into the Countrey he was invited to hunt in the Park of one Thomas Burdet Esq where after having caught much Game he by the persuasion oâ— some that were about him killed a white Buck which for its Tameness and comely Form was greatly beloved by the Owner and upon notice it was slain he wished the Horns of it in the Belly of those that advised the King to doe it which being over-heard by some Court Parasites they to curry favour with the King made their Report of it to him with aggravation insomuch that Burdet was tried and cast for High Treason in wishing the King's Death and accordingly beheaded at Tyburn Another Person he caused to be hanged before his own door in Cheapside for saying to a little Youth his Son that if he would mind his Book and be a good Boy he would make him heir to the Crown meaning in all probability his house that bore that Sign c. But now the King worn out with Wars and Women much grieved for the untimely death of his Brother fell sick and sending for the Nobles that were at Court he earnestly desired them to live peaceably together and have regard to his Children in their tender Years forgetting Injuries and Animosities as they tendered the Love of God and their King appointing his Son Edward a Youth of about 12 years of Age to succeed him making the Duke of Gloucester Protectour of his Person during his Minority and then gave up the Ghost on the 9th of Apr. 1483. He had Issue by Elizabeth his Wife Daughter to Richard Woodvile Earl Rivers Prince Edward Richard Duke of Bedford who dyed a Child Richard Duke of York Elizabeth married to Henry VII Ciciâ— married to the Lord Viscount Wells Anne married to Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk Bridget a veiled Nun Mary who dyed 1482. Margaret who dyed an Infant Katharine married to William Courtney Earl of Devonshire his base Issue was Arthur and Elizabeth This Edward was King of England France and Lord of Ireland Son to Richard Plantagenet Duke of York he began his Reign on the 4th of March 1460. and reigned 22 Years 1 Month and 5 Days and was the 36th sole Monarch of England he dyed in the 40th year of his Age and the 23d of his Reign his Body was buried in the new Chapel at Windsor whose Foundation himself had laid Thus after bloudy Toils with restless Fate The Warlike Prince does to the Grave retreat The mighty dead now undistinguished lies Death makes the Monarch and the Slave his prize The Reign and Actions of Edward the V. King of England c. EDward V upon the death of his Father was committed to the Care and Tutulage of Sir Anthony Woodvile with whom were joined sundry of the Queens Relations before her Marriage but Richard Duke of Glocester the deceased King's Brother thirsting after Sovereignty laboured to remove them from the Person of the young King and to that â—nd hearing they were bringing him out of the Countrey whither he had retired to be crowned â—t London with a great Power and Train he so â—ealt with the Queen that she sent express word they should save the charge and trouble of so great 〈◊〉 Concourse and urged as Gloucester had insinuated that it would give the Nobility at London apprehensions of danger and occasion of disturbance or discontent and having made the Duke of Buckâ—ngham the Lord Hastings and others his Confidents he marched to Stonystratford and there took â—ho young King by force from the small Train that attended him arresting the Lord Richard Grey Sir Thomas Vaughan and Sir Richard Hawtre in the King's presence nor could his entreaty prevail for their delivery he made Sir Anthony Woodvile now Lord Rivers Prisoner and soon after sent him and the Lord Grey with a strong Guard to a Castle in the North pretending for his Justification of these proceedings that they had a design upon his Life and the Lives of the ancient Nobility that they might have the power of the King and Kingdom in their own hands and to render the report more plausible caused old Armour and rusty weapons to be shewed to the people in his way to London pretending those were the Instruments intended to doe the business The Queen upon the surprising news began to have mortal Apprehensions of the danger the King and her self were in finding how she had been imposed on by the Protectour in forbidding the strength intended for the Guard of her Son's Person and the better to secure her self she removed with her son Richard Duke of York and her Daughters into the sanctuary at Westminster and people werâ— filled with fear and confusion especially when they found the Thames full of Boats with the servants oâ— Buckingham and Gloucester in them to prevent thâ— escape of any persons that way and to prevenâ— their coming to sanctuary however the Archbishop of York comforted the Queen the best he could delivering up the Broad Seal and telling her if anâ— misfortune came to the King he would crown hiâ— Brother and the Duke of Gloucester caused thâ— Lord Hasting Lord Chamberlain to send a Messagâ— to the Archbishop to assure him all would be well but the Queen declared against that Lord as onâ— that sought the Ruine of her Family however oâ— the fourth of May the King came to Town and waâ— in much Pomp conveyed to the Bishop of London Palace where the Dukes of Gloucester Buckingham and other Noblemen swore Fealty to him and by a second Approbation the first was confirmed Protector of the King's Person and Kingdoms Gloucester having made a prosperous beginning fell to strengthening his Party and held divers Councils to contrive what was farther to be done but he found he had as yet but half his Prey in his hands and thereupon he laboured to get the Duke of York into his possession and to that end Consultations were held in the Stra-chamber where it was resolved that for sundry Reasons he should be with his Brother but the Abbat and Archbishop declaring it was no ways reasonable but alltogether dangerous to make a breach upon the sanctuary the latter was appointed to wait upon the Queen to prevail with her for his peaceable delivery and although she used many pregnant Reasons to the contrary yet understanding the Protectour was resolved to have him by force if fair means failed she with much regret and a floud of sorrow delivered him to the charge of the Archbishop and other Lords that attended saying I deliver him and his Brother into your hands of whom I shall require them before God and the World after which she tenderly kissed and embraced the Infant blessing him and weeping over him as a fatal presage of his Misfortune whilst the Child wept as fast the Protectour having gotten him he took him in his Arms and gave him a treacherous Kiss saying Now wellcome my Lord even with all my heart The Prize thus gotten the Councils were removed
the Profits and Arrears of the See of Canterbury restored But this restles Prelate taking his time to disturb the Kingdom whilst the old King was in Normandy published the Popes Letters by which Roger Arch-bishop of York and Hugh Bishop of Durham were suspended from their Ecclesiastical Functions for that they had crowned the young King in prejudice to the See of Canterbury and the Bishops of Exeter Sarum and London were cut off from the Church by censure for being Assistants at that Coronation nor would he at the young Kings earnest intreaties but under divers restrictions and hard conditions Absolve them Becket's new insolencies coming to the ear of the old King in Normandy he fell into a great rage and let such words fall that some of his Courtiers interpreting them to intimate the Kings desire to be rid of that proud Prelate contrary to his knowledge Richard Fitzurse William Tracie Hugh Brito and Hugh Norvil passed secretly into England and getting admittance into the Cathedral Church at Canterbury took their opportunity with concealed Weapons to fall upon him as he stood in the Evening Service time before the high Altar and there slew him with a Monk or two that made resistance and thereupon made their escapes This news flying to Rome and the Murther charged upon the King as done by hiâ— order the Pope began terribly to mennace him when he to take off the imputation of guilt not only protested his innocence but offered to purge himself by submitting to the Judgment of such Cardinâ— Legates as the Pope should send upon inquiry intâ— the Fact and the better to quiet the people that began to murmur against him he passed into Irelanâ— with a great Army and finding the several pettâ— Kings divided amongst themselves he made a Conquest of that Kingdom and made himself Lord Ireland Upon the Kings return from the Conquest Ireland he found two Cardinal Legates arrived Normandy by whom he was absolved after giving Oath that he was no ways consenting to the death Becket and declaring his sorrow for having let fâ— words in his anger that might administer any ocâ—sion of committing that crime whereupon the coâ—ditions of his Penance were enjoyned viz. That his own charge for the space of a year he should maâ—tain two huâ—dred Soldiers for defence of the Holy Laâ— That he should revoke all Customs introduced to the 〈◊〉 judice of the Churches Liberties and restore and make up the Possessions of the Church of Canterbury That he should cull home and freely receive all that were in Banishment for Becketg 's cause There were other secret Penances enjoyned which upon his coming over he performed The King notwithstanding the satisfaction he gave the Pope was not at ease for the young King Henry his Son instigated by his Mother the Kings of Scotland and France his two Brothers Richard and Geofry with divers Nobles as well English as Normans raised a Rebellion and seized upon many Towns in Britain and other places But the old Kings Fortune prevailed against them and by Humphry Bohun his High Constable in England he overcame Robert Earl of Leicester which made Lewis of France seek a Truce with him of six Months which was accorded and coming to Canterbury three Miles bare footed as his private Penance he entred the Chapter House of the Monks and humbly prostrating himself on the floor begged pardon and suffered himself voluntarily to be whipped on the back with Rods by all the Brethren of the House so that his stripes amounted to fourscore This confirmed the people of his innocency or at least satisfied their anger so that the Scots invading England were so unanimously opposed that they were defeated and William their King taken prisoner Young King Henry attempting to land was driven back to France by contrary Winds but making some other attempts he died in the expedition Anno 1183 And the next year Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem came into England to implore the Kings Aid â—gainst the Infidels that grievously oppressed the Eastern Christians and that he would go thither in person but the Nobles being consulted and not approving it only a supply of Money was granted The King the better to quiet his Son John who was of a turbulent spirit constituted him Lord of Ireland assigning him rents in England and Normandy however he conspired with