and Yorkshire were revolted from him at the Report of what was past and for fear of them his counsel was troubled But the Parliament which the King in his straights was not ignorant of thought fit to proceed and did prescribe Conditions to the King namely That the English should be governed the same way as the Scotch were and to that they might call a Parliament as often as they pleased and assign Offices to whom they thought fit That the Bishops should be ejected out of the Parliament whom they found more addicted to the Kings side and many such like Propositions In the mean time the Houses take into their Power the Towns of greatest concernment amongst which Hull was one The King had sent the Earl of New-castle thither before to demand it for himself but the Townsmen who had first received order from the Parliament being doubtfull what to do were between hope and fear but then being confirmed with a farther order from the Parliament they excluded the King Wherefore being defrauded of his hope he resolves upon more milde counsels and sent Letters to the two Houses desiring them not to proceed so harshly to leave off their violence protesting his Innocence and sincere intention before God and man But the Parliament little moved by these words take care in the mean time for the business of Ireland giving Licence to Martin Tromp the Admiral of Holland to search all Dunkirk ships even in they very English Havens Also Digby and Lunsford that were addicted to the King are accused of High Treason the one was taken the other escaped into Holland Then they send Messengers to the King and gave him thanks for his Letters desiring his Majesty to return to London The King though he were pleased with their gratitude yet refused to come to the Parliament least the people by their Insolence should again put him in danger The Parliament was much displeased with this refusall of the King because the traffique did not proceed well and because they could not press their designs as they would Whereupon the Lower House drew up an Humble Remonstrance Whereby they desired Power to bestow all Places of Government both by Sea and Land upon whom they thought fit and to fortifie Towns with Ammunition and Provision necessary as they pleased And proceeding yet farther They asked that the old Servants of the Queen both English and French and such as were her Priests might be banished and the Bishops and Lords addicted to the Popish Religion might be excluded from the Parliament-House That a Synod of fifty Ministers might be called That the Princes and Lords should be forbidden to go out of the Land or to make any Covenant with forrain Princes or Commonwealths without the Parliaments consent Lastly They desired that the King should take an Oath to hold no counsel with the Queen in Church or State affairs The Lords of the Upper House were not well pleased with these Propositions for that the Kings Authority was palpably infringed by them The Lower House was angry at that and fell to their former Artifice and threatned to raise the people and incite them against the Nobility as Enemies to the Commonwealth and addicted to the Kings side The Lords regarded not their threats untill they saw the Commons uniting themselves by counsel from the Lower House and which is to be admired they found the Commissioners of Scotland to joyn with them against the profit of their own Countrey At last they were terrified with these things and fore-seeing greater dangers they consent though it were against their wils Twenty chosen men therefore are sent to the King with these Conditions which when the King beheld he undertook to ask Counsell thereupon and to deliver his minde in writing But when he was pressed with straights on all sides he yielded to these Conditions namely That the Parliament should store the Cities of the Kingdom with provision upon this ground that the King should first be made acquainted what provision they would make and to bestow the Offices so that of three men chosen the King might choose one As for the Bishops and the rest as being matters of great moment he would advise farther The Kings Consent was received by the Parliament with great applause though they could have desired the terms of his Grant had been larger for by this Authority they increased in power as much as the King decreased They brought the business so farre that the power should be in their hands so long as the Parliament sate which they meant for ever For the King by a dangerous Indulgence had granted them leave before to sit so long as they pleased they being not to be dissolved without their own Consent And that this power granted to them might not prove unfruitfull they presently put out some Governours and put in others Nor are they content with this but being higher by the Kings Grants they petition that the six Members should be cleared from all guilt and to be freed from attainder the King was resolved to yield to all and did grant what they asked The Kings courage was so farre weakned that he lifted up the Power of his Adversaries and pulled down the hopes of his friends who trusting but little to his over great lenity thought it best to avoid the strokes or misfortune now hanging over their heads Part of them forsaking the Parliament went home to their houses Part of them preferring voluntary banishment before continual fear went out of the Land for they had now got the power of all into their hands and did what they pleased no man daring to whisper against it And now that plenty of Parliament-members was so diminished that in the Upper House there were left not above five and twenty in the Lower House scarce fourscore the Kings friends still falling off that at last there were hardly sixteen in the House of Lords In the mean time they raged fiercely against those that were addicted to the Romish Religion and they provide a Fleet with the Kings Treasure to defend the Mediterranean Sea upon all occasions whereby his Power was diminished and his Authority broken The Queen also was so tired out with so many calumnies and aspersions that she resolved to sail into Holland and to accompany her Daughter to her Husband the Prince of Orange to whom she was espoused And the Parliament to leave the King naked of that succour easily yielded to it The King that he might clearly demonstrate that he by his presence had been no cause of any of those evils before his departure had consented to the Petition of the Parliament to exclude the Bishops out of the House which was not the least of his failings And to discover his minde plainly toward the Reformed Religion he caused a severe Statute to be published against the Papists and banished all their Priests out of the Kingdom 'T is marvellous with how great joy the people accepted that Bonfires were made in
