honour of the twelve Apostles he built also the City Constantinâ—ple and made a Decree for celebrating the Lord's day instead of the Jewish Sabbath in his time was the first famous general Council of Nice against Arius the Heretick This Emperour was wont to say That Age appeared best in four things Old Wood best to burn Old Wine to Drink Old Friends to trust Old Authors to Read also he said There was but this difference between the Death of old Men and young Men for old Men go to Death and Death comes to young Men he appointed Silvester the Bishop of Rome to wear a Crown of Gold but he contented himself with a Phrygian Miter now a tripple Diadem is thought scarce stately enough for his Successors This Constantine is said to be the first Christian Emperor as Lucius was the first Christian King the honour of both whose Birth-rights England doth glory in XLVIII Julius Apostata he began his Reign Anno Domini 356 and reigned about seven years he had no War with Britain he denied the Faith of Christ and turned Apostate and Writ a Book against Christianity being wounded in the Wars with a poisoned Dart in his left Arm he took a handful of his Blood and throwing it into the Air he blasphemously said Vicisti Galilaee XLIX Jovinianus This Emperour had Peace with Britain he began his Reign Anno Domini 363 and Reigned about a year he became a Christian was Baptized and caused his whole Army to follow his Example his common speech was this O that I might govern wise Men and wise Men govern me L. Valentinianus In his time the Picts began to invade Britain but were vanquished by Theodosius the Deputy This Emperour was highly esteemed of all the Christians being a great favourer of them he forbad Idolatrous Sacrifices by Night and restored to the Churches their former Priviledges Liberties and Possessions which the other Emperours had sold his usual saying was That Gold was tried with the Touchstone and Men with Gold LI. Gratianus and Vallens This Vallens was Vncle to Gracianus and Ruled with him four years beginning his Reign Anno Domini 365 he at first recalled Nazianzen and Basill from Banishment and was Baptized by Eudoxius but turned Arrian afterwards and persecuted the Orthodox Bishops of the East as Eusebius Pelagius Gregorius Nissenus c. he caused also 80 of the Christian Embassadors that were then in Constantinople to be all sent to Sea in one ship and then the ship to be set on Fire But as the Emperor Vallens was very impious so on the contrary Gratianus was very good for he expelled out of Italy all sorts of Hereticks and all the People being reduced to the Faith of JESVS CHRIST he caused all the ruined Churches to be repaired he began his Reign Anno Domini 367 and reigned 6 years These Emperours had no War with Britain LII Maximus and Valentinianus junior These Emperours Ruled about six years and began to Reign Anno Domini â—73 as some Authors affirm but Maximus his Reign was so short that some Historians take no notice of him They had no War with Britain LIII Theodosius This Emperour began his Reign Anno Domini 379 and Reigned about four years according to some Authors he had no War with Britain Fla. Stillicoe being the Deputy in this Emperours time Damasus being Pope was the second general Council and the first at Constantinople in his time also were great losses by Earthquakes in several places both by Sea and Land which continued about six Months LIV. Arcadius and Honorius The Reign of these two Copartners began in the year 384 and ended Anno Domini 402. They had no War with Britain in their time at noon-day a strange Fire from Heaven penetrating the great Church of Constantinople fastned upon the Bishops seat in the Church and consumed it afterwards growing up like a Tree fastned upon the Roof and devoured it and lastly passing the midst of the people without hurting any to the great amazement of all seized upon the Senate-house and burnt it to ashes LV. Theodosius junior and Valentinianus The Reign of these two Emperours began Anno Domini 402. They reigned till the year 450. of which time Theodosius Reigned only twenty two years in their time was the third general Council held at Ephesus which was the first held at that place Caelestinus being Pope in these Emperours time the Romans left Britain of their own accord after they had possessed the same about 597 years and then shortly after the Saxons made themselves Soveraign Lords and Masters thereof CHAP. IV. Of the Conquest of Britain by the Saxons as also of the Commencement and Continuance of their several Kingdoms therein during the Heptarchy with the Names of the Kings Ruling in each Kingdom THE Pickts and Scots after the Romans had left Britain did much annoy the poor Britains and the Romans sent them aid against them several times and at their last coming helped them to build a Wall from Sea to Sea between England and Scotland and bidding them farewell desired them to look to themselves for they would no more undertake such long and hazardous journeys for their sakes And now the Saxons after the Romans had quit left the Island under the Command of Hengist and Horsa landed at Ebsfleet in the Island of Thanet in Kent about the year of Christ 448 as some Authors affirm for they differ amongst themselves in this point These Saxons were sent for by the Britains the Romans refusing to come to aid them against the Pickts and Scots who were got into their Land as far as Stanford and the Britains intending them the Isle of Thanet to live in that they might be near at hand to afford them help as often as occasion required but the Saxons not contented with the Island of Thanet which the Britains had assigned them for their good service they having now got good footing in the Land they began to display themselves in their colours and made it appear that they intended the best part for themselves and that the Britains should be at their Disposals Whereupon the Britains Petitioned them and had good Answers but afterwards had all their goods spoiled and plundered by them And Hengist at a certain time causing the British Nobles to meet him on Salisbury-Plain under pretence of a Treaty did there treacherously cause them to be slain giving this Watch word to his Soldiers New cout Seaxes that is Take your Swords at which words They fell on the Nobles and slew them It is not certainly known from whence these Saxons originally descended but it is probably thought from Sacae a People in Asia and it is said by so some Authors That Hengist and Horsa were Nephews to Woden and Fria the Saxon Dieties in Honour of Woden they called the Fourth day of the Week Wodensday and the Sixth day Friday in Honour of his wife Fria The Saxons used to go singing to the Wars and
Anglorum Gesta Or A Brief HISTORY OF England BEING An Exact Account of the most remarkable Revolutions and most memorable Occurrences and Transactions in PEACE and WAR as Battles Sieges Sea-fights Invasions Leagues Interviews Treaties Solemnities c. that have hapned in the several Kings Reigns since the first Attempt by Julius Caesar upon this Island to the Coronation day of his present Majesty King Charles the Second WITH Several useful Catalogues of the Bishopricks Cities Shires Colledges and Halls in both Universities and Tables of the Kings Reigns and of the Dimensions of England Scotland and Ireland By GEORGE MERITON Gent. LONDON Printed by T. Dawks for Tho Basset at the George near Cliffords Inn in Fleetstreet 1675. CAROL SECVN D â— MAG BRI. FRAET HIB REX PRAESTANTISSIMO ET HONORATISSIMO DOMINO NON SOLUM NOBILITATE GENERIS VERUM ETIAM AMPLITUDINE DIGNITATIS DOMINO CONYERS DARCY BARONI DARCY MEYVILL ET CONYERS HOC COMPENDIUM DE MEMORIALIBUS ANGLIAE EX GRATITUDINE PRAEFATO PRENOBILI DOMINO E SINGULARIBUS CAUSIS HUMILIME DEDICAT GEORGIUS MERITONUS TO THE Reader Courteous Reader I Am not so conceited of my self or my own endeavours as not to think that this Breif History of England will fall under very many hard and sharp censures especially from those who sit in Cathedra Derisionis and lavish so much time away in carping at other Mens Endeavours that they cannot allow themselves so much Liberty as to gratify the World with any thing of their own I am afraid also the Virtuofi of our days will object and say What need was there to obtrude this useless Pamphlet into the World when so many persons such as Beda Giraldus Geoffry of Monmouth Higden Ranulph of Chester Malmsbury Simon Dunelm Caxton Matthew Westminster Gyldas Henry Huntington Hollinshed Matthew Paris Daniel Martin Sir Thomas Moor Pollidore Virgil Speed Hist Brit. Sir Fran. Bacon Sir Richard Baker and several others have so learnedly and volluminously bestowed their pains herein already so that this small Taper among so many bright Torches were as good out as seeming to give no light at all I confess to such as make this Objection this small Treatise at first sight may seem useless yet if they consider that none of the persons before named have begun so high in point of time and continued the some so low as our own time even till the Coronation day of our most Gracious Soveraign Lord King Charles the Second Anno 1661 and Perhaps they may then partly be of another mind However with the generality of People for whom this Collection is principally intended I hope it will receive a more Candid Acceptance considering that several of the Authors before mentioned have written in Latin and so every man not capacitated to read them or understand them being read and besides some of them have only collected the affairs of an hundred or two hundred years and some more and some less oâ—hâ—rs of them have only writ the Lâ—fe perhaps of one particular King c. so that none of them can give the Reader such a general account of Englands Memorable Accidents for such a long continued course of time with so little expence of time to the Reader in the perusal as this small Treatise will and in case any of them could yet as rare and curious stamps upon Coins for their variety and strangeness are daily enquired after and bought though the Silver be all one with ours even so it fares with Books which as Meddals bear the Pictures and Devices of our various Invention