Castle an honourable Mansion of his own where he continued and kept a bounteful house to the time of his death which happened in the fourscore and sixth year of his age He was buried at Thetford Abbey in Norfolk dying after a most generous life worth a large estate so clear from debt that at his death he owed not one groat to any person whatsoever an unusual happiness to attend so great a Souldier and Courtier as he was From this famous Duke is descended the Right Honorable James Earl of Suffolk whose great Grandfather Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk married Margret sole Daughter and Heir to Sir Thomas Audley Lord Chancellour of England by whom he had issue Thomas Lord Howard of Walden and Earl of Suffolk who built that magnificent Structure at Audley-end who left the same to his Son and Heir Theophilus a worthy Gentleman the Father of James Earl of Suffolk now living Anno 1659. To whom with his most vertuous Lady I wish all encrease of true honour and felicity To the greater honour of these Progenies this Heroick Earl died so much a Laureat that his Songs and Sonnets by all those that rightly understand Poetry are looked upon as in those dayes to have been the Muses Parnassus so that for his Epitaph there needed no more to be writ but that here lies interred The greatest Courtier the most valiant Souldier and the most accomplisht Poet of those times The Life of CARDINAL VVOLSEY Fortunae variantis opus Wolsaeus ad alta Scandit iter dubium certa minitante ruina CArdinal VVolsey the Tennis-ball of Fortune was born at Ipswich in Suffolk of so poor and despicable Parents that were his story of an ancient date and not delivered by Authentique Historians it might pass for a fiction his Father being no more but a poor Butcher from so low a beginning did he rise to the highest pitch of honour His Education in youth was at Oxford in Maudlin Colledge from thence he was preferred to be School-master to the Marquess of Dorsets Children where he first learned to be imperious over noble blood the Marquess dying Wolsey went into France to seek his Fortune and coming to Callis became servant to Sir John Naphant then Treasurer of the Town where he behaved himself with so great discretion that his Master shortly preferred him to King Henry the Seventh Having thus cast Anchor at Court the Haven of hope and Port of Promotion he was more then double diligent in the Kings eye and very serviceable to Doctour Fox Bishop of Wincheter Secretary and Lord Privy Seal as also to Sir Thomas Lovel Master of the Wards and Constable of the Tower who perswaded King Henry having urgent business with Maximilian the Emperour to send Wolsey in Embassage unto him being at that present in the Countrey of Flanders who returned again before he was thought to be gone and withal concluded some Points forgot in his directions to the hight contentment of King Henry for the which he bestowed upon him the Deanry of Lincolne and not long after made him his Almoner But King Henries day now drawing towards night he adores the rising Sun Prince Henry and having found the length of his foot fitteth him with an easie shoe well knowing there could be no loss to humour him who was so able to give nor was he deceived in his expectation for Henry afterwards coming to be King and having conquered the City of Tourney in France bestowed the Bishoprick of the same upon VVolsey and not long after made him Bishop of Lincolne and Archbishop of York And now being Primas Anglia carried himself accordingly by erecting his Cross in the Kings Court although within the Jurisdiction of Canterbury which high presumption VVilliam Archbishop of Canterbury greatly checked But VVolsey not abiding any Superious obtained to be made Priest Cardinal and Legatus de Latere unto whom the Pope sent a Cardinals Hat with certain Bulls for his Authority in that behalf And now remembring the taunts he had received from Canterbury found means with the King that he was made Lord Chancellour of England and Canterbury which was Chancellour dismissed who had continued in that place long since before the death of King Henry the Seventh VVolsey now sitting at the Helm of Church and State had two Crosses and two Pillars born ever before him the one of his Archbishoprick the other of his Legacy by two of the tallest Priests that were to be found in the Realm To the better maintenance of which chargeable estate the King bestowed on him the Bishoprick of VVinchester and in Commendam the Abbey of St. Albans and with them he held in Farm the Bishopricks of Bathe VVorcester and Hereford enjoyed by strangers incumbents not residing in the Realm so that now being Bishop of Tourney Lincolne York VVinchester Bathe VVorcester and Hereford he seemed a Monster with seven heads and each of them crowned with the Mitre of a Bishop far different from the state of his Lord and Master Christ who had not a hole wherein to hide his head Yet his ambition resteth not here next he aspires to the Triple Crown he onely wants Holiness and must be Pope to the attaining of which Dignity he makes means to the Romish Cardinals as also to the Emperour Charles the Fifth Gold he gave to the Cardinals and they gave him golden promises although they proved but empty performances nor did the Emperour serve him any better promising much but performing nothing VVolsey hereat enraged studies revenge and by his instruments seeks to make a divorce betwixt Queen Katherine Dowager the Emperours Aunt and King Henry the Eighth his Master thereby to advance a Marriage betwixt him and the King of France's sister But though he effected the one he failed in the other for contrary to his expectation King Henry fell in love with Anna Bullen a Gentlewoman nothing favourable to his Pontificial Pomp nor no great follower of the Rites of those times which moved the Cardinal the Pope having assumed the sentence of Queen Katherines cause unto himself to write unto his Holiness to defer the judgement of Divorce till he had wrought the Kings minde in another mould But though this was done secretly it came to the Kings ear and wrought his minde quite off from the Cardinal which finally was the cause of his confusion for upon the Kings dislike the Counsel articled against him and the Law found him in a Premunire for procuring to be Legatus de latere and advancing the Popes Power against the Laws of the Realm for which resentment the Kings displeasure was so incenst that the Broad Seal was taken from him and most of his other Spiritual Preferments his house and furniture seized on to the Kings use and himself removed to Cawood Castle in Yorkshire Yet was he still left Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of York to which last providing for his installing state equivalent to a Kings Coronation he was arrested of
Ships he had crost the Seas from Portsmouth into Normandy But King Richard made not so much haste to succour but the French King made as much haste to be gone here Earl John submits himself to his Brother who upon his submission restores his possessions unto him saying onely I wish you may as well remember your fault as I shall forget it King Richard following the French King overtakes him at Vendome who affrighted at his approach the second time flies without striking a stroak leaving behinde him all his bag and baggage Munition Tents and Treasure to a marvellous value together with the Indentures of such as had left King Richard to serve King Philip. Much about that time one Philip Bishop of Bevois a Martial man and who much annoyed the English borders was fortunately taken in a Skirmish by King Richards side who put him in prison the Bishop hereupon complained to the Pope who wrote in the behalf of his son as an ecclesiastical person and a Shepherd of the Lords The King sent unto the Pope the Armour he was taken in and engraved thereon the words which Jacobs sons used when they sold their Brother Joseph and presented their Father with his Coat Vide utrum filii tui tunica sit vel non See whether it be thy Sons Coat or no. Whereupon the Pope replyed That he was neither his Son nor the Son of the Church and therefore should be ransomed at the Kings will because he was rather judged to be a Servitor of Mars then a Souldier of Christ I am now come to the last act of this Kings Life which drew the black cloud of death over this triumphal and bright shining star of Chevalry one Widomare Vicount of Limoges having found a great hord of Gold and Silver sent part thereof to King Richard as chief Lord but he over covetous would not be contented without all pretending that treasure was wholly his by vertue of his Prerogative Royal. Thereupon marches with a great power to a Castle of the Vicounts called Chaluz where he supposed the riches were the Garrison of which place offered to yield the same and all therein if onely their lives and limbs might be saved but he would not accept of any conditions bidding them defend themselves as they could for he would enter by the Sword and hang them all but in the assault he was slain by a shot from an Arbalist the use of which warlike engine he first shewed unto the French Whereupon a French Poet made these verses in the person of Atropos Hoc volo non aliâ Richardum morte perire Vt qui Francigenis Balista primitùs usum Tradidit ipse sui rem primitùs experiatur Quamque aliis docuit in se vim sentiat artis It is decreed thus must great Richard dye As he that first did teach the French to dart An Arbalist 't is just he first should try The strength and taste the fruits of his own art The man which shot him was named Bertram de Gurdon who being brought before the King who neglecting his wound gave not over the assault till he had mastered the place boldly justified his action as done in defence of his Countrey and to revenge the death of his Father and Brother whom this King had slain with his own hand Which said the King caused him to be set at liberty and gave him an hundred shillings sterling but after the King was dead one Markadey a Captain of Rutters took him flead him quick and hanged him up Concerning his issue some report him to have none at all others two but illegitimate a Priest in Normandy is reported to have told him he had three daughters which he wished to bestow in marriage or else Gods wrath would attend him the King denying he had any daughter Yes said the Priest you have three Pride Covetousness and Leachery The King apprehensive of the Priests meaning called his Lords there attending and said My Lords this Hypocrite hath found that I have three daughters viz. Pride Covetousness and Leachery which he would have me bestow in marriage and therefore if any such I have I have found out most fit husbands for them all My Pride I bequeath to to thee haughty Templers and Hospitallers who are as proud as Lucifer himself My Covetousness I give to the white Monks of the Cisteaux Order for they covet the Devil and all But for my Leachery I can bestow it no where better then on the Priests and Prelates of our times for therein have they their most felicity Doubtless saith Speed these marriages proved so fruitful that their issue hath now overflowed all Kingdoms of the earth In this Kings dayes lived that famous Out-law Robin Hood accompanied with one called little John and a hundred stout fellows more who as Sir Richard Baker saith molested all Passengers upon the High way of whom it is reported that he was of Noble Blood at least made Noble no less then an Earl for some deserving services but having wasted his Estate in Riotous courses very penury forced him to take this course in which yet it may be said he was honestly dishonest for he seldome hurt any man never any woman spared the poor and onely made prey of the rich till the King setting forth a Proclamation to have him apprehened it happened he fell sick at a certain Nunnery called Brickleys in York shire and desiring there to be let blood was betrayed and made bleed to death Of all Thieves saith Major this same was the Prince and the most gentle Thief The Life of King EDWARD the Third HAving already as it were in a Land-scape discovered some part of the holy War I shall now with a careful brevity pass through the transactions of our Wars with France as they were managed with victorious success in the Reigns of Edward the Third and Henry the Fifth to which to compleat the History I have added the Life of John Earl of Bedford with whose Life the Honour of our English Gallantry in France expired Edward the Third sirnamed of Windsor his Birth-place was eldest son to King Edward the Second who for some misgovernments during the time of his Reign was by the factious Nobility deposed from the Crown and not long after deprived of his life by the procurement as it is said of his Wife Queen Isabel Lord Mortimer and some others and young Edward Crowned King Anno. 1327. Who though he thus rise by Fathers ruine yet may in some sort be excused of the same First in regard of his adolescency for though he were then married yet had he not attained to 15. years of age nor could he be induced to accept of the Crown until he was certified by some of his Lords that his Father had voluntary resigned it unto him besides the exemplary punishment he took on the Lord Mortimer a chief actor in his Fathers Tragedy may in part assure as of his Innocency therein In the mean time to divert
ENGLANDS WORTHIES The Liues of the Most Eminent Persons from CONSTANTINE the Great to OLIUER CROMWELL Late Protector Printed for N Brooke at the Angel in Cornhill 1660. 1 C 2 K A 3 St D 4 K I 5 E d C 6 W th C 7 T B 8 R t 1 9 E t 3 10 B P 11 Sir J H 12 I C 13 H t 5 14 D B 15 E d W 16 R 3d 17 E d S 18 T W 19 T M 20 T C 21 Sr P S 22 E d L 23 W B 24 Sr F D 25 F W 26 N B 27 R E d E 28 R C 29 Sr T O 30 Sr W R 31 W C 32 T S 33 Sir F B 34 B p A 35 I D 36 D B 37 Sr H W 38 E o S 39 B p L 40 E d E 41 Sir C L 42 K C 43 L d C 44 ma M 45 B p V 46 47 O C England's WORTHIES Select LIVES of the most Eminent Persons from Constantine the Great to the death of Oliver Cromwel late Protector Polib Historici est ne quid falsi audeat dicere ne quid veri non audeat By WILLIAM WINSTANLEY Gent. N B London Printed for Nath. Brooke at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1660. To the Right Honourable Somerset Lord Herbert of Ragland Son and Heir of Edward Marquess of Worcester Earl of Glamorgan c. To the Right Honourable William Seimor Lord Beuchampe Grand-childe and Heir to the Right Honourable the Marquess of Hertford To the Right Honourable Charles Dormer Lord Dormer of Wing Son and Heir to the Right Honourable the Earl of Canarvan My Lords I Have chosen to present you with this Volume not onely as it is worthy of the Ages past but also of your Lordships present view the Affinity of your Blood and Greatness challenging from me no less then these prostrate respects as I could desire no firmer nor safer an Anchorage then in so proper a Dedication no despairing that my Pen hath produc'd something worthy of your entertainments as I have set before your eyes forty seven Select Lives of our English Heroes the greatest Princes the most Reverend Cleargy-men eminent States-men and valiant Souldiers all deceast As to History it self a Modern Writer expresses 't is the study of the Holy Scripture that becomes a Gentleman of the Ecclesiastical History a Christian and of the Brittish History an English man all which Qualifications in some measure meeting in your Honours as well as in this Work it self gives me some assurance that these my weak endeavours would not be unwelcome to you My Lords he that hath the Spirit and Blood of his Ancestours in his veins cannot be so much turned into a Statue as to stand still and admire the different Fortunes this mans greatness and of that mans lowness so as not onely to reflect on the tributary brooks of the former Matches of the Nobility but also to look back to matter of fact what our Predecessours have been as well as what we our selves at the present are least falling short of the imitation of their immortal actions we so strangely degenerate as not to understand what we our selves ought to be The clear Fountain flowing from the true Nobility of late being so disturbed it is the office of an honest and true Historian if not his duty to have so much of the Herald as to Register the Descents Issues worthy Acts Atchievements Mannagements of our of late so little imitated Ancestors of these several alterations in Nobility one observes there are three principle Actors on the Theater of great Families the Beginner Advancer and Ruiner in all these our uncivil troublesome times we have heard more of the latter then of the other two one experiencst though unfortunate good amongst the many mischiefs which a Civil War occasions is that in the ransacking of Studies accidentally though determined otherwise the Togati and the Armati meet several Manuscripts which otherwise would have remained useful only to private persons have been by Divine Providence miraculously preserved contrary to the intentions of the Agents whose Barbarismes had snuft out the candle to the present Age and deprived posterity of those Illustrations from which they might know that truth which otherwise they should never have been acquainted with as they endeavoured that the most remarkable Affairs of these times should have otherwise been hid under a bushel To your Honor my Lord Herbert I make this particular Address though this Dedication is joynt as in respect of your happy Assinities as you are Father-in-law to one of these youthful Branches of Honour in respect of your advantages of some years so your grandeur and experience renders you a History of your self and in respect of their tender ages another to them My Lord I know to your Honour it is no less then a Prodigy that our English Gentlemen should be more exact and refin'd in knowing the Religion Laws Governments Strengths Scites Customs and Fashions of Forreign Countreys then of their own wherein themselves are Natives which caused a deserving Historian as it were to sigh out this expression What pitty is it for a proper Gentleman to have such a crick in his neck that he cannot look so much as over his shoulder to know his own History much less so far behinde him as to reflect on actions long since performed I have presumed to intimate thus much to your Honor as you are another Burleigh or Raleigh to give better advice to your youthful Kinsmen My Lords I have chosen you as out of the Caesars to affix your names to this Epitome of Lives that as Julius was his own History and Commentary so your Honours though yet but in the abstract of time might pass it to posterity to which purpose I have chosen your united protections Since I have been writing this History there hath been no less then three alterations Regal Protectorship and now a Commonwealth I first undertook this enterprize in the time of Monarchy continued it in the short space of Protectorship and finished it in the immediate initiation of the Commonwealth in all which progressions if the Liberty of the Subjects modest prospects are shut up or not allow'd if in these days that Lots little one of truth by these present times posterity must be deprived of wise and honest men will be seriously sensible of such obstructions the maliciousness of such Machiavillians puts me in mind of what elegant Mr. Fuller cites what Naturalists observe of the Toad who before she can be surprized by death sucks up the supposed precious stone in her head which till then was but a jelly thus some men are so cowardly that they had rather have History buried with them then that the least part of civil truth should be writ whilest they live as if they deserved no Chronicle or were only to be suffered in Libellous Pamphlets which wise men scorn to cast their eyes on I confess we live in times of Jealousies nevertheless
