THIRD King of England c. IN Peace and War I still Triumphant stood Fortune for me seemed to fix her Wheel I did revenge my Fathers Death and Blood And forced France my valiant Arm to feel I warr'd on Scotland with victorious Steel The slaughtring Sword and Fire did all devour A Kingdom so divided needs must reel Betwixt the Bruces and the Baliols Power Thus every day my Grandeur mounted higher With Black Prince Edward my victorious Son Vnto the top of Honour we aspire By glorious Victories and great Actions done But all my Triumphs Fortunes Force and Strength Old Age and Death to Nothing brought at length AT the Age of Fifteen years Edward the Third was Crowned King his deposed Father being then alive He was chiefly counselled in his younger years by Queen Isabel his Mother Edmond Earl of Kent and Sir Roger Mortimer which Knight to ingratiate himself with the Queen was a chief Instrument in the Murder of the late King In his second year the Scots proclaimed War against England whereupon King Edward with an Army of fifty four thousand Men and attended with Sir John Heynault the L. Beamont and five hundred Lords and Gentlemen marched into Scotland where he pursued his lurking Enemies who fled into Woods Mountains and Hills and thereby tired the English Army so that he returned without any memorable Action and then married Philip the Daughter of William Earl of Heynault and calling a Parliament at Northampton the two Spencers and Walter Stapleton were attainted of High Treason at which time by the advice of the Queen and Mortimer a dishonourable Peace was made with the Scots whereby that King was discharged from doing homage to Edward and the great Charter called Ragman whereby the late King of Scotland and all his Nobility under their Hands and Scals did acknowledge their Subjection to the Kings of England was delivered up and the Kings Sister Jane was married to David Son and Heir to K. R. Bruce Roger Mortimer was now made Earl of March which did much discontent the Nobility especially after they saw that by his power with the King and Familiarity with the Queen he had trecherously procured the Earl of Kent the Kings Uncle to be beheaded but by Divine Vengeance Mortimer himself was charged by the State with these Trayterous Articles 1 That he had wickedly procured the murther of the late King 2. That by false and malicious accusations he had caused the King to cut off the Head of his Vncle who was Noble Religious Valiant and a main Pillar of the Commonwealth 3. That he had too familiarly conversed with the Queen Mother to her just reproach and the Kings dishonour 4. That for a Bribe of twenty thousand pound he had procured the release of the Scots Homage Lastly That he had cheated the King of his Jewels and Treasure converting them to his own use For these horrid Treasons he was condemned and Executed in the same manner as young Spencer and Q. Isabel was committed to a strong Castle where she continued above thirty years after and then died In his fifth year Philip the French King sent to require King Edward to do Homage for the Dutchy of Guyen which he unwillingly performed his Lords being therewith offended alledging That in the Right of Queen Isabel his Mother the Crown of France belonged to him and that he therefore ought not to have acknowledged any Fealty at all The King then sent to David King of Scotland to restore the Castle of Berwick and do him Homage for the Kingdom but David stoutly answered That his Father won that Castle by Conquest and he would hold it by the Sword and That his Father never acknowledged any Subjection and if any had been due yet King Edward had released him from it The King being of a great Spirit was resolved to revenge these Affronts by conquering both Scotland and France and to that end he presently sent an Army against the Scots and over-run the better part of that Country without resistance taking Berwick and Crowning Edward Baliol King of Scotland to whom he committed the Government of Berwick Castle and two years after he again marched into Scotland and setled this new King on his Throne receiving his Homage and restored several English Lords to their Estates which by the Peace with King Bruce they were deprived of David the deposed King fled into France and after two years by the assistance of the French King landed some Forces in Scotland but King Edward soon encountred and routed them and then returned victoriously into England In his tenth year Philip the French King gave the Earldom of Artois away by Sentence from Robert Artois to Maud Countess of Burgundy and Aunt to this Robert which so incensed him that he said By me Philip was made King and by me he shall be again deposed For these Words he was proclaimed a Traytor to the Crown throughout all France so that to save his Life he fled into England where for his former Service to Queen Isabel and her Son when in France he was honourably received and entertained by King Edward who knew him to be a wise and valiant Man and therefore made him Earl of Richmond and loved him so entirely that he never undertook any Matter of Consequence without his Advice This Noble Knight continually informed the King of his Right to the Crown of France by his Mother Queen Isabel and that with such convincing Reasons and Persuasions that Edward began now in earnest to contrive the attaining thereof negotiating privately with the Earl of Heynault his Wives Father and Brother-in-Law to the French King and with Sir John of Heynault Lord Beaumont his Brother and several other Princes and States of Germany who encouraged and assisted him therein creating him Vicar-General of the Empire by which he had Power to command the Nobility and Commons of those Countries to aid him in his Enterprise Whilst these things were secretly consulting in England Philip of France little suspected he was to fight for his Crown with the English and therefore at the Importunity of Pope Benedict the Eleventh he had prepared a greater Army for the Holy Land than ever any Christian Prince did before him which were provided with all Necessaries for three years and the Government of his Kingdom he committed to his eldest Son John Duke of Normandy Being just ready to depart he had News of the Pretensions and Preparations of the English and therefore thought it more necessary to defend his Kingdom at home than to go upon such a frivolous Errand abroad In the mean time King Edward having by many Politick Devices drained his Subjects Purses insomuch that for want of Money a fat Ox was sold for a Noble a fat Sheep for Six pence six Pigeons for a Penny and a Quarter of Wheat for Two shillings he with his Queen sailed to Antwerp where he concluded the Methods of the War with the Princes of Germany and
the Queen and she have so done The Protector furiously interrupting him Thou Traytor said he dost thou tell me of If 's and And ' s I tell thee they have done it And therewith struck his Hand very hard upon the Table upon which the Room was presently filled with Soldiers one of whom at his entrance struck at the Lord Stanley's Head with an Halbert who to save his Life fell under the Board though not without much loss of Blood The Protector himself seised upon the Lord Hastings and accusing him of Treason in general without any Trial or Answer caused him to be beheaded upon a Log on the Green in the Tower Which Execution hapned the same day and hour that the afore-mentioned Lords suffered without Trial at Pomfret by the Advice and Consent of this very Lord Hastings After this the Protector committed the Archbishop of York the Bishop of Ely and the Lord Stanley to Prison and presently putting himself and Buckingham into ragged Clothes he sent for several eminent Citizens to whom he declared with great passion That the Lord Hastings and his Confederates had conspired to take away his Life this Morning at the Council had he not timely prevented it by the sudden Execution of him and seising the rest Within two hours after the Lord Hastings's his death a long Proclamation written fairly in Parchment under the Great Seal was read in divers parts of the City by an Herald at Arms with great Solemnity whereby it appeared to be contrived and written some days before Richard having thus dispatcht those that he thought stood in his way he caused Dr. Shaw a wicked Priest in a Sermon at Paul's Cross the Sunday after to display the Honourable Birth of the Protector with his Virtues and Valour and to defame King Edward for his Wantonness with Shore's Wife and others and stigmatized his Children for Bastards as being before his Marriage contracted to Elizabeth Lucy He likewise charged the Protectors own Mother with Incontinency when King Edward and the Duke of Clarence were born and that none of her Children were Legitimate but Richard whom he extolled to the Skies for his Goodness and Virtues at which time Richard appeared among the People the Doctor expecting they should have shouted and cried God save King Richard but every one stood silent and astonished to observe how unworthily and villainously things were managed to make the Protector King The next day the Duke of Buckingham endeavoured by the same Arguments to persuade the Londoners at Guildhall to acknowledge Richard for the true and undoubted Heir of the Crown which they then did not assent to yet the next day they were forced against their Wills at Baynards Castle to accept of him for their lawful King praying him to undergo that Burden for their Security which he often hypocritically refused yet at last with a pretended unwillingness accepted And here ended the short Reign and soon after the Life of this young innocent Prince having enjoyed it onely two Months and 13 days being murdered by his barbarous Uncle in the 13th year of his Age 1483. RICHARD the THIRD King of England c. A Moition that never is content Which Angels threw from Heaven unto Hell That for a Plague upon mankind is sent Ambitiously made me Aspire Rebel Ambition that damn'd Necromantick spell Made me clime high with shame to tumble down By Blood and Murther I did all expel Whose Right or Might debar'd me from the Crown My smiles my Gifts my favour or my frown Were mischievous in blood I took delight By cruel Tyranny I sought renown Till Heaven's just Judge me justly did requite By Blood I go by Blood I lost the Throne Alive detested Dead bewailed of none RIchard being crowned King used all means possible to ingratiate himself with the people and tâ—ough he heard that the Lord Strang Son to the Lord Stanley was raising forces in the North for the relief of his Father the Lord Stanley who was wrongfully imprisoned by Richard he took no notice thereof but instead of punishing him set him at liberty and made him Steward of his House he likewise inlarged the Arch Bishop of York but committed Morton Bishop of Ely as a Prisoner to the Duke of Buckingham which was afterward the cause of Richards destruction as well as his own he conferred great honours upon several creating his only Son Edward Prince of Wales John Howard was made Duke of Norfolk his Son Thomas Earl of Surrey the Lord William Barkley was made Earl of Nottingham and Francis Lovel viscount Lovel having firmly settled himself as he imagined he sent Ambassadors to the French King to conclude a Peace with him who so much abhorred his detestable cruelties that he would neither see nor give audience to their Message This affront and several others so tormented him that he thought he should never be acknowledged nor honoured as King whilst the young Princes lived as though such horrible murders could ever gain him love or reputation among the People Having with his confederate the Devil contrived this execrable villany he took his progress toward Glocester as if he intended to honour the place of his Title and Dignity vainly imagining that if this heinous fact were committed in his absence he should be thought innocent thereof and first he attempted to perswade Sir Robert Brachenbury whom he made Lieutenant of the Tower to perpetrate this cursed act which he generously refusing Richard swore and stormed like a fury but remembring there was a needy profligate fellow belonging to the Tower named James Tirrel he by Letters earnestly perswades him to commit this hellish murder with promises of great reward who quickly assenting thereto demands by Richards Letters the keys of the Tower to be delivered to him by the Lieutenant and then next night he sends Miles Forrest and John Dighton two Imps of Hell into the innocent Childrens Chamber who smothered them both in their beds and buried them at the stairs foot from whence they were removed and privately buried in some unknown place The news of the death of the two young Princes raised a lamentable consternation in the minds of the Nobility and People only the Tyrant and his favourites gloried in this admired peace of policy whereby they thought Richard had now securely setled himself and his posterity in the Kingdom but soon after Edward his only Child died to his great grief and trouble And now returning to London from his progress he called a Parliament and made divers good Laws and by his executing them with mercy his liberality to the poor and his courtesy to all persons he endeavoured to insinuate himself into the favour and affections of all which it seems had effect upon some for several Gentlemen of divers Counties in England offering him a Benevolence of a good sum of money he refused it saying I had rather have your hearts than your money which considering his savage nature it may be doubted in
