Miller that had been very active in that Rebellion who fearing the approach of the Marshal told a sturdy Fellow his Servant that he had occasion to go from home and if any man should inquire for the Miller he bid him say that himself was the Miller and had been so for 3 years before soon after the Provost came and called for the Miller when out comes the Servant and said he was the man the Provost demanded how long he had kept the Mill These 3 years answered the Servant the Provost then commanded his men to lay hold of him and hang him on the next Tree at this the Fellow cried out That he was not the Miller but the Millers Man Nay Sir said the Provost I will take you at your word and if thou beest the Miller thou art a busie Knave if thou beest not thou art a false lying Knave and however thou canst never do thy Master better service than to hang for him and so without more ado he was dispatched I will conclude the Remarks of this County with somewhat more Comical At the Dissolution of Abbeys K. Ken. 8. gave away large shares to almost every one that asked Amongst other Instances take this merry story It happened that two or three Gentlemen the Kings servants waited at the door where the King was to come out with a design to beg a large parcel of Abby Lands One Mr. John Champernoun another of his servants seeing them was very inquisitive to know their suit but they would not impart it to him in the mean time out comes the King they kneel down so doth Champernoun being assured by an implicit Faith that Courtiers beg nothing hurtful to themselves they present their Petition the King grants it they render him humble thanks so doth Mr. Champernoun afterward he requires his share they deny it he appeals to the King who avows that he meant they should have equal shares whereupon his Companions were forced to allot him the Priory of St. German in Cornwal valued at 243 pound a Year so that a dumb Beggar met with a blind Giver the one as little knowing what he asked as the other what he gave This County is divided into nine Hundreds wherein are 22 Market Towns and 161 Parish Churches It elects 44 Members to sit in Parliament and is in the Diocess of Exeter CUMBERLAND hath Scotland on the North Northumberland and Westmerland on the East Lancashire on the South and the Irish Sea on the West We read that King Edmund with the help of Leoline Prince of Wales wasted all Cumberland and having put out the Eyes of the 2 Sons of Dunmail King of that Province granted that Kingdom to Malcolm K. of Scots whereof their eldest Sons became Prefects King Edward the 1st dyed at Carlile in this County for intending to invade Scotland he raised a great Army which he ordered to attend him at this City but falling sick and being sensible it would be his death he commanded his Son afterward Edward 2. to be brought into his presence to whom he left many good Precepts and Admonitions exhorting him To be merciful just and courteous constant and true both in Word and Deed that he should be pitiful to those in misery that he should carry his bones with him about Scotland till he had subdued it and that he should send his Heart into the Holy Land with Sevenscore Knights and Thirty two thousand Pound of Silver which he had provided for that purpose lastly that upon pain of eternal damnation the said Money should not be expended upon any other use soon after which he died In the 17th Year of this Kings Reign the City of Carlile with the Abby and all the Houses belonging to the Friers Minors were consumed with fire In the Reign of Q. Elizabeth a rich Vein of most pure and native Brass was found at Keswrick in Cumberland which had lain neglected a long time In April 1651 about 5 a Clock in the Afternoon there was a general Earthquake in the Counties of Cumberland and Westmerland wherewith the People were so affrighted that many of them forsook their Houses and some Houses were so shaken that the Chimneys fell down Presently after the Scottish Army came into England to assist the Parliament it rained Blood which covered the Church and Church-Yard of Bencastle in this County At Salkelds upon the River Eden is a Trophy of Victory called by the Country People Long Meg and her Daughters they are 77 stones each of them 10 Foot high above ground and one of them is 15 Foot in height Skiddaw Hill riseth up with two mighty high Heads like Parnassus and beholds Scruffell hill in Anandale within Scotland there is a Rime that Skiddaw Lauvellin and Casticand Are the highest hills in all England These being two other Hills in this Tract according as Mists rise or fall upon these Heads the People thereby prognosticate of the change of Weather and therefore they sing If Skiddaw have a Cap Scruffell knows full well of that The Sea hath eaten a great part of the Land away upon the shores of these Western Shires and Trees are sometimes discovered when the Wind blows at low Water else they are covered over with Sands and the People thereabout say that they dig up Trees without boughs out of the mossy places in this Shire which they find by the direction of the Dew in Summer which they observe never falls on the ground under which they lie Some Emperick Chirurgions in Scotland take a journey to the Picts Wall the beginning of every Summer to gather vulnerary Plants which they say grow plentifully there and are very effectual being sown and planted by the Romans for Chirurgical Uses There is a small Burrough called Solway Frith under which within the very Frith or Bay the Inhabitants report the Engl sh and Scots fought with their Fleets at full Sea and also with their Horsemen and Footmen at the Ebb. This Province was accounted a Kingdom of itself and King Steven to purchase aid from the Scots confirmed it by gift to that Crown which Henry 2. claimed and regained from them since which many bickerings have happened between the two Nations in this Shire but none so fatal to the Scots as the Fight at Salome Moss where the Nobility disdaining to serve under their General Oliver Sinclare gave over the Battle and yielded themselves to the English which dishonour so deeply wounded the heart of K. James the 5. that he died for grief soon after There are many ruines of Castles Walls and Forts in this County with Altars and Inscriptions of their Captains and Collonels This County is not divided into Hundreds as the rest but therein are seated 9 Market Towns 58 Parish Churches and divers Chappels of ease It Elects 6 Parliament Men for the Counâ—y 2. Carlile 2. Cockermouth 2. and is in the Diocess of Chester and Carlile DERBY-SHIRE hath Yorkshire on the North Nottinghamshire on the East
