Maud the Empress the Oath of Allegiance which the people had taken to her was countenanced by very few at his Coronation yet such is the futality of conspiring against a setled Government that divers Lords having the Empress of their side to justisie and Scotland without which no Rebellion can prosper in England to assist them several Castles to secure them a general discontent to second them all England in a combustion to advantage them were yet strangely suppressed by the Usurper their Castles dismantled their Children disinherited their heads taken off no less then 3000. Families undone in their cause the Empress Maud is streightned at Oxford and the whole combination dispersed King Steven dying quietly in his Bed § 6. Upon Stevens death King Henry the Second the right Heir is established upon the Throne but troubled first with the Welsh who cunningly invited all the Male-contents of England to their inaccessible Mountaines where his Majesty no sooner sheweth his Sword but they desert their Leaders who are utterly ruined and their Country made Tributary to England And then by Robert Earle of Leicester who thought to have surprized the Generals at their own houses and his Majesty at Court when poor man he was overthrown himself and though afterward he was furnished by the French King who waiâ—ed all opportunities to invade England with an Army yet he perished and 12000. men with him as did Biggot and Ferris who tried the old way of Scotland in the head of 16000. Scots who with all their Confederates threw themselves upon the Kings mercy § 7. In the year 1189. Richard the First succeeding his Father with the consent and applanse of all his people had you some desperadoes who would teach the World what providence alwaies secures Government and what disasters and mischiefes attend Rebellion for proud Long shorope Bishop of Ely in the Kings absence who was now deep in the Holy Warr made a faction in the Kingdome entertained all the discontented complaints of ill Councellors promiseth liberty and 〈…〉 to the people sets up for the Pope and Religion is opposed by the Lord St. John trepanned by two Women banished his native Country derided by the French and comes to a miserable end § 8. Anno 1199. King John upon Richards death usurped the Crown yet none durst contradict him dispossessed Arthur yet none durst say to him What dost thou peoples business being the performance of their own duties rather then discourses of other mens Titles The English more troubled with his Tyranny 〈…〉 his Usurpation suborne the Welsh and Irish to perplex him as the embroyling of Ireland or Scotland is the surest way to gain England the plot is discovered to him he sends his own Courtiers to ripen it they discover to him all the methods steps and proceedings of it so that he surprized the Welsh putteth 3000. of them to the Sword taketh 28. Pledges of the best Families among them for their good behaviour for the future with whom upon their second Revolt he was so angry that the day he heard of it he would not dine untill the 28. pledges were hanged before his face But the Barons forsooth stand for the Liberty of the Subjects assert the ancient Franchises of England make a general party debauch the whole Nation secure all the stronge Holds engross all the Treasure draw over the French King to their party yet the odious weak King John so sacred a thing is Soveraignty in the meanest person recovereth their Castles excommunicates their persons layeth wast their Estates undoeth their adherents cutteth off their posterity and makes them wander up and down poor and destitute exiles in the Earth § 9. Anno 1216. King Henry the Thrid though a Child had that success against Rebells that were not that sin a sin of Witchcraft no such thing as treason would ever shew its self in the world for although the Child could not secure the government to weak he was yet the Government protected the Child so sacred that is Lewis the Fair King of France indeed as it was his interest set up some Lords against this Child viz. the Bishops of Winchester Salisbury and Chester the Earles of Salisbury Ferrers and Albemarle who bore great sway in the Kingdome stopped Trading were favoured by the Pope yet they and their French Auxiliaries were cooped up in Lincoln before which City the Kings Forces doubling their Ensignes appeared twice more then they were awed the besieged brought to an humble submission to the Kings mercy who at that time degraded 18. Barons 300. Knights ruined 6000. Families who were sad instances of the miserable event and issue of Rebelsion and treason King Henry disposeth of Barhainstead Castle which belonged to the Duke of Cornwall to a Dutchman whereupon the Duke in revenge consults with the Earle Marshall the Earles of Chester Glou ester Hereford and Warwicke who declare for their Liberties the great Charter and the Charter of the Forrest with whom some great Officers lately displaced joyne themselves they gain the whole Kingdome win over all the people declare against evil Counsellors yet the King providence still appearing in the behalf of that great Ordinance of God sends for a few Poutovins Summons a Parliament at Oxford to which the Lords refuse to come and another at Winchester whither they will not come neither they are proclaimed Out-lawes their Estates are seized the Earle Marshall is trepanned into Ireland to save his own stake and there circumvented and slain the other Lords are won over by the Bishops with money the Earle of Pembrook is dispossessed of his Estate money is raised by force the King put by the peevishness of his Subjects upon rigour tyranny and strange Levies so that 4000. Families are undone The great Earle of Leicester with other Lords declare for the Liberty of the Subject indeed they prevaile a little against the King but at last the Earles of Gloucester and Leicester fall out the Rebells are divided the Earle of Leicester and 7000. of his Followers fall at a pitch battel near Evesham his Sons flee the Kingdome his Estate is confiscated all his complices undone and most of the Rebellious Barons disinherited and the whole Kingdome desolate § 10. King Henry is dead his Son Edward is absent in the Holy Land Leolin Prince of Wales disputes his Homage but see how his dear Lady is taken by the English and he glad to submit for her sake upon any termes after her death he revolteth again goeth on and prospereth untill the Earle of Pembroke slew him before his own House at Bere Castle and a Common Souldier brought his Head to the King who Crowned it with Ivy and set it upon the Tower of London And not long after his brother David is taken in Wales and judged in England to that ignominious death that Traytors usually come to And as alwaies Subjects lose and Princes gain by Rebellion all Wales was
for that purpose provided and then to fall back three strides and stand the Northern men in the mean time plyed their Bowes till all their Sheaves were empty but their Arrowes fell short of the Enemy threescore yards doing them little and themselves a great deale of harm for their Arrowes being spent and coming to hand blowes their own Arrowes sticking in the ground galled their shins and pierced their feet ten houres the Battle continued wherein fell 36000. Rebels among whom were the Earle of Northumberland the Lords Beaumont Gray Dacres Welts c. the Earle of Devonshire only surviving to an execution whom the Earle of Oxford the Duke of Sommerset followed his Son and the Earle of Pembrooke living beyond Sea in great misery as little better then Vagabonds their Estates and Lands with the possessions of 6000. of their Followers who are now undone being divided among King Edwards Followers Yet a while after all this is forgot and the people are up in Yorkeshire for the breach of a Custome to give the people of St. Leonards in York some quantitie of grain and the Northamptonshire men for Liberty the Captain of the one party Robert Huldorne is beheaded and the other is boyled in an hot Cauldron the Lord Wells and Sir Tho. Dymock are executed 10000. Rebells are slain Sir Rob. VVells their Leader is hanged the Earle of VVarwick flyeth for it and at last the Usurper Edward was glad to be a Vagabond in France and afterwards he and his Rival Henry both by turnes suffered the vengeance due to treason and Rebellion the great Earle of VVarwick is slain with many more Rebells to the number of 16000. who are signal Monitors to late Posterity to study to be quiet and to follow their own business for why should they meddle to their hurt Queen Margaret is taken Prisoner her Son Edward was murthered the Duke of Sommerset is beheaded Fauconbridge the Pyrat after his dangerous tumult about London in the head of 17000. and his Captaines Spicing and Quintine that assailed Algate and Bishopsgate were hanged drawn and quartered and their heads placed on Poles upon those Gates and by a Commission of Oyer and Terminer many both in Essex and Kent were arraigned and condemned for this Rebellion and more fined the Arch-Bishop of York was kept close Prisoner to his dying day as were the Earles of Oxford Pembroke and Richmond whose Ladies begged their bread while their Estates were disposed to King Edwards Courtiers the Duke of Exeter being reduced to that penury that he run by the Duke of Burgundies Coach begging his Bread for Gods sake and was found dead upon the shore of Dover Thus bloody and deceitful men lived not out half their dayes they love mischief and it happeneth unto them they hated peace and it is far from them § 16. Well! Richard Duke of Glocester after his Brothers death aspires to the Crown to that purpose procures himself made Protector dismisseth his Nephew Edw. 5th Guard removeth from him his faithfull friends and kinsmen gets his Brothers out of the Sanctuary contriveth it so that the young Princes should be declared and preached Bastards that the Lords of the Counsel should Petition him considering the necessities of the Kingdome by reason of the late misgovernment to take upon him the administration of the Soveraignty that the Cities pulse should be felt by a long Speech of the Duke of Buckingham and upon their sullenness and silence some of Richards servants in the croud should cry King Richard King Richard that himself should be married the Relict of Prince Edward Henry the 6th Son and with his Queen Crowned very solemnly murthereth the two Princes makes love to the Lady Elizabeth the Rightfull Heire of the Crown and flourisheth Men seeing this oppression and violent perverting of judgment and justice in this Province marvelled at the matter but he that was higher then the highest regardeth and there be higher then they for this prosperous Usurper never had a quiet mind