twenty first Year Sir William Herriot vvas Mayor Robert Tate Rich. Charey Will. Wiking Sheriffs In his twenty second Year Sir Edmund Shaa was Mayor William White John Matthew Sheriffs EDWARD V. EDWARD the eldest son of King Edward the 4th A. D. 1483. being a child but of about twelve years of age when his Father dyed was committed to the government of his Uncle Sir Anthony Woodville a right honourable person with whom were joined other of the Queens friends But Richard Duke of Glocester was much discontented that these should have the keeping of him secure whom he designed to destroy that thereby the Crown might become his This bloody man therefore the better to effect his wicked purposes did every-where represent the Queens Kindred to be enemies to the ancient Nobility and that they would abuse the Kings Name to their undoing With which and like suggestions he wrought upon the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Hastings that had formerly born no great good-will to the Queens friends to join with him utterly to remove from the Kings company all his Mothers friends under the name of the ancient Nobles enemies Then the Hypocrite Glocester understanding that the Lords attending the King purposed to bring the King to London to his Coronation strongly guarded he therefore procured the Queen to be brought in mind That it was not needful but would be jeopardous for the King to be brought up strong for that if the Lords of her Kindred should assemble in the Kings Name much people they should give the Lords of the contrary Faction cause to suspect that this was not done for the Kings safety whom no man impugned but for the destruction of the ancient Nobility by which means the Nation should be brought into an uproar The Queen thus over-reached sent such word unto the King and his friends about him so that they mistrusting no guile brought the King forwards with a small company in great haste but with no good speed For the Dukes of York and Buckingham at Stony-Stratford as the King was on his way to London took him by violence from his Friends arrested the Lord Richard Grey Sir Thomas Vaughan and Sir Richard Hawt in the Kings presence and imprisoned Sir Anthony Woodvile Lord Rivers in Northampton whom in short time after with the Lord Richard and Sir Thomas Vaughan they sent prisoners into the North. Which done with much honour and humble reverence they convey the King towards London But the Queen hearing of these proceedings in great fright and heaviness she bewailed her Childs Reign her friends and her own mishap cursing the time that ever she disswaded the gathering of power about the King got her self in all haste possible with her young Son Richard and Daughters into the Sanctuary lodging her self and company in the Abbots place at VVestminster whither the Archbishop of York went to comfort her telling her he hoped that the matter was nothing so bad as she doubted it and that he was put in good hope and out of doubt by a Message sent him from the Lord Hastings whose faithfulness to the King he said none did or had cause to suspect Ah wo worth him quoth the Queen he is one that laboureth to destroy me and my blood When the Archbishop was returned home in the dawning of the day he might out of his Chamber-window see all the Thames full of boats with the Duke of Glocester's servants in them watching that none should go to sanctuary nor none pass unsearched Great then was the commotion and murmur as well in other places about as especially in the City the people diversly divining upon this dealing and some Lords Knights and Gentlemen either for favour of the Queen or fear of themselves assembled in sundry companies harnessed But these commotions and fears were moderated by the Lord Hastings then Lord Chamberlain who perswaded that the Duke of Glocester was a sure friend to the King and that the Lord Rivers with the others were for matters attempted against the Dukes of Glocester and Buckingham put under arrest and that the King was bringing up to his Coronation May 4th the King entred the City and was lodged in the Bishops Palace where was held a great Council and the Dukes of Glocester Buckingham and all the Lords vvere svvorn to the King and the Duke of Glocester vvas chosen to be Protector of the King and his Realm And novv the Protector to the end he might finish his designs at once projecteth to get the young Duke of York out of sanctuary in order to which he pretends that the said Duke only was a fit associate for his brother the King and that it was dishonourable both for the King and those about his Grace that the Kings brother should be fain to keep Sanctuary But because the Duke might not be taken out of Sanctuary by violence the A. B. of York was therefore imploy'd to perswade with the Queen to yield him up This the A.B. undertook though perhaps not very willingly alledging to the Queen the comfort that his society would be to the King his brother and that it would take off the obloquy of one brothers being afraid of the other which would seem to be by the Dukes being kept in Sanctuary The Queen desirous to keep him where he was pleaded his infancy his being vexed with sickness insomuch that she durst put no earthly person in trust with his keeping but her self only For though others said she haply might do their best to him yet there was none that knew better than her self how to order him she having so long kept him nor was there any more like to cherish him than his own Mother that bare him And to this her reply she added many biting words against the Protector Howbeit in the conclusion finding by the A. B's words that the Protector would fetch her Son out by force if otherwise he might not be had she deemed it best to deliver him which she did to the Bishop and other Lords with him saying to them I deliver him and his brother into your hands to keep of whom I shal ask them both before God and the world And to the she said Farewell mine own sweet Son God send you good keeping let me kiss you once ere you go for God knows when we shall kiss together again and therewithal she kissed him blessed him turned her back and wept and so went away leaving the Child weeping as fast Then the Lords brought him to the Protector who took him in his arms and gave him a Judas kiss June the 13 many Lords assembled in the Tower and there sate in Councel communing concerning the Kings Coronation for the which Pageants were provided and whilst they were in consultation in came the Protector about nine of the Clock saluting them curteously and excusing himself that he came so late saying merrily I have been a sleeper to day then after a while departed and about eleven of
John Amend-all Their demands were That the Duke of York now in Ireland might be called home and that he with some others whom Cade named might be principally used in Council That those guilty of good Duke Humphrey's death might receive due punishment That the Grievances of the people might be redressed These Kentish Rebels with whom others from Essex joined after they had committed some outrages in and about London as in beheading the Lord Say Treasurer of England Mr. Cromer High Sheriff plundering many of the Citizens c. upon the King's Proclamation and assurance of Pardon returned to their own homes But Cade afterward attempting to raise new troubles was slain by Mr. Edan a Kentish Gentleman The Duke of York finding the humours of the popular body fitted for his purpose came suddenly out of Ireland and confederated with divers Noble-men to take the Crown from Henry's head and to set it on his own Howbeit their pretence in taking arms was only for the reformation of the State professing that they meant all honour and obedience to the King Which King Henry and his Friends chiefly the Duke of Somerset could not believe Therefore an Army was prepared and also advanced against the Yorkists But before the Armies came to engage in fight by such that secretly favoured the Duke of York the King was perswaded to a reconciliation and that Somerset should be commanded prisoner to his own house Tho. Bourchier A. B. Cant. Which done and York having dissolved his Army he came to the King making great complaints against Somerset who hearing thereof presented himself to the King against his accuser answering York face to face and in plain terms accused him of highest Treason as having conspired to depose the King and to take the Soveraignty upon himself Whereupon York was for a time put under restraint till in St. Pauls Church in London before the chief of the Nobility he took a solemn oath to be a true faithful and obedient subject unto King Henry A. D. 1452 John Lord Talbot first Earl of Shrewsbury of that Family with an Army was sent to regain Gasgoin Burdeaux her self yeilded to this great Soldier Whence he went to relieve Chastilion but charging the Enemy upon much unequal terms was there slain in the field together with his Son the Viscount Lisle After which battel when the flames of intestine War began to flash out in England betwixt the two Families of York and Lancaster the Martial men of England were called home out of France to maintain the Factions here At which time a French Captain scoffingly asked an English man When they would return again into France To whom the English man feelingly and upon a true ground answered When your sins shall be greater and more grievous in the sight of God than ours are now A. D. 1453 the Queen was delivered of a Son who was named Edward A. D. 1454 the Duke of York in despight of his sacred Oath so publickly taken raised arms against the King marching with his forces towards London Against whose coming King Henry prepared an Army with which he advanced to St. Albans where a sharp battel was fought and the Royal party worsted On the Kings side were slain the Duke of Somerset Earls of Northumberland and Stafford Lord Clifford with sundry worthy Knights and Esquires The King himself was shot into the neck with an arrow taken prisoner and conveyed back to London where in July immediately following a Parliament was holden the precursor whereof was a Blazing-star which appeared in June extending its beams to the South The first popular Act of this Assembly was to restore the memory of Duke Humphrey to honour declaring him to have been a true subject to the King and Realm The next was to free the Yorkists from treason as to their taking up of arms In this Parliament the Duke of York created himself Protector of England the Earl of Salisbury his great Confident was made Lord Chancellor and the Earl of Warwick Salisbury's Son Captain of Callis They spared as yet to touch King Henry's life because the people did wonderfully esteem and reverence him for his holiness But that they the Yorkists might with the more facility uncrown and at last kill him they by degrees workt out his ancient Councellors and placed of their own creatures in their rooms And now the French encouraged by our inward divisions landed at Sandwich Fifteen thousand men where they did some spoil then departed Another part of them burned Foway and some other towns in Devonshire A. D. 1458 the Lords met at London to compose all quarrels bringing with them great troops of armed attendants which through the great vigilancy and providence of the then Mayor of London Godfrey Bullein Queen Ann Bulleins Ancestor dutifully kept the King's peace This Meeting of the Lords ended in a Composure though it continued but a very short time before both sides made preparations for War and at Blore-Heath they came to battel which was long and bloody but at length the worst of the day fell to the Kings side Howbeit not long after the King put the Yorkists to flight at Ludlow which town was spoiled to the bare Walls In a Parliament holden at Coventry the Duke of York Earls of March Salisbury Warwick Rutland and others were attainted of High treason and had their whole Estates confiscated But on July 9 1460 at Northampton was the fatal battel where Henry's Forces vvere utterly broken and vanquished through the treachery of the Lord Grey of Ruthen vvho quit his place and fled to the Yorkists The Duke of Buckingham Earl of Shrewsbury Viscount Beaumont Lord Egrimond Valiant Sir VVilliam Lucy vvith many others of the Kings Friends vvere slain and the King himself fell a prey into his enemies hands vvho carried him to London vvhere a Parliament begun Octob. 8. At which Parliament Richard 〈…〉 his claim to the Crown publ◠〈…〉 â—gree to them on this sort nam◠〈…〉 third son of King â—dward the third had Issue Philip his daughter who was married to Edmond Mortimer Earl of March who had Issue Roger Earl of March who had Issue Edmond Earl of March Roger Anne and Eleanor which said Edmond Roger and Eleanor died without Issue and Anne the Heir of that House was married to Richard Earl of Cambridge the son of Edmond Duke of York fifth son to King Edward the third which said Earl of Cambridge had Richard now Duke of York He also alledged that the descendents of John of Gaunt fourth son and younger brother to Lionel had hitherto holden the Crown of England unjustly for that himself the said Richard Plantagenet Duke of York was the lawful Heir being the son of Richard Earl of Cambridge and Anne aforesaid Whilss this weighty controversy to whom the Crown of right belonged was under debate a Crown which hung for an Ornament in the middle of the roof of the Room where the Knights and Burgesses met to consult and also
that he could have no access into the City that way he in the night marched round about by Kingstone thinking that way to have surprized the City on the sudden but staying to remount a great Gun that was dismounted by the way by that means he could not reach the City so soon as he had expected nor till his coming was discovered and preparations on that side the City made against him Cardinal Reginald Pole A.B. Cant. The Earl of Pembroke possessed himself of St. James's which Wiat at his coming perceiving marched a little aside towards Charing-Cross At Charing-Cross the Lord Chamberlain and Sir John Gage stood to resist Wiat but the Kentish-men rushing violently into the Streets forced their opposites into the gates of White-Hall where was a great distraction within and no other voice heard than Treason Treason Mean while Wiat with such small company as he had with him hasted to Ludgate where he knocked to have entrance but was debar'd In the interim those his followers that had turned to White-Hall were dispersed about twenty of which dirty bemired Rebels were slain in the conflict and no other cry heard on the contrary part but Down with the daggle-Tails Wiat returning from Ludgate sate down upon a stall against Bell-Savage-Inne where he mused a while then retired towards the Court and was not opposed till he came to Temple-Bar where began some Bickering but Clarencieux King at Arms coming to him perswaded him to submit to the Queens mercy To whom Sir Thomas Wiat said If I must yield I will yield to a Gentleman and yielded himself to Clarencieux Then was he mounted behind Sir Maurice Berkley and so carried to the Court and in the after-noon to the Tower About fifty of his fellow Rebels were hanged in London and four hundred more were led through the City with Halters about their necks to Westminster where they were all pardoned by the Queen A. D. 1554 and April 11th Sir Thomas Wiat was beheaded on Tower-hill where at his death he warned the people to beware how they took any thing in hand against the higher Powers and excused the Lady Elizabeth and the Lord Courtney of having any hand in his Rebellion Alexander Bret and twenty two Kentish persons more were executed in divers parts of that County These Commotions were the occasions of great troubles to the Lady Elizabeth for the great difference in judgment that was betwixt her sister the Queen and her caused the Queen to suspect that she was a principal mover in them Wherefore the good Princess was in all haste sent for from her Mannor of Ashbridge where she then lay sick and was committed prisoner to the Tower of London at her first coming being kept a close prisoner under locks and bolts but at length the Lord Shandois obtained liberty for her to walk in the Queens Chamber and in the garden About May 19th she was removed to Woodstock where her liberty was not much inlarged In this her confinement as she sate looking out of the window she hap'd to see a maid milking in the Park and merrily singing over her pail which struck this pensive prisoner into a deep muse preferring the Maids fortunes above her own and heartily wishing that her self was a Milk-maid Perhaps this might be the place where Stephen Gardner with intent to insnare her life caused her to be examined what she thought of those words of Christ Hoc est corpus meum This is my body To which after some pause the Princess thus warily and as wittily answered Christ was the word that spake it He took the bread and brake it And what the word did make it That I believe and take it A. D. 1554 and April 16th a disputation began concerning Transubstantiation betwixt certain learned men of the Popish perswasion and Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury Nicholas Ridley late Bishop of London and old Father Latimer sometime Bishop of Worcester of the Reformed Religion which dispute ended on the 20th of the same month and a year and six months after the aforenamed Bishops gave Testimony to the truth in the flames in the Town-ditch of Oxford A. D. 1554 and July 25th was the marriage betwixt Philip of Spain and Mary Queen of England with great State solemnized and their Titles by Garter King at Arms solemnly proclaimed with these following stiles Philip and Mary by the grace of God King and Queen of England France Naples Jerusalem and Ireland Defenders of the Faith Princes of Spain and Sicily Arch-Dukes of Austrich Dukes of Milain Burgundy and Brabrant Counts of Haspurg Flanders and Tyrol In the November next following this marriage the Queen was reported to be with Child for joy whereof Te Deum was commanded solemnly to be sung and processions and prayers were made for her safe delivery The Queen took her Chamber the Court was full of Midwives all due provisions made against the good hour And so certain it was taken to be that some were punished but for questioning the contrary and the Parliament Enacted That if God should take away Queen Mary this their young Master coming into the world should succeed and that King Philip should be Protector during the Princes minority Howbeit though they had this confidence to trust Philip with the government of England if such a case should happen yet had Philip little confidence in the English first because they would have hindred the marriage betwixt him and the Queen and then because a Nobleman had given his counsel to cut off the Lady Elizabeths head whence he assured himself that those so bad-minded to their natural Princess could not be well-minded to him a stranger A great friend 't is said King Philip was to the said Princess Elizabeth nor would he cease solliciting his Queen till he had gained her some freedom from her close restraint But now the expected time of Queen Maries deliverance being come a rumour was spread that a Prince was born for joy whereof the Bells were rung Bon-fires flamed processions were made and some in their Sermons fondly described the beauty of this young Prince Notwithstanding at last it proved no such matter Some said this rumour was spread in policy and that the Queen to have put the Lady Elizabeth besides the Crown would have mothered another bodies Child but King Philip scorn'd to Father it Others said that the Queen miscarried others that she had a Tympany A. D. 1557 the Queen to take part with the Spaniard and Pope proclaimed Wars against France and King Philip crossed the Seas into Flanders After whom his Queen sent a thousand Horsemen four thousand Foot and two thousand Pioneers under the conduct of the Earl of Pembroke who came with his forces before the Town of St Quintins at that time besieged by the Dukes of Savoy and Brunswick and in short time by their manly courage forced the Town to yield for joy whereof great Triumphs were made in England which lasted not long For
Bertualdus A. B of Cant. reigned in peace the term of four years but affecting a private retired life he appointed Chelred his Cousin to rule in his stead and accompanied with Offa King of East-Saxons KENRED and Edwin Bishop of Winchester he went unto Rome where himself and Offa became Monks and there dyed CHeldred the 9th King of the Mercians CHELRED A.D. 709. was all along during his seven years reign engaged in Wars against Inas King of the West-Saxons Which Inas being in pilgrimage at Rome in A.D. 720 gave a tribute to Rome called Peter-pence being a peny for every house At first it was called the Kings Alms it was also called Romescot Inas built a Colledg at Wells and a stately Abby at Glastenbury where formerly the old Cell of Joseph of Arimathea had been He also built a Castle at Taunton King Chelred dyed in A. D. 716 and vvas buried in the Cathedral Church at Lichfield EThelbald the 10th King of the Mercians ETHELBALD spent the most part of his reign in peace and too much thereof in Luxury for the vvhich he vvas reproved by Boniface an English man Bishop of Mentz Whose Epistle Redargutory had this influence upon the King that in sign of repentance he priviledged the Church from all Tributes to himself and founded the Abby of Crowland About which time it was appointed by Arch-Bishop Cuthbert and his Clergy in a convocation held in his Province that the Sacred Scriptures should be read in their Monasteries the Lords Prayer and Creed taught in the English tongue A. D. 733. In January the Sun suffered so great an Eclipse that the Earth seemed to be overshadowed as with Sack-cloth And A. D. 756 and in December the Moon being in her full appeared both dark and bloody for a Star though there be none lower than the Moon seemed to follow her and to deprive her of light till it had got before her But great Ethelbald fighting against Cuthred the West Saxon was trayterously slain by the procurement of one of his own Captains near Tanworth and was buried at Repton in Derbyshire OFFA A.D. 758. OFFA the 11th King of the Mercians as is said was born both lame deaf and blind continuing so unto his mans estate He was of such stout and daring spirit that he thought nothing impossible for him to attain unto The first that felt his fury were the Kentish men whose King Alrike he slew in fight with his own hands From south to north he then marched and beyond Humber made havock of all that opposed him Whence returning in triumph he vanquished Kenwolph and his West-Saxons with whom Marmadius King of the Britains sided He caused a great ditch to be made between his and the Britains borders that is from Basingwark in Flintshire and North-Wales not far from the mouth of Dee running along the Mountains into the South ending near Bristol at the fall of Wye The tract whereof in many places is yet seen being called Clawdh Offa Tarninus and Nothelmus A.B. Cant. or Offa's Ditch The Danes that had invaded England he forced back to their ships with the loss of all their booty and many of their lives Then making his son Egfryd Partner with him in the Kingdom he went to Rome where he made his Kingdom subject to a tribute called Peter-pence and gave rich gifts to Pope Hadrian for canonizing Alban a Saint in honour of whom at his return he built a Magnifick Monastry over against Verolanium Also in testimony of his repentance for the blood he had shed in his Wars he gave the tenth part of his goods unto the Church-men and poor At Bath he built a Monastry and in Warwick-shire a Church where the adjoining town from it and him beareth the name Off-Church He dyed at Offley in A D. 794 and was buried without the town of Bedford in a Chappel standing upon the bank of Owse which long since was swallowed up by the same River In A D. 755 was Sigebert King of West-Saxons slain by a Swineherd and in A.D. 760 Kenwolph King of West-Saxons made Wells an Episcopal See EGfryd the son of Offa restored to the Church her ancient priviledges which his Father had deprived her of EGFKID A.D. 794. He dyed in the first year of his reign and was buried in the Abby-Church of St. Albans KEnwolph the 13th King of the Mercians KENWOLPH A.D. 795. was at home a president of peace religion and justice and abroad of temperance humility and courtesie In War stout and victorious in Peace studious of enriching his subjects He vanquished the Kentish men and carried away their King prisoner detaining him captive and giving his Kingdom to Cuthred He built a fair Church at Winchcomb in Glocestershire where upon the dedication thereof he led Pren his captive King of Kent up to the high altar and there without either his entreaty or any ransom set him at full liberty He dyed A. D. 819 and was buried at Winchcomb where was buried also Kenelm his son murder'd by his sister Quendred SAXON MONARCHS EGBERT A.D. 819. EGbert the 18th King of West-Saxons first warred against the Cornish and Welsh a remnant of the old Britains which for fourteen years held side against this King which so enraged him that he made it present death for any Britain to pass over Offa's pitch into England Their great Caer-legion now Westchester he took from them and at London cast down the Image of their Prince Cadwalle He subdued Kent East-Saxons and East-Angles also the Mercians and indeed all upon the North and South of Humber yeilded him obedience He was crowned at Winchester absolute Monarch of the whole Island in A. D. 819 and caused the South of this Island to be called England Three several times the Danes landed in England in his reign whom he expelled He dyed in A. D. 836 and was buryed at Winchester Cuthbert and Brogmius A.B. Cant. But his bones were since taken up and with others bestowed in Chests set upon the Wall on each side the Quire of the Cathedral with these verses inscribed Hic Rex Egbertus pausat cum Rege Kenulpho nobis egregia munera uterque tulit His issue were Ethelwolph and Ethelstan and one Daughter named Egdith commonly called St. Edith who was Governess of a Monastry of Ladies at Pollesworth in Warwickshire EThelwolph was in his youth committed unto the care of Helmestan Bishop of Winchester ETHELWOLPH 836. and by him unto learned Swithun the Monk He took such a liking unto the quiet and solitary life enjoyed only by religious men all other estates being molested to withstand the intruding Danes that he took upon him the Monkish Vow and profession and was made Deacon and shortly after upon the death of Helmestan he was elected if not consecrated also Bishop of Winchester But the death of his Father immediately following by the intreaty of the Nobles and constraint of the Clergy he was made
