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 Holt Râ—ger Fulthorpe and William Borough knights to whom it was propounded to anâ—wer to these Questions following First Whether the New Statute and Commission made in the last Parliament were against the kings Prerogative or no To which they all answered It was Secondly How they ought to be punished that procured the said Statute and Commission to be made They answered with one assent that they deserved death except the king would pardon them Thirdly How they ought to be punished who moved the King to consent to the making of the said Statute and Commission They answered They ought to lose their lives unlesse the King would pardon them Fourthly How they ought to be punished that comâ—elled the king to the making of that Statute They answered They ought to suffer as Traitours Fiftly Whether the king might cause the Parliament to proceed upon Articles by him limited before they proceeded to any other They answered That in this the king â—hould over-rule and if any presumed to doe contrary he was to be punished as a Traitour Sixthly Whether the king might not at his pleasure disâ—olve the Parliament and command the Lords and Commons to depart They all answered He might Seventhly Whether the Lords and Commons might without the kings will impeach Officers and Justices upon their offences in Parliament or no It was answered They might not and he that attempted contrary was to suffer as a Traitour Eightly How he is to be punished who moved in the Parliament that the Statute wherein Edward the Second was indicted in Parliament might be sent for by iâ—spection of which Statute that present Statute was deâ—ised It was answered That as well he that moved it as he that brought the 〈◊〉 into the House were to be punished as Traitours Ninthly Whether the Judgement given in Parliament against Michael de la Poâ—le were erronious and revocable They answered It was erronious and revocableâ— and that if the Judgement were now to be given the Justices would not give the same In witnesse of the Premises the Justices aforesaid to these Presents have set their Seales in the presence of Alexander Archbishop of Yorke Robâ—â—t Arcbishop of Dublin Iohn Bishop of Durham Thomas Bishop of Chester Iohn Bishop of â—â—ngâ—r Robert Duke of Ireland Michael Earle of Suffolk Iohn Ripon Clerk and Iohn Blake At this time the Londoners incurred much obloquie For having before beene pardoned by the king of some crimeâ—â—aid to their charge they were now ready to comply with the king in his desires and thereupon being impannelled they indicted some Lords of many crimes informed against them But not onely the Justices aforesaid but all other Justices and Sheriffes of the Realme were called at this time to Nottingham the chiefe cause was to understand what power of men they could assure the king of to serve him against the Lords and further that where he meanâ— shortly to call a Parliament they should so use the matter that no knight or Burgesse should be chosen but such as the King and his Councell should name To which the Sheriffes made answer that it lay not in their power to assemble any forces against the Lords who were so well beloved And as for choosing knights and Burgesses the Commons would undoubtedly look to enjoy their antient liberties and could not be hinâ—ered But yet the king and the Duke of Ireland sent into all parts of the Realme to raise men in this quarrell against the Lords Whereof the Duke of Glocester being advertised he came secretly to Conference with the Earles of Arundell Warwick and Darby who upon consultation determined to talke with the king with their Forces about them and the king on the other part tooke advice how he might apprehend them apart and thereupon sent the Earle of Northumberland and others to the Castle of Rygate to take the Earle of Arundell who lay there at that time but howsoever it fortuned they faâ—â—ed of their purpose After this he sent others to apprehend him but he being warned by a messenger from the Duke of Glocester conveyed himselfe away by night and by morning was come to Haringey-Parke where he found the Duke of Glocester and the Earle of Warwick with a great power of men about them The king hearing of this Assembly at Hariâ—gey-Parke called his Councell to heare their opinions what was fit to be done Some were of opinion that the king should assemble his friends and joyning them with the Londoners give them battell the chiefest of this minde was the Archbishop of York Others thought best the king should seeke to appease the Lords with faire promises till a fitter opportunity to suppresse them But the king not yet resolved what course to take caused onely order to be taken that no Citizen of Londâ—n should sell to the Duke of Glocester the Earle of Arundell or to any other of the Lords any armour or furniture of warre under a great paine But for all this the Lords proceeded in their course and sent the Arcbishop of Canterbury the Lord Iohn Lovell the Lord Cobham and the Lord Iohn Devereux requiring to have delivered to them such as were about the king that were Traitours and Seducers both of him and the Realme and further to declare that their Assembling was for the honour and wealth both of him and the kingdome The Duke of Ireland the Earle of Suffolk and two or three other about the king perâ—wadâ—d him to offer Callâ—â— to the king of France to have his assistance against the Lords Withall the king seat to the Major of London requiring to know how many able men the City could make To which the Major answered that he thought it could make Fifty thousand men at an houres warning Well then said the king goe and prove what will be done But when the Major went about it he was answered They would never fight against the kings friends and defenders of the Realme At the same time the Earle of Northumberland said to the king Sir there is no doubt but these Lords have alwaies been and still are your true and faithfull subjects though now distemper'd by certaine persons about you that seeke to oppresse them therefore my advice is that you send to them to come before your presence in some publick place and I verily believe they will shew such reasons of their doings that you will hold them excused The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellour and other of the Bishops there present approved all of the Earles advice whereupon the king sent the Archbâ—shop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely to the Lords requiring them to come to him to Westminster on Sunday then next following which upon oath given by the Archbishop and the Chancellour that no fraud nor
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