Fitz-Harris were hanged at Tyburn July 2. The E. of Shaftsbury was committed to the Tower one Stephen Colledg a Joyner was likewise sent Prisoner thither and a Bill being brought against him to the Grand-Jury at the Old Bayly they returned it Ignoramus a while after he was sent to Oxford and found guilty of High-Treason committed there for which he was there executed Novem. 24. a Commission issued out for the Tryal of L. Shaftsbury at the Old Bayly but the Grand-Jury brought in the Bill Ignoramus July 12 13 14. 1683 Willam L. Russel Thomas Walcâ—t William Hoâ—e and John Rous were endicted and condemned for High Treason the L. Russel was beheaded in Lincolns-Inn-Fields and the others executed at Tyburn Decem. 7. Algernon Sidney Esquire was beheaded on Tower-hill upon the same Account June 20. 1684. Sir Thomas Armstrong was hanged and quartered upon an Outlawry for High-Treason James Holloway likewise executed some time before at Tyburn upon the like Outlawry for High Treason The Names of the Principal Officers Civil and Military in England 1684. The Right Honourable the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council 33. Lord A. Bishop Canterbury Lord Gilford Lord Keeper E. of Radnor L. President Mar. Hallifax L. Privy Seal Duke of Ormond Duke of Albemarle Duke of Newcastle Duke of Beaufort Marquess of Winchester Earl of Lindsey Earl of Arlington Earl of Oxford Earl of Huntington Earl of Bridgwater Earl of Peterborough Earl of Chesterfield Earl of Sunderland Earl of Clarendon Earl of Bath Earl of Craven Earl of Ailsbury Earl of Nottingham Earl of Rochester L. Viscount Faulconbridge Lord Bishop of London Lord Dartmouth Henry Coventry Esq Sir â—â—oline Jenkyns Knight 〈…〉 Ernle 〈…〉 Chichely 〈…〉 L.C. Justice Sidney Godolphin Esq Edward Seymour Esq The Great Officers of the Crown 9. L. High Steward of Engl. L. Keeper Lord North. L. High Treasurer at present in Commission L. President E. of Radror L. Privy Seal Mar. Hallifax L Great Chamberlain Earl of Lindsey L. High Constable Earl Marshal D. of Norfolk L. High Admiral at present in Commission His Majesties Principal Secretaries of State 2. Earl of Sunderland Sidney Godolphin Esq Officers of His Majesties Houshold Ecclesiastical 3. Dean of the Chappel Lord Bishop of London Clerk of the Closet Lord Bishop of Durham L. Almoner L. B. Rochester Civil 9. L. Steward D. of Ormond L. Chamberlain E. Arlington Master of the Horse Duke of Richmond Treasurer Lord Newport Comptroller L. Maynard Cofferer Lord Brounker Master of the Houshold H. Bulkly Esq Clerks of the Green-cloth Sir S. Fox Sir W. Boreman Clerks Comptrollers Sir Win. Churchill Sir R. Mason Gentlemen of the Bed chamber E. of Bath first Gentleman and Groom of the Stole Duke of Newcastle E. of Dorset and Middlesex Earl of Mulgrave Duke of Albemarle Earl of Lindsey Earl of Oxford Earl of Arran Lord Latimer Earl of Sussex Earl of Rannelagh Earl of Litchfield Earl of Rochester Vicechamb H. Saville Esq Keeper of the Privy Purse Baptist May Esq Treasurer of the Chamber Edward Griffen Esq Surveyor-General of His Majesties Works Sir Christopher Wren Master of the Robes belonging to His Majesties Person Hen. Sydney Esq Master of the Jewel-house Sir Gilbert Talbot Master of the Ceremonies Sir Charles Cotterel Master of the Wardrobe Ralph L. Mountague Master Falconer Duke of St. Albans Clerks of the Council Sir J. Nicholas Kt. of the Bath Sir Philip Lloyd Sir Thomas Dolman Francis Gwyn Esq Masters of the Requests Sir Charles Cotterel Thomas Povey Esq Sir William Glascock Charles Morley Esq Clerks of the Privy Seal Sir Charles Bickerstaff John Matthews Esq Thomas Watkins Esq John Richards Esq Clerks of the Signet Sir John Nicholas Kt. Bath Sidney Bere Esq Nicholas Morice Esq Dr. William Trumbull Kt. Marshal Sir E. Villiers Usher of the Black Rod Sir Thomas Duppa Serj. Porter Sir H. Progers Military Capt. of the Band of Pensioners E. of Huntington Lieut. Fra. Villiers Esq Standard-bearer Sir Humphrey Winch. Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard L. Viscount Grandison Lieut. Tho. Howard Esq Ensign H. Dutton-Colt Esq Clerk of the Check Charles Villiers Esq The Judges and Principal Officers of Justice 12. Of the Kings Bench. Sir Geo. Jeffreys Kt. Bar. L. C. Justice of England Sir Francis Withens Kt. Sir Richard Holloway Kt. Sir Thomas Walcot Kt. Of the Common Pleas. Sir Tho. Jones L. C. Justice Sir Hugh Windham Kt. Sir Job Charlton Kt. Sir Creswel Levinz Kt. Of the Exchequer Will. Mountague L.C. Baron Sir Edw. Atkyns Kt. Sir William Gregory Kt. Sir Thomas Street Kt. Of the High Court of Chancery Fra. L. Guilford L. Keeper Sir Harbottle Grimston Master of the Rolls The Eleven Masters in Chancery Sir John Coell Kt. Sir W. Beversham Kt. Sir Samuel Clark Kt. Sir Edward Low D. L. Sir Miles Cooke Kt. Sir Lac. Will. Child Kt. Sir John Hoskins Kt. Sir John Franklyn Kt. Sir Adam Otley Kt. Sir Robert Le Gard Kt. Sir James Astrey Kt. Sir R. Sawyer Attorny Gen. H. Finch Esq Sollicit Gen. The Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster Chancellor Sir T. Chichely Vicechancell Sir J. Otway Attorney Gen Sir J. Heath Receiver Gen. Sir J. Curson Auditors J. Fanshaw Esq Edw. Webb Esq Clerk Cheek Gerard Esq The Chief Officers of His Majesties Revenue The Commissioners of the Treasury Earl of Rochester Sir John Ernle Kt. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Edward Deering Bar. Sir Stephen Fox Kt. Sydney Godolphin Esq And under these Lords The Commissioners of the Customs Charles Lord Chene Sir Dudley North Kt. Andrew Newport Esq Sir Richard Temple Baronet Sir Geo. Downing Kt. Bar. Sir Nicholas Butler Kt Commissioners of the Exciseâ— and Fire-Hearths Sir Denny Ashburnham Bar. Francis Parrey Esq Robert Huntington Esq Charles Davenant Esq John Friend Esq Felix Calvert Esq Nath. Horneby Esq Patrick Trant Esq William Bridge Esq Treasurer Sir Cornw. Bradshaw Kt. Commissioners for Wine-Licences Henry Deering Esq William Young Esq John Taylor Esq Michael Brighouse Esq Robert Ryves Esq Commissioners of Appeals for Excise Robert Spencer Esq Charles Fanshaw Esq Sir Paul Neal Kt. George Dodington Esq Edward Seymour Esq Of the High Court of Admiralty The Commissioners for Executing the Office of L. High Admiral of England Earl of Nottingham Sir Thomas Meers Baronet Sir Humphrey Winch Kt. Sir Edward Hales Baronet Sir John Chichely Knight Henry Saville Esq Arthur Herbert Esq Vice-Admiral of England Duke of Crafton Rere-Adm Ar. Herbert Esq Judge of the Admiralty Sir Leoline Jenkyns Treasurer of the Navy L. Falkland Comptroller Sir Richard Haddock Surveyor Sir John Tippet Clerk of the Acts James Southern Esq To whom are joyned these Commissioners Sir John Narborough Kt. Sir Phineas Pett Kt. Sir Richard Beech Kt. Sir John Godwin Kt. Constable of the Tower of London Lord Allington Lieutenant of the Tower Thomas Cheek Esq Master of the Ordinance Lord Dartmouth Lieut. Sir Chr. Musgrave Surveyor of the Ordnance Sir Bernard de Gome Kt. Treasurer Cha. Bertie Esq Clerk of the Ordnance
in a short time from the Holy Land to England where he was joyfully received both by the Peers and People and soon after Crowned King in the One and thirtieth year of his Age at which 500 Great Horses were let loose for any to take that would in honour of so Martial a Prince After the Battel aforementioned wherein Simon Montford Earl of Leicester his Son Henry and many other Lords were stain and the Lady Eleanor his Daughter was banished but kindly received by Philip the Hardy of France thereby to gain the Good-will of many English Lords who being discontented with the last Kings Government were not well pleased with his Son who constantly assisted his Father against them Philip being likewise sensible of the Courage of King Edward to prevent his own danger he secretly incited Lluellin Prince of Wales to rebell promising him likewise the Lady Eleanor in Marriage But Edward having private notice of this Contract and that the Lady was coming over to Wales he intercepted her at Sea and kept her Prisoner upon which Lluellin took the Field with many thousand Men but mean and thievish Fellows On the other side King Edward resolving to make himself terrible to the Welch raised a very formidable Army but Lluellin being sensible or his inability to resist and out of his extreme Love to the Lady submitted himself to the King and made many solemn Oaths of his Fidelity to the King against France and all others whereupon Edward who was inclinable to Mercy freely granted him his Pardon his Favour and his beloved Lady so that all was ended without a drop of Blood But a few years after David his Brother of a mutinous Temper and yet one much in favour with the King persuaded Lluellin to put himself again into Arms and many sharp Conflicts passed between him and Sir Roger Mortimer but at length they were both taken and their Heads sent to the King who caused them to be set upon the Tower of London Yet were the Welchmen so perversely bent to ruine themselves that within a few Months after they twice rebelled but were soon subdued by many terrible Slaughters and severe Executions And because they maintained their Wars more by hiding and shifting among vast Woods and Forests the King caused all the Woods to be cut and burnt down by which means they were reduced to more Civility and applied themselves to Arts and Trades like other Men. In his eighteenth year Alexander King of Scots fell from his Horse and broke his Neck leaving no Issue behind him He had three Sisters the eldest married to John Baliol Lord of Galloway the second to Robert Bruce Lord of Valley Andrew and the third to John Hastings Lord Abergaveny in England These three contended for the Crown losing many Men on all sides and the Country much ruined whereupon King Edward as their Sovereign Lord went into Scotland to compose those Differences and in the end they were all contented to refer themselves to his Judgment by an Instrument under their Hands and Seals Whereupon King Edward chose Twenty Englishmen and as many Scots of good Understanding and Discretion who consulted thereof and upon their Determination he declared John Baliol who had married the eldest Sister to be King who thereupon received the Crown from King Edward and did him Homage for the same And now the French King wrongfully invading the English Territories in Gascoign and Guyen the King to supply his Necessities seised upon all the Plate Jewels and Treasure of the Churches and Religious Houses within the Kingdom being advised thereto by William March Lord Treasurer who alledged That it were better this money should be stirring and according to the Name Currant and go abroad to the Use of the People than to lie rusting in Chests without any Use or Advantage whatsoever The King likewise compelled the Clergy to give one half years Revenue of all their Ecclesiastical Dignities which when they scrupled at affirming That by a Canon lately made at the Council of Lions they were excused from all Temporal Supplies he told them plainly Since you refuse to help me I will also refuse to help you If you deny to pay Tribute to me as your Prince I will deny to protect you as my Subjects And therefore if you be spoiled robbed or murdered expect no Succour nor Defence from me nor mine But to get some Amends they humbly petitioned the King to repeal the Statute of Mortmain or the Will of a Dead Mans Hand which forbad all Persons to give any Houses or Lands to the Church either at their Deaths or before without leave from the King But he resolving never to gratifie them in any thing replied That it was not in his Power without the Consent of a Parliament to make void any Law whatsoever So that they were forced to be contented though with much inward Vexation Having thus fleec'd the Clergy he laid a new Tax upon Wooll and Hides exported out of the Kingdom and required the tenth part of every Mans Estate to be paid him to maintain his Wars He caused the Clergy to bring into his Treasury all such Sums of Money as they had promised to pay the Pope for the War against the Turks and took up 100000 Quarters of Wheat which he sent to his Armies in Normandy where they fought with doubtful Success sometimes winning and then again losing In his Twenty fifth year 1296. John Baliol King of Scots by the secret incitement of the French King and some others about him sent a proud Defiance to King Edward and a Renunciation of his Fealty and Homage and with a tumultuous Army entred the Northern Borders cruelly destroying all with Fire and Sword Whereupon Edward upbraiding him with his many Favours and Honours received from him resolved to revenge his Ingratitude and with strong Forces marched thither taking the Castle of Berwick with the Slaughter of 25000 Scots He likewise won Dunbar Edinburgh and all other Places of Strength The King of Scots observing no Safety in Resistance humbly submitted himself to the King and surrendred the Kingdom into his Hands who with a strong Guard sent him Prisoner to the Tower of London but with large allowance of Liberty and Attendance and then committed the Government of Scotland to John Warren Earl of Sussex Sir Hugh Cressingham High Treasurer and Wistiam Earnly Lord Chief Justice of that Kingdom Having so happily performed this he then turned his Arms to France who to divert him animated the Scots again to rebell but King Edward resolving not to leave the French if possible without fighting continued still in Normandy sending Orders to the Earl of Northumberland and others to suppress that Rebellion which they did with a very bloody slaughter Upon which the French King perceiving himself disappointed would not venture to engage the English Army but sent honourable Propositions of Peace which were accepted by the King and a general Peace was proclaimed After his return