though the matter be the same yet for variety sake they are often read and it is often found that the same Dishes of Meat drest after a new fashion do beget a fresh Appetite and gratifie the tasts of many better nay there is no Book so bad even Sir Bevise himself Fryer Bacon or Tom Thumb but some Advantage may be gotten by it for as in the same Field the Ox findeth Fodder the Hound a Hare the Stork a Lizard the Hawk a Partridg the fair maid Flowers so we cannot except we list our selves saith Seneca but depart the better from any Book whatsoever So I hope Reader Thou maist find something here to Content at least nothing to Distaste thee and them I shall think my time well bestowed if neither but out of a Malignant humour thou disdainest what I have done I care not I have pleased my self and learned long since that Envy with her Sister Ignorance do harbour only in the basest and most degenerate Breast Vale George Meriton A Brief HISTORY OF England CHAP. I. Of the Scituation of Britain with its Lymits together with some of the old Customs practised amongst the Britains the several names of the Island and when first Inhabited c. THIS Island of Britain is bounded on the East with Germany and Denmark on the West with Ireland and the Atlantick Occan on the North with the Deucalidon Seas and on the South with Normandy and France It contains in length from the Strathy-head in Scotland to the Lisard-point in Cornwal 624 miles and in breadth from the Lands end in Cornwal to the Island Tennet in the East of Kent 340 miles and is in the eight Clymate for Latitude and for Longitude placed between the paralells 14 and 16. The Limits of it in times past was from the Orcades to the Pyrean Mountains And in former times this noble Island of Britain sustained Eleven Kings all commanding great powers several other Islands belong to it amongst which the Isle of Man is not of the least account for to it belongs a King with a Leaden Crown whose King is now the Noble Earl of Darby whose Ancestors have been Lords of Man about two hundred and seventy years The Division of this Island is into three Kingdomes 1. Scotland whose Partition Southward was from Carlile to Newcastle 2. Cambria or Wales whose Partition was from Basiagwark to Wye and 3. England which was coasted with the French and Germain Seas on the one side and with the other two Kingdoms on the other side It is verily supposed that this Island was Peopled before the Flood Jeffery of Monmouth affirmeth that this Island was Peopled by Brute with his Trojans in the 2887 year of the World's Creation and after the universal Deluge 1231 years And in the year of Elie's Priesthood But several antient Historians writing before his time make no mention of King Brute and some have affirmed that there was never any such Man The Inhabitants were called Britains from the word Brith which signifieth painting or staining of the Skin which they had formerly in use amongst them Some Authors have affirmed that the English did proceed from Cimbria Chersonesus which came from Italy but others assure us that they came from the antient Gauls in France But certain it is that the first Inhabitants of this Island being merely barbarous they never troubled themselves to transmit their Original to Posterity And if
greedily devoured them half alive by reason of this Famine the Mortality was so great amongst the People that the quick could hardly bury the dead And not long after a great Murrain of kine happened so that the Dogs and Ravens eating thereof were Poysoned and did swell to Death so that no man durst eat any Beef And the next year after this the King calling a Council at Clarendon the Lords refused to appear but they were made Friends again by the Mediation of certain Cardinalls and now the Scots not satisfied with the Honour of their last Victory their King saled into Ireland and there caused himself to be Crowned King but the English there under the Conduct of the Arh-Bishop of Armagh and the Lord Binningham encountr'd the new King who there lost his new Honour with his life to boot and not long after a Truce for two years was concluded between England and Scotland About this time Hugh Spencer upon the Commendation of the Lords was made Lord-Chamberlain and his Father Earl of Winchester and now Dr. Barrenthorp of Oxford taught against the Pope and inveighed against the Deceits and impostures of Anti-Christ after a while the two new Lords Spencers Father and Son grew so insolent that they far exceeded Gaveston alienating the Hearts of the Barrons from the King which caused them to take up Arms against him but not long after the Earl of Lancaster and other 90 Nobles at Borrowbrigs were taken Prisoners and at Pontefract the Earl of Lancaster was Beheaded and other five Barrons hanged and the next day at York the Lords Clifford Mowbray and Deywill were hanged in iron Chains and now the King went against Scotland with an Army but was forced there to escape by night leaving his Treasure and rich Furniture for Pillage and the young Lord Mortimer escaping out of the Tower fled into France and not long after the Queen again sent her complaint to her Father of her ill usage There being now some Troubles in Gascoin the King not going himself sent his Queen into France to Negotiate his Affairs who drew all to agreement upon Condition that her Husband should give Prince Edward his and her Son the Dutchy of Aquitain and Earldom of Pontine for which places the young Prince did Homage to his Uncle the King of France after this the King sending for his Son and Queen home and they refusing to come they were thereupon proclaimed Enemies to the Crown the Queen hereupon without consent either of King or Peers Married the Prince to Philippa the Earl of Hanalt's Daughter and being now fitted for her purpose she raised an Army in Henalt and Germany consisting of 2700 Soldiers and many Forein and English Nobles and sailing for England landed at Orwel in Suffolk the King having notice hereof fled into the West to raise Forces promising a thousand pounds to those who would bring him Lord Mortimers head but the Queen not sleeping in her design pursued her Husband from place to place and at length she got Hugh Spencer the Father whom she caused to be cut-up alive and quartered and the King lying now hid in the Abby of Neath in Wales was there surprized by his Cosen the Earl of Lancaster and Imprisoned in the Castle of Kenelworth young Lord Spencer and the Lords Baldock and Reading being also taken at that time and carried to Hereford where Spencer was hanged 50 foot high and then beheaded and quartered and the Queen gave the bringer of his head to her 1000 pound And now a Parliament being called several Peers to wit 3 Bishops three Earls 2 Barrons 2 Abbots and 2 Justices were sent in the name of the Parliament to the King at Kenelworth to Command his resignation of the Crown to his Son Prince Edward at which message the King fell into a swown amongst the Peers at Kenelworth and afterwards coming to himself seeing no other way resign'd his Diadem Whereupon Sir William Trussel one of the messengers in the name of the whole Realm renounced Homage to the King in these words I William Trussel in the name of all men of the Land of England and of all the Parliament Procurator do Ressign to Thee Edward the Homage that was made to Thee sometimes and from this time forward now following I defie Thee and deprive Thee of all Royal Power and I shall never be tendant to Thee as for King after this time Not long after this the King was taken from Kenelworth and delivered by Indenture to the custody of Thomas Gourny and Sir John Mattravers who shortly after Murthered him by thrusting an hot spit up his Fundament into his Bowels at Barclay Castle for which fact they were forced to fly the Country This Edward the Second was King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Aquitain c. He was the 4 Son of Edward the I. by Ellianor his Queen Sister to Alfonsus King of Castile His Reign began on Friday the seventh of July Anno Domini 1307 he reigned 19 years 6 Moneths and 18 days and was the 30 sole Monarch of England he was murthered as is before declared Anno 1327 being the 20 year of his Reign and 41 of his Age his body was buried at Gloucester CHAP. XX. Of King Edward the Third commonly called Edward of Windsor ABout the beginning of this King's Reign one Nycholas Lyrian a Divine of Oxford wrote a Book de Visione Dei against the Pope now by Advice of the Lord Mortimer the King acquitted the Scots of all his claim and Superiority to their Kingdom and shortly after this the King of France died without Issue and King Edward laid claim to the Crown and now the Queen-Mother being reported to be with Child by the Lord Mortimer who was too familiar with her he was thereupon taken at Nottingham and sent Prisoner to London where he was hanged at Tyburn remaining on the Gallows the space of two days for an Ignomenious Spectacle and presently after the King abridged his Mother of her too large Dowry bringing her to one thousand pounds per Annum Anno 1339. a Sudden Inundation of Water at New-castle upon Tine did bear down part of the Town-Wall where 120 Men and Women were drowned And the year after near Chippingnorton in Oxford-shire was found a Serpent having two Heads and two Faces like Women one Face attired after the New Fashion of Women's Attire and the other Face like the old Attire and Wings like a Batt And Fiends and Devils and strange Apparitions were seen by Men and spake unto them as they travelled About this time Dr. Ockham of Oxford wrote against the Popes John and Clement affirming them to have no Power over Civil Magistrates And now the King assisted Baliol against David Bruse King of Scotland who was forced to fly into France and Baliol procured the Crown and was made King and did Homage to King Edward as his Father had done to King Edward the First The King went four times into
