Duke of Lancaster and Hereford lands in England with what forces he had pretending nothing but the recovery of his inheritance To him there repaired the Earl of Northumberland his son Hot-Spur and Earl of Westmoreland with many others Multitudes offering their service to him as pitying his calamity and exasperated against the King because to furnish his Irish voyage he had extorted moneys on all hands and had taken up carriages victuals and other necessaries without any recompence The Duke of Lancaster with an Army of about sixty thousand marched to Bristol besieged the Castle and took it and therein two Knights of the Kings Councel Bushy and Green whose heads were cut off at the request of the rabble The Duke of York whom King Richard had left behind him to govern England could gain but small assistance against Lancaster nor could the King at his return into England find many friends therefore he betook himself to a parly with his enemies the sum of his demands being That if himself and eight more whom he should name might have Honourable allowance with the assurance of a private quiet life he would resign the Crown This was promised him whereupon he put himself into the Duke of Lancasters hands who conducted him out of the West to London where he was lodged in the Tower And now a Parliament is summoned in the Kings name to be held at Westminster in which Parliament King Richard was charged with the breach of his Coronation-Oath in thirty two Articles His abuse of the publick Treasure waste of the Crown-Land loss of Honour abroad and that at home he was guilty of Falshood Injustice Treason against the rights of the Crown and what not that ambition and envy could invent against him Tho. Arundell A. B. Cant. The result whereof was he resigned his Crown to the Duke of Lancaster which resignation the whole body of the Parliament did particularly accept saving the most loyal Bishop of Carlisle A. D. 1399 Septemb 29. In the very beginning of this Kings reign one John Philpot a private Citizen of London at his own charge manned out a Fleet to the Sea for the guarding of both Land and Sea from the enemy
VVarwick fled into France thinking to take sanctuary at Callis but there the Lord Vawclear whom VVarwick had substituted his Deputy denied them admittance bidding them defiance with his great Guns for which good service King Edward mad Vawâ—leaâ— himself Governour of Callis But though these Lords were rejected here yet were they with great respect received at the â—rench Court K. Lewis furnishing them with aids which effected they set sail and landed at Dartmouth from whence Warwick marched towards London proclaiming Henry King and commanding all from sixteen to sixty upon a great penalty to take arms against the Usurper Edward Duke of York And incredible it was to see the confluence of them which came armed to him who a little before applauded and approved none but King Edward The Bastard Fawconbridg in the West and the Earl of Pembroke in Wales every-where proclaimed King Henry also And the Lord Montacute who having mustered 6000 men in the name of King Edward and brought them forward almost to Nottingham drew them back again alledging King Edward's ungratefulness to his friends Every one cryed now A King Henry a King Henry a Warwick a Warwick and indeed all so applauded the passage now on foot that King Edward was forced to flye beyond the seas His Queen Elizabeth stole out of the Tower and took sanctuary in Westminster where on the 4th of November she was delivered of a son which without all pomp was there also baptized by the name of Edward Other Sanctuaries were also full of Edwards Friends And now the Kentish men took the opportunity to rob spoil and do much harm about London and some in London it self and more would have done had not the Earl of Warwick come in to the rescue which encreased his name that was great enough before On October 6 the said Earl entred the Tower wherein King Henry had been detained prisoner almost the space of 9 years whom he released and restored to him the title of King and forthwith conveyed him through London to the Bishops palace where a pompous Court was kept till the 13 of the same month on which day Henry went Crowned to St. Pauls the Earl of Warwick bearing his Train and Earl of Oxford the Sword the people crying God save King Henry November 26 following a certain Parliament was begun at Westminster wherein K. Edward was declared a Traytor to his Country an Usurper of the Crown and had all his goods confiscate the like judgment passed against his adherents John Tiptoft Earl of Worcester was beheaded All the Statutes made by K. Edward were revoked The Crowns of England and France entailed to K. Henry and his Heirs Male and for want of such unto George Duke of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick was made Governour of the Land in those turbulent times But K. Edward having received some aids from the Duke of Burgundy and the promises of more in England landed at Ravenspur in Yorkshire At his first arrival he seemed to lay aside his claim to the Crown pretending only to his rights as a private person howbeit when he had possest himself of York and got his friends about him he then marched in an hostile manner till he came near to the City of Warwick where his Brother Clarence brought in to his assistance 4000 men And Clarence reconciled to K. Edward sought to draw in Warwick to which end he sent messengers to him to the Town of Warwick where he then lay but Warwick bade the Messengers go tell the Duke from him That he had rather be an Earl and always like himself than a perjured Duke and that ere his Oath should be falsified as the Dukes apparently was he would lay down his life at his enemies foot which he doubted not should be bought very dear This stout resolution made Edward more wary therefore he hastens forward to obtain London whither when he was come the Citizens set open their Gates to him And now peaceable Henry becomes Prisoner again to K. Edward who hearing of Warwicks advance towards London draws forth his forces to meet him taking Henry along with him and upon Gladmore neer Barnet on Easterday in the morning the Kings and Earls hosts joyned