Chancellour owed him and if he were so tender of him that he could not finde iâ— his heart to doe it himselfe they would doe that work for him and thereupoâ— charged him with such crimes that all his goods were confiscate and himselfe adjudged to dye if the king so pleased though some write his sentence was onely to pay a Fine of twenty thousand markes and a thousand pounds yeerly beside Upoâ— this provocation the opposite side seek present revenge It is devised that the Duke of Glocester as principall and other Lords that crossed the kings courses should be invited to a Supper in London and there be murthered In the execuâ—â—on of which plot the former Lord Major Sir Nicolas Brember had a speciall handâ— but the present Major Richâ—rd Exton moved to it by the king would by no meanâ—â— consent and thereupon the plot proceeded not But for all these harsh straines and many such other that passed this Parliament a Subsidie was at length granted to the king of halfe a Tenth and halfe a Fifteenth but with condition that 〈◊〉 should not be issued but by order from the Lords and the Earle of Arundâ—ll was appointed to receive it But before this time both Houses had directly agreed that unlesse the Chancellour were removed they would meddle no further in the Pâ—â—liament The king advertised hereof sent to the Commons that they should seâ—â— unto Eltham where he then lay forty of their House to declare their mindes 〈◊〉 him but upon conference of both Houses it was agreed that the Duke of Gloâ—â—stâ—r and Thomas Arundell Bishop of Ely should in the name of the Parliament goe unto him who comming to the king declared That by an old Statute the king once a yeere might lawfully summon his Court of Parliament for reformation of all corruptions and enormities within the Realme and further declared That by an old Ordinance also it was Enacted That if the king should absent himself 40 dayes not being sick the Houses might lawfully break up and returne home At this the king is said to say Well we perceive our people goe about to rise against us and therefore we thinke we cannot doe better then to aske ayd of our Cosin the king of France and rather submit us to him then to our own Subjects To which the Lordâ— answered They wondred at this opinion of his Majesty seeing the French king was the antient Enemy of the kingdome and he might remember what mischiefes were brought upon the Realme in king Iohns time by such a course By these and the like perswasions the king was induced to come to the Parliament and soon after Iohn Fortham Bishop of Durham is discharged of his Office of Lord Treasurer and in his place was appointâ—d Iohâ— Gilberâ— Bishop of Hereford a Frier of the order of Preachers also Michael de la Pâ—â—le Earle of Suffolke is discharged of his Office of Chancellour and Thomas Aruâ—dell Bishop of Ely by consent of Parliament placed in his roome Also by Order of Parliament thirteen Lords were chosen to have oversight under the king of the wâ—ole government of the Realme of which thirteen there were three of the New-Officers named as the Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellour the Bishop of Hereford Lord Treasurer and Nicolas Abbot of Wâ—ltham Lord keeper of the Privy Seale The other ten were William Archbishop of Câ—â—terbury Alexander Archbishop of York Edmund of Lâ—ngley Duke of York Thomaâ— Duke of Glocester William Bishop of Winchester Thomas Bishop of Exeter Richâ—rd Earle of Arundell Richard Lord Scrâ—â—pe and Iohn Lord Devereux But this participation of the Government being found inconvenient held not long Also in this Parliament it was granted that Robert de Veere lately created Duke of Ireland should have receive to his own use 30000. markes which the French-men were to give for the heires of â—he Lord Charles de Blâ—ys but it was granted upon â—his conditionâ— That before the next Easter he should passe over into Ireland to recover such lands as the King had there given him so desirous the Lords and Commons were to have him removed from the Kings presence But though the King gave way to this torrent of the Parliament for the present yet as soone as the Parliament was dissolved he dissolved also all that had been done either against the Lord Chancellour or against the Duke of Ireland or against Alexander Nevil Archbishop of York and received them into more favour then ever he had done before In his Tenth yeere about the Beginning of March Richard Earle of Arundell appointed Admirall and Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham the Earle of Devonshire and the Bishop of Norwich went to Sea with a warlike power of men and â—rmes to watch for the Fleet of Flanders that was ready to come from Rochell with wines and meeting with them they set upon them and tooke of them to the number of a hundred Vessels all fraught with wines so as wine grew so plentifull that it was sold for thirteen shillings foure pence the Tonne and the best and choysest for twenty shillings Besides this they landed in Flanders where they relieved and fortified Brest and demolished two Forts which the Enemy had built against it But this happy service of the Earle of Arundell the Duke of Ireland the Earle of Suffolke Sir Simon Burley and Sir Richard Sturrey who continued still about the King seemed rather to envy then to commend insomuch that when the Earle of Nottingham that had ever been the Kings play fellow and of equall age to him came to the Court he was neither received by the Duke of Ireland with any good welcome nor by the King with any good countenance and therefore indeed not by the King with any good Countenance because not by the Duke of Ireland with any good Welcome About this time the Duke of Ireland sought to be divorced from his lawfull wife daughter to the Lady Isabel one of king Edward the third's daughters and took to wife one Lancerona a Vintners daughter of Bohemia one of the Queenes maids at which indignity the Duke of Glocester that was unkle to the Lady thus forsaken tooke great displeasure which the Duke of Ireland understanding studied how by some meanes he might dispatch the Duke of Glocester out of the way Easter was now past the time appointed for the D. of Irelands going over into Ireland when the King with a shew to bring him to the waters side went with him into Wales and in his company Michael de la Poole Earl of Suffolke Robert Tresilian L. Chieâ— Justice and divers others who there consulted how they might diâ—patch the Duke of Glocester the Earles of Arundel Warwick Dâ—rby Nottingham with divers others of that Faction but when the King had remained in those parts a good while he returned and brought back the Duke of Ireland with him and so his voyage into Irelâ—â—d was cleane forgotten About the same time Robert Tresilian Chiefe Justice came to Coventry where he Indicted two thousand persons The King and the Queene came to Groby and thither came by his Commandement the Justices of the Reâ—â—me Robert Belknap Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas Iohn
of Heraulds therein But this notwithstanding being no Lord of the Parliament he was tried by a common Jurie and by them was found guilty and thereupon had judgement of death and the nineteenth of Ianuary was beheaded on the Tower-hill The Duke was attainted by Parliament and kept in prison â—ill in the first yeer of Queen Mary the Attaindour was reversed The death of this Earle might lay an imputation of cruelty upon King Henry if a just jealousie growing from the many circumstances of the Earles greatnesse in the tender age of his owne Sonne did not excuse him Soone after the death of this Earle the King himselfe died having made his last Will in which he tooke order that his Sonne Edward should succeed him in the Crowne and he dying without issue his daughter Mary and she dying without issue his daughter Elizabeth although another order of succession had passed before by Act of Parliament The Executors of his last Will were these sixteene Thomas Cranmor Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Wriothsley Lord Chancellour Sir William Pawlet Lord Saint Iohn and great Master of the Houshold Sir Edward Seymor Earle of Hartford and high Chamberlin of England Sir Iohn Russell Lord Privie Seale Sir Iohn Dudley Viscount Lisle Lord Admirallâ— Cutbert Tunstall Bishop of Durham Sir Anthonie Browne Master of the Horse Sir Edmund Montacute Lord chiefe Justice of the common-Common-Pleas Sir Thomas Bromley one of the Justices of the Kings Bench Sir Edward North Chancellour of the Augmentation Sir William Paget Knight of the Order Sir Anthonie Dennie Sir William Herbert Sir Edward Wootton Treasurour of Callice and Nicholas VVootton Deane of Canterbury and Yooke To whom were adjoyned as assistance these twelve Henry Fitz Allan Earle of Arundell VVilliam Par Earle of Essex Sir Thomas Cheyney Treasurour of the Houshold Sir Iohn Gage Controlour Sir Anthony VVingfield Vice-chamberlaine Sir VVilliam Peter Principall Secretary Sir Richard Rich Sir Iohn Baker of Sissingherst in Kent Chancellour of the Exchequer Sir Ralph Sadler Sir Thomas Seymour Sir Richard Southwell and Sir Edward Peckham And it was not without need to leave a full Councell Table considering in what termes he left the Kingdome when he died Abroad in league with the Emperour at Peace with the King of France but whether these were not personall onely and no longer binding then King Henry lived might be doubted with the Scots at deadly send with the Pope at utter defiance from both which coasts there could be expected but little faire weather at home the frame of Religion extreamly disioynted and the Clergie that should set it in frame out of frame themselves the mindes of the people extreamly distracted and the Nobility that should cyment them scarce holding themselves together And in this stare was the Kingdome when King Henry the eight dyed in the yeer 1547. the fifty sixth of his life and of his Reigne the eight and thirtieth Of his Taxations IN his fourth yeer in a Parliament at Westminster was granted to the King two Fifteens of the Temporalty and two Tenths of the Clergie and Head-money of every Duke ten marke an Earle five pound a Barron â—oure pound a Knight foure markes and every man valued at eight hundred pounds in goods to pay â—oure markes and so after that rate till him that was valued at forty shillings and he paid twelve pence and every man and woman of fifteen yeers upward four pence In his sixth yeer a Parliament was holden wherin divers subsidies were granted to the King towards the charges of his wars in France in his fourteenth yeer order was taken by the Cardinall that the true value of all mens substance might be knowne and he would have had every man swom to tell what they were worth and required a â—enth part thereof towards the Kings charges in his present wars as the spiritualty had granted a fourth part this the Londoners thought very hard and thereupon were excused for taking oath and were allowed to bring in their bils upon their honesties but when all was done after much labouring by the Cardinall the Clergy granted one halfe of all their yeerly Spirituall Revenues for five yeers and the Temporalty two shillings in the pound from twenty pounds upwards and from forty shillings to twenty pounds of every twenty shillings twelve pence and under forty shillings of every head of sixteen yeers and upwards four pence to be paid in every two yeers in his sixteenth yeer the Cardinall of his owne head attempted by Comission to draw the People to pay the sixth part of every mans substance in plate or monie but this was generally opposed and the People in many Countries rise upon it so as comming to the Kings knowledg â—e utterly disavowed it and blamed the Cardinall exceedingly for attempting it In his foure and twentieth yeer in a Parliament then holden a fifteenth was granted to the King towards his charges of making fortifications against Scotland In his one and thirâ—ieth yeer a Subsidie of two shillings in the pound of lands and twelve of goods with foure fifteenes were granted to the King towards his charges of making Bulwarks In his five and thirtieth yeer a Subsidie was granted to be paid in three yeers every English-man being worth in goods twenty shillings and upwards to five pounds to pay four pence of every pound and from five pounds to ten pounds eight pence from ten pounds to twenty pound six penceâ— from twenty pounds and upwards of every pound two shilings strangers as wel denizens as others being inhabitants to pay double and for lands every English-man paid eight pence oâ— the pound from twenty shillings to five pounds from five pounds to ten pounds sixteen pence and from ten pounds to twenty pouâ—dâ— two shillings and from twenty pounds and upwards of every pound three shillings strangers double the Clergy six shillings in the pound of Benefices and every Priest having no Benifice but an Anual stipend six shillings eight pence yeerly during three yeers Of Lawes and Ordinances in his time IN a Parliament holden in his sixth yeere diverse Lawes were made but two most spoken of one for Apparell another for Labourers In his twelvth yeere he caused the Statutes against Inclosures to be revived and Commanded that decaied houses should be built up againe and that inclosed grounds should be laid open which though it did some good yet not so much as it might have done if the Cardinall for his owne benefit had not procured liberty for great men to keep up their inclosures to the oppression of poor men In his seventeenth yeer the King lying at Eltham diverse ordinances were made bâ— the Cardinall touching the Governance of the Kings House and were long after called the Statutes of Eltham In his eighteenth yeere in the month of May Proclamation was made against all unlawfull games so that in all places tables dice cards and Bowles were taken and burnt but this order continued not long for young men being
mildnesse the neerenesse of the Husbands gave occasion to the Ladies often meeting where the Dutchesse would inwardly murmur why shee being the wife of the elder brother and the better man should give place to her who was the wife of the younger brother and the meaner man this envy of hers toward the Queen bred a malice in her towards the Admirall as thinking the mischiefe she did to the husband to be a part of revenge upon the wife and though the Queene shortly after died in Child-bed yet the mallice of the Dutchesse towards the Admirall lived still so hard a thing it is for malice once setled in a womans heart to be removed out of this malice she put divers surmises into her husband the Protectours head against his brother the Admirall as though he went about to procure his death to the end he might aspire to the place he held but certainly as misliking his government being a Protestant who was himselfe a Papist in this case causes of jealousie against the Admirall was obvious enough for it was knowne that in King Henries time he had aimed at the mariage of the Lady Elizabeth King Henries second daughter and now his wife the Queen Dowager being dead and not without suspition of poyson he fell upon that mariage a fresh which could not be thought to tend but to some very high aspiring end the Protectour a plain man and one that had not the cleerest insight into practises whether too importunately provoked by his wife or whither out of an honest mind not willing to patronize faults though in a brother gave way to accusatioâ—s brought against him so as in a Parliament then holden he was accused for attempting to get into his custody the person of the King and government of the Realm for endeavouring to marry the Lady Elizabeth the Kings sister for perswading the King in his tender yeers to take upon him the rule and ordering of himselfe upon which points though perhaps proved yet not sufficiently against him who was never called to his answere he was by Act of Parliament condemned and within few dayes after condemnation a warrant was sent under the hand of his brother the Protectour to cut off his head wherein as after it proved he did as much as if he had laid his own head downe upon the block for whilst these brothers lived and held together they were as a strong fortresse one to the other the Admirals courage supporting the Protectours authority and the Protectours authority maintaining the Admirals stoutnesse but the Admiral once gone the Protectours authority as wanting support began to totter and fell at last to utter ruine besides there was at this time amongst the Nobility a kind of faction Protestants who favoured the Protectour for his owne sake and other of Papall inclination who favoured him for his brothers sake but his brother being gone both sides forsooke him even his owne side as thinking they could expect little assistance from him who gave no more assistance to his own brotheâ— and perhaps more then all this the Earl of Warwick at this time was the most powerfull man both in Courage and Counsaile amongst all the Nobility and none so neere to match him as the Admirall while he lived but he being gone there was none left that either was able and durst or durst and was able to stand against him however it was not long after the Admirals death the Protectour was invaded with sundry accusations wherein â—hâ— Earl of Warwick made not alwaies the greatest show but yet had alwayes the greatest hand one thing the Protectour had done which though a private act yet gave a publick distaste To make him a Mansion house in the Strand the same which is now called Somerset-house he pulled downe a Church and two Bishops houses by the Strand Bridge in digging the foundation wherof the bones of many who had been there buried were cast out and carried into the fields and because the stones of those houses and the Church suffised not for his work the steeple aâ—d most part of the Church of Saint Iohns of Ierusalem neer Smithfield was mined and overthrowne with powder and the stones applied to this sparious building and more then this the Cloyster of Pauls on the North side of the Church in a place called Pardon Church-yard and the dance of Death very curiously wrought about the Cloyster a Chapel that stood in the midst of the Churchyard also the Charnal house that stood upon the South side of Pauls now a Carpenters yard with the Chappell timber and Monuments therin were beaten downe the bones of the dead caried into Finsbury-fields and the stones converted to this building This Act of the Protectours did something alienate the Peoples minds from him which the Earle of Warwick perceiving thought it now a fit time to be falling upon him and therupon drew eighteene of the Privy Counsaile to joyne with him who withdrawing themselves from the Court held secret consultations together and walked in the Citty with many Servants weaponed and in new Liveries whereof when the Lord Protectour heard he sent secretary Peter to them to know the causes of their Assembly requiring them to resort unto him peaceably that they might comune together as friends but in the meane time hee Armed five hundred men and removed the King by night from Hampton-court to Windsor on the other side the Lords at London having first taken possession of the Tower sent for the Majoâ— and Aldermen of the Citty to the Earle of Warwicks lodging at Ely-house in Holburn to whom the Lord Rich then Lord Chancelour made a long Oration wherin he shewed the ill government of the Lord Protector and the many mischifes that by it were come upon the Kingdome and therupâ—n requiring them to joyn with the Lords there assembled to remove him and presently that day a Proclamation was made in divers parts of the Citty to that purpose to which the Lords and Counsailors that subscribed their names were these the Lord Rich Chancelour the Lord Saint-Iohn Lord great Master the Marquesse of Northampton the Earle of Warwick Lord great Chamberlaine the Earle of Arundell Lord Chamberlaine the Earle of Shrewsbury the Earle of Southampton Sir Thomas Cheyney Treasurer of the Houshold Sir Iohn Gagâ— Constaple of the Tower Sir William Peter secretary Sir Edward North Knight Sir Edward Montague chiefe Justice of the common-Common-pleas Sir Iohn Baker Chancelour of the Exchequer Sir Ralph Sadler Sir Edward Wootton Sir Richard Southwell Knights and Doctor Wootton Deane of Canterbury In the afternoone of the same day the Lord Major assembled a Common Counsaile in the Guild-hall where two letters arrived almost in one instant from the King and the Lord Protectour for a thousand men to be Armed for defence of the Kings Person another from the Lords at London for two thousand men to aide them in defence of the Kings person also both pretending alike and therefore hard how to
Daughters which he had by Frances Daughter of Charles Brandon and Mary Queene of France were married at Durham-House the eldest Iane to the Lord Dudleyâ— fourth Soone of the Duke of Northumberland the second Katherine to Henry Sonne and heire to the Earle of Pembrooke the yoâ—gest Mary being somwhat deformed to Martyn Keyes the Kings Gentleman-Porter And then also Katherine the Duke of Northumberlands yongest daughter to the Lord Hastings eldest sonne of the Earle of Huntington And now had the Duke of Northumberland gone a great way in his design it remained to perswade King Edward to exclude his two sisters from succession in the Crowne for that doâ—e his daughter in law the Lady Ianâ— would come to have a right for as for pretenders out of Scotland or any other he made no great matter And now to worke the King to this perswasion being in a languishing sicknesse not farre from death he inculcates to him how much it concerned him to have a care of Religion that it might be preserved in purity not onely in his owne life but as well after his death which would not be if his sister the Lady Mary should succeed and she could not be put by unlesse her other sister the Lady Elizabeth were put by also seeing their rights depended one upon another but if he pleased to appoint the Lady Iane the Duke of Suffolkes eldest daughter and his owne next kinswoman to his Sisters to be his successour he might then be sure that the true Religion should be maintained to Gods great glory and be a worthy Act of his owne religious Providence This was to strike upon the right string of the yong Kings affection with whom nothing was so deere as preservation of Religion and thereupon his last Will was appointed to be drawne contrived chiefly by the Lord chiefe Justice Montague and Secretary Cecill by which Will as farre as in him lay he excluded his two sisters from the succession and all other but the Duke of Suffolkes daughters and then causing it to be read before his Councell he required them all to assent unto it and to subscribe their hands which they all both Nobility and Bishops and Judges did onely the Archbishop Cranmer refused at first Sir Iames Hales a Judge of the common-Common-Pleas to the last and with him also Sir Iohn Baker Chancellour of the Exchequer And now remained nothing for the Duke of Northumberlands purpose but that the King should dye which soone after he did at Greenwich the sixth of Iuly in the yeere 1553. One point of the Dukes policie must not be forgotten that fearing what troubles the Lady Mary might raise after the Kings decease if she should be at liberty he therefore seeing the King drawing on used all meanes possible to get her within his power to which end Letters are directed to her in the Kings name from the Councell willing her forthwith to repaire to the King as well to be a comfort to him in his sicknesse as to see all matters well ordered about his person whereupon the Lady suspecting nothing addressed her selfe with all speed to the journey till being upon the way she was advertised of the Dukes designe and then she returned to her House at Hoveden and so escaped the snare by whose escape the whole designe of the Duke of Northumberland was disappointed as soone after will be seene Of his Taxations IN no Kings reigne was ever more Parliaments for the time nor fewer Subsidies the greatest was in his last yeere when yet there was but one Subsidie with two fifteenes and tenths granted by the Temporalty and a Subside by the Clergie And indeed to shew how loath this King was to lay Impositions upon his people this may be a sufficient argument that though he were much in debt yet he chose rather to deale with the Foulker in the Low-Countries for money upon loane at the interest of fourteene pounds for a hundred for a yeere But his wayes for raising of money was by selling of Chantrie Lands and Houses given him by Parliament and by inquiring after all Church-goods either remaining in Cathedrall and Parish-Churches or embezeled away as Jewels gold and silver Chalices ready money Copes and other Vestments reserving to every Church one Challice and one covering for the Communion-Table the rest to be applied to his benefit He also raised money by enquiring after offences of Officers in great places in which inquirie one Beamont Master of the Rolles being convinced of many crimes surrendred all his Offices Lands and Goods into the Kings hands also one Whalley Receiver of Yorkeshire being found a delinquent surrendred his Office and payed a great fine besides also the Lord Paget Chancellour of the Dutchie convinced that he had sold the Kings Lands and Timber-woods without Commission and had applied the Kings Fines to his owne use for these and other offences surrendred his Office and was fined at foure thousand pounds which he payed in hand One thing more was done in his time for raising of money twenty thousand pounds weight of Bullion was appointed to be made so much baser that the King might gaine thereby a hundred and forty thousand pounds Of his Lawes and Ordinances IN his third yeere a Parliament was holden wherein one Act was made against spreading of Prophesies another against unlawfull Assemblies In his fourth yeere a Parliament was holden wherein Priests children were made legitimate and usury for the loane of money was forbidden In his fifth yeer it was ordained that the Lawes of England should be administred in Ireland and a king at Armes named Vlster was newly instituted for Ireland whose Province was all Ireland and he was the first fourth king of Armes and first Herauld appointed for Ireland Also in his fifth yeere base monies formerly coyned were cried downe so as the shilling went but for nine pence and shortly after but for six pence the gâ—oat but for three pence and shortly after but for two pence Affaires of the Church in his time IN the first yeeâ—e of this Kings reigne Injunctions were set forth for pulling downe aâ—d removing all Images out of Churches also certaine Homilies were appointed to be made by learned men to be read in Churches for the peoples instruction and at Easter this yeer it was ordered that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper should be ministred to the Lay-people in both kindes also Marriage was allowed to Clergie men Auricular Confession and prayer for the dead were forbidden and it is observable that the very same day that Images were pulled downe at London the great overthrow was given to the Scots at Muâ—kleborough Also at this time by the Archbishop Cranmers means divers learned Protestants came over into England and had here enteâ—tainment as Peter Martyr Martin Bucer and Paulus Fagius of whom Peter Martyr was sent to read a Divinity Lecture in Oxford Bucer and Fagius in Cambridge In this Kings foutth yeer all Altars in Churches were commaâ—ded to be