Nobles all due respect and the People amongst other blessings extreamly happy in this That they are Masters of their own purposes and have a strong hand in making their own Laws Of all the Seniories in the World saith P. Comines the French Historian the Realm of England is the Country where the Common-wealth is best governed the People least opprest and the fewest Houses and Buildings destroyed in Civil War It is a Country always most Temperate the Air is thick and much subject to winds rain and dark Clouds and therefore Gundamore the Spanish Ambassador here in K. James's his time bid the Spanish Post when he came to Spain commend him to the Sun for he had not seen him here a great while and in Spain he should be sure to find him The Ocean which beateth upon the Coast of this Island aboundeth with all manner of Fish and the Meadows and Pastures with Corn Cattle and all other necessaries a Spaniard boasting That they had excellent Oranges Lemmons and Olives growing in their Countrey which ours wanted Sir Roger Williams reply'd It is true said he they do not grow here yet all this is but sauce whereas we have dainty Veal and well fed Capons to eat with them with many other delicate Dishes worth the name of Victuals indeed There are more Parks Forrests and Chases in England than in all Christendom beside there are in no place of the World greater and larger Dogs than here which caused them to be most in request by the Romans both for their baitings in their Amphitheaters and in all other their huntings the English Cock is a bold and stout Fowl and will fight valiantly with his Adversary and presently crows when he obtains the Victory which seldom happens till death parts them There are 44 Shires and Counties in England every Shire consisting of so many Hundreds c. and every Hundred of a number of Burroughs Villages or Tythings c. But this may suffice by way of Preface the design of this small Tract being not to give a particular or exact description of every County and the Towns and Villages therein since that has been largely performed by Mr. Speed Mr. Blome and others but only to contract in a little volume and price the Natural and Artificial Curiosities and Rarities in England Scotland and Ireland with Remarks upon some famous Persons and Places as also an account of the Earthquakes Tempests Seiges Battels and other strange Accidents and Occurrences that have happened in each County whereby my Countrymen may observe that there is hardly any thing worth wondring at abroad in the world whereof Nature or Art hath not written a Copy in these Islands and therefore I shall not confine my self so much to methodize matters as to time as not to let slip any thing considerable and because I suppose most Men have a desire to read something of their own Country first I have according to the method of Dr. Fuller and others placed the Counties Alphabetically for the more ready finding of them and will therefore begin with BARKSHIRE whether so called from a striped or bark-bared Oak is uncertain is bounded by Wiltshire on the West Hamshire on the South Surry on the East Oxford and Buckinghamshire on the North thereof the air is temperate sweet and pleasant the soil plenteous of Corn Cattle Waters and Woods so that for profit and pleasure it gives place to none The most remarkable place in this County is Windsor Castle a most Princely Pallace both for strength and State and hath in it a Colledge for Learning a Chappel for Devotion and an Alms-house of decayed Gentlemen for Charity it is reported to have been built by K. Arthur and K. William the Conqueror was so desirous of it that by composition with the Abbot of Westminster whose then it was he made it to be the Kings Possession in this Castle the Victorious K. Edward 3. was born and herein after he had subdued the French and Scots he kept at one time John K. of France and David King of Scotland as his Prisoners after which he graced it with greater Majesty by instituting the Honourable Order of the Garter the Institution whereof some ascribe to a Garter occasionally falling from the Countess of Salisbury though others affirm the Garter was given in testimony of that Bond of Love and Affection wherewith the Knights and Fellows of it were to be bound severally one to another and all of them to the King nay some others make it yet more ancient relating that when K. Richard the 1. was at War against the Turks and Saracens in the Holy Land and that the tediousness thereof began to discourage his Soldiers he to quicken their Courage tyed about the Legs of several choice Knights a Garter or small Thong of Leather the only stuff he had at hand that as the Romans used to bestow Crowns and Garlands for encouragements so this might provoke them to stand together and fight valiantly for their King and for their honour K. Edward the Third found a Chapple erected in this Castle by K. Hen. 1. and other Princes with maintenance for eight Canons to whom he added a Dean 15 Canons more and 24 poor