business prosperously for the Duke of Burgundy and being highly rewarded they went back for their Country the Warre being as then not ended between the Burgundian and the Duke of Orleans But he knowing that the hearts of the English were therefore set against him requesting their assistance obtained it from King Henry but when there was a scattered report that they were both agreed the auxilliary English staying by the Loyre expected their wages which when they could not obtain they being incensed plundered a Town that was hard by called Bellilocum and the Monastery and after that being called away by the Duke of Clarence they march toward Gasconye for the Duke of Orleans and plunden all as they go along and when the Duke of Orleans had paid them their wages they were pacified and returned for England But Henry now for a good while having ended his Civil Warre and intending an expedition for Palestina preparing a Fleet for that purpose died very suddenly at Westminster when he had reigned about 14 years About the time of his death James Stuart the eldest Sonne of Robert for David was dead whilst he was taking a voyage into France was taken by the English and was brought to London being exceedingly entertained by the King but his Father supposing his Sonne was now lost died for meer grief and sorrow shortly after whom his Brother Robert succeeded in the Throne HENRY the fifth King of England and France Anno 1413. THis King was inaugurated with a wonderfull applause and desire of the Lords and Commons and he not willing to disappoint his subjects of the hope they conceived of him gave presently a sign of his excellent Government sending away from him those ministers of lascivious youth amongst whom he had been formerly bred and least by sluggishness his valiant heart should languish he sets his whole care how to recover his right in France having narrowly looked into it First he sent Heraulds and demanded his Kingdom from King Charles promising to Marry his Daughter and threatning also that if Charles would not do it he would come with an Army and take his Patrimony by force Charles laughed at his Embassadours whereby he so enraged the minde of Henry that he presently mustering a mighty Army with about 1200 Ships he sails into France first he besieged Harflet and in a few daies compelled it to yield Then passing to Somma at the Temple of Maxentius the enemy met him wherefore he pitched his Tents But when he saw the enemy not very greedy to fight he skirmished lightly and so passed on to Callis The French man in the mean time when it came into his minde sent Heraulds to Henry to challenge him to fight who was not unwilling to accept it he dismissed them with rewards and passing over a River presently news came that the enemy was at hand wherefore he hastily makes himself ready for the Battell though he were farre inferiour in forces they presently fall on but Henry joyning industry to his vertue giving such a violent charge that after a terrible fight on both sides he put the French at last to their heels He himself being in the midst of the enemies forces dismounted the Duke of Alenson who was presently slain by the English souldiers they had so many prisoners that they farre exceeded the Conquerours wherefore he commanded to kill them all least they should rise against them that had subdued them There was a wonderfull multitude of Dukes Earls and Lords that were destroyed and not above 600 of the English wanting amongst which one was the Duke of York This Battell was fought at Dagincourt which gave a good omen to great Victories afterwards Henry by this Victory cast such a terrour on the French that Lewis the Dolphin taking grief of minde died shortly after Such was the constancy of Henries heart that he forbad his souldiers on pain of death to sing any scurrilous songs in derogation of the French but rather to sing Psalmes and Hymns to the glory of God In that time Sigismund the Emperour came to England to treat of Peace between the French and the English nor was Henry slow in the business but when the French in the interim besieged Harflet he was so angry that no man afterwards durst mention peace and presently sending the Duke of Bedford to raife the siege with the Earl of Marsh Oxford and other Earls and 200 Ships he fought a bloody Battell at Sea at Harflet Haven with Borbon the French Admiral wherein the English wan the day sinking 500 Ships of the French and so freed the Town But Caesar finding the perfidiousness of the French did not only forbear ever after to make mention of any peace but made a firm League with the English against all opposers and so returned back into Germany The French in the mean time not to be idle hired some great Ships of Genoa and besieging the Haven of Harflet endeavoured to hinder all relief from the Town But the Earl of Huntington coming suddenly upon them after a fierce fight dispersed them and vanquished the rest He took the Duke of Borbon a Bastard and so returned Conquerour for England Then the King with his chief Nobility sailed into Normandy and Conquered the Fort Tucha whilst the Earl of Salisbury wan Albervill which place the King gave freely to him and his heirs After that he wan Caen which City when the Towns men defended with great obstinacy he made mines secretly through which the most forward of the souldiery entred the City the Duke of Clarence leading them on and setting on the Guard put them all to flight and so the whole Army found entrance some of the principall for their perversness were put to death and the plunder of the City was given to the Souldiers The Governour had not yet yielded the Fort but when the King sware he would spare none if they continued resolute at last he gave it up The French in the mean while being in Civil broils all things went with the English as they pleased He sent the Duke of Clarence to besiege the Town of Bayon which he quickly wan whilst he staid at Caen he restored to the people of Lyons a mighty mass of Treasure that was found in the Castle which the frighted people had brought thither upon condition that they should be constant in their obedience for the future This was a pattern of his wonderfull piety Then he removed to Corfen and in three daies won the Town Then he subdued Argentanians after that Alencon then Falesia and so returned Victor to Caen. He had almost the like success at Sea vanquishing many Ships of the enemy but his own Fleet was tossed long in a tempest whilst he strove to sail to South-hampton yet he lost but two Ships In the mean while the Earl of Warwick and Talbot conquer the Castle of Dumfrise and Clarentius mastered Curton and many other Towns Then the King laies siege to Roan and at last
York when his Adversary was dead commands his Followers to abstain from fighting and goes with the King to London Then a Parliament was called and he is freed from all fault and made Protector of the King and Kingdome The Earl of Sarisbury was made Chancellour and Warwick Governour of Callis For procuring which places every one was very watchfull But the Queen not enduring the Authority of York she never left urging Buckingham with the Death of his Son and young Sommerset with the Death of his Father and when she had sufficiently incensed them she goes to Greenwich and there she holds a Councel commanding York and his Confederates to renounce their Places But they refused to do it Then with subtilty mingled with flattery she intercepts them and did all the mischief she could but all in vain yet they least they might give cause of greater troubles retire themselves some to one place some to another But sending Messengers one to another they came all to London with their Forces provided and by the Mediation of the Archbishop of Canterbury and others there was an Act of Oblivion granted for all that had been done and Peace was concluded on both sides and all is confirmed with a solemn Shew of Religion Yet they held not long for occasion being taken from a quarrel that happened between one of the Kings and of the Earl of Warwicks Servants they endeavoured to lay hold on Warwick but he fore-seeing the danger with Post-horse makes haste to York to the Duke and to his Father Earl of Sarisbury whom he acquainted with the business but he going on board the Navy that was ready by the shoar for he was Admiral of the Sea made haste to