place where the Colledge of Gods-house stood 1505. St. Johns Coll. was erected upon the ruines of an ancient Hospital of regular Canons by the said Margret Countess of Derby 1508. Magdalen Coll. first an Hall wherein Monks of divers Monastries studied but in the year 1542 Thomas Audley Lord Chancellor of England founded there a new Colledge in honour of St. Mary Magdalen Trinity Coll. founded by King Henry the 8th in A. D. 1546. Emmanuel Coll. founded by Sir Walter Mildmay 1584. Sidney Sussex Coll. was founded by Frances Countess of Sussex the Daughter of Sir William Sydney A. D. 1598. EDward sirnamed the Elder EDWARD A.D. 901. the eldest Son of Alfred was Crowned at Kingstone upon Thames At Wodnesfield near Wolfrune Hampton he obtained a great victory over the Daâ—es for two of their Kings were slain many of their Nobles and an innumerable company of their commons which caused him both to be feared and loved His Sister Elfleda had very hard travel of her first Child therefore ever after she forbare the nuptial embraces Athème A.B. Cant. alledging it to be an over-foolish pleasure which brought with it so great pains And listing her self under Mars she in person assisted her Brother against the Danes performing many manly feats King Edward dyed at Farringdon and was buried in the new Monastry of Winchester in A. D. 924. His Issue were Ethelstan Elfred Elsward Edwin Edmund Edred and Nine Daughters He built a Castle at Stafford in A.D. 914 He likewise built a Castle at Huntingdon in A. D. 917 which Henry the 2d afterward demolished as some say He also built Hereford out of the ruines of old Aviconium Manchester in Lancashire anciently Mancunium having been destroyed in the Danish Wars this King caused to be built again because the Inhabitants had behaved themselves manfully against the Danes King Edward the elder built a new Town over against Nottingham and made a Bridge over the River betwixt the two Towns Ethelstan A. D. 924. EThelstan was Crowned at Kingstone by Athelme Arch-Bishop of Canterbury This Prince by the evil suggestions of his Cup-bearer became suspitious of some Treason to be wrought against him by his Brother Edwin therefore caused him to be put in a small vessel without Tackle and Oars and so to be exposed to the mercy of the Waters whence the young Prince overcome with grief cast himself headlong into the Sea whose Ghost the King sought to pacifie by a Seven years voluntary penance and building the two Monastries of Middleton and Michelness He also took revenge on his Cup-bearer by this occasion On a festival-day as his Cup-bearer was serving one of his feet hapned to slip but he recovered himself with the other and thereupon pleasantly said You see how one Brother helpeth another Then the King with grief called to mind the death of his innocent Brother and forthwith commanded execution to be done upon his Cup-bearer the procurer thereof King Ethelstan or Adelstane overcame in fight Godfrey the Danish King of Northumberland Constantine King of Scots and Howell or Ludwall King of Wales constraining them to submit unto his pleasure which done he presently restored to their former estates saying That it was more honour to make a King than to be a King He enlarged his dominions beyond any of his predecessors and was in the greatest reputation with all foreign Princes who sought his friendship both by alliance and rare presents Hugh King of France besides some inestimable Jewels sent him the Sword of Constantine the Great in the Hilt whereof all covered with Gold was one of the Nails as 't was said which fastned Christ to the Cross He sent likewise the Spear of Charles the Great reputed to be the same which pierced the side of our Saviour also a part of the Cross whereon he suffered and a piece of the Crown of Thorns with also the Banner of St. Maurice And from Otho the Emperor who had married his Sister was sent a vessel of precious Stones artificially made wherein were Lantskips with Vines Ulfelinus or Wolstane A.B. Cant. Corn Men all seeming so naturally to move as if they had been really the things themselves And the King of Norway sent him a famous and rich Ship Some of these Relicks he gave unto Swithuns Abby in Winchester and the rest to the Monastry in Malmsbury He beautified the City of Excester founded St. Germans in Cornwall St. Petrocus at Bodman the Priory of Pilton and enriched every famous Abby in the Land either with new-buildings Jewels Books or Revenues as also he did certain Cities with the Mintage of his Money Whereof in London were Eight Houses at Winchester Six Lewis Two Hastings Two Hampton Two Warham Two Chichester One Rochester Three two for the King and one for the Bishop Canterbury Seven four for the King two for the A. Bishop and one for the Abbot He caused the Holy Bible to be translated into the Saxon Tongue He dyed at Glocester called by the Britains Caer-Gloue i. e. Fair City in A. D. 940 and was buried at Malmsbury in Wilts first built by Malmutius a King of the Britains About this King Ethelstans time if ever lived that famous Guy Earl of Warwick EDMOND A.D. 940. EDmond the 5th Son of King Edward was Crowned at Kingston He obtained many signal victories over the Danes in divers parts of the Land recovering out of their hands several Counties and Cities but at his Mannor of Puckle-kerks in the County of Glocester whilst he was interposing himself between his Sewer and another to part a fray he was with a thrust through the body wounded to death in A. D. 946 and was buried at Glastenbury His Issue was Edwy and Edgar EDred was the sixth Son of King Edward EDRED A. D. 946. and succeeded his Brother in the Non-age of his Sons Wolstane Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for some misdemeanors he committed to custody but afterwards in reverence to his office discharged him So devout he was in the Religion of those times that he suffered his royal body to be chastised at the will and direction of Dunstan Abbot of Glastenbury unto whose keeping he also committed the greatest part of his treasures and richest Jewels The stately Abby of Mich at Abingdon built by King Inas but destroyed by the Danes he repaired and most richly endowed it confirming the Charters with Seals of Gold St. Germans he ordained a Bishops See which there continued till by Canutus it was annexed to the Bishoprick of Kyrton in Devon both which Sees were by Edward the Confessor translated to Excester He dyed in the year of Grace 955 and was interred in the old Minster or Monastry of Winchester His Issue Elfrid and Bertfrid EDwy the eldest Son of King Edmond was Crowned at Kingstone EDWIE A.D. 955. and on the day of his Coronation as some Monks say he in sight of his Nobles as they sate in Councel abused the body of a great Lady
Welsh they made some stirs And one Fitz-Arnulph a Citizen of London attempted to set up Lewis again for the which himself and two others were hanged and many more had their hands or feet cut off The Barons they were high for a confirmation of their Liberties And Lewis of France upon the death of his Father seized Rochel and the whole Country of Poictou which belonged to the King of England into his hands under pretence that K. Henry an Homager for Aquitain was not present at his Coronation nor yet excused his absence by Ambassadors Whereupon Henry summons a Parliament for Aids to recover his losses which being granted he sent over his forces which discomfited the French But the King necessitated for more Monies for the carrying on of his design in Gascoign wrung from the Londoners Five thousand Marks above their Fifteenths alledging that they had to his prejudice given Lewis the like sum The Clergy also were compelled under pain of Papal censure to pay the Fifteenth not only for their temporal but also Ecclesiastical Goods And by advice of Hubert de Burgo Chief Justice the King revoked the Charters of Liberties which for about two years had been practised through the Realm pretending his Non-age when granted Which caused in all a great heart-burning against Hubert Howbeit the King was well furnish'd with money and men which he caused to be transported into Britain and on the same day in which he set sail from England himself in person did visit the poor and feeble dealing large Alms to them and not refusing to kiss the sick and leprous But before that the King had opportunity to effect any thing in those parts considerable the Irish rebelled constraining him to return to reduce then inâ—o order Which when he had done he advanced against the Welsh whom he also repressed though not without considerable loss About this time Hubert de Burgo Earl of Kent was accused by the Bishop of Winchester and others for the committing of many great crimes and he doubting that he should not have a fair Tryal retired himself into Essex whither he was prosecuted by Armed men and in a Chappel at Burntwood was apprehended out of which the rude Soldiers hailed him and sent for a Smith to make Shackles for him which when the Smith understood that they were for him fetching a deep sigh he said Do with me what you please and God have mercy on my soul but as sure as the Lord lives I will never make Iron-Shackles for him but will rather dye the worst death that is For is not this the most Loyal and Courageous Hubert who so often hath preserved England from being destroyed by strangers and restored England to England Let God be judge between him and you for using him so unjustly and inhumanely requiting his most excellent deserts with the worst recompence that can be Notwithstanding all this Sir Godfrey de Crancomb who commanded the party bound the Earl and conveyed him to the Tower of London where he had not long been ere the Bishop of London procured his liberty though shortly after he was again imprisoned In his place the King elected for his Councellor and Confident Peter de Rupibus Bishop of Winchester who displaced the English Officers and in their Rooms placed Poictovins and Britons stuffing the Kings Castles with them intrusting as it were the treasures strength and Realm it self in their hands to the great discontent of the English Peers Who now confederated against the strangers and refused upon the Kings summons to appear in Parliament sending this impudent Message to their Soveraign That if out of hand he removed not the Bishop of Winchester and strangers out of his Court they all of them by the common consent of the Kingdom would drive him and his wicked Counsellors out of it and would consult about creating of a new King Whereupon the King animated by Winchester commanded the Earl-Marshal with all others whom he suspected to appear at Glocester where the King was with an Army Which they refusing to do the King burnt their Mannors and gave away their Inheritances to the Poictovins The Earl-Marshal he contracts strict amity with Leweylyn Prince of Wales and made great spoil on the possessions of the Kings reputed Seducers Shrewsbury he sackt and burnt Gilbert Lord Basset the Earls great Confederate set fire on Alkmundbury not far from Huntingdon But the Earl-Marshal having crossed the seas into Ireland there to recover his Lands taken from him by the fraud of the Bishop of Winchester was there wounded to death for whose loss the King to the wonder of all that saw it broke forth into tears affirming That he had left no Peer about him in the Kingdom And now the Bishop of Winchester hated of the people was commanded by the King not to meddle any farther in State-matters And against Peter Rivallis Lord Treasurer the King was so in raged that he sware he would pluck out his eyes were it not for reverence of holy Orders And by the workings of the Bishops an accord was effected betwixt the King and his Peers and the Poictovins were commanded to depart the Realm Howbeit the Land was not yet eased of its Oppressors and Oppressions for the Pope sent over into England three hundred Romans requiring to have the first Benefice that should become vacant to be bestowed on them requiring also great sums of money of the Clergy for maintenance of the Pope's Wars against the Emperor Which though the Clergy at first opposed yet were forced to yeild unto it at the last The Pope himself had a mind to have come hither in his own person but the King's Councel liked not thereof alledging that the Romans Rapines and Simonies had enough stained England's purity though the Pope himself came not personally to spoil and prey upon the Wealth of the Church About the year 1240 Richard Earl of Cornwall the King's Brother with the Earls of Pembroke Chester Lincoln Salisbury and many other honourable persons departed for the Holy Land and in A. D. 1242 the King passed the Seas to recover Poictou but effected not any thing remarkable though he expended great store of Treasure Upon his return into England he was therefore compelled to be burthensome to his subjects for recruiting of his exhausted Treasure as well by the levy of Escuage as of Loan and otherwise The Jews in especial manner were made sensible of his wants Too much of their money thus rais'd 't is said he expended in Entertainments and Shows though afterward the King reflecting on his former profuseness in gifts and entertainments he shortned the allowances of his houshold and entertainments without any regard to Majesty And to spare his own charge the more he invited himself now to this mans house now to that but no-where contenting himself with his welcome unless himself and his Queen Son Edward yea and chief Favourites were presented with costly Gifts 'T is said that he was sometime
had homage done him by many of the Scotish Lords at Dumfres he next took unjust revenge on Walter Langton Bishop of Chester by Imprisoning him and seizing all his temporal goods and credits because that in his Father K. Edward's life-time the Bishop had gravely reproved him for his misdemeanors and had complained on Pierce Gavestone whereon ensued young Edward's Imprisonment and Gaveston's banishment Then he sailed into France where at Bolein with wonderful magnificence he was married to young Isabel Daughter of Philip the Fair and at his return for England brought back with him his beloved Minion Pierce Gaveston who was a Gentleman stranger brought up with him Which Gaveston the King suffered now to Lord it over the chief Nobles to fill the Court with Buffoons and Parasites and the like pernicious instruments to wast the wealth of the Kingdom in revellings and riotous courses to transport riches into foreign parts bestowing upon him his own Jewels and Ancestors treasures and even the Crown it self of his victorious Father Not sticking to profess That if it lay in his power he should succeed him in the Kingdom being wholly ruled by him Therefore to repress Gaveston's exorbitances the Lords in Parliament procured though with no good-will of the Kings that Gaveston Earl of Cornwall should be perpetually banished they gratifying the King with a subsidy of the 20th part of the Subjects goods Howbeit shortly after the King contrary to his Oath made unto the Parliament called Earl Gaveston home out the Ireland himself meeting him at Flint-Castle and then bestowing on him to Wife Joan of Acres Countess of Glocester resolving for this leud mans sake to put Crown Life and all in hazard And now the insolent Earl strives to outgo himself in his former courses consuming the Kings treasures and means so that there was not sufficient left for the necessities of the Court and drawing the King into such debaucheries that the Queen conceived her self injured thereby as well as the Nobles Whereupon Gaveston is a third time forced out of the Realm into which he again returned the following Christmas when the King welcomed him as an Angel from Heaven and forthwith advanced him to be principal Secretary But the Lords as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal resolved by force of Arms utterly to extirpate him chusing for their Leader in this design Thomas Earl of Lancaster And at Datkington this infamous Earl Gaveston was surprized by Guy Earl of Warwick who conveyed him to Warwick-Castle and in a place called Blacklow afterward Gaveshead caused his head to be cut off as a subverter of the Laws and an open Traytor to the Kingdom Which act caused a lasting hatred in the King to his Nobles John Offord A.B. Cant. though for the present the Kings displeasure was allayed by the mediation of the Prelates and especially of Gilbert Earl of Glocester who stood neutral But whilst the English King minded only his pleasure undaunted Bruce now the received King of Scotland industriously prosecuted his design for setting his Country at liberty from the English driving them out of most places of his Realm and making great spoil in Northumberland Which awakning K. Edward he marched with a very great Army against him though many of the Nobles refused to attend him in this service because he delayed to ratifie their desired Liberties and provisions for better Government so often consented unto by himself At Bannocksbourn the English and Scotch Armies came in sight each of other when the enemy left nothing undone that might be for their advantage digging before their Battalions certain trenches wherein they stuâ—k sharp Stakes covering them with Hurdles which miserably afflicted the English Cavalry falling into them at unawares thereby procuring to the Scots the greatest victory that ever they had over the English In this fight K. Edward did gallantly behave himself nor would he fly till by the importunity of friends he was thereunto forced for his preservation Now was slain the Earl of Glocester the Lord Clifford with other Lords and about 700 Knights Esquires and mâ—n of Armories Humphry de Bohun was taken Prisoner and a great booty the Scots gained for the English in this expedition had adorned themselves as for a triumph with all sorts of riches gold silver and the like in a kind of wanton manner corresponding to the Prince they followed In those times the Scots made such-like scoffing Rhimes as this on the English Long Beards heartless painted Hoods witless Gay Coats graceless makes England thriftless This Conquest incouraged the Scots to make inroads into the English Northern Counties where they made great spoil some of the disloyal Englishmen joyning with them The King nevertheless could not forget his Gaveston whose body with great pomp he caused to be transferred from Oxford to Kings-Langley in Hartfordshire himself in person honouring the Exequies Then in Pierce Gavestons place the King advanced into his favour the two Spencers Father and Son whose intolerable insolencies and oppressions seemed to exceed those of Gavestons against whom the Barons did swell with such impatience that not content with the wast of their Lands by threats of civil War they procured their Banishment The Queen who hitherto had been a Mediatrix betwixt the King and his Lords having received the denyal of one nights lodging at the Castle of â—eeds in Kent which belonged to one of the Barons whom she perceived to take too much upon them now turned her Spleen against them incensing the King her Husband against them so highly that King Edward resolved to dye in the quarrel or to bring the factious Lords into a more becoming carriage towards him The judgment given against the Spencers he procured to be reversed Some of the Delinquent Lords render'd themselves to the King others of them were apprehended amongst whom were the two Roger Mortimers Father and Son who were committed to the Tower Howbeit the Earl of Lancaster in the North resolved with what forces he could procure to fight for his security against whom the King marched and at Burrowbridg encountred him where Humphrey de Bohun was slain with a spear from under the bridg and the Earl of Lancaster with other principal men Barons and Knights to the number of above ninety were taken by Andrew de Herckly Captain of Carlisle afterward created Earl of that place The Earl of Lancaster a few days after was beheaded at Pontfract the Barons and Knights were drawn hang'd and quarter'd The Lord Badlesmere who refused to let the Queen lodg at Leeds was executed at Canterbury Never did English earth at one time drink so much blood of her Nobles as at this time in so vile a manner shed One Earl and Fourteen Lords suffering death most of them by the halter But that this Tragedy of the Lords was exploited by others and not by the Kings free inclinations appears for that when some of the Courtiers and Favourites pleaded for the life of one of a mean Family
Wingrave was Mayor William Caston Ralph Balancer Sheriffs In his eleventh Year John Wingrave continued Mayor John Prior William Furneaux Sheriffs In his Twelfth Year John Wingrave continued Mayor John Pointel John Dalling Sheriffs In his Thirteenth year Hammond Chickwel was Mayor Simon de Abingdon John Preston Sheriffs In his Fourteenth Year Nicholas Farendon was Mayor Renauld at the Conduit Will. Prodham Sheriffs In his Fifteenth Year Hammond Chickwel was Mayor Richard Constantine Richard de Hackney Sheriffs In his Sixteenth Year Hammond Chickwel continued Mayor John Grantham Richard de Ely Sheriffs In his Seventeenth Year Nicholas Farendon was Mayor Adam of Salisbury John of Oxford Sheriffs In his Eighteenth Year Hammond Chickwel was Mayor Benet of Fulham John Cawston Sheriffs In his Ninteenth Year Hammond Chickwel continued Mayor Gilbert Mordon John Cawston Sheriffs In his Twentieth Year Richard Britain was Mayor Richard Rothing Roger Chauntelere Sheriffs EDWARD III. EDWARD the third was Crowned King upon Candlemas-day A. D. 1327. being the eighth day after that his Father had made a resignation of the Crown to him And now because sundry great persons with the whole order of Friars Preachers took pity on the old Kings captivity Mortimer therefore hastned to dispatch him out of the way in order to which he procured an Express from the young King then about 16. Years of age to remove him from Kenelworth Castle delivering him into the hands of those ignominious Knights Thomas de Gourney Seniour and John Mattrevers who conveying him from Kenelworth to Barkly-Castle there murdred him by running a burning spit up into his body as he was about to disburden nature September 22. 1327. His body was buryed at Glocester To animate the bloody Regicides to the commitment of the horrid fact 't is said this ambiguous phrase was invented by Adam de Torleton Bishop of Hereford and sent to them by Mortimer Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est Gourney or Corney and his villanous companions when they would needs shave the King on his way to Barkley lest he should be known and rescued inforced him to sit down on a molehil and the rascal Barber insulting told him That cold water out of the next ditch should serve for his trimming at that time To whom the sorrowful King answered Whether you will or no there shall be warm water and therewith shed tears plentifully But young King Edward at his Fathers death was upon the borders of Scotland where having invironed the Scots in the woods of Wividale and Stanhope by the Treason of Mortimer they escaped and he returned inglorious after an huge wast of Treasure and great peril of his own person For had not his loyal Chaplain stept in and received the mortal weapon in his own body the Kings life had been lost Shortly after this peace was concluded with the Scots upon dishonourable terms to the English by the procurement of the Mother-Queen and her Minion Mortimer Joan the Kings Sister was marryed to David Bruce the Scots in derision calling her Joan Make-peace King Edward at the Treaty of Peace sealed Charters to the Scotish Nation the contents whereof were contrived by his Mother Roger Mortimer and Sir James Douglas without the privity of the English Peers He also delivered to them that famous evidence called the Ragman-Roll and likewise quitted them of all his claim to the government of Scotland withal rendring back certain Jewels taken by the English from the Scots amongst which was one of special Note called the Black-Cross of Scotland In the same year being the year of our Lord 1327. dyed Charles the fair King of France by whose death the Crown of that Kingdom devolved to Edward King of England in right of his Mother Queen Isabel Tho. Bradwardin A. B. Cant. who was daughter to Philip the Fair and Sister to Lewis Hutin Philip the Long and Charles the Fair all Kings of France successively and all three dying without Issue the whole right now seeming to be Isabel the only Child of the said Philip that had any Issue But the French pretending a fundamental Law or Entail called the Salique Law by which no woman was inheritable to France sought to debar King Edward his right receiving to the Crown Philip of Valois whose Father was younger Brother to Philip the Fair advancing the Brothers son before the Daughters son not following the propinquity or descent of blood but meliority of the Sex Against the stream of the Queen and her Lord Mortimers absolute sway some great persons now stood amongst whom was the Kings Uncle Edmund Earl of Kent whose death the Queen and Mortimer shortly procured Nor was Mortimers fall now far off for the King beginning to perceive his own peril in the others potency upon good advice therefore surprized Mortimer with the Queen-Mother in Nottingham-Castle and by a Parliament held at Nottingham Queen Isabel's Dowry was taken from her and only a pension of a thousand Pound per Annum allowed her Mortimer was condemned in open Parliament at VVestminster for causing the young King to make a dishonourable peace with the Scots from whom he received bribes For procuring the death of Sr. Edward of Caernarvon the late King For over-familiarity with Isabel the Queen-Mother For polling and robbing the King and Commons of their Treasure He was ignominiously drawn to Tyburn then called the Elmes where he was executed on the common Gallows there hanging two days and nights 1330. With him there dyed for expiation of the late Kings death Sr. Simon de Bedford and John Deverell Esquire About this time befel great disturbances and divisions in Scotland occasioned by young Bruce and Baliol who both pretended right to that Crown which opportunity King Edward took hold on conceiving himself not obliged to stand to that contract made in his minority by the predominancy of his mother and Mortimer the Scots also detaining his Town and Castle of Berwick from him Wherefore he raises an Army and with Edward Baliol marcheth to Berwick which having besieged David Bruce sent a puissant host to the relief thereof and at Halydon-Hill the English and Scoth Armies joyned battle where the Scots were vanquished with a lamentable slaughter of them There dyed Archibald Dougles Earl of Angus and Governour of Scotland the Earls of Southerland Carrick and Foss the three Sons of the Lord Walter Steward and at least fourteen thousand others with the loss only of one Knight and ten other English-men Hereupon Berwick was surrendred to King Edward and Baliol was accepted to be King of Scotland and had faith and allegiance sworn unto him by the Scotch Nobles Simon Islip A.B. Cant. Which done Baliol repaired to King Edward then at Newcastle upon Tine where he submitted to Edward the third as his Father John Baliol had done to Edward the first After which the King of England assisted this Edward Baliol as his homager going himself in person divers times for suppressing the Brucean party which
