English Tongue and the Bishop of Romes Power was by several Statutes abolished in England howeuer divers of the Popish Bishops and Clergy privately endeavoured to restore it again which he was alwaies aware of and therefore calling his Servants together he discovered to them in what a slippery condition he stood considering the variable affections of the King and the malice and subtlety of his Popish Adversaries and therefore required them to be very circumspect least by their default any quarrel might be pickt against him and soon after some false witnesses accused him of Heresy and of speaking some words against the King yet his Enemies durst not bring him to his answer nor try him by his Peers but procured an Act of Attainder whereby he was condemned before he was heard and the King not long after his death repented his hast wishing That he had his Cromwell alive again When he came upon the Scaffold at Towerhill he spake thus to the People I am come hither to die and not to purge my self as some perhaps may expect I should I am by the Law condemned to dye and I thank my Lord that hath appointed me this death for mine offences for I have alwaies lived a Sinner and offended my Lord God for which I ask him hearty forgiveness It is not unknown to many of you that I was a great Traveller and being but of mean Parentage was called to high Estate and now I have offended my Prince for which I heartily ask him forgiveness beseeching you to pray with me to Almighty God that he will forgive me And once again I desire you to pray for me that so long as life remaineth in this flesh I may waver nothing in my Faith Then kneeling down on his knees he made an excellent Prayer concluding thus Grant O most merciful Father that when death shall shut up the Eyes of my Body yet the Eyes of my Soul may still behold and look upon thee and when death hath taken away the use of my Tongue yet my heart may cry and say unto thee Lord into thy hands I commend my soul Lord Jesus receive my soul Amen Having ended his Prayer he made a Divine exhortation to those on the Scaffold and then quietly gave up his Spirit 1541. Upon his Monument was Ingraven Cromwell surnamed the Great whom Wolsey first raised from the Forge to eminent good Fortunes whom Henry 8. used as his Instrument to suppress the Popes Supremacy and to dissolve Religious Structures whom he advanced to the highest pitch of Honour and Authority whom he cast down suddenly and bereft both of Life and Dignities lies here Interred Surrey is divided into 13 Hundreds wherein are seven Market Towns besides Southwark which keeps the same with London 140 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Winchester It elects 14 Parliament Men and gives the Title of Earl to Henry L. Howard who is also Duke of Norfolk SVSSEX hath Surrey on the N. Kent on the E. the Sea on the S. and Hantshire on the W. The Soil is rich but ill for Travellers in the Winter the Land lying low and the ways being deep the middle Tract is adorned with Meadows Pastures and Cornfields the Sea-Coast with Hills called the Downs abundantly yielding both Corn and Grass and the Northside is overshadowed with Groves and thick Woods called the Weald where sometimes was the famous Wood called Andradswald 120 miles in length memorable for the death of Sigebert King of the West Saxons who being deposed was stabbed in this place by a Swine-heard Chichester in this County is a large and beautiful City very well walled about a little River running hard by it on the West It hath four Gates from whence the Streets lead directly and cross themselves in the middle where in a fair Market House of Stone supported with Pillars round about the Market is kept between the West and South Gates stands the Cathedral Church not very great but handsom and neat having a Spire Steeple of Stone rising a great height It is the residence of the Bishop and has often suffered by Fire It was first built by Cissa the second King of the South Saxons wherein he kept his Royal Court Lewes seems to contend with Chichester for Populousness largeness and buildings where King Athelstan appointed a Mint for his Money and William de Warren Earl of Surrey who came into England with William the Conqueror built a strong Castle and founded an Abby there It is recorded that Edw. 1. in the 8th year of his Reign 1282. sent out his Writ of Quo Warranto through England to examine by what Title men held their Lands and Estates which brought him in much mony till John E. Warren Successor to this William being called to shew his Title drew out an old rusty Sword and then said he held it by that and by that he would hold it till death which caused the King to desist from proceeding any further in that Project In King Henry 3. time the same John Earl Warren had the confidence to kill Zouch Allen Lord Chief Justice with his own hands upon the Bench in Westminster-Hall so much did he presume upon his great favour with the King In the Barons Wars with this King the Lords got into this Castle of Lewes and not far off fought a great Battle wherein the King had his Horse shot under him and was taken Prisoner with his Brother and Son In the year 1058. Harold putting to Sea in a small Boat for his pleasure from Boseham his Mannor in Sussex and having unskilful Marriners was driven upon the Coasts of Normandy where by Duke William he was detained till he had sworn to make him King of England if Edward the Consessor died without Children yet afterward without any regard to his Oath he placed himself on the Throne Duke William hereupon arrived at Pemsey and with his Sword revenged the Perjury of Harold at Battle in this County with such severity that there fell 67974 English Men that day the Conqueror putting himself thereby into full possession of the whole Kingdom over which he Reigned 22 years being victorious both at home and abroad but to discover the vanity of all earthly things it sometimes happens that some great Persons are not suffered to go to rest when their Bed is made and others are pulled out of those Lodgings whereof they had once taken peaceable possession as appears very fully in the following Relation No sooner had the soul of this victorious Prince William the Conqueror left his Body but that his dead Corps was abandoned by his Nobles and Followers and by his meaner Servants he was stript of Armour Vessels Apparel and all Princely Furniture his naked Body left upon the floor and his Funerals wholly neglected till one Harlwin a poor Country Knight undertook to carry his Corps to St. Stephens Church at Caen in Normandy which the dead King had formerly founded At his entrance into Caen the
an Army went to Taunton where they slew the Provost Peryn one of the Commissioners of the Subsidy and marching forward James Tutchet Lord Audly joined with them and took on him to be their Leader at last they came to Black-Heath intending to come to the King at London and there incamped on the top of the Hill the King sent the Earls of Oxford Essex Suffolk and others to incompass the Hill that so none might escape and himself incamping in Sr. Georges Fields he sent the Lord Dawbeny to set upon them who won Debtford Bridge from them though strongly defended their Arrows being reported to be a full yard in length and assaulting them every way killed 2000 and took many Prisoners divers of whom the King pardoned but none of the Leaders the L. Audly was drawn from Newgate to Tower-Hill in a Coat of his own Arms drawn upon Paper reversed and all torn and there beheaded Thomas Flammock and Michael Joseph were drawn hang'd and quartered and their quarters set upon stakes It is memorable with what comfort Joseph the Blacksmith cheared up himself at his going to Execution saying That yet he hoped by this his name and memory should be everlasting so dear even to vulgar spirits is perpetuity of name though joined with Infamy what is it then to noble Spirits when it is joyned with Glory They were likewise guilty of another Rebellion in the 2. of K. Edward 6 1549. for injunctions being sent forth by that pious Prince for removing Images out of Churches and that the Ministers should dissuade the People from praying to Saints for for the dead from use of Beeds Ashes and Processions from Masses Dirges praying in an unknown Tongue c. when Commissioners went abroad to see them executed Mr. Body a Commissioner as he was pulling down Images in Cornwall was suddenly stabbed with a knife into the body by a Popish Priest hereupon the People flockt together from several parts of this Shire and taking Arms committed divers outrages as they did also in several other Counties these Religious Mutineers sent several Articles to the King and among other things required to have the Latine Mass again and the six Articles in K. Henry 8. time called the bloody Articles revived again now though the King knew reasons would little prevail with unreasonable men yet he sent them answers in writing and a general Pardon if they would desist and lay down their Arms the answer about the 6 Articles is worth rehearsing You require saith the King to have the Statute of the 6 Articles revived do you know what you ask Do you understand what safety and ease you enjoy without them these Laws were indeed made but as soon repented of for they were too cruel and bloody to be endured by our People oh poor Ignorant Subjects how are you insnared and deceived by subtle Traitors We out of pity took them away beeause they were bloody and you out of Ignorance desire them again you know full well they made us to be cruel and severe and gave us cause to draw our Sword very often they were like a whetstone to our Sword and for your sakes only we left off to use them and since our mercy inclineth us to write our Laws in Milk and Equity how come you to be so blinded as to desire they should be writ in blood But assure your selves and be confident that we make account of nothing under Heaven so much as this to have our Laws obeyed and this cause of God which we have undertaken to be throughly maintained from which we will never remove a hairs breadth nor give place to any Creature living much less to any Subject but therein we will venture our own Royal Person our Crown Treasure Realm and all our Estate whereof we assure you of our high honour and as to the Common Prayer which you are against it cannot certainly offend any reasonable man that the service of God is changed from an unknown Tongue since it is only to make him understand what before he knew not and thereby to give his consent to those Prayers which he hath most need of and to affect his Conscience therewith since God requireth the heart only and that we should offer a reasonable Service to him He concludes We for our parts desire to live no longer than to be a Father to our People and as God hath made us your Rightful King so hath he commanded you to be obedient by whose great Majesty we solemnly protest you shall feel the Power of the same God in our Sword which how mighty it is no Subject knoweth how puissant no private man can judge and how mortal no English heart can think therefore imbrace our Mercy while it is offered lest the blood spilt by your means cry for vengeance from the Earth and be heard in the ears of the Lord in Heaven But the Rebels grew still more outragious