Bishop of London late restored and there in presence for a Sermon by him made foure yeeres before in the same place and upon the same Text had unjustly beene cast into the vile prison of the Marshalsey which Speech so offended some of the Auditory that they cried Pull him downe pull him downe and had certainly done him violence for a Dagger was throwne at him if Master Bradford a Protestant Preacher had not stept into his place and appeased the tumult and Master Rogers another Protestant Minister who were both afterward burnt for Religion had not shifted away Bourne into Pauls Schoole Hitherto Queene Maries reigne had beene without blood but now the Cataracts of seventy will be opened that will make it raine blood for now on the eighteenth of August Iohn Dudley Duke of Northumberland VVilliam Parre Marquesse of Northamptâ—n and Iohn Earle of VVarwicke soâ—ne and heire to the Duk were arraigned at VVestminster-hall before Thomas Duke of Nâ—â—folke as high Steward of England where the Duke of Northumberland after his Indictment read required the opinion of the Court in two points first whither a man doing any Act by authority of the Princes Counsâ—â—le and by warrant of the great Seale of England might for any such Act be charged with treason secondly whither any such persons as were equally culpable and by whose commandements he was directed might be his Judges and passe upon his triall whereunto was answered that concerning the first the great Seale which he alleaged for his warrant was not the Seale of the lawfull Queene of the Realm but of an Usurper and therfore could be no warrant for him and as to the second it was resolved that if any were as deeply to be touched in the case as himself yet so long as no Attainder were of record against them they were persons able in law to passe â—pon his triall and not to be challenged but at the Princes pleasure After which answers the Duke used few words but confessed the Indictment and accordingly had judgment to dye By whose example the other prisoners arraigned with him confessed the Indictments and therupon had judgment the ninteenth of August Sir Andrew Dudley Sir Iohn and Sir Henry Gates brethren and Sir Thomas Palmer Knights were arraigned at VVestminster who câ—nfessing their Indictments had judgment which was pronounced by the Marquesse of VVinchester Lord high Treasuâ—er sitting that day as chiefe Justice after these condemnations followed the executions for on the two and twentieth of August Iohn Duke of Northumâ—erland was brought to the Tower-hill and there beheaded being upon the scaffold in a gowne of green coloured damaske he put it off and then made a long Speech wherein he asked the Queen forgivenesse whom he acknowledged to have grievously offended and then making profession of his Faith that he died a true Catholick meaning a Papist he said the Psalmes of Miserere and De Profundis the Pater noster and six of the first verses of the Psalme In te Domine speravi ending with this verse Into thy hands O Lord I commend my spirit and this said he looked about him as looking for a Pardon but none comming he laid his head downe upon the blocke and at one blow had it strucken off his body with the head was buried in the Tower by the body of Edward late Duke of Somerset mortall enemies while they lived but now lying together as good friends so as there lyeth before the high Altar in Saint Peters Church â—wo Dukes between two Queens namely the Duke of Somerset and the Duke of Northumberland between Queen Anne and Queene Katherine all foure beheaded Of what religion this Duke was may well be doubted seeing at his death he professed himself a Papist when lately before he had importuned King Edward to make the Lady Iane his successour lest the Papall religion should be restored it seems he was not greatly of either but for other ends a Protestant then when it was to make his daughter in law Queen now a Papist when it was to save his life for it was thought he had Pardon promised if he would recant At the same time and place were beheaded Sir Iohn Gates and Sir Thomas Palmer who were no such temporizers but persisted and dyed in the Protestant Religion which they had alwayes professed After this a sprinkling of mercy came from the Queene for on the third of September the Lord Ferrers of Chartley the two chiefe Justices Sir Roger Cholmley and Mountague Sir Iohn Cheeke and others were delivered out of the Tower whether before they had been committed but a shower of severity followed soon after for on the fifteenth of September Master Latimer and Doctor Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury were sent to the Tower and on the third oâ— November following the said Archbishop Cranmer the Lady Iane late Queene and the Lord Guildford her husband with the Lords Ambrose and Henry sonnes to the late Duke of Northumberland were all arraigned at the Guild-hall found guilty and had judgement to dye All this while Queen Mary had contented her selfe to be Queene by Proclamation but now that things were something setled she proceeds to her Coronation for on the last of September she rode in her Chariot through London towards VVestminster in this order first rode a number of Gentlemen and Knights then Doctors then Judges then Bishops then Lords then the Councell after whom followed the Knights of the Bath thirteene in number in their Robes then the Bishop of VVinchester Lord Chancellour and the Marquesse of VVinchester Lord high Treasurer next came the Duke of Norfolke and after him the Earle of Oxford who bore the sword then the Major of Londâ—n in a Gowne of Crimson Velvet who bore the Scepter of Gold after came the Queenes Chariot and then followed another Chariot wherein sat the Lady Elizabeth her sister and the Lady Anne of Cleeve and then came Ladies and Gentlewomen riding on horses trapped with red velvet c. In this order they came through London to VVestminster where in many places by the way were Pagents and stately shewes and many rich presents given to the Queene The next day she went by water to the old Palace and remained there till eleven of the clock and then went on foot upon blew cloth being railed on either side to Saint Peters Church where she was Crowned and Anointed by the Bishop of VVinchester the two Archbishops being then in the Tower with all Rites and Ceremonies of old accustomed After her Coronation a generall pardon was published in her name but interlaced with so many exceptions of matters and persons that very few tooke benefit by it for after the pardon published there were Commissioners assigned to compound with such persons as were excepted from some of whom they tooke away their Fees and Offices some they fiâ—ed and some they deprived of their estates and livings About this time Sir Iames Hales one of the Justices of the Common Pleas who
obtained of the Queene three dayes longer and then came and â—old so much to the Lady Iane whereat she smiling said You are much deceived if you thinke I had any desire of longer life for I assure you since the time you went from me my life hath beene so tedious to me that I long for nothing so much as death and since it is the Queenes pleasure am moâ—â— willing to undergoe it Before she was brought to Execution her huâ—band the Lord Guildford had made suit and obtained to see her and have some conference with her but she refused it saying These were rather augmenters of griefe then comfortâ— of deathâ— she made no doubt but they should shortly meet in a better place and in a better condition of society so on the twelfth of February her husband the Lord Guildford first and then she an houre or two after was beheaded within the Tower where she acknowledged her selfe to have deserved death not for seeking the Crown but for not refusing it being offered and after prayers to God unclothing her selfe and putting a Handcarchiffe before her eyes she laid her head downe upon the blocke and patiently suffered death more grievous to the beholders then to her selfe This end had the Lady Iane Gray a Lady of incomparable Pietie and for her yeers of incomparable learning for being not past seventeen yeeres of age she understood perfectly the Greek and Latine tongues and was so ready in all points of Divinity as if she knew them by inspiration rather then by instruction no lesse a miracle in this kinde then King Edward and therefore no mervaile if he appointed her to succeed him in the Kingdome who in the endowments of minde was so like unto him that whilest she reigned it might be thought he continued to reigne himselfe at lest no more differing but onely the sex It may not be forgotten that Judge Morgan who at her arraignement gave the sentence against her shortly after fell mad and in his raving cried continually to have the Lady Iane taken away from him and so ended his life Two dayes after the execution of the Lady Iane namely the fourteenth and fifteenth of February twenty paire of Gallowes were set up in divers places of the City whereon were handed fifty of Wyats faction on the eighteenth of February Bret was hanged at Rochester in chaines Sir Henryâ— Isle who had beene taken in an old freeze coat and an old paire of hose with his brother Thomas Isle and Walter Mantell were hanged at Maidstone Anthony Knevet and his brother William with another of the Mantels were executed at Sevenocke but then on the twentieth of February a sprinkling of mercy came for foure hundred of Wyats followers being brought before the Queene with halters about their necks were all pardoned and set at liberty But then severity soone after began againe for on the three and twentieth of February the Lord Henry Gray Duke of Suffolke and Father to the Lady Iane who the weeke before had been attaigned and condemned was on the Tower-hill beheaded and on the eleventh of Aprill in the same place was beheaded the Author of all this mischiefe Wyot himselfe whose quarters were set up in divers places of the City his head upon the Gallowes at Hay-hill besides Hide Parke This man in hope of life having before accused the Lord Courtney and the Lady Elizabeth the Queenes sisterâ— to be privie to his conspiracy yet at his death he cleered them and protested openly that they were altogether innocent and never had been acquainted with his proceedings Yet was this matter so urged against them by Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellour that both of them in March before had beene committed to the Tower though in May following they were both againe released but yet confined the Lady Elizabeth to Woodstocke under the custody of Sir Henry Beningfield of Oxenborough in the County of Norfolke the Lord Courtney to Foderingham under the custody of Sir Thomas Tresâ—am who after some time was set at liberty and going into Italie there dyed It is memorable what malice this Bishop Gardiner bore to the Lady Elizabeth by whose onely procurement not onely she was kept iâ— most hard durance but a Warrant was at last framed under certaine Councellours hands to put her to death and had beene done but that Master â—ridges Lâ—evâ—enant of the Tower pitying her case went to the Queene to know her pleasure who utterly denied that she knew any thing of it by which meanes here life was preserved Indeed the Bishop would sometimes say how they cut off boughes and branches but as long as they let the root remaine all was nothing and it is not unworthy the remembring what â—raines were laid to ensâ—are her The common net at that time for catching of Protestants was the Reall Presâ—nce and this net was used to catch her for being asked one time what she thought of the words of Christ This is my Body whether she thought it the true body of Christ that was in the Sacrament It is said that after some pawsing she thus answered Christ was the Word that spake it He tooke the Bread and brake it And what the Word did make it That I beleeve and take it Which though it may seeme but a slight expression yet hath it more solidnesse then at first fight appears at lest it served her turne at that time to escape the net which by direct answering she could not have done On the seventeenth of Aprill Thomas Lord Grey the Duke of Suffolkes brother was beheaded the last and indeed the lest in delinquency that suffered for having any hand in Wyats conspiracy There remained yet a fagge end and was indeed but a fagge end as nothing worth for on the same day Sir Nicholâ—s Thrâ—gmorton being accused to have beene a party in Wyats conspiracy was at the Guild-hall arraigned before Sir Thomas White Lord Maior the Earles of Shrewsbury and Derby Sir Thomas Bromley Lord chiefe Justice of England Sir Nicholas Hare Master of the Roles Sir Francis Englefield Master of the Wards Sir Richard Southwell and Sir Edward Walgrave Privie Councellours Sir Roger Chomley Sir William Portman one of the Justices of the Kings Bench Sir Edward Sanders one of the Justices of the Common Pleas Master Stâ—â—ford and Master Dyer Serjeants at Law Master Edward Griffin Atturney geâ—erall Master Sendall and Peter Titchâ—orne Clarkes of the Crowne where the said Mâ—ster Nicholas Throgmorton so fully and discreetly answered all objections brought against him that he was found by the Jurie Not Guilty and was cleerly acquitted but the Jury notwithstanding was afterward troubled for acquitting him and sent prisoners some of them to the Tower and some to the Fleet and afterward fined to pay a thousand makes a peece at lest and some 2000. l. though these sums were afterward something mitigated More of Wyaâ—s complices had beene taken arraigned and adjudged to dye but in judgement the Queene remembred
his fault shall deserve The Bishop alleâ—dged for himself That he had not violated the Right of â—n Ambassadour Via Iuris but Vâ—â— Factâ— to use his own words and therefore adviseth them not to use harder measure to him then was used to the English Ambassadours 〈…〉 in France Râ—ndoll and Tâ—mwoâ—th in Scotland who had raised Rebellions there and were open Abettors of the same and yet had no greater punishment then to be gone at a time limitted When they began to urge him what the English had testified against him he lovingly requested them to give no credit to itâ— forasmuch as by a received Custome which hath the force of a Law The Testimony of an English man against a Scot or of a Scot against an English man is not to be admitted but after some other altercations the Bishop is led away to the Tower and kept close prisoner At this very season Matthew Earl of Lenox Regent of Scoâ—â—and the Kings Grand-father was by the adverse party set upon at unawares who having yeelded himself to David Spense of Wormester that was then very carefull to defend him together with him was slain by Bell and Câ—ulder when with great industry he had governed the Kingdom for his Grand-childe about fourteen months In whose room Iohn Areskin Earl of Marâ—e by common consent of the Kings Faction was chosen Regent of Scotland who being a man of a quiet disposition through extreme grief of the mâ—ny troubles he sustained in the place departed this life when he had governed thirteen months And now a Parliament was held at Westminster wherein besides a Law for preventing of the treacherous endeavours of seditious subjects another Law was made That if any one during the Queens life by Books written or printed shall expressely affirm That any iâ— or ought to be the Heir or Successor of the Queen besides the naturall Off-spâ—ing of her Body or shall to that purpose publish print or dispersâ— any Book or Schedules he and his favourâ—rs shall for the first offence suffer a yeers imprisonment and the losse of one half of his goods and if they offend again they shall be in a Prâ—munirâ— A Law also was made by which to be reconciled to the Sea of Rome was made Treason and it was pronounced against the Queen of Scots That if she offended again against the Laws of England it might be lawfull to question her as the wife of a Peer of the Kingdom of England But here the Queen interposed her Authority and would not suffer it to be enacted About this time in May a solemn Tilting was performed at Westminster where thâ— Challengers were Edward Earl of Oxford Charles Howard Sir Henry Lee and Chriâ—â—â—pher Hattâ—n Esquire who all did valiantly but the Earl of Oxford best Assoon as the Parliament was dissolved a Consultation was held Wheâ—her Iohn Story Doctor of the Laws the Duke D'Alva's Searcher who somtime before was by a wile brought into England being an Englishman born and having in Braâ—ant consulted with a forâ—aign Prince about the invading of England were to be held guilty of high Treason It was resolved aâ—firmatively whereupon he is called to the Bar and indicted of Treasonâ— That he had consulted with one Presâ—all a Conjurer to make away the Queen That he cursed her dayly when he said Grace at Table That he shewed a way to the Secretary of Duke D'Alva how to invade England c. where he affirming That the Judges had no power to meddle with him for that he bâ—longed not to the Queen of England but was the King of Spain's sworn subjectâ— is neverthelesse condemned by the Foâ—m of Nihil dicit forasmuch as no man can renounce the Country wherin he was born nor abjure his Prince at his own pleasure and finally executed after the manner of Trayâ—ors Ireland at this time was indifferent quieâ— for Sir Iohn Perot President of Munster had brought Iames Fitz Morris to submit himself and crave pardon Sidney the Lord Deputy returned into England and Sir William Fitz Williams who had marryed his sister succeeded in his room It was now the fifteenth yeer of Queen Elizabeths Raign when Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk on the sixteenth day of Ianuary was brought to his Tryall at Westminster-Hall where sate as Commissioners George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury made High Steward of England for that day Reynold Grey Earl of Kent Thomas Ratcliff Earl of Sussex Henry Hastings Earl of Huntington Francis Russell Earl of Bedford Henry Herbert Earl of Pembrâ—â—k Edward Seymor Earl of Hertford Ambrose Dudley Earl of Warwick Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester Walter Devereux Viscount of Hereford Edward Lord Clinton Admirall William Lord Howard of Effingham Chamberlain William Cecill Lord Burley Secretary Arthur Lord Grey of Wilton Iames Blunt Lord Mountjoy William Lord Sands Thomas Lord Wentworth William Lord Borough Lewis Lord Mordant Iohn Pawlet Lord St. Iohn of Bâ—sing Robert Lord Rich Roger Lord North Edmund Bruges Lord Châ—ndois Oliver Lord St. Iohn of Blâ—tsho Thomas Sackvile Lord Buckhurst and William West Lord de la Ware After silence bidden Sir Owen Hopton Lievtenant oâ— the Tower is commanded to bring the Duke to the Bar and then the Clerk of the Crown said Thomas Duke of Norfolk late of Keningale in the County of Norfolk Hold up thy hand which done the Clerk with a loud voyce readeth the crimes laid to his charge That in the eleventh yeer of the Queens Raign he had trayterously consulted to make her away and to bring in forraign Forces for invading the Kingdom Also That he dealt with the Queen of Scots concerning Marriage contrary to his promise made to the Queen under his hand writing Also That he relieved with money the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland that had stirred up Rebellion against the Queen Also That in the thirteenth yeer of the Queens Raign he implored Auxiliary Forces of Pope Pius the fifth the Queens professed enemy of the King of Spain and the Duke D'Alva for the freeing of the Queen of Scots and restoring of the Popish Religion And lastly That he sent supply to the Lord Heris and other the Queens enemies in Scotland These Indictments being read the Clerk demanded of the Duke if he were guilty of these crimes or not Here the Duke requested he might be allowed to have Counsell But Catiline chief Justice made answer That it was not lawfull Yet saith the Duke I have heard that Humphrey Stafford in the Raign of K. Henry the seventh in a Cause of Treason had one assigned to plead for him To which Dyer chief Justice of the common-Common-Pleas made answer That Stafford had Counsell assigned him concerning the Right of Sanctuary from whence he was taken by forceâ— but in the Inditement of Treason he pleaded his own cause After this the Duke yeelding to be tryed by the Peers first Barham Serjeant at Law then Gerard the Queens Atturney and lastly Bromley the Queens Solicitor enforced the crimes objected against him to
for the Execution of the Queen of Scots which might be in a readinesse upon any fear of danger charging him not to disclose the matter to any whomsoever But the next day her minde was altered and sent Sir William Killegrew to Davyson to countermand the making of the Commission Whereupon Davyson goes to her and lets her know That the Commission was already made and the Seal put to it Whereat the Queen extreamly angry rebuketh him sharply for his hastinesse yet Davyson imparteth the matter to Privy Councellors and perswades them That the Queen Commanded the Commission should be put in execution Hereupon Beale Clerk of the Councell is sent down with Letters wherein authority is deputed to the Earls of Shrewsbury Kent Derby Cumberland and others that she should be put to death according to the Law with which proceeding the Queen was not once made acquainted and more than this Although she had intimated to Davyson That she would take some other order concerning the Queen of Scots yet did not he stay Beale from going And now comes in the last Act of the Queen of Scots Tragedyâ— for assoon as the Earls were come to Fotheringay They together with Sir Amis Pawlet and Sir Drue Drurie with whom she was then in custody go unto her and reading the Commission signifie the cause of their comming and in a few words admonish her to prepare her selfe for death for that she must dye the next day Whereto without any change of countenance or passion of minde she made Answer I had not thought that my Sister the Queen would have consented to my death who am not subject to your Laws but since it is her pleasure death shall then be to me most welcome Then she requesteth that she might conferre with her Confessor and Melvyn her Steward which would not be granted The Bishop or Deane of Peterborough they offered her but them she refused The Earles being departed she gave order that Supper should bee hastened where shee eat as she used to doe soberly and sparingly and perceiving her men and women servants to lament and weepe she comforteth them and bid them rejoyce rather that she was now to depart out of a world of misery After supper she looketh over her Will read the Inventory of her Goods and Jewells and writ their names severally by them to whom she gave any of them at her wonted hour she went to bed and after a few hours sleep awaking spent the rest of the night in her devotion And now the fatall day being come wich was the 8 of February she getteth up and makes her ready in her best Apparell and then betook her self in her Closet to Almighty God imploring his assistance with deep sighes and groans untill Thomas Andrews Sheriffe of the County gave notice that it was time to come forth and then with a Princely Majesty and chearfull conntenance she came out her head covered with a linnen Vayl and carrying an Ivory Crucifix in her hand In the Gallery the Earls met her and the other Gentlemen where Melvyn her servant upon his bended knees deplored his own fortune that he should be the messenger to carry this sad newes into Scotland whom she comforted saying Do not lament Melvyn Thou shalt by and by see Mary Steward freed from all cares Then turning her self to the Earls She requested that her servants might stand by her at her death which the Earl of Kent was very loath to grant for fear of superstition To whom she sayd Fear nothing these poor wretches desire only to give me my last farewell I know the Queen my Sister would not deny me so small a request After this the two Earls and the Sheriff of the County leading the way she came to the Scaffold which was set up at the upper end of the Hall where was a Chayre a Cushion and a Block all covered with Mourning Then the Dean of Peterborough going to Prayers she falling upon her knees and holding up the Crucifix in both her hands prayed with her Servants in Latine out of the Office of the blessed Virgin Prayers being ended she kissed the Crucifix and signing her self with the Sign of the Crosse said As thy arms O Christ were spread forth upon the Crosse so embrace me with the open arms of thy mercy and forgive me my sins Then the Executioner asking her pardon she forgave him And now her women helping off her outer Garments and breaking forth into shrikes and cryes she kissed them signed them with the Crosse and willed them to leave lamenting for now an end of her sorrows was at hand and then shadowing her face with a Linnen Cloth and lying down on the Block she repeated the Psalm In te Domine speravi ne confundar in aeternum at which words she stretching forth her Body her head at two blows was taken off Her Body was afterward Royally buried in the Cathedrall Church at Peterborough but since that her Noble Son Iames King of Great Britain erected a Royall Monument for her in King Henry the seventh's Chappell at Westminster This end had Mary Queen of Scots in the six and fortieth yeer of her age and of her Imprisonment in England the eighteenth a Lady so compleat in all excellent parts of body and minde that must needs have made her a happy woman if she had not been a Queen and perhaps a happy Queen too if she had not been Heir to the Crown of England For why did all her endeavours want successe but onely from the fear of that Succession and no Innocency of heas could be a Defence where the fury of Jealousie made the Assault Assoon as it came to the Queens knowledge that the Queen of Scots was put to death her countenance grew dejected and her speech fayled her insomuch that all in mourning weeds she gave her self over to sorrow Commanded her Councellors from her Presence and caused Davyson to be cited to the Starchamber And assoon as grief would suffer her She wrote a Letter with her own hand to the King of Scots and sent it by Sir Robert Cary to this effect That her minde was infinitely disquieted in regard of this lamentable event against her meaning and intent entreating him to believe That if she had commanded it she would never have denyed it and withall Protesting her true affection towards him and her assiduous watchfulnesse for the prospering of his affairs While Carye was on his journey Davyson is cited to the Star-Chamber before these Delegates Sir Christopher Wray Chiefe Justice of the Kings-Bench for that time made Lord Privy Seal the Archbishop of Canterbury and York the Earls of Worcester Cumberland and Lincolne the Lords Grey and Lumley Sir Iames Croft Comptroller of the Queens House Sir Walter Mildmay Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Edmond Anderson Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Sir Roger Manwood Lord Chief Baron where note That Bromely Lord Chancellor Burleigh Lord Treasurer Leicester and Hatton who were
persons but afterward all sorts of men without any difference were admitted that it came almost to bee doubted whether the Dignity of the Order did more grace the persons or the meanesse of the persons disgrace the Order and indeed when the Lawes of an Institution are not in some measure observed it seemes to make a kind of nullity in the collation About this time on Sunday the â—4 of October an exemplar pennance was imposed upon Sir Peckâ—all Brâ—â—kas Knight which was to stand at Pauls Crosse in a white sheet holding a stick in his hand having been formerly convicted before the high Commissioners for many notorious Adulteries with divers women This yeare 1614. in the month of Iuly Christianus King of Denmark out of his love to his sister and King Iames came the second time into England but as being now secure of himselfe privately and with a small company so as he came to the Queen at Somerset house unexpected and before any knowledge was had of his comming but K. Iames being then in progresse in Bedford-shire and hearing of it came presently back and after he had entertained him here with Hunting Hawking running at Ring Bear-baiting Plays Fire-worksâ— and Fencing on the first of August Prince Charles brought him aboard his Ship who then took his leave and returned home In Octob. this yeare was a call of Sarjeants at Law being 11. in number namely George Wild Wil Towes Richâ— Bawtrie Henry Finch Thâ—â— Chamberlain Francis Moâ—râ— Thomas Attow Iohn Moâ—re Francis Harvie Charles Chibbourn and Tho. Richardson and in Trenity Terme before there had two other been called namely Sir Randal Creâ— of Lincolâ—s Inne and Sir Robert Hitcham of Grayes Inne Knights About this time an Embassador came from the young Emperour of Russia to King Iames desiring his continuall love and amity and to be a means of making attonemeâ—â— between him and the K. of Swethland and withall presented him with a rich present of Furs which was no smal honour to the K. of great Britain to have so great a Potentate as the Emperor of Russia a solicit him to be his mediator Though King Iames out of all naturall goodnesse was addicted to peace yet out of providence he neglected not to be prepared for war and thereupon in the yeare 1610. had granted priviledges to a society called of the Millitarie Garden and this year 1614 caused a Muster of men to be presented before him which was performed to his great liking and to the great commendation of the City About this time a memorable Act was performed by M. Hug. Middleton Citizen and Gold-smith of London and borne in Denâ—igh-shire who having an Act of Parliament for his Warrant with infinite cost and indefatigable labour brought water to the City of London from the two great springs of Chadwell and Amwell in Hartfort-shire having cut a Channell from thence to a place neere Islington whither he conveyed it to a large Pan and from thence in pipes of young Elmes to all places of the City for as the Poeth saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nothing is so commodious for the life of man as water Another memorable Act was about this time done on the North side on Lon. called Moore-fields which being before invironed with deep stinking ditches and noysome common showers was now not only made faire sweet but so levelled into walkes and let with trees that it is the pleasantest place of all the City The next yeare being 1615 another memorable Act for the benefit and beauty of the City of London was performed for Smith-field which was before a rude dirty place was now paved all over and strong railes sequestring the middle part of it were set up to make it a faire walking place and fit for Market or any other use The Lady Arbella a neare kinsewoman of the Kings had sometime before without the Kings privity secretly married Master William Seymour younger son of the Earle of Hartford now Earle of Hartford himselfe for which they were both committed to the Tower and now this yeare on the seven and twentieth day of Sep. she ended her lif there and was buried in the Chappell Royall at Westminster This yeare also in Iuly were Enstalled Knights of the Garter Francis Earle of Rutland Sir George Villers Master of the Horse and Sir Robert Sidney Viscount Lisâ—â— and in another kind of Honour the Earle of Arundell the Lord Carews and Doctor Andrews Bishop of Ely were sworne Privie Counsellours Wales by the death of Prince Henry had been a good while without a Prince and now to supply that place Prince Charles is Created Prince of Wales In Ioy whereof the Town of Ludlow in Shropshire and the City of London performed great Triumphs and the more to honour his Creation There were made five and twenty Knights of the Bathe all them Lords or Barons sons and yet more to honour it there were forty selected Gentlemen of the Innes of Court that performed a solemne Iusts at Barries with great magnificence This yeare was a Censure of divers great Delinquents for first Sir Edward Cookâ— was upon displeasure discharged from being Lord Chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench and two dayes after his discharge Sir Henry Montagâ—e the Kings Sergeant at Law was placed in his room Next to him the Lord Egerton whyther disabled by sicknesse or age to exercise the place or upon displeasure also had the Sele taken from him which was delivered to Sir Francis Bacon the King's Attourney he made first Lord Keeper and the Lord Egerton dying soon after Lord Chancellour Not long after him Sir Henry Yelverton the Kings Attourney for adding new priviledges to the Londoâ—ers Charter without the Kings privity was in displeasure put from his place and in his room was placed Sir Thomas Coventry the Kings Sollicitor But awhile after Sir Henry â—elverton was made a puny Iudge of the Common Pleas having indeed the reputation of an excellent Lawyer And yet this work of Censuring stayed not here for much about this time Thomas Earle of Suffolk Lord Treasurer of England had the staffe of his Office taken from him which was soon after delivered to Sir Henry Montagâ—â— Lord Chiefe Iustice of the Kings Beâ—ch If Sir Iohn Benet Iudge of the Prerogative Court had made a little more haste he mihght have made one in this number of Delinquents but he came short three or foure yeares and then being charged by his own servant with brybery he was put from his place and censured in the Starre-Chamber to pay twenty thousand pounds and in his roome was placed Sir William Byrde a man of more integrity Though King Iames upon the death of Queene Elizabeth came to reside in England yet â—e forgot not that Scotland was his native Countrey and therefore after he had spent some yeares in England to acquaint himselfe with the State of the Kingdome In March this yeare one thousand six hundred and sixteentâ— he made a Iourney into Scotland for though
