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
spurs to his horse rode away but fainting through the loss of much blood he fell from his horse and with one foot in the stirrup was drag'd up and down the woods and grounds till in the end his body was left dead at Corfe's Gate and was first buried at Warham afterwards removed to the Minster of Shaftsbury Alfrida his Mother-in-law sore repenting the fact to expiate her guilt and pacify his crying blood as she thought founded the Monastries of Almsbury and Worwell in the last whereof she dyed and was buried ETHELRED A.D. 978. EThelred for his slowness sirnamed The unready was crowned at Kingstone Upon his Coronation a Cloud was seen through England one half like blood the other half like fire Ethelgar Alfrick A.B. Cant And in the third year of his reign the Danes arrived in sundry places of the Land and did much spoil And about the same time a great part of London was consumed by fire He payed tribute 40000 l. yearly called Dane-gilt to the Danes His reign was much molested with Danish Invasions in divers parts of the Land And so low were the English at that time by the intruding Danes that they were forced to till and sow the ground while the Danes sate idle in their houses and eat that which they toiled for Also abusing their Daughters and Wives and having all at their command the English for very fear calling them Lord Danes Hence we call a lazy Lubber a Lurdane In this the English distressed estate the King at last sent forth a secret Commission into every City within his Dominions That upon the Thirteenth day of November they should massacre all the Danes which were amongst them This Command of the Kings the people put in execution with extreme rigor in A.D. 1002. But to revenge this great destruction of the Danes Swein King of Denmark prepared a very great Navy and arrived in the West of England and shortly after Canutus brought 200 sail of ships well furnished to his assistance And in A. D. 1016 King Ethelred dyed and was buried at St. Pauls His Issue were Ethelston Egbert Edmond Edred Edwy Edgar Edward Elfred and four Daughters In the year of our Lord 991 was Ipswich in Suffolk sacked by the Danes And in A. D. 1004 Thetford in Norfolk anciently called Sitomagus was sack'd by the Danes Siricus Elphegus Livingus A.B. Cant. for the recovery whereof Bishop Arfast removed his Episcopal See from Elmham thither Norwich was fired by the Danes its Castle was afterward re-edified by Hugh Bigod Earl of Norfolk EDMOND IRONSID A.D. 1016 EDmond sirnamed Ironside the eldest son that Ethelred had living at his death was crowned at Kingstone by Livingus Archbishop of Canterbury A. D. 1016. At which time the Danes were so powerful in England that Canute was accepted King at South-hampton by many of the Clergy and Laity who sware fealty to him But the City of London stood most firm for Edmond and bravely withstood Canute besieging it till such time that King Edmond came and relieved them At Penham near Gillingham King Edmond engaged with the Danes where he put many of them to the sword and the rest to flight And not long after his and the Danish Host met nigh to Shereston in Worcestershire where the battel was for the first day fought with equal success but on the next day when the English were in forwardness and probability of the victory the Traytor Edrick on purpose disanimated them by cutting off the head of a dead soldier putting it on his sword point then crying to the English Host Fly ye wretches fly and get you away for your King is slain behold here is his head seek therefore now to save your own lives By which means the fight ended on even hands And the next night following Canute stole away toward London whom Ironside followed first raising the siege that Canutus had laid against London and then marching after him to Brentwood where he gave the Danes a great overthrow Then near unto Oteford in Kent the two Armies met again and fought in furious manner till at last the day fell to the English who slew Four thousand five hundred men with the loss but of Six hundred and put the rest to flight whom the King had pursued to their utter confusion had not his brother-in-law Edrick play'd the Traytor again disswading him from the chase of them under the pretence of danger of ambushments and the English soldiers over-weariedness Whereupon Canute had the opportunity of passing over into Essex where his scattered Forces rallied and fresh supplies came in to them After whom Edmond advanced and at Ashdon by Saffron-Waldon the Armies joined battel when a bloody slaughter ensued with the hopes of victory on the English side which the ever-traytorous Edrick perceiving he withdrew his strength to the Danes the enemy thereby regaining the day Of King Edmond's Nobles were slain Duke Alfred Duke Goodwin Duke Athelward Duke Ethelwin Earl Vrchel with Cadnoth Bishop of Lincoln and Wolsey Abbot of Ramsey and other of the Clergy that were come thither to pray for good success to the English The Memorial of this Battel is still retained by certain small hills there remaining where the dead were buried From hence King Edmond marched to Glocester with a very small Army which he there encreased After him Canute followed and at Dearhurst near Severn both Hosts met and were ready to join battel When by the motion of a certain Captain Edmond and Canute undertook by single Combat to end the difference So entring into a small Island called Alney adjoining to Glocester there they valiantly fought till Canute having received a dangerous wound and finding Edmond to over-match him in strength he thus spake to the English King What necessity should move us most valiant Prince that for the obtaining of a Title vve should thus endanger our lives Better it were to lay Malice and Weapons aside and to condescend to a loving Agreement Let us novv therefore become svvorn Brothers and divide the Kingdom betvvixt us and in such league of amity that each of us may use the others as his ovvn So shall this Land be peaceably governed and We jointly assist each others necessity Which vvords ended they both cast dovvn their Svvords embrace as friends vvith the great joy and shouting of both Armies And according to Canute's proposal the Kingdom was divided betwixt them Edmond having that part that lay coasting upon France Canute the rest But the Traytor Duke Edrick with design to work himself further into Canute's favour procured Edmond to be thrust into the body as he was easing nature Then cutting off his head he presented Canute therewith saying All hail thou now sole Monarch of England for behold here the head of thy Co-partner which for thy sake I have adventured to cut off To whom Canute like a worthy King replyed That in regard of that service the bringers own head should be advanced