he kept under till such time that he was ingaged against the French for the obtaining of that Kingdom and the recovery of sundry Towns and places in Goscoigne injuriously with-held from him by the French King To remedy which wrongs the King of England had addressed his Ambassadors but in vain therefore that the World might take notice of his just proceedings he in a large Letter directed to the Colledge of Cardinals justifies his design upon France to be equal and honest First because himself of any Male living was the nearest in blood to the late King Charles his Uncle Secondly because the French had refused to put the Cause to civil tryal Thirdly for that the process of the twelve Peers in giving the Crown from him when he was under age was by all Laws void and frustrate Fourthly for that Philip of Valois had invaded Aquitain which belonged to the Crown of England and detained such places as he had wrongfully gained therein Fifthly for that the said Philip had aided the Scots in their rising against him Edward having done this he next makes a confederation with the High and Low-Dutch and other Foreigners then prepared a brave Army his English Subjects contributing liberally for the carrying on of the War And to make his Coffers the fuller he made bold with the Lombards and the moveable goods of such Priories in England as were Cells to Monasteries in France Thus provided of men and monies King Edward sailed with his Forces to Antwerp and by the importunity of the Flemings he first assumed the Title and Armories of the Realm of France quartering the Flower de Lis with the Lyons And entring France he burnt and spoyled the North-parts thereof up as far as Turwin then returning to Antwerp he there kept his Christmas with his Queen Philip from whence about Candlemas he set sail for England where in a Parliament holden at Westminster he obtained liberal aids for supportation of his designed Conquest In lieu of which he granted a general large pardon of trespasses and other to him and confirmed Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta with some others Then upon June 23. He shipped from Harwich to Sluce in Flanders near which place the French lay in wait with a Navy of 400 Ships with intent to intercept him but Edward having the advantage of Wind and Sun furiously set upon the French Ships putting the Monsieurs so hard to it that a great number of them chose to cast themselves into the Sea rather than to become Prisoners Thirty thousand of them are confessed to have been slain and drowned and more than half of their Ships were either sunk or taken The loss was so very great on the French side that least the news thereof might too much afflict the King of France his Jester disclosed it to him by often-times repeating this saying in his hearing Cowardly English-men Dastardly English-men Faint-hearted English-men Why said the King at length Because said the Jester They durst not leap out of their Ships into the Seas as our brave French men did From which saying the King took a hint of the overthrow After which Famous Sea-victory obtained by the English puissant King Edward with his Host consisting of near an hundred thousand men sate down before Tourney from whence he sent to the French King whom he saluted only by the name of Philip of Valoys challenging him to fight with him hand to hand in single Combat or if that pleased not then each to bring an hundred men into the Field and try the event with so small an hazard or otherwise within ten days to joyn full battel with all their forces near Tourney To which Philip made no direct answer alledging that the Letters were not sent to him the King of France but barely to Philip of Valoys Nevertheless he brought his Army within sight of the English Host but by the mediation of Queen Philips Mother and two Cardinals a Truce was concluded between the two Kings till the Midsumer next following The main reason inducing King Edward to yield hereunto was the want of supplies of money through the fault of his Officers in England whom he severely punished at his return And now to weaken great Edwards strengths the Pope put Flanders under Interdict Simon Langham A B. Cant. as having disloyally left their own Earl and chief Lord Philip King of France And Lewis the Emperor breaking league with the King of England took part with France which when King Edward understood he angrily said I will fight with them both And not long after he was upon the Sea with a very great Fleet none knowing whither he would steer his Course but in Normandy he landed where he took the Populous and Rich City of Caen and with his dreadful Host burning and spoiling round about marched up almost as far as the walls of Paris Where with his Army in an enemies Countrey between two Rivers Sein and Some the bridges being broke down by the French Edward designed at a low water to have passed over a Ford between Albeville and the Sea whom to intercept the French King had sent thither before him Godner du Foy with a thousand Horse and six thousand Foot Howbeit undaunted Edward entred himself into the Ford crying He that loves me let him follow me as one resolved to pass over or there to die the first of which he did for his Souldiers following him won the passage putting du Foy to flight And now King Edward being come near to Cressie in Poâ—thieu lying between the Rivers of Some and Anthy he there most vigilantly provided for his defence against King Philip who was advancing towards him with an Hundred thousand men and upward When the two Armies were within sight each of other the King of England after he had called upon God disposed his Host into three Battels Simon Langham A B Cant. To his Son Edward the Black-Prince he gave the ordering of the Van the second Battel the Earls of Northampton and Arundel commanded the third himself And as if he meant to barricado his Army from flying he caused his Carriages to be placed in the rear thereof and Trees to be plashed and felled to stop up the way behind his Host commanding withal that all should forsake their horses and leave them amongst the Carriages On the Enemies part the King of Bohemia and Earl of Alanson had charge of the Vantguard King Philip was in the main battel and the Earl of Savoy commanded the Rear The sign of battel being given by King Philip a bloody fight ensued wherein the Black Prince was very hard beset therefore his Father was sent for to his rescue who upon the hillock of a Windmill stood to behold the fight being in readiness to enter thereinto when just occasion should invite him But at that time he refused to go returning the Messengers with this answer Let them send no more to me for any adventure that
may befall while my Son is alive but let him either vanquish or dye because the honour of this brave day shall be his if God suffer him to survive Which he did and beat the French out of the field Thereupon King Edward with his untouched Battel advanced towards his victorious Son and most affectionately embracing and kissing him said Fair son God send you perseverance to such prosperous beginnings you have nobly acquit your self and are well worthy to have the governance of a Kingdom intrusted unto you for your valour In the field was found the dead bodies of eleven great Princes and of Barons Knights and men of Arms above fifteen hundred There was slain the King of Bohemia King of Majorca Earl of Alanson Duke of Lorrain Duke of Bourbon Earl of Flanders Earl of Savoy the Dolphin of Viennois Earl of Sancerre and Harecourt Earls of Aumarl Nevers c. six Earls of Almain besides others of great account with the Grand Prior of France and Archbishop of Roan Of the Commons there fell about thirty thousand Of the English side not one man of note or honour was slain A. D. 1346. From the Forrest of Crescie King Edward marched to Callis and besieged it In the time of which siege the Governour thereof for the sparing of food thrust forth of the Town above fifteen hundred of the poor and impotent people whom this Christian King Edward turned not back but suffered them freely to pass through his Camp relieving them gratis with fresh victuals and giving two pence a piece sterling to each of them But whilst the King was busied abroad in France the Scots in favour of the French invaded England advancing as far as Durham where the English encountring them overcame them took David their King prisoner at Nevils Cross by Durham There lay dead in the field the Earls of Murray and Strathern the Constable Marshal Chamberlain and Chancellor of Scotland with many other Nobles Prisoners taken besides the King were the Earls of Douglas Fife Southerland Wigton and Mentieth In this battel on the English side were many spiritual persons who for the defence of their Country made use of carnal Weapons And as King Edwards friends were successful in England so were they also in forreign parts for in Britain Sir Thomas Dagworth overthrew the Lord Charles of Blois though he had much the odds of him as to number of men In Gascoign and those parts Henry Earl of Derby and Lancaster worsted the Duke of Normandy took sundry places of great importance amongst the rest that considerable Town of Brigerac where he permitted every soldier to seize any House and convert all therein to his own profit Whereupon it hapned that a certain Soldier called Reth having broke into a House where the Monyers had for safety stowed the Money of that Countrey in great long sacks he acquainted the Earl therewith supposing that the Earl intended not so great a treasure for a private share but the Earl told him That accordingly as he had at first proclaimed let the treasure be worth what it would yet was it all his own And now after almost a years siege Callis was delivered to King Edwards mercy In Little-Britain the Kings Warden thereof Sir VValter de Bendly vanquished the Marshal of France in fight slew 13 Lords 140 Knights 100 Esquires and took prisoners 9 Lords besides many Knights and Esquires At length after much spoil made upon the French a peace was concluded on betwixt the two Kings though it continued not long ere the French broke the agreement In revenge whereof Edward presently entred France with an Army Will. Witlesy A. B. Cant. and spoiled it where he came and after his return into England again when he heard that John the new King of France had given to Charles the Daulphin the Dutchy of Aquitain King Edward bestowed the same upon the Black-Prince commanding him to defend that right with the sword The Prince thereupon furnished with a gallant Army set sail towards France where he took many Towns and prisoners advanced into the bosome of France up to the very gates of Burges in Berry from whence wheeling about to return to his chief City Burdeaux John King of France encountered him with a great Army having the odds of six to one notwithstanding which the victorious Prince of Wales discomfited the French took prisoners King John and Philip his youngest son the Archbishop of Sens and many great Lords and about two thousand Knights Esquires and Gentlemen bearing Armories And slew in fight about fifty two Lords and seventeen hundred Knights Esquires and Gentlemen with Sir Reginald Camian who that day bore the Or flamb or French Ensign and of the common Soldiers about six thousand To James Lord Audley who in this fight received many wounds the Prince gave 500 Marks Land in fee-simple which said Land the Lord Audley bestowed on his four Esquires that had continued with him in all the brunt and fury of danger King Edward the Father whilst his Son was thus prosperously busied in France proceeded in hostile sort against the Scots and brought King Baliol at Roxbrough to make a surrender of his Crown to him Prince Edward after his late victory marched with joy and triumph to Burdeaux where having refreshed his wearied soldiers he took his leave of France though not of the King thereof for him he brought with him a Captive to London whither the Prince was welcomed with exquisite honour by Henry Picard then Lord Mayor Which said Picard afterwards at one time feasted at his own charge the King of England France Scotland and Cyprus King Edward ordered that eight days should be spent in giving God the glory for the victory and not long after with a Fleet of One thousand one hundred sail he passed over from â—andwich to a fresh invasion and being come before the walls of Paris he honoured Four hundred Esquires and Gentlemen with Knighthood Ample conditions were offered by the French unto the Kâ—ng of England to which he would not at present listen yet at length was perswaded to an accord on these conditions That Himself and Son Edward should for ever release unto King John and his Heirs the right and claim which they had unto the Crown of France Dutchy of Normandy c. That King John and his Son should for them and their Heirs release unto King Edward and his Heirs the whole Country of Aquitain Santoin c. so the County of Ponthicu c. the proper Inheritance of Queen Isabel K Edward's Mother That King John should pay for his ransom the sum of Thirty hundred thousand Schutes of Gold every two of which should be six shillings eight pence sterling with some other conditions All which were ratified with hands Seals and Oaths at Callis though by the falshood of the French King this amity continued not many years for King John by underhand-dealing sought to alienate the hearts of King Edwards forreign subjects
from him and the County of Ponthieu he surprized before King Edward heard thereof Wherefore the King sent over John Duke of Lancaster and Humphry de Bohun Earl of Hartford to invade France who pierced up as far as Roan and after them the King sent that renowned Captain Sir Robert Knolls who went on very prosperously till by the instigation of Sir John Mensterworth and some others who thought themselves better than Sir Robert a division was made in the Army whereby the English fortunes were hindred for the which Mensterworth paid the loss of his head About the same time also some great Officers of the Kings as John Duke of Lancaster the Lord Latimer and Sir John Sterrie were complained of for fraudulency to the State and at the request of the Parliament called The good were displaced But that which caused the greatest grief to English-men was the loss of their Martial Prince Edward who left this life upon Trinity Sunday 1376 about his age 46 and was buryed at Canterbury Nor did his Martial Father long survive him for in A. D. 1377. he dyed at Shene in Surrey and was buryed as Westminster His Issue were Edward the black Prince so called from his dreadful valorout Acts William of Hatfield Lionel Duke of Clarence John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Simon Sudbury A. B Cant. Edmond Earl of Cambridge and Duke of York William of Windsor Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester Isabel Joan Blanch and Margaret He built Queenborough in Kent in honour of Queen Philip his Wife He erected a building at Windsor-Castle whose circumference was six hundred foot where Knights and men of War were to have their entertainment of Diet at his charge and begun a magnificent Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary which King Henry the eight and Sir Reginald Bray finished He is also said to be the Founder of the most Noble Order of the Garter so intituled perhaps from the Garter he took up of the Countess of Salisburies which slipped off in a dance perhaps for that in a battel wherein he was victorious Garter was the Word or Signal But some will have this King to be only the Reviver of this Order and Richard the first to be the Institutor of it King Edward confirmed Magna Charta about twelve times He restrained the Pope from conferring English Benefices on strangers He invited Cloth-workers to repair hither out of Forreign parts to whom he granted sundry priviledges The staple of wools which had been in Flanders he revoked establishing the same in Westminster Canterbury Chichester Bristol Lincoln and Hull The famous custom of the Kings of England Washing Feeding and Clothing of as many poor people upon Maundy Thursday as they are years old is referred to the celebration which this King made of his fifth year His Concubâ—e Alice Pierce was so insolent Simon Sudbury A. B. Cant. that she would go into the Courts of Justice where sitting by the Judges and Doctors she would proudly perswade or disswade for her most advantage therefore was complained of in Parliament and removed from the person of the King At a Parliament held the thirty seventh of his Reign the wearing of Gold and Silver Silks and rich Furs were forbidden to be worn by any but eminent Persons also the Labourer and Husbandman was limited to the eating of such certain meats An Act was likewise made that no common whore should wear any Hood except striped with divers colours nor Furs but garments with the wrong side outward At Stamford in Lincolnshire an University was instituted but of short continuance A blazing-Star appeared which continued thirty days Southhampton was burnt by the French A. D. 1348 It rained from Midsummer till Christmas A plague all over Christendom some say the World and so raging in England that scarce the Tenth person of all sorts was left alive In London it was such that in one years space there was buryed in the Cistercian or Charter-House Church-yard above fifty thousand It began in the year 1348 and continued till the year 1357 and was seconded with murrain of Cattle and dearth of all things Now flourished in the University of Oxford that Famous Doctor John Wickliffe whose followers in those Popish-times were called Lolards from Lolium signifying tares or hurtful weeds amongst Corn. The Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings Reign In his first Year Hammond Chickwel was Mayor Henry Darcy John Hawton Sheriffs In his second Year John Grantham was Mayor Simon Francis Henry Cobmartin Sheriffs In his third Year Richard Swanland was Mayor Richard Lazer William Gisors Sheriffs In his fourth Year Sir John Pountney was Mayor Robert of Ely Thomas Worwode Sheriffs In his fifth Year Sir John Pountney continued Mayor John Mocking Andrew Aubery Sheriffs In his sixth Year John Preston was Mayor Nicholas Pike John Husband Sheriffs In his seventh Year Sir John Pountney was Mayor John Hammond William Hanford Sheriffs In his eighth Year Reginald at the Conduit was Mayor John Kingstone Walter Turk Sheriffs In his ninth Year Reginald at the Conduit continued Mayor Walter Mordon Richard Vpton Sheriffs In his tenth Year Sir John Pountney was Mayor John Clark W. Curtes Sheriffs In his eleventh Year Henry Darcy was Mayor Walter Neale Nicholas Crane Sheriffs In his Twelfth Year Henry Darcy continued Mayor William de Pomfret Hugh Marbler Sheriffs In his Thirteenth year Andrew Aubery was Mayor William Thorney Roger Frosham Sheriffs In his Fourteenth Year Andrew Aubery continued Mayor Adam Lucas Bartholomew Morris Sheriffs In his Fifteenth Year John of Oxenford was Mayor Richard de Barking John de Rokesley Sheriffs In his Sixteenth Year Simon Francis was Mayor John Loufkin Richard Killingbury Sheriffs In his Seventeenth Year John Hammond was Mayor John Steward John Aylesham Sheriffs In his Eighteenth Year John Hammond continued Mayor Geoffry Witchingham Thomas â—eg Sheriffs In his Ninteenth Year Richard Lazer was Mayor Edmund Hemenhall John of Glocester Sheriffs In his Twentieth Year Geoffry Witchingham was Mayor John Croydon William Clopton Sheriffs In his twenty first Year Thomas Leggy was Mayor Adam Brampson Richard Fas or Bas Sheriffs In his twenty second Year John Loufkin was Mayor Henry Bicard Simon Doleby Sheriffs In his twenty third Year Walter Turk was Mayor Adam of Bury Ralph of Lynne Sheriffs In his twenty fourth Year Richard Killingbury was Mayor John Notte VVilliam of Worcester Sheriffs In his Twenty fifth Year Andrew Aubery was Mayor John Wroth Gilbert of Stenineshorpe Sheriffs In his twenty sixth Year Adam Francis was Mayor John Peace John Stotley Sheriffs In his twenty seventh Year Adam Francis continued Mayor William Wold John Little Sheriffs In his twenty eight Year Thomas Leggy was Mayor William Nottingham Roger Smelt Sheriffs In his twenty ninth Year Simon Francis was Mayor Thomas Foster Thomas Brandon Sheriffs In his thirtieth Year Henry Picard was Mayor Richard Nottingham Thomas Dolsel Sheriffs In his thirty first Year Sir John Stody was Mayor Stephen Candish Bartholomew Frostling
Sheriffs In his thirty second Year John Loufkin was Mayor John Barnes John Buris Sheriffs In his thirty third Year Simon Doulseby was Mayor Simon of Benington John of Chichester Sheriffs In his thirty fourth Year John Wroth was Mayor John Dennis Walter Berney Sheriffs In his thirty fifth Year John Peche was Mayor William Holbech James Tame Sheriffs In his thirty sixth Year Stephen Candish was Mayor John of St. Albans James Andrew Sheriffs In his thirty seventh Year John Not was Mayor Richard of Croydon John Hiltoft Sheriffs In his thirty eighth Year Adam of Bury was Mayor John de Metford Simon de Mordan Sheriffs In his thirty ninth Year John Loufkin was Mayor John Bukilsworth John Ireland Sheriffs In his fortieth Year John Loufkin continued Mayor John Ward Thomas of Lee Sheriffs In his forty first Year James Andrew was Mayor John Tarngold VVilliam Dickman Sheriffs In his forty second Year Simon Mordan was Mayor Robert Girdeler Adam Wimondham Sheriffs In his forty third Year John Chichester was Mayor John Piel Hugh Holdich Sheriffs In his forty fourth Year John Barnes was Mayor William Walworth Robert Gayton Sheriffs In his forty fifth Year John Barnes continued Mayor Adam Staple Robert Hatfield Sheriffs In his forty sixth Year John Piel was Mayor John Philpot Nicholas Brembar Sheriffs In his forty seventh Year Adam of Bury was Mayor John Abery John Fished Sheriffs In his forty eighth Year VVilliam VValworth was Mayor Richard Lions William Woodhouse Sheriffs In his forty ninth Year John Ward was Mayor John Hadley William Newport Sheriffs In his fiftieth Year Adam Staple was Mayor John Northampton Robert Laund Sheriffs RICHARD II. RICHARD the Son of Edward the Black Prince was crowned King in the eleventh year of his age but ere the Crown was setled on his head the French braved it on the English coasts and the Scots set fire on the Tower of Roxbrough and through want of care in such who had the charge of State-matters in the young Kings behalf things were declined to a shameful change and the glorious atchievements of the two late Edwards fell under an eclipse The North parts of England were grievously afflicted with the stroke of Pestilence and their misery augmented by the inroads and outrages of the Scots who had now by surprize gained Berwick which upon the ninth day after the Earl of Northumberland regained by force A. D. 1379 a Parliament was held at London wherein for supply of the Kings wants it was agreed That the Commons or poorer sort should be spared and the burden be wholly laid upon the abler sort And in the next year following a Parliament was held at Northampton wherein every one of each sex above such an age was charged to pay 12 d. per poll which with the hatred born to John Duke of Lancaster was the cause of a great insurrection of the Commons and Bond-men chiefly of Kent Essex Surrey Suffolk Norfolk and Cambridg-shire The principal heads of the said giddy multitude were VVat Tyler and Jack Straw The Rebels of Kent embattel'd themselves upon Black-Heath by Greenwich from whence they marched to London where the common sort generally siding with them they became Masters of Misâ—ule The Priory of St. Johns without Smithfield they kept burning for about seven days Savoy-Palace belonging to the Duke with all the riches therein they consumed by fire in a kind of holy outrage for they threw one of their fellows into the flames because he had thrust a piece of stolen Plate into his bosome They burnt all the Archbishops Goods at Lambeth and defaced all the Writings Rolls Records and Monuments of the Chancery as having a special hatred to the Lawyers Simon Tibald Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England a worthy Prelate Sir Robert Hales Lord Prior of St. Johns and Treasurer of England they haled out of the Tower where the King was in person and beheaded them on Tower-hill with great shoutings and rejoycings The number of these rebellious Reformers under the leading of Jack Straw and the Idol of Clowns VVat Tyler were about an Hundred thousand and at a Sermon made to them by John Ball there was near twice as many Their proud Petitions the King granted them necessity compelling him thereto after which a great multitude of them repaired to their several homes The remaining Rout the King by his Proclamation invited to meet him in Smithfield where he would satisfie their desires in all respects to the full William Courtney A. B. Cant But when they were met in the place appointed Wat Tyler there in the presence of the King offering to kill Sir John Newton for not giving him some undue respect William Walworth Lord Mayor thereupon set upon the arch-Traytor with a drawn Weapon and slew him Which when the Rebels perceived they prepared to take extream revenge but the King instantly spurring forth his Horse bade them follow him and he would be their Captain And whilst they thronged after him into the fields brave VValworth the while hasted into the City raised a thousand Citizens in armour and brought them with VVat Tylers head born before him upon a spear to the King Which the rude multitude seeing some of them fled and others on their knees begged mercy of the King Worthy Walworth the King knighted and bestowed on him an hundred pound lands by the year in fee-simple and as some write the Dagger was now added to the City-arms in remembrance of the great good service done by the Lord Mayor Jack Straw at the time of his execution confessed that these Rebels had designed to murder the King and chief of the Realm and to have set up petty kings of their own chusing in every shire The number of rebels executed in all places was about Fifteen hundred These were called the Hurling-times And now the Nation being setled in quiet King Richard married the Lady Ann Daughter unto the Emperor Charles the Fourth John Duke of Lancaster was sent into France where he concluded a Truce with that Nation for six months But these sun-shine days lasted not long For besides the annoyances done to England by the Scots at several times and the French threatning an Invasion the worst mischief befel at home through the means of discontented and ambitious spirits who kindled a Civil War The Laity took offence against the Clergy because the Archbishop had in Parliament refused to yeild to an unjust proportion of the Tax granted the King to be laid upon the Clergy And so far were the Commons and some Lay-Peers offended therewith that they petitioned the King to take away the Temporalties from Ecclesiastical persons which he denied saying That he would maintain the English Church in the quality of the same state or better in which himself had known it to be when he came to the Crown The displacing of Sir Richard Scrope Chancellor was displeasing to most men The reason of his displacing was because he refused to pass such large gifts