against Duells and single Combâ—ts and a strict Law was made in Parliament against stabbing with a dagger oâ— knife making it to be wilfull Murther Affayres of the Church in his time THe King as a Religious Prince desiring nothing so much as to settle Peace in the Church and hearing of some dissensions of his Divines in points of Religion in the very first yeare of his Raigne appointed a Conference to bee holden before himselfe at Hampâ—on Court to which were called diverse Bishops Deanes and Doctors of one side and of the other foure eminent Divines namely Doctor Reynolds Doctor Sparkes Mr. Knewstabbs and Mr. Chadderton who all meeting before the King the 14 day of Ianuary the King first signified the cause of his calling them together and then told them he was there ready to heare what they could object or say against the present Government of the Church whereupon Doctor Reynolds being their Foreman reduâ—ed all matters disliked or questioned to these foure Heads 1. First that the doctrine of the Church might be preserved in purity accoâ—ding to Gods Word 2. That good Pastours might be planâ—ed in all Churchâ—s to preach the same 3. That the Church Government might be sincerely administred according to the Word of God 4. That the Book of Common Prayer might be fitted to more encreaâ—e of Piety Out of these Heads he drew and moved divers points One that Confirmation might not be by Bishops only but that every Pastour in his Parish might Confirme but this was thought to trench too much upon the Iurisdiction of Biâ—hopâ— and to be a step to bring in a Presbiterian government which the King much misliked and the Bishop of Winchester challenged Dr. Reynolds with aâ—â— his learning to shew where ever he had read that Confirmation was at aâ—â— used in antient times by any other than by Bishops Another motion of Docâ—oâ— Reynolds was That there might be a new Translation of the Bible becaâ—se the present from sevenscore to two hundred so he increased their Pensions from two shillings a day for three moneths in the summer to seven groats a day for six moneths in the summer Then where at his comming he found but only foure Iudges in the Courts of Law at Westminster hee added a fifth with the like allowance as the former had besides many other Pensions of like nature But the works of Piety done by others in his time were very many whereof we may justly set in the first place the repairing of Pauls Church begun in his time though not finished till many yeares after a worke of as great cost and labour as the first founding it towards the furtherance whereof though many well devoted persons contributed liberally yet none was more industrious than the learned Doctor Laud first Bishop of London and after Arch-bishop of Canterburie who also was a bountifull Benefactor to the Colledge of Saint Iohns in Oxford where he had his Education Next to him his Predecessor next before him the worthy George Abbot Arch-Bishop of Canterburie founded a faire Almes-house at Croydon in Surrie as likewise Robert the second Earle of Dorset founded another in Sussex to the maintenance whereof hee gave Lands to the value of three hundred pounds a yeare But of all the Almes-houses that were ever founded in Christendome there is none I thinke can parallell that of Thomas Sutton Esquire This man borne at Snayth in Lincoln-shire having alwayes lived a Batchelour and by sundrie imployments and parcimony being growne to great wealth bought of the right Honourable Thomas Earle of Suffolk his Mansion house called the Charter-house neare to Smithfield in London and out of a pious mind converted it into an Almes-house by the name of Suttons Hospitall endousing the same with above three thousand pounds of yearely rent wherein are maintained fourescore poore men with convenient lodging dyet and allowance of money for apparell also forty poore children with the like provision and a Grammer Schoole with a Master and Vsher to teach them overall whom hee ordained a learned man to bee Master of the houshold and to be chosen by the Governours whom he appoynted for the present by the Authority of the Kings Letters Patents to be George Arch-Bishop of Canterburie Thomas Lord Elsmore Lord Chancellour Robert Earle of Salisburie Lord Treasurer Iohn Bishop of London Laâ—ncelâ—t Bishop of Ely Sir Edward Cook chiefe Iustice of the Common Plâ—as Sir Thomas Foster a Iudge of the Common Pleas Sir Henrie Hubbard the Kings Atturney generall Doctor Overall Deane of Pauls Doctor Mountaine Deane of Wâ—stminster Henrie Thursby Esquire Master of the Chancerie Richard Sutton Esquire Auditor of the Imprests Ieffâ—rie Nightingall Esquire Iohn Low Gentleman Thomas Browne Gentleman and Master of the Houshold for the time being to bee alwayes one and as any of these sixâ—eene Governours should dye the Survivers to make present addition of others Next to this was a faire Colledge in Oxford founded by Nicholas Wil be Esquire and called after his name About this time also Edward Allin of Dulwich in Surrie founded a faire Hospitall at Dulwich for six poore men and six poor women and for twelve poore children from the age of foure or six yeares to be there maintained and taught till the age of foureteen or sixteen and to have a Schoolemaster with dyet and a convenient stipend This man may be an example who having gotten his wealth by Stage-playing converted it to this pious useâ— not without a kind of repuâ—ation to the Society of Players In this Kings time also William Cambden King at Armes founded an Historie Professor in Oxford to which hee gave the Mannor of Bexley in Kent which some yeares expired will be worth foure hundred pounds a yeare In his tenth yeare Sir Baptist Hicks one of the Iustices of Peace in Middlesex who was after made Viscount Câ—â—bden built a faire Sessions house of Brick and Stone in St. Iohns street which by the Iustices was called after his name Hicks Hall a great convenience for the Iustices who sate before in a common Inne called the Castle Hee also founded a faire Hospitall of Free stone at Cambden in Gloucester-shire for six men and six wowomen allowing each of them a yearely Gowne and two shillings six pence a week with two roomes and a garden In this Kings time George Patyn Citizen and Grocer of London gave to good uses three thousand an six hundred pounds whereof twelve hundred pounds to the two Vniversities nine hundred pounds for an Almes-house and a certaine summe of money to buy two Bells and make a Chime in Bow-Church Also Thomas Teasdale of Glympton in the Countie of Oxford Gentleman gave five thousand pounds to purchase lands for perpetuall maintenance of seven fellowes and Six Scholars to be placed in Baylyoll Colledge in Oxford and to be chosen thither from time to time out of the Free-Schoole of Abbington in Berk-shire to which Schoole he also gave lands for maintenance of an Vsher. In this
kingdome all sorts of people were drawne so dry by the two great occasions of his Journey and his Ransome and afterward by other Taxations that the richest men had enough to doe to maintaine themselves without being at the charge to make provision for others All workes of Piety were now for the service of the Holy Land and therefore it may well passe if not for a worke of Devotion at least worthy to be remembred that William Bishop of Ely builded the outer wall of the Tower of London and caused a deepe ditch to be made about it with an intention the River of Thames should have surrounded it though it could not be effected Onely Hubert Walter who at one time was Arch-bishop of Canterbury the Popes Legat Lord Chancellour Lord Chiefe Justice and the immediate Governour under the King both in Wales and England Founded a Monastery at West Derham in Norfolke where he was borne begunne another at Wolverhampton and finished a Collegiate Church at Lambeth Of his Wifâ— and Children IN his Infancy he was contracted to a daughter of Raymond Earle of Barcelone after that affianced to Adela or Alice daughter of Lewis King of France yet married to neither of them but he married Berengaria daughter of Garsias King of Navarre whom his Mother Queene Eleanor brought unto him into Sicilie from whence passing into Cyprus their marriage was there solemnised afterward going forward to the Holy Land he carried her and his sister Iane Queene of Sicilie along with him where they remained till his returne home and then sent them to passe to Sicilie and from thence into England but that ever she came into England no mention is made neither what became of her after she parted from King Richard at the Holy Land But children certainely he had none either by his wife or by any Concubine unlesse we reckon as a Priest in Normandy did who told King Richard he had three daughters and the King marvelling who they should be seeing he knew of none he had yes saith the Priest you have three daughters Pride Covetousnesse and Lechery which the King taking merrily called to the company about him and said I am told by a Priest here that I have three daughters and I desire you to be witnesses how I would have them bestowed my daughter Pride upon the Templars and Hospitallers my daughter Covetousnesse upon the Monks of the Cistercian Order and my daughter Lechery upon the Clergy Casualties happening in his time IN his time the Towne of Mawling in Kent with the Nunnery was consumed with fire and in his time the bones of Arthur the famous King of Britaine were found at Glastenbury in an old Sepulchre about which stood two Pillars in which letters were written but could not be read Upon the Sepulchre was a crosse of Lead whereon was written Here lyâ—th the Noble King of Britaine Arthur Also in this Kings dayes for three or foure yeares together there raigned so great a dearth that a Quarter of Wheate was sold for 18. shillings 8. pence and then followed so great a mortality of men that scarce the living sufficed to bury the dead Of his Personage and Conditions HE was tall of stature and well proportioned faire and comely of face of haire bright abourne of long armes and nimble in all his joynts his thighes and legs of due proportion and answerable to the other parts of his body To speake of his morall parts his Vices for the most part were but onely upon suspition Incontinency in him much spoken of nothing proved but his Vertues were apparent for in all his actions he shewed himselfe Valiant from whence he had the appellation or surname of Caeâ—r de Lyon wise liberall mercifull just and which is most of all Religious a Prince borne for the good of Christendome if a Barre in his Nativity had not hindred it The remorse for his undutifulneesse towards his Father was living in him till he dyed for at his death he remembred it with bewailing and desired to be Buryed as neare him as might be perhaps as thinking they should meete the sooner that he might aske him forgivenesse in another world Of his Death and Buriall HE dyed of a wound with an Arrow in his Arme which neglected at first and suffered to wrankle or as others say ill handled by an unskilfull Chirurgeon in foure dayes brought him to his End But his Charity deserves to have it remembred that finding himselfe past hope of Recovery he caused the Party that had wounded him to be brought before him who being asked what moved him to doe this Fact answered that King Richard had killed his Father and two of his Brothers with his owne hand and thereforâ— would doe it if it were to doe againe Upon this Insolent answer every one looked the King should have censured him to some terrible punishment when contrary to all their expectations in a high degree of Charity he not onely freely forgave him but gave a speciall charge he should be set at liberty and that no man should dare to doe him the least hurt commanding besides to give him a hundred shillings for his paines An Act that well shewed he had beene at the Holy Land or rather indeed that he was going to it He dyed the sixth day of Aprill in the yeare 1199. when he had lived 44. yeares Raigned nine and about nine moneths and had his Body Buryed at Founteverard by his Father his heart at Roan in remembrance of the hearty love that City had alwayes borne him and his bowels at Chalons for a disgrace of their unfaithfulnesse others say at Carlile in England Of Men of Note in his time IN his time were famous Baldwyn Archbishop of Câ—nterbury who followed King Richard into the Holy Land and dyed there Hubert that succeeded him Hugh Bishop of Lincolne William Bishop of Ely a man equally famous and infamous also Baldwyn Archbishop of Canterbury a learned Writer in Divinity Daniel Morley a great Mathematician Iohn de Herham and Richard de Herham two notable Historians Guilielmus Stephonides a Monke of Canterbury who wrote much in the praise of Arch-bishop Becket also one Richard Divisiensis Nicholas Walkington and Robert de Bello Foco an excellent Philosopher Of Martiall men Robert Earle of Leycester Ranulph de Fulgers two of the Bâ—â—dolphs Hugh and Henry three Williams Marshall Brunâ—ll and Mandevill with two Roberts Rosse and Sâ—vevile THE RAIGNE OF KING IOHN KING Richard being dead the right of Succession remained in Arthur Sonne of Geoffrey Plantagenâ—t elder Brother to Earle Iohn but Iohn as thinking the title of Arthur but a Criticisme in State and not for every ones capacity at least in common sense not so plaine as his owne who was the sonne of a King and the Brother to a King ascends into the Throne as confidently as if he had no competitor Onely Hubert Arch-bishop of Canterbury went before and made an Oration in his behalfe wherein seeking to doe him
aggravate his breach of promise and to acquaint him with all the disorders of the kingdome with whose remonstrance the King is so moved that after he had tried the Londoners and found them also to partake with the Lords he cals a Parliament aâ— London whither the Lords come armed for their own safety where after long debating the King taking his Oath to referre the matter to certaine grave men of the kingdome Articleâ— are drawne sealed and publikely set up to the view of all with the seales of the Legat and divers great men but before it came to be effected the Earle of Cornwall by the working of Simon Montford hath his edge rebated and is brought to be unwilling to meddle in the matter any more which the other Lords seeing they also grow cold and so for that time it rested and no more was done in it And now is the Kings turne to play his part in using his authority which he failes not to doe to the uttermost for upon a small-occasion he causeth the gates of Gilbert now Earle of Pembroke the third sonne of VVilliam the great Marshall to be shut against him at VVinchester whereupon the Earle retires into the North. Also Simon Norman Master of the Kings Seale and his greatest Favorite is thrown out with disgrace and his brother Geoffrey a knight Templar is put out of the Counsell both of them for not yeelding to passe a Grant from the King made unto Thomas Earle of Flanders the Queenes Unkle of foure pence upon every sack of Wooll And now that load enough is laid upon those of the Laity comes a new load to be laid upon the Clergy for the Pope nothing dainty to make use of the power he had in the King sends over three hundred Romans requiâ—ing to have the first Benefices that should be vacant bestowed upon them which seemed so unreasonable a request and to the Clergy of England so dammageable that it made Edmund Arch-bishop of Canterbury to give over all and betake himselfe to a voluntary Exile in the Abbey of Pontiniac in France yet to shew his respect to the Pope gave him eâ—ght hundred Markes before his departure And to lay more weight upon the Clergy great summes are also required of them for maintenance of the Popes warre against the Emperour which though the Clergy opposed and shewed many good reasons of their opposition both to the King and the Legat yet by promises or threatnings they were won or forced to yeeld unto it And now comes the Earle of March and once againe solicits the King to make another journey into France which being yeelded to by the King and assented to in Parliament an aide presently was demanded towards it but this demand was not onely opposed but all the Kings Taxations and aides before granted were now repeated and thereupon an absolute deniall to grant any more Upon this the King comes to the Parliament himselfe in person earnestly and indeed humbly craving their aide for this once but all prevailed not they had made a vow to the contrary and the King is driven to get what he could of particular men of whom partly by gift and partly by â—oane he gets so much that he carries over with him thirty Barrels of Sterling money This expedition had no better successe then the former for after a whole yeares stay the King was driven to make a dishonourable Truce with the King of France and returne home At his returne he puts the Iewes to another redemption and the Londoners to another exaction and to helpe on his charge his wives mother the Countesse of Provence comes now to visit him who bringing her daughter Zanchia with her a marriage is solemnised betweene her and Richard Earle of Cornwall whose wife was lately dead and he returned from the Holy warres The old Countesse at her returne is presented with many rich gifts having besides received an Annuall Pension of foure thousand Markes out of England for five yeares past in consideration of a pact made that King Henry after her decease should have the Earledome of Provence but shortly after her returne she disappoints him of that and bestowes it upon her youngest daughâ—er Beatrix married to Charles the French Kings brother who was after King of Naples and Sicilieâ— so as this Countesse lived to see all her foure daughters Queenes Richard Earle of Cornwall comming after to be elected King of the Romans Upon thâ—se profusions a consultation is had for new supplies and no way thought so fit as by Parliament hereupon a Parliament is againe assembled at Westminster whithâ—r the King comes againe himselfe in person urging his necessities yet nothing wouâ—d be granted without the assurance of reformation and due execution of the Lawes And here they desire to have it ordained that foure of the most grave and discreet Peeres should be chosen as conservatours of the kingdome and sworne of the Kings Councell both to see Justice administred and the treasure issued and these or two of them at least should ever attend about the King Also that the Lord Chiefe Justiciar and the Lord Chancellour should be chosen by the generall voyces of the States assembled or else be one of the number of those foure Besides they propound that there might be two Justices of the Benches two Barons of the Exchequer and oâ—e Justice for the Iewes and those likewise to be chosen by Parliament But while these things were in debating comes one Martin a new Legat from the Pope with a larger Commission then ever any before to exact upon the State but at the same time Letters comming from the Emperour Fredericke to intreat that the Pope might have no more supplies out of England the Popes Mandate is rejected and his Agent Martin disgracefully sent home This businesse took up so much time that nothing else was done in this Parliament but onely an aide granted to the King for the marriage of his daughter to Alexander King of Scots twenty shillings of every knights Fee and that with much adoe and repetition of his former aides The Winter following he assembles another Parliament wherein he moves for an ayde upon a designe he had upon Wales and to pay his debts which were urged to be so great that he could not appâ—are out of his Chamber for the infinite clamour of such to whom he owed for his Wine Waxe and other necessaries of house but they all to his face refused to grant him any thing whereupon other violent courses are taken an ancient quarrell is found out against the City of London for which they are commanded to pay fifteene thousand Markes and Passeleve the Clerk is imployed with others in a most peremptory commission to inquire of all such Lands as had beene inforested and either to fine the occupyers thereof at their pleasure or else to take it from them and sell the same to others wherein such rigour was used that multitudes of people were undone But now to shew
Blake a Lawyer Shortly after the Parliament began called afterward The Parliament that wrought wonders On the first day whereof were arrested as they sate in their places all the Justices but onely Sir William Skipwith as Sir Roger Fulthorpe Sir Robert Belknappe Sir Iohn Cary Sir Iohn Holt Sir William Brooke and Iohn Alacâ—on the kings Serjeant at Law and were all sent to the Tower for doing contrary to an Agreement made the last Parliament Also in the beginning of this Parliament Robert Veere Duke of Irelâ—nd Alexander Nevill Archbishop of York Michael de la Poole Earle of Suffolke and Sir Robert Tresilian Lord Chiefe Justice of England were openly called to answer Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester Richard Earle of Arundell Henry Earle of Darby and Thomas Earle of Nottingham upon certaine Articles of high Treason and because none of them appeared It was ordained by whole consent of Parliament they should be banished for ever and all their landâ— and goods â—eized into the Kings hands their intailed lands onely excepted Shortly after the Lord Chief Justice Robert Tresilian was found in an Apothecaries house in Westminster where being taken he was brought to the Duke of Glocester who caused him the same day to be had to the Tower and from thence drawne to Tyburne and there hanged On the morrow after Sir Nicolas Brember was brought to his Answer who being found guilty was beheaded with an Axe which himselfe had caused to be made for beheading of others After this Sir Iohn Salisbery and Sir Iames Berneys lusty young men were drawne and hanged as also Iohn Beâ—â—champ L. Steward of the Kings house Iohn Blake Esquire and lastly Sir Symon Burley sonne to the great Sir Iohn Burley Knight of the Garter was beheaded on Tower-hill whose death the King tooke more heavily and more heynously then all the rest Also all the Justices were condemned to dye but by the Queenes intercession they were onely banished the Realme and all their lands and goods confiscate onely a small portion of money was assigned them for their sustentation Finally in this Parliament an Oath was required and obteined of the King that he should stand unto and abide such Rule and Order as the Lords should take and this Oath was required also of all the Inhabitants of the Realme In the later end of the Kings eleventh yeere the Earle of Arundell was sent to Sea with a great Navy of ships and men of warre with whom went the Earles of Nottingham and Devonshire Sir Thhmas Percy the Lord Clifford the Lord Camoiâ— Sir William Elmham and divers other Knights to ayde the Duke of Britaine against the king of France but before they came the Duke of Britaine was reconciled to the king of France and so needing not their ayde all this great Fleet returned with doing nothing And it was indeed a yeere of doing nothing unlesse we reckon some petty Inroades of the Scots and that Sir Thomas Tryvet dyed with a fall off his horse and that Sir Iohn Holland the Kings brother by the mother was made Earle of Huntington and that there was Contention in Oxford between the Northerne and the Southerne Scholars which was pacified by the Duke of Glocester In his twelveth yeere Commissioners were appointed to meet at Balingham betwixt Calliâ— and Bulloigne to treat of a Peace betweene the Realmes of England France and Scotland and after long debating a Truce was at last concluded to begin at Midsomer next and to last three yeeres But now the king to shew his plenary authority of being at full age removed the Archbishop of York from being Lord Chancellor and put in his place William Wickham Bishop of Winchester also he removed the Bishop of Hereford from being Treasurer and put another in his place The Earle of Arundell likewise unto whom the Government of the Parliament was committed and the Admiralty of the Sea was removed and the Earle of Huntington put in his roome About this time the Lord Iohn Hastings Earle of Pembrooke as he was practising to learne to Just was stricken about the Privy parts by a knight called Sir Iohn St. Iohn of which hurt he soone after dyed In whose Family it is memorable that for many Generations together no sonne ever saw his father the father being alwaies dead before the sonne was borne The Originall of this Family was from Hastings the Dane who in the Reigne of K. Alured long before the Conquest about the yeere 890. came with Rollo jâ—to England But howsoever in this Iohn Hastings ended the then Honorable Titles of the Hastings for this man dying without issue his Inheritances were dispersed to divers persons The Honour of Pembrooke came to Francis at Court by the kings Gift the Baronies of Hastings and Welford came to Reynold Gray of Ruthin the Barony of Aburgâ—veny was granted to William Beaâ—â—hamp of Bedford About this time Iohn Duke of Lancaster was created Duke of Aquitaine receiving at the Kings hands the Rod and the Cap as Investitures of that Dutchy Also the Duke of York's sonne and heire was created Earle of Richmond In his thirteenth yeere a Royall Justs was Proclaimed to be holden within Smithfield in London to begin on Sunday next after the Feast of S. Michael which being published not onely in England but in Scotland in Almaigne in Flanders in Brabant and in France many strangers came hither amongst others Valeran Earle of S. Poll that had maried king Richards Sister and William the young Earle of Ostervant sonne to Albert de Bavâ—ere Earl of Hollond and Heynoult At the day â—ppointed there issued forth of the Tower about three a clock in the afternoone sixty Coursers apparrelled for the Justs and upon every one an Esquire of Honour riding a soft pace After them came forth foure and thirty Ladies of Honour Froyssard saith threescore mounted on Palfries and every Lady led a knight with a chaine of Gold These knights being on the Kings part had their armour and apparell garnished with white Hearts and Crownes of Gold aboâ—â— their necks and so they came riding through the streets of London unto Smithfield The Justs lasted divers dayes all which time the King and Queen lay at the Bishops Palace by Pauls Church and kept open house for all Commers In his Fifteenth yeere the Duke of Lancaster went into France having in his traine a thousand horse and met the king of France at Aâ—iens to treat of a Peace between the two kingdomes but after long debate a Truce onely was concluded for a yeere About this time also the King required the Londoners to lend him a Thousâ—nd pounds which they refused â—o doe and not onely so but they abused an Italian Merchant for offering to lend it This moved the King to some indignation to which was added the complaint of a Ryot committed by the Citizens against the servants of the Bishops of Saliâ—bury L. Treasurer for that where one of the Bishops servants named Walter Roman had taken a