coming before the City of Exeter and demanding entrance which being refused they endeavoured to take it by storm and firing the Gates and Mining but all in vain yet they lay so long before it that the Citizens within suffered great want of Victuals making bread of the courfest bran and feeding upon Horseflesh in which extremity an aged Citizen bringing forth all his Provisions to the People told them That as he communicated to them his store so he would partake with them in their wants and that he would feed upon one Arm and fight with the other before he would consent to put the City into the hands of the Seditious but the L. Grey and the L. Russel after many conflicts with the Rebels forced them to raise the Seige and utterly routed them the Sedition being thus suppressed it is memorable what cruel sport Sir William Kingston the Provost Marshal made by virtue of his Office upon men in misery one Boyer Mayor of Bodmin in Cornwall had been amongst the Rebels not willingly but inforced to him the Provost sent word he would come and dine with him for whom the Mayor made great Provision a little before Dinner the Provost took the Mayor aside and whispered him in the ear That an Execution must be that day done in the Town and therefore required to have a pair of Gallows set up against Dinner was done the Mayor provided them accordingly presently after Dinner the Provost taking the Mayor by the hand intreated him to shew him the place where the Gallows was which when he beheld he asked the Mayor if he thought them to be strong enough yes said the Mayor doubtless they are well then said the Provost get you up speedily for they are provided for you I hope said the Mayor you do not mean as you speak In faith saies the Provost there is no Remedy for you have been a busie Rebel and so without respite or defence he was hanged to death a most uncourteous part for a Guest to offer his Host Near the same place dwelt a
times and especially that God would abolish the Idolatrous Mass to which almost all the multitude and amongst them the Sheriff himself cried Amen theâ— taking a Cup of Beer she said I drink unfeignedly to all those that love the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and that wish the abolishment of Popery her Friends pledged her and several of them did pennance for it afterward when the fire was put to her she neither strived nor struggled but with her hands lift up to Heaven she quickly gave up the Ghost Sir Hugh Willoughby was born of a worthy and ancient Family at Risely in this County In the Reign of K. Edward 6. he was imployed by the King and the Merchants of London to find out the North East passage to the East Indies having three Ships provided for that purpose with a large Commission which did not bear date from the Year of our Lord but from the Year of the World 5515 because in their long Voyage they might have occasion to present it to foreign Princes They departed from Deptford May 10. 1553 and after much fouâ— weather steered North-North-West but Aug. 2. â— Tempest arose whereby one of the Ships was divided from the rest and they never saw it again Sir Hugh holding on his Course discovered a Land which for Ice he could not come near in the Latitude of 72 Degrees This was then called Willoughby's Land as well it might since it had neither then nor since any Owner or Inhabitant pretending to the propriety thereof It appeareth by a Will found in that Ship which was the Admiral in the Pocket of a Person of Quality that in January 1554. Sir Hugh and most of his company were then in health though all soon after frozen to death in a River or Haven called Arzina in Lapland The next Summer some other English Ships coming to the same place found the Ship intire and all the men frozen to death with a particular account of all the passages of their Voyage Lapland hath several times since been surrounded by the English the West part whereof belongeth to the K. of Sweden and the East to the Muscovite they are generally Heathens as poor in Knowledge as Estate paying their Tribute in Furs whose little houses are but great holes wherein they generally live in the Ignorance of Money Here let me insert a passage to refresh the Reader after this sad story There is a custom in this barbarous Country as credible Merchants who have been Eye-witnesses report that it is death to marry a maid without her Parents and Friends consent therefore if any man have an affection for a Maid a day is appointed for both of their Friends to meet and see the young couple run a Race the Maid hath the advantage of starting and a third part of the Race so that it is impossible except she be willing her self she should ever be overtaken if the Maid outrun her Sweet-heart the business is ended he must never have her nor make any further motion to her under a great penalty but if the Virgin have any affection for him though she at first may run hard to try the truth of his Love yet she will pretend to stumble or make a voluntary halt before she comes to the end of the Race so that he may overtake her Thus none are compelled to marry against their Wills which is the cause that in this poor Country the married People are richer in their own content than in other Lands where so many forced matches make feigned Love and cause real unhappiness In April 1660 about Chesterfield it rained white Ashes which fell in such quantities that several Fields lookt white as if Snow had covered them The same Year Nov. 20. the River Derwent was at Derby and 5 Miles above and 5 Miles below that Town for 3 or 4 hours totally dried up so that no water during that time came to any of the Mills upon the River the Boats were all on ground and the Fishes upon the Sand so that the Children took them up in their hands and in several places the people went over the Channel dryshod which is more remarkable because Derwent is an inland River and never ebbs or flows and it is at Derby generally an 100 Foot broad and 7 or 8 Foot deep and is an extraordinary quick fierce stream On Nov. 11. 1662 there happened a dreadful Whirlwind at Derby whereby tâ—at Town was in 4 Minutes time damnified above 500 Pounds It blew the Tiles off the Houses threw down several Barns Apple-Trees and other Fruit-Trees were torn up by the Roots it overturned great Stone-walls and broke some Gates though fastened with Iron Bars into pieces this strange Wind was accompanied with great flashes of Fire and some affirmed that it rained Blood also The Ale of Derbyshire is very famous as being counted the best and strongest in the Nation it is the old Drink of England though a French Poet in King Henry the Third's lays merrily jested on it in these verses Nescio quid Stygiae monstrum conforme paludi c. Of this strange drink so like the Stygian Lake They fall in Ale I know not what to make Men drink oâ—â—hiâ—â— and vent it passing thin Much dregs therefore must needs remain within This County is divided into six Hundreds wherein are 10 Market Towns 106 Parish Churches and out of it are elected 4 Parliament Men for the County 2. for the Town of Derby 2. It is in the Diocess of Exeter DEVONSHIRE hath the narrow Sea on the South the Severn on the North Cornwal on the West and Dorset and Somerset shires on the East the Natives thereof are generally very ingenious in any imployment and Q. Elizabeth used to say of their Gentry They were all born Courtiers with a becoming Confidence There was Silver formerly found in great Plenty in the Parish of Comb-Martin and in the Reign of K. Edw the 1. Miners were fetcht out of Derbyshire for digging thereof which turned to considerable profit as appeareth by a Record in the Tower of Lond. For Will. Wymondham accounted for 270 pounds weight of Silver in his 22. Year and in his 23. Year he was fined 521 pounds 10 shillings weight in his 24. Year there was brought to London in fined Silver in Wedges 704 Pounds 3 shillings and 1 penny weight in his 25. Year though 360 Miners were pressed out of the Peak and Wales to dig it yet great was that Years clear profit in Silver and Lead In the Reign of Edw. 3 it appeareth by the Record of particular Accountants that the profits of the Silver were very considerable toward the maintenance of that Kings great Expences in the French Wars These Mines having been long neglected it may be by reason of the Civil Wars between Lancaster and York were again re-entred on by one Bulmer an Artist in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth who presented a Silver Cup made thereof to the Earl of Bath with this
Glocestershire in some places the waters rose three foot in others 5 and 7 and in some Towns and Villages they rose higher than the tops of the Houses so that notwithstanding whatever course could be taken there were 80 Persons drowned besides much Cattle divers Churches and several Parishes overwhelmed thereby it did likewise a great deal of harm in Wales the damages being reckoned above 20 thousand pound In the year 755 Kenwulf King of the West Saxons giving himself up to all manner of Vice and Debauchery coming to Merton in this County to visit a Wench that he kept was there slain and buried at Winchester About the year 1020. Godwin the subtle Earl of Kent cast a covetous eye on the fair Nunnery of Berkly in Glocestershire and thus contrived it for himself he left there a handsome young man as seemingly sick for their Charity to recover the Abbess was a fair and noble Lady Godwin seeking not her but hers gives the young man charge so long to counterfeit till he had debauched the Abbess and as many of the Nuns besides as he could intice to his pleasure and left him withal Rings Jewels Girdles and such toys to give them still when they came to visit him the young man willing to undergo such a task so plaid his part that in a short time he got up most of their Bellies and when he had done told his Lord how he had sped the Earl goes instantly to Court tells the King that such a Nunnery was become a Bawdy House procures a Visitation gets them turned out and begs the Land for his own use At another time this Godwin had a mind to another rich Mannor in Sussex called Boscham and complemented it out of Robert Archbishop of Canterbury in this manner coming to the Archbishop he said Da mihi Basium that is Give me a buss or kiss an usual favour from such a Prelate the Archbishop answers Do tibi Basium I give thee a kiss and therewith kissed him upon which Godwin presently goes to Bascham and takes possession thereof and though here was neither any real intention in him that passed it away nor valuable consideration to him but a meer circumvention yet such was Godwins power and the Archbishops poorness of Spirit that he quietly enjoyed it these rich and ancient Mannors of Berkly and Boscham though distant ten miles asunder are both now met in the Right Honourable George Earl of Berkly as Heir Apparent thereof his Ancestors being long since possessed of them In the Reign of K. Edward 1. the Monastery of Glocester was burnt down to the ground In King Henry 8. time James Bainham Son to Sir Alexander Bainham of this County was burnt for professing the Gospel he was bred in Learning and had knowledge of the Greek and Latin Tongues of a virtuous disposition and Religious Conversation much addicted to Prayer and a diligent