into England he restored the Citizens of London their Charter which for some misdemeanors had remained forfeited in his Hands twelve years And then presently marches with a stout Army into Scotland the Rebels being again in Arms under the Conduct of a Valiant Commander called William Wallace who had routed Earl Warren's Forces taking an advantage against them as they passed over a Bridge near Sterling Castle Hugh Cressingham and many English being slain the Scots fleaing off his Skin and cutting it in pieces divided it among them The King proceeding toward Scotland called a Parliament at York and there summoned the Scots to appear at a Day appointed which they not regarding he marched forward with vast Forces and coming near the Enemy as he was putting his Foot in the Stirrup his Horse starting at the sudden shout of the Scots Army threw him down and striking with his Heels broke two of the Kings Ribbs however he proceeded to Battel and the Scots by the encouragement of Captain Wallace fought valiantly but were at length defeated with the loss of seventy thousand Scots at a place called Fawkirk after which he took several strong places and then returned into England where in a Parliament holden at London and Stamford he confirmed Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta and it was enacted That no Tax nor Subsidy should be laid upon the Kingdom without consent of the King Peers and People and for the better satisfaction of the Parliament he lest these words out of his Grants Salvo Jure Coron e nostrae saving the right of our Crown Upon the earnest request of the Pope K. Edward now inlarged John Baliol who travelled into France and there remained and soon after the Scots were again in Arms so that he entred the third time into Scotland with strong Forces where none durst abide him in the Field the Lords and Gentry of the Castle having fortified themselves so strongly in Sterling Castle that they thought it impregnable while he was employ'd in the Siege he was advised not to endanger his Person so much whom he answered in the words of David A thousand shall fall on my side and ten thousand at my Right hand but it shall not come near me yet doubting the Siege would be long he used this Policy he ordered two Galleries to be set up in view of the Castle and then by sound of Trumpet proclaimed his free pardon to the Besieged if they surrendred within the space of three days but othewise he denounced hanging too them all without respect of Persons or Quality the Besieged trusting more to the Kings mercy than their own defence delivered up the Castle and themselves King Edward then taking fresh Oaths of the Justices Mayors and Governours of Castles and Towns and having setled the Kingdom returned into England bringing with him as the Trophies of his Victory the Crown Scepter and Cloth of State He burnt their Records abrogated their Laws altered their form of Divine Service and transplanted their most learned men to Oxford he brought their Marble Chair wherein their Kings were Crowned to Westminster whereon this Prophetical Verse was graven Ni fallat fatum Scoti quocunque locatum Invenient Lapidem regnare tenentur ibidem Unless Old Prophets fail and Wizards Wits be blind The Scots shall surely Reign where they this Stone shall find Which was judg'd to be verified by the coming in of K. James After his return from Scotland the King made a general inquiry into the Misdemeanors and Oppressions of his Officers of all sorts whose number and offences were so many that the Fines laid on them filled his Exchequer and inabled him to pay off all his old debts At this time the Bishop of Chester complained grievously against Prince Edward that by the lewd advice of Pierce Gaveston he broke into his Park and destroyed his Game for which the Prince was committed to Prison and Gaveston banished not to return upon pain of death In his thirty third year a General Peace was proclaimed between England and Scotland and Robert Bruce with other Noblemen voluntarily swore Allegiance to K. Edward yet within less than a year after Bruce and his Confederates privately procured a Dispensation from Pope Boniface with an Injunction That he should not meddle with the Scots they being a Free Nation and immediately appertaining to the Roman Chappel and that therefore the City of Jerusalem could not but defend her Citizens and help those that did trust in the Lord like Mount Sion and therefore enjoined Edward not to lay any claim to the Soveraignty thereof the King having read it with a great Oath said I will not hold my peace for Sion nor Jerusalem 's sake so long as I have breath in my Body but will prosecute my Right which is known to all the World to be just and defend it to the Death But the Scots threatned him that if he would not desist the Pope would proceed further to which the King with a disdainful smile answered Have you done Homage to me as to the Chief Lord of the Kingdom of Scotland and do you now think to frighten me with Threats and Lyes as if I were not able to maintain my Right Let me hear no more of this for if I do I swear by the Lord I will destroy all Scotland from Sea to Sea To which the Scots answered that in defence of Justice and their Countreys Rights they would spend their last Blood Yet Edward to keep fair with the Pope sent the Earl of Lincoln to Rome to justify his proceedings but the Pope continued resolute whereupon in a Parliament holden at Lincoln a full defence was made for the King though with this Protestation that the thing did not exhibit the Tryal of Cause but only gave the Pope an Account thereof to satisfy his Conscience the Barons unanimously declaring That their Kings Rights were not to be try'd before any Tribunal under Heaven they resolving to defend the Independency of the Crown of England with all their might against all Persons whatsoever to which Declaration an hundred of the Peers Subscribed their Names These high Resolutions made the Pope decline his pretensions leaving the Scots to themselves over whom Edward constituted the valiant Lord Segrave to be Custos whom yet the Scots soon after in a Skirmish discomfited and took Prisoner but he was rescued with all his Company by Sir Robert Neville without the loss of one Man on his Part. After which the King marched thither with a great Army but the Scots fled to the Woods and Mountains and the King returned to London whither not long after Captain Wallace a Knights Son being betrayed was sent Prisoner and executed for High Treason and his Quarters set up in divers parts of Scotland Then Robert Bruce appeared with Forces but was routed and forced into the utmost Isles of Scotland yet afterwards recruiting he did much mischief against whom King Edward marching fell sick at Carlisle commanding his
then returning into England raised a strong Army of 27000 fighting Men which he landed in France about Autumn The French King having an Army of 60000 Soldiers and accompanied with the Kings of Bohemia Navar and Scotland with Five Dukes Twenty six Earls and above 4000 Lords and Knights entred the Field where he found Edward prepared for Battel but by the Mediation of the Countess of Heynault King Philip's Sister and Mother to King Edward's Wife a Cessation was concluded and King Edward with his Nobles and Soldiers returned to England Yet four years after Edward again met with the Princes of Germany at Brussels who desired the Flemings to joyn with them but they refused unless Edward would entitle himself King of France and Quarter the Arms of France with those of England and lastly would as King of France release them from a Bond of Two Millions of Florens whereby they were obliged not to make War with the King of France King Edward soon yielded to all their Desires whereupon they obliged themselves by a solemn Contract in Writing under their Hands and Seals to assist him to the utmost In the mean time the French Kings Navy landed some thousands of Men at Southampton burning the Town and Villages thereabouts Upon his return the King called a Parliament who raised so great a Tax that the People turned their Prayers into Curses He likewise borrowed great Sums of his richest Subjects and of London 20000 Marks He coined abundance of Gold and Silver Money wherein he quartered the Arms of France and intitled himself King of England and France Having raised an Army of 10000 stout Soldiers he imbarqued them in 200 Ships and sailing toward Sluce he fortunately met with the French Fleet whereon were 40000 Men of divers Nations whom the King fell upon with his whole Navy and after a fierce and bloody Fight very few of the French escaped being all either sunk or taken This Loss was so very considerable that they were afraid to discover it to the French King lest it should too much discompose him and therefore they contrived his Jester should do it who often repeating in his hearing Cowardly Englishmen Faint-hearted Englishmen Dastardly Englishmen The King observing him asked him why Because said he they had not the courage to leap into the Sea as our brave Frenchmen did whereby the King began to have some knowledge of this grand disaster Edward received but small Loss so that the next day he landed at Gaunt and soon after besieged Tournay but by the importunity of the aforesaid Countess of Heynault a second Truce was concluded for one year In King Edward's absence the Scots disliking their King Edward Baliol because he would not engage against the English and calling in David Bruce they invade Northumberland destroying all before them and laying close Siege to Newcastle but at Midnight 200 resolute Men issued out and secretly entred into the Earl of Murray's Tent seising him and killing many to the great terrour of the Scots Camp whereupon David finding stout Resistance raised the Siege and marched to Durham which he took plundred and burnt slaying all the Inhabitants and then sate down before Roxborough Castle defended by the beautiful Countess of Salisbury and her Brother Sir William Mountague who being continually assaulted expected no Help but from the King and to give him notice of their Extremity the valiant Knight himself mounted on a swift Horse rid full speed through thousands of his Enemies sending word to King David as he rid along That in a short time he should again hear of him Upon which the Scots pushed on the Siege with all vigour yet could not carry it and therefore suddenly raised it and returned home King Edward arriving there that very day was much discomposed that he had missed them yet by the Mediation of several Honourable Personages a Truce was concluded for two years The King after the Scots were gone disarmed himself and with ten or twelve Persons of Quality entred the Castle where he was soon inflamed with the Love of the fair Countess but her Vertue resisted all Temptations so that he departed from her in Discontent The King then made a Royal Feast for all his Nobility and Forreigners that came thereto wherein were acted several Martial Sports in one of which the Lord Beaumont a Noble Knight was unfortunately slain After this the King called a Paliament at Westminster wherein he created his eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales and a Tax was raised for the Wars in France for which the King confirmed Magna Charta Charta de Foresta and several other Statutes The next year the King for encouraging Virtue and Valour instituted the Order of the Knights of the Garter at Windsor and then sent an Army into France under the Command of the Earl of Darby John the French Kings eldest Son having closely besieged the Castle of Aguilâ—on in Gascoin with near 100000 men King Edward with his Son eight Earls fifteen Barons and many Gentlemen of Quality with an Army of 14000 men by the advice of the Lord Harcourt a banished Nobleman of France landed in Normandy and took the strong Town of Harflew plundering divers others whereby every Common Soldier was made a Gentleman with the Spoil and his Army increasing he took the City of Caen and abundance of other Towns and Castles the English pursuing their good Fortune so far that they were on a sudden encompassed with 100000 French on the one side and a River on the other yet passing on the Sand at low Water he at last got clear with the slaughter of a very great multitude of French and marching toward Cressy the French King was there resolved to try the fortune of a Field Battel and the English after Prayers to God for sucess with great Courage prepared for fight the King had given the Vanguard to his Son Edward who for his Valour was called the Black Prince the Second Battalion was led by the Earl of Northampton and the third by the King himself The Signal of Battel being given both parties furiously ingaged wherein the Black Prince was very hard put to it and sent to his Father for succor who stood on a Windmil hard by to observe the Fight but the King refused him any aid saying Let them send no more to me whatever happens while my Son is alive but let him either conquer or dye since if it please God he escape I am resolved the honour of this day shall be only his when the Prince heard this he was forced to put out his utmost Courage and Vigor whereby he obtained a glorious Victory the greatest part of the French Army lying dead before them so that in two days wherein the Fight continued there were slain of the French 11 Princes 80 Barons 1200 Knights and above 30000 Common Soldiers the French King himself hardly escaping by flight After the Battel King Edward kissing and imbracing his Son said Fair Son God