Battel the best of the day for a while being Warwicks but at length through the fogginess and darkness of the Air the Stars embroidered on the Earl of Oxfords mens Coats who were in the left wing of the Battel were mistaken for the Sun which K. Edwards men wore in which error VVarwicks Battalion le ts fly at their own fellows that were in great forwardness of gaining the victory and they not knowing the cause of the errour judged themselves betrayed whereupon the Earl of Oxford with 800 men quit the Field Which great VVarwick perceiving he couragiously animated his men and furiously rushed into the midst of his enemies battel so far that he could not be rescued where valiantly fighting he was slain Marquis Montacute making forward to relieve him was also slain whereby ended that bloody days task On King Edward's part died the Lord Cromwel Lord Bourchier Lord Barnes and Sir John Lisle On the other part the Earl of Warwick and his brother John Nevil Marquis Montacute On both sides ten thousand most of which were buried upon the same plain where afterwards a Chappel was built In this same year 1471 and within few weeks after this was a battel fought at Tewksbury betwixt King Edward and the Martial Queen Margaret the defeat hapning to the Queen On whose side were slain John Lord Sommerset John Courtney Earl of Devonshire Sir John Delves Sir Edward Hampden Sir Robert Whittingham and Sir John Lewkner with three hundred others Amongst them that fled Prince Edward King Henries son was one him Sir Richard Crofts apprehended and presented him to the King whom the King a while beheld with austere countenance at last demanded of him How he durst with Banner display'd so presumptuously disturb his Realm To which the Prince answered That what he did was to recover his Fathers Kingdomes and his most rightful inheritance How darest thou then added the Prince which art his subject display thy Colours against him thy Liege-Lord Which answer so moved King Edward that he dashed the Prince on the mouth with his Gantlet and Richard Duke of Glocester with some of the Kings servants most shamefully murdred him at the Kings feet His body was buried in the Monastery of the black Friars at Tewksbury Edmond Duke of Sommerset the Pryor of St. Johns with many Knights and Esquires were taken forth of Sanctuary and executed at Tewksbury Queen Margaret in this fatal day of battel took into a religious house from whence she was taken and committed to sure and strait keeping in which condition she remained till such time that she was ransomed by her Father Duke Renate May 20 King Edward entred London and in few days after the Crookback'd Duke of Glocester stabbed harmless King Henry to the heart Whose
not be burdened so in the future Fourthly That the late Commissions for proceeding by Martial-Law might be revoked and annulled and that hereafter no Commission of like nature might be issued forth To all which the King at last yielded his consent sending this answer to the Parliament Soit droit fait comme il est desirèe And to the peoples further satisfaction his Majesty received into his favour the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Lincoln the Earls of Essex Lincoln Warwick Bristol and the Lord Say The Parliament next resume their accusation of the Duke of Buckingham against whom they drew up another Remonstrance the like they did against Bishop Neal and Bishop Laud and at last were about to take away the Kings right to Tonnage and Poundage whereupon the King adjourned them till October 20th and afterwaâ—d by Proclamation till the 20th of January following About this time Dr. Lamb a favourite of the Dukes and supposed Necromancer was killed in London by the rout of the people who hated him both for his own sake and the Dukes A. D. 1628 During the last Session a Fleet of fifty sail was sent to the relief of Rochel but was repelled with much loss Then another expedition was agreed on and a more formidable Fleet was prepared but as the Duke of Buckingham was at Portsmouth hastning his preparations for Sea he was suddenly stab'd by Lieutenant Felton who after his apprehension being demanded what invited him to the bloody fact boldly answered That he killed him for the Cause of God and his Country The murderer was hang'd at Tyburn his body sent to Portsmouth where without the Town it was hanged up in Chains In the Dukes place the Earl of Lindsey an excellent Souldier was sent for the aid of Rochel who after some valiant yet fruitless attempts returned into England and the Rochellers to the obedience of the French King And within a short time after peace was concluded betwixt France and England January 20th the Parliament assembled again when they prepared a Bill against Tonnage and Poundage and the Commons made a Protestation amongst themselves That whosoever should seek to introduce Popery or Arminianisme or other opinions disagreeing from the true and Orthodox Church should be reputed a Capital enemy to the Commonwealth That whosoever should counsel or advise the taking or levying the Subsidies of Tonnage or Poundage not being granted in Parliament or should be an Actor or Instrument therein should likewise be reputed an enemy to the Commonwealth or whosoever should voluntarily pay the same not being granted by Parliament should be reputed a betrayer of the Liberties and an enemy of the Common-wealth Hereupon his Majesty presently dissolved the Parliament After which he called to question certain refractory Members at the Council Table Namely Sir John Elliot Sir Miles Hobard Mr. Denzill Hollis Sir Peter Hayman Sir John Barrington Mr. Selden Mr. Stroud Mr. Coriton Mr. Long Mr. Valentine and Mr. Kirton who were all commited to Prison But by the dissolving of the Parliament 1629 the Popular odium was in a high measure stirred up against the great Ministers of State as was manifested by certain invective Libels published against Bishop Laud and the Lord Treasurer Weston This Year a peace was concluded with Spain A. D. 1630 and May 29 was Prince Charles born and about noon of the same day was a Star seen in the Firmament In this Year was the old Prerogative-Statute for Knighthood put in execution whereby those who had estates