Reader of the Holy Scriptures he applied himself to the study of the Law wherein he was very merciful to his Clients ready to give Council to Widdows Fatherless and Afflicted without mony or reward at last he was suspected and complained of to Sir Tho. More then Lord Chancellor and being brought to his House at Chelsey Sir Thomas laboured with frowns and flatteries to withdraw him from the truth which not prevailing he caused him to be tied to a Tree in his Garden called by him the The Tree of Truth and then most cruelly scourged him to make him renounce his opinion this not succeeding Sir Thomas himself saw him cruelly racked in the Tower till he was lamed because he would not accuse some of his acquaintance nor discover where his Books lay then was his Wife Imprisoned and his Goods confiscated yet at last he was persuaded to abjure and solemnly carried a Torch and a Faggot in St. Pauls Church but hereby he rather exchanged than escaped fire feeling such a fire in his own Conscience that he could not be quiet till he had asked God and all the world forgiveness which he did 1st in the Protestant Congregation who met privately in a Ware-house in Bow-lane the next Lords day he went to St. Austins the next Parish Church to St. Pauls that the Antidote might be brought as near as he could conveniently to the place of his poyson where standing up in a Pew with an English New Testament in his hand he declared openly before all the People with abundance of Tears That he had denied God and prayed all the Congregation to believe him and to be warned by his fall not to do the like for said he if I should not return again to the Truth this Word of God holding up his New Testament would damn me both body and soul in the day of Judgement and therefore he intreated them all rather to dye presently than to do as he had done for he would not feel such an hell in his Conscience again for all the World After this he was soon apprehended again and cruelly handled by the Bishop of London putting him in the Stocks and whipping him barbarously for a fortnight together to force him again to recant but all in vain so that he was condemned to be burnt and being in the midst of the Flames which had half consumed his Arms and Legs he spake these words O ye Papists behold you look for Miracles and here now you may see a Miracle for in this Fire I feel no more pain than if I were in a bed of Down but it is to me as a bed of Roses There was in this County one William Dangerfield who with his Wife was imprisoned for the Protestant Faith and was so cruelly used by the Bishop that his legs were almost eaten off with the Irons after a while the Bishop sent for him and told him his Wife had recanted who was as well learned as he and therefore persuaded him to sign a Recantation which they brought having signed it they let him go to his Wife and shewing his Recantation her heart was ready to break crying out Alas Husband thus long we have continued one and hath Satan now so far prevailed with you as to cause you to break your Vow which you made to God in Baptism This so far prevailed with him that he repented of his Apostacy and not long after through the extream cruelty used to them they both dyed in Prison In 1575. Feb. 16. between 4 and 5 in the afternoon great Earthquakes happened in Glocester Worcester Hereford York Bristow and the parts adjacent which caused the People to run out of their Houses for fear they should have fallen on their heads in Tewksbury Bredon and other places the dishes fell off the shelves and books in mens studies fell down before them in Norton Chappel the People being at Prayers and feeling the ground move ran out for fear it should have fallen on their heads part of Rithing Castle fell down and likewise divers brick Chimnies in several Gentlemens Houses In
all Beholders using this Speech to her Leaders O Lord when shall I come to the place of my Purgation but having her eyes uncovered and seeing her self clearly escaped she fell upon her knees and with Tears gave thanks to her deliverer whereby she recovered her former honour and in memory thereof gave 9 Mannors to the Minster of Winchester according to the number of the Plow shares this King was as unkind to his Wife as to his Mother for having Married Editha the beautiful and indeed vertuous Daughter of Earl Godwin because he had taken displeasure against the Father he would shew no kindness to the Daughter he had made her his Wife but conversed not with her as his Wife only at board but not at bed or if at bed no otherwise than David with Abishag and yet was content to hear her accused of Incontinency whereof if she were guilty he could not be Innocent so that what the virtues were for which after his death he should be reputed a Saint doth not easily appear it seems he was chast but not without injury to his Wife Pious but not without ingratefulness to his Mother just in his present Government but not without neglect of Posterity for through his want of Providence in that point he left the Crown to so doubtful a Succession that soon after his Decease it was translated out of English into French and the Kingdom made servile to another Forreign Nation In the year 1184. A Priest at Andover praying before the Altar was slain with Thunder likewise one Clark and his Brother were burnt to death with Lightning and soon after a shower of blood rained in the Isle of Wight two hours together In the year 1250. King Hen. 3. in whose nature it seemed an inseparable quality to be violent in every thing he had a mind to have done and that sometimes without due respect to his Majesty as appears by what follows This King having a design to advance his half Brother Ethelmare to the Bishoprick of Winchester was not satisfied in sending a strict command to the Monks to chuse him but goes to Winchester in Person and the Clergy being met he gets up into the Pulpit and Preaches a Sermon to them taking for his Text these words Justice and Peace have kissed each other from whence he raised this Doctrine That whereas the rigor of Judgment and Justice belonged to him and other Kings who were to Rule the Nations so quiet peace and tranquillity belonged to the Clergy and this day saith he I hope they will both kiss each other for I doubt not but that both for your own good and my desire you will chuse my Brother Bishop this day with many other words to the same purpose whereby the Monks perceiving the earnestness of his desire held it in vain to deny him and thereupon elected Ethelmare but because he was no Priest they did it with this reservation If the Pope did allow thereof but the Pope resolving to make his advantage thereof as well as the King exacted 500 marks of Church Revenues for his Confirmation which made Matthew Paris a Monk to utter this bitter lamentation O Pope the chief of Bishops why dost thou thus suffer the Christian World to be defiled worthily worthily therefore art thou driven out of thine own City and See and like a Runagade and another Cain art inforced to wandâ—r up and down O thou God of just vengeance when wilt thou draw forth thy Sword and imbrue it in the blood of such wretched Oppressors The Pope it seems was then fled from Rome for fear of the Emperor of Germany and though he would neither reform these grand abuses in himself nor others yet Robert Crosthead the stout and learned Bishop of Lincoln resolved to reform the Monks and Fryâ—ers but they appealing to the Pope the Bishop went to him and plainly told him That all Offenders escaped punishment because his heart was so open and ready to receive Bribes from them The Pope dismist him and sent him back with â—n angry Countenance and reproachful words he was â—t this time at Lyons where a while after the Council breaking up Cardinal Hugo Preached a Farewell Sermon â—o the Citizens and among other benefits which they â—ad reaped by the Popes residence in their City reckoned up this for a principal one That whereas at their â—oming to Town there were but three or four Bawdy Houses â—n Lyons now at their departure they left but one but indeed â—hat reached from one end of the City to the other whereby we may observe that France had some part of the Popes Blessings as well as England But it seems the People had no very good opinion of â—he proceedings of this King Henry both against the Lords and the Church and not only Men but Women â—ndertook to reprehend him for the same for Isabel Widdow to the Earl of Arundel a young Lady having â—eceived a repulse from the King in a matter which she â—lledged was hers in Equity presumed to speak thus to â—is face O my Lord King why do you turn away from Justâ—ce we cannot now obtain right in your Court you are placed as 〈◊〉 middle Person between God and us but you neither govern â—s nor your self neither are you afraid to vex the Church divers ways at present as well as you have formerly nor by several â—ppressions to afflict the Nobles of the Kingdom The King â—eing fired at this free discourse looking on her with a â—cornful and angry countenance spake thus to her with â—loud voice O my Lady Countess what have the Lords of England given you a Charter and hired you to be their Advoâ—ate and Orator because they know you have your Tongue at will No my Lord said the Countess They have made me no Charter but the Charter which your Father made and which your self confirmed swearing to keep the same inviolably and constantly and often extorting mony upon promise that the Liberties therein should be faithfully observed which yet you have not kept but have broken without regard to Honour or Conscience therefore you are found to be a manifest violater of you Faith and Oath for where are now the Liberties of England so often fairly ingrossed in Wriâ—ing so often granted so often bought and paid for I therefore though a Woman and all the Natural Loyal People of the Land appeal against you to the Tribunal of the dreadful Judge and Heaven and Earth shall bear us Witness that we are used unjustly and God the Lord of Revenges right us The King saith the Author abashed at these words asked her if she did not look to obtain her suit upon favour since she was his Kinswoman she replied that seeing he had denied that which the Law gave how could she hope to obtain her suit by favour Therefore said she I do appeal to the presence of Christ against those also of your Counsellors who bewitch and dull your Judgment and draw you
