to the Conqueror who about the year 824 made it cease to be any longer a Kingdom annexing it by right of Conquest to that of Mercia in which for the future we must account it This Kingdom continued entire 372 years Thus fell the Kentish Kingdom thus bereft Of all its Grandure to the Conqueror left Its name was swallowed by a greater sway Ingulf'd in what we must call Mercia An account of the Kingdom of the South Saxons containing Sussex and Surry under the Succession of four Kings THis parcel of the British Land fell first to Eâ—â—â— Captain of the Saxons who brought supplys out of Germany at their greatest need Landing at Shoram in Sâ—ssex where he gave barrel to the Britains and by a great overthrow obliged them to the Woods and Fastnesses whereupon sending for more Aid to Aâ—sure him in his Conquest he took possession of Sussex and Surry begining his Reign 488. and continued it 32 years Then giving place to Cossa who Reigned as some will have it 72 years and to him succeeded Ethels Wolfe who after 25 years Reign was slain by Cadewel a Banished Prince of the West Saxons yet before his death the Christian Religion was tolerated in his Kingdom himself being Converted by as Bede has it Bishop Willfride tho' some allow his Conversion to Berinus Bishop of Dorchester however he was held to be a good Prince nor did Cadewel long rest in quiet after his death for Barthun and Authun took up Arms against â—im and made him fly the Kingdom but he returning with a great power overcame the two Dukes and after that it became a part of the West Saxon Kingdom when it had continued a Kingdom 133 years Thus set the second Kingdom or it's Fame For from this time it lost it's ancient Name An account of the West Saxon Kingdom containing Cornwal Devonshire Barkshire and Hampshire with the succession of Kings THe first that possessed himself of this Kingdom was Chardick a low Country German Captain who entred Britain about the year of our Lord 495. and Killing Nataulcon a great Prince of the Britains in a dreadful Battle he made himself King of the West Saxons beginning his Reign in 501 and continued it 33 years at the end of which he gave place to Kenrick who prosecuting the War against the Britains gave them two great overthrows at Banbury in Oxfordshire and Shrewsbury in Wiltshire whereby they losing Courage and hopes of Conquest left him in quiet possession of what his Father had acquired but after a Reign of 26 years he was succeeded by Chewlin who fought Ethelbert King of Kent and defeated his Army at Wimbledon And this is accounted the first Battle the Saxons had amongst themselves he gave likewise a great overthrow to the Britains at Bedfold and surprized four of their Towns as Liganburgh Alisbury Bensington and Evesham and about six years after he fought the Britains at Durham and slew Coinmagil Caudigan and Farmnagil three of the British Kings thereupon surprizing Glocester Bath and Cirencester but at length some Saxons Joyning with the Britains to Oppose his growing greatness he was overthrown at Wodensbeoth and his Son Cuth slain and thereupon Cearlick his Nephews prosecuting the War against him bereft him of the Kingdom after â—…e had Reigned 33 years yet the Nephew held it but â—…x years before he gave place to Chelwoolf This â—…rince held the Scepter of the West Saxons Kingdom 14 â—…ears but being assaulted by the Britains in confedraâ—…y with the Scots and Picts after much trouble and â—…ile he dyed in the Wars so that his Kingdom fell â—… Kingil who gave the Britains Battle at Beandune â—…nd killed 1046 of them and the better to strengthen â—…imself he made peace with Penda King of the Marâ—…ans and was converted to the Christian Faith by â—…erinus to whom he gave Dorchester as a seat This King Reigned 31 years over the West Saxons and â—…hen gave place to Redwald who was Baptized and Reigned 13 years after him Eskwin began his Reign â—…75 and continued it but two years being overcome â—…t that time by Wolfere King of the Mercians at Buâ—…amhford and most of his people slain and was succeeâ—…ed in the Kingdom of the West Saxons by Kentwin who was a greater Persecutor of the poor remnant of â—…he Britains making them fly into the Rocks and Mountains for shelter and security but his Reign â—…asted not long for at the end of 9 years he dyed and gave place to Cadewalde who slew Ethelwoolf King of â—…he South Saxons and afterward usurped his Kingdom and being a Heathen he destroyed many of the Christians especially the Clergy but in the end he was succeeded by Ine who began his Reign Anno 688. â—…he brought the South Saxon Kingdom into a province and had Wars with the Britains and Mercians and made many wholsom Laws upon which many now â—…n force are founded he built the Abby of Glassenbury and went a Pilgrimage to Rome and there dyed This was he that gave the Pope the first Peter-pence from England to be payed on Lammus day his Reign continued 37 years and was succeeded by Ethellred in whose Reign two dreadful Blazing-Stars appeared his Reign continued 14 years and then he gave place to Cuthred Anno 740. this King made Peace with the Mercians and Joyning his Force with them the cruelly opressed the Britains but Adelem an Eaâ—… and one of his Subjects Rebelling against him hâ—… was obliged to give it over to Defend his Trritories but having Reigned 14 years he was succeeded bâ—… Sigesâ—â—rt This King caused Cumbra an Earl of hâ—… Counsel to be slain for reproving his Vices whicâ—… occasioned his Subjects to Rebel and forced him tâ—… shelter himself in a Wood where he was found anâ—… slain by the Earls Swinheard when he had Reigned about a year to whom Kenwoolf succeeded who Waâ—…ed very furiously on the Britains and gave them greâ—… overthrows but in the end himself was overthrowâ—… by Offa King of the Mercians and there slain â—… Captain Ciyto but his Subjects recovered hiâ—… Body and revenged his death upon the Captain and Eighty of his followers The King thus dead Brithrick steped into the Throne in whose time divers strange prodegies and Phantoms appeared as well in the Air aâ—… on the Earth and when he had Reigned without any considerable Action fell by Poyson which he took in in a confection the Queen had prepared for one of hiâ—… paramours whereupon he fled into France and therâ—… died Miserably and now this Kingdom began to draw to a Period or rather to loose it's name to be joyned with the rest in a sole Monarchy for Egbert succeeded Brithrick Anno 806. as King of the West Saxons he after a long War wherein much blood was spilt gained an absolute rule over the Seven Kingdoms making a strict Law against the Welch that should dare to venture over Offas Ditch which he appointed for their Boundard he slew Bernulph King of the
Mercians in Battle and drove the King of Kent out of his Kingdom and to his Conquering Arms the East Angles and East Saxons likewise submitted so that finding none oppose him he caused himself to be Crowned the first sole Saxon Monarch at Winchester and gave the Country the name of England and the Danes with 33 Ship Landing in the 14 of his Reign he gave them â—attle but was Obliged to retire with loss and the â—ext year being invited by the Britains they Landed â—… Wales against whom he Wared and was Victorious This was the 17 King of the West Saxons that had â—eigned successively and began his Reign as sole Monâ—rch Anno 819 and Reigned 17 years and in all 36 Thus the divided Kingdom did Unite And on one head her Crown shone Dazling bright An Account of the East Saxon Kingdom which contained Essex and Middlesex begining Anno 522 and continuing 305 years under the success of 14 Kings THe first that we find to Govern the East Saxons was Erchenwine who began not his Reign till Anno 527 and is held continued it Sixty years and â—hen gave place to Sladda who held it only 9 years when Sebert took upon him the Kingdom and being Converted to the Christian Faith by Miletus Bishop of St. Pauls in London which had been founded by himself and Ethelbert King of Kent in the place where â—he Temple of Diana had stood restored them their priveledges and free Exercise of Religion which had before been denyed them and Reigned 12 years noted to be the first Christian King of the East Saxons Seered succeeded him Anno 617. who contrary to his Predecessor put many Indignities upon the Christians as Prophaining their Communion-Tables and Offering to Idols for which being reproved be Miletus he banished that Bishop and fell heavey upon the rest of the Clergy but at the end of 6 years he was slain by Kingâ—ils King of the West Saxons and Sigesbert Reigned in this stead Continuing King of the East Saxons by the space of 23 years and after him Reigned Sigebert whom Oswye King of the Northumbers perswaded to be Baptixed and accordingly it was performed by Bishop Finnan but being of a wild and sordid naturâ—… when he had Reigned 15 years his Brothers Conspirâ—… against him and slew him and Swithâ—…lm succeedeâ—… Anno 661 who was Converted and Baptized â—… Bishop Cedda and Edelwald King of the East Anglâ—… stood his God-Father but he Reigned only 3 yearâ—… and then gave place to Sighere who after he had beeâ—… Baptized turned Apostate but brought again to â—… former Principles by the means of Woolfere King â—… Mercia he caused the Idol Temples to be Demolisheâ—… and in his time a Raging Plague continued for thâ—… space of 5 years Sebba succeeded him but havinâ—… Reigned about 30 years he layed down his Crown as more desirous of a Monastick Life and entred thâ—… Monastery of St. Pauls London and Sigherd took upon him the Government and Reigned 7 years Aâ—… the end of which Seofrid began his Reign which continued 7 years as the former yet in neither of theâ—… Reigns did any thing Memorable happen nor in theâ—… Successor Offa's for he when he had held the Scepteâ—… of the East Saxons 8 years went to Rome and theâ—… turned Monk and dyed in that state Selred began hiâ—… Reign 722 and Reigned 38 years without any thinâ—… Memorable except His Wars with the Mercians and leaving Cuthred his Successor Imbroyled in Troubles Egbert King of the West Saxons at the end of â—… years drove him out of his Kingdom so that after the Succession of 14 Kings it was in the year 872 made a part of the whole under a sole Monarch Thus Heaven by secret Wheels Winds on the Fates Of Empires Kingdoms and of petty States Turns all things as is in Wisdom thought That his Decrees be to perfection brought An account of the Northumber Kingdom and Succession of Kings THe Kingdom of the Northumbers contained Northumberland Cumberland Yorkshire Durham â—…ncashire Westmerland and some part of the Marches â—…d began in the year of our Lord 547 continuing 379 â—…ar but it does not Challenge a Succession of Kings â—…long for the number found are but 25 and of â—…ese in their order Ida and Ella took upon them to be Kings of the Norâ—…umbers Conjunctly Anno 547 and continued 24 â—…ars but were obliged after 15 years of that Term â—… take in 5 Partners Viz. Adda who held it 7 years â—…appa 5 years Theodwald 1 year Frethulf 7 years â—…odorick 7 years but of these some dying and others â—…ing dispossessed Ethelfride took place making great â—…ar upon the Britains and Subdued Edanaden King â—… the Scots whom he Overcame in a great Battle at â—…egsaston and at Westchester he slew not only the â—…uldiers of the Britains but even the Monks and Religious of all sorts to the Number of 1100 and Banâ—…ed Edwin the British Prince who fled to Redwold â—…ing of the East Angles who Joyning his Forces with â—…e Britains they fought against Ethelfride and slew â—…m when he had Reigned 33 years and Edwine was â—…aced in the Kingdom who at length turning Chriâ—…ian restrained the Persecutions that had been made in â—…ose parts against the Church he was Baptized by â—…aulâ—nus at York together with many of his Nobles but Reigned not above 7 years and then Osrick came to the throne whose reign was far shorter for within a year Waring on the Britains he was slain by Cadwal their King and so made way for â—…swald who slew Cadewal a British Prince but was Overthrown by Penda the Mâ—rcian King and slain at a place called from that Mifortune Oswaltree when he had Reigned 9 years â—…nd succeeded by Cswye this King gave Battle to Ofwine Prince of the Deirans at Wilfairs-Downs whâ—… flying the field was by one of his confidents deliveâ—…ed up and put to Death and altho' Ethelbald Son â—… Oswald and Egbert King of the East Angels Uniteâ—… their Forces with Penda King of Mercia he Oveâ—… threw them near Leads in York-shire Killing Peâ—… Ethclbald with 30 Dukes and Leaders giving thoâ—… United Armyes a great Overthrow and decided thâ—… long Controversy about the Celebration of Easter anâ—… founded the Cathedral Church in Litchfield for a Bishoâ—… See He Reigned 28 years and was succeeded bâ—… Egfride who raising a great Power and Waring upoâ—… Ethelred King of the Mercians he found not the Suâ—…cess of his Prodecessor nor being so contented â—… made an expedition against the Irish who then â—… small Barks perplexed the Coast but following theâ—… too far in the Mountains he was Intraped by an Ambushment and there slain after he had Reigned â—… years leaving his Kingdom to Alfride who thougâ—… he Reigned 20 years did nothing of Note he was suâ—…ceeded by Osred who gave himself up to Prodigiouâ—… Lusts Insomuch that he forced Nuns out of their Mâ—…nasteryes to satiate himself and commiting outrageâ—… he was at last slain by Kenred and Oswick when hâ—… had
