down and the better to encourage his Men to beat off the French that guarded the farther Shoar he entered the Water at a Ford in the head of the Army crying He that loves me let him follow so marching towards Cressie in the Province of Ponthieu he understood the French King was advancing with 100000 Horse and Foot nor was it long before the two Armies came in sight of each other which made King Edward divid his Forces into three Battalions giving the Van in charge to his Son Edward commonly called The Black Prince through the Warlike Actions that attended his Life c. the middle Battalion he reduced under the Command of the Earls Arundel and Northhampton and the last he retained himself placing his Carriages in the Rear commanding every man to leave his Horse and fight on Foot as resolving either to win the Victory or dye As for the French Army the King of Bohemia and the Earl of Alanson had the charge of the Van-guard King Philip of the Main Battel and the Earl of Savoy of the Rear and no sooner the Charge was sounded but a bloudy Conflict ensued whilst King Edward stood upon a hill with his Battalion to behold the Event and at the beginning the French Horse charging with great Fury made the Prince give way and had allmost enclosed his Battalion which made the Nobles that had the care of his Person send to the King to advertize him of the danger his Son was in when demanding only whether the Prince was alive and certified that he was so instead of sending the succours demanded he replied Let them send no more to me for any Adventure that may befall whilst my Son is alive but let them either vanquish or dye because the Honour of this glorious day shall be solely his if God suffer him to survive This resolute return not only made the English obstinate in fighting but repent they had sent to require aid wherefore redoubling their fury the French were overthrown on heaps especially by the Showres of Arrows that continually poured upon them from whence such a rout and disorder ensued that their Horse trampled down their Foot so that all was in confusion and nothing remained for the English but the Slaughter of the flying French men and the Field being entirely won the King advanced and embraced his Son encouraging him to future Glory by so prosperous a beginning In this Battel were slain Eleven Princes and about 1500 Barons Knights and Men of Arms Here fell the Kings of Bohemia and Majorâ—u Earl of Alanson Duke of Lorain Duke of Burbon Earl of Flanders Earl of Savoy the Dauphin of Vienois the Earl of Sancerrer and Harecourt the Earls of Aumarl and Nevers with six Counts of the Empire the grand Prior of France and Archbishop of Roan and of the meaner sort about 30000. The English lost not above Five thousand and amongst them none of considerable Note The King by this means grown terrible to the French marched to Calais and straitly besieged it yet permitted about 1508 Starvelings whom the Governour had turned out to spare Provision free passage relieving them with Victuals and Money And now the French finding their own weakness dealt underhand stirring up the Scots that so they might divert the King's Forces nearer home but they being encountred near Durham were overthrown and their King David taken Prisoner and in the Encounter the Earls of Murray and Strathern the Constable Marshal Chamberlain and Chancellour with many other Nobles were slain The Noble Prisoners beside the King were the Earls of Douglas Fife Weigton Southerland and Mentieth and King Edward being still in France sent Parties abroad under several Generals who gained great advantages over the French insomuch that the Kingdom was quite disheartened not only to see their Field Forces worsted but their Towns drop away very fast and amongst the rest that considerable one of Brigerac where the Earl of Darby and Lancaster commanding the Forces promised the better to encourage his Soldiers that when the Town was taken every Man should have the Plunder of the first house he enterd when so it happened that a common Soldier broke into the Mint-Master's Stores and there found great store of coined and uncoined Gold and Silver insomuch that not knowing how to dispose of it he acquainted the Earl with his Fortune desiring him to take it into his possession but he generously refused saying that his word was past and he would not recall it and the King having lain eleven months before Calais had it surrendred upon discretion which was seconded by the News that Sir Walter de Bendley had vanquished the Marshal of France slain 13 Lords 140 Knights 100 Esquires and made 9 Lords Prisoners with many Knights and Gentlemen of Note so that the French suing for Peace and offering extraordinary Advantages to the English it was accorded upon sundry Articles and Limitations but the French not long observing them the War broke out again more dreadfull than before for King Edward who had withdrawn the greatest part of his Forces entred again that Kingdom with a puissant Army laying a great part of it waste but in the mean while King Philip dying and John coming to the