but was troubled with fearfull dreames the King of France rejects his Embassadours the Duke of Buckingham who set him up plotteth with Bishop Morton of Ely House to depose him The Earle of Richmond afterward K. H. the 7th is set up by the French and Welch landeth at Milford Haven the Earles of Pembrooke and Shrewsbury joyne with him the Lord Stanley secretly favoureth him as Sir Jo. Savage Sir Simon Digby and others did more openly at Bosworth he meets King Richard where the Earle of Northumberland deserted him the Duke over-powers him 6000. of his followers dye upon the place and himselfe left dead and naked in the Field untill a Pursivant at Armes brought him behind him like a Calfe his Head and Armes hanging down one side of the Horse and his Legges on the other to the Gray-friersChurch within the Town of Leicester where he lay a miserable Spectacle of the sad issue of Treason and Rebellion untill for pitty the Friers buried him his Agents coming all to a like shamefull end as Sir James Tyrrel who was executed Miles Forrest rolled alive James Dighton lived and dyed unpittied the great Duke of Buckingham who raised him was beheaded by him and Bannister who betrayed him to Richard was afterwards hanged whose eldest Son hanged himself his youngest Son was drowned and his Daughter smitten with a Leprosy because sentence against evil doers is not executed speedily therefore the heart of the Sons of Men is fully set in them to do evil though sinners do evil an hundred times and their days be prolonged it shall not be well with the wicked neither shall they prolong their dayes which are as a shadow because they feared not before God § 17. Anno 1485. The Usurper thus suppressed Treason and Rebellion thus avenged King Henry by Conquest by marriage by choice setled upon his Throne with a strong Guard about him never known before in England some discontents appeared in the North where the Lord Lovell was in the Head of an Army before the King was aware but upon Proclamation of Pardon the Rebels disperse and Lovell with his Complices flie for their Lives which they afterwards loose shamefully upon Tower-Hill the place of Execution Not long after a Priest named Symond sets up one Lambert Symnel for Edward Earle of VVarwicke who was lately escaped out of Prison and pretends him King of England he is countenanced in Ireland encouraged by the Lady Margaret Countess of Burgoign and assisted by an Army under the Earle of Lincolne but what came of this Plot why the true Earle of VVarwicke was shewed abroad the Earle of Lincolne and many Lords are slaine at Stokes 500. Families are undone by this Treason and the King more firmly established A Subsidy is granted the King in the 4th year of his Reign towards his French Warres and it was agreed that every Man should pay the tenth penny of his goods the Northern Men refuse to pay it the
part of its glory renown that it provides best for Government and obedience for the security of Princes and the peace of the people of any perswasion under Heaven is the Reverend person instanced in many of its Theorems and principles especially Rom. 13. a Pet. 2. to which I had my replies ready from the several discourses in justification of the late War and the Kings death still extant and still someting mens dangerous and discontented thoughts especially the sermons before the Parliament from 1641. to 1649. 3. The third and so much the more cogent argument as Fear is more prevailing then Conscience and a care of our selves of more force with us then a sense of our duty was the dreadful event of all attempts against Government mentioned in Holy Scripture which the good man urged with much earnestness and power As Had Zimri peace that flew his Master Can a man touch the Lords Annointed and be guiltless My Son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them who are given to change for their calamity shall arise suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both Whosoever loveth Rebellion a cruel Messenger shall be sent unto him Curse not the King no not in thy thought for a Bird of the air shall carry the voice and that which hath wings shall tell the matter The terrour of which words was yet much allayed by the immunity and indulgence we already had and might alwaies expect only one day considering with my self that the events and issues of things in the World were exactly correspondent with the Prophecies and predictions in the Scripture that Heaven and Earth might pass away and the Government of the Creation be altered and not one jot or title of the Word of God should fall to the ground I resumed the last argument examined those sayings of Scriptures aforementioned comparing them with what happened upon that occasion in the World and particularly recollected such Memoires and observations of that nature as occurred in the English Nation from the time of William the Conquerer to our Age out of which to my great astonishment I gathered this great Conclusion which I think it the interest of this present age and posterity to take notice of that as the Scriptures have foretold some 3000. years Since so we find it true in every age that Government is so secured by the ordinance and providence of God that all attempts against it have come to nought and all open and secret conspiraties and plots have had only this remarkable issue That they ended in the â—â— ine of those that were engaged in them § 1. It is now near 600. since the Government and Monarchy of this Kingdome was after the barbarousness of the Brittains and Romans the confusion and unsettledness of the Saxons the Incursions and Intervalls of the Danes setled upon the Foundation it now stands upon by William Duke of Normandy In the year 1074. Edgar Æthelin King Harolds Son with his Mother Agatha and his two Sisters Margaret and Christine all of the Blood Royal retyred in discontent to Scotland Our ancient and most desperate enemy followed by the great Earles Edwyn and Morchor his Uncles the two Arch-Bishops Stigand and Aldred and many other Lords where first by alliance with the King of Scots who married Margaret 2. By a correspondence with the Danes they procured an invasion that made the North for 60. miles desolate 3. And by their Agents in England raised Insurrections in Exceter Oxford the Isle of Ely the issue of which notwithstanding the dangerous combination was first the ruine of the King of Scots who submitted to King William's mercy 2. The Imprisoument of Edgar and his Lords during the Kings pleasure and the settlement of the Government by the Curfeau bell the Law against the peoples Armes and the provision against the Clergies temporal Jurisdiction § 2. But restless discontent notwithstanding those dreadful examples foregoing of the ill success of Rebellion goeth ou for the year 1079. Waltheoff Earle of Northumberland with the Earls of Bologn Norfolk and Hereford with the King of Scotland and the Princes of Wales whom the Kings of Denmark and Ireland asisted with 265. sail of Ships contrived a most dangerous plot to seize the Kings Castles and Sea-Towns while the King was engaged in the Siege of Dole in France a conspiracy that threatned another change when behold Lanfrank to whom Waltheoff had communicated the design discovereth the whole to the King who prevented their uniting and engaging them one by one overcame them all putting Waltheoff to death sequestring imprisoning banishing all the rest Who are observed never after to prosper in any thing they undertook § 3. In the year 1087. King William leaving his Dukedome to his eldest Son Robert and his Kingdome to his youngest Son William Robert making use of the Bishop of Bayeux and many other Lords grudges against his Brothers Government especially his Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Lanfranke with their assistance surprizeth the North as furthest from Loudon divides the Kings Councel raiseth some disturbances in the South and West thereby dist acting the King so that he knew not where to begin nor where to turn himself the King having the Arch-Bishop and the Bishop of Winchester of his side and obliging his people by some Acts of grace defeated all the Rebells made his Brother abjure the Realm and be contented with a Pension and ruined 700. Families that were concerned in that Conspiracy And a while after hearing that Mans in Normandy was besieged as he was at Supper the King asked which way it lay and immediately commanded Masons to make way for him thither through the Wall and when his Lords entreated him to stay untill his people were ready he replied That they who loved him would immediately follow him and a Tempest arising when he was at Sea he commanded the Master of the Ship to go on notwithstanding For said nt never was King drowned Thus he came suddenly to Mans raised the siege dispersed the Rebells undid 652. Families that were of the Confederacy and left a fatal Monument of conspirators success behind to late Posterity § 4. Anno 1100. no sooner had Henry the first succeeded his brother William who died Childless and compounded with his brother Robert of Normandy but Robert de Belesm Earle of Shrewrbery and the Earle of Cornwall in discontent made a general Insurrection about Wales and the borders surprize the Castle of Bridgenorth stop Trade gathered the people together who no sooner heard that the King was drawing towards them but they fled and left their traiterous Leaders at the mercy of an incensed Soveraign who seized their Estates banished their Persons and put a period to their Names Honours and Families in England § 5. Although Steven invaded the Kingdome against the right of