Lieutenant of the English pale they were forced to retire and flye The Earle of S. Paul escaped to S. Omers but left many of his men of quality behind him and more taken Prisoners After this Thomas Duke of Clarence the Kings second sonne and the Earle of Kent with competent Forces entred the Haven of Sluce where they burnt foure ships riding at anchour and then returned to the reliefe of Callis besieged at that time by the French and in the way tooke three Carricks of Gâ—noua richly laden and brought them into the Chamber of Rye And these were the troubles of this King abroad But now at home the Reliques of the former Northerne Rebellion began to revive for now Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke Thomas Mowbray Earle Marshall the Lords Hastings Fawconbridge and Bardolfe with divers others conspired at a time appointed to meet upon Yorkswould-Downes and there to bid defiance to king Henry Articles of Grievances were framed and set up in all publick places which drew multitudes to be partakers of the enterprize But now Ralph Nevill Earle of Westmeâ—land with the Lord Iohn the Kings third sonne the Lords Henry Fitz-Hughes Ralph Evers and Robert Vmphrevile make head against them and comming into a Plaine in the Forrests of Galltree they sate down right against the Archbishop and his Forces which were twenty thousand and Westmerland perceiving the Enemies forces to be farre more than theirs he used this policie he sent to the Archbishop demanding the reason why he would raise Forces against the king who answering that his Armes were not against the king but for his owne defence whom the king upon the instigation of Sycophants had threatned withall he sent him a scrowle of their grievances which Westmerland read and seemed to approve and thereupon desired a conference with him The Archbishop more credulous then wise perswaded the Earle Marshall to goe with him to the place appointed to conferre the Articles are read and allowed of and thereupon Westmerland seeming to commiserate the souldiersâ— having beene in armour all day and weary wished the Archbishop to acquaint his Party as he would his with this their mutuall agreement and so shaking hands in most Courtly friendship dranke unto him whereupon the souldiers were willed to disband and repaire home which they had no sooner done but a Troâ—p of horse which in a colourable manner had made a shew to depart wheeled about and afterwards returned and being come in â—ight the Earle of Westmerland arrested both the Arcbishop and the Earle Marshall and brought them both Prisoners to the king at Poâ—fret who passing from thence to York the Prisoners likewise were carried thither and the next day both of them beheaded At Durham the Lords Hastings and Fâ—wconbridge with two knights were executed Northumberland with the Lord Bardolfe fled first to Barwick and after into Scotland where they were entertained by David Lord Flemming whereupon the king gave summons to the Castle of Barwick which at first they refused to obey but upon the planting and discharging of a Piece they presently yeelded without composition and here William Greystock Henry Baynton and Iohn Blinkâ—nsop knights and five other were presently put to execution and many others committed to severall Prisons About this time Iames sonne and heire of Robert king of Scotland a childe of nine yeares old attended by the Earle of Orkney as he was sailing into France was taken by certaine Mariners of Norfolk who brought him to the King at Windsor the 30. of March 1408. and the King sent them to the Tower of London Northumberland and Bardolfe after they had been in Wales France and Flanders to raise a Power against King Henry returned back into Scotland and after a yeere with a great Power of Scots entred England and came into Yorkshire making great spoyle and waste as they passed but Sir Thomas Rokesby Sheriffe of Yorke levying the forces of the County upon Bramham-moore gave them battell in which Northumberland was slaine Bardolfe taken but wounded to death and the rest put to flight About this time also Sir Robert Vmphrevile Vice-admirall of England with ten men of warre entred Scotland burnt their Gallyâ—t and many other ships over against Lieth and brought away with him fourteen tall ships laden with corne and other staple commodities which at his returne he sent into the Markets round about and thereby brought down the prizes of all things and purchased to himselfe the name of Mend-market The Prince had been a Student In Queenes Colledge in Oxford under the tuition of his Unkle Henry Beaufort Chancellor of that University afterwards Bishop of Lincolâ—e and Winchester and lastly made a Cardinall by the title of Eusebius From Oxford the Prince was called to Court and the Lord Thomas Percy Earle of Worcester was made his Governour but comming afterward to be at his owne disposing whether being by nature valorous and not yet well stayed by time and experience oâ— whether incited by ill companions and emboldened by the opinion of his owne greatnesse he ranne into many courses so unworthy of a Prince that it was much doubted what he would prove when he came to be Prince Once it is said he lay in wait for the Receivers of his fathers Rents and in the person of a Thiefe set upon them and robbed them Another time when one of his companions was arraigned for felony before the Lord Chiefe Justice he went to the Kings Bench barre and offered to take the Prisoner away by force but being withstood by the Lord Chiefe Justice he stepped to him and struck him over the face whereat the Judge nothing abashed rose up and told him that he did not this affront to him but to the King his father in whose place he sate and therefore to make him know his fault he commanded him to be committed to the Fleete You would have wondred to see how calme the Prince was in his own cause who in the cause of his companion had been so violent for he quietly obeyed the Judges sentence and suffered himselfe to be led to Prison This passage was not a little pleasing to the King to thinke that he had a Judge of such courage and a Sonne of such submission but yet for these and such other pranks he removed him from being President of the Councell and placed in it his third sonne Iohn This made the Prince so sensible of his fathers displeasure that he thought it necessary to seek by al means to recover his â—ood opinion which he endeavored to doe by a way as strange as that by which he lost it for attiring himselfe in a garment of blew Sattin wrought all with Eylet-holes of black silke at every hole the needle hanging by which it was sowed and about his arme a thing in fashion of a hounds collar studded with SS of gold he came to the Court at Westminster to whom the King though not well in health caused himselfe in
he had brought his souldiers onely to shew them the Country and returne as they came adding withall that to make it appeâ—â—e he was able without helpe of the English to subsist of himselfeâ— he utterly disclâ—â—med any benefit by that Truce untill three months after the English were reâ—â—â—ned to their own Country and so in a great snuffe returned home For the better Confirmation of what waâ— agreed upon between the two kings an 〈◊〉 is desired but before the same is eâ—â—ectuaâ—ed the French king sends to the Engâ—â—sh army an hundred Tonne of Gascoigne wine to be drunke out amongst the privâ—â—e â—ouldiers and therewithall free licence for Commanders and Gentlemen to recreate themselves in Amyeâ—s where they were lovingly entertained by the Burgers of the Town by the kings expresse command The place of enterview of these two 〈◊〉 is agreed on to be at Picquency a Town three miles distant from Amâ—eâ—s seated in â—â—ottome through which the river of Some runneth over which a strong bridge was buâ—â—t and in the midst thereof a graâ—e made overthwart with â—artes no wider 〈◊〉 than a man might well thrust in his arme covered with boardes overheadâ— to avoid the rainâ—foure of the Bed-chamber on both sides are appointed to search the roomâ— to prevent traps of instrumenâ—â— of treachery and being by them certified that â—ll as was cleere the kings advance themselves King Edward being come in sight of the place made a stand being told that the circumstance of comming fâ—râ—t to thâ— place was a matter of great disparagement in point of State but the French king â—oâ—e regarding substâ—nce then circumstance gave the king of England the advanâ—â—â—â— to come at hiâ— pleasure and went first to the barre appointed for conference 〈◊〉 theâ—e did attend king Edwards leasure He had in his Company Iohn Duke of 〈◊〉 with his brother the Cardinall and eight hundred mâ—n at Arms. King Edâ—â—â—â— hâ—d with him his brother the Duke of Clarence the Earle of Northumberland â—he Lords Chamberlaine and Chancellour and at his backe his whole Army in bâ—tâ—eâ—â— The kings lovingly salute each other and complements of courtesie reâ—ipro 〈…〉 which finished They with their Noblemen there present take all â—heir 〈◊〉 upon the holy Evangelists in all to their â—ower to observe the Articles o◠〈◊〉 agreâ—d on After which In private the French king imporâ—uâ—es king Edâ—â—â—â— that the Duke of Brittaine might be left out of these Articles but after much 〈◊〉 to that purpose king Edward gave his resolute answerâ— that if king Lewis 〈◊〉 the frendship of Englâ—nd he should not molest the Duke of Brittaineâ— for â—hat he was resolved at any time to come in person to relieve himâ— if he were distuâ—â—ed King Edward pretended the many kindnesse he had formeâ—ly recâ—ived of the Duke of Brittaine but it was conceived that the desire of compassing the Eaâ—les o◠〈◊〉 and Pembrooke now in the Duke of Brittaines Country were the greatest 〈◊〉 of his standing â—o â—irmely for him The money to be payd to king Edâ—â—rd 〈◊〉 the Articles is accordingly payd and thereupon the French Hostages are delivered and the Englisâ— Army reâ—â—res to Callice and from thencâ— is transported into 〈◊〉 and then the English Hostages are likewise delivered This Peace was 〈◊〉 â—o be made only by the holy Ghost because on the day of meeâ—ing a white Dove came and sate upon the king of Englands Tent though the Dukes of Glocester and Burgoigâ—e thought it was made by no good spirit King Edward being returned into England had his minde running still upon the dangeâ— that might grow from the Earle of Richmond he therefore dispatched D. Stillington and two other his Ambassadors to the Duke of Briâ—aine to send him over to him under this subtle pretence that he meant to match him in mariage with the Lady Cicillâ— his younger daughter and withall sent also no small store of Angels to speake for him which so prevailed with the Duke that he delivered the Earle oâ— Richmond to the Ambassadors who conducted him thence to Saint Maloâ— where whil'st they stayed for a winde the young Earle by the cunning plotting of Peter Landoiâ— the Dukes Treasurer more out of scorne that he was not gratified by the English Ambassadour to the proportion of his place than for any love to the Earle escapes into Sanctuary from whence neither prayers nor promises could get him cut Neverthelesse upon Peter Landois his promise he should be safely kept there the Ambassadors departed and returned home acquainted K. Edward with the Duke of Bâ—â—goigâ—â—s courtesie in delivering him and their own negligence in suffering him to escape onely making amends with the promise of Peter Landois which might be to K. Edward some contentment but was no satisfaction At Christmas following being the sixteenth yeere of his Reigne he created his eldest sonne Edward Prince of Wales Duke of Corâ—wall and Earle of Chester his second sonne he made Duke of Yorke giving the order of knighthood to the sonne and heire of the Earle of Liâ—colâ—e and many others He created also foure and twenty knights of the Bath whereof Brian Chiefe Justice and Littleton a Judge of the Common Pleas were two About this time there were two examples of severity seene not unworthy the relating if but onely to make us see how dangerous a thing it is Ludere cum sanctiâ— to speake words that may be taken as reflecting upon the king The first was of one Walter Walker a wealthy Citizen dwelling at the signe of the Crown in Cheapside This man one day when his childe cryed bid him be quiet and he would make him heire of the Crowne which words being subject to interpretation he was called in question about them arraigned condemned and put to death The other was of Thomas Burdet of Arrow in Warwickeshire Esquire It happened that K. Edward hunted in his Parke he being from home and there killed a white Buck whereof Mr. Burdeâ— made speciall account so as comming home and finding that Buck killed he wished it hornes and all in his belly that had counselled the king to kill it and because none counselled the King to kill it but himselfe it was thought those words were not spoken without a malignant reflecting upon the King and thereupon Burdet was arraigned and condemned drawne to Tiburne and there beheaded though Mâ—rkhâ—â— then Chiefe Justice chose rather to lose his place than assent to the Judgement And now began ambition to boyle in Richard Duke of Glocester whereof the first heate fell upon his brother the Duke of Clarence how to rid him out of the way to which end he seeks to raise Jealousies in King Edwards head against him telling him that some of Clareâ—ce his followers were Sorcereâ—s and Necromancers and had given forth speeches that one whose name begun with G. should disinherit his Children and get the Crown and for a colour of this suggestion one of the Duke of Clarâ—â—ce his servants who came with him out of
refusing to pay it was committed to prison where hee stayed till Empson himselfe was committed in his place By these courses hee accumulated so great store of Treasure that he left at his death most of it in secret places under his own key and keeping at Richmond as is reported the summe of neer eighteen hundred thousand pounds sterling But though by this course he got great store of Treasure yet by it he lost the best treasure the peoples hearts but that he something qualified it by his last Testament commanding that Restitution should be made of all such moneys as had unjustly been levied by his Officers It seemes king Henry after the death of his Queene the Lady Elizabeth had an inclination to marry againe and hearing of the great beauty virtue of the young Queene of Naples the widow of Ferdinando the younger he sent three confident persons Francis Marsyn Iames Braybrooke and Iohn Stile to make two inquiries one of her person and conditions the other of her Estate Who returning him answer that they found her Beauty and Virtues to be great but her Estate to be onely a certaine Pension or Exhibition and not the kingdome of Naples as he expected he then gave over any further medling in that matter After this another Treaty of Mariage was propounded to the king betweene him and the Lady Margaret Dutchesse Dowager of Savoy onely daughter to Maximilian and Sister to the king of Castile a Lady wise and of great good fame In which businesse was imployed for his first piece the kings then Chaplain and after the great Prelate Thomas Woolsey It was in the end concluded with ample conditions for the king but with promise de Futuro onely Which mariage was protracted from time to time in respect of the Infirmity of the king which held him by â—its till he dyed He left Executours Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester Richard Fitz Iames Bishop of London Thomas Bishop of Durham Iohn Bishop of Rochester Thomas Duke of Norfolk Treasurer of England Edward Earl of Worcester and Lord Chamberlaine Iohn F. knight chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench and Robert R. knight chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas. A little before his death he had concluded a marriage in which negociation Foxe Bishop of Winchester was imployed between his younger Daughter the Lady Mary of the age of ten years and Charles king of Castile not much elder but though concluded yet not solemnized and she was afterward married to Lewis the French king Of his Taxations IN his third yeer there was by Parliament granted toward the maintaining an Army in Britaine that every man should pay the tenth penny of his Goods which Tax though at first withstood in Yorkeshire and Durham yet was afterwad levied to the uttermost In his seventh yeer towards his warres in France a Benevolence was by Parliament granted by which great summes of money were collected of the richer sort only In his eleventh yeer a Subsidie of sixscore thousand pounds was granted him by Parliament towards his waâ—s with Scotland which caused afterward the insurrection in Cornwall In his nineteenth yeer a Subsidie was granted him by Parliament In his one and twentieth yeer â—e raised great summes of money from offenders against Penall Statutes the greatest but the unjustest way for raising of money that every any king of England used and not content with this he required and had at the same time a Benevolence both from the Clergie and Laity To the Clergie was imployed Richard Fox then Bishop of Winchester who assembling the Clergie before him exhorted them to be liberall in their contribution but the Clergie being of two sorts rich and poore made each of them their severall excuses The rich and such as had great livings said they were at great charges in keeping hospitality and maintaining their families and therefore desired to be spaâ—ed The poorer sort alledged that their means were small and scarce able to finde them necessaries and therefore desired to be forborne But the Bishop answered them both with a pretty Dilemma saying to the rich It is true you live at great charges in hospitality in apparell and other demonstrations of your wealth and seeing you have store to spend in such order there is no reason but for your Princes service you should do it much more and therefore you must pay To the poorer sort he said though your livings be small yet your frugality is great and you spend not in house-keeping and apparell as other doe therefore be content for you shall pay Of his Lawes and Ordinances THIS King was the first that ordained a company of tall strong men naming them Yeomen of the Guard to be attending about the person of the king to whom he appointed a Livery by which to be known and a Câ—ptaine by whom to be chosen In his time the authority of the Star-chamber which subsisted before by the Common Lawes of the Realme was confirmed in certaine cases by Act of Parliament In his time were made these excellent generall Laws One that from thenceforth sines should be finall and conclude all strangers rights Another for admission of poore suitours In forma paâ—peris without paying Fee to Counsellour Atturney or Clerke Another that no person that did assist by Armes or otherwise the King for the time being should after be Impeached therefore or Attainted either by course of the Law or by Act of Parliament and that if any such Act of Attainder did happen to be made it should be void and of none effect Another for the Benevolence to make the summes which any had agreed to pay and were not brought in to be leviable by course of Law Another that Murtherers should be burnt on the Brawn of the left hand with the letter M. and Theeves with the letter T. so that if they offended the second time they should have no mercy but â—e put to death and this to â—each also to Clearkes Convict In his fifth yeer It was ordained by Parliament that the Major of London should have Conservation of the river of Thames from the bridge of Stanes to the waters of Yendalâ— and Mâ—d-way In his seventeenth Iohn Shaw Major of London caused his brethren the Aldermen to ride from the Guild-hall to the waters-side when he went to Westminster to be presented in the Exchequer â—e also caused the kitchins and other houses of office â—o be builded at the Guild-hall where since that time the Majors feast haâ—h been kept which before had been in the Grocers or Taylours-hall In his eighteenth yeer king Henry being himselfe a brother of the Taylours Company as divers kings before had been namely Richard the third Edward the fourth Henry the sixth Henry the fifth Henry the fourth and Richard the second also of Dukes 11. Earles 28. Lords 48. he now gave to them the Name and Title of Merchant Taylours as a name of worship to endure for ever Affaires of the Church in his time IN
execution upon a statute of the Sâ—aple and for so much as the said Cook during all the Parliament served the Speâ—ker in tâ—at office he was taken out of execution by priviledge of Parliament the Prerogative of which Court as our learned Counsaile informeth us is so great that all Acts and processes comming ouâ— of any other Court must for the time ceâ—se and give place to it and touching the party himselfe though for his presumption he was worthy to have lost his debt yet I commend your Equity that have restored him to hiâ— debt against him that was the principall when the King had said this Sir Edward Mountacute Lord chiefe Justice rose up and confirmed by many reasons all that the King had said as likwise did all the other Lordâ— none speaking any thing to the contrary It was now the foure and thirtieth yeere of King Henries Reigne when in May he took a loane of money of all such as were valued at fifty pounds and upwardâ— in the Subsidy book the Lord Privy-seale the Bishop of VVinchester Sir Iohn Baker and Sir Thomas Wriothsley were commissioners that the loane in London who so handled the matter that of some chief Citizens they obtained a thousand maâ—kes in prest to the Kings use for which Privie Seales were delivered to repay it againe within two yeeres At this time were many complaints made by the â—â—gliâ—h against the Scots partly for receiving and maintaining diverse English Rebâ—ls 〈◊〉 into Scotland and partly for invading â—he Engliâ—h Borders but still wâ—en the King of Englanâ— was preparing to oppose them the Scottish King would send Embassadours to treâ—t of reconcilement till at last â—fter mâ—nâ— delusory prankes of the Scots the King of England no longer â—nduriâ—g such abuses sent the Duke of Norfolke his Leivtenaâ—â— Generall accompanied with the Earls of Shrewsbury Darby Cumberland Surrey Hartâ—oâ—d Aâ—â—us Rutland the Lords of the North parts Sir Anthony Browne Master of the Kings horse and Sir Iohn Gage Controller of the Kingâ— House with others to the number of twenty thousand men who on the one and twentieth of Ocâ—ober entred Scotland where staying but eigâ—t dayeâ— onely he burnt above eighteen Towneâ— Abbeys and Castles and then without â—aving batâ—aile offered for want of victuals returned to Barwick â—â— soon as â—e was returned comes abroâ—d the King of Scots raiseth a power of fifteen thousâ—nd men and using great threatnings what he would doe invaded the west Borders but the edge of his threatning was soon taken off for the bastard Daâ—â—es with Iack of Musgrave setting upon them with onely an hundred Lightâ—horse and Sir Thomas Wharton with three hundred put them to flight upon a conceiâ— thâ—â— the Duke of Norfolke with all his Army had beene come iâ—to those partâ— where were taken prisonerâ— of the Scots the Earl of Cassill and Glencâ—â—ne the Lord Maxwell Admirâ—ll of Scotland the Lord Flemming the Lord Soâ—erwell the Lord Oliâ—haâ—t the Lord Gray Sir Oliver Sincleeâ—e the Kings Minion Iohn Rosse Lord of Gragy Robert Erskin sonne to the Lord Erskin Car Lord of Gredon the Lord Maxwells two Brothers Iohn Lesloy bastard sonne to the Earl of Rothus George Hame Lord of Hemetton with divers other men of account to the number of above two hundred and more then eight hundred of meaner calling so as some one English mâ—n and some women also had three or foure prisonerâ— in their hands at which overâ—hrow the King of Scots took such grief that he fell into a burning Ague and thereof died leaving behind him one onely daughter and heere King Henry began to apprehend a greater matter then the victory for he and his Counsâ—ile conceived that â—hiâ— daughter would be a fit match for his sonne Prince Edward thereby to make â— perpetuall union of the two Kingdomes and to â—his purpose they conferâ—ed with the Lord whom they had taken prisoners who exceeding glad of the proposition and promising to further it by all the possible meane they could were â—hereupon sâ—t at liberty and suffered â—o return home Comming into Scotland 〈◊〉 acquainting the Earl of Arraine wiâ—h the motion who was chosen Goverâ—our of the young Queen and of the Realme tâ—e matter with great liking was entertained and in Parliament of the three estâ—tes in Scotland the marriage was confirmeâ— and â— peace between the two Reâ—lms for ten yeerâ— waâ— proclaimed and Embassâ—dours sent into England for sealing the conditions But Beton Archbishop of Sâ—int Andrews being Cardinall and at the Popes devotion and therefore an utter enemy to King Henry so crossed the businesse that it came to nothing but ended in a war between the two Kingdomes so as in March the yeere following the Lord Seymour Earle of Hartford with an Army by Land and Sir Iohn Dudley Lord Lisle with a Fleeâ—e by Sea meâ— at New-castle and there joyned together for invading of Scotland with the Earl of Hartford were the Earl of Shrewsbury the Lords Cobham Clinton Conyers Stinton the Lord William Howard with Knights and others to the number of ten thousand with Sir Iohn Dudley the Admirall were two huâ—dred sâ—ile of ships on the fourth of May the whole Army was landed two miles from the Towne of Lieth at a place called Granther Crag and there the Lord Lievtennant puting his men in order maâ—ched toward the Towne of Lieth the Lord Admirall led the foreward the Lievtennant the Battell and the Earl of Shrewsbury the Rearward Before they came to the Towne of Lieth the Cardinal with six hundred â—orse besides foot lay in the way to impeach their passage but they were so assailed by the Harquâ—butars that they were glad to flye and the first man that fled was the Cardinal himself and then the Earls of Huntley Murrey Bothwel hereupon the English made forward to Lieth and entred it without any great resistance the sixth of May they marched towards Edenbrough and as they approached the Towne the provost with some of the Burgers came and offered the keyes of the Towen to the Lord Lievtennant upon condition they might depart with bag and baggage and the Towne to be preserved from fire but the Lord Livetennant told them their falshood had been such as deserved â—o faâ—our and therefore unlesse they would deliver the Towne absolutely without any condition he would proâ—eed in his enterprise and burne the Towne Here wee may see what it is to make men desperate for to this the Provest answered they were better then to stand upon defence and so indeed they did and made the English glad to retire for the Castle shot so fiercely upon them that having burnt onely a part of the Towne they returned to Lieth but whilst they lay there they so wasted the Country that within seaven mileâ— every way of Edenbrough there was not a Towne nor Village nor house tâ—at was left unburnt at Lieth the eleveth day of May the Lord Generall made Knights the Lord Clinton the Lord Conyers Sir William Wroughton Sir Thomas
plainly by the Chancellour and Treasurer That if she refused to answer to such crimes as should be objected they would then proceed against her though she were absent Being brought at last with much ado to consent the Commissioners came together in the Presence Chamber a Chaire of Estate was set for the Queen of England in the upper end of the Chamber under a Canopy beneath over against it was placed a Chair for the Queen of Scots on both sides of the Cloth of Estate stools were set upon which on the one side sate the Lord Chancellor the Lord Treasurer the Earls of Oxford Kent Derby Worcester Rutland Cumberland Warwicke Pembrooke Lincolne and Viscount Mountacuteâ— On the other side sate the Lords Aburgavany Zouch Morley St. Iohn of Bletsho Compton and Cheyney Next to these sate the Knights that were Privie Councellors Sir Iames Crofts Sir Christopher Hatton Sir Francis Walsingham Sir Ralph Sadler Sir Walter Mildâ—â— and Sir Amis Pawlet Foreward before the Earls sate the two Chiefe Justices and the Lord chiefe Baron on the other side the two Barons and the other Justices Dale and Foord Doctors of the Civill Law at a Table in the midst Popham the Queens Atturney Generall Egerton her Solicitor â—â—â—die her Serjeant at Law the Clerk of the Crown and two Notaries When the Queen of Scots was come and had placed her selfe silence being made Bromely Lord Chancellor turning towards her sayd That the Queen had appointed these Commissioners to hear what she could Answer to crimes layd to her charge assuring her that nothing would be cause of more joy to the Queen then to hear that she had proved her selfe innocent Upon this she rising up sayd That although being an absolute Prince she could not be compelled to appear before the Deâ—egates yet to manifest her innocency she was now content to appear Then Gawdie opened every speciality of the Law lately made against which she had taken excception shewing By Babingtons confession by Letters passed between them by the confessions of Ballard and Savage by the confessions of her Secretaries Nave and Curle that she was privy to their Treasons and consented to the Invasion of England and destruction of the Queen To which she answered That Letters might be counterfeited her Secretaries might be corrupted and rest in hope of life might be drawn to confesse that which was not true In this she stood peremptorily That she never consented to any Attempt against the Queens Person though for her own delivery she confessed she did After many other charges by the Commissioners and replies by the Queen of Scots At last she requested that she might be heard in a full Parliament or before the Queen her selfe and her Councell But this request prevailed not for on the 25. day of October following at the Star-Chamber in Westminster the Commissioners met again and there pronounced sentence against her Ratifying by their Seals and subscriptions that after the 1. day of Iune in the seven and twentieth year of our Soveraign Lady Queen Elizabeth divers matters were compassed and imagined in this Kingdom by Anthony Babington and others with the privity of Mary Queen of Scots pretending Title to the Crown of England tending to the hurt death and destruction of the Royall Person of our sayd Soveraigne Lady the Queen After a few dayes a Parliament was holden at Westminster the which was begun by Authority from the Queen derived to the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Treasurer and the Earl of Derby and the same not without some Presidents At this Parliament the Proscriptions of the Lord Paget Charls Paget Francis Inglefield Francis Throgmorton Anthony Babington Thomas Salisbury Edward Iones Chydâ—ock Tichburne Charles Tilney and the other complices was confirmed and their goods and possessions adjudged confiscate Also the Peers of the Kingdom with an unanimous consent exhibit a Petition to the Queen by the Lord Chancellor that for the preservation of the true Religion and safety of the Queen of themselves and their Posterity the Sentence passed against Mary Queen of Scots might according to Law be presently Promulged They put the Queen in minde of the fearfull examples of Gods Judgements extant in Scripture upon King Saul for sparing of Agag and upon Ahab for not putting Benhadad to death But the Queen answereth them to this effect First acknowledging Gods miraculous preservation of her and then their constant affections towards her for whose sakes onely she desires to live Otherwise when she calls to minde things past beholds the present and expects what may happen in time to come that she accounts them most happy who go soonest hence That the Law lately made by which the Queen of Scots is condemned was not made as some maliciously have imagined to ensnare her but contâ—ariwise to forewarn and deterre her from attempting any thing against it which though it had not been made yet were there other ancient Laws enough to condemne her Nothing could have been more grievous to me than that a Prince and one so neer Allied unto me should deserve the Sentence pronounced against her and seeing the matter is of rare example and of a very weighty consequence I hope you will not expect that I should at this present determine any thing Yet that there may be no danger in delayâ— I will in due time signifie my minde unto you and in the meane time would have you to expect from me whatsoever good Subjects may looke for from a Gracious Prince Twelve dayes after having deeply weighed the matter in her minde she sent the Lord Chancellor to the Peers and Puckering to the Lower House entreating them to advise more diligently concerning so weighty a matter and to bethinke themselves of some wholesome remedy by which the life of the Queen of Scots might be spared and their security also provided for They when they had a long time in most serious manner deliberated hereof Return at last this Verdict That the Queenes life could not be in safety while the Queen of Scots lived unlesse she either repented and acknowledged her crimes or were kept in straight custody or bound by her oath and obligations or gave Hostages or lastly departed the Kingdome And seeing none of these were likely to be remedies It remained that only her death would be a remedy Repentance in her they could little hope for who would not so much as acknowledge her self faulty Close Imprisonment Obligations Oath and Hostages they accounted as nothing which all vanished if the Queens life were once taken away and if she departed the Kingdom they feared she would straightway go about to Invade it again These things the Lord Chancellor and Puckering the Speaker of the Lower-House declared to the Queen at large and urged her in their names to have the Sentence put in execution Hereupon the Queen after a short pawse spake at last to this effect I protest my chief desire hath been that for your security and my own safety some other