Callis In the mean time Sarisbbury goes to the King with 5000 souldiers that he might acquaint him with the injury done to his Sonne and of the inveterate hatred of the Queen which was now apparent But Audley who at the command of the Queen and of the Duke of Buckingham had raised an Army of 10000 men went against him and was beaten 2400 were slain the rest fled to save themselves York supposing it was in vain to dally any longer raising an Army with the Earls of Sarisbury and of Warwick he provides for Warre but a Treaty being had between both sides and a pardon granted by the King for all faults many forsook the Dukes and all the Counsels of the Conspirators were detected with which York was brought to desparation and fled with his younger Sonne Earl of Rutland first into Wales then into Ireland When the private souldiers had procured pardon the Earls of Marsh Sarisbury and Warwick took their voyage for Callis but some of the principall were put to death and a Parliament being called they were all convinced and condemned for Treason Also Sommerset at the Queens intercession was made Governour of Callis but when he thought to enter upon his Government he was shot at from the Town and was forced to betake himself to some other place The Queen hearing this began to rage and commanded all the Ships that were in Sandwich-Haven to be fitted for Callis But John Dynham for the Earl of Marsh his sake took them all and with Riverius their Admiral brought them to Callis The Earl of Warwick also sail'd into Ireland to York and consulting with him returned safe for Callis Simon Montfort was Warden of the Cinque-ports and guarded all the Inrodes that Warwick might not come into England but he being admonished of it by the Spies he had fastning upon his Navy not yet ready he plundered Sandwich and brought Simon with a great booty to Callis And when he understood that the Kentish men desired his presence he came the second time to Sandwich where the Lord Cobham with a great multitude of the Nobility joyned with him Wherefore being appointed with an Army of 25000 Men be marched presently to London and possessed himself of the Tower whereby he afterwards did the Londoners a great deal of mischief But hearing that his Father the Earl of Sarisbury was coming on he passed over the Thames and joyned with him The King with the Dukes of Buckingham and Sommerset and a well appointed Army marches against them at Northampton he came in sight of the Enemy The Battel began on both sides and they fought vehemently Humphrey Duke of Buckingham with John Talbot the Earl of Shrewsbury Thomas Lord Egremont John Bellomont and others were slain and on one and the other side ten thousand men This was in the year 1460. The Queen escaped with the Duke of Sommerset and his Sonne but the King more mindfull of his prayers than of the Battel was taken and brought prisoner to London Warwick presently got possession of the Tower and Scales the Lieutenant whilest he thought to get away crossing the Thames in a disguise was discovered taken and beheaded The Duke of York receiving Message of this Success leaving Ireland came Post for London where at a solemn meeting he layes open his Right to the Crown of England deriving his Pedigree from Lyonel the third Son of Edward the third the elder brother of John of Gaunt the Father of Henry the fourth the Usurper But he desired not the Kingdom unless his Right were made clear to all men Wherefore a Councel being held the Title of a King is granted to King Henry so long as he lived and York is named to succeed him The Queen all this while mustering an Army in Scotland invades England daily York with his younger Sonne of Rutland and with the Earl of Sarisbury went against her leaving for a Guard to King Henry the Earls of Warwick and Norfolk but he being circumvented by treachery was slain and 3000 of his Souldiers with him nor did she spare the Earl of Rutland a childe of twelve years old though he begged for his life with tears Sarisbury who was taken alive and as many as were taken with him were by the fury of a Woman all beheaded This was the end of Richard Plantaganet Duke of York The Earl of Marsh hearing of his Fathers death managed his business with more vehemency now than before raising an Army of 23000 Men he overcame the Earls of Pembroke and Ormont alive he took Owen Tewdor alive who had married Katharine Mother to Henry the sixth and chopped off his Head But the Queen insulting at the death of the Duke of York marched toward London with her Forces and was met by the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Warwick who durst have given her Battel but by the treachery of their followers that forsook them they were forced to flie for to save themselves King Henry by that Victory came again into the Queens Power But in the mean time Edward Earl of Marsh by the general Vote of all Orders was crowned King according as it was enacted in Parliament and gathering a great Army at Tanton he met the King and the Queen and joyning Battel with them he
them that they would help their Lord not to get the Kingdom but his ancient Inheritance and so taking a solemn Oath that he would attempt nothing against King Henry toward getting the Crown he was admitted to enter within their Wals. But shortly after it appeared more clearly what his intention was for great ones use to pretend Religion to serve their turns which they make light of that with the greatest perjury they may compass what they desire He presently put a Garrison to secure the Town for himself and then hearing that the enemy made no great haste he marches to Nottingham to whom many Noble men came when they saw him fortified with a strong Army The very Duke of Clarence distrusting Henries side under a pretence of a Parley with his Brother came willingly to joyn with him Warwick also was solicited to fall off but he stuck fast to King Henry Then Edward in full confidence of his Army came up to London The Citizens were all frighted hearing that the Duke of Clarence was revolted and the people presently ran to meet Edward and with a great applause saluted him for their King Sommerset and the rest that followed Henry shift for themselves by flight leaving Henry in a Bishops Palace who was presently taken by Edward and committed to his former custody Then giving a generall pardon he won all the peoples hearts Warwick in the mean while mustering a gallant Army leads them to London and finding that Henry was cast into prison he stopt at St Albons Edward presently goes against him with a mighty power of men which augmented daily by the coming of more forces when both Armies came in sight at the break of day the Trumpets sound to Battell They fight stoutly on both sides Edward with more men Henry with more vertue yet Valour is vanquished by Force Warwick when he despaired of the Victory rid into the midst of the enemy and died gallantly with his Brother the Marquess ten thousand are slain Sommerset with Oxford flies into Wales The Earl of Exceter takes asylum at Westminster Edward like a Conquerour with King Henry for he brought him along with him enters London In the mean while the fame was that Queen Margaret was landed in England with a great Army and was corroborated for Warre by the Earl of Sommerset Devonshire Pembroke and others that joyned with her Wherefore Edward being sure to meet the enemy every where removes to Oxford with his Army At length he pursues Margaret whilst she thought to march into Wales and she by the unexpected coming of Pembroke which was very material taking counsel with