brought upon that occasion under an English Prince who established the Government thereof according to the Lawes of England § 11. Edward the Second goeth on in his Fathers exorbitant wayes entertaineth evil Councellors viz. Gaveston and Spencer to the great grievance of the Lords and Kingdome Upon this the Lords arme and rebell the Pope writes to them they would not read his Letters saying That they were men of the Sword the Bishops treat with them but they would not hear affronts are put upon the King by the Lords as that of the mad woman who brought him all his faults in Writing and upon the Lords by the King as that of the Duke of Lancaster's Wife being challenged from him by an ugly fellow who made it good he was Married to her the Lord Baldesmers Keeper is hanged and his Wife and Children in prison for holding the Castle of Leedes against the King many of the Barons fall off and submit to his Majesty the whole Kingdome is dissatisfied yet the King defeates Lancaster takes him and many of his Followers prisoners condemnes and beheads him as he doth the Lord Clifford the Lord Lisle the Lords Tuchet Cheyney Mowbray Danell Teyes Aldenham Baddlesmore the last of whom with many noble Knights are hanged drawn and quartered as thousands more upon that occasion came to a miserable end And afterwards when the Queen and the Barones by a joynt interest prevailed so far as to depose the King yet first within three years after was she in Parliament voted uncapable of her Jointure put to a Pension of a 1000 l. a year and kept a Prisoner 30. years to her dying day 2. And her Minion Mortimer seized after this manner the King her Son takes a Torch light and two or three to attend him and steales privately under ground into the Queens Chamber about Bed time where the Wanton undressing himself for her Bed they immediately carry him away notwithstanding the Queen shreeks Bel fils bel fils ayes pity du Gentile Mortimer good Son good Son pitty Gentle Mortimer he is commited to the Tower and hanged drawn and Quartered by Tyburn where his body remained two dayes an opprobrious espectacle to all Beholders And in a word so remarkable were the disasters that befell those that contrived any thing against the Government in this Kings Reign that we hear of no more treasons in the others who lived fifty years in perfect peace all men looking upon the former examples Seeing and fearing and not daring to do any more presumptuously § 12. Untill the beginning of Richard the Seconds Reign when by reason of some extravagances by the exactors of Poll-money the common people at Deptford and indeed all over the Kingdome rising as one man Upon this occasion a Collector of Pollmoney comes to one John Tylers house demands Pollmoney of his Wife for her Daughter and she saying that her Daughter was not of age to pay the rude fellow said he would see whether that were so or not and thereupon forcibly turned up her Cloaths whereat the Mother cryed out the Father being at Work hard by upon that comes in and with a Lathingstaffe which he had in his hand knocked the fellow on the head upon Tylers complaint among his Neighbours and one Ball a Priests seditious discourses of Liberty levelling c. whose saying was When Adam dug and Eve span where was then the Gentleman the Commons of Kent Essex Hertfordshire Sussex Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgeshire are up 100000. declaring for the King and the Commons and resolving to have no King John entered the City besiege the Duke of Lancasters house at the Savoy abuse the Kings Mother in the Tower behead the Lord Chancellour and the Lord Treasurer the Lord Chief Justice they pull down Lawyers houses they compell many Noblemen and Gentlemen to ride with them their Leaders keep the state of Kings they resolve to destroy all Knights and Gentlemen But what was the issue 1. Two and thirty of them are burnt in the Duke of Lancasters Cellar 2. Fear and trembling siezed on several of them who deserted their brethren 3. Their Leader is stabbed to death by the Lord Mayor Sir W. Walworth for whose sake the Dagger is in the City Armes to this day 4. The rest of them laying down their Armes upon Sir Rob. Kuolles his approach to them submitted to the Kings mercy who executed 1500. of them in divers places in which exploit 25000. Families perished Not long after the City of London that dares do any thing for a Riot against the Lord Treasurers servants in pretence but indeed a plot against the Kings Government had their Liberties seized on their Charter taken from them their Lord May or removed and a Warden set over them and a fine of 15000 set upon them All this would not allay the discontents and ambitions of men for the Duke of Glocester and other Lords upon an Abbots Vision of the Destruction of the Kingdome by the misgovernment of King Richard and was there ever Treason without a Clergy man consult about seizing and deposing K. R. and executing the Lords of the Councel at Arundel Castle where they received the Sacrament and took upon it an Oath of Secrecy by the hands of the A. B. Canterbury now the Earle Marshall Deputy of Callice discovered all the Plot to the King who thereupon by a stratagem devised by his Counsel took the Duke of Glocester a Bed who hearing of his coming cast his Cloak about his shoulders and with all reverence bid him welcome the King courteously requesting him to make himself ready to ride with him a little way within a mile of his House he was arrested by the hands of the Earl Marshall and sent to Callice where he dyed a miserable death the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury is banished the Earle of Arundel and the Lord Treasurer are beheaded and 1500. Families of their brethren and adherents perished § 13. Anno 1399. Henry the 4th was in full Parliament declared King of England but having let fall an expression to this purpose when he was Earle of Darby viz. That Princes had too little and religious men too much the politick Abbot of Westminster laid hold of the words and inviting to his House the discontented Dukes of Surrey Exeter Albemarle the Earles of Salisbury and Glocester with many more communicated their grievances to each other and lay a Plot to invite his Majesty to asolemn Just at Oxford where he was to be murthered by an unknown hand in the heat of the pleasure and action taking oaths of secrecy and sealing Indentures Sextipartite for the performance of Conditions on all sides the Justs are proclaimed the King is invited and promiseth to come secrecy on all hands kept most firmly to that very day but there is a God in Heaven that revealeth secrets unto Kings for it happened that as the Duke of Albemarle rid to
Earle of Northumberland President of the North Parts collecteth it by force but he is murthered an insurrection is made and in defence of their Liberties the people would give the King Battle what followed Liberty No the multitude is discomfited by the Earle of Surrey their Leader with many of his accomplices hanged drawn and quarted at Yorke and 3564. Families turned upon this occasion out of doors to the wide World This device failing one worth two of it is thought upon by the Countesse of Burgundy and that is that one Perkin VVorbecke should counterfeit Richard the younger Son of Edward the 4th who was now dead and could not be shewed to the people as the Earle of VVarwicke was and being Brother to the Queen could not be prejudiced in his right by her this Perkin is entertained by the King of France flocked to by the English Malecontents the people of England generally respect him Sir Rob. Clifford and Rob. Barley are sent to attend him the Lord Fitzwater Sir Simon Montford Sir Tho. Thwaits Doctor Richford Doctor Sutton Doctor VVorsky conspired with him he gets an Army marrieth the Earl of Huntleyes Daughter and engageth the King of Scots in his Quarrel he goeth to Ireland landeth in Cornwall with very considerable Forces Doth he prosper no his Confederates are discovered by King Henryes espialls in Flanders and executed particularly Sir VVilliam Stanley Sir Simon Montford c. an hundred and sixty of his Followers were hanged drawn and quartered in London and along the Sea-Coast Scotland is laid waste his friends leave him he submits to the Kings mercy and upon his attempt to escape out of the Tower three times was hanged drawn and quartered at Tyburn and Edward Earle of VVarwicke for his sake is beheaded In these troublesome times the people refuse to pay their Subsidies and in Cornwall they rise under one Flammocke a Lawyer and Joseph a Smith and draw a formidable Company towards London upon Black-heath do they now ease themselves and their fellow subjects no they are invironed by the Kings Forces three thousand of them perish upon the place my Lord Audley Flammocke and Joseph were hanged drawn and quartered their Estates bestowed among the Courtiers and some hundreds of Families bound to curse them to this day To which we may adde the dismal end of VVillford another pretender set up by an Augustin Frier who was hanged drawn and quartered and made an example to rash and inconsiderable Traytors for the following Generations as were Sir James Tyrrell Sir John Windam the Earle of Suffolke and others in the following year to the ruine of many Families who rued their Treasons many years after § 18. In the 8th year of King Henry the 8th there happened in London an Insurrection against strangers especially Artificers who exercised Handicraft and vented Wares to the great dammage of the Kings Subjects the Prentices and others assembled cryed up Privileges Privileges what was the end of it twelve of them were hanged and four hundred more drawn in their shirts with Ropes and Halters about their Necks to Westminster to submit to the Kings mercy as VVeakely did many of all Professions hearken to the enthusiasmes of the holy Maid of Kent who would needs perswade men that King Henry could not continue long who lived to hang her and to ruine five hundred of her Complices But Religion is altered and Treason that hereto served the Interest of Men is now hallowed and become the cause of God K. Henry sets forth injunctions for translating the Lords Prayer the Creed the ten Commandments into the English Tongue and requiring all Parsons and Curates to teach them so translated to their Parishioners this Innovation was not to be endured twenty thousand assemble at Lincolne and forty thousand at York taking Armes as they said for the faith of Christ and deliverance of the Holy Church now oppressed sixty thousand in Lancashire 15000. at Hull indeed all the Kingdome here is a general Plot and this Plot for Conscience sake but doth God blesse it or doth the spreading nature of it prevaile nothing lesse for thirteen of the Ringleaders at Lincolne 300. of the chief at York and the Northern parts 60. of the principal at Hull were hanged drawn and quartered and the rest undone by the Lords Derby Shrewsbury Pembrooke and others to the number of 6000. Families besides the Lords Darcey and Husley both executed Sir Rob. Constable who was hanged in Chaines at Hull and Sir Jo. Bulmers Laly who was burned in Smith-field Henry Marquesse of Exeter H. Lord Mountacute Sir Nicolas Carew Sir VVill. Nevill who came all to miserable ends upon the same score § 19. But the Reformation of Religion proceedeth in King Edward the Sixths dayes and the people are more and more enraged for Conscience sike the Kings Commissioners were stabbed the multitude arme themselves and commit many outrages they increase to the number of 50000. a terrible number they declare for Religion against Inclosures Lawyers Courts c. besiege rich Cities as Exeter Norwich c. but to what end they are defeated before those Cities most of them slain upon the place 500. of them were executed at London and as many with