raised a Rebellion in VVales but Glendour against the Kings coming had withdrawn himself with his surest friends into the Fastnesses of Snowden wherefore the King only made some spoil in the Country and returned Many vvere the plots that vvere still made against the King but the contrivers were discovered and put to death among whom were many Monks And now Glendour having taken the Lord Mortimer prisoner with no small slaughter of his Herefordshire-men the King marched again into Wales where while he stayed he was in great danger to have perished by sudden storms and rains the like whereof his people had never seen or felt The common fame went that Glendour was a Conjurer and had raised those hideous Thâ—â—â—pâ—â—â— by â—lish Arts. In the No◠〈…〉 forces were more fortunate against the Scotts for at Halidon-hill Henry Hot-spur obtained a great victory taking prisoners the Earls of Douglas Fife Angus Murray and Orkney the Lords Montgomery Erskin and Grave with about eighty Knights besides Esquires and Gentlemen And besides what Scots were slain in battel there were about five hundred of those which fled from the fight drowned in the River Tweed But that Henry might have little joy of his ill-gotten greatness the Piercies they raised a dangerous Rebellion wherein indeed they pretended a care for the Common-wealths reformation though they really intended the advancement of their own private interests for it was agreed amongst the conspirators that the Kingdom should be shared betwixt Mortimer Earl of March Piercy and Owen Glendour South England to Mortimer North England to Piercy and Wales beyond Severn to Glendour and Archenbald Earl of Douglas vvas allowed as a sharer to be freed from ransom and to have Berwick for his ovvn Thus agreed they fortify Shrewsbury vvhither the King advanceth vvith his Army vvhere a terrible battel vvas fought and therein Hot-spur slain and his Host vanquished The Earls of Dunglas Worcester Sir Richard Vernon and Baron Kindleton vvith divers others vvere taken though not vvithout great danger of the Kings life and the death of many persons of quality on his side Henry Hot-spurs body was drawn out of the Grave Beheaded and Quartred and the parts sent to be set up in divers places of the Kingdom The Earl of Worcester Vernon and Kindleton were Beheaded The Earl of Northumberland who was taken by the way as he was bringing Forces out of the North to joyn with those at Shrewsbury had his life pardoned The year following a Parliament was holden at Coventry called the Lack-learning-Parliament either for the unlearnedness of the persons or for their malice to learned men For in order to supply the Kings wants a Bill was exhibited against the temporalties of the Clergy but by the courage of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Kings care of the Church their motion was fruitless A. D. 1405 another conspiracy was made against King Henry the chief in which conspiracy were Thomas Mowbray Earl Marshal and Richard le Scrope Archbishop of York who being taken were both Beheaded But the Pope excommunicated all such that had a hand in putting the Archbishop to death Another fresh report of King Richards being alive was again spread abroad when the Earl of Northumberland and Lord Bardolph sought to raise an Army in the North but were encountred by the Sheriff of York-shire who after a sharp conflict slew the Earl in the field and mortally vvounded the Lord Bardolph The Earls head vvas cut off and after it had been ignominiously carryed through London vvas fixed on the Bridge A. D. 1413 the King fell sick and as some report in this his last sickness he caused his Crown to be set on a pillow at his beds-head when suddenly the pangs of his Apoplexy seized on him so violently that all supposed him to be dead At which instant Prince Henry coming in took away the Crown but his Father recovering out of his fit quickly missed it and understanding who had taken it away caused his son to be called unto him of whom he demanded what he meant to bereave him of that whereunto he had yet no right The Prince boldly replyed Long may you live Sovereign Father to wear it your self but all men deeming that you was gone to Inherit another Crown this being my right I took it as my own but now do acknowledge it for none of mine And therewith set the Crown where he found it O Son quoth the Father with what right I got it God only knovveth vvho forgive me the sin But hovvsoever it vvas got said the Son I mean to keep it and defend it vvhen it shall be mine vvith my Svvord as you by the Svvord have obtained it The King dyed at London and vvas buried at Canterbury His Issue vvere Henry Thomas Duke of Clarence John Duke of Bedford Humphrey Duke of Glocester Blanch and Philippa A great Plague befel throughout England chiefly in London vvhere vvithin a short space it destroyed thirty thousand In the ninth year of his reign a Snovv continued December January February and March The Winter vvas so very sharp and long that almost all small Birds perished through hunger A little before the Rebellion of the Piercies vvas a strange Apparition betvveen Bedford and Bickleswade vvhere sundry Monsters of divers colours in the shapes of armed men vvere often seen to issue out of the Woods in the morning vvhich to such as stood far off seemed to encounter one another in most terrible manner but vvhen they drevv near nothing vvas to be found Because the number of Lolards so called increased an Act vvas made for the punishing of them by burning The Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings Reign In his first Year Sir Thomas Knolls was Mayor William Waldren William Hende Sheriffs In his second Year Sir John Francis was Mayor John Wakel William Ebot Sheriffs In his third Year Sir John Shadworth was Mayor William Venor John Fremingham Sheriffs In his fourth Year John Walcot was Mayor Richard Marlow Robert Câ—icâ—y Sheriffs In his fifth Year Sir William Ascham was Mayor Thomas Falconer Thomas Pool Sheriffs In his sixth Year John Hinde was Mayor William Louth Stephen Spilman Sheriffs In his seventh Year Sir John Woodcock was Mayor Henry Barton William Cromer Sheriffs In his eighth Year Sir Richard Whittingham vvas Mayor Nicholas Watton Geoffry Brooke Sheriffs In his ninth Year Sir William Stondon vvas Mayor Henry Ponfract Henry Halton Sheriffs In his tenth Year Sir Drew Barentine was Mayor Thomas Buck VVilliam Norton Sheriffs In his eleventh Year Richard Marlow vvas Mayor John Law VVilliam Chichely Sheriffs In his twelfth Year Sir Thomas Knolls was Mayor John Penne Thomas Pike Sheriffs In his thirteenth Year Sir Robert Chichely was Mayor John Rainwel VVilliam Cotton Sheriffs In his fourteenth Year VVilliam VValden vvas Mayor Ralph Lovenham VVilliam Sevenoke Sheriffs HENRY V. A. D. 1413 HENRY of Monmouth whilst he was Prince did many things very incongruous to the greatness of his birth For he
rescue between whom and Alanzon was a hard contest Alanzon giving the King a slighty wound and the King at length striking him down to the ground whom the Soldiers in the heat of fight then slew contrary to the Kings command The French Reer-Guard seeing the disaster of their Van and Main Battel to save themselves ran away leaving the English no more work to do The number of prisoners taken by the English here was very great But King Henry perceiving fresh troops of the King of Sicils to appear fresh in the field and the same strong enough without any new rallied forces to encounter with his wearyed Souldiers to the end therefore that he might not have at once prisoners to guard and an enemy to fight contrary to his generous nature he commanded that every man should kill his prisoner which was immediately done certain principal men excepted Then by his Heralds he commanded those Troops either forthwith to come and fight with him else to depart the field either of which if they delayed he would revenge upon them without mercy Whereupon they quit the field When the fight was over and the field won King Henry fell down upon his knees and commanded his whole Army to do the same saying that verse in the Psalm Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give the glory And demanding what was the name of the place when it was answered him Agincourt then to all posterities following saith he shall this battel be called the battel of Agincourt The spoil here taken in Armour Jewels and Apparel was very great Of the English were slain the Duke of York the Earl of Suffolk two Knights David Gam Esquire and twenty eight private Souldiers Of the French were slain four thousand Princes Nobles Knights and Esquires and ten thousand common Souldiers Prisoners of Account taken in the field were Charles Duke of Orleans John Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Richmond Louis de Bourbon Count de Vendosme the Earl of Eu Edward de Rouen with divers others Just before this battel of Agincourt when it was reported that the French forces were very numerous Captain Gam resolutely said That if there were so many there were enough to be killed enough to be taken prisoners and enough to run away The next day after this battel Great Henry marched towards Callis and in the next month following spread sails for England and on November 23 in Triumph-wise he entred London where he received the gratulations of his people The City presented him a thousand pound in Gold and two golden Basons After some time of refreshing the King called a Parliament to London which granted him a Subsidy and a Tenth for the carrying on of his Wars in France which he graciously accepted though it was too short for the defraying so vast a charge Therefore to make it up the King pawned his Crown to his Uncle Cardinal Beauford for a great Sum of Money and certain Jewels to the Lord Mayor of London for ten thousand Marks Then with an Army of 25527 Souldiers every fourth being an Horseman besides a thousand Carpenters and Labourers Upon July 28 1417 he took to the Seas and August the first arrived in Normandy to their great terror many of the Inhabitants for fear flying into Britain And as soon as on shore to encourage his followers he dubbed 48 Knights then laid siege against Conquest the strongest Castle in Normandy which he took August the sixteenth He took likewise the Castles of Aumbelliers and Lovers the first of which he gave to his brother Clarence the second to the Earl of Salisbury and third to the Earl Marshal Caen in Normandy the King took by force giving the pillage thereof amongst his Souldiers Now whilst King Henry was busied in France the Scots wrought what mischief they could against him at home entred England in an Hostile manner bringing with them one whom they pretended to be King Richard the second laid strait siege against Roxbrough and Berwick but upon the report of an Army of English coming against them they broke up their sieges and well was he that could first set foot in his own Country In January the strong Town and Castle of Fallors was delivered to the King after which he divided his Army into several parts under the Conducts of the Dukes of Clarence and Glocester and Earl of Warwick who took sundry garisons The King the while besieged Roan which after about a Twelve-months siege was delivered to him upon Terms i. e. That the Burgesses should pay unto him three hundred fifty six thousand Crowns of Gold Should swear faith and loyalty to him and his successors c. A. D. 1418. Immediately after the surrender of this sundry other places of Note yielded themselves wherein King Henry placed Garisons And now France trembling at the English successes and their own losses sought a peace from King Henry who yielded to a personal conference to be held at Melun vvhither Charles the French King his Queen Isabel the Princess Katharine Duke of Burgundy Count of St. Paul with a thousand Horse came first then King Henry his brothers of Clarence and Glocester attended likewise with a thousand Horse met them When much conference passed but nothing was concluded which did not well please the King of England wherefore ready to depart he thus spoke to Burgundy Cousin I may not well digest this refusal but be ye assured that either I will have your Kings daughter and all my demands or else I will banish both you and them out of France You may speak your pleasure answered the Duke but before you shall thrust us out of France you shall be weary of the enterprize The Treaty thus broke Burgundy reconciled himself with the Daulphin and Henry displeased herewith prosecuted the War more sharply set upon Ponthois the last of July and in few hours gained the Town wherein great spoils fell to the Souldiers shares The news of this made King Charles to remove his Court from Paris to Troys in Champagne whilst Henry went forward with his intended enterprizes he and his Generals winning many strong-holds And to make the more way for the English successes the Daulphin and his Mother the Queen fell at great variance when the Queen by the procurement of Burgundy the King being very infirm was made Regent of France whose female authority and the hatred to her own Son the Daulphin did not a little prejudice the Crown of France And to the greater advantage of the English the Daulphin killed the Duke of Burgundy whereupon the Queen and young Duke of Burgundy perswaded King Charles to disinherit the Daulphin his Son and to give the Lady Katharine in marriage unto the King of England which accordingly was done and a peace was concluded betwixt the two Kings of England and France The prime Articles of the peace were these That Charles and Isabel should retain the name of King and Queen and should hold all their
of York vvas created Regent of France but before he arrived there Paris vvas lost by the treachery of the Citizens Feb. 27. 1436. And Philip Duke of Burgundy novv in person gives proof of his disaffections to the English bringing his Forces before the Tovvn of Callis for the relief of vvhich place the Protector Humphrey Duke of Glocester passed vvith a great Army but Burgundy had vvithdravvn his Forces before the Duke arrived Hovvbeit the Duke took some revenge on him by vvasting part of his Dominions Which done he vvith honour returned to his Charge in England In France the Earl of Warwick vvas very active driving the Duke of Burgundy's Forces from Crotoy freeing Albeville from the danger of a Bastile for tvventy days spoiling the Country of Picardy about Amiens and Artois The Duke of Somreset Lords Talbot and VVilloughby were also busied in other places for the security of what the English had gained John Stratford A. B. Cant. But the common enemy the Turk increasing in strengths Ambassadors were sent from all parts to determine these bloody differences betwixt the Nations of France and England whereupon a Truce was taken by the two Kings for eighteen months A. D. 1444 was King Henry married with Margaret the daughter of Renate Duke of Anjou and Lorrain In which marriage say some begun the mournful Tragedies of our Country For after this day the fortune of the World began to decline the King so that he lost his friends in England and revenues in France for shortly all was ruled by the Queen and her Councel to the great disprofit of the King and his Realm and to the mauger and obloquie of the Queen her self who had many a wrong and false report made of her A. D. 1447 Good Duke Humphreys death was effected He was much hated by the Queen and her party as the only man who by his prudence as also by the Honour and Authority of his birth and place seemed to impeach that Soveraign Command which they pretended to settle in the King but meant indeed as the manner is under soft Princes to reign themselves in anothers name Many great Lords were drawn on at the time of a Parliament then holden at St. Edmondsbury to concur for his destruction not perceiving that thereby they pluckt up the flood-gate at which the Duke of York should enter This great Duke being come to attend in this Parliament was Arrested of High Treason by John Lord Beaumont High Constable of England the Dukes of Buckingham Sommerset and others and to guard him certain of the Kings household were appointed but it was not long before he was found dead whose body was shewed to the Lords and Commons as if he had died of a Palsey or Imposthume His servants Sir Roger Chamberlain Richard Middleton Thomas Herbert Arthur Tursey Esquires and Richard Nedham Gent. were condemned of High Treason and had this unexampled punishment They were drawn from the Tower to Tyburn there hang'd let down quick stript naked mark'd with a knife to be quartred and then a Charter of Pardon for their lives was shewed by the Marquess of Suffolk Thomas Wild the Dukes servant also being condemned and pardoned had for a preamble in his Letters Patents words importing That he had been one among many other Traytors against the King with Duke Humphrey who went about and practised to deliver Eleanor late wife to the Duke out of Prison for which purpose he had gathered a great power and number of men to come to the Parliament at Bury there to have contrived the Kings destruction Such was the end of this great Prince who by the people of England was thought to be doubly murdered by detraction and deadly practise He was not only a true Lover of learned men but himself was also learned and a Father of his Country And now the whole frame of government seemed to repose it self on the Queen and such Favourites as the King by her commendations liked The affairs of France were neglected And the Duke of York perceiving the King to be ruled and not to Rule began secretly to allure his friends of the Nobility and privily declared to them his Title to the Crown as likewise he did to certain Governours of Cities and Towns Which attempt was so politickly and closely carried that his provision was ready before his purpose was publick The very state of things invited this fatal conspiracy there being now a milder King than England was worthy of a Councel out of favour with the people manifold losses and dishonours abroad a turbulent and jealous condition of things at home Of all which the Duke of York made his best use cherishing the popular discontents and instead of seeking to redress any evils in the State he represented them to be worse than they were thereby to ripen that breach of Loyalty in the hearts of men which his ambition wrought upon In France matters went on very unhappily on the English side For the Duke of Sommerset during the Truce suffered a Town of Britain to be surprised denying restitution thereof cherished his Souldiers in their riot and disorders The French therefore making this their example surprized Town after Town till they had gained all Normandy and within few years extorted the Dutchy of Gascoign out of the English possession In the mean time the Duke of York raised his esteem in England by his appeasing of a tumult which had hapned in Ireland And at a Parliament holden at Westminster many Articles were exhibited by the Lower-House against the Duke of Suffolk wherein he was charged with evil demeanor Misprision and Treason and committed Prisoner to the Tower from whence he was discharged within a few weeks after About this time Adam Molins Bishop of Chichester and keeper of the Privy-Seal a wise and stout man stood in the Duke of Yorks way to the Crown therefore he procured him to be slain at Portsmouth by certain Ship-men And in a Parliament holden at Leicester the Duke of Suffolk a principal pillar of King Henries safety was set at again by the Yorkists They charge that for a crime on him namely the delivery of Anjou and Main which themselves had universally in a former Parliament assented unto and ratified This they prosecuted so effectually though unjustly against him that he was condemned to be banished for five years but in his way to banishment he was by some imployed on purpose taken at Dover-road where they struck off his head at the side of a Cock-boat nor was his death much lamented of the people because he was thought to have been a private actor in the death of the Noble Duke of Glocester Now the Yorkists having thus rid Suffolk out of the way think it no unfit time to begin to put their designs in practise so induce the Commons of Kent to make an Insurrection John Kemp. A. B. Cant. The Captain of the Rebels was a Villain named Jack Cade whom some by contraries called
vvas Mayor VVilliam Edward Thomas Reyner Sheriffs In his thirty seventh Year Sir Thomas Scot was Mayor Ralph Joceline Richard Nedham Sheriffs In his thirty eighth Year Sir William Hulin vvas Mayor John Plummer John Stocker Sheriffs In his thirty ninth Year Sir Richard Lee was Mayor Richard Flemming John Lambert Sheriffs EDWARD IV. EDWARD the fourth A. D. 1â—61 was the eldest son of Richard Duke of York and began to Reign in the twentieth year of his Age. At which time Henry of Windsor had many friends remaining who by open Hostility sought to re settle him on the English Throne The battel at Towton fought on Palm-Sunday 1461 is very memorable wherein died the Lords Beaumont Nevill Willoughby Wells Scales Grey Dacres Fitz-Hugh Beckingham Knights Esquires and Gentlemen a great number and in all on both parts 35091 but Henry lost the day A. D. 1461 and June 28 was Edward Duke of York and Earl of March Crowned King at Westminster with great solemnity And in November following was Henry of Windsor and his son Edward by Parliament disinherited of their right or claim to the Crown The Dukes of Excester and Sommerset and Earl of Devonshire with an 140 more were Attainted and Disinherited Queen Margreâ— the mean while was gaining Aids from France but they were discomfited by bastard Ogle Then with the Scots she entred Northumberland took the Castle of Bamburgh and passed forward to the Bishoprick of Durham her forces daily increasing but these also were defeated by King Edward at Hegely Moor where Sir Ralph Piercie dying said I have saved the Bird in my breast meaning his Oath made to King Henry in whose cause he lost his life At Hexam also were Henries forces defeated but himself with much difficulty escaped into Scotland Shortly after which this unfortunate Prince came into England in disguise but being betrayed was apprehended in Waddington-Hall as he sate at dinner from whence he was conveyed to London with his Legs bound to the stirrups and at London was Arrested by the Earl of Warwick and committed to the Tower And now King Edward thinks himself at leisure to marry yet refuseth all Forreign matches whereof he had many offered and takes for his consort an inferior subject the Relict of his mortal enemy Sir John Grey slain at the battel of St. Albans on King Henries side This Lady Elizabeth Gray becoming a suiter unto the King for her Joynture kind King Edward became a suiter unto her for a nights-Lodging but she wisely answered him when he became importunate That as she did account her self too base to be his Wife so she did think her self too good to be his Whore When the King would needs marry this Lady to the great discontent of his Councel but especially of his Mother His Mother alledged many reasons to the contrary and amongst the rest this That only her Widow-hood might be sufficient to restrain him for that it was an high disparagement to a King to be dishonoured with bigamy in his first marriage To which the King pleasantly answered In that she is a Widow and hath already Children By Gods blessed Lady I am a Batchelor and have some too and so each of us hath a proof that neither of us are like to be barren And therefore Madam I pray you be content I trust in God she shall bring you forth a young Prince that shall please you And as for the Bigamy let the Bishop hardly lay it in my way when I come to take Orders for I understand that it is forbidden to a Priest but I never wist yet that it was forbidden to a Prince On May 26. 1465 was this Lady whom Edward had accepted to be his Queen Crowned at Westminster with all due Celebrations Her Father Sir Richard Woodvil was created Lord Rivers and made High Constable of England Her son Thomas Grey was created Marquess Dorcet and her other relations preferred But this marriage of the Kings did so sorely disgust the Earl of Warwick who had courted the Duke of Savoys daughter for King Edward that he turned his affection from him to Henry contriving all he could King Edwards deposition He wrought upon George Duke of Clarence the Kings brother to favour his designments the Duke being the easier wrought upon by reason he had before took offence against his brother about his Marriage and preferring his Wifes kindred Then did Warwick by his Agents stir up a commotion in the North one Robert Huldern first heading a rabble of about fifteen thousand and he put to death Sir John Coniers undertook the leading of them marching with them towards London Proclaiming That King Edward was neither a just Prince to God nor a profitable Prince to the Common-Wealth Against these rebels the King sent an Army that ingaged with them not far from Banbury where the Northern men had gone off with the worst had not John Clapham Esquire a servant of Warwicks displayed his colours with the white Bear and from an eminent place cryed a Warwick a sVVarwick whereat the VVelshmen fearing indeed that VVarwick had been come betook themselves to flight leaving their General the Earl of â—embroke and his brother in the field who valiantly fighting were incompassed and taken The Earl with his brother Sir Richard Herbert were brought to Banbury where with ten other Gentlemen they lost their heads Coniers and Clapham being their Judges 1469. From hence the Northern men under the conduct of Robin of Riddisdale hasted to the Kings Mannor of Graffon where the Queens Father then lay whom with his son John they suddenly surprised and at Northampton struck off their heads The King this while having prepared a mighty Army marched towards Warwicks company and at Wolney pitched his Tents the enemy lying at a little distance in readiness for battle but by mediation of friends a peace was intreated When the King resting secure was by politick Warwick surprized in the dead of the night and carryed Prisoner to Warwick-Castle from whence he was by night conveyed to Middleham Castle in Yorkshire where under the custody of the Earls Brother George Neville Archbishop of York he was retained but the Bishop granting him liberty to ride a Hunting in the Forests and Parks he fairly made his escape Warwick hereupon rages but seeing no remedy he made use of necessity and gave forth that himself so caused it having power to make Kings and to unmake them Nor did he and Clarence leave off here but procured a Rebellion in Lincolnshire where Sir Robert VVells an expert Soldier with Thirty thousand Commons disturbed the Country and in every place proclaimed King Henry At Stamford-Wells set upon the Kings forces not staying for VVarwicks coming where was performed a most bloody fight till at length Sir Robert being taken the Lincolnshire men casting away their Coats all ran away In regard whereof this Battel was called the Battel of Lost-Coat-Field VVells with many others were put to death 1470. Upon this defeat Clarence and
VVarwick fled into France thinking to take sanctuary at Callis but there the Lord Vawclear whom VVarwick had substituted his Deputy denied them admittance bidding them defiance with his great Guns for which good service King Edward mad Vawâ—leaâ— himself Governour of Callis But though these Lords were rejected here yet were they with great respect received at the â—rench Court K. Lewis furnishing them with aids which effected they set sail and landed at Dartmouth from whence Warwick marched towards London proclaiming Henry King and commanding all from sixteen to sixty upon a great penalty to take arms against the Usurper Edward Duke of York And incredible it was to see the confluence of them which came armed to him who a little before applauded and approved none but King Edward The Bastard Fawconbridg in the West and the Earl of Pembroke in Wales every-where proclaimed King Henry also And the Lord Montacute who having mustered 6000 men in the name of King Edward and brought them forward almost to Nottingham drew them back again alledging King Edward's ungratefulness to his friends Every one cryed now A King Henry a King Henry a Warwick a Warwick and indeed all so applauded the passage now on foot that King Edward was forced to flye beyond the seas His Queen Elizabeth stole out of the Tower and took sanctuary in Westminster where on the 4th of November she was delivered of a son which without all pomp was there also baptized by the name of Edward Other Sanctuaries were also full of Edwards Friends And now the Kentish men took the opportunity to rob spoil and do much harm about London and some in London it self and more would have done had not the Earl of Warwick come in to the rescue which encreased his name that was great enough before On October 6 the said Earl entred the Tower wherein King Henry had been detained prisoner almost the space of 9 years whom he released and restored to him the title of King and forthwith conveyed him through London to the Bishops palace where a pompous Court was kept till the 13 of the same month on which day Henry went Crowned to St. Pauls the Earl of Warwick bearing his Train and Earl of Oxford the Sword the people crying God save King Henry November 26 following a certain Parliament was begun at Westminster wherein K. Edward was declared a Traytor to his Country an Usurper of the Crown and had all his goods confiscate the like judgment passed against his adherents John Tiptoft Earl of Worcester was beheaded All the Statutes made by K. Edward were revoked The Crowns of England and France entailed to K. Henry and his Heirs Male and for want of such unto George Duke of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick was made Governour of the Land in those turbulent times But K. Edward having received some aids from the Duke of Burgundy and the promises of more in England landed at Ravenspur in Yorkshire At his first arrival he seemed to lay aside his claim to the Crown pretending only to his rights as a private person howbeit when he had possest himself of York and got his friends about him he then marched in an hostile manner till he came near to the City of Warwick where his Brother Clarence brought in to his assistance 4000 men And Clarence reconciled to K. Edward sought to draw in Warwick to which end he sent messengers to him to the Town of Warwick where he then lay but Warwick bade the Messengers go tell the Duke from him That he had rather be an Earl and always like himself than a perjured Duke and that ere his Oath should be falsified as the Dukes apparently was he would lay down his life at his enemies foot which he doubted not should be bought very dear This stout resolution made Edward more wary therefore he hastens forward to obtain London whither when he was come the Citizens set open their Gates to him And now peaceable Henry becomes Prisoner again to K. Edward who hearing of Warwicks advance towards London draws forth his forces to meet him taking Henry along with him and upon Gladmore neer Barnet on Easterday in the morning the Kings and Earls hosts joyned Battel the best of the day for a while being Warwicks but at length through the fogginess and darkness of the Air the Stars embroidered on the Earl of Oxfords mens Coats who were in the left wing of the Battel were mistaken for the Sun which K. Edwards men wore in which error VVarwicks Battalion le ts fly at their own fellows that were in great forwardness of gaining the victory and they not knowing the cause of the errour judged themselves betrayed whereupon the Earl of Oxford with 800 men quit the Field Which great VVarwick perceiving he couragiously animated his men and furiously rushed into the midst of his enemies battel so far that he could not be rescued where valiantly fighting he was slain Marquis Montacute making forward to relieve him was also slain whereby ended that bloody days task On King Edward's part died the Lord Cromwel Lord Bourchier Lord Barnes and Sir John Lisle On the other part the Earl of Warwick and his brother John Nevil Marquis Montacute On both sides ten thousand most of which were buried upon the same plain where afterwards a Chappel was built In this same year 1471 and within few weeks after this was a battel fought at Tewksbury betwixt King Edward and the Martial Queen Margaret the defeat hapning to the Queen On whose side were slain John Lord Sommerset John Courtney Earl of Devonshire Sir John Delves Sir Edward Hampden Sir Robert Whittingham and Sir John Lewkner with three hundred others Amongst them that fled Prince Edward King Henries son was one him Sir Richard Crofts apprehended and presented him to the King whom the King a while beheld with austere countenance at last demanded of him How he durst with Banner display'd so presumptuously disturb his Realm To which the Prince answered That what he did was to recover his Fathers Kingdomes and his most rightful inheritance How darest thou then added the Prince which art his subject display thy Colours against him thy Liege-Lord Which answer so moved King Edward that he dashed the Prince on the mouth with his Gantlet and Richard Duke of Glocester with some of the Kings servants most shamefully murdred him at the Kings feet His body was buried in the Monastery of the black Friars at Tewksbury Edmond Duke of Sommerset the Pryor of St. Johns with many Knights and Esquires were taken forth of Sanctuary and executed at Tewksbury Queen Margaret in this fatal day of battel took into a religious house from whence she was taken and committed to sure and strait keeping in which condition she remained till such time that she was ransomed by her Father Duke Renate May 20 King Edward entred London and in few days after the Crookback'd Duke of Glocester stabbed harmless King Henry to the heart Whose