take him shortly into favor and that his Censure in no case should be Recorded Afâ—er this he made shew of wonderfull humility and mortification which so affected the Queen that shortly she removed Barkeley his keeper and gave him leave to go at large only admonishing him To make his own discretion his keeper and not to come at the Court or in her Presence After this Sentence Cuffe who alwayes perswaded the Earle to stand stoutly in his own defence began so plainly to tax him of cowardize and pusillanimity that the Earl in anger commanded his name to be put out of the Rowl of his servants yet Merrick the Steward did it not as being of Cuffes minde himself Essex being now ready to go into the Countrey remembred himself to the Queen by the Lord Henry Howard in these words That he kissed the Rod and the Queens hands which had â—nely corrected not overthrown him yet he should never enjoy solid comfort till he might see those blessed eyes which had been his load-stars whereby he had happily steered his course whiles he held on his way at lawfull distance But now he resolved to eat grasse with Nebuchad-nezzar till it please the Queen to restore his senses She being greatly joyed with these his speeches Would to God sayd she his deeds might be answerable to his words he hath long tried my patience I must now make tryall of his humility And now the Earl grew so confident of thee Queens favor That he became a suitor to her for the Farme of sweet Wines but she to try his temper and with what minde he would bear a repulse made him Answer That she must first know what it was worth and not give away things hand over head and had oftentimes in her mouth the Aphorisme of Phisitians That foul bodies the more you nourish them the more you corrupt them And indeed this was the right way to finde whether the ulcer of his minde were throughly cured or no for being not throughly cured it would endure no touching and no more did his but as though every denyall of a curtesie were an injury that required revenge his melancholy was presently turned into choller and now began to hearken to Cuffe again telling him That it was now plain the Queen determined to make him as poore as Iob that he should live of the basket and gather crums under the Taâ—â—e Hereupon he returned to London Southampton is sent for out of the Low-Countries his doors are set open for all commers Merricke his Steward receiveth to his own table decayed souldiers discontented and audacious persons Sermons are made there every day by Puritan Ministers to which the Citizens flock and all signes of popularity appeared which matters coming to the Queens ears Alienated her affection from him daily more and more but especially she was exasperated that her Person was despised by him for not to say the worst he had muttered That the Queen was now old and decrepit and withered as well in minde as body And now again he runneth upon desperate counsells for the removall of his adversaries from the Court seeketh to scrue himself into the King of Scots favour to whom he traduceth his adversaries by name Raleigh Cobham Carew Cecill and the Admirall as inclined to the Spanish Faction and at one and the same time seeketh to win to him both Puritans and Papists Many were of his party but few of his counsell and these were the Earl of Southampton Sir Charls Davers Sir Ferdinando Gorge Captain of the Garrison of Plimmouth Sir Christopher Blunt and some other With these he met privately in Drury House to avoyd suspition where he first giveth them a Catalogue of the Nobility and gentry that favoured him to the number of a hundred and twenty Then they consult whether it were better to set upon the Tower of London or the Queens Pallace this latter they resolve upon which should be done in this manner Blunt should keep the great Gate with a selected number of men and Danvers seize upon the Presence Chamber Then Essex with his company should come from the Mues and present himselfe before the Queen But now suspitions arising from divers circumstances Secretary Herbert was sent to call him before the Councell at the Treasurers House but he doubting the matter excuseth himselfe that he was not very well And now the Plot of seizing upon the Court which had been four moneths in contriving was by this means quite dashed for they had ready at the present neither Souldiers nor muition so as some speedier course must now be thought on at which time very opportunely cometh one to them set on no doubt by Essex his Adversaries as if he had been sent on purpose from the Citizens to promise him their Ayd which made Essex to applaud his own great good fortune And now were four of the Lords namely the Lord Keeper the Earle of Worcester Sir William Knolles and the Lord Chiefe Justice of England sent by the Queen to Essex house who could hardly be suffered to come in all their Attendants were kept out save he that carried the Seal before the Keeper In the Court they found a confused number of people and the Earls of Essex Rutland and Southampton in the midst of them The Keeper turning himselfe to Essex telleth him The Queen had sent him and the rest to understand the cause of this concourse promising Justice if any person had done them wrong Essex with a loud voice cryeth out They lye in waite for my life we are met to defend our selves The Keeper urging Essex again to unfold some part of his grievance the unruly multitude crieth out Away let us be gone they come to betray you Kill them cast away that Great Seal Essex retireth into the house the Lords follow him he chargeth them to make the doors fast and turning him to the Lords Have patience for a while saith he I must go into the City to dispatch a little businesse with the Maior and Sheriffs I will return presently There the Lords are kept prisoners Essex maketh haste into the City with a Troop of 200 men at his heels the E. of Bedford the L. Cromwell and â—â—her Lords meeting him by the way joyn themselves coming into London â—e cryeth out aloud For the Queen for the Queen they lay wait for my life The Citizens came running to gaze but not so much as one person took Arms to take his Part. Passing along the City he came all in a sweat to the Sheriff Smith's house who shifteth himself forth at a back door and goeth to the Lord Maior By this time certain of the Nobility entred the City with a Herald declaring Essex and his adherents Traytors Hereupon hearing also that the Lord Admirall made towards him with an Army he began to be dishearâ—ned Gorge taketh care for himself requesteth he might be sent to release the Counsellors and with them to crave the Queens mercy whiles the issue
by Coach to the King at Hampton Court where foureteen dayes together they were feasted and royally entertained and then returned But these Festivalls were follwed with a little disturbance for in May the yeare after great Assemblies were gathered together in Northampton-shire Warwickshire and Leicester-shire throwing downe Inclosures at first without any particular head but at last rose up a base fellow called Iohn Reynolds whom they named Captaine Pouch because he had a great leather Pouch hanging by his side who affirmed to the Company that in that Pouch he had sufficient to defend them against all cummers but when hee was afterward apprehended and his Pouch searched there was nothing found in it but a piece of green Cheese Proclamation was made commanding them to surcease their disorder But this prevailed nothing till the King sent Henrie Earle of Huntington Thomas Earle of Exceter Edward Lord Zouch and Sir Edward Coâ—ke Lord Chiefe Iustice of England to suppresse them by force of Armes and to punish the Levellers according to the nature of their offences some by Death as for Treason some by Fines as for Routs but Captaine Pouch was made exampler On Friday the twelfth of Iune his Majesty attended with divers Lords dyned with the Lord Major Sir Iohn Wats who after dinner presented him with a purse full of Gold and humbly besought his Majestie that he would be pleased to bee free of his Company the Cloath-workers To which the KING graciously condiscended and thereupon called to Sir William Stone Master of the Company and said Stone give me thy hand and now I am a Cloath-worker And in token of my speciall favour to this fraternity I doe here give to this Company a brace of Bucks yearely for ever against the time of the Election of the Master and Wardens at which time also many Lords and Gentlemen were made Free of the Cloath-workers On Thursday the 16. of Iuly the King and Prince with many Lords dined at Merchant Tâ—lâ—rs-Hall where the Master and Warden of that Society presented the King with a Purse of Gold giving him humble thankes for gracing their Fraternity with his â—oyall presenceâ— and therewithall shewed him a Roll wherein were Registred the names of seven Kings one Queene 17 Princes and Dukes two Dutchesses one Archbishop one and thirty Eearles threescore and six Barons seven Abbots seven Pryors with a great number of Knights and Esquires who had been free of that Company which His Majesty graciously accepted but told them that he himselfe was already free of another Company but the Prince his son should be free of theirs and that he would see the Garland put on his head whereupon the Master presented the Prince also with a purse of Gold which he graciously accepted and said that not only Himselfe would bee free of the Merchant Tailorsâ— but the Lords also that were with him should do the like all which was performed with great solemnity The fourth of Iuly this yeare Sir Thomas â—nevet was called by Writ to the Parliament by the name of Baron of Estrick the next day Sir Iulius Caesar Chancelor of the Exchecker was sworne a Privy Counsellor and the sixteenth of November fallowing Sir â—ervis Clyfton Knight was called to the Parliament by Writ by the name and title of Baron of Layton Brameswold whose only daughter and heire was soon after married to Eysme Steward Baron of Aubigny in France sole brother of the Duke of Lâ—nox whom he afterward succeeded in that Dignity About this time Hugh Earle of Tervon most ungratefully and utterly forgetfull of the Kings great clemency to him together with Teâ—rconell Hugh Baron of Dungaunon and divers other Irish Lords fled into the parts beyond Sea with a purpose to solicite forreign Princes against the King and to offer the Kingdom of Ireland to the Pope which was presently signified to the Realm by Proclamation On the Eleventh of Aprill this year George Iervis a Seminary Priest and the three and twentieth of Iuneâ— following Thomas Gâ—rnet a Iesuit were both executed at Tybourn Thomâ—â— Garnet having the favour offered him to be pardoned if he would but take the Oath of Allegeance which he refused The nineteenth of Aprill at Whitehall died Thomas Earle of Dorset Lord Treasurer whose death because he dyed suddenly as he sate at the Counsell-Table was by some untowardly interpreted but being dead and his head opened there were found in it certain little bags of water which whither by the strayning of his study the night before in which he sate up till eleven a clock or otherwise by their own maturity suddenly breaking and falling upon his braine caused his suddain death So certain it is that death comes not always by determinate steps but sometimes per saltum and we all cary about us the causes of suddain death though unsensible of them till we be unsensible This Lord was of excellent parts and in his place exceeding Industrious and I have heard many Checker men say there never was a better Treasurer both for the Kings profit and the good of the subject The twentith of May at Windsor were made two Knights of the Gaâ—ter George Earle of Dunâ—arre and Philip Earle of Moâ—â—gâ—mery but the Earle of Dunbarra within a yeare or two after left both his honor and his life but not his life without honour having been a faithfull servant and a wise Counsellor to the King and was honorably Interred in the Church at Westminster About this time were many famous English Pirates that stuck not some of them to turne Turks and lived in great state at Tunis of whom the chiefe were Wâ—rd Bishop Sir Francis Verney and Glâ—â—â—â—le whom after many depredations and outragious acts at Sea partly the King of Spaine suppressed and partly the King of Eng. and 19 of their associâ—tes being taken were hanged aâ— Wapping Also at this time in the Strand on the North side of Durham house where â—â—ood an old long stable Robert Earle of Salisbury now Lord Treasurer of Engâ—â—â—d caused to be erected a stately Building which upon Tuesday the tenth of Aprill in the yeare 1609 was begun to be richly furnished with wares and the next day after the King the Queene and Prince with many great Lords and Ladies came to see it and then the King gave it the name of Britteines â—urse On the eight of May this year the King by Proclamation prohibited all forreine Nations that after August they should not fish upon any of the Coasts of England Scotland or Ireland nor the Isles adjacent without the speciall Licence from the Commissioners in that behalfe Ordained At this time the making of Allum which heretofore with great charges had been fetched from forreigne parts was by diverse that laboured in it and now lastly by Sir Iohn Burchier brought to perfection in England and therupon the King prohibited upon paine of confiscation any Allum to be brought from beyond the Seas and took the whole traffick therof to himself And now the
say by a â—â—â—â—oned Tansey sent him to eat some by a poysoned Glyster ministred unto 〈◊〉 but howsoever effected it wasâ— for which Fact Sir Iervis Elvis then Lieuâ—â—â—â—â—â— of the Tower and three or fouâ—e other of inferiour condition were put to death the Lady and Earle themselves were arraigned and condemned but â—horough the Kings great clemency had their lives spared but in such a sort spaâ—edâ— as was to them no lesse grievous than death it sâ—lf being never after suffered to see the Kings face nor to come neere his Court. This Favorite being thus out of favour there was place made for entertaining another for indeed King Iames was of so sociable and loving a nature that he could not be long well without an Alter idem a bosome friend with whom to communicate his Internos sensus and upon whose shoulders he might sometimes lay a burthen which he was not willing to beate himselfe and this new friend was Mr. George Villers a Gentleman of a good House but a younger brother but of so delicate a composure of body and withall of so excellent paâ—ts of mind as if nature had framed him of purpose to be a Kings Favorite And indeed never any man was partaker of the Royall Influence like to him made first a Knight and Gentleman of the Kings Bed-chamber soone after made a Viscount and Master of the Horse a while after erected Earle of Buckingham then Marquis of Buckingham and made Lord Admirall Lastly made Duke of Buckingham the greatest Title of Honour that a Subject is capable ofâ— and yet his Title not greater than his Power for all matters of Grace passed from the King by him and to grace him the more his Mother who after his Fathers death had marryed a younger sonne of the Lord Comptons was created Countesse of Buckingham his sister who had marryed a Gentleman of no exâ—raordinary Family had her husband made Earle of Denbigh his two brothers were made one of them Viscount Berbach the other Earle of Anglesey besides many other of his friends and kindred highly advanced For this Lord affected not an advancement that should bee only personall but rather bee in common to all his Family and was not of the disposition of some who like to great Oakes love to keep all that are neer them underwood though it be in truth both against Nature and Policy to stand alone when they would be lesse subject to the violence of windes if more stood together And though never any man had juster cause to be envyed than hee yet never any man was lesse envyed because though his Honours made him great yet they made him not swell but he retained the like temper of affable carriage after his advancement as he had done before But before all these favours were heaped upon him many other great pasâ—ages had intervened for first after the death of Thomas Earle of Dorset Robert Earle of Salisbury had beene Lord Treasurer and after him Thomas Earle of Suffolke But this Lord though of a most noble disposition yet as having had his trayning up another way seemed lesse ready in discharging the place and whether for this or for his Ladies taking too much upon her by his indulgence the staffe was soone after taken from him after whom there came in such a sequence of Treasures as no Age before had ever seeneâ— all wise and able men indeed but yet in whom the Office seemed an imployment rather to ennoble the Officer than to enrich the King For first Sir Henry Montague was taken from the Kings Bench and on the fourth of December 1620. made Lord Treasurer and presently upon it Earle of Manchester and before the yeere went about put off After whom Sir Lyonell Cranfield from Master of the Wards was made Lord Treasurer and shortly after Earle of Middlesex and then not only put off but fined to pay the King fifty thousand pounds After him Sir Iames Lee from chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench was made Lord Treasurer and soone after Earle of Marleborough and then having made a good returne of his Place pâ—â— iâ— off himselfe After him Sir Richard Wâ—ston from Chancelour of the Exâ—heâ—â—â—r was made Lord Treasurer and soone after Earle of Portland so as within the compasse of little more than foure yeares foure Treasurerâ— in a row were made fourâ— Earles enough to make a praescription for all Treasurers hereafter to clayme a Right of being made Earles which yet I speake not as derogating from those worthy men whose memories I reverence but as observing Fataqâ—e Fâ—rtunasque Virum so rare as that there was never any President of the like Also the five and twenteth of Iune 1612. the Lord Sâ—nquer a Nobleman of Scotland having in a private revenge suborned Robert Carlile to murther Iohn Tuâ—ner a Master of Fence thought by his greatnesse to have borne it out but thâ— King respecting nothing so much as Iustice would not suffer Nobility to be a shelter for villany but according to the Law on the nine and twenteth of Iune the said Lord Sanquer having been arraigned and condemned by the name of Robert Crâ—ightâ—â— Esquire was before Westminster Hall gate executed where he dyed very penitent About this time the King in speciall favour for the present Plantation of English Colonies in Virginia granted a Lottery to be held at the West end of Pauls whereof one Thomas Sharplys a Taylour of London had the chiefe Prize which was foure thousand Crownes in faire Plate At this time also the Corps of Mary late Queene of Scotland the Kings Mother was translated from Peterborough to St. Peters Church in Westminster and from thence was carryed to the Chappell Royall there where it was interred in a Royall Tombe which the King had erected for her About this time also Sir Robert Sherley third sonne of Sir Thomas Sherley of Sussex Knight who sixteene yeares past had betaken himselfe to travaile and had served diverse Christian Princes for the space of five yeares but chiefly Rodolphus the Roman Emperour who for his service made him an Earle of the Empire hee afterward went into Persia and served the Persian ten yeares who made him Generall of the Artillery and held him in so great account that hee gave him the Lady Teresia in marriage whose sister was one of the Queens of Persia after which the Persian imployed him to sundry Princes of Europe and seâ—t him in speciall Embassage into England to King Iames to whom he delivered his Letters and shewed his Commission all which signified the Persians great love and affection to his Majesty with franke offer of free Commerce to all his Highnesse Subjects thorough all the Persians Dominions After a yeares stay here in which time his Lady lay in of a sonne to whom the Queene was God-Mother and Prince Henry God-Father hee left the child here in England and then with his Lady departed into Persia. It was now the yeare 1612. and the tenth of King Iames his Raigne
into England of purpose to visite the Shrine of Saint Thomas where having paid his Vowes he makes Oblations with many rich Presents The like many Princes since that time have done and many Miracles are reported to have beene done at his Tombe which yet may be unbeleeved without unbeliefe and with Faith enough Another difference in this Kings dayes was betweene the two Arch-bishops of England about the jurisdiction of Canterbury over Yorke which being referred to the Pope he gave judgement on Canterburies side Also in this Kings dayes there was a Schisme in the Church of Rome two Popes up at once of whom Alexander the third was one which Schisme continued the space of almost twenty yeares Also in this Kings dayes one Nicholas Breakespeare borne at Saint Albans or as others write at Langley in Hartfordshire being a bondman of that Abbey and therefore not allowed to be a Monke there went beyond Sea where he so profited in Learning that the Pope made him first Bishop of Alba and afterward Cardinall and sent Legate to the Norwayes where he reduced that nation from Paganisme to Christianity and returning backe to Rome was chosen Pope by the Name of Adrian the fourth and dyed being choaked with a Fly in his drinke In his dayes also Heraclius Patriarch of Hierusalem came to King Henry desiring ayde for the Holy Land but not so much of money as of men and not so much of men neither as of a good Generall as himselfe was to whom King Henry answered that though he were willing to undertake it yet his unquiet State at home would not suffer him with which answer the Patriarch moved said Thinke not Great King that Pretences will excuse you before God but take this from me that as you forsake Gods cause now so he hereafter will forsake you in your greatest need But saith the King if I should be absent out of my kingdome my own Sonnes would be ready to rise up against me in my absence to which the Patriarch replyed No marvaile for from the Devill they came and to the Devill they shallâ— and so departed Also in this Kings dayes there came into England thirty Germans Men and Women calling themselves Publicans who denyed Matrimony and the Sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords Supper with other Articles who being obstinate and not to be reclaimed the King commanded they should be marked with a hot iron in the forehead and be whipped which punishment they tooke patiently their Captaine called Gerard going before them singing Blessed are ye when men hate you After they were whipped they were thrust out of doores in the Winter where they dyed with cold and hunger no man daâ—ing to relieve them This King after his conquest of Ireland imposed the tribute of Peter pence upon that kingdome namely that every house in Ireland should yearely pay a penny to Saint Peter Workes of piety done by him or by others in his time THis King Founded the Church of Bristow which King Henry the eighth afterward erected into a Cathedrall He also Founded the Priories of Dâ—ver of Stoneley and of Basinwerke and the Castle of Rudlan and beganne the Stone Bridge over the Thames at London He caused also the Castle of Warwicke to be builded Maude the Empresse his Mother Founded the Abbey of Bordesly In his time also Hugh Mortimer Founded Wigmore Abbey Richard Lucye the Kings Chiefe Justice laid the Foundation of the Coventuall Church in the honour of Saint Thomas in a place which is called Westwood otherwise Lesâ—es in the Territory of Rochester in the new Parish of Southfleete He also builded the Castle of Anger in Essex Robert Harding a Burgesse of Bristow to whom King Henry gave the Barony of Barkeley builded the Monastery of Saint Augustines in Bristow In the tenth yeare of his Raigne London Bridge was new made of Timber by Peter of Cole-church a Priest Robert de Boscue Earle of Leycester Founded the monastery of Gerendon of Monkes and of Leycester called Saint Mary de Prate of Chanons Regular and his Wife Amicia Daughter of Ralph Montford Founded Eaton of Nunnes In the two and twentyeth yeare of his Raigne after the Foundation of Saint Mary Overeyes Church in Southwarke the Stone bridge over the Thames at London beganne to be Founded towards which a Cardinall and the Arch-bishop of Canterbury gave a thousand Markes Aldred Bishop of Worcester Founded a Monastery at Glocester of Benedictine Monkes Casualties that happened in his time IN the Eleventh yeare of this Kings Raigne on the six and twentyeth day of Ianuary was so great an Earth-quake in Ely Norfolke and Suffolke that it overthrew them that stood upon their feet and made the Bells to ring in the Steeples In the seventeenth yeare of his Raigne there was seene at Saint Osythes in Essex a Dragon of marveilous bignesse which by moving burned houses and the whole City of Canterbury was the same yeare almost burnt In the eighteenth yeare of his Raigne the Church of Norwich with the houses thereto belonging was burnt and the Monkes dispersed At Andover a Priest praying before the Altar was slaine with Thunder Likewise one Clerke and his Brother was burnt to death with Lightning In the three and twentyeth yeare a showre of Blood Rained in the Isle of Wight two houres together In the foure and twentyeth yeare the City of Yorke was burnt and on Christmas day in the Territory of Derlington in the Bishopricke of Durham the Earth lifted up it selfe in the manner of an high Tower and so remained unmoveable from morning till evening and then fell with so horrible a noyse that it frighted the Inhabitants thereabouts and the earth swallowing it up made there a deepe pit which is seene at this day for a Testimony whereof Leyland saith he saw the Pits there commonly called Hell-kettles Also in the same yeare on the tenth day of Aprill the Church of Saint Andrewes in Rochester was consumed with fire In the eight and twentyeth yeare of his Raigne Barnewell with the Priory neare unto Cambridge was burnt In the thirtyeth yeare the Abbey of Glastenbury was burnt with the Church of Saint Iulian. In the yeare 1180. a great Earthquake threw downe many buildings amongst which the Cathedrall Church of Lincolne was rent in peeces the five and twentieth of Aprill And on the twentieth of October the Cathedrall Church of Chichester and all the whole City was burnt This yeare also neare unto Orford in Suffolke certaine Fishers tooke in their Nets a Fish having the shape of a Man in all points which Fish was kept by Bartholomew de Glanvile in the Castle of Orford sixe moneths and more he spake not a word all manner of meates he did gladly eate but most greedily raw Fish when he had pressed out the juyce oftentimes he was brought to Church but never shewed any signe of adoration at length being not well looked to he stole to the Sea and never was seene after In the yeare 1188. on