makes haste to the King and accuseth Patricke Grey as author of this commotion but whiles Arran was making provision for defence of the Town the enemies were ready to scale the Walls whereupon Arran being advised that only his life was sought gets secretly away with only one servant the rest betook themselves to the King in the Castle Then the Rebels get into the Market-place and display their Banners against the Castle the King sends Grey to know the reason of their comming they answer to submit themselves and in humble manner to kisse the Kings hands the King offereth restitution of all their goods if they would depart They desire to be admitted to his Preâ—ence which upon these conditions the King granted That they should not attempt any thing against his liâ—e or those whom he should nominate nor make any innovation in the Government They protest They are ready to sacrifice their lives for the Kings safety and of any Innovation they had not so much as a thought onely they request to have their adversaries and the Fortifications of Scotland delivered up into their hands Hereupon after a dayes Consultation they are admitted into the Kings Presence and forthwith the Earls of Mount Rosse Crawford and Rothsay Colonell Arran's brothers and others were delivered to them The Earl of Arran who was fled into the Western Islands is called home the assaulters were pardoned and pronounced good subjects Hamilton is set over Dumbriton Castle Goldingknolls over Edinburgh the Earl of Angus over Tantallon the Earl of Marre over Stelyn and Glames is made Captain of the Guard Upon this all Proscriptions and Outlaries whatsoever against all persons since the Kings Inauguration saâ—ing some few proscribed for the murder of the Kings Father are called in and with an unanimous consent of all parties the Treaty of a League with the Queen of England is agreed upon and Delegates nominated to that purpose In Ireland likewise was a Combustion this yeer first the Burkes descended of the ancient Family of the Burroughs in England provoked by the severe Government of Richard Bingham Governour of Connâ—ght raise Rebellion but this was soon suppressed for Thomas Burk dyed fighting Mâ—yler and Theobald Burke were taken and hanged After this the Clan-Gibbons Clan-Donells and Ioyes combined together in great numbers and say plainly They will have a Mac-William of their own one of the Burks to rule over them or some other Lord out of Spain they will admit of no Sheriff into their Countrey nor appear before the English Courts of Justice and thereupon harryed all the Countrey with Fire and Sword and neither by the perswasions of the Arch-bishop Tuan nor by the intreaties of the Earl of Clan-ricard the chief of the House of the Burks would be quieted till Iohn Bingham the Presidents brother following them into the Woods drave away five thousand Head of their Cattell so as after forty dayes half starved they came forth and submitted themselves But this was not yet an end for now the President understood That two thousand Scottish Islanders were landed and ready to break into Connaght whereupon he Musters his men to give them Battell but they flying to Bogs and Woods he retires back as though in fear thereby to draw them from the Bogs to firm ground and then with his whole Forces set upon them slew three thousand of them indeed all but fourscore amongst whom were Donell Garmy and Alexander Garmy the sons of Iames Mac-Conell who had long disquieted this part and those Burkes who were the first authors of this Rebellion This was a famous Victory for the good of the present and future times for hereby the name of the Mac-Williams in Connaght was utterly extinct and the insolent attempts of the Scottish Islanders absolutely crushed In the Low-Countries at this time the States were very hard beset so as they held a Consultation Whether to flie for protection either to the French King or to the Queen of England Monsieur Prunie the French Ambassadour shewed many advantages and gave many reasons why they should flie rather to the French King the English on the other side alleadged many reasons why they should flie rather to the Queen of England but in conclusion they have first recourse to the King of France and afterward being by him neglected to the Queen of England But then in England it was consulted Whether it were meet to protect them wherein the Councell was divided some were of opinion That it were good to receive and aid them lest the Spaniard first conquering them might have the better way to annoy England other again thought They were to be held no better then Rebells to their lawfull Soveraign and therefore unworthy of assistance After long debâ—â—ing the matter the Queen refuseth to take into protection much lesse to exercise Soveraignty over them Nevertheâ—esse to raise the Siege of Antwerp which was then beleaguer'd by the Prince of Parma she was content to supply them with four thousand Souldiers so as the Town of Sluce and the Ordnance belonging to it were given up into their hands but while this matter was discussingâ— the Town of Antwerp was fain to yeeld it self But the Queen better bethinking herself partly as fearing the growth of the King of Spain's power and partly as commiserating the afflicted of her own Religion at last resolves to undertake their protection upon condition of her part to supply them with five thousand Foot and a thousand Horse under a sufficient Generall paying them during the War And afterward the expences to be payed back upon condition on their part by way of Pledge to deliver Flushing and the Fort of Ramekyn the Town of Brill with the two neighbouring Forts and for the justifying of this her action â—he set forth a large Declaration And knowing that herein she incensed the King of Spain she thought best to turn his anger further from home and thereupon sent out Sir Francis Drake and Christopher Carlile with a Navy of one and twenty Ships wherein were two thousand Voluntaries and Marriners toward the West Indies who first surprized the Town of St. â—ago afterwards St. Dominick where five and twenty thousand Crowns were given them to spare the Town from burning afterward Cartagena which they held seven weeks till the Spaniards redeemed it for a hundred and ten thousand Crowns After this the Calenture waxing hot and diminishing their Forces they returned homewards passing by Virginia a Colony which Sir Walter Raleigh had there planted from whence Drake brings homâ— with him Ralph Lane who was the first that brought Tobacco into England which the Indians take against crudities of the Stomack At this Expedition were lost about seven hundred men who for the most part died of Calentures their Booty amounted to the value of threescore thousâ—nd pounds Sterling besides two hundred and forty Brasse and Iron Pieces These things were done under the Torrid Zone in America when in the mean while Captain Iohn
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
