are imprisoned or any way debarred of their Liberty upon reasonable and competent security shall have their inlargement by putting in Sureties or such other way as the King hath allowed Dated and set forth from the Campe before Kenelworth the last day of September in the year of our Lord God 1â—66 and of the reign of the most renowned King Henry the third 51. Thus endeth that Famous Ordinance called to this day * Dictum de Kenelworth wherein are comprised the wisest rules that the wisest men of those times could possibly devise to uphold compose and recover a tottering distracted dying Kingdome The Barons of Cinque Ports seeing the King prosper made their peace with the King About two months after the publication of this Ordinance viz. upon Saint Thomas Eve the Castle was delivered up upon conditions too good for those that had so barbarously used the Kings Messenger contemned the King and impoverished the Country to march away with their goods and to undergo no fine for taking up Arms. This Castle had the King bestowed upon the Earle of Leicèster in franke marriage with his sister Elionor but when the Earle by his Rebellion had forfeited and the King had now won it he gave it to his own Sonne Edmund Earle of Lancaster who by this time had reduc'd the Isle of Axholme and all those rude ignorant people that flockt thither pillaging and plundering the Kings friends round about The Prince also met with Adam Gurdon a famous sturdy Rebell that lay lurking in Aulton Wood in Hampshire robbing and spoyling the adjacent parts Precipuè terras eorum qui parti Regiae adhaerebant Rishanger the Prince upon his approach hearing of his valour sent him a Challenge for a single Combate Gurdon accepts it and performed it so gallantly that the Prince assur'd him of his life and estate if he would submit which he did and was received into great favour with the Prince but divers of his men were there executed Now the Isle of Ely was strongly fortified by a great multitude got together that refused to submit to the Ordinance of Kenelworth Upon the naturall strength of this Isle and the plenty of all provision therein seditious Rebels have often presumed and from hence have molested more Kings then one as they did now the neighbouring Counties robbing and pillaging Norfolk Sussolk and Cambridgeshire plundering the City of Norwich and carrying away the richest Citizens made them redeem themselves at length a message was sent unto them requiring them to submit to the Ordinance of Killingworth to leave off robbing their fellow subjects and to return to their allegiance Hereto they return this insolent answer That they had taken up arms to defend the good of Church and State and therefore ought to be restored to theâ—r lands without paying any fine In briefe they require hostages into the Island and that they might hold it five years peaceably till they saw how the King would performe his promises perfidious subjects ever suspect their Princes fidelity which high insolency of theirs unheard of till our times so exasperates the King that he resolves to try the utmost to reduce them to their obedience for that purpose marches with a mighty Army against them the Prince also joyns with a considerable power after many assaults at length after they had held it above two yeers by the help of new made bridges and boats they stormed it on every side that they were forced to yield And now men thought the fire was quite out But there were yet some live embers which the Earle of Glocester upon some distaste blowing suddenly flamed out again in London where the Commons of the City forgetting their late punishment and as men saith mine Author without dread of God or the King drew up in arms again flock'd to the Earle of Glocester Fabian plundered the well-affected to the King sequestred their estates brake the Prisons chose a new Mayor and Sheriffes made Bulwarks and Barbicans and fortefied the City wonderously and were so confident of their strength and cause that they durst bid the King battell appointing Hounsloe-health for the field The King by a speedy march came to the place at the time appointed but they instead of meeting his Majesty ran about the City in a tumultuos manner Some to Westminster and there plundered the Kings Pallace fenestras ostia fregerunt saith Mat. W stm vix manus a cembustione totius Palatii cohibentes brake the doors and windows hardly forbearing to set it all on fire Then the King removed his camp to the other side of the City and had his head quarters at Stratford three miles off the City the rest of his Army lay at Ham a village hard by The wiser Citizens foreseeing the danger that hung over them desired a treaty with the King whereunto though they were most unworthy of so much clemency his Majesty was graciously pleased to condescend and upon these easie terms they were again received to mercy Imprimis Salvo in omnibus dicto Killingworthi that the Ordinance of Killâ—ngworth should be observed in all points then that the fortifications should be razed and the trenches filled up lastly that 1000. Marks dammages should be paid down to the Kings brother for his Mannor of Isleworth fired by them long before Also his Majesty for some years following chose the Mayor and Sheriffs himselfe but toward the latte end of his Reign being fully reconciled he restored them their often forfeited * Then did the â—ing command that Peace should be proclaim'd all the Kingdome over which was received with joyful acclamations Priviledges Thus after the Almighty whose judgements are unsearchable had suffered crafty seditious spirits to seduce a whole Nation to trample upon his Anointed and to tread his Honour in the