Crown and upon his giving the Dutchy of Aquitain to Charles the Dauphin King Edward to counter-balance him gave it to Prince Edward his Son commanding him to defend it who passing thither with an Army took most of the Towns with little resistence when heightened with the Success he pierced as far as the Gates of Burges in Berry but in his return to Bourdeaux John the French King opposed him with a very numerous Army but notwithstanding he had six to one in the Field he was overthrown by the Prince and taken Prisoner together with Philip his youngest Son the Archbishop of Sens with many great Lords and about two thousand Knights Esquires and Gentlemen bearing Armories and in the Fight were slain Fifty two Lords one thousand seven hundred Knights Esquires and Gentlemen together with the King's Standard-Bearer and about six thousand Common Soldiers it being ever the Fate of France to have the loss fall heavy on the Nobility and after many other advantages gained the Prince settling his Affairs returned to England with his Prisoners and was received with great Triumph and Henry Picard being then Lord Mayor of London at his own charge feasted four Kings viz. of England France Scotland and Cyprus and eight days were taken up in giving Glory to God for the Victory and the King not thinking the English Interest in France sufficiently secured sent over a Fleet of 1100 Sail and coming with his Army before the Walls of Paris he knighted for their better Encouragement in military Atchievments 400 Esquires and Gentlemen but at length through many Mediations and Intercessions it was concluded that King Edward and his Son should ever release unto King John and his Heirs the Right and Claim they had to the
of using their Arms which the Duke of Brabant perceiving advanced furiously to break the Order of the English and encourage his side but met his Fate in that Attempt however the Duke of Alanzon broke in upon the King's Standard and there had slain the Duke of Gloucester had not the King prevented it by timely interposing and between them began a sharp dispute wherein the Duke of Alanzon all most beat the King's Crown flat to his Helmet but being struck from his Horse by Henry and crying out he was Alanzon notwithstanding his begging quarter and the King's endeavour to save him the enraged Soldiers for the Danger he had put their Sovereign into dispatched him on the spot so that the Rear-guard of the French Army being worsted and unable to sustain the Fury of the English fled without fighting leaving the Victory with infinite spoil and a great number of Prisoners to a handfull of Men in a manner naked and allmost half starved which may convince the World that Victory depends not upon the Arm of Flesh but scarcely was the Field cleared of the French before another Army bigger than that of the English which was coming to their Aid and knowing nothing of the Defeat appeared upon the Hills and the King fearing the great number of Prisoners might turn against him during the heat of the Fight caused them all as a Maxim of self-â—â—eservation except those of the greatest Quality to be killed and then sent a Herauld to summon them to fight or depart immediately for if they stayed whilst he charged them they must expect no Quarter whereupon the King of Sicily who commanded in chief not thinking it convenient with those Forces to dispute what so great an Army had lost drew off so that King Henry finding himself an entire Conquerour fell on his Knees and commanding all both Officers and Soldiers to doe the like with up lifted hands and said Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name be given the Glory And having learned the name of the place he said Let this be called the Battel of Agincourt all posterity In this Battel were slain of the French one thousand Princes Noblemen Knights and Esquires and ten thousand common Soldiers The Prisoners of note were Charles Duke of Orleance John Duke of Burbon the Earl of Richmond Lowis de Burbon the Count de Vendosme the Earl of Eu Edward de Roven and divers others The English loft of Note were the Duke of York and Earl of Suffolk with two Knights and David Gam Esquire the common Soldiers that fell were very inconsiderable some not allowing above one hundred twenty eight but that seems somewhat partial The next day after this Battel Henry marched with the spoil and his Prisoners off the Field towards Callais his Soldiers now having Cloaths and plenty of all Necessaries and having fortified the Towns he had taken and given necessary Orders he came for England and was received in London with Triumph and there presented with one thousand pounds and two Gold Basons and calling a Parliament he had a Subsidy of a Tenth granted for the carrying on his Wars in France which not sufficing he pawned his Crown to Cardinal Beaufort his Unckle and his Jewels to the Lord Mayor of London for ten thousand Marks then he passed the Sea with an Army of 25527. every fourth being an Horseman besides a thousand Carpenters and Labourers and the first of August 1417. arrived in Normandy bringing such