Earl Guy who lived in the Year of Christ 929. This King Ethelstane by the insinuation of his Cup-bearer became incensed against his Brother as if he had contrived Treason against him who therefore ordered him to be put into a small Vessel without Tackle or Oars and so be exposed to the mercy of the Sea wherewith the young Prince was so overwhelm'd with Sorrow that he threw himself headlong into the Sea whose Ghost the King endeavoured to appease by a voluntary Penance of seven years and building two Monasteries Neither did the treacherous Cup-bearer escape Vengeance for on a Festival-day as he was busie in waiting one of his Feet slipping he recovered himself by the help of the other and thereupon pleasantly said You may see now how one Brother can help another This Speech suddenly recalled to the Kings Mind the Death of his Innocent Brother whereupon he caused the Cup-bearer who was the Procurer thereof to be immediately executed Edmund the fifth Son of King Edward succeeded and after him Edred his sixth Son Then Edwy or Edwin the eldest Son of Edmund was Crowned at Kingston upon Thames who was of a lascivious temper for it is related That on the very Day of his Coronation he suddenly left his Nobility and went into a private Room to debauch a great Lady his near Kinswoman whose Husband he soon after slew St. Dunstan who was present and then Abbot of Glastenbury followed the King into his Chamber and leading him out by the Hand accused him before Odo Archbishop of Canterbury by whom he was severely reproved and forbid the Company of that woman The King was hereat enraged against Dunstan and banished him out of the Land and became so great an Enemy to the Order of Monks that he expelled many of them out of their Monasteries and put married Priests in their Places The People having a great Opinion of the Holiness of Dunstan and being offended at the Kings severity toward him and other Irregularities they turned their Affections to Edgar his Brother and removing Edwin from his Princely Dignity Edgar was made King in his stead for very grief whereof he soon wasted away and died in 959. Edgar was called the Peaceable He maintained the Kingdom in great Glory and Prosperity His Navy Royal is said to consist of three thousand six hundred Ships with which he every Summer sailed round his Land to secure the Sea from Pyrats He caused Ludwall Prince of Wales to pay him three hundred Wolves yearly in stead of a former Tribute in Money whereby England and Wales which were formerly very much over-run were now so freed that there was scarce a Wolf to be found alive He was very severe upon his Judges if he found them guilty of Bribery and Partiality riding the Circuit himself every Year for that purpose Yet among all these Vertues he is said to be very Voluptuous especially toward Women not sparing the very Nuns which sounded so ill that Dunstan took the boldness to reprove him for it and coming into his Presence the King in Courtesie rose from his Royal Throne to take him by the Hand and seat him by him But Dunstan refusing the King his Hand with a stern Countenance and contracted Brow spake thus to him You that have not been afraid to corrupt a Virgin dedicated to Christ how can you presume to touch the Consecrated Hands of a Bishop You have defiled the Spouse of your Maker and do you now think by your flattering Service to pacifie the Friend of the Bridegroom No Sir do not mistake your self for I will be no Friend to him who hath Christ for his Enemy The King thunder-struck with these dreadful Words and touched with remorse of Conscience fell down at the Feet of Dunstan who raising him up began to aggravate his Crime and finding the K. pliable to his Instruction he enjoyned him the following Penance for satisfaction That he should wear no Crown for the space of seven years That he should fast twice a Week That he should distribute his Treasure lest him by his Ancestors liberally to the Poor That he should build a Monast for Nuns at Shaftsbury that since he had robbed God of one Virgin by his Transgression so he should restore to him many again for the time to come Likewise That he should expel Clerks or Priests of evil Life meaning those who were married out of the Churches and place Monks in their room All this Edgar performed and the seven years being past Dunstan saith the Historian calling the Nobility with the Bishops Abbots and Clergy together he before all the People set the Crown upon the Kings Head at Bath in the thirteenth year of his Reign Dunstan who it seems rul'd all having hither to hindred it The Nun here mentioned was Wilfrid a D's Daughter by whom he had a Daughter called Editha He had a Son likewise by Elfrida the Earl of Devonshire's Daughter which Dunstan being now grown good natured Christned The words of the Historian are these The Child also which was gotten of the Harlot he Baptized in the Holy Fountain of Regeneration and giving him the Name of Edward adopted him to be the Kings Son There are abundance of ridiculous Miracles related of this Dunstan One among many others was That a Vision appearing to him required him to take up the Body of Editha the Bastard and Canonize her fol a Saint a her Tomb being accordingly opened in the Church of Wilton where she was buried her whole Body saith the Monkish Historian was consumed to Dust save onley her Thumb her Belly c. whereof she her self shewed the meaning declaring That her Thumb remained intire because she so often used to cross her self therewith and the other Parts did signifie the extraordinary Abstinence and Chastity With such stuff were the People then abused and persuaded to worship for Saints the dead Carcases of those that were many times of very profligate Lives while on Earth In King Edgar's Reign there was a great Famine wherein Ethelwald Bishop of Winchester sold away all the Church-Plate and Vessels of Gold and Silver to relieve the Poor saying There was no reason that the senseless Temples of God should abound in Riches and the lively Temples of the Holy-Ghost to be in want of them After the Death of Edgar there was great Division many of the Nobility being for Etheldred the true and only legitimate Heir of Edgar but the other Nobles and the Clergy especially Dunstan fearing the Married Clergy should again prevail he with several other Bishops meeting together and carrying the Cross before Edward brought him to the Lords and by many Perswasions prevailed with them to accept him for their King He was accounted a just meek Prince and very charitable to the Poor Yet enjoyed he the Crown but a short space for in the fourth Year of his Reign as he was Hunting near Corf Castle where his Brother Etheldred and Queen Elfrida his Mother resided while
the freer Access to the French and Normans if the English should rebell he plucked down and ruined Thirty six Churches with many Towns and Villages for many Miles even from Salisbury to the Sea making his New Forest there But this Offence did not escape unpunished for in this very Forest Richard the Kings second Son was goared by a Deer and died William Rufus his third Son was slain by an Arrow shot at an Hart and his Grandchild Robert Curtoyse being in pursuit of the Game was struck by a Bough into the Jaws and died there 14. His chief Pleasure being in Hunting he seised all Chases and Forests of the Kingdom into his Hands making very cruel Laws against such as presumed to hunt in them without License as the loss of Eyes Limbs and the like 15. He gave large Territories and Farms to his Favourites who leased them out to their Slaves and Servants creating them into Mannors and calling themselves Lords thereof He reserved some Tenures to himself whereby his Tenants were obliged to serve him in the Wars or attend his Person to which they were sworn in Publick Courts by which Tenure he disposed of their Heirs in Marriage having Possession of their Estates till they were Twenty one years of age By which Example other Great Lords did the like This was the Model of King William's sharp and severe Government wherein he rather used the Power of an insolent and lawless Conquerour than the Legal Administration of a gracious King whereby he was feared by many but loved by few and such as were most in favour with him were discountenanced upon every slight occasion These violent Proceedings especially in raising such intolerable Taxes occasioned a Rebellion in Devonshire and another in Northumberland the second Year of his Reign but his good Fortune soon suppressed them as it also did the next Year the Invasion of Swanus King of Denmark who was incited thereto by the English that fled thither for Succour from the Cruelty of King William but he no sooner saw them almost e're he made them fly back to their Ships and to revenge the Infidelity of the English he utterly destroyed their fruitful Lands about York and Durham so that the Ground lay waste nine years after and abundance of People died with Want and Famine The next year he summoned a general Convocation of the Clergy wherein he bitterly accused several grave and learned Bishops Abbots Priors and others of many pretended Crimes and Offences for which he absolutely deprived them of their Dignities and Estates which he bestowed on others either for Love or Money These insufferable Acts provoked Marcarus and Edwin the Earls of Northumberland and Mercia with Egilwyn Bishop of Durham to raise an Insurrection But the King quickly drove Edwyn into Scotland Marcarus was taken and imprisoned in the Tower of London where he long continued and the Bishop was inhumanely famish'd to death in Abington Abby At this time great difference arose about the Primacy of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York but at last it was adjudged in favour of the first and York submitted accordingly In his fifteenth year his eldest Son Robert by the instigation of Philip the French King rebelled against him in Normandy which occasioned his Father to go thither with an Army where he was so stoutly encountred that he was unhorsed and in great danger of his Life by his Son unknown but he hearing his Fathers Voice rescued him again and was after reconciled and received Pardon of his Father and the King with great loss returned again to England Soon after William to revenge divers Injuries and Affronts offered him by King Phi ip in Normandy went with a gallant Army into France where finding Odo Earl of Kent and Bishop of Bayeux his Brother by the Mother to hold secret Correspondence with the French King he complained thereof to the Lords whereupon Lanfrank Archbishop of Canterbury advised the King to commit him to Prison What says the King are you for committing a Clergy-man You need not said Lanfrank commit the Bishop of Bayeux but you may very justly imprison the Earl of Kent Which was done accordingly Sometime before this Pope Hildebrand dying a Magician told Odo That he foresaw he should succeed him upon which Odo having already swallowed the Papacy in thought sent Money the most prevailing Messenger to Rome before-hand and purchased himself a Palace there providing likewise for his Journey thither but King William for his Presumption and other Misdemeanours staid and committed him saying Offensive foolhardiness must be restrained in time While the King was in Normandy he fell sick and the French King hearing his Distemper was in his Belly scoffingly said Our Cousin William is now in Childbed Ah what a number of Candles must I offer at his going to Church Sure an hundred thousand will hardly be enough King William hearing of this Jest said Well I hope our Cousin of France shall be at no such Cost for after this my Childbirth at my going to Church I will saith he swearing by the Resurrection and Brightness of God find him a thousand Candles and light them all my self Alluding to the Candles that Women used to carry in that Age when they went to be Churched And soon after he performed his Word destroying the People Towns and Cities on the Frontiers of France with Sword and Fire but in burning the City of Mantz he came so near the flames that with the heat of his Harness he got a Sickness which being increased by the Leaping of his Horse burst the inner Rim of his Belly he being very Corpulent of which he soon after died at Roan Upon his Death-bed he said I appoint no Successor to the Kingdom of England but I commend it to the Eternal God whose I am and in whose Hands all things are He much lamented his Severity and Cruelty to the English Nation He was buried in the Abby of St. Stephen at Caen in Normandy though his Funerals were interrupted by a Norman Gentleman who would not permit him to be buried till he had received Satisfaction for that Ground which the Conquerour had unjustly taken from him Thus this victorious Conquerour whose Mind could not be confin'd to one Kingdom while he lived being dead could hardly get a place to be buried in The Charters and Conveyances in his Reign were not so tedious as now adays but very short and plain as appears by this following transcribed out of an Authentick Record I William King the third of my Reign give to Norman Hunter to me that art both leif and dear the Hop and the Hopton and all the Bounds up and down under the Earth to Hell above the Earth to Heaven from me and mine to thee and thine as good and as fair as ever they mine were To witness that this is sooth I bite the white Wax with my Tooth Before Jug Maud and Margery and my youngest Son Henry For a Bow and a broad
Sicily trembled at my Courage bold King Tancred bought his Peace and did agree To pay me Threescore ounces of pure Gold Whilst I abroad won Honour many ways Ambitious John my Brother vext my Realm In Austria I was Pris'ner many days Thus Floods of Troubles did me overwhelm At length I home return'd my Ransom paid But soon my Glory in the Grave was laid RIchard the eldest Son living of King Henry was in Normandy at the time of his Fathers Death and because there were many things amiss he was resolved to continue there some time but yet gave immediate Order for the Release of his Mother Queen Eleanor who was closely imprisoned by her Husband for the Death of Rosamond and her continual reproving him for his lascivious Course of Life And because she was very discreet virtuous and wise King Richard committed the whole Government of the Kingdom in his absence to her management who having experimentally known the Troubles and Sorrows of Prisoners and Captives she released such as were committed for small Offences and paid the Debts of divers others that they might be freed and in all things used great Moderation and Justice till the return of her Son who was received and Crowned King with much Joy and Solemnity And he imitating the mild Disposition of his Mother commiserating the Afflicted provided in the whole Course of his Government that Justice should be extended with Mercy toward all He conferred many Honours upon his Brother John whom he created Earl of Lancaster and gave him the Counties of Nottingham Devon and Cornwal marrying him to the Daughter and Heir of the Earl of Glocester from whom he had the Lordship of that County also but in stead of obliging him these Favours made him Ambitious and ingratefully to affect the Crown and to boast that his Parts and Endowments were sufficient to make him a King This King for his invincible Courage was the greatest Heroe at that time in the Christian World so that he was called Coeurdelion or the Lions Heart who would attempt any thing though never so difficult if it were honourable His Fathers great Treasure which he left behind him furnished him sufficiently with Gold and Silver but such was his contempt of Riches that he freely bestowed Gifts upon all deserving Persons and in a little time by his extreme Bounty had disposed of most of it not considering that future Occasions might cause great Expences as it soon appeared For in the beginning of his Reign the Pope by many strong Sollicitations and Promises of his Blessings persuaded him to go in his own Person and fight against the Saracens in the Holy Land and to recover Jerusalem from the Infidels which he at length undertook being assisted therein by Frederick Emperour of Germany Philip Augustus King of France Leopold Archduke of Austria and many other Christian Princes who had raised Men and Money and made all other Provisions to that purpose All entring into Covenants That their