Sleidan Speed Stow Sozomenus Sabellicus Stapleton Suetonius Spenser Sir Philip Sidney Serres Selden T Theodoritus Tibullus Tacitus Trussel Nicholas Trivet Tertullian V Victor Verstigan Virgil W Will. of Newberry Will. of Malmsbury Walsingham Weever Waller X Xenophon Z Zosimus The Reader is desired to correct these Errata's with his Pen the most material being in Sir Walter Raleigh's Life his Letter to the Duke of Buckingham should have been placed after his Voyage to Guyana PAge 17. line 30. read falne p. 24. l. 25. for Danes read English l. 32. r. depart p. 44 l. 17. r. Denmark p. 80. l. 1. r. his l. 11. r. sky p. 92. l. 6. for himself r. him p. 101. l 6. r. progress p. 129. l. 18. after enterprize r. which they refused p. 186. l. 8. r. the. p. 207. l. 12. r. they p. 228. l 27. r. bait p. 251. in the title r. Sir Walter Raleigh p. 253. l. 17. r. Rams l. 29. r. unfortunately p. 255. l. 16. r. intercessor p. 279. l. 18. r. Pallas p. 329. l. 2. r. Strafford p. 333. l. 19. r. Strafford p. 405. l. 3. r. Louden p. 477. l. 29. r. fit p. 520. l. last r. Ship p. 562. l. 33. r. tail The Names of those whose Lives are written in this Book 1 COnstantine the Great Folio 1 2 King Arthur Folio 8 3 Dunstan Folio 16 4 Edmond Ironside Folio 22 5 Edward the Confessor Folio 29 6 William the Conqueror Folio 38 7 Thomas Becket Folio 49 8 Richard the First Folio 55 9 Edward the Third Folio 66 10 Edw. the Black Prince Folio 79 11 Sir John Hawkwood Folio 88 12 Geoffery Chaucer Folio 91 13 Henry the Fifth Folio 98 14 John D. of Bedford Folio 115 15 Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick Folio 125 16 Richard the Third Folio 140 17 Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey Folio 145 18 Cardinal Wolsey Folio 151 19 Sir Thomas Moor Folio 155 20 Thomas Cromwel Earl of Essex Folio 170 21 Sir Philip Sidney Folio 179 22 Robert E. of Leicester Folio 186 23 The Lord Burleigh Folio 195 24 Sir Francis Drake Folio 205 25 Sir Francis Walsingham Folio 215 26 Sir Nicholas Bacon Folio 219 27 Robert Devereux Earl of Essex Folio 221 28 Sir Robert Cecil Folio 238 29 Sir Tho. Overbury Folio 241 30 Sir Walter Rawleigh Folio 250 31 Mr. Wil. Cambden Folio 261 32 Mr. Tho. Sutton Folio 268 33 Sir Francis Bacon Folio 273 34 Lancelot Andrews Bishop of Winchester Folio 289 35 Doctor Donne Folio 298 36 George Villiers Duke of Buckingham Folio 308 37 Sir Henry Wotton Folio 319 38 Tho. Wentworth Earle of Strafford Folio 329 39 William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury Folio 343 40 Robert Devereux Earl of Essex General of the Parliaments Forces Folio 350 41 Sir Charles Lucas Folio 356 42 King Charles Folio 363 43 The Lord Capel Folio 433 44 James Marquesse of Montross Folio 446 45 Bishop Usher Folio 469 46 John Lilburne Folio 479 47 Oliver Cromwel Folio 525 Englands Worthies Select Lives of the most Eminent PERSONS of the Three Nations from Constantine the Great to the Death of the late Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell COnstantine for his many Victories sirnamed the Great was Son to Constantius Emperour of Rome his Mother was named Hellena being Daughter unto Caelus a Brittish Prince though some Jews and Gentiles out of hatred to her Religion have reported her to be an Inholder or Hoastess he was born in England as all Writers affirm two petty Greek Authors only dissenting who deserve to be arraigned of felony for robbing our Country of its honor Colchester was the place where he first beheld the light as the Ancient Poet Necham sung From Colchester there rose a Star The Rayes whereof gave glorious light Throughout the world in Climates far Great Constantine Romes Emperour bright At such time as he was Caesar under Constantius his Father he was left at Rome as Hostage with Galerius the Emperour but perceiving his death to be by him attempted he posted to Brittain in all haste to his father who was newly returned to the City of York from an expedition he had made against the Picts and Caledonians Constantius at the time of his sons arrival was sick of the Plague whereof he died immediately afterwards the sight of his son at the present so revived his spirits that raising himself upon his bed he set the Crown Imperial upon his head and in the presence of his Privy Councellours spake to this effect Now is my death to me more welcome and my departure hence more pleasant seeing I shall leave my unaccomplished actions to be performed by thee my Son in whose person I question not but that my memorial shall be retained as in a monument of eternal fame What I had intended but by death prevented see thou accomplish let thine Empire be governed uprightly by Justice protecting the innocents from the tyranny of oppressours wiping away all tears from the eyes of Christians for therein above all things have I esteemed my self happy to thee therefore I commend my Diadem and their defence taking my Faults along with me to my grave but leaving my Vertues to revive and live in thee With the conclusion of which words he concluded his life leaving his Subjects sorrowful for his departure but the grief they received by the death of the Father was mittigated in the hopes they conceived of his Son who so resembled his Father in all vertuous conditions that though the Emperour was changed yet his good government remained For as one writes Sol occubuit nox nulla secuta est The sun was gone but night was none Another writes thus of him Great Constantine preserv'd by Heavens decree Of mighty Rome the Emperour to be Constantine thus chosen Emperour in Brittain was confirmed Emperour by the Senate of Rome who like the Persians adored the rising Sun giving approbation to what they could not remedy his first expedition was against the Picts and Caledonians which War his Father had begun but death prevented him to finish it leaving the prosecution thereof to his son Constantine that the Fabrick of so many victories by him atchieved might have the foundation thereof laid in Brittain nor was his success contrary to his expectation subduing the inhabitants that were most remote witnesses saith one of the suns set or going down Whilest Constantine was thus busied in Brittain Maxentius by the tumultuous souldiers was proclaimed Emperour at Rome whose sister Fausta Constantine had married but his tyrannical usurpation grew so odious to the Senate that they sent to Constantine for his aid who willingly hearkening to what they so earnestly desired prepared his forces against the new elected Emperour Maximianus the Father of the Tyrant faining to abhor the outragiousness of his son but seeking indeed to uphold him in his tyranny repaired to his Son in law Constantine with an intent to murther him but revealing his intentions to his Daughter Fausta was by her detected and being taken was
we have inserted as followeth Emma tantum nomina Regina filiis Edwardo Alfrido materna impertit salutamina c. Emma in name onely Queen to Edward and Alfred her sons sendeth motherly greetings whilst we severally bewail the death of our Soveraign my Lord and your Father and your selves dear sons still more and more dispossessed from the Kingdom your lawful inheritance I greatly marvel what you determine to do sith you know that the delay of attempts gives the Usurper more leasure to lay his foundation and more safety to set thereon his intended buildings never ceasing to post from Town to Town and from City to City to make the Lords and Rulers of them his friends by threats prayers or rewards but notwithstanding his policy they privately signifie that they had rather have one of you their Natives should reign over them then this Danish usurper Wherefore my advice is that either of you with all speed repair unto me that we may advise together what is best to be done in this so great an enterprise fail not therefore but send me word by this messenger what you intend to do herein and so fare ye well Your affectionate Mother Emma The bait thus laid to catch these two Princes was greedily swallowed by Alfred the youngest who though the last born had not the least hopes to wear the English Diadem and making Baldwine Earl of Flanders his and some few Bullogners increasing his Fleet he took the Seas for England where for his welcome he was betrayed by Earl Goodwin under the notion of friendship and by the command of King Harold inhumanely murthered but Edward whether mistrusting the plot or rather liking a private life with safety then a publick with danger tarried behinde and so escaped those miseries that Alfred encountred But as it is commonly seen that a sinful life is rewarded with a sudden death so King Harolds sweet beginning had a sowre end dying miserably after he had raigned four years and some few moneths his speedy death cutting off the infamy of a longer life in whose room succeeded his brother in law Hardi-Canute the son of Queen Emma by Canutus her last husband who though little differing from the other in conditions yet is better reported of by Writers of that age because he lovingly entertained his half brother Edward and made Earl Goodwin purge himself for the death of Prince Alfred so that we may in part wonder at former writers that they should conclude Earl Goodwin to be guilty of that murther and yet report he cleared himself of the same to Hardi-Canute but his oath say some was the lighter urged and the easier believed by reason he had not long before presented to the king most bountiful gifts namely a ship whose sterne was of Gold with fourscore Soldiers therein placed all uniformly and richly suited on each of their arms were two bracelets of Gold with gilt Burgonets on their heads and on their bodies a triple gilt Habergion a Sword with gilt Hilts guirded to their wastes a Battel Ax on their left shoulders a Target with gilt Bosses borne in their left hands and a Dart in the right The King now wholly following his pleasures or rather to say more truly his vices delighting in nothing but swilling and Epicurisme he soon received the reward of his intemperance for being at Lambeth at the celebration of a Marriage revelling and carousing in the midst of his Cups he suddenly fell down dead with the Pot in his hand after he had reigned two years and was buried at Winchester His death was so welcome unto his Subjects that they annually celebrated the day of his death with open pastimes in the streets which custom continued even to these our times being called Hoctide or Huckstide signifying a time of scorning or contempt The Danish Line now clean extinguished for Hardi-Canute left no issue behinde him the glory of the Saxons which had long lay buried in their own ashes began again to revive and flourish for the English Lords weary of the insulting Tyranny of the Danes and willing one of their own Natives should rule with a general consent chose Prince Edward for their King who being at that present with Duke William in Normandy they sent Ambassadors unto him to signifie his Election and that he might be ascertained their intentions were real they delivered him Pledges for his more assurance Edward accepting as indeed who would deny so honourable an offer with some few Normans repaired into Englad where he was entertained of the people with such acclamations of joy as might well gain credence of their hearty affections towards him The first thing he did after his Coronation was his remitting the yearly Tribute of forty thousand pounds gathered by the name of Danegilt imposed by his Father and for forty years together paid out of all mens Lands except onely the Clergies who were exempted from the same Because the Kings reposed more confidence in the Prayers of the Holy Church then in the power of Armies It is reported the Kings clemency was moved to this compassion on this following occasion When the Collectors of this money had gotten a great quantity of the same together they brought it into his chamber and laid it all on one heap the King being called to see this great heap of Treasure was at the first sight thereof much afraid protesting he saw the Devil dancing upon the same with exceeding great joy whereupon he commanded it should be restored again to the former owners and released his Subjects of that Tribute for ever Many such like stories are of this King related and perhaps more then with safety of truth may be either believed or delivered which we shall the rather overpass because that in stories of this nature they are less to be blamed for omitting two verities then relating one falshood Divers Laws being then used in several parts of the Kingdom viz. the Mercians West Saxons Danes and Northumbrians their multiplicity causing much confusion he extracted from them all the chiefest and best and made of them one universal and common Law throughout the Land being in a manner the fountain of those which at this day we tearm the Common Laws though the forms of pleading and process therein were afterwards brought in by King William the Conquerour His Wife was named Editha the vertuous Daughter of an infamous Father Earl Godwin a Lady incomparable for Beauty and Vertue in whose Breast was a School of all Liberal Sciences saith William of Malmesbury Her honourable qualifications might have expiated to her Husband King Edward her Fathers former treachery to his Brother Vnto to this Edward as that ancient Writer hath it in these following words was given to Wife the Daughter of Earl Godwin a most beautiful Damosel named Editha of excellent learning and for behaviour a Virgin most chaste and for humility most holy no way savouring of her Father or Brethrens barbarousness but milde and modest
of Northumberland which lieth betwixt Tweed Cumberland and Stanemore doing homage to the Kings of England for the same By this Peace was Edgar Atheling and those other male-contented Lords restored to the Kings favour for William although a Martial Prince sought to establish his Crown rather by Peace then by the Sword which made him the more apt to forget former injuries And no doubt but this his too much lenity was one principle cause of his continual troubles for Edwin and Morcar the two stout Earls mentioned before combining with Fretherick Abbot of St. Albanes fell into a new conspiracy setting up Edgar Atheling once again their Generall William storming at these disloyal attempts with a mighty power hastneth against them who desperately bent to maintain what they had begun resolved to make the Sword their Judge but King William loath to lose that with shame which he had gotten by the effusion of so much blood prevailed so far with them that an Assembly was appointed to meet at Berkhamsted where he solemnly sware upon the Holy Evangelists and the Reliques of St. Albane the Martyr inviolably to observe the Ancient Laws of this Land especially those compiled by King Edward the Confessor which so wrought him into their good opinions that they all forthwith laid down their weapons But the storme being past the danger was soon forgotten and these mountains promises proved but molehill performances for notwithstanding his oath he dealt more roughly with the English now then before thrusting some into Exile and depriving others of their Lands which he bestowed upon his Normans whose Charters were of a far other tenour forme and brevity then those tedious and perplexed Conveyances since in use as may appear by this one taken out of on old Chronicle in the Library at Richmont I William King the third year of my reign Give to thee Norman Hunter to me that are both leef and dear The hop and the hopton and all the bounds up and down Vnder the Earth to Hell above the earth to Heaven From me and mine to thee and to thine As good and as fair as ever they mine were To witness that this is sooth I bite the white wax with my tooth Before Jug Maud and Marjery and my youngest sonne Henry For a Bow and a broad Arrow when I come to hunt upon Yarrow Nor need we wonder the King was so liberal to the Hunter since he himself loved hunting so well that to maintain his game he depopulated above 30. miles in Hampshire where had been saith Carton twenty six Towns and eighty Religious Houses so that where before God was Worshipped now wilde Beasts grazed a sin which God punished in his posterity his two sons William and Richard and his grandchilde Richard son to Duke Robert coming there to untimely ends which place was then and is to this day called by the name of the New Forrest The more to inrich his Coffers he laid great Subsidies upon the Land causing a strict Survey to be taken of the whole Kingdom exacting six shillings for every hide of Land to the so great impoverishing of the English Nation that they grievously groaned under their miserable estate nor would he permit any English man to bear any office of credit or countenance The English to ingratiate themselves with the Conquerour being forced to leave off their former customs and habits conforming themselves to the fashions of the Normans so that England was now wholly become French excepting Kent which retained their former Customs a long time after Towards the conclusion of his reign dissentions betwixt Philip King of France and him drew him once more over into Normandy where falling sick and keeping his bed more then he used to do the French King hearing that his disease was in his belly scoffingly said Our Cousin William is laid now in Childe-bed Oh! what a number of Candles must I offer at his going to Church surely I think a hundred thousand will not suffice This French frump being told to King William he made this answer Well our Cousin of France I trust shall be at no such cost but after this my Child-birth at my going to Church I will finde him one thousand Candles and light them my self And accordingly towards August following he enters France with a mighty Army spoiling all the West parts thereof before him And lastly set the City Meux on fire wherein he consumed the fair Church of our Lady in the Walls whereof were enclosed two Anchorites who might but would not escape holding it a breach of their Religious Vow to forsake their Cell though in never such extremity and so became their own murtherers The King busied in these attempts cheered his men to feed the fire and came himself so near the flames that with the heat of his harness he got a sickness which was encreased by the leap of his horse that burst the inward rim of his belly that returning to Roan he shortly after ended his life He was buried at Caen in Normandy in the Abby Church of Saint Stephen the first Christian Martyr to the Monks whereof he bequeathed two Mannors in Dorcetshire one Mannor in Devonshire another in Essex much Lands in Barkshire some in Norfolk a Mansion house in Woodstreet of London with many Advowsions of Churches as also his Crown and Regal Ornaments thereto belonging which his son Henry afterwards redeemed with the Mannor of Brideton in Dorcetshire his Tomb was afterwards opened by the Bishop of Bayeux in Anno. 1542. wherein was found a gilt Plate of Brass and this Epitaph engraven thereon Qui rexit rigidos Northmanos atque Britanos Audacter vicit fortiter obtinuit Et Caenomenses virtute coercuit enses Imperiique sui legibus applicuit Rex magnus parva jacet hac Gulielmus in urna Sufficit magno parva domus domino Ter septem gradibus se volverat atque duobus Virginis in gremio Phoebus hic obiit In English He that the sturdy Normans rul'd and over English raign'd And stoutly won and strongly kept what he so had obtain'd And did the swords of those of Mains by force bring under awe And made them under his command live subject to his law This great King William lieth here entomb'd in little Grave So great a Lord so small a house sufficeth him to have When Phoebus in the Virgins lap his circled course apply'd And twenty three degrees had past even at that time he dyed The Life of THOMAS BECKET Archbishop of Canterbury THomas Becket was the Son of one Gilbert Becket a Person of good Alliance and Riches who in his youth travelling to Jerusalem as he returned was taken prisoner by a Saracen Admiral with whom he remained a year and a half during which time the onely Daughter of the Admiral was so taken with his carriage and qualities that he having by flight obtained his liberty she wounded with his love abandoned her Fathers House and Countrey and followed him secretly into
being a Captain and principal man of his retinue might come to aid him in his Wars for he himself being a warlike Prince had a desire to make some trial of the Discipline of the English Sir John Hawkwood hereupon undertaketh the service behaving himself so valiantly in several Assaults and Skirmishes that the Lord Barnaby for his valour importuned him to be his Son in Law and gave him in marriage the Lady Dowager his Daughter with the value of ten thousand Florences of yearly revenue for her portion By reason of this alliance his pay was encreased and his name became famous all over Italy for it was judged his deserts were not small that so great a Prince as Barnaby would ally himself with him yet notwithstanding all this upon some further hopes conceived he revolteth from Barnaby and joyneth himself with his enemy so true is that of Lucan Nulla fides pietasque viris qui castra sequntur Venalesque manus ibi fas ubi maxima merces Nor faith nor conscience common Souldiers carry Best pay's their right their hands are mercenary By reason of this revolt many of the Towns of Lombardy came to be wasted by the outragious spoils of the English men amongst other they took the Towns of Faera and Banacanallo whereof he sold one to the Marquess of East for twenty thousand Crowns and the other he kept Having both his Forces and pay encreased he determines to seek new adventures going first to the aid of Pope Gregory the twelfth and having with great commendation recovered the Cities of Province that had revolted from him for his service therein was worthily rewarded with the dominion of five Towns From him he went to the Florentine and not long after to the Pisans from thence to the Florentines again under whom he served with such a number of our Nation both horse-men and foot-men that all Italy feared him with that success and increase of his honour and glorious renown that he was reputed to be the best Souldier of that age for he had learned by his long experience in the Wars having an exceeding ripe and quick conceit to force occasions to frame his resolutions and to make speedy execution being also as the opportunity required both hot in his fight and notable for his delayes in so much as sundry great Captains who were afterward highly renowned proceeded out of his School as from an exact master of Martial affairs The exploits that he had atchieved with good success were accounted for sure grounds and principles of Discipline as well amongst his very enemies as also amongst his own followers After many Victories obtained and an incomparable Renown amongst all men he deceased an aged man at Florence the Senate in reward of his well deserving honoured his ashes with a stately Tomb and the Statue of a man at Arms having chiefly by his conduct courage and valour preserved that City The Italian Writers both Poets and Historians highly celebrating his matchless Prowess enstile him Anglorum decus decus addite genti Italicae Italico praefidiumque solo Englands prime honour Italy's renown Who held their honours up from sinking down His Friends and Executours here in England raised a Monument or Tomb for him at Sible Heningham where he was born arched over and engraven to the likeness of Hawks flying in a Wood and founded such was the Religion of those times a Chauntry there for the good of his soul The Life of GEOFFERY CHAUCER THis famous and learned Poet Groffery Chancer Esquire was supposed by Leland to have been born in Oxfordshire or Barkshire but as it is evident by his own words he was born in the City of London as we have it from him in his Testament of Love Also in the City of London that is to me so dear and swéet in which I was forth grown and more kindely love have I to that place then any other in yerth as every kindely creature hath full appetite to that place of his kindely ingendure and to wilne rest and peace in that stede to adide thilke peace should thus there have béen broken which of all wise men is commended and desired For his Parentage although Bale he termeth himself Galfridus Chaucer nobili loco natus summae spei juvenis yet in the opinion of some Heralds otherwise then his vertues and learning commended him he descended not of any great House which they gather by his Arms and indeed both in respect of the name which is French as also by other conjectures it may be gathered that his Progenitours were Strangers but whether they were Merchants for that in places where they have dwelled the Arms of the Merchants of the Staple have been seen in the glass windows or whether they were of other callings it is not much necessary to search but wealthy no doubt they were and of good account in the Commonwealth who brought up their son in such sort that both he was thought fit for the Court at home and to be employed for matters of State in Forreign Countreys His Education as Leland writes was in both the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge as appeareth by his own words in his Book entituled The Court of Love and in Oxford by all likelihood in Canterbury or in Merton Colledge with John Wickliffe whose opinions in Religion he much affected For who shall read his Works will finde him not covertly but with full mouth to cry out against the vices and enormities of the Priests in those times Hear him in the Plough-mans tale Mennes Wives they wollen hold And though that they béen right sorry To speak they shall not be so bold For sompning to the Consistorey And make hem say mouth I lie Though they it saw with her eye His lemman holden oppenly No man so hardy to ask why Improving his time in the University he became a witty Logician a sweet Rhetorician a grave Philosopher a Holy Divine a skilful Mathematician and a pleasant Poet of whom for the sweetness of his Poetry may be said that which is reported of Stesichorus and as Cethegus was tearmed Suadae Medulla so may Chaucer be rightly called the pith and sinnews of Eloquence and the very life it self of all mirth and pleasant writing besides one gift he had above other Authours and that is by the excellencies of his descriptions to possesse his Readers with a stronger imagination of seeing that done before their eyes which they read then any other that ever writ in any tongue By his travel also in France and Flanders where he spent much time in his young years but more in the latter end of the Reign of King Richard the second he attained to a great perfection in all kinde of learning as Bale and Leland report of him Circa postremos Richardi secundi annos in Galliis floruit magnamque illic ex assidua in literis exercitatione gloriam sibi comparavit Domum reversus forum Londinense Collegia Leguleiorum qui