a terrour upon the Countrey that most of the Inhabitants fled into Bretaigne and having dubbed thirty eight Knights he laid Siege to Conquest and took it the 16th of August with the Castles of Aubeliers and Lovers he likewise stormed the City of Caen and gave the Pillage to his Soldiers During K. Henry's Success in France the Scots invaded England bringing with them a Person representing Richard the Second but hearing as they lay at the Siege of Roxborough and Berwick that the English Army was marching toward them they raised the Sieges and fled This did not hinder the King 's proceeding in France for there he took many Cities and had the strong Castle of Fallors delivered him then divided his Army under the Commands of the Dukes of Clarence Gloucester and Earl of Warwick so that taking divers places at once he set down before Roan and took it after a year's Siege obliging the Burgesses for their Ransome and being permitted quietly to live there pay him 356000 Crowns and swear Fealty to him and his Successors And now the French finding themselves unable to make head against the English and Accommodation was sought and to bring it the easier to pass an Interview was had between King Henry and King Charles at the Town of Melun where the Queen and the Princess Katharine of France was present and there King Henry first fixed his Eyes and Affection on that beauteous Maid and finding the French Noblemen averse to his Demands he told the Duke of Burgundy that he would either have the Princess and what he had farther required or he would drive him and the rest of the Nobles out of France To which the Duke replied That he might say his pleasure but before he should drive them out of France he should be weary of the Enterprize This Treaty proving ineffectual the King took the Town of Ponthois and gave large spoil to his Soldiers which obliged the French King to remove his Court from Paris to Troyis in Champaigne and now to facilitate the English Conquests the Dauphin having put a sensible Affront upon the Queen his Mother she conceived a mortal hatred and laboured to ruine him confederating with the Duke of Burgundy and procuring her self by reason of the King's Imbecility to be made Regent of France and soon after the Dauphin causing John Duke of Burgundy to be slain in his presence as he came to doe him Homage for contriving as he said the death of Lewis Duke of Orleance that he might the better sway the Kingdom under an infirm King Philip the young Duke of Burgundy to revenge his Father's death closed with King Henry and proceeded to persuade Charles the French King to disinherit the Dauphin and give the Lady Katharine in Marriage to the King oâ— England and the Queen seconding this Project it was effected and a Peace concluded between the two Crowns upon divers Articles the chief being That Charles and Isabel should retain the name of King and Queen and hold all their Dignities Rents and Possessions during their natural Lives That after their deaths the Crown and Realm of France should with all its Rights and Appurtenances remain unto the King of England and his Heirs for ever and that by reason of the Infirmity of King Charles therefore during his Life the Affairs of the Realm of France together with the Government thereof should remain in the King Henry so that thenceforth he should govern the Realm and admit to his Council and
to be the greatest Malediction that could befal them so that the Priests to strengthen their Masters Power and make him more dreadful to the World lay idle for the space of six years and fourteen Weeks in which time there was neither publick preaching nor praying no Administration of the Sacrament Burial or Christning by which we may plainly see whatever the Papists pretend as to the Sanctity of their infalible Father how much he prefered his private revenge before the Service of God and this he denyed not to Hereticks but to Papists so that the people being greatly discouraged many parts of the Kingdom lay untilled and became as it were desolate when the King on the other hand prescribed the disloyal Clergy confiscated their Temporalities as also their Bishopricks Abbies and Priories puting them into the hands of Lay-men suffering the Clergy to be oppressed without taking notice of it or righting them by civil Justice declaring they had by obliging the Pope put themselves out of hiâ— protection yet some of the more prudent as the Bishop of Durham and his Successor the Bishops of Winchester and Norwich incouraged the King not to regard the Papal Curse as being weak and insignificant like wise the Abbots of Cistercian Order took no notice oâ— it but went on as before till such time as the Popâ— suspended them for that contempt and the more tâ— shew his spleen Anathamatized the King by name whereupon some as well Nobles as Plebeans diserte his service for which in a stout resolution he bâ—nished and fined them but wearied out with thâ— practices of the Clergy against him and the Rebellioâ— of his Nobles he concluded it was better to give waâ— to the humour of a petish Pope than to