their Ringleaders hanged up and down the Country But there was a Prophecy that the time should come when there should be no King when the Nobility and Gentry should be destroyed when the kingdome should be ruled by four Governours elected by the Commons c. and now sure was that time Up must Ombler a Gentleman and Dale a Parish Clerk with 5000. more to fulfill this Prophecy but was this Prophecy fulfilled no such matter they found to their sorrow a King Nobility Gentry and a Government that brought them to Justice executed sevenscore of them and brought 600. Families deeply engaged in the Rebellion to a morsel of Bread The King I mean Edward the Sixth is a dying and Religion is like to die with him for the glory of God the preservation of the Gospel the Ladies Mary and Elizabeth are put by their known right and the Lady Jane Grey set next his Majesty in the Royal Succession the King makes his Will the Privy Councel confirme it the Mayor and Aldermen swear Allegiance to the Lady Jane who is proclaimed Queen the Privy Councel refuse Queen Mary they sent an Army against her under the Duke of Northumberland but see the end of it the Privy Councel notwithstanding their protestations to the Duke of Northumberland relent and proclaime Queen Mary the Earle of Huntington entrusted by the said Duke with four thousand men deserts him the people all over the Kingdome discountenance him six Ships ordered to Intercept the Lady Mary he revolts to her yea the Duke of Northumberland himself is glad to proclaime her Queen Jane and the said Duke are arraigned and executed § 19. Queen Mary altereth Religion again the Earle of Suffolk Sir Tho. Wyat and others for
have received from the Church of England and are very sorry that there fell from us any expressions and that there was allowed by us any practice that occasioned the saddest difference that ever happened in the Church of England if we consider the time how long it continued the eminent persous therein engaged and the doleful effects thereby produced and we observe that there have been three degrees of Nonconformists 1. Those in our dayes in King Edwards who scrupled only at some Vestures and Gestures 2. Those in Queen Elizabeths time who excepted against several things in the Common Prayer Cannons and Articles 2. Those since who have laid the Axe to the Root of the Tree and destroyed the Government it self Court After these men had been a while among us two opposite parties plainly appeared I. The Founders of Conformity such as by politick compliance and cautious concealement of themselves in the dayes of King Edward the sixth were possessed of the best preferments in the Church and retained many Ceremonies decent and ancient the Authority of Cranmer and the Activity of Ridley headed these Parties the former being the highest the latter the hotest for Conformity II. The Founders of Nonconformity such exiles as living in States and Cities of popular reformation were well affected to the Discipline of the places they lived in who returning late to England were at a loss for preferment and renounced all Ceremonies practised by the Papists John Rogers Lecturer of Pauls and Vicar of St. Sepulchers and John Hooper afterwards Bishop of Gloucester were the Ringleaders of this party And that these Divisions grew to that heighth that the King with the advice of his Counsel sets out a Proclamation Septem 23. to this purpose Whereas of late by reason of certain Controversies and seditious Preachers his Majesty moved with the tender Zeal and love he had to the quiet of his Subjects hath forbidden any to Preach without Licence from the Lord Protector or the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury upon hope that they whom they Licensed should Preach and set forth only such things as should be to Gods honour and the benefit of the Kings Majesties Subjects Yet seeing such Preachers did still behave themselves irreverently and contrary to good order in Preaching against such good instructions as was given them whereby much contention and disorder might rise and ensue in his Majesties Dominions Wherefore his Highness minding to see shortly one Uniforme Order throughout the Realm and to put an end to all Controversies in Religion for which purpose he hath called together the Learned men of the Realm doth inhibit all publick Preaching wishing all Ministers in the mean time to pray for a blessing on the Convocation and so to endeavour themselves that they may be ready to receive from the Convocation a most Godly quiet and Uniforme order to be had throughout all his Majesties Realmes and Dominions L. A. B. C. I pray who appeared first against the order of the Church and how did they behave themselves L. B. W. To feel the pulse of authority one Dr. Glasier as soon as ever Lent was over 1547. and it was well he had the patience to stay so long affirmes publickly in a Sermon at St. Pauls Cross That Lent was not ordained of God to be fasted on nor the eating of Flesh to be forborn but that the same was a politick Ordinance of men and might therefore be broken by men at their pleasure For which Doctrine as the Preacher was never questioned the temper of the times giving encouragement enough to such extravagancies so did it open such a gap to carnal liberty as the King was faine to shut up by Proclamation on the 16. of Jan. and the Protector by an Army raised under pretence of a Warr with Scotland He knowing very well that all great Counsels tending to Innovation in the publick Government especially where Religion is concerned are either to b 〈…〉 cked by Armes or otherwise prove destructive to the undertakers L. B. L. Who was the next who appeared against the Kings Orders and injunctions L. B. G. Encouraged by Glasiers boldness and impunity several persons began to run out to some excesses which occasioned these Words in a Proclamation of the 8. March 154 7 8. We wish all men with such obedience and conformity to receive our Order that we may be encouraged from time to time further to travel for the Reformation and setting forth of such Godly Orders as may be most to Gods glory the edifying of our Subjects and the advancement of true Religion Willing all our Subjects in the mean time to stay and quiet themselves with this our Direction c. As men contented to follow authority and not rashly to run upon such courses as may hinder what they intend to promote For now there arose persons by the name of Gospellers that dispersed as Bishop Hooper observes in the Preface to his Commandments several Blasphemies and Heresies and some Anabapists who lurking in the late Kings time began to appear publickly and were convicted at St. Pauls before the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and others where being convicted of their errors some of them were dismissed with an admonition some were sentenced to a recantation and others were condemned to bear their Faggots at St. Pauls Cross these persons among the many wild Opinions they vented were notorious for this one as Campneyes Writings one of themselves but coaverted declared That they laid all they did upon the eternal Predestination making God who is of purer eyes then to behold any the Author of their iniquity Court It 's true these wild persons and the Women that were burnt for heresie might disturbe us but who kept up the old cause of Nonconformity Witnesses One Mr. John Hooper a grave and Learned man who had lived a while in Zuricke with Bullinger and returned after Henry the 8s death with very good affections for the way of the Zuinglian and Helvetian Churches and by his frequent preaching and learned Writings having got credit and esteem with the Earle of Warwicke and other great men was preferred Bishop of Gloucester but when he came to be Consecrated he utterly refused the Episcopal Habits wherein he was to appear at his Consecration by the rules of the Church and the Arch-Bishop Cranmer would not Consecrate him without them Court Why do not you my Lord use these innocent and harmless Weedes Hooper I put my self upon the trial of the Searcher of Hearts that no obstinacy but meer Conscience makes me refuse these Ornaments Court These Ornaments are indifferent of themselves and of ancient use in the Church Hooper They are useless being ridiculous and superstitious Court Nay my Lord being enjoyned by lawful authority they become necessary not to Salvation but to Church Unity Hooper Being left indifferent by God it is presumption in man to make them necessary Court By a moderate use of these Ceremonies we may gain Papists into the
must be inserted in our confessions of Faith as King James sa'd of one Craiges in Scotland I renounce and abhor till his multiplied Renunciations so amazed the people that they fell back to Popery They urged other things about Ordination Priests intention Catechisme c. but that was only to colour over the maine design Court What did they more besides A. 1. They moved a reformation of Sabbath profanations Court Still they would be the only men that took care of purity and holiness A. 2. They moved a new Translation of the Bible Court Good good thereby they might perswade the people that they had not the true word of God A. 3. They prayed the suppression of seditious Bookes Court Better and better they had never writ any seditious Bookes I 'le warrant you What did they intend by good Pastors A. Such as would neither read Prayers nor Homilies but make Religion nothing but Preaching Court What were their exceptions against Common Prayer A. They excepted against the harmeless Surplice the antient sign of the Cross some words in the Matrimony against Ecclesiastical Censures by Lay-Chancellors Court What did they desire in Church Government A. That there should be a meeting of Ministers every three weekes in royal Deaneries who should reforme things in their Deaneries Court What was the issue of this Conference A. That they should all conforme or avoid the Land whereupon the Nonconformists there submitted Court The King observed that their exceptions were frivilous and such as argued more peevishness then conscience and that they did not so much dislike affairs as they disliked that they had not the ordering of them Were they now satisfied P. H. No but they agreed thus viz We whose Names are under written are agreed to make our humble Petition to the Kings Majesty that the present state of the Church may be reformed in all things needfull according to the rule of Gods holy Word and agreeable to the example of other reformed Churches c. Which Petition they subscribed thus Your Majesties most humble Subjects the Ministers of the Gospel that desire not a disorderly innovation but a due and Godly Reformation Court What would they have in that