much inamoured with the Beautiful E. of March In our remembrance saith Camden near Fishpoolstreet in St. Albans certain Anchors were digged up which is very strange and worth enquiring into There is a Brook near St. Albans called Wenmere or Womere which never breaketh out but it foretelleth scarcity of Corn or else some extraordinary dangerous times to ensue as the Vulgar believe At Ashwell in this County rise so many sources of Springs together that they presently drive a Mill and become a pretty big River Sir Henry Cary Kinsman to Queen Eliz. was made Baron of Hunsdon in this County a valiant man and lover of Men of their Hands very cholerick but not malicious one Mr. Cols once meeting him this Lord on some former grudge gave him a box on the Ear Cole presently returned him three or four for iâ— upon which the Lords servants swarmed about Cole with their drawn Swords You Rogues said the Lord cannot I and my Neighbour change a Blow or two but you must interpose Thus the quarrel was begun and ended the same Minute This Lord suppressed the first Northern Commotion for which a Letter of Thanks was solemnly returned to him by the Queen the first part whereof was written by the Secretary of State but the Postscript was all of the Queens own hand as followeth I doubt much my Harry whether that the Victory given me more joyed me or that you were by God appointed the Instrument of my Glory and I assure you for my Countries good the first might suffice but for my Hearts contentation the second more pleaseth me it likes me not a little that with a good Testimony of your Faith there is seen a stout courage of your mind that more trusted to the goodness of your quarrel than to the weakness of your number well I can say no more Beatus est ille servus quem cum Dominus venerit inveniet facientem sua Mandata Happy is that servant whom when his Lord cometh he shall find doing his Commands And that you may not think you have done nothing for your Profit though you have done much for your Honour I intend to make this journey somewhat to increase your livelihood that you may not say to your self Perditur quod factum est ingrato what is done for an ingrate person is lost Your Loving Kinswoman Elizabeth Regina Three times was this Lord in Election to be Earl of Wiltshire but some accident still hindered it when he lay on his Death-bed the Queen gave him a gracious visit causing his Patent for that Earldom to be drawn his Robes to be made and both to be laid upon his Bed but this Lord who could never dissemble sick nor well said Madam seeing you did not count me worthy of this honour while I was living I count my self unworthy of it now I am dying He died 1596. The County of Hartford is divided into 8 Hundreds wherein are 18 Market Towns 120 Parish Churches and is in the Diocesses of London Chichester and Lincoln out of it are elected 6 Parliament men for the County 2. for St. Albâ—ns 2. for Hartford 2. and gives the Title of Marquess to Charles L. Seymour who is also Duke of Somerset c. HEREFORDSHIRE hath Worcestershire and Shropshire on the North Glocestershire on the East Monmouthshire on the South and Brecknock and Radnorshire on the West the Air thereof is very healthy as appears by the vivacity of the Inhabitants Many aged People which in other Countrys are confined to their Beds and Chimney Corners are here found in the Fields both able and willing to work The ingenious Serjeant Hoskin gave an Entertainment to K. James in this County and provided 10 aged People to dance the Morris before him all of them making up more than a Thousand Years for what was wanting in one was supplied in the age of another This County shares as deep as any in the Alphabet of our English Commodities though exceeding in W. that is for Wood Wheat Wool and Water besides excellent fruit especially Apples of which the best Sider is made There is a little Fountain called Bonewell nigh Richards Castle in this County the Water whereof is always full of the Bones of little Fishes or as others conceive of little Frogs they being so small as hardly to be distinguished and which addeth to the Wonder this Spring can never be emptied of them but as fast as some are drawn out others presently succeed To this may be added a second Wonder of Marcley Hill in the East part of this County for Feb. 17. 1571. the Earth began to open at 6 a Clock in the Evening and this Hill with a Rock under it made at first a mighty bellowing noise which was heard a great way off and then lifted up itself a great height and began to travel carrying along with it the Trees which grew upon it the Sheepfolds and flocks of Sheep abiding thereon at the same time in the place from whence it first moved it left a gaping distance 40 Foot wide and 80 Ells long the whole field was about Twenty Acres passing along it overthrew a Chappel standing in its way removed an Ewe-tree growing in the Church-Yard from the West to the East with the like violence it thrust before it Highways Houses and Trees it made tilled ground pasture and again turned pasture into Tillage having thus walked from Sunday in the Evening till Monday Noon it then stood still and moved no more mounting to a Hill 12 Fathoms high In the Reign of William the Conqueror Walter Bishop of Hereford attempted to force the Chastity of a Woman who was a Semstress whom out of pretence of working for him he brought into his Chamber but she refusing to consent wounded him in the Belly with a pair of Scissars whereof he died In 1233. a little before the Wars broke forth between K. Hen. 3. and his Barons there appeared at Hereford five Suns at once and a certain great Circle of a Christal colour about two Foot in breadth as it were compassing all England In the Reign of King Hen. 4. 1402. Owen Glendour being by the Welch made their King and Captain having got together a considerable number brake into the borders of Herefordshire making spoil and Prey of the Country as freely as if they had leave to do it and indeed they had none to oppose them but only the Lord Edmund Mortimer who was at his Castle of Wigmore he assembling the Country Forces and joining Battle with them was overthrown by them himself being taken Prisoner and then fettered and cast into a deep and vile Dungeon from whence King Henry would not be persuaded to deliver him but could rather have wished both him and his two Sisters in Heaven they being all three Competitors for the Crown with him It was thought if Owen Glendour had as well known how to use the Victory as to get it he might at this time have gone far in freeing
you may make a Devil of it At which answer they laughed and departed In the Reign of Queen Elizabeth a certain Jesuit in Lancashire as he was walking by the way lost his Glove and one that came after him finding it followed him apace with an intention to restore it but he fearing the worst being inwardly pursued with a guilty conscience ran away and hastily leaping over an Hedge fell into a Marle-pit which was on the other side in which he was drowned In 1613. April 17. in the Parish of Standish in Lancashire a Maiden Child was born having four legs four Arms two Bellies joined to one back one head with two faces the one before the other behind like the Picture of Janus In 1662. July 4. At Litham about two miles from Preston in this County a very strange Fish was cast upon the Shoar it was about four yards in length and as big as an ordinary Horse the forefeet were as long as a mans Arm the hinder feet much shorter but broad like the Finns of a Fish it roared most dreadfully like a Bear it continued alive for some time and multitudes of People came to view it Also much about the same time and nine miles from this place many credible Persons often saw a very dreadful Serpent come forth out of a Wood the length thereof being about five or six yards and they judged it to be bigger than the biggest Cart Axel Tree it was so great that some who viewed the place where it sometimes lay near a Well at Dunkin Hall affirm that it made such an impression on the ground as if an Ox or some more large and pounderous Beast had lain there The Thirtieth of the same month at Ormskirk there happened such a storm of Hail as was hardly ever seen it beat down the Apples spoil'd the Corn broke the glass Windows on that side of the Houses the wind was of and cut the lead in pieces some Hailstones were taken up 8 Inches about and some as big as Pullets Eggs all the French Wheat was utterly spoyl'd and the other Wheat and Barley in the three adjacent Parishes much damaged This County is divided into 6 Hundreds wherein are 26 Market Towns and 61 Churches and is in the Diocess of Chester it elects 14 Parliament men Manchester gives the Title of Earl to Robert L. Montague LEICESTERSHIRE hath Lincoln and Rutland Shires on the East Derby and Nottingham Shires on the North Warwickshire on the West and Northamptonshire on the South It is a Champion Country and abounds with Corn Cattle and Coals the chief City Leicester stands almost in the heart of the County which by Etheldred the Mercian King was made an Episcopal See but being removed the Beauty of the Town decayed yet the renouned Lady Ethelfleda casting an Eye of compassion upon it re-edified the Buildings and compassed it about with a strong Wall whereby the Trade of the City was much increased But in the Reign of Hen. 2. Robert Earl of Leicester rebelling against him the King beseiged took and plundered it throwing down the Walls which seemed hard to be done some parcels of them remaining like hard Rocks by reason of the excellent Mortar The King then commanded the City to be set on fire and burnt the Castle to be razed and an heavy Imposition was laid upon the Citizens who with great Sums of Money bought their own Banishments In the ninth Year of K. Henry 5. a Parliament was called at Leicester wherein an 110 Priories were suppressed because they spoke ill of his Conquests in France and their Possessions given to the King In 1485. King Richard called Crookback set out of this City in the morning to meet the Earl of Richmond afterward K. Henry 7. and chose Bosworth Field to try his fortune with him for the Crown of England that day the Van of his Army was led by the Duke of Norfolk consisting of 1200 Bowmen flanked with 200 Curiassers under the E. of Surrey the main Battle K. Richard led himself being 1000 Billmen empaled with 2000 Pikes the King expected the L. Stanly's 2000 Horse to come for his assistance of whose Fidelity to him the King having some doubt he had before got his Son the Lord Strange as a pledge of his Loyalty with him Stanly not appearing K. Richard sent a Letter to him to come presently into his presence or else he swore by Christs Passion he would strike off his Sons head before he dined to which the L. Stanly returned answer That if he did so he had more Sons alive and he might do his pleasure but to come to him he was not determined Which Answer when K. Richard heard he commanded the L. Strange to be immediately beheaded but it being at the very time when both Armies were in sight of each other his Lords persuaded him it was now time to fight and not to put to Execution and so the L. Strange escaped The Earl of Richmond likewise sent to the L. Stanly to repair presently to him but he sent word he must expect no aid from him till the Battles were joined and therefore advised him with all possible speed to give the onset which Answer somewhat staggered the Earl because his number did but a little exceed one half of the Kings yet to make the best shew he could by the advice of his Council of War he made the Front of his Army thin and broad of which the Earl of Oxford had the leading the Earl himself leading the Battle soon after the Fight begun and the Arrows being spent on both sides they came to handstroaks and just then came in the Lord Stanly to the Earls assistance while they were thus contending K. Richard was informed that the Earl of Richmond with a small number was not far off and thereupon being of an invincible courage whereof he was now to give the last proof he made toward him and gave such a furious assault that first with his own hands he slew Sir William Brandon who bore the Earls Standard next he unhorst and overthrew Sir John Chyney a stout man at Arms and then assaulted the Earl of Richmond himself who unexpectedly for all the Kings fury held him off at the Lances point till Sir Wm. Stanly came in with 3000 fresh men and then opprest with multitude K. Richard was there slain It is said that when the Battle was near lost a swift Horse was brought him with which he might have saved himself by flight but Richard out of his undaunted courage refused it saying He would that day make an end of all Battles or else lose his Life In this Battle Henry E. of Northumberland who led King Richards Rear never struck stroke as likewise many others who followed K. Richard more for fear than love and so he who had deceived many was at this time deceived by many which was not unforeseen by some who caused a Rhime to be set upon the Duke of Norfolk's Tent the