his two Brothers Richard and Geofry with many of the English Nobles Against whom the Father with a bleeding heart for his Sons ungraciousness prepared himself and was very successful in Little Britain where himself was in person also in England by his faithful Subjects For Humphrey de Bohun High Constable of the Realm with other Nobles vanquished Robert Earl of of Leicester and took him Prisoner which moved Lewis of France to seek a Truce of him for six Months whereunto King Henry yielded then Ship'd for England landing at the Port of Hampton From whence he took his journey towards Canterbury and being come within about three miles thereof he went barefooted the hard stones so cutting his tender feet that the ground was stained with his blood And after he came to Canterbury and was entred into the Chapter-house of the Monks Baldwin A.B. Cant. he most humbly prostrated himself on the ground begged pardon and by the instancy of his own Petition was by all the brethren corrected with Rods. The number of lashes which he received on his bare flesh amounted to Fourscore About this time William King of Scots that had lately entred England was taken Prisoner and young King Henry was with storms driven back into France and his Fleet scattered shortly after which Peace was concluded betwixt his Father and him But yet again he sought his Fathers ruine though before he could effect it he was prevented by the King of Terrors Death A. D. 1183. The following year Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem arrived in England soliciting the King to undertake the holy War in his own person which by the advice of his Lords he refused yet yielded to aid the Cause with Money and gave them leave to go that were disposed thereto His Son John whom he exceedingly loved and commonly in jest called Sans terre without Land he made Lord of Ireland assuring unto him also Lands and Rents in England and Normandy Richard and Geoffery his Sons rebelled again against him The younger of which in a Turnament at Paris was trod to death under the Horse feet but the elder lived to the further grief of his Father For joyning himself with Philip of France forced his Father out of the City of Mentz the City where he was born and loved above all others which made King Henry to utter these words against him That since his Son Richard had taken from him that day the thing which he most loved in the world he would requite him for after that day he would deprive him of that thing which in him should best please a Child namely his heart And afterwards finding his Son John first in the Catalogue of the Conspirators against him in that action he bitterly cursed the hour of his birth laying Gods curse and his upon his Sons which he would never recall by any perswasions But coming to Chinon he there fell desperately sick and feeling death approach caused himself to be born into the Church before the Altar where after humble confession and sorrow for his sins he yielded up his Soul A. D. 1189 and was buried at Font-Everard His Issue were William Henry Richard Jeffry Philip John Maud and Eleanor His base Issue William sirnamed Longsper and Jeffry Archbishop of York These two by fair Rosamund and Morgan by another Woman Rosamund his beloved Concubine was the Daughter of the Lord Clifford whom to keep safe from the envy of Queen Eleanor he placed in a Labyrinth which he built for her at Woodstock with such windings and turnings that none could come at her retiring Room save the King or whom he instructed Howbeit the jealous eye of Queen Eleanor found her out by a clew of silk which Rosamund let fall as she sate to take the Air. For she suddenly fleeing to escape being seen the end of the silk fastned to her foot and the clew still unwinding which the Queen followed till she had found the lovely Rosamund whom she so dealt with giving her Poyson that she ended her days whose body was buried at Godstow with this Epitaph upon her Tomb Hic jacet in Tumba Rosa mundi non Rosa munda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet King Henry divided England into Circuits appointing that two of his judges should twice in the year in each Circuit administer Justice In the year 1164 he called an assembly of the States at Clarendon in Wilts where amongst other matters it was decreed That all the Clergy should bona fide swear allegiance to the King and should appeal but unto the Archbishop or from him finally to the King without particular licence In the beginning of his reign one Nicholas Breakspear an English man was elected Pope by the name of Adrian the 4th who in the 5th year of his Popedom was choaked with a Fly He sent the Lords Prayer in this manner from Rome to be taught the English people Vre Fadyr in Heaven rich Thy name be halyed everlich Thou bring us thy michel bliss Al 's hit in Heaven y-doe Evar in yearth been it also That holy bread that lasteth ay Thou send it ous this ilke day Forgive ous all that we have don As we forgive uch other mon. Ne let ous fall into no founding Ac shield ous fro the foul thing Amen In the Isle of Wight it rained blood the shower continuing for the space of two hours together A great Earthquake in Ely Norfolk and Suffolk which made the Bells to ring in the Steeples At St. Osyths in Essex was seen a Dragon of marvelous bigness which by moving burned Houses Another great Earthquake which overthrew many buildings and amongst the rest rent in pieces Lincoln Cathedral At Oreford in Suffolk a certain hairy creature perfectly resembling man in all parts and proportions was taken out of the Sea by Fishers in a Net who after he had been kept a while secretly slipt away into the Sea again RICHARD I. A.D. 1189 RICHARD from his exceeding valour sirnamed Ceur de Lion was Crowned at Westminster by Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury At which time a great number of the Jews were in a tumultuous sort slaughtered by the common people for which many of them suffered death The Coronation rights performed Richard with all speed prepares for his voyage into the Holy-Land appointing William Longchamp Bishop of Ely his chief Justiciar and Lord Chancellor joyning with him Hugh Bishop of Durham for the parts beyond Humber associating to those Bishops divers temporal Lords for the defence and preservation of Justice And with the King of Scots he concluded firm friendship Which done with a royal Navy he put out to Sea and by the way to the Holy-Land he seized on the Island Cyprus where he solemnly took to Wife his beloved Lady Berengaria The Island he committed to the keeping of his own Deputies permitting the Islanders to injoy all such Laws and Liberties as they held in the time of Immanuel the Emperor Furder in his way
were painted with the five wounds of Christ the Chalice Cake and other Romish inventions This their Rebellion they termed the holy Pilgrimage Their General of foot was one James Diamond a poor Fisher-man stiled the Earl of Poverty their chief Leader was Mr. Robert Aske a man it seems of terror For when Lancaster Herald at Arms was sent to him to declare the Kings message this Aske did so terribly bluster forth his answers that the Herald fell before him on his knees excusing himself to be but a Messenger Many persons of great note were parties in this insurrection And to draw the more in to side with them Aske and his complices set forth in writing these scandalous untruths against the King First That no infant should be permitted to receive the blessed Sacrament of Baptisme bot onles an trybet to be payd to the King Secondly That no man under twenty pound lands shall eyte no brede made of Wheat ner Capon Chekyn Gois ner Pig bot onles to pay a trybet to the King Thirdly That for every Ploghe-land the King will have en trybet with other extreme urgent causes and heartily Fare ye well Their oath wherein they bound themselves in this league was the preservation of the Kings person and Issue the purifying of Nobility and expulsing all villain blood and evil Counsellors not for envy to any to enter into their pilgrimage or any private commodity but for the Common-weal the restitution of the Church and suppression of Heresy and Hereticks But a great force being drawn against them they dispersed themselves upon promise of pardon and redress in their just complaints Yet notwithstanding this the Kings clemency some of the chief of these actors ingaged themselves again in a new insurrection in short time after this for which offence they suffered death Of Ecclesiastical persons were put to death four Abbots two Priors three