his Brothers Richard and Geofry against him but before any thing came to perfection Geofry was troden to death under the Horses feet at a Turnament in Paris notwithstanding Richard by the assistance of Philip the French King drove his Father out of Mentz the place of his birth and for which reason he loved it above all other whereupon with tears he declared that seeing his Son had taken from him that day the thing which he most loved in the World he would requite him for from that day he would deprive him of that thing which in him should best please a Child viz. his heart and having a Scrowl of the Conspirators he no sooner found his Son John in the head of them and first in that Scrowl but he curst the hour of his Birth laying God's curse and his own upon all his Sons which he could not be prevailed upon to recal but fretting himself for the unnatural proceedings of his Children and worn out with age and toil he fell sick at Charon and finding the approach of death he caused himself to be carried to the Church and laid before the high Altar where after humble confession and sorrow for his sins he gave up the ghost Anno 1189 and waâ— intered at Font Everard This King Henry the Second was King of England Duke of Normandy Guen and Aquitain eldest Son to Jeffery Plantagenet Earl of Anjou Son to Foulk King of Jerusalem by Maud his Wife eldest Daughter tâ— Henry the First He began his Reign on the 25th oâ— October 1154 and reigned 34 years eight months anâ— eleven days and was the twenty fifth sole Monarcâ— of England he had Issue by his Wife Eleaner Will am who died 1156 Richard Geofry and Philip whâ— died very young John Maud who was married 〈◊〉 Henry sirnamed the Lyon Duke of Saxony Eleanâ— married to William King of Castile Joan married 〈◊〉 VVilliam King of Sicily and afterwards to Ramuâ— the fourth Earl of Tholouze By the lovely Rosamond his beautiful Concubinâ— he had natural Issue viz. VVilliam sirnamed Longspur and Jeffry Arch-bishop of York This Rosamond was Daughter to the Lord Clifford and whilst the King prosecuted his Wars in Normandy and France he caused her to be kept in a Labrinth built at VVoodstock to secure her from his jealous Queen but she finding her by a clew of Thred or Silk which the Fair one had accidentially let fall compelled her to drink Poison of which she died to the unspeakable grief of the King who not only detested his Queen for so much cruelty but raised a stately Monument at Godstow with this Scription Hic jacet in
the Revenge of some Courtiers whom he had iâ—jured and they soliciting the King to proceed further he commanded him to leave the Court and retire to York but as he was on his way he was overtaken and arrested by the Earl of Northumberland and his House and Furniture siezed Hiâ— Charge was for speaking Arrogant Words against the King which were interpreted that he meant to take revenge for his disgrace but at Leicester Abby in his way to London taking an Italian Confection to break Wind from his Stomach he dyed not without suspition of Poisoning himself rather than after so great a share of Power and Grandure as he had possessed to fall into the hands of his Enemies His last words were these viz. If I had served my God as faithfully as I have served my King he would not at this time cast me off As for his Birth it was mean being the Son of a Butcher at Ipswich rising from a low degree by his Policie Cuning and prompt Genus About this time Queen Ann was delivered of a Daughter Christened by the name of Elizabeth afterward our renowned Queen of England and two years after of a dead Child but the Popish party at Court perceiving this good Queen strongly to incline to the Lutheran Doctrine and encourage those of the Profession they found an opportunity to strike in with some displeasure of the King 's and accuse her of Incest and Adultery with her Brother the Lord Rochfort which appeared upon no other Foundation than his waiting upon her whilst she was in Bed to inquire of her Health and for joy of her recovery presuming to salute her however she was beheaded on Tower-Hill making a very Pious and Christian-like end and for the same Fact dyed Her Brother in like manner on the 19th of May 1536. and the next day the King gave a greater light into this cruel Execution by Marrying the Lady Jane Seymour Daughter to Sir John Seymour which looked as though the removing one from his Embraces was only to make way for the other Wolsey as is said being dead Thomas Cromwell a Black-smith's Son of Putney who had been an under Favourite of the Cardinals began to rise in the Kings esteem being first made Master of the Jewel-house then Barron of Okeham then Earl of Essex after that great Chamberlain of England and Vicar General of the Spiritualities he was a great favourer of the Reformed Religion and strove what in him lay to promote it but this and his greatness proved his downfall by raising powerfull Enemies at Court against him so that after he had done many great things for the King and Kingdom he was Arraigned Condemned and lost his Head however some change of the Face of the Romish Worship made the Monks and Fryars invite the Plebeans to take up Arms under pretence of redressing Grievances and reforming matters of State and were headed in Lincolnshire by one Mackarel a Monk but being promised by the King their requests should be partly answered they laid down their Arms but it was not long before another rout got together under the name of Pilgrims carrying in their Banner the Picture of Christ with his five Wounds the Chalice Cake and other foolish Devices declaring for Holy Mother Church and a Reformation in State These assembled in Yorkshire to the number of 40000 Commanded by one Diamond a Fisherman who Stiled himself the Earl of Poverty and one Robert Aske yet upon the approach of the King's Forces though they had for a time appeared very formidable being promised as the former some Redress of their Demands and a Pardon for what had passed they dispersed themselves yet upon these and the like stirs several of the Ringleaders were taken and Executed as four Abbots two Pryors three Monks and 3 Priests nor did Captain Mackerel escape this Execution and of Temporal Persons dyed the Lord Dacres Sir Robert Constable Sir Francis Bigod Robert Aske and divers others and now the Churches began to be purged of Images and other Trumpery which greatly inriched the King's Coffors for many of them were of Gold and Silver set with precious Stones and those of Wood were burnt nor were the Monasteries and Religious Houses long delayed of which there were suppressed Monasteries â—645 Colledges 90 Chanceries and Free Chapels â—374 So that the Bible was read in English Register Books appointed and Weddings and Christenâ—ngs Commenced in due order to hinder Clandestine Iniquities for upon their being demolished great numbers of Childrens Sculls and Bones were found which had been Murther'd stopt up in the Walls and other places to hide the Infamy of the Lascivious Nuns and Fryars c. But by this means the Revenues siezed swarms of Monasticks were turned out to shift which made them labour to incense not only many of the Commons but some Noblemen and Gentlemen against the King and the Pope sent a Bull Excommunicating the King but the Bull bearer being taken as he was fixing it upon the Bishop of Londons Palace he was as a Traytor conveyed to Tyburn and there hanged with the Bull about his Neck and the Marquess of Exceter the Lord Montacute and Sir Edward Nevile were Executed at Tower-Hill for Conspiring to depose Henry and place Cardinal Reignald Pool Grand-son to the Duke of Clarence in the Throne The Lady Jane Seymour whom Henry hade made â—his Queen dying in Child-bed with Prince Edward afterward our Edward the Sixth the King Married the Lady Ann Sister to the Duke of Cleve and she being sent over the King no sooner fixed his Eyes on her but he took dislike a to her Person and pretending he had been deceived in the Report of her Beauty the Beding was refrained and a Divorce procured in Parliament barring her the Tittle of Queen and he proceeded to Marry the Lady Catharine Howard Neice to the Duke of Norfolk but she soon after run the same Risque as Ann of Bulloin had done for she had not been Married much above a year before she was accused of Fornication and Adultery the one with Francis Derham before Marriage and the other with Thomas Culpeper after she was Queen for which she together with the Lady Jane Rochfort lost her head on Tower-Hill the latter suffering for Concealing the Fact of the former though the Queen declared to her Confessor to the last she was innocent as for Derham and Culpeper they were Executed at Tyburn nor did the Countiss of Salisbury Daughter to George Duke of Clarence and Mother to Cardinal Pool escape the cruelty of the King for upon a suspition she held Correspondence with her Son she was attainted in Parliament and beheaded upon that Attandure and about the same time the Lord Leonard Grey lost his Head for Treason and for refusing to deny the Pope's Supreamicy and acknowledge the King's upon a Statute acknowledging the King Supream Head in his own Kingdom John Fisher Bishop of Rochester and the famous Sir Thomas Moor Lord Chancellor
gave those persons leave for the most part to escape and the Earls light Horse-men coming on the Rebels gave back and at length betook them to open flight and were pursued three miles with the slaughter oâ— 3500 of them yet such as had Barrocaded themselves with Carts and Waggons amongst the Ordinance as men in despair resolved to sell their liveâ— at a dear rate but upon offer of Pardon they threw down their Arms crying God save King Edward and the next day Kett being siezed in a Barn was hanged in Chains upon the Castle of Norwich and his Brother William Kett was hanged on Womanhaâ— Steple and Nine others on the Oake of Reformation The pretence of this Rebellion was about throwing open Inclosures which the King by his Proclamation had commanded to be done but it was neglected These Commotions were no sooner over but another Rebellion broke out in the North Headed by Thomas Dale a Parish Clark one Stephenson a â—ost-master and William Ombler a Yeoman pretending to restore Church rights and redress Grievances declaring the power of the Pope above that of the Kings and that the Church had power of â—oth Swords but this feeble Rebellion not exceeding â—000 vanquished upon the Kings sending his Forâ—es and offer of Pardon yet Ombler Dale and four others were on the 12th of September 1549. Execuâ—ed at York as Seducers and Ring-leaders These and the like disturbances qeieted considerable ones began at Court for Thomas Seymour Baron of Sudley High Admiral of England having married Queen Catharine Parr Widow to Henry the Eighth and some words and contest happening between her and the Dutches of Somerset Wife to the Protector for precedences the two Brothers so unadvizedly espoused their Wives Quarel which was fomented by secret Enemies that the Admiral by the Protector 's procurement