Impotent Knights and other Officers and Servants these were to pray for the good Estate of the Soveraign and Brethren of the most Noble Order the Soveraign and Knights had their particular Laws and Constitutions and K. Edward likewise appointed divers Ceremonies and distinct habits and St. George the pattern of Christian Fortitude is intituled to the Patronage of this Order and the beautiful Chappel in Windsor Castle where his day being April 23. is usually celebrated every year and new Knights commonly installed was consecrated by that King to his memory there are of this Order twenty six Knights of which the Kings of England are one and it is so much desired for its worthiness that 8 Emperors 21 Forreign Kings 23 Forreign Dukes and Princes besides divers Noblemen of other Countries have been Fellows of it The Ensign is a blew Garter buckled on the left Leg on which these words are imbroidered Honi soit qui mal y pense Evil to him that Evil thinks About their Necks they wear a blue Ribband at the end of which hangeth the Image of St. George the Hall of this Pallace is remarkable for greatness Winchester Tower for height and the Terrace on the Northside for pleasure but his present Majesty K. Charles the Second hath added such magnificence to it both within and without that now for Grandeur State and Pleasure it exceeds it may be any Paâ—lace of ever a Prince in Europe The Chappel is graced with the Bodies of King Henry 6. and K. Edward 4. those whom the whole Kingdom was too little to contain the one being of the House of Lancaster and the other of York lie now united in one mould with the branch of both these Houses K. Henry 8. who there lies interred
Hell whom they devoutly worshipped as the preserver of their health Shaftsbury likewise wherein one Aquila either Man or Eagle is reported to have prophecied of future times In this City Edward son of Edgar who was murdered at Corf-Castle by his Step-Mother to make way for her own Son was buried In the Reign of K. Edward 2 the great Earl of Lancaster married a Lady from Camford in this County who was taken out of his house by one Richard Martin a deformed lame Dwarf who challenged her for his Wife alledging he had lain with her before the Earl married her whereupon the Lady was examined who voluntarily confessed it was all true and thereupon the ugly Fellow in her right claimed the Two Earldoms of Lincoln and Salisbury In the Fourth of this Kings Reign the Church of Middleton with all the Monuments were consumed with Lightning the Monks being at Mattens In the 22d of Edward 3. a Plague was brought from beyond Sea into the Towns and Villages of England on the Seacosts of Dorsetshire which raged so both there and in other parts of England that scarce the Tenth man was left alive in the Kingdom In 1506. King Philip sailing out of Germany to take possession of the Kingdom of Spain was driven by Tempest upon the Coasts of England and landed at Weymouth to refresh himself and was invited by Sir Tho. Trenchard a worthy Knight of that County to his House who immediately sent word to King Henry 7. of his Arrival who glad to have his Court honoured by so great a Prince sent the Earl of Arundel at present to wait upon him till himself should follow the Earl attended him with a gallant Troop of about 300 Horse and for more state came to him by Torch light upon this Message though K. Philip had many reasons to hasten his Journy yet not to distaste K. Henry he came Post to Windsor where after great and magnificent Entertainment K. Henry taking an opportunity when they were both in a private room laying his Hand civilly upon K. Philip's Arm said Sir you have been saved upon my Coast I hope you will not suffer me to wreck upon yours The King of Castile asking him what he meant I mean saith the King that hair-brain'd Fellow the Earl of Suffolk who being my Subject is protected in your Country and begins to play the Fool when all others are weary of it The King of Castile answered I had thought Sir your felicity had been above these thoughts but if it trouble you I will banish him K. Henry answered That his desire was to have him delivered to him with this the King of Castile a little confused said That can I not do with my honour Well then said the King the matter is at an end at last the King of Castile who much esteemed K. Henry composing his Countenance said Sir you shall have him but upon your honour you shall not take his Life I promise it upon my honour said K. Henry and he kept his promise for he was not put to death during all his Reign but yet he took such order that in the Reign of his Son K. Hen. 8. he had his Head cut off This Earl of Suffolk had lately gone over to Flanders to the Lady Margret K. Henry's sworn Enemy which made the King doubt of his Intentions The Earl was accordingly brought over and sent to the Tower and after K. Philip had received the Order of the Garter and Prince Henry that of the Golden Fleece the King of Castile departed home In the 26. of Q. Elizabeth 1558. at a place called Blackmore in the Parish of Armitage in this County a piece of ground containing 3 Acres removed from its place and went quite over another Close with the Trees and Fences thereon a great way off stopping up an High-way which led to Cerne the same Hedges inclosing it as before and the Trees standing very upright thereon onely one Oak of almost 20 Load fell down in the place from whence it removed there remained a great deep Pit In 1613. Aug. 7. The Town of Dorchester was utterly consumed with Fire which began in the house of a Tallow-Chandler and destroyed the whole Town save a few Houses near the Church and all their Wares and Goods to the value of Two Hundred Thousand Pounds yet no man perished therein In June 1653. a black Cloud was seen over the Town of Pool and soon after