the Clock returned thither but with a wonderful sowr and angry countenance knitting his brows frowning and fretting and biting his lips and after some short time said What are they worthy to have who imagine and compass my destruction that am so near of blood to the King and that am Protector of his Royal Person and Realm The Lord Hastings answered that they deserved to be punished as hainous Traytors whatsoever they were and so said the other Lords This is quoth the Protector yonder Sorceress my brothers Wife meaning the Queen and that other Witch of her Councel Shores Wife with their affinity who by their Sorcery and Witchcraft have wasted my body and therewith with he pluckt up his doublet sleeve to the elbow on his left arm shewing a wearish withered arm and small as it never was otherwise Whereupon the Lords minds much gave them that this was but a quarrel Howbeit the Lord Chamberlain who from the death of King Edward had kept Jane Shore said certainly my Lord if they have so done they are worthy of great punishment What quoth the Protector Thou servest me with Ifs and with And 's I ween I tell thee they have so done and that I will make good on thy body Traytor And therewith he rapt on the board with his fist at which sign given one without the Chamber cryed out Treason Whereupon many men in harness came rushing into the Councel-Chamber where they seized on the Lord Hastings vvhom the Lord Protector bad speed and shrieve him apace for by St. Paul said he I vvill not to dinner till I see thy head off vvhich accordingly vvas done for he vvas presently brought forth to the Tovver-green vvhereupon a long log of Timber his head vvas struck off Thus ended this honourable man easie to beguiled Novv the Protector to set some colour upon the matter after he had dined sent in all haste for many substantial men out of the City into the Tovver against vvhose coming thither himself and Buckingham his creature had harnessed themselves in old rusty Briganders as though some sudden necessity had constrained them to put on such Armour And being come the Protector told them that the Lord Chamberlain Hastings and others of his conspiracy had contrived suddenly to have destroyed him and the Duke of Buckingham there the same day in Councel of the vvhich Treason he never had knovvledge before ten of the Clock the same Forenoon And for the further appeasing of the peoples minds concerning this Lords death he caused also the same day an Herald of Arms to proclaim it through the City of London That the Lord Hastings vvith divers others had conspired to murder the Lord Protector and Duke of Buckingham sitting in Councel and after to have taken upon them to rule the King and Realm at their ovvn pleasures By and by after this he caused the Sheriff of London to repair to Jane Shores house and to spoil her of all that she had then procured the Bishop of London to put her to open penance for her former dalliance vvith his brother King Edward and as 't is said he prohibited any from relieving her extream vvants The Protector had also so contrived it vvith his Cabal that the same day and about the same hour in vvhich the Lord Chamberlain vvas beheaded at the Tovver those Lords taken from the King at Stony-stratford and Northampton should be beheaded at Pontfract Which accordingly vvas done in the presence and by the order of Sir Richard Radcliffe vvho at their execution would not permit them to speak or declare their innocency And novv the vvay thus prepared Glocester hastens for his ovvn Coronation instead of setting the Crovvn on his Nephevvs head Edmund Sha the Mayor of London he vvins to his side And the Mayors brother Dr. Sha by the direction of the Protector and his Councel upon Sunday June 19th at Pauls-Cross declared to the people that King Edward the fourth vvas never lavvfully married to the Queen and therefore his Children vvere Bastards Moreover that neither King Edward himself nor the Duke of Clarence vvere reckoned by those that vvere of secrecy in the household for the Duke of Yorks Children but saith he as for the very Noble Prince the Lord Protector he is the Fathers ovvn Picture his ovvn countenance At the time of the uttering of these vvords according to the plot laid before-hand the Protector should have come in to the end that those vvords just meeting vvith his presence the people might have been the more affected vvith them but vvhether by the slovvness of the Protector in coming or the Doctors too much speed the Protector came not till these words were over Nevertheless when the Dr. spyed his Lordship coming at last he abruptly broke off from the matter he was upon to repeat the former vvords This is the very Noble Prince c. But the people vvere so far from crying King Richard as it vvas hoped they vvould that they stood as if they had been vvithout sense they vvere so amuzed at his shameful Harangue And the poor Parson vvhen he had done got him home and there consumed and pined to death in fevv days after The Theme of his preachment vvas Bastard-slips shall never take deep root On the Tuesday follovving Henry Duke of Buckingham made an oration to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons in the Guildhall of London wherein he aspersed King Edward the fourth as a Tyrant his Children as Bastards endeavoured to prove the Protector to be the only true Heir to the Crown perswading the Citizens that they should therefore joyn with the Nobility in Petitioning the Protector to take the Government of the Realm upon him according to his very right and just Title The next day the Mayor Aldermen and chief Commoners of the City resorted unto the Protector to Baynards-Castle whither also repaired Buckingham and other Nobles with many Knights and Gentlemen When they were met together Buckingham desired the Protectors pardon and licence to acquaint his Grace with the intent of their coming as though he had not known it before which in short was to beseech him to take the Crown and Government of the Realm upon him At which words the Protector began to look angerly withal denying to yield thereto Whereupon his Privado Buckingham threatned saying That if he would not they would find out some other man that should for they were resolved that King Edwards Lineage should no longer Raign over them and then Richard was pleased to accept the Crown as his just right the people thereat shouting and crying King Richard King Richard RICHARD III. RICHARD the Third Son of Richard Duke of York was born with all his teeth and hair to his shoulders This his monstrous birth foreshewing his monstrous conditions and proceedings June 22. he was by the Nobility and Citizens of London elected King of England and afterward by Act of Parliament was confirmed On June 25 he took his seat in the
Citizens exceedingly Himself did not only become one amongst them causing himself to be entred a Brother of the Merchant-Taylors Company but also wore the habit at a publick Feast and sate as Master of the Company A. D. 1492 Octob. the sixth King Henry with his Host landed at Callis from whence with his whole forces he marched towards Boloigne which when he had besieged Articles of peace were concluded betwixt him and the King of France For King Henry before his going out of England had been dealt with on the French Kings behalf to accept of conditions but would not enter into any Treaty with him till he was in the field and that with such a puissance as vvas likely enough to force his ovvn conditions When Henry had to his advantage setled his transmarine affairs he returned for England vvhere he vvas not to remain long in quiet For the Dutchess of Burgundy had provided another counterfeit King a youth of a Princely personage called Peter VVarbeck the son of a converted Jew This her creature Peter or as some called him Perkin and Peterkin under the name and Title of Richard Plantaginet second son of King Edward the fourth had great honour given him by the King of France And divers persons of eminency in England were so deluded that they believed him to be the true Richard and thereupon sought to advance him to the Crown which cost some of them the price of their heads as the Lord Fitz-VValter Sir Simon Montford Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlain that gained the Victory for King Henry at Bosworth-field These with more were put to death for favouring of Perkin The King also for the further prevention of dangers caused the coasts of England to be strongly guarded sent a new Lord Chancellor into Ireland Henry Denny a Monk of Langton-Abby and Sir Edward Poynings with some forces whose greatest care and diligence was to punish such as before time had given any assistance to the Mock-king and to restrain such as were likely to do so in time to come The Earl of Kildare falling under suspition Poynings sent prisoner into England where the King did graciously hear and admit his defences and returned him with Honour and continuation of authority The Irish had formerly exhibited many Articles against this Earl the last of which was Finally all Ireland cannot rule this Earl Then quoth the King shall this Earl rule all Ireland constituting him Lord-Deputy thereof But Perkin having gained private assistance from the French King and Maximilian to strengthen yet his enterprize he repairs into Scotland unto James the fourth having special recommendations from the King of France and Dutchess of Burgundy who gave him most courteous entertainment The rare impudency of the youth and that connexion which his darings had with other Princes drew this King into an errour concerning him When he was first brought to the presence of the King of Scots with a right Princely gracefulness he declared to the said King That Edward the fourth leaving two sons Edward and Richard both very young their unnatural Uncle Richard to obtain the Crown purposed the murder of them both but the instruments of his cruelty having murdred his elder brother the young King were moved with pity to spare his life and that thus saved by the mercy of God he was privately conveyed beyond the Seas the world supposing that himself also had been murdred And that Henry Teuder Earl of Richmond after he had by subtle and foul means obtained the Crown he then wrought all means and ways to procure the final destruction of him the rightful Heir to the English Diadem That his said mortal enemy Henry hath not only falsely surmised him to be a feigned person giving him Nick-names so abusing the World but that also to deprive him of his right he had offered large Sums of Mony to corrupt the Princes with whom he had been retained and had imploy'd his servants to murder him That every man of reason might well understand that the said Henry needed not to have taken these courses against him had he been a feigned person That the truth of his manifest cause had moved the King of France and Dutchess of Burgundy his most Dear Ant to yield him their assistence That now because the Kings of Scotland were wont to support them who were spoiled and bereft of the said Kingdom of England and for that he the said King James had given clear signs that he was of the like Noble quality and temper with his Ancestors he so distressed a Prince came to put himself into his hands desiring his aid to recover his Realms promising faithfully that when his Kingdoms were regained he would gratefully do him all the pleasure that should lie in his utmost power The King of Scots was so influenced with this Impostors words amiable person Princely deportment recommendations of Princes his aids from the Irish and assured hope of aid in England that he honourably received him as if he had been the very Richard Duke of York and gave his consent that this pretended Duke should marry the Lady Katharine Gourdon daughter to the Earl of Huntly which accordingly he did and also prepared to invade England in his quarrel although there wanted not them who with many arguments advised this King to repute him for no other than a Cheat. King Henry that he might be prepared for the Scots called a Parliament which granted a Tax to be gathered of six score thousand pounds the Levy of which mony kindled a dangerous fire in England For when the Kings Collectors came amongst the Cornish-men to receive their proportion of the Tax they tumultuously assembled under the leading of one Thomas Flammock a Lawyer and Michael Joseph a Black-Smith of Bodnam Which Captains led their rout towards Kent and at Wells James Tuchet Lord Audley joyned with them From Wells they proceeded to Black-Heath where the Kings forces defeated them without much labour fifteen hundred of the Rebels were taken and the takers had their prisoners goods granted them James Lord Audley was led from New-gate to Tower-hill in a Coat of his own Armories painted on a Paper reverst and torn where he was executed Flammock and the Smith were quartred Memorably strange was the comfort that the Smith cheered himself withall as he was drawing to his execution to wit That yet he hoped that by this means his Name and Memory should be everlasting The Kings care was now to order the War against Scotland whither he sent the Earl of Surrey with an Army to invade the Scotch borders as they had lately done the English The Earl pursued the revenge with great vehemency but in short time by the King of Spains mediation a Truce was concluded betwixt the two Nations One Article of which Truce was That Perkin should be no longer fostered in Scotland Whereupon he withdraws into â—reland whither the Cornish-men sent to him inviting him amongst them promising that at his arrival
D. 1509 April 22. His Issue Arthur dead before himself Henry Edmond Margaret Elizabeth Mary His daughter Margaret was married to James the fourth King of Scotland and after his death unto Archibald Dougles Earl of Angues to whom she bare Margaret who married Matthew Steward Earl of Lenox and had by him Henry Lord Dernly who married Mary Queen of Scots by whom he had King James the sixth King Henry left at his death 1800000 l. in ready mony He founded the Hospital of the Savoy founded six religious houses for Franciscan-Friers built the Palace of Richmond where he died and that Chappel at Westminster called by his name where he was buried He exceedingly Honoured that devout King Henry the sixth whom he laboured to have had canonized for a Saint but Pope Julio held that Honour at too dear a Rate His Mother-in-Law Queen to Edward the fourth he deprived of her Estate and confined to the Monastery of Bermondsey in Southwark one cause pretended for it was for that she had yielded up her daughter into the hand of the Usurper Richard contrary to her faith given to them who were in the plot for bringing in of Henry A. D. 1498 A Cordwainers son was hanged at St. Thomas Waterings for assuming the name and Title of the Earl of Warwick thereby to raise disturbances The Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings time In his first Year Sir Hugh Brice was Mayor John Tate John Swan Sheriffs In his second Year Sir Henry Collet vvas Mayor John Percival Hugh Clopton Sheriffs In his third Year William Horn was Mayor John Eenkel William Remington Sheriffs In his fourth Year Robert Tate was Mayor William Isaac Ralph Tinley Sheriffs In his fifth Year VVilliam White was Mayor William Capel John Brook Sheriffs In his sixth Year John Matthew was Mayor Henry Cote or Coot Robert Revel and he dying Hugh Pembarton Sheriffs In his seventh Year Hugh Clopton was Mayor Thomas Wood VVilliam Brown Sheriffs In his eighth Year Sir William Martin was Mayor William Purchase William Walbeck Sheriffs In his ninth Year Ralph Austry vvas Mayor Robert Fabian John Winget Sheriffs In his tenth Year Richard Chawrie was Mayor Nicholas Alwin John Warner Sheriffs In his eleventh Year Sir Henry Collet was Mayor Thomas Kneesworth Henry Sommer Sheriffs In his Twelfth Year John Tate was Mayor John Shaa Richard Hedon Sheriffs In his Thirteenth year William Purchase was Mayor Bartholomew Rede Thomas Windew or Windouâ— Sheriffs In his fourteenth Year Sir John Percivel was Mayor Thomas Bradbury Stephen Gennings Sheriffs In his fifteenth Year Nicholas Aldmine was Mayor James Wilford Thomas or Richard Brond Sheriffs In his sixteenth Year William Rennington was Mayor John Hawes William Steed Sheriffs In his seventeenth Year Sir John Shaa was Mayor Lawrence Aylmer Henry Hede Sheriffs HENRY VIII A. D. 1509. HENRY the Eighth was born at Greenwich June 22. 1491. His youth was so trained up in literature that he was accounted the most learned Prince of Christendom In A. D. 1509 and June 25 he was Crowned at Westminster together with his Queen Katharine the Relict of his brother Arthur by William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury His Counsellors he chose of the gravest Divines and wisest Nobility with whom he not only often sate to the great increase of his politick experience but would also yield his authority to their wisedomes Empson and Dudley he caused to be imprisoned then to be brought to their Tryal and at last to lose their heads To regain the ancient Rights of England he first sent his Herald Clarencieux into France roughly demanding the Dutchies of Normandy Guyen Main and Anjou and with them the Crown of France Then sent certain Nobles before him thither and afterward followed himself pitching down his Tents before Terwin Where he raised his Royal Standard of the Red-Dragon and begirt the City with a strait Siege To which place Maxmiliâ—n the Emperour repaired and to the great Honour of Henry entred into his pay wearing the Cross of Saint George with a Rose the Kings-Badge as his faithful Souldier The French attempting to relieve the Town with Victuals and men were so encountred by King Henry that many of their chiefest Captains were taken prisoners and six of their standards won and the rest of the Monsieurs for safeguard of life so posted away that this conflict was called the battel of Spurs shortly after which the Town yielded unto the King Then was the siege removed to Tournay which in short time was also surrendred to the King with ten thousand pounds sterling for the Citizens redemption Who to the number of 80000 then took their Oaths to become his true Subjects 1513. The safe keeping of this City the King committed to Sir Edward Poynings Knight of the Garter and Ordained Thomas Wolsey Bishop of Tournay Whilst King Henry was busy in France his Lieutenant Thomas Earl of Surrey marched against the Scots who were entred into Northumberland and at Flodden the Armies engaged in fight and the English won the day In this battel King James of Scotland was slain one Archbishop two Bishops two Abbots twelve Earls seventeen Lords Knights and Gentlemen a great number in all about eight thousand were slain and almost as many taken Prisoners in A. D. 1513. Sep. 9. A. D. 1514 by the procurement of Pope Leo a peace was concluded betwixt the Kings of France and England immediatly after which Mary the sister of King Henry was Honourably conducted into France where aâ—â— Albeville October the ninth she was married unto old King Lewis who died eighty two days after the Marriage A. D. 1517 by reason of the great concourse of strangers at London to the hindrance of trade and their insolency towards the English the youth and vulgar sort of Citizens upon May-day assaulted these strangers doing much harm to their houses substance and some of their persons for which riotous offence John Lincolne the instigator thereof was hanged and four hundred men and youths with eleven women were led in ropes along the City in their Shirts with halters about their necks to Westminster where the King pardoned their offence to the great rejoycing of the Londoners A. D. 1519 was the City of Tourney delivered back to the French on these conditions That they should pay to King Henry six hundred thousand Crowns in twelve years That the Daulphin should marry the Lady Mary King Henries young daughter which marriage if it hapned not to take effect at the years of consent then Tourney should be re-delivered to the English That Cardinal Wolsey should have a thousand Marks paid him yearly for the revenues of the said Bishoprick A. D. 1521 Edward Bohun or Stafford Duke of Buckingham was beheaded on Tower-hill for imagining to destroy the King and to enjoy the Crown himself Wolsey was the Dukes grand adversary because that the Duke had sometime spoken certain words to his disgrace About this time the Pope sent his Legats about to incite the Christian
wonderful to me that my marriage after twenty years should be thus called in Question with new invention against me who never intended but honesty Alas Sir I see that I am wronged having no Counsel to speak for me but such as are your Subjects and cannot be indifferent upon my part therefore I most humbly beseech you even in charity to stay this course until I may have advice and Councel from Spain if not your Graces pleasure be done Then rising and making low obeisance to the King she departed the Court and though the Crier called her to come into the Court as she was going away yet she went on bidding her Attendant to go forward and saying to him This is no indifferent Court for me When the King perceived that she was departed he presently spake thus unto the Assembly I will quoth he in her absence declare before you all that she hath been to me a most true obedient and comfortable Wife endued with all vertuous qualities and conditions according to her birth and in lowliness equals any of baser sort Which said Cardinal Wolsey humbly requested the King that he would be pleased to declare before that honourable Assembly whether he had been the cause of this his intended Divorce wherewith he was charged in the opinions of the people Whereupon the King said My Lord Cardinal I can well excuse you in this and rather affirm that you have been against me in attempting it thus far Then by and by the Court was adjourned till May 28 following which time being come the Kings learned Council alledged many reasons and likelihoods to prove that Prince Arthur had nuptial knowledg of Lady Catherines body as their being both of years capable to expleat the Act he above fifteen she above seventeen and both laid in one bed almost five months together c. From day to day the Pleas proceeded but nothing was concluded touching the Divorce therefore the King sent the two Cardinals to perswade with the Queen to put the whole matter to himself which he said would be far better and more honourable for her than to stand to the trial of the Law These Legats accordingly repairing to her she from among her maids at work came presently forth of an inner room to them having a skein of white thread about her neck to whom she said Alack my Lords I am very sorry to make you attend upon me What is your will Madam quoth Wolsey We are come in good will to know your Graces mind in this great matter of your Marriage and to give you our advice with the best service we can The Queen thanking them said That by order of holy Church she was espoused to the King as his true Wife and in that point she would abide till the Court of Rome which was privy to the beginning had made thereof a final determination and end The King then hopeless of his Queens consent hasted his Lawyers to forward the Divorce which daily they did but when the day appointed was come for the final determination of the matter in question then Cardinal Campeius reserved it for the Pope himself to conclude Which so enraged the Duke of Suffolk that with a stern countenance he said It was never merry in England since we have had any Cardinals amongst us And Cardinal Wolsey though he sought to excuse himself herein as not having sufficient authority yet did he fall under the Kings high displeasure The first step of this great Prelates fall was his dislike of the Kings affection unto Anne Bullen a Gentlewoman nothing favourable to his Pontifical pomp nor no great follower of the Ceremonies of those times of Popery which moved the Cardinal to write unto the Pope to defer the judgment of Divorce till he had wrought the Kings mind in another mould Which was not done so secretly but it came to the Kings ear and proved to his ruin For first the Broad-seal was taken from him and some of his Bishopricks his house and furniture seized upon and shortly after he was suddenly arrested by the Earl of Northumberland at Cawood-castle for arrogant words against the King importing a desire of revenge from whence he was conveyed towards London in which journey at Leicester-Abbey he ended his life by taking an over-great quantity of a Confection to break wind from off his stomack So ended this haughty Cardinal who was born at Ipswich his father a good honest Butcher himself a good Philosopher and Orator His education in his youth was at Magdalen Colledg in Oxford his first Preferment was from the Lord Marquess of Dorset who bestowed a Benefice upon him Then Sir John Naphant preferred him to King Henry the Seventh which King having urgent business with Maximilian the Emperour he sent this his Chaplain to him post who posted again back before he was thought to be there and withal concluded some points forgot in his directions to the high content of his Soveraign for the which he bestowed on him the Deanry of Lincoln after which he was preferred to be the Kings Almoner then one of his Council then Bishop of Tourney then Bishop of Lincoln then A.B. of York whereby he became as it were three Bishops at once then was made Priest Cardinal and Legat de Latere then Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Winchester and in commendam the Abbey of St. Albans was bestowed upon him And with them the Cardinal held in farm the Episcopal Sees of Bath and Wells Worcester and Hereford enjoyed by strangers incumbents not residing in the Realm This Prelate raised to this greatness was attended with so many officers and servants as is incredible And being Ambassador to the Emperour at Brussels he was there waited upon by many English Nobles and served at the Table by his Servitors on their knees Insatiable he was to get but Princely in bestowing lofty to his enemies and not easily reconciled which hastned his fall when he began The grudges against this Cardinal were not only for the especial favour he stood in with the King and great stroke he bare at the Council-table but for his intolerable pillings who to patch up his pride in the raising of his new Colledges at Oxford and Ipswich suppressed forty Monasteries of good fame converting all their goods and moveables to his own use As also that he emptied the land of twelve-score thousand pounds inforced by him from the King which he employed to relieve and ransome the Pope then in Prison to the great impoverishing of his Majesties Coffers And lastly his so intolerable pride as no less than 1200 Horse for his retinue eighty Wagons for his Carriage Tho. Cranmer A. B. Cant. and sixty Mules for Sumpture-horses attended him into France when he went thither Ambassador but Sic transit gloria mundi A prodigal and merry conceited Nobleman having lately sold a Mannor of an hundred Tenements came ruffling into the Court in a new suit saying Am not I a mighty man