Monks seven Priests also Captain Mackarel and of temporal persons were executed Robert Aske the Lord Dacres Sir Robert Constable Sir Francis Bigod Palmer Percie Hamilton Tempest and Lumley These stirs being stinted a Commission came forth to purge the Churches of Idols and to suppress the Monastries to the Kings use granted him by Parliament When down went the Rood of Boxely in Kent commonly called the Rood of Grace which was made with divers vices to bow down and lift up it self to shake and stir both head hands and feet to rowl the eyes move the lips and to bend the brows thereby to cheat silly Souls So likewise the Images of our Lady of Walsingham and Ipswich set with Jewels and Gems also divers other both of England and Wales were brought to London and many of them burnt before the Lord Cromwel at Clelsey A. D. 1538. Then down went the Monasteries to the number of about 645 besides 90 Colledges and of Chantries and free Chappels 2374. Almost all these were born down in those boistrous times to the worlds amazement Amongst the Shrines that of Thomas a Becket was defaced whose meanest part was pure Gold garnished with many precious Stones the chiefest of which was a rich Gem of France offered by King Lewis who asked and obtained of this prime Saint believe it who list That no passenger betwixt Dover and White-sand should perish by Ship-wrack But instead of these impertinencies the holy Bible was commanded to be read in English in the Churches and Register-Books of Weddings Christnings and Burials to be kept in every of them If we will credit tradition shameful villanies were too frequently prepetrated by the Monasticks as Whoredoms Incests Sodomy and Murders Many infants bones the products of their wantonness were found in many of their religious houses The Monasteries thus dissolved and the revenues thereof converted to secular uses King Henry hereby ran in great obloquy of many forreign Princes and Potentates but especially of the Pope Yea and homeborn subjects disliking hereof by secret working sought to deprive King Henry and to elevate Regâ—nald Pole to the regal dignity for the which treason Henry Courtney Marquess of Excester the Lord Montacute and Sir Edward Neville were beheaded on Tower-hill A. D. 1540 and January the sixth was King Henry married unto the Lady Anne Sister to the Duke of Cleve but he refrained her bed for the dislike he had to her person and she good Lady no other cause alledged was divorced by Parliament the June following when it was also enacted That she should no longer be called Queen In this Parliament was Cromwell Attainted for setting at liberty certain persons committed for misprision of Treason and Heresy for favouring and maintaining the Translation of heretical Books so called into English for countenancing and supporting heretical Teachers for being an heretick himself and for having spoken great words for the upholding his said religion to wit That the King himself should not change it if he would The cause why the King fell into dislike of him and consequently of his ruin was because he stood in the defence of the Lady Anne of Cleve and spake not all well of the Lady Katharine Howard whom the King was minded and did take to Wife Which distast of the Kings against him his enemy Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester did improve to Cromwells destruction who was beheaded on Tower-hill and with him the Lord Hungerford of Heitesbury for buggery Margaret Countess of Salisbury daughter of George Duke of Clarence and Mother of Cardinal Reginald Pole being neither Arraigned nor Tryed but condemned by Parliament as Cromwell had been was beheaded And the Lord Leonard Grey about the same time lost his head for Treason And the next day after his death Thomas Fines Lord Dacres of the South died at Tyburn for killing a man in a fray Nor was the Sword sheathed until the heads of Queen Katharine Howard and the Lady Jane Rochford were struck off the former for Adultery the other for concealment as was alledged The parties offending with Katharine Howard were Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpepper Dereham before she was Queen and Culpepper after who both were executed at Tyburn Decemb. the tenth and on Febru the twelfth following Mrs Katharine Howard for so in the Act of her Attainder she is called who had been Queen for the space of a year and half with the Lady Jane widow of the Lord Rochford were brought unto the Tower-hill where in lamentable passions they suffered death This Queen protested after her condemnation to Dr. White her last Confessor that she was guiltless having never so abused her Soveraigns bed But as these in case of Treason so others in matter of Conscience were put to death by force of the Statutes made under this King Whereof one was the renouncing the Popes supremacy and owning the King for supream head of the Church in his own Dominions this concerned the Papists The other was the six Articles this concerned the Protestants Which six bloody Articles were First That after the words of Consecration there
his Kingdoms his Majesty was pleased to dignifie him with the honour of being Knight of the Garter Master of his Horse Duke of Albemarle Earl of Torrington Baron Monk of Potheridg c. Chief General of all his Land-forces in the three Kingdoms and one of his Privy Council May the 29th His Majesty made his Triumphal Cavalcade through the City of London whither he was welcomed with all the expressions of Joy possible And being come to White-hall he there in his Presence-Chamber offered the Sacrifice of Peace and Thanksgiving unto Almighty God for his wonderful reffauration Then applied himself to the ordering of his Court and appointed the chief Officers of State His Highness James Duke of York he invested with the Office of Lord High Admiral Sir Edward Hide whose Daughter the Duke of York married he constituted Lord Chancellour The Earl of Manchester Lord Chamberlain The Lord Worthsley Earl of Southampton Lord High Treasurer Sir Edward Nicholas and Sir William Morrice chief Secretaries of State c. And others who had been constantly Loyal to him or had performed any eminent good service for him he advanced to places of High trust and dignity in the Court and Commonwealth But because the persons were numerous that had in an extraordinary sort been serviceable in promoting the Kings interest and his Majesty had no other way to express at present his gracious acceptance thereof to many of them he therefore honoured their name and family by conferring on them according to their merit the Titles of Duke Earl Viscount Baron Knight Jun. 6. the Parliament set forth a Proclamation wherein it was declared That all such of the late Kings Judges as would not render themselves within so many days to their mercy should be excepted out of the general pardon then preparing whereupon 20 of the Regicides came out of their coverts and presenting themselves to the Speaker of the House of Commons were committed to custody In August following the long expected Act of Indempnity was passed by which all that had been any ways engaged against the King were pardoned save the Regicides and a very few others and amongst those there were three who were freed in respect of life liberty and estate because they had given evident signs of their hearty sorrow for that crying sin It was also Enacted that the 30. of January should to all Posterities be observed a day of Humiliation for that great wickedness of murdering Gods Vicegerent the King Also that May 29. should in all succeeding ages be observed a day of Thanksgiving for the Kings peaceable Restauration to the actual possession and exercise of his