very dust for a time yet at length all his enemies are clothed with shame and upon himself his Crown flourisheth again And now after this furious dreadfull tempest after so many storms and showers of blood began a joyful long-expected Calm which that they might enjoy without any intervening of more stormes and for the better setling and quieting the Kingdom the King gives expresse command for the razing of divers in-land Castles as Farnham c. That so if another Rebellion should be begotten it might no where find a Nurse and then it could not be long-liv'd Also for the more quiet and secure travelling of his Subjects he appoints a Captain in every County who with a Troop of Horse should alwaies assist the Sheriff for the taking and punishing all stragling reliques of the late Armies and high-way robbers wherewith the Kingdome did abound at that time no place free from them In some places also Ruricolae saith Râ—shanger the Country people would generally rise against them as against Wolves or Bears and at one time they took and kill'd fifty of them that were got together neer St Albans in Hartfordshire Besides the King Proclamari
her ancient Priviledges and Liberties and the Ringleaders of them juxta voluntatem ipsius Regis plecti to suffer such punishment as his Majesty was pleased to inflict Et ditiores Civitatis in carcerem truderentur saith Matth. Westm pro eo quod Simoni in Regis contemptum etiam damnum Regni fortiter adhaeserint that the wealthier Citizens should be cast in prison because they had in contempt of his Majesty and great dammage and mischief of the Realm assisted the Earl Furthermore it was there enacted that all such as had favoured the Rebels were they now in prison or at large should forfeit all their estates Afterward the King marcht with a great power to Windesore resolving as the fame then went to destroy the whole City of London Many of the Rabble and wild Commoners saith Fabian were as resolved to defend the City against him but the wiser sort thought better to become humble petitioners for their pardon of what was past than to incense his Majesty any farther and to that end drew up an humble Petition and presented it to the King but their late rebellious carriage had so far pâ—ovoked his Mâ—jesties patience that he would not so much as admit of their Petition or hearken to any that endeavoured to mediate for them Hereupon they were advised to draw up an Instrument or wâ—iting wherby they should yield themselves wholly both bodies and goods to the Kings mercy which was done accordingly and seased with the Common Seal of the City His Majesty upon earnest suit unto him accepted hereof giving present expresse command that all the Chains and Posts which they had placed at every street and lanes end should be forthwith carried to the Tower and that the Mayor and Fourty of the chiefe Citizens should repair unto him the next day and confirm their said writing this was done and they all came accordingly but contrary to their expectation though not deserts were all delivered into the custody of the Constable of Windesore Castle and shut up there in a lage Tower where they had small cheer and worse lodging The next day toward night all but five whereof the Mayor was one had their enlargement Those five their bodies and goods were as a boone bestowed on the Prince the rest were commanded to attend at Wâ—ndesore for a long time after Sixty or seventy wealthy Cicizens with all their Lands Goods and Cattles did the King dispose to his household-servants For the Government of this unruly City the King appointed one Othon a forreiner or stranger first Constable of the Tower and then Custos or Warden of the City to pull down their haughty rebellious spirits and that his peace for the future might be surely kept he required the best mens sons in the City for Hostages These he clapt up in the Tower and caused them to be there kept at the cost and charges of their Parents Daily suit was made unto his Majesty for his Pardon and Favour but in vain then they petition the King to know his gracious pleasure what Fine he would demand of the whole City for their offences against him The King at length signified unto them that the summe of Fifty thousand Marks should be their Fine Whereunto the Londoners return this humble answer They had been of late by this unhappy War * Long before the discovery of the West-Indyes so exceedingly impoverished that a summe so great as it was in those times could not possibly be raised amongst them wherefore they humbly beseeched his Princely compassion might be so farre extended towards them as to require and accept according to their abilities At length after much suit and submission and a Fine of twenty thousand Marks the King received them to mercy and sent them under his Great Seal a generall Pardon those onely excepted whose estates were already bestowed granting and allowing that their former Charter and ancient Priviledges should be restored unto them notwithstanding all the transgressions they are the words of the Pardon and trespasses done to Us to our Queen to our noble brother Richard King of Almaine and the Prince our first begotten son And here was the first pacification betwixt the King and the Londoners for whom wee may say thus much That their foul Rebellion againg their Soveraign was not more detestable then their humble submission to their Soverain was commendable And therefore in the Ordinance called Dictum de Keneâ—worth made for the setling of the Kingdom we find them notwithstanding all their disloyalty commended as shall be seen in the ensuing Story After the proud stomach of this City was brought down and all tumultuous spirits quelled