Earl of Chester and Prince of Wales and caused the Nobles to swear him Fealty about this time the famous Dr. John Wickliff of Oxford maintained sundry learned points against the Church of Rome This Edward the Third was King of England and France Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain c. he was eldest Son of King Edward the second by Isabel his Queen Daughter to Philip the Fair King of France he began his Reign on Saturday the 25 day of January Anno 1329 and reigned 50 years 4 months and 26 days and was the 31 sole Monarch of England He died on Sunday the 21 day of June Anno 1377 being the 51 year of his Reign and about the 65 of his Age his Body was buried at Westminster CHAP. XXI Of King Richard the Second commonly called Richard of Bourdeaux IN the beginning of this King's Reign the French invaded England and burnt the Town of Rye the Scots the Town of Rocksbrough And after this the French took the Isle of Wight and forced the Inhabitants to pay them a hundred marks not long after they burnt the Town of Hastings All these Advantages being taken by reason of the King 's tender years upon the Occasion of these daily Rapines one Sir John Philpot of London seeing the remissness of the Lords at his own proper costs and charges manned out a Fleet to scour the Seas which Fleet shortly after took 15 Rich Spanish Ships which well recompenced Sir John for his charges About this time Barwick was surprized by the Scots who killed Sir Robert Boynton the Governour and about nine days after it was regained by the Earl of Northumberland the Scots being all put to the Sword And now a Parliament being called at London for Manning of those Services a Subsidy was granted to the King by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal the Commons at that time being exempted from it Shortly after this Sir John Arundel and several other valiant Knights and Esquires being sent to the Duke of Britain for his aid against the French were all drowned But the King sending more Forces after these as the Duke of Lancaster Buckingham Warwick and Stafford with others of the cheif of the Nobility they landed safely at Callis and went through France to Britain spoiling Countries burning Towns and killing People the French not daring to oppose them About this time Vtred Bolton John Ashwerby Walter Brute John Ashton and Peter Pateshall were persecuted some by perpetual Imprisonment and some by Banishment for Preaching and maintaining Dr. Wickliffs Doctrine After this the King calling another Parliament at Northampton they granted him Poll-money of Twelve pence per head of every one above such an Age. The next year after this the Commons of Kent Essex Surry Suffolk Norfolk and Cambridge rebelled and under the Conduct of Wat Tyler and Jack Straw marched suriously to London burning the Priory of St. John's without East Smithfield and turning also the Savoy and the Bishop of Canterbury's House in Lambeth into Ashes Beheading Simon Tybald the Archbishop Sir John Hales Lord Prior with others And now they sent a malicious arrogant Petition to the King whose Tenor the King durst not deny his Person being then in manifest Danger of them But Wat Tyler cavelled at the conditions of Peace Suggesting strange Hopes of high matters to himself hereupon he was desired to ride to the King which accordingly he did and there behaved himself so insolently that he offered to kill Sir John Newton one of the King 's Attendants for the omission of some Punctilio of respect to him But the insolent Traytor for this affront received his Death's Wound from the hand of Sir William Walworth Lord Mayor of London And the Lord Mayor presently raising a thousand Citizens surprised the headless Monster and caused them to beg their Lives of the King John Lister the Dyar who headed the Rabble in Suffolk was also taken by Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich and there was executed of this rebellious Rabble in London and elsewhere about 1500. Now these Plebean Furies being over the King took to Wife Anne Daughter to the Emperour Charles the IV and shortly after John Duke of Lancaster was accused of Treason touching the King's Person but the Accusers Reward was Death which he hoped and intended for the Duke's Lot After this the Duke sailing into France concluded a Truce for about two years space and then a Parliament being called at London the Laity sought to depose the Clergy of their Estates but the King answered their Request in these words I will saith he maintain the English Church in the quality of the same Estate or better than I found it when I came to the Crown At this Parliament was Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford Created the first Marquess of Dublin This year also the Duke of Lancaster set Sail for Spain to regain the Kingdom of Castile to which by Right of his Wife he laid claim to Within a while after several Lords rebeled against the King and were all pardon'd before they came to their Tryals yet notwithstanding the King's Clemency they still kept together and raising great Forces they did not stick to charge the King with several misdemeanours and now the Duke of Lancaster returning for England again Peace was concluded between him and Spain and the King thereof gave him 200000 Nobles towards the defraying of this charges he had been at at whose return the King made him Duke of Aquitain After this the King desiring of the Londoners the Loan of a thousand pounds it was denied him whereupon he seized on their Liberties and dissolved their proper Magistracy turning out their Mayor John Hind and John Shadworth and Henry Wanner their Sheriffs and appointed Sir Edward Dallingredge Warden of the City And about two years after the King having a desire to go for Ireland had a Subsidy granted him four years Truce being then concluded with France but after this he with the Company of the Duke of Lancaster and Earl of Gloucester sailed into France where he espous'd the Lady Isabel Daughter to Charles King of France this Journey besides Losses at Sea cost him 4000 marks At his return from France certain Peers revolted from him making Forces removing such Officers from the King as they thought fit whereupon the Earl of Arundel one of the Rebells had his Head lopt off and the Earl of Gloucester was smothered with Pillows and Feather Beds at Callis and shortly afterwards the King made himself Earl of Chester and created several Dukes and Earls at that time And not long after this the River between Swelston and Harleswood near Bedford stood still and divided it self so that the Bottom remained dry about three miles space And now the King extorting Money and taking up Carriages and other Necessaries intending for Ireland to suppress the Rebells there who had slain Lord Mortimer Lord Lieutenant there And the Duke of Lancaster dying about this time the King seized his
conduct but they refused to go which caused the King with the Prince and other Nobles to march towards them as soon as Piercy Hot-spur discovered the Royal Standard he drew out his Army consisting of about 14000 to try the Fortune of War which at that time proved very averse to him for he and the Earls of Worcester Douglas Sir Richard Vernon Barron of Kinlaton and several others with 200 Esquires and Gentlemen of Cheshire that day or the next loss their Lives with an Incredible number of common Soldiers and on the King's party were slain the Earl of Stafford and ten new Knights all made that morning and many Esquires and Gentlemen and about 500 common Soldiers the Battel ended the King marched to York whither he commanded the Earl of Northumberland to come who obeyed his Command and had pardon of Life but was abridged in Estate Whiles things were thus setling in the North news came that Wales was still in Rebellion so the Clergy at the motion of their Metropolitan granted the King a Subsidy for Maintenance of his Army and William de Wilford also being in the King's Service on the narrow Seas brought some assistance to his Indigencies by taking 40 Prizes laden with Iron Oyl Sope and Rochel Wines to the number of one thousand Tuns And not long after a Parliament being called another Subsidy was granted and the Earl of Northumberland was again restored to his Possessions presently after this came a Troop of Western men who brought to the King three forein Lords and 20 Knights of note Prisoners from Dartmouth where they also slew the Lord of Castile and several of his men which Lord formerly had burnt Plimouth and thinking to have done so here was by these Plebeans put by his purpose for which good Service the King gave them store of Gold And now the King calling Three Parliaments one after another for Money could get none the chief Opposer was Thomas Mowbray Earl Marshal who drew Richard Scroop Archbishop of York into a Conspiracy against the King and the Earl of Westmerland pretending to side with them ensnared them both in his Gin and presented them to the King who caused both their Heads to be struck off although Westmerland had promised them their Lives And now the King began again to pursue the Earl of Northumberland and Lord Bardolf who were supposed privy to Earl Marshals Conspiracy with an Army of 37000 Men whereupon they fled into Scotland the King seeing this took Barwick by battering down a Tower in the Wall with a great Gun the first that was used in England and took Alnwick and all other Castles belonging to the Earl of Northumberland And from hence marching to Wales he expected the like good Fortune there but such a sudded Rage of Waters in Wales came so fast down upon his Army that he was forced to return 50 Waynes laden with Treasure and other Carriages being destroyed by the Rage thereof After this another Parliament being called they granted a Subsidy being rather wearied with the King's Importunity than out of any good Will to him Anno 1407. being the next year after there was so great a Plague in England that in short space it destroyed 30000 in London and multitudes elsewhere in the Realm and the year after was a great Frost that held 15 Weeks All this while Glendour continuing his Rebellion in Wales The Earl of Northumberland and Lord Bardolf leaving Wales into which they had escaped and coming to raise Forces in the North were met and encountred by Sir Thomas Rookby the Sheriff of York-shire who flew the Earl and gave the Lord Bardolf a wound