Legal authority over his Subjects An Act for Pole-money was likewise passed and an Act for enabling Soldiers of the Army to exercise Trades in any Corporation that thereby they might be in a capacity of living honestly and comfortably after their disbanding September the thirteenth That hopeful Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester departed this life and on the same day the Parliament was adjourned to the sixth of November following In October Major General Harrison Mr. John Carew and other of the Regicides were arraigned at the old Bayly in London where they were all found guilty and condemned to die the death due to Traytors Of the Regicides now condemned were hang'd and quartered at Charing-Cross Harrison Carew Cook Peters Scot Scroop Jones and Clement and at Tyburn Hacker was hanged and Axtel a busie promoter of the Kings death was hanged and quartered All save Hugh Peters dyed very resolutely The persons whose names follow had the favour to be reprieved after Condemnation because they delivered themselves to the Parliaments mercy upon their Proclamation Hardres Waller Wait Tichburn Marten Pennington Row Holland Downs Garland Temple Millington Hevingham Lilburn Fleetwood Smith Meyn and Hulet This last was accused to be one of those two which in a Frock and Vizard assisted in the horrid execution of the King but because the evidence against him seemed to the Judges not sufficiently clear he had his reprieve December the 24th Mary the Princess of Orange dyed at White-Hall and on the 29th of the same month was buryed at VVestminster and the Parliament on the same day dissolved At the dissolution whereof the King gave His Royal consent to these Acts amongst many others viz. An Act for granting to the Kings Majesty 400000 l. by Assessment of 70000 l. per mensem for six months for disbanding the Army and paying the Navy And an Act of Attainder which was made to attaint the Judges and other Actors in the murder of the late King Cromwell Ireton Bradshaw Pride and all the rest of the Regicides deceased are adjudged to be convicted and attainted of High Treason to all intents and purposes as if they and every of them respectively had been attainted in their life-time And all persons fled for that Treason that is to say John Lisle VVilliam Say John Berkstead Valentine VValton Edward VVhaley Edmund Ludlow Sir Michael Levesey John Okey John Hewson VVilliam Goff Thomas Challoner VVilliam Cawley Miles Corbet Nicholas Low John Dixwell Daniel Blagrave Andrew Broughton Edward Dendy and every of them stand and be adjudged convicted of High Treason c. After his Majesty had given his Royal assent to the Acts presented him he made a Speech to both Houses wherein he used these memorable expressions That this Parliament should be called to all posterity The Healing and the Blessed Parliament In the beginning of January Following whilst his Majesty was accompanying his Royal Mother and Sister Henrietta Maria part of their Journey to France an inconsiderable number of the fifth Monarchists raised a great disturbance in London killing some of the City-watch and two nights with great desperateness opposing the Trained-bands and other force till at length divers of them being wounded and others slain the rest that could made their escape And in a few days after was Captain Vennor and twelve more of them executed in Coleman-street over against their meeting-house and other parts of London January the thirtieth were the dead bodies of those infamous Traytors Cromwell Ireton Bradshaw all buried at VVestminster taken out of their Coffins and drawn upon Hurdles to Tyburn they were hang'd by the neck for some hours then had their heads chopt off which were perched upon VVestminster-hall and their bodies thrown into a hole under the Gallows This Year of Jubilee were the lands of the Kings Loyal Subjects restored to them that had been unjustly taken from them by the late Usurper the Bishops Deans and Chapters lands were likewise restored to the use of these Church-men A. D. 1661. The entrance of this Year was made famous by the magnificent Coronation of King Charles the Second who was Crowned at VVestminster on St. Georges day by the hands of Dr. Juxon Archbishop of Canterbury May the eighth according to His Majesties summons the Parliament met at VVestminster and elected Sir Edward Turnor for their Speaker May the
above all the Peers of his Kingdom A while after performing this his promise by causing Edrick's head to be cut off and placed on the highest Gate of London But some say that King Edmond dyed a natural death at London when he had reigned seven Months whose body was buried at Glastenbury His Issue were Edward sirnamed the Out-law because he lived out of England during the reign of the Danes and Edmond DANES CANUTE A.D. 1017 CANVTE the Dane after the death of Edmond seized upon the other half part of the Kingdom the English Nobles owning him for their rightful King and swearing allegiance to him He was crowned at London by Living us Elstane Arch-bishop of Canterbury A. D. 1017. And to establish the Crown more sure to himself he banished Edwin the son of King Ethelred who for his melancholy and regardless behaviour was called The King of Churles He also sent away Edward and Edmond the sons of Edmond Ironside Next he espoused Emma the Widow of King Ethelred and sister to the Duke of Normandy on this condition That the issue of her body by him should inherit the English Crown Then calling a Parliament of his Peers to Oxford he there established these Laws following viz. That all decent ceremonies tending to the encrease of reverence and devotion in the service of God should be used as need required That the Lords Day should be kept holy That a Clergy killing a Lay-man or for any other notorious crime should be deprived both of his Order and Dignity That a married woman convict of adultery should have her nose and ears cut off And a Widow marrying within the space of twelve months after her Husbands dectase should lose her Joynture With many others He went on pilgrimage to Rome where he complained against the excessive exactions and vast sums of money extorted by the Pope from the English Archbishops at such times as they received their Palls from thence Which the Pope engaged to redress for the future The greatness and glory of this King was such that some Court-Parasites sought to perswade him that he possessed a more than humane power but he to demonstrate the contrary being then at Southampton caused a Chair to be set on the shore when the Sea began to flow then sate himself in it and in the presence of his many attendants thus spake to the swelling-waves Thou Sea art part of my dominion don't therefore on pain of punishment presume so much as to wet the robes of thy Lord. But the unruly Sea swelling on further and further first wet his skirts then thighs so that the King suddenly started up and retiring said Let the inhabitants of the world know that the power of Kings is but weak and vain and that none is worthy the name of King save He that keepeth Heaven Earth and Sea in obedience to his own will After which time he would never wear his Crown but therewith crowned the picture of Christ on the Cross at Winchester which became a prize to the Church-men He dyed in A.D. 1035 and was buried at Winchester His Issue were Swein Harold Hardicanute and two Dâ—ughters In Essex he built the Church of Ashdon where he had the victory of King Edmond In Norfolk he founded the Abbey of St. Benets and in Suffolk the Monastry of St. Edmond Egelnoth A.B. Cant. which Saint he much dreaded To the Church of Winchester besides other rich Jewels he gave a Cross worth as much