the King calls his Parliament in festo Sancti Edvardi Regis to Westminster wherein those that aided and assisted the Earl were all excepting the Londoners attainted and that all theit Lands and Goods were forfeited But this Sentence though it was lesse than they deserved yet was more than they would endure and therefore the fire that was not yet quencht but smothered breaks forth again Some flie into the Isle Ely and fortifie that Some into the Isle of Axholme in Lincolnshire Another party possesse themselves of Killingworth Castle Another under the command of the Lord Ferrers in the Northern parts And amongst others one Adam Gurdon lived as an Outlaw in Hampshâ—re * Rishanger tum rarus aut nullus locus in Anglia fuit tutus eò quod terra erat vespilionibus plena Now scarce any place in England was free from plunderers To reduce these to obedience the King undertakes Kâ—llingworth Castle The Prince was sent against Adam Gurdon Lord Edmond the Prince's brother against those in Axholme And Lord Henry the King of Almaines son against the Lord * This Lord Henry the Kings Nephew was a valiant Souldier and having found out the Lord Ferrers at Chesterfield gave him battel over threw him and because he had been pardoned once before it was decreed that he should be degraded and depived of his Earldom for ever and fined fifty thousand pounds Ferreres To the Rebels in Kâ—llingworth Castle the King sent first a gracious message willing them to desist and return to their obedience But they contrary to all Law of Arms contrary to naturall civility cur off the Messengers hand and sent him back with an uncilil answer Then the King marcht to Killingworth and sate down before it upon Midsummer Eve During the Siege which lasted six Moneths Clerus populus convocantur duodecim eliguntur de potentioribus Procerum prudentioribus Praelatonum quibus datur potestas ordinandi super Statutum exhaerendatorum c. The Clergie and Laitie are assembled and out of the chiefest of the Peerage and wisest of the Prelates were chosen twelve to whom power was given to pronounce sentence against the Rebels and to settle the peace of the Kingdom they first taking an Oath de utilibus ordinandis to decree nothing but what should be for
the good of the Common weale Then the people take a solemne oath Quod dictum ipsorum inviolabiliter observarent that they would stand to their Decree which to this day by our Lawyers is called Dictum de Kenelworâ—h a severe yet a good and wholesome course without effusion of blood to punish Rebellious Subjects The Decree as followeth Dictum de Kenelworth In nomine sanctae individuae Trinitatis Amen Ad honorem gloriam Omnipotentis Dei Patris Filii Spiritus Sancti c. Et ad honorem bonum prosperum pacificum statum Christian ssimi Principis Domini Henrici Regis Angliae Illustris totius Angliae Ecclesiae Nos Willihelmus c. In English thus In the name of the holy and individuall Trinity Amen For the honour and glory of Almighty God the Father Son and Holy Ghost c. And for the honour prosperity and peace of the most Christian Prince our Soveraign Lord Henry the most renowned King of England and of the whole Church of England We William Exon William Bath and Wells Henry Worcester and T. St. Davids Bishops Gilbert de Clare Earl of Glocester Humphry Earl of Hereford Philip Basset John Bailof Robert Wallop Alan de la Souch Roger de Somerie and Warren de Basingborn providing for the welfare of the Land c. have thought fit to order as followeth 1. That the Rebels be not wholly deprived of their estates but shall have liberty to redeem their Lands by fines in manner following 1. That those that were in the fight at Chesterfield against our Soveraign Lord the King Item All those that by force of Armes impiously kept Northampton against the King Item Those that gave the King battell at Lewis Item Those that were taken prisoners at Kenelworth Item Those that came to pillage Winchester or were elsewhere against the King whom the King hath not pardoned Item Those that gave the King battel at Evesham Item All those that freely and voluntarily and without any compulsion have contributed to the War against the King or Prince Item The Officers and Servants of the Earl of Leicester that pillaged their neighbours or were the cause of any murders firings or other enormities that all these be fined five years revenues of all their Estates respectively and that if they pay down their Fines presently they may enjoy their Lands presently but if the Land must be sold for the payment of the Fine he on whom the King bestowed it shall have the refusall if he will give as much as any other And if the originall owner will pay down the whole Fine he shall have the whole Land and likewise if he will pay the moity or third part he shall have the moity or thirds of the Land And if at the end and terme appointed the owner doth not pay for the other moity it shall be clearly theirs on whom the King was pleased to bestow it And as soon as any one hath paid down his whole Fine such shall have liberty to let or set or sell his land within the prefixed time Those that have Woods and would willingly make sale of them for the payment of their Fines He on whom the King bestowed and the originall owner shall have each one his Bailiff to see it sold and those two Bailiffs shall as fast as the money is made pay it to whom the Fine was given by our Soveraign Lord the King this payment must be made within three years at the farthest All Officers and Reformadoes that were known to be common plunderers and made it their businesse to plunder if such have no Land but onely Goods they shall be fined one moity of all their Goods and shall find sufficient