night before the Fight which was this Jack of Norfolk be not too bold For Dickon thy Master is bought and sold Yet notwithstanding this warning this noble Duke continued firm to K. Richard and lost his Life in his quarrel The whole number slain in this Battle on K. Richard's side was about 1000 Persons Sir Wm. Catesby one of the chief Counsellors of K. Richard with divers others were two days after beheaded at Leicester This Battle was fought Aug. 20. 1485. continuing a little above two hours The Earl Knighted several persons in the Field and then kneeling down he rendred hearty Thanks to Almighty God for the Victory he had obtained and commanded all the wounded men to be cured whereat the People rejoycing clapt their hands and cried K. Henry K. Henry of which joy Sir W. Stanly taking opportunity he took the Crown of K. Richard which was found among the spoils in the Field and set it on the Earls Head as though he had been elected King by the voice of the People The Body of K. Richard after he was slain was script and left naked to the very skin not so much as a rag being left about him to cover his nakedness and being taken up was trussed behind a pursivant at Arms his Head and Arms hanging on one side the Horse and his Legs on the other thus all besmeared with Blood and dirt he was brought to the Gray Friars Church in Leicester and there for some time lay a miserable spectacle and afterward with small Funeral Pomp was there buried But K. Henry 7. afterward caused a Tomb to be set over the place with his Picture in Alabaster which at the suppression of that Monastery was utterly defaced since when his Grave overgrown with Nettles and Weeds is not to be found only the stone Chest wherein his Corps lay is now made a drinking Trough for Horses at a common Inn in Leicester and retaineth only the memory of this Monarchs greatness but his body is reported to have been carried out of the City and contemptuously laid under the end of Bow-Bridge near that Town it is likewise said that upon this Bridg there stood a stone of some height against which K. Richard as he passed toward Bosworth by chance struck his spur which a Witch or wise Woman observing she should say That where his spur struck his head should be broken as they say it was when he was brought back dead He lived 37 years and reigned two years and two months it is memorable that this Sir William Stanly who so seasonably saved K. Henries life and set the Crown on his head was about 11 years after upon pretence of some dangerous words beheaded at Tower-hill by order of the same King Henry Mr. Wanly writes that in St. Martins Church in Leicester there is this very remarkable Epitaph to be seen Here lies the body of John Heyrick of this Parish who died 1589. aged 76 years who lived with his Wife Mary in one House full 62 years and had issue by her 5 Sons and seven Daughters and in all that time never buried Man Woman nor Child though they were somtime 20 in Houshold the said Mary lived to 97 years and died 1611. She did see before her departure of her Children and Childrens Children and their Children to the number of 142. Matthew Paris relates of a Maid in Leicestershire who being exactly watched was found in seven years together neither to eat nor drink but only that on Sundays she received the Sacrament and yet continued fat and good liking which if true we may well believe that in the Resurrection our life may be maintained without meat or drink About Lutterworth in Leicestershire a Miller had murdered one in his Mill and privately buried him in a ground hard by this Miller removed into another Country and there lived a long space till at last guided by the Providence of God for the manifestation of his Justice he returned unto that place to visit some of his Friends while he was there the Miller who now had the Mill had occasion to dig deep in that very place where he found the Carkass of a man this known it pleased God to put it into their hearts to remember a Neighbour of theirs who 20 years before was suddenly missed and since that time not heard of and bethinking themselves who was then Miller of that Mill behold he was ready in Town not having been there for many years before this man was suspected thereupon examined without much ado confessed the Fact was accordingly executed for the same In 1660. Sep. 3. near Worthington in this County there happened a dreadful Whirlwind which tore up a great Tree by the Roots casting it four or five yards from the place rent off the great limbs of an Apple-Tree and threw down a House in the Street the Chappel was much shaken and the Chancel in danger of falling then it passed on with great force and noise to Worthington Hall where it overturned five Bay of Barn-building and a Gate-house it blew down a stack of Chimnies and hurried a man into the Garden who by catching hold of a Tree stayed himself at another Town it rent a House where a woman and three Children were miraculously preserved to which it brought a great Log of Wood no body knew from whence it carried away a Hive of Bees and a load of Thorns which could not be heard of and turned up 20 Load of Wood by the roots this whirlwind ran about three miles in length and not above 20 yards in breadth some said there were flames of fire seen in it Upon the 24. of January following between six and seven a clock at night there was a very great Earthquake in most parts of Leicestershire which came at first like a noise in the Air at great distance it shook the Houses very much and in some places men could hardly stand without holding the continuance thereof was about a quarter of an hour Near Lutterworth is a spring so cold that in a short time it turneth straw and sticks into stone John Wickliff was sometime Parson of Lutterworth Church a man of singular and polite wit and much conversant in the Scripture his bones were afterward taken up and burnt by the Papists Sir Robert Belknap Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in K. Richard 2. time was of this County and that K. having a design to destroy certain Lords sent for the Judges to Nottingham where the Kings many questions were in fine resolved into this Whether he might by his Regal Power revoke what was acted in Parliament to this all the Judges Sir William Skipwith alone excepted answered Affirmatively and subscribed it though this Belknap did it unwillingly as foreseeing the danger and putting to his Seal said these words There wants nothing now but an Hurdle an Horse and an Halter to carry me where I may suffer the death I deserve for if I had not
done this I should have dyed for it and because I have done it I deserve death for betraying the Lords Yet it had been more for his credit to have adventured Martyrdom in defence of the Laws than to hazard the death of a Malefactor in the breach thereof but Judges are but men and most men desire to decline that danger which they think nearest to them but he and the other Judges were condemned for High-Treason in the next Wonder working Parliament and hardly had escaped death if the Queen had not earnestly interceeded for them The County of Leicester is divided into six Hundreds wherein are 200 Parish Churches and 12 Market Towns it is in the Diocess of Lincoln and gives the Title of Earl to Robert L. Sydney LINCOLNSHIRE hath Yorkshire on the North the German Ocean on the East Cambridge and Northampton Shires on the South and Leicestershire on the West it abounds in Fish Fowl Corn Cattle and Flax. Lincoln is the chief Place well inhabited and frequented It stands upon the side of a Hill where the River Witham bends his course Eastward and being divided into three small Channels watereth the lower part of the City in the highest part thereof is the Cathedral a stately structure being built throughout with singular and rare Workmanship especially the West end it is very ancient and had 50 Parish Churches in it whereof at this day only 15 remain besides the Minster In the year 1180. a great Earthquake overthrew many Buildings amongst which the Cathedral Church of Lincoln was rent in pieces by it about this time the Bishoprick of Lincoln was so long void that a certain Hermit of Tame prophecied there should be no more Bishops of Lincoln but he proved an untrue Prophet for after 16 years vacancy Geffery the Kings Bastard Son was preferred thereunto of whom it was said That he was more skilful in fleecing than feeding his Flock this Gallant Bishop would usually in discourse protest By the honour of his Father but one of the Kings Chaplains told him Pray Sir remember sometimes the honesty of your Mother as well as the Royalty of your Father he used to put in his Episcopal Seal The Seal of Geffery Son of the K. of England A poor Country Husbandman coming to Robert Grostead Bishop of Lincoln challenged kindred of him and thereupon desired him to prefer him to such an Office which he was very unfit for Cousen said the Bishop If your Cart be broken I will mend it if your Plough be old I will give you a new one or seed to sow your Land but a Husbandman I found you and a Husbandman I will leave you In 1537. King Henry the 8. by advice of the L. Cromwell sent abroad injunctions whereby the People were permitted to read the Bible and to have the Lords Prayer the Creed the Ten Commandments and all the Articles of the Christian Faith in English to be taught by all Parsons and Curates to their Parishioners which so inraged the stupid Papists that in Lincolnshire Twenty Thousand of them assembled together against whom the King himself went in Person who by persuasion winning their Chief Leaders brought the rest upon pardon to submit themselves but when he had himself done the work of mercy he afterward sent the Duke of Suffolk Sir John Russel and others to do the work of Justice who caused Nicholas Melton and a Monk who called himself Captain Cobler with 13 other Ringleaders of the Sedition to be apprehended and most of them executed In 1564. a monstrous Fish was driven on the shoar at Grimesby in this County being 19 yards in length his tail was 15 foot broad and six yards between his Eyes 15 men stood upright in his mouth to get the Oil. Job Hartop was born at Bourn in this County and went in 1568. with Sir John Hawkins his General to make discoveries in New Spain He was a Gunner in one of Queen Elizabeths Ships called The Jesus of Lubeck long and dangerous was his Voyage eight of his men being killed at Cape-Verd and the General himself wounded with poysoned Arrows but was cured by a Negro who drew out the Poyson with a clove of Garlick he first writ of that strange Tree which may be termed The Tree of Food affording a Liquor which is both meat and drink The Tree of Raiment yeilding Needles wherewith and Thred whereof Mantles are made The Tree of Harbour Tiles to cover Houses being made out of the solid parts thereof so that it beareth a self-sufficiency for mans maintenance Job was his name and patience was with him so that he may pass for a Confessor of this County for being with some others by this General left on land for want of Provisions after many miseries they came to Mexico he continued a Prisoner twenty three years that is 2 years at Mexico one year in the Contractation House in Sevil another in the Spanish Inquisition in Triana 12 years a Gally Slave four years with the Cross of St. Andrews at his back in the Everlasting Prison and three years a drudge to Hernando de Soria to so high a sum did the inventory of his sufferings amount so much of his patience now see the end the Lord made with him whil'st inslaved to the aforesaid Fernando he was sent to Sea in a Flemish Vessel which was afterward taken by an English Ship and so he was safely landed at Plymouth Dec. 2. 