live in diâ—quiet and daily hazard his Kingdom whereupon Langton was offered to be confirmed the other Bishops and Clergy restored and that the Churches should have its Franchises as in the time of Edward the Confessor but not being willing as indeed he was not at that time in a condition to restore the Monies received for Ecclesiastical confiscations the Legate sent by the Pope would not come to a conclusion This being the state of Affairs and the Pope desirous to humble the King discharged his Subjects from their fealty and Allegiance to him which some taking as a good warrant utterly disowned him for their King and the Welsh thereupon took up Arms which so inraged the King that he caused the 28 Hostages which they had given for the security of their good behaviour to be hanged up at Notingham but by this time the Barons had invited Lewis Dauphin of France to invade the Kingdom promising to set the Crown upon his Head when in the mean time while Stephen Langton and other Bishops implored the Popes assistance to settle the Church which must otherways fall into ruine whereupon he decreed that King John must be deposed ere it could be settled sending to Philip the French King to take upon him the Crown and Kingdom offering him a pardon for all his sins in case he effected it King John upon notice of the spightful proceedings prepared to oppose the French or any other Invader by Sea or Land but in the mean time Pandulph the Pope's Legate came into England and so wrought with the King that he suffered himself to prevent the storm conditionally to be deposed and at the Knight Templers house at Dover he surrendred his Crown into the hands of the Legate some say whilst he kneeled the proud Priest kicked it off with his foot for the use of the Pope and to be disposed as he thought fit laying his Scepter Sword and Ring at the Legates feet and subscribed a Charter whereby he resigned his Kingdom to the Pope professing but how sincerely I suffer the Reader to judge he did it not through fear or force but of his own voluntary accord as having no other way to make satisfaction to God and the Church for his offence and from that time forward he would hold his Crown and Kingdom in fee of the See of Rome at the Aâ—â—al pension of 1000 Marks for England and Ireland a very hard case but necessity it seems has no Law so that the Legate having gained his ends more favourable than he could reasonably expect passed over for France to put a stop to King Philip's preparations but he declared that seeing the Pope had been the main Instrument in seting him on and that the charge was already very great he would not desist though the Pope should Excommunicate him and calling a Council of Peers all but Ferdinand Earl of Flanders approved his intentions and the Barons denied to aid him till he was Assailed of the Excommunication and that all their Laws and Liberties granted by Henry the First were restored which obliged the King to send divers rich Presents to Rome thereby to allure the Pope who upon the Receipt sent the Bishop of Tusculum who would have perswaded him to have made over the Kingdom of England but not only the Arch-bishop but all the Peers of the Kingdom opposed it so that in Parliament it was Enacted That since the King could not without the consent of Parliament bring his Kingdom and People to such a Thraldom therefore if the Pope should in the future attempt any such thing they with their Lives and Fortunes were ready to oppose it So that the Pope finding there was no good to be done this way sent his Authentick Letters for the repealing the Edict yet not without the restitution of 1300 Marks to the Clergy most of which came to his Coffers so that the King passed into his Transmarine Territories but before he could quiet the disturbances news came that the English Barons had bound themselves at the high Altar of St. Edmundsbury by Oath to pursue the King with Arms till he had granted them their Charter of Liberties granted in the Reign of Henry the First whereupon he found himself necessitated to return and finding they had not only seized London but were otherways very formidable a Council to reconcile differences was held in Runing Marsh between Stains and Windsor since called Council Mead and there he granted them Magna Charta and Charta Forestae and consented that 25 select Peers should command the rest who were bound by Oath to be obedient but the King long dijested not this abating of his Power but withdrawing himself he sent to complain of it to the Pope as likewise to his Friends abroad for Aid and was in both successful for at Rome by a definitive Sentence the Barons Charters were made void and both they and the King accursed if either of them observed the conclusion of the Treaty in Council Mead he likewise had considerable Forces sent him from Gascoin Brabant and Flanders so that he again took the Field dividing his Army in two parts when himself marching Northward and the Earl of Salisbury Southward they brought all into subjection and