sureties that they shall keep the peace of our Soveraign Lord the King for the time to come They that have nothing shall be sworn upon the holy Gospel and find sufficient sureties that they will keep the Kings peace for the time forward and shall make such satisfaction and do such penance as the holy Church shall censure excepting onely banished persons who are wholly left to the will and pleasure of the King 2. Moreover as for Wards or young Heiâ—s that were in actuall Rebellion against the King during their minority their Guardians shall pay their Fines and the said Wards when they come to age shall pay back the same to their Guardians within two or three years so that the Gardians shall have the Wardship and their marriages without disparagement even till they be come to full age and all Wards shall pay their Fines after the same manner as those of full age Onely the Kings own Wards shall be in the hands of those to whom the King shall give them until they come to years and then they shall pay down their Fines according to the same manner as those of full years Provided alwais than there be no wast made by the Guardians upon their estates If there be then the Guardians to be punished according to Law 3. If any that were for the King before and since the battel at Lewes be now fined for not assisting the Prince when he was raising forces to rescue his Father we leave him to the King to be censured or pardoned as he shall think fit 4. That there be no sale or waste made of any Woods by those on whom they were bestowed unlesse the Fine be not pai'd within the time limited Onely it is allowed that they shall cut so much wood as is necessary to keep the houses in reparations and if they shall exceed this allowance to be severally punished 5. If any be thought to be dangerous persons and that they are like to move sedition and to revive the Wars let the King secure their persons as he shall think fit either by sending them into forreine parts for a time or what other way shall be thought expedient provided alwaies that if they be thereby hindred from paying their Fines they shall not forfet their estates 6. That if any will not submit to this Ordinance he be left to be censured at the Kings-bench-bar before the feast of St. Hillary next coming All those that live in forreine parts shall find sureties according to the Laws and Customs of those States to live peaceably otherwise that they shall not be received in a peaceable manner 7. Whereas the King's Majesty is ingaged to many that served him in his Wars and faithfully stuck to him who he hath not yet sufficiently rewarded and some have been rewarded above their deserts we desire that the King take speciall care that out of Delinquents estates they may be all rewarded to the full lest otherwise a new War should be occasioned 8. That the Kings Majesty be graciously pleased to make choice of twelve able Men that may be authorized to see this punctually and faithfully performed and that the Kings Majesty his Heirs or Successors take care that it be all firmly observed and
maintained and to enquire into and regulate and see duely executed what shall be by the said twelve Men ordered according to reason and equity 9. That all Farmers and Renters of Lands that were against the King shall lose their Farms for all the term or time of their leases that are to come provided that the Landlords be no way endamaged and when the terme of their Leases are out then to return to the Landlords again 10. As for Castles and Forts built by the Kings grant and allowance upon any Delinquents ground contrary to the will of the said Delinquent We decree that after the owner oâ—â—â— at land hath paid his fine which must be within three years for six yeers more the owner of that Land shall pay such custome as was imposed by the King or else accept of a reasonable exchange for the said Land 11. All Lay-men who notoriously advanced the Earls designs and assisted him or his adherents Attrahendo homines per mendacia falsitates parti Comitis suorum detrahendo parti Regis filli sui by drawing people through lies and falsities either to the Earle and his party or from the King and his party it is ordained that they be fined as much as two years revenues of all their estates 12. That all such as were pressed or out of fear went to the Wars but never fought against the King or did any mischiefe also those that being not able to go themselves yet by force or fear were compelled to contribute towards the Armies-against the King or the Prince also that those that were enforced to be plunderers or to aid and assist any plunder-masters and yet did return to their habitations as soon as conveniently they could be all left In misericordiâ Domini Regis 13. That all those that wittingly bought any plundered goods restore the value of the goods and be In misericordia Domini Regis because they thereby have offended against the Law and done contrary to the Kings expresse command set for half a year before 14. That all those that at the Earls command went into Northampton yet never gave the rebels their assistance or made any resistance but as soon as they perceived the King comming took Sanctuary provided that this be attested by the oaths of good and lawful men likewise that those that owed no suit or service to the Earle and yet came upon his command be all fined half a years revenue of every one respectively but those that held of the Earle in Fee let them be only In misericordiâ Domini Regis 15 That impotent silly people and all such as did no mischiefe may enjoy their estates as formerly and recover dammages at the Kings Bench against those that shall wrong them 16 That those that