Monasteries and all the gold and silver of either Chalices or Shrines he tooke to his owne use Likewise he Sessed all Bishops and Abbots what number of souldiers they should finde to serve him in his warres also the strangers which he maintained in Pay he dipsersed into Religious houses and some also among the Nobility to bee maintained at their charge Many other taxations he made but last of all in the eighteenth yeare of his Raigne by the advise of Roger Earle of Hertford he caused the whole Realme to be described in a Censuall Roll whereof hee tooke a President from King Alfred so as there was not one Hyde of Land but both the yearely rent and the owner thereof was therein set downe How many Ploughlands what Pastures Fennes or Marishes what Woods Farmes and Tenements were in every Shire and what every one was worth Also how many Villaines every man had what Beasts what Cattell what Fâ—es what other goods what rent or commodity his Possessions did yeeld This booke was called the Roll of Winton because it was kept in the City of Winchester By the English it was called Doomesday booke either by reason of the generality thereof or else corruptly instead of Domuâ— Dei booke for that it was laid in the Church of Winchester in a place called Domuâ— Dei. According to this Roll taxations were imposed sometimes two shillings and at this time six shillings upon every Hyde of Land a Hyde containing as some account it twenty Acres buâ— as Master Lambert proveth a hundred Acres In all those Lands which he gave to any man hee reserved Dominion in chiefe to himselfe as also a yearely rent and likewise a Fine whensoever the Tenant did alien or dye These were bound to him by Oath of Fealty and Homage and if any died his heire being within age the King received the profits of his Lands and had the custody and disposing of the heires body untill his age of one and twenty yeares To be short his greedinesse of money was so great that he spared not his owne brother Odo but found accusations against himâ— to the end he might seise upon his Treasure which was infinite great and which he had gathered in hope to buy the Papacy Onely one kinde of profit he forbare to meddle with that is Vacancies of Abbeys and Bishopricks which he alwayes reserved for the Successours but then he tooke another course of farre greater profit for he compelled all men to make new Fines at his pleasure for confirmation of any Grant or Priviledges formerly granted by any Prince of the Realme by which devise he got into his possession the greatest part of all the riches of the Land as well of the Clergie as of the Laity And one particular may not be omitted that is reported of him which was this The Monkes of Ely to purchase their peace agreed to give him seven hundred Markes when comming to pay it there wanted a Groat in the weight for in those dayes greater summes were not payd by tale but by weight which the King understanding denied them all composition for Peace untill with much suite he was intreated to accept of a thousand Markes more Of his Lawes and Ordinances and Courts of Iustice erected by him ALthough at his Coronation he had taken an Oath to observe the Lawes of King Edward then in use yet afterwards perhaps counting his Coronation Oath but a matter of course he abrogated many and in their stead brought in the Lawes of Normandie commanding them to be written in French and also that all Causes should be Pleaded and all matters of Forme dispatched in French upon a pretense to dignifie the French tongue but with a purpose to intrappe men through ignorance of the language as indeed it did or perhaps to make the Normans language predominant in the Kingdome as he had made their persons which yet hee was so farre from effecting that there is not so much as any footsteps remaining of the Norman language in the English tongue Formes of Judgement and trials by Fire and Water called Ordeal formerly used were in short time after the Conquest disused and in the end utterly abrogated by the Pope as derived from Paganisme That of Combat continued longer but of no ordinary use and all actions both criminall and reall began now to be wholly adjudged by the Verdict of twelve men according to the custome of Normandie where the like Forme is used and called by the name of Enquest with the same cautions for the Jurours as it is here continued to this day though by the Lawes of Ethelred it appeares that the triall by twelve men was in use long before his time And where before the Bishop and the Alderman were the absolute Judges to determine all businesse in every Shire and the Bishop in many Cases shared in the benefit of the Mulcts with the King now hee confined the Clergie within the Privince of their owne Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction to deale onely in businesse concerning rule of soules according to the Canons and Lawes Episcopall And where the Causes of the Kingdome were before determined in every Shire and by a Law of King Edward all matters in question were upon speciall penalty decided in their Gemote or Conventicle held monethly in every Hundred Now he ordained that foure times in the yeare for certaine daies the same businesses should be determined in such place as he would appoint where he constituted Judges to attend for that purpose Also he Decreed there should be Sheriffes in every Shire and Justices of Peace for punishment of Malefactors Finally he ordained his Councell of State his Chancery his Exchequer Scaccarium corruptly called so of the word Statarium or rather of the Boord or Table where the Officers sate also his Courts of Justice which alwayes removed with his Court These places he furnished with Officers and assigned foure Termes in the yeare for determining controversies among the people The place of these Courts was Westminster where King William Rufus afterward built a stately Palace Now for his provisionary Revenues the Kings Tenants who held Lands of the Crowne payd him no money at all but onely Corne and other victuals and a just note of the quality and quantity of every mans ratement was taken through out all the Shires of the Kingdome and levyed ever certaine for maintenance of the Kings house Onely the Kentish men procured the continuance of their ancient Lawes by a trick for King William riding towards Dover at Swâ—nscombe two miles from Gravesend the Kentish men met him but in the forme of a moving wood by reason of the great boughes they had cut and carried in their hands and compassing the King about they onely made suite for the continuanâ— of their Lawes which the King without any great scruple granted and glad he was so ridde of them A strange conceite in the Kentish men to hazard themselves more for the preserving a simple Custome then for