being accused in Parliament for attempting to get the King's person and Government into his hands c. Upon slender proofs was Sentenced and lost his Head on Tower-Hill on the 20th of March to the great grief of the young King who aboured to prevent it but by Somerset's removing this Brother he stood open to the malice and revenge of his implacable Enemies for soon after by the contrivance of Northumberland and others divers Articles were exibited against him for abusing his Trust Animating the Rebels sowing Sedition amongst the Nobles keeping a Court of Requests in his own house whereupon he was deprived of his Authority and sent to the Tower but the King soon released him yet was he not restored to his Trusts Whilst these heats lasted at Court the Affairs abroad were neglected insomuch that the Scots recovered most of the Town the English had taken and the French attempted to surprize Bullenberg with seven thousand men but were beaten off witâ— the loss of one hundred and fifty and had no better sucsess in their attempts upon Guernsey and Jersey Islands however things not going well at home Bullenberg and Bulloin were surrendred to the Frencâ— upon Conditions and the payment of a large Sumâ— of Mony and now to add to the Calamity thâ— Mortal Disease called the Sweating Sickness raged in England carrying off many thousands pursuing the English into Forreign Countrys where none but they were afflicted with it And now the Duke of Northumberland being grown great at Court laboured to remove the Duke of Somerset and by aâ— Stratagem found an opportunity for the Duke by some of his flatters being perswaded there was aâ— design against his life went privately Armed to the Council but his Gown opening as he sate at the Board it was laid hold of as a design in him to kill some of the King 's Privy Counsellors and that with some light matters being urged with agravation they procured his imprisonment and soon after being tryed and found guilty of Felony though he might have come off by his Clergy yet his Council nor himself not foreseeing to claim it he was on the 22d of February Anno 1550 brought to Tower-Hill and there after having declared his Innocence and made a most Christian Speech he was beheaded which some looked upon as a Judgment for so rigorously persecuting his Brother Upon the Death of this Uncle though Plays and other Devices were made to divert the King he grew Melancholly and the people were greatly Incensed against Northumberland however he taking the occasion from the King's Sickness and Disorder procured him to disinherit his two Sisters Mary and Elizabeth and settle the Crown on Jane Eldest Daughter to the Duke of Suffolk by the Lady Frances Daughter to Charles Brandon and Mary Queen of France younger Sister to King Henry the eighth who was married to Guilford Dudly Fourth Son to Northumberland and to this Will of the Kings the Council Bishops and all the Judges except Sir John Hollis Subscribed and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London afterward promised their Assistance and Protection but this was supposed to hasten the King's Death For Northumberland having gotten what he expected viz. The Crown in his own Family removed his Physicians â—nd trusty Friends putting him into the hands of a â—he Doctress who wittingly or unskilfuly brought him to his End on the 6th of July 1553. This good Prince is accounted a second Josia exceeding in Charity and Piety all that went before him having Learning and Understanding far above his years â—nd had he lived a longer Date he had proved more perspicuously the Mirror of Kings This Edward was King of England France and Ireland the only Son of King Henry the Eighth by Jane his third Wife he Reigned six Years five Months and eight Days and was the one and Forâ—ieth sole Monarch of England dying in the 16th of his Age and was buried at Westminster Thus England's Phoenix early left the Stage His Death was much Lamented of the Age Yet he contented dy'd from 's Throne to rise In Angels Arms to everlasting joys The Life and Bloudy Reign of Queen Mary UPon the Death of King Edward according to his Will the Lady Jane was proclaimed in London and elsewhere and confirmed by the Council but Mary Eldest Daughter to King Henry the Eighth being then at Fremingham Castle sent to complain against their Proceedings in giving away her right commanding them to acknowledge heâ— their lawfull Queen but they returned her a very slight answer commanding her to be obedient to Queen Jane her Sovereign whereupon with such Friends as she had about her she prepar'd for London and to her a great many of the Suffolk men repaired offering her their Service in case their Religion might be asured insomuch that by that means and the siezure of several Ships in the Ports out of which she caused the Cannon and Ammuition to be taken she became formidable whereupon an Army of 13000 men under the Command of the Duke of Northumberland marched out against her but by that time the Duke was got as far as Cambridge he had notice that
and prosecuting the Wars of Scotland he obliged many of the Scotch Nobility to doe him Homage at Dumsreize and upon his return he imprisoned Walter Bishop of Chester seizing upon all his Goods and Credits for causing by his Complaint the Banishment of Gaveston in the Reign of Edward the First as likewise himself to be restrained in his disorderly way of living Then passing the Seas he at Bulloign in France married young Isabel Daughter to Philip the Fair. King of France and returned with her in a most splendid manner bringing back with him Gaveston his darling Favourite who was a Gentleman Stranger brought up with him in his youth and now under the Influence of the King began to be so imperious that the Nobility was set against him yet the King who thought nothing too dear for his Minion not only upheld him but supplied him with Treasure to the highest Profuseness giving him his Jewels and wishing nothing more than that he might succeed him in the Throne which obliged the Parliament to pass an Act for his perpetual Banishment but had much difficulty to get it passed by the King nor did he doe it but to pass another giving him a great Summe of Money however with reluctancy he signed it yet he would suffer his Privado whom he had made Earl of Cornwall to be no farther from him than Ireland where he maintained him in a splendid manner and within a while called him to Court and married him to Joan of Acres Countess of Gloucester his Sisters Daughter which made him more insolent than ever consuming the King's Treasure in Feasts Plays and other Riotous Proceedings at such a rate that there was not enough left to supply the necessities of the Court drawing the King likewise into such Debaucheries that the Queen finding her self sensibly injured reproved him at first with mildness but finding that ineffectual she openly complained so that Gaveston was a third time banished yet he staid not long before the King privately sent for him making him principal Secretary of State which so incensed as well the Bishops as the Temporal Lords that they resolved to expell him by Force of Arms chusing for their Leader Thomas Earl of Lancaster and at Dathington whither his Fear had driven him he was surprized by Guy Earl of Warwick who conveyed him to Blacklow where several of the Nobles consulting that if he was set at Liberty he would work their Ruine with the King they proceeded to prevent it and without any formal Tryall caused his head to be struk off which greatly incensed the King and raised in him a mortal Enmity against those Lords yet by the Mediation of Gilbert Earl of Gloucester they were seemingly forgiven The Scots about this time rising in arms under David Bruce whom they had chosen their King or Leader entering England and doing great Mischief in Northumberland King Edward marched against them but in this expedition many of the discontented Lords refused to aid him under pretence that he had delayed to ratifie their Liberties and Charters through which defect he received a great overthrow near Bannocksbourn for there the two Armies joining the crafty Scots had in divers places made deep Trenches covering them with rotten Hurdles and Earth so that the English Chavalry pressing on fell into those Pits and were gored upon the sharp Stakes that were placed at the bottom and although the King behaved himself with much bravery refusing to leave the field till he was forced thence by his Friends yet the Earl of Gloucester the Lord Clifford and about seven hundred Knights and Esquires with a great number of common Soldiers were slain many Nobles taken Prisoners together with a large Booty and this was the greatest Advantage the Scots ever gained over the English which encouraged them to make deeper Inroads with whom some of the discontented English joined while King Edward in the most solemn Pomp interred the Body of Gaveston at Kings-Langley in Hertfordshire and soon after instead of one he raised up two Privadoes or Favourites viz. the Spencers Father and Son who perceiving themselves high in the King's Favour instead of taking warning by the Fate of Gaveston they strove to exceed him to pride and Arrogance which soon procured them the hatred of the Nobles to such a degree that the King could not consider himself in Safety till he had consented to their Banishment But now the Queen who had hitherto been a Mediatrix between the King and his Barons being denied a Night's Lodging in one of the Baron's Castles she so highly resented the Affront that her former good Offices were changed into Studies of Revenge and in this humour she laboured with the King to ruine those she a little before had sought to protect and the King easily exasperated soon consented to pleasure her to his Power and therefore to cross the Barons he caused the Judgment against the Spencers to be reversed Some of the delinquent Lords fearing the Storm that threatened them submitted to the King others were taken Prisoners as the two Roger Mortimers Father and Son and committed to the Tower but the rest resolved to stand out under the Leading of the Earl of Lancaster but they were overthrown at Burrough-bridg where Humphrey de Bohun was slain by a Spear from under the Bridge And the Earl with other principal Men to the number of Ninety or upwards most of them Barons and Knights were taken Prisoners by Andrew de Herkerly Captain of Carlisle for which Service he was afterward created Earl of that place These Noble Prisoners were not long confined before they too sensibly felt the King's Anger for being pushed on by the Queen the Spencers and other Court Favourites he caused the Earl of Lancaster his Unkle to be beheaded at Pontefract where he stayed five hours upon the Scaffold before the Sheriff could procure an Executioner and the Barons and Knights were hanged and quartered in divers places And here the Queen had her Revenge for the Lord Badelmere who refused her the Lodging being taken amongst others was hanged before it so that by this rigorous Execution most of the Noble English Bloud supplyed the thirsty Earth with too precious a draught But it appears that this Cruelty was rather an Act of the Courtiers than done by the King 's natural Inclination for one of a mean family being taken in the Rebellion and the Favourites pleading earnestly for his Pardon the King in a great rage reviled them in these terms viz. A plague upon you cursed Whisperers malitious Backbiters wicked Counselors Intreat you for the Life of a most notorious Knave who would not speak one word for the Life of my near Kinsman that most noble Knight Earl Thomas By the Soul of God this Fellow shall dye the death he has deserved and accordingly he was executed In the Year 1322. The King to revenge former Injuries marched with a great Army into Scotland but through the neglect of his Purveyors