accuse any of their fellow subjects out of malice be punished at the Kings pleasure and that his Majesty thence forwaâ—d do not easily give credit unto them And we judge that they deserve the same punishment as the accused if the accusation 〈◊〉 true provided that they lose not life limb or estate 17. That all such as are accused upon meer malice may still enjoy their estates and recover dammage against their accusers in the Kings Bench as above said 18 That all women injoy their own inheritances and dowries But those lands that came by their husbands who have been against the King shall be redeemed by a fine according as his Majesty shall impose upon them c. 19. That all such as are acquitted so it be by those that have authority to acquit them remaine and stand in such a condition as they are put into and that all that have paid their fines shall not be responsable for dammages and trespasses committed by them upon those against whom they fought in the time of the late troubles but that all dammages and trespasses be forgiven on both sides provided that the Church may have her dues 20. That because it may be of dangerous consequence that any Castles should remain in the power of those who were in actuall Rebellion against the King we therefore decree and ordaine that for the Castles of Hardley Bytham and Chertley there be given a reasonable exchange 21. As for the Earle Simon Monfort his Countesse and his sons we decree nothing because our Soveraign Lord the King hath referred them and their offences to the King of France 22. As for the City of London taking notice it seems of their humble submission we commend it and do make this motion to our Soveraign Lord the King that by the advice of his Privy Councel he take order for reforming the state of the City and settle their Lands Revenues Buildings and Liberties and that this Order be presently debated 23. For the Lord Ferrers we decree that he be fined seven years revenues of all his estate 24. That all that now keep Killingworth Castle be pardoned except Henry Hastings and those that had any hand in cutting off the Kings Messengers hand all which shall be fined seven years revenues of all their estates or else submit themselves to the Kings mercy 25. That all men whatsoever endeavor to keep the peace of the Kingdom that none presume to commit any outrages firings murders robberies or by any other means break the Peace Which if any shal be so hardy as not to observe be thereof lawfully convicted let him have sentence according to the Lawes of the land 26. Item that all whom it may concern take their oaths upon the holy Gospel of God that they will never take any revenge be accessory or consenting to take any revenge nor will suffer as much as in them lies that any revenge should be taken against any one for any injury suffered in the late times of trouble and if any one shall presume to revenge himself we decree that punishment be inflicted upon him in the Kings Bench Court 27. That the Holy Church receive full satisfaction from those that have injured her 28. But if there be any that will not submit to this Ordinance or refuse to be tried by their Peers before our Soveraign Lord the King let them forfeit their estates for ever And if there be any that have gotten possession of the Rebels Lands and were himself a Rebel he is thereby uncapable of challenging any right to the land or to have any title to the fine by the Kings Majesties gift 29. Whosoever will not submit to this Ordinance let him be accounted a profest enemy to our Soveraign Lord the King and to his Sons and to the whole Realm and let all the Laity and Clergy as far as the Canon Lawes and Common Lawes will reach prosecute such an one as an enemy to the peace of Church and State About the end of October the King assembled all the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Knights of the Shires to Northampton where this decree was confirmed by Act of Parliament 30. Lastly that all those that
speak evil against the Lord 's Anointed not as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance but as the despisers of Dignities gave them their lessons These Incendiaries by their sheeps cloathing a fair conversation drew the people every where to side with them against the King and against those that wisht the King his former power Which the King perceiving and how the multitude grew every day more and more tumultuous for all things were now carried by tumults was advised by his Privy Councel As in 1641. and 1642. to withdraw himself lest His person might be endangered from the Parliament then held at Westminster to His Castle at Windsor After some comestation at this distance it was agreed upon by the King and his adherents and the five Members and their adherents that the difference should be referred to the French Kings arbitrament * Rishanger The King of France upon the day of hearing gave sentence that the said Ordinance whereby the Kâ—ng was deprived of his regal power should be made Null The five Members and their complices seeing this notwithstanding they had bound themselves by Oath to stand to his award flew oft and resolving to have their own wills drew into Arms made choice of the Earle of Leicester for their General and for their own private interest pretending the publick good drew the greatest part of the Kingdom after them * Cotton so easie it is to draw the sickle multitude to the wrong side crying every where at first Liberty and Religion though towards the end of the War not a word of either Hollinsh By their fair pretences they gained so far upon the Londoners that they generally enter into a Covenant to assist the Earle For which purpose besides