1590. And died soon after Sir William Mounson was extracted out of an Ancient Family in this Shire and was from his Youth bred in Sea Service wherein he attained to great perfection Queen Elizabeth having cleared Ireland of the Spanish Forces and desiring carefully to prevent a Relapse altered the Scene of War from Ireland to Spain from defending to invading and Sir Richard Levison being Admiral and Mounson Vice Admiral they in 1602. went to Portugal where without drawing a Sword they quite killed Trading on those Coasts no Ships daring to go in or out of their Harbours there they had Intelligence of a vast Carract ready to land in Sisimbria which was of 1600 Tun richly laden out of the East-Indies resolved to assault it though it seemed placed in an invincible posture of itself it was a Gyant in comparison of our Pigmy Ships and had in her 300 Spanish Gentlemen the Marquess De Sancta Cruce lay hard by with 13 Ships and all were secured under the Command of a strong and well fortified Castle but nothing is impossible to the English Valour and Gods blessing thereon After an hot dispute which lasted for some hours with the Invincible Arguments of Fire Sword the Carract was conquered the wealth taken therein amounting to the value of Ten Hundred Thousand Crowns of Portugal Account But though the Goods gotten therein might be valued the good gotten thereby was inestimable for ever after the Spaniards beheld the English with admiring Eyes and quitted the thoughts of Invasion this worthy Knight
died about the midst of the Reign of King James In 1614. Such great Inundations of Water happened in Lincolnshire and the parts adjacent that the Sea entred 12 miles into the Land I have a Letter by me saith Mr. Clerk dated July 7. 1606. written by one Mr. Bovy to a Minister in London where he thus writes Touching News you shall understand that Mr. Sherwood hath received a Letter from Mr. Arthur Hildersham which containeth this following Narrative That at Brampton in the Parish of Torksey near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire an Ash-Tree shaketh both in the Body and Boughs thereof and there proceeds from thence sighs and groans like those of a man troubled in his sleep as if it felt some sensible torment Many have climbed to the top thereof where they heard the groans more plainly than they could below One among the rest being atop spoke to the Tree but presently came down much astonished and lay groveling on the Earth Speechless for 3 hours and then reviving said Brampton Brampton thou are much bound to pray The Author of this News is one Mr. Vaughan a Minister who was there present and heard and saw these Passages and told Mr. Hildersham of it The Earl of Lincoln caused one of the Arms of the Ash to be lopped off and a hole to be bored into the Body and then was the sound or hollow voice heard more audibly than before but in a kind of Speech which they could not comprehend nor understand In 1666. Oct. 13. there was an extraordinary and dreadful Storm of Thunder in Lincolnshire accompanied with Hailstones much bigger than Pigeons and some as large as Pullets Eggs immediately after there followed a terrible storm and Tempest attended with a very unusual noise and with such violence that at Welborn it threw most of the Houses to the ground brake down some and tore up other Trees by the Roots scattering abroad much Corn and Hay but by Divine Providence only one Boy was killed in that Town It went thence to Willingore the next Town overthrowing some houses and killing 2 Children with the fall it fell so violently on the Church of the next Town to this that it presently dashed the Spire Steeple to pieces and rent the Stone and Timberwork of the Church so violently that but a little of the Wall and only the Body of the Steeple was left standing it threw down many Houses Trees and out-houses in this Town as well as in two others far distant It was observed to move only in a channel or small breadth and if it had been considerably broader could not but have ruined a great part of the Country to some that saw it at a distance before it came near them it had the appearance of Fire and was by some observed to move in a kind of circle though at the same time it kept its general course along It passed also through Nottinghamshire some of the Hailstones being measured were 9 Inches about this Whirl-Wind extended above 60 Yards in breadth In the Forrest of Sherwood it broke down and overthrew at least 1000 Trees it brake one short off in the Body which was three Foot in Diameter it overthrew divers Wind Mills some Boats in the River and in one Town consisting of 50 Houses it left but 7 standing The same Evening over Derby Town and some other places there appeared a fiery Sword hanging in the Air over them The Thursday after in the Evening there were strange Fires seen hanging over Nottingham Town sinsomuch that some of the Inhabitants coming homeward from a Country Market thought the Town to be on Fire in three several places these Informations saith Mr. Clerk I had from Eye-Witnesses worthy of Credit About April 26. 1661. at Spalding Bourne and several other places in Lincolnshire it rained Wheat some grains whereof were very thin and hollow but others of a more firm substance and would grind into fine flower several Pecks of it were taken up out of Church Leads and other houses that were leaded several Inhabitants who were Eye-Witnesses brought up a considerable quantity to London There is a Proverb in this Country As mad as the baiting Bull of Stamford the Original whereof was thus occasioned William Earl of Warren Lord of this Town in the time of King John standing upon the Castle Walls of Stamford saw two Bulls fighting for a Cow in the Meadow till all the Butchers Dogs great and small pursued one of the Bulls being mad with noise and multitude quite through the Town this sight so pleased the Earl that he gave all those Fields called the Castle Meadows where first the Bull-duel began for a common to the Butchers of the Town after the first grass was eaten upon condition they find a Mad Bull the day 6 weeks before Christmas-day for the continuance of the sport every year some think that the men must be as mad as the Bull who can take delight in so dangerous a pastime whereby Gods providence more than mans care is to be observed that no more mischief is done The Horrid Murther of K. EDWARD 2. Pa. 78. The Dreadfull Tempest in Devonshire Pa. 55. The County of Lincoln hath three Divisions wherein are 30 Hundreds and hath in it 35 Market Towns 630 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Lincoln It elects 12 Parliament men and gives the Title of Earl to Edward Lord Clinton as Stamford doth to Henry Lord Gray MIDDLESEX hath Hartfordshire on the North Buckinghamshire on the West Essex parted with the Ley on the East Kent and Surrey severed by the Thames on the South The Air is generally very healthful especially about Highgate where the expert Inhabitants report That divers who have been long visited with sickness not curable by Physick have in short time recovered by that sweet salutary Air The Soil is very fruitful pleasantly beautified on all sides with sumptuous Houses and pretty Towns Harrow-Hill is the highest in all this County under which there lie a long way together Southward exceeding rich and fruitful Fields especially about Heston a small Village which yieldeth such fine flower for Manchet that the Kings Bread was formerly made thereof and therefore Q. Eliz. received no Composition Money from the Villages thereabout but took her Wheat in kind for her own Pastry and Bakehouse Hampton Court a Royal Pallace and the neatest of all the Kings Houses is in this Shire it is a Work of admirable magnificence a City rather in shew than the Pallace of a Prince for stately Port and gorgeous Building saith Weaver not inferiour to any in Europe It was built out of the ground by that Pompous Prelate Cardinal Woolsey in ostentation of his Riches one so magnificent in his expences that whosoever considers his House-building would admire that he had any thing for his House-keeping or House-furnishing He bestowed this on K. Hen. 8. who for the greater grace thereof erected it to be an honour Princes having Power to confer dignities
That her being a Widdow might be sufficient to restrain him to whom the King replied Whereas you say Madam that she is a Widdow and hath already Children by Gods blessed Lady I am a Batchellor and have some too and so each of us have a proof that none of us is like to be barren and he accordingly married her being the first of our Kings since the Conquest that married his own Subject yet was his love divided among three other of his Mistresses of whom he was wont to say The one was the fairest the other the merriest and the third the Holiest Harlot in England as being alwaies at her Beads in the Chappel when he sent for her to his Bed His Queen lived to see the death of her Husband murther of her two Sons restraint of her self and the rest of her Children so that she had more greatness than joy height than happiness by Marriage she finished Queens Colledge in Cambridge and died not long after At Fotheringay Castle in this County was acted the Tragedy of Mary Q. of Scots Mother to K. James in the 29 year of Q. Elizabeth 1587. This Mary was the Daughter and only lawfully begotten Child of James 5. and succeeded in her Cradle to the Throne she was promised in Marriage to King Edw. 6. of England but by the power of the Hamiltons carried into France and there married to Francis 2. King of France about which time Reformation in Religion began to be practised in Scotland as well as England for at the Preaching of John Knox and some other Ministers Images Altars and such things were defaced and it was further put into the heads of the Nobility That it pertained to them of their own Authority to take away Idolatry and by force reduce the Prince to the prescript of Laws whereupon there was