of which he died After this the Duke of Burgundy sending to the King for Aid against the Duke of Orleance had his Request answered and presently after Orleance sending for Aid against Burgandy and promising greater matters than the other it was granted to him also to the great wonder of many and now the Lord Hail Marshal of France laying a Siege to a certain strong place in Gascoign with other Lords and about 4000 Men of Arms were driven from thence by Sir John Blunt with 300 Soldiers and 12 of the Principallest and about 120 Gentlemen were then taken Prisoners but the King lived not to see the Fortune and Carriage of these Wars In this King's Reign through Arch-Bishop Arundells Procurement William Sawtree William Swinderby and William Thorp suffered Martyrdom for their Faith being all worthy Divines This Henry the Fourth was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was the eldest Son of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster by Blaunch his Wife Daughter and Heir to Henry Plantaginet Duke of Lancaster Son to Edmund Sir-named Crouch-back he began his Reign on Munday the 29 day of September Anno 1399 and reigned 13 years 5 months and 19 days and was the 33 sole Monarch of England He died at London of an Apoplexy on Sunday the 20 day of March Anno 1412. and was buried at Canterbury CHAP. XXIII Of King Henry the Fifth commonly called Henry of Monmouth HE was Crowned at Westminster by Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and at his first entrance dismissed all his youthful Companions and made choice of grave men for his Councellors He was wont every day after dinner for the space of an hour to receive Petitions of the oppressed who with great equity he relieved he was so zealous towards the Clergy hating Lollards or Wickliffians that he caused Sir John Old-Castle Lord Cobham who was the cheif that held that opinion then to be Imprisoned but he afterwards escaping for Wales 37 of his Faction as it was then thought to be being taken were all condemned and seven of them viz. Lawrence Redman David Sawtree William James Thomas Brightwell William Haulam Ralph Greenburst and John Schut were burnt and strangled in St. Gyles's Fields after this the King restored the Son of Lord Piercy Hot-Spur to his Blood and Grandfather's Honour of Earl of Northumberland and presently after sent Embassadors to France to demand the Dutchies of Normandy Aquitain Guyen and Anjou but in derision to his Demands the Dauphin of France sent him a Tun of Tennice Balls as Bullets most fit for his tender hands The King disgusted hereat preparing for Warrs the French made the Scots their Friends to invade Englands marches which accordingly they did in such a violent manner that the King scarce knew which Kingdom to begin with first but at length it was concluded for France the Clergy giving a Tenth and the Temporal Lords their Aid of 346 Men at arms and 552 Archers and about some 10 Ships and to keep back the Scots Sir RobertVmsreivil was sent against them who in a Skirmish took 360 of them Prisoners and great spoil The news of the proceedings here in England flying into France Charles the French King sent his Embassadours to England with offer of money and some Territories of France but none of the best and the
to him such persons as he would name to which the King returned Answer that he and his adherents were all Traytors so the Yorkists assailed the Town and flew 48 Nobles Knights and Esquires amongst whom were the Earls of Somerset Northumberland and Stafford and 5000 Common Soldiers and wounded the King in the neck with an Arrow so he was taken Prisoner The next day the Duke of York and Earls of Salisbury and Warwick marched to London with the King and in his name summoned a Parliament by whose Authority the Duke of York was established Protector of England Salisbury Lord Chancelor and Warwick Captain of Callis but it was not long before they were again displaced The French by reason of these intestine Broils took their Advantage making several inroads on the Coasts of England killing the Mayor Bayliffs and several other Officers of Sandwich and burnt Foway and several other Towns in Devonshire Anno 1458 there was a Fray in Fleetstreet between the men of the Court and the inhabitants of the said Street in which Fray the Queens Attorny was slain for which Fact the King committed the Governours of Cliffords Furnivals and Barnards-Inn to Prison and William Taylor Alderman of the Ward and several others were sent to Windsor Castle The year after being 1459 the Science of PRINTING was found out in Germany at Magunce by a Soldier and was brought into England about 12 years after by one William Caxton a Mercer who practized it at St. Peter's Abby in Westminster for a pretty while And now a seeming reconcilement was concluded on between the King with his Lancastrians and the Yorkists but it had not long continuance for the Yorkists under the pretence of some Afronts offered to the Earl of Warwick by some of the King's Servants drew to an head again but their Intentions being discovered by one Andrew Trollop they all thereupon disperced themselves And shortly after a Parliament being called in it were the Duke of York Earl of March Earl of Warwick Earl of Rutland and Earl of Salisbury with certain others all attainted of High-Treason and their whole Estates consiscared but they neither fearing nor regarding their attainder drew out again from the several places whither they were fled and uniting their forces together consisting of about 25000 men they fought the King at Northampton slaying about ten thousand men with several Nobles as Humfry Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Shrewsbury Lord Egremont and others and taking the King himself Prisoner whereupon the Tower was surrendred and the Lord Scales Lieutenant thereof seeking to escape was murthered by Whirry men on the Thames Now a Parliament again being called the Duke of York coming out of Ireland made his Claim to the Crown deriving his pedigree from Lyonell the 3 Son of Edward the III elder Brother of John of Gaunt Father of King Henry the IV and after great debate in the Parliament at length it was concluded that King Henry should possess it during his life and after his Death then the Crown to remain to Richard Duke of York and his Heirs in general tail During these proceedings the Queen with her Son were in the North raising of Forces whither the Duke of York marched to encounter them reposing himself at Sandal Castle expecting more force to come to his aid but the Queen in the mean time coming before the Castle with a small force laying Ambushes on either side of the Hill before the Castle which the Duke not suspecting rushed out upon the Queen's men whom he had no sooner encountred but the Ambushes presently coming out surrounded him by which means the Duke with several of his Complices and Friends as the Earl of Salisbury and the Earl of Rutland a Child of 12 years old who though begging his life on his knees with tears were slain and about 3000 Soldiers Edward Plantaginet Earl of March Son and Heir to the Duke of York hearing of his Father's Death with an Army of 23000 men intended to Fight the Queen's Army but he found imployment by the way for at Mortimer's Cross near Ludlow he was encountred by the Earl of Pembrook and Earl of Ormond to whom he gave a great Overthrow slaying 3800 of them and taking several Prisoners amongst whom was Owen Tuder who had married Catherine Mother to Henry the VI. whose Head was chopped off in the mean time the Queen was gotten as far as St. Albans where the Londoners fearing their Plunder by her Army together with the King and several Nobles gave her Army Battel she giving them the overthrow and slaying two thousand of their men but Edward Earl of March drawing nigh the King and Queen retired into Scotland leaving the Kingdom to Edward whereupon he entered London giving a Period to Henry's Reign which accounted is but till this time although he lived eleven years after This Henry the Sixth was King of England France and Lord of Ireland he was the only Child of King Henry the Fifth by his Queen Catherine Daughter to Charles the VI. King of France His Reign began on Munday the 31 day of August Anno 1422. he reigned 38 years 6 months and 3 days and was the 35 sole Monarch of England he was stabbed to the Heart in the Tower by Crook-back Richard Duke of York afterwards King of England on Monday the twenty day of May Anno Domini 1471 being the 49 of his Age his body was first buried in the Abby of Chartsy in Surry and afterwards removed to Winsor by King Henry the Seventh and after that again removed none knows to what place CHAP. XXV Of King Edward the Fourth KING Edward was Crowned at Westminster but his Carriages towards the Citizens at his first entrance made them repent their forwardness in his behalf against King Henry and hearing of Henry's preparations in the North he marched toward Pontefrack in York-shire giving the Lord Fitzwalter charge of the passage at Ferry Bridg nigh Pontefract where the said Lord and several of his men were slain shortly after the Armies drew into a plain between the Towns of Towton and Saxton the King's Army consisting of 48660 and Henry's of 60000 men the Fight was bloody and continued 10 hours but at last the Lancastrians not able to gain-stand Edward's Forces they betook themselves to their Heels leaving the glory of the day to King Edward there was slain that day being Palm-Sunday the 29 of March several Nobles as Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland John Lord Clifford John Lord Nevil and Leonard Lord Wells and several other persons of Quality to the Number of 357 and in all there was slain about 35091. This doleful News coming to Henry he with his Queen and Son fled into Scotland where they were honourably received by King James to whose Sister not long after the Prince was married and now after these passages in Scotland the Queen sailed into France to seek Aide where she got more men then her Coffers would discharge Edward in the