dissolved into a shower of Blood which fell warm upon mens hands some green leaves with those drops upon them were sent to London and seen by many The Forrest of the White Hart is in this County so called because in the Reign of Henry 3. the King came hither to hunt and having taken other Deer he spared a most beautiful and goodly white Heart which afterward Thomas de Lynd a Gentleman of this Country with others in his Company took and killed for which the King put a mulct or Fine upon him and the whole County and the very lands which they held pay even to this day every year by way of amercement a sum of Mony into the Exchequer which is called White Hart Silver My self saith Dr. Fuller have paid a share for the sauce who never tasted any of the meat so that it seems Kings Venison is sooner eaten than digested Mr. Ignatius Jordan was born at Lime Regis in this County and when he was young was sent to Exeter to be brought up a Merchant in this City having passed through the several inferiour Offices he at last came to be Mayor and was a Justice of Peace 24 years together yet his beginning was but very mean which he was always ready to acknowledg for when some threatned him with Law-suits and that they would not give over while he was worth a groat he cheerfully told them That he should be then but two pence poorer than when he came first to Exeter for said he I brought but six pence with me hither He would often say He wondred what rich men meant that they gave so little to the Poor and yet raked so much together for their Children do you not see said he what becomes of it and would reckon up divers examples of such as heaped up much for their Children and they in a short time consumed it all on the other side he spoke of such as had small beginnings and afterward became rich or of a competent Estate giving a particular instance of himself I came said he but with a groat or sixpence in my purse to this City had I had a shilling in my purse I had never been Mayor of Exeter In his Troubles in the Star Chamber when one told him he was sorry that the Lord Keeper was against him He answered I have a greater Lord Keeper than him the Lord is my Keeper I will not be afraid He was famous for Justice and Charity in his life and at his death left very large Legacies to the poor
the year 1650. Nov. 30. being St. Andrews day about Sun-rising the Sky opened in a dreadful manner in the South west over Standish a Town 5 miles from Glocester and there appeared a terrible fiery Sword shaking with the Hilt upward toward the Heavens and the point downward to the Earth the Hilt seemed to be blew the Sword of a great length moving to and fro and coming lower toward the Earth there was a long flame of fire toward the point sparkling and flaming in a fearful manner to the great astonishment of the Spectators who were many at last the Heavens closing the Sword vanished and the fire fell to the Earth and ran upon the ground this saith Mr. Clark I had from an Eye-witness Glocester is the chief City of this County and lieth stretched out in length over Sâ—â—â—rn The Cathedral Church is a beautiful building conâ—â—sting of a continued window work but hath the loudest praises from the whispering place within which is thus described by Sir Francis Bacon There is a Church at Glocester saith he and as I have heard the like is in some other Places where if you speak against a Wall softly another shall hear your voice better a great way off than near at hand I suppose there is soâ— Vault or Hollow or Isle behind the wall and some passage to it toward the further end of that wall against which you speak so as the voice of him that speaketh slideth along the wall and then entreth at some passage and communicateth with the air of the hollow for it is somewhat preserved by the plain wall but that is too weak to give an audible sound till it hath communicated with the back air In this Church lies the unfortunate Robert Duke of Normandy eldest Son to William the Conqueror in a painted wooden Tomb in the midst of the Quire whose Eyes were pluckt out in Cardiff Castle wherein he was kept Prisoner 26 years Here also the unhappy King Edward 2. lies buried under a Monument of Alabaster who in the 20 year of his Reign was deposed by Parliament who sitting at London sent several Bishops Lords and Gentlemen in the name of the body of the State if that may be called a body which then had no head there to Kenelworth Castle to the King to whom one of the Commissioners represented That the Commonweal had received such irreconcilable dislikes of his Government the pa ticulars whereof had been opened in the General Assembly at London that they were resolved never to endure he should be King any longer that notwithstanding these dislikes had not extended themselves so far as for his sake to exclude his issue but that with universal Applause and Joy the Commonweal had in Parliament Elected his eldest Son the Lord Edward for King that it would be a very acceptable thing to God if he did willingly give over an Earthly Kingdom for the common good and quiet of his Country which they said could not otherwise be secured that yet his honour would be never the less after his Resignation than it was before only the Commonweal would never suffer him to Reign any longer and finally they presumed to tell him That unless he did freely of himself renounce his Crown and Scepter the People would neither endure him nor any of his Children for their Soveraign but disclaiming all homage and fealty would elect some other tâ— be their King who should be of another Blood and Family The King having heard their Message fell down as half dead and being somewhat recovered we cannot say to himself but to a sense of his misery brake forth into Sighs and Tears And being saith Sir Thomas de la More more ready