of 40 l. per. Annum were summoned to appear to receive Knighthood and upon default to be fined by which means one hundred thousand pounds was brought into the Exchequer Sir Thomas Wentworth was now made Viscount Wentworth and Lord President of the North. A. D. 1632 his Majesty recalled the Lords Justices out of Ireland who then had the Government thereof and in their stead sent thither the Lord Wentworth as Lord Deputy The King recommended to the Nobility and Gentry the raising amongst themselves a large contribution towards the reparation of St. Pauls Church in London which motion was so far entertained that a considerable sum was gathered and the work had a fair progress A. D. 1633 and May 13 the King took a Journey into Scotland there to be Crowned and it was but time for him so to do for not long before this he had received a Letter from a Scotch Lord wherein was this expression That shou'd he longer defer his coming to be Crowned the people might perhaps be inclined to make choice of a new King As soon as the Coronation-Rites were accomplished the King summoned a Parliament and past an Act for the ratification of all those Laws that King James had made in that Nation for the better regulation of that Church both as to the Government and Worship of it Which Act too many sinister persons opposed because it savoured of establishing Episcopacy October the 13 was James Duke of York born the Book for tolerating sports on the Lords day first published by King James was now ratified which greatly distasted the Puritanical party and many Episcoparians also A. D. 1634 the English Coasts being infested with Pickeroons Turks and Dunkirk-Pirates and the Fishing usurped by the Hollanders on the Kings Dominions in the narrow Seas and the Kings Exchequer not being able to furnish out a Fleet sufficient for the repressing these Incroachers his Majesty hereupon consults his Attorney-General Noy what might be done herein Wil. Laud A. B. Cant. Noy acquaints him with ancient Presidents of raising a Tax upon the Nation for setting forth a Fleet in case of danger and assures him of the Legality of the way in proceeding by Writs to that effect which Counsel being imbraced there were Writs directed to the several Counties for such a contribution as might in the whole build furnish and maintain 47. Ships for the safety of the Kingdom but this Tax was by many disrellished and censured as a breach of the civil liberties and to be against Law because not laid by Parliament and Mr. John Hambden and others refused to pay this Ship-money standing it to a Tryal of Law against whom several of the Judges to whom the King had referred the Cause gave Judgment Hutton and Crook excepted The Pirates were curb'd by the Kings Fleet and the Hollanders reduced to a precarious use of the English Seas A. D. 1637. Mr. Prynne Dr. Bastwick and Mr. Burton a Lawyer Physitian and Divine for writing against Episcopacy and Bishops were sentenced to pay 5000 l. to the King to lose their ears in the Pillory which they did and then were sent into banishment or remote confinement Dr. Williams Bishop of Lincolne was fined and suspended from his Offices and Benefits and imprisoned for underhandly fomenting Popular disaffections and venting some dishonourable speeches concerning the King July 13 while the Dean in his Sacerdotal habiliments was reading a new composed Liturgy in St. Giles Church at
his near Kinswoman and not long after slew her Husband that he might the more freely injoy his incestuous pleasure Otho A B Cant. A great enemy he was to the Monks Order expelling them from some of their Monastries and placing married Priests in their vacancies Dunstan the St. he expelled the Realm either for his bold reprehensions of him or for detaining the Treasure his Uncle had committed to his keeping or both but the people having the Monks single life in high veneration and conceiting Dunstan to be a very holy man they turned their affections from him and sware their fealty to Edgar for very grief whereof he pined away and dyed A. D. 959 and was buried in the Church of the New-Abby at Winchester EDGAR A.D. 959. EDgar sirnamed the Peaceable was Crowned at Kingston by Otho Arch-Bishop of Canterbury To rid the Land of Wolves which then were very plenty instead of the Tribute imposed on the Prince of Wales by King Athelstan he appointed Luduall Prince of Wales to pay yearly 300 Wolves His Navy-Royal he imployed in securing the Coasts from Pirates and foreign enemies wherein himself would sayl every Summer And in the Winter he would circuit the Countrey taking an account of the administration of his Laws and demeanor of his great men especially his Judges whom he would punish severely if he found them to have been guilty of bribery or partiality insomuch that there was never less robbery deceit or oppression than in the reign of this King His State was so flourishing in peace and prosperity that caused divers Kings to bind themselves in League with him Wars he had none in all his reign OTHO A.B. Cant. save a little towards the latter end thereof by the Welsh whom he quickly curbed But that which darkned his glory was his lasciviousness For he defloured a certain Nun called Wolfchild on whom he begat St. Edyth after her another named Ethelflede on whom he begat his son Edward And after this happening to hear a Western Dukes Daughter extolled for her beauty he came to her Fathers house commanding her to his bed But her Mother tender of her honour instead of her Virgin-daughter brought her servant-maid in the dark to the King who well enough pleas'd him that night though in the morning when he understood the deceit he checked the Lady yet entertain'd this Servant for his Concubine keeping to her bed alone till he married his lawful Wife Elfrida Duke Ordgarus daughter The fame of whose excelling-beauty coming to his ear he employed Earl Ethelwold his Favourite to go to visit her and if he found her beauty suiting then to court and secure her for the King But Etholwold liked her so well when he saw her that he courted her for himself and at his return to Court pretended to the King that her beauty was far short of what it was famed to be therefore besought the King