ibidem patria jura interpretantur frequentavit c. About the Latter end of King Richard the Seconds dayes he flourished in France and got himself into high esteem there by his diligent exercise in learning After his return home he frequented the Court at London and the Colledges of the Lawyers which there interpretted the Laws of the Land and among them he had a familiar Friend called John Gower a Yorkshire man born a Knight as Bale writeth of him This Gower in a Book of his entituled Confessio Amantis tearmeth Chaucer a worthy Poet and maketh him as it were the judge of his works He married a Knights Daughter of Henault called Paon de Ruel King of Arms by whom he had issue his Son Thomas to whom King Edward the Third in recompense of his Fathers services in France gave him in marriage the Daughter and Heire of Sir John Burgershe Knight This Thomas Chaucer had onely one Daughter named Alice married thrice first to Sir John Philip Knight then to Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury and the third time to William de la Pole Earl and after Duke of Suffolk who for love of his Wife and the convenient seat of her estate he removed into Oxfordshire and Barkshire where his Wives Lands lay This Alice had a Daughter by her second Husband Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury named after her Mother Alice married to Richard Nevill Son to Ralph Earl of Westmerland by whom she had Richard John and George Richard espoused Anne sister and sole heir to the Lord Beauchamp and after Duke of Warwick in whose right he was created Earl of Warwick But to return to our ancient Poet Geffery Chaucer he had alwayes an earnest desire to inrich and beautifie our English Tongue which in those dayes was very rude and barren and this he did following the example of Dante 's and Petrarch who had done the same for the Italian Tongue Alanus for the French and Johannes Mena for the Spanish neither was Chaucer inferiour to any of them in the performance hereof and England in this respect is much beholding to him as Leland well noteth Anglia Chaucerum veneratur nostra Poetam Cui veneres debet patria lingua suos Our England honoureth Chaucer Poet as principal To whom her Countrey tongue doth owe her beauties all He departed out of this world the 25. day of October 1400. after he had lived about 72. years Thus writeth Bale out of Leland Chaucerus ad canos devenit sensitque senectutem morbum esse dum causas suas Londini curaret c. Chaucer lived till he was an old man and found old age to be grievous and whilest he followed his causes at London he died and was buried at Westminster The old Verses which were written on his Grave at the first were these Galfridus Chaucer vates famae poesis Maternae haec sacra sum tumulatus humo But since Mr. Nicholas Brigham did at his own cost and charges erect a Monument for him with these Verses Qui fuit Anglorum vates ter maximus olim Gaufredus Chaucer conditur hoc tumulo Annum si quaeras Domini si tempora vitae Ecce notae subsunt quae tibi cuncta notant Anno Domini 1400. die mensis Octob. 25. It will not be amiss to these Epitaphs to adde the judgements and reports of some learned men of this worthy and famous Poet. And first of all Thomas Occleve who lived in his dayes writeth thus of him in his Book De regimine Principis But welaway is mine hart woe That the honour of English Tongue is dead Of which I wont was confaile have and réed O maister dere and fadre reverent My maister Chaucer floure of Eloquence Mirror of fructuous entendement O universal fadre of science Alas that thou thine excellent prudence In thy bed mortal mightest not bequeath What eyld death alas why would she thée fie O death thou didst not harm tingler in slaughter of him But all the Land it smerteth But natheless yet hast thou no power his name sle Hâ—â— hie vertue asterteth Vnslain fro thee which ay us lifely herteth With Books of his ornat enditing That is to all this land enlumining John Lidgaete likewise in his Prologue of Bocchas of the fall of Princes by him translated saith thus in his commendation My Master Chaucer with his fresh comedies Is dead alas chief Poet of Brittain That Whilom made full pitteous Tragedies The faule also of Princes he did complain As he that was of making sovereign Whom all this Land should of right prefer Sith of our language he was the Loadsterr Also in his Book which he writeth of the Birth of the Virgin Mary he hath these verses And eke my Maister Chaucer now is in Grave The noble Rethore Poet of Britaine That worthy was the laurel to have Of Poetry and the Palm attaine That made first to distill and raine The Gold dew drops of speech and eloquence Into our Tongue through his eloquence And as for men of latter time Mr. Ascham and Mr. Spenser have delivered most worthy testimonies of their approving of him Mr. Ascham in one place calleth him English Homer and makes no doubt to say that he valueth his Authority of as high estimation as ever he did either Sophocles or Euripides in Greek And in another place where he declareth his opinion of English versifying he useth these words Chaucer and Petrark those two worthy wits deserve just praise And last of all in his discourse of Germany he putteth him nothing behinde either Thucidides or Homer for his lively descriptions of site of places and nature of persons both in outward shape of body and inward disposition of minde adding this withall that not the proudest that hath written in any Tongue whatsoever for his time have outstript him Mr. Spenser in his first Eglogue of his Shepards Kallender calleth him Tityrus the god of Shepards comparing him to the worthiness of the Roman Tityrus Virgil in his Faerie Queene in his Discourse of Friendship as thinking himself most worthy to be Chaucers friend for his like natural disposition that Chaucer had he writes that none that lived with him nor none that came after him durst presume to revive Chaucers lost Labours in that unperfect tale of the Squire but onely himself which he had not done had he not felt as he saith the infusion of Chaucers own sweet spirit surviving within him And a little before he calls him the most renowned and Heroicall Poet and his writings the works of heavenly wit concluding his commendation in this manner Dan Chaucer well of English undefiled On fames eternal Bead-roll worthy to be filed I follow here the footing of thy feet That with thy meaning so I may the rather meet Mr. Cambden reaching one hand to Mr. Ascham and the other to Mr. Spenser and so drawing them together uttereth of him these words De Homero nostro Anglico illud verè asseram quod de
other Knights and Esquires raised an Army about the edge of Wales and marched with the same towards London King Henry being informed thereof assembled likewise an host to resist them and being accompanied with the Dukes of Buckingham and Somerset the Earls of Northumberland Stafford Wiltshire Dorset Pembroke and Devonshire the Lords Clifford Sudley Barnes Rose and many others marched against him at Saint Albons both Armies met where betwixt them was fought a sore Battel which continuing doubtfull for a time the Earl of Warwick with great courage breaking in upon them and crying a Warwick a Warwick discomfitted the Kings side with a great slaughter no less then five thousand losing their lives among whom the chiefest was the Duke of Somerset the Earls of Northumberland and Stafford the old Lord Clifford with many other Knights and Gentlemen the King himself being wounded was taken prisoner and the next day carried to London Soon after began a Parliament at Westminster wherein the Duke of York was made Protector of the Realm the Earl of Salisbury Lord Chancellour and the Earl of Warwick Captain of Calice and the Territories of the same and thus the rule of the Realm rested in the Duke and Chancellour and all the Warlike Affairs in the Earl of Warwick the Kings authority consisting onely in name which they made use of for their own ends upon every occasion But the Queen stomacking these high indignities done to the King studies revenge and making sure to her side many of the Lords under a pretence of hunting conveyes the King to Coventry whither in a friendly way she sends for the Duke of York and the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury to which place the said Lords resort but having secret intelligence that mischief was intended against them they privately departed from the Court with mindes inrag'd against the Queen and her party but thorow the mediation of some Lords together with the Archbishop of Canterbury all parties meeting together at London a reconciliation was concluded on with many outward ceremonious shews of friendship But this calm lasted not long the Earl of Warwick upon some debate betwixt him and the Kings servants was by them assaulted and for safety of his life forced to fly unto Calice in a Barge this affront done unto him was seconded by another a Privy Seal being directed to him for the discharging of him of the Captainship of Calice the young Duke of Buckingham his enemy being constituted Captain in his room But for as much as he had his Commission from Parliament he would not obey the Privy Seal and to show his abilities fit for the mannagement of any design he with fourteen sail of Ships sets forth to scowre the Seas bringing home in little space prizes to the value of ten thousand pound a considerable sum in that age before the Indies wealth overflowed Europe In the mean time the Duke of York and Earl of Salisbury assemble an Army to revenge the injuries done to the Earl of Warwick to oppose whom the Queen sent James Twichet Lord Audley at Blore-heath near Mucklestone both Armies met where the Lord Audley was overthrown himself and 2400. of his men slain And now the Conquerours resolve to unvizard themselves and to raise what forces they could for the obtaining of their purposes The Earl of Warwick bringing to them a very great power from Calice the King on the other side raises a mighty great Army and having marched as far as Worcester to fave the effusion of blood sent unto them Richard Beauchamp Bishop of Salisbury with a general Pardon if they would give over their enterprise yet upon further advice having sent an excusatory Letter to the King they withdrew themselves into divers parts beyond the Seas Soon after was a Parliament holden at Coventry wherein the Duke of York Edward Earl of March his Son and Heire the Earls of Warwick Rutland and Salisbury with many other Lord and Gentlemen were attainted of Treason One Sir Baldwine Fulford undertook on pain of losing his head that he would destroy the Earl of Warwick but having spent the King a thousand marks returned without effecting his purpose On the other side the Earl of VVarwick sent some of his men who by night coming to Sandwich carried away the Lord Rivers and Sir Anthony VVoodvile his Son with many great Ships And now the Earls of March VVarwick and Salisbury being invited by the Kentishmen crossed the Sea and landed at Sandwich where they were met by Thomas Bourchier Archbiship of Canterbury and many others who conducted them to London in most solemn manner where having convocated the Cleargy in Saint Pauls Church the Earl of VVarwick in name of the rest took his oath upon the Cross of Canterbury that they had ever borne true faith and allegiance to King Henry Having by this oath gained credence of the Citizens they leave the Earl of Salisbury Governour thereof and with their Forces march down to Northampton where the King then lay with a strong power and first they affay to get him into their hands by fair means but that not prevailing they resolve force whereupon both Hosts encountred each other but the Lord Edmond Grey of Ruthen who commanded the Kings Voward forsaking his side and joyning with the Earl by that means set a palm of Victory upon his head and a Character of Treachery upon his own for betraying the trust reposed in him There were slain on the Kings part th Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Shrewsbury the Lords Beaumont and Egremont with many Knights and Esquires the King himself was taken prisoner and with seeming liberty conveyed to London And now to authorise their actions the better a Parliament is call'd wherein it was agreed that King Henry in relation to a long succession should enjoy the Crown during his natrual life which afterwards should devolve to Richard and his Heires in whom it was then apparently proved that the Title to the Kingdom did remain in which agreement was likewise manifested that Henry should make immediate forfeiture whensoever either he or any of his Party should attempt to disanul this act But the Queen with many of the Lords not being at the bargain making thought themselves not tied to the Conditions whereupon she having in her company the Prince her Son the Dukes of Exeter and Somerset the Earl of Devonshire the Lord Clifford and in effect all the Lords of the North with an Army of 18000. men marched from York to Wakefield with whom joyned the Lord Nevill Brother to the Earl of Westmorland who having gotten a Commission from the Duke of York under his name raised 8000. men but brought them all to the adverse party But the Duke of York whom fortune had hitherto waited on as his hand-maid nothing daunted at their number leaving the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of VVarwick to attend the King he with the Earl of Salisbury and his Son the Earl of Rutland with about some
five thousand men marched against them and although his numbers was nothing competent to his enemies yet would he not be advised but gave them Battel so that being encompassed on all sides thorow his own rashness was himself slain and his whole Army discomfitted his Son the Earl of Rutland being but twelve years old stabbed by the Lord Clifford his trusty friend the Earl of Salisbury beheaded by the common people and his own head fixt on a pole with a paper Crown was set on the Walls of York for the barbarous mirth of the uncivil multitude The unwelcome news of the Dukes overthrow coming to the Ears of VVarwick to stop the torrent of the Queens proceedings he musters all the men he could and taking King Henry along with him marches from London to oppose the Queen at St. Albans both Armies met where VVarwick lost the day with the slaughter of two thousand of his men King Henry also whom fortune neither favoured amongst friends nor foe was again taken This Victory of the Queens had it been discreetly mannaged might have turned the scales on the Lancastarian side but she wanton with success vainly imagined a security from future competition and either wanted power to restrain her Souldiers or licensed them to a free spoil by which unruly violence she untied the affections of the Commons who by their quiet and profit measure the vertues of their Princes So that the Citizens of London fearing to be plundered hearing of their approach shut up their Gates and arm'd for resistance The Queen hereupon with her plundering Army retires Northwards where we will leave her for a time and look back upon the Earl of March Who being at Glocester at such time as he heard news of his Fathers death spent not his time in womanish lamentation but considering how dangerous leasure in to increase the apprehension of misfortune having encreased his Army with some additional forces he marches against the Earls of Pembroke and Ormand who had raised a great power with purpose to surprise him Near Mortimers Cross on Candlemass-day they encountred each other where the two Earls and their whole Army were put to flight with the slaughter of there thousand eight hundred on the place Edward having obtained this Victory with his Triumphant forces directeth his march towards London in the way at Chipping-Norton he met the Earl of Warwick nothing daunted at his late misfortune and coveting nothing more then by the tryal of a new day to perswade or else to force back victory to his side then enter they London in a triumphant manner the Citizens receiving them with great acclamations of joy the Earl of March wich a joynt consent of them all is chosen King and accordingly proclaimed throughout the City by the name of Edward the Fourth This was done at London in the mean time the Queen and the Lords of her side were daring and vigilant in the North and having raised threescore thousand fighting men they resolved with expence of their blood to buy back that Majesty which the House of Lancaster by evill fate had lost Edward choosing rather to provoke then expect an enemy having mustered what Forces he could with his trusty friend the Earl of VVarwick marches against them and notwithstanding his Army came far short of the others in number yet by his Captains good conduct and his Souldiers valour joyning battel between Caxton and Towton he gave his enemies a mighty great overthrow In no one battel was ever poured froth so much English blood six and thirty thousand seven hundred seventy six persons all of one Nation many near in alliance some in blood fatally divided by faction were now united in death On the Lancastrian side were slain the Earls of Northumberland and VVestmorland the Lords Clifford Beaumont D'acres Gray and VVells John Lord Nevill Son to the Earl of VVestmorland with divers others On King Edwards side the Lord Fitz-VValter and the Bastard of Salisbury with many others of great reputation and courage King Henry with the poor remains of his party fleeth into Scotland whilest Edward in triumph returneth to London But notwithstanding this great overthrow yet did not the indefatigable Queen lose any thing from her spirit or endeavours but makes addresses to all Princes abroad whom alliance reason of state or compassion of so great a disaster might move to her assistance and notwithstanding all her endeavours she gathered together but five hundred French yet adding hope to her small number she crosses the Sea with them into Scotland Here some thin Regiments of Scots resorted to her in whose company taking her Husband King Henry along with her she enters England but this small number scarcely deserving the name of an Army were soon overthrown by the Lord Mountague most of the Lords of her side taken and beheaded King Henry escaped from the Battel but was soon after apprehended as he sat at dinner at VVaddington-Hall in Lancashire and by the Earl of VVarwick brought prisoner to London and committed to the Tower These great services done by VVarwick and his Brother Mountague for King Edward made them set so high a price upon their merits that the greatest benefits he could bestow upon them were received in the degree of a debt not a gift and thereupon their expectations being not answered according to their imaginations they begin to look upon Edward with a rancorous eye and certainly this was the main cause of their falling off from Edwards side though for a while they dissembled the same untill they should meet with a more plausible occasion which soon after was offered unto them for the Earl of Warwick being sent over into France to negotiate a marriage betwixt King Edward and the Lady Bona Sister to the French Queen whilest he was busie in courting this Lady Edward following more his fancy then reasons of State falls in love and marries the Lady Elizabeth daughter to the Dutches of Bedford and widdow of Sir John Gray slain on King Henries part at the Battel of St. Albans But when the Earl of Warwick understood how mighty an affront by this was given to his employment he entertained none but disdainfull thoughts against his Prince And exprest so bold a discontent that Lewis of France who was quick to perceive and carefull to foment any displeasure which might tend to the disturbance of another Kingdom began to enter into private communication with him for ever after this common injury so they called the errour of love in the King the Earl held a dangerous intelligence in France which after occasioned so many confusions to our Kingdom Nevertheless upon his return he dissembled all discontent and in every circumstance of respect applyed himself to applaud the Marriage and in particular the excellent personage of the Queen But long did not the fire of his revenge lie hid under the ashes of dissimulation for King Edward grown secure by an over-bold presumption the daughter of a long prosperity