Rendezvouz should be in Sicily and that all the Wealth and Booty they should meet with should be equally divided among them These things being concluded though the Kings Liberality and Expences had made him necessitous yet he was resolved not to burden his People with any Tax to supply himself but raised great Sums of Money out of his own Estate and among others he sold the Castles of Berwick and Roxborough to the King of Scots for 10000 l. and the Lordship of Durham to Hugh Pudsey the Bishop thereof creating him likewise Earl of it laughing heartily while he was investing him and saâ—ing I think I am very cunning and a Crafts master in my Business that can make a young Earl of an old Bishop He likewise sold divers Honours Mannors Offices Privileges and Royalties and many other things protesting That for performing that great and honourable Service â—â— would be willing to sell his City of London if he could find any able to buy it rather than he would be chargeable to others Having thus provided himself with all Necessaries for his Journey and raised a gallant Army wherein were many Lords Knights and Gentlemen and gathered a Sum of no less than 1100000 l. he left the Principal Command of the Kingdom to William Longchampe Bishop of Ely the Popes Legat and Lord Chancellor of England concluding a firm Friendship with William King of Scots he then set sail for the Holy Land with a Royal Navy to the Island of Cyprus where Isacius the discourteous King in stead of relieving them with Necessaries pillaged and abused them whereat King Richard being enraged landed his Men and soon conquered the whole Kingdom carrying away the King and his Daughters Prisoners and selling the Country to the Knights Templars for 30000 Marks From thence according to Agreement he sailed to Sicily where he met Philip the French King Upon their first Enterview there was great Familiarity and Endearment betwixt them but Philip being denied any part of the Spoil of Cyprus both because he was absent and likewise King Richard affirming That the Agreement extended onely to such things as they should gain in the Holy Land Philip thereupon grew angry and discontented which Richard disregarded declaring publickly That let the French King do what he durst he should never be a Partner in that Booty Yet Philip knowing the Eyes of all Christendom were upon him would make no open Breach and so they again embarqued Tancred the Usurping King of Sicily having either out of love or fear given King Richard above 6000 Ounces of Gold before his departure Sailing from thence with a Navy of above 300 Ships they met with a rich Argosey or Ship with French Flags but Manned with no less than 1500 Turks and Saracens and all manner of Warlike Provisions as Fire-works Barrels and Cages of venomous Serpents all designed for the Relief of the City of Acon formerly called Ptolemais this Vessel he took drowning 1300 Saracens and then landing at Acon in company with King Philip they sate down before it there being already Christians of divers Nations as Genoways Florentines Flemings Almains Danes Dutch Pisans Friezelanders Lumbards and some English under Hubert Bishop of Sarum wich the Knights Templars and several Asians During the Siege Sultan Saladine beheaded 1500 Christian Slaves in revenge whereof King Richard killed 2500 Tarks in sight of their Army After a long and sharp Siege the City of Acon was taken upon the entring whereof a forward Knight advanced the Banner and Ensign of Leopold Archduke of Austria but King Richard seeing it he himself ran up to the Wall pluck'd them down and trampled them under his Feet whereat the French King was still more incensed speaking high Words but Richard slighting his Anger affirmed That if any were offended thereat they might do what they pleased since he had onely righted himself in those Injuries done against him and that he was ready to maintain what he had acted with his Sword in the Field King
Son Edward to prosecute the Scots and to carry his dead Body along with him through Scotland For as long said he as thou hast my Bones with thee thou shalt certainly be victorious And that he should send his Heart to the Holy Land with 140 Knights and their Retinue for which Expence he had provided 32000 l. in Silver and charging him upon pain of eternal Damnation not to divert the Money to any other use Lastly Commanding him upon pain of his Curse not to recal Gaveston that wicked Debaucher of h s Youth without common Consent And soon after he died in the Five and thirtieth year of his Reign and Sixty ninth of his Age 1307. and was buried at Westminster EDWARD the SECOND King of England c. AS soon as e're my Father was Interr'd Greatness and Glory seem'd to wait on me When to the Regal Throne I was preferr'd All did rejoyce to me all bow'd the Knee But all these fickle Joys soon had an end My Love to thee Pierce Gaveston was so great My Dotage scarcely left me one true Friend My Queens Peers Peoples Hopes I did defeat Tormented both in Body and in Mind I by the Scots was beat at Bannocks Bourn And forc'd by Flight Security to find Yet seis'd on by my Queen At my return A red-hot Iron did my Bowels goar My woful Misery all Men did deplore THe comely Personage and Majesty of Edward the Second who succeeded his Father seemed to promise many Blessings from his Government but his Mind being grosly corrupted with vicious Company in his Youth made him burdensom to his Nobility and a scorn to his inferiour Subjects which brought woful Calamities upon himself and his Kingdom For no sooner was his Head adorned with the Imperial Crown but his Heart longed for the debauched Gaveston who though banished by his Father and Edward having taken an Oath that he should never return yet hearing how things went he soon came back and was received with extraordinary Joy and Content by the King The Nobles being extremely concerned as fearing the ruine of Church and State by his Insolence presumed to put the King in mind of his Oath but as his Conscience did not trouble him for the breach thereof so their Dislike increased his Love so that Gaveston and none but Gaveston managed all being created Baron of Wallingford Earl of Cornwal and Treasurer of all his Jewels and Treasure who fearing a Storm privately sent beyond Sea a massy Table and Tressels of beaten Gold with many other rich Ornaments and Jewels He likewise enticed the King to banquet and drink without measure and to leave the Society of Isabel his Queen Daughter to King Philip the Fair of France The Nobles murmured the Common People talked boldly his own Servants privately told him of the Villanies of Gaveston yet he disregarded the first and frowned on the last But yet perceiving he should not be able to protect him against the Importunity of the Lords he was sent into Ireland where he was no sooner arrived but Messengers with Letters of Comfort Plate Jewels Gold and Silver in abundance and Promises of Reward and Advancement were sent him by the King so that it seemed rather an Honourable Ambassy than Banishment During Gaveston's absence the King was so melancholy and discontented that his Nobility in hopes of his Reformation moved the King for his return When he came back his Pride and Insolence increased so much that he publickly gloried in his misleading the King and abused the Lords to their Faces so that being no longer able to suffer his Impudence they besieged him in a strong Castle whither he fled which having won they took Gaveston and cut off his Head at which the King was so highly incensed that he sought all ways to revenge his Death And to vex the Nobility he took into his nearest Familiarity and Counsels the two Spencers Father and Son Men as wicked and odious to the Lords and People as the former who perswaded him to frequent the Company of Harlots and Concubines and utterly to neglect his Queen But this evil Government of himself and his Kingdom kindled new Heats between him and his Subjects of which Robert Bruce taking the advantage came from Norway whither he had fled into Scotland and was joyfully received and crowned King of that Kingdom and raising a puissant Army he entred England burning and destroying all before him till he was encountred by the King but Edward fighting a Battel within Scotland received an Overthrow with the loss of many thousand Soldiers besides Gilbert de Clare Earl of Glocester forty two Lords and above fourscore Knights and Barons who were taken Prisoners and he shamefully forced to fly into England for Safety where one John Powdras a Tanners Son of Exeter confronted him affirming That he was the Legitimate Son of King Edward the First and that he was changed in his Cradle by his Nurse for a Carters Child offering several Proofs for the same and among others alledging the unkingly and base Qualities of Edward upon which many of the Vulgar flock'd to him But being taken and confessing his Treason he was condemned and executed At the same time the almost impregnable Castle of Berwick was betray'd to Robert Bruce and such a great Famine and Murrain of Cattel happened as was hardly ever known Likewise about two hundred Highwaymen and Thieves Clothed like Gray Friers Robbed and Murdered the Inhabitants of the North part without respect to Age or Sex the Scots also raised an Army and made such Devastation that the Famine increased wofully so that the living could scarce bury the dead and the rest were forc't to eat Rats Mice Cats Dogs Horses and the like Edward marching to suppress the Scots received a second overthrow more lamentable than the former returning back with much disgrace leaving his Northern Subjects a merciless prey to their Barbarous Enemys The Nobility observing the miseries of the Kingdom daily to increase complain of the Misgovernment of the Spencers telling him plainly They had so much interest in his Person and the Government that they were bound to inform him of his misdemeanors and the mis-managment of his two Corrupt Counsellors The King knowing their complaints to be true yet resolving not to part with his Favourites contrived to surprise those Noble-men who most hated the Spencers and giving them a pleasing answer presently after summoned a Parliament pretending to reform what was amiss to the great joy both of Lords and Commons but the Barons suspecting trechery repaired to London with a strong Army of their followers all clothed in the same Livery which highly offended the King because he was afraid they would deprive him of his dear Minions which happened accordingly for it was enacted by Parliament That the two Spencers should be banished for ever and not to return upon pain of death after which they were soon sent away at which most Men were pleased but the King continually
discovered his anger against the Lords who had forced his consent to their Banishment which he made appear upon this occasion The younger Spencer having got a few Ships together robbed and pillaged the Merchants of England and all other Nations in the Narrow Seas upon which they Petitioned that a Fleet might be set out to seize and Execute him as a Pyrate and notorious Thief the King smiled seeming to rejoyce thereat and instead of punishing him pardoned them both recalled them from Banishment to despight the Barons and raised them to higher Honour and Offices than before The Lords inraged hereat especially since the Spencers affronted them openly upon all occasions they resolved on revenge and to that purpose immediately raise a strong Army and take the Field and the King with the two Spencers and some other of the Nobles did the like and many sharp encounters passed between them the Lords forgetting they undutifully fought against their Soveraign and the King that his Cruelty had compelled them to take Arms In the end when many of the Barons and thousands of their adherents were slain they fled and were pursued by the King who took the Earls of Lancaster Hereford and many other Lords two and twenty of whom were beheaded in diverse parts of the Realm to the great terror of the People This success made the Spencers yet more insolent so that now they made their Will a Law in all things and presuming that all would be done they desired they persuaded the King to call a Parliament at York in which he created his eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitan Old Hugh Spencer was made Earl of Winchester and Sir Andrew Harkly who was very active against the Lords Earl of Carlisle he likewise exacted the sixth penny of all Mens Estates in England Wales and Ireland whereat the People grievously complained alledging that they were quite impoverished by Famine and Dearth but especially by reason of the disorders in the Government The Scots having notice that K. Edward resolved to revenge the wrongs committed against his Subjects under Robert Bruce their usurping King to divert him invaded Ireland with strong Force but the King being forewarned had sufficiently provided against their landing so that most of them were slain and the rest forced to fly to their Ships and return shamefully home The King now thinking himself invincible marches with a brave Army into Scotland where the Scots being well-armed and many thousands in number pretended to give him Battel when they intended nothing less for as Edward approached they withdrew into the Woods Forrests and Mountains whereby the English Army were soon extreamly distressed by Storms Rain Frost Snow and Hail and likewise with want of Provisions which caused great Mortality so that without performing any thing Honourable he began to retire which the Scots perceiving they pursued him with all cruelty and violence and falling upon his Army forced the King to save himself by flight and leave behind him his Treasure Ordinance and Provisions This disaster happened by the treachery of Sir Andrew Harkley who having privately received Money of the Scots designed to betray the King for which Treason he after lost his Head The Queen being sensible of the malice of the Spencers against her who estranged the King from her Company and Bed and lamenting the late slaughter of many of the Nobility and the continued misery of the Nation she with her Son Prince Edward fled into France to her Brother King Charles where she was at first received with great joy and Promises of assistance the Barons likewise by Letters