as â—eing elevated with Wine and good Chear fell soul â—n a Rock which broke the Ship to pieces yet the â—rince with his Bride and some others got into the â—ng Boat and might have gone off but the Counâ—ss of Pearch crying to him from the Fore-castle â—or help he caused the Boat to turn and take her in â—ut before he could effect it so many leaped into it â—nd clung to its sides esteeming in that extremity their Lives as dear as their Princes that it sunk with the overlaiding and they were all drowned This doleful news coming to the Kings Earl by some of the Seamen that had escaped upon pieces of the Ship he greatly lamented the loss of his Children and though he was well in years yet in some measure to repair it he Married a second Wife viz. Adilicia Daughter to Jeffery Duke of Lorain but having no Issue by her he sent for Maud his Daughter who had been married to the Emperor her Husband being at that time dead and calling a Parliament caused Stephen his Sisters Son with his Nobles to swear her as to his lawful and now only Heir when sailing into Normandy after the toil of hunting eating a great meal of Lampries he presently fell sick and after seven days sickness dyed in the Town of St. Denis Anno 1135 his body was brought to Reading and buried in the Abby himself had founded and his Bowels and Brain at Roan nor did he dye without suspition of being poisoned for the very sent that came from his Brain was the death of the Physician that took it out The Wives of this King were two viz. Maud Daughter to Malcolm King of Scotland and Adilicia Daughter to Godfry Duke of Lorain his lawful Issue by the first was William and Maud by the last he had none yet is held to have fourteen Illegitimate Children He built many Abbies and Monasteries and was very charitable to the Poor In his time many Prodigies appeared and the Ground rent by an Earthquake sent forth such flames as destroyed some and indangered the lives of more He was King of England and Duke of Normandy fourth Son to William the Conqueror beginning his Reign Anno 1100 and Reigning 35 years being the 23 Monarch of England dying in the 65 year of his Age. Thus falls another Monarch soon or late All Crowns and Scepters in the dust must set All breath of Life the lowly and the high Must leave this narrow stage for vast Eternity The Reign of King Stephen with his Memorable Actions c. STephen Earl of Bloys Son to Adilicia Daughter to William the Conqueror and Stephen Earl of Bloys notwithstanding he had sworn Fealty to the Empress Maud laid claim to the Kingdom and by the interest and policy of his Brother Henry Bishop of Winchester and Roger Bishop of Sarum as also one Hugh Bigot who swore that King Henry upon his Death-bed taking a distaste at his Daughters proceedings had disenherited her and appointed this Stephen to succeed him in his Kingdom of England and Dukedom of Normandy so that upon these and other interests that were made he was Crowned at Westminster on St. Stephen's day Anno 1135 by William Curboil Archbishop of Canterbury the Prelates swearing to hold him King so long as he should preserve their Churches Rights and the Lay-Barrons in like manner swore Allegiance to him so long as he should keep his Covenants with them in preserving their Rights and Priviledges so that he accepted of the Crown and owned his Right as by Election The Charter containing his peoples Franchises Liberties and Immunities which he obliged himself to maintain he Signed and Sealed it at Oxford which was That all Liberties Customs Possessions granted to the Church should be firm and in force That Persons and Causes Ecclesiastical should appertain only to Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction That Church vacancies and the Goods of Church-men should be at the sole dispose of the Clergy That all ill usage touching Forests Exactions c. should be abolished and the Antient Laws restored to their Purity And for his security against the expected storm he caused or suffered many Castles to be erected which afterwards proved to his detriment This King took quiet possession of the Throne and had an interrupted Series of Tranquility for a time but by degrees the distractions came on that turned the Land into a seat of War for many years Baldwin de Redners was the first that openly began to declare himself in favour of the Empress Maud and hereupon the Welshmen took up Arms and falling upon the English not altogether provided gave them a considerable overthrow Nor did David King of the Scots forbear to invade this Kingdom and the Wesh incouraged by their former success continued to spoil the Frontiers and under the favour of another Scotish Invasion wherein under the leading of their King the Scots committed almost unparallel outrages The Nobles conspired against King Stephen betaking them to their respective Castles and strong Holds declaring that they were slighted and rejected in favour of the Flemmings and especially one Willinm de Ypre his chief counsellor and privado to follow whose directions he had neglected that of his Peers But the Scots instead of assisting these Lords making many other Invasions made great spoil and havock of their Houses Castles and Estates seeming rather to aim at a conquest than any thing less So that those in the North marched against them and being animated by Thurstan Archbishop of York by whose Authority Ralph Bishop of Durham being made General undertook but by what Warrant I know not to forgive the sins of all that should fall in Battle and secure them from punishments and pains in another Life the English fell on with such fury that they drove the Scots out of the Field with great slaughter nor could the presence of their King and the Prince his Son restrain them from open flight into Scotland and King Stephen following this advantage obliged them to sue for Peace however he found himself but slenderly assured in the Hearts of his People especially of the Nobles which made him prepare for the worst and hearing the Empress Maud was landed with a small train not exceeding 140 men at Arundel he hasted to oppose her but she being a Woman of great Policy coloured over her Intentions protested she came in peace only to spend the remainder of her days in a Country wherewith she was so much delighted and although the King had some little mistrust he nevertheless dissembled it and gave her Royal Entertainment causing her to be conveyed to the City of Bristol appointing it for her reception scarce had the Empress continued at Bristol two Months before she privately withdrew to Wallingford expecting the Forces her Brother Earl Robert was raising on her behalf But the King having notice of many underhand contrivances besieged that place whilst his Brother the Bishop of Winchester under a pretence of friendship and important
and prosecuting the Wars of Scotland he obliged many of the Scotch Nobility to doe him Homage at Dumsreize and upon his return he imprisoned Walter Bishop of Chester seizing upon all his Goods and Credits for causing by his Complaint the Banishment of Gaveston in the Reign of Edward the First as likewise himself to be restrained in his disorderly way of living Then passing the Seas he at Bulloign in France married young Isabel Daughter to Philip the Fair. King of France and returned with her in a most splendid manner bringing back with him Gaveston his darling Favourite who was a Gentleman Stranger brought up with him in his youth and now under the Influence of the King began to be so imperious that the Nobility was set against him yet the King who thought nothing too dear for his Minion not only upheld him but supplied him with Treasure to the highest Profuseness giving him his Jewels and wishing nothing more than that he might succeed him in the Throne which obliged the Parliament to pass an Act for his perpetual Banishment but had much difficulty to get it passed by the King nor did he doe it but to pass another giving him a great Summe of Money however with reluctancy he signed it yet he would suffer his Privado whom he had made Earl of Cornwall to be no farther from him than Ireland where he maintained him in a splendid manner and within a while called him to Court and married him to Joan of Acres Countess of Gloucester his Sisters Daughter which made him more insolent than ever consuming the King's Treasure in Feasts Plays and other Riotous Proceedings at such a rate that there was not enough left to supply the necessities of the Court drawing the King likewise into such Debaucheries that the Queen finding her self sensibly injured reproved him at first with mildness but finding that ineffectual she openly complained so that Gaveston was a third time banished yet he staid not long before the King privately sent for him making him principal Secretary of State which so incensed as well the Bishops as the Temporal Lords that they resolved to expell him by Force of Arms chusing for their Leader Thomas Earl of Lancaster and at Dathington whither his Fear had driven him he was surprized by Guy Earl of Warwick who conveyed him to Blacklow where several of the Nobles consulting that if he was set at Liberty he would work their Ruine with the King they proceeded to prevent it and without any formal Tryall caused his head to be struk off which greatly incensed the King and raised in him a mortal Enmity against those Lords yet by the Mediation of Gilbert Earl of Gloucester they were seemingly forgiven The Scots about this time rising in arms under David Bruce whom they had chosen their King or Leader entering England and doing great Mischief in Northumberland King Edward marched against them but in this expedition many of the discontented Lords refused to aid him under pretence that he had delayed to ratifie their Liberties and Charters through which defect he received a great overthrow near Bannocksbourn for there the two Armies joining the crafty Scots had in divers places made deep Trenches covering them with rotten Hurdles and Earth so that the English Chavalry pressing on fell into those Pits and were gored upon the sharp Stakes that were placed at the bottom and although the King behaved himself with much bravery refusing to leave the field till he was forced thence by his Friends yet the Earl of Gloucester the Lord Clifford and about seven hundred Knights and Esquires with a great number of common Soldiers were slain many Nobles taken Prisoners together with a large Booty and this was the greatest Advantage the Scots ever gained over the English which encouraged them to make deeper Inroads with whom some of the discontented English joined while King Edward in the most solemn Pomp interred the Body of Gaveston at Kings-Langley in Hertfordshire and soon after instead of one he raised up two Privadoes or Favourites viz. the Spencers Father and Son who perceiving themselves high in the King's Favour instead of taking warning by the Fate of Gaveston they strove to exceed him to pride and Arrogance which soon procured them the hatred of the Nobles to such a degree that the King could not consider himself in Safety till he had consented to their Banishment But now the Queen who had hitherto been a Mediatrix between the King and his Barons being denied a Night's Lodging in one of the Baron's Castles she so highly resented the Affront that her former good Offices were changed into Studies of Revenge and in this humour she laboured with the King to ruine those she a little before had sought to protect and the King easily exasperated soon consented to pleasure her to his Power and therefore to cross the Barons he caused the Judgment against the Spencers to be reversed Some of the delinquent Lords fearing the Storm that threatened them submitted to the King others were taken Prisoners as the two Roger Mortimers Father and Son and committed to the Tower but the rest resolved to stand out under the Leading of the Earl of Lancaster but they were overthrown at Burrough-bridg where Humphrey de Bohun was slain by a Spear from under the Bridge And the Earl with other principal Men to the number of Ninety or upwards most of them Barons and Knights were taken Prisoners by Andrew de Herkerly Captain of Carlisle for which Service he was afterward created Earl of that place These Noble Prisoners were not long confined before they too sensibly felt the King's Anger for being pushed on by the Queen the Spencers and other Court Favourites he caused the Earl of Lancaster his Unkle to be beheaded at Pontefract where he stayed five hours upon the Scaffold before the Sheriff could procure an Executioner and the Barons and Knights were hanged and quartered in divers places And here the Queen had her Revenge for the Lord Badelmere who refused her the Lodging being taken amongst others was hanged before it so that by this rigorous Execution most of the Noble English Bloud supplyed the thirsty Earth with too precious a draught But it appears that this Cruelty was rather an Act of the Courtiers than done by the King 's natural Inclination for one of a mean family being taken in the Rebellion and the Favourites pleading earnestly for his Pardon the King in a great rage reviled them in these terms viz. A plague upon you cursed Whisperers malitious Backbiters wicked Counselors Intreat you for the Life of a most notorious Knave who would not speak one word for the Life of my near Kinsman that most noble Knight Earl Thomas By the Soul of God this Fellow shall dye the death he has deserved and accordingly he was executed In the Year 1322. The King to revenge former Injuries marched with a great Army into Scotland but through the neglect of his Purveyors