Assistence with the Council of France such of the English Nobility as he should see convenient with other Articles to the number of thirty very advantageous to the English were all sworn to at Troyis May the 30th 1420. and proclaimed in London the June following and Homage sworn to King Henry who was proclaimed Regent of France and on the 3d of June the Marriage was celebrated in the presence of divers of the chief Nobility of England and France at Troyis with great Pomp and Splendour and they rode in Triumph to take Possession of the Palace in Paris and a Parliament of the three Estates were assembled in that City who confirmed what had been done by the Kings and it was there likewise ratified by the General Estates of the Realm and Sworn to particularly on the Holy Evangelist by the French Noblemen and Rulers Spiritual and Temporal who moreover sealed the Instruments which were sent over to be kept in the King's Exchequer at Westminster which done the King left the Duke of Clarence his Lieutenant in France and came for England with his Queen where he was received with Joy and Triumph causing her to be crowned at Westminster and then proceeded to call a Parliament for farther Supplies to maintain his War against the Dauphin who still stood out to recover the Kingdom but the Commons exhiting a Petition of Poverty he again pawned his Crown to Cardinal Beaufort for 20000 pounds and passed into France with 4000 Horse and 24000 Foot and his presence there was necessary for the Dauphin strengthened by Forces for Scotland under the Leading of the Earl of Buchanan and Archibald Douglas defeated and killed the Duke of Clarence took the Earls of Huntindon Somerset and others Prisoners and heightened with that Success he laid Siege to Alenzon and cut off the Provisions of Paris but the King 's Approach made him to retire to Bury King Henry soon recovered what the Dauphin had taken and drove him to great distress but when this great King had triumphed over that mighty Kingdom with unconquerable Fortune and Success and annexed it fully to the Crown of England death laid his Arrest upon him for falling sick of a burning Fever and Flux he dyed on the 30th of August 1422. at Bloice de Vincennois and his Body brought over was buried with pomp at Westminster hard by the Tomb of Edward the Confessour appointing by his last Will and Testament his younger Brother Humphry Duke of Gloucester Protectour of England his Brother John Duke of Bedford Regent of France and Thomas Beaufort Guardian of his Son Henry born a little before at Windsor contrary to the King 's express command who when he heard the Queen had lain in at that place prophetically spake viz. Good God! I Henry of Monmouth shall have but a short Reign and win much but Henry of Windsor shall reign long and lose all yet God's Will be done This Henry was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland eldest Son of Henry the Fourth by Mary his Queen He began his Reign on the 20th of March 1412. and reigned 9 Years 5 Months and 10 days and was the 34th sole Monarch of England Thus Beauty Power and Honour yield to death Great Conquerours like Slaves resign their breath Their Lawrels in the Dust with them must lie But Fame's immortal and can never dye The Life Reign and Actions of HENRY the Sixth King of England France c. HEnry of Windsor so called from the place of his Birth upon the death of his Father was crowned when he exceeded not eight Months of age the Queen holding him in her lap whilst the Solemnity was performed to whom his Nurtriture and Education was committed but his Minority much disadvantaged the English Interest in France for old King Charles dying Charles his Son greatly strengthned his party and although he was called by the English in derision only King of Burry as having little more left him yet now he encroached upon the English wresting from them sundry places by the help of Aids from Scotland and Italy which made the English Regent think it time to give him Battel and accordingly the Armies joyned near Vernoli where the French were overthrown the Regent doing wonders in his own person and there were slain the Constable and Lieutenant of France the Earls of Wigton and Vantadour with about five thousand others and the Duke of Alanzon taken Prisoner upon which Victory the English besieged Monts in Main and having with his Cannon made a great breach in the Wall it was surrendered and a little while after the Earl of Salisbury besieged Orleance and brought it to such distress that the Garison was willing to surrender to the Duke of Burgundy but the Earl refused it which so offended the Duke that he declined the English Interest which proved very prejudicial The French being in a drooping Condition and using strong Cordials to support their Spirits one Joan a Shepherdess of Lorrain came to the Dauphin and offered him her Service saying She was sent by God to deliver France out of the hands of the English and not exceeding eighteen years of age her offer at first was looked upon as rediculous but she persisting in what she had declared the Dauphin caused her to be armed at all points and desiring the Sword that hung in St. Catharines Church she got into Orleance then besieged by the English and from thence sent a Letter commanding them to raise the Siege and deliver up the Towns they possessed for she was resolved to drive them out of France but they looked upon it only as proceeding from Folly or a raving fit yet in the several Sallies she made it proved otherwise for by the violent Sallies she made the Siege was raised with loss to the English she commonly fighting in the head of the French and animating them to go on couragiously for being in one of the Sallies shot through the Arm with an Arrow and perswaded to retire she cryed out This is a favour let us go on they cannot escape the hands of God and there of note were slain the Earl of Salisbury the Lords Moline and Poynings Sir Thomas Gagrave and the French say about eight thousand common Soldiers yet our Historians allow but six hundred and the French following their success wrested several Towns and surprising a party of English overthrew them taking Prisoners the Lords Talbot Scales Hungerford and Sir Thomas Rampston whereupon several Towns revolted and the Dauphin took Auxier and Rhiemes in the latter of which according to the direction of Joan called by the French the Maid of God Charles the Dauphin caused himself to be Crowned King of France Joan of Arks having been hitherto very sucsessfull and done the Dauphin singular service coming to the relief of Campaign which was greatly distressed by the English and Burgundians in a desperate charge advancing too far and being separated from those that should have succoured her she was
so far prevailed with the easie King that a Reconciliation was made and the Kuke of Somerset who mainly opposed the Yorkists Interest was confined a Prisoner to his house which done the Duke of York dissolved his Army and came to London making great complaints to the King against Somerset of which that Duke had no sooner notice but he came before the King and accused his Accuser Face to Face charging him with High-Treason as having conspired to depose the King and take the Sovereignty on himself whereupon the Duke of York was confined till such time as he swore in St. Paul's Church before a great Concourse of Nobility to continue a true faithfull and obedient Subject to King Henry And about this time by the success of John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury the Affairs of France began to appear in a better posture for by the prevailing Arms of this valiant man Burdeaux the chief City in Normandy was taken with many other Places of Note but upon his attempting to relieve Castilion charging the Enemy upon unequal Terms he was slain in the Field together with his Son the Viscount Lisle and with him dyed all the English hope of ever recovering what was lost in France for the Duke of York not regarding his Oath An. 1445. took up Arms and broke into the King's Palace and the King to oppose him drew out considerable Forces so that a great Battel was fought at St. Albans where the King was wounded with an Arrow and taken Prisoner and the Duke of Somerset the Earls of Northumberland and Stafford together with the Lord Clifford and divers other Knights and Gentlemen of the Royal Party slain Henry being brought to London a Parliament was called in which the Memories and Honours of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester were restored and those that had taken up Arms under the Duke of York indempnified of the Treason and that Duke created Protectour of England The Earl of Salisbury made Chancellour and the Earl of Warwick his Son Captain of Calais And thus having gotten the Power into their hands they worked out the Counsellours and Favourites of the King placing such in their stead as would stickle for their Interest The Divisions gave the French the boldness to make discents into several places In Kent and Devonshire they burnt some Towns and committed many Outrages which yet abated not the heat and heart-burning of the English one to another for although 〈◊〉 Lords met and concluded a seeming Agreementâ— yet it lasted not long before both side â—â—â—â—med and a mortal Battel was fought on 〈…〉 where the King's Party was worsted And soon after another Battel was fought at Ludlow where the Duke and his Adherents received a great overthrow and the Town of Ludlow laid in Ruines for adhering to the Yorkists and hereupon a Parliament was called wherein the Duke of York the Earls of March Salisbury and Rutland and others were attainted of High Treason and had their Estates confiscated But on the 9th of July 1460. the Scale turned for in a fatal Battel at Northampton the King was overthrown by means of the revolt of the Lord Grey of Ruthen and in this Battel on the King's part there were slain the Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Shrewsbury Viscount Beaumont the Lord Egrinham Sir William Lucy and others and the King himself was made Prisoner and carried to London where in a Parliament begun the 8th of October the Duke of York laid Claim to