Sommerset what to do gave him Battell the fight was fought at Teucksbury and the dispute was long and doubtfull at last Edward prevailed and all Margarets men almost were killed The Earl of Devonshire and Sommerset's Brother and many Nobles were slain Margaret Prince Edward the Duke of Sommerset and others about twenty Knights were taken and all of them except the Queen and Prince Edward were beheaded in two daies But Edward when he was brought to confer with the King and he answered more boldly than was convenient he was most cruelly slain by the standers by George Duke of Clarence Richard Duke of Glecester Thomas Gray Marquess of Dorset and William Hastings The Queen afterwards was set free for a Ransom and sailed into France and lived alwaies a sorrowfull and languishing life Edward having thus got the Victory comes in Triumph to London In the interim Faulconbridge Sonne to the Earl of Kent who was made Admiral of the Sea by Warwick when he had long plaid the Pirate coming into Kent raised a great force of Kentish men and entred into Londou But the Maior of the City raising an Army fell suddenly upon him and took all his booty from him chasing him away and killing many of his men Faulconbridge was taken afterwards and his head cut off Pembroke when he saw all was lost shifting away from the snares that were laid for his life and being more at ease by the death of Wagham who lay in wait for him with Henry his Nephew by his Brother Earl of Richmond and some few of his new friends arrived in France Edward that all things for the future might be more calm tamed the audacionsness of the Kentish men who had last taken up Arms against him partly by punishment partly by threats Also King Henry that he might give no occasion to new risings was killed in the Tower by the Duke of Glocester his Body was buried with no pomp but the Parricides and the Authors of his death as it shall be rehearsed were afterwards punished for murdering him He had reigned thirty eight years and six moneths he had an honest minde a comely personage and was more like a Saint than a King Edward to blot out all the footsteps of Rebellion cast George Archbishop of York into prison who was afterwards set at liberty yet died of grief of minde Also he cast the Earl of Oxford into prison where he kept him twelve years Others in other places were either captivated or put to death Then that the Rebels might not fly away to neighbour Nations he made Truce with James King of Scotland for twenty years The Earls of Pembroke and Richmond escaped into France where they were courteously entertained by the Duke of Brittain But afterwards when as Edward required that they should be delivered up to him and could not prevail they were kept more carefully by the Duke Then a Parliament being called Henries Decrees were nulled and Edwards confirmed and those that were banished their Country for his sake as enemies are called home again and the Kings Exchequer being extreamly wasted Subsidies are requested In the interim Warre burning between Lewis the King of France and the Duke of Burgundy to whom many Princes of France joyned themselves abhorring the manners of Lewis that were grievous to them Edward himself that he might not be wanting to assist his friend that he was bound unto for so many courtesies provided an Army and a Fleet and sailed to Callis Charles was presently with him and congratulates his Victory over the Rebels and invites him that was willing to enter upon a new Warre But Lewis being mightily afraid of two such potent enemies sent Embassadours to Edward The two Kings held a large Conference who met at Pictuigny where a League was made for many yeares 70000 Duccats being paid to Edward for his charges and 50000 to be paid yearly and Elizabeth Daughter to Edward was married to Charles Sonne to Lewis And so Peace being agreed upon Charles and Luxenburg that joyned with him in the Warre being not a little vexed at it Edward came first to Callis and from thence to England Luxenburg was afterwards taken in fight and lost his Head at Paris Edward though he had settled Peace at home and abroad yet thinking nothing safe enough for him whilst Henry Earl of Richmond was alive whose
right to the Crown he much feared wherefore sending messengers to the Duke of Brittain what by gifts what by promises he prevailed to have the Earl delivered But the Duke repenting what he had yielded to called back the gallant young man that was now gone on his journey to be put to death and preserved him from it sending Edwards Embassadours without their prey home again Edward who was bountifull to all shewed himself cruel to none but his Brother the Duke of Clarence whom he suffered to be drown'd in a Pipe of Malmsey The Warre began again with the Scots the Duke of Albany the brother of King James being the cause of it Richard Duke of Glocester was sent into Scotland but the Scot not trusting to his small forces sued for peace The Duke of Albany who was the Author of the Warre and knew that he was hated by his Brother for it fled into France and was killed there in a fight on Horsback Now it remained that Edward should make Warre with the French who had not kept the Articles of agreement but he was conquered by another enemy which he foresaw not for falling into a new disease not understood by the Physitians he died in a few daies in the 50 year of his age and of his Reign the 23 In the year of our Lord 1483. EDWARD the fifth and RICHARD the third King of England and France Anno 1483. EDward the fourth being dead his eldest Sonne Edward succeeded but he in his Reign was under Governours Antony Riverius his Uncle Thomas Wagham Chamberlain and Richard Gray Knights who being sent for by the Queens Letters came in haste to London with the Prince Also Richard Duke of Glocester who after his Brothers death had the chief power was at York but hearing of the Kings death he came to London with a small Army For he by order from his Brother Edward was to govern the Prince in his Nonage So soon as his Brother was dead he was minded to usurp the Kingdom He coming to London overtook this young King Edward on the way whom he presently took into his charge and sent his Tutours Riverius Wagham and Gray to Pomfret Castle to be kept safe which thing being known at London the Queen who well knew the perverse minde of Richard with her other Sonne Richard and her Daughters fled to Westminster for refuge that she might be the more secure from Richards violence Richard in the mean time came to London with Edward and went to the Bishop of Londons honse to reside But he not content with Edwards being in his power that he might the more safely look to his bufiness endeavours to get the other Brother that was fled to Sanctuary with his Mother under a colour of comforting the Kings sorrowfull minde and drawing the Lords to be of the same opinion he sent thither amongst others Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury who with fair speeches mingled with threats brings the innocent childe from his Mothers arms Richard now having got what he aimed at sent him to the Tower in great pomp but with great lamentation He in the mean time what by rewards what by Religious dissimulation and an affected proneness of his own minde laboured to knit unto himself the mindes of the Lords and Commons to cover the great desire he had of the Crown deeply rooted in his heart so that no man could tell whither his purposes tended But Hastings a man of an honest heart did daily press that due Honour should be given to the King whom Richard either because he was