of Worcester and Douglas Sir Richard Vernon Barron of Kinlaton taken and beheaded 200 Esquires and Gentlemen of Cheshire and a great number of common Soldiers lost their Lives not without considerable Loss to the King and the ending his Life for Hotspur broke furiously through the Squadron where the Standard was and there had killed or taken him Prisoner had he been seconded as he expected yet this so incensed the King that he caused his Body whom his own Party had carried off and buried to be taken out of the Grave the Head cut off and the Quarters to be dispersed in divers Places As for the Earl of Northumberland he was taken after this Defeat as he was raising Forces in the North yet had his Life pardoned but was abridged in his Estate and the better to quiet the like Disturbances the King called a Parliament but could get no considerable Supply neither in that nor the other two Parliaments that succeeded it About this time William de Willford being abroad with a Squadron of Men of War brought in 40 Prizes laden with Iron Oyl and Rochel Wine which was sold to supply the King's Coffers and a Troup of Western Men brought 3 foreign Lords and 20 Knights of note Prisoners from Dartmouth having slain the Lord Castile and a great many of his Followers who cruzing on the Coast attempted to burn and plunder that place as before they had served Plimouth for which Service the King bestowed liberal Rewards amongst them and in Parliament caused the Earl of Northumberland to be restored to his entire Possession yet these things quieted not the minds of the Nobility for soon after Thomas Mowbray Earl-Marshal of England drew Richard Scroop Arch-Bishop of York into a Conspiracy who tampering with the Earl of Westmoreland and he promising them fair instead of siding with them delivered them up to the King and they were thereupon beheaded but the Pope being highly incensed at the Arch-bishop's Death excommunicated all those that had a hand in it This was seconded by another of the Earl of Northumberland and the Lord Bardolf but their Forces being weak they were encountred by the Sheriff of Yorkshire where the Earl in a sharp conflict was slain in the Field and the Lord mortally wounded and as a mark of Ignominy the Earl's Head was carried on a Pole through London and fixed on the Bridge-gate and because the Scots had encouraged this Undertaking and to surpress the Rumour that went abroad of King Richard's being alive the King marched an Army of 37000 Men to their Borders battered Berwick with a piece of Cannon the first that was used in England and took it as likewise siezed on all the Castles belonging to the Earl of Northumberland then marched into Wales but was â—isappointed in that Expedition by the sudden Inâ—undations and Torrents of Water that flowed â—rom the Hills whereby fifty of his Waggons with Treasure and Provisions were destroyed and a great part of his Food which obliged him to reâ—ire The King to repair his Loss called another Parâ—iament which through his Importunity was constrained to grant him a Subsidy and in the year 1407 a Plague raged throughout England and destroyed in London 30000 Persons A great Frost followed it that lasted 15 Weeks yet the Duke of Burgundy craving the King's Aid against the Duke of Orleance had his Request granted And amongst other memorable Actions of the English Sir John Blunt raised a Siege beat Four thousand French-men with Three hundred English taking about Twelve Noblemen and One hundred and Twenty Gentlemen Prisoners And now Wickliff's Doctrine beginning to spread the Arch-Bishop Arundel so incensed the King that William Sawtree William Swinderby and William Thorp all eminent Divines were put to Death for their profession of a good Faith but the King did not long survive that Cruelty for Anno 1413. falling sick and into an Appoplexy whilst his Crown was placed on his Pillow Prince Henry his Son came and took it thence which the King perceiving upon his reviving sent for him and demaâ—ded the reason of his hastiness who boldly replyed That he seeming dead in all Men's esteem he took it as his Right Whereupon the King with some trouble of mind looking on him said Ah Son with what Right it was got God only knoweth who forgive me the Sin To which the Prince fiercely replyed However it was got I mean to keep it when it shall be mine and defend it with my Sword as you by your Sword have obtained it and soon after the King dyed and was buried at Canterbury This Henry the IV was King of England and France Lord of Ireland c. eldest Son to John Duke of Lancaster by Blanch his Wife He began his Reign the 29th of Sptember Anno 1399 and Reigned 13 Years 3 Months and 16 Days and was the 33d sole Monarch of England by his first Wife Mary he had Issue Prince Henry Thomas Duke of Clarence John Duke of Bedford Humphrey Duke of Gloucester Blanch and Philippa by his second-Wife no Issue that survived him Thus ill-got Crowns create a troubl'd Reign Howe'er so easie got hard to maintain Such Crowns have Thorns that still the Wearer pain The Life Reign and Actions of Henry the V. King of England c. HEnry of Monmouth so called from the place of his Birth in his youthfull years lead away by wild and debauched Courtiers committed many extravagancies not being exempted from Robbing on the High-ways putting his Father in fear of some Design he had upon his Person and attempting to rescue a Prisoner from the Face of Justice in the Court of King's-Bench but when he came to the Crown he was wonderfully changed commanding his former leud Companions to alter their manners or not dare to approach his Court nor within Ten miles of his Person chusing grave and worthy Counsellours and much honouring the Clergy and the more to ingratiate with the People every day after Dinner he was wont for the space of an hour to receive Petitions in order to redress Grievances which he would doe with wonderfull Equity much lamenting the untimely Death of King Richard and so near it touched him that he sent to Rome to be absolved from a Fact he had no hand in Whilst things went on prosperously a Parliament was called wherein it was moved that the superfluous Lands and Temporalties belonging to Religious Houses were sufficient of the Maintainance of 15 Earls 1500 Knights 6200 Esquires and 100 Alms-Houses and over and above 20007 l per Annum to the King's Coffers and this to curb the Pride of the Clergy was pressed very home and had gone on had not the Arch-Bishop of Canteâ—bury to turn his Thoughts from it perswaded him to seek his Right in France of which Kingdom he told him he was the true Heir enforcing it with strong Reasons insomuch that the young King being naturally of a fierce and warlike Spirit soon hearkned to what he had suggested and sent
Assistence with the Council of France such of the English Nobility as he should see convenient with other Articles to the number of thirty very advantageous to the English were all sworn to at Troyis May the 30th 1420. and proclaimed in London the June following and Homage sworn to King Henry who was proclaimed Regent of France and on the 3d of June the Marriage was celebrated in the presence of divers of the chief Nobility of England and France at Troyis with great Pomp and Splendour and they rode in Triumph to take Possession of the Palace in Paris and a Parliament of the three Estates were assembled in that City who confirmed what had been done by the Kings and it was there likewise ratified by the General Estates of the Realm and Sworn to particularly on the Holy Evangelist by the French Noblemen and Rulers Spiritual and Temporal who moreover sealed the Instruments which were sent over to be kept in the King's Exchequer at Westminster which done the King left the Duke of Clarence his Lieutenant in France and came for England with his Queen where he was received with Joy and Triumph causing her to be crowned at Westminster and then proceeded to call a Parliament for farther Supplies to maintain his War against the Dauphin who still stood out to recover the Kingdom but the Commons exhiting a Petition of Poverty he again pawned his Crown to Cardinal Beaufort for 20000 pounds and passed into France with 4000 Horse and 24000 Foot and his presence there was necessary for the Dauphin strengthened by Forces for Scotland under the Leading of the Earl of Buchanan and Archibald Douglas defeated and killed the Duke of Clarence took the Earls of Huntindon Somerset and others Prisoners and heightened with that Success he laid Siege to Alenzon and cut off the Provisions of Paris but the King 's Approach made him to retire to Bury King Henry soon recovered what the Dauphin had taken and drove him to great distress but when this great King had triumphed over that mighty Kingdom with unconquerable Fortune and Success and annexed it fully to the Crown of England death laid his Arrest upon him for falling sick of a burning Fever and Flux he dyed on the 30th of August 1422. at Bloice de Vincennois and his Body brought over was buried with pomp at Westminster hard by the Tomb of Edward the Confessour appointing by his last Will and Testament his younger Brother Humphry Duke of Gloucester Protectour of England his Brother John Duke of Bedford Regent of France and Thomas Beaufort Guardian of his Son Henry born a little before at Windsor contrary to the King 's express command who when he heard the Queen had lain in at that place prophetically spake viz. Good God! I Henry of Monmouth shall have but a short Reign and win much but Henry of Windsor shall reign long and lose all yet God's Will be done This Henry was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland eldest Son of Henry the Fourth by Mary his Queen He began his Reign on the 20th of March 1412. and reigned 9 Years 5 Months and 10 days and was the 34th sole Monarch of England Thus Beauty Power and Honour yield to death Great Conquerours like Slaves resign their breath Their Lawrels in the Dust with them must lie But Fame's immortal and can never dye The Life Reign and Actions of HENRY the Sixth King of England France c. HEnry of Windsor so called from the place of his Birth upon the death of his Father was crowned when he exceeded not eight Months of age the Queen holding him in her lap whilst the Solemnity was performed to whom his Nurtriture and Education was committed but his Minority much disadvantaged the English Interest in France for old King Charles dying Charles his Son greatly strengthned his party and although he was called by the English in derision only King of Burry as having little more left him yet now he encroached upon the English wresting from them sundry places by the help of Aids from Scotland and Italy which made the English Regent think it time to give him Battel and accordingly the Armies joyned near Vernoli where the French were overthrown the Regent doing wonders in his own person and there were slain the Constable and Lieutenant of France the Earls of Wigton and Vantadour with about five thousand others and the Duke of Alanzon taken Prisoner upon which Victory the English besieged Monts in Main and having with his Cannon made a great breach in the Wall it was surrendered and a little while after the Earl of Salisbury besieged Orleance and brought it to such distress that the Garison was willing to surrender to the Duke of Burgundy but the Earl refused it which so offended the Duke that he declined the English Interest which proved very prejudicial The French being in a drooping Condition and using strong Cordials to support their Spirits one Joan a Shepherdess of Lorrain came to the Dauphin and offered him her Service saying She was sent by God to deliver France out of the hands of the English and not exceeding eighteen years of age her offer at first was looked upon as rediculous but she persisting in what she had declared the Dauphin caused her to be armed at all points and desiring the Sword that hung in St. Catharines Church she got into Orleance then besieged by the English and from thence sent a Letter commanding them to raise the Siege and deliver up the Towns they possessed for she was resolved to drive them out of France but they looked upon it only as proceeding from Folly or a raving fit yet in the several Sallies she made it proved otherwise for by the violent Sallies she made the Siege was raised with loss to the English she commonly fighting in the head of the French and animating them to go on couragiously for being in one of the Sallies shot through the Arm with an Arrow and perswaded to retire she cryed out This is a favour let us go on they cannot escape the hands of God and there of note were slain the Earl of Salisbury the Lords Moline and Poynings Sir Thomas Gagrave and the French say about eight thousand common Soldiers yet our Historians allow but six hundred and the French following their success wrested several Towns and surprising a party of English overthrew them taking Prisoners the Lords Talbot Scales Hungerford and Sir Thomas Rampston whereupon several Towns revolted and the Dauphin took Auxier and Rhiemes in the latter of which according to the direction of Joan called by the French the Maid of God Charles the Dauphin caused himself to be Crowned King of France Joan of Arks having been hitherto very sucsessfull and done the Dauphin singular service coming to the relief of Campaign which was greatly distressed by the English and Burgundians in a desperate charge advancing too far and being separated from those that should have succoured her she was