a new Maior or Bailiff they chose two Commanders Thomas Pywelsden and Stephen Buckirell at whose command by the tolling of St. Pauls great Bell they were to be in Arms upon any occasion Their first exploit was a march to Isleworth in a tumultuous manner where they plundered and fired the Kings brother's Mannour-house The Earls Army by this time on their march plundered all that were dis-affected to their cause and proceedings and imprisoned them * Rishanger Especially those that stood any way affected to the Queen for they all but most of all the Londoners were most maliciously bent against her For disswading the King to stand to the foresaid Ordinance of Parliament in so much that as she was passing the Thames near the Bridge a rude rabble of the Citie got together on the Bridge and with confused yellings cried Drown the Witch c. and by throwing dirt and stones at her drave her back which impious affront was punctually remembred in the first fight as you shall hear anon * Rishanger Besides this main Army under the Earle of Leâ—cester they had another Army under the command of the Lord Ferrers of whom descended the late Lord of Essex who behaved himself insolently towards the King in destroying his Parks as he marcht c. which in the conclusion cost him dear yet to delude the people the main Aâ—â—y bore before then the Kings Arms And to shew they were for the King when they had displaced the old Governours of the Kings Castles and Forts and placed in such as they could confide in they gave them an Oath to be true to the King and to keep those holds to the use and benefit of the King and State yet when the King demanded entrance at * Dover Chron. Dunstan one of his Forts wherein they had placed a Governour he was kept out * As at Hall At Sea the Barons of the Cinque-ports seized the Kings Ships took great Prizes but they that sate at Stern upon Land shared in those Prizes as the fame then went By this time the King began to rouze himself and finding nothing now left him but a good Cause and the hearts of his wiset Subjects yet by that and these and the assistance of his brother Richard King of the Romans in a short space he had raised a considerable Army A King can never be so down but he will rise again With these he march't like a snow ball encreas'd by motion plundered the Rebels Lands as he went to Northampon which was fortified against him by some of the chiefest of the Rebels yet by a furious assault he soon gained it Thence continuing his march into Sussex near Lewes he received a Message from the Earle the tenour whereof was That as for his Majesty they intended no harm against him but onely desired that he would remove his evil Counsellors that did advise his Majesty against them against the honour of the King and welfare of the Kingdom The King in his Answer charges them with Rebellion and disloyalty and commands them to lay down their Arms and to return to their obedience that they might be received to mercy but the Earle rejecting the offer * Cambdens observation in the case of Robert Earle of Essex when Subjects have once broken their fealty and trust to their Soveraign they never dare trust their Soveraign again resolves to give the King battel Near Lewes both Armies meet One Wing of the Earl's Army was made up of Londâ—â— Troops which the Prince being then General of the Kings horse observing Equites hac hac seditionum scelerumque omnium capita sunt nunc nunc fortiter adjicite tela and remembring not without indignation the abuse offered by the Londoâ—ers to the Queen his Mother he clapt spurs to his horse and an his Cavalry after him crying Here here my brave Cavaliers are the main contrivers of all rebellions and mischief Now now fâ—â— ever charge home and so fell on with that fury that they presently fly the Prince in an eager and hot pursuit does great â—â—ecution upon them for four miles But this prosperous beginning of the fight on â—â—e King's side was the utter overthrow of the King's Forces for when the Earle perceived that the Prince a young fiery spirit with all the Kings horse was gone so far in pursuit of the Londoners * Prince Robert at Edgewill he fell violently on the Kings foot soon routed them took the King his horse being slain under him prisoner The Prince at length retreating when he saw all lost surrendered himself There were taken in this fight besides those royal prisoners the King the Prince the Kings brother and his eldest Son above twenty Noblemen that were for the King and slain about * Southwell Rishanger 3400. The Earle having thus gotten a compleat victory forthwith endeavours to seize all the Militia and power of the Kingdom for which end he carries the King about with him to countenance his actions but the rest of the royal Prisoners he disposes in several Garrisons And now the Earle believes all his own and the people dream of nothing put Peace but alas the War was not