Petition A. They desired that Cross Surplice Confirmation Church-Musick Kneeling and bowing might be removed 2. that Baptisme should not be administred by Women 3. that the Communion be administred not without examination and a Sermon 4. that the Service should not be so long 5. Sunday to be strictly observed and the Holidayes not so 6. the word Priest and absolution c. changed 7. Canonical Scripture only read 8. an Uniformity of Doctrine prescribed 2. They desired that Pluralities and Nonresidence might be provided against and that ministers be not urged to subscribe but according to Law and that all ministers should Preach 3. Some reformation of Ecclesiastical Officers their Fees c. These things they urged saying to King James Who knowes not whether you are come to the Kingdome for such a thing as this Court This Petition they say was favoured by some Scotch grandees who would be considerable by being the head of a faction H. H. Yes it was so cried up that the Family of Love likewise presumed to Petition for themselves that they might have a toleration and liberty of Conscience and another party presented a Petition to the House of Commons assembled in Parliament H. W. Yea and the High Commission proceeded against them they began to entereain several Lawyers to dispute points of Law in their behalf so that most part of the Kings ministers Courtiers Lawyers c. were engaged in the promoting of that way Court Had they no design to carry on by the new Translation of the Bible A. Yes for they endeavoured to have the Geneva Notes inserted in the margin and so the Bishops Bible might have a Presbyterian Comment Court What did these men more in King Janes his Reign A. They did endeavour by strictness and severity in their conversation in keeping Sabbath c. to gaine the love of the people when they could not gaine the Countenance of the King and therefore they oppose the Kings Declaration for Sports on the Lords dayes one Thrask especially appearing violent that way S. H. Yea and as they were in great esteeme for their strictness so they would be for their industry they being the only men that opposed the Kings Declaration 1623. for Catechising in the afternoon instead of Preaching Court What said they against this Declaration A. They said first Christ sent Ministers to Preach and they should not forbid them 2. Soules should not be starved 3. They that were Licensed to preach might choose their Text and not be restrained to the Lords Prayer the Creed the ten Commandments c. 4. why should not men teach Predestination which the Scripture hath taught 5. Why should Lecturers be discouraged whereas the power of Godliness flourished most in those places where these Lecturers were Court Alas alas these Lecturers laid the strongest foundation for Nonconformity Catechising in the Afternoon edifyeth more in the principles of the Doctrine of Christ then both Sermons and for Predestination it is a point too high for most people to hear and for most Preachers to teach But this King kept them under well enough How came they to prevail in King Charles time CHAP. V. King Charles the Firsts Reign A. IN King Charles his time they observed first a faction at Court and they found some men willing to head them that they might ballance other persons who were head of the Protestant party 2. They observed the Kings necessities which a Parliament must supply and they knew the Parliament would be for their turn 3. They observed a difference between the Clergy and others about Arminianisme in opposition to which many joyned with them yea so considerable they were that it was observed that Doctor Preston rode with King Charles and the Duke of Buckingham in a Coach from Theobalds to London the Coach being shutdown the day King James died Court How got they in with the Parliament A. The Gentry were so weary of the High Commission and Star-Chamber and other severe Courts that they would joine with any body that would help to pull them down besides that there were several persons of great parts discontented for want of preserment as J. H. D. H. A. H. W. S. T. W. whose busie spirits kept under by King James were now more active in the indulgent time of King Charles Court Do they set these men immediately upon establishing their way F. F. No they stir them up against Arminianisme in Mr. Mountagues Bookes and others knowing that Mr. Mountague would have friends in Court and that these would oppose the Gentlemen in Parliament who enraged there with would close with this party more firmely and do any thing to spoile their enemies at Court Court Was it for Arminianisme that Mr. Mountagues Book called Appello Caesarem was
so much opposed A. No it was for some smart truths concerning that party which they were not willing to hear of Court What did wisemen judge of that stir the Commons kept with Mr. Mountagues Book A. My Lord of Canterbury hath entred it in his Diary thus ' I seem to see a cloud arising and threatning the Church of England God for his mercy dissipate it Court What was the Danger A. It was this That the Nonconformists under pretence of suppressing Arminianisme were able to be revenged of Master Mountague for some tart expressions against them notwithstanding his Majesties protection of his own Chaplain so that the King was faine to leave him to himself and to stand or fall as he told the Duke of Buckingham who sounded him to that purpose according to the justice of his Cause C. How went they on P. H. As the great Champions of truth forsooth they procure two conferences at Yorkehouse before the Duke of Buckingham by the mediation of R. E. of VVarwick between Dr. Buckridge Dr. VVhite Mr. Mountague on the one hand and Bishop Morton and Dr. Preston on the other where their design was to divide the Nobility Clergy and Gentry and get as many as they could on their side against Arminianisme until they had got such a party as might be able to carry all before them for they knew that those learned Gentlemen and Ministers who were of their mind in some points would being provoked by their adversaries be of their mind in all C. But do they stay here L. No but being intent upon their Design and knowing that the King was well setled and resolved against all Innovations they intend to weaken his power and to that purpose they retrenched his Prerogative by many Laws and Statutes and questioned Dr. Manwaring for preaching up his Prerogative being resolved to put all power in the Parliaments hands who were too well affected to their way F. Yea they were so bold as to employ two persons Humphreys and Jones to hinder Bishop Mountagues Confirmation by alledging against him some frivolous exceptions so much did they prevaile now they had joyned themselves to the discontented the Antiarminian c. S. But while the wisemen of this party were driving on their design covertly and politickly one Leighton was to break the Ice and feel the pulse of the times and to that purpose he sets out a Book called Zions Plea rayling against the Queen as Idolatrous and exhorting men to kill the Bishops and to smite them under the fifth rib C. Was he suffered A. No when his party saw that he was not suffered they let him shift for himself and they go on in a more prudent method Court How F. That they might engage the Clergy to themselves they set up a Committee for buying in impropriations viz. Dr. Gouge Sibbs Mr. Offspring Davenport c. who were to buy so many Livings to be bestowed on the Favourers of the new way whereby of nine thousand Ministers three thousand and nine hundred might be sure to their side beside those presented by the many Patrons that were devoted to their party Court Here they took care to prefer their friends how did they bring men up still in their way notwithstanding the discouragement of publick authority P. H. When they had preferment they were sure to have friends yet they had persons of their way in both Universities very vigilant for their Interest as appeared in Oxford where one Thorne of Baliol and Ford of Magdalen Hall broke out into bitter invectives in their Sermons on this Text Numb 14. 4. Let us make us a Captain and let us return into Egypt 1 King 13. 2. And be cried against the Altar in the word of the Lord and said O Altar Altar Court It was a notable way to buy out impropriations to set up Lecturers knowing that they who hold the helm of the Pulpit in England alwaies steer peoples hearts whether they please whereby they might have more Chaplains depending upon them then either King or Bishops but the great plot lay in securing the Universities where if young men were tainted with their way they would not depart from it when they were old But did any Countenance these persons A. Yes the Proctors and Dr. Prideaux with Dr. Wilkinson untill the King appeared against them at Woodstock Court Now the King interposed his authority we may presume this faction was quite dashed E. G. By no meanes for the expelling of these Preaches expelled not but encreased the differences in Oxford which burnt the more for blazing the less Court How came Dr. Prideaux to favour such persons A. H. His love to the Predestinarian way which these men promoted in an high degree this was these mens policy to joyne with some eminent men in some opinions that they might have their favour and assistance in other things Court What was their next project A. W. They set up the Sbabatarian controversies again by one Bradbourne which if the Church allowed of she went against her own judgement if she disallowed she was looked upon as an enemy of Godliness and a friend to all prophaneness yea so high did they raise these controversies that they made a difference between the Judges and the Bishops the one allowing a liberty on the Lords day the other punishing it And when the Church declared her judgement moderately they procured underhand many reproaches and hard speeches to be cast upon her as if she intended to destroy that Godliness which she taught and to undermine that Religion she professed Court Not a word all this while of their Discipline A. No for they resolved upon other wayes of undermining the Church of England and upon her fall they would raise themselves but some hot-headed persons as Bastwicke Burton and others break out to some excesses for which they are severely punished Court What is the reason that they are so fierce now F. M. Upon Bishop Abbots death who was over-indulgent to them the Arch-Bishop pressed conformity very severely whereupon they who hid themselves under other pretences discovered themselves against Altars kneeling at the Sacrament holiness of Churches c. L. C. M. Let me tell you that there was one accident happened that helped this party very much Court What was that L. C. M. The Bishop of Lincolnes discontent who said that all flesh in England had corrupted their wayes and maintained many private correspondencies dangerous to Church and State L. C. N. The design of these men growing now ripe as they had by Lectures and private conferences debauched many here so they go abroad for aid to the brethren of Scotland who are at their Devotion and ready upon their call to disturbe the peace of England Court How durst Scotland stir J. C. The people in England having kept the King bare put him upon some displeasing courses to furnish himself and maintaine the peace of the Kingdome who should oppose this his Majesties course but the