the Crown and set forth his Pedigree and urged it so far that the Parliament came to a conclusion That Henry should enjoy the Crown during his natural Life but then it should fall to the Duke of York and his heirs and the heirs of Henry to be utterly excluded and accordingly the Duke was proclaimed Heir apparent to the Crown But Queen Margaret who was in the North raising Forces resolved not to stand to what her Husband had been forced to consent to but to maintain the right of her Son Prince Edward but having gathered a considerable Army she marched towards London against her the Duke drew out and near Wakefield a bloudy and doubtfull Battel was faught in which the Duke of York was slain his Forces overthrown his Son the Earl of Rutland killed begging his Life on his Knees and the Earl of Salisbury taken Prisoner and beheaded the Duke's head was cut off and a Paper Crown set upon it by way of derision and thus had ended the fatal Quarrel between the Houses of York and Lancaster had not Edward Earl of March eldest Son to the Duke of York advanced with a great Army gathered in the Marches of Wales and near Mortimer's Cross in Ludlow fought with the Queens Army when at the joining of the Battel three Suns appeared in the Firmament which immediately united into one In this Battel the Queens Forces were overthrown with great Slaughter and Owen Tudor Father in law to King Henry VII being taken Prisoner was together with Sir John Scudemore and his two Sons beheaded but An. 1460. the Queen overthrew the Earl of March in a great Battel at St. Albans rescuing King Henry out of his hands who was brought thither to countenance the Soldiers but the Londoners sided with him and upon the Queens drawing off to the North proclaimed him King of England c. And here Historians put an end to King Henry's Reign though he lived much longer as will appear in the succeeding Reign his Wife was Margaret Daughter to Reynate King of Jerusalem c. by her he had Issue Edward This Henry was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland the onely Child of Henry the Fifth by Katharine his Queen he began his Reign on the 30th of August 1422. and reigned thirty eight Years 6 Months and 3 Days being the thirty fifth sole Monarch of England and was stabbed to the heart in the Tower by Richard Duke of Gloucester Brother to Edward the Fourth on the 20th of May 1471. in the 46th Year of his Age buried first in the Abbey of Chartsey in Surry afterwards removed to Windsor by Henry the Seventh then removed again none knows where In his time many strange Accidents happened portending the Woes and Miscries that befell the Kingdom Thus the good pious King bereft of Crowns Bore patiently the Wreck of Fortune's frowns Yet murtherous minds were not with this content But in a stream of Bloud to Heaven he 's sent The Reign and Actions of Edward the Fourth King of England c. EDward the eldest Son to Richard Duke of York in the beginning of his Reign found great opposition from the Lancastrians who pitying the Misfortune of pious King Henry raised Forces in many parts he was crowned at Westminster but the Citizens who had been the greatest Sticklers for him not finding him answer their expectations in performing the Promises he had made them began to decline his Interest however he marched against the Forces raised in the North giving the Lord
passionately sought for by Buckingham's declaring that none of Edward's Race should Reign over them and therefore they had offered the Crown to him which if he refused they would give to another of a different Family that should be worthy of it Hereupon with a seeming unwillingness he told them seeing they were so bent against the Linage of his dear Brother which he was sorry to hear rather than they should be destitute of a King of the Royal Bloud in the house of the Plantagenets he should be content to submit to their desires and take the Government upon himself These words ended the people cryed King Richard King Richard and from this time is accounted the end of Edwards the Fifths Reign Thus by false seeming Friendship the poor Prince Betray'd and Murther'd in his Innocence Without a Crown goes down into the Grave Yet so had rest which others could not have The Reign and Actions of Richard the Third King of England c. RIchard by the means mentioned in the foregoing Reign having obtained Possession oâ— the Throne and laid his Nephews aside he kepâ— them strict Prisoners in the Tower when calling â— Parliament the Crown was confirmed to him and his Heirs and great preparations were made foâ— the placing it on his Head but fearing the Nobility when gather'd in a body might oppose it he sent for his trusty Friend Robert of Risdale whâ— gathering about 5000 of the Northern Rable came to London as his Guard when at Westminster the Ceremony was performed with great Splendour Queeâ— Ann Daughter to the great Earl of Warwick being Crowned with him who had been contracted to Prince Edward Son to Henry the Sixth and the more to ingratiate with the people he discharged the Arch-Bishop of York and the Lord Standly from their Imprisonment taking his Seat likewise in the Court of King's-Bench and there pronouncing pardon for all Offences committed against him and aâ— the Intreaty of the University of Oxford John Morton Bishop of Ely was delivered into the hands oâ— the Duke of Buckingham who sent him in close confinement to his Castle of Brecknock in VVales and then suffered him to continue upon his Parole King Richard by this time notwithstanding he had Possession found himself but slenderly settled in the Throne whilst the young Princes his Nephews were alive and therefore to make sure he sent his Letter by John Green to Sir Robert Brackenbury Lieutenant of the Tower to make them away privately buâ— he detesting so great a Murther refused it with expressions of the horrour he conceived at such a proposition but this changed not the Usurpers determination rather making him more earnest least the design should be discovered before it was put in practice wherefore being wished by some of his Privados to one Sir James Tirrel a Man of desperate Fortune and wicked Principles he disclosed the Matter to him and he promised if he might have the Keys of the Tower delivered to him for one day he would see it effected hereupon the King Wrote to the Lieutenant on pain of high displeasure to deliver they Keys to this Person and he not daring to refuse least his own Life should go for it unwillingly surrendered them whereupon Tirrel when the young Princes were in Bed and a sleep sent in two of his Hell-hounds viz. Miles Forrest and John Dighton who wraping the innocent Youths close in the Bed-cloaths and clapping a Bolster on their Faâ—es Forrest being a heavy squat Fellow lay upon them whilst the other kept down their Bodys and â—o continued to do for the space of an hour till they found no more strugling life or motion in them at what time Tirrel came in and finding them dead caused their Bodys to be buried under the Stairs deep in the Ground and a great heap of Stones were laid upon them The business being done the Murtherers redelivered the Keys and went to give an account of the Wickedness and receive the Wages of Iniquity but the Usurper in this was mistaken for instead of contributing to his peace it added exceedingly to his disturbance and disquiet for he never after enâ—oyed any content of mind not through any Remorse but through the terrour of a guilty Conscience fearing every one that looked wishfully on him â—ame to kill him and in his sleep he fancied horrible Apparitions of Devils and Spirits came to â—ear him so that he often would start out of his Bed run up and down the Chamber crying out for help As for the Instruments of this Murther Tirrel was beheaded for High-Treason in the Reign of Henry the Seventh Forrest Rotted alive and Dighton dyed miserably beyon the Seas As for the Bodies of the Children they were by Richard's Order taken up and being enclosed in a Leaden Coffin full of holes they were said to be carried to the black deeps in the Thames mouth and there thrown in out of a Fancy that this would appease the Terrour of his Dreams The Duke of Buckingham who had been mainly Instrumental in raising Richard to the Throne soon after this Murther fell into discontent some say for that the King refused him the Duke of Herefords Lands to which he pretended himself rightfull Heir others because he was not looked upon and esteemed at Court as he expected but he declared it was from a Remorse for the Murther of the two Princes of which he could not but conceit himself somewhat Guilty because he had raised one to the Throne that had caused them to be Murthered though he was ignorant of the Fact or its Contrivance and hereupon leaving the Court he retired to his Castle of Brecknock and there conferring with Bishop Morton that crafty Clergy-man to gain his entire Liberty so fed the Dukes Ambition who was naturally of an aspiring Spirit that after having founded his Inclinations he plainly told him that nothing grived him so much since there was so worthy a person allied to the Crown that a Tyrant and Murtherer should sit upon the Throne commending the Duke to be a person of such rare vertues that none merrited to wear the Crown so much as himself and although the Duke excused it in telling him Henry Earl of Richmond had a right before him he was prompt enough to harken to so pleasing a Subject These debates that seemed at first in jest came at last to earnest for Buckingham resolving if possible to displace King Richard Communicated his designs to divers of his trusty Friensd amongst whom it was agreed that the Earl of Richmond Heir of the House of Lancaster should Marry Elizabeth Daughter to Edward the Fourth Heiress to the House of York and by that means unite the two Families Whereupon the Mothers of the Earl and Princess being made acquainted and apropving the Project Bishop Morton was sent with ample Instructions to let the Earl know what was agreed upon and desire him with such Forces as he could raise to come over where he would find his Friends