in respect she was a great Heiress that he would sollicite her Father to bestow her upon him to Wife Which the credulous King did But the Duke had not been long married with fair Elfrida ere a fresh commendation of her beauty sounded in the Kings ears Elsius and Dunstane A.B. Cant. Whereupon he resolved to make his own eyes the Witnesses which accordingly he did And upon sight of her beauty became so inamored of her that taking Etholwold at the advantage as they were hunting together he ran him through with his Javelin then took Elfreda to be his Wife who was very willing to embrace the honour Edgar at the instigation of Dunstane now Archbishop of Canterbury displaced the married priests and possessed their vacancies with Monks of single life To repress drunkenness which the Danes had brought in he ordained a size by certain Pins in the Pot with penalty to any that presumed to drink deeper than the Mark. He dyed A.D. 975 and was buried in the Abby of Glastenbury His Issue were Edward Edmond and Ethelred Ordolph the son of Ordgare Earl of Devonshire in A. D. 961 built a famous Abby at Tavistoke in Devon Ethelwald Bishop of Winchester about A. D. 963 and in the reign of King Edgar in a great Famine sold away all the sacred Vessels of his Church for to relieve the poor saying That there was no reason that the sensless Temples of God should abound in riches and lively Temples of the Holy-Ghost to want them EDWARD II. 975. EDward sirnamed the Martyr was much opposed by his Mother-in-law Queen Elfrida and many of the Nobles as being illegitimate but by the procurement of Dunstane and the Clergy he was admitted to be King and was crowned at Kingstone in A.D. 975. The beginning of whose Reign was attended with a miserable barrenness of the ground and Murrain amongst Cattel A dreadful Comet also appeared These many men thought to be signs and judgments sent from heaven for the sins committed against the Married Clergy who were expulsed from their ancient possessions In favour of whom the Duke of Mercia destroyed the Monastries in his Province cast out the Monks restoring to the Priests and their Wives their ancient revenues On the contrary Duke Edelwin in East-Saxia grievously oppressed the married Priests To put an end therefore to these troubles and to prevent the dangers that might ensue the case was referred to be heard in Council at Winchester where the business was debated so long till the Monks were in hazard of losing the day Whereupon it was perswaded to be referred to the Rood placed where the Council sate which Oracle after devout prayers made unto it thus spake God forbid it should be so God forbid it should be so you judged well once and to change that again is not good Upon which words the married Priests went down the wind But they disclosing to the people that this was but a trick of the Monks in placing a man behind the wall who through a trunk uttered these words in the mouth of the Rood it was therefore instantly desired that the case might be once more scanned Which was granted and at Cloves in Wiltshire the Prelates Peers and Commons assembled where being set in consultation Ethelgar and Elfrick A.B. Cant. the Chamber-floor being over-pressed with the weight of people broke and fell down hurting many and killing others only St. Dunstane by a miracle remained without any hurt the post whereon his Chair stood standing still firm This is the story And now the secular married Priests were left to take Care without any Cure But King Edward as he hunted near Corf-Castle where Elfrida and her son Ethelred resided either on purpose or by chance parted from his company and came to the Castle to visit his Brother-in-law where as he sate on horse-back at the gate discoursing with Elfrida and Ethelred and whilst he was drinking a cup of Wine a knife was struck into his back by a servant whom Elfrida had appointed thereunto Whereupon the King setting
without the King's leave That no Archbishop or Bishop upon the Popes summons should go out of the Realm without the Kings license That no Bishop should excommunicate any holding of the King in chief or put any of his Officers under interdict without the Kings license That Clerks criminous should be tryed before Secular Judges Unto which Articles the King peremptorily urged Becket to yeild without any reservation of saving in all things his order and right of the Church But Becket utterly refused sending complaints thereupon to the Pope who very desirous to keep the Kings favour required the Bishop to yeild unto the King without any salvo's or exceptions So Becket though with much reluctancy at length did swear in verbo Sacerdotali de plano that he would observe the Laws which the King intituled Avitae of his Grandfather the like to which did all the other Bishops and Nobility But notwithstanding Becket refused to set his seal to the Instrument wherein these Customs were comprehended alledging that he did promise it only to do the King some honour in word only but not with intent to confirm the said Articles Whereupon the King sent to Pope Alexander the third thinking by his means to have subjected the Prelate But he passing it by the King undertook the case himself and by his Peers and Bishops had all Beckets movable Goods condemned to his mercy they also adjudging him guilty of perjury The Bishops did by the mouth of the Bishop of Chichester disclaim thenceforward all obedience to him as their Arch-bishop And the next day whilst they were consulting further concerning him the Bishop caused to be sung before him at the Altar The Princes sit and speak against me and the ungodly persecute me c. and forthwith taking his silver Crosier in his hands he entred therewith into the Kings presence But the King enraged at his boldness commanded his Peers to sit in judgment on him and they adjudged him as a Traytor and perjured person to be apprehended and cast into prison To prevent which Becket fled into Flanders the Pope now openly siding with him and also Lewis the French King But Henry to let the Servant of servants know that he was supreme in his own Kingdom and that he liked not his taking part with a subject against his Sovereign Lord commanded the Sheriffs