of the Liberties of the kingdome which though oppugned by some and spâ—cially by William Brewer and Hubert de Burgh whom the King had now made his chiefe Justiciar as having beene an Act of constraint yet the King then againe ratified and twelve knights or other Legat men of every Shire by Writs were charged to examine what the Lawes and Liberties were which the kingdome injoyed under his Grandfather and that they should returne them by a certaine day and here the King by Parliament resumeth into his hands such Alienations as had beene made by his Ancestors of any Crowne Land The next yeare after another Parliament is held at Westminster wherein is required the fiftieth part of all the movables both of the Clergy and Laity for the recovery of those parts in France with-held from the Crowne by Lewis now King contrary to his Oath and promise made here in England at his departure which though it concerned the Honour and Dignity of the kingdome and the estates of most of the Nobility yet would it not be yeelded to but upon confirmation of their Liberties which in the end was obtained in the same words and forme as King Iohn had granted them in the two Charters before and twelve knights are chosen in every Shire to dispart the old Forests from the new and the new to be laid open and ploughed and improvedâ— to the great comfort and benfit of the subject and two yeares they were accordingly injoyed Of his Acts after he came to be of age IT was now the tenth yeare of King Henries Raigne and being about nineteene yeares of age he claimed to take the government of the kingdome into his own hands and no longer to be under a Protectour and now will presently appeare the difference betweene a Prince that is ruled by good Counsell and a Prince that will doe all of himselfe and take no advise For the ten yeares hee was ruled by a Protectour were all passed as it were in a calme without noyse or clamour but as soone as he tooke upon him the government himselfe there grew presently stormes and tumults no quietnesse either to the subject or himselfe nothing but grievances all the long time of his Raigne For at the Parliament now holden at Oxford as soone as he was Crowned againe he presently cancels and annuls the Charter of the Forests as granted in his Nonage and therefore he not bound to observe it and then not using any longer the Seale which the Protectour had used he makes a new and causeth a Proclamation to be made that whosoever would enjoy any benefit of Grants under his Seale should come and have them signed by his new Seale by which course he drew much mony from many and this was the first grievance Shortly after he commits the keeping of Barkehamstead Castle to one Walleran a Duâ—chman which Castle belonged to his Brother Richard Earle of Cornewall but when Earle Richard required to have the possessionâ— as oâ— right he ought it was then plotted by Hubeâ—t Burgh Chiefe Justice and the Kings chiefe Counsellor to commit him to prison which the Earle understanding oâ— at least suspecting flies presâ—ntly to Mâ—rleborough where he finds William Earle Marshall his vowed friend with whom he hasâ—ens to Stamford and there meeâ—es with the Earles of Chester Glocester Warren Hereford Ferrers Warwicke and diverâ— other Barons who all confederate together and send to the King â—hat unlesse he restore the Castle to his brother and â—o them the Liberties of Forests which he had lately cancelled at Oxford they would seeke to recover them by the sword Here upon King Henry to pacifiâ— his brotherâ— not onely renders the Castle to himâ— but gives him besides all that his Mother had in Dower and also great possessions which the Earle of Britaine and thâ— Earle of Bâ—leigne lately deceasedâ— had in England but to the Petition of the Lords he makes a dilatory answerâ— and this was another grievance Not long after King Henry is perswaded by Hugh â—e Brun Earle of March who had married his Mother to make a journey into France for recovery of his right thereâ— but the Earle perswaded it for ends of his owne which to have discovered had beene no way to comâ—â—â—â—e themâ—â—e must therefore â—ay some colours upon his worke and it was colour enoughâ— that the action would be of great benefit to the King if it might succeedâ— and the likelihood of succeeding was most apparent by reason of the great inclinaâ—ion of the people to King Henry and their great aversnesse from King Lewis Upon these colours King Henry undertaking the action raiseth great summes of money from the Clergyâ— and from the Londoners for redemption of their Libertiesâ— and takes the â—hird part of all the goods of the Iewesâ— but when he returned home a yeare after without having done any thing but spent his treasure and his timeâ— and that which was moâ—e worth then both these the lives of many Noble men and others this was another grievance And now King Henry bringing many Pâ—â—ctâ—â—ins over with him who had served him in his warresâ— he was to reward them â—ere which he could not doe but by displacing and spoyle of his Officers First therefore he calleth Ralph Bretton Treasurer of his Chamber to account and grievously Fâ—nes him for defrauding him in his Office Then likewise is Hubert de Burgh Chiefe Justiciar and his Chiefe Counsellour called to account for such Treasure as passed his Office who being further charged with crimes of Treason flies to the Church of Merton for sanctuary from whence when the King commanded him to be drawne out by violence the Bishop of London hearing of it commanded him to be returned back to sanctuary upon paine of Excommunication but the King commanding him to be kept from sustenance hunger at last enforced him to render himselfe to the Kings mercy all his goods which were very great confiscate Also Walter Bishop of Carlile is thrust out of his Office of Treasure and William Rodon knight from his place of Maâ—shall of the Kings house and all the chiefe Counsellours Bishops Earles and Barons of the kingdome are removed as distrustedâ— and onely strangers preferred to their roomes of which course Peter de Rupibus a Poictouin Bishop of Winchester and one Peter de Rivalis the Kings speciall Favorite were said to be the Authors and this was another grievance The King was now about eight or nine and twenty yeares old and a Consultation was had for a fit wife for him There was propounded a sister of Alexander King of Scots but it was not thought fit the King should marry the younger sister when Hubert de Burgh had married the elder he therefore takes one of his owne choosing and marries Eleanor daughter to Raymond Earle of Province by which match he neither had Portion by his Wife nor strength of Alliance by friends or if any were it was all made vaine by distance onely he had by her
Office should pay him againe So Earle Richard having given infinitely to compasse this Advancement looked to helpe himselfe againe by the Place and this and the desire he had to revenge himselfe upon those thaâ— had opposed his Electionâ— made him take such violent courses that he came soone to be dispossessed forsaken and forced to returne into England a poorer King then he went out an Earle Acts done in the câ—ntention betweene the King and his Barons NOw King Henry very proud to have his younger sonne a King as well as his brother cals a Parliament wherein he brings forth his sonne Edmund clad in Sicilian habit and â—els the Parliâ—ment that for advancing this sonne of his to the kingdome of Sicilie he had bound himselfe under covenant of losing his kingdome in the summe of an hundred and forty thousand Markes and hoped they would not thinke much to aide him with money for so great an advancement but the Parliament stood firme to their usuall condition of Margna Charta so as that might be confirmed they were content to give two and fifty thousand Marks but this gave the King no satisfaction The yeare after another Parliament is holden at London wherein upon the Kings pressing them againe for meanes to pay his debts to the Pope the Lords tell him plainely they will not yeeld to give him any thing for any such purpose and give their reasons and withall repeate their owne grievances his breach of promise the insolencie of his brothers and specially William de Valence who had given the lie to the Earle of Leycester and no right done him in it and many such things which the King hearing and not able to deny humbles himselfe and tels them how he had often by ill counsell beene seduced but promiseth by his Oath which he tooke on the Tombe of Saint Edward to reforme all those errours But the Lords not well knowing how to deale in this businesse as being divided betweene a desire to satisfie the King and a desire to be satisfied themselves and knowing withall the variablenesse of the Kings nature they get the Parliament to be adjourned to Saint Barnabies day and then to assemble at Oxford In which meane time the Earles Glocester Leycester Hereford the Earle Marshall Bigod Spenser and other great men confederate and provide by Armes to effect their desire and here is the foundation laid of those bloudy wars that ensued betweene King Henry and his Barons And now the King being put to his shifts for money gets the Abbot of Westminster to put his Seale and that of his Covent to a Deed Obligatory as a surety for two hundred Markes making account that by his example others would be drawne to doe the like but his trusty servant Simon Passeleve being imployed to other Monasteries and telling them amongst other reasons to perswade them that the King was Lord of all they had they onely answered they acknowledged indeed the King to be Lord of all they had but yet so as to defend not to destroy the same and this was all he could get of them The Prince also in no lesse want then his Father is driven to morgage his Towne of Stamford Brahan and many other things to William de Valence a Poictouin wherby appeared the disorder of the time when the Prince was in want and strangers had such plenty And now is the Parliament assembled at Oxford whither the Lords come attended with large traines and here they beginne with the expostulation of the former Liberties requiring that the Chiefe Justiciar the Chancellour and Treasurer may be ordained by publike choyce and that the twenty foure Conservaâ—ours of the kingdome may be confirmed twelve by the election of the Lords and twelve by the King with whatsoever else made for their imagined security The King seeing their strength and in what manner they required these things sweares solemnly againe to the confirmation of them and causeth the Prince to take the same Oath But the Lords left not here the Kings brethren the Poictouins and other strangers must presently be removed and this also though with some little opposition was at last concluded and thereupon the Kings brethren and their followers are despoyled of all their fortunes and â—xiled by proscription under the Kings owne hand directed to the Earles of Hereford and Surrey But now sicknesse and mortality happening to many great ones it is imputed to poysons supposed to have beene prepared by those strangers proscribed the Earle of Glocester in a sicknesse suddenly lost his haire his teeth his nailes and his brother hardly escaped death which made many to suspect their nearest servants and their Cookes Walter Scoynie the Earle Steward is strictly examined committed to prison and afterward without confession is upon presumptions onely executed at Winchester Elias a converted Iew is said to have confessed that in his house the poyson was confected but it was when he was a Iew and not a Christian. Every man that had received any wrong by those strangers now put up their complaints and are heard Guydo de â—â—chfort a Poictouin to whom the King had given the Castle of Rochester is banished and all his goods confiscate William Bussey Steward to William de Valence is committed to the Tower of London and most reproachfully used Richard Gray whom the Lords had made Captaine of Dover Castle is set to intercept whatsoever the Poictouins convaied that way out of England and much treasure of theirs and of the elect of Winchester is by him taken besides great summes committed to the new Temple are found out and seised for the King And now the new Chiefe Justiciar Hugh Bigod brother to the Earle Marshall chosen this last Parliament by publike voyce procures that foure knights in every Shire should inquire of the oppressions of the poore done by great men and certifie the same that redresse might be made Also order was taken against corrupting of justice when yet notwithstanding this pretended care of the publike it is noted by the Writers and Records of that time how the Lords were themselves but as â—otidem tyranni enforcing the services of the Kings tenants that dwelt neare them But to make their cause the more popular it was rumored that the King stood upon it that his necessity must be supplied out of the estates of his people whether they would or no which the King hearing sends forth Proclamation declaring how certaine malitious persons had falsely and seditiously reported that he meant unlawfully to charge his subjects and subvert the Lawes and Liberties of the kingdome and by these false suggestions averted the hearts of his people from him and therefore desires them not to give credit to such perâ—urbers for that he was ready to defend all Rights and Customes due unto them and that they might rest of this secured he caused his Letters to be made Patents But now Montford Glocester and Spenser inforce the King to call a Parliament at London where
sway this businesse by his presence takes a journey Northward where being come as farre as Lincolnshire he lost his beloved wife Queene Eleanor and thereupon going backe to see her Funerall performed at Westminster that done he returnes presently to his Scottish businesse And now sixe yeares were passed since the death of King Alexander and yet nothing concluded in this controversie whereupon King Edward deals privately with Bruce who had the weaker Title but the more friends and promiseth him if he would sweare fealty and homage to the Crowne of England he would Invest him in that of Scotland But Bruce answers he was not so dâ—sirous to rule as thereby to infringe the liberties of his Countrey Whereupon with the like offer he sets upon Baylioll who having better right but lesse love of the people and more greedy of a kingdome then honour accepts the condition and thereupon is Crowned King at Scone hath fealty done him by all the chiefe Nobility except Bruce comes to New-Castle upon Tyne where King Edward then lay and there with many of his Nobles sweares fealty and doth homage to him as his Soveraigne Lord. Which act done to secure him overthrew him for being little beloved before hereby he became lesse such as stood for Bruce and others of the Nobility tender of the preservation of their Countries liberty took stomach against him and not onely for this but shortly after for his injustice in the case of the Earle of Fife one of the sixe Governours in the time on the Interregnum who had beene slaine by the Family of Alberneth the brother of which Earle prosecuting Law before King Baylioll in his high Court of Parliament and having no right done him King Baylioll giving judgement of the side of the Alberneths he appeales to the Court of the King of England whereupon King Baylioll is summoned appeares sits with King Edward in his Parliament till his cause was to be heard and then is cited by an Officer to arise and to stand in the place appointed for pleading then he craves to answer by a Procuratour but is denied and thereupon descends to the ordinary place and defends his cause himselfe which indignity as he tooke it so incenseth him that he returnes home with a breastfull charged with indignation meditates revenge renues the ancient league with France confirmes it with marriage of his sonne Edward to a daughter of Charles brother to King Philip glad in regard of late offences taken against the King of England to embrace the same which done Baylioll defies King Edward renounceth his Allegeance as unlawfully done being not in his power without consent of the State to doe any such Act. Hereupon brake out that mortall dissension betweene the two Nations which consumed more Christian bloud and continued longer then ever quarrell we reade of did between any two people in the world For he that beganne it could not end it but it lasted almost three hundred yeares and was never throughly abolished till the late blessed union wrought by him in whom Wisdome and Vertue Right and Power concurred all to make it firme And now the fatall Chaire in which the Kings of Scotland used to be Inaugurated seemes to recover its secret operation according to antient Prophesie that whither soever that Chaire should be removed the kingdome should be removed with it and this Chaire King Edward caused to be brought out of Scotland to Westminster and to be placed there amongst the Monuments where it still continues But now King Baylioll being summoned to appeare at New-Castle and refusing to come King Edward enters Scotland with an Army consisting of foure thousand horse and thirty thousand foot besides five hundred horse and one thousand foote of the Bishop of Durham Berwicke is first wonne with the slaughter of fifteene thousand Scots our Writers say more and after that the Castles of Dunbarre Roxborough Edinbough Sterliâ—g and Saint Iohns Towne and now King Balioll sues for Peace submits himselfe takes againe his Oath of Fealty to King Edward as his Soveraigne Lord which done a Parliament for Scotland is held at Berwicke where the Nobility likewise did Homage to him confirming the same by their Charter under their hands and seales onely William Dowglasse refuseth content rather to endure the misery of a Prison then yeeld to the subjection of the King of England But King Baylioll notwithstanding his submission is sent prisoner into England after his foure yeares Raigne in Scotland and King Edward returnes home leaving Iohn Warren Earle of Sussex and Surrey Warden of all Scotland Hugh Cressingham Treasurer and Ormesloy Chiefe Justice with Commission to take in his name the Homages and Fealties of all such as held Lands of that Crowne But this continued not long for King Edward being absent in France the Scots fell upon the Officers he had left slew Sir Hugh Cressingham with sixe thousand English recovered many Castles and regained the towne of Berwick and all by the animation and conduct of one William Walleys a poore private Gentleman though Nobly descended who seeing his Countrey without a Head and thereby without a Heart all the great men either in captivity or subjectionâ— assembles certaine of as poore and desperate estate as himselfe and leads them to attempt upon whatsoever advantages they could finde to annoy the English and having therein good successe it so encreased both his courage and company that he afterward came to be the generall Guardian of the whole kingdome and was in possibility to have absolutely redeemed his Countrey from the subjection of the English if the speedy comming of King Edward had not prevented him For now King Edward to bring his worke neare together removes his Exchequer and Courts of Justice to Yorke where they continued above sixe yeares and thither he cals a Parliament requiring all his subjects that held of him by knights service to be ready at Roxborough by a peremptory day where there assemble three thousand men at Armes on barded horses and foure thousand other armed men on horse without bards with an Army of foote answerable consisting most of Welsh and Irish besides five hundred men at Armes out of Gascoyne and with this power he makes his second expedition into Scotland the Earles of Hereford and Norfolke with the Earle of Lincolne led his Vauntgard at the famous battell of Fonkirke where the shouts of the Scots were so great that King Edwards horse frighted withall cast him off and brake two of his ribs which notwithstanding he gets up againe goes on and gets the victory wherein are reported to be slaine two hundred knights and forty thousand foot of the Scots but William Walleys with some few escaped to make more work And here againe that kingdome might seeme as if quite overthrowne Most of the estates of the Earles and Barons of Scotland with their titles that had stood out were bestowed on the English and a Parliament is called at Saint Andrewes where all the great
his favour which to entertaine and encrease King Edward sends him a whole furnish of all vessels for his Chamber of cleane Gold which great gift so wroâ—ght with the Pope that he untied the King from the Covenant made with his Subjects concerning their Charters confirmed unto them by his last three Acts of Parliâ—ment and absolved him from his Oath A safe time for Princes when they mighttye themselves in any obligation to their Subjects and afterward for a bribe to the Pope be untyed againe His Taxations and wayes for raising of money IF Taxations may suffer degrees of comparison it may not unfiâ—ly be said of these three last Kings that King Iohn was in the Positive his Sonne Henry the third in the Comparative and this King Edward in the Superlative For not onely he farre excâ—eded thâ— two former but he hath left a spell to all that come after for ever comming neare him but then under the name of Taxations wee must include the wayes he tooke for raising of profit But first in the way of Parliament In the first yeare of his Raigne was granted him a tenth of the Clergy for two years besides a fifteenth of them and the Temporalty In his fifth yeare a twentieth of their goods towards the Welsh warres In his seventh the old money was called in and new coyned in regard it had beene much defâ—ced by the Iewes for which 297. were at one time executed in London and this brought in profit of no small value In his eleventh yeare he had a thirtieth of the Temporalty and a twentieth of the Clergy for his warres in Wales In the thirteenth Escuage forty shillings of every knights Fee In his foureteenth yeare he had a thousand Markes of certaine Merchants Fined for false weights In his nineteenth the eleventh part of all movables of the Clergy and shortly after a tenth for sixe yeares In his twentieth William Marchyan then Lord Treasurer of England perceiving great riches to be in Churches and religious houses put it so into the Kings head that they were all brought into the Kings Treasury In the eighth yeare of his Raigne he sent ouâ— his Writ Quo Warrantâ— to examine by what title men held their lands which brought him in much money till Iohn Earle of Warren being called to shew his title drew out an old rusty Sword and then said He held his land by that and by that would hold it to death which though it made the King desist from his Project yet he obtained at that time a fifteenth part of the Clergy In his seventeenth yeare he Fined all his Judges for corruption Sir Ralph Higham Chiefe Justice of the higher Bench in seven thousand Markes Sir Iohn Loveton Justice of the lower Bench in three thousand Markes Sir William Brompton in sixe thousand Markes Sir Sâ—lâ—mon Rochester in foure thousand Markes Sir Richard Boyland in foure thousand Sir Walter Hopton in two thousand Sir William Saham in three thousand Robert Lithbury Master of the Rolls in one thousand Roger Leycester in one thousand Heâ—â—y Bray Escheatour and Judge for the Iewes in one thousand but Sir Adam Strattâ—â— chiefe Baron of the Exchequer in foure and thirty thousand and Thomas Wayland found the greatest Delinquent and of the greatest substance had all his goods and whole estate confiscated to the King and himselfe banished out of the kingdome In his eighteenth yeare he banished the Iewes of whom there was at that time above fifteen thousand in the kingdom who had but all their goods confiscateâ— leaving them onely meanes to beare their charges in going away In his foure and twentieth yeare he commanded a new Subsidy to be levied upon all sarplers of Wooll going out of England as likewise with Fels and Hides In his five and twentieth yeare he cals a Parliament at Saint Edmundsbery where is granted the eighth part of the goods of good Townes and of other people the twelfth As for the Clergy they desire to be excused and refuse to contribute in regard of their many late paiments as in the two and twentieth yeare of his Raigne they paied the moâ—ty of their goods and in his three and twentieth yeare he seiâ—ed into his hands all Priories aliens and their goods besides he had a loane of the Clergy which amounted to an hundred thousand pounds but notwithstanding upon this refusall of the Clergy the King puts all Clergy men out of his protection whereby they were to have no Justice in any of his Courts a straine of State beyond any of his Predecessours which so amazed them that in the end the Arch-bishop of Yorke with the Bishops of Durham Ely Salisbury and Lincolne yeelded to lay downe in their Churches the fifth part of all their goods towards the maintenance of the Kings warres whereby they appeased his wrath and werâ— received into grace But the Arch-bishop of Canterbury by whose animation the rest stood out had all his goods seised on and all the Monasteries within his Diocese taken into the Kings hands and Wardens appointed to minister onely necessaries to the Monkes conveâ—ting the rest to the Kings use at length by much suite and Abbots and Priests giving the fourth part of their goods redeeme themselves and the Kings favour In the sixe and twentieth yeare of his Raigne at a Parliament holden at Yorke is granted him the ninth penny of the goods of the Temporalty the tenth penny of the Clergy of the Diocese of Canterbury and of Yorke the fifth and in this yeare also he raised the Imposition upon every sack of Wooll from a noble to forty shillings In his two and thirtieth yeare he sends out a new Writ of Inquisition called Traile-baston for intruders on other mens lands who to oppresse the right owner would make over their land to great men for Batterers hired to beate men for breakers of Peace for Ravishers Incendiaries Murtherers Fighters false Assisours and other such Malefactours which Inquisition was so strictly executed and such Fines taken that it brought in exceeding much treasure to the King As likewise did another Commission at the same time sent forth to examine the behaviour of Officers and Ministers of Justice wherein many were found Delinquents and paid dearly for it At this time also he called his Lords to account for their stubbornnesse some yeares before in denying to attend him into Flanders which brought him in profit answerable to their greatnesse that were called After all this in his foure and thirtieth yeare there is granted him the thirtieth penny of both Clergy and Laity and the twentieth of all Merchants towards his journey into Scotland And this may be sufficient to shew his Taxations to have beene in the Superlative degree And yet besides these he had no small benefit by Silver Mines which in his time were found in Devonshire Of his Lawes and Ordinances IN the first yeare of his Raine were made the Statutes called of Westminster the first In his twelfth yeare were made the Statutes
his foure and thirtieth yeare of the King of France three millions of crownes of Gold In his twelveth yeare he had taken from the Priors Aliens their houses lands and tenements for the maintenance of his French warres which he kept twenty yeares in his 〈◊〉 and then restored them againe In his six and thirtieth year was greater twenty sixe shillings eight pence for transportation of every sacke of Wooll for three yeareâ— In the five and fortieth yeare of his Raigne in a Parliament at Westminster the â—lergy granted him fifty thousand pounds to be paid the same yeare and the Laiâ—y as much which was levâ—ed by setting a certaine rate of five pounds fifteene shillings upon every Parish which were found in the 37â— Shires to be eight thousand and sixe hundred and so came in the whole to fifty thousand one hundred eighty one pounds and eight pence but the 181. li. was abated to the Shires of Suffolkâ— and Devonshire in regard of their poverty In his eight and fortieth yeare in a Parliament is granted him a tenth of the Clergy a fifteenth of the Laity In his fiftiâ—h year a Subsidy of a new nature was demanded by the young Prince Richard whom being buâ— eleven years of age the Duke of Lancaster had brought into the Parliament of purpose to make the demand to have two tenths to be paid in one yeare or twelve pence in the pound of all Merchandises sold for one yeare and one pound of silver for every knights Fee and of every Fire-house one penny but instead of this Subsidy after much altercation there was granted another of as new a nature as this that every person man and woman within the kingdome above the age of foureteene yeares should pay foure pence those who lived of Almes onely excepted the Clergy to pay twelve pence of every Parson Beneficed and of all other religious persons foure pence a mighty aide and such as was never granted to any King of England before Of his Lawes and Ordinances HE instituted the Order of the Garter upon what cause is not certaine the common opinion is that a Garter of his owne queene or as some say of the Lady Ioane Countesse of Salisbury slipping off in a Dance King Edward stooped and tooke it up whereat some of his Lords that were present smiling as at an amorous action he seriously said it should not be long ere Soveraigne honour should be done to that Garter whereupon he afterward added the French Morto Honi soit qui maly pense therein checking his Lords sinister suspition Some conjecture that he instituted the Order of the Garter for that in a battell wherein he was victorious he had given the word Garter for the word or signe and some againe are of opinion that the institution of this Order is more ancient and begunne by King Richard the first but that this King Edward adorned it and brought it into splendour The number of the knights of this Order is twenty sixe whereof the King himselfe is alwayes one and president and their Feast yearely celebrated at Windsor on Saint Georges day the Tutelar Saint of that Order The lawes of the Order are many whereof there is a booke of purpose In the five and thirtieth yeare of his Raigne he was earnestly Petitioned by a Parliament then holen that the great Charter of Liberties and the Charter of Forests might be duly observed and that the great Officers of the kingdome should as in former times be elected by Parliament to which Petition though the King at first stood stiffe upon his owne Election and Prerogative yet at last in regard to have his present turne served as himselfe after confessed he yeelded that such Officers should receive an Oath in Parliament to doe justice to all men in their Offices and thereupon a Statute was made and confirmed with the Kings Seale both for that and many other Grants of his to his Subjectsâ— which notwithstanding were for the most part shortly after revoked This King also causeth all Pleas 〈◊〉 were before in Frenâ—h to be made in English that the Subject might understand the course of the Law Also in his time an Act was passed for Purveyours that nothing should be taken up but for ready money upon strict punishment In the next Parliâ—ment holden the seven and thirtieth yeare of his Raigne certaine Sâ—mpâ—uary Lawes were ordained both for apparell and diet appointing every degree of men the stuffe and habits they should weare prohibiting the weaâ—ing of gold and silver silkes and rich furres to all buâ— eminent persons The labâ—â—rer and husbandman 〈◊〉 â—ppointed but one 〈◊〉 dayâ— and what meates he should 〈◊〉 Also in his time at the instance of the Loâ—â—onersâ— an Act was made that no common Whore should weaâ—e any Hood except striped with divers colours nor Furres but Garments reversed the wrong side outward This King also was the first that created Dukesâ— of whom Henry of Bâ—llingbrâ—oke 〈◊〉 of Lancaster created Duke of Lancaster in the seven and twentieth yeare of his Raigneâ— was the first But afterward he erected Cornwall also into a Dutchy and conferred it upon the Prince after which time the Kings eldest sonne used alwayes to be Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester This King altered monies and abated them in weight yet made them to passe according to the former value Before his time there were no other peeces but Nobles and halfe Nobles with the small peeces of Silver called Sterlings but â—â—w Groats of foure pence and halfe Groats of two pence equivalent to the Sterling money are coyned which inhaunsed the prises of things that rise or fâ—ll according to the plenty or scarcity of coyne which made Servants and Labourers to râ—ise their wages accordingly Whereupon a Statute was made in the Parliament now held at Westminster to reduce the same to the former rate Also an Act was made in this Kings time that all Weares Mils and other stoppages of Rivers hindering the passage of Boats Lighters and other Vessels should be removed which though it were most commodious to the kingdome yet it tooke little effect by reason of bribing and corrupting Lords and great men who regarded more their owne private then the publike benefit In a Parliament holden the tenth yeare of his Raigne it was enacted that no Wooll growing within the Realme should be transported but that it should be made in Cloath in Peter-pence are forbidden by the King to be paid any more to Rome The câ—stome of washing poore mens feete on Maundy-Thursday thought to have beene first brought in by this King Affaires of the Church in his time KING Edward upon some displeasure had imprisoned divers Clergy men whereupon Iohn Stratford Arch-bishop of Canterbury writes him a Letter charging him with violation of the Rights of the Church and with the breach of Magna Charta and after much good counsell given him threatens that if he amend not these disorders he must and