so far prevailed with the easie King that a Reconciliation was made and the Kuke of Somerset who mainly opposed the Yorkists Interest was confined a Prisoner to his house which done the Duke of York dissolved his Army and came to London making great complaints to the King against Somerset of which that Duke had no sooner notice but he came before the King and accused his Accuser Face to Face charging him with High-Treason as having conspired to depose the King and take the Sovereignty on himself whereupon the Duke of York was confined till such time as he swore in St. Paul's Church before a great Concourse of Nobility to continue a true faithfull and obedient Subject to King Henry And about this time by the success of John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury the Affairs of France began to appear in a better posture for by the prevailing Arms of this valiant man Burdeaux the chief City in Normandy was taken with many other Places of Note but upon his attempting to relieve Castilion charging the Enemy upon unequal Terms he was slain in the Field together with his Son the Viscount Lisle and with him dyed all the English hope of ever recovering what was lost in France for the Duke of York not regarding his Oath An. 1445. took up Arms and broke into the King's Palace and the King to oppose him drew out considerable Forces so that a great Battel was fought at St. Albans where the King was wounded with an Arrow and taken Prisoner and the Duke of Somerset the Earls of Northumberland and Stafford together with the Lord Clifford and divers other Knights and Gentlemen of the Royal Party slain Henry being brought to London a Parliament was called in which the Memories and Honours of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester were restored and those that had taken up Arms under the Duke of York indempnified of the Treason and that Duke created Protectour of England The Earl of Salisbury made Chancellour and the Earl of Warwick his Son Captain of Calais And thus having gotten the Power into their hands they worked out the Counsellours and Favourites of the King placing such in their stead as would stickle for their Interest The Divisions gave the French the boldness to make discents into several places In Kent and Devonshire they burnt some Towns and committed many Outrages which yet abated not the heat and heart-burning of the English one to another for although 〈◊〉 Lords met and concluded a seeming Agreementâ— yet it lasted not long before both side â—â—â—â—med and a mortal Battel was fought on 〈…〉 where the King's Party was worsted And soon after another Battel was fought at Ludlow where the Duke and his Adherents received a great overthrow and the Town of Ludlow laid in Ruines for adhering to the Yorkists and hereupon a Parliament was called wherein the Duke of York the Earls of March Salisbury and Rutland and others were attainted of High Treason and had their Estates confiscated But on the 9th of July 1460. the Scale turned for in a fatal Battel at Northampton the King was overthrown by means of the revolt of the Lord Grey of Ruthen and in this Battel on the King's part there were slain the Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Shrewsbury Viscount Beaumont the Lord Egrinham Sir William Lucy and others and the King himself was made Prisoner and carried to London where in a Parliament begun the 8th of October the Duke of York laid Claim to the Crown and set forth his Pedigree and urged it so far that the Parliament came to a conclusion That Henry should enjoy the Crown during his natural Life but then it should fall to the Duke of York and his heirs and the heirs of Henry to be utterly excluded and accordingly the Duke was proclaimed Heir apparent to the Crown But Queen Margaret who was in the North raising Forces resolved not to stand to what her Husband had been forced to consent to but to maintain the right of her Son Prince Edward but having gathered a considerable Army she marched towards London against her the Duke drew out and near Wakefield a bloudy and doubtfull Battel was faught in which the Duke of York was slain his Forces overthrown his Son the Earl of Rutland killed begging his Life on his Knees and the Earl of Salisbury taken Prisoner and beheaded the Duke's head was cut off and a Paper Crown set upon it by way of derision and thus had ended the fatal Quarrel between the Houses of York and Lancaster had not Edward Earl of March eldest Son to the Duke of York advanced with a great Army gathered in the Marches of Wales and near Mortimer's Cross in Ludlow fought with the Queens Army when at the joining of the Battel three Suns appeared in the Firmament which immediately united into one In this Battel the Queens Forces were overthrown with great Slaughter and Owen Tudor Father in law to King Henry VII being taken Prisoner was together with Sir John Scudemore and his two Sons beheaded but An. 1460. the Queen overthrew the Earl of March in a great Battel at St. Albans rescuing King Henry out of his hands who was brought thither to countenance the Soldiers but the Londoners sided with him and upon the Queens drawing off to the North proclaimed him King of England c. And here Historians put an end to King Henry's Reign though he lived much longer as will appear in the succeeding Reign his Wife was Margaret Daughter to Reynate King of Jerusalem c. by her he had Issue Edward This Henry was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland the onely Child of Henry the Fifth by Katharine his Queen he began his Reign on the 30th of August 1422. and reigned thirty eight Years 6 Months and 3 Days being the thirty fifth sole Monarch of England and was stabbed to the heart in the Tower by Richard Duke of Gloucester Brother to Edward the Fourth on the 20th of May 1471. in the 46th Year of his Age buried first in the Abbey of Chartsey in Surry afterwards removed to Windsor by Henry the Seventh then removed again none knows where In his time many strange Accidents happened portending the Woes and Miscries that befell the Kingdom Thus the good pious King bereft of Crowns Bore patiently the Wreck of Fortune's frowns Yet murtherous minds were not with this content But in a stream of Bloud to Heaven he 's sent The Reign and Actions of Edward the Fourth King of England c. EDward the eldest Son to Richard Duke of York in the beginning of his Reign found great opposition from the Lancastrians who pitying the Misfortune of pious King Henry raised Forces in many parts he was crowned at Westminster but the Citizens who had been the greatest Sticklers for him not finding him answer their expectations in performing the Promises he had made them began to decline his Interest however he marched against the Forces raised in the North giving the Lord
Fitz-walter battel at Ferrybridg near Pontefract but not being able to maintain it he was there with most of his men cut in pieces by Henry's Forces when both Armies facing on the Plain between Towton and Saxton on the 28th of March they joined Battel that of Edwards consisting of 48660 men and Henry's of 60000 but by the Lancastrians mistaking Stars for Suns being the Cognizance of each Party and doubting some Treason in the case many of them fled so that those who remained lost the field and in this Battel were slain the Earl of Northumberland the Lords Clifford Neuel Wells Scales Beaumont Dacres Grey Willoughby Fitzhug and other Persons of Quality about 357 and in all 35091 being the most bloudy and obstinate Battel that had been fought upon this Overthrow Henry with his Queen and Son fled into Scotland and were honourably received by King James whose Sister Prince Edward not long after married From Scotland the Queen sailed to France to seek aids in that Court and in mean while King Edward returning to London was a second time proclaimed and calling a Parliament Henry together with his Queen and Prince Edward his Son were disinherited and about fourty three Nobles disinherited and attainted The Queen a Woman of a Martial Spirit by her Interest in France had by this time gotten a considerable number of Men but sailing for Scotland and afterwards making for England her Fleet was scattered by a Tempest so that she and her Husband were left solely to the Aid of the Scots and with what Forces they could gather marched as far as the Bishoprick of Durham but the Forces of the Scots were defeated at Hegely Moor where Sir Ralph Percie dying said in allusion of his Oath to King Henry I have saved the Bird in my Breast And another defeat happening at Hexam Feries Fortune seemed utterly averse and that poor Prince coming out of Scotland into England in disguise was betrayed and apprehended as he sat at Dinner in Wadington-Hall and in an ignominious manner brought to London with his Legs bound under the Horses Belly and secured as a Prisoner in the Tower King Edward by the Imprisonment of Henry conceiving himself more secure sent the Earl of Warwick to woo for him in the Court of Savoy but whilst he earnestly sollicited and had brought the matter to perfection by obtaining the good Will of the Estates News came that King Edward had married the Lady Elizabeth Grey Widow to Sir John Grey slain in the Battel at St. Albans fighting on the part of King Henry with whom he had fallen in Love upon her becoming an humble Suitor to him for her Jointure and because he could not compass his ends without Marriage that vertuous Lady disdaining to be the Harlot even of a puissant King he resolved against the Minds of his Friends to obtain his desires by making her his Wife This so sensibly touched the Earl of Warwick in reflecting upon his Honour in serving a Master of so little Constancy that although he had been mainly Instrumental in helping him to the Kingdom he changed his love into mortal hatred and working upon George Duke of Clarence to favour his design and by secret Practices they stirred up a Commotion in the North where one Robert Huldren headed 15000 of the Commons but he being executed Sir John Conyers undertook to head them Proclaiming as they passed that King Edward was an unjust Prince and unprofitable to the Kingdom when to surpress these disorders he sent an Army under the leading of the Earl of Pembroke who joyned Battel near Banbury and had been victorious had not one John Clapham Esq and Servant to the Earl of Warwick come in the heat of the Fight and displayed his Master's Colours whose Cognisance was the White Bear and by crying a Warwick so dismayed the Welshmen of whom most of the Army was composed that thereby thinking the Earl was come in with his party they threw down their Arms and betook them to flight leaving their General who valiantly fighting was taken Prisoner together with his Brother Sir Robert Herbert and ten other Gentlemen of Note who lost their Heads at Banbury by the Judgment of Conyers and Clapham Anno 1469. The Success of the Northern men occasioned them to rise in great Number and a Party under the Leading of Robert of Ridisdale surprising the King's Manner of Grafton siezed the Lord Rivers the Queens Father together with John his Son whom they beheaded at Northampton which obliged the King to hasten with a great Army but whilst the people were expecting the issue of a bloudy Fight a Truce was concluded which rendering the King more secure than cautious the Earl of Warwick entered his Tent in the dead of Night and with little resistance made him Prisoner and carried him to Warwick Castle and from thence in the Night time conveyed him to Middleham Castle in Yorkshire and there committed him to George Nevil Arch-Bishop of York Brother to the Earl but having Liberty allowed to hunt in the Park and Forrests he was rescued by a Troup of his own Men however Sir Robert Wells with thirty thousand of the Commons disturbed the Country Proclaiming King Henry but encountering King Edwards Forces and himself in a bloudy Battel made Prisoner the Lincolnshire Men of which the Army was mostly composed threw of their Coats with the Earls badge on them in great Confusion left the Field so that from that it was called the battel of Losi-Coaâ—field upon which defeat and the putting Sir Robert with many others to death The Duke of Clarence Earl of Warwick and divers Nobles found themselves obliged to pass the Seas but were refused enterance at Calais of which place VVarwick was Captain by one Vawclear whom he a little before had Substituted his Deputy and for which refusal King Edward made him Captain in VVarwick's stead however they went to the Court at France and were there entertained with much respect where gathering Aids and holding Correspondence with their Friends in England soon after they Landed at Dartmouth and Marched towards London Proclaiming King Henry and commanded all from Sixteen to Sixty years of Age to take up Arms on his behalf against Edward Duke of York whom they termed a Usurper so that all the Land in a manner was in Arms and King Edward perceiving his Fortune utterly averse and that the few forces he had raised were ready to Revolt he thought it no fit time to dispute but rather to reserve himself to a more favourable Fortune whereupon with a few of his Friends he passed the Seas and was received by Charles Duke of Burgundy who had married the Lady Margaret his Sister whilst his Queen took Sanctuary in Westminster where she was delivered of a Son afterwards Christened by the name of Edward and other Sanctuarys were filled with the King's Friends and such as had adhered to him This disorder gave the Kentish men an opportunity to rise in Arms
and do great mischief especially in and about the City of London and had been greater but the Earl entered with his Army and put an end to those disorders and set King Henry at liberty who had been a Prisoner in the Tower for almost the space of Nine years conveying him to the King's Palace in great Triumph where on the 13th of October he was crowned again and went with the Crown on his head to St. Paul's Church the Earl of Warwick bearing up his Train and the Earl of Oxford carrying the Sword before him whilst the people cryed God save King Henry and a Parliament being called to sit at Westminster the 26th of November King Edward was declared a Traitor to his Country and a Usurper of the Crown his Goods and Lands were confiscated and his Adherents were attained The Earl of Worcester for his Cause lost his Head and all the Statutes made by Edward Revoked The Crowns of England and France were entailed to King Henry and his Heirs Male and for default of such Issue to George Duke of Clarence The Earl of Warwick to be Governour of the Land till it could be better settled Thus went the various change of Affairs in England 〈◊〉 the bloudy contest between the houses of York and Lancaster yet continued not the advancement of King Henry for King Edward holding Correspondency in England and gathering some Forces beyond the Seas landed at Ravenspur in Yorkshire where the better to insinuate with the People He at first pretended to come for his right as a private person but finding himself strong enough he siezed upon York and increasing in Power marched till â—he came near to the City of Warwick where his Brother the Duke of Clarence being reconciled to him by the means of a Maid-servant that had lived with the Old Dutches of York desiring the Earl to forsake King Henry's Cause and close with his Brother but that great Man more regarding his Engagement than Life or Interest sent him word that he had rather be an Earl and always like himself than a perjured Duke and that e'er his Oath should be falsified as the Dukes apparently was he would lay down his Life at his enemies Feet which he doubt not should be bought very dear whereupon King Edward hasted to London and was received by the Citizen no ways able to resist him when drawing out his Forces he marched against the Earl and his Accomplicies and on Easter day in the Morning Battel was joyned on Glad-more Heath near Barnet in which bloudy Conflict fortune at first seemed to favour VVarwick but by an unlucky mistake he lost the day for a great Mist falling the embroidered Stars upon the Coats of such as were commanded by the Earl of Oxford being taken for Suns which was King Edward's Cognizance VVarwick's Battallion charged by that Errour upon their Friends and they suspecting it