to sacrifice his body for Christs cause than once to behold the disinheriting of his Sons or to be the occasion of the perpetual disturbance of the Kingdom as knowing saith he that a good Shepheard should give his life for his Flock made answer at last to this effect That he knew that for his many sins he was fallen into this Calamity and therefore had the less cause to take it grievously that he was very sorry that the People of the Kingdom were so exasperated against him as that they should utterly abhor his having any longer the Rule and Soveraignty over them he therefore besought all that were present to forgive spare him being so afflicted that yet it was greatly to his good pleasure and liking seeing it could be no otherwise on his own behalf that his eldest Son was so gracious in their sight and therefore he gave them thanks for chusing him to be their King This being said they proceeded to the short Ceremonies of his Resignation which consisted principally in the surrender of his Diadem and other Ensigns of Majesty for the use of his Son the new King Edward being thus unkinged the Ambassadors returned joyfully back to the Parliament at London with the resigned Ensigns and an account of their imployment but he now deprived of his Royal Crown and Dignity remained with his Kinsman Henry E. of Leicester wanting nothing but liberty being shut up like a Monk but his cruel Wife Q. Isabel who had been one of the greatest Instruments of his misfortune being told by her wicked Counsellor Adam Torleton Bishop of Hereford that the Earl was too kind to him ordered Thomas Gourney and John Martravers to take the King into their Custody who carried him from Kenelworth to Coâ—â—e Castle and then to Bristow where they shut him in the Castle till upon discovery of a design laid to get him out and send him beyond Sea they conveyed him to Berkly Castle by the way these Villains exercised divers Cruelties towards him not permitting him to ride but by night that he might not be seen of any they forced him to ride bare headed and when he would have slept they hindred him neither would give him such meat as he could eat but such as he most loathed they contradicted him in whatever he said persuading him he was mad and endeavoured by all manner of ways to break his heart yea they often gave him Poyson in his drink but the strength of his nature overcame it one of them made a Crown of Hay and put it on his head the rest made a scorn and May-game of him they were afraid any of his Friends should meet him and therefore to prevent his being known they resolved to cut off both his hair and beard and coming by a little Ditch they commanded him to come off his Horse and be shaven then setting him on a Mole-hill a Barber came to shave him with a bason of cold water taken out of the Ditch telling him That must serve at present To whom the miserable King looking sternly upon him answered That whether they would or no he would have warm water for his beard and therewithal to make good his word he presently shed forth a shower of Tears at length he was brought to
on Houses as well as Persons The King increased and enlarged it so that it now containeth 5 very large inner Courts incompassed with fair buildings of curious Workmanship Now whereas other Royal Pallaces found their fatal Period as Holdenby Oatlands Richmond Theobalds Hampton Court had the happiness to continue in its former Estate of which one thus writes I envy not its happy Lot but rather thereat wonder There 's such a rout our Land throughout of Pallaces by plunder Osterly-House must not be forgotten built in a Park by Sir Thomas Gresham who here magnificently entertained and lodged Q. Elizabeth Her Majesty found fault with the Court of this House as too great affirming That it would appear more handsome if divided by a Wall in the middle What doth Sir Thomas Money commanding all things but in the night time sends for Workmen from London who so speedily and silently apply their business that the next morning discovered that court double which the night had left single before it is questionable whether the Queen next day were more contented with the conformity to her fancy or more pleased with the surprise and sudden performance thereof whilst the Courtiers disported themselves with their several expressions some avowing it was no wonder he could so soon change a building who could build a Change Others reflecting on some known differences in this Knt's Family affirmed That any house is easier divided than united Edward the 5. sole surviving Son of K. Hen. 8. and Jane his Wife was born at Hampton Court in this County 1537. He succeeded his Father in this Kingdom and was most eminent in his Generation saith Dr. Fuller seeing the Kings of England fall under a five fold Division 1. Visibly vicious given over to dissoluteness and debauchery as K. Edward the Second 2. Rather free from Vice than fraught with Virtue as King Henry the Third 3. Those in whom Vices and Virtues were so equally matched as it was hard to decide which got the mastery as in King Henry 8.4 whose good qualities beat their bad ones quite out of distance of competition as K. Edward 1.5 Whose Virtues were so resplendent no faults humane frailties excepted appeared in them as in this K. Edward He died July 5. 