as the Revenue of England amounted to in one year And unto Coventry they say he gave the Arm of St. Augustine which at Papia cost him an hundred Talents of silver and one of gold HARALD A.D. 1035 HARALD for his exceeding swiftness sirnamed Harefoot the base son of King Canute in the absence of Hardicanute his Fathers son by Queen Emma was admitted King by the Nobility and crowned at Oxford by Elnothus Archbishop of Canterbury Which done for the better securing of the Crown to himself he sought means to gain Edward and Alfred the two surviving sons of King Ethelred into his hands In order whereunto he sent to them into Normandy a Letter feigned in their Mother Emma's name inviting them over into England for the recovery of their right But when Prince Alfred was accordingly arrived Earl Goodwin who pretended great kindness unto him betrayed him and his small party brought over with him into Haralds hands who at Guilford committed them to the slaughter only reserving every tenth man either for service or sale Alfred he sent prisoner into the Isle of Ely where his eyes being put out he in short time after dyed through grief and pain Queen Emma's Goods Harald confiscated banished her out of the Realm and oppressed the English people with great payments He dyed at Oxford Elnothus A B. Cant. A.D. 1040 and was buried at Westminster HArdicanute upon the death of Harold was by the States of the Land HARDICANUTE A.D. 1030 as well English as Danes invited over from Denmark to take upon him the government of the Kingdom which he accordingly did and was crowned at London by Elnothus Archbishop of Canterbury The dead body of his half brother King Harold he caused to be taken up and to be thrown into the River Thames which being found by a Fisherman he buried it in the Churchyard of St. Clements Danes so called because the great burial-place of the Danes Hardicanute for the maintaining of his Fleet imposed heavy tributes on the English insomuch that two of the Collectors thereof named Thurstane and Feader were slain by the Citizens of Worcester for which fact their City was burnt and their Bishop Alfred expulsed the See till that with money he had purchased his peace Earl Goodwin presented to this King a Ship whose Stern was of Gold with Eighty soldiers in her all uniformly and richly suited On their heads they all wore gilt Bargenets and on their bodies a triple gilt Habergion swords with gilt hilts girded to their wasts a battel-ax after the manner of the Danes on their left shoulders a target with gilt bosses born in their left hands a dart in the right hand and their arms bound about with two bracelets of gold of six ounces weight But as Hardicanute was revelling and carousing at Lambeth in a solemn Assembly and Banquet He suddenly fell down dead The day of whose death instead of laments was annually celebrated amongst the common people with open pastimes in the streets Which time being the eighth of June is called Hoctide or Hucxtide signifying a time of scorn and contempt which fell upon the Danes by his death He was buried at Winchester A. D. 1042. About four years before the Danes first coming into England which was near the year of our Lord 789 showers of blood fell from Heaven and bloody Crosses were therewith marked upon mens garments 'T is said also that after the Danes had seated themselves in England whilst the English were drinking
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
durst bear Arms in behalf of that Tyrant Richard to which he answered He was my Crowned King and if the Parliamentary authority of England set the Crown upon a stock I vvill fight for that stock And as I fought then for him I will fight for you when you are established by the said Authority King Richard's Crown which was taken amongst the spoils of the field the Lord Stanley Earl of Derby set upon Earl Henries head The slain body of the Usurper all tugg'd and torn stark naked was trussed behind Blanch St. Lieger a Pursevant at Arms like a Hog or Calf the head and arms hanging on one side of the Horse and his legs on the other after which manner it was brought to Leicester where it was buried in the Grey-Friers Church The stone-Chest wherein his Corps lay was at length made a drinking trough for horses at a common Inn. His body if you will credit tradition herein was born out of the City and contemptuously bestowed under Bowbridge His Issue was Edward dead before himself He founded a Colledg at Middleham beyond York and a Collegiate Chantry in London called our Lady of Barking He endowed Queens-Colledg in Cambridg with 500 Marks of yearly revenue He disforested the great field of Whichwood that King Edward his brother had inclosed for his Game and made some good Laws and when divers Shires of England offered him benevolence he refused saying I had rather have your hearts than your money This scoffing Rhime was divulged in contempt of the Usurper Richard and his three principal Creatures The Cat the Rat and Lovell the Dog Rule all England under the Hog The Cat and Rat meant of Catesby and Ratcliff the Dog of Lovell that creature belonging to the Lord Lovell's Arms and the Hog of K. Rich. whose cognisance it was But William Collingbourn Esquire who had been Sheriff of Wiltshire and Devonshire was upon Tower-hill executed with all extremity as Author thereof Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings Time In his first year VVilliam Billesdon was Mayor Thomas Newland VViliam Martin Sheriffs In his second year Thomas Hill was Mayor Richard Chester and he dying Ralph Astry Thomas Britain Sheriffs HENRY VII A D. 1485 Aug. 22. HENRY Earl of Richmond was Son to Margaret Countess of Richmond and Derby daughter to John Duke of Sommerset son to John Earl of Sommerset son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth son of Edward the third October 30th A. D. 1485 was Henry Crowned at Westminster Then the better to secure his estate he shut up the Earl of Warwick the only son and Heir of George Duke of Clarence in the Tower of London Then instituted a guard for his person consisting of a number of choice Archers with allotment of Fees and Maintenance under a peculiar Captain by the name of Yeomen of the Guard for him and his Successors November the seventh was a Parliament assembled at VVestminster at the sitting whereof Richard the late Usurper was attainted and with him many of the Nobility and Gentry Free pardon was also given to all such saving the persons excepted by name as should presently submit themselves to the Kings mercy Reversed also were all former Acts hurtful either to the King or his Friends and the Crown was established upon the King and his Heirs for ever Next the King assumed into his Councel those two renowned Agents in advancing his fortunes John Morton and Richard Fox A. D. 1486 John Morton A.B. Cant. and January the eighteenth he married the Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter of King Edward the fourth to the utter abolisment of all Hostilities between the two Houses or York and Lancaster But there wanted not some male-contents who assayed to disturb these serene days for the Lord Lovell one of the late Usurpers Creatures with Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother assembled forces against the King which upon but the news of an Army coming against them dispersed themselves Sir Humphrey was taken out of Sanctuary and executed at Tyburn When this storm was over the White Rose or York faction raised another procuring one Lambert Symnel to personate one of King Edwards sons Which puppet Lambert was conveyed into Ireland where the Irish adhered to him and in Christ-Church in Dublin Crowned him King of England