done on purpose crying out Treason quitted the Field which the Earl perceiving and resolving not to out-live the loss of the day charged desperately into the King's Battel killing many with his own Hands but being cut off from the assistance of his own men he there was slain as likewise was his Brother the Lord Montacute in attempting to Rescue him on King Edward's Party dyed the Lords Cromwell Bourchier and Barns with Siâ— John Lisle and on both sides about 10000 of all sorts But thus ended not the Contests for the Crown for Queen Margaret in the right of her Husband and Son raised a strong Power Anno Domini 1471. and gave the King Battel at Tewxbury but Fortune now turned fatally averse to the Queen and her Family for losing the day with the death of John Lord Somerset John Courtney Earl of Devonshire Sir John Delues Sir Edward Hampden Sir Robert Whitingham Sir John Leukner and several others and a great many of lesser note The Queen in this rout fled and betook her self to a religious house for sanctuary but was takan thence and made close Prisoner young Prince Edward her Son was taken in his flight by Sir Richard Crofts who presented him to King Edward who having a while beheld him with a stern countenance demanded how he durst presume with Banners displayed to disturb his Kingdom to which the Prince replied that what he did was to recover his Father's Kingdoms and his most rightfull Inheritance But how dare you continued the Prince being but a Subject display your Colours against your Liege Lord Upon this resolute replie King Edward unworthily struck him on the Mouth with his Gantlet when Richard Duke of Gloucester basely taking the hint stabbed him and the Wound being seconded by some of the Servants the poor Prince fell dead at the King's feet Things being carried at an extraordinary highth Edmund Duke of Somerset the Prior of St. John's with divers Knights and Esquiers who had taken sanctuary were contrary to the Custome of those times taken thence by force and executed at Tewxbury and soon after Richard Duke of Gloucester the King's Brother stabbed the pious King Henry to the heart in the Tower of London and his body was exposed in a Coffin at St. Paul's to convince the People he was dead As for the Queen she continued several years a Prisoner but at length her Father mortgaged most of his Principalities to pay her Ransome and she thereupon was sent over Sea where in much sorrow and perplexity she languished â—ut the rest of her days and by this means the Lancastrians being utterly disabled to make head King Edward more assured in his Throne betook himself to his Pleasure and hearing of the Fame of Jane Shoar Wife to a Goldsmith in Gracechurch-street he sent for her and took her to his Bed upon which her Husband renounced her and for Grief and the Disgrace betook himself to travel beyond the Seas never returning into England He had likewise two other Concubines high in his esteem and being in the Year 1474. in France at an Interview with the French King Lewis told him that he would one day invite him to court the fair Ladies of Paris to which Offer Edward readily consented insomuch that the French King not being pleased with his forwardness whispering to Philip Comines his Bosome Friend told him that he repented of his Offer considering that there had been too many English Princes already at Paris so that the King returned without having any opportunity to prosecute such Amours Anno 1478. by the contrivance of Richard Duke of Gloucester George Duke of Clarence was accused of sundry Crimes and committed to the Tower where soon after he was smothered in a Butt of Malmsey Wine and 't is reported the King consented to so great a Wickedness upon a Prophecy That a G. should succeed an E. which however proved true though he mistook the Man for Richard Duke of Gloucester usurped the Throne and murthered his two Sons as will appear hereafter Two Acts yet more of this King's Cruelty are memorable viz. Going
10000 l and about 80000 of them took their Oaths to become his Liege Subjects making Sir Edward Poinings Governour and Thomas Wolsey his great Favourite Bishop of that City nor did this Success remain to the English in France alone but at the same time in England for the Scots invading England with a powerfull Army and having pierced as far as Northumberland the Earl of Surry gave them battel with a great overthrow in Folden Field where James their King one Archbishop 2 Bishops 2 Abbats 12 Earls 17 Lords a great number of Knights and Gentlemen and about 8000 common Soldiers slain and allmost all the rest taken prisoners This memorable Battel was fought on Septemb. 9. 1513. King Hen. victorious in France the French sought all Ways for an Accommodation and at last Pope Leo becoming Moderatour a Peace was concluded and soon after Lewis XII married Mary the King 's younger Sister at Albeville with great splendour yet he lived but 82 days after for being aged and infirm and over striving himself to pleasure a beautious lively young Lady it no doubt contributed to the hastening his End and upon his Death the Queen returning for England was privately married at Callais to Charles Bradon Duke of Suffolk her first Lover and from whom she had unwillingly parted to fall into the Arms of Majesty And now by the too free Access of Foreigners Trade greatly decreasing one John Lincoln and other aggrieved persons put up a Bill of Complaint and it was read by the Minister at the Spital Sermon This so animated the Rabble that getting together on May day 1517. they fell upon plundered and destroyed the Houses of the Strangers committing many Outrages on their Persons Nor was the Magistracy able to quell them for being all in an uproar the Lieutenant of the Tower who had no Good-Will for the City played the Great Guns upon it but the Rage of the Multitude spent they retired to their respective Habitations yet several were taken and tried of which number Lincoln and 13 more most of them youths were hanged in divers places of the City and about 200 Men and Boys and 9 Girls and Women went in their Shifts only being bare headed footed and legged and Ropes about their Necks to Westminster where at the upper end of the Hall the King sate and after he had sharply reproved them and they on their knees had begged Mercy Wolsey by the King's command pronounced their Pardon whereat with a joyfull Cry they threw up their Halters in token of deliverance from death and this day ever since is called Evil May day and soon after Tournay was restored to the French in consideration they paid the King 600000 Crowns in twelve years and the Dauphin to marry the Lady Mary King Henry's Daughter when she should be of sufficient years of Consent but if the Marriage took no effect then the City to be restored and Wolsey who by this time had bought him a Cardinal's Cap to have 1000 Marks a year for the profits of the Bishoprick and Wolsey having power with the King to doe all remembring a former Affront put upon by Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham he used his interest to the destruction of that great Peer who was beheaded on Tower-hill upon pretence of aspiring to the Crown In the Year 1521. the Emperour Charles V. in his way to Spain landed at Dover for Refreshment and at the King 's earnest Request came to London and was royally entertained with all the Magnificence and Splendour the Court abounded with at that time and King Henry having written a Book against Martin Luther and sent it to the Pope he in recompence to his Zeal for the Roman Church sent him the Stile of Defender of the Faith which has ever since remained to the Kings and Queens of England sending him likewise a Consecrated Rose The Peace between England and France by reason of misunderstandings growing to a Conclusion a Parliament was assembled at the King's Palace in Black-Fryers granting him half the yearly Revenues of all Spirituall Livings to be paid for five years and the tenth part of all Temporal Substance to carry on his Wars so that not staying to expect War he sent to meet it commanding the Duke of Suffolk to pass over with an Army who taking many Towns and Castles and every where worsting the French returned Victorious and the King banished the Scots out of England confiscating their Goods but upon the Mediation of his Sister a peace was concluded for a time yet there was Martial business abroad for the Irish rebelled and siezing upon the Earl of Kildare who bore the Kings Authority in that Kingdom they sent him bound to England with many Accusations against him for which he was committed to the Tower and Wolsey who hated him signed a Warrant for his Execution without the knowledge of the King whereupon the Lieutenant went to Court and the Trick being made known to the King Wolsey was severely checked and the Earl had the King's Sgnet sent him for his security About this time overtures being made by the Emperor's Ministers in consideration of Marriage with the Lady Mary the French having rejected the Match and some scruples arising about the Legality of her Birth as being born on a Queen that had been his Brother's Wife the King began to fall into a dislike of his Marriage and sent to Rome to sue out a Divorce but finding delays in that Cour◠he desired a Cardinal might be sent to hear the Cause and accordingly Cardinal Campius was sent whose Mules casting their Sumpters in Cheap-side the Cardinal's Treasure was discovered to consist o◠old Shooes broken Meat tatter'd Breaches and Rags which raised no small Laughter in the people This Cardinal sate with Wolsey and other Clergy men but when the King expected the issue of the Matter instead of giving the definitive Sentence he dissolved that Court and referred the Cause to the Pope which so incensed the King that he Commanded him to depart the Kingdom and sent Dr. Cranmer to Rome to justifie the proceedings to the Pope who with other learned Men bringing the Opinions of almost all the Universities of Europe under their Seals that it was not Lawfull to Marry 〈◊〉 Brother's Wife the Divorce was made yet the Queen lived in England till she dyed and King Henry proceeded to take to Wife Ann of Bullen a very beautifull Lady who to that end he had before made a Dutches and honoured with many favours but better she had been without them as by the sequel wi◠appear Cardinal Wolsey whose power was such tha◠he seemed to sway both King and Kingdom bega◠about this time to be lessened in esteem and shortly after for not only disliking but striving to cros◠the King's Proceedings in the Divorce and new Marriage had first the great Seal of England taken from him then several of his Bishopricks which he had ingrossed which begining of disgrace made him more liable to
of England were beheaded and yet by the contrivance of the Papists the bloudy six Articles were brought in a sa Snare to those of the Reformed Religion upon which account many suffered the Flames and amongst others Dr. Barns and Mrs. Ann Askew who refusing after Tortures to comply were committed to the devouring Fire and the King Married the Lady Catharine Parr who favoured the Lutherans and was of the Reformed Church whose Life the Papists often put in danger but she escaped the Snare and out-lived the King who having invaded both Scotland and France upon the disappointment in the Match proposed and agreed on between Prince Edward and the Lady Mary of Scotland Heir and Heiress to the two Crowns and won Bulloin in France wasting Scotland wsth Fire and Sword and taking upon him the Title of King of Ireland he fell sick in January 1547. and made his Will that in default of Issue his Son and two Daughters should successively possess the Trone and giving great Sums to charitable Uses dyed the 28th of the same Month. This Henry was King of England France and Ireland second Son to Henry the Seventh he Reigned 37 Years 9 Months and six Days and was the forty sole Monarch of England the Issue he left behind him were Edward Mary and Elizabeth who succeeded him in the Sovereignty he dyed in the 56th year of his Age and was buried in the Chapell at Windsor Thus the Eighth Henry ends his bloudy Reign Beauty it self with him can't Pitty gain Yet met by Death amongst the Dead he lies And with his Life he ends his Cruelties The Life Reign and Actions of Edward the Sixth King of England c. PIous Edward the Sixth far from his Fathers temper was born on the 12th of Ostober 1537. occasioning by his Birth the Death of his Mother Queen Jane for in her hard labour King Henry having notice it was a Son for which he had passionately longed and that either the Child or the Mother must perish he intimated he could have more Wives but knew not whether he should have another Son whereupon the Chirurgeons having dozed the Queen with strong Spirits to make her senseless of the pain by making a large Incision took forth the Birth but by that usage the Queen soon after dyed This Prince was Crowned at Westminster on the 20th of February 1547. having the three Swords delivered to him as King of England France and Ireland and upon this he told them there was yet another Sword to be delivered to him viz. The Holy Bible which is the Sword of the Spirit and without which no King can Govern well Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset and his Mothers Brother was made Protector over his Minority and hereupon it was concluded the Scots should be compelled to make good the Marriage which otherwise they refused to do wherefore a great Army was raised and led by the Lord Protector into Scotland and vanquished the Scots in Muschelborough Field after an obstinate and bloudy Fight with great slaughter of their men chasing them about five miles so that there dyed the Lord Fleming with sundry others of quality and ten thousand of lesser note and one thousand were taken Prisoners amongst whom of note were the Earl of Huntly the Lords Yester Hobby and Hamilton the Earl of Cassis and the Lord Weems so that the English without any farther opposition sacked and burnt Lieth the Island of St. Colmes Brougherag Roxborough Humes Castle and other places which obliged many of the Scotch Nobility and Gentry to come and cast themselves at the Proctor's Feet beseeching him to spare their Country entering