Oxford he called upon his Father the Duke of York and having in his bosome the Indenture of Consederacy his Father as they sat at Dinner espyed it and asked what it was to whom his Son answering that it was nothing that concerned him by S. George saith his Father but I will see it and so snatched it from him and reading the Contents called for his Horse to ride to his Majesty now at Windsor whether his Son was before him asking pardon when the old Man knocked at Door The King not coming the Lords at Oxford suspected themselves discovered and so they stand upon their guards set up a mock King Richard one Magdalen very like him who they pretended so escaped out of Prison send to the King of France always ready to assist the Rebels of the King of England they raise an Army pursue King Henry now unprovided to London what became of them think ye why they are amazed and sometimes would do one thing sometimes another and at last nothing they march up and down they knew not whether until at Cirencester the very Townsmen were able to overthrow them so weak is guile and feare their counterfeit King is hanged the Lords are beheaded the whole Army by a rumour is dispersed in which Rebellion 916. Lords and Gentlemen perished and 16000. Families brought to a morsel of Bread the Abbot of Westminster upon the News fell suddainly between his Monastery and his House into a dead Palsey and shortly after miserably ended his life And another who had contrived to lay an Iron with three sharp pikes standing upright in the Kings Bed that when he laid Himself down he might thrust himself through with them came to this sad end a String was tyed about his neck and privy Members and so he was hanged up with a great Stone upon his Belly that broke his back bone Yet men cannot be quiet for Owen Glendover upon a private grudge between himselfe and the Lord Grey of Ruthen and a publick ambition to be Prince of Wales in the divided times of England raised all Wales and the borders of England and with the advantage of a Scots Invasion at the same time and the French Auxiliaries prospered a while but that 's well that ends well Owen is at last as all Traytors abandoned by his Followers the people are altered in their Resolutions Owen himself was famished in the Woods and Wales made desolate But at the same time Treason had all the faire and promising circumstances imaginable for the unhappy King had not only France and Scotland our old friends and Wales to deale with but the Percies of Northumberland and Worcester and Henry Hotspur who upon some private discontents enter in a leagure offensive and desentive with Glendover and an Indenture Tripartite wherein all Wales were asligned to Glendover all England South and East of Trent to the Earle of March and the rest to Northumberland a formidable design but comes to nothing Henry Hotspur is slain their Army is defeated 6000. of them left dead upon the place the chief of them are executed and 7016. Families undone in this undertaking Northumberland and others who had been pardoned ingratefully engaging again upon Yorks-wold Downes against his Soveraign where he was surprized by the Earle of Westmerland in this manner The Earle sends to know their Grievances which when they sent him he alloweth of and promiseth to joyne with them seemeth to pitty their Souldiers and his own and perswadeth them to disband as he would do himself which they no sooner do but he arresteth the chief of them who were executed at York and Durham where Northumbarland after he had wandred up and down Scotland Wales France about a year was slain likewise and 13000. Families of the Revolt were upon this sad occasion exterminated and rooted out of England Such dreadful consequence of Rebellion as awed the Lords and Commons to peace and allegiance all King Henry the Fifths Reign and the first sixteen years of Henry the Sixths § 14. When the Duke of York now aspiring to the Crown takes his opportunity to whisper and suggest to the people that the King was weak and easie the Queen was of a malignant spirit the Privy Councel was ill inclined wherewith the Common people were possessed when one Mortimer the Dukes Agent promiseth them a Reformation of all abuses freedome from Taxes who styling himself Captain Mend-all marcheth to Blackheath there exerciseth them sends their grievances to the Parliament complaining that the Kings Revenue is lavished away that he burdeneth the people that he takes their Commodities from them by his Purveyors and their Estates by his Courtiers that legal proceedings were stopped by Letters from above that extraordinary fees were exacted that freedome of Elections were denyed and Parliament men chosen by Court Letters that the faithful Counsellors the Dukes of York Exceter Buckingham Norfolk were discountenanced by the undue practices of some corrupt Courtiers and their Favourites The Parliament countenanceth them the Privy Counsel receiveth their Petition and if any plot ever prospered this was like to be one Yet see how the King though never so generally hated so considerable a thing is Royalty under the greatest disadvantages gathereth an Army of 15000. the Rebells defeat him come to London command the City to provide them Horse and Armes and other Necessaries behead the Lord Say and Sir James Cromer carry all before them when on a sudden some old Souldiers from the Tower surprize them the Rebells look about them and consider their danger are weary of their service and upon the Kings pardon submit and leave Jack Cade to shift for himself who fled away in a disguise and Proclamation being made that whosoever should bring him dead or alive should have a thousand Markes for his paines a while after was attached by one Eden and making resistance in a Garden at Hothfield in Sussex was there slain his Body was brought to London beheaded Quartered his Head set upon London Bridge his Quarters dispersed in divers places in Kent and his Followers to the number of 500. arraigned to the utter ruine of 4000. Families who perished in this gain-saying of Kore as did the Prentices and Commons of London of whom 2000. died in a commotion the year following the Duke of York flieth to Ireland Owen Teuther and divers Welsh Gentlemen are beheaded and the King who had usurped the Throne never prospered and the Duke of York slain at Wakefield and his Head put over the great Hall of York § 15. Edward the 4th is Crowned but with cares and troubles for the Kingdome was in a Combustion King Henry was at the Head of 40000. to try it with him for that Crown seconded both by the French and Scots but see the fate of Rebellion the Armies approach each other the Lord Fauconbridge gives the Archers direction upon a signal given by him to shoot every Man a flight Arrow
Conscience sake and to remove ill Councellors raise 26000. men they come to London terrifie all before them but mark the event the City is shut against them the Court is in Armes behind them they are most of them cut off the Duke of Suffolk Wyat the Lord Grey the Lady Jane Grey are executed at Towerhill as one Fetherstone a Miller who acted Edward the 6th was afterwards hanged at Ty-burn and all the good they did was to ruine several Families and exasperate the Queen to those severe Courses against the Reformed Professors which we read of in the Acts and Monuments of those times § 20. Anno 1558. Queen Elizabeth succedeth who now the fourth time altereth the publick Profession in this Nation the Pope excommunicateth her the Queen of Scots sets up her own Title against her Margaret Countess of Lenox and her Husband Arthur Pool and Anthony Fortescue favour that Queen the Papists were underhand stirred up by Ridolph a Florentine Commissioned to that purpose by the Pope The Duke of Norfolk consults with the Bishop of Roste about a Marriage with the Queen of Scots the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland and the Lord Dacres are up in Armes 1. That the Religion of their fore-fathers might be restored 2. That wicked Councellours might be removed from the Queen to great purpose you may be sure for first the Queen upon these practices was enforced to make those severe Lawes under which the Catholikes groan to this day 2. The Queen of Scots falls to very great troubles and hath not where to lay her head but in the Dominions of Queen Elizabeth the Duke of Norfolk comes to a miserable end the Earles of Northumberland Westmerland and many other Lords are proscribed and many hundred Families upon this account dispoyled of all they had in the World no less then twelve score of them being hanged drawn and quartered in London York Durham and the other seats of their Rebellion Felton that set up the Popes Bull upon the Bishop of Londons Gate was hanged drawn and quartered and they who attempted and conspired to release the Queen of Scots out of Prison fasten her more irremediably'in and brought themselves to sad ends no less then 37. being at once executed upon that occasion Campian and Parsons are hanged drawn and quartered Throgmorton is racked and hanged but the Papists go on write Books and perswade the Queens servants to kill her as Judith did Holophernes but to what end to their own ruine for the Authors and dispersers perish and the Government endureth Mendoza the Spanish Embassadour who procured the Catholikes much favour he was thrust hereupon out of England the Papists would have married the Queen of Scots to an English Catholike but that hastened her death and her friends ruine the Earle of Westmerland dieth miserably in exile Dr. Parry would kill the Queen at a Feast in his house but he brings himself to a wretched end the Male-contents contrive against the Queen and the Lords associate in her behalf particularly one Savage was by Dr. Gifford encited to kill the Excommunicated Queen when to make the Queen and Councel secure there was a Book written by the Papists exhorting their brethren to attempt nothing against their Prince to use only the Christian Arms of fasting prayers and teares Ballord is joyned with Savage who having consulted with Mendoza