ready to receive him and joyn their Forces with his These Matters were not carried so privately but the King got notice of them and sent a very kind Message to the Duke of Buckingham to invite him to Court but he excusing it by reason of pretended Indisposition an Express was sent to command him to come or he would fetch him dead or alive by this he knew it was time to stand upon his own defence and returned answer that he would not come to his Mortal Enemy and thereupon sending for Thomas Marquess of Dorset out of a Sanctuary and gathering such power as he could in the North whilst Sir Edward Courtney and his Brother the Bishop of Exeter raised another in Devonshire and Cornwall as likewise did Sir Richard Guilford and other Gentlemen in Kent they resolved to joyn their Forces but before it could be effected the King marched directly against the Duke with a great power whereupon his little Army mostly consisting of Welshmen disbanded and left him to shift for himself so that he was forced to hide him in a poor disguise putting himself into the hands of one Humphrey Bannister that had been his Servant and raised by him to what Estate he had and with him he lived for some time as his Gardener but the treacherous man upon the Kings putting out a Proclamation promising a reward of 1000 pounds to those that could decover him deliver'd him up for the lucre of the Money to the Sheriff of Shrewsbury who siezed this Duke diging in a poor habit and being carried to the King at Salisbury he there without Tryall or Process was beheaded upon which all the Accomplices dispersed and fled many of them beyond the Seas and to this Treachery many attributed the Judgments that soon over-took Bannister and his Family for most of his Children dyed distressed or unnatural deaths his Substance decreased and he dyed in extreme Poverty The measures of the Confederacy thus broken many were imprisoned and put to death and the King fearing an Invasion caused the Sea Coasts to be guarded and fortified and then assembled a Parliament at Westminster wherein the Earl of Richmond and all his Adherents that had fled the Land were attainted and proclaimed Enemies of the Country their Goods and Possessions were confiscated nor did Richard delay to use the same Practices his Brother had done sending his Agents to the Duke of Bretaigne in whose Court the Earl resided with store of Gold and many Presents to persuade that Duke either to send Richmond Prisoner into England or if he refused that to keep him a Prisoner there and missed but a little of succeeding for the Duke lying sick and Peter Landois his Treasurer overcome with the Presents had delivered him into the hands of such as were appointed to receive him had not the Earl had notice of the design and made his Escape but the Duke highly blamed this Action of his Treasurer and discharged him his Office King Richard knowing whilst his Brother's Daughters were alive that his Title was but ill grounded and therefore to strengthen it he proposed though Queen Ann his Wife was living to marry Elizabeth his Niece by that means to cross Richmond's Pretensions and to try in this case how the people stood affected it was given out that his Queen was dead and soon after it proved so that virtuous Lady dying as many conjectured an untimely death The Earl of Richmond having notice of what was intended by the Money he received from England and other Assistence gathered what Forces he could and landed at Milford-Haven with 2000 Men on the 15th of August 1586. and from thence marched to Shrewsbury being joined by the way with a considerable Force under the Leading of Sir Rice Ap Thomas and so marched to Newport where Sir Gilbert Talbot met him sent by the Earl of Shrewsbury with 2000 men and passing from thence he came to Lichfield where he was joyfully received but whilst Richmond's Army gathered King Richard was not idle for raising such Forces as could be got in such a pressing Condition he marched to oppose his Invader and near Market-Bosworth in Leicestershire both Armies met and being encouraged by their Generals with moving Speeches the forward Soldiers rushed on to the Battel and for some time it continued both bloudy and doubtfull nor did Fortune in the first Shock fail to favour King Richard but the Lord Standley who had been intrusted by Richard with a Squadron of Horse revolting in the heat of the Fight and charging upon the allmost tired Soldiers bore down all before him and turned the scale of Victory which King Richard perceiving and resolving not to out-â—ive the loss charged furiously into Richmond's Battallion and with a Courage hightened by despair beat down all before him till over-powered by number and weary with fighting he fell amongst 〈◊〉 thousand Swords and with him fell the Duke of Norfolk the Lord Ferrers Sir Richard Radcliff Sir Robert Berkenburg and about 4000 others of lesser â—ote and Sir William Cateshy with two others of his â—rivado's being taken were two days after beheaded for evil Counsel and other Practices against the Good and Wellfare of the Kingdom and Thomas Howard Earl of Surry and Son to the Duke of Norfolk being made Prisoner and demanded by Henry how he durst bear Arms on the behalf of a Tyrant and Uusurper courageously answered He was my Crowned King and if the Parliamentary Authority of England set the Crown upon a stock I will fight for that stock and as I fought then for him I will fight for you when you are established by the like Authority After this fatal Battel wherein the number of the slain on either side did not greatly differ the Crown that King Richard brought into the Field was found by the Lord Stanley or those that attended him in an Haw-thorn-Bush and by that Lord set upon the Head of the Earl of Richmond in the Field at the sight of which the Soldiers cryed Long live King Henry The Body of Richard being found amongst the heaps of the slain was stripped and spoiled by the Pillagers and laid naked on a Horse behind St. Leiger Pursuvant at Arms and in that contemptible manner carried to Leicester where it was buried in the Grey-Friars Church in a stone Coffin which was afterward made a Trough for Horses to drink in in a common Inn and thus fell the greatness of the Usurper setting in bloud who had so often unjustly shed the bloud of others His Wife was Ann Daughter to Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick and Salisbury called the Make King of those times by her he had Issue Edward Earl oâ— Salisbury created Prince of Wales 1463. and the Crown entailed upon him by Parliament but he dyed by an unfortunate Fall before his Father This Richard stands accounted among the Kings of England c. he was third Son to Richard Duke of York and began his Reign the twenty second day of June
1483. reigning two years and two months and waâ— the 38th sole Monarch of England Many good Laws were made in his time and he built and endowed several places to charitable uses he caused William Collingbourn to be executed as a Traitor on Tower-hill for writing this distich The Cat the Rat and Lovel our Dog Rules all England under a Hog Descanting thereby on the Names of Catesby Ratcliff and Lovell three of his chief Favourites and as to the Hog upon Richard himself as having the White Boar for his Cognizance Thus the Vsurper who through Seas of Bloud Had swum to Empire and there tottering stood Till Fates just hand removed him at a blow He fell unpittied who 'd no pitty show The Life Reign and Actions of Henry VII King of England c. HEnry Earl of Richmond upon the Success of Bosworth Field hasted to London and a Parliament being called at Westminster on the 30th of October anno 1485. he was crowned and owned King of England and to prevent future Stirs or Insurrections he imprisoned Edward Plantagenet Earl of Warwick Son to the Duke of Clarence in the Tower and King Richard was attainted in Parliament as an Usurper and Traitor against the Government and the Crown entailed upon King Henry and his Heirs for ever and for the better security of his Person he appointed a band of Archers under a Captain in the nature of Yeomen of the Guard and a free Pardon was given to all that should submit themselves within a set time unless such of Richard's Friends as were excluded by name and all former Acts contrary to Henry and his Friends were repealed Anno 1496. on the 19th of January the King married the Princess Elizabeth eldest daughter to Edward the Fourth and true Heiress to the Crown as had been before agreed on by which means the Houses of York and Lancaster after having overflowed the Land with bloud were united to the ceasing of future Jars on that occasion however some that found themselves out of Favour began to disturb the Tranquillity of Henry for the Lord Lovell and Sir Humphrey Stafford his Brother took up arms and drew after them a considerable force but upon the approach of the King's Army they dispersed and Sir Humphrey being taken out of Sanctuary whither he had fled for shelter was carried to Tyburn and there executed Yet this was but light to what followed for Margaret Duchess Dowager of Burgundy Sister to Edward the Fourth mortally hating the Line of Lancaster by her contrivance with some discontented English one Lambert Simnell was set up for the Earl of Warwick who was then in the Tower and passing to Ireland with one Simon a Priest who had been his Tutour and Manager he was crowned King at Dublin and assisted by the Dowager of Burgundy with 2000 men under the Leading of Collonel Swart and getting an Army of Irish English Scots he returned and proclaimed himself to be the true Son of the Duke of Clarence still encreasing his number but at Stoke a little Village near Newark the King's Army opposed them and a bloudy Fight ensued wherein after three hours hot dispute the Impostor's Forces were routed and put to flight and the Earl of Lincoln the Lord Lovel Sir Thomas Broughton Collonel Swart and Maurice Fitz-Thomas were slain with about 4000 Soldiers and Simnel and his Tutour being taken the former upon his Ingenious Confession how the whole Cotrivance had been imposed on him was made the King's Falconer after he had drudged a while in the Kitchin but the latter condemned to perpetual Imprisonment Yet Henry gained not this Battel but with considerable loss on his side for the Strangers knowing their Lives were at stake if they lost the day fought like men indespair and sold their Lives very dear King Henry finding those that opposed him took generally refuge in Scotland sent his Ambassadours to James the Third to conclude a Peace with him by which means he was the better at leisure to prosecute his Wars with France in Favour of his Allies but to this end raising a large Subsidie the Commons in Yorkshire refused to pay it and took up Arms but upon the approach of the Earl of Surry and his taking John Chamber their Ring-leader the rest dispersed and Chambers and the rest of the Ring-leaders were executed at York and the King sailed over into France being furnished with Money from the Citizens of London but assoon as he set down before Bulloign the French King offering him 186250 pounds to retire and the Emperour his Confederate not being prepared to take the Field the offer was accepted and the Money paid in the time limited and he no sooner returned but he found employment at home for the Duchess Dowager of Burgundy with other discontented English had set up a second Impostor viz. one Perkin or Peterkin Walbeck who passed with many for Richard Duke of York younger Son to Edward the Fourth and although the King sent his Agents abroad to discover how the Designs were carried on as well as make the Impostor known to those to whom he applied himself for aid he received great countenance in the Court of France and with considerable Forces passed into Ireland and from thence to Scotland where he was very kindly received by King James the Fourth and setting off the deceit with a very plausible Speech in a princely Port that King not only believed him to be the Duke of York but gave him the Lady Katharine Gourdon his Niece in marriage nor failed he to aid him But whilst these preparations were making the Lord Fitz-walter Sir Simon Montfort and the Lord Standly who at his coming in at Bosworth Field had given King Henry the Victory and with it the Crown were beheaded on pretence of holding Correspondence with Walbeck and the King proceeded to strengthen the Sea-Ports and all places of Advantage raising Forces and using much diligence that he might be able to weather the Storm he foresaw breaking in upon him when calling a Parliament he had a Tax of 80000 l granted him which caused the Cornish Men to rise under the leading of one Flammock a Lawyer and Joseph a Black-Smith and were joined at Wells by the Lord Audley and so marched to Black Heath in Kent where they were fought with and routed by the King's Forces the Lord Audley taken and beheaded on Tower-hill and the other two Ring-leaders hanged and quartered the Smith comforted himself by the way that his Name by this Action should be immortal And now the King in requital of the Invasions the Scots had made during these Revolutions sent the Earl of Surry to fall upon their Frontiers with Fire and Sword who prosecuted it so rigorously that they were obliged to sue for Peace which upon the Mediation of the King of Spain was concluded and Perkin by one clause of it excluded Scotland whereupon he went for Ireland and from thence was invited by the Cornish Men to