And into Ireland the Dutchess Dowager of Burgundy sister to Edward the fourth sent this Impostor two thousand Souldiers under the conduct of Collonel Swart These with Irish and some English joyned to them landed in Lancashire at the Pile of Fowdray thence they took their march through York-shire so towards Newark every-where as they came proclaiming their new King Not far from Newark and near to a little village called Stoke the King with his Army encountred them where the fight continued doubtful for about three hours but at last the victory fell to King Henry On Lamberts part were slain the Earl of Lincoln the Lord Lovel Sir Thomas Broughton Colonel Swart and Maurice Fitz-Thomas with four thousand Souldiers On the Kings side fell not any man of Honour but almost half his vant-guard was slain so that the Garland was dipt in blood Amongst the prisoners that were taken was the counterfeit King who had been a Scholler in Oxford and his Tutor Richard Simon a Priest Lambert confessed his parents to be mean persons and of a mean Calling Him the King condemned to his kitchin or scullery at length promoted him to be one of his Falconers in which estate he continued till his death Sim. Subtle or Richard Simon was condemned to a dungeon and perpetual shackles Stoken-field battle was fought A D. 1487 June 16 being Saturday A day of the week observed to have been lucky to this Prince Henry who sent his Royal standard to our Ladies Church of VValsingham in Norfolk there to remain as a Monument of this his Victory and gratitude for it And now the King dispatcheth his Agents into Scotland there to settle amity with James the third and to prevent the retreat and protection that his enemies had found therein Shortly after which some discontented persons in York-shire rose in Arms under pretence that they were oppressed in their Tax or Subsidy but some of these Rebels were routed by the Earl of Surrey who took their Leader John a Chamber prisoner and upon the hearing of the Kings approach the rest of them under the leading of Sir John Egremond dispersed themselves John a Chamber with some others of the chief of the Rebels were executed at York The Kings affairs being setled in a present peaceable estate at home he was next ingaged in a War with France For the carrying on of which his Subjects did largely contribute chiefly the City of London out of which he received for his furniture in that voyage almost ten thousand pounds from the Commoners and two hundred pounds besides from every Alderman And this wise King knowing how great a strength that rich City was to him humoured the
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
danger he was in changed his note confessing himself to be but the man Sir Anthony said Well thou canst never do thy Master better service than to hang for him causing him to be trussed up on the next tree Other commotions arose in other parts of the Realm but the most dangerous was that in Norfolk headed by Robert Ket a Tanner of Wimonham who took upon him to be the Kings Deputy giving out Warrants in the Kings name for what he pleased His Tribunal-seat was in an old Tree where sate the jolly Tanner accompanied with his Counsellors and Assistants being two chosen men out of every hundred of the rout Hither came the complaints of the Camp and from hence Commissions were issued out to plunder Ships and Gentlemens houses of Armour and Artillery so that this Tree was termed the Oak of Reformation Whence likewise sometimes Sermons were delivered and once by the Reverend Dr. Parker for which his life was endangered his Sermon was so displeasing to the Rabble To pacifie these rebells the King caused his general pardon to be proclaimed by an Herald at Arms. Notwithstanding which they still proceeded in their rebellion and made themselves Masters of the City of Norwich The King therefor sent William Parre Marquess of Northampton against them but him they over-powered Then the Lord Dudley Earl of Warwick was imployed against them who with small resistance gained the Market-place of Norwich where he caused sixty rebells whom he had taken immediately to be executed by Martial Law The main body of the rebells entrenched themselves at the foot of the Hill called Dussin-dale partly upon vain Prophesies given forth amongst them by Wisards That Hob Dic and Hie meaning the Clowns should with their clubs fill up the valley of Dussin-dale with dead bodies On August 27 the Earl prepared for fight the rebells likewise set themselves in order placing in their fore-rank all the Gentlemen whom they had taken prisoners coupled in Irons Upon the rebells Captain Drury with his own Band and the Almains charged couragiously and opened their Battel to the setting at liberty of the captive Gentlemen and the Earls light Horsemen came so valiantly on that the rebells gave back and fled and with the foremost their Captain Ket The chase held three miles and more with the slaughter of 3500 rebells The rest of the rebells that kept about the Ordnance by the Generals perswasions and promise of pardon cast away their Weapons and with one voice cried God save King Edward The next day following Ket was apprehended in a Barn where he had hid himself and shortly after was hanged in Chains upon the Castle of Norwich William Ket his brother was hang'd upon the high Steeple of Wimonham and nine other of them were hang'd upon the Oak of Reformation This Rebellion was at the first broacht under the pretence of throwing open the Inclosures which the King by Proclamation had commanded to be done though it was neglected These disturbances being setled others were made in the North by Thomas Dale a Parish Clark William Ombler a Yeoman and one Stevenson the Post of Seymour Their pretences were to restore the Church her rights and to disburthen the Land of Grievances giving out that the Pope was the man that K. Edward was an intruder if not a meer Heretick that the Church had power of both the Swords When these fellows were increased to the number of about 3000 the Kings pardon being sent to them they most of them departed to their own homes but Ombler and Dale with four others were executed at York Septemb. 21 1549. And as the Commons disquieted the Country so did some Lords and Ladies disquiet the Court. The Protector 's brother Thomas Seymour Baron of Sudley High Admiral of England had married Queen Katharine Parre which Lady contending for place with the Protector 's Dutchess occasioned the haughty Dutchess 't is said to procure the Lord Sudley's ruin Which Lord was accused to have designed the getting of the Kings person into his custody and Government of the Realm for the which with some smaller matters charged upon him he was condemned by Act of Parliament and by his brother the Protector 's Warrant was beheaded on Tower-hill March 20. But the Brothers being now disjoined who might have supported each other had they lived together in brotherly love the Protector himself is marked out for destruction Divers Lords article against the Duke accusing him That he had animated the rebells in their rebellion That he was a sower of sedition amongst the Nobles That he had against Law erected a Court of Requests in his own house inforcing divers of the Kings Subjects thither to answer for their free-holds c. And so close and cunningly they prosecuted the matter against him that they got him into the Tower Octob. 