gave himself over to all licentiousness whilst Warwick had made his faction not onely mighty but monstrous being compacted of several natures for into conspiracy of this great enterprize he had drawn off the Cleargy and the Laity and most of them of affections most opposite The Archbishop of York was the principal mover because he mov'd upon the soul and made treason an act of Religion the easie multitude who build their faith upon the man not the Doctrine thinking it meritorious to rebell in regard his function seem'd to give authority to the action With him a greed the Marquess Mountague and many eminent persons of King Edwards Court whom either desire of War having never lived but in the troubled Sea of discord or want of expected recompence rendered discontented All the partakers in the calamity of the house of Lancaster most passionately at first overture embraced this motion amongst whom was Henry Holland Duke of Exeter who after his ruine with the fall of Henry the Sixth was reduced to such extremity that ragged and bare-footed he begg'd for his meat in the Low-Countries But the wonder of the world then was at the powerful sorcery of those perswasions which bewitcht the Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother to this conspiracy to whom the Earl of Warwick to tye him the faster to his side gave him in marriage the Lady Isabel his daughter and coheire to the rich Earldom of Warwick for consummation whereof they sailed over to Calice of which Town the Earl of Warwick was Captain and in which the young Lady then remained with her Mother Soon was the Ceremony past and soon did the Earl invite his Son-in-law from the softness of the Nuptial Dalliance as who had contrived this marriage for business not for pleasure and design'd the first issue of their embraces to be a monster and the most unnatural one War between Brothers Warwick having thus politickly order'd things that he left little or nothing to fortune with his Son-in-law returns to England where against his return the Archbishop of York with some other of his friends had raised a potent Army to oppose whom on Edwards side assembles a mighty power under the conduct of the Earls of Pembroke and Devonshire but they falling out at Banbury upon a trivial occasion made way for the enemy to conquer them both This overthrow was seconded with a great loss at Grafton in Northamptonshire wherein the Earl Rivers and the Lord Widdevil Father and Brother to the Queen were taken and barbarously beheaded Edward nettled with these losses raises what power he could and marches against Warwick whose pretence being that of all Rebells The good of the Kingdom yet to avoid effusion of blood seemingly is very desirous of peace but when with several overtures he had lulled the King in security in the dead of the night he sets upon his Army kills the watch and surpriseth his person buried in a careless sleep Warwick having thus gotten the prey into his hand he so long desired sends him prisoner to Middleham Castle in Yorkshire there to be kept by his Brother the Archbishop of that Sea but King Edward being of another temper then his predecessour Henry not enduring Captivity soon found a way for his own liberty for having gotten licence to hunt in the adjoyning Park he so contrived with Sir William Stanley and Sir Thomas Burgh that with a selected number they came to his rescue and took him away from his weak guard the Lord Hastings joyning to them with some forces he had raised about Lancaster they march directly to London where they were entertained with great expressions of joy The Earl of Warwick who upon the taking of the King had disbanded his Army hearing of his escape was almost distracted with a thousand several imaginations but soon by letters to the Lords of his faction he reassembles his forces and marches against the King but thorow the solicitation of some persons inclinable to peace an enterveiw was agreed on in Westminster Hall and oaths for safety being past on both sides accordingly they met but such intemperance of Language past at their meeting as rather aggravated then allayed their anger so that now they resolved the Sword alone should decide the controversie The Earl of Warwick leaving his Army under the command of Sir Robert Wells whilst he himself went to raise more men King Edward neglecting not the opportunity whilest they were thus disjoyned gives them battel and overthrows them with the loss of ten thousand of their men Sir Robert Wells was taken prisoner and soon after beheaded This overthrow struck Warwick to the heart so that having not sufficient force to withstand the King he with the Duke of Clarence sail over into France with which King as also with Queen Margret who then remained in the French Court they entred into a combination for the deposing of King Edward and setting up again King Henry And that there might not be left any tract of former discontent or path to future jealousie a marriage was concluded and celebrated between Prince Edward the Queens Son and the Lady Anne younger daughter to the Earl and for want of issue of these two the Crown to come to Clarence and his posterity Matters thus concluded and the French King supplying them with money they return into England to whom flocked almost all the Lords the Commonalty also desirous of innovation adhered unto them so that King Edward seeing himself in a manner wholly abandoned was forced to quit the Land and sail into Holland And now notwithstanding his former hostility with him Warwick restores King Henry to all his former dignity and honour a Parliament is called wherein nothing is denyed which the prevailing party thought fit to be authorized King Edward condemned for a Tyranous Usurper and all his adherents attainted of high treason the Crown is entailed upon King Henry and his Heires Males for default of which to George Duke of Clarence and his Heires for ever The Earls of Oxford and Pembroke and many others restored to their estates and titles the Duke of Clarence put in possession of the Dutchy of York and lastly the Government of the King and Kingdom committed to the Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick so that King Henry possest no more then the name of King and seem'd not to be set at liberty but to have changed his keeper King Edward in the mean time having hired four great Holland Ships and fourteen Easterling men of War transports his Army over into England which consisted of two thousand Dutch men and such English as accompanied him in his flight or had escaped over after him at Ravenspur in Yorkshire he landed from thence he marched to York but finding in every place where he came the people generally devoted to the House of Lancaster he fashioned his behaviour to a new art and solemnly took his oath that his intentions was not for the recovering of the Crown but
regaining the Dutchy of York wrongfully conferred on his Brother Clarence by the last Parliament Hereupon many of note joyned themselves with him so that whom they refused to serve as King which had been an act of loyalty they condescend to aid as Duke of York which was absolute rebellion it being high treason in a Subject though never so apparently injured to seek his remedy by Arms. Having thus increast his Army he marches towards London and although the Marquess Mountague Warwicks Brother with a far superiour power lay then at Pomfret to impeach his journey yet let he him quietly pass not permitting any act of hostillity to be shewed or advantage taken by which gross oversight he ruined himself and Warwick too for no sooner was Edward past this danger but many of the Nobility with mighty Forces repaired to him Whereupon forgetting his oath he takes upon him the title of King and marcht directly to Coventry fierce in his desire to give Warwick battel who lay there encampt and now his Brother Clarence with all his Forces forsakes his Father-in-law the Earl of Warwick and joynes with his Brother Hereupon uniting their Forces they march up to London which after some show of resistance submitted its self Warwick having now joyned with his Brother Mountague follows after him whom to oppose King Edward having settled the Town to his obedience led forth his Army at St. Albans they both met where betwixt them was fought a most bloody battel in which the Earl of Warwick and his Brother Mountague valiantly fighting were both slain and their whole Army totally routed To this violent end came the Earl of Warwick and indeed how was it possible such a stormy life could expect a calmer death he was questionless valiant for a Coward durst not have thought those dangers into which he entred upon the slightest quarrels His soul was never quiet distasted still with the present and his pride like a foolish builder so delighted to pull down and set up that at length part of the frame that himself had raised fell upon him and crusht him to death His varying so in approving contrary Titles shewed either a strange levity in judgement or else that ambition not conscience ruled his actions In sum that greatness he so violently laboured to confirme in his posterity came all to nothing Almighty God ruining their designs who think by pollicy though contrary to Religion to perpetuate their posterity The Life of King RICHARD the Third FRom the pen of so credible an Author as Sir Tho. Moor was to other Historians chiefly derived the History of this King they so admiring and trusting to what he delivered that without any alteration of his words an unusual respect we have hitherto except two or three other Modern differing Writers received all from the Knights Tradition He was a person indeed of unquestioned integrity but how carefully and honestly his Works by others might be publisht after his death is not yet well determined Sir Simon D'ewes Mr. Selden and other eminent Antiquaries of our times being in their learned discourses often too sensible of some abuses offered to the Chronicle of this Richard The truth is if as in respect of our own times we have known the best of men so traduce certainly where there hath been some more then ordinary failings envious persons will think they cannot render him odious or ugly enough Richard the Third vulgarly known by the name of Crook-Backt and so delivered by some Historians and Poets with what truth I know not since his Picture drawn in his life and as it is said to be to the life still preserved and suffered by his great enemy Henry the Seventh in the Long Gallery in White-Hall denotes the contrary and shews him him to be of a sweet and gracious aspect And John Stow who alwayes took great pains in his inquiry of the relations of the persons of Princes sayes That he had spoken with some ancient men who from their own sight and knowledge affirm that he was of body and shape comely Neither did John Rouce who knew him and wrote much in his description observes any otherwise But whether crooked or no if his actions were straight posterity hath the less to censure him He was the youngest Son of Richard Plantagenet the fourth Duke of York of that Royal Family born at the Castle of Fotheringham or as some write the Castle of Berkhamsteed about the year of our Lord 1450. a dutiful Son to his Father and a Loyal Subject to his Brother who stood alwayes firm to his side in that great defection of the Duke of Clarence and Earl of VVarwick as we have declared in the preceding life At the death of his Brother King Edward he was chosen Lord Protector and afterwards by the importunity of the people knowing his Abilities forced to take upon him the Regal Power and confirmed by Act of Parliament Therefore their cavils are vain and discover an extream malice and envy unto him that report him to have obtained the Sovereignty by indirect means As for his abillities for government hear Reverend Cambden an Author without exception Fuit dignissimus regno c non inter malos sed bonos Principes commemorandus That he was most worthy to Reign and to be numbered amongst the good not bad Princes And indeed those many and good Laws enacted in his time demonstrate him a good King though some have reported him to be a bad Man He was Crowned at Westminster with great solemnity most of the Peers of the Land being present soon after his Coronation he sent to the French King for his Tribute formerly paid to his Brother Edward in leiu of the Dutchy and Countries of Aquitain Normandy Poictou and Maine c. and now detained by the French King and doubtless King Richard had still compelled him to continue it had not eruptions of State and tumultary practices fatally diverted his Sword Soon after was a Parliament called wherein was attainted of High Treason Henry Earl of Richmond John Earl of Oxford Thomas Marques of Dorset Jasper Earl of Pembroke Lionel Bishop of Salisbury Pierce Bishop of Exeter the Lady Margaret Countess of Richmond Thomas Morton Bishop of Ely with many others King Edwards Children for whom the world so much censures him were adjudged uncapable of Government and the Crown by a Parliament in those dayes confirmed to King Richard in these words It is declared pronounced decreed confirmed and established by the authority of this present assembly of Parliament that King Richard the Third is the true and undoubted King of this Realm as well by right of Consanguinity and Heritage as by lawful Election and Coronation c. So that here to tax so general an assent were to say there were not one honest nor just man in that High Court and what greater scandall to the whole Kingdom and to those that have since succeeded them But as Honour is alwayes attended on by Envy so
hath this worthy Princes fame been blasted by malicious traducers who like Shakespear in his Play of him render him dreadfully black in his actions a monster of nature rather then a man of admirable parts whose slanders having been examined by wise and moderate men they have onely found malice and ignorance to have been his greatest accusers persons who can onely lay suspition to his charge and suspition in Law is no more guilt then imagination as the divine Father Chrysostom faith A good man hardly suspecteth another to be evill but an evill man scarcely supposeth any to be good King Richard had three great Favourites as Princes are seldome without some and those according to the constant custom of the World must be envied Catesby Ratcliffe and Lovel King Richards own Arms being the Bore upon which one Collingborne of the West fancied this Libel which in those times was received for excellent Wit The Cat the Rat and Lovel the Dog Rule all England under a Hog But leaving such trifles to return to King Richard Henry Earl of Richmond ambitious of Sovereignty envying his prosperity practises with forreign Princes and confederates with the English Nobles for Assistance and Forces against King Richard The chief abettor in England he had on his side was the Duke of Buckingham one who had formerly constantly adhered to King Richards side but being by him denyed the Earldome of Hereford and Constableship of England grew discontented took up Arms was defeated and afterwards by Marshall Law put to death Yet did not this break the neck of Henries design but having by his fair deportment gained Force from the Duke of Brittain and some other Princes envious of the prosperity of the House of York Richmond puts forth to Sea and lands at Milford-Haven in Wales after some refreshing he marches to a Town called Haverford-West where the people who flocked to him in great number welcomed him as a Prince descended from their ancient Princes of Wales the people generally being very noble and loving to their Brittish Kindred Hither came to him with great Forces the Earl of Salop Sir Rice ap Thomas Sir Walter Herbert Sir John Savage Sir Gilbert Talbot and many others His Army thus strong and united he passes the Severne and marches to Leichfield King Richard hearing of his arrivall prepareth against him but though he thought the Nobility generally cemented to his side yet found he a general defluxion from them to the other side the Earl of Surrey the Earl of Westmerland Viscount Lovel and John Duke of Norfolk being the principall that stuck to him which last was much importuned to have fallen off from him the night before the Battel one writing this Rime upon his Gate Jack of Norfolk be not too bold For Dicken thy master is bought and sold But he regarding more his fidelity then any danger that could befall him doubles his care and diligence on the behalf of his Sovereign The Earl of Northumberland who had received great favours from the King and who had in his Name raised vaste Forces being sent for by him refused to come pretending for his disobedience certain dreams wherein he was forewarned by his Father for to fight on King Richards side But the greatest defection was in the Lord Stanley who notwithstanding he had left his Sonne George Stanley as a Pledge of his faith with the King yet revolted to the other side King Richard notwithstanding all these disadvantages having encouraged his Army gives Richmond a Battle where valiantly fighting after he had with his own hands slain Sir Charls Brandon the Earls Standard-bearer and unhorsed Sir John Cheny and shewed himself a most Heroick Person being over-powered with multitude he was slain on the place With him died the Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Surrey was taken Prisoner and the whole Army quite defeated This Battle was fought at a Village called Bosworth near to Leicester The Victor was crowned in the Field by Sir VVilliam Stanley with King Richards Crown which he as a valiant and confident Master of his right had worn that day King Richards dead body after it was most barbarously mangled and wounded was thrown behinde one upon a lean Jade and so conveyed to Leicester where at last it obtained a bed of earth honourably appointed by the order of King Henry the Seventh in the chief Church of Leicester called Saint Maries belonging to the Order and Society of Grey Friers the King in short time after causing a fair Tomb of mingled colour'd Marble adorned with his Statue to be erected thereupon And notwithstanding the times were such when this great Prince lived that he had scarcely time to sheath his sword yet left he behinde him many Monuments of his Piety He founded a Collegiate Church of Priests in Middleham in Yorkshire another Colledge of Priests in London in Tower-street near to the Church called our Lady Barking he built a Church or Chappel in Towton in Glocestershire he founded a Colledge in York convenient for the entertainment of an hundred Priests he built the high stone Tower at Westminster and when he had repaired and fortified the Castle of Carlile he founded and built the Castle of Perrith in Cumberland He began many other good Works which his sudden fatt prevented as Polidor Virgil witnesseth which Works and Monuments of Piety shew not the Acts of a Tyrant I shall end all with this Eulogy which a learned Writer gives him King Richard was a stout valiant person ever indulgent to his People careful to have their Laws duly observed his making so many good ones if they signified not some goodness in himself were evident arguments of his more then ordinary love to Law and Justice The Life of THOMAS HOWARD Earl of SURREY THomas Howard Earl of Surrey in his time the Ornament of Mars and the Muses was Son to Sir John Howard Knight first made Barron by King Edward the Fourth and afterwards Duke of Norfolk by King Richard the Third in whose quarrel he was slain This noble Earl his Son having been well educated and afterwards trained up in Court his Martial minde hating those silken pleasures admired of Courtiers he with divers other young Gentlemen went over to Charles Duke of Burgundy who then had Wars with Lewis King of France in whose quarrel he behaved himself so gallantly that he won the honour and reputation of a most expert Commander At his return King Edward for his valour bestowed on him the Order of Knighthood to whose side he constantly adhered in that great difference betwixt him and the House of Lancaster That quarrel being ended by the overthrow of VVarwick he afterwards did excellent service in the Wars betwixt him and Lewis the French King King Edward being dead and the Crown by joynt consent both of Peers and People placed on King Richards head and after confirmed by Act of Parliament he with his Father the Duke of Norfolk held firm to his side notwithstanding the many