into terms with him on condition of Peace whereupon he returned to England and a Parliament was called and the bloudy six Articles repealed those Colledges Chapells and Religious Houses that King Henry had spared were given to the King Edward and Commissioners appointed to purge the Churches of Images which accordingly was done but in the West Mr. Body one of the Commissioners was stabbed to the heart by a Priest and to justifie the murther 10000 of the Cornish and Devonshire Rusticks took Arms Headed by Humphry Aurundell six other Gentlemen and eight Priests who straightly besieged Exceter but were beaten off after they had done considerable mischief yet they continued in Arms â—nd sent the King sundry Articles to be aggreed to viz. That they might have Mass Celebrated as in times â—ast that they might have Holy Bread and Holy Water in â—membrance of Christ's Body and Bloud that the six Articles might be again in force with some others to which the young King pittying their ignorance returned them an answer with a general Pardon if they submitted but that not prevailing and the multitude still encreasing an Army was sent against them which put them to flight at Honiton and beat â—hem before Exceter and on Cliff-Heath utterly disâ—omfitted them with considerable slaughter and all the Popish Trumpery which the Priests had brought â—nto the Field to encourage them were trampled under Feet and Aurundel Holms Winsland and Bury â—our of their Ring-leaders were taken and Executed â—nd a Miller's man near Bodmin taking upon him by â—is Masters directions to personate him Sir Anthony Kingstone Marshal of the Field commanded him to â—e hanged the Fellow confidently affirming himself to be the Rebellious Miller till he came to the Gallows yet there declared he was but his man yet this late Confession stood him in no stead for Sir Anthony caused him to be hanged telling him he could never do his Master better Service but the troubles ended not thus for the Priests being unhived and deprived of their Roast-meat stir'd up the people in other parts of the Kingdom and especially those in Norfolk were Headed by one Robert Kett a Tanner who Stiled himself the King's Deputy to redress Grievances issuing out Writs and Warrants in the King's name and chusing an Old Oake to sit in Council called the Oake of Reformation to which Tribunal all Complaints and Grievances of the Rusticks were brought to be redressed and Orders were sent for the plundering Gentlemens Houses taking Arms and Amunition out of Ships c. making themselves Master of the City of Norwich over-throwing the Marques of Northampton but the Lord Dudly Earl of Warwick being sent against them forced the City and caused Sixty of such as he there had taken iâ— Arms to be immediately hanged however thâ— Rebels intrenched and fortified their Camp at the foot of a Hill called Duffin-dale encouraging themselves upon a vain Prophecy that Hob Dic and Hic meaning the Rusticks should with their Clubâ— fill up the Valley of Duffin-dale with the Bodys of the slain On the 27th of August the Earl prepared to give them Battel when the better to retard him the Rebels set in the head of their Battel all the Gentlemen and others that they had taken Prisoners coupled in Irons however Captain Drury with hiâ— Band of Almains broke in furiously and
the Council at London haâ— laid aside Queen Jane and Proclaimed Mary Queen whereupon most of his Forces deserting him hâ— threw up his Cap likewise and Proclaimed he Queen but this excused him not for he was soon after Arrested by the Lord Arundel and brought Prisoner to the Tower Queen Mary being comâ— to London and perceiving her self a little settled iâ— the Throne by reason many Noblemen and other had declared for her and raised Forces in her Defence she soon forgot or rather rejected the Promise she had made to the Suffolk men of not altering any thing in Religion setting at liberty the Popish Clergy and restoring them to their Benefices Imprisoning Bishop Ridley and Arch-Bishop Cranmer making Stephen Gardner the Inveterate Enemy of the Reformed Church Lord Chancellor by whose persuasion Northumberland was tryed and attainted of Treason when coming on the Scaffold deluded by the Popish Priest in hopes of Pardon he renounced the Protestant Religion for which he had before appeared so zealous and openly professed the Roman Catholick declaring it to be the truly ancient Religion but this meanness of Spirit in prostituting his Conscience availed him little for they shewd him a Popish Trick cuting his Head off notwithstanding his recantation with him dyed Sir John Gates and Sir Thomas Palmer and soon after the Queen was crowned at Westminster by Stephen Gardener Bishop of Winchester and a Parliament being called the Popish Party so over-ruled the rest that they were obliged to comply with them after a long refusal for the repealing an Act made in the Reign of Edward the Sixth Intituled an Act of Uniformity of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments so that the Papists got again into the Churches and finding their Power they began to wreck their revenge on those that had any ways opposed and crossed their purposes and now the Lady Jane and her Husband the Lord Guilford being tryed and condemned at Guild-Hall as guilty of Treason they were on the 12th of February 1553 beheaded the Lord Guilford on the Great Tower-Hill and the Lady Jane on the Green within the Tower both dying in the Reformed Church with admirable patience and firmness of mind declaring they suffered not for any Crime of their own but for the Crimes of others whose Ambition had driven them to take upon them the Sovereignty This Innocent Bloud satisfied not the Papists anger insomuch that they persuaded the Queen she could not be safe whilst the Duke of Suffolk lived and thereupon getting him attainted of Treason for conspiring to raise Rebellion and leavy War to hinder the Queens Marriage with Spain c. he was on the 23d of October beheaded and his Brother Thomas Grey beheaded the 23d of May following and now the Queen no longer desirous to liâ— alone a Marriage with Spain was concluded very advantageous to the Trade of the English yeâ— many fearing the Kingdom would be subjected or at least over-run by a Forreign Nation great Commotions were rais'd and the Kentish-men rise under the leading of Sir Thomas Wyat against whom the Duke of Norfolk being sent instead of Fighting most of his men Deserted and joyned with Wyat whereupon the Duke retired and Wyat advanced towards London demanding a disanulling the Match with Philip of Spain and that for security the Tower and other places should be put into his hands which obliged the Queen to leave the Palace and betake her self to London where many Consult were held in the Guild-Hall and the Queen in those Councils declared her right to the Crown Magnifying the Advantages that would Accrue by the Match with Spain and encouraging the Londoners to stand by her against her Rebells however Wyat advancing and Treaties proving ineffectual the Earl of Pembroke was made General and 100 l â— Year Land promised to him and his Heirs for even that should bring Wyat alive or Dead however hâ— fortified Southwark and attempted with his great Guns and about 5000 men under 14 Ensigns to force London-Bridge but finding the Draw-Bridge cut away and the further part strongly guarded bâ— the Citizens and others and at the same time moved by the Tears and Intreaties of the Inhabitant of Southwark many of whose Houses were beateâ— down by the Tower Guns he marched round by Kingstone upon Thames and there though part oâ— the Bridge was broken down and Guarded he gaiâ—ed a Pass but coming too late to London by staying to remount a great Gun he was furiously charged by the Earl of Pembroke and others yet he broke through and marched with one Party to Ludgate whilst another Party assaulted the Court but finding no Enterance he retired with his small Number but was stopped at Temple-bar and being by Clarencieux King at Arms required to submit to the Queens Mercy he surrendered him and was carried behind Sir Maurice Berkly to the Court and from thence sent to the Tower and on the 11th of April 1554 he was beheaded on Tower-hill where he much bewaled his misfortune and cleared the Princess Elizabeth and the Lord Courtney by declaring their Innocence as to their having any hand in his undertaking About 50 of his Followers suffered in and about London and about as many in divers parts of Kent and 400 went through the City with Halters about their Necks to White-Hall where the Queen from a Gallery pronounced their pardon Queen Mary finding her Endeavours fruitless to bring over the Princess Elizabeth her Sister to the Popish Superstition resolved to use violence and hereupon sent Commissioners to her Mannor of Ashbridge where she resided to bring her live or dead to London and accordingly she was brought Prisoner in a very sick and weak condition and sent from White-Hall to the Tower under pretence of holding Correspondence with Wyat and others where she was kept very close and strict and on the 9th of May removed to Woodstock where hearing a Milk-Maid sing merrily over her Pail in the Park she preferred the mean contented condition of that Maid before her own wishing her self in her State The Princess by the usage she received looking for no less than to be made away adicted her self to Devotion when she was not under Examination for Gardener and others of the Popish Crew that laboured for her Death spared no pains to sift her and examined some persons against her even by Torture but finding nothing Criminal Gardener to insnare her in Matters of Conscience pressed her to Declare her Opinion about the corporal presence in the Sacrament to which the Witty Princess warrily reply'd Christ was the Word that spâ—ke it He took the Bread and brake it And what the Word did make it That I believe and take it And although when she was in the Tower Gardner privately and without the Queens knowledge signed a Warrant for her Execution which had taken effect had not the Lieutenant's Scruples prevented it by going to the Queen and the Bords of her Chamber were Fired under her As likewise
laying claim to the Province of Vlster but great preparations being made against him he came over and submitted yet returning to his old Trade he was at length slain by one of his Companions who with his Head compounded for his own safetie c. and shortly after great Dissensions happened in Scotland where the Scots Mutiniers Murthered their King and the Queen the Heiress of Scotland and Mother to King James the First of England flying for France was driven on the Coast of England and made a Prisoner by order of Council and now the Pope impatient of delay by his Commissions and large Promises stirr'd up many as well Nobles as Plebeans to take Arms causing his Bulls to be dispersed the better to incense the people against the Queen however they were overthrown and an Alderman a Priest and about 66 Constables and others Executed at Durham and other places The Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland hereupon fled into Scotland but raising new Commotions they were again routed and Northumberland on the 22d of August 1570 beheaded at York where to the last he affirmed the Pope's Supreamacy and declared the Land to be in Schism according as the Pope had declared in his Bull or Curse against the Queen which had been privately fastened on the Gate of the Bishop of London's Palace and divers Priests conspiring themselves and stirring up others to raise Commotions were convicted and Executed at sundry times and places as Story Summevil Parry Campion Throckmorton Howard and others Anno 1577. the famous Captain Drake set sail from Plymouth and in 3 years wanting 12 days compassed the whole Earth making many wonderfull discoverys his Men being worshiped by the Barbarous Nations as Gods and at a place which he named Nova Albion the King surrendered him his Crown of Net-work and Feathers curiously wrought desiring him to take upon him the Government of the Country which he did to the behoof of the Queen setting up a Monument of her Sovereignty in those parts by the consent of King and People and much about the same time Sir Martin Forbisher tryed the North East Passage and named the furthest Land Queen Elizabeths Forelands and whilst this great Queen flourished in spite of Forreign and Clandestine Foes Francis de Valois Duke of Anjou and Brother to the French King made sute to her for Marriage and mistaking the Freedom she had taken for a consent came over to Wooe her in Person but after the Expence of much Treasure himself and his Sute were rejected and he returned no wiser than he came And now the King of Spain oppressing the States of the Neitherlands and labouring to settle the Inquisition amongst them the Queen upon their humble supplication sent over 1000 Horse and 5000 Foot under the Leading of Sir John Norris and for the Security of the Reimbursment of her Charges had the Towns of Brill and Flushing with two Sconces and a Castle put into her hands Anno 1587 The Priests raised new stirs in England and Ireland which hastened the Death of Mary Queen of Scots for that poor Princess weary of a tedious Imprisonment holding some Intelligence with one Babington and others in orders to make her escape was betrayed by her Secretary and being Sentenced as one that had designed to depose Queen Elizabeth and set up her self she was on the 7th of Feb. beheaded at Fotheringay Castle whose Execution proved afterward no small cause of discontent to our Queen All hopes by this means and other disappointments being lost to the Papists of bringing their Designs about by Clandestine ways the Pope stirred up the King of Spain to Invade the Kingdom giving it him as the Patrimony of St. Peter and promising him success whereupon he gathered his huge Armado which he named Invincible even whilst there was a Treaty of peace on Foot yet the Queen having notice from Henry the Third King of France what was intended against her prepared by Sea and Land to expect the Storm pitching her Camp at Tillbury in Essex consisting of 15000 Horse and 22000 Foot and for her own Guard out of the several Countys