Earl of Shaftsbury and others were Imprisoned in the Tower one Stephen Colledge a Joyner was Tryed at Oxford found guilty of High Treason and Executed And in the year 1683. Captain Walcot William Hone and John Rouse were executed at Tyburn and the Lord Russell and Algernoon Sidney lost their heads And not long after Sir Thomas Armestrong being brought from Holland and James Holloway from Nevis were sentenced at the King's Bench Bar upon their Outlawries and executed at Tyburn And two Informations for Perjury were preferred against Titus Oates the principal Evidence in the Plot But before he came to Tryal the King dyed for falling ill on Monday the 2d of February 1684. With a violent fit of the Appoplexy which at that time bereaved him of his Senses he continued in a languishing Condition till Friday the 6th of February and then dyed in the 55th year of his Age when he had Reigned 36 years and seven days And was buried in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel being the 46th Sole Monarch of England Thus Charles the Great his Glory laid aside A Prince that Fortune in all Shapes had try'd In War and Councils equally approv'd Feard of his foes but of his friends belov'd Remarkable Transactions from the Time of King JAMES the II. coming to the Crown till his Leaving the Kingdom c. KING Charles leaving no Issue by Queen Katharine his onely Brother succeded him and was Proclaimed by the style of James the Second King of England c. at the Pallace Gate and in London with the usual Solemnity and Ceremony Causing the Lords and others present that were before to be Sworn of His Majesty's Privy Council signifying by Proclamation it was his Pleasure that all who at the decease of King Charles were in Office of Government should so continue till his pleasure was further signified And upon his first sitting in Council he made a Speech in which amongst other Expressions are these viz. I shall make it my endeavour to preserve this Government both in Church and State as it is now by Law Established I know the Principles of the Church of England are for Monarchy and the Members of it have shewed themselves good and loyal Subjects Therefore I shall always take care to Defend and Support it I know too that the Laws of England are sufficient to make the King as a great a Monarch as I can wish and as I shall never depart from the Just Rights and Prerogatives of the Crown so I shall never Invade any Man's Property I have often heretofore ventured my Life in Defence of this Nation and I shall still go as far as any man in preservation of it in all its Just Rights and Liberties Nor was it long before a Proclamation was Issued forth to give notice the King intended to call a Parliament inculcating therein the settlement of the Revenue for the support of the Crown and Government that there was a necessity for the maintenance of the Navy for the Kingdoms defence and the advantage of Trade in order to which he desired that the settlement of the Customs due in the Reign of King Charles the Second might continue declaring it was his will and pleasure that the Duties should be Collected accordingly and that he did not doubt of the ready complyance of his Subjects therein This being given forth the Merchants did not dispute the payment And the next thing taken in hand was the preparation for the funeral of the deceased King all persons belonging to or having business at the Court being commanded by an Order of the Earl Marshal to put themselves into decent Mourning and indeed the loss of a Prince that ruled so much in the hearts of his Subjects found a ready complyance for not onely the Courtiers were in Mourning but all the responsible persons of the Kingdom and his Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark on the tenth of February took his place at the Council Board as a Privy Councellour of this Kingdom All things being prepared for the Funeral Solemnities of King Charles the Second with decency and order as the occasion required the Royal Corpse was on the 14th day of February Interred in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel at Westminster The Prince of Denmark whose Train was born up by the Lord Cornbury being chief Mourner and aâ— curious Figure of Wax representing the King was set up amongst the rest of the Kings of England his Predecessours and an Order was published for altering the Prayer in the Liturgy or Common Prayer relating to the Royal Family by way of exchanging Names in the repetition viz. JAMES for CHARLES and further viz. our Gracious Queen MARY CATHERINE the Queen Dowager Their Royal Highnesses MARY Princess of Orange the Princess ANNE of Denmark and all the Royal Family And Money being wanting in the Exchequer it was taken up upon the Excise by way of Farming and the Earl of Rochester was constituted Lord High Treasurer of England and the Marquess of Halifax Lord President of the Privy Council the Earl of Clarendon Lord Privy Seal and the Duke of Beaufort Lord President of Wales These Great Officers thus put in Trust gave us prospect of the tranquility of Affairs and the King was Proclaimed in all the Citys and Burrough Towns of the Kingdom and in the like order in Scotland and Ireland and the Earl Marshal issued out the orders of Summons in order to the preparation of the Coronation which was appointed to be on the 23d of April being Saint George's day requiring all persons who in regard of their Tenures Customs and Usage are bound to do and performe Services on that day to appear before the Commissioners and make out their Claims and give their attendance at the Solemnity and a Proclamation was sent into Scotland in order to the calling of a Parliament in that Kingdom with a Proclamation of Indemnity to divers of the Scottish Nation Then he proceeded to put out a Proclamation to Summons a Parliament to sit at Westminster on the 19th day of May 1685. And accordingly the Citys Burroughs and Shires proceeded to Election and sundry Embassadours residing in England or such as came by Expresses made their Complement of Condolence and Congratulation and the 23d of April being come great preparations were made for the Coronation the Nobles and others met in their Robes and Formalities the Ceremony was performed with much Magnificence and the Parliament according to appointment met when the King in his Robes went to the House and being seated on the Throne made a Speech in which amongst other things He informed them that the Earl of Argyle was Landed in Scotland with the men he brought with him from Holland c and soon We had notice that that Earl had levyed considerable Forces in Argyleshire and other places which obliged the Militia to rise in Arms and several Troops were sent from England and more had gone had not the Duke of Monmouth landed at Lyme in
Devonshire on the 5 of November 1688. and the Army to the number of 13 or 14000 Landed seized upon Exceter and divers other places whilst the King was prepairing to oppose it causing his Forces and Artillary to march for Salisbury whether he went in person But finding the falling off of part of his Army and afterwards the Nobility and the surprize of sundry strong Towns in the North and other places he returned to White-Hall and upon news of the defeat of a Party set to Guard Reading and Twyford Bridge the King on the 11 of December left White-Hall having the day before sent the Queen away c. but within a day or two he was discovered at Feversham and a Message sent to him from the Lords sitting in Council to return which accordingly he did but afterwards going to reside at Rochester he privately withdrew himself and taking Ship passed into France where the Queen was arrieved some time before Thus fortunes Hand does turn about the Wheele And makes the great as well as feeble Reele Memorable Transactions under the Auspicious Reign of King WILLIAM and Queen MARY c. THE Kingdom left without a Head and th 〈◊〉 Publick Affairs receiving prejudice in man 〈◊〉 particulars after several Addresses and Congratulations on the 25th of December the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster and humbly besought his present Majesty to take upon him the Administration of of Publick Affairs both Civil and Military and to dispose of the publick Treasury c. till the meeting of the Convention appointed to meet the 22 of January making iâ— their further Request that he would cause his Circular Letters to be Issued out to the Lords And for the Election of Representatives to repair and â—it at Westminster and the next day a great number of Gentlemen who had been Members of Parliament in the Reign of King Charles the Second met at the Commons House who drew up an Address to the â—â—â—ine purpose as the Lords which was presented and very Gratiously received and on the 30 of December a Declaration was Issued out Authorizing Justices of the Peace Sheriffs and other Officers who were in their Offices the 1st of December except Papists to Act in their several Places and Stations And divers Priests and other disaffected persons were seized in sundry Counties and committed to several Prisons and the Circular Letters sent abroad the Papists were commanded to depart the Citys of London and Westminster And many eminent Citizens of London upon notice that the Treasury was Exhausted lent towards the defraying the Charges of the Publick Affairs of the Kingdom about 300000 l which was paid in at Guild-Hall for the use of the Exchequer Nor was the Scots slow in making their Address for Protection