mean time road Victoriously to London and was again Proclaimed King and a Parliament shortly after being called They disinherited Henry his Queen and Son and about 43 Nobles and others and now the Queen returning into Scotland with her French Fleet and afterwards making for England her Fleet was Scattered by a Tempest so that her Husband and She were left solely to the Aide of the Scots who marching into England as far as the Bishoprick of Durham King Edward prepared to meet them but making an halt at York he sent the Lord Montacute with forces to oppose them who was encountered on Hedgley Moore by the Lords Hungerford Roâ—'s and Sir Ralph Peircy to whom the Lord Montacute gave the foyl taking Sir Ralph Percy and several others being slain and growing proud of this Victory he assail'd King Henry's Camp at Hexham where after great slaughter he took the Duke of Somerset and other three Lords and one Knight which were all beheaded whereupon Henry fled into Scotland and afterwards coming into England in disguise he was taken and having his feet tyed to the stirrups and his guilt spurs taken off his heels he was then committed Prisoner to the Tower of London Shortly after King Edward called a Parliament and Enacted several good Laws especially against pride in Apparrel and now he begins to think of a wife whereupon the Earl of Warwick was sent to sollicite a Marriage between the King and Lady Bona Daughter to Lewes Duke of Savoy and all things being well approved of by the Lady and her Friends the Earl Returned before whose Return the King had set his Affections on the Lady Elizabeth Gray here in England whose Mother was Jaquelline Daughter to Peter Earl of St. Pauls to whom shortly after he was Married The Earl of Warwick took great distast thereat thinking himself hereby abused and endeavoured afterwards to uphold King Henry's Cause drawing to his Assistance some Nobles and Forein Princes and upon these discontents some of the Commons rose under the Command of one Robert Hildern intending to gave seized on York from which place they were beaten back by the Lord Montacute president thereof and their Leader beheaded Yet the Commons not dismai'd hereat chose Henry Lord Fitzhughs Son and Sir Henery Nevil Son to the Lord Latimer but they being but young made choice of Sir John Coniers a valliant Knight and intended their march for London of which the King having notice he made William Lord Herbert Earl of Pembrook General and Sir Richard Herbert his Brother assistant to him And now the Northern forces drawing near Northampton the Lord Stafford and Sir Richard Herbert with 2000 Horse fell in the Rear of them but were repulsed and lost most of their Men afterwards the Armies meeting near Banbury some distast being then taken by the Lord Stafford at the Earl of Pembrook the Kings General he thereupon withdrew his Archers upon which occasion Pembrook lost the field and had 5000 men slain and the Earl with his Brother and other ten Gentlemen were taken and carryed to Banbury and there beheaded After this Victory some Commons under the Leading of Robin of Ridsdale hasten to Grafton the King's Mannour house and there surprized Earl Rivers the Queens Father and his Son John and at Northamton beheaded then and now the King set forth with an Army himself and pitched at Wolny four Miles from Warwick whose Guards were not so vigilant as they should have been the King being at that time animated with some hopes of peace of which the Earl of Warwick taking advantage he entered the King's Camp Treacherously by night and took him prisoner when he never dreamt upon it from whence they conveyd him with easie journys by night to the Castle of Midleham in Yorkshire and there left him to the keeping of George Nevil Arch-Bishop of York Warwicks Brother from whom the King not long after escaped and came to York where the Citizens received him lovingly and so raising an army he past from thence to London not long after this Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells raised 30000 plebeans in Lincolnshire and pitched near Stanford whereupon the King caused the Lord Wells Sir Roberts Father and Sir Thomas Dimmoâ—k his Kinsman to be beheaded which was against the King's Oath and promise to them and then marched to fight Sir Robert who with Sir Thomas Deland were taken Prisoners and Lincolnshire men cast of their Coats and run away whereupon that Battel was called Loss-Coat field there were slain that day about 10000. this Newes made the Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick flye to sea and casting Anchor before the Town of Callis they were there denyed Entrance by the Lord Vanclere who was the Earl of Warwicks Deputy there for which good service he was by King Edward made Captain of Callis and Warwick discharged as a Traytor yet nevertheless he was welcome to the French where the Queen of King Henry at that time was with whom Warwick joyned whose Daughter at that time was betrothed to Prince Edward King Henrys Son and they all sollicited for Forces which was granted and the Earl landing in England with a great Army proclaimed King Henry to whose Aide great store of People flocked the Lord Fawconberge in the West and the Earl of Pembrook in the North doing the like And the Earl of Warwick now taking his March towards London King Edward Commanded his Lords to attend him in the War but several of them disowned his Mandates which he perceiving with some few Nobles in his Company hasted towards Nottingham there to determine what was best to be done but his Foes greatly increasing Bon-fires burning Bells ringing and all the people crying up King Henry for very fear King Edward with his Brother the Duke of Gloucester took shipping at Lyn and sailed into Flanders to Charles Duke of Burgundy and his Queen took Asylum at Westminster where she was delivered of Prince Edward afterwards King of England and at this time several of the Kings Friends took Sanctuary Edward being fled Warwick took King Henry out of the Tower where he was prisoner and Riding in Tryumph through the Streets of London great were the Acclamations of the People crying God save King Henry And now a Parliament being called Edward was declared Traytor and his with all his Adherent's Goods confiscated and the Crown Intayled to the Heirs Males of Henry's body and for default thereof to the Heirs Males of George Duke of Clarence and finally all the Statutes made by King Edward were Abrogated But King Edward having gotten some small Forces of about 12000 men of his Brother in Law the Duke of Burgundy he returned for England as a Subject and proclaimed King Henry deluding the People and so got to York which he making them believe that he came but to look for his own Inheritance surprized and assumed to himself leaving a Garison in it and from hence he marched to Nothingham and so to
Leicester and from thence to Coventry where Warwick lay but durst not Fight him and so to Warwick whither the Duke of Clarence being come he and Edward became Friends and they marching to London where the Geates were set open every one crying King Edward Here Henry was again taken and sent Prisoner to the Tower the Earl of Warwick perceiving how things went found it was no time to be idle and therefore resolved to win or loose all by Battel and so marched towards London as far as Barnet King Edward pitching his Tents at Gladmore near Barnet to oppose him having at this time King Henry with him on Easter day they joyned Battel and Fortune sided with King Edward the Earl of Warwick and Lord Montacute his Brother were slayn and three Lords on King Edward's side and in all on both sides about 10000 besides several Nobles as the Duke of Somerset the Earls of Oxford and Exceter c. fled and took Sanctuary and afterwards proved Broachers of new Plots And now King Edward rid Triumphantly to London having King Henry still with him and about this very time landed Queen Margaret Henry's Wife and her Son Edward in England but hearing of the loss at Barnet field they took Asylum at the Abby of Ceerne to which place the Lords that fled from Barnet repaired who comforted the Queens heart with future hopes here forces repairing to them they flye from place to place and at length fought King Edward at Teuxsbury where three or four of the Chief of them as the Earl of Devonshire and Somersets Brother were slain and 3000 men besides and Prince Edward heir to Henry was taken and several Lords taking Sanctuary at Tewxsbury were nevertheless haled thence and beheaded and it is reported Prince Edward was basely murthered by the Duke of Gloucester and some of King Edwards Servants for speaking somewhat to boldly in the Kings Presence After this Queen Margaret was taken from Sanctuary and carryed Prisoner to Worcester and shortly after from thence to London after this the Lord Fawconberge Son to the Earl of Kent raised a confused Army of 17000 men for the Aide of King Henry but he was quickly curbed and fled to Sea And shortly after King Henry was stabbed to the heart by Crookt-back Richard Duke of Gloucester who as is shewed before was a main Instrument in Prince Edward's Murther it is recorded of King Henry that he had an honest mind a comely personage and was more like a Saint than a King now Queen Margaret being ransomed by her Father went beyond Seas to him and there languished away her dayes And after this all Henrys Friends being either banished or put to Death Edward was then at quiet and calling a Parliament all King Henry's Laws were Abrogated And about this time the Duke of Burgandy sent to desire King Edward's Assistance against King Lewis of France so the King went in Person with as great an Army as ever went out of England but he did Burgundy little good for he concluded a Peace with France on condition that Lewes should pay King Edward 70000 Ducats for his Charges and 50000 to be paid him yearly and that the Dauphin should marry Elizabeth his eldest Daughter and so returned for England About this time one John Huss suffered the flames on Tower hill for the profession of a good Faith and now all things being setled King Edward followed his pleasure and being on his Progress in Warwickshire he chanced to hunt in the Park of one Thomas Burdet Esq and killing store of