assuring her of their Service to her self and Son But the Spencers by unvaluable Presents to K. Charles and his Courtiers soon took him off that instead of assistance he reproved his Sister for leaving her Husband the Pope being likewise obliged by the same means required the French King upon pain of his Curse to send the Queen and Prince to Edward and she hardly escaped being betray'd by her own Brother but privately getting into the Empire by means of Sir Robert Artois her kinsman she was joyfully entertained by the Lord Beaumont and his Brother who accompanied her and her Son with three hundred Knights and Gentlemen and landed in England at which the Barons rejoycing soon joyned with her increasing hourly so that the King hastened to Wales to raise Forces leaving the Government of London to Walter Stapleton L. Treasurer and Bishop of Exeter a great Favourite of the Spencers and an Enemy to the Queen and therefore generally hated by the Citizens who abhorring his proud and insolent Government caused his head to be struck off at the Standard in Cheapside without any Legal Tryal and then violently rushing into the Tower slew all they found there keeping that and the City for the Queen and Prince K. Edward upon this revolt chang'd his purpose and posting to Bristow fortified the Town and Castle Sir Hugh Spencer the Father and Son being with him and the Earl of Arundel was made Governour resolving to defend it with all their might but soon after the City was besieged and taken by the Queen and Lords and the Earl of Arundel and Spencer the Father taken Prisoners but the King and Young Spencer being besieged in the Castle not trusting to the strength thereof got out privately in the Night and put themselves in a small Fisherboat but every day for a whole week when the Boat went to Sea it was driven back again near the Castle which the L. Beaumont observing he with a small Vessel chased the Boat and took her wherein he found the King and young Spencer whom they so much desired and brought them to the Queen who presenting them before the besieged in the Castle they presently surrendred Old Spencer the Earl of Winchester and the Earl of Arundel whose Daughter was married to the younger Spencer were beheaded and the King being in an honourable restraint the Queen Prince and Barons with a strong Army marched toward London carrying young Spencer in Triumph before whom several Fidlers and Pipers sung danced and play'd scornfully upon Reeds through every Town and Village as they past where being come he was bound to the top of an high Ladder and his Heart and Privy-members being burnt his Head was set on London Bridge After which the Queen nobly treated and rewarded Sir John of Heynault the Lord Beaumont and their followers who departed home and were there received with great honour The Queen and young Prince to redress all disorders assembled a Parliament in which the King by general consent was deposed and committed to Killingworth Castle with honourable atttendance and Prince Edward his Son Crowned King not long after Edward was removed to Cors-Castle where he was barbarously murdered by his Keepers who through a Horn thrust a burning Spit into his Fundament after he had reigned almost nineteen years and in the forty first of his Age 1307. EDWARD the
thereof was extreamly displeased at so great an affront and secretly contrived mischief against him to whom the Duke of Clarence who had been disobliged by his Brother joyned himself and married Warwick's Daughter and soon after with other great Lords and Confederates they raised a Rebellion in York-shire and were so strong that at Banbury King Edwards Forces were overthrown and 5000 of them slain the Lord Rivers the Queens Father and the Lord Strafford being beheaded Yet King Edward preparing another great Army marched toward the Rebels but many of the Nobility endeavouring to procure a Peace obtained a Parley during which King Edward being less watchful of himself was seized in his Bed by the treacherous Earl of Warwick and secretly sent Prisoner to Middleham Castle in York-shire to be there kept Prisoner by his own Brother the Archbishop of York who likewise joined with Clarence and Warwick against him from whom either accidentally or willingly he soon after made his escape and at last came safe to London where by the procurement of the Lords the King the Earl of Warwick and the Duke of Clarence met upon security given in Westminster Hall where Warwick used such high Language to the King upbraiding him for his Ingratitude that all parted in high discontent and soon after at the Battel of Loosecoats the Rebels were beaten by King Edward throwing off their Coats for haste to make their escape in which fight were slain 10000 men The Earl of Warwick and Duke of Clarence hearing of this misfortune fled in despair with their Ladies and other Gentlewomen to Callice but were denied entrance by the Governour though the Dutchess of Clarence was then in Labour and delivered on Shipboard whereupon they went to Deip in France and were kindly entertained by that King where divers others repairing to them they consulted to restore King Henry and Prince Edward Henry's Son married the Earl of Warwicks second Daughter whereat the Duke of Clarence was much concerned and resolved to submit to his Brother upon the first opportunity All things being in readiness Warwick and his Confederates imbark for London and land at Dartmouth where his Forces soon increased very much and he then made Proclamation in all places for all men to come to his aid against the Duke of York who falsely and traiterously called himself King In the mean time Edward levied a strong Army wherewith he marched toward the Rebels but being informed of the general love of the People to Warwick and hearing me then loud shouts of King Henry King Henry a Warwick a Warwick he suspected the fidelity of his own Forces and with 800 of his best Friends left his Army and fled in the Night to Lincolnshire and from thence to Holland to the Duke of Burgundy As soon as it was known that Edward was gone the Earl of Warwick câ—me to London and taking Henry out of the Tower carried him triumphantly through the City to Pauls and from thence to the Bishops Pallace where he kept his Court. Then a Parliament being called Edward and his Adherents were attainted of High Treason and their Estates confiscate to the King the Duke of Clarence is declared Heir of the Dukedom of York and the Crown is intailed upon Henry and his Heirs and in default of his issue to the Duke of Clarence and his In a short time Edward by the assistance of the Duke of Burgundy lands in England with small Forces and few joyning with him he declared he came not to challenge the Crown but only his inheritance of the Dutchy of York upon which the People flock't in to him and at last the Lords told him They durst not joyn with him unless he would stile himself King which he did accordingly and the Earl of Warwick with other Nobles coming against him with a strong Army got into Coventry they suspecting the Duke of Clarence who joining accordingly with King Edward they defied the Earl of Warwick who durst not venture without the Walls King Edwar'd hereupon leaves Coventry and marches toward London where he was again joyfully received and King Henry was again committed to the Tower and was soon after followed by the Earl of Warwick who at Barnet was slain with his Brother the Marquess and 10000 men slain After this Queen Margaret landeth from France and some Nobles joyning with her the two Armys met at Teuksbury in Glocestershire where King Edward again remained Victor killing 3000 of his Adversaries and the Queen and her Son Edward were taken Prisoners the Prince being then cruelly murdered by Richard Duke of Glocester and soon after King Henry was found dead in the Tower being wickedly stabbed by the same bloody Richard After this King Edward makes his claim to France and to gain it craved aid of his Subjects by way of Benevolence and among others a covetous Widdow gave him twenty pounds which the King who was there present unknown to her observing not only gave her Thanks but came and kissed her telling her That she should have a kiss from a King for her Money whereat the old Woman was so transported that she told him a Kings kiss was worth more Money and thereupon gave him twenty pound more The King having got an Army together sailed to France but the French King fearing his power chose rather to buy his Peace of the Kings Courtiers which he did accordingly with great Sums of Money paid yearly to the English Nobility Among others he sent two thousand Crowns to the Lord Hastings Lord Chamberlain the Messenger desiring a Receipt for his own security which the Lord Chamberlain scrupling at said Sir What you desire is very reasonable but the Gift comes from the good Will of your King and not from my Request If you please to give it put into the Pocket of my Sleeve and no other Acquittance shall you have of me for it shall never be said that the Lord Chamberlain of England was a Pensioner to the King of France neither shall my Acquittances be ever found in the Chamber of Accounts in France After this the Lord Chamberlain was more esteemed by the French and had his Money paid without a Receipt About this time the Duke of Clarence being sent to the Tower for High Treason was drowned in a Butt of Malmsey and soon after King Edward himself died after he hid lived 40 years and reigned twenty two 1483. He was a very compleat Person exceeding Valiant but too wanton he used to say he had three Mistresses of different Qualities one of them the Fairest another the Merriest and a third the Holiest Harlot alive whom he could never send for to his Bed but she was always at Prayers with her Beads EDWARD the FIFTH King of England c. IF Birth or Beauty Innocence or Youth Could Pity raise within a Tyâ—ants Heart Then surely Richard would have found it Truth And not have acted such a bloody Part. What Glory then to be of Royal Race What Joy is there in
Beauty Strength or Wit What is Command great Honour and high Place When Treason lurks where Majesty doth sit Vnhappy I had too much Proof of this Nipt in my Eud and blasted in my Bloom Depriv'd by Murder of all Kingly Bliss And in Three Kingdoms could not find a Tomb. By Treason thus my Greatness did decay Ere the Fruit grew the Tree was cut away KIng Edward left behind him two Sons Edward of the Age of thirteen years who unfortunately succeeded him and Richard Duke of York two year younger with five Daughters and one onely Brother Richard Duke of Glocester who being of an ambitiouâ— and bloody Nature took the Opportunity of the younâ— Kâ—ngs Minority to raise himself upon the Ruins of his Brothers Family At the death of the King Prince Edward kept his Court at Ludlow in Wales to restrain the Welch from Mischief and Anthony Earl of Rivers the Queens Brother and Uncle to the Prince was by King Edward made Protector of his Person all Places of Honour and Profit being disposed of by the Queen and him which Richard did much disdain and therefore often consulted with the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Hastings about removing the young King from them who contrived to take him into their Custody thereby to have the Honour and Benefit thereoâ— The Queen with her Brother and the Lord Grey he Son and her other Friends were now marching 〈◊〉 London with strong Forces in order to Crown the King and the Duke of Glocester knowing the Business muâ— be done before that was performed persuaded tâ—â— Queen by Letters to dismiss the Soldiers lest such â— great Army should cause suspicion of some ill Desigâ— and suddenly seising the King at Stonystratford the waited upon him toward London committing the Eaâ—â— Rivers Lord Grey Sir Thomas Vaughan and some others to Pomfret Castle in Yorkshire where they were soon after beheaded without any Trial upon the same day that the Lord Hastings who had conspired with Richard against them was beheaded by his Order in the Tower as you read hereafter Then Richard and his Confederates removed all the other Officers and Servants from about him declaring that those Noblemen who suffered had resolved to destroy all the Lords of King Edward's Blood The Queen hearing of the fatal Murder of her Brother Son and Friends repented her disbanding the Soldiers by Richard's cunning Persuasions and fearing the Event she with her five Daughters and her youngest Son Richard Duke of York took Sanctuary at Westminster The young King also mourned extremely at the miserable Slaughter of his Friends but the two Dukes of Glocester and Buckingham endeavoured to comfort him expressing their Loyalty by a thousand Protestations and bringing the King toward London he was met by the Lord Mayor and above 500 grave Citizens before whom Richard behaved himself with so much reverence and submission to the King that he persuaded them as well as the Council of State to declare him Protector of the King and Kingdom which was the great thing he aimed at but not having the Duke of York in his Hands he grievously complained against the Queen for detaining him as a Prisoner and hindring him from keeping company with his Brother which he enforced with so many plausible Reasons that the Council sent and commanded her to deliver him up which she unwillingly did kissing and weeping bitterly over him praying God to deliver him from all danger and telling the Archbishop of York who was sent for him That she would require that poor and innocent Child at his Hands When the lovely Youth was put into the Protector 's Hands he before the whole Assembly took him in his Arms kissing hugging and embracing him and often solemnly protesting upon his Soul That nothing in the World except the King himself was so dear to him as that young Child though he then designed to sacrifice them both to his cursed Ambition And bringing the young Duke to the King who was extremely pleased with his Company he conveyed them through London with great Pomp and State to the Tower upon pretence of Security in these troublous Times whenas there were no Troubles but what were occasioned by himself and his wicked Accomplices Having thus betrayed these poor innocent Lambs into his Slaughter house Richard then contrives how he might most commodiously Butcher them At