to the ground A very large and stately Palace this was and in that Age for building incomparable The Remaines whereof are the Chamber of assembling the High Court of Parliament and the next unto it wherein anciently they were wont to beginne the Parliament called Saint Edwards painted Chamber because the Tradition holdeth that the said King Edward dyed in it Adjoyning unto this is the White-hall wherein at this day the Court of Requests is kept Beneath this is the Great Hall where Courts of Justice are now kept This Hall which we now have was built by King Richard the second out of the Ground as appeareth by his Armes engraven in the stone worke when he had plucked downe the old Hall built before by William Rufus and made it his owne habitation But the aforesaid Palace after it was burnt downe in anno 15â—2 lay desolate and King Henry the Eighth shortly after translated the Kings seat to a house not farre off built by Cardinall Woolseyâ— and is called White-Hall The Tower of London also was anciently used by the Kings of England to lodge in Other Houses they anciently had one where Bridewell now standeth out of the ruines whereof the now Bridewell was built Another called the Tower Royall now the Kings Wardrobe Another in Bucklers-bury called Sernes Tower Another where now the Popes-head Taverne is over against the Old Exchange and oftentimes they made use of Baynards Castle But these are all long since demolished that we may see Palaces and places have their Faâ—es and periods as well as men His Death and Buriall TOwards the end of his Raigne he appointed his two sonnes Robert and Henry with joynt authority Governors of Normandy These went together to visit the King of France lying at Constance where entertaining the time with variety of sports Henry played with Lewis the Daulphin of France at Chesse and winning much money of him Lewis grew so cholericke that he threw the Chess-men at Henries face calling him the sonne of a Bastard and thereupon Henry strucke Lewis with the Chess-board and had presently slaine him if his Brother Robert had not stept in and stayed him Upon this the King of France invades Normandy and drawes Robert King Williams eldest sonne to joyne with him against his Father but King William comming presently over with an Army was soone reconciled to his Sonne yet being corpulent and in yeares was by this meanes much distempered in Body and so retyred to Roan where he stayed as not being well in health The French King hearing of his sicknesse scoffingly said that he lay in Childe-bed of his great belly Which so incensed King William that he swore by Gods Resurrection and his Brightnesse his usuall Oath that assoone as he should be Churched of that Childe he would offer a thousand Lights in France and indeed he performed it for he entred France in Armes and â—et many Townes and Corne-fields on fire in which he was so violent that by reason of his travaile and the unreasonable heate being in the moneth of August it brought upon him a relapse of his sicknesse and withall leaping on horse-backe over a ditch his fat belly did beare so hard upon the pommell of his saddle that he tooke a rupture in his inner parts whereupon returning to Roan his sicknesse so encreased that in short time he dyed and that which is scarce credible yet Recorded for certaine the very same day he dyed at Roan his death was knowne at Rome a thousand miles off In all the time of his sicknesse he retained to the very last his memory and speech and shewed many demonstrations of Devotion and true contrition specially for his severity used towards the English And thus he who was a Conquerour of men was conquered himselfe by death the ninth day of September when he had Raigned twenty yeares and neare eleven moneths in the threescore and fourth yeare of his age I may well say he was conquered by Death seeing death used him more despitefullyâ— then ever he living used any whom he had conquered For no sooner was the breath out of his body but his attendants purloyning what they could lay hands on forsooke him and fled leaving his body almost naked upon the Ground Afterwards William Arch-bishop of Roan commanded his body should be conveyed to Caen but his command was little regarded till at last one Hâ—rlewyne a Country Knight at his owne charges caused his body to be Embalmed and conveyed thither where the Abbot and Monkes meeting the Corps suddenly in the middest of their solemnities a violent fire brake out in the Towne with the fright whereof every man left the place and thus was his body the second time left forlorne In the end a few Monkes returned and accompanyed the Herse to the Abbey Church but when the Divine Office was ended and the body ready to be laid in the Grave one Anselme Fits Arthur stood up and claimed that Ground to have beene the Floore of his Fathers house which King William had violently wrested from him and thereupon charged them as they would answer it before the dreadfull face of God not to cover his Body with the Earth of his Inheritance Whereupon after some pause agreement was made with him and three pound was payed in hand for the Ground broken up and a hundred pounds more afterward for the Ground it selfe payed him by Henry the Kings youngest Sonne who onely of all his Sonnes was present at the Funerall And yet this was not all but when his Body was to be put in the Earth it happened that the Sepulchre of Stone which stood within the Gâ—ave was hewne somewhat too strait for his fat belly so as they were faine to presse it downe with some violence with which whether his bowels burst or whether some Excrements were forced out of their naturall passage such an intolerable stinke proceeded from him that none were able to endure it but made all the hast they could to be gone And yet neither was this the last of his miseries For in the yeare 1562. when Castillion tooke the City of Caen certaine dissolute Souldiers opened his Tombe and not finding the Treasure they expected threw forth his bones with great derision whereof some were afterward brought into England So that if we consider his many troubles in life and after his death we may well thinke that notwithstanding all his greatnesse a very meane man would hardly be perswaded to change fortunes with him Men of Note in his time MEn of Learning in his time were but rare in this Island yet some there were particularly Marianus Scotus a Historiographer and Alpheredus a Monke oâ— Beverley a Writer also of Historicall Argument And as for Men of Valour they are not to be expected in a time of Servitude but as if all the English Valour were now remaining in the Kentish men they onely made resistance when all other Countries had submitted THE RAIGNE OF KING WILLIAM THE SECOND KING William
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