presently bandying of the Lords of Scotland against the Queen Dowager and each of them sent for Aid she from France and the Lords from England but this was matter for Consultation it seemed a bad example for a Prince to give Aid to the Rebellious Subjects of another Prince on the other side it seemed no less than Impiety not to give Aid to Protestants of the same Religion but most of all it seemed meer madness to suffer enemies to be so near Neighbours and let the French nestle in Scotland who pretend Title to England upon such considerations it was resolved Queen Elizabeth should send them Aid and thereupon an Army of 6000 Foot and 1200 Horse were sent under the Duke of Norfolk and others who going into Scotland joined with the Lords where passed many light Skirmishes many Batteries and sometimes Assaults which growing tedious soon after ended in a Peace between France and England upon condition That neither the King of France nor the Queen of Scotland should thence forth use the Arms or Titles of England or Ireland and that both the English and French should depart out of Scotland and a general pardon should pass in Parliament for all that had been Actors in those Stirs The Peace was scarce concluded when Francis the young K. of France died and left Mary Qu. of Scots a Widdow soon after the House of Commons in Parliament humbly moved Queen Elizabeth to Marry who answered That she was already Married to the Kingdom of England and behold saith she the pledge of the Covenant with my Husband and therewith held out her Finger and shewed the Ring wherewith at her Coronation she gave her self in Wedlock to the Kingdom and if said she I keep my self to this Husband and take no other yet I doubt not but God will send you as good Kings as if they were born of me for as much as we see by dayly experience that the issue of the best Princes do often degenerate and for my self it will be sufficient that a Marble Stone declare that a Queen having reigned such a time lived and dyed a Virgin She had indeed many matches propounded to her to whom she gave Testimonies of her Princely favour but never pledges of nuptial Love about this time the Earl of Feria who had Married the Daughter of Sir William Dormer being denied leave of Queen Elizabeth for some of his Wives Friends to live in England he grew so inraged that he persuaded Pope Pius 4. to Excommunicate her as an Heretick and Usurper but the Pope pretending to great gentleness writ to her lovingly To return to the Vnity of the Catholick Church and made great offers if she would hearken to his Counsel particularly That he would recall the Sentence against her Mothers Marriage confirm the Book of Common-Prayer in English and permit the use of the Sacrament in both kinds but the Queen neither terrified with Feria's practices nor allured with the Popes great offers according to her Motto Semper eadem always the same persisted constant in her resolution to maintain that Religion which in her Conscience she was persuaded to be most agreeable to the Word of God and the practice of the Primitive Church Queen Mary after the death of her Husband went from France to Scotland and then sent Letters to Q. Elizabeth offering readily to enter into a League with her so she might by Authority of Parliament be declared her Successor which was but her Right to which Q. Elizabeth answered That though she would no way derogate from her Right yet she should be loth to endanger her own security and as it were to cover her own eyes with a grave cloth while she was alive The two Queens were indeed both of great Spirits Mary doubting Queen Elizabeth meant to frustrate her Succession and Elizabeth lest the Queen of Scots meant to hinder her Succession which created Jealousies and many unkind passages between them as by the sequel appears The Queen of Scots having a desire to Marry again Queen Elizabeth proposed the Earl of Leicester to her but she Married the Lord Darnly Son to the Earl of Lenox and thereupon the next Parliament again move Queen Elizabeth to marry to declare her Successor to the Crown some of them boldly arguing That Princes were bound to design a Successor and that in not doing it the Queen would shew her self no better than a Parricide and destroyer of her Country The Queen was contented to bear with words spoken in Parliament which out of it she would never have endured and commanded 30 of each House to appear before her to whom she said That she knew what danger hangeth over a Princes head when a Successor is once declared she knew that even Children themselves out of a hasty desire of bearing Rule had taken up Arms against their own Father and how could better be expected from Kindred And therefore though she had given them leave to debate the matter of Succession she bid them beware not to be injurious to their Princes patience After which they never made any further motion to her but now the love between the Queen of
plenty of all things especially Fish it is adorned with a very stately Market place wherein standeth their Common Hall of Timberwork a very handsome building About 6 miles from Salisbury upon the Plains is to be seen a huge and monstrous piece of Work for within the circuit of a Pit or Ditch there are erected in the manner of a Crown certain mighty and unwrought stones whereof some are 20 Foot high and 7 broad upon the heads whereof others like overthwart pieces do bear and rest cross-wise with Tenents and Mortesses so that the whole frame seemeth to hang whereof it is commonly called Stone-henge Near Badmington is a place called The Giants Cave whereof there are 9 in number some deeper than others being two great long stones on both sides and a broad one to cover them both these are thought to be some ancient works either of the Romans Danes or Saxons In the Year 975. Queen Elfrida having barbarously murdered K. Edward her Son in Law to set up her own Son K. Etheldred afterward repenting of her cruel Fact and to pacifie the crying Blood of her slain Son built the two Monasteries of Amesbury and Worwel in Wiltshire and Hamshire in which she lived and died with great Penance but these and the like Foundations being built with Rapine and Blood have felt the Woe pronounced by the Prophet That the Stone in the Wall shall cry and the Beam out of the Timber shall answer it woe to him that buildeth a Town with Blood and establisheth a City with Iniquity In the Year 1154. K. Stephen seizing into his hands the Bishop of Salisburys Castles and Goods a Synod was called by the Popes Legate to right him where the King was summoned to appear to answer for his imprisoning of Bishops and depriving them of the r Goods which being a Christian King he ought not to do The King by his Attorney answers That he had not arrested him as a Bishop but as a Servant who ought to make up his Accounts about his Employments This answer caused some Debates they not presuming to excommunicate the King without the Popes leave and therefore they fell from Authority to Submission falling at his Feet and beseeching him to have pity on the Church and not make dissention between the Kingdom and the Priesthood which shews the great magnanimity and courage of K. Stephen that he was able to pull down the high Spirits of the Prelates in that time this rich Bishop of Salisbury who built the Castle of the Devizes and divers other strong Castles in this County being now thrown out of all his Grandeur was so swallowed up of over much grief that he ran mad and spake and did he knew not what In 1275. K. Edward 1. calls a Parliament at Salisbury without admitting of any Church-men to sit therein and Marchian his Treasurer acquainting him That in Churches and Religious Houses there was much Treasure to be had if it were lawful to take it He made no scruple of it but caused it to be seized and brought into his Exchequer but finding that he had thereby displeased the Clergy he bid them ask what they would have who required the Repeal of the Statute of Mortmain which hindered devout People at their death from giving all their Estates from their Children to the Church To which the King answered That it was a Statute made by the whole Body of the Realm and therefore it was not in his Power who was but one Member of that Body to repeal it In another Parliament at Salisbury this King requires certain of his Lords to go to the Wars in Gascoign who all excusing themselves the King in a great rage threatned they should either go or he would give their Lands to others that should Upon this the Earl of Hereford High-Constable and the Earl of Norfolk Marshal of England declare That if the King went in Person they would attend him otherwise not Which answer offended the King more and being urged again the Earl Marshal protested he would willingly march in the Front if the King went himself But the King told him he should go with any other without him I am not bound to do so said the Earl neither will I take this Journey without you The King swore by God he should either go or hang And I swear by the same Oath said the Earl I will neither go nor hang and so without leave departs shortly after the two Earls assembled many Noblemen and 1500 Souldiers wherewith they stand on their own Guard but the King being obliged to go to France condescends to their Demands and desires them that since they would not â—o they would do nothing prejudicial to himself and the Kingdom in his Absence and upon his return the King solemnly confirmed the two great Charters which appeased the present disturbances In the 4. of Q. Mary 1454 exemplary Justice was done upon a great Person for the Lord Sturton a man much in the Queens favour because he was an earnest Papist was for a Murther committed by him arraigned and condemned and he with 4 of his Servants were carried to Salisbury and there in the Market-place hanged he having this favour to be hanged in a silken Halter and his servants in places near adjoining where the Murther was committed Not long since saith Mr. Clark a Souldier in Salisbury in the midst of his Cups drinking and carousing in a Tavern drank a Health to the Devil saying That if the Devil would not come and pledge him he would not believe there was either God or Devil whereupon his Companions being struck with horrour hastened out of the Room and presently after hearing a hideous noise and smelling a stinking savour the Vintner ran up into the Chamber and coming in he missed his Guest and found the Window broken the Iron Bar in it bowed and all bloody but the man was never heard of afterward Wiltshire is divided into 29 Hundreds wherein are 23 Market Towns 304 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Salisbury It elects 34 Parliament-Men and gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Pawlet as Salisbury doth to James Lord Cecil and Marleburgh to William L. Ley. WORCESTERSHIRE hath Staffordshire on the North Warwickshire on the East Glocestershire on the South Hereford and Shropshire on the West It is a County rich and populous the soil is very fertile producing besides Corn Cattle and Wood abundance of Apples and Pears which yield pleasure to the sight and also profit for with the juice they make great quantity of Sider and Perry both very pleasant and wholsome Drinks The City of Worcester is most pleasantly seaâ—ed and is admirable both in respect of the Antiquity and Beauty thereof It standeth in a place rising somewhat with a gentle ascent by the Rivers side which hath a fair Bridge with a Tower over it it is well and strongly walled and the Inhabitants are much enriched by the Trade of Clothing It is 1650 paces