sollicitations he had from Henry Earl of Richmond and the Lords of his faction who to draw them off from Richards side that morning in which Bosworth Field was fought was found a world of papers strowed before Norfolks door Yet notwithstanding all this he regarding more his oath his honour and promise made to King Richard like a faithful Subject absented not himself from his Master but as he faithfully lived under him so he manfully died with him But to return to his Son the Earl of Surrey in this Battle he had the leading of the Archers which King Richard had placed in the fore-front as a Bulwark to defend the rest the undaunted courage of this Earl and his resolute brave carriage being taken prisoner are delineated to the life by the renowned Sir John Beaumont in his ever-living Poem of Bosworth Field which if to some it may seem a long Quotation the goodness of the lines will recompense the tediousness of reading them Courageous Talbot had with Surrey met And after many blows begins to fret That one so young in Arms should thus unmov'd Resist his strength so oft in war approv'd And now the Earl beholds his Fathers fall VVhose death like horrid darkness frighted all Some give themselves as Captives others fly But this young Lion casts his generous eye On Mowbray's Lion painted in his shield And with that King of Beasts repines to yield The Field saith he in which the Lion stands Is blood and blood I offer to the hands Of daring foes but never shall my flight Die black my Lion which as yet is white His Enemies like cunning Huntsmen strive In binding snares to take their prey alive While he desires t' expose his naked breast And thinks the sword that deepest strikes is best Young Howard single with an Army fights When mov'd with pitty two renowned Knights Strong Clarindon and valiant Coniers try To rescue him in which attempt they die Now Surrey fainting scarce his Sword can hold Which made a common Souldier grow so bold To lay rude hands upon that noble Flower Which he disdaining anger gives him power Erects his weapon with a nimble round And sends the Peasants Arm to kiss the ground This done to Talbot he presents his Blade And saith It is not hope of life hath made This my submission but my strength is spent And some perhaps of villain blood will vent My weary soul this favour I demand That I may die by your victorious hand Nay God forbid that any of my name Quoth Talbot should put out so bright a flame As burns in thee brave Youth where thou hast err'd It was thy Fathers fault since he prefer'd A Tyrants Crown before the juster side The Earl still mindeful of his birth reply'd I wonder Talbot that thy noble heart Insults on ruines of the vanquisht part We had the right if now to you it flow The fortune of your Swords hath made it so I never will my luckless choice repent Nor can it stain mine honour or descent Set Englands Royal Wreath upon a stake There will I fight and not the place forsake And if the will of God hath so dispos'd That Richmonds Brow be with the Crown inclos'd I shall to him or his give doubtless signs That duty in my thoughts not faction shines Which he proved to be most true in the whole course of his life for having continued prisoner in the Tower three years and a half the Earl of Lincoln confederating with one Lambert Simnel raised an Army against the King the Lieutenant of the Tower favouring their enterprise freely offered the Earl licence to depart out at his pleasure which he refused saying That he that commanded him thither should command him out again The King understanding of his fidelity not onely released him of his imprisonment but took him into a more specal regard and soon had he an occasion to make tryall of him a great insurrection happening in the North wherein the Rebells were grown so potent that they slew the Earl of Northumberland in the field and took the City of York by assault against these King Henry assembles a great power making the Earl of Surrey Chief Captain of his Voward who so behaved himself that the Rebells forces were dissipated their chief Leaders taken and soon after executed The King noting his great prudence and magnanimity made him Lieutenant Generall from Trent Northward had Warden of the East and middle Marches and Justice of the Forrests from Trent Northwards in which offices he continued the space of ten years during which time the Scots having committed some outrages upon the Borders he made a road into Tivydale where he burnt and destroyed all before him returning with great spoils and honour Not long after he made another road into Scotland returning with like success James the fifth then King of Scotland raised a great power to withstand him and sent to the Earl a challenge to fight with him hand to hand which he accepted but the King into his demands would have the Countrey or Lands then in Controversie to be made Brabium Victoris which was without the Earls power to engage being the inheritance of the King his Master but he proffers better Lands of his own upon the Combat which was not accepted and so nothing was concluded A peace being concluded with the Scots he was called home and made Lord Treasurer of England of the Privy Council living in great Honor and reputation all the dayes of King Henry who dying his Son Henry that succeded him added to his other dignities the high Marshallship of England and going in person with an Army into France left him Lieutenant Generall from Trent Northward to defend the Realm against the Scots for James the Fifth King of Scotland notwithstanding he were King Henries Brother-in-law yet did so firmly adhere to the French that to divert King Henries proceedings in his own person with a mighty Army he invades England The Earl of Surrey to oppose him raises what Forces he could and at a place called Flodden it came to a pitcht field which was fought with great courage and valour but God who owned the just cause of the English crowned them with success and set the Palm of Victory on the Earl of Surrey's head The Scottish King being slain and with him two Bishops eleven Earls seventeen Barrons four hundred Knights besides other Gentlemen and seventeen thousand common Souldiers The Earl for these services was by the King at his return home highly rewarded and restored to the Dukedom of Norfolk his Fathers Dignity Soon after was he sent chief Commissioner with the Lady Mary the Kings sister to be married unto Lewis the French King and after his return home the King and Queen going to Guines to visit the French King he was made Protectour of the Realm in his absence Old age seizing on him he obtained leave of the King to spend the remainder of his dayes at Framlingham
shun the danger paid him eleven hundred and seventy pounds at the very instant yet did he deliver her the counterfeit coppy onely meaning to make use of the true one to get another some of the Earls adversaries This imposter being found out he was censured to perpetual imprisonment condemned in three thousand pounds two of which were to go to the Countess and his ears nailed to the pillory with this writing over his head A notorious Cheater I shall conclude all with some few observations on this unfortunate Earl as to his first rise my Lord of Leicester introduced him who had married his mother a tye of affinity Sure it is that he no sooner appeared in the Court but he took with the Queen and Courtiers and I believe they all could not choose through the sacrifice of the Father but look on the living Son whose image by the remembrance of former passages was afresh like the bleeding of men murthered represented to the Court The Cicero of our modern times parallels him and Buckingham where the difference was is too transparent certain it is to use Sir Robert Nauntons own words that there was in this young Lord together with a most goodly person a kinde of urbanity or innate courtesie which both won the Queen and took too much on the people which amongst other disparities Buckingham never did attain to the latter What hath been imputed to his fall is that he drew too fast from the Queens indulgence like a childe sucking of an over uberous Nurse which caused him to express himself in such peremptory language when he heard that my Lord Mountjoy received a favour from the Queen for his running so well a tilt when as though he would have limited her respects he said Now I believe every fool must have a favour which made the Queen swear by Gods death it was fit that one or other should take him down and teach him better maners All Authours agree that he was a man of a rash spirit thirsty after the uncertain fame of popularity which helpt him on to his Catastrophe One writeth this Latine Epitaph on him Epitaphium de eodem Comite Ecce sub hoc tumulo situs est celeberrimus Heros Qui cecidit patrii spesque decusque soli Fama ingens annis juvenis fortissimus armis Nobilitate potens religione pius Terra Britannia parens testis Hibernia lethi Tristia fata gemunt fortia facta canunt Facta togae bellive magis praestantia mirer Optima pace domi Maxima marte foris Mors fera corpus habet Coelo Comes inclyte vivis Vita dicata Deo mors nonna vita data est The Life of Sir ROBERT CECILL Tu pater patriae Princeps Prudentia cujus Extulit immensum roges populosque Britannos THis Earwig of the Court Sir Robert Cecil afterwards Earl of Salisbury was the Son of the Lord Burleigh and the Inheritour of his Wisdom and by degrees Successour of his places and favours though not of his Lands for he had Sir Thomas Cecil his elder Brother afterwards created Earl of Exeter He was first Secretary of State then Master of the Wards and in the last of Queen Elizabeths Reign came to be Lord Treasurer all which were the steps of his Fathers greatnesse and of the Honour he left to his House For his Person he was not much beholding to Nature though somewhat for his Face which was the best part of his outside but for his inside it may be said and without Solecisme that he was his Fathers own Son and a pregnant Proficent in all Discipline of State He was a Courtier from his Cradle which might have made him betimes yet at the age of twenty and upwards he was much short of his after-proof but exposed and by change of climate he soon made shew what he was and would be He lived in those times wherein the Queen had most need and use of men of weight and among able ones this was a chief as having his sufficiency from his instructions that begat him the Tutourship of the times and Court which were then the Accademies of Art and Cunning. This great Master of State and the staff of the Queens declining age who though his little crooked person could not promise any great supportation yet it carried thereon a head and a head-piece of a vaste content and therein it seems Nature was so diligent to compleat one and the best part about him as that to the perfection of his memory and intellectuals she took care also of his senses and to put him in Linceos oculos or to pleasure him the more borrowed of Argus so to give unto him a prospective sight and for the rest of his sensitive Vertues his predecessour Walsingham had left him a receipt to smell out what was done in the Conclave and his good old father was so well seen in the Mathematicks as that he could tell you thorow all Spain every part every ship with the burthens whither bound with preparation what impediments for diversion of enterprizes counsels and resolutions And that we may see as in a little Map how docible this little man was I will present a taste of his abilities The Earl of Devonshire upon the certainty the Spaniard would invade Ireland with a strong Army had written very earnestly to the Queen and the Councel for such supplies to be sent over that might enable him to march up to the Spaniard if he did land and follow on his prosecution against the Rebels Sir Robert Cecill besides the general dispatch of the Councell as he often did wrote this in private for these two began then to love dearly My Lord Out of the abundance of my affection and the care I have of your well doing I must in private put you out of doubt for of fear I know you cannot be otherwise sensible then in the way of honour that the Spaniard will not come unto you this year for I have it from my own what preparations are in all his Parts and what he can do For be confident he beareth up a reputation by seeming to embrace more then he can gripe But the next year be assured he will cast over unto you some Forelorn-hopes which how they may be reinforced beyond his present ability and his first intention I cannot as yet make any certain judgement but I believe out of my intelligence that you may expect there landing in Munster and the more to distract you in several places as at Kinsale Bur-haven Baltimore where you may be sure coming from Sea they will first fortifie and learn the strength of the Rebells before they dare take the field howsoever as I know you will not lesson not your care neither your defences and whatsoever lies within my power to do you and the publick service rest thereof assured And to this I would adde much more but it may as it is suffice to present much as to his abilities in the pen
that he was his Crafts-master in forreign intelligence and for domestique affairs as he was one of those that sat at the sterne to the last of the Queen so was he none of the least in skill and in the true use of the Compass And so I shall onely vindicate the scandal of his death and conclude him for he departed in the moneth of May 1612. at Saint Margrets near Marlborough in his retun home from the Bathe as my Lord Viscount Cranborne my Lord Clifford his Son and Son-in-law and many more can witness But that the day before he swounded in the way was taken out of the Litter and laid into his Coach was a truth out of which that falshood concerning the manner of his death had its derivation though nothing to the purpose or to the prejudice of his worth He was from his greatest enemies acknowledged to be a compleat Statesman a support of the Protestant Faction a discloser of Treasons the Mercury of his time His body lies buried at Macfield He was famous for his buildings more especially that called Brittains Burse with this and other rare edifices to his extraordinary cost with which he adorned his Countrey The Life of Sir THOMAS OVERBURY A mans best Fortune or his worst's a Wife Yet I that knew nor Marriage Peace nor Strife Live by a good one by a bad one lost my life A Wife like her I write scarce man can wed Of a false Friend like mine there 's none hath read THis Witty but unfortunate Knight Sir Thomas Overbury was the son of Sir Nicholas Overbury of Burton in Glocestershire who to his natural propension of Ingenuity had the addition of good Education He having been a while Student of the Law in the Middle Temple soon after he cast Anchor at Court the then Haven of hope for all aspiring spirits Yet upon some discontent he descended from those lofty Pinacles and travelled into France where having been some time he returned again and was entertained into the respects of Sir Robert Carre one who was newly initiated a Favorite to King James who put him in trust with his most secret employments in which he behaved himself honestly and discreetly purchasing by his wise carriage in that place good affection and respect not onely from Sir Robert Carre but of other eminent Persons In process of time this favour procured profit profit indulged honour honour large employments and in him expert execution for where diligence and humility are associate in great affairs there favour is accompanied with both So that many Courtiers perceiving great hopes grew into familiarity with him the Knights expectations are performed and his businesses accomplished beyond his expectation to his wishes so that his diligence and parts gained him extraordinary resentments from the Viscount to his uniting him into friendship with himself insomuch that to the shew of all the world this bond was indissolvable neither could there be more friendship used since there was nothing so secret or private but the Knight imparted it to Master Overbury After some continuance of time Sir Robert Carre is made Viscount and Master Overbury had the honour of Knighthood conferred on him who grew still more and more into the affections of the people so that now his worth and his wealth were so much taken notice of that he was likely to taper at Court These Eminencies as they are not unvaluable so in their spectatours they raise scruples and cause doubts especially in the Viscount for Sovereignty and Love can abide no Rivals And indeed what State on earth is so firm that is not changeable or what friendship so constant that is not dissolvable Who would imagine this Viscount should become instrumental to his death who had done him so faithful service and to whom he had embosomed his most secret thoughts We shall therefore in the next place lay down the grounds of this revolt of friendship on the Viscounts part for we finde no breach in Sir Thomas but that rather his constant affection and free delivery of his opinion scorning to temporize occasioned his death There had lately past a Divorce betwixt the Earl of Essex and the Lady Frances Howard so that she being now free a motion of Marriage was propounded betwixt Viscount Carre and this Lady Sir Thomas Overbury who had written a witty Poem entituled The Wife thinking her not agreeable to his intentions of Matrimony disswaded the Viscount from it with words reflecting much on the Countesses reputation This counsel though it proceeded from an unfeigned love in Sir Thomas yet where beauty commands all discretion being sequestred created in the Viscount a hatred towards him and in the Countess the fury of a woman a desire of revenge who perswaded the Viscount That it was not possible that ever she should endure those injuries or hope for any prosperity so long as he lived That she wondred how he could be so familiar so much affected to this man Overbury that without him he could do nothing as it were making him his right hand seeing he being newly grown into the Kings favor and depending wholly upon his greatness must expect to be clouded if not ruined when his servant that knew his secrets should come to preferment The Viscount apt enough of his own inclination to revenge further exasperated by the Countesse resolves upon his death and soon he found an occasion to act it The Councel finding Overburies diligence and sufficiency nominates him as a fit man to be Ambassadour into the Low Countreys to the Arch Duke as thinking they could not serve him up to preferments worthy of his deserts Before he had given in his answer the Viscount comes to him acting his fatal part against Sir Thomas disswades him from undertaking it using this argument That his preferment and expectations depended not on Forreign Nations You are now said he in credit at home and have already made triall of the dangers of travel why then should you hazard all upon uncertainties being already in possession of that you can probably expect by these means Overbury not doubting the Viscounts fidelity towards him was perswaded by him forgetting the counsel of the Poet. Ne cuiquam crede haud credere quisquam Nam fronte politi Astutam vapido celant sub pectore vulpem Believe thou not scarce any man For oft a Phrygian face Is smoothly covered with a smile Within seeks thy disgrace King James deeply incensed with the refusal of his tendred honours for his contempt commits him to the Tower the Viscount aggravated his offence to the King but privately promised Sir Thomas by his intimacy with the King to bring him off from any troubles that might arise but whatsoever he pretended he practised the contrary And now having him in the place they desired their next study to secure their revenge was closely to make him away which they concluded to be by poyson To this end they consult with one Mrs. Turner the first inventor of