Deer among the rest a white Buck was killed which Mr. Burdet hearing of he wished the horns in his belly that Councelled the King to kill him for which words he was beheaded at Tiburn And in those catching times a Jest of a Mercer in Cheapside telling his Son if he would ply his Book he should be Heir to the Crown meaning his own house that had that sign cost him his Life After this the Duke of Clarence being falsely Attainted and Condemned by Parliament he was shortly after drowned in a Butt of Malmsy in the Tower And James King of Scots about this time sent into England to dare King Edward to Fight who sent an Army under the Command of his Brother the Duke of Gloucester whereupon the Scots fainted and concluded Peace upon certain conditions and yielded up Barwick into the hands of the English out of whose possession it had been about 21 yeares After this the French breaking the Articles of Peace by the Dauphin's Marriage to Lady Margaret of Austrich Grand Child to the Emperour Frederick the King hereupon intended War against them but was prevented by Death Of those four Concubines King Edward delighted in Jane Shoare was not the least beloved by him This Edward the Fourth was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was Son to Richard Plantaginet Duke of York by his Wife Daughter to Richard Nevil Earl of Salisbury He began his Reign on Monday the fourth day of March Anno 1460. and Reigned 22 years 1 Moneth and 5 dayes and was the 36 Sole Monarch of England He dyed of a Surfeit at Westminster on Friday the 9 day of April Anno 1483 being the 40. year of his Age and 23 of his Reign His body buried at Winsor in the new Chappel whose was foundation himself laid CHAP. XXVI Of King Edward the Fifth THis King was never Crowned for at the very first his Uncle the Duke of Glocester began to think of deposing him drawing to his side the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Hastings they resolve forthwith to remove all the Queen's Friends from the King and to compass their Design they perswade the Queen that her son the King might come to London to his Coronation accompanied only with some few of his friends which she little suspecting what they aimed at easily condiscended unto and now they proceed to the taking of their Prey imprisoning the Lord Rivers the Queens Brother at Northampton they then hasted after the King to Story-Stratford whither he was gone on his way for London and here they made bold in the King's presence to arrest the Lord Richard Woodvile Sir Richard Grey and Sir Thomas Wagham and carried the King and all his company back to Northampton there displacing such of his Servants as they thought fit and putting others whom they pleased in their places Having thus far proceeded in their Design the perfidious Duke of Gloucester took upon himself the Order and Governance of the young King and sent Lord Richard Woodvile and the other two Knights to Pontefract Castle in York-shire where in Conclusion they were beheaded The Queen having notice of these proceedings betook her self with her Children to Sanctuary in Westminster where shortly after the Arch-Bishop of York then Lord Chancelour delivered her the Great Seal but afterwards considering of the Danger he might incur hereby sent for it again And now the Dukes of Gloucester and Buckingham coming to
and 8 moneths He was the 39 Sole Monarch of England he dyed on Sunday the 22 day of April Anno 1508 being in the 24 year of his Reign and about the 52 of his Age and was buried at Weminster in that famous Chappel of his own founding CHAP. XXIX Of King Henry the Eight THis King Henry was Crowned at Westminster by William Warham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and shortly after Empson and Dudly were attainted by Parliament for their Oppressions in Henry the Seventh's time and were beheaded on Tower hill and now the King at the Instigation of Pope Julius the Second sent into France to demand the Dutches Normandy Guyen Anjou and Mayne and being denied them he hereupon joyned Amity with Maximilian the Emperour Ferdinand King of Spain and some other Princes and then sailed for France where he took Terwin ane Tournay by Siege and then Winter approaching he returned for England first making Thomas Wolsey Bishop of Tournay and afterward of Lincoln York Winchester Bath Worcester Hereford Now during the Siege at Terwin the Scots under the Command of their King James the Fourth Henry's Brother in Law entered the Borders of England pretending Truce broken by the killing of Andrew Barton the Scotch Pirate against whom the Lord Howard Earl of Sury Lord Lieutenant of the North went with an Army to whom joyned his Son the Lord Admiral and these at Flodden Field fought the Scots and gave them a great Overthrow killing the King three Bishops two Abbots twelve Earls and seventeen Lords and Knights besides a great number of Gentlemen and about 8000 Soldiers and almost as many taken prisoners About this time a peace was concluded on between the English and French and Lewis the King of France was to marry Lady Mary King Henry's Sister which shortly after he did and within a quarter of a year after dyed and she was married afterwards at Callis to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk upon her return for England her Dowry in France was 30000 Crownes yearly for her Life and 120000 Crowns yearly for five years to the King her Brother About this time Wolsey had a Cardinals Cap sent from Pope Leo and was preferred by the King to the place of Lord Chancelor Anno 1517. The Thames was so hard frozen that Men with Horses and Carts might pass betwixt Lambeth and Westminster and this same year was the fifth Lattern Council held being the seventeenth General Council Julius the second and Leo the ten being Popes And now Strangers growing insolent in London a great Tumult thereupon under the Conduct of one John Lincoln did rise on May Eve for which Uproar he was hanged and 400 Boyes and 11 Women were led through the City to Westminster with halters about their Necks in their Shirts but were pardoned by the King And the new King of France paying to King Henry 600000 Crowns in twelve years and under some other certain Conditions had Tournay redelivered to him and Peace was Concluded although Charles the Emperor came in person into England to diswade the King from it but this peace continued not long for the French breaking Truce as was pretended the King thereupon procured several Princes to take the Emperour's part against France and prepared himself for the War causing a general Muster to be made of all able men from 16 years and upwards in every Hamlet Villiage Burrough City and Shire in England and in the mean time the Emperour coming into England again he then agreed to stay for and to take Lady Mary King Henry's Daughter to Wife and then he returned having for his Conduct the Earl of Surry Lord Admiral who at that time wan Morlois and shortly after Returning to France again won and burnt several Towns and then returned to England with great Booty and during these proceedings the Earl of Shrewsbury went against the Duke of Albany who was then made Governor of Scotland and a Truce was concluded on but the Lord Admiral after his Return from France being made Lord Lieutenant of the North notwithstanding the said Truce entered Scotland doing great harm and returned with great Booty Upon the Account of these Wars a Parliament being called by Wolsey's procurement the half of all Spiritual Livings were granted to the King for five years and the Tenth part of temporal Substance and about this time Christian King of Denmark landed in England with his Queen and after 22 dayes Royal Entertainment he Returned to Flanders where he remained as a banished man And now the King sent an Army under the Command of Charles Brandon Duke Suffolk into France who after severral places won and Winter approaching returned honourably for England but the Duke of Albany and the Lord Lieutenant of the North being still at variance at the Mediation of Margaret Queen of Scotland King Henrys Sister together with Wolseys working with the King at length Peace was concluded for a time both with Scotland and France after this several Commotions rose amongst the Commons about the payment of the Subside which when the King heard he pardoned the Offenders and remitted the payment of the Subsidy and now Wolsey began to alienate the King's heart from the Emperour and caused him to with-hold Pay from the Duke of Burbon which was the cause of the French King's Captivity of Burbon's March to Rome where he entered the City in one day and caused Pope Clement and 23 Cardinalls to take the Castle of Angelo for their Refuge where they were maugre all the pushes of the Pope's Leaden Bulls and Curses with Bell Book and Candle-light besieged six Moneths for which offence the Duke of Burbon in the Parliament of France was condemned of Treason And during these Broyles at Rome there arose great Troubles in Ireland but they were quickly laid again by Thomas Lord Howard Earl of Surry Lord Lieutennant of that Kingdom who being recalled into England upon some other Service the Earl of Ossâ—ry was made Deputy and shortly after being displaced Kilder succeeded him against whom Wolsey was a strong Enemy he thereby gained the King's displeasure for his malepartness therein The year 1527 fell such abundance of Rain in November December and January that the Corn fields Pastures and Cattel were thereby destroyed then was it dry till the 12 of April and then Rain again every day and night till the 3 of June following which caused such a Famine in London and all England over that many dyed for want of Succour And now the King begins to charge the Emperour with a promise of Marriage to Lady Mary afterwards our Queen Mary but her Legitimation was by him much questioned as being begotten on his Brother Arthur's Wife hereupon the King grew into dislike of his Marriage and disclaimed his Contract it being the Opinion of some six Forein Universities to be an unlawful Marriage and for this cause Cardinal Campius came into England with whom was joined Cardinal Wolsey in Commission with power to erect a Court to