be afraid is good This passage in Mortimer's Letter being written without stops and the Keeper well-knowing that aspiring Lord had no kindness for the King took it as the Writer truly meant though Mortimer upon his being Accused alledged his Command was not to kill the King but that he sent word it was good to be afraid to doe it Young King Edward upon the inhumane Murther of his Father was on the Borders of Scotland and had environed the Scots in the Woods of Wividale and Stanhope but Mortimer desirous to eclipse the Glory of that young Prince that his own might appear so carried the Matter that through the carelessness of the English Army they escaped so that the King after a vast Expence of Treasure and the hazard of his Life which had been lost had not his Chaplain stepped between him and Death receiving the mortal Wound in his own Body returned inglorious And soon after Joan the King's Sister was married to David Bruce whom the Scots had made their King whereupon a Peace though somewhat dishonourable to the English ensued and in the same year viz. 1327 dyed Charles the Fair King of France without Issue by which means that Crown devolved to King Edward in Right of his Mother Daughter to Philip the Fair and Sister to Chaâ—lâ—s but to bar the English of that Advantage the French Peers opposed their Salique Law pretending thereby that no Woman was capable of Inheriting the Crown of France or being admitted the Regency and thereupon they admitted Phillip de Valois whose Father was younger Brother to Philip the Fair which afterward cost the French many showers of Bloud About this time the Lord Mortimer and the Queen Mother perceiving Edmund Earl of Kent the King's Uncle to cross their purposes found means to procure his Death which so far opened the Eyes of the young King together with the Report that his Mother was with Child by Mortimer as not to think himself in safety till he had crushed that ambitious Man and the better to doe it he undertook a daring Enterprize for fearing he was with the Queen at Notingham Castle notwithstanding it was strongly guarded he entered in the night time accompanied with a few of his trusty Friends and by an unsuspected way viz. through a Vault under ground coming suddenly into his Mother's Chamber found Mortimer undressed and ready to go to Bed to her whereupon he caused him to be a Arrested and carried away Prisoner and being tryed in open Parliament he was Condemened at Westminster upon several Articles viz. For causing the King to make a dishonorable Peace with the Scots and taking large Bribes to procure it For procuring the Death of King Edward the Second and his over Familiarity with Queen Isabel For his oppressing the People by illegal Exactions And lastly For embezzling the King's Treasures And for these and the like receiving Sentence as a Traytor he was drawn to Tyburn and there hanged and his Body left on the Gallows for the space of two days and nights and with him in the same manner dyed Sir Simon de Bedford and John Deverell Esq as Contrivers of King Edward the Second's Death the Queen had likewise her Pension shortened And now there arising a Dispute between the Houses of Baliol and Bruce for the Crown of Scotland King Edward not thinking himself obliged to stand to what Mortimer and his Mother had done in his Minority since many of his Towns were detained raised a considerable Army and striking in with Edward Baliol besieged Berwick when to relieve it the whole Power of Scotland advanced so that at Halydon Hill the Battel was joined and after an obstinate bloudy Fight the Scots were routed with great slaughter there dyed Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus Governour of Scotland the Earls of Southerland Carrick and Ross the three Sons of the Lord Walter Steward and about 14000 of lesser rank with a very inconsiderable damage to the English whereupon Berwick surrendered and Baliol was accepted King of Scotland submitting to King Edward as his Homager for the Kingdom and he in lieu thereof became his Protector King Edward having settled Scotland began to take into Consideration the Injuries the French had done in preventing him of his Right as likewise by encroaching upon his Territories in that Kingdom and finding no redress by way of Embassy he resolved to gain it by the Sword yet to justifie his Actions he sent his Reasons to the College of Cardinals and the better to strengthen his Interest made a League with the High and Low Dutch as he did with other foreign Potentates and now he proceeds to require a Supply which being liberally given and Moneys raised by sundry other ways he raised a gallant Army and crossed the Seas to Antwerp assuming by the importunity of the Flemings the Title and Armories of France quartering the Lillies with the Lions and having all things in a readiness he entered the North part of that Kingdom burning and destroying the Country as far as Turwin returning with the Spoil to Antwerp where with Philippa his Queen he kept Christmas and about Candlemas set Sail for England The French having had a tast of the King of England's Courage and he resolving to goe on pressed the