Parents what manner of person he was like to prove is hence easie to conjecture since no advantages either from Nature or Education could be imagin'd to be wanting to him he past the more tender years of his childhood not without rare testimonies of many growing excellencies and great abilities of mind nor did he come on faster in age then in ingenuity and acuteness of wit which promised high assurances of that profound and universal knowledge and comprehension of things which rendred him afterwards so famous and brought him to be taken notice of by many noble persons and others that were eminent both in dignity and place and principally by the Queen her self who as I have heard from some of repute and credit took much delight oftentimes to discourse with him and to try his wit with difficult questions but with so much gravity and deliberate judgement did he behave himself that the Queen was us'd to call him the little Lord Keeper of the Seal Being askt of her how old he was he yet a childe ingeniously answered That he was the yonger by two years for her happy Reign When he had attained the age that was thought ripe for the University or rather more early then others commonly us'd to go he was by his Fathers appointment entered of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge under the tuition of the most Reverend John Whitgift Doctour of Divinity at that time Master of that Colledge afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury a Prelate of the first magnitude and most conspicuous for Sanctity Learning Patience and Humility under whom he was found to have made a wonderful progress in the Liberall Arts and Sciences and above all that were his contemporaries while he gave himself up wholly to his study in the University wanting yet somewhat of sixteen years of age The Philosophy of Aristotle as his Lordship hath been pleased to impart to me in private discourse began to seem unsavoury and distasteful to him not out of any disesteem of that Author for it was ever his custom to load him with high praises but because of the insufficiency of that way of Philosphy since it was so contriv'd and dispos'd as his Lordship was oftentimes pleas'd to inculcate as if it had been fram'd onely for disputations and controversies and was altogether barren as to the production of such operations as tended to the benefit of humane life in which opinion he persisted to his very last gasp After he had run through the whole course of the Liberal Arts his Father thought fit to have him bend and apply himself chiefly to the study of Politicks and for that cause took care to send him into France in the Company of Sir Amie Pawlet at that time appointed Ambassadour in ordinary to the French King He had not been there very long ere he was so far lookt upon as to be thought a fit person to be sent into England upon some special message to the Queen which employment having worthily discharg'd he was sent back by the Queen not without some testimony of her grace and favour Upon his going into France the second time he took this resolution not to see England again till after some certain-years expired During his travels in France his Father the Lord Keeper died leaving behinde him as I have heard from some that were acquainted with his affairs a considerable sum of money purposely set apart for the purchasing of certain Lands and Revenues for the use of this his youngest Son who onely of all the rest was left after his Fathers decease destitute of a hereditary patrimony for though in his Fathers estate yet not in his Fathers affection held he the lowest place But since the buying of those Lands was onely intended and not performed in his Fathers life-time there fell no more to his share then according to the proportion of money that was to be distributed among five brothers which was the cause that he enjoy'd but a slender and somewhat hard fortune during his yonger years for he came not to the possession of that noble and most delightful Mannor of Gorhambury till many years after and that by the death of his most dear Brother Mr. Anthony Bacon a man of great note and one that had been much conversant in the Courts of Forreign Princes for the excellency of his Wit equal but for knowledge in the Liberal Arts inferiour to his Brother Between these two there had ever past a most firm league of friendship as being besides the same paternal extraction united by a more strict tye of having both one Mother As soon as he return'd out of France his care was to pitch upon some certain course of life thereupon he addicted himself to the study and profession of the common Law of England in which undertaking he in a short time made an admirable progress Although to use his own words he made choice of that profession rather as subservient and auxiliary then as his principal intention He set forth from the first to the last divers Tractates concerning this subject in which though perhaps by some of the ancient standers of that profession he might be exceeded as to the bulk of volume and number of cases yet for matter of weight and his insight into the fundamentals and mysteries of the Law he gave place to none He had scarce serv'd out his Apprentiship in the Law before he was by the Queen taken into her learned Council extraordinary a favour as I have heard scarce granted to any one before The habitation he chose as most commodious for his studies and Office of Advocate was amongst the honourable society of Grey's-Inne into the number of which Society he admitted himself there he erected that neat and elegant structure which at this day is known by the name of the Lord Bacons Buildings in which at times he spent the greatest part of his life some few years onely excepted even to the very day of his death In this Society he carried himself with that mildness that affability and generosity of minde that thereby he attracted to himself great love and respect from the Seniors and Students of that Inne But though he was tied by the exigence of his fortune and for his better maintenance to profess the Law yet his minde and affection inclin'd more to the Political Arts and Offices of State of which if it had pleased her Royal Majesty he was as capable as any In the full strength of his age he admitted himself of the number of those that followed that noble though unfortunate Heroe the Earl of Essex whom as a most faithful and bosom Councellour he served to his utmost power ad still laboured to instill into his minde wholesom and honourable precepts till at length that Earl giving ear to the counsels of certain rash and hair-brain'd men ran head-long to his own destruction This he ow'd to the native and ingenuous endowments of his minde that they opened to him an easier and
have heard it often discoursed that he writ on the window with the point of his Diamond reflecting on the then present affliction of his Marriage these words John Donne done and undone But long were they not there but Mr. Donne got himself enlarged and soon after his two Friends and long it was not ere the edge of his Father-in-laws passion was taken off by the advice of some Friends who approved his Daughters choice and although at present he refused to contribute any means that might conduce to their livelihood yet did he bestow upon them his Paternal Blessing and secretly laboured his sons restauration into that place of which his own rashness had bereft him although it found no success The Lord Chancellour replying That though he was sorry for what he had done yet it stood not with his credit to discharge and re-admit Servants at the request of passionate Petitioners And now Mr. Donne by means of his Father-in-law being brought out of employment the greatest part of his portion by many and chargeable travels wasted the rest disburst in some few Books and dear bought experience was surrounded with many and sad thoughts And indeed no apprehension of discourtesie strikes so deep into a man as to receive it from those where we expect the greatest courtesies certainly he who hurts his Son-in-law cannot chuse but harm his own Daughter Neither is it enough for him to say he repenteth him of what he hath done unless withal he endeavor for him a new employment and allow him maintenace so long as he is out of it As did this good Knight Sir George More who repenting of his errour gave Master Donne a Bond to pay him eight hundred pound at a certain day as a portion with his Wife and to pay him for their maintenance twenty pound quarterly as the Interest of it until the said portion were paid Master Donne during the time of his Father-in-laws displeasure was curteously entertained by their noble Kinsman Sir Francis Wally of Pirford where he remained many years who as their charge encreased for she had yearly a childe so did he encrease his love and bounty Sir Francis dying he for a while kept house at Micham near Croyden in Surrey but being importuned by his friends he left Micham and had a convenient house assigned him by that honourable Gentleman Sir Robert Drury next his own in Drury-Lane who not onely gave him his dwelling rent free but was also a daily cherisher of his studies And now was he frequently visited by men of greatest learning and judgement in this kingdom his company desired by the Nobility and extreamly affected by the Gentry his friendship was sought for of most forreign Ambassadours and his acquaintance entreated by many other strangers whose learning or employment occasioned their stay in this kingdom Divers of the Nobility interceeded for his preferment at Court and great hopes was given him of some State employment his Majesty having formerly known and much valued him was much pleased to hear his learned disputes frequently used as they sat at meals About this time was that great dispute in England concerning the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance in which the King had ingaged himself who talking occasionly with Mr. Donne concerning some arguments urged by the Romanists received such satisfactory answers that he commanded him to state the points and bring his reasons to him in writing which within six weeks he performed with such contentment to the King that he perswaded him to enter into the Ministery to which Mr. Donne seemed to be modestly unwilling his modesty apprehending it too weighty for his abilities his friends also knowing how his education had apted him mediated with his Majesty to prefer him to some civil employment but the King having a descerning spirit replyed I know Mr. Donne is a learned man will prove an excellent Divine and a powerful Preacher Which caused this learned King again to sollicit him to enter into Sacred Orders which yet he deferred for the space of three years applying himself in the mean time to an incessant study of Textual Divinity and attained to an admirable perfection in the Greek and Hebrew Tongues Soon after his entring into this holy profession the King made him his Chaplain in ordinary he attending his Majesty in his progress to Cambridge the University knowing his worth with a universal consent made him Doctor in Divinity Immediately after his return home his Wife dyed leaving him the careful Father of seven Children living having buried five to her he promised never to bring them under the subjection of a step-mother and although his age being but forty two years might promise the contrary yet kept he his word faithfully burying with his most dear and deserving Wife all his sublunary joyes in this world and living a retired life applyed himself wholly to the exercise of Divinity And now his preaching and godly conversation was grown so eminent that fourteen Advowsions of several Benefices were offered unto him in the Countrey but he having a natural inclination to London his Birth-place refused them and accepted of a Lecture at Lincolns-Inne being glad to renew his intermitted friendship with them where he continued for the space of three years constantly and faithfully dispensing the word of God and they as freely requiting him with a liberal maintenance About which time the Palsgrave usurping the Crown of Bohemia much trouble arose in those kingdoms for the composing whereof the King sent the Earl of Carlile then Viscount Doncaster his Ambassador to those unsettled Princes and by a special command from his Majesty Doctor Donne was appointed to go along with him which accordingly he did to the great comfort of that vertuous Lady the Queen of Bohemia who very gladly received him as the Ambassadour of Christ and during his abode there being a constant hearer of his most excellent and powerful preaching Within fourteen moneths he returned home and about a year after his return the Deanry of Saint Pauls being vacant by the removal of Doctor Cary to the Bishoprick of Exeter the King bestowed the same upon him at his entrance into the Deanry he repaired the Chappel belonging to his house Suffering as the Psalmist hath it his eyes and temples to take no rest untill he had first beautified the house of God Soon after the Vicarage of Saint Dunstans in London fell to him by the death of Doctor White with another Ecclesiastical endowment about the same time Thus God blessed him that he was enabled to be Charitable to the Poor His Father-in-law Sir George More coming to pay him the conditioned sum of twenty pound he refused it saying as good Jacob said when he heard his Son Joseph lived It is enough you have been kinde to me and careful of my Children and I thank my God I am provided for therefore I will receive it no longer and not long after freely gave up his Bond of eight hundred pounds But
humanity and charitable inclinations will afford me your devout prayers For my Saviours sweet mercy good people pray for me even for my eternal Saviours sake into whose bosom I render my woful and afflicted soul sweet Jesu my redeemer the redeemer even of me a woful and dejected sinner receive into thy arms my Spirit At the time appointed he marched to the Scaffold more like a General in the head of an Army to breath victory then like a condemned man to undergo the sentence of death The Lieutenant of the Tower desired him to take Coach for fear the people should rush in upon him and tear him in pieces No said he Master Lieutenant I dare look death in the face and I hope the people too have you a care that I do not escape and I care not how I dye whether by the hand of the Executioner or the madness and fury of the People if that may give them better content it is all one to me Having mounted the Scaffold and seeing his Brother Sir George Wentworth weeping Brother said he What do you see in me that deserves these tears doth my fear betray my guiltiness or my too much boldness any Atheism think now that you do accompany me to my marriage bed Nor did I ever throw off my cloathes with such freedom and content as in this my preparation to my Grave that stock pointing to the Block appointed for his Execution must be my Pillow here must I rest and rest from all my labours no thoughts of envy no dreams of treason jealousies of foes cares for the King the State or my self shall interrupt this nap therefore Brother with me pitty mine enemies who beside their intention have made me blessed rejoyce in my innocency rejoyce in my happiness Kneeling down upon the Scaffold he made this Protestation I hope Gentlemen you do think that neither fear of loss or love of reputation will cause me to belie God and my Conscience for now I am in the door going out and my next step must be from time to eternity either of peace or pain To clear my self to you all I do solemnly protest before God I am not guilty so far as I can understand of that great crime laid now to my charge nor have had the least inclination or intention to damnifie or prejudice the King the State the Laws or Religion of this Kingdom but with my best endeavours to serve all and support all concluding with these words as God might be merciful to his soul Addressing himself to my Lord Primate of Ireland he said It is my very great comfort that I have your Lordship by me this day in regard I have been known to you these many years and I do thank God and your Lordship for it that you are here I should be very glad to obtain so much silence as to be heard a few words but I doubt I shall not the noise is so great My Lords I am come hither by the good will and pleasure of Almighty God to pay that last debt I owe to sin which is death and by the blessing of that God to rise again through the merits of Jesus Christ to righteousness and life eternal Here he was much interrupted My Lords I am come hither to submit to that judgement which hath passed against me I do it with a very quiet and contented minde I thank God I do freely forgive all the world a forgiveness that is not spoken from the teeth outwards as they say but from the very heart I speak it in the presence of Almighty God before whom I stand that there is not a displeasing thought arising in me towards any man living I thank God I can say it and truly too my conscience bearing me witness that in all my employment since I had the honour to serve his Majesty I never had any thing in the purpose of my heart but what tended to the joynt and individual prosperity of the King and People although it hath been my ill fortune to be misconstrued I am not the first that hath suffered in this kinde it is the common portion of us all while we are in this life to erre righteous judgement we must wait for in another place for here we are very subject to be misjudged one of another There is one thing that I desire to free my self of and I am very confident speaking it now with so much chearfulness that I shall obtain your Christian Charity in the belief of it I was so far from being against Parliaments that I did alwayes think the Parliaments of England were the most happy Constitutions that any Kingdom or Nation lived under and the best means under God to make the King and People happy For my death I here acquit all the world and beseech the God of heaven heartily to forgive them that contrived it though in the intentions and purposes of my heart I am not guilty of what I die for And my Lord Primate it is a great comfort for me that his Majesty conceives me not meriting so severe and heavy a punishment as is the utmost execution of this sentence I do infinitely rejoyce in this mercy of his and I beseech God return it into his own bosome that he may finde mercy when he stands in need of it I wish this Kingdom all the prosperity and happiness in the world I did it living and now dying it is my wish I do most humbly recommend this to every one that hears me and desire they would lay their hands upon their hearts and consider seriously whether the beginning of the happinesse and Reformation of a Kingdom should be written in Letters of blood consider this when you are at your homes and let me be never so unhappy as that the least drop of my blood should rise up in judgement against any one of you but I fear you are in a wrong way My Lords I have but one word more and with that I shall end I profess that I dye a true and obedient son to the Church of England wherein I was born and in which I was bred peace and prosperity be ever to it It hath been objected if it were an objection worth the answering that I have been inclined to Popery but I say truly from my heart that from the time that I was one and twenty years of age to this present going now upon forty nine I never had in my heart to doubt of this Religion of the Church of England nor ever had any man the boldness to suggest any such thing to me to the best of my remembrance and so being reconciled by the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour into whose bosom I hope I shall shortly be gathered to those eternal happinesses which shall never have end I desire heartily the forgivenesse of every man for any rash or unadvised words or any thing done amiss and so my Lords and Gentlemen farewel Farewel all the things of this world
and successful an enemy as followed them at the heels June 12 1648. they settled themselves a Garrison the Parliament Horse coming up and quartering within Canon shot of the Town Touching these proceedings I have further inlarged my self in the Life of Sir Charles Lucas But the greatest of all dangers which threatned the Parliament was from the North from the Kingdom of Scotland Duke Hamilton with an Army of five and twenty thousand entered England for the King with whom joyned Sir Marmaduke Langdale divers of the chief Ships of the Royal Fleet likewise much about the same time revolted from the Parliament and set their Vice-Admiral Rainsborow ashore affirming they were for the King and would serve Prince Charles sailing towards Holland where the Prince the was and with him his Brother the Duke of York who not long before fled privately out of London The Earl of Holland also with they young Duke of Buckingham having five hundred Horse appeared in Arms for the King by Kingston so that all things considered we may conclude that the Kings party since the beginning of the Wars was not in a likelier condition at least more formidible then at this present but God had otherwise decreed and all these fair hopes in a few dayes vanished into nothing as the following ill successes will declare The Earl of Holland soon after his rising was put to flight by Sir Michael Levesey and others The Lord Francis Villers Brother to the Duke of Bucking ham was slain and Sir Kenelm Digby's eldest Son who as he was fighting with four at once was cowardly thrust through his Back Holland flying with the remainder of his Horse was within few dayes after at the Town of Saint Needs by Collonel Scroop whom the General Fairfax had sent from Colchester for that purpose altogether subdued Holland himself taken and by the Parliament committed prisoner to Warwick Castle Langhorn and Powel were totally routed between the two Towns of Fagans and Peterstone and having lost all their Army escaped by flight to Colonel Poyer into Pembroke Castle which after a strait Siege was surrendred to Cromwell the three Collonels rendring themselves Prisoners at mercy Poyer onely suffered death who in hopes of a Reprieve dissembled a reluctancy when he was ready to dye Cromwel from thence marched against the Scots who were now come as far as Preston in Lancashire and with the addition of Lamberts strength gave Battel to Hamilton pursuing them as far as Warington about twenty miles and killing many in the Chase took Lieutenant General Bailey Prisoner with a great part of the Scottish Army granting them onely quarter for their lives In this Battle were slain three thousand Scots and taken Prisoners about nine thousand Duke Hamilton himself within few dayes after having fled with a good party of Horse to Vttoxeter was there taken prisoner by the Lord Gray and Collonel Wait. With Hamilton were taken about three thousand Horse Langdale also not long after was taken prisoner in a little Village by Widmerpole a Parliament Captain this was the success of Hamiltons invading England The Trophies of this Victory were placed in Westminster Hall Soon after was the strong Town of Colchester surrendred to General Fairfax which for three moneths together with much Resolution and Gallantry was defended by Sir