and others comes over in a Souldiers habit and under another name discovereth himself to Babington who drew into the Plot many zealous Catholikes as Tho. Salisbury Edward VVindsor c. and one Polly who discovered their progress of the Plot to VValsingham day by day but Gifford relented and opened to the Secretary the whole matter the Secretary sent him to the Queen of Scots to keep on his correspondence with her that he might betray her Letters which VValsingham perused sealed up again and sent to the respective persons to whom they were directed all their design was laid open the persons apprehended and fourteen of them executed the Queen of Scots Closets searched and Boxes secured and she her self after all her infortunate medling arraigned condemned and not withstanding the Intercession of France Scotland of the one whereof she was Queen Dowager of the other Queen Mother beheaded To prevent the Queen of Scots death about this time L' Aubespine the French Embassadour deales with one Stafford a needy young Gentleman whose Mother was of the Bed-Chamber to Queen Elizabeth Trappes and Moddy to dispatch the Queen while they are disputing whether it should be done by Poyson in her Meat and Cloaths or by Gun-powder under her Bed or by a Blunderbush as the Prince of Aurange was slain Stafford reveales all to the Lords of the Councel upon this the Queen seals a Warrant for that unfortunate Ladies execution and this was the fate of all these treasons that they hastened those mischiefes which they were designed to prevent as never taking any effect but in the downfall of the Authors The Catholikes conspire again the King of Spain invades us the World gave England over for lost in 88. when beyond expectation the King of Spains great Navy comes to naught abroad the Papists answer for their lives at home and a Law is upon this occasion enacted That none should entertain Popish priests upon pain of the Queens displeasure Yet the Papists are at work still to this purpose hire one Lopez the Queens Physician to make the Queen away by poyson and one Cullen an Irish man to do it with a Rapier both which Conspiracies are discovered by intercepted Letters and the persons are hanged drawn and quartered at Tyburn as Yorke and VVilliams were the year following for being bribed to kill the Queen a Traytor hitherto seldome escaping an extraordinary death But Treason is restlesse and about this time one Squire Groom of the Queens Stable poysons the Earle of Essex his Chaire and the Queens Saddle neither the one nor the other came to any effect save that the Traytor being discovered by VVallpoole his ghostly Father who upon the failure of his successe doubted his fidelity is arraigned and severely executed The Papists did not contrive more designes to overthrow the Reformation than some well-meaning Protestants did to promote it even beyond the established Laws they Petition they make Cecill Leicester and others friends at Court they hold meetings at Cambridge London Oxford Northampton and Leicester they draw up their Discipline they admonish the Parliament and make many friends in both Houses they write against the Queens marriage with Papists against the established Government and worship of this Church but what came of it why 1. Stubs for writing against the Queens marriage had his right hand cut off 2. The Authors Printers and Dispersers of Martyn Marre Prelate and Sions Plea with other Bookes are executed Penry and Barrow are hanged Mr. Cartwright Mr. Udall and others are Confined Suspended Silenced and Discountenanced severe Injunctions are upon their
intermedling made against them and the Queen at last so incensed that she would not to her dying day heare any in their behalfe To mention no more Conspiracies in her Reign the Earle of Essex a popular and powerfull Man that had some pretence in that variety of claimes to the Crown that were layed in the latter end of her reign to the Throne that was Governour of Ireland and General of England had a great Army at his command and a great Interest to serve him for 158. Lords favour him and the people generally love him this upon some affronts in the declining age of the Queen sets up a plot to remove ill Councellors keepes open house for all comres entertaines silenced Ministers to preach to great throngs of people every day engageth the Lord Mayor and Aldermen resolves to seize VVhitehall by Water and by Land under the pretence of a Shew what success I pray Why the City fail him his Complices disclose him the Queens Councel surprizeth him with a summons and a Message the Nobility follow him to the City proclaime him Traytor he flieth to his house he is there besieged taken and secured in the Tower whence he is brought forth to Trial and Execution with 20. more of his Complices in whose busi-300 good Families were utterly undone and ruined § 21. Anno 1603. King James is setled on the Throne of his Ancestors by all the establishments that are as yet discovered to the World when the Lord Cobbam Sir VValter Rawleigb the Lord Grey of VVilton and others some Protestants some Papists some Priests some Lay-men some upon discontent some for Conscience some Noble-men some Knights some Gentlemen and these backed by the Popes Bull seconded by the Kings of France and Spaine endeavoured to alter Religion and change the Government but with what fortune why their Plot is discovered they themselves are apprehended arraigned and condemned VVatson Clarke and Brooke are executed and the rest come to miserable ends within a while after Yet the discontented will take no warning for not long after Catesby Percy VVinter Sir Everard Digby Garnet contrive to blow up the Royall Family the Clergy Nobility and Gentry of Great Brittain sitting in Parliament they are encouraged by the Pope set on by their own Ghostly Fathers assisted from Spain take an Oath of secresie hire a convenient Room under the Parliament House furnish it with Materials for the blow as Powder Faggots Iron the Villain is ready his Candle and his Match light but doth it succeed No the Parliament is twice adjourned and the very night before they were to sit a Letter must be sent from one of the Conspirators to the Lord Mounteagle to save himself yet the Court understood not the Letter but the King laying hold upon some odde expressions as this There is no danger as soon as the Letter is burned c. ordereth a more diligent search the store-house is found 36. Barrels of Pouder are discovered Faux that should have fired them is apprehended the other Catholiques that made the Hunting match to surprize the Lady Elizabeth are amazed at the discovery and commit Outrages are pursued by the high Sheriffes of Warwick and Worcestershire Catesby and Piercy are slain the rest are hanged drawn and quartered several Lords are fined the Government is firmely setled the Oath of Allegiance is devised two thirds of Papists Estates are forfeited to the King most severe Lawes are made against the Papists who lye under the dismal consequences of this treason to this day § 22. Anno 1625. King James dieth and leaves King Charles an empty Treasure a Warr abroad an incensed Parliament and People at home envied and hated persons of his Councel his necessities put him upon calling Parliaments the Kingdomes discontents debauched those Parliaments they demurre his Supplies they draw up remonstrances they clip the Prerogative they question his Favourites and Servants they set the Ministers of State one against another as Digby and Buckingham they raise some petit disturbances in Lancashire and thereabouts and occasion some ill resented Proclamations upon those disorders some Favourites are murthered Parliaments are dissolved in discontents many great men are laid aside the King is necessitated to take some displeasing courses for Money daring offendors provoke his Majesty to severe courses and those severe courses make more daring offendors a dark Cloud hangs over the face of the Nation Scotland armes Ireland Rebells England could not remedy either without a Parliament after twelve years discontinuance and grievances all the ill humour of the Nation meets in Parliament as in the Common-Shore where some would reforme Religion others would reforme Grievances all would embroyle the State the King parts with his most faithful Councellours it becomes dangerous to serve him he gives away his Prerogative the Tower the Militia of London a power to the Parliament to sit as long as they pleased suffers the Scots to rage and domineer leaves the City the whole Kingdome is up against him for Religion Law Liberty and the removal of ill Councellors the Treasure the Magazines and Militia is in his enemies hands with whom yet he contested four or five years When they prevailed they seized on the whole Kingdome imprison the King defeat all the attempts for his release and at last put him to death reduce his three Kingdomes under their Tyranny Banish all his Family and notwithstanding all forreign assistance all endeavours at home all the resolutions of Scotland and Ireland and Holland with thirty thousand men to restore his Son at several times as 1649. 1650. 1651. 1654. 1655. 1657. 1658. they settle first a Commonwealth then a Protectorship the first Protector carryeth all before him dieth a natural death and succeeded by his Son Credimus esse deos And now you will say Treason prospereth and Rebellion thrives but alas nothing less the first party is divided into Presbyterians and Independents they are first jealous of one another the Presbyterian Officers are displaced as Essex c. they plot against one another in the House the Old Officers fall off the City of London and the old Puritans revolt close with the Kings party for peace Duke Hamilton marcheth in order to that peace in the head of 30000 men Waller Brown and Massey correspond with him the Ministers preach against the present Proceedings the Scotch stand by the K. Son the Presbyterians are all discontent neither are the Independents unanimous an evil spirit of division creepes into the Army Cromwell takes the Government upon him and so disobligeth the Commonwealths men and the Long Parliament aimes at a succession and displeaseth the great Officers they watch the opportunity of his death and with the countenance of the people lay aside his Son and Interest they Quarrel among themselves call in General MONK who suppresseth them all makes way for his most Excellent Majesty and puts a period to twenty years Treason what was the effect