first he doubted whether he should reveal his Design to the Duke of Buckingham but upon promising his Daughter to Buckingham's Son and the Earldom of Hartford as a Dowry he soon gained him and bestowing on him a great Sum of the Kings Money he soon persuaded him to assist him But because the Lord Hastings whom the Protector for former Friendship had newly made Lord Chamberlain had been always true to Edward the Fourth and was hearty for the Service of the young King they despaired of gaining him and therefore resolved to dispatch him Hereupon he called a great Council of the Lords in the Tower proposing to them the speedy Coronation of the King though it was least intended by him and then grew very pleasant with the Lords and told Dr. Morton Bishop of Ely whom he loved not That he heard he had fine Strawberries in his Garden in Holbourn intreating him to send for some which he willingly did being very glad the Protector was so kind to him Upon a sudden Richard rises from the Board desiring the Lords to proceed in the Matters before them and that he would go out and return again presently which he did within an Hour after And being set in his Chair he bent his Brows bit his Lips wrung his Fists and looked fiercely on the Ground The Lord being much disturbed at this Alteration sate all silenâ— for some time expecting what he would say at length he demanded What they deserved who had wickedly plotted to destroy him being Vncle and Protector to the King The Lords being absolutely innocent sate like Men amazed not one of them uttering a Word at length the Lord Hastings who was most familiar with him replied Those that have transgressed the Law deserve the severest punishment thereof To which all the Lords assented Then quoth the Protector That Sorceress meaning the Queen and that Strumpet Shore 's Wife have conspired together to take away my Life by Witchcraft and to confirm it do but see how my Left-arm is already wasted and consumed and therewith plucked up his Sleeve and confidently shewed his naked Arm though all present knew certainly that his Arm had been never otherwise from his Mothers Womb Neither could they be so foolish to believe that the Queen and Shore's Wife should joyn together above all Women since she was King Edward's Concubine besides the Queen was known to be Mild Virtuous and Religious The Lord Hastings who since Edward's Death had taken Shore's Wife for his Concubine and having left her that Morning in his own Bed endeavoured to appease his Rage against her and said My Lord If
what sense the words were spoken The Bishop of Ely being a Prisoner to the Duke of Buckingham he by often discoursing with him became so intimate that the Duke opened his whole mind to him complaining of the bloody villanies and Tyranny of the King which the Bishop endeavoured by all means to aggravate repeating all the murders and other crimes he was guilty of and at length perswaded him to endeavour the deposing of Richard and advancing the Earl of Richmond to the Throne and thereby unite the two Houses of Lancaster and York by Richmond's marrying the Lady Elizabeth K. Edward the Fourth's eldest Daughter he being Son and Heir apparent to Margret Countess of Richmond Daughter and Heir of John Duke of Somerset son to John of Gaunt Fourth Son of Edward the Third and therefore a lawful Heir to the Crown and that hereby all occasion of Faction and Civil Wars would be removed and the World would be rid of a Master who was loathed and hated by all good men The Bishop having by these and many other Arguments confirmed Buckingham in his Resolution of attempting against Richard he then prevailed with him to let him go into the Isle of Ely from whence he fled to the Earl of Richmond in Flanders King Richard having notice hereof sent many rich gifts and presents to the Duke of Brittain to deliver up Richmond to him but could not prevail and tho the Plot of the Bishop was very secret yet Richard had intelligence thereof and resolved to take off Buckingham either by fair or foul means and therefore sent for him kindly to Court but the Duke knowing that Richard never spared the Blood of any who stood in his way sent submissive excuses as not being able to travel the King soon perceived his sickness was more in mind than body and therefore sent Letters full of threats peremptorily commanding him to come the Duke rather desiring an open enemy than a false friend boldly returned answer That he would not venture his life in the hands of such a Monster Murtherer and usurping Tyrant as he was and thereupon presently fled to Arms raising considerable forces in Wales Sir Edward Courtrey and his Brother the Bishop of Exeter did the like in Devonshire Sir Richard Guilford and others in Kent and the Marquess of Dorset in Yorkshire Richard preparing an Army marched with all speed to meet Buckingham before he joined with his confederates who resolving to confront him designed to bring his Army over the Severn to Glocester but the night before it rained extreamly continued so to do for ten days after which caused a very great flood and laid all the Country under water drowning Towns Villages and abundance of People this delay caused scarcity in the Dukes Army upon which the inconstant Welch ran away and left him alone so that he was forced to fly to one Humfry Banister near Shrewsbury for security he having been his Servant and raised by the Duke to a handsome estate the Lords hearing of the Dukes ill success got to Sea and arrived safely in Brittain Richard offered a thousand pound to any who should discover the Duke of Buckingham upon which that ungrateful Wretch delivered him up and without any Legal Tryal he was instantly beheaded In the mean time Richmond hearing nothing of these misfortunes having got together about five thousand men imbarqued them for England but was beaten back by a storm and much shattered yet being relieved by the French King he soon after got into Brittain where he met his noble friends by whom it was concluded to attempt landing in England once more Richmond swearing to marry Elizabeth K. Edward the Fourths eldest Daughter But K. Richard to prevent the match perswaded the old Queen with large promises and great sums of money to deliver her five Daughters into his custody and soon after he caused it to be reported that his own Queen was dead which she hearing of was much troubled and in a week after was found dead indeed which Richard so little regarded that he presently made love to the Lady Elizabeth who considering her own and Sisters danger durst not deny him absolutely but perswaded him to stay till he had defeated the Duke of Richmond and setled himself in Peace At this time his Court flatterers perswaded him that Richmond and his Party received such small incouragement and assistance from the French King that he was unable to make any attempt against him which Richard readily believed and therefore discharged the forces which were in Garrison on the Sea Coasts whereby it pleased God to infatuate the councel of this Bloody Politician to bring him to his deserved fate for soon after by the aid of the young French King the Earl of Richmond with a very inconsiderable force landed at Milford in Wales where he saw little appearance of assistance but the Welchmen being put in mind that Richmond being the Son of Owen Tudor was of their own Countrey and Blood and that he would have a special kindness for them that he would marry the Lady Elizabeth and thereby perfectly settle the Kingdom they soon flockt yea throng'd unto him with willing and resolved minds under several Gallant Commanders the Earl of Shrewsbury likewise sent in two thousand men and Sir Thomas Bouchier Sir Walter Hungerford and the Lord Stanley came with five thousand more all these were lieved by King Richards order but revolted to Richmond as judging it lawful to forsake a Tyrant and submit to a more legal Power Richard was much disturbed at this disappointment however he raised an Army of about twenty thousand and with his true friend John Duke of Norfolk marched toward Bosworth in Leicestershire where the Armies met and fought two hours K. Richard acting the part of a valiant Commander but at length was slain as it is said by the Earl of Richmonds own hand August 22. 1485. a thousand of his men being killed and among them the Duke of Norfolk and not above an hundred of Richmonds after the battle Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey Son and Heir to the Duke of Norfolk was taken Prisoner fighting for King Richard of whom the Earl of Richmond demanded How he durst bear Arms for that Tyrant Richard who answered He was my Crowned King and if the Parliamentary Authority of England set the Crown upon a stock I will fight for that stock and as I fought then for him so I will fight for you when you are established by the same Authority And so he did for his Son Henry 8. at Flodden Field Camdens Remains King Richard being killed his Crown which he that day wore being found among the spoils was brought to Henry Earl of Richmond by his Father in Law the Lord Stanley and the Souldiers shouting loudly and crying King Henry King Henry he crowned him therewith in the open Field King Richard had three wicked Councellers who incited him to cruelty Sir Richard Ratcliff Sir William Catesby and
the Lord Lovel and Richard gave the Hog for the supporter of his Arms whereupon one Collingborn made the following Rime and was executed for the same as a Traytor The Rat the Cat and Lovel the Dog Rule all England under a Hog Thus lived and thus died King Richard after he had reigned as a Tyrant two years two months and two days and of his Age thirty nine 1485. HENRY the SEVENTH King of England c. I Was the Man by Providence assign'd To purchase to this restless Kingdom rest I York and Lancaster in one conjoyn'd That by long Wars each other had opprest My Strength and Wisdom both by Heav'n were blest With good success even from first to last And the Almighty turned to the best A world of dangers which I over past I did unite the White Rose and the Red By a Conjugal Sacred Marriage Band Traytors and Treason both I quite struck dead For I was guarded by a Mighty Hand In Honour and Magnificence I Reign'd And after death a glorious Tomb I gain'd HEnry Earl of Richmond being Crowned by the name of King Henry the Seventh he according to his Oath and Promise married the Lady Elizabeth eldest Daughter to King Edward the Fourth thereby uniting the two Houses of Lancaster and York whose differences had been the death of many Thousand gallant men He then chose a select number of men for the security of his Person whom he called the Yeomen of the Guard or Crown and rewarded his Friends with Honours and Offices and among others Edward Stafford Son of the Duke of Buckingham was restored to his Fathers Dignity and Estate and calling a Parliament at Westminster all Acts which made him and his adherents guilty of High Treason were repealed and cancelled and the Crown was intailed upon him and his Heirs In his second year Francis Lord Lovel Humphrey and Thomas Strafford who had taken sanctuary for their safety at Colchester animated many People in the North to a Rebellion but King Henry soon raising an Army and pursuing them their Commanders fled and left the poor Rebels who upon submission were pardoned by the King Strafford again took Sanctuary in an Abby near Oxford but was violently forced from thence as not being sufficient enough to protect Traytors who being condemned was executed but his Brother was pardoned as Acting by his instigation No sooner was this Fire quenched but another broke out for the next year Sir Richard Symond a knavish crafty Priest knowing that Edward Plantaginet Son and Heir to George Duke of Clarence Brother to King Edward the Fourth who was now seventeen years old had from his Infancy been kept Prisoner by the two last Kings in the Castle of Sherry Hutton in Yorkshire and that he had been lately removed from thence to the Tower by King Henry he got a young Boy named Lambert Simnel a Bakers Son whom he instructed in all Court accomplishments and then told him that he was the onely Son of the Duke of Clarence and first Heir Male of the House of York The Youth being Ingenious was soon fired with this Discourse so that he could talk thereof very subtilly as if he had received his knowledge by Inspiration This Priest having throughly instructed this apt Scholar he conveyed him into Ireland and was soon entertained and believed by that barbarous and fickle Nation who gave him all Honour and Reverence yea divers of the Nobility after much conference with him did really believe what he affirmed to be true and among others the Lord Chancellor and Sir Thomas Gerandine pitying his condition were very liberal toward him He then gave private notice thereof to the Lady Magaret Dutchess Dowager of Burgundy and Sister to King Edward the Fourth who though she certainly knew he was a Countefeit yet bearing a mortal hatred to King Henry and the House of Lancaster and hoping if the Design succeeded it might procure the inlargement and advancement of her true Nephew Edward to the Crown she published the report thereof in England and all other places and that the Irish had received him for their Sovereign neither would she be wanting to support him with Men Money and Arms to the utmost These vain reports caused her Sister Eiizabeth the Lord Lovel and several other of the discontented English Nobility to transport themselves to her into Flanders and she having raised about 2000 men sent them to Ireland to joyn with 2000 more all resolving for England In the mean time King Henry to discover the Cheat caused Edward the young Earl of Warwick to be brought publickly through the City from the Tower to St. Pauls Church where vast numbers of Nobility and Commons discoursed with him And now Lamberts Forces landed near Lincoln to whom Henry sent an Army who soon routed the Irish for want of Arms and dispersed the rest most of their Commanders being slain Symonds the Priest and Lambert were taken Prisoners the first being committed to perpetual Imprisonment and Lambert was first made Scullion Boy and afterwards the Kings Falkoner In his fourth year a Tax being raised by Parliament for assisting the Duke of Brittain against the French the Countrey People in Northumberland and Durham refused to pay it and cruelly murdered the Earl of Northumberland who was employed in raising thereof and increasing in number they committed many Insolencies but the King sending a compleat Army against them under the Earl of Surry and following himself in person the Rebels as Men amazed soon fled after which followed severe execution upon all whom the King suspected to dislike his Government In his seventh year King Henry sailed with an Army into France and Besieged Bulloign assaulting it fiercely but the French King by the Mediation of his Friends and Money soon procured a Peace very honourable to Henry About which time his ancient and inveterate Enemy the Dutchess of Burgundy set up another Pageant against him having instructed a Dutch Boy called Perkin Warbeck to personate Richard Duke of York second Son to Edward the Fourth and Brother to King Edward the Fifth instructing him exactly in the Pedegrees of the Houses of Lancaster and York and telling him she resolved to advance him to the Crown whereby the youth in a short time became as expert in the Language and Linage as any Englishman whatsoever The French King expecting daily an English Army to be raised in Brittain sent for Perkin and promised to assist him in regaining his Kingdom honouring him with all manner of magnificence so that the youngster could not but strongly imagine that he was born to be a King But in the midst of his flattering hopes the Peace between France and England aforementioned was concluded upon which for fear he should be delivered up to King Henry he fled secretly out of France to his Titular Aunt the Dutchess who received him joyfully entertaining him like a Prince with plenty of Money and costly Apparel and ordering thirty Gentlemen of Quality to wait