12 1549 but the King procured his liberty immediately though not his former Authority In the mean space that the Protector was under these troubles the Scots recovered the places that the English had gained from them The French also attempted to gain the Fort of Bulloinberg by surprize unto which enterprize 7000 men were chosen who secretly marched in the night with Ladders and furniture meet for the design and approached within a quarter of a Mile of the Fort but one Carter an English man a soldier amongst them understanding what was intended hastily and privately made from his Company and gave the Alarm to his Countrymen in the Fort whereupon Sir Nicholas Arnalt the Governour made such preparations against the French mens coming that at their approach he repulsed them with so great a slaughter that fifteen Wagons went away laden with dead bodies of the French After this the French assaulted the Isles of Garnsey and Jersey but were beaten off with the lost of a thousand men Howbeit the French King gave not over till he had recovered by surrender Bulloinberg and the Town of Bulloin which last he purchased at a high price A. D. 1550 that mortal disease called the sweating-sickness raged extreamly through England whereof died the two Sons of Charles Brandon both of them Dukes of Suffolk successively besides an infinite number in their best strength And which is wonderful this disease followed only English men in foreign Countries no other people being infected thereby And to fill up the dolours of these doleful times the good Duke of Sommerset was again by the over-reachings of the Earl of Warwick lately created Duke of Northumberland and other his emulators committed prisoner and not long after put to death For the Duke of Sommerset giving ear to such false friends as sought his ruin privily armed himself and so went to the Council-Table his flatterers having put him in fear of some sudden attempt intended against him But at the Council-Table his bosom being opened and the Armour found he was forthwith apprehended as intending the death of some Counsellor and sent to the Tower Octob. 16 1551 and in December
following he was condemned of Felony as seeking the death of some of the Kings Counsellors and on Febr. 22 of the same year he was brought to the Scaffold on Tower-hill where he thus spake to the people Dearly beloved Friends I am brought hither to suffer death albeit I never offended against the King either in word or deed and have always been as true and faithful to this Realm as any man hath been But forasmuch as I am by Law condemned to die I do acknowledg my self as well as others to be subject thereunto Wherefore to testifie my obedience which I owe unto the Laws I am come hither to suffer death whereunto I willingly offer my self with most hearty thanks unto God that hath given me this time of repentance who might through sudden death have taken away my life that I neither should have acknowledged him nor my self When having uttered these words with others exhortatory That the people would continue constant in the Gospel suddenly there was heard a great noise whereby the assembly was struck into great fear which noise was made by some of the Trainband-Hamlets coming hurrying on the Tower-hill This stir being ceased another presently insued for the people seeing Sir Anthony Brown ride towards the Scaffold they violently ran and crowded together thitherward supposing he had brought a pardon from the King and with a sudden shout cried a pardon a pardon God save the King But these interruptions over the Duke proceeded in his speech requesting the people to join in prayer with him for the King exhorting them unto obedience to him and his Council Which done asking every man forgiveness and declaring that he freely forgave every man he meekly submitted his head to the Axe Whose death the people were much grieved for speaking very bitterly against the Duke of Northumberland and the good King sorely mourned because of it which likely did much increase his Consumptive distemper that brought him to his end Whilst he lay in his weakness he was over-wrought to disinherit his two sisters Mary and Elizabeth and to ordain by Will for his Successor to Englands Diadem Guilford Dudley's Wife Jane the elder Daughter of the Duke of Suffolk whose Mother the Lady Frances was the Daughter of Mary Queen of France and Charles Branden Duke of Suffolk Unto this Will of King Edward all his Council the Bishops and all the Judges saving Sir John Hallis subscribed When the King drew towards his last breath he prayed as followeth Lord God deliver me out of this miserable life and take me among thy chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be done Lord I commit my spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy Chosen sake if it be thy will send me life and health that I may truly serve thee O my Lord bless thy people and save thine inheritance O Lord God save thy chosen people of England O my Lord God defend this Realm from Papistry and maintain thy true Religion that I and my people may praise thy holy Name for thy Son Jesus Christs sake So turning his face and seeing some by him he said I thought you had not been so nigh Yes said Dr. Owen we heard you speak to your self Then said the King I was praying to God O I am faint Lord have mercy upon me and receive my Spirit And in so saying he yielded up the Ghost July 6 1553. And was interred in the Chappel of St. Peters at Westminster He was a Prince very well learned in the Latin and Greek Tongues also in the French Spanish and Italian adorned with the skill of Logick Natural Philosophy Musick and Astronomy Of such observation and memory that he could tell and recite all the Ports Havens and Creeks belonging to England Scotland and France what coming in there was how the Tide served in every of them what burden of Ship and what wind best served the coming into them Of all his Nobles chief Gentry and Magistrates he took special notice of their hospitality and religious conventions He was very sparing of his Subjects blood though rebells or hereticks When Joan Butcher was to be burnt for heresie all his Council could not move him to sign the Warrant for her execution till Dr. Cranmer A. B. laboured with him therein to whom the King said What my Lord will you have me send her quick to hell And taking the Pen he used this speeeh I will lay all the charge hereof upon Cranmer before God So zealous he was for the reformed Religion and against Popery that he thrust out all the Roman fopperies out of the Churches and superstitions out of the English Church nor would he permit his sister Mary to have Mass said in her house though the Emperour Charles made suit for it in her behalf So charitable that he conferred on the City of London Christs-Hospital and St. Thomas-Hospital for the relief of the Impotent fatherless Children and wounded Soldiers and Bridewell for vagabond and idle persons and so circumspect as to himself and publick that he kept a Journal-Book written with his own hand how all things proceeded with him and the state even from the first day of his raign unto his death The Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings Reign In his first Year Sir John Gresham was Mayor Thomas White Robert Chertsey Sheriffs In his second Year Henry Amcoats was Mayor William Lock Sir John Ayleph Sheriffs In his third Year Sir Rowland Hill was Mayor John Yorke Richard Turk Sheriffs In his fourth Year Sir Andrew Jud was Mayor Augustine Hinde John Lion Sheriffs In his fifth Year Sir Richard Dobbes was Mayor John Lambert John Cowper Sheriffs In his sixth Year Sir George Barne was Mayor William Garret or Gerard John Mainard Sheriffs Queen MARY A.D. 1553 PIOVS King Edward having exchanged this wretched life for an happy the Councel in the first place perswaded the Lord Mayor and certain of the Aldermen of London to take their Oathes to be faithful to the Lady Jane Grey then caused the said Lady Jane to be proclaimed in London Queen of England But when Queen Mary heard the news of her brothers death and the Councels proceeds by her Letters she required the Councel as they tendred her displeasure and their own safeties to proclaim her Queen and Governour of the Land Unto which Letters the Lords forthwith answered That by good Warrant of Ancient Laws of the Realm besides the last Will of King Edward the right was in the Lady Jane to govern England unto whom therefore and none other they must yield subjection They also remembred the Queen of the unlawful marriage and divorce of her Mother of her own illegitimation desiring her to forbear any furder claim and to submit her self to the Queen Jane now her Soveraign Which Letters sent to Queen Mary were subscribed by Thomas Canterbury Archbishop Thomas Ely Chancellor Henry Suffolk Duke The Duke of