battell saying They were but clouds and would soone passe away yet so watched him that what with light skirmishes and what with skarcity of victuals his forces were so diminished that of thirty thousand which went out of Callice there scarce retunred six thousand home which made King Edward say of this King Charles that he did him more mischiefe sitting still then his Predecessours had done with all their stirring And now by this time all Poictou is lost and all Aquitaine also but onely Burdeaux and Bayon when the Arch-bishop of Roan and others are sent from Pope Gregory the eleventh to mediate a Peace betweene the two Kings but each of them standing upon high termes of conditions nothing could be effected but Truce upon Truce for two or three yeares together In which time Edward Prince of Wales died and with him we may say the Fortune of England being a Prince so full of vertues that he left no place for any vice and if he had lived in the Heroicke times might well have beene numbâ—ed amongst the nine Worthies His body was buried at Canterbury where his Monument standeth King Edward in his seven and fortieth yeare calleth a Parliament at Wâ—stminster which lasted but eight dayes and to which were Summoned by Writ of Clergy men onely foure Bishops and five Abbots Of King Edwards Acts after the death of the Prince IN the time of the Princes sicknesse King Edwâ—rd cals a Parliament at Westminster in which when demands were made for supply of the King demands were presently made for redresse of grievances for the subjects It was required that the Duke of Lancaster the Lord Latymer then Lord Chamberlaine Dame Alice Pierce the Kings Concubine and one Sir Richard Sturry might be removed from Court And this was so vehemently urged by their Speaker Sir Peter la Moore that the King rather then not to be supplied gave way unto it and thereupon all these persons are presently put from Court but the Prince soone after dying they are all recalled to Court againe and restored to their former places About this time exâ—mplary justice was done upon Sir Iohn Minsterworth knight who was drawne hanged and quartered at Tiburne for Treason by him committed in defrauding Souldiers of their wages Thiâ— was now the fâ—ftieth yeare of King Edwâ—â—ds Raigne and he for another Iubilee graâ—â—s another generall pardon to his subjectsâ— onely William Wicâ—ham Bishop of Winchester is excepted being lately by procurement of the Duke of Lancaster fallen into the Kings displeasureâ— and forbiddâ—â— to come to the Parliament This Parliament was called the good Parliamentâ—â—â—ough it wrought ill effects for Sir Peter de la Mare at the suite of Alice Pierce is committed to perpetuall imprisonment at Notâ—ingham though within two years after by importunate suite of friends he regained his liberty This Alice Pierce presuming upon the Kings favour grew so insolent that she entermedled with Courts of Justice and other Offices where â—he herselfe would fit to countenance her Causes And now the Duke of Lancastâ—â— is come to have the Regencie and to manage all the affaires of the kingdome but King Edward to prevent the mischiefes when by disordering the succession might grow in the kingdome providently settled the same in Parliament upon Richard of Burdeaux â—reating him first Earle of Chester and Cornwall and then Prince of Wales and caused all the Lords of the Realme to talâ—e an Oath to accept him for their King as his lawfull Heire when himselfe should be dead In this meane time a Treaty was had about a marriage betweene this Prince Richard and Mâ—ry a daughter of Charles King of France and an offer was made to King Edward to leave him foureteene hundred Townes and three thousand fortresses in Aqâ—itaine upon condition he would render Callice and all that he held in Picardy but before any thing could be concluded King Edward died Of his Taxations IN the eighth yeare of his Raigne in a Parliament holden at London there was granted him a fifteenth of the Temporalty a twentieth of the Cities and Boroughs and a tenth of the Clergy In his tenth yeare in a Parliament at Northampton is granted a tenth penny of Cities and Boroughs a fifteenth of others and a tenth of the Clergy Also all such treasure as was committed to Churches through England for the Holy Warre is taken out for the Kings use towards his warres with France The next yeare after all the goods of three orders of Monks Lomâ—ards Cluniakes and Cistercians are likewise seised into the Kings hands and the like Subsidy as before granted at Nottingham In his twelfth yeare and as some write in absence of the King in a Parliament at Northampton is granted by the Laity one halfe of their Wooll but of the Clergy the whole The next yeare after a fifteenth was likewise paid in Wooll by the Commonalty In his foureteenth yeare in a Parliament at London is granted him for Customâ— of every sacke of Wooll forty shillings for every three hundred Wooll Fells forty shilâ— for every Last of Leather forty shillings and of other Merchandises according to the rate the same to endure from that Easter to the Whitsontide twelve moneth after Besides there was granted of Citizens and Burgesses a ninth part of goods of forraine Merchants and others a fifteenth of Husbandmen the ninth Sheafe the ninth Fleece the ninth Lamb for two years also another tenth of the Clergy and for his present supply he had Loanes of divers persons and the City of London lent twâ—nty thousand Markes For the grant of which mighty Subsidy the King besides his Pardon to divers kinds of offendours remits all Amerciaments for transgressions in his Forests Reliefs and Scurage to the first time of his going into Flanders besides all aides for the marriage of his sonnes and daughters during his Raigne pardoning and remitting all ancient debts and â—rrâ—rages both of his Fermors and others till the tenth yeare of his Raigne and likewise confirmes the great Charter of Magna Chartae In his eighteenth yeare in a Parliament at London a tenth was granted by the Clergy and a fifteenth by the Laityâ— Besides a Commission is sent into every Shire to inquire of mens abilities and all of five pounds to tenne of Lay Fee were appointed to finde an Archer on horsebacke of twenty five a Demilaunce and so ratably above There had formerly been made a certaine coyne of Gold called the Floren of base alloy for the Kings benefit towards his warres in France but this was now called inâ— and Nobles of finer metall coyned to the great contentment of the people In his nine and twentieth yeare he hath by Parliament granted unto him fifty shillings upon every sack of Wooll for six years next ensuing by which Imposition it was thought the King might dispend a thousâ—â—d Markes Sterling a day the vent of Wooll was so great in that time But that which exceeded all his Taxations was the Ransome he had in
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