which many of the Lords and Commnns did and were kindly received with a promise at their Request of Issuing out Letters for the meeting of a Convention of the Estates on the 14th day of March at Edenburg which gave a general Satisfaction to Scotland On the 22d of January 1688. According to appointment the Convention met at Westminster where the Lord Marquess of Hallifax held the place as Speaker in the House of Lords Henry Powell Esq did the like in that of the Commons And after some Debates and Considerations for the Settlement of Affairs they made an Address of Thanks for the Royal Care and Conduct and at their Intreaty a further continuation of the Administration was Accepted and the days were Appointed for a Publick Thanksgiving for the great Deliverance of these Kingdoms But in Ireland things went not on so prosperously for the Earl of Tyrconnel greatly oppressed the Protestants suffered the Papists to plunder their Houses every where disarming them and putting them out of places of Trust however in several parts of that Kingdom the Protestants under the leading of Noblemen and others gave them notable overthrows But the Popish party relying upon the Succours they expected from France gave not over their Ravages and Outrages However great preparations were made in England to reduce that Kingdom to Obedience and some Stores of Ammunition and Provisions sent from Scotland and care was taken to stop such as were going over and a prohibition was laid on French Goods and Manufactures c. And now the desire of the people being to see their present Majestys on the Throne a great number of worthy persons in the Citys of London and Westminster Petitioned setting forth it was their humble desire it might be speedily done and soon after Her present Majesty upon the earnest Invitation of the Estates Embarqued for England attended by a Squadron of English and Dutch Men of War and arrived safely at White-Hall on the 12th of February 1688. to the inexpressible Joy of the people and was saluted all the way Her Yatch passed by the Forts and Ships in the Road as also by the Tower Guns the Standard being displayed and at Court she received the Complements of all the Nobility present nor did the Lords and Commons delay to prepare for the Proclaiming King WILLIAM and Queen MARY by declaring the Throne Vacant and praying them to accept the Regal Dignities Abrogating the former Oaths of Allegience and Supremacy and Incerting these viz. I A. B. Do sincerely Promise and Swear that I will be Faithfull and bear True Allegience to their Majestys King WILLIAM and Queen MARY So help me God I A. B. Do Swear that I do from my heart Abhor Detest and Abjure as Impious and Heretical this Damnable Doctrine and Position that Princes Excommunicate or deprived by the Pope or any Authority of the See of Rome may be Deposed or Murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever and so I declare that no foreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preeminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm So help me God Matters prepared in readiness for so great and solemn an Occasion the Lords and Commons on the 13th of February having acquainted them with what they had done and obtained their Consent About Eleven of the Clock they went to White-Hall Gate where the Officers and Serjeants at Arms Trumpets and other persons being present Sir Thomas St. George Knight Garter Principal King at Arms receiving the Proclamation and the Officers at Arms by the Lords being ordered immediately to Proclaim it York Herauld Proclaimed it at White-Hall Gate after the Trumpets had thrice sounded Garter reading it by periods in the presence of the Lords and Commons and a great concourse of people and the satisfaction conceived was manifested by loud shouts and general Acclamations of Joy and in good order they proceeded to Temple-Bar where having informed the occasion of their coming they had the Gates opened and all except the Bailiff of Westminster and his men entred and were received by the Lord Mayor Aldermen Recorder Sheriffs c. When having made a Second Proclamation
they passed to Wood-street end in Cheapside and there Proclaimed a Third time and the like was done before the Royal Exchange in Cornhill and immediately the great Guns made it known to remote parts the Evening being concluded with the Ringing of Bells Bonfires and other demonstrations of Joy Nor was it less upon the like Proclamation of their Majestys in the principal Burroughs and Towns of England and Wales And two days following his Majesty was pleased to give the two Houses a further Assurance of his Care and Protection for the preservation of their Religion Laws and Liberties and that he was desirous to concur with them in any thing that should be for the good of the Kingdom and do what in him lay to advance the Glory and Welfare of the Nation And thereupon published his Royal Declaration to restrain disorderly persons who took the liberty to kill the Deer and cut down the Timber in divers Chaces and Forests causing the Ports in the West facing Ireland to be stopped to prevent disaffected persons from passing over to Tyrconnel And the City of London by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and divers of the Commons Congratulated their Majestys upon their happy Accession to the Throne and on the 18th of February the King went to the House of Lords Royally attended and too his Place on the Throne when the Gentleman â—sher of the Black Rod had order to Summon up the Commons and they accordingly attending at the Bar of the Lords House his Majesty let them know how sensible he was of their kindness and how much he esteemed and valued the confidence they had Reposed in him giving them Assurance that at no time he would do any thing that might lessen their good opinion of him recommending to them the Care of the Allies abroad and the dangerous state of Ireland c. And soon after his Majesty being waited on by the Bishop of London and about 100. of the London Clergy with an humble Tender of their duty and fidelity he was pleased to express his Gracious promise of Protection and Encouragement And the two Houses resolved into a free Parliament his Majesty gave the Royal Assent to an Act intituled an Act for the removing and preventing all questions and disputes about the Assembling and Sitting of this present Parliament putting out his Royal Declaration for bringing in and restoring Arms imbezled during the disbandings and disorder in the late King's Army During these prosperous proceedings we had frequent news from Ireland that the Earl of Tyrconnel laboured to increase his Army and to draw away those that yet remained unshaken to prevent which his Majesty was pleased to Issue out his Proclamation offering a pardon of Indemnity to all those that would lay down their Arms and retire to their respective habitations and there quietly and peaceably behave themselves and that according to Law they should enjoy their Estates and Possessions likewise those of the Roman persuasion to have all the liberty of private Exercise of Religion that the Law allows with a promise of calling a Parliament in that Kingdom But if any refused they were proclaimed Rebels and Traytors and their Lands forfeited to be distributed to those that should be aiding and assisting to the reducing the Kingdom But on the other hand Tyrconnel as much as lay in him to hinder this Gratious offer prevented its being dispersed in many parts of that Kingdom and published a Declaration of his own wherein he promised them wonders if they would persevere and laid before them the danger if they laid down their Arms whch animated them to great Outrages however the English Protestants defended Sligo and other places making strong opposition especially in the North expecting Succours from England where extraordinary Levys were making and the King the better to encourage his Subjects consented to the taking away the Act of Harth Money which had been a long time very grievous to the poorer sort of the Nation for which he received an Address of Thanks from both Houses and an other wherein they resolved to stand by him with their Lives and Fortunes in supporting his Allies abroad in reducing Ireland and to secure the Protestant Religion in that Kingdom which was very Graciously Received and his Majesty declared his Opinion as to what was requisite for the support of the Nations Glory abroad and at home And the two Houses for declaring to stand by his Majesty c. had two humble Addresses of Thanks from the City of London and they likewise tendred their Address of Thanks to his Majesty upon his Condescending to have the Harth Money taken away which was shortly after taken away by an Act for ever onely a Clause reserving to be collected what was due to the 25th of March before the publication of the said Act. During these proceedings the King had an Express that a considerable number of Soldiers of the Regiment once commanded by the Lord Dumbarton and some Companies of Fuziliers had had mutined near Ipswich and marched away with the Money sent to pay them and four Field Pieces in their way proclaiming King James when to prevent the disorder upon the Address of the Parliament they were proclaimed Rebels and a considerable force of Horse and Dragoons sent to suppress them and accordingly upon their inclosing those mutinous Soldiers they after some shew of resistence threw down their Arms and surrendred them yielding upon discretion when being disarmed they and their Officers were disposed of in divers prisons and an Act passed the Royal Assent impowering his Majesty to apprehend such persons as he should find just cause to suspect were conspiring against the Government and an other to take off the Attaindure of William Russell Esq commonly called William Lord Russell and many other Acts conducing to the good and settlement of the Kingdom were soon after passed Upon the death of Sir John Chapman Lord Mayor of London Thomas Pilkinton Esq since Sir Thomas Pilkinton was Elected at the Guild-Hall and presented to the Commissioners of the Great Seal and Sworn at the Hustings and after that by the Lieutenant of the Tower by reason at that time there was no Court held at Westminster Scotland at this time was not wanting for the Convention pursuant to the King 's Circular Letters meeting March 14th and chusing Duke Hamilton their Chairman they earnestly laboured for the settlement of that Kingdom which was fallen into some disorder upon the Grand Revolution Summoning the Duke of Gourdon to surrender the Castle of Edenburg and upon his refusal Proclaimed him and his adherents Traytors on great penalties prohibiting any to have intercourse with him securing divers suspected persons and raising Forces to secure the Kingdom with many other things too many here to be incerted And now the Coronation Solemnity of their Majestys being appointed on the 11th of April and a Proclamation issued out to the Peers and for all that could make Claims by right of Service or Tenure