Charles Lucas Norwich Capel c. until all hopes they had of relief were utterly blasted and all their provisions quite spent not so much as a Dog or a Cat left them to satisfie the necessity of Nature Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisel were shot to death the same day the Town was surrendred the Earl of Norwich Lord Capel and Master Hasting Brother to the Earl of Huntington were sent Prisoners to London The Lord Capel some few weeks after together with Duke Hamilton and the Earl of Holland were all three beheaded The Parliament during these Broils to give some seeming satisfaction to the Kingdom annulled their former votes of making no further addresses to the King and restored again to their seats eleven of their Members who had formerly been impeached by the Army a Treaty was voted to be with the King in the Isle of Wight the Earl of Middlesex with two of the House of Commons were sent to the King who made answer that he was very ready to treat of peace and named Newport in that Island to be the place Five of the House of Peers and ten of the House of Commons were appointed Commissioners and the Treaty went on with a great deal of seeming satisfaction on both sides But whiles they were intent upon the business a Petition was exhibited to the Parliament wherein they desired that the King might be tried by the Laws and brought to justice and all further Treaties with him to be laid aside which when the Parliament denied the Army not being satisfied they march some of them towards Newport others to the King who was now a Prisoner as large In the mean time the General sends his Letters to Collonel Hammond to render up his Command to Collonel Ewers who is to take the charge of the King but the Parliament vote him hereupon to stay there of which the General having notice 27. November The Army fast and pray and receive according to the still continued fashion Petitions from several Counties in order to what they intend to resolve and therefore Hammond submits and delivers up the King to Ewers and comes towards the Army The Parliament are angry and vote a Letter to the General that his orders and instructions for securing of the Kings person are contrary to their resolutions and instructions to Collonel Hammond and that it is the pleasure of the House that his Excellency recal his orders and that Colonel Hammond be free to take his charge to the Isle of Wight the Treaty being ended but instead of obedience hereto he salutes them with a sharp Letter for money to pay Arrears for the Army hereupon the Army marches to London and the King had his removes by Ewers till he came to the Block After that the House had past their Vote for no address to the King he being in a sad condition by his stricter condition in Hurst Castle hearing of these Votes prepares his soliloquies for his assured comfort in death as we finde his meditations in those golden Leaves of his Book As I have leasure sayes he so I have cause more then enough to meditate on and prepare for my death for I know that there are but a few steps betwixt the Prisons and the Graves of Princes Now the Ax was laid to the root of the Tree the House of Commons vote that by the Fundamental Laws of the Realm it is Treason for the time to come to Levy War against the Parliament and Kingdom the Ordinance for the Kings Trial was refused by the Lords January 2. After this a Proclamation was from the House of Commons for any one to accuse the King the Ordinance of
Secondly for his dear Wife and Children with some passion but for her especially with most ardent affections recommending them to the Divine Providence with great confidence and assurance and desiring for them rather the blessings of a better life then of this Thirdly for the King Church and State And lastly for his enemies with almost the same ardour and affection After this sending for my Lord of Norwich and Sir John Owen I read the whole Office of the Church for Good Friday and then after a short Homily I used for the present occasion we received the Sacrament in which action he behaved himself with great Humility Zeal and Devotion And being demanded after we had done how he found himself he replyed very much better stronger and chearfuller for that Heavenly repast and that he doubted not to walk like a Christian through the vale of death in the strength of it But he was to have an Agony before his Passion and that was the parting with his Wife eldest Son Son-in-law two of his Vncles and Sir T. C. especially the parting with his most dear Lady which indeed was the saddest spectacle that ever I beheld In which occasion he could not chuse but confess a little of humane frailty yet even then he did not forget both to comfort and counsel her and the rest of his friends particularly in blessing the young Lord he commanded him never to revenge his death though it should be in his power the like he said unto his Lady He told his Son he would leave him a Legacy out of Davids Psalms and that was this Lord lead me in a plain path For Boy saith he I would have you a plain honest man and hate dissimulation After this with much ado I perswaded his Wife and the rest to be gone and then being all alone with me he said Doctor The hardest part of my work in this world is now past meaning the parting with his Wife Then he desired me to pray preparatively to his death that in the last action he might so behave himself as might be most for Gods glory for the endearing of his dead Masters memory his present Masters service and that he might avoid the doing or saying of any thing which might savour either of ambition or vanity This being done they were all carried to Sir Robert Cotton's house where I was with him till he was called unto the Scaffold and would have gone up with him but the Guard of Souldiers would not suffer me The same day he suffered he writ this following Letter to his Wife My dearest life My eternal life is in Christ Jesus my worldly considerations in the highest degree thou hast deserved let me live long here in thy dear memory to the comfort of my Family our dear Children whom God out of mercy in Christ hath bestowed upon us I beseech thee take care of thy health sorrow not afflict not thy self too much God will be unto thee better then an Husband and to my Children better then a Father I am sure he is able to be so I am confident he is graciously pleased to be so God be with thee my most vertuous Wife God multiply many comforts to thee and my Children is the fervent prayer of Thy c. March the 9. 1648. was the day appointed for his beheading as also of Duke Hamilton and the Earl of Holland A Scaffold being erected in the new Palace-yard at Westminster over against the great Hall Gate The first that mounted the same was Duke Hamilton attended with Doctor Sibbald who after much delay and many impertinent discourses hoping as it was thought for a politick Reprieve but none coming he submitted his neck to the Ax upon whom an unlucky Wit writing his Epitaph thus descants A politition yet a fool A teacher and yet went to School A Hempen cord of silken twist A Papist yet a Calvanist A meer OGYGES yet a stranger To prudence that foresees a danger Here lies hee 's but to Scotland gone No worser Hell 't is Hamilton The next that entered the lists of death was the Earl of Holland one whose oft changing from side to side had made him less acceptable in the eyes of the people though the disposition of affairs altering their postures so often may in part plead his excuse no doubt he was real in his last undertaking He came to the Scaffold attended on by Mr. Bolton having made a long speech to the people of his honest intentions for the good of the Kingdom and desiring of God that it would please him the people might look upon the posterity of the King and that they might be called in again after many fervent prayers he had his head severed from his body upon whom our forementioned Poet thus Satyrically goes on By Venus self beneath this stone Lies Holland that spruce Earle His carcase here his head is gone To Bridget his brave Girle Who makes it her memento mori While she lies close to Captain Pory Last of all our honoured Heroe mounted the Scaffold to court grim death with an undaunted brow he came not as the two-former attended with a Minister having before prepared his way for death Coming to the front of the Scaffold he said as followeth The conclusion that I made with those that sent me hither and are the cause of this violent death of mine shall be the beginning of what I shall say to you when I made an address to them which was the last I told them with much sincerity that I would pray to the God of all mercies that they might be partakers of his inestimable and boundless mercies in Jesus Christ and truly I still pray that prayer and I beseech the God of Heaven forgive any injury they have done to me from my soul I wish it and truly this I tell you as a Christian to let you see I am a Christian but it is necessary that I should tell you somewhat more That I am a Protestant and truly I am a Protestant and very much in love with the profession of it after the manner as it was established in England by the thirty nine Articles a blessed way of profession and such a one as truly I never knew none so good I am so far from being a Papist which some have very unworthily charged me withal that truly I profess to you that though I love good works and commend good works yet I hold they have nothing at all to do in the matter of Salvation my Anchor hold is this That Christ loved me and gave himself for me that is that I rest upon And truly something I shall say to you as a Citizen of the whole world and in that consideration I am here condemned to dye contrary to the Law that governs all the world that is the Law of the Sword I had the protection of that for my life and the honour of it but I will not trouble you much with this discourse because in
undertake his cause and use his best endeavours The King applauding his magnanimous resolution giving him thanks encouraged him to fit himself chearfully for so great a work and the better to carry on the design the King sent the Earl of Antrim into Ireland who engaged himself to be with Montross in Argile a part of Scotland bordering upon Ireland with ten thousand men by the first of April 1644. this promise being past to him in December 1643. for a sTock of men to set up withal the King wrote to the Marquess of New Castle to furnish him with aid and sent Sir John Cockeram his Ambassadour with a Commission and Instruction for forreign Aids and Arms. This being done he sets forward in his journey from Oxford towards Scotland having in his company about two hundred Horse most of them Noblemen and Gentlemen who had formerly been Commanders in Forreign Countreys Being come to Durham he sends the Kings Instructions to the Marquess of Newcastle and the next day they met and conferred but Newcastles wants were so great that he could spare him at present onely an hundred Horse and two Brasse Field Peeces but sent his Orders to his Officers and Commanders in Cumberland and Westmerland to afford him all the assistance they could who accordingly met him near to Carlile with eight hundred Foot and three Troops of Horse With these small Forces he enters Scotland but having come to the River Anan upon occasion of a Mutiny among the English most of them fly their Colours and run back to England Notwithstanding he with his own men came to Dumfrise and took the Town into protection upon surrender where he stayed a while that he might be ready to entertain Antrim and his Irish but the time appointed being past and no news stirring of them the Covenanters gathering themselves together on every side to secure himself from being surprized he returns to Carlile And not loving to lie idle joyns with the Kings Forces in Northumberland takes the Town and Castle of Morpet as also an hundred Foot at the mouth of the River of Tine and afterwards victuals New Castle then intending to joyn his Forces with Prince Rupert who was coming to raise the Siege at York he made all the haste he could but met him not till he was upon his retreat the day after that unfortunate Battle All things thus failing him he returns to Carlile and sends the Lord Ogleby and Sir William Rolluck disguised into Scotland to discover the state of the Countrey who returning back brought him word that all things were in a desperate condition and therefore counselled him to bend his course some other way But Montross thinking it unworthiness in him to despair of so good a cause resolves upon a strange adventure for delivering those few Gentlemen that had been constant unto him to the Lord Ogleby to be conducted to the King he with Sir William Rolluck and one Sibbald being disguized entred Scotland Montross passing as Sibbalds man Thus making all the haste they could they came at last to the house of his Couzen Patrick Graham of Innisbrake not far from the River of Tay in the Sherifdom of Perth not long had he been there but he receives news of eleven hundred of Irish sent over by Antrim who were then upon the Mountains who being made to understand of his being there they came marching unto him and submitted to his command The next day the men of Athol to the number of eight hundred put themselves in Arms and joyned with Montross so that now having gotten this handful of men he desires to be in action impatient therefore of further delay he marches from thence with a resolution to set upon his enemies and having marched as far as Bucknith five hundred more under the command of the Lord Kilpont Son to the Earl of Taith joyned with him by whom he understood that the Covenanters were thick in Arms at a Rendezvouz at Perth whereupon with all the haste he could he speedeth thither these were commanded by the Lord Elcho who upon Montrosses approach provided to fight they were in number six thousand Foot and seven hundred Horse so that contemning the paucity of their enemies they grew to a foolish confidence of Victory but Montross so well ordered his Army that their confidence failed them for joyning Battel they were overthrown two thousand being slain and more taken prisoners The City of Perth upon this overthrow submitted her self to the Conquerour to whom he did not the least harm where having staid three dayes many of his Athol men returning home he marches with the rest of his Forces to Aberdeen but the Town having a strong Garrison therein refused to submit and he thinking it no wisdom to hazard the honour he had gotten by his late Victory upon the doubtful success of a Siege turns away towards Esk whither came to him the Lord Ogleby with his two Sons Sir Thomas and Sir David who with admirable constancy continued with him to the very end of the War And now receiving intelligence that an Army of the Covenanters under the command of the Lord Burleigh lay at Aberdeen with long marches he hies thither sets upon them and after a long fight puts them to the rout with the loss of almost all their Foot who flying for refuge unto the City Montrosses men came in thronging amongst them through the Gates and Posterns and laid them on heaps all over the Streets This Battel was fought September the 12. 1644. After this defeat Montross calling his Souldiers back to their Colours entred the City and allowed them two dayes rest In the mean time news was brought that Argile was hard by with far greater Forces then those they had dealt with last whereupon he removes to Kintor a Village ten miles off from Aberdeen expecting some of the Gordons would have joyned with him but none appearing he resolved to withdraw his Forces into the Mountains and Fastnesses for though he had fought twice indeed very prosperously it could not be expected that seeing he was so beset on all sides with great and numerous Armies he should be able to hold out alwayes without relief whereupon hiding his Ordnance in a Bog he marches to an old Castle called Rothmurk intending to pass over the River of Spey but on the other side were the number of five thousand up in Arms to hinder his passage wherefore to save his Army from being oppressed with the enemies Horse he turned into Badenoth a Rocky and Mountainous Countrey here he fell very dangerously sick but recovering again he sends Mac-donel who commanded the Irish with a Party into the Highlands to invite them to take up Arms with him and if they would not be invited to force them he himself passes into the North of Scotland and having staid a while for recruit at Strathbogy he removed to Faivy Castle and possest it Secure now as he thought from Argile his confidence had well near
destroyed him he and Lothian with 2500. Foot and 1200 Horse having undiscovered come within two miles of him Montross to repair his Scouts negligence having but 1500. Foot and 50. Horse draws them up to a high craggy Hill which over-looked the Castle but before he had appointed every one his ground to draw up in many of his Souldiers fairly run away yet notwithstanding their cowardise he so behaved himself with the remainder that though Argile several dayes attempted to assault him he carried away nothing with him but loss and disgrace Montross being now desirous to joyn with Mac-donel and those Highlanders he had raised takes the advantage of the night and returns to Strathbogy whither also Argile follows him and endeavours by great promises to draw away his Souldiers from him Montross to prevent his designs marches from thence to Balveny and so to Badenoth yet had Argiles promises wrought such effects in many of the Gentry and prime Souldiers that they shamefully deserted him Montross looking upon their revolt with indignation and scorn hastes into Athol and joynes with Macdonel Argile at that time lay at Dunkeldon but being frighted with the report of Montrosses coming when he was yet sixteen miles off he bid his men shift for themselves and he himself fled as fast as he could to Perth Montross hereupon passes into the Country of Argile and harazes the same with Fire and Sword and hearing that the Earl of Seafort with five thousand Horse and Foot were near at hand he resolveth to fight them but whilest he was preparing against him he had information that the Earl of Argile having gathered Forces out of the lower parts of the Kingdom and joyned unto them such Highlanders as yet adhered unto him containing in all about three thousand Foot were at an old Castle called Innerligh upon the Bank of Logh-Aber some thirty miles of him which caused him to march in all haste through untrodden paths and was on their backs ere they were aware and giving them Battel overthrew them having the killing of them with a most horrible slaughter for nine miles together no less then 1500. being killed among whom were very many Gentlemen of the Campbels whose deaths were answerable to their names dying in Campo belli in the Field of War Argile himself escaped by Boat many of the conquered fled into the Castle which was soon after surrendered to Montross Long staid he not there but returns again by the coasts of Harrick Arne and Narne a great party of his enemies being assembled at Elgin upon the news of his approach dispersed themselves leaving the Castle of Elgin unto him here the Lord Gordon eldest Son to the Marquess of Huntley with a select number of his friends and clients joyned themselves to him having now two thousand Foot and two hundred Horse he marches to Brechin where he understood Sir John Hurrey General of the Horse for the Covenanters was with a great party of Horse whom he encounters and puts to flight and understanding that Bailey a Commander of great account had been fetcht out of England to withstand him he resolves to give him Battel and thereupon goes against him but having in vain often provoked him thereunto many of his Souldiers also deserting him he was forced with much difficulty and hazard to retreat to the Mountains And now being out of his enemies reach he sends the Lord Gordon to levy new Forces whilest he with a small Party marches through Angus into Pertshire that he might distract the enemy till such time he made up his Army Bailey understanding where he was intends to surprize him but he found Montross provided for him who so valiantly repulsed his assault that by killing some and routing others he forced them to a retreat Hurrey having thus before mist his market on Montross intended to make it up on the Lord Gordon Montross fearing he should be over-mastered thought it necessary to oppose Hurrey as soon as was possible as well to secure so dear a friend from so eminent danger as to be nibbling at the enemies Forces as he found them asunder and to cut off that power by peace-meal which he well knew if it were all in a body would be above his strength therefore by long and continued journeyes he marches into Marre and joyns with the Lord Gordon who had raised a thousand Foot and two hundred Horse and indeed it was but time Hurry having gotten within six miles of him who understanding of Montrosses coming retires with al speed he could to Innerness Montross as hastily followeth after him here the Earls of Seafort and Sunderland the whole sept of the Frasers and most of Murray and Cathness and the neighbouring parts joyned with Hurry so that Montross fearing to be over-powred had a great minde to retire but not onely Hurry pressed so vehemently upon him that it was scarce possible for him to retreat but Baily also with a Southern Army much stronger then Hurry's was gotten betwixt the Mountains and him so that fearing to be hem'd in between two Armies he resolves to try the fortune of War without delay and commit the success to God to gain much advantage as he could he marshalls his Army and gives them Battel which was fought with much courage and eagerness on both sides each part striving to outvie the other in valour at length the Covenanters were overthrown three thousand of their Foot Souldiers being slain but most of their Horse escaped by a more timely then honourable flight Hurry with his broken Troops fled unto Baily after whom Montross having a few dayes refreshed his Souldidiers followed after whom Baily provokes unto Battel which he refused yet nevertheless by frequent skirmishes and especially breaking up their quarters in the night be so weakened their power and courage that as well Commanders as Souldiers hastily and disorderly betook themselves by night to Innerness when none pursued them In the mean time the Earl of Lindsey the prime ringleader of the Covenasters next unto Argile had raised a new Army and had passed over with his Forces into Angus intending to be a reserve unto Baily Montross resolving to quell this new Army marches against him with such speed that the news of his approach was not so swift as himself and now Lindsey was not above seven miles from him and all things ready for an assault when upon what occasion it is uncertain almost all the Northern men privately ran away from their Colours and going back the way that they came return into their Countrey by which means that Victory slipt thorow his fingers which he had almost grasped in his hand Therefore taking up new resolutions he sendeth the Lord Gordon and Mac-donel to levy more Forces and now Lindsey pretending to do some famous exploit takes a thousand old Souldiers from Baily leaving him as many new rais'd men in their rooms Montross having notice hereof desires to fight him and sends a Trumpet to offer a