number of Fifty thousand by the setting on of one Iohn Wraw a lewd Priest and these fell to destroying the houses of Lawyers speciallly and Sir Iohn Cavendish L. Chiefe Justice of England they beheaded and set his head upon the Pillory in St. Edmundsbury The like commotion of the Commons was at the same time also in Cambridgeshire in the Isle of Ely and in Norfolke under the guiding of one Iohn Littester a Dyer and to countenance their proceeding the more they had a purpose to have brought William Vfford Earle of Suffolke into their fellowship but he advertised of their intention suddenly rose from suppâ—r and got him away but many other Lords and Knights they compelled to be sworne to them and to ride with them as the Lord Scales the Lord Morley Sir Iohn Brewiâ— Sir Stephen Hales Sr. Robert Salle who not enduring their insolencies had his braines dasht out by a Country Clowne that was his Bondman The rest terrified by this example were glad to carry themselves submissively to their Chieftaine Iohn Litâ—ester who named himselfe King of the Commons and counted it a preferment for any to serve him at his Table in taking the assay of his meates and drinkes with kneeling humbly before him as he sate at meat And now these fellowes upon a câ—nsultation send two choycemen namely the L. Morleâ— and Sir Iohn Brewiâ— with three of their chiefe Commons to the King for their Charter of Manumission and Enfranchising who being on their way at Itchingham not farre from New market they met with Henry Spenser Bishop of Norwich and he examining them if there were any of the Rebels in their company and hearing that thrâ—e of the chiefe were there present he presently caused their heads to be struck off and then pursuing on towards Northwalsham in Norfolke where the Commons stayed for Answer from the King by that time he came thither where he had at first but eight Launces and a small number of Archers in his company his number was so increased that it came to be a compleat Army with which he set upon the Rebels discomfited them and tooke Iohn Littester and their other Chieftains whom he caused all to be executed and by this meanes the Country was quieted After this the Major of Londonâ—ate â—ate in Judgment upon Offenders where many were found culpable and lost their heads amongst other Iack Straw Iohn Kirkeby Alane Tredder and Iohn Sterlâ—ng who gloried that he was the man had slaine the Archbishop Also Sir Robert Tresilian Chiefe Justice was appointed to sit in Judgement against the Offenders before whom above fifteen hundred were found guilty and in sundry places put to death amongst others Iohn Ball Priest their Incendiary of whom it is not impertinent to relate a letter he wrote to the Rebell-rabble of Essex by which we may see how fit an Oratour he was for such an Auditory and what strength of perswasion there was in Non-sence Iohn Sheepe St. Mary Priest of Yorke and now of Colchester greeteth well Iohn Namelesse and Iohn the Miller and Iohn Carter and biddeth them that they beware of guile in Borough and stand together in Gods name and biddeth Piers Plowman goe to his work and chastise well Hob the robber and take with you Iohn Trewman and all his fellowes and no moe Iohn the miller ye ground small small small the Kings Sonne of Heaven shall pay for all Beware or ye be woe Know your friend from your foe Have enough and say Ho and doe well and better Flee sinne and seeke peace and hold you therein and so biddeth Iohn Trewman and all his fellowes Neither is it impertinent to declare the Confession of Iack Straw at his execution When we were assembled said he upon Blackheath and had sent to the K. to câ—me to us our purpose was to have slaine all Knights and Gentlemen that should be about him and as for the King we would have kept him amongst us to the end the people might more boldly have repaired to us and when we had gotten power enough we would have slaine all Noblemen and specially the Knights of the Rhodes and lastly we would have killed the King and all men of possessions with Bishops Monkes Parsons of Churches onely Friers Mendicants we would have spared for administration of the Sacraments Then we would have devised Laws according to which the people should have lived for we would have created Kings as Wat Tyler in Kent and other in other Countries and the same evening that Wat Tyler was killed we were determined to set fire in foure corners of the City and to have divided the spoyle amongst us and this was our purpose as God may helpe me now at my last end For his service done in this seditious businesse the King knighted the Major William Walworth and gave him a hundred pounds a yeere in Fee also he knighted five Aldermen his brethren girding them abouâ— the waste with the girdle of knighthood which was the manner of Graduating in those dayes And to doe the City it selfe honour he granted there should be a Dagger added to the Armes of the City for till this time the City bore onely the Crosse without the Dagger And now all parts being quiet the King by Proclamation revoked and made void his former Charters of Infranchising the Bondmen of the Realme and that they should stand in the same condition they were before In the time of this sedition the Duke of Lancaster had been sent into Scotland to keep the Scots quiet who so carried the matter that before the Scots heard of the Sedition a Truce was concluded for two or three yeeres But the Duke comming back to Berwick was denied by the Captaine Sir Matthew Redman to enter the Towne because of a Commandement given him by the Earle of Northumberland L. Warden of the Marches not to suffer any person to enter the same which the King indeed had appointed to be done forgetting the Duke of Lancaster that was then in Scotland but howsoever this bred such a spleen in the Duke against the Earle that at his comming home he laid many things to the Earles charge and the Earle as stoutly answered his objections and so farre it proceeded that both of them came to the Parliament which was then beginning with great numbers of Armed men and themselves in Armour to the great terrour of the people but the King wisely taking the matter into his owne hands made them friends At which time the Lady Anne Sister to the Emperour Winceslâ—us and affianced wife to the King was come to Callis whereupon the Parliament was Prorogued the Lady was brought to London joyned in mariage to the King and Crowned Queene at Westminster by the Archbishop of Canterbury with great solemnity After the Mariage the Parliament began againe in which William Vfford Earle of Suffolke being chosen by the Knights of the Shires to deliver in behalfe of the Commonwealth certaine matters concerning the same
the very day and houre in which he should have done the businesse as he went up the staires towards the upper House he suddenly fell down and dyed having been merry and well before to all mens judgements About this time the Lord Scroope was deposed from the Chancellourship for refusing to seale some Grants which the King had made and the King receiving the great Seale at his hands kept it a certaine time and sealed with it such Grants and Writings as he pleased till at length it was delivered to Robert Braybrooke Bishop of London who was made Lord Chancellour Henry Spenser Bishop of Norwich had lately with the Kings leave raised an Army and was gone into France in behalfe of Pope Vrban against the Anti-pope Clement and entring first into Flaâ—ders he tooke and sacked many Townes at last besieged Ypres till by an Army of French greater then was thought could have been raised in France he was forced to raise his siege and then passing divers places he came to Grâ—â—eling from whence he writ to King Richard that if ever he meant to try battell with the French now was the time The King was at that time at Dayntrie in Northâ—mptonshire and being at supper when the word was brought him he instantly rose from the Table got to horse-back and rode in Post with such speed that he came to St. Albans about midnight where making no stay but while he borrowed the Abbots Gelding he hasted forth till he came to Westminster as though he had meant never to rest till he had given battell to the French-men but after he had taken councell of his pillow his minde was altered and hâ— thought it better to imploy some other then to goe himselfe so the Duke of Lancaster is thought the fittest man but he protracted the time so long in making preparation thâ—t before he could be gone the Bishop was come away And this indeed is the condition of many to spend so much time in preparing that they utterly lose all opportunity of acting like to men that are putting on their cloathes so long till it be time to put them off againe Shortly after a Truce was concluded between Fraâ—ce and England to endure till the Feast of St. Michael which should be in the yeere 1384. Of Acts done after He came of Age. THe Scots in this meane time had made Roades into England and taken and burnt divers Townes upon the Borders whereupon the Duke of Lancaster with his Brother the Earle of Buckingham is sent with a mighty Army to represse them but having entred Scotland and not able to draw the Scots to a Battell they onely burnt certaine Townes and then returned About this time an Irish Frier of the Order of the Carmelites charged the Duke of Lancaster with heynous crimesâ— as that he intended to destroy the King and usâ—rpe the Crowne shewing the time the place and other circumstances of the whole plot But the Duke called to his Answer so cleered himselfe aâ— least gave such colours of cleering that the Accuser was committed to the custody of Iohn Holland the kings halfe-brother till a day appointed for further tryall The niâ—ht before which day the said Lord Holland and Sir Henry Greene are said to have come to this Frier and putting a cord about his neck tyed the other end about his privy members and after hanging him up from the ground laid a stone upon his belly with the weight whereof his very back-bone burst asunder thereby putting him to a most tormenting death An act not more inhumane then unadvised for though it took away the Accuser yet it made the Accusation more suspitious At this time though a Truce had been made with the Scots yet they would not be quiet but entred and wonne the Castle of Barwick whereof the Earle of Northumberland was Captaine but had committed the keeping of it to another for which being blamed he went against them with an Army but took an easier course for with the summe of two thousand markes he bought them out and had the Castle surrendâ—ed into his hands againe The king upon some new displeasure being now incensed against the Duke of Lancaster had a purpose to have him arrested and arraigned of certaine points of Treason before Sir Robert Tresilian Chiefe Justice though he ought to be tryed by his Peeres but the Duke having intimation hereofâ— got him to his Castle of Pomfret and stood upon his guard till the Kings mother notwithstanding her indisposition of body by reason of her corpulency riding to and fro betwixt them pacified the King and made them friends In the ninth yeere of K. Richards Reigne the French-king sent the Admirall of France into Scotland with a Thousand men of Armes besides Crosse-bowes and others to ayde the Scots against the English with which ayde the Scots encouraged enter the English Borders whereof K. Richard advertised himselfe with a mighty Army enters Scotland and comming to Edingborough and finding all the people fledâ— he set fire on the houses burnt the Church of S. Giles onely Holy-Rood-house was spared at the Duke of Lancasters suit in remembrance of friendship he had formerly received in that house The Scots by no meanes could be drawn to any Battell buâ— to divert the Kings Army they entred Cumberland and besieged Carlile whereby the valour of Sir Lewis Clifford and Sir Thomas Musgrave they were repelled and hearing of the Kings Army comming towards them and fearing to be inclosed they drew back into Scotland and the King returned into England But in this meane while the English of Callis tooke many prizes of French ships at Sea and many Booties also by land at one time foure thousand sheep and three hundred head of great Cattell This yeere the King called a Parliament at Westminster where he created two Dukes one Marquesse and five Earles Edmund of Langly Earle of Cambridge the Kings Unkle was created Duke of Yorke Thomas of Woodstock Earle of Buckingham his other Unkle Duke of Glocester Robert Veere Earle of Oxford was made Marquesse of Dublin Henry of Bullingbrooke sonne of Iohn of Gaunt was created Earle of Darby Edward Plantagenet sonne to the Duke of Yorke was made Earle of Rutland Michael de la Poole Chancellour of England was created Earle of Suffolke and Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham was made Earle Marshall Also by aâ—thority of this Parliament Roger Mortimer Earle of March sonne and heire of Edmund Mortimer and of the Lady Philip eldest daughter and heire to Lionell Duke of Clarence third sonne to king Edward the Third was established heire apparent to the Crowne of the Realme and shortly after so Proclaimed but going into Ireland to his Lordship of Vlster was there by the wilde Irish slaine This Roger Earle of March had issue Edmund Roger Anne Alice and Eleanor which Eleanor was made a Nun The two sonnes dyed without issue Anne his eldest daughter was maried to Richard Earle of Cambridge sonne to Edmund of
came to him from thence he went to Ludlow and the next day to Shrewsbery and thither came to him Sir Leighâ—nd â—nd Sir Iohn Leigh and many other being sent from Chester to offer their service thither also came to him the Lord Scales and the Lord â—ardolphe forth of Ireland From Shrewsbery he went to Chester and from thence sent for his sonne and heire and likewise for the Duke of Glocesters sonne and heire whom K. Richard had left in custody in Ireland with all speed to come into England but the Duke of Glocesters son through misfortune perished at Sea or as some write dyed of the plague the sorrow whereof caused shortly after his mothers death After this the Duke sent the Earle of Northumberland to the king who upon safe-conduct comming to him declared that if it might please his Grace to undertake that there should be a Parliament assembled in which Justice might be had and herewith pardon the Duke of Lancaster of all things wherein he had offended the Duke would be ready to come to him on his knees and as an humble subject obey him in all dutifull services Yet upon this conference with the Earle some say the king required onely that himselfe and eight more whom he would name might have honorable allowance with the assurance of a private quiet life and that then he would resigne his Crown and that upon the Earles Oath that this should be performed the king agreed to goâ— with the Earle to meet the Duke but after foure miles riding coâ—ming to the place where they had laid an Ambush the King was enclosed and constrained to goe with â—he Earle to Rutland where they dined and from thence to Flint to bed The 〈◊〉 had very few of his friends about him but onely the Earle of Salisbury the â—ishop of Carlile the Lord Scroope Sir Nicolas Ferehye and Iames D'Arthois a Gasâ—â—â—gne who still wore a white Heart the Cognisance of his Master K. Richard and neither for Promises nor Threats would be drawne to leave it off The King being in the Castle of Flint and Duke Henry with his Army approaching neere the Towne the Archbishop of Canterbury with the Duke of Aumerle aâ—d the Earle of Worcester went before to the King whom the King spying from the walls where he stood went downe to meet and finding they did their due reverence to him on their knees he tooke them up and taking the Archbishop aside nâ—ked with him a good while and as it was reported the Archbishop willed him to be of good comfort for he should be assured not to have any hurt as touching his person After this the Duke of Lancaster came to the Castle himselfe all-armed and being within the first gate he there stayed till the King accompanied with the Bishâ—p of Carlile and Earle of Salisbury and Sir Stephen Scroope who bore the sword before him came forth and sate down in a place prepared for him As soone as theâ— Duke saw him he came towards him bowing his knee and comming forward did so the second time and the third till the king tooke him by the hand and lift him up saying Deere Cousin you are welcome The Duke humbly thanking him sâ—â—dâ— My Soveraigne Lord and king the cause of my comming at this present is your Honour saved to have restitution of my Person my Lands and Heritage Whereto the king answered Deere Cousin I am ready to accomplish your will so that you may enjoy all that is yours without exception After this comming forth of the Castle the king called for wine and after they had drunke they mouâ—â—ed on horse-back and rode to Chester the next day to Nantwych then to Newcâ—stle from thence to Stafford and then to Lichfield and there rested Sunday after that they rode forward and lodged first at Coventry then at Dayntree then at Nâ—râ—hâ—mpton next day at Dunstable then at S. Albans and so came to London In all which journy they suffered not the king to change his apparell but made him riâ—e still in one suit of raiment and that but a simple one though he in his time was â—xâ—â—eding sumptuous in apparell having one Coate which was valued at Thirty Thousand markes And in this â—ort he was brought the next way to Westminster and from thence the next day had to the Tower and committed to safe Custodie After this a Parliament was called by the Duke of Lancaster but in the name of â— Richard in which many heinous points of Misgovernment were laid to his charge and were ingrossed up in three and thirty Articles the chiefe whereof were these That he had wastefully spent the Treasure of the Realme That without Law or Iustice he had caused the Duke of Glocester and the Earle of Arundell to be put to death That he had borrowed great summes of money and given his Letters Patents to repay thesame and yet not one Penny ever paid That he had said The Laws of the Realme were in his head and in his breast by reason of which fantasticall opinion he destroyed Noble-men and impoverished the Commons That he changed Knights and Burgesses of the Parliament at his pleasure That most tyrannously he said that the lives and goods of all his subiects were in his hands and at his disposition That whereas divers Lords were by the Court of Parliament appointed to treat of matters concerning the state of the Kingdome they being busied about the same Commission â—e wâ—â—t about to appeach them of high Treason That by force and threats he enforced the Iudges of the Realme at Shrewsbery to condiscend to his way for the destruction of divers of the Lords That he caused his fathers own brother the Duke of Glocester without Law to be attached and sent to Callis and there without reason secretly murthered That notwithstanding the Earle of Arundell at his Arraignment pleaded his Charter of Pardon yet he could not be heard but was shamefully and suddenly put to death That he â—ssemblâ—d certaine Laâ—cashire and Câ—â—shire men to mâ—ke warre upon his Lordâ— and suffered them to rob and spoyle without prohibition That though he had made Proclamation that the Lords were not attached for any criâ—â— of Treason yet afteâ—ward in the Parliament he laid Treason to their charge That notwitâ—standing his Pardon granted to thâ—m he enforced divers of the Lords partakâ—rs to be againe intolerably Fined to their utter undoing That without the â—ssent of the Peeres he caried the Iewels and Plate of this Kingdomâ— into Ireland Upon these and some other Articles he was by Parliament adjudged to be deposed from all Kingly Honour and Princely Government And thereupon the King being advised by his owne servants rather voluntarily to resigne the Crowne then by compulsion to be forced to it on the Monday before the nine and â—â—entieth day of September in the yeere 1399. he made a solâ—mne Resignation befâ—re diverâ— Lords and others sent to him for that purpose and an Insâ—â—umeâ—t of hiâ— Râ—signation
banish him king Henry replyed that his desire was to have him delivered to him with this the king of Castile a little confused said That can I not doe with my honour Well then said the king the matter is at an end at last the king of Castile who held king Henry in great estimation composing his countenance said Sir you shall have him but upon your Honour you shall not take his life I promise it upon mine Honour said King Henry and he kept his promise for he was not put to death during all his Reigne but yet he tooke such order that in the Reigne of his Sonne K. Henry the Eighth he had his head cut off During the king of Castiles being here a Treaty was concluded and beares date at Windsor which the Flemings terme Intercursus malus for that the Free fishing of the Dutch upon the Coasts and Seas of England granted in the Treaty of Vndecimo was not by this Treaty confirmed as all other Articles were And now when king Henry had received the king of Castile into the Fraternity of the Garter and had his Sonne Prince Henry admitted to the order of the Golden fleece and that the Earle of Suffolk was brought over and committed to the Tower the king of Castile departed home In this kings time were two Calls of Serjeantâ— at Law One in his eleventh yeere in which were called nine Serjeants Mordant Higham Kingesmill Conisby Butler â—â—xely Frowick Oxenbridge and Constable who kept their feast at the Bishop of Ely's Place in Holborne where the King the Queen and all the chiefe Lords dined The other Call in his twentieth yeere in which were called ten Serjeants Robert Brudnell William â—revill Thomas Marow George Edgore Lewis Pollard Guy Palmes and William Fairfax who kept their feast at the Archbishoâ—s house in Lambeth King Henry having gotten as much honour as the Estimation of neighbouring Princes could give him began now to be intentive to getting of wealth wherein he quickly found Instruments fit for his purpose but specially two Empson Dudley both Lawyers Dudley of a good family but Empson the son of a Sieve-maker These two persons being put in Authority turned Law and Justice into Rapine For first their manner was to cause divers Subects to be indicted of Crimes and then presently to commit them and not produce them to their answer but suffer them to languish long in Prison and by sundry artificiall devices and terrors extort from them great Fines which they termed Compositions and Mitigations Neither did they towards the end observe so much as the halfe face of Justice in proceeding by Indictment but sent forth their Precepts to attach men and convent them before themselves and some others at their private houses and there used to shuffle up a Summary proceeding by examination without tryall of Jury asâ—uming to themselves to deale both in Pleas of the Crowne and controversies Civill Then did they also use to enthrall and charge the Subjects lands with Tenures in Capite by finding false Offices refusing upon divers pretexts and delayes to admit men to traverse those false Offices as by Law they might Nay the Kings Wards after they had accomplished their full age could not be suffered to have livery of their lands without paying excessive Fines farre exceeding all reasonable rates When men were outlawed in personall actions they would not permit them to purchase their Charters of Pardon except they paid great and intolerable summes standing upon the strict point of Law which upon Outlawries gives forfeiture of goods Nay contrary to all Law and colour they maintained the King ought to have the halfe of mens lands and rents during the space of full two yeeres for a Paine in case of Outlawry They would also ruffle with Jurors and enforce them to finde as they would direct and if they did not then convent imprison and fine them These and many other coursâ—s they had of preying upon the people but their principall working was upon Penall Statutes wherein they considered not whether the Law were obsolete or in use and had ever a rabble of Promoters and leading Jurors at their command so as they could have any thâ—ng found either for Fact or Valuation There remaineth to this day a Report that King Henry was on a time entertained very sumptuously by the Earle of Oxford at his Castle of Heningham and at the Kings going away the Earles servants stood in their livery-coates with cognisances ranged on both sides to make the King a lane Whereupon the King called the Earle to him and said My Lord I have heard much of your Hospitality but I see it is greater than is spoken These handsome Gentlemen and Yeomen whom I see on both sides of me are sure your Meniall servants At which the Earle smiled and said It may please your Grace that were not for mine ease They are most of them my Retainers and are come to doe me sâ—rvice at such a time as this and chiâ—fly to see your Grace Whereat the King started a little and said By my faith my Lord I thanke you for my good cheere but I may not endure to have my Lawes broken in my sight my Attourney must speake with you about it And it is part of the Report that it cost the Earle for a composition fifteen thousand marks And to shew further the Kings extreme diligence I remember saith Sir Francis Bacon Lord of Virulaâ— in his History to have seene long since a Booke of Accompt of Empsons that had the kings hand almost to every leafe by way of signing and was in some places postilled in the Margent with the kings owne hand likewise where was this Remembrance Item Received of such a one five markes for the Pardon to be procured and if the Pardon doe not passe the money to be repayd except the party be some other way satisfied And over against this Memorandâ—m of the kings owne hand Otherwise satisfied This saith he I doe the rather mention because it shewes in the king a Nearnesse but yet with a kinde of Justnesse In his three and twentieth yeere there was a sharpe prosecution against Sir William Gapell now the second time for misgovernment in his Majoralty The great matter was that in some payments he had taken notice of false monies and did not his diligence to examine who were the Offenders for which and some other things â—aid to his charge he was condemned to pay two thousand pounds whereof being a man of stomack he refused to pay a farthing and thereupon was sent to the Tower where he remained till the Kings death Knesworth likewise that had been lately Major of London and both his Sheriffs were for abuses in their offices questioned and imprisoned and not delivered but upon payment of one thousand foure hundred pounds Sir Lawrence Ailmer who had likewise been Major of London and his two Sheriffs were put to the Fine of one thousand pounds and Sir Lawrence for