to attack such as did appeal to the Court of Rome with the Relations of all such of the English Clergy as were with Becket and to put them under Sureties Also to seize their Revenues Goods and Chattels The King likewise seized all the Archbishops Goods and Profits banished his Kindred prohibited his being publickly prayed for as Archbishop Commanded his Justices to apprehend and secure all such as should bring any Interdict into England till the Kings pleasure was further known On the other hand Becket in France by special authority from the Pope excommunicated the Bishop of London and proceeded so far with others that there was scarce found in the Kings Chappel such as might perform the wonted Service Hereupon the King sends again to the Pope to send him Legates which might absolve his excommunicate subjects and settle a Peace But the Popes Legates whom he sent did not effect a reconciliation by reason of Becket's perversness Some conjecture that in contempt of Becket whose Office it was as Archbishop of Canterbury to Crown the King King Henry caused his eldest son Henry to be crowned King of England by Roger Archbishop of York At whose Coronation-feast the Father-King himself carrying up the first dish of Meat the Archbishop pleasantly said to the young King Rejoyce my fair Son for there is no Prince in the world that hath such a Servitor attending at his Table as you have To whom the proud young King thus answered Why wonder you at that My Father knows that he doth nothing unbeseeming him forasmuch as he is royal born but on-one side but Our self are royal born both by Father and Mother Not long after this by mediation of some friends a reconciliation between the King and Becket was effected and Becket was permitted to have the full use of his Metropolitan See and all the profits thereof with the Arrearages Which he had not long re-possessed ere he published the Popes Letters by which Roger Archbishop of York and Hugh Bishop of Durham were suspended from their Episcopal Function for crowning the yong King in prejudice of the See of Canterbury And the Bishops of London Sarum and Excester cut off from the Church by Censure for assisting therein whom Becket would not absolve at the young Kings request but under conditions Which the old King then in Normandy hearing of let fall some words intimating his high displeasure against the Archbishop and desire to be rid of him Whereupon Hugh Morvill William Tracie Hugh Brito and Richard Fits-Vrse Knights and Courtiers hasted into England and murder'd the Archbishop in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury Richard a Monk A.B. Cant. as he stood in the Evening-service-time before the Altar Which done the Parricides fled and Thomas was reputed for a most Glorious Saint and Martyr and strange Miracles beyond my Creed are reported to have been done by this dead Roman-Saint and his blood Amongst other Epitaphs made on his death this was one Quis moritur praesul Cur pro grege Qualiter ense Quando Natali Quis locus Ara Dei. But the news of this vile act coming to the ears of the old King he was exceedingly troubled and to take off the imputation of Guilt from himself he protested that he would submit himself to the judgment of such Cardinal Legates as the Pope should send to enquire of the fact And to calm his own perturbations and avert mens thoughts from the consideration of that Tragedy he undertook the conquest of Ireland which he effected being helped forward therein by the Civil dissentions then amongst the Irish petty Kings Where having caused a reformation of the Irish Church and setled affairs therein to his conveniency he returned into England and from thence posted into Normandy where attended for his arrival two Cardinal-Legats sent at his own request for his purgation concerning Thomas a Becket's death by whom he was absolved Having first given oath that he was no way consenting to the fact and declared his sorrow for having in his anger given occasion by rash words for others to do the deed and ingaged to perform injoyned penances The conditions of his absolution were That at his own charge he should maintain 200 Soldiers a whole year for the defence of the Holy Land and that he should revoke the Laws which he had made against the priviledges of the See of Rome and Beckets friends And now this Cloud thus blown over another succeeds in its place For his unnatural Son young King Henry by the instigation of his Mother Queen Eleanor conspired against him having for his confederates the Kings of France and Scotland
this famous Champion K. Philip by degrees gain'd all in Normandy even Roan it self Main Turain and Poictou revolted from King John and Angiers was betrayed All these losses happening through the default of some of the English Peers and Prelates For when the King was in readiness to take shipping for Normandy Hubert the Archbishop forbad him proceeding in the voyage the Peers also again refused to attend him Wherefore the King put many of his Earls Barons and Knights yea and Clergy-men also to a grievous pecuniary redemption and Huberts Wealth and Possessions who dyed the same year the King seized on This Hubert was suspected of too familiar practising with the King of France Upon the death of this Archbishop Hubert the Monks of Canterbury made choice of Reginald their Sub-Prior in his stead and the King after them of John Gray Bishop of Norwich a man of great wisdom But the Pope neglecting both these recommended Stephen de Langton to the Monks of Canterbury and Bishops of that Province to be presently chosen for their Primate Which the Monks unwilling and deferring to do Stephen Langton A.B. Cant. alledging that no Canonical Election could be made at Rome where was no consent neither of King nor Covent The Pope with choler replied That he had plenitude of Power over the Church of Canterbury and moreover that no consent of Princes used to be expected in Elections where the Pope was He therefore commanded them under pain of his high curse to accept him for their Primate Which all accordingly did though not without murmurations save one Elias de Brantford And to work the King into a compliance hereto the Pope sent him four Gold Rings