that bear an hundred Houses on my back Which Cardinal Wolsey hearing said You might have better imployed it in paying your debts Truth my Lord said the Nobleman you say well for my Father owed my Master your Father three half-pence for a Calves-head hold here is two-pence for it But now whilst the matter of the Kings Marriage hung in suspence the space of two years it hapned that Dr. Cranmer said That the Kings cause would easily be determined by the Law of God which the King hearing of put the Doctor upon the work who thereupon penned a Treatise therein proving by Scriptures General Councils ancient and modern Writers that the Bishop of Rome had no authority to dispense with the Word of God so as contrary thereunto to grant liberty for a man to marry his brothers Wife This he presented to the King which when the King had well read he demanded of the Doctor if he would abide by what he had writ That I will said he by Gods Grace even before the Pope himself if your Majesty shall so appoint Marry quoth the King to him you shall go And accordingly the King sent Thomas Bullen Earl of Wiltshire Dr. Cranmer and other Divines to the Pope who was then at Bonony But when the day of audience was come and Cranmer prepared to defend what he had writ on the sudden all was interrupted by an unmannerly Spaniel of the Earls which seeing the Servus Servorum put forth his foot to be kiss'd caught his great Toe in his mouth 't is said But be it so or not yet this is sure that there was no conclusion of the matter made by the Pope therefore K. Henry resolved to cut the Gordian-knot himself without more ado and withal began to call in question what authority the Pope had in his Dominions which being afterward debated in Parliament an Act passed against his usurped authority or supremacy and all persons were prohibited from appealing or making any payments to Rome and the Kings Marriage with Queen Catharine dissolved and that from thenceforth she should be called only Princess Dowager The Parliament made it appear that in forty years last past then the Court of Rome had received from this Kingdom 160000 pounds for Investitures of Bishops Whilst the Divorce was under debate one Elizabeth Barton commonly called the holy Maid of Kent made a Votaress in Canterbury was taught by Bocking a Monk to counterfeit many Trances and in the same to utter many pious expressions to the rebuke of sin under which she was heard the more freely against the Doctrine of Luther and the Scriptures translation then desired by many Also giving forth from God and his Saints by sundry pretended revelations That if the King proceeded in his Divorce and second marriage he should not reign in his Realm one month after nor rest in his favour one hour But the imposturisme being detected she and seven of her complices were executed at Tyburn for Treason and others of them fined and imprisoned A. D. 1533 and November the fourteenth was King Henry married with Anne Bullen daughter of Sir Thomas Bullen Earl of Wiltshire and June the first she was Crowned at Westminster and on September the seventh following she bare into the World that most excellent Princess Elizabeth A. D. 1534. And A. D. 1535 January 29 She was again delivered of a Child but that was dead Nor had the Queen her self long to live for she was accused of Incest and adultery with her own brother George Lord Rochford who was beheaded for this fact on Tower-hill And May the 19 1536 this Queen was brought upon a Scaffold erected on the Green within the Tower where in the presence of many Noblemen the Lord Mayor and others she said Good Christian people I am come hither to die for according to the Law and by the Law I am judged to death and therefore I will speak nothing against it I come hither to accuse no man nor to speak any thing of that I am accused of and condemned for As for mine own offences God knoweth them and unto God I remit them beseeching him to have mercy upon my Soul and if any person will meddle in my cause I desire them to judge the best And so I take my leave of the World and of you all and do heartily beseech you to pray for me and I beseech Jesus save my Soveraign and Master the King long to live and raign over you the most Godliest Noblest and Gentlest Prince that is These words she uttered with a smiling countenance which done she kneeled down and with a fervent spirit said To Jesus Christ I commend my Soul Lord Jesus receive my Soul And repeating those words very oft suddenly with the sword the Executioner severed her head and body which were buried in the Quire of the Chappel of the Tower T is said that the Lord Rochford the Queens brother coming to her beds-side to sollicite a suit leaned thereupon to whisper her in the ear which the spials gave forth that he did so to kiss the Queen Most probable it is that the crimes which this Queen was charged withal were matters contrived by Popish instruments because she gave great incouragements unto many more publickly and with boldness to profess the reformed religion and procured a toleration for the Protestant Divines Moreover that this Queens death was rather sought for than merited by her seems also very probable because that the next day after her deaâ—h the King was married unto the Lady Jane Seymour daughter of John Seymour Knight About this time began to flourish Thomas Cromwell a Black-Smiths son of Putney whom King Henry first raised to be Master of his Jewel-house then Baron of Okeham then Earl of Essex then Lord great Chamberlain and lastly ordained him Vicar-General over the Spirituality This great Cromwell procured it to be enacted in Parliament That the Lords Prayer Creed and ten Commandments should be read in the English Tongue Other matters also tending to reform the English Church from the Roman corruptions were attempted by Cromwell which did not at all please the Monks and their party The Lincoln-shire men began a commotion under the leading of one Mackarell a Monk who named himself Captain Cobler A Copy of their grievances they sent to the King some of which were The suppression of many religious houses whereby the service of God they said was minished The Kings taking into his Councel men of Low-birth who sought their own lucre That there were divers Bishops lately preferred that had subverted the faith of Christ That by reason of their loss of Sheep and Cattle they were not able to pay the Quindecim or Tax granted to the King c. But these Rioters the King soon pacified with good words In whose steads others rose up immediately for forty thousand rusticks assembled in Yorkshire furnished with horse armour and artillery Their pretence was Religion and defence of holy Church Their Banners
fourteenth Year Sir John Mundy vvas Mayor John Rudston John Champneis Sheriffs In his fifteenth Year Sir Thomas Baldrie was Mayor Michael English Nicholas Jennings Sheriffs In his sixteenth Year Sir William Bailey vvas Mayor Ralph Dodmere VVilliam Roche Sheriffs In his seventeenth Year Sir John Allen was Mayor John Caunton or Calton Christopher Askaw Sheriffs In his eighteenth Year Sir Thomas Seymour vvas Mayor Stephen Peacock Nicholas Lambert Sheriffs In his nineteenth Year Sir James Spencer was Mayor John Hardy William Hollis Sheriffs In his twentieth Year Sir John Rudston vvas Mayor Ralph Warren John Long Sheriffs In his twenty first Year Sir Ralph Dodmer was Mayor Michael Dormer Walter Champion Sheriffs In his twenty second Year Sir Thomas Pargiter was Mayor William Dantesey or Dancy Richard Champion Sheriffs In his twenty third Year Sir Nicholas Lambert was Mayor Richard Gresham Edward Altham Sheriffs In his Twenty fourth Year Sir Stephen Peacock was Mayor Richard Reynolds John Martin Nicholas Pinchon John Priest Sheriffs In his twenty fifth Year Sir Christopher Askew vvas Mayor William Forman Thomas Kitson Sheriffs In his twenty sixth Year Sir John Champneis was Mayor Nicholas Leveson William Denham Sheriffs In his twenty seventh Year Sir John Allen was Mayor Humfrey Monmouth John Cotes Sheriffs In his Twenty eighth Year Sir Ralph Warren was Mayor Robert or Richard Paget William Bowyer Sheriffs In his twenty ninth Year Sir Richard Gresham was Mayor John Gresham Thomas Lewin Sheriffs In his thirtieth Year Sir VVilliam Forman was Mayor William Wilkinson Nicholas Gibson Sheriffs In his thirty first Year Sir VVilliam Hollys was Mayor Thomas Ferrer Thomas Huntlow Sheriffs In his thirty second Year Sir William Roche was Mayor VVilliam Laxstone Martin Bows Sheriffs In his thirty third Year Sir Michael Dormer was Mayor Rowland Hill Henry Suckley Sheriffs In his thirty fourth Year Sir John Cotes was Mayor Henry Hobberthorn Henry Amcoats Sheriffs In his thirty fifth Year Sir William Bowyer was Mayor John Tholouse Richard Dobbes Sheriffs In his thirty sixth Year Sir William Laxton was Mayor John Wilford Andrew Jud Sheriffs In his thirty seventh Year Sir Martin Bows was Mayor George Barne Ralph Allen or Alley Sheriffs In his thirty eighth Year Sir Henry Hobberthorn was Mayor Richard Jarveis Thomas Curteis Sheriffs EDWARD VI. A. D. 1547. EDward the Sixth was born but not without the death of his Mother A.D. 1537 Octob. 12. A. D. 1547 and Febr. 20. he was Crowned at Westminster At which time when three Swords were delivered to him as King of England France and Ireland he said There was yet another Sword to be delivered him namely the sacred Bible which is said he the sword of the Spirit without which we are nothing neither can do any thing His Mothers brother Edward Lord Seymour Earl of Hartford and Duke of Somerset was by the consent of the Nobles made Protector over his Minority and the Realms In short time after the Kings Coronation the Lord Protector and Council sought to effect the Marriage betwixt the young King and the young Queen of Scotland as it had been formerly agreed on by both Nations but this the Scots refused to yield unto wherefore the Protector led an army into Scotland and at a place called Edmondstone-edg near to Musclebrough fought the Scots and vanquished them following the chase of them almost five miles wherein the Lord Fleming with sundry men of note were slain and 10000 of the Soldiers and about a 1000 were taken Prisoners the chief whereof were the Earl of Huntly the Lords Yester Hobby and Hamilton the Lord Weems and a brother of the Earl of Cassills Lieth the English sacked and set on fire took the Island St. Colmes Broughticrag Rocksbrough Humes Castle and others insomuch that many Gentlemen in Tividale and the Meres came to the Protector and entred into terms and conditions of peace with him After the Protectors return a Parliament was assembled at London wherein the six Articles were repealed those Colledges and Chappels that King Henry had left were given the King and the Churches ordred to be purged of all Images And accordingly Commissioners were appointed who first began at St. Pauls in London and thence proceeded throughout England and Wales But this reformation occasioned great commotions which began in the West A Priest stabbed one Mr. Body a Commissioner to the heart for plucking down certain Images and this fact of his was so favoured by the Cornish and Devonshire Rusticks that ten thousand of them rose in Arms heading themselves under Mr. Humphrey Arundel six other Gentlemen and eight Priests These rebells besieged the City of Excester and sore distressed it yet did the Citizens loyally hold out against them for which the King did enlarge their Liberties and gave unto their City the Mannor of Exilond At last the rebells agree upon Articles to be sent the King therein requiring to have Mass celebrated as in time past it had been To have holy bread and holy water in remembrance of Christs body and blood To have the six Articles again in force c. To these and the rest of their demands the King sent an answer Therein pitying their ignorance reproving their sawciness and withal a general pardon to as many as would desist in time concluding thus We for our part seek no longer to live than to be a Father to our people and as God hath made us your King so hath he commanded you obedience by whose great Majesty we swear you shall feel the same power in our Sword which how mighty it is no subject knoweth how puissant it is no private man can judg and how mortal no English heart can think Therefore embrace our mercy whilst it is offered lest the blood spilt by your means cry vengeance from the earth and be heard in the ears of the Lord of Heaven Notwithstanding all this the rebells still persisted in their Traiterous attempts the King therefore sent an army against them which put them to flight at Honiton then worsted them at Excester where the rebells lay siege and lastly upon Clift-heath destroyed the greatest part of them their consecrated Host Crucifix Crosses consecrated Banners holy bread and holy water which the rebells had brought into the field thinking by vertue of them to have made all sure on their side were all trampled into the dirt Arundel Winsland Holmes and Bury four rebell-Captains were taken and executed at London Others also of their partakers were executed by Martial Law amongst whom was Boyer the Mayor of Bodmin in Cornwall Nigh to which Town dwelt a Miller that had been a busie-fellow in the rebellion but he knowing his own danger willed his man to take the name of Master if any enquired after him To this Millers house Sir Anthony Kingstone Marshall of the Field came where calling for the Master the officious man in his name very bodily presented himself whom Sir Anthony straight commanded to the Gallows and when the poor fellow seeing the
defence of the Reformed Religion because of the bloody Inquisition that without respect had persecuted her subjects Because the King of Spain had sent forces into Ireland and lastly to prevent her enemy the Spaniard from being so nigh a neighbour to her A. D. 1587 and Febr. 7 was Mary Queen of Scotland King James's Mother beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle to the great discontent 't is said of Queen Elizabeth who committed Secretary Davison to the Tower thereupon and never admitted him more to his place because of his forwardness in promoting the death of that Roman-Catholick Queen But what is above us is nothing to us The matters for which she was condemned in the Star-chamber Court at Westminster were her pretending title to the Crown of England her being privy to certain Treasons of Anthony Babington and others tending to the hurt and death of the Royal person of Queen Elizabeth This she absolutely denied affirming that she never attempted any thing against the Queens person though for her own delivery out of prison she confessed she did make some attempts Babington with thirteen other Traytors were executed A. D. 1588 Henry third King of France who ever honoured Queen Elizabeth and not the least because of her Religion sent speedy and secret notice unto her of the Spaniards intentions to invade her Realm of England Against whose coming the Queen caused her Trained-bands to be in readiness Tilbury in Essex was the place for her Camp whereunto were appointed to march 15000 Horse and 22000 Foot And for her special Guard out of the several Counties of the West East and South parts of England were selected 2352 Horsemen and 34050 Footmen The Queen her self was Generalissimo and Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester Lieutenant-General A. D. 1588 and May 19 the Armado or invincible Navy of the Spaniards as they termed it loosed Anchor from Lisbon and on July 20 it passed by Plimouth towards Callis hoping about those coasts to have met with the Prince of Parma but in their way the English Fleet changed some bullets with them July 21 the two Fleets fought within Musket-shot when the English Admiral Lord Charles Howard fell most hotly on the Spaniards Vice-Admiral In this fight they well perceived how that their great unweildy Ships were unfit for service in those narrow Seas the English smaller Ships being too nimble for them as well in respect of saving themselves as in annoying the Spanish July 22 Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admiral took one of their great Gallions wherein was Don Pedro de Valdez with divers other Noblemen The Soldiers had the spoil of this Ship in which was 55000 Duckets of Gold July 23 the Spaniards came right against Portland when the sorest fight was performed and the English gained a great Venetian Ship with other lesser ones July 24 the fight was only betwixt the four great Galleasses and some of the English Ships July 25 the Spaniards came aaginst the Isle of Wight where was a terrible Encounter till at length the English so battered the Spanish tall Ships that they were forced to secure themselves in an Half-moon posture July 28 as the Spanish Fleet lay at Anchor within sight of Callis the English sent in amongst them eight Fire-ships filled with Gun-powder pitch brimstone and other combustible matter their Ordnance charged with bullets stones chains and the like These being drove with wind and tide unto the Spanish Fleet and then taking fire such a sudden roaring clap was given that the Spaniards affrighted in the dead of the night were struck into an horrible fear lest all their Ships should be fierd by these wherefore in great haste they cut their cables hoised their sails and drove at random into the Seas July 29. ranging themselves in order they approached overagainst Greveling where the English again getting the wind of them discharged upon them from morning till night to the confusion of divers of the Spanish Ships The Hollanders with thirty-five of their Ships watched the coasts about Dunkirk to prevent the Duke of Parma from having any intercourse there July 30 the Spanish Dons having gotten more Sea-room for their huge-bodied bulks spread their sails and made away as fast as wind and water would permit them fearing the small fleet and forces of the English whereas had they known but the want of Powder that was on the English side they would sure have stood longer to their tacklings The English Admiral followed now the Vincible Armado towards Norway and the Spaniards for the saving of their fresh-water cast all their Mules and Horses over board The Duke of Medina their Admiral when he at last arrived in Spain was deprived of all his Authority and other ways disgraced Many of the Spanish Ships in their flight perished through tempest upon the Irish Seas others were driven into the Chanel of England where part of them were taken by the English others by the Rochellers and some arrived at Newhaven Of 134 Ships which had set sail from Lisbon only 53 returned into Spain Of the four Galleasses of Naples but one and of the ninety-one Gallions and great Hulks from divers Provinces only thirty-three returned Of the four Gallies of Portugal but one In brief there was missing of their whole Fleet eighty one Vessels and of the 30000 Soldiers 13500 and odd Of Prisoners taken in England Ireland and Low-countries were 2000 and upwards So that it appears there was small virtue in the Popes Crusado wherein he published a safe Pass-port for his Spaniards to enter England The English Fleet was betwixt fourscore and a hundred sail Captains therein were the Lords Howard and Sheffield Sir Francis Drake Sir John Hawkins Sir Walter Rawleigh Sir Martin Frobisher c. For this Deliverance the 19 of November was appointed a day of Thanksgiving Blessed be the Lord who gave us not a prey into their teeth c. Psal 124. Octogesimus octavus mirabilis annus Clade Papistarum faustus ubique piis Dr. Fulk The Thunder-clap of this Armado being thus over and the Invincible become Vincible the Queen determined to assist Don Antonio the expulsed King of Portugal for the regaining of his Kingdom to which end a Fleet was sent out under the conduct of Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Norris for the land-service was General These landing in a Bay of Galicia near to the Groin took the Base-town by surprize which they found well-victualled and stored with Wine to the damage of the English who taking too immoderately of it so inflamed and infected their blood that it caused great sickness and mortality in the whole Army After some conflicts with the High-town they fired the Base-town or suburbs and put again to Sea and when some struglings with the Winds were over they recovered the Burlings In which passage Robert Earl of Essex with his Brother Mr. Walter Deureux accompanied with other gallant men came Voluntiers to the Fleet which landing in Portugal won the Town and Castle of Peniche
in their service for the Publick Cause should be secured from the injury of their Masters and their time to go on toward their freedom by which means multitudes of Youth forsook their Masters to fight for the Parliament They also invited their Brethren the Scots as they call'd them to come into England to their aid And to animate the people to take up Arms for the Parliament some busie Clergy-men made great not good use of that sacred Text in their Pulpits Curse ye Meroz c. Judges the 5.23 But blessed are the Peace makers saith the Prince of peace About the beginning of March Commissioners were appointed to treat at Oxford in order to a rcconcilation but the Parliaments proposals were so out of reason that the treaty proved fruitless A. D. 1643 in the beginning of the Spring the Queen returned into England bringing with her considerable supplies of Men Money and Ammunition out of France and that year his Majesty became Master of the North and West some few Garisons excepted July the 5th Sir Ralph Hopton with his Cavaliers routed Sir William Waller at Lansdown near Bath and July the 15th he again defeated him at Roundway-hill by the Devizes killing many hundreds in the place and taking many more Prisoners Bristol and Exeter were yielded unto those two Martial Princes Rupert and Maurice Sons of Fredrick Prince Palatine of the Rhine and Elizabeth his Wife Sister to King Charles the first Gloucester the King besieged with a brave Army and the besieged under the command of Colonel Edward Massey defended themselves with great bravery till the Earl of Essex came with an Army and raised the Siege From this Siege the two Armies marched within few miles each of the other without any engagement save a little skirmish by Alborne-Chace till they came to Newbury where a sore Battel was fought On the Kings part were slain the Earls of Carnarvon and Sunderland and the Learned Lord Faulkland Essex lost many of his Officers January the 22 those loyal Members of Parliament who dissented from them at Westminster met at Oxford by the Kings Summons of these besides the Prince and Duke of York the Lord Keeper Littleton Treasurer Cottington Duke of Richmond and Marquess of Hartford there were nineteen Earls and as many Lords and one hundred and seventeen Knights and Gentlemen Other Loyal Lords Knights and Gentlemen Members of Parliament were at this time imployed in the Kings service in divers places of the Nation In this month and year the Scotch Army under the Conduct of the Earl of Leven entred England for the Parliament being about 18000 foot and 2000 horse About this time was Loyal Newark besieged by Sir John Meldram but by Prince Ruperts coming it was relieved and the Parlimentarians forced to march away after great losses on such conditions as the Prince would grant them This year upon a cessation of Arms in Ireland some forces came over to the Kings assistance This year also that Rebellious thing called a Parliament at Westminster and their Adherents and some to save themselves from punishment took the Scottish Solemn League and Covenant with hands lifted up to the most high God swearing to endeavour the preservation of the reformed Religion the extirpation of Popery and Prelacy to preserve the Rights and priviledges of Parliament and liberties of the Kingdom and to defend and preserve the Kings Majesties person and Authority c. All the Parliaments pretence in raising Arms was reformation for the defence of the Kings person to rescue him from his evil Council and to make him a glorious King which at length they did when they deprived him of his natural life A. D. 1644 Sir William Waller defeated Sir Ralph Hopton about Brandon Heath The Lord Fairfax and his Son Sir Thomas took divers of the Kings Garisons in the North. Prince Rupert raised the Siege of Latham-house June the 29 the Kings forces gave a great defeat to Wallers Army at Cropredy-bridge And presently after this the King drove the Earl of Essex up into Cornwall but the Earl deserted his Army passing by water to Plymouth and his horse taking the advantage of a dark night escaped leaving the Foot to shift how they could who capitulated for their lives leaving their Arms Cannon Amunition and Baggage to the Kings disposal Then Ilferdcomb Barnstable and Saltash yielded to the King who now victoriously marched towards London July the third was a great fight at Maston-Moor where the Parliament obtained a very considerable Victory And October the 27th Essex Waller and the Earl of Manchester met the King as he came out of the West at Newbury where a sharp Battle was fought and the Kings part forced out of the field In November Mac-Mahon an Irish Rebel was hang'd and quartered at Tyburn And December 23d Sir Alexander Carew was beheaded on Tower-hill for attempting to give up the Island of Plymouth to the Kings forces January the first Hotham the Son and January the second Hotham the Father were beheaded on Tower-hill for designing to betray Hull to the Royalists and for other treacheries January the 10th William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury was brought to the Scaffold on Tower-hill where he preached his last Sermon taking for his Text Heb. 12. Vers 2 So yielded his neck to the stroak of the Executioner The charge against him was endeavouring to subvert the Laws Religion and Priviledges of Parliament January the 30th by his Majesties procurement a Treaty was held at Vxbridge where the Parliaments demands were That Episcopacy might be extirpated that Presbytery might be establisht and that the King should yield up the Militia solely into the Parliaments dispose which were such unreasonable demands that the King could not yield to them February the 20th the Lord Mac-Guire another of the grand Irish Rebels was executed at Tyburn About this time was the Parliaments Army new-moduled The Earl of Essex and the other Commanders who were Parliament-men Oliver Cromwel was excepted were by the self-denying ordinance lately made to attend in Parliament in whose steads other and more active persons were appointed Sir Thomas Fairfax was constituted Captain-General Oliver Cromwel then the Sectaries Darling was made Lieutenant-General Henry Ireton Commissary-General c. After which model the Kings affairs of the Nation began fatally to decline A. D. 1645 His Majesty drew his Army out of Oxford in order to relieve his Nothern Counties and Garisons but after he had stormed and taken Leicester in his way he was called back to secure Oxford which the Parliament Army threatned with a Siege This while Sir Thomas Fairfax had intercepted a Letter of the Lord Gorings to the King wherein that Loyal Subject had desired of his Majesty to forbear engaging with the Enemy till he could be joyned with him Hereupon Fairfax left his Siege afore Oxford and made directly towards the King with a purpose to fight him before that addition of strength should come in And at a place near