of all these Treasons was it Liberty Religion No some three hundred thousand Soules perish an hundred Millions of Treasure is spent some five thousand Families are undone the principal men are brought to shameful ends some eight thousand persons are ruined by publick faith King and Bishops Lands Vane glozeth but dieth on a Scaffold Pym debaucheth the Parliament but ends his dayes miserably Hampden takes Armes but falleth on that place where he first Rebelled Lenthal Collogues but dieth in much horrour and trouble of Conscience Cromwell Ireton Harrison Scot Carew and others domineer but are hanged drawn and quartered and set up to assure the World that the punishment of Treason may be slow but is very sure and that a Rebell labours in vaine The late Purchasers lived nobly and now begge their Bread the approving ejecting and sequestring Ministers are now silenced themselves the Church Government is most firmly setled the tender-Conscienced are more closely held in and the Reformation it self become a by-word and an hissing among all Nations Argile and Warreston had their time and now in the place of Traytors scattered up and down in several places of their Country § 23. Anno 1660. But to mention no more of those thousands that were ruined by the late defection his Majesty is restored by a Wonder received with the applause and satifaction of all men And yet one Venner a Fifth-Monarchy man and many of his followers are perswaded that now was the time to set up the Kingdome of Jesus Christ they first preach it up then they draw such a Declaration for it as might draw in all dissenters against the Government whatsoever they agree upon such rules maximes and Principles as suited with most mens humours they pray'd and preached themselves to very great resolutions and all this very closely upon Sunday Twelfnight 1660. they continue at their exercise in Coleman street till late at night when they arme themselves to attacque a secure City in the dead of night being assured that one man should chase an hundred and ten men a thousand but alas do they promote their cause or advance the Kingdome of Jesus Christ nothing less they are discovered by the Owner of the meeting house yet they march through the City without controule but Sir Rich. Brown then Lord Mayor drawes towards them the Kings Guard surroundeth them the Train-bands engage them of some thirty of them six die upon the place Venner Hodskins and the chief of them are hanged drawn and quartered their flesh rots and their memories are rooted out from the Earth and all people even they of their own perswasions detest them and in several Remonstrances declare against them Anno 1662. when some severe Lawes were made against dissatisfied persons and the Government grew towards a settlement Tongue Philips Stubes Sallows Gibbs Baker and others lay a Plot to deliver themselves from those at Whitehall they first set up a Councel of forty for satisfying all Interests and reconciling all differences and out of this Councel they chose another of 8. which was not to sit twice in any one place to consider of Officers Ammunition Musters and particular designes upon whose dissolution the Plot was to begin viz. to secure Windsor Castle by a Gunner there and the Tower by a party following the Lords Mayors Coach late at night to admit of Ludlow for General to engage some of the Trained Bands to spread abroad a rumour of a Popish Massacre to buy up all the Armes that could be met with to list their Country friends under the old Officers of the Army that were then scattered up and down to set up a Magazine in Crutched Friers and seize the City Magazine to seize Whitehall by the way of the Privy-Garden the General and Sir Rich. Brown being beforehand dispatched to set up the old Parliament and the Kingdome of Jesus Christ But is any of these things done or were not these men betrayed by their own brethren Hill and Riggs hanged drawn and quartered by the Common Hangman and made a prey for the Foules of the aire rotting upon the face of the Earth are not their Families undone and their parties under more severe Lawes and confinements to this day their liberty lost their meetings dispersed and all his Majesties Indulgence towards them forfeited Anno 1663. Yet some Anabaptists taking advantage of some generall discontents lay a Plot in the Bishoprick of Durham in March 1. To reconcile all their Brethren of different perswasions 2. Upon an Oath of secrecy to send Agitators all over England with propositions most comprehensive of all Interests who met at one Ouldreds house the Devil of Dewsbury as they call him and afterwards at Stankebouse in that County from whence Marsden and Palmer are sent Agitators to London to the secret Committee there whence they bring a Resolution to rise Octob. 12. with assurance that the Insurrection should be general 3. To attempt White-hall upon some Shew-night to secure New-castle for a passage to Scotland and Bolton in Lincolnshire for correspondence with Forreign Parts for succour and Ammunition 4. To lay hold upon the Gentry 5. To oppose Subsidies and Chimney-money to restore the Long Parliament to establish a Gospell Magistracy and Ministry and to check the Clergy the Gentry and the Lawyers 6. They preached all over the Nation in Order to the Generall Rising calling it Following the Lamb and inferring from that expression the lawfulnesse of the Designe so it were carried on for love of the Cause and for no by-ends 7. They were to Garrison Nottingham Glocester c. and 〈…〉 They drew a 〈…〉 the sectaries against the Government 10. They were to begin in Ireland 11. To seize the Lord Fauconbridge and the Lord Fairfax his Horses and Armes and indeed all the Gentry and Clergy thereabout But what was the issue of all this The Parties are treacherous to one another the Design is discovered and some thirty are gone into another world To see whether God said FEARE GOD HONOUR THE KING AND MEDDLE NOT WITH THEM THAT ARE GIVEN TO CHANGE FOR THEIR CALAMITY SHALL RISE SUDDAINLY AND WHO KNOWETH THE RUINE OF THEM BOTH LET EVERY SOULE BE SUBJECT UNTO THE HIGHER POWERS FOR THERE IS NO POWER BUT OF GOD THE POWERS THAT BE ARE ORDAINED OF GOD WHOSOEVER THEREFORE RESISTETH THE POVVER RESISTETH THE ORDINANCE OF GOD AND THEY THAT RESIST SHALL RECEIVE UNTO THEMSELVES DAMNATION Whether it be not certain as an Article of Faith that by Christ Kings reign and Princes decree justice that Power is given of the Lord and Soveraignty from the Highest and therefore that Mankind must be Subject to every Ordinance of man for the Lords sake and that we must needes be subject not only for wrath but for Conscience sake and as to Christ i. e. by the same necessity for the same reason to avoid the same punishment to have the same rewards and by the force of the same Religion and that they may
not prevaricate the Lawes of God or do violence to their own Conscience that he who despiseth the supream Magistrate despiseth God That we must not curse the King no not in our Thoughts for a Bird of the air may tell the matter That the Primitive Christians were in the right when they said Though we cannot obey we can die that though in some cases it is lawful not to obey yet in all cases it is necessary not to resist That antient Christian was in the right when he expressed himself thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have one and but one remedy against all my evils one way to victory and but one I can die for Christ. The poor Soules that died at York and other places if they were but allowed to forewarne their Brethren methinks they would say as the voice in the Legends Lay down your Armes and lift up your hands in Prayers for the Governours and Government of the World FINIS The Conventicles shifts against the late Act forbiding Conventicles Lord Baceni * 1542. A mystery of Jesuitisme Specul Jesuit Mirlare Jesuit Owen of running Register Hospin H. ft. Ies. l. 2. Rabad vit Ig. Ioyola Aula Jesuit Smeitym p. 72 Ordin Conc. the direct Neces reform p. 16. Baxter against Tombes Hist. reform p. 79. Church History p. 129. Calvins Ep. ad Bucer Calvin ad Cranmer ad Protect A 2. Ed 6. 1549. ad Protect ad Protect Preface Eccles Policy Bancroft Discipline p. 106. Brom. wara Scotch Discipl Court epist. p. 69. Latimers Sermon 1607. p. 83. Church Hist. Dang posit p. 63. Hal. descrip p 66 Vien hovig Nor of Dutch cong Full. Church History Alar Dam. Eccles. Rest. P. Martyr Opusc. Angl. p. 63. Opinions of Divines beyond Se 1. p. 19. Church History p. 402. Edw. 6. 2. 1548. church Hist. These are their own Words Hoopers I etter from the Earle of Warwick King own Letters Tims Words his own words A. I. Mar. Church Hist. Trouble Franc. Vid. Sand. de schis Ang. l. 3. p. 116. Host. against Rein. 316. Bp. I auds speech in Star-Chamb a With my Body I thee Worship Bishop williams c. A man deter red from any attempts against the government by this one consideration that 247. Plots viz. all the Plots from W. the Conque to this day were unsuccessful Plots against William the Conquerour W. Malmsbury Florentin Bravon Turgol Raradocus in Gul. 1. Hen. Hunt Will. 1. R Hoved. in Will 1. Eadmer in Gul. 1. Guliel Pictav Raradocus in Gul. 1. Holinshed in Gul. 1. Against Will Rufus Gul. Parvus in No. m. R. g. Wike in Gul. 2. Math. Westm ibid. Holinshed Gul 2. Speed Daniel Math. Paris Guliel 2. Stow ibid. Dr. Heywood Will. Martyn ibid. Against King Henry the first Against Step. Will. Newburgh in Step. against K. H. 2. vid. Gyrald Cambren in H. 2. et 10. Hagulstad against Rich. 1. vid. Telveriensem in R. 1. against King John vid. ◠ycronicon M. Paris in 10. M. Paris in ibid Trivet ibid. against H 3. Andrew du chesu Hist. Angl. Scot. Hib. Against Edw. 1. Orafton in Ed. 1. Polid. Virg. ibid. vid. stat Ed. 1. 12. Against Ed 2. Dr. Heyward ibid. Stow. Iangford in Edw. 2 et 10 Erugens Tho. Delamoer in Life of Ed. 2. Against Richard the 2d Fabian concordance of Histories ibid. vid. Alex. Estebiensens in Edw. 2. Iohn Froistard Chron. Gall. rerum Anglican Dionys Preav Anno 1386. Against Henry 4th Sir Robert cotton in his Notes on his Government M. S. Tho. Rodbourn in Hen. 4th 10. Trevis Supplem polichrom in Hen. 4th Hall union 2. roses in Henry 4th Against H. 6. Polyd. Virg. in Hen. 6. Martin Chro. Hen. 6. Stow. against Edward the 4th vid. Guliel Abbington in his Life Comin Against Edw. the Fifth Sir Tho. Moor in Richard the third Against King Henry the 7th See my Lord Bacons Life of Henry the 7th Against King Henry the 8th See my Lord Herbert in big Life of Hen. 8. Against Edw. the 6th and Sir Iohn Heywood n his Life Godw History of Reform And Dr. Heylia 〈…〉 Church 〈…〉 in Ed 6. et Hen. 8. et Mac. Against Qu. Mary See Church History of great Britain 〈…〉 Acts 〈…〉 Against Qu. Elizabeth vid. Cambdins Eliz. Against King Iames vid. Sanderson in King James Cabala Against King Charles the First Mr. L'estrange his Excellent History Sanderson and Dr. Bates Dr. Bates his Excellent History Against King charl the Second