troublesom to him or else saw too farre into the business labours to dispatch above all the rest and so crastily charging him of that he was no way guilty of he commanded the souldiers that were ready for such service to kill him presently he being neither questioned nor found guilty The fault was laid on this worthy man that he had committed adultery with one Joan King Edward the fourth's Concubine whom Richard accused purposely as though with the Queen-mother he had made the King impotent by Magick Art Also he cast into prison the Prelates of York and Ely with Stanley but this man was shortly released He sent others away to other places that they might not obstruct his rising to the Crown Then by Letters he gave warning to the Keeper of Pomfret Castle that he should behead Riverius Gray and Wagham who was over-obedient to the command Also he secured himself with a strong Guard as the manner is for Tyrants to be afraid of every thing and to deceive the credulous people he had a consultation with one Ralph Shaw a very famous Divine whom the people much admired stoutly boasting that he was the true Sonne of his Father Richard but that his Brother Edward was a Bastard and he farther desired him that he would say so much in the Pulpit concerning his right unto the people and that he was a Man Edward but a Childe unfit for Government and by his imbecility the Commonwealth might be ruined and so forth Ralph whether for fear or madness easily yields to him and having made a Sermon from a Text fit for the purpose he began to speak freely to the people threatning great unhappiness to those men who should preferre a bastard before lawfull succession The people deceived by the Authority of the Preacher and frighted by threats did wonderfully waver this way and that way and began to prefer Richard a Man before Edward a Childe to wish for a change of the Governour to forespeak all the worst to accuse the innocent Mother for a Whore But Ralph being admonished of this thing by his friends and returning to a better minde was so much ashamed of it that afterward he lived privately and died of grief Also the Duke of Buckingham a little after making a speech to the Londoners in Counsell did not spare to exhort them and to admonish them of their duty boasting moreover highly of Richards goodness and mildness of minde to him a great part consented part followed their leaders not daring to resist part thought it necessary to obey the time and the reason of things and so all swore fidelity to Richard In the year 1483. Presently they go to Richard and acquaint him what was done he began to refuse it and to exhort them to continue faithfull unto Edward their young King to detest such a damnable wickedness but at last as it were against his will he received the Ensignes of the Kingdom and with his Wife Anne was Crowned King He labours to make that power good by force which he got by craft for being compassed with a choice number of Souldiers for his Guard he thought himself safe enough from all injury Yet he feared the multitude of the Londoners for Tyrants think themselves safe in no place wherefore he resolves to go to York having setled the business at London But in the way when he hoped for no quiet whilst his Nephews were
had bred him to sufficiently in her Palace he gives him in Marriage Katharine the Daughter of the Earl of Huntley and sent him toward the Borders of England with a great Army to do what he could in hopes to attain some of the Subjects to him either by fear or affection but all proved in vain Henry being wonderfully offended by reason of the Scots invasion musters an Army and marches against the Scots under the Command of Danby but he was called back again to suppress a Rebellion that rose in Cornwall by reason of Tribute to be paid The Cornish the Lord Lieutenant Audley being their Leader march for London but when they came thither they were vanquished and scattered by the Royalists two thousand of them being slain and many taken the greatest part of them were pardon'd except the Ring-leaders for Audley was ignominiously drawn to Execution and lost his head and others that put the people forward as Thomas Flammok Michael Sonne to Joseph a Blacksmith were hanged up The Scot takes occasion hereby during these Tumults to go forward on his enterprise and spoils the Frontiers of England again and then besieged the Castle of Durrham but the Earl of Surrey collecting an Army of 20000 Men and with a great Navy not only raised the siege but pursued the Enemies into Scotland ruin'd many of their Forts and Castles and when they would not stand to fight with him he returned to Barwick By the Mediation of the King of Spain truce was made between England and Scotland for some years but on this condition that Perkin Warbech must leave Scotland He when he was gone from thence hearing that new Tumults were up in Cornwall came thither with a few Souldiers out of Ireland whether he had transported himself and his Family and what by fair words what by pretences he drew some of the Inhabitants to his side and so mustering about three thousand Souldiers he beleaguer'd Exceter but when he heard of the Kings March he forsook his Army and fled to the Altar The King in the mean time being now certain of his flight caused diligent search to be made for him his Wife Katharine a very beautifull woman and of a most noble Family was taken and delivered up to the King who by reason of her Beauty and Descent assigned to her a yearly Revenue Then Henry punished the Rebels but he laid only a small Penance on them and so set them at liberty Peter when he had long staid in Sanctuary and found no place of safety at last yeelded up himself voluntarily and was sent Prisoner to the Tower In the interim Sebastian Gabat a Citizen of Genoa but born at Bristow procuring from Henry one or two Ships sailed to new Countreys in the West and after two years returned again into England Peter who we said was cast into Prison made his escape shortly after and went to Richmond he was taken again and made a publick shame and once more imprisoned in the Tower but when he began a new Conspiracy with the Earl of Warwick whose name Lambert had taken and with some other familiar Friends of the Lieutenant of the Tower he was drawn to Execution and was hanged together with two of the Lieutenants Servants Also Warwick that he might give no more cause for new troubles was beheaded after a short time This was the eldest Sonne of the Duke of Clarence and the last male off-spring of the Family of the Plautaganets who was put in prison from his very childehood a thing beyond the knowledge and memory of man Hence arose a new sedition and of the same kinde For Patrick an Augustin Frier counterfeiting a new Earl of Warwick of one of his Scholars stirred up the people to Rebellion in his Pulpit but he and his Scholar were taken The young man was hanged Patrick was cast into perpetual imprisonment such was the reverence they gave at that time to holy Orders that they would never put to death any of them though they were guilty of high Treason Marriages were made about this time between Katharin the King of Spains Daughter and Arthur Prince of Wales and between Henries Daughter and James King of Scotland From this last Marriage proceeded at length Mary Stuart Mother to King James who was Father to Charles and the Kingdoms were united Arthur five moneths after his Marriage died in Wales But Henry that he might not be defrauded of the Dowry and Friendship of the King of Spain married Katharin by the Popes Indulgence to Henry his