made with the Cross and Harp on one side and this Inscription The great Seal of England on the other side the picture of the House of Commons with this Inscription In the first year of freedom by Gods blessing restored 1648. And afterward they appointed that all moneys to be coyned should be stamped with the Cross and Harp on one side and the Cross on the other with this Motto The Commonwealth of England God with us And instead of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance they imposed an Engagement upon the people To be true and faithful to the Commonwealth as it was then established without King or House of Lords A Council of State they constituted by the name of the Keepers of the Liberties of England consisting of forty persons who were to have the executive part of the Government Thus was Englands ancient Government soon changed by about 50 persons who stiled themselves a Parliament and the Representative body of England The maxim upon which they grounded these their alterations and all other their illegal proceeds was this That all power and authority is originally in the people and that they were the peoples Representative When this Junto had made such a module of Government they erected another High Court of Injustice for the trial of Duke Hamilton as Earl of Cambridge of the Earls of Holland and Norwich the Lord Capel and Sir John Owen all which were condemned to die for engaging in their Soveraign's cause but the Earl of Norwich and Sir John Owen were reprieved the other three were beheaded in the Palace-yard at Westminster March the 9th The ever loyal Lord Capel in his speech on the Scaffold declared that he died against the Justice of the known Laws of the Land and for no other cause than his asserting the Fifth Commandment prayed heartily for the King for his restoration long life and prosperity shutting up his Speech with a profession of his cheerfulness in forgiving his Enemies Other good Subjects they put to death in other places of the Nation Lieutenant Colonel Morris Mr. Beaumont a Minister Major Monday and Cornet Blackburn And many were the loyal persons that were now proscribed and had their Estates confiscated as the Marquess of Newcastle Earl of Bristol the Lords Cottington Widdrington Culpepper Byron Sir Edward Hide Sir Philip Musgrave Sir Marmaduke Langdale Sir Richard Greenvill with others And all that had been in actual Arms for the King or other service were forced to compound for their Estates if they had any to the great impoverishing of the Royal party A. D. 1649 and April the 7th The Members at Westminster for the better supply of their Army and taking away of free-quarter passed an Act for the levying of 90000 l. a Month upon England for six months Then took into consideration the sale of Dean and Chapters Lands May the 15th divers Troops of the Army for mutinying were surprised by Fairfax at Burford where some few of the Ringleaders were shot to death and the rest disbanded There were of that party a people called Levellers who in those times of distraction would have all things in the Common-wealth ordered according to their wild humours and yet all their cry was for the Liberties of free-born English men About this time Dr. Dorislaus whom the disloyal Members had sent over as their Agent into Holland was there slain by Colonel Whitford a Scotch man and not long after one Ascham another of their Agents sent into Spain was there slain by one Sparks May the 30th in the City of London England was proclaimed a Free-State And June the 13th the House ordered that no ceremony should be used to the Kings Children the Duke of Glocester and Lady Elizabeth then in the Junto's custody In Ireland the Kings Lieutenant the Marquess of Ormond in order to promote the Kings cause there concluded a peace with the Irish and June the 22d he besieged the City of Dublin but August the 2d Colonel Michael Jones with his whole strength being betwixt 8 and 9000 sallied out upon the besiegers who were 19000 Horse and Foot and routed them totally slew of them about 3000 took Prisoners 2517 took all the Marquess's train of Artillery and Amunition and a very rich booty in the Camp August the 16th Oliver Cromwell landed with his forces at Dublin and after a short stay there marched with great expedition against Tredagh or Drogedah where Sir Arthur Ashton was Governor the defendants of that Town did bravely behave themselves howbeit Oliver gained it by storm giving strict order to his Soldiers that they should afford quarter neither to Man Woman or Child but should kill all He vowed to one of his Commanders That he would sacrifice their bodies to the souls of the English men they had formerly murdered Next Oliver besieged Wexford which through the treachery of one Strafford was yielded And shortly after this many engarisoned places were reduced by Olivers forces The Plantation of Virginia that had refused subjection to the new Republick of England was forced to a conformity by Sir George Ayscoughs Fleet. October 23 Mr. John Lilbourn the Leader of the Levelling party one that had wit enough but of a thwarting turbulent spirit was tryed at Guildhall in London for writing against the Members at Westminster and their Council of State but he so well pleaded his case and had so lucky a Jury that he was quit in despight of his Judges About this time Prince Rupert the King's Admiral was distrest and put to his shifts by the Junto's Fleet losing most of his Ships with his Brother Prince Maurice who was then cast away A. D. 1650. In the beginning of this year the truly Loyal and Magnanimous Marquess of Momross was defeated in Scotland by Major General Straughorn the Marquess himself by quitting his Horse and shifting himself into an ordinary Highlanders habit made a shift to escape for the present his standard was taken in which was pourtrayed the Head of King Charles the first lying a bleeding and severed from the body with this Motto Judg and revenge my cause O Lord. The Marquess after some days wandring about in by-places came to the Laird of Astons House a person whom the Marquess had done several kindnesses for but this false Scot whether for fear or lucre betrayed this distressed Peer into the hands of his Enemy David Lesley who sent him to the City of Edenbrough where the common Hangman met him at the Towns end and first pulled off his Hat then forced him into a Cart which had a high Chair placed in it in which the Marquess was seated that thereby he might be the more obnoxious to the scorns of the vulgar But his noble soul was not at all dismayed for God he said did all the while most comfortably manifest his presence to him and furnished him with courage to overlook the reproaches of men and to behold him for whose cause he suffered After the sentence of Parliament was
passed for the bereaving him of his life he expressed to them how much he was beholden to them for the honour they had conferred on him For said he I account it greater honour to have my head stand on the Prison-gate for my loyalty to my King than to have my Picture placed in his Bed-chamber and I wish I had flesh enough not only to be set up in four Cities but to have a piece of it sent to every City in Christendom for a testimony of my loyalty to my King and Country May the 31st he was brought to the place of his Execution where being mounted on a Scaffold he told the people That God doth sometimes suffer a just man to perish in his righteousness and a wicked man to prosper in his wickedness prayed God to forgive his enemies for he did declared that what he had done in that kingdom was in obedience to the most just commands of his Sovereign That he esteemed the late King lived a Saint and dyed a Martyr praying God he might so end as he had done That he believed never people could be more happy than they might in His present Majesty Gave God thanks that he went to Heavens Throne with joy though death looked upon him in its most ugly shape Then desired their charity and prayers concluding thus I leave my soul to God my service to my Prince my good will to my Friends and my name and charity to you all Then having prayed a while he received from the Executioner a cord whereat hung a Declaration of his fact to hang about his neck which accordingly he hung there saying that he thought himself not more honoured by the Garter than by that Cord and Paper adding That if they had any more dishonour to put upon him he was ready to accept it And then with a chearful countenance he submitted himself to the execution of the sentence to be hang'd on a Gallows Thirty foot high for the space of three hours Which being done he was taken down and had his head cut off which was fixed on Edenborough Talbooth his quarters were sent to be set up in several places and the rest of his mortal part buried under the Gallows This may serve for a tast of the rebellious and diabolical spirit of that malicious Consistory When this noble Lord first heard of the murther of King Charles the first 't is said that with the â—oint of his Sword he wrote Great Good and Just could I but rate My griefs and thy too rigid fate I 'de weep the world to such a strain That it should deluge once again But thy loud-tongu'd blood demands supplies More from Briareus hands than Argus eyes I 'le therefore sing thy obsequies with Trumpet sounds And write thy Epitaph with blood and wounds Shortly after the death of this Peer an agreement was concluded betwixt the King and the Scots at Breda from whence the King went to the Hague and took Shipping for Scotland and at the Spey in the North of that Countrey he safely arrived hereupon the Members at Westminster fearing lest the Scots should invade them resolved to invade Scotland and to make that the seat of War in order to which they sent for their Idol Cromwell out of Ireland whom at his coming to London they made their Capt. General for Thomas Lord Fairfax laid down his Commission as not willing to engage against his Presbyterian Brethren the Scots June the 28th this new Capt. General Oliver advanced with his Army towards Scotland August the 10th King Charles the first 's Statue in the Royal Exchange by order of the Westminster-Members was defaced the Head being broken off and this Inscription set over Exit Tyrannus ultimus Anno libertatis Angliae restitute primo Anno 1648 January the 30th And about the same time were the Kings Arms ordered to be erazed in all publick places and in lieu of them the States-Arms being St. Georges Cross and the Harp were set up in Courts of Judicature August the 22d was Col. Eusebius Andrews Beheaded on Towerhill for receiving a Commission from His Majesty In Scotland the English Army under Oliver having made themselves masters of some Garisons on September the first marched to Dunbar whither the Scotch Army followed them and pent them up on a neck of Land not a mile and a half from Sea to Sea great were the streights of the English Army at this time many of the Souldiers being sick and disabled and the whole Army shut up as it were in a pound but these extremities instead of disheartning them set the greater edge to their courages and resolved they were on September the third 1650 either to force their way through their enemies or nobly to dye in the attempt to which end a party was sent to gain Coopers Peth-pass from the Scots which being effected the whole English Army charged and after about an hours hot ingagement the Scots Horse were routed and thereupon the foot threw down their Arms and made the best use they could of their Legs In the Scots Army was this day near 16000 Foot and 6000 Horse whereof 4000 were slain and near 10000 taken Prisoners The English Army were not above 7500 Foot and 3500 Horse besides disabled men There was taken from the Scots in this fight 27 field Pieces 10000 Arms many Prisoners of note and near 200 Horse and Foot-Colours which were afterwards hung up as Trophies in Westminster-hall September the 8th the virtuous Princess Elizabeth died in her Confinement at Carisbrook Castle in the Isle of Wight And in August following the Prince of Orange died at the Hague in Holland and sometime after this the mock-Parliament to free England of the Royal blood sent the Duke of Gloucester to Heidleburgh ordering him an allowance of 1500 l. per Annum October the 8th some Cavaliers took Arms in Norfolk for which about twenty of them were Executed December the 24th the strong Castle of Edenbrough was yielded into the English hands though not without suspition of some treachery January the first to begin the New-year the Scots Crowned His Majesty at Scoon in Scotland after he had conceded to some Kirk-conditions A little before this time there were three different parties in Scotland David Lesley and his Army were for King and Kirk the Marquess of Montross and his Followers were for the King without the Kirk and Colonel Kerre and Straughan were for the Kirk without the King Col. Kerries party was routed and himself taken Prisoner by Col. Lambert and Straughan and Swinton deserted the Kirk complying with the English for which the Kirk Excommunicated them March the 4th Sir Henry Hide was Beheaded before the Royal Exchange because being the Kings Leiger at Constantinople he had opposed Bendish who was sent thither by the States of England A. D. 1651 and March the 29th was Captain Brown Bushel an expert Seaman Beheaded under the Scaffold on Tower-hill for taking part with his Soveraign In Ireland the
Olivarians At Salisbury March the 11th a party of about 200 Cavaliers were in Arms but were dispersed and some of their chief Leaders taken as Mr. Grove Lieutenant Colonel Penruddock Major Dean Jones c. Others there were in Arms about Shrewsbury Sherwood-Forest in Northumberland and another party in York-shire where Sir Henry Slingsby was taken Lieutenant Colonel Penruddock and Mr. Grove were beheaded at Salisbury and some others of them were hang'd A. D. 1655. about the beginning of this year Admiral Blake with his Fleet performed a daring piece of service at Tunis where demanding from the Dye or Governour of Tunis reparation for the losses the English sustained from Turkish Pirates and having a scornful answer returned he boldly press'd upon their Ships lying under the Castle of Goletta and there burnt nine Ships with but the loss of 25 men in the mean time plying continued Broadsides upon the Castle within Musket-shot of it In England the Protector constituted a new kind of Officers called Major-Generals who were each of them being eleven in number in their several limits assigned them to supervise the actions of the poor Royalists and to decimate their Estates and indeed to do what they listed but these after they had tyranized a while were laid aside February the 16th did the Spaniard at Dunkirk declare open War against England and immediately thereupon was a Peace concluded betwixt France and England one of the Articles of which was That the King of France should exclude Charles Stuart King of England and all his Relations and Adherents out of his Dominions and accordingly the Duke of York was Complemented to depart France by such a time nor was his Retinue to stay after him had his Majesty himself been there he must have expected the same dealing February the 21. died that Learned Prelate Dr. Vsher A. B. of Armagh and was buried in Westminster Abby A. D. 1656 To begin this year well for fortunate Oliver some of his Fleet under the Admirals Blake and Mountague not far from Cades or Cales set upon a Fleet of eight Spaniards one of which they sunk two burnt one run ashore and two the English took one whereof had a great quantity of Plate and Cochenel in her the other laden chiefly with Hides September the 17th another of Oliver's Parliaments assembled at Westminster where before they were admitted to enter the House they must severally engage not to act any thing prejudicial to the present Government whereupon some of them returned home the rest entring the House chose Sir Thomas Widdrington their Speaker and set themselves to act suitably to Oliver's wishes passing an Act for renouncing and disannulling the title of Charles Stuart unto the Government of the Nations of England Scotland and Ireland c. and making it to be treason against the Protector as it formerly had been against the Kings person then ordained moneys to be raised in the three Nations for paying the Armies And ordered a years rent to be paid the Protector for every House built upon a new foundation within ten miles of the City of London Yet notwithstanding the provision made to secure the Protector 's person there were divers attempts made to kill him and a printed paper was published intituled Killing no Murther One Miles Sindercomb formerly a Soldier in the Army had determined to shoot or by one means or other to rid the world of him but his design being betrayed he was condemned to be hang'd and quartered to prevent which he procured his own death 't is said by snuffing up a poysonous powder into his head wherefore as a self-murderer he was drag'd at a Horses-tail from the Tower to Towerhill where being turned naked into a hole a stake spiked with iron was driven through him A. D. 1657. This year commenced with a Conspiracy of Fifth-Monarchists to have pull'd down Oliver but the Plot was discovered and the Projectors apprehended the chief of whom was Major General Harrison Vice-Admiral Lawson Col. Rich Major Danvers and Captain Venner their Standard which they had in readiness had pourtraied in it a Lion couchant Gules in a field Argent with this Motto Who shall rouze him April the 20th Admiral Blake performed another notable exploit for at Sancta Cruz in Teneriffa the chief Island of the Canaries and belonging to the Spaniards he fired and sunk 16 great Ships among which was the Admiral Vice-Admiral and Rear-Admiral and two or three Gallions the Spaniards besides the loss of their whole Fleet had many hundreds of men slain on the shore yet in this notable Action the English had but 48 men slain and 120 wounded the Protector to gratifie the Admiral for this his brave service sent him a Diamond Ring worth 500 l and Captain Richard Strainer who led the first squadron was at his coming into England for this and his other good service at Cadiz honoured with Knighthood And now the Parliament who had been long debating concerning the setling of his Highness at last present him with a certain thing called The humble Petition and Advice desiring him to take the government of the three Nations upon him with the stile of King which stile he refused as foreseeing this would disgust the Sectarists generally therefore contented himself with the Power Royal and his old stile of Lord Protector which the Parliament confirmed And June the 26th his Highness was with great State and Magnificence installed in his Office of Protector in Westminster-hall where the Speaker in the name of the Parliament presented him with a Robe of Purple-Velvet lined with Ermine a Sword a large Bible richly gilt and bossed and a Scepter of Gold And when the Speaker Earl of Warwick and Sir Bulstrode Whitlock had vested Oliver then the Speaker administred the Oath to him in these following words I do in the presence and by the name of Almighty God promise and swear that to the utmost of my power I will uphold and maintain the true reformed Protestant Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and encourage the profession and professors thereof and that to the utmost of my power I will endeavor as chief Magistrate of these three Nations the maintenance and preservation of the peace and safety and just Rights and Priviledges of the People thereof and shall in all things according to my best knowledge and power govern the People according to Law This Oath being taken by him he was immediately proclaimed Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England c. And that done some Souldiers and others cryed God save the Lord Protector Oliver thus established in his mightiness by Parliment he falls to fashion his family after the manner of a Kings Court hath his Yeomen of the Guard in their livery of gray Cloath welted with black Velvet over whom commanded Walter Strickland His Lord Keeper was Nathaniel Fines and Lord Chamberlain Sir Gilbert Pickering c. And
the better to strengthen himself at home and to raise his Family into esteem he gave his eldest Son a Command in the Army his younger Son he made Lord Deputy of Ireland his two younger Daughters that were not yet disposed of in marriage he matched the elder of them with Mr. Robert Rich the Earl of Warwicks Grandson and the youngest with a person of great Honour And that he might be as King-like as possible and withal check the Commons in Parliment he constituted an Upper House of Parliament instead of the House of Lords 62 in number most of them his own creatures amongst whom were Colonel Hewson one by trade next kin to a Cobler and Colonel Pride formerly a Brewers servant who before this had been made two of his knights errants And to honour his Mushrooms he elected to set in his Upper House some few Noble men as the Earl of Warwick c. February the 20th the Parliment that had been adjourned now reassembled but because they admitted those Members to sit with them who at first refused to subscribe to Olivers Instruments and because they questioned the Protectors power in erecting his Upper House which in contempt they called the other House Oliver hereupon sent for them to his Upper House Bar where he made a large speech to them and in conclusion told them That it did concern as well the peace and tranquility of the Nation as his own interest to terminate that Parliament and therefore he did at this time put an end to their sitting February the fourth A. D. 1658. This Year began with a discovery of a most horrible Plot as Oliver called it and indeed he had an excellent Art for the discovery of Plots having his mercenary trepans and instruments of falshood who counterfeiting themselves forward Royallists thereby insinuated themselves into the Counsel of the Kings friends and then betrayed them And the King himself was troubled with one of these false Creatures about his own person for Captain Manning one of his Secretaries Clerks was taken in the very act of receiving Letters from Thurloe Olivers Secretary for the which he was instantly Shot to death But the Loyal Confederates in the late discovered Plot were divers of them apprehended as Dr. Hewit Colonel Edward Ashton Mr. Mordant the Earl of Peterboroughs Brother and others who were indicted of High Treason for endeavouring to levy War against his Highness and the Government and to promote Charles Stuart to the Government of these Nations and for holding correspondency with the said Charles Stuart Mr. Mordant was acquitted but Dr. Hewit and Sir Henry Slingsby were beheaded on Tower-hill June the eighth though many endeavours were used by divers persons of quality and Ministers for the saving of their lives especially the Doctors Colonel Ashton and others were hang'd and quartered in London Near about this time there came up the Thames as far as Greenwich a Whale of a very great length and bigness June the 25th the Town of Dunkirk was surrendred by the Spaniards to the French who immediately resigned it to the English forces which had been the main instrument in gaining it this resignation was made according to former Articles agreed upon between the King of France and Lord Protector of England But whilst the English were rejoicing abroad Oliver had occasion of sorrow at home for his most dearly beloved Daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Claypole on August the eighth departed this Life whose body was interred in the Royal Chappel at Westminster T is said of this Gentlewoman that she was much troubled at the harsh usage of the Royal party and that upon her knees she beg'd of her Father to save Dr. Hewits life but his hard heart would not yield thereto though he loved this Daughter so passionately that he never injoyed himself after her death but growing pensive and melancholy in short time was seized with a Tertian ague which ended his life at VVhite-hall on September the third He was born in the Town of Huntingdon and descended from a worshipful family of the Cromwels alias VVilliams his Mother was the Daughter of Sir Richard Steward and his wife Elizabeth the Daughter of Sir James Bourchier He was of a very martial Spirit and of excellent conduct and attended with very good success in his attempts Nor was he a Souldier only but also a very good Orator and deep Politician and so great a Dissembler that he could shed Crocodillian tears at pleasure when those would at any time advantage him among the Religious an high pretender he was to Religion though as his actions manifested it was only thereby to obtain his ambitious ends so impiously resolute for the effecting his designments that he valued not the violation of the most solemn promises or sacred Oaths nor the shedding of any though the blood of the Lords anointed Yet was this Man courted or feared by most of the Princes in Europe and the Kings of France and Sweden were entred into so strict a League with him as had he lived might have troubled good part of the world In Olivers stead Richard Cromwell his eldest Son whom he had appointed his Successor was proclaimed Protector Shortly after which several Addresses protesting both love and obedience to Richards Highness were presented from the Armies of the three Nations from the London-Ministers from divers Counties Cities and chief Towns of England And the Foreign Ambassadors then in England pretended to lament with Mr. Richard for the death of his Father desired the continuance of that League and Amity which was granted and maintained by his late Highness Oliver Lord Protector November the 23 were the Funerals of Oliver Solemnized after his Herse had lain in the greatest State some weeks in Somerset-House at a vast charge and in greater Pomp than had formerly been used for the greatest English Kings his Corps had been privately interr'd many days before in the Chappel-Royal of Henry the Seventh at Westminster But the vast expences of those Funerals were never discharged but those Tradesmen who had hopes of gaining the most by it sat down the greatest losers at last As soon at the Funeral-rites of this old Fox Oliver were accomplished his Son Richard proceeded to the carrying on of matters of publick concernment The first of which was the sending a Naval-supply to the King of Sweden for the aiding him against the King of Denmark The next of any moment was the calling of a Parliament to convene January the 27th at Westminster where when they were met they chose for their Speaker Mr Challoner Chute and the Members severally took the Oath not to alter the form of Government Which done they went to purge out those Members who had born Arms for the King then after many debates it was at length resolved that the House of Commons would transact with the persons of the other House as a House of Parliament during the present Parliament but with this proviso That it was not intended