she drew 23520 Horsemen and 34500 Foot-men and in the remarkable year 1588 on the 20th of July the Spaniards with their huge Hulks which appeared on the Sea like floating Castles passed by Plymouth towards Calais to joyn the Duke of Parma Governour of the Neitherlands for the King of Spain but were dispersed with a mighty Tempest yet gathered again but were so beaten by the English under the command of the Lord Howard Admiral Sir Francis Drake and others that of 134. great Ships that Sail from Lisbon only 53 returned into Spain so that there were missing 81 Vessels 13000 Soldiers and Sea-men and there was hardly a Noble Family in Spain but lost a Brother or Kinsman in this Expedition which had cost the King of Spain Ten Millions For this great deliverance the Queen gave publick Thanks in St. Paul's Church and the Spanish Prisoners and Streamers were brought to London and the Queen resolving to be even with the Spaniard for this Treachery sent Sir Francis Drake and others into the West-Indies where they took many Spanish Towns and Ships with great store of Gold and Silver and after that she assisted Don Antonio the expulsed King of Portugal to recover his right whereupon they burnt Cadiz and the Shiping in the Harbour worth five Millions took several Towns in Portugal and marched to the very Gates of Lisbon against which the Earl of Essex breaking his Lance demanded the proudest Spaniard of them all to come and answer him They likewise sailed to the Azzores and took and plundered those Islands This made the Papists at home begin to stir for which Patrick Cullen Dr. Lopez a Spaniard and divers others hired to kill or poison the Queen were detected and executed and indeed the Plots and Contrivances of the like kind against this Queen are recorded to be very many nor did the Spaniards fail to send Forces to the Assistance of the Irish Rebells under Tyroen but they were defeated by the Lord Montjoy many of them killed and the rest obliged to beg leave to depart the Kingdom and Tyroen forsaken of his Followers was sent into England and Imprisoned in the Tower About this time the Earl of Essex who had been under disgrace for some Miscarriages when he was Deputy of Ireland and confined to his House being of a fiery temper and knowing his Enemies at Court were contriving his Ruine he sent for â—â—e Earl of Southampton and divers other Friends as resolving to force a Visit and confront them in the presence of the Queen but being strictly forbid it he confined the Counsellors that were sent to that purpose under a guard and marched into London but finding himself opposed and that there were none very forward to stand with him upon such an Undertaking he returned and fortified his House in the Strand but finding himself to weak to hold out
he surrendred himself and was committed to the Tower and soon after he with the Earl of Southampton were convicted of High-Treason in endeavouring to Leavy War against the Queen c. and the Earl of Essex on the 20th of February 1600 lost his Head on the Green within the Tower not only lamented of the people whose Darling he was but of the Queen her self who at the perswasion of his Enemies had in the heat of her passion signed the Warrant for his Death divers others were Executed on this occasion as it were to bare so great a Man company nor did the Queen enjoy her self after the fall of this Favourite but hastened her own Death by grief dying on the 24th of March 1602 and was buried in Henry the Seventh's Chapell at Westminster when she had Reigned 44 Years 4 Months and 7 Days and in the 69th Year of her Age. This Elizabeth was Queen of England France and Ireland Daughter to Henry the Eighth by his Wife Ann Bulloin in her Reign happened Earthquakes Blazing Stars and a Mortal Plague of which 40000 dyed in and about London She was the 43th sole Monarch of England c. Thus set the Glory of her Sex in Dust Whose endless Memory Fame keeps in trust When Eating Time shall Marble Tombs deface Her Name shall live belov'd in every place The Life Reign and Actions of James the First King of Great Britain c. THe name of the Tudors expiring in Queen Elizabeth gave way to that of the Stuarts James the Sixth of Scotland great Grand-child to James the Fourth and Margaret his Wife Eldest Daughter to Henry the Seventh succeeding to the Crown by reason of the failure of Issue by the Male Line who upon notice of the Death of Queen Elizabeth being invited by the Nobles set forward from his Kingdom of Scotland and entering England was received on the Frontires with great joy and conducted to London being met some distance by the Mayor and Aldermen and five hundred Horse who conducted him to the Charter-House prepared for his Reception but because the Plague raged the Coronation was deferred and the Popish Party who had earnestly expected the death of the Queen in hopes a Papist might succeed finding themselves disappointed laboured to prevent his establishment in the Throne and several were detected who had received Orders from the Pope to seize his Person and bring him to their own terms however on the 21st of July 1603. The King together with the Queen his Royal Consort were crowned at Westminster by Dr. Whitgift Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Conspirators being tryed at Winchester many were found guilty yet only Watson and Clark two Priests together with George Brook suffered death the King pardoning the rest mostly at the place of Execution and then in a dispute between the Bishops of the Church of England and the Puritan Ministers who pretended to a farther Reformation this wise Prince gave it for the first and by learned reasons so confuted the latter that they were utterly non-plussed and after that he caused the Holy Scripture to be new Translated from the Original and Anno 1604 he made peace with Spain and proceeded to a Uniting the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and took upon him the Stile of King of Great Britain banishing the Jesuites and Seminary Priests who began a fresh to disturb the Government which made them as their last Shift or rather cruel revenge contrived that hellish Plot called the Gunpowder-Plot wherein they bound themselves by Oaths and Sacraments for the more secretly carrying it on but nothing escapes the Eyes of the Almighty who when they were in the highest expectation of success turned their Wisedom into Foolishness for by a Letter directed to the Lord Monteagle whom one of the Conspirators was desirous to spare the Nest they had so long been making was found and in it thirty six Barrels of Powder intended to blow up the King Lords and Commons in Parliament this was discover'd under great heaps of Billets but the very Morning they were to assemble in Parliament and Guy Faux at the Vault Door under the Parliament-House Cloaked Booted and Spurr'd with a Dark-Lanthorn and Matches ready to lay the Train upon which the Conspirators were pursued and in the dispute John and Christopher Wright Thomas Piercy and Robert Catesby were slain and Anno 1605 on the 27th of January Sir Edward Digby Thomas Winter Robert Winter Ambrose Rookwood Thomas Bates Robert Keys and Guido Faux were found guilty and Executed as Traitors at the West-end of St. Pauls and in the Palace-Yard In memory of this signal Deliverance the fifth of November the Day on which it was discovered by Authority of Parliament was enacted a perpetual day of Thanksgiving Henry Garnet and divers others concerned in this Plot were Executed at sundry Times and Places Garnet confessing it though a Jesuite and warning the Roman Catholicks not to practice any Treason against their Prince for God would certainly discover and defeat it And soon after there happened Insurrections in the Shires of Liecester Warwick and Northampton about throwing open Inclosures Headed at last by John Reynolds but were dispersed and quieted without much Trouble and the King to honour the City entered himself a Brother of the Cloath-workers Company and by his Example many Nobles were made free of that and divers others the New Exchange was finished Anno 1609 and furnished with Wares being called by the King Britain's Burse The Priests and Jesuites were commanded to depart the Kingdom The Body of Mary Queen of Scots Mother to King James was Anno 1612 removed from Peterborough to the Royal Chappel at Westminster and there splendidly Interred and the Kingdom remained in great Tranquility But to abate the Joy Prince Henry the King 's eldest Son dyed November the 6th of a Feaver though not without some suspicion of Poyson to the great Grief of the Kingdom whose Darling he was And Frederick the Electour Palatine of the Rhine coming into England was married to the Lady Elizabeth the King 's eldest Daughter in the Royal Chappel at White-Hall on the 14th of February following but soon after at the Instance of the Bohemians taking upon him the Rule of that Kingdom he was routed by the Emperour's Forces who seized likewise the Palatinate and the King gave the Citizens of London the Province of Vlster in Ireland and instituted the Order of Baronets limiting them within the number of 200 and to cease with the failure of Issue and Anno 1614 the New River was brought to London to the great refreshment of the City which was much stinted for want of Water being only supplied by a few Conduits in the neighbouring Fields and this year a Divorce being sued out between Robert Devereux and his Countess on her Pretence of his Insufficiency she married Robert Carre Earl of Somerset and the King 's great Favourite for inveighing against which Marriage they procured Sir Thomas Overbury first
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
Devonshire on the 5 of November 1688. and the Army to the number of 13 or 14000 Landed seized upon Exceter and divers other places whilst the King was prepairing to oppose it causing his Forces and Artillary to march for Salisbury whether he went in person But finding the falling off of part of his Army and afterwards the Nobility and the surprize of sundry strong Towns in the North and other places he returned to White-Hall and upon news of the defeat of a Party set to Guard Reading and Twyford Bridge the King on the 11 of December left White-Hall having the day before sent the Queen away c. but within a day or two he was discovered at Feversham and a Message sent to him from the Lords sitting in Council to return which accordingly he did but afterwards going to reside at Rochester he privately withdrew himself and taking Ship passed into France where the Queen was arrieved some time before Thus fortunes Hand does turn about the Wheele And makes the great as well as feeble Reele Memorable Transactions under the Auspicious Reign of King WILLIAM and Queen MARY c. THE Kingdom left without a Head and th 〈◊〉 Publick Affairs receiving prejudice in man 〈◊〉 particulars after several Addresses and Congratulations on the 25th of December the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster and humbly besought his present Majesty to take upon him the Administration of of Publick Affairs both Civil and Military and to dispose of the publick Treasury c. till the meeting of the Convention appointed to meet the 22 of January making iâ— their further Request that he would cause his Circular Letters to be Issued out to the Lords And for the Election of Representatives to repair and â—it at Westminster and the next day a great number of Gentlemen who had been Members of Parliament in the Reign of King Charles the Second met at the Commons House who drew up an Address to the â—â—â—ine purpose as the Lords which was presented and very Gratiously received and on the 30 of December a Declaration was Issued out Authorizing Justices of the Peace Sheriffs and other Officers who were in their Offices the 1st of December except Papists to Act in their several Places and Stations And divers Priests and other disaffected persons were seized in sundry Counties and committed to several Prisons and the Circular Letters sent abroad the Papists were commanded to depart the Citys of London and Westminster And many eminent Citizens of London upon notice that the Treasury was Exhausted lent towards the defraying the Charges of the Publick Affairs of the Kingdom about 300000 l which was paid in at Guild-Hall for the use of the Exchequer Nor was the Scots slow in making their Address for Protection which many of the Lords and Commnns did and were kindly received with a promise at their Request of Issuing out Letters for the meeting of a Convention of the Estates on the 14th day of March at Edenburg which gave a general Satisfaction to Scotland On the 22d of January 1688. According to appointment the Convention met at Westminster where the Lord Marquess of Hallifax held the place as Speaker in the House of Lords Henry Powell Esq did the like in that of the Commons And after some Debates and Considerations for the Settlement of Affairs they made an Address of Thanks for the Royal Care and Conduct and at their Intreaty a further continuation of the Administration was Accepted and the days were Appointed for a Publick Thanksgiving for the great Deliverance of these Kingdoms But in Ireland things went not on so prosperously for the Earl of Tyrconnel greatly oppressed the Protestants suffered the Papists to plunder their Houses every where disarming them and putting them out of places of Trust however in several parts of that Kingdom the Protestants under the leading of Noblemen and others gave them notable overthrows But the Popish party relying upon the Succours they expected from France gave not over their Ravages and Outrages However great preparations were made in England to reduce that Kingdom to Obedience and some Stores of Ammunition and Provisions sent from Scotland and care was taken to stop such as were going over and a prohibition was laid on French Goods and Manufactures c. And now the desire of the people being to see their present Majestys on the Throne a great number of worthy persons in the Citys of London and Westminster Petitioned setting forth it was their humble desire it might be speedily done and soon after Her present Majesty upon the earnest Invitation of the Estates Embarqued for England attended by a