second Sonne who was unwilling to it Edmund Pool Earl of Suffolk Sonne to Elizabeth Sister to Edward the fourth being offended with the King at that time for some private injury conspired against him in Flanders The matter being discovered and the Conspiratours taken he only escaped to Philip Arch duke of Austria But Philip by the death of Ferdinand King of Spain having got the Kingdom in the name of his Wife Joan who was the Kings Daughter Sister to Katharine which as was said was married to Arthur Prince of Wales took his journey thither and by a contrary Tempest was brought into England King Henry went to meet him with all honour and obtained from him the Earl of Suffolk upon the Condition that no violence should be offered to his Life Henry cast him into Prison and spared his Life but after he lost his Head in the Raign of Henry the eighth Henry being now in the height of his glory had procured his Subjects fidelity and respect from his Neighbours He was very happy had he not about the end of his Raign and Life been so greedy after the goods and wealth of his Subjects He was long sick of the Gout and afterwards he fell into an Asthma also in the 52 year of his Life and the 23 year of his Raign he died in the year 1508. HENRY the eighth King of England France and Ireland Anno 1508. HENRY the Eighth having got the Kingdom at the beginning he behaved himself with great Obedience Prudence and Justice Marrying Katharine his Brothers Wife which his Father had betrothed He chose the wisest Counsellours and he executed the cursed Ministers of his Fathers exaction He spent then the first year of his Raign in Tilting and other Recreations But at the request of the King of Spain the Queens Father an expedition was undertaken into Spain against the Moors but before the English came there was a Peace made with the Moors and so it was but lost labour and nothing being done only the Captain receiving honours from the King returned again for England Edward Poining a Knight was sent with 1500 Bowmen to Charls Prince of Spain to assist him against the Duke of Gelderland he succeeded prosperously and loaded with rewards he came back again In the mean time a Scotch pirate one Barton who was wonderfull bold and valiant did great mischief about the Coasts of England the Admiral of the Sea was sent out after him after
a doubtfull and a notable fight he was conquered and slain but his followers were pardoned A great Example of the Kings Mercy In the mean time Warre grew between the French King and the Pope Henry admonished the French man to desist and when he could not prevail with him he proclaimed Warre against him and made a Confederacy with Maximilian the Emperour and with Ferdinand King of Spain The Spaniard had intreated Henry to send an Army into Biscay and joyning his Forces with his that he should make the French work from that part Whereupon presently Thomas Gray Marquess of Dorset is sent thither with other Nobility and 10000 Souldiers he when he came thither did not long wait for the Spaniards assistance For the Duke of Alba took in the mean time by Force the Kingdom of Navarre from the French endeavouring the profit of his own King But the English that they might not seem to do nothing in Guyan subduing some Towns that were not considerable fell into that necessity of provision the Spaniard affording them none that many of them died miserably for hunger contracting also diseases by such unusual diet and the rest break forth into open Rebellion The Lord Howard who had the disposing of all affairs whilst the Marquess was sick hardly escaped from being slain Wherefore he was forced to provide Ships and to bring these sactious people home again Edward Howard Admiral at Sea did wonderfully depopulate Britanny by fire and sword and vanquished the Forces of the Britans in Battel though they farre exceeded those he had and so with his Ships laden with the spoil he sailed towards the Isle of Wight whilst Henry at London recreated himself with Tiltings and other courtly delights In the mean time in France in the Brittish Sea there was almost an equal fight for loss between the English and the French Ships and the Victory was doubtfull After this the English set upon the French Ships very indiscreetly in the very Haven with a great losse to themselves and their Admiral whereby they were forced to sound a retreat and be gone Whereupon the French began to wax more insolent to do mischief on the Coasts of England and to burn some Cities untill by the vigilancy of Howard who was put into the others place they were kept in Henry was resolved to make a Warre indeed with France and sent George Talbot before with the principal Nobility and 8000 Souldiers only to Callis then he sent Charles Sommerset and other Lords with 6000 Souldiers he himself being to come after them When the Admirals met they fell upon Tarvenne with joynt Forces Henry shortly after came to them with 9000 Souldiers and with a great number of Pioneers Also Maximilian the Emperour which was a rare example took Pay under King Henry Yet though he served under the English he was received as an Emperour should be and for the honour of his Majesty Then the French Horse purposing to relieve the City with provision were repulsed by the English the Duke of Longovil being taken and 240 more whereupon a wonderfull fear and despair fell upon the Townsmen so the English pressing them sore they were forced to surrender The Souldiers had leave to depart with their Arms the Wals were laid level with the ground the City excepting the chief Church and the Palace were consumed with fire Then he marched to Tourney and beleaguer'd the City they refusing to yeeld he quickly became Master of it causing the Citizens to take an Oath of fidelity And when he provoked the French to fight and could not make them accept of it because the Winter was now hard by he made Poyning Governour of it and returned himself for England In the mean while the Scotch at the instigation of the French fell upon the English Frontiers Their General was the Lord Humes who with seven or eight thousand men wasted the Borders But Edward Bulmer suddenly came upon him and took all the booty from him he himself hardly escaped six hundred of his men being slain and four hundred taken But James with an Army of sixty thousand men entred the skirts of England who was met by the Earl of Surrey Henry his Deputy in those parts at Bramston with six and twenty thousand men and joyning Battle the English wan the day by their great valour and the Scots lost it by their great confidence James himself with two Earls three Bishops and eight thousand Souldiers was slain no fewer was taken nor was this Victory wan by the English without losse of bloud it was fought in the year 1513. Henry coming out of France made the Earl of Surrey because he had so well managed his business Duke of Norfolk and other Lords who had done good service received Honours as they deserved He gave also to Thomas Wolsey the Bishoprick of Lincoln This man to be often named by us came from a poor parentage to great Honour and at last was made a Cardinal and governed the Commonwealth of England very wisely Pope Julius the second at this time gave to Hâ—â—ry great Honour sending unto him a Cap of Maintenance a Sword and the Title Of the most Christian King which Grace Henry received with Tiltings and other pompous Shews wherein he himself did alwayes bear the principal part In the interim Mary the Kings Sister was espoused to the Prince of Spain but because the Embassadours of Spain made delayes she was betrothed