hear the King's Cause pleaded which accordingly was done and when Sentence of Divorcement should have been according to the King's expectation pronounced Campius then caused Proclamation to be made and adjourned the Court and referred the Sentence to the Pope The King highly displeased hereat sent Dr. Cranmer and some others to the Pope to dispute the unlawfulness of the Marriage who gave Cornelius Agrippa the grand Rabbi in those days such Satisfaction in this point so that none of the Pope's Disputants durst encounter the Doctor about it whereupon a Parliament being called by the King all persons were forbidden to appeal or make payment to Rome and further the King's Marriage with the Lady Catherine of Spain by the said Parliament was Dissolved Upon these proceedings in England the Pope caused his Curse to be set up at Dunkirk in Flanders against the King and pronounced the Marriage Lawful but the King regarded it not for hereby the Pope lost his Supremancy in England and Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas Moore their Heads for standing for it And now the King married the Lady Ann Bullin Daughter to Viscount Rochford which Lady was accounted a Lutheran and Cardinal Wolsey for his dislike of this Marriage and Adjourning of the Court as is before shewed fell into the Kings Displeasure and several Articles being exhibited against him in Parliament as that he used to write in his Letters I and my King and had caused the Cardinals Cap to be stamped on the Kings Coyn and several other grand Offences hereupon he lost all his Dignities and his House and Furniture were seized and the Earl of Northumberland was sent to bring him up to answer his Charge who took him at Cawood Castle about seven miles from York and as he was on his Journy to London at Leicester Abby he ended his dayes by taking an over much quantity of an Italian Confection for breaking Wind from his Stomach as Report went He is said to have suppressed 40 Monasterys for the raising his two Colledges in Oxford and Ipswich and to have laid by 12 Barrels full of Gold and Silver to serve the Pope in his Wars About this time Elizabeth Barton called the holy Maid of Kent was reported by those who feared the Downfall of Babel to have Revelations from Heaven among which one was That if the King proceeded in his Second Marriage he should not Reign a Moneth to an end but the Mouth of this Oracle was quickly stopt for herself with seven of her Disciples were all execued at Tyburn for Treason And now the Pope seeing his Revenue here in England likely to go to wrack began to write and stir up James the Fifth King of Scots against King Henry his Uncle promising the Crown of England to those that could win it About this time Queen Ann was deliver'd of the Princess Elizabeth afterwards Queen of England and the next year after of a Dead Child and not long after she was sent to the Tower and falsely accused of Adultery and Incest for which she with her Brother the Lord Rochford and Norris Weston and Brierton gentlemen of the Privy Chamber together with one Marks all lost their Heads and the next day after Queen Ann's Death the King married the Lady Jane Seymer And now began the Lord Cromwells rising who by birth was a Black Smyth's Son and had been Cardinal Wolsey's Soliciter he was first made Master of the King's Jewel-house Baron of Oakham in Rutlandshire then Knight of the Garter after that Earl of Essex and then Lord high Chamberlain and lastly the King's Vicar general he was the Sole cause of the demolishing of Monasteryes and the pulling down of Images Idols and Shrines in the Churches of England but this Pillar of the Church was undermined by Stephen Gardener that Murtherer of Protestants in Queen Mary's dayes and so by his means being brought into Dislike with the King at length he was beheaded Now several Commotions arose in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire occasioned by the demolishing of Abbys the Commons being incited thereto by the Monks who had lost their Roast-meat and took ill with Courser Fair but after several propositions made by the Commons to the King and Answers thereunto having Pardon granted they threw down their Arms but several of the Monks rising again with several persons of Quality as the Lord Darcy Lord Hussye Sir Robert Constable Sir Thomas Percy Sir Francis Biggot Sir Stephen Hambleton Sir John Bulmer the Abbot of Fountains Abbot of Gervaulx Abbot of Rivax and Prior of Burlington were afterwards taken and suffered Death and now the King having been two years a Widower since the death of Queen Jane who dyed in Child-Bed of Edward the Sixt afterwards King he was married to the Lady Ann of Cleve but about half a year after through Gardiner's false Suguestions was by Parliament divorsed from her and not long after he Married Catherine Howard Daughter to Edward Brother to Thomas Duke of Norfolk but about 6 Moneths after her Marriage she was condemned of Adultery and lost her Head at Tower Hill and with her the Lady Jane Rochford and several others that year as Margaret the Countess of Salisbury Lord Grey Lord Dacres Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpeper and now the King married the Lady Katherin Parr Wife to the Lord Lattimer And about this time it was enacted by Parliament to be high Treason either to deny the Oath of the King's Supremacy or to acknowledg the Pope and though by this the Discipline of the Church was altered yet little of Doctrine was changed for it was made heresie and death to deny any of the Six Articles following as 1. That after the speaking of the words of Consecration by the Priest the Real and Natural Body and Blood of Christ as he was Conceived and Crucified was in the Sacrament and no other substance 2. That the Communion in both kinds is not necessary to Salvation 3. That Priests may not marry 4. That Vows of Chastity ought to be observed by the Laws of God 5. That private Masses ought to be continued and 6. That Auricular Confession is necessary and expedient to be retained in the Church of God Upon the denial of these six Articles several People suffered the Flames Anno 1541. The King took upon him the Title of King of Ireland and the same year sent an Army against the Scots under the Command of the Duke of Norfolk who when he came to Fight the Scots they willingly lost the day and suffered themselves to be taken Prisoners out of disdain to their Leader Oliver St. Clere for grief whereof their King James the fifth dyed there was at this time 21 men of Account taken Prisoners and committed to the Tower of London but shortly after these Prisoners were released again and a Peace for 10 years concluded upon the promise of a Marriage with the Lady Mary King James his only Child and Prince Edward Henry's Son and Heir afterwards King by the name
Henry the Fifth for suppression of the Scriptures in English should be all repealed and Images all thrown out of the Churches throughout the Realm and the Church Service to be read in English and the Sacrament exhibited in both kinds and the other old Ceremonies were abolished and all those that made opposition were either imprisoned or deprived of their places Hereupon Tumults arose in Devonshire and Cornwal doing much harm especially to the City of Exceter which City for its Loyalty had the Mannour of Exilond not after bestowed upon it by the King and Pardon was granted to the Rebells yet notwithstanding they persisted in their Rebellion and 4 times being fought by the Lord Russel and each time worsted yet they still made head again till at length their Ring-Leaders were taken and Executed At this time also the Mayor of Bodmyn was Hanged and a Millers Man who took upon him his Master's name and cause when seeing himself likely to suffer for it thencryedout That he was but the Miller's Man well said Sir Anthony Kingston Thou canst never do thy Master better Service than to hang for him No sooner were these Troubles quelled but one Robert Ket moved about 20000 Commons in Norfolk to a Rebellion taking the City of Norwich in which place the Lord Dudly shortly after caused 60 of them to be executed and afterwards overthrew their Army and took Ket their Leader who was hanged up in Chains upon the Top of the Castle of Norwich and 9 of his Companions hanged in the Oak of Reformation a Tree in which Ket used to sit as Judge to determine of their intended Reformation and Proceedings the great occasion of these Commotions in several Counties in England was against Inclosures and taking up of wast Grounds which was then coming into Fashion for they disparked a great many Parks and other inclosed Grounds whereupon several of them were slain in the Quarrel the Plebeans also at Seymer near Scarborough in York-shire rose also under the Conduct one William Ombler a Yeoman there Thomas Dale a Parish Clerk and one Stephenson the Post but the King sending down his Pardon the Commons left their Leader to be led to York where they were Executed But now began greater Sorrows for the King 's two Uncles the Lord Protector and Lord Admiral falling at Variance about their Wives who should take place it proved unlucky to them both for the Lord Admiral was afterwards attainted of some Treasonable Articles as was supposed by his Brother the Protector 's procurement and was beheaded at Tower-hill and not many years after the Protector himself being fallen into dislike among the Lords at the same place received the same Doom and during these unhappy proceedings the English were quite driven out of Scotland and the French had sought to recover Bulloin but they were so bravely withstood by vallor of one Carter an English Soldier that 15 Waggons went loaded away with their slain and they afterwards attempting the Islands of Gernsie and Jersie they were there also forced to desist with the loss of a thousand men And now the King's Death began to approach he having taken the Death of the Protector his Uncle to Heart and before he died he ordained the Lady Jane Daughter to Henry Duke of Suffolk lately married to Guilford Lord Dudly to succeed him in the Kingdom Notwithstanding the Statute made for the Succession