begun till now For when the torn remainder of the Loyal Army that escaped at Lewes now keeping Garrison in Bristow and other noble spirits saw how insolently the Earle dealt with his and their Soveraign in barring him of his liberty c. They soon raised a considerable power under the command of Roger Mortimer Earle of March unto whom many flockt out of Shropshire Cheshire Herefordshire and Worcester that were well affected to the King Moreover the Queen who was a French woman got over beyond Sea to try her friends for their assistance to restore her Husband to his former liberty and authority Quod ad landem magnificentiam Aelianora Anglorum Reginae libet intexere saith one of that Age quod Domino suo Edwardo filio tam strenne tam viriliter tanquam virago potentissima succurrendis fortiter insudaverit But before these forces were well united the Rebels forces were as well divided for debate arising as is usual in all confederations where all parties must be pleased or else the knot will dissolve between his Excellency the Earle of Leicester and the Earle of Glocester because his Excellency minding his own private more than the publique good of his fellow Rebels without any respect had to his adjutants ingrosses all to himself disposes of the Royal prisoners at his own pleasure seized on the revenues of the Crowr and composition of Delinquents for his own use whereas they had privately agreed before Ex omnia aqua sorte in er eos dâ—vidâ—nda fore In brief he shared all places of power and profit between himselfe his sons and his allies Whereat Glocester as good a man as he stomackt and fell off with his followers to the Prince who by this time disponente domino clavigero ca cerum every thing working for the King had made his escape out of prison at Hereford for being allowed by his keepers to aire himself sometimes on horse back in the Town meadow after he had tyred two or three at length he mounts a special fleet Nag and putting spurs custodibus valedixit and came safe to Wigmo e Castle where the Lord Mortimer lay with his forces raised for the King so marcht on with a great power taking in as they went some strong garrisons of the rebels plunder'd their houses drave their cattel c. Here the War grew hot each side fortifying Towns and Houses plundring and driving all round about to store the garrisons Men's houses which were wont to be their own Castles were now made Castles but the owners were least Masters all left to the mercy of the rude Souldier the poor Country-man's dwelling-house pillaged every where and searcht * Rishanger usque ad lectorum stramentum to the very bed straw not onely Mens Houses but even Gods Houses the very Churches were not free from the prophane hands of plunderers the high-wayes lay unoccupied no passing from Town to Town without danger of robbing When the Prince the Earl of Glocester the Earl of March with the reliques of the royal Army were united and well ordered they resolved to give his Excellency the Earl of Licester battell At Evesham in Worcestershire by a speedy and unexpected march they came upon him The Earl seeing himselfe engaged to fight gave order that his own coat-armour should be put upon the King who was then a prisoner in the Army and that the King for the safety of his person forsooth should be placed in the front of the battell that so if the battell went against him the King might be aimed at as generall and his excellency thereby make his escape But the King at first charge called out to the loyall Army that he was their King and so was preserved yet not without the losse of some of his own being wounded by a javelin as well as his Subjects blood the battell was very violent and went sore against the Rebels at length the Earl himselfe the head of this Rebellion was cut off at the instant of whose death their happened such extraordinary lightning thunder and thick darknesse that it struk a generall horror and amazement into the hearts of the Rebels as if the King of Kings would now at last visibly revenge the Kings quarrell or as if they had seen Gods immediate hand against them as once against Corah and the 250. Assembly-men Numb 16. v. 35. for the like rebellious practises In this signal Battell were slain besides the Earl and his son sixteen Lords and Knights and about ten thousand more of the Rebells part The Earl's Corps was strangely though not undeservedly handled by the people who were so inraged against him the chief actour and authour of their so much mischiefe and misery that in despight of him they lopt off his head hands feet and privie members and sent them in scorn for tokens to severall places his body was buried in Evesham Church Notwitghanding this there were many ignorant people who had been by specious pretences abused and seduced to that side that were of opinion for a long time after that he dyed a Martyr because it was in defence of their holy as they thought but indeed impious Covenant and Oath Two of the Earl's sons were at the same fight taken Prisoners not long after they made an escape out of Prison but could not escape Gods vengeance on Rebells for in France in miseras dies suos finiverunt The Countesse being banisht died a Nun in France All the Earl's Honours and Possessions were conferred upon Edmond Earl of Lancaster the King 's second son And thus ended this great fiery Meteor in a stench Thus fel our English Cataline as M. Cambden stiles him a man in shew fair and honest but in deed Vir pravo ingenio profundâ perfidiâ of a perverse disposition and treacherous beyond any mans suspition After his Soveraign had heaped upon him many high favours as the Earldom of â—eicester and that high and honourable Office of Lord high Steward and to endeare him the more had given him his own Sister in marriage In token of thankfulnesse he doth his utmost endeavour to diminish the Kings known authority to subject him to the wills of his Subjects to pull down Monarchicall Government and set up a factious Oligarchy and all under the fair common pretence of restoring Religion to it's Purity and the people to their Liberty The King thus happily preserved and almost miraculously all things considered set at liberty about a moneth after calls a Parliament at Winchester no more at London untill it was more loyall Fabian and lesse tumultuous where by a full Convention it was enacted That all Statutes and Ordinances made by the former Parliament called the wood or mad Parliament should be repealed and all writings and bonds then sealed by the King for observing the same should be cancelled and made void That the City of London ob suam Rebellionem for this her Rebellion Rishanger should be deprived of all