1553. and pity it is that he who deserved the best should have no Monument erected to his memory Smithfield in London being Bonners Shambles and the Bonfire General of England no wonder if some sparks thereof were driven into the Neighbourhood as Barnet Islington and Stratford Bow where more than twenty Persons were Martyred as in Mr. Fox it doth appear nor must we forget Mr. John Denly burnt at Vxbridge who began to sing a Psalm at the stake and Dr. Story there present caused a Faggot to be hurled in his face which so hurt him that he bled therewith however we may believe that this Martyrs Song made good melody in the ears of the God of Heaven The last pitcht Battle in England between the two Houses of Lancaster and York was fought at Barnet 1472. by K. Edward 4. who hearing that the Earl of Warwick on the behalf of K. Henry the 6. was with his Army incamped on a Heath near Barnet he marched toward them upon April 13. being Easter Eve and came that evening from London thither where he would not suffer a man of his Army to stay in the Town but commanded them all to the Field and lodged with his Army nearer to the Enemy than he was aware by reason of a thick mist raised as some say by Fryar Bongey the Conjurer which made it so dark that it could not well be observed where they were incamped In taking his ground he caused his People to keep as much silence as was possible thereby to keep the Enemy from knowing of their approach great Artillery they had on both parts but Warwick had more than K. Edward and therefore in the night time they shot continually at the Kings Army but did little hurt because they overshot them as lying nearer than was conceived on Easter day early in the morning both Armies are ordered for Battle the Earl of Warwick appointed the command of his Right Wing which consisted of Horse to his Brother the Marquess Montacute and the Earl of Oxford the left Wing likewise consisting of Horse was led by himself and the Duke of Exeter and the main Battle of Bills and Bows was conducted by the Duke of Somerset on K. Edwards part the Van was commanded by Richard D. of Glocester the main Battle in which the unfortunate K. Henry was Prisoner was led by K. Edward himself and the L. Hastings brought up the Rear after exhortations for incouraging their Souldiers the fight began which with great valour was maintained for six hours without any apparent disadvantage on either side only Warwicks Van seemed by the courage of the Earl of Oxford to overmatch King Edwards which made some flying toward London carry the news that the Earl of Warwick had won the Field and so perhaps he had indeed but for a strange misfortune which happened to the Earl of Oxford and his men for they having a Star with streams on their Liveries as K. Edwards men had the Sun the Earl of Warwicks men by reason of the mist not well distinguishing the badges shot at the Earl of Oxfords men who were of their own side whereupon the Earl of Oxford cryed out Treason Treason and fled with 800 men at length after great slaughter made on both sides K. Edward having the greater number of men caused a new recruit of fresh Souldiers to come on whom he had reserved to that purpose which the Earl of Warwick observing being a man of an invincible courage nothing dismayed rushed into the midst of his Enemies where he adventured so far that amongst the press he was struck down and slain though some write that seeing the desperate condition of his Army the Earl leapt on his Horse to fly and coming to a Wood where was no passage one of K. Edwards men came to him and killed him and stript him to his naked skin The Marquess Montacute thinking to relieve his Brother lost likewise his life and left the victory to King Edward There were slain on both sides at least Ten Thousand Men and hereby King Edward again got the Kingdom and King Henries Friends not being afterward able to raise any considerable power on his behalf he was soon after sent to the Tower and there murdered by the Duke of Glocester I shall not speak any thing in this place concerning London as having already published a book of the same price with this of Historical Remarks and Observations of the ancient and present state of London and Westminster wherein the most considerable particulars relating thereto for several hundred years are succinctly discovered The County of Middlesex is divided into 7 Hundreds wherein are 4 Market Towns and 73 Parish Churches besides those in London and Westminster It
Berkâ—y Castle where he was courteously received by Thomas Berkly Lord thereof who was allowed a 100 shillings a day for keeping him close Prisoner But Q. Isabel being much troubled that her Husband lived consults again with the wicked Bishop of Hereford pretending that she was much troubled with frightful dreams which presignified that if her Husband should be again restored to his dignity he would burn her for a Traitor or send her into perpetual banishment the Bishop and several other great Men both of the Nobility and Clergy finding themselves likewise equally guilty became uneasy while the King lived and therefore sent chiding Letters to the Keepers pretending they gave the King too much liberty and kept him too high and delicately and withal added this line at the end of the Letter contrived by the Bishop Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est To shed King Edwards blood Refuse to fear I count it good Never was the fallacy of pointings or ambiguity of Phrase more mischievously used to the destruction of a King or for the defence of the Contrivers than in this hainous Parricide for it was so craftily contrived in a double sense that both the Keepers might find sufficient warrant and himself might find sufficient excuse the Keepers guessing at the meaning took it in the worst sense and therefore putring the L. Berkly out of the Castle they shut up the King in a close Chamber where with the stinch of dead Carkases laid in the Cellar under him he was almost poysoned of which he made complaint to some Carpenters who worked at his Chamber-window but these wretches perceiving this would not do the work they rushed one night into his Chamber and casting as many heavy bolsters upon him as 15 men could carry they pressed them down hard and not content with that heated an Iron red hot and through a Pipe