and hanged at Wapping A. D. 1609 was the New-Exchange built the King naming it Britains-Burse In the same year the King by Proclamation prohibited all foreign Nations from fishing on any of the coasts of England Scotland Ireland or the Isles adjacent without special License from his Commissioners In this year also the King according to an ancient custom had aid of his Subjects through England for making his eldest son Prince Henry Knight A. D. 1610 June 4th all Roman Priests Jesuits and Seminaries as being the Incendiaries of disturbances were commanded to depart the Realm Then the Oath of Allegiance was ministred to all sorts of people His Majesty caused to be built the goodliest Ship of War that had ever been built in England being of the burthen of 1400 Tun and carrying 64 pieces of Ordinance Prince Henry named it the Prince A. D. 1612 The Corps of Mary late Queen of Scotland the Kings Mother was translated from Peterborough to the Chappel-Royal at Westminster On November the sixth following Prince Henry died of a malignant Fever which reigned that year in most parts of the Land Some said that he died by poisoned grapes which he eat others by Gloves of a poisoned perfume given him for a present but be his death by what means it would certain it is that he was infinitely beloved of the people as one that had given great hopes of proving a wise and Martial Prince February 14th the marriage of the Prince Palatine of the Rhyne with the Princess Elizabeth was solemnized in the Chappel at White-Hall She was attired all in white having a rich Crown of Gold upon her head her hair hanging down at length curiously beset with Pearls and precious Stones her train supported by 12 young Ladies all in white In this same year the City of London having before had the Province of Vlster granted them by the King for a plantation sent thither about three hundred persons of all sorts of Handy-crafts-men chiefly to inhabit the Cities of London-derry and Coleraign And for the advancing of this or the like plantation in Ireland the King about this time began a new Order of Knights called Baronets which Order he stinted within the number only of two hundred and as the Issue should fail the Order to cease About this time also an exemplar punishment was imposed upon Sir Peckshall Brockas which was to stand at Pauls-Cross in a white sheet holding a wand in his hand he having been formerly convicted before the High-Commissioners for many notorious adulteries with divers Women About A. D. 1614 Mr. Hugh Middleton Citizen and Goldsmith of London with infinite cost and labour brought the New-river to the City of London from the two great springs of Chadwel and Amwel in Hartfordshire And about the same time was the Moor-Fields by London converted from deep stinking ditches and noisom Common-shores to pleasant sweet Walks A. D. 1615 Smithfield which was before a rude dirty place was paved all over and the middle part thereof railed in September 27th the Lady Arbella the Kings Cousin-German died She had sometime before without the Kings privity secretly married the Earl of Hartfords younger Son for which they were both committed to the Tower Sir Edward Cook the famous Lawyer upon some displeasure was discharged from being Lord Chief Justice In this year was a divorce made betwixt Robert Devereux Earl of Essex and his Countess for his Insufficiency and she left free to marry any other After which divorce Robert Carre Earl of Sommerset took her to Wife But Sir Thomas Overbury the Earls special friend having disswaded the match and perhaps laid some imputation on the Ladies fame according to desert did by this means so incense these Lovers against him that they first made means to have the said ingenious Gentleman committed to the Tower and then by their instruments to have him poisoned some say by a Tansey sent him to eat some by a Clister ministred to him For which fact Sir Gervas Elwes then Lieutenant of the Tower and Mrs. Turner with others were put to death The Earl and his Countess were also arraigned and condemned but had a lease of their lives granted them for ninety-nine years yet so as after never to see the Kings face more This made way for the advancement of Mr. George Villers for this great favourite the Lord Carre being upon this occasion laid aside the said Mr. Villers was accepted in his stead Whom the King first of all Knighted and made Gentleman of his Bedchamber soon after Viscount and Master of his Horse a while after Earl of Buckingham then Marquess of Buckingham and Lord High Admiral and lastly Duke of Buckingham A person 't is said he was of delicate composure of body and of excellent natural parts and one that was very mindful of his Relations and Kindred most of whom he procured to be advanced A. D. 1618 Sir Walter Rawleigh who had lived a condemned man many years in the Tower of London now to procure some liberty propounded to the King a project for the fetching of Gold from a Mine in Guyana and that without any wrong to the King of Spain This the King condescended unto and Sir Walter set forward in his Voyage but when after a real or only a shew of search no treasure could be found he fell upon St. Thome belonging to the King of Spain George Abbot A B. Cant which he plundred and burnt then returned though to his ruin For though Sir Walter sought to excuse his spoiling of St. Thome by alledging that the Spaniards had first assaulted him and moreover that he could not come at the Mine without first winning of that Town yet did the Spanish Lieger Gundamoâ—e so aggravate this his fact and prevailed so with the King who preferred the publick peace before the life of a man already condemned that he gave way to have the sentence of his former condemnation executed upon him And accordingly this man famous for Letters and Arms was beheaded in the Parliament-yard at Westminster In this Year 1618 and March the second Queen Anne died at Hampton-Court and was buried at Westminster The November preceding her death a famous Comet or Blazing-Star appeared A. D. 1620 July the seventeenth Bernard Calvert of Andover rode from St. Georges Church in Southwark to Dover from thence passed by Barge to Callis in France and from thenee returned back to St. Georges Church the same day This his journey he performed betwixt the hours of three in the morning and eight in the afternoon A.D. 1621 Sir Francis Michel a Justice of the Peace of Middlesex was sentenced by Parliament to Ride with his face to the Horse-tail through the City of London for practising sundry abuses in setting up new Ale-houses and exacting monies contrary to the Law This sentence was executed upon him Sir Francis Bacon Viscount St. Albans Lord Chancellor of England was for bribery but it was his servants that were bribed put out
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