fecit contra pacem regni disturbantes set forth a Proclamation against all such as should any way disturb the quiet of the Realm by plundering or stealing c. And that if any man should presume to steal but a Cow or a Sheep vel aliquid aliud saith mine Author he should surely be put to death These were the petty devices of that Age to pump and drain the huge sink of the Kingdome but the Staple Policy was by a Forraign Expedition like a wide fluce to let out all the filth at once for which purpose therefore among others it was resolved upon that a great Army should be raised under the command of the Prince for a voyage to Palestine And by this course especially did his Majesty soon spend the insolencies of his own and the Rebels Souldiers So at a late Dyet or Parliament in Germany after they had undutifully strived with the Emperor and wasted the Empire it was concluded that things should be reduced to the same state as it was in the year 1618. made lawlesse by the late unavoidable Liberty of Civil Arms. And here was an end of this wasting groundlesse unnaturall War wherein the subject having strugled and wrestled with Soveraignty till they had wasted the Kingdom and wearied themselves at last are content to sit down by the losse to let the King have his own rights again and some of theirs according to the usuall event and issue of such imbroylments The Corollary Out of this brief Narration may be extracted somewhat that may be useful both to the King and to the subject To the King First for preventing seditions and rebellions then for setling a Kingdome after a rebellion supprest For the first That he beware how he entrust the government of his Kingdome wholly to others How he suffer his Favourites and great Officers of State to suck him into necessity and inthral him by indigency and be thereby drawn by extraordinary and illegal Impositions and Taxes to vex and alienate the hearts and affections of his subjects and then as he must be constrain'd to fly unto them for relief and counsel in Parliament where he must then run the hazard of being subject to his subjects and they will be Kings over their King where he must then be content to be lesse then he should be and they will be more where they may make advantage of his necessity and he must undergo many hard censures and be vexed with undutiful demands before they will relieve him * As in the yâ—er 1641 and 1642. But whether the subject part with his mony or not let the King take heed of ever parting with his power Then after the heat and heart of a rebellion is broken not to be over-severe against any lest the rest grow desperate Severity may blow up but seldome blow out the flames of a rebellion Yet to shew some acts of power as well as of grace and mercy not to use the extremity of justice lest he thereby renew the present rebellion yet to shew some justice to prevent a future By a sweet mixture of mercy and justice the King shall at once both humble and oblige his delinquent subjects by mercy in not taking the rigour of the Law by justice in taking a part of the law by this he shall humble them in taking so much by that he shall oblige them in taking no more Next to take special care in rewarding and cherishing and countenancing and remembring before others all those that stuck close unto him that by their persons or their purses shewed themselves really for him and without all fallacy loyal After this to prepare speedily for some forraign expedition wherein to imploy all the late active spirits and working heads who will soon make work again at home if they have not work abroad Lastly to place some one as a Scavenger in every Couâ—ty to carry away the dregs left behind such as will not goe beyond sea cannot work and are ashamed to beg To the Subject First that they suffer not themselves to be abused and seduced into disloyalty by any ambitious unquiet cunning spirits upon what pretences soever and when Liberty Religion or any publick good is pretended then most of all to suspect private ends Next that the subject seldome get by this course but often lose their former ancient Liberties and Priviledges according to that very observable though not observed Maxime EVERy REBellion supprest makes the King more King and the subject more subject Lastly that taking Arms without the Kings authority upon what pretences soever be they never so fair as for Religion or Liberty never so foolish as that it is not against the King but for the King is most abominable in the eyes of God and though it seem to prosper for a time yet in the end is most surely and severely punished ending commonly in a general impoverishment if not the ruine of the subject and some dreadful judgement upon the contrivers Pro. 24.21 and 22. My son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change For their calamity shall rise suddenly who knoweth the ruine of them both FINIS ADVERTISEMENT There is newly published an excellent Book Intituled The World Surveyed or The Famous Voyages and Travels of Vincent le Blanc or White of Marseilles who from the age of fourteen years to threescore and eighteen travelled through most part of the world containing a more exact description thereof than hath hitherto been done by any other Author The whole work enriched with many authentick Histories originally written in French and faithfully rendred into English by F. Brooks Gent. Printed for John Starkey at the Miter in Fleetstree betwixt the middle Temple Gate and Temple Barre