lay by the space of a moneth exercising his men and sending for whom he pleased and for what he pleased Then he presents to the Parliament the complaints of the Commonâ— That the Queenes favorites share amongst them the Revenews of the Crowne whereby the king is enforced for the supportation of his present estate to taxe and burthen the Commons to their utter undoing and to the generall impoverishment of the kingdome That the Commons have their commodities daily taken from them for the purveyance of the kings Houshold for which they are not payd nor any assurance for payment thereof given but onely Court promises That upon the apprehension of any man for treason or felony the kings meniall servants before conviction bâ—gge the goods and lands of the impeached whereupon indirect and unlawfull proceedings are used by subornation of witnesses embracery of jurors and great mens letters to the Judges whereby Justice is perverted and the innocent after attainted if not executed yet at least imprisoned to their undoing That the Commons have no legall proceedings in their Law-suits so as the rightfull owners of Inheritance dare not if opposed by any Courtier maintaine their Titles or attempt the recovery of their interest how just so ever That the kings Collectors and other Accomptants are much troubled in passing their Accompts by new extorted Fees and by being enforced to procure a late invented Writ of Quorum nomina for allowance of the Barons of the Cinque-Ports and their suing out their Quietuâ— at their own charge without allowance from the King That the Bayliffs of Sheriffes under colour of the green waxe out of the Exchequer doe levy greater summes than are by the Record justifiable yet maintained That they cannot have the freedome of electing knights and Burgesses for the Parliament but by letters from the Favorites of the Court to their friends and Retainers the Knights and Burgesses are commonly chosen That they are too much troubled with too often comming to attend the generall Sessions being enforced in many places to make five dayes journey to the place where they are kept These and some other were the complaints of the Commons but the Captaine for his owne particular after protestation made to live and dye in the quarrell of the King required that his Majesty would be pleased to receive again into favor the truly noble Prince the Duke of Yorke and with him the Right Honorable the Dukes of Exeter Buckingham and Norfolke and the ancient Noblemen of the Realm by the undue practises of Suffolke and his complices commanded from his presence and that all their opposites might be banished the Court and put from their Offices That there might be a generall amotion of corrupt Officers an abolition of the Greene waxe and other instruments of Extortion out of the Exchequer a qualification of the rigour of proceeding in the Kings-Bench an inhibition of unequall purveyance of provision for the Kings houshold and a present execution of the Promoters Slegge Crâ—mer Isell and East whom he pretended by wrongfull information to have abused the king and wronged his Subjects These Petitions are sent from the Lower-House to the Upper and from thence committed to the Lords of the Kings Privy Councell who having examined the particulars explode them as frivilous and the Authors thereof to be presumptuous Rebels Whereupon the king is solicited by his Privy Councell to prosecute them by force rather than intreary which advise is seconded by the Queene as conceiving they secretly aymed at her and hereupon the king drawes his Forces to Greenwich and appointeth divers Lords to assaile the Rebels but the Lords could get no followers to fight against them who sought only for reformation of abuses and for punishment of such Traitors as the Lord Say the kings Chamberlane was whereupon the Lord Say is presently committed to the Tower the king and Queene retire to London from whence within two dayes the king being now fifteen thousand strong marcheâ—h in Person towards Captain Mend-all who politickly withdraweth his forces into Sevenâ—ake wood upon notice wherof the king retireth again to London but the Queen longing for dispatch sendâ— the two Staffords Sir Humphrey and William with many hot-spurs of the Court to follow the Rebels who were soone cooled for they found Captain Mend-all in good order ready to receive them and in the first encounter slew Sir Humphry and afterwards his brother and put all the rest to flight the k. Forces being at Blackâ—eath could neither by threats nor intreaties be gotten to go to the rescue but rather wished the Queen and her favorites in the Staffords case or that the Duke of Yorke were in England to ayd his Cosen Mortimer now first acknowledged to be of his kindred and many of them stole away to the Rebels whose number from Sussex and Surrey daily encreased whom yet their Captain restraineth from forraging or taking away any thing by force and so returneth againe to Blackâ—eath where the kings Army lay the night before but was now fallen down to Greenwich And now the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Duke of Buckingham are sent to expostulate with the Rebels about their demands to whom Iacke Cade gave very good language but directly affirming no cessation from Arms unlesse the king in Person would heare the grievances of the Subject and passe his Princely word for reformation of their wrongs This resolution of his made known to the king who was not sure of his own Souldiers faith made him march presently away to Killingworth Castle in Warwickeshire where he fortified himselfe as expecting a siege having left the Lord Scales onely to Guard the Tower Iacke Cade taking advantage of the kings departure commeth to Southâ—â—rke where hee quarters his men streightly charging them to commit no outrage nor do wrong â—o any which was duly obâ—erved The next morning â—e marcheth to London-bridge where he caused his men to cut the ropes of the Drawbridge no resistance being made against him and so in good order marcheth up by London-stone upon which he strooke his sword saying Now is Mortimer Lord of London The Major of London Sir Thomas Chalton standing upon the threshold of his doore bade him take heed he attempted nothing against the quiet of the City To whom â—e made answer Let the world take notice of our honest intention by our actions And indeed this orderly cariage of himselfe and his company wonne him a good opinion amongst the common sort of people And now assâ—ming to himselfe the place of Chiefe he sendeth oâ—â— his letters of safeâ—conduct to such whom he pleased to make use of amongst other he wrote this letter to Thomas Coâ—k Draper of London By this our writing ensealed we grant that Thomas Cock of London Draper shall safely come into our presence and avoyd from us againe at his pleasure with all other persons comming in his company Subscribed thus His Majesties loyall Subject Iohn Mortimer Captaine Mend-all Upon Cocks admission
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
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