set Battle but Baily answers he would not receive order to fight from an Enemy Yet at last through the rashness of the Lord Balcarise a Collonel of Horse who precipitated himself and the Horse under his command into danger he was forced thereunto whereupon a bloody Fight ensued wherein Baily was overthrown with the loss of the greatest part of his Army This Battel was fought at Alford on the 2. of July 1645. Montross having obtained this Victory marches into Angus where he met his Couzen Patrick Graham with his Athol men ready to live and dye under his command and Mac-donel with a great power of Highlanders so that being reinforced with such an Army he resolves to make his way into the very heart of the Kingdom and passing over the Tay at Dunkeldon encamped in Methfyn Forrest the Covenanters at that time held a Parliament at Saint Johns Town but hearing of Montrosses approach they secured themselves by flight he to encrease their terrour drew nearer to the Town but finding it not safe for him to descend into the Champion Countrey having such want of Horse he retreated to little Dunkeldon But that want was soon supplied by a Party from the North under the Earl of Aboine and Collonel Nathaniel Gordon the Earl of Airley and Sir David his son so that being now thus recruited he thought it not good to lose any time but marched straight towards the Enemy And having in vain several times proffered them Battle at last it came to a pitcht Field in a place called Kilsythe where the Covenanters though they overmatcht him in number yet came so far behinde him in valour that he obtained over them an absolute Victory having the killing of them for fourteen miles so that of all their Foot it is thought there did not an hundred come off nor did their horse escape very well of whom some were killed some taken the rest disperst Their Ordnance their Arms their Spoils came clearly to the Conquerours who lost onely six of their men on the other side were slain six thousand a great disproportion in number and did not the effects which followed this Victory make it the more credible it might seem to some a falshood if not an impossibility For presently afterwards was a great alteration all the Kingdom over the chief of the Nobility who sided with the Covenanters some fled to Barwick some to Carlile some to New Castle others into Ireland the Marquess of Douglass the Earls of Limmuck Annandale and Hertfield the Lord Barrons of Seton Drummond Fleming Maderly Carnegy and Jonston with many others of great quality submitted themselves such as before onely privately wisht well unto the King now expressed it openly The Cities and Countreys that were furthest off began to dispatch their Commissioners to profess in their names their Allegiance to their King their duty and service to his Vicegerent and freely to offer him Men Arms Provision and other necessaries of War The City of Edenburgh to ingratiate themselves with the Conquerours they released their Prisoners of whom the chiefest were the Earl of Crawford and James Lord Ogleby son to the Earl of Airly whom with their Delegates they sent to Montross to entreat for peace proffering submission and promising obedience for the time to come yea the whole Kingdom every where sounded nothing but Montrosses praise But what thing on earth is permanent many of his Souldiers being loaden with spoil ran privily away from their Colours and returned home Presently after their very Commanders desired Furloghs for a little while pretending that the Enemy had no Army within the borders of the Kingdom and therefore their service for the present might very well be spared the Earl of Aboine whether the Lord Governour would or no carried away with him not onely his own men but all the rest of the Northern Forces yea Alexander Macdonel who had hitherto continued so faithful departed into the Highlanders with more then three thousand stout men and sixscore of the best Irish promising with a solemn oath their sudden return yet he never saw Montross after Montross seeing it would be no better with his small Army passing by Edenburgh into which he would not enter by reason the plague then raged in the City led them through Lothainshire and in Strathgale joyned with some Forces raised by the Marquess of Douglass afterwards he marches to Niddisdale and Annandale and the Countrey of Ayre that he might there raise what Horse he could and coming to Selkirk he quartered his Horse in a Village and his Foot in a Wood close by His Army consisting of onely five hundred Foot and those Irish and a very weak party of new rais'd Horse Lesley understanding of his weak condition having been newly sent for out of England to help the Covenanters in their exigency with six thousand Horse made such speed that before he was discryed by Montrosses Scouts he was not above half a mile off Montross at that present was very busie in dispatching Letters to the King but upon news of Lesley's coming he mounts the first horse he could light on and gallops into the Field appointed for the Rendezvouz where he findes a great deal of noise but no order The Cavalry being little acquainted with duty and lying already dispersed in their quarters where they dreamt more of baiting their horses then maintaining their lives and honours yet there were a few and those were for the most part Noblemen and Knights who made all speed thither and gallantly undertook to make good the right Wing but they being not above sixscore in all and being assailed by so potent an Enemy multitude overcoming valour having twice repulsed their Enemy with loss at last they betook themselves to flight the Foot fighting a good while stoutly and resolutely were forced to yield but found little mercy from the Conquerour putting them all to the Sword Montross seeing his men routed which he never saw before rallying about thirty Horse whom he had gathered up in that confusion he desperately chargeth thorow the Enemy who hotly pursuing him to make his flight the more honourable he chargeth his pursuers routs them and carries away one Bruce a Captain of Horse and two Cornets with their Standards Prisoners And now being safe from danger he makes what haste he could into Athole to recruit his Army Aboine bringing him fifteen hundred Foot and three hundred Horse with some addition of the Athol men he crosseth the Forth and came into Leven which he destroyed without any resistance but his Forces too weak to resist so powerful an Army as the Enemy had then in the Field he returneth back into the Countrey of Athole and goeth himself in person to Bogie Castle upon the mouth of Spey to speak with Huntley having by messengers often fruitlesly sollicited him to joyn with him as soon as they met Montross invited him in smooth and gentle language to associate with him him in the War for the
of Lauderdale Duke Hamilton General of the Scotch Army who afterwards dyed of his wounds the Earl of Rothe the Earl of Cornwarth the Earl of Shrewsbury Packington Cunningham and Clare Knights The Lord Spine and Sinclear the Earl of Cleaveland of Kelley and Collonel Greaves six Collonels of Horse thirteen of Foot nine Lieutenant Collonels of Horse eight of Foot six Majors of Horse thirteen of Foot seven and thirty Captains of Horse seventy and three of Foot fifty five Quartermasters eighty nine Lieutenants of Foot Major General Biscotty Major General Montgomery the Lieutenant General of the Ordnance the Adjutant General of the Foot the Marshal General the Quartermaster General the Conductor General of the Baggage seventy six Standards ninety nine Ensigns all which were hung up in Westminster Hall for successive Parliaments to understand what vigour of spirits they by their influence can infuse into those they please to authorize onely the want of the allay of their ambitions often works them high where it is impossible to set limits to generous mindes To continue the other Appendixes to this victory there were also taken nine Ministers nine Chyrurgions one hundred fifty and eight Colours and all the Cannon and Baggage generally the Royal Standard the Kings Coach and Horses the Royal Robe the Coller of the Order of the Garter thirty of his domestique Servants and that admirable Poet his Secretary Fanshaw Several other persons were also afterwards taken in the remotest Countries as Major General Massey who being committed to the Tower afterwards made an escape Major General Middleton Lieutenant General David Lesley and several others insomuch as that it may be said the gleanings of this victory were as considerable as the whole harvest it self Many of the common Souldiers were transported into the Barbadoes and other Plantations this mercy extended to them in saving their lives causing much gain to accrew thereby unto the Common-wealth in selling the poor heathenish Highlanders to the Plantations I shall onely end these sad transactions with what Mr. Wharton chronologized in these words since English Hoggs eat our dear Brethren up He onely reflects on the half graves were made for them in Tuttle Fields Of all this long list two onely suffered death viz. Sir Timothy Featherstone Knight and the Earl of Darby who on the 15. of October following was beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire being conducted thither by sixty Foot and eighty Horse about two of the Clock he was brought forth to the Scaffold which was built at the Cross part of it with the Timber of his own house at Latham there was not above an hundred lookers on besides Souldiers presently after his coming upon the Scaffold there happened a great tumult the occasion thereof not being certainly known in appeasing of which there were some cut many hurt and one childe killed The Earl was no eloquent orator and the tumult put him out of his speaking what he intended at last after some silence made he began as followeth Since it hath pleased God by this untimely death to shorten my dayes I am glad it is in this Town where some have been made believe I was a cruel person that I might vindicate my self from this aspersion it was my desire the last time I came into this Countrey to come hither as to a people that ought to serve the King as I conceive upon good grounds it was said that I was accustomed to be a man of blood but it doth not lie upon my conscience I was wrongfully bely'd I thank God I desired peace I was born in honour and I shall dye honourably as I suffer for my Sovereign I had a fair estate good friends and was respected and did respect those that were ready to do for me I was ready to do for them I have done nothing but as my generous predecessors acted to do you good It was the King that called me in and I thought it my duty to wait upon his Highness to do him service Here he was disturbed by the noise of the people after some pause he said I intended to have exprest my self further but I have said I have not much more to say to you but as to my good will to this Town of Bolton I can say no more but the Lord bless you I forgive you all and desire to be forgiven of you all for I put my trust in Christ Jesus Looking about him he said I did never deserve this hard measure Honest friends you that are Souldiers my life is taken away after quarter given by a Councel of War which was never done before Walking up and down the Scaffold he said The Lord bless you all the Son of God bless you all of this Town of Bolton Manchester Lancashire and the rest of the kingdom and God send that you may have a King again and Laws I dye like a Christian and a Souldier Gods and my Sovereigns Souldier Causing his Coffin to be opened he said I hope when I am imprisoned here armed men shall not need to watch me Looking upon them that were upon the Scaffold he said What do you stay for it is hard that I cannot get a Block to have my head cut off Speaking to the Executioner he said Thy coat is so troublesome and cumbersome that I believe that thou canst not hit right the Lord help thee and forgive thee Other words he used which to avoid prolixity I willingly omit At last submitting his neck to the Block he had his head severed from his body with one blow his sorrowful Son who was a sad spectator of this woful tragedy out of a pious care and filial duty conveyed his Corps back with him that night to Wiggan and afterwards gave them honourable burial Not long before at London was Collonel Eusebius Andrews apprehended who having formerly practiced the Law changed his Gown into a Coat of Armour and ventured his life in the Kings service having received a Commission from the King of Scots for the raising men in England he was tryed in Westminster Hall at the High Court of Justice then again newly erected being the first unfortunate Gentleman that hanselled the Court. To pass over the large particulars of tryal he was acknowledged by all that were understanding Auditours of his Plea that he behaved himself like to a right English man spoke as good sound and as honest sense as any person before him upon such limitations as he was confined too he shewed himself an excellent Oratour an expert Lawyer and a person of strong and clear reason he acknowledged himself guilty as to the power of that present Government that his life was at their disposal He was condemned and the 22. of August 1650. brought to the Scaffold on Tower-hill where he expressed himself to the people in these his last words Christian Gentlemen and People your business hither to day is to see a sad spectacle a man to be in a moment unman'd and cut off in the prime
for fear or favour backslide or depart from the same and give them the assistance of thy Spirit that may enable them so to preach thy word that may keep the people upright in the midst of a corrupted and corrupt generation And good Lord bless thy people every where with hearing ears understanding hearts conscientious souls and obedient lives especially those over whom I have had either lately or formerly a charge that with meek heart and due reverence they may hear and receive thy holy word truly serving thee in righteousness and holiness all the dayes of their lives And we beseech thee of thy goodness and mercy to comfort and succour all those that in this transitory life be in trouble sorrow need sickness or any other adversity Lord help the helpless and comfort the comfortless visit the sick relieve the oppressed help them to right that suffer wrong set them at liberty that are in prison restore the banished and of thy great mercy and in thy good time deliver all thy people out of their necessities Lord do thou of thy great mercy fit us all for our latter end for the hour of death and the day of judgement and do thou in the hour of death and at the day of judgement from thy wrath and everlasting damnation good Lord deliver us through the cross and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ In the mean time O Lord teach us so to number our our dayes and me my minutes that we may apply our hearts to true wisdom that we may be wise unto salvation that we may live soberly godly and righteously in this present world denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts Lord teach us so to live that we may not be afraid to dye and that we may so live that we may be alwayes prepared to dye that when death shall seize upon us it may not surprise us but that we may lift up our heads with joy knowing that our redemption draws nigh and that we shall be for ever happy being assured that we shall come to the felicity of the chosen and rejoyce with the gladness of the people and give us such a fulness of thy holy Spirit that may make us stedfast in this faith and confirme us in this hope indue us with patience under thy afflicting hand and withal a chearful resolution of our selves to thy divine disposing that so passing the pilgrimage of this world we may come to the Land of promise the heavenly Canaan that we may reign with thee in the world to come through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose blessed name and words we further call upon thee saying Our Father c. Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme O Lord be the defence of me and all other thy servants thy mercy and loving kindness in Jesus Christ our salvation thy true and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy Spirit our comfort and consolation to the end and in the end through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen His Speech and Prayer ended with much meekness and spiritual consolation He submitted his neck to the stroak of the Axe to as great a loss of the Church of Christ and of all good men as hath happened in our times I have the more enlarged my self that my Reader might not without a kinde of a consternation or possession of strange amazement pass by the concernments of this blessed Heroe The same day of Doctor Hewets tryal was also tryed John Mordant of Clement Danes Esquire with whom he was a fellow-prisoner the charge against him was for combining with Henry Bishop of Parham in Sussex Gent. Hartgil Baron and Francis Mansil with divers others for raising War against Oliver Lord Protector in the behalf of Charles Stuart and confering with J. Stapely Esq Henry Mallory and others how to effect the same and delivering Commissions to several persons in the name of and as from the said Charles Stuart c. He stood long upon it as did the Doctor before to have Councel assigned him and that he might be tryed by a Jury but finding it would not be granted he at last pleaded not guilty many witnesses deposited against him yet he by his ingenuity so cleared himself that notwithstanding many endeavours to the contrary he was discharged July the 17. following Collonel Ashton and John Betley were executed the one in Tower-street the other in Cheapside Collonel Ashton was the first being drawn on a Sled that Worthy Divine Doctor Warmestry submitting for the good of a poor Christians soul to lye along with him upon the Sled that he might lose no time for his spiritual converse They were drawn from Newgate to Towerstreet over against Mark-lane end where a Gibbet was erected As he ascended the Ladder Doctor Warmestry said Almighty God who is a strong Tower be with thee and make thee know and feel that there is no other name under heaven whereby to attain everlasting life but by the name of Jesus The Blessing of God the Father the Son and Holy Ghost be with you henceforth and for ever Amen He being upon the Ladder exprest a great deal of confidence he had in the merits and mercies of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ not doubting but that through the red Sea of his blood he should arrive at the heavenly Canaan and in little space behold his Saviour whom his soul so much longed after Then fixing his eyes upon the multitude he spake to this effect I am brought here to a shameful death I am an English man borne and as many know a Gentleman born I was drawn into this business by several persons and am now brought here for my former sins God hath delivered me several times from several judgements he hath visited me at this time because I slighted and did not pursue that repentance that I promised Therefore I desire all good people to leave off their sins for Christ his sake and become new men for it is that that brings all men to ruine I beseech God of mercy have mercy upon my soul Lord God I come to thee Lord the Father of heaven have mercy upon me O God the Son Redeemer of the world have mercy upon me O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son have mercy upon me Remember not my offences but spare me good Lord God I beseech thee spare thy servant whom thou hast redeemed for thy dear Sons sake I have no more to say but desire the prayers of all good people Having ended his Speech he committed his spirit into the hands of God and having said Lord have mercy upon my soul he was turned off the Ladder and instantly cut down his belly ripped up and his bowels burnt in a fire ready prepared for that purpose he being not yet dead then was his head cut off and his body divided into four quarters put into a basket and conveyed back to Newgate Next they proceeded and fetcht John Betley for there was a great deal