like a Trumpet thrust it up into his body that no marks of a violent death might be seen but however they were heard for when they were thus doubly murdering him he was heard to roar and cry all the Castle over Gourney and Martravers his Murtherers expecting rewards had the reward of Murtherers for the Queen and Bishop Torlton disavowing the Command threatned to question them for the Kings death whereupon they fled beyond Sea and Gourney after three years being taken in France and sent into England was in the way upon the Sea beheaded Martravers flying into Germany had the grace to repent but lived ever after miserably thus died this unfortunate Prince in 1327 about half a year after his deposing never certainly was any King turned out of a Kingdom in such a manner many Kingdoms have been lost by the chance of War but this was lost before the Dice were cast no blow struck no battle fought done forceably and yet without force violently and yet with consent both parties agreed yet neither pleased for the King was not pleased to leave his Kingdom and the Queen was not pleased to leave him his life though he often declared in his Captivity That nothing grieved him so much as that tâ— Queen his Wife would never be persuaded to come and see him and swore very devoutly That from the first time he saw he face he could never like of any other Woman by which it appears that neither Gaveston nor the Spencers his wicked Favourites had so far debauched him as to make him false to his Bed or disloyal to his Queen but she was hardened against him thinking it not safe to leave him a part by which he might afterward recover the whole which was the chief occasion of his coming to this miserable end The County of Glocester is divided into 30 Hundreds wherein are 26 Market Towns 208 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Glocester out of it are elected 8 Parliament Men. For the County 2 for the City of Glocester 2 Tewksbury 2 Cirencester 2. HANTSHIRE hath Berkshire on the North Surry and Sussex on the East the Sea on the South Dorset and Wiltshire on the West from North to South it is 54 miles and from East to West 30. It is fruitful in Corn plenteous in pasture and for all advantages of the Sea wealthy and happy Wools Cloths and Iron are the general Commodities of this County Winchester is a City which flourished in the time of the Romans and now indifferently peopled and frequented by water it is about a mile and an half in Circuit within the walls which open at 6 Gates and is adorned with magnificent Churches and a Bishops See Dr. Heylin tells us That one of the Principal Orders of Knighthood is that of the round Table instituted by Arthur King of the Brittains and one of the worlds 9 worthies It consisted of 150 Knights whose names are recorded in the History of King Arthur the principal of them were Sir Lancelot Sir Tristram Sir Lamarock Sir Gawin c. all placed at one round Table to avoid quarrels about Priority and Place The round Table hanging in the great Hall of Winchester is falsly called Arthur's round Table it being not of sufficient Antiquity nor containing but 24 Seats In the Year 959. Edgar the Saxon King hearing the Daughter of a Western Duke exceedingly praised for her Beauty he was so inflamed therewith that he presently made a journey into those parts and coming to Andover in this County he commanded the Virgin to be brought to his Bed the Mother being tender of her Daughters honour brought her Maid in the dark to the King who pleased him as well in his lascivious dalliance the morning approaching this late Maid made haste to rise but the King being loth to part so soon with his supposed fair Lady asked her why she made such haste she told him she had a great deal of work to do and that her Lady would be very angry if she did not rise and dispatch it but being kept longer than her time she upon her knees did beseech the King to free her from her angry Mistriss alledging That she who had been imbraced by the King ought not to serve any other The King hereby perceiving the deceit was very angry yet since he could not recall what was past after having severely reproved the deceitful Lady he turned it into a jest but the Girl it seems pleased him so well that he took her for his Concubine whereby she ruled over them who lately commanded her and loved her entirely keeping to her alone till he was married to the fair Elfreda before mentioned This King likewise debauched a Nun named Wolfchild on whom he begat Edith afterward accounted a Saint He committed the like folly with Ethelfleda Duke Ordmars Daughter who for her extraordinary beauty was called The White on whom he begot his eldest Son Edward for which Mr. Fox affirmeth he did 7 Years Penance enjoyned him by St. Dunstan This Edward succeeded him in the Kingdom at 12 Years old the beginning of whose Reign
done for their utter overthrow and extirpation and to the better Corroboration of this our Loyal Band and Association we do also testify by this writing that we do confirm the contents hereof by our Oaths corporally taken upon the holy Evangelists with this express condition that no one of us shall for any respect of Persons or causes for fear or reward separate our selves from this Association or fail in the prosecution thereof during our lives upon pain of being by the rest of us prosecuted and supprest as perjured Persons and as publick Enemies to God our Queen and to our native Country To which punishment and pains we do voluntarily submit our selves and every of us without benefit of any colour or pretence In Witness of all which Premises to be inviolably kept we do to this writing put our Hands and Seals and shall be most ready to accept and admit any others hereafter into this Society and Association The Queen of Scots presently apprehending that this