to the French desiring it and having had their fill of Warre But before the matter was published John the Admiral of the French first ruined one Village in England and John Wallop in revenge of this injury burnt one and twenty in France But at last a League was made and they ceased from Warre The French man lived not above three moneths after his Marriage and the lascivious old man being dead Mary by Henries consent was married to the Duke of Suffolk Wolsey about this time was honoured with a Cardinals-Cap and is created by the King Chancellour of England And Cardinal Campeius was sent to Henry to desire assistance to make Warre against the Turk but he lost his labour for that cheat of raising money was grown stale But Matthias the Cardinal being sent by the Emperour Maximilian for the same purpose prevailed at the request of Wolsey At that time Henry was in great danger of his life For as he went a Hawking the Pole broke that he leaped over the Ditches withall and he was almost smoothered in mire and dirt but his Lâ—ckey drew him out in time and saved his life In the mean while a Sedition grew at London between the Citizens and strangers not without blood-shed which was qualified by the death of the Ring-leaders and pardon to the rest Tourney at this time upon Conditions and under colour of Matrimony between the Dolphin and Mary King Henries Daughter is delivered up to the French and Hostages being given a League is confirmed between them Maximilian being dead
from Heaven For hiring a Cellar under the Parliament-House be laid in a vast deal of Gun-pouder which he purposed to set fire to and so to blow up at once all the Parliament-House together with the King the Prince and all the Nobility but the matter was discovered by the importunate care of the Conspirators who gave warning of the danger to the Lord Mounteagle Sonne to the Lord Morlay a Member of the Parliament and one that they loved very well In this Vault there were found terrible Instruments of this damned wickedness that a man would wonder at which were presently taken away Then the Conspirators were executed Catesbey with his companions John and Christopher Wright and Thomas Pierce flying to his Arms was killed with a shot others were taken and executed Amongst whom was Everard Digbey who was unwillingly drawn into this Conspiracy for otherwise he was a man of excellent parts And thus that hainous wickedness that had troubled the devils themselves was purged away In Northampton and Warwickshire new tumults arose first by Fines then by John Reignold that led them but this faction was soon allayed and the Authors were punished In the mean time Frederick Count Elector Palatine came to London to marry Elizabeth King James his Daughter The Marriage was solemnized with wonderfull pomp but all these joyes were over-shadowed with clouds of sorrow for on the sixth day of November 1612 Prince Henry departed this life Various reports were spread abroad by the vulgar as if indirect means had been used but his Physicians gave it under their hands that he died of a violent malignant Feaver Charles the Kings second Son succeeds him in the Principality of Wales About this time that Gallant and Noble Spirit Sr Walter Rawlrigh after fourteen yeares imprisonment made addresses to the King to get leave to visit the New-found-World in America to which he gave him liberty and a Commission under the great Seal to set forth Ships and Men for that Service his Reputation and Merit caused many Gentlemen of quality to venture their Estates and Persons on the Design Many considerable adventures were performed though with great difficulty but more especially that of the taking and burning St Thomes Information being sent to Gendimer who was Embassadour here in England never rested assaulting the King with importunity for reparation Rawleigh no sooner comes a shore at Plimouth but he had secret information and did endeavour to get from thence in a Bark for Rotchell but being apprehended by Sr Lewis Stukly he is brought to London and committed to the Tower Gondimer that looked upon him as a man that had not only high abilities but animosity to do his Master mischief being one of those scourges that Queen Elizabeth had made use of to afflict the Spaniards Having now gotten him in the Trap he laid his Bâ—its about the King In October he was brought to the Kings Bench-barre at Westminster before the Lord Chief-Justice where the Records of his arraignment at Winchester were opened and he demanded why the judgement should not be put in execution Ralwrigh replied that Judgement was void by the Kingâ— Commission for his late expedition The Lord Chief-Justice replied the opinion of the Court was to the contrary He required time to prepare for death but it was answered the appointed time was the next morning Accordingly on the morrow he lost his Head on a Scafford in the Palace-yard The Earl of Buckingham as great in Title as favour was now grown a Marquess and lying in the Kings bosom every man paid tribute to his smile Worcester and Nottingham are taken off for him to be Master of the Horse and Admirall of England Queen Anne about that time fell sick and died She was a Queen to be had in everlasting memory for her Noble Vertues The King also fell sick but by Gods affistance he recovered The Palsegrave in the mean time who had married Elizabeth by the prompting forward of some of the German Princes was chosen King of Bohemia The Emperour was wonderfully enraged at this Election and proclaimed Warre against him driving him first out of Bohemia and afterwards out of all Germany who in Holland the common refuge for all wretched people found a bountifull and safe entertainment But James that he might help his Sonne in Law made a motion for a Marriage of his Son Charles and the Spaniards Daughter Charles is sent into Spain through France by Land where he saw upon his journey Mary Daughter to Henry the fourth He was received in Spain in outward appearance magnificently but a dissention arising between the Duke of Buckingham and Count Olivares the principall Don of the Spanish Court the Treaty for the Marriage was drawn out at langth but Charles being impatient of delays was called home again by his Father and arrived safe in England and afterwards he married Mary whom he had affectionately beheld in France What remains to be spoken of King James is either scarce worth recording or not so consonant to the truth He died at last of a disease of the Spleen though there were false reports spread abroad that he was poysoned when he had reigned twenty two years and was fifty nine years of age in the year 1625. He was a true Platonick Prince a Husband worthy of his Wife an honest Father to his Children a good King to his Subjects because he was a Prince he was the Most Learned and he was the Best Prince by reason of his Learning When this King reigned the English Plantations were setled in the Indies as in Virginy which Country Sr Walter Rawleigh first discovered and in the Barmudoes whither an infinite multitude of inhabitants presently resorted building publick and private houses and made a Commonwealth The same was done by others in New-England to the great comfort of such as were distressed and fled thither CHARLES the first King of Great-Brittany France and Ireland Anno 1625. CHARLES the first succeeded his Father being twenty five yeares of age The first design he had was to marry Henrietta Mary Daughter to Henry the fourth King of France as he purposed before who landed in England the 22 day of April and was received magnificently Then a Navy was prepared against the Spaniard for all friendship was grown stale between these two Kings by reason of the breach of the Marriage and the business of the Palatinate he joyned with the Ships of Holland and sent away toward Spain and first assaulting Cades and not prevailing they set up sail to Sea and spoyling all the Spanish Vessels they met they return for England Now a Covenant was made between the English and the United Provinces and they resolved with joynt Forces to tire out the Spaxiard but Charles whose Exchequer was empted by reason of his great Expence of his Spanish Voyage and setting forth of his Navy was forced to call a Parliament but Buckingham the Kings chief Minister of State and most dear unto him had