no Temporal Authority at all but yet in Spirituals he rather raised them as appears by a passage between Aldred Archbishop of York and this King for one time upon denying a certain suit the Archbishop in great discontent offered to go away but the King for fear of his displeasure staid him and fell down at his feet desiring his pardon and promising to grant his Suit the King for sometime lay at his feâ—t and the Noblemen that were present put the Prelate in mind that he should cause the King to rise Nay said the Archbishop let him alone let him find what it is to anger St. Peter And as by this story we may see the insulting Pride of this Prelate in those days so by another we may observe the equivocating falshood of another Prelate at that time for Stigand A. B. of Canterbury would often swear he had not one penny upon Earth when under the Earth it was afterward found he had hidden great Treasure It is also memorable but scarce credible of another Bishop who being accused of Simony and denying it the Cardinal before whom he was to answer told him That a Bishoprick was the gift of the Holy Ghost and therefore to buy a Bishoprick was against the Holy Ghost and thereupon bid him say Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost which the Bishop beginning and oft trying to do saith our Historian could never say and to the Holy Ghost but said it plainly when he was put out of his Bishoprick In the 19th of King Henry 3. 1235. there was a great dearth in Eng. so that many poor people died for want of food the Rich being so cruelly covetous as not to relieve them and among others Walter Gray A. B. of York had great store of Corn which he had horded for five years together yet at that sad time refused to bestow any of it upon the necessities of the poor but suspecting that it might be destroyed by Vermine he commanded it to be delivered to Husbandmen that lived in his Mannors upon condition to return him as much new Corn after Harvest but behold a terrible Judgment of God upon him for his covetousness when they came to one of his great stacks of Corn nigh the Town of Ripoon there appeared in the Sheaves all over the heads of Worms Serpents and Toads so that the Bailiffs were forced to build an high wall round about the stack of Corn and then to set it on fire least the venemous Creatures should have gone out and poysoned the Corn in other places In the Reign of K. Edward 4. 1570. George Nevil Brother to the great Earl of Warwick at his Instalment into his Archbishoprick of York made a prodigious Feast to the Nobility chief Clergy and many Gentry wherein he spent 300 Quarters of Wheat 330 Tuns of Ale 104 Tuns of Wine 1 Pipe of spiced Wine 80 fat Oxen 6 wild Bulls 1004 Sheep 3000 Hogs 300 Calves 3000 Geese 3000 Capons 300 Pigs 100 Peacocks 200 Cranes 200 Kids 2000 Chickens 4000 Pigeons 4000 Rabbets 204 Bittours 4000 Ducks 400 Herons 200 Phesants 500 Partridges 4000 Woodcocks 400 Plovers 100 Curlews 100 Quales 1000 Egrets 200 Rees above 400 Bucks Does and Roe-Bucks 1506 hot Venison Pasties 4000 cold Venison Pasties 1000 Dishes of Jelly parted 4000 Dishes of Jelly plain 4000 cold Custards 2000 hot Custards 300 Pikes 300 Breams 8 Seals 4 Porpusses and 400 Tarts At this Feast the E. of Warwick was Steward the Earl of Bedford Treasurer the Lord Hastings Controller with many more noble Officers 1000 Servitors 62 Cooks 515 Scullions But about 7 Years after the King seized on all the Estate of this Archbishop and sent him over Prisoner into France where he was bound in chains and in great Poverty Justice thus punishing his former prodigality The East-Riding of Yorkshire is divided into 4 Hundreds wherein are 8 Market Towns the West-Riding is divided into 10 Hundreds wherein are 24 Market Towns the North is divided into 12 Hundreds wherein are 17 Market Towns it is in the Diocess of York hath 563 Parish Churches and elects 29 Parliament men York gives the Title of Duke to His Royal Highness Richmond that of Duke to Charles Lenos Son to the Dutchess of Portsmouth Hallifax the Title of Earl to George L. Savil. WALES THis Principality hath the Severn Sea on the South the Irish Ocean on the West and North and England on the East It is 100 Miles from East to West and 120 from North to South it consisteth of 3 parts Northwales Powis and Southwales wherein are contained 13 Shires or Counties of which I have not room to give a particular account as before but shall only observe what is memorable in each of them the names thereof are Anglesey Brecknockshire Cardigan Carmarthan Carnarvan Denby Flint Glamorg n Merioneth Monmouth Montgomery Pembroke and Radnor The name of Wales some derive from Idwallo the Son of Cadwaller who with the small Remainder of his Brittish Subjects made good the dangerous places of this Countrey against his Enemies and was first called King of Wales This Country is Mountainous and barren not able to maintain its People but by helps elsewhere their chief Commodities are course cloths called Welch Freez and Cottons Lewellin Son of Griffin the Brother of David the last Sovereign Prince of VVales of the Race of Cadwallader was slain by K. Edward 1. 1282. whereby the Principality of Wales was added to the Crown of England though it may be this Conquest happened not for want of Valour since Hen. 2. in a Letter to Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople gives this Testimony of them The Welch Nation is so adventurous that they dare encounter naked with armed men ready to spend their blood for their Country and pawn their Life for praise Anglesey is an Island separated from the Continent by a small and narrow Streight of the River Menai In divers places in the low Fields and Champion Grounds of this County there are divers Trees digged out black within like Ebony and are used to inlay cupboards c. it is hard to resolve how they came hither some imagine the Romanes cut them down as being the coverts of Rebellion others think they fell of themselves and with their own Weight in those waterish places buried themselves and that the clammy Bituminous substance that is found about them keeps them from Putrefaction This Island yields such plenty of Wheat that they call it the Mother of Wales He that relateth wonders saith Dr. Fuller walks on the edge of an house if he be not careful of his Footing down falls his credit This shall make me exact in using my Authors words That Cloaks Hats and Staves cast down from the top of an Hill called Mounch-Denny or Cadier Arthur which hath its top above the Clouds in the County of Brecknock will never fall but are with the Air and Wind still beaten back and blown up again nor will any
Stone to be seen at this day for the horrid crimes of the Inhabitants also the wonderful discovery of several Murders c. 6. Admirable Deliverances from imminent Dangers and Deplorable Distresses at Sea and Land Lastly Divine Goodness to Penitents with the Dying Thoughts of several famous Men concerning a future state after this life as St. Austin The Emp. Charles 5. Philip 3. K. of Spain Prince Henry The E. of Northampton Galleacius H. Grotius Salmasius Sir F. Walsingham Sir P. Sydney Sir H. Wotton A. B. Vsher E. of Rochester L. Ch. Justice Hales and others Faithfully Collected from Ancient and Modern Authors of undoubted Authority and Credit and imbellished with divers Pictures of several remarkable passages therein Price One Shilling II. HIstorical Remarques and Observations of the Antient and Present State of London and Westminster shewing the Foundation Walls Gates Towers Bridges Churches Rivers Wards Halls Companies Government Courts Hospitals Schools Inns of Court Charters Franchises and Priviledges thereof with an Account of the most Remarkable Accidents as to Wars Fires Plagues and other occurrences for above 900 years past in and about these Cities and among other particulars the Poisoning of K. John by a Monk The Resolution of K. Henry 3. utterly to destroy and consume the City of London with Fire for joyning with the Barons against him and his seizing their Charters Liberties and Customs into his hands The Rebellion of Wat Tyler who was slain by the Lord Mayor in Smithfield and the Speech of Jack Straw at his Execution the deposing of K. Rich. 2. and his mournful Speech at his resigning the Crown with the manner of his being Murdered The D. of York's coming into the Parliament and claiming the Crown in K. Henry 6. time The Murder of K. Henry 6. and likewise of Edw. 5 and his Brother by Rich. 3. call Crook-back The Execution of Empson and Dudley the Insurrection in London in K. Henry 8. time and how 411 Men and Women went through the City in their Shifts and Ropes about their necks to Westm Hall where they were pardoned by the King The Speeches of Q. Ann Bullen the Lord Protector and Q. Jane Gray at their several Deaths upon Tower hill With several other Remarques in all the Kings and Queens Reigns to this Year 1681. And a description of the manner of the Tryal of the late L. Stafford in West Hall Illustrated with Pictures of the most considerable matters curiously Ingraven on Copper Plates with the Arms of the 65 Companies of London and the time of their Incorporating by Rich. Burton Author of the History of the Wars of England c. Price One Shilling III. The Wars in England Scotland and Ireland Or AN Impartial Account of all the Battels Sieges and other remarkable Transactions Revolutions and Accidents which have happened from the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the First in 1625. to His Majesties happy Restauration 1660. And among other particulars The Debates and Proceedings in the Four First Parliaments of King Charles the First with their Dissolutions The Siege of Rochel The Petition of Right The Murther of the D. of Buckingham by Felton The Tumults at Edinbrough in Scotland upon Reading the Common-Prayer The Et caetera Oath The Cursed Plots and Designs of the Jesuits and other Papists for imbroiling these Three Kingdoms The Insurrection of the Apprentices and Seamen and their Assaulting of Archbishop Lauds House at Lambeth Remarks on the Tryal of the E. of Stafford and his last Speech The horrid and Bloody Rebellion of the Papists in Ireland and their Murthering above Two Hundred Thousand Protestants in 1641. The Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom with the King's Answer thereunto The Proceedings about the Five Impeached Members An Account of the Parliament at Oxford January 22. 1643. with their proceedings and Dissolution An Abstract of the Fights between the King and Parliament The Death of A. B. Laud Mr. Chaloner and Tomkins Sir John Hetham Sir Alexander Carew Duke Hamilton Earl of Holland Lord Capel and others The Illegal Tryal of King Charles the First at large with his last Speech at his Suffering Jan. 30. 1648. Together with the most considerable matters which happened till the Year 1660 Illustrated with Pictures of several Remarkable Accidents curiously engraven on Coper Plates Price One Shilling 〈◊〉 FINIS