eight of Iune the Parliament began during the which the Lord Thomas Howard without the Kings assent had affianced the Lady Margaret Douglas daughter to the Queen of Scots and Niece to the King for which he was attainted of treason and an Act was made for like offenders hereafter and so he died in the Tower and shee long time remained there a prisoner yet afterward was set at liberty and maried Mathew Earle of Lenox who by him had Henry Father of Iames the first King of Great Brittaine In the time of this Parliament the Bishops and all the Clergy had a solemne Convocation at Pauls Church in London where after much disputation and debating of matters they published a book of Religion intituled Articles devised by the Kings Highnesse in which booke are specially mentioned but three Sacraments namely Baptisme Eucharist and Pennance also certaine Injunctions were set forth whereby many of the old Holi-dayes were abrogated specially those that fell in Harvest time The two and twentieth of Iuly Henry Duke of Richmond and Somerset base sonne of King Henry by Elizibeth Blunt died at Saint Iames and was buried at Thetsâ—one in Norfolke The nine and twentieth of Iune the King held a great Justs and Triumph at VVestminster but a disastrous Sea-fight on the water where one Gates a Gentlâ—man was drowned in his harnesse and by the breaking of a Gunne two Mariners were sore mained in Iuly following Thomas Cromwell Secretary to the King and Master of the Rolles was made Lord Keeper of the Privy-seale and the ninteenth of Iuly the Lord Fitz-Warren was created Earl of Bath and the day after the said Cromwell was made Lord Cromwell and on the eighteenth of Iuly Vicâ—r Generall under the King over the Spiritualty who sate diverse times in the Convocation House amongst the Bishops as head over them and now was the state of Religion in England come to a strange passe because alwayes in passing and had no consistance for at first the authority of the Pope was excluded in some cases onely a while alter in all but yet his Doctrine was wholly retained Afterward his Doctrine came to be Impugned but in some few points onely a while after in many more that the fable of Proteuâ— might no longer be a fable when the Religion in England might be his true Morralâ— and indeed it could be no otherwise the distance between the two Religious being not possible to be passed Per saltum but must be done by degrees which degrees may be observed in the progresse of the story for where at first it was permitted onely to read the Bible in English now it came to be permitted to pray in English for now in September the Lord Cromwell set forth Injunctions to have the Lords prayer the Ave the Creed the ten Commandements and all Articles of the Christian-faith translated into English and to be taught by all Parsons and Curates to their Parishoners which Innovation so stirred up the people that in Lincolâ—shire they assembled to the number of twenty thousand against whom the King himselfe went in person who winâ—â—ng by perswasions their chief leaders brought the rest upon pardon to submit themselves but when he had himselfe done the work of mercy he afterward sent the Duke of Suffolke with Sir Francis Brian and Sir Iohn Russell to doe the worke of Justice who caused Nicholas Melton and a Monke naming himselfe Captaine Cobler and thirteen others Ringleaders of the sedition to be apprehended and most of them to be executed But this Commotion was scarce appeased when presently there rose another in the North-parts where forty thousand were assembled giving themselves out for an holy Pilgrimage where on one side of their Ensignes they had Christ hanging on the crosse on the other side the Cuppe and Bread of the Sacrament as taking Armes onely for maintenance of the Faith of Christ and deliverance of the holy Church now oppressed but these were opposed by George Earle of Shrewsbury who having raised an Army without Commission though to resist the Rebels yet began to be much troubled whither in so doing he had not committed Treason and was never quiet till he had seâ—t to the King for pardon and commission to proceed at which time a rumour being raised amongst his souldiers that the Earle so well liked the Rebels cause that what shew soever he made yet when it should come to the triall he would not stick to joyne with them and take their parts to remove which Opinion out of their mindâ— he caused all his souldiers to come before him and made his Chaplaine give him an oath by which he swore in their hearing to be true to the Crowne and never to be assisting to any Rebels to his aide were sent the Duke of Norfolke with the Marquis of Exceturâ— the Earles of Huntington and Rutland who with a mighty Army approachiâ—g the Rebels beyond Doncaster in the way towards York attempted first to have pacified them without blood-shed but when no perswasions would serve it was resolved of both sides to come to a battell but see here the great goodnesse of God for the night before the day appointed for battel it happened that a litle Brook called Dun running betweene the two Armies upon a small raine grew to such a height that it was not passable by either foot or horse so as the Armies having time to consider and considering perhaps this miracle as sent of God they came to agreement and upon pardon disbanded and returned to their houses but in the mean time they had besieged the Castle of Scarborough where the resolute carriage of Sir Ralph Evens is memorable who held the Castle by onely his owne servants and Tennants and that when for twenty dayes together he had no other sustenance but bread and water but all Comotions were not yet appeased for at this very time there was another great Army assembled out of Cumberland Westmerland and the North-parts of Lancashire marching South-wards but by the diligence of the Earl of Darby to whom also the Earle of Sussex was sent they were suppressed and their chief Leaderâ— as the Abboâ—s of Wally Sauly and others apprehended and hanged but neither is there yet an end of comotions for now in February Nicholas Musgrave Thomas Tilâ—y with oâ—hers to the number of twelve thousand began a Rebellion and be sieged Carlile but by the power of the City were first beaten back and then were encountred by the Duke of Norfolke who caused seventy foure of them by Martiall-law â—o be hanged on the walls of Carlile but neither was there yet an end of Comotions for now in Setrington Pickering Lâ—igh and Scarborough began a new Rebellion by procurement of Francis Bigot who had râ—ised a great power and meant to have taken Hull but by the industry of Sir Ralph Ellarker and the Major of the Towne threescore aâ— the Rebels were taken and hanged and the rest put to flight and glad to be quiet
Queene and for her sake with Cromwell to neither of whom he was greatly affected not to the Queene as misliking her religion not to Cromwell as envying his greatnesse he so wrought upon the Kings inclination what by suggesting and what by aggravating that the Lord Cromwell the ninth of Iuly sitting in the Councell Chamber was suddenly apprehended and committed to the Tower and the ninteenth of the same moneth was attainted by Parliament and never came to his Answer by a Law which as some reported he himselfe had caused to be made and the eight and twentieth of Iuly was beheaded on the Tower-hill for crimes as appeares in Record of Heresie and Treason This Lord Cromwell was borne at Pâ—tney a Village in Surrey neere the Thames side sonne to a Smith after whose decease his Mother was married to a Sheereman for the pregnancy of his wit he was first entertained by Cardinall Woolsey and by him imployed in many great affaires the Cardinall falling the King tooke him into his service and finding his great abilities first advanced him for his worth and then for his pleasure overthrew him But the greatest part of Stephen Gardiners practice had beene done before for at Midsomer before the King caused the Queene to remove to Richmond as for her health and pleasure and and in the time of her absence on the sixt of Iuly sent certaine Lords to the Lower House of Parliament who there declared certaine causes for which the Kings marriage with the Lady Anne of Cleve was not to be counted lawfull and so carried the matter that the Convocation cleerly determined the King might marry any other and so might she Being thus Divorced it was further Enacted she should no more be called Queene but the Lady Anne of Cleve The fault for which this Divorce was decreed is not expresly deliveredâ— some say a precontract of the said Lady with a Lord of Germany was pretended but it seems to have bin for some womanish defect in her body as she spared not to aâ—firme that she had never bin carnally known by the King in al the time of their lying together and as it is said when her Ladies one time said unto her that they looked now every day to hear of her great belly she should answer they might look long enough unlesse saying how dost thou sweerest God morrow sweet-heart and sucâ— like words could make a great belly for said she more then this there never passed between the King and me How ever it was she willingly submitted to the Decree whether out of fear or perhaps as little liking the King as the King did her and afterward led a private life here in England wel respected of the King and dying sixteen yeers after in the fourth yeer of Queeâ— Mary was buried at Westminster About this time Leonard Gray Deputy of Ireland was on the Tower-hill beheaded for suffering his Nephew Gerald Fitz-Garret to escape who had been declared an enemy to the state and then also was Thomas Fines Lord Dacres a young mâ—n of foure and twenty yeers of age hanged at Tyburne â—or kiling a meane peson upon a suddaine affray also the fourth of Aâ—gust Thomas Epson a Monke of Westminster for denying to take his oath to be true to the King had his Monks garment plucked from his back the last Monke that was seen in such habit in England till Queen Maryes dayes The sixt of Iuly in the two and thirtieth yeere of his Reigne King Henry had been divorcâ—d from the Lady Anne of Cleve and now the eighth of August following the Lady Katherine Howard Niece to the Duke of Norfolke and daughter to the Lord Edward Howard was shewed openly as Queene at Hampton-Court On the tenth of Iune the yeere following Sir Edmund Knevet of Norfolke Knight was arraigned before thâ— Officers of the Green-cloath for striking one Master Cleere of Norfolke within the Tennis-court of the Kings Houseâ— being found guilty he had judgment to loose his Right hand and to forfeite all his lands and goods whereupon there was called to do execution first the Serjeant Surgion with his Instruments pertaining to his office then the Serjeant of the Wood-yard with a mallet and a block to lay the hand upon then the Kings Master-cooke with the knife â—o cut off the hand then the Serjeant of the larder to set the knife right on the joynt then the Serjeant Farrier with searingâ—irons to seare the veines then the Serjeant of the â—oultry with a Cock which cock should have his head smitten off upon the same block and with the same knife then the Yeoman of the Chandry with seare-cloaths then the Yeoman of the Scullery with a pan of fire to heare the irons a chafer of water to coole the ends of the irons and two formes for all Officers to set their stuffe on then the Serjeant of the Cellar with wine Ale and Beere then the Serjeant of the Ewry with Bason Ewre and towels all things being thus prepared Sir William Pickering Knight Marshall was commanded to bring in his prisoner Sir Edmund Knevet to whom the chiefe Justice declared his offence which the said Knevet confessed and humbly submitted himselfe to the Kings mercy onely he desired that the King vvould spare his Right hand and take his left because said he if my right hand be spared I may live to doe the King good service of vvhose submission and reason of his suite vvhen the King vvas informed he granted him to loose neither of his hands and pardoned him also of his lands and goods The summer of his three and thirtieth yeerâ— King Henry with his Queene Katherine made a progresse into the North-parts and retâ—rning at Alhallantide to Hampton-court he was there informed of the Queens dessolute life first before her mariage with one Francis Deerham a Gentleman of Nâ—rfolke whom imployed afterward in Ireland she had lately againe at Pomfret received into her service and now since her mariage with one Thomas Colepepper of the Kings Privy-chamber whereupon the thirteenth of November Sir Thomas VVriothsley Knight secretary to the King was sent to the Queen at Hampton-Court to charge heâ— with these crimes and discharging her houshold to cause her to be convayed to Sion there to remaine till the Kings pleasure should be further knowne the deliâ—quents being examined Deerham confessed that before the Kingâ— mariage with the Lady Katherine there had been a pre-contract between himselfe and her but when he once understood of the Kings liking towards her he then waved and consealed it for her preforment so the first of December theâ— Gentlemen being arraigned at the Guild-hall they confessed the Indictment aâ—â— had Judgment to die as in cases of treason the tenth of December they weâ—e drawne from the Tower to Tyburne where Colepepper was beheaded and Deerham was hanged and dismembred Colepeppers body was buried in Sepulchers Church in London but both their heads were set on London-bridge the two and twentieth of December
All this while the warres in Scotland continued and were managed by the Lord Gray of Wilton with variable successe and now about this time was sent to him in aide the Earle of Shrewsbury with fifteen thousand men against him in aid of the Scots was sent the Rhinegrave with ten thousand French who entring into consulâ—ation how to remove the yong Queene out of the reach of the English provided a Fleet and sailing round about Scotland notwithstanding the English Fleet lay in wait to impeach their passage yet conveyed her safely into France being then but six yeers old accompanied in the journey with Iames her base brother Iohn Erskin and William Leviston and in April following was married to Francis the Dolphin of France You heard before the alterations now heare the troubles for when the Injunctions were sent abroad into the Countrey and Commissioners appointed to see them executed one Master Bodye a Commissioner as he was pulling down Images in Cornwall was suddenly by a Priest stabbed into the body with a knife Hereupon the people flocked together in divers parts of the sheere taking Armes and beginning to commit outrages and although the chiefe Offendour was hanged and quartered in Smithfield and many of his complices executed in divers parts of the Realme and withall a Pardon proclaimed to all that would lay downe Armes yet neither could that severity nor this lenity restraine them from their insolencies but in divers Countries as Sussex Hampshire Kent Glostershire Warwickshire Wostershire but specially in Semersetshire and Devonshire great assemblies of people gathered to a head whose chiefe Leaders were Humfrey Arundel and about six others of inferiour note but many Priests Some of these we may say were Commonwealth mutiners and some mutined for religion they who were for the Common-wealth could agree upon nothing some would have no Justices some no Gentlemen some no Lawyers nor ordinary Courts of Justice but above all Inclosures must down but whether all or which or how to be imployed none could tell The religious Mutiners were not altogether so various in their voyces as having some few amongst them by whom they were guided these in name of the people hamered up these Arâ—icles following upon granting of which they proâ—essed that both their bodies and goods should be at the Kings devotion 1. That Curates should administer Baptisme at all times of necessity aâ— well oâ— week-dayes as on holy-dayes 2. That their children might be confirmed by the Bishop 3. That the Masse might be celebrated no man communicating with the Priest 4. That they might have reservation of the Lords body in their Churches 5. That they might have holy-bread and holy-water in remembrance of Christs precious body and blood 6. That Priests might live unmarried 7. That the six Articles set forth by King Henry the eight might be continued at lest till the King should come to full age Upon these demands the King although he knew that Reasons would little prevaile with unreasonable men yet to discharge the place he held he sent them in writing Answers to them all and withall a generall pardon if they would desist and lay downe armes But the sedicious growing the more outragious the fairer they were intreated and finding themselves unable to subsist with their owne estates began to thinke upon the spoyle of Cities and first they came to Excetour and demanded entrance which the Citizens refusing they fell to set fire on the gaâ—es but the Citizens prevented this by casting in wood and maintaining the fire till they had cast up a halfe moone within upon which when the Seditious attempted to enter they were presently hewen and cut in peeces After this they mined the wals laid powder and rammed the mouth but the Citizens prevented this also by making a countermine whereinto they poured such plenty of water that the wet powder could not be fired All this while the Lord Russell Lord Privie Seale who had beene sent downe to suppresse the Commotion lay at Huntington expecting more Forces whilst these Citizens of Excetour for twelve dayes together endured so great famine that they were faine to eat horses and make bread of course bran moulded in cloathes for that otherwise it would not cleave together At last the Lord Gray came to the Lord Russell with supply of Forces who after many conflicts with the Rebels forced them to raise their siedge at Excetour and thereby freed the City from many miseries to whom the King afterward gave the Mannour of Evyland in reward for their loyalty After this the Rebels rallying their Forceâ— were againe set upon by the Kings Army and the greatest part of them slaine the rest fled many were taken and executed by Martiall Law the chiefe Leaders were sent to London and there executed The sedition being thus suppressed it is memorable what sport Sir William Kingston the Provost Marshall made by vertue of his Office upon men in misery One Boyer Major of Godmin in Cornwall had bin amongst the Rebels not willingly but enforced to him the Provost sent word he would come and dine with him for whom the Major made great provision a little before dinner the Provost took the Major aside and whispered him in the eare that an execution must that day be done in the town and therefore required to have a paire of Gallows set up against dinner should be done the Major failed not of his charge presently after dinner the Provost taking the Major by the hand intreated him to lead him to the place where the Gallowes was which when he beheld he asked the Major if he thought them to be strong enough yes said the Major doubtlesse they are well then said the Provost get you up speedily for they are provided for you I hope answered the Major you mean not as you speak in faith said the Provost there is no remedy for you have bin a busie Rebell and so without respit or defence he was hanged to death a most uncurreous part for a guest to offer his host Neere the said place dwelled a Millar who had bin a busie actor in that Rebellion who fearing the approach of the Marshall told a sturdy fellow his servant that he had occasion to go from home and therefore bid him that if any man came to enquire after the Millar he should not speak of him but say that himselfe was the Millar and had bin so for three yeers before So the Provost came and called for the Millar when out comes the servant and saith he was the man the Provost demanded how long he had kept the Mill these three yeeres answered the servant then the Provost commanded his men to lay hold on him and hang him on the next tree At this the fellow cryed out that he was not the Millar but the Millars man nay Sir said the Provost I will take you at your word and if thou beest the Millar thou art a busie knave if thou beest nor thou art a false
please them both The Recorder set forth the complaint of the Lords against the Protectour in such sort that he made many inclinable to favour that side but one named George Stadlow better advised stept up and in a long Speech shewed what mischiefes had come to the City by opposing the King and therefore gave his opinion to suspend giving aide to the Lords at lest for a time His advice was harkened to and thereupon the Court resolved onely to arme a hundred Horsemen and foure hundred foot in defence of the City and to the letters returned submissive but dilatory answers After some other passages betweene the Protectour and the Lords Sir Edward Winkfield Captaine of the Guard was sent from the Lords to Windsor who so well perswaded the King of the Lords loyall affection towards him and of their moderate intention towards the Protectour that the King was contented to have him presently remvoed from him and suffered him within two dayes after to be carried to the Tower In whose absence seven Lords of the Councell and foure Knights were appointed by turnes to attend the Kings person and for affaires of State the government of them was referred to the whole body of the Councell soone after were sent to the Protectour in the Tower certain Lords of the Councell with Articles against him requiring his present Answer whether he would acknowledge them to be true or else stand upon his justificaâ—ion The chiefe Article was this That he tooke upon him the Office of Protectour with expresse condition that he should doe nothing in the Kings affaires but by assent of the late Kings Executours or the greaâ—est part of them and that contrary to this condition he had hindered Justice and subverted laws of his owne authority as well by letters as by other command and many other Articles but all much to this purpose The Protectour whether thinking to speed better by submission then by contesting or perhaps finding himselfe not altogether innocent for indeed in so great a place who can beare himselfe with such sincerity but he will commit errours with which he may be taxed subscribed an acknowledgement with his owne hand humbly submitting himselfe to the Kings mercy and desiring their Lordships favour â—owards him Upon this submission three moneths after he had bin imprisoned he was released entertained and feasted by the King and sworâ—e again to be a Privie Councellour but no more Protectour at which time betweene him and the Lords a shew at lest of perfect amity was made and to make it the more firme the Dukes daughter was afterward married to the Lord Lisle Sonne and heire to the Earle of Warwicke at which marriage the King himselfe was present and perhaps to honour their reconcilement and this marriâ—ge the Earle of Warwicke was made Lord Admirall of England Sir Iohn Russell Lord Privie Seale was created Earle of Bedford the Lord Saint-Iohn was created Earle of Wiltshire and soone after made Lord Treasurour Sir William Paget Controlour of the Kings House was made Lord Paget Sir Anthony VVinkfield Captaine of the Guard was made Controlour and Sir Thomas Darcye was made Captaine of the Guard But of the other side the Earle of Arundell the Earle of Southampton were put off from the Councell of whom the Earle of Southampton dyed shortly after at Lincolne-Place in Holborne and was buried in Saint Andrewes Church there About this time a Parliament was held at Westminster wherein one Act was made against spreading of Prophesies another against unlawfull Assemblies but for feare of new tumults the Parliament was untimely Dissolved and Gentlemen were commanded to retyre to their Countâ—ey-habitations and â—or the same cause also Trinity Terme did not hold About this time also Pope Paul the third dyed after whose death the Cardinals being divided about the election of a new Pope the Imperial part which was the greatest gave their voyces for Cardinall Poole which being told him â—e disabled himselfe and wished them to choose one that might be most for the glory of God and good of the Church upon â—his stop some that were no friends to Poole and perhaps looked for the place themselves if he were put off laid mâ—ny things to his charge amongst other that he was noâ— withouâ— suspition of Lutharisme as having bin very conversant with Immanuell Tremellius and Anthonius Flaminius great Lutherans and not altogether without blemish of incontinency there being a young Nunne that was thought to be his daughter But of these criminations Poole so cleered himselfe that he was afterward more importuned to take the place then he was before and thereupon one night the Cardinals came unto him being in bed and sent him word they came to adore him which is one special kind of electing the Pope but he being awaked out of his sleepe and acquainted with it made answer that this was not a worke of darkenesse and therefore required them to forbeare till the next day and then to doe as God should put in their mindes But the Italian Cardinals attributing this putting off to a kinde of stupidity and sloth in Poole looked no more after him but the next day chose Cardinall Montanus Pope who was afterward named Iulius the third And now the King of France upon many just considerations was growne desirous to have a Peace with England and thereupon sent one Guidolâ—i a Florentine inâ—o England to make some overture of his desire to the Lords of the Councell who addressing himselfe to the Earle of Warwicke whom he knew to be most prevalent so prevailed that it was concluded foure Embassadours should be sent from the King of England into Franeeâ— and foure from the French King to treat with them The Commissioners for the English were Iohn Earl of Bedford William Lord Paget Sir William Peter and Sir Iohn Mason Secretaries of State For the French were Monsieur Rochpot Monsieur Chatillon Guyllart de Martyer and Rochetelle de Dassie much time was spent to agree about a place of meeting till at last the English to satisfie the French were contented it should be before Bulloigne where were many meetings and mâ—ny diffâ—rences about conditions but in conclusion a Peace was concluded upon certaine Articles the chiefe whereof was that Bulloigne and the places adjacent should be delivered up to the French within six weekes after the Peace Proclaimed and that the French should pay for the same two hundred thousand crownes within three dayes after delivery of the Towne and other two huâ—dred thousand crowes upon the fifth day of August following hostages were on both sides given for performance and to those Articles the French King was sworne at Amyens and the King of England in London the Lord Clinton who had been Deputy of Bulloigne was made Lord Admirall of England Presently after this Agreement the Duke of Brunswicke sent to the King of England to offer his service in the Kings wars with ten thousand men and to intreat a marriage with the Lady
expresse his Character in a word which worthily might be matter for many volumes He was to his wife a most loyall husband to his children a most loving father to his servants a most bountifull Master to his Subjects a most just prince to all Princes neare him a most peaceable neighbour that more justly it may be said of him than of whom it was said Quaete tam laeta telerunt saecula a Prince afâ—eâ— Plato's owne heart for his learning and which is infinitly more worth after Gods owne heart for his Religiousnesse and Piety Oâ— his Death and buriall OF his death there were many scandalous rumours spread and some were so impudentâ— as to write that he was poysoned as the Duke of Richmond and the Marquis Hambleton had been before but King Iames being dead and his body opened there was found no signe at all of poyson his inward parts being all sound but that his Spleen was a little faulty which might bee cause enough to cast him into an Ague The Ordinary high way especially in old bodies to a naturall death Of this ague after a months anguishing notwithstanding all the remedies that could be applyed he departed this life aâ— Thâ—â—balds on the 27 of March in the yeare 1625 in the 59 yeare of his ageâ— when he had Raigned two and twenty years compleat His body for the greater Staâ—e was convayed by Torche light from Theobalds to Denmark house who having tested from the 23 of Aprill to the 7 of May it was carryed to Westminster and there interred in the Chappell Royall with great solemnity but with greater lamentation there being scarce any of the infinite multitude that was present of whom it might not be said Multa gemens largoque humectat flumine Vultum Of Men of note in his time MIlitary Men of Note in a time of Peace as the whole Raigne of King Iames was we have no reason to expect yet if we look amongst the Voluntaries that went to the Schoole of War in the Low-Countryes we shall find a payre of brothers that may stand in comparison with the greatest Souldiers in the most Martiall times S. Francis Vere who as another Hanniball who with his own eye could see more in the Martiall Discipline than common men can do with two and Sir Horatio Vere who as another Philopaemen contained in a very little body a very great both skill and courage But for Men of Note in Learning as being in the time of a most learned Prince there was never greater store of whom these for example In curiousnesse of Preaching there was Doctor Andrewes Bishop of Winchester who hath left to posterity a Century of such golden Sermons that shews he as well deserved the name of Chrysostome as he that had it In multiplicity of Reading there was Doctor Reynolds of Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford who seemed as it were a living Library and one would have thaught his Memory to be a perfect Index of all the Books had ever beene written In knowledge of Law there was Sir Edward Cook Chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench who hath written such excellent Commentaries of the Law that he seemes as another Bartholus or Baldus amongst us In Elegancy of writing there was Sir Francis Bacon Viscount Saint Albans who besides his profounder Books of Novum Organum hath written the Reigne of K. Henry the 7 in so sweet a style that like Manna it pleaseth the tast of all palats In the skil of Antiquities there was William Camden King at Armes who hath set forth the Description of Brittaine and the life of Q. Eliz. in so lively colours that he seems to have brought Brittaine out of darknesse into light and to keep Q. Eliz. alive after her death And to speake it in a word the Trojan Horse was not fuller of Heroick Grecians than K. Iames His Raigne was full of men excellent in all kinds of Learning And here I desire the Reader leave to remember two of my own old acquaintance the one was Mr. Iohn Dunne who leaving Oxford lived at the Iâ—nâ—â— of Court not dissolute but very neat a great visiter of Ladies a great frequenâ—er of Playes a great writer of conceited Verses untill such time as King Iames taking notice of the pregnancy of his Wit was a meanes that he betooke him to the study of Divinityâ— and thereupon proceeding Doctour was made Deane of Paules and became so rare a Preacher that he was not only commended but even admired by all that heard him The other was Sir Woottonâ— mine old acquaintance also as having been fellow pupils and chamber fellows in Oxford divers yeares together This Gentlemen was imployed by K. Iames in Embassage â—o Venice and indeed the Kingdom afforded not a fitter man for maâ—ching the Capriciousnes of the Italian Wâ—â—s a man of so able dexterity with his Pen that he hath done himself much wrongâ— and the Kingdom more in leaving no more of his Writings behind him Of the English Plantation in the Indies that wâ—re iâ— King IAMES his time ANâ— now we are come to a time wherein we may very neare say as much of King Iames as was said of Agustus Caesar Super Garamantus Indos profert Imperium In this better that where Augustus did it by the violent way of Armes King Iames did it by the civill way of Plantations for in his dayes began the great plantation of the English in the Indies and must be acknowledged the proper effect of his peaceable Government The first Plantation of the English in the Indies was that which is now called Virginia in memorie of the Virgin Queen Elizabeth but called before Wingandacoa It was first discovered by Sir Walter Rawlegh in the yeare 1584 to whom the first Letters Patents were granted for making a Plantation there but yet no Colony was sent thither till the yeare 1606. It is a Countrie in America between the degrees of 34 and 45 of the North Latitude but that part of it which is planted by the English is under the Degrees of 37 38 and 39. It is no Island as many have imagined but a part of the Continent adjoyning to Florida The first and chiefe Towne made here by the English is called Iames Towne in honour of the Kings most Eexcellent Majesty It is a Countrie abounding with all sorts of Fish and Fowle so fruitfull that it yeelds thirtie and sometimes fortie Bushells of Corne upon an Acre and that which to us is more strange hath three harvests in a yeare the Corne being sowed ripe and reaped in little more than two moneths Manyâ— Plantations had beene attempted here before but came to nothing the first to any purpose was in the yeare 1607. under the conduct of Captaine Gosnoll Iohn Smith and Mr. Edw. Maria Winkfield who carried a Colonie thither of a hundred persons but of these many dying of sicknesse or slaine by the Savages a new supply came in the yeare 1608. of a hundred and twenty