Squadron of English and Dutch Men of War and arrived safely at White-Hall on the 12th of February 1688. to the inexpressible Joy of the people and was saluted all the way Her Yatch passed by the Forts and Ships in the Road as also by the Tower Guns the Standard being displayed and at Court she received the Complements of all the Nobility present nor did the Lords and Commons delay to prepare for the Proclaiming King WILLIAM and Queen MARY by declaring the Throne Vacant and praying them to accept the Regal Dignities Abrogating the former Oaths of Allegience and Supremacy and Incerting these viz. I A. B. Do sincerely Promise and Swear that I will be Faithfull and bear True Allegience to their Majestys King WILLIAM and Queen MARY So help me God I A. B. Do Swear that I do from my heart Abhor Detest and Abjure as Impious and Heretical this Damnable Doctrine and Position that Princes Excommunicate or deprived by the Pope or any Authority of the See of Rome may be Deposed or Murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever and so I declare that no foreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preeminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm So help me God Matters prepared in readiness for so great and solemn an Occasion the Lords and Commons on the 13th of February having acquainted them with what they had done and obtained their Consent About Eleven of the Clock they went to White-Hall Gate where the Officers and Serjeants at Arms Trumpets and other persons being present Sir Thomas St. George Knight Garter Principal King at Arms receiving the Proclamation and the Officers at Arms by the Lords being ordered immediately to Proclaim it York Herauld Proclaimed it at White-Hall Gate after the Trumpets had thrice sounded Garter reading it by periods in the presence of the Lords and Commons and a great concourse of people and the satisfaction conceived was manifested by loud shouts and general Acclamations of Joy and in good order they proceeded to Temple-Bar where having informed the occasion of their coming they had the Gates opened and all except the Bailiff of Westminster and his men entred and were received by the Lord Mayor Aldermen Recorder Sheriffs c. When having made a Second Proclamation
they passed to Wood-street end in Cheapside and there Proclaimed a Third time and the like was done before the Royal Exchange in Cornhill and immediately the great Guns made it known to remote parts the Evening being concluded with the Ringing of Bells Bonfires and other demonstrations of Joy Nor was it less upon the like Proclamation of their Majestys in the principal Burroughs and Towns of England and Wales And two days following his Majesty was pleased to give the two Houses a further Assurance of his Care and Protection for the preservation of their Religion Laws and Liberties and that he was desirous to concur with them in any thing that should be for the good of the Kingdom and do what in him lay to advance the Glory and Welfare of the Nation And thereupon published his Royal Declaration to restrain disorderly persons who took the liberty to kill the Deer and cut down the Timber in divers Chaces and Forests causing the Ports in the West facing Ireland to be stopped to prevent disaffected persons from passing over to Tyrconnel And the City of London by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and divers of the Commons Congratulated their Majestys upon their happy Accession to the Throne and on the 18th of February the King went to the House of Lords Royally attended and too his Place on the Throne when the Gentleman â—sher of the Black Rod had order to Summon up the Commons and they accordingly attending at the Bar of the Lords House his Majesty let them know how sensible he was of their kindness and how much he esteemed and valued the confidence they had Reposed in him giving them Assurance that at no time he would do any thing that might lessen their good opinion of him recommending to them the Care of the Allies abroad and the dangerous state of Ireland c. And soon after his Majesty being waited on by the Bishop of London and about 100. of the London Clergy with an humble Tender of their duty and fidelity he was pleased to express his Gracious promise of Protection and Encouragement And the two Houses resolved into a free Parliament his Majesty gave the Royal Assent to an Act intituled an Act for the removing and preventing all questions and disputes about the Assembling and Sitting of this present Parliament putting out his Royal Declaration for bringing in and restoring Arms imbezled during the disbandings and disorder in the late King's Army During these prosperous proceedings we had frequent news from Ireland that the Earl of Tyrconnel laboured to increase his Army and to draw away those that yet remained unshaken to prevent which his Majesty was pleased to Issue out his Proclamation offering a pardon of Indemnity to all those that would lay down their Arms and retire to their respective habitations and there quietly and peaceably behave themselves and that according to Law they should enjoy their Estates and Possessions likewise those of the Roman persuasion to have all the liberty of private Exercise of Religion that the Law allows with a promise of calling a Parliament in that Kingdom But if any refused they were proclaimed Rebels and Traytors and their Lands forfeited to be distributed to those that should be aiding and assisting to the reducing the Kingdom But on the other hand Tyrconnel as much as lay in him to hinder this Gratious offer prevented its being dispersed in many parts of that Kingdom and published a Declaration of his own wherein he promised them wonders if they would persevere and laid before them the danger if they laid down their Arms whch animated them to great Outrages however the English Protestants defended Sligo and other places making strong opposition especially in the North expecting Succours from England where extraordinary Levys were making and the King the better to encourage his Subjects consented to the taking away the Act of Harth Money which had been a long time very grievous to the poorer sort of the Nation for which he received an Address of Thanks from both Houses and an other wherein they resolved to stand by him with their Lives and Fortunes in supporting his Allies abroad in reducing Ireland and to secure the Protestant Religion in that Kingdom which was very Graciously Received and his Majesty declared his Opinion as to what was requisite for the support of the Nations Glory abroad and at home And the two Houses for declaring to stand by his Majesty c. had two humble Addresses of Thanks from the City of London and they likewise tendred their Address of Thanks to his Majesty upon his Condescending to have the Harth Money taken away which was shortly after taken away by an Act for ever onely a Clause reserving to be collected what was due to the 25th of March before the publication of the said Act. During these proceedings the King had an Express that a considerable number of Soldiers of the Regiment once commanded by the Lord Dumbarton and some Companies of Fuziliers had had mutined near Ipswich and marched away with the Money sent to pay them and four Field Pieces in their way proclaiming King James when to prevent the disorder upon the Address of the Parliament they were proclaimed Rebels and a considerable force of Horse and Dragoons sent to suppress them and accordingly upon their inclosing those mutinous Soldiers they after some shew of resistence threw down their Arms and surrendred them yielding upon discretion when being disarmed they and their Officers were disposed of in divers prisons and an Act passed the Royal Assent impowering his Majesty to apprehend such persons as he should find just cause to suspect were conspiring against the Government and an other to take off the Attaindure of William Russell Esq commonly called William Lord Russell and many other Acts conducing to the good and settlement of the Kingdom were soon after passed Upon the death of Sir John Chapman Lord Mayor of London Thomas Pilkinton Esq since Sir Thomas Pilkinton was Elected at the Guild-Hall and presented to the Commissioners of the Great Seal and Sworn at the Hustings and after that by the Lieutenant of the Tower by reason at that time there was no Court held at Westminster Scotland at this time was not wanting for the Convention pursuant to the King 's Circular Letters meeting March 14th and chusing Duke Hamilton their Chairman they earnestly laboured for the settlement of that Kingdom which was fallen into some disorder upon the Grand Revolution Summoning the Duke of Gourdon to surrender the Castle of Edenburg and upon his refusal Proclaimed him and his adherents Traytors on great penalties prohibiting any to have intercourse with him securing divers suspected persons and raising Forces to secure the Kingdom with many other things too many here to be incerted And now the Coronation Solemnity of their Majestys being appointed on the 11th of April and a Proclamation issued out to the Peers and for all that could make Claims by right of Service or Tenure
Great were the preparations and an Act on the 21st of March passed the Royal Assent for granting their Majestys a present Aide and another Act soon after passed for recviving Actions and Processes depending in the Courts of Westminster discontinued by the omitting Hillary Term with others conducing to the regulation and settlement of Affairs and divers great Officers were made and honours Conferred on sundry persons And now the Coronation day drawing near the Parliament considered of the Coronation Oath and the Royal Assent given to an Act intituled an Act for Establishing the Coronation Oath to be Administred to all the Kings and Queens that shall Succeed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm upon their respective Coronations by one of the Arch-Bishops to be done in Publick so that nothing being wanting to perfect the Royal Ceremony of the Coronation on Thursday the 11 of April the King and Queen landing at the Parliament Stairs went to the Princes Lodgings between 10 and 11 in the Morning and the Peers and Peeresses being in their Robes and having their Coronets their Majestys came to Westminster-Hall the Procession being put in order and there taking their Seats on a Throne under a Cloth of State the Regalia was presented and delivered to those Noblemen by whom it was to be born and the Earl Marshal Kings at Arms and Heraulds having put the Procession in order it passed on through the Guard of Soldiers that made a Lane blew Cloth being spread and scattered with sweet hearbs their Majestys under a Canopy of State in their Royal Robes the King in a Velvet Crimson Cap and the Queen with a Circlet of Gold on her head the Peers and Peeresses in their Robes with their Coronets in their hands and entring Westminster Abby their Majestys Ascended the Throne and the Nobles and others disposed themselves according to their degrees and Places and the Ceremony was performed with great Splendor and Magnificence after which their Majestys with their Crowns on their Heads and the Nobility with their Coronets on returned in the same order they went to Westminster-Hall where a Stately Banquet was prepared and being seated the first course was Marshalled in and the King Champion in Compleat Armour came into the Hall on Horseback and made his Challenge in these words repeated by York Herauld viz. If any person of any Degree whatsoever High or Low shall deny or gainsay our Sovereign Lord and Lady King WILLIAM and Queen MARY King and Queen of England France and Ireland Defenders of the Faith to be Rightfull King and Queen of this Realm of England or that they ought not to Enjoy the Imperial Crown of the same here is their Champion who saith he lieth and is a false Traytor being ready in person to Combate with him and in this Quarrel will Adventure his Life against him on what day soever he shall appoint The Royal Entertainment ended their Majestys returned to White-Hall and the great Guns and Bells proclaimed the Joy together with the peoples shouts and acclamations The Night was spent in Bonfiers and Drinking-healths which in a short time was so ordered throughout the Kingdom and Scotland not to be behind proceeded to Proclaim their Majestys King and Queen of that Kingdom deputing the Earl of Argyle and others to wait upon their Majestys with an offer of the Crown which being Accepted their Majestys have since been so owned that Kingdom with equal demonstrations of Joy The Charges of the Government appearing very great the Parliament agreed upon a Pole Bâ—â— which being brought in and approved it passed the Royal Assent encouraging the lending of 300000 l upon its security till Money can be raised The late King being by this time in Ireland and the French Fleet about to Land more men in that Kingdom were Engaged near Bantry-Bay by an English Squadron under the Command of Vice-Admiral Herbert and three of their great Ships disabled and sunk a great many of their Seamen and Officers killed without the loss of one Ship on our side though much inferiour in number And the French and Irish laying Siege to London-Derry were beaten off by the Besieged under the Command of Colonel Walker Minister of that Place and about 4000 of them slain insomuch that they were obliged to acquit it and draw off And several persons attempting to spread King James his Declarations in the City of London some were seized and committed to Newgate And during these Transactions the late Lord Chancellour Jeffreys and the late Lord Chief Justice Wright dyed one in the Tower and the other in Newgate The Convention of Scotland was turned into a a Parliament the Lord Hamilton made President and an Act passed for asserting their Power and preventing any questions or dispute that may arise about their power to Act as being a Parliament Aud since the Castle is surrendred Thus Reader you may see our chang'd estate And own God's Mercies Wonderfull and Great Whose swift Almighty Hand the Ruin stay'd That Rome's dark Thunder into Bolts had made Aiming 'em at Religion Life and Laws But Heaven defeats where e'er it owns the Cause