Parliament for a greater Supply which was liberally granted and he in lieu of that Kindness gave a general Pardon of Trespasses and other dues to him confirming Magna Charta and Charta de Forestae and on the 23d of June set sail from Harwich intending for Sluce but in the way was encountered by 400 French Ships with which the King engaged and having the favour of the Wind and Sun made an almost incredible Destruction so that the terrour of the English caused many of the French to leave their Ships and leap into the Sea so that Thirty thousand are said to have perished together with the greatest part of the Fleet and the King landing entered France sitting down before Tourney from whence he sent the French King a Challenge to fight single handed for the Kingdom or if that pleased not each to bring 100 Men into the Field for the saving the effusion of more bloud or otherwise within Ten days to join Battel near Tourney But to this King Philip made no direct Answer alledging the Letter was not sent to him the King of France but barely to Philip d' Valois for so it was directed and he therefore thought himself in honour not bound to Answer it yet he approached the English Camp with a very numerous Army and every day Battel was expected but Two Cardinals and the Mother of King Philip so laboured to prevent the slaughter that must have ensued that a Truce was concluded till the Midsummer following The Truce was no sooner expired but King Edward invaded Normandy to the City of Caen and over-ran the Countrey allmost within sight of the Walls of Paris forcing his way over the Sein and where the Bridges were broken
to be sent Prisoner to the Tower and there to be poisoned for which Contrivance Sir Gervase Elwes and Mrs. Turner suffered Death the Earls and Countess were likewise sentenced but had by the King's Mercy Leases of their Lives granted them for 99 years and for ever banished the King's Presence The Fall of this Favourite made way for Mr. George Villiers a Gentleman of a good House who was soon after created Duke of Buckingham Anno 1618. Sir Walter Rawleigh was delivered from a long Imprisonment in the Tower and sent to discover a golden Mine in the West-Indies promising it should be no ways prejudicial to the Spaniards but failing in that Discovery and Sacking the Spanish Town of St. Thoms upon his Return to England at the continued Importunity of Gondamore the Spanish Ambassadour he was Beheaded upon a former Sentence and on the 2d of March 1618 Queen Anne died and was buried at Westminster her Death was preceeded by an extraordinary Blazing-Star And now the King being desirous to see Prince Charles Married sent him into Spain to render his Courtship to the Infanta but after a six Months stay being trifled with that Court insisting to have him change his Religion c. the King recalled him and prepared for War in order to recover the Palatinate and set on Foot a Treaty of Marriage with France but lived not to see it concluded for on the 7th of March Anno 1625 he died of an Ague at Theobalds in Scotland and was Buried at Westminster with great Solemnity much lamented of his Subjects being a Prince of extraordinary Learning Conduct and Prudence his Wife was Ann Daughter of Frederick the Second King of Denmark by whom he had Issue Henry Charles Elizabeth and two other Daughters Mary and Sophia who dyed young This King James was great Grand-Child by Father and Mother's side to Margaret Daughter to Henry the 7th of England He began his Reign over this Kingdom Anno 1602 Reigned 22 years 3 days and was the 44 sole Monarch of England and first of Great Britain whose antient Name he restored by uniting the Kingdoms He died in the 59 year of his Age. Thus to Death's Fury the wise Prince gave way And left this Twilight for eternal Day That Phenix-like he out of moulder'd Dust May Glorious rise to mingle with the Just The Life Reign and Actions of Charles the First King of Great Britain c. KIng James giving way by Death Prince Charles his only surviving Son was immediately Proclaimed and Crowned at Westminster soon after which he was solemnly Married to Henrietta Maria Daughter to Henry the Fourth French King whom he had seen in his Journey through Paris to the Court of Spain The Marriage being over the King began to shew his Resentments of the Affronts he had received in the Court of Spain and Anno 1625 a Parliament was called and Assembled at Westminster on the 8th of June wherein after some strong Debates about Petitions of Right and Religion the King had two Subsidies granted him and a Fleet was sent to Sea which spoiled and greatly indamaged the Spanish Coast but although the War was just and honourable yet upon the Meeting again of the Parliament in the August following they denyed a farther Supply whereupon he endeavoured with the Advice of his Lawyers to raise Money by way of Tonage but the Parliament forbid the Payment of it and many of the Merchants refused to obey the King's Mandates however the King making an Alliance with the united Provinces set out another Fleet and greatly distressed the Spaniards but