with four precious stones an Emerald Saphire Ruby and Topaz signifying in his Letter sent with them that the Rings roundness must remember him of Eternity the quadrate number must mind him of Constancy and the four Cardinal Virtues Prudence Justice Temperance and Fortitude The Golds price of Wisdom the Emeralds greeness of Faith the Saphires brightness of Hope the Rubies redness of Charity and the Topaz's clearness of sanctity of life But King John for all these fond toys and fine words when he observed the Popes arbitrariness the dishonour arising to himself in being frustrated of his choice the prejudice to his Crown in having a Bishop thrust upon him without Sovereign consent the hazard to the State in having a French Favourite over the English with also the Monks disloyalty in yeilding to the Pope's Election He first of all proscribed the Monks as Traytors and after that writ Letters to the Pope wherein he alledged the wrongs done to himself and made his exceptions against Langton vowing immutably to stand for his own elect and to dye in defence of the liberties of his Crown likewise minding the Pope of his great profits he received from England menacing withall that if he were crossed in this he would then stop all from crossing the Seas to Rome To which Letters of the King the Pope answered very comminatory and shortly after viz. in A. D. 1208. because the King would be King in his own Dominions this Servus Servorum interdicted the whole Kingdom under which it lay for the term of six years and fourteen weeks without Gods service or Sacraments or Christian burial The Lay-people were tumbled like Dogs into every Ditch Howbeit the King to be even with the Pope proscribed the disloyal Clergy their revenues he confiscated their Bishopricks Abbies and Priories he put into Laymens hands and every-where they suffered wrong without ordinary protection of justice But some of the eminent Clergy detested the Popes savage proceedings as Philip Bishop of Durham and his Successor The Bishops of Winchester and Norwich they animated the King to contemn the Papal Curse and the Cistercian Abbots neglecting the Interdict continued their Divine Service till the Pope suspended them for their contempt Moreover the Pope to revenge himself on the King Anathematized him by name which caused many to desert his service for which he punished them by Fine Yet at length the better to secure himself and State the King was very desirous to come to an atonement and assured under his Seal that Archbishop Langton with the Bishops and Monks and others should be restored both to his favour and their possessions that Holy Church should have all its Franchises as in Edward the Confessors time But because he would not make full satisfaction to the Clergy for all confiscations and other emoluments received of them the Popes Nuncio's refused a peace with him And the Pope was so mad that he absolved all Kings and people poor and rich having dependence on him from all fealty and subjection to him whereupon Male-contents set themselves to work mischief The Welsh fall off from the King wherefore at Nottingham he hangs up their hostages 28 in number His Nobles many of them held themselves discharged of their Allegiance so rebel inviting the French King to their assistance and promising to settle the English Crown on his head Stephen Langton and other Bishops implore the Popes help to support the Church of England being at the point of ruine His officious Holiness thereupon decrees That K. John must be deposed and that he would â—ppoint one more worthy in his stead To effectuate which the Pope sent his Letters to Philip King of France requiring him to undertake the affair of dethroning the King of England and for his reward he should have pardon of all his sins besides the enjoying of the English Crown to him and his heirs for ever Also transmitting his Letters general to all Potentates Soldiers Men of War of all Nations to sign themselves with the sign of the Cross and to follow Philip in this design assuring all that their assistance herein whether in person or purse should be no less meritorious than if they visited our Saviours Sepulcher The King of France accepts the offer and makes great preparation for the invading of England and King John raises a Land-Army and prepares a Royal Navy to withstand him But ere the French make their attempts Pandulph the Popes Messenger arrives in England and so wrought upon the King what by representing the danger he was in and what by flattering promises that King John not insensible of his desperate estate sware in all things to submit to the judgment of the Church And shortly after at the Knight-Templers House in Dover he surrendred his Crown into the hands of Pandulph for the use of the Pope laying at his feet his Scepter Robe Sword and Ring and subscribed to a Charter whereby he resigned his Kingdom to the Pope Professing he did it neither through fear or force but of his own free will as having no other way to make satisfaction to God and the Church for his offence And that from that time forward he would hold his Crown of the Pope paying a pension annual of a Thousand Marks for the Kingdoms of
Kings-bench Court and there pronounced pardon of all offences committed against him On July 4 he came to the Tower where he Created Estates ordained the Knights of the Bath set at liberty the A.B. of York and Lord Stanley and July 6 was anointed and Crowned at Westminster But this Usurper well knowing that whilst his young Nephews were living the Crown would not stand firm on his head he therefore imploys Sir James Tirrel a man of an aspiring spirit to procure these Childrens destruction which accordingly he did For about midnight Miles Forest and John Dighton Tirrell's bloody instruments came into the Chamber where the young King and his Brother lay and suddenly wrapt them up in the Bed-clothes keeping by force the Feather-bed and Pillows hard upon their mouths that they were therein smothered to death This villany done Sir James caused the Murderers to bury their Bodies at the stairs-foot somewhat deep in the ground under a great heap of stones though afterward K. Richard caused them to be taken up inclosed