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
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
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
likewise the Duke D'Alva breathing nothing but slaughter and blood made the Dutch come flocking into England as into a Sanctuary where with all courtesie they were received And here it will be fit to shew how the War in the Low-countries began first which was thus At which time the King of Spain brought in the Spanish Inquisitionâ— a small number of the meaner sort of people in tumultuous mannerâ— cast the Images out of Churches and brake â—hem in pieces and although that tumult was soon quieted yet the King of Spain taking advantage at the rashnesse of a few to charge the whole Nation with Rebellion sent amongst them Ferdinando Alvarez Duke D' Alva a bloody and fierce man who contrary to the Ordinances and customes of the Country took away all authority from the ordinary Courts of Justice Erected new consistories condemned and put to death the Peers without tryall by their lawfull Judges Placed Garrisons of Spaniards throughout all their Cities and Villages and by force exacted the twentieth part of the fruits of the Earth and the tenth of moveables upon every Alienation At that time a mighty masse of money borrowed from the Genowayes and other Italian Merchants was sent out of Spain into the Low-countries there to be imployed to interest which being brought by shipping was pursued by the French and forced to fly for succour into the Havens of England whom the Queen commanded to be succour'd as conceiving the money to be the King of Spains as it was given out But at the same time Cardinall Odette coming out of France into England and giving notice to the Queen that the money was not the King of Spains but belonged to certain merchants of Geneva from whence the Duke D' Alva had taken it against their will with a purpose to imploy it to the ruine of the Protestants and information also being given her by one that had a property in the money that it was soâ— she determined to put in security and to borrow the money of the merchants her self which is an usuall thing with Princes when goods are taken in their Ports and the King of Spain himself had lately done the like The Duke D' Alva being informed of this dealing of thee Queens by Gerard de Spese the King of Spains Embassador in England seizeth presently upon all the goods of the English in the Low-coâ—ntries and kept the men prisoners The Queen did the like with the Dutch merchants in England Letters of Mart were granted on both sides and this grew to such a quarrell between the Nations that being nourished with other differences afterward it brought forth in Eighty Eight that Spanish Invasion which is and will be memorable in all future Ages Upon occasion of this Money detained certain Peers of England amongst whom were the Duke of Norfolk the Marquesse of Winchester the Earls of Arundell Northumberland Pembroke Leicester and others Accused Sir William Cecill for sending away money into France making this their colour but done indeed out of envying his great favour with the Queen and suspecting him to incline to the house of Suffolk in the matter of succession Hereupon they consult secâ—etly how to get him be imprison'd and Throgmorton who envyed him as much as they suggesting that if he were once clapp'd up they might soon find out a way to crush him But the Queen by what means it is uncertain coming to have notice hereof gave a check to their purpose and protected Cecill against their combined practises The Earl Murray being returned into Scotland makes the Lords believe that he desires a meeting at Edinbourgh to consult about restoring the Queen to her Liberty but as Hamilton Duke of Chasteau Herald appointed Vicegerent of the Kingdome by the Queen and the Lord Heris were coming thither he circumvented them and before any of the rest came cast them into prison and forthwith in an open War oppresseth all her Favourers It may be thought the Earl Murray could have been content the Queen should have been set at liberty but that he knew her liberty could not be without his servitude and Queen Elisabeth perhaps would willingly have had her restoâ—eâ— to her Kingdom but that she doubted her restoring would indanger her own security And thus while they regarded their own ends in the first place and hers but in the second she had the fortune to be pitied but not the happinesse to be relieved and all she could do her self was but to tye the knot of her bonds the faster if she could have sate still they would perhaps have loosened of themselves but now the more she stirred the more she was intangled And now the Destiny of the Duke of Norfolk began to work It was in every ones mouth that the Duke should marry the Queen of Scots and it is true there had been motions made but the matter not so forward as the Voice of the People which commonly presageth what will follow It had been motioned to the Duke at York by the Bishop of Rosâ—e and afterward in pretence at least by Murray himself at Hampton-Court but the Duke before he would resolve in the matter deliberated with the Earls of Aruâ—dell Northumberland Westmerland Sussex Pembroke Southampton and Leicester himself who all judged it fit he should acquaint the Queen with it first and then leave the matter to her liking Within a few dayes Sir Nicholas Throgmorton meeting the Duke in the Pallace at Westminster advised him to move the Earl of Leicester himself to embrace the match seeing he had formerly sued for it but if he refused it then at least to take him along with him for that himself alone would hereby be able to procure the Queens consent A day or two after the Earl of Leicester propounded the matter to the Duke and then communicateth it to the Earls of Arundell and Pembroke who thereupon together with Throgmorton wrote Letters to the Queen of Scots commending the Duke of Norfolk to her for a Husband the Duke himself likewise writeth to her tendering his singular Love and respect unto her Upon this Articles are drawn written with Leicesters own hand and sent to the Queen of Scots to which if she consented they then promised to procure that Queen Elisabeth should give her assent and that forthwith she should be reinvested in her Kingdom and the Succession of England should be confirmed upon her Wee may easily believe the Queen of Scots was not hardly drawn to give consent to her own desire but in the mean time the Duke had imparted to the Lord Lumley the whole proceeding and had much ado to get the Earl of Leicesters consent that he might advise of it with some other of his Friends yet a little after he opened the matter to Cecill also The rumour of this Marriage was soon come to the Queens ears which the Duke understanding hee dealt earnestly with the Earl of Leicester to have the matter propounded to the Queen out of hand