Association was entred into her destruction offers to enter into it herself it permitted to which Q. Elizabeth seemed inclining but it was alledged by her Enemies That the Queen could be no longer in safety if the Q. of Scots were set at liberty that the Reformed Religion lay a bleeding if Papists were admitted into the Court Walls c. In the succeeding Parliament this Association was universally approved and enacted in this form That 24 or more of the Queens Privy Council and Peers of the Realm should be selected and authorized under the great Seal of England to make enquiry of all such Persons as shall attempt to invade the Kingdom or raise Rebellion shall attempt any thing else against the Q's Person for whomsoever and by whomsoever that layeth any claim to the Crown of Eng. and that Person for whom and by whom they shall attempt any such thing shall be altogether incapable of the Crown c. The next Year a dangerous conspiracy was discovered against the Queen for one John Savage by the seducement of Dr. Gifford was persuaded it was meritorious to take away the Lives of Princes excommunicate who thereupon vowed to kill Q. Elizabeth but to make the Queen and her Council secure at the same time they writ a Book exhorting the Papists in England to attempt nothing against their Prince and to use only the Christian Weapons Tears Prayers Watching and Fasting Babington and several other Gentlemen were in this Plot to whom he shewed Letters which he received from the Q of Scots and her Closets being broke open a number of Letters were found from foreign parts offering her their service and 60 Alphabets of private Characters Fourteen of the Conspirators were executed for this Treason and great consultations were held about the Q. of Scots and at last it was concluded to proceed against her by the aforementioned Law whereupon divers Lords are authorized by the Queens Letters to enquire and by vertue of that Law to pass Sentence against all such as raised Rebellion invaded the Kingdom or attempted any violence against the Queen who Oct. 11. went to Fotheringay Castle where Q. Mary was prisoner and the next day the Queens Letters were delivered her which having with a settled Countenance read she said It seems strange to me that the Queen should lay her Command upon me to hold up my hand at the Bar as though I were a Subject â—â—eing I am an absolute Queen no less than her self and especially that I should be tryed by the English Laws It was at last plainly told her by the Chancellor and Treasurer That â—f she refused to answer to such Crimes as should be objected they would then proceed against her though she were absent Being brought at last with much ado to consent the Commissioners came together in the Presence Chamber and the Queen of Scots being come the Chancellor spake thus to her That the Queen had appointed these Commissioners to hear what she could answer to the Crimes laid to her charge assuring her that nothing would be cause of more Joy to the Queen than to hear that she had proved her self innocent Upon which she rising up said That although being an absolute Prince she could not be compelled to appear before them yet to manifest her Innocence she was now content to appear Then one of the Commissioners opened her Crimes shewing that by the Confessions of Babington Ballard Savage and also Nave and Curle her own Secretaries she was privy to their Treasons and consented to the Invasion of England and destruction of the Queen To which she answered that Letters might be counterfeited her Secretaries might be corrupted the rest in hope of life might be drawn to confessions which were not true In this she stood peremptorily that she never consented to attempt any thing against the Queens Person though for her own delivery she confest she did design it and at last requested That she might be heard in full Parliament or before the Queen her self But this request prevailed not for Oct. 25. at the Star-Chamber at Westminster the Commissioners met again and pronounced Sentence against her confirming by their Seals and Subscriptions That after the first of June in the 27th year of Queen Elizabeth divers matters were compassed and imagined in the Kingdom by Anthony Babington and others with the privity of Mary Queen of Scots pretending Title to the Crown of England tending to the hurt death and destruction of the Royal Person of our said Soveraign Lady the Queen A few days after a Parliament began where the Peers of the Kingdom unanimously presented a Petition that for the safety of the Queen themselves and their Posterity the Sentence against Mary Q. of Scotâ— might according to Law be published putting her iâ— mind of the fearful Examples of Gods Judgments in Scripture upon Saul for sparing K. Agag and upon Ahad for not putting â— Benhadad to death The House of Commons likewise enforced this request a while after the Queen at last replied to this effect I protest my chief desire hath been that for your security and my own safety some other way might be devised than that which is now propounded but since it is now evident and certain that my safety without her destruction is in a most deplorable State I am most grievously afflicted that I who have pardoned so many Rebels have neglected so many Treasons either by silence or connivence should now at last exercise cruelty upon a Prince so nearly allied to me As for your Petition I beseech you to rest in an answer without an answer If I say I will not grant your Petition I shall haply say what I meant not if I should say I will grant it then cast I my self into destruction headlong whose safety you do so earnestly desire and that I know you in your VVisdoms would not I should do After this the Queen upon much sollicitation sealed Letters for executing the Sentence but was in much