in Lead and to be cast into a place called the Black-deeps at the Thames mouth But the justice of God pursued the Murderers for Forest rotted away piece-meal Tirrell died for Treason under Henry 7 and Dighton lived and died a vagabond beyond the Seas And the Usurper after this detestable fact never had quiet in his mind never thought himself secure but when he went abroad his eyes still whirled about his body privily fenced his hand ever on his Dagger his sleep interrupted with fearful dreams sometimes suddenly starting up leaping out of his bed and running about the Chamber Immediately also after this Murder began the Conspiracy betwixt the Duke of Buckingham and divers other Gentlemen against the Murderer The occasion of Buckinghams falling off from Richard is diversly reported some say it was because the King would not grant him the Duke of Hereford's lands to the which he pretended himself the rightful heir others impute it to the Dukes high-mindedness that he could not bear the glory of another Himself said the occasion was the murder of the two Children But be the occasion what it would yet this is most sure that this enmity of the Dukes to the King proved of good consequence to the rightful heirs to the Crown For hereupon the Duke left the Court retiring to his own house of Brecknock where he had in his custody that true friend to K. Edward's Posterity John Morton Bishop of Ely who by his wisdom abused the Dukes pride to his own deliverance the Dukes destruction and benefit of such to whom the Crown of right appertained When the Duke was at first become alienated from the King and come to his own house he solicited the Bishop his Prisoner to speak his mind freely to him in matters of state but the Bishop refused thus answering him In good faith my Lord I love not much to talk with Princes as a thing not all out of peril although the words be without fault forasmuch as it shall not be taken as the party meant it but as it pleaseth the Prince to construe it And ever I think on Aesops tale that when the Lion had proclaimed that on pain of death there should no horned beast abide in the Wood one that had in his forehead a bunch of flesh fled away a great pace The Fox that saw him run so fast asked him Whither he made all that haste he answered In faith I neither wot nor care so I were once hence because of this Proclamation of horned beasts What fool quoth the Fox thou mayest well enough abide the Lion meant not thee for it is no horn on thy head No marry quoth he that wote I well enough but what and if he call it an horn where am I then But though the Bishop at the first declined talking of State-matters with the Duke yet afterward when by often discoursing with the Duke and other circumstances he found him to be of a proud stomach and emulated the Kings greatness he would speak his mind frankly enough to him rendring the Usurper as odious as was possible by alledging his unnaturalness to his own Mother in charging her with defiling the Marriage-bed his unnaturalness to his own Brothers and Nephews in saying they were bastards his murdering his Nephews and other enormities Then to tickle the Dukes own ambition the Bishop would commend him to be a person of such rare vertues that he merited to wear the Crown himself inviting him for Gods sake and his Countries sake to take the Government upon himself or otherwise to devise some means how the Realm might be rid of the Tyrant and brought under some good Governour When the Duke had pondered a while upon this and the like discourse of the Bishops he acquainted the Bishop That his resolutions were to advance Henry Earl of Richmond to the Crown and that the said Earl of Richmond heir of the House of Lancaster should marry the Lady Elizabeth eldest Daughter of Edward the fourth by which Marriage the Housâ—s of York and Lancaster should be united into one All which to effect the Duke and Bishop first made the Mothers of Elizabeth and Henry privy hereunto and imployed divers trusty instruments to interest the Nobles and Gentry in the design Then the Bishop left Brecknock in disguise and sailed into Flanders where he did Earl Henry eminent services Many great persons combined to dethrone the Usurper which he having knowledg of sent his loving Letters to the Duke of Buckingham whom he understood to be head of the Complotters requesting him most earnestly to come to the Court for he was in great want of his wise counsel But the Duke mistrusting his smooth words excused himself that he was sickly and not well able to travel The King therefore sent his commands to him and threats withal if he refused to give attendance unto which the Duke sent his resolute answer That he would not come to his mortal enemy and immediately prepared War against him Then Thomas Marquess Dorset came out of Sanctuary and also gathered a band of men in the North Sir Edward Courtney and his Brother the Bishop of Excester raised another Army in Devonshire and Cornwall and in Kent Sir Richard Guilford and other Gentlemen raised a party all which was done in a moment But the Usurper marching with his Host against the Dukes forces which were most Welsh they for want of pay and other provision brake up their Camp and left the Duke to shift for himself which when the Confederates understood they also dispersed themselves The Duke of Buckingham in disguise repaired for security unto a servants of his near Shrewsbury named Humphry Banister but the King by Proclamation promising great rewards to him that should detect the Duke that wretch Banister for the hope of gain betrayed his Master the Duke Who with a guard of men was conveyed to Salisbury where without arraignment or judgment the Duke lost his