amongst others some French Ships being sunk burnt or taken they seized the English Effects in their Ports by way of Reprisal whereupon the French were commanded to leave England but Monsieur Basompire coming Ambassadour prevailed to have many of them recalled yet all Commerce ceased between the two Kingdoms and the French greatly oppressed the Rochellers which made them humbly supplicate King Charles's Assistance who sent a good power under the leading of the Duke of Buckingham but the French being strongly Encamped and Fortified in Rhee the English returned without effecting any thing considerable and the Parliament again complained of several Grievances whereupon they were Dissolved and new Forces raised for the Relief of Rochell but as the Duke of Buckingham was about to Embark he was stabbed to the Heart by one John Felton an English Adventurer at Portsmouth for which the Murtherer was Executed seeming to approve off and glory in the Fact to the last and thus unhappily fell this Duke that had been the Darling Favourite of two Kings Anno 1630 the Queen on the 29th of May was brought to Bed of a Son afterward Christened by the Name of Charles and since our Soveraign Monarch as will appear in the next Reign at his Birth a bright Star appeared in the day-time and on the 14th of October 1633 the Queen was delivered of the Duke of York but the Joy of these Births were a little Eclipsed by the misunderstandings in Scotland and the oppositions made in payment of Ship-Money though Ten Judges had given their Vote for the legality of it the Occasion of great Commotions in Scotland arising about the Service-Book of Common-Prayer being sent thither to be read in Churches as usual in England for when the Dean came to read it in St. Giles's Church at Edenborough he narrowly escaped his Brains being beaten out by the People's throwing Stools Chairs and Cudgels at him nor did the Bishop who got up into the Pulpit to appease them fare any better and so great in a short time grew the Tumult that the Magistrates were not able to quell it which obliged the King to raise an Army but upon his Approach the Scots in Arms met him on the Lorders and submitted and a Peace thereupon was concluded but soon after fell to Covenanting and raised new Commotions the which and the Misunderstandings between the King and his Parliament gave the native Irish an opportunity to Rebel and commit a most horrible Massacre on the English throughout that Kingdom murthering about 200000 of all Ages and Sex before any Succours were sent to their Relief This happened in the year 1641 the same year the Earl of Strafford was beheaded upon an Attaindure of Parliament and about two years after William Laud Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was Executed in the same manner and the King having passed a Bill for the Parliament to sit during their Pleasure such Heats ensued and such Tumults withall that the King after he had endeavoured to give them all the satisfaction that could consist with his Honour and Conscience was obliged to retire to Windsor to avoid the Insolencies of the Multitude who threatened him in his Palace and committed many outrages pulling down the Organs and spoiling the Vestments and Ornaments of Worship in Westminster-Abby and during the King's Absence the Parliament having put the Country in Arms and took into their hands most of
Earl of Shaftsbury and others were Imprisoned in the Tower one Stephen Colledge a Joyner was Tryed at Oxford found guilty of High Treason and Executed And in the year 1683. Captain Walcot William Hone and John Rouse were executed at Tyburn and the Lord Russell and Algernoon Sidney lost their heads And not long after Sir Thomas Armestrong being brought from Holland and James Holloway from Nevis were sentenced at the King's Bench Bar upon their Outlawries and executed at Tyburn And two Informations for Perjury were preferred against Titus Oates the principal Evidence in the Plot But before he came to Tryal the King dyed for falling ill on Monday the 2d of February 1684. With a violent fit of the Appoplexy which at that time bereaved him of his Senses he continued in a languishing Condition till Friday the 6th of February and then dyed in the 55th year of his Age when he had Reigned 36 years and seven days And was buried in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel being the 46th Sole Monarch of England Thus Charles the Great his Glory laid aside A Prince that Fortune in all Shapes had try'd In War and Councils equally approv'd Feard of his foes but of his friends belov'd Remarkable Transactions from the Time of King JAMES the II. coming to the Crown till his Leaving the Kingdom c. KING Charles leaving no Issue by Queen Katharine his onely Brother succeded him and was Proclaimed by the style of James the Second King of England c. at the Pallace Gate and in London with the usual Solemnity and Ceremony Causing the Lords and others present that were before to be Sworn of His Majesty's Privy Council signifying by Proclamation it was his Pleasure that all who at the decease of King