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
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
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
persons under the Conduct of Captaine Nelsâ—n After which was sent another supply of threescore and ten persons and in the yeare 1609. a third supply came of five hundred persons under a Patent granted to Sir Thomas West Lord de la Ware but conducted thither by Sir Thomas Gates Gates Sir George Sommers and others In the yeare 1611. was a fourth supply of three hundred men under the conduct of Sir Thomas Gates In the yeare 2612. two other supplies were sent of forty men in each and now was the Lotterie spoken of before granted by the King for further supplies of this Plantation After this Master Samuel Argall being appoynted Governour in in the yeare 16â—8 the Lord De la Ware came thither with a supply of two hundred people but in his stay there dyed After this in the yeare 1620. were sent thither eleven Ships with twelve hundred and sixteene persons and now they founded themselves into Corporations In the yeare 1621. Sir Francis Wiat was sent thither Governour with thirteene hundred men women and children and now they founded Schooles and Courts of Iustice and the Plantation was extended a hundred and forty miles up on the River of both sides But now when the English were secure and thought of nothing but peace the Savages came suddenly upon them and slew them three hundrâ—d and seven and forty men women and children For râ—pairing of which losse the City of London sent presently over a supply of a hundred men This massacre happened by reason they had built their Plantations remote from one another in above thirty severall places which made them now upon consultation to reduce them all to five or six places whereby they may better assist each other since which time they have alwayes lived in good security And thuâ— much for Virginia Next was the Plantation of the Island called Barmudas so called of a Spanish ship called Bermudas which was there cast away carrying Hogs to the West Indies that swam a shoare and there increased The first Englishman that entred this Isle was one Henry May in the yeare 1591 but in the yeare 1610 Sir George Sâ—mers was sent thither who dying there in memory of his Name the Isles have ever since been called Somers Isles In the yeare 1612. One Mr. Moore landed there with 60 persons and then builded the chiefe Town there called S. Georges together with 8 to 9 Forts The same yeare a supply of 30 more persons was sent thither and the yeare after 60 more under one Mr. Bartlet with a shew to survey the land but with a purpose indeed to get from thence a great lump of Amber-greece and no lesse than 80 poâ—â—d weight that had been found taken up in the Island some yeares before and was there still reteined A while after this came a Ship called the Blessing with a hundred passengers and two dayes after came the Star with a 180 more and within 14 dayes after that again came thither the Margaret and two Frigates with 130 passengers So as now they began to divide the Counâ—â—y into Tribes and the Tribes into shares In the yeare 1616 Captain Daâ—â—el Tuckard was sent from Virginia to be Governour there and now it began indeed to be a Plantation for now they began to build them houses and now was sent from thence into England a Ship fraighted with 30000 weight of Tobacco valued there but at 2 s. 6 d. the pound though sold here oftentimes for Vâ—rinos at great rates In the yeare 1619â— Captain Nathaniel Butler was sent Governour with new supplies in whose time they build them a Church held Assizes for Criminall Causes twice a yeare and began to have Parliaments as in England and now in the Ship called the Magazin came diverse Gentlemen of good fashion with their wives and families so as now their number was no fewer then fifteen hundred people Dispersed twenty miles in length In the yeare 1622 came Governouâ— M. Iohn Bernard bringing with him a supply of a 140 persons but he and his wife dying presently upon their comming M. Iohn Harrison in the yeare 1623 was chosen Governour These Isles of Bermudas are in 32 degrees of Northern latitude So as they are distant from Virginia at least 500 leagues and from Egland above three thousand three hundred This Country is of a most healthfull Ayre abounding with all sorts of Fowles Birds and Fish and where great pieces of Amber-grâ—ce are oftentimes found which is valued there at no lesse than three pounds an ounce And thus much concerning the state of Bermudas till the yeare 1624. Next comes the Plantation of New England concerning which we must first know that King Iames in the yeare 1606 granted two Letters Patents for Plantations in Virginia one to the City of London another to the City of Bristow Exceter and Plimmouth with power to plant Colonies any where between the Degrees of 38 and 44 provided there should be at least a 100 miles distance between the two Colonies So as the first Colony was from the City of London and is that which is called Virginia The Second Colony was from Bristow and the other Towns and is that which is now called New England and is scituate between the Degrees of 41 and 45 the very meane betwixt the North Pole and the Line And now to speak a little of the Country there are on the Sea Coast 25 excellent good Harbours in some whereof there is Anchorage for 500 sayle of Ships of any burthen The Earth as fruitful and the Ayre as healthfull as any part of the World abounding with all sorts of Grain Fowles and Fish Many of such kinds as aâ—e to us unknown yet excellent meat Many Voyages had been made for the perfect discovery of the Countrey Many Attempts for setling a Plantation there Many Miscariages and Disasters in making the attempts but all at last came to this that in the yeare 1624 which is the limit of ouâ— Narration there was a Plantation setled though but a small one but a few yeares after by the sending forth of new supplyes encreased to so many thousands that if God continue to prosper it as he hath begun the New England in a few ages may prove as populous as the Old and the King of England likely to have as many and greater Crowns in the Indies than he had in His Realmes of Great Brittaine and Ireland But seeing of these and all other English Plantations in the Indies whereof there are many large discourses written by divers Authors It should be more than supperfluous to speake more of them in this place It is sufficient to have shewed that King Iames had the honour to have them setled in His time and under the Influence of His peaceable Government Of the Earles and Barons made by King JAMES IN former Kings Raignes the making of Earles and Barons was but rare and therefore they are fitly set down at the severall times of their making but in King
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