wonderful to me that my marriage after twenty years should be thus called in Question with new invention against me who never intended but honesty Alas Sir I see that I am wronged having no Counsel to speak for me but such as are your Subjects and cannot be indifferent upon my part therefore I most humbly beseech you even in charity to stay this course until I may have advice and Councel from Spain if not your Graces pleasure be done Then rising and making low obeisance to the King she departed the Court and though the Crier called her to come into the Court as she was going away yet she went on bidding her Attendant to go forward and saying to him This is no indifferent Court for me When the King perceived that she was departed he presently spake thus unto the Assembly I will quoth he in her absence declare before you all that she hath been to me a most true obedient and comfortable Wife endued with all vertuous qualities and conditions according to her birth and in lowliness equals any of baser sort Which said Cardinal Wolsey humbly requested the King that he would be pleased to declare before that honourable Assembly whether he had been the cause of this his intended Divorce wherewith he was charged in the opinions of the people Whereupon the King said My Lord Cardinal I can well excuse you in this and rather affirm that you have been against me in attempting it thus far Then by and by the Court was adjourned till May 28 following which time being come the Kings learned Council alledged many reasons and likelihoods to prove that Prince Arthur had nuptial knowledg of Lady Catherines body as their being both of years capable to expleat the Act he above fifteen she above seventeen and both laid in one bed almost five months together c. From day to day the Pleas proceeded but nothing was concluded touching the Divorce therefore the King sent the two Cardinals to perswade with the Queen to put the whole matter to himself which he said would be far better and more honourable for her than to stand to the trial of the Law These Legats accordingly repairing to her she from among her maids at work came presently forth of an inner room to them having a skein of white thread about her neck to whom she said Alack my Lords I am very sorry to make you attend upon me What is your will Madam quoth Wolsey We are come in good will to know your Graces mind in this great matter of your Marriage and to give you our advice with the best service we can The Queen thanking them said That by order of holy Church she was espoused to the King as his true Wife and in that point she would abide till the Court of Rome which was privy to the beginning had made thereof a final determination and end The King then hopeless of his Queens consent hasted his Lawyers to forward the Divorce which daily they did but when the day appointed was come for the final determination of the matter in question then Cardinal Campeius reserved it for the Pope himself to conclude Which so enraged the Duke of Suffolk that with a stern countenance he said It was never merry in England since we have had any Cardinals amongst us And Cardinal Wolsey though he sought to excuse himself herein as not having sufficient authority yet did he fall under the Kings high displeasure The first step of this great Prelates fall was his dislike of the Kings affection unto Anne Bullen a Gentlewoman nothing favourable to his Pontifical pomp nor no great follower of the Ceremonies of those times of Popery which moved the Cardinal to write unto the Pope to defer the judgment of Divorce till he had wrought the Kings mind in another mould Which was not done so secretly but it came to the Kings ear and proved to his ruin For first the Broad-seal was taken from him and some of his Bishopricks his house and furniture seized upon and shortly after he was suddenly arrested by the Earl of Northumberland at Cawood-castle for arrogant words against the King importing a desire of revenge from whence he was conveyed towards London in which journey at Leicester-Abbey he ended his life by taking an over-great quantity of a Confection to break wind from off his stomack So ended this haughty Cardinal who was born at Ipswich his father a good honest Butcher himself a good Philosopher and Orator His education in his youth was at Magdalen Colledg in Oxford his first Preferment was from the Lord Marquess of Dorset who bestowed a Benefice upon him Then Sir John Naphant preferred him to King Henry the Seventh which King having urgent business with Maximilian the Emperour he sent this his Chaplain to him post who posted again back before he was thought to be there and withal concluded some points forgot in his directions to the high content of his Soveraign for the which he bestowed on him the Deanry of Lincoln after which he was preferred to be the Kings Almoner then one of his Council then Bishop of Tourney then Bishop of Lincoln then A.B. of York whereby he became as it were three Bishops at once then was made Priest Cardinal and Legat de Latere then Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Winchester and in commendam the Abbey of St. Albans was bestowed upon him And with them the Cardinal held in farm the Episcopal Sees of Bath and Wells Worcester and Hereford enjoyed by strangers incumbents not residing in the Realm This Prelate raised to this greatness was attended with so many officers and servants as is incredible And being Ambassador to the Emperour at Brussels he was there waited upon by many English Nobles and served at the Table by his Servitors on their knees Insatiable he was to get but Princely in bestowing lofty to his enemies and not easily reconciled which hastned his fall when he began The grudges against this Cardinal were not only for the especial favour he stood in with the King and great stroke he bare at the Council-table but for his intolerable pillings who to patch up his pride in the raising of his new Colledges at Oxford and Ipswich suppressed forty Monasteries of good fame converting all their goods and moveables to his own use As also that he emptied the land of twelve-score thousand pounds inforced by him from the King which he employed to relieve and ransome the Pope then in Prison to the great impoverishing of his Majesties Coffers And lastly his so intolerable pride as no less than 1200 Horse for his retinue eighty Wagons for his Carriage Tho. Cranmer A. B. Cant. and sixty Mules for Sumpture-horses attended him into France when he went thither Ambassador but Sic transit gloria mundi A prodigal and merry conceited Nobleman having lately sold a Mannor of an hundred Tenements came ruffling into the Court in a new suit saying Am not I a mighty man