unequall than that was The Parliament in the mean time when they found nothing done by the Commissioners they had sent to the King resolve to execute their former commands they command the Lieutenants of Counties to perform what they formerly had enjoyned them and presently to raise such an Army who willingly went about it hoping from troubles to finde occasion to do their business yet some looking deeper into it refused to raise Arms without the Kings Order Also the Houses purposed to remove Pennington that was come back again because they found him more enclined to the King than to the Parliament but he denied to yield to them unless the King should force him to it The King trusting to his fidelity refused to discharge him and to receive Warwick whom they would substitute But the Lower House the Upper House being against it who held it unfit to proceed without the Kings consent pressed the business and confirmed the first Election and being exasperated by the Kings inclination resolved seriously for to make a Warre of it All the provision of Hull or other Garrisons they commanded to be brought to London fearing least the King should at some time possess himself of the Town and Ammunition But they to whose trust these things were committed would not deliver them without command from the King They valued not all their threats and commands to have the Governour of the Town delivered up unto them In the mean time the Sommersetshire men detesting the obstinacy of the Parliament by example of the Men of Kent presented an humble Petition to the Parliament but they offended with their boldness command it to be burned by the Hangman to deterre the Sommersetshire men from profering any more such Petitions who were charged to come in no greater multitudes than was requisite The King also desired to sail into Ireland with a sufficient Army to tame the Rebels But the Houses fearing least he should allure the Rebels to joyn with him and being strengthened with their Forces should return for England denied him his request and preferred their own fears before the relief of so many miserable men He in the mean time deposed the Earl of Essex from being Chamberlain and Leicester from being Deputy of Ireland and the Earl of Holland for their disobedience But the Houses on the contrary forbid all of them to do any such thing without their prohibition on penalty of their lives also they confirmed Warwicks Authority And that they might fortifie the mindes of all men the more and exasperate them against the King they spread a report that there was a great provision made by him for Warre against the Commonwealth and the Laws saying that all the subjects were therefore freed from their Oaths The King holds forth the contrary in his Declarations And when some Lincolnshire men came to him in Troops and offered to defend the Kings Cause he forbad them stifly and to manifest to all his love of Peace he commanded them all to go home again upon the condition that they should return to assist him when they were called He detained only 500 Foot and 50 Horse for his Life-Guard Many of the Nobility were drawn by this lenity of the King to revolt to him The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal that had done him so many injuries asking pardon of the King was friendly received by him This was the cause that many others fell away so that in the Upper House there remained not above fifteen and they the most bitter against him These with new representations concerning the Education of his Children the Offices of the Kingdom and such like questions wearied the Kings minde But they prevailed nothing for those Captains and Souldiers that were mustered against the Rebels in Ireland leaving their Colours freely fled to the King at York Whereupon the King augmented his Life-Guard to 1200 Foot and 200 Horse all descended of Noble Families and for the greater Honour to them he made the Prince of Wales their Captain These being required to manifest their fidelity did all swear unanimously to defend the Kings Cause but all the Nobility offered willingly to rais◠severally 200 Foot in Arms if occas 〈…〉 By which constancy of the subject and by a small summe of money he received out of Holland the King began to be cheered with new hopes Then he appointed the Yorkshire men to meet him at a certain place on the 13th day of June not farre from York who accordingly came with about 60000. The King with his Sonne some Lords 600 Horse and a considerable party of Foot met them there and with a premeditated Speech he declared his good intention toward Religion the Parliament and to defend his own Rights and Kingly Dignity Also he made an Apology for the good of his Souldiers that were present then he shewed unto them the Acts of Parliament Lastly he promised good pay if any man would assist him because he desired to use the help of his subjects rather than strangers This Speech was received by some with great applause others made their humble Petition that the King would hold a good correspondency with his Parliament and desired that he would send those Lords back to the Parliament who had revolted from them But the Earl of Lindsey the Kings Chamberlane and Lovel foreseeing the dissention might rise from this Petition suppressed this faction at the beginning Where 〈…〉 they were displeased and divers men went away from the King But the King accompanied with twenty thousand men came to York and commanded them all to return to their houses The Parliament was not ignorant of this business they accuse the said Lords of Treason because they had hindred the subjects from Petitioning freely for relief of their grievances not remembring what example they had given by refusing the Petitions of the Men of Kent and Sommersetshire and not only so but had severely punished them for offering their Petitions Then they raised an Army of 10000 Foot and 2000 Horse and send them towards York hoping they would increase by others coming to them And they borrowed a sufficient summe of Money from the Londoners who strove who should bring most of their silver and guilt Plate and whatsoever pretious things they had hoping of great advantage they should receive by it But the Kings misfortune began when 20000 pounds were detain'd by the Exchange being published at London which the Queen had borrowed with the Crown Jewels laid to pawn this was a mighty stop to the Kings proceedings The Houses increased the more who some in vain being angry at it endeavoured to raise a great Army The King also who had with advice made delaies and spun out the time could no longer wink at these preparations for Warre but by Letters by Policy by open Warre he did press the business uncessantly and with great impatience And he politiquely attempts to take Hull having obtain'd the consent of some of the Garrison But Hotham who