Charles were in Office of Government should so continue till his pleasure was further signified And upon his first sitting in Council he made a Speech in which amongst other Expressions are these viz. I shall make it my endeavour to preserve this Government both in Church and State as it is now by Law Established I know the Principles of the Church of England are for Monarchy and the Members of it have shewed themselves good and loyal Subjects Therefore I shall always take care to Defend and Support it I know too that the Laws of England are sufficient to make the King as a great a Monarch as I can wish and as I shall never depart from the Just Rights and Prerogatives of the Crown so I shall never Invade any Man's Property I have often heretofore ventured my Life in Defence of this Nation and I shall still go as far as any man in preservation of it in all its Just Rights and Liberties Nor was it long before a Proclamation was Issued forth to give notice the King intended to call a Parliament inculcating therein the settlement of the Revenue for the support of the Crown and Government that there was a necessity for the maintenance of the Navy for the Kingdoms defence and the advantage of Trade in order to which he desired that the settlement of the Customs due in the Reign of King Charles the Second might continue declaring it was his will and pleasure that the Duties should be Collected accordingly and that he did not doubt of the ready complyance of his Subjects therein This being given forth the Merchants did not dispute the payment And the next thing taken in hand was the preparation for the funeral of the deceased King all persons belonging to or having business at the Court being commanded by an Order of the Earl Marshal to put themselves into decent Mourning and indeed the loss of a Prince that ruled so much in the hearts of his Subjects found a ready complyance for not onely the Courtiers were in Mourning but all the responsible persons of the Kingdom and his Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark on the tenth of February took his place at the Council Board as a Privy Councellour of this Kingdom All things being prepared for the Funeral Solemnities of King Charles the Second with decency and order as the occasion required the Royal Corpse was on the 14th day of February Interred in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel at Westminster The Prince of Denmark whose Train was born up by the Lord Cornbury being chief Mourner and aâ— curious Figure of Wax representing the King was set up amongst the rest of the Kings of England his Predecessours and an Order was published for altering the Prayer in the Liturgy or Common Prayer relating to the Royal Family by way of exchanging Names in the repetition viz. JAMES for CHARLES and further viz. our Gracious Queen MARY CATHERINE the Queen Dowager Their Royal Highnesses MARY Princess of Orange the Princess ANNE of Denmark and all the Royal Family And Money being wanting in the Exchequer it was taken up upon the Excise by way of Farming and the Earl of Rochester was constituted Lord High Treasurer of England and the Marquess of Halifax Lord President of the Privy Council the Earl of Clarendon Lord Privy Seal and the Duke of Beaufort Lord President of Wales These Great Officers thus put in Trust gave us prospect of the tranquility of Affairs and the King was Proclaimed in all the Citys and Burrough Towns of the Kingdom and in the like order in Scotland and Ireland and the Earl Marshal issued out the orders of Summons in order to the preparation of the Coronation which was appointed to be on the 23d of April being Saint George's day requiring all persons who in regard of their Tenures Customs and Usage are bound to do and performe Services on that day to appear before the Commissioners and make out their Claims and give their attendance at the Solemnity and a Proclamation was sent into Scotland in order to the calling of a Parliament in that Kingdom with a Proclamation of Indemnity to divers of the Scottish Nation Then he proceeded to put out a Proclamation to Summons a Parliament to sit at Westminster on the 19th day of May 1685. And accordingly the Citys Burroughs and Shires proceeded to Election and sundry Embassadours residing in England or such as came by Expresses made their Complement of Condolence and Congratulation and the 23d of April being come great preparations were made for the Coronation the Nobles and others met in their Robes and Formalities the Ceremony was performed with much Magnificence and the Parliament according to appointment met when the King in his Robes went to the House and being seated on the Throne made a Speech in which amongst other things He informed them that the Earl of Argyle was Landed in Scotland with the men he brought with him from Holland c and soon We had notice that that Earl had levyed considerable Forces in Argyleshire and other places which obliged the Militia to rise in Arms and several Troops were sent from England and more had gone had not the Duke of Monmouth landed at Lyme in