of his Fathers Children Anno 1552 about 7 miles from Oxford at a Town called Middleton a Woman brought forth a Child which had two perfect Bodies from the Navel upwards which were so conjoined together at the Navel that when they were laid out at length one Head and Body was East and the other West and the Leggs of both the Bodies were joined together in the midst they were Female Children and lived 18 days This Edward the Sixth was King of England France and Ireland he was the only Son of King Henry the Eight by Jane his Queen Daughter to John Seimer Knight He began his Reign on Thursday the 28 day of January Anno 1546 he reigned 6 years 5 months and 8 days and was the 41 sole Monarch of England He died of a Consumption of the Lungs on Thursday the 6 day of July Anno 1553 being in the 7 year of his Reign and about the 16 of his Age his Body was buried at Westminster CHAP. XXXI Of Queen Mary AFter the Death of King Edward the Lords of the Council caused Lady Jane Guilford to be Proclaimed Queen Lady Mary hearing of these proceedings writ to the Lords to acquaint them with her Title to the Crown but they regarded it not alledging the divorce of her Mother hereupon she betook her self to Fremingham Castle to which place the Suffolk men repaired and promised their Aid Provided she would not alter the Religion Established in her Brother's days to which Request she willingly condescended but afterwards upon their Petition to her after she had got the power in her own hands for performance of her Promise she dismissed them with rough Answers And now several men of Account repaired to her and Proclaimed her Queen at Norwich the Lords at London having notice hereof sent the Earl of Northumberland with an Army against her but Queen Maries Forces still encreasing she was Proclaimed Queen in Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire Northampton-shire and the Lords now began to grow fearful procured Dr. Ridly Bishop of London to maintain Lady Jane's cause in his Sermon at Paul's Cross but this working no effect they forthwith Proclaimed Queen Mary and so the poor distressed Earl of Northumberland being forsaken by his Soldiers for want of an Harrold at Cambridge proclaimed Queen Mary himself but notwithstanding shortly after lost his head although he had renounced his Religion in hope of Pardon with him suffered Sir John Gates and Sir Thomas Palmer and not long after them the Lord Guilford and Lady Jane his Wife a Princess for her Wisdom and Learning worthy of Immortal Fame It is reported that Morgan who gave Sentence of Death upon her fell afterwards into Madness always crying out Take away the Lady JANE from him Now the Queen released the Duke of Suffolk from his Imprisonment but he afterwards seeking to withstand the Queen's Marriage was betrayed by one Vnderwood his Servant and himself with his Brother Thomas Lord Gray were Beheaded and several worthy Bishops as Cranmer Ridly Story Coverdale Hooper c. and all married Priests were displaced and Romanists such as Bonner Gardiner Day Wesie Heath c. were put in their places Sir Thomas Wyat now with a great Power in Kent sought to withstand the Queen's Marriage and to have placed better Councellors about her and thinking to have enter'd over at London-Bridg was there stopt so spoiling Gardiner's the Bishopof Winchester's House he returned and got over the River of Thames at Kingston and intended to have entered the City of London at Ludgate but being there withstood upon his return at Temple-Bar
for this good Service with a thousand pounds At this time the King with his Brother the Duke of York were at Callis ready to have wasted over if this business of Sir George Booths had taken effect And now Lambert began to harbour some conceptions of assuming to himself the Government Oliver having chalked him out the way and so turned out the Rump Parliament again for so the people called this Fragment of the old Parliament and then erected a New-nothing of his own called a Committee of Safety all this made well still for the King's Cause and now Lambert takes his March into the North as far as Newcastle intending to Fight General Monk and so become sole Lord and Master of all but when he came there his men were unwilling to Ingage and in the mean time the Rump had gotten together again seven times a worse Devil then before and dissolved his Committee of Safety and within a short space they inticed all his Soldiers to desert and leave him so that he was left to shift for himself And the Rump now invited General Monk to March with his Army to London which accordingly he did and was received with much joy but he was no sooner come but the Rump set him on work to put some Violences upon the City which he with great danger and peril performed this gave the Citizens great occasion to think That he from whom they expected so much good would prove their Ruin but he soon gave them proofs of the contrary by drawing his Troops into the City in the quality of a Friend and declaring himself for a free Parliament which revived their hearts His first business was to restore the secluded Members to their places in the House of Commons upon which the Assembly dissolved it self and Writs were Issued out for a new Parliament but with such reservation that people were doubtful what the Event would prove for no Recusant Cavallier nor Cavalleir's Son was to sit in the Parliament This healing Parliament for so it was called presently after they were set began to vote for the King and great Debates there were about it but at length it was carry'd for the King and so the States Arms were pulled down every where and the Kings Arms set up and his Majesty on Tuesday the 8 day of May Anno 1660. was proclaimed King at Whitehall-gate and in the City with great Pomp Bells ringing Bonefires burning and the Conduits flowing with wine as the Peoples hearts did with gladness And now News was carryed and Commissioners were sent to the King to desire his return to his Kingdoms and Crown he being then at Breda in Holland shortly after which he prepared for England and on the 29 day of May 1660. landed at Dover accompanied with his two Brothers James Duke of York and Henry Duke of Gloucester and some Lords and Gentlemen of his Attendance he was met by General Monk and other Nobles and the General kneeling down upon the ground the King took him up and dignified him with the George and Garter himself putting the George about the Generals Neck and the Dukes of York and Gloucester tying on the Garter and so marching to Black Heath in Kent his Majesty was attended on from thence by the Lord Monk's Army all armed and Swords drawn and the Nobles and Gentry in Cloth of Silver and other rich Apparrel and the Lord Mayor of London and Aldermen and a great Number of Cittizens in Velvet Coats and Gold Chains about their Necks and so in a most glorious manner he was conducted through London to Whitehall and that night several Bonfires were made which made the night shine like another day but that at Westminster was most remarkable where the Effigies of Oliver Cromwell was set up upon a Pole with the Common Wealth 's Arms an hour or two and then cast down into the fire and burnt And now the Parliament being infinitely Satisfied with the King 's happy Arrival did order that a Bill should be prepared for keeping a perpetuall Aniversary for a day of Thanksgiving to God for his great Mercy and Blessing to these Nations in the happy Resturation of his Majesty and that the 29 day of May should be set appart every year for that purpose And now began the Judgements of God to overtake many of those Capital Traitors whose hands had been deeply Imbrewed in the late King's blood and in October following 26 of the them were found guily of high Treason and nine of them were executed the same Month to wit Thomas Harrison Adrian Scroope John Carew John Jones Gregory Clement Thomas Scot John Cooke Hugh Peters and Daniel Axtell so that though divine Vengeance hath many times Leaden feet yet when it comes it hath Iron hands no sooner scarce was the King restored to his Crown but his chiefest care was to restore the Church to its purity of worship and so Bishops were again setled in every Diocess and the Common Prayer restored And now Mary Princess of Orange being come over to visit the King her Brother fell sick of the small pox and dyed which was no little grief to the King In January after the King was restored to his Kingdoms one Venner a wine Cooper with his Phanatick Proselytes Rebelled and with a desperate Intention sought to destroy all those that were not of their Opinion killing a man in Pauls Church-yard and an Head-borough in Beach Lane and after other Mischiefs done they marched into Cane-wood and about 3 days after returned and fell desperately upon the City and being opposed 22 of the Kings Liege People were slain and 22 of them and the rest with much ado were taken and dispersed and Venner their Leader with 11 more of them were executed in several places in the City And upon the 30 day of this same Moneth the Carkasses of Oliver Cromwell John Bradshaw and Henry Ireton were digged up out of their Graves and were drawn on Hurdles to Tyburn and there hanged and their Carkases being buried under the Gallows their heads were choped off and were fixed upon Poles and set up upon Westminster Hall not long after this dyed the most prudent Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester the King's Brother to the great grief of all true English men and upon the 23 day of Aprill Anno 1661 being St. George's day his Majesty King Charles the Second was Crowned at Westminster with great Splendor and Solemnity having the day before made a Magnificent passage from the Tower through the City of London to Whitehall And now by God's blessing having proceeded so far as the Title of this Epitomy makes mention I shall here Conclude with Saint Peter Fear God and Honour the King And so God grant King Charles the Second a long and happy Reign And he that will not say Amen with me Lord let Hugh Peter's Lot his portion be FINIS A Table of the Kings A Catalogue of the British Kings and Princes that opposed the Conquest and