Sir George Booth's Forces the Members at Westminster prepared an Act for sequestring of the Estates of such persons as were engaged in this rising and in token of their favour and gratitude they order'd Lambert a thousand pound for his good service which he presently distributed amongst his Soldiers thereby to engage them the more firmly to his designs for though himself and other Grandees of the Army carried fair with the Junto yet were they not well pleased with them because since their last sitting they had somewhat lessened the Armies power in giving order to their Speaker William Lenthall to issue out Commissions for Commanders which had been done afore by the General and had withal reserved the chief command of the Army to themselves without any Captain General Therefore now whilst they were flustred with their late Victory they drew up their Propositions to be presented to the Parliament which they entituled The humble Petition and Proposal of the Army under the Right Honourable the Lord Lambert in the late Northern expedition therein desiring that the Army might be commanded by Fleetwood as chief General by Lambert as the next superior General c. This was sent up to London from Lambert's Army to be presented to the Parliament But Sir Arthur Haslerigg being made acquainted with it before it was delivered immediately informed his fellow-Members thereof alledging that it was a matter of most dangerous consequence The Junto hereupon passed a Vote That the having of more general Officers was a thing needless chargeable and dangerous But the Army-Officers of Lambert's party still-prosecuting their intentions of gaining the whole ordering of the Army into their own hands the Junto thereupon passed this Act That it should be Treason in all persons whatsoever to raise levy or collect moneys without consent of Parliament designing hereby to bring the Army into subjection because otherwise they could have no maintenance they likewise ordered that Lambert Desbrough Kelsey Berry Ashfield Cobbet Packer Barrow and Creed should be discommissionated and that others should enjoy their commands They also ordered the Government of the Army to be in Seven Commissioners in whom the power should jointly reside these were Fleetwood Monk Ludlow Walton Morley Overton and Haslerigg But Lambert and his Complices were resolved to try a tug with the Junto who should be Masters and to that end they engaged divers Companies and Regiments about London to side with them and the Junto drew two Regiments to Westminster to take part with them but when these two parties had stood at Westminster in a hostile sort almost a whole day facing each other and sometimes ready to fall to it in good earnest towards the evening the two parties fairly agreed to draw off to their respective quarters And the next day and forward Lambert took care to guard the Parliament-doors that none of the Members might enter into the House And now the Junto being once more laid aside Lambert's party made choice of Lieutenant General Fleetwood to be Captain General of the Army Lambert who 't is thought aspired to Soveraignty to be Major General and Desbrough to be Commissary General They framed likewise a new Government on October the 26th nominating Twenty-three persons to have the management of publick affairs whom they would have to be called a Committee of Safety Their names were Bulstrode Whitlock Edmund Ludlow Sir Henry Vane Sir James Harrington Sir Archibald Johnson General Fleetwood General John Lambert Colonel Desbrough Colonel Sydanham Major Saloway Colonel Berry Mr. Lawrence Colonel Thompson Colonel Hewson Colonel Lilburn John Ireton Lord Maior Alderman Robert Tichburn Walter Strickland Cornelius Holland William Steel Clerk Bennet Brandrith Thus was miserable England subjected to the Arbitrary power of an Army to have what Lords and Laws they pleased But the time of its liberty approached the principal instrument whereof was General George Monk who pretending to a re-settlement of the Junto and not to be able to see the Nation so inslaved by Lambert and his factious party drew his Army out of Scotland having first changed some of his Officers The Committee of Safety exceedingly courted this General to comply with them and when that would not do Lambert drew his Army into the North with design to impede General Monk's march to London but all their projects availed nothing with the General And to help forward his Majesties interest and the Nations deliverance the City of London grew very discontented and surly against the Army the Fleet that declared for the Junto likewise many of Lambert's party withdrew themselves from him and the Country in general was full of discontents and murmurings insomuch that the Committee of Safety perceived themselves to be in a very unsafe and kind of desolate condition and therefore with great submission they sent for the Speaker desiring him with the rest of his follow-Members to return to the exercise of their trust which accordingly they did on December the twenty-sixth and Colonel Lambert finding that all now went bad on his side privately slipt away from his Soldiers then about Newcastle upon Tine and they returned to their obedience to the Junto who upon their resettlement Discommissionated Lambert with divers Colonels and Commanders of the Army published a Declaration for a Commonwealth without a single Person or House of Lords for preservation of the Laws upholding of the Ministry the University and Tythes all which had lately been in great danger for maintaining liberty of Conscience General Monk in the mean time advanced with his new-modelled Army towards London all the way being caressed by the Gentry of the several Counties as he passed along with all testimonies of affection and petition for the restoring of the Secluded Members and procuring of a Free Parliament Commissioners were sent to him from the City of London with the like request for a Free Parliament but the General wisely concealed his inclinations and intentions pretending strong resolutions to be faithful to those Members sitting at Westminster and yet carried himself with so much evenness that the City and Country had hopes he would stand their friend as the Junto could see but little cause to misdoubt his real good meaning towards them howbeit to make him the surer on their side they ordered him and his heirs a 1000 l. per Annum February the third General Monk came to London with his Army he had drawn out of Scotland the Army which had been quartered there having marched out the night before by the Junto's command though not without discontent and some disorder and mutiny The next day his Excellency was conducted to the Parliament-House where he received thanks from the Members for his good service after which he acquainted them with the numerous Addresses he had received from the Counties for the admission of the secluded Members and a Free Parliament minding them also of the danger themselves and Nation would be in if the Fanatick party should be continued in Civil
London Bridge In May the King passed some Bills in the House of Lords whereof one was for raising an Imposition on Wines and other Liquors and the Parliament was adjourned till the 11th of August following In June News was brought to London of the burning of the Bridge Town in Barbadoes where besides the loss of most of the Houses the Magazine to the great prejudice of the publick as well as of private Persons was blown up The Duke of York in September near to Dover took the usual Oath of Warden of the Cinque Ports The Parliament that was to have met in August was by Proclamation Prorogued till the Tenth of November ensuing and the Duke of Monmouth upon the resignation of the Lord Gerrard was made Captain of his Majesties Life-Guards of Horse Sir Thomas Allen made Peace this year with the Algerines and the Parliament which met at the appointed time and adjourned till March were in December by Proclamation prorogued till the Tenth of October following About the middle of January 1668 9 the Dutchess of York was brought to Bed of a Daughter christened by the Name of Henrietta by the Archbishop of Canterbury the Duke of Ormond assisting as God-father the Marchioness of Dorchester and Countess of Devonshire having the Honour of being God-mothers In March 1668 9 the Prince of Tuscany in pursuance of his Travels came to visit England where being honourably received and magnificently treated by His Majesty and several Persons of Quality of the Kingdom he departed for Holland in his way homeward Anno 1669. The beginning of this year the Earl of Carlisle was sent Embassadour Extraordinary to Sweden As he was at Copenhagen on his way he received a Letter from the King of England in answer to an obliging Letter of the King of Denmark to be delivered to that King This Letter was so acceptable to the Dane that upon the Embassadours instance he dispatched Orders to all his Ports and Mercantile Towns especially in Norway for restoring the English to their former Freedoms and Priviledges in Trading Being arrived in Sweden he presented the King with the George worn by the Knights of the Garter and was afterward as His Majesties Proxie solemnly installed in the Order at Windsor This year was the stately new Theatre of Oxford the noble Gift of Dr. Sheldon Archbishop of Canterbury according to the intent of the Donor put into the Possession of that University And upon his Graces declining the Chancellourship the Duke of Ormond was installed Chancellour of the University of Oxford Whilst the King was taking his Divertisement with the Duke of York in the New Forrest in Hampshire they both received an Express of the death of their Mother the Queen Dowager of England who died at Columbee the last of August and was buried in St. Denis in November following About this time arrived at Dublin the Lord Roberts as Lord Deputy of Ireland The Exchange of London ever since the Fire had been kept at Gresham Colledge in Bishopsgate-street till now to the great satisfaction of the City the Merchants returned to the Royal Exchange in Corn-hill a Fabrick as far exceeding the old one in Beauty and Structure as the City rebuilt does that which was destroyed At the day of October prefixed the Parliament met to whom the King amongst other things in his Speech proposed the uniting of England and Scotland into one Kingdom this Project in the Sequel had no better issue than another set on foot by King James for the same purpose The Parliament having sate above a month and done but very little were prorogued till the 24th of February following The Parliament of Scotland sate at Edenbourgh at the same time that the Parliament of England did at Westminster in the which the Earl of Lauderdale represented His Majesty as His Commissioner In this Session of Parliament amongst many other Acts that of asserting his Majesties Supremacy in all Causes and over all Persons Civil and Ecclesiastical passed A necessary Act for securing the Rights of Monarchy against popular and unwarrantable Innovations and a duty which had it not been forgotten or trampled upon in these later times might with Gods Blessing have preserved both Nations from scandalous and fatal consequences A splendid and magnificent Embassie was this year sent to Taffelette Emperour of Morocco in the Person of Mr. Henry Howard since Duke of Norfolk which by reason of the troubles of that Countrey and the inability of the Emperor to secure a safe conduct to a Person of that quality proved of small consequences and the Embassadour returned without seeing the Emperour or performing his Embassie The later end of this year died the Duke of Albemarle his Dutchess not many days surviving him The King as a mark of gratitude to the deceased Duke sent his Son the present Duke his Fathers Garter continued to him many of his Honours and Preferments and sent him word that he himself would take care of his Fathers Funeral The Parliament met again at the appointed time and the King among other things re-minded them of the project of Union between the two Kingdoms This year in the beginning of April Anno 1670 the King having passed some Bills the Parliament was adjourned to the 24th of October Amongst others was an Act for authorizing such Commissioners as His Majesty should be pleased to nominate for treating with the Scottish Commissioners about the projected Union who being nominated and having afterwards met with those sent from Scotland many Conferences were held but insuperable difficulties appearing in the matter it was wholly laid aside At this time the Lord John Berkley arrived in Dublin and was invested Lord Lieutenant of Ireland The Princess of Orleans made now her last visit to her two Brothers the King of England and Duke of York at Dover and upon her return which was shortly after took her journey out of this World for to the great grief and surprize of the Court of England she died suddenly Captain Beach being in the Straits with four English Frigots met a squadron of seven Algier Men of War full of Men gave them Battel and after a short dispute forced them all ashore where two of them were burnt by themselves and the rest by the English most of their Men were lost and 250 Christian Captives set at liberty In October The Parliament met again according to their Adjournment and then was the Peace between England and Spain beyond the Line concluded and ratified The Prince of Orange came this year into England and having visited both Universities after a short stay he returned During this Session of Parliament the Lords and Commons having humbly represented to His Majesty their fears and jealousies of the growth of Popery the King by Proclamation commanded all Jesuits and English Irish and Scottish Priests and all others that had taken Orders from the See of Rome except such as were to wait upon the Queen and Foreign Embassadors to
arising between the two Houses concerning an Appeal made by one Sherley to the Lords His Majesty upon the 9th of June prorogued them till the 13th of October following There happened this year a dangerous Plot carried on with great secrecy by the Blacks of Barbadoes against the English which upon the very nick of being put in execution was detected and the Conspirators punished The Natives of New-England under the command of King Philip Hegamore rose likewise against the English and did them considerable damage but were in a short time curbed from their insolencies and driven to their skulking holes In September most part of the Town of Northampton was by a dreadful Fire burnt down nothing left standing except a few Houses in the out-skirts of the Town The Parliament met again at the prefixed time but the former difference between the Houses being revived they were upon the 22th of November prorogued again till the 15th of February 1676. In the French Army this year the Champion of France the renowned Marshal Turenne as he was viewing a Pass maintained by the Germans fell by a Cannon Shot fired by a Battery raised by Montecucully the Imperial General to the great grief of his Master the French King On the Fifth of March 1675 6 Sir John Narborough concluded an honourable Peace and of great advantage to the Trade of this Nation with the Government of Tripoly The French last Campagne lost their famous Mareschal Turenne Anno 1676. and the Dutch Marine Expeditions are this year ushered in with a fate as unlucky to the States for their Darling Admiral De Ruyter on the twenty ninth of April died of his Wounds which he had received some days before in an Engagement with the French in the Bay of Augusta on the Coast of Sicily But to return home The first thing we meet with this year of note is a dreadful Fire which happened the 26th of May in the Burrough of Southwark It began about four in the Morning and continued all day and part of the night and notwithstanding the indefatigable pains and diligence of his Grace the Duke of Monmouth of the Earl of Craven and Lord Mayor yet about 600 Houses were burnt and blown up by this sad accident His Majesty for securing Trading to and from his Ports which was much disturbed by the insolency of Dutch Spanish and French Privateers amongst whom the War still continued on the second of June caused a Proclamation to be published declaring all Ships of what party soever that should put into any of his Ports to be under his protect on during their stay there commanding His publick Officers and all other His Majesties Subjects to use their best endeavours to hinder the roving of any private Men of War so near his Coasts as might give apprehensions to Merchant Men That if a Man of War of one party and one or more Merchant Men of another should come into His Majesties Ports the Merchant Men should have the priviledge to sail out two Tides before the Man of War That none of his Seamen should presume to enter and list themselves on board of any Foreign Man of War or any Ship designed for Traffick or the Fishing Trade without His Majesties leave first obtained with several other Rules relating to the securing of Trade and His Majesties Sovereignty in these Seas in pursuance of which Proclamation several Privateers were stopt and detained in many of the Ports of this Kingdom August 20th her Royal Highness was brought to Bed of a Daughter Christened by the Name of Isabella the Lord High Treasurer being Godfather and the Dutchess of Monmouth and Countess of Peterborough Godmothers October 26th His Majesty passed an Order in Council That none of His Subjects except the Queens Domestick Servants should repair to her Majesties Chappel or to the Houses or Chappels of any Foreign Embassadors or Agents there to hear Mass or English Sermons upon pain of having the Laws severely executed against them and His Majesty appointed Messengers of the Chamber and other Officers to wait without at the Houses of Foreign Embassadors and Agents and to take notice of such of His Subjects as should come out of the said Chappels from Religious Worship and bring them or their Names to the Council Board The Principal Secretaries of State were by His Majesty likewise required to repair to the said Embassadors and Agents and in His Majesties Name acquaint them with His Royal Pleasure in executing His Laws that they might have no Cause to complain of disrespect offered to their Character or of any purpose of infringing their Priviledges February 15th 1676 7 the Parliament pursuant to their last Prorogation met at Westminster Anno 1677. April 16th His Majesty in His Royal Robes with the usual Solemnities came into the House of Lords whither the House of Commons being called several Bills were passed amongst others an Act for raising the sum of Five hundred eighty four thousand nine hundred seventy eight pounds two shillings and two pence half peny for the speedy building of thirty Ships of War another for an additional Excise upon Beer Ale and other Liquors for three years and a third for erecting a Judicature to determine differences touching Houses burnt and demollished by the late dreadful Fire in Southwark and then both Houses adjourned till the 21th of May following This Month the Duke of Newcastle and Earl of Danby Lord high Treasurer of England were installed Knights of the Garter at Windsor May 21th Both Houses according to their last Adjournment met again at Westminster His Majesty having before by Proclamation required all the Members to be present in order to the debating of Matters of great importance In this Session the House of Commons made an Address to His Majesty that he would be pleased for the security of the Nation and repressing the growing greatness of France to enter into some Leagues proposed by them in their Address to which on the 28th of the same month he gave them His Answer at the Banquetting House which Answer being made publick in Print we shall refer you to the Answer it self His Majesty farther told them that it was His pleasure the House should be Adjourned to the 16th of July following and that if he intended they should sit again before Winter he would give them notice by His Proclamation Accordingly both Houses were adjourned till the 16th of July ensuing July 16th both Houses met again pursuant to their last Adjournment and forthwith Adjourned again according to His Majesties Direction till the third of December following August the fourth His Grace the Duke of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland began his Journey for that Kingdom And now His Majesty thinking it fit to put a stop to the French Victorious Proceedings in Flanders bethought himself of entering into Alliances with some Princes and States abroad and began to raise Forces for that purpose of whom the year following will afford more matter of
Discourse October the ninth The Prince of Orange landed at Harwich and went from thence directly to Neir-Market in His Majesties Coaches that attended His Highness there The 26th of the same month His Majesty issued out a Proclamation for the Adjournment of the Parliament from the third of December till the fourth of April ensuing Sunday November the fourth The Marriage between her Highness the Lady Mary and his Highness the Prince of Orange was privately celebrated at St. James's by the Bishop of London in the Presence of His Majesty their Royal Highnesses and some of the chiefest of the Nobility And on Wednesday following Her Royal Highness was brought to Bed of a Son who was Christened by the Name of Charles but died in December following November the 11th About nine a Clock in the Morning their Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Orange parted from Whitehall in order to their imbarking in the Yachts appointed to transport their Highnesses to Holland His Majesty and His Royal Highness having accompanied them to Erith where their Highnesses went on Board The two Houses of Parliament meeting on the third of December in order to the Adjourning of themselves according to the Kings Proclamation received a Message from His Majesty That upon weighty Consideration His Majesty thought fit to meet them sooner and that therefore His Majesties Pleasure was they should Adjourn to the 15th of January following which was accordingly done This month was the celebrated Town of Stetin in Pomerania surrendred to the Elector of Brandenburgh by the Swedes a Town which having so couragiously maintained so long and bloody a Siege to the admiration of all and shame of some of its Neighbours deserves an honourable mention in the Histories and Annals of all Europe The Parliament pursuant to their last Adjournment having met at Westminster received an Intimation from the King That His Majesty had matters of very great Importance to communicate to both Houses in order to the satisfaction of their late Addresses for the preservation of Flanders but matters not being then ripe enough it was His Majesties Pleasure they should be Adjourned till the twenty eighth of the same month and accordingly they were Adjourned At the prefixed time they met again and the King in a gracious Speech acquainted both Houses to this purpose That according to His Promise to them that He would do somewhat for their satisfaction before they met again he had made Alliances with Holland for the preservation of Flanders which if seconded by plentiful Supplies from them and due Care from the Spainiards for their own Preservation might be able by Arms to restore such an honourable Peace to Christendom as might not be in the power of one Prince alone to disturb which he had endeavoured to do by a fair Treaty That He had married His Niece to the Prince of Orange and so engaged himself to maintain his Interest and having laid before them the expences He had been at and what an actual War would needs require with very pressing considerations His Majesty demanded of them answerable Supplies March the 20th 1677 8 Amongst other Bills in Parliament there passed an Act for raising Money by Poll and otherways to enable His Majesty to enter into an Actual War against the French King with a Prohibition of all French Commodities Many of the Forces raised by His Majesty since September last Anno 1678. being already in Flanders and more going over daily His Majesty that he might put himself in a posture of acting by Sea as well as Land caused a Proclamation to be published the beginning of this year strictly charging all Seaman His Subjects who had lifted themselves in the service of Foreign Princes or States forthwith to with draw and return home and that none for the future should presume without permission from His Majesty to engage in any such service About this time at Bruges in Flanders happened a great Disorder occasioned by a rude Action of a Burgher who in time of a Procession struck a Dutch Captain with a lighted Torch over the Face because he did not uncover himself so soon as the Townsman would have had him this occasioned presently the drawing of many Swords and the English being falsly accused of the Tumult some Soldiers were killed in the Streets but by the care of the Magistrates and Officers the Stir being quieted and the truth of the matter discovered the Magistrates of the Town imprisoned and punished some of the Authors of the Tumult and to satisfie their trouble at the accident treated the English Officers and Soldiers and published a Placaet in their Justification charging all Persons to use the said Soldiers with all kindness and civility On Saturday April the 13th A Woman of Swansey was brought to Bed of a dead Female Child which had two perfect Heads and Necks upon one Body with all the parts of each Head exact and the Members of the Body perfect May the 13th His Majesty being come into the House of Lords with the usual Solemnities and the House of Commons being sent for His Majesty was pleased to give His Royal Assent to several private Acts and then commanded the Lord Chancellour to prorogue the Parliament till the twenty third of this moneth and accordingly the Parliament was prorogued The Parliament pursuant to the last Prorogation having met the 23d of May and continued sitting till the Fifteenth of July following His Majesty that day in His Robes came into the House of Lords and there gave His Royal Assent to several Acts amongst which to one for raising Money for Disbanding of the Army a great part of which was now in Flanders another for granting an Additional Duty to His Majesty upon Wines for three years a third for burying in Woollen and a fourth for the relief and discharge of poor distressed Prisoners for Debt After which the Lord Chancellour by His Majesties Command acquainted the two Houses That His Majesty had thought fit in the present Conjuncture of Affairs to prorogue them to the first of August following and so to keep them in call by short Prorogations His Majesty not knowing how soon He might have need of their farther Service and Assistance but that His Majesties intention was they should not meet till towards Winter unless there were occasion for their Assembling sooner of which he would give them timely notice by Proclamation And accordingly the Parliament was prorogued till the first day of August In pursuance of this Prorogation the Parliament met at Westminster the first day of August and were then by Commission Prorogued till the 29th of the same Month at which time his Majesty being willing they should meer and continue Sitting for the dispatch of weighty Affairs did issue out a Proclamation requiring all the Members to give their Attendance at Westminster the said day But the face of Affairs abroad being much altered by the conclusion of the Peace betwixt the French King and the States