on him as his Guard She then caused it to be published in England that her Nephew Richard was alive and expected the assistance of all his loving Subjects to restore him to his Kingdom as being the undoubted Heir Male of the House of York these reports wrought much both upon the Gentry and Common People so that many resolved to assist him and sent Sir Robert Clifford secretly into Flanders to enquire whether he were really such as was pretended who by the Subtilty of the Dutchess and the Ingenuity of the Lad was really perswaded that he was King Edward the Fourth's youngest Son of which sending an account into England his Friends and Partakers daily increased This Design extreamly disturbed King Henry who therefore strongly fortified all places upon the Sea coast and likewise sent divers Spies to the Dutchess of Burgundy who under pretence of joyning with her discovered what Persons in England intended to joyn with Perkin upon whose information and after Legal Tryals the chiefest of them were executed as Traytors In the mean time an Insurrection happened in Lond n against the Easterlings the Apprentices of London breaking up their Warehouses at the Stillyard and doing much mischief but they were soon disperst by the Lord Mayor and afterward all pardoned by the King And now Sir Robert Clifford upon his repentance and the Intercession of his Friends was pardoned by King Henry who coming over discovered all the Contrivances of the Lady Margaret and Perkin with the rest of the Conspirators but named onely Sir William Stanley at which the King admired because he was much beloved by him and had received great rewards who upon clear Conviction was beheaded In the mean time Perkin being furnished with Ships by the Lady Margaret manned with abundance of Villains and Outlaws who landing in Kent were beaten back with great loss and 160 taken Prisoners who where executed in divers places Having such ill success he lands next in Ireland and goes from thence to Scotland where he was entertained by that King though he knew he was a Counterfeit who assisting him they marched into Northumberland and almost utterly destroy'd it Upon this King Henry calls a Parliament who laying a severe Tax on the People the Cornishmen rebel and march toward London but at Blackheath King Henry got an absolute Victory with the slaughter of 2000 Rebels And then turning his Arms toward the Scots they fled before him so that he entred Scotland without resistance destroying many considerable Towns and Forts the Scotch King not daring to relieve them though he with his Army were sometimes not a mile distant Upon this followed a Truce for some years upon condition that Perkin should be banished out of Scotland who sailed from thence into Cornwal where the Cornishmen though so lately defeated yet being desperate joyned with him and Besieged Exeter very closely but at length left it and sat down before Taunton but the King marching toward him with a Formidable Army Perkin with his chief Captains fled and took Sanctuary at Beauly near Southampton several of the rest were taken and executed and the Rable pardoned and Perkin being Besieged in his Monastry yielded himself and was brought to the King who pardoned him only he was set in the Stocks upon an high Scaffold in Cheapside a whole day with a Paper pinned at his back declaring his ignoble descent and Pedigree and was then committed Prisoner to the Tower where practicing with Edward the young Earl of Warwick and others to raise disturbances he was by Law condemned and executed for High Treason together with young Warwick who was extreamly pitied by all for his innocence King Henry soon after sending an Ambassage to Philip Duke of Burgundy by Warham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Doctor in the end of his Speech gave this severe remark on the Dutchess That after she was threescore years old she had brought forth two Monsters Lambert and Perkin and those not in the ninth and tenth Month as Women usually do but in the hundred and fourscore Month for they were both above fifteen years of age when she brought them abroad as it were out of her Belly neither were they Crisoms or Infants but such lusty lads that as soon as ever they were born they were able to make War with a Mighty King These troubles being over his eldest Son Prince Arthur of fifteen years old was married to the Lady Katharine daughter to Ferdinando King of Spain and the next year James the Fourth King of Scots married the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to King Henry but these joys were soon over for Prince Arthur died within five Months after he was married And now King Henry resolving to humble his People took advantage of the breach of the Penal Laws imploying Sir Richard Empson and Edmond Dudleâ— therein who being attended with a Band of Cheats and Informers ruined abundance of People in many Countreys in England so that no man thought himself secure of any thing he enjoyed In his twenty first year the King and Queen of Castile being driven by storm into England were entertained by the King with all kind of magnificence and the next year King Henry grew sick and infirm and perceiving his time was short he deprived those Caterpillars of their power who during his Sickness Plagued the People more than ever he likewise pardoned all Offences and restored great summs to those who had been robbed by those wretched Cormorants being extream penitent for the wrongs and injuries he had committed upon his Subjects and having reigned twenty three years and lived fifty two he died and was buried in a sumptuous Chappel built with great cost by himself at Westminster in the year 1508. HENRY the EIGHTH King of England c. TO both the Royal Houses I was Heir Of Two that long contended I One made This Nation rent and almost in despair I did revive setling Commerce and Trade I banish'd RomishVsurpations vain In France I Bulloign Tyrwin Tournay waâ— The Stile of Faiths Defender I did gain Six Wives I had three Anns two Kates one Jane In my Expences Royal beyond measure Striving in Noble Actions to exceed Accounting Honour as my greatest Treasure Yet various Fancies did my Frailty feed I made I marr'd I did and I undid Till all my Greatness in a Grave was hid HEnry the onely surviving Son of Henry the Seventh succeeded his Father at Eighteen years of Age 1509. And having a Dispensation from the Pope he married the Lady Katherine his Brother Prince Arthur's Widow To oblige his People he made open Proclamation That he would hear the Complaints against Empson and Dudley and finding they had committed notorious Rapines on his Subjects he caused them to be beheaded at Tower-hill and their Confederates were Pilloried in several Places of the Kingdom At this time the French King Lewis the Twelfth made War with the Pope whereupon Henry offered himself a Mediator but was rejected by the French King and
therefore proclaimed War against France upon which occasion and for writing against Martin Luther the Pope stiled him Defender of the Faith Henry sending a Fleet and an Army thither took the Towns of Tyrwin and Tournay At the same time James the Fourth King of Scots though he had married Margaret King Henry's eldest Sister contrary to his Oath and Articles invaded England with an Army of 100000 Fighting Men but the Earl of Surrey with 26000 Men marching against them utterly routed the whole Scotch Army at Flodden field King James himself being slain valiantly fighting After this succeeded a Peace and the French King married King Henry's second Sister Mary And now Cardinal Wolsey of mean Parentage grew extreme Great by the Kings extraordinary Affection toward him and among other extravagant Actions he procured a License from the Pope to pluck down several small Abbies and Priories and to settle the Lands upon two Colleges which he had built one in Ipswich and another in Oxford which President occasioned King Henry some years after to pull down all the rest In his eighth year a Riot hapned in London against Merchant-Strangers and Artificers for which many were condemned of High Treason but were all pardoned by the King The Truce with France was soon broken by the French King whereupon King Henry sent an Army thither who won and burnt Morlaix and several other Towns returning home with great Booty In his twentieth year the Kings Marriage with Queen Katherine of Spain is questioned which was thought to be cunningly contrived by Cardinal Wolsey whereupon the King refrained her Bed and it was judged unlawful by six Foreign Universities so that notwithstanding the Popes Opposition who would have had it referred to him it was made null and void by the next Parliament upon which the Pope caused his Curse to be set up at Dunkirk against the King pronouncing the Marriage lawful But Henry little regarded those Paper Pellets for hereby the Pope lost his Supremacy in England and Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas More were beheaded for defending it The King soon after married Ann Bullein Daughter to the Lord Rochford who was judged a Favourer of Protestants and therefore disliked by Cardinal Wolsey who for abundance of Misdemeanours was found guilty of a Praemunire and all his Estate and Honours were taken from him for grief whereof he soon after died In his twenty sixth year the King was by Parliament declared Supreme Head of the Church within all his own Dominions in all Ecclesiastical Causes and all Popish Bulls and Indulgences were made void and several Religious Houses of Nuns and Monks whose Revenue exceeded not 200 l. a year were suppressed The next year Queen Ann the Kings dearly-beloved Wife was beheaded though she protested her Innocency at her death being accused for prostituting her Body to her own Brother the Lord Rochford who with some others were put to death for the same This Tragedy being over the King within twenty days married Jane the Daughter of Sir John Seymour by whom he had the Virtuous Prince Edward who succeeded him but within few days after the good Queen died James King of Scotland being slain as aforementioned his Queen Margaret eldest Sister to King Henry was afterward married to Archibald Dowglas Earl of Angus who had a Daughter by her called Margaret this young Lady the Lord Howard married without the Kings leave for which she being of the Blood Royal he was beheaded as a Traytor The Kings Proceedings against the Pope caused a Rebellion in Lincolnshire but they were soon dispersed and Captain Cobler their Leader with others executed This was no sooner supprest but an Insurrection begun in the North of above 40000 who called themselves The Holy Pilgrims but upon the Kings Pardon they all quietly departed â—ome A third Rebellion succeeded in Westmorland upon the same account but was likewise defeated and seventy of the principal Conspirators executed In his twenty eighth year several Persons were executed for denying the Kings Supremacy and the Lord Cromwel is made Vicegerent in all Spiritual Matters by whom all Images and Shrines in Churches were taken down and destroyed and the Houses and Lands of Abbots Priors Monks and Nuns for their many Misdemeanours were all taken away and their yearly Revenues amounting to above 200000 l. setled on the King who freely exchanged them for other Lands with divers of his Nobles and Gentry thereby preventing as much as possible the restoring them to their former Uses After the Lord Cromwel had performed this great Business he persuaded the King to marry Ann of Cleve whom he never liked so that though he was married to her four Months he never conversed with her as a Wife the Clergy soon after dissolving the Marriage and the King married Katherine Howard Daughter to the Lord Howard Brother to the Duke of Norfolk The King then began to frown upon Cromwel which his Enemies who were many observing procured his Downfal for he was attainted in Parliament and without being suffered to defend himself was condemned and executed for High Treason and about this time the Lord Hungerford and the Lord Leonard Gray were put to death King Henry was very unfortunate in his Wives for soon after his last Marriage he was informed that his Queen Katherine had before Marriage lived very lasciviously with one Francis Derham and Thomas Culpeper whereupon the Queen and the Lady Rochfort who was privy thereto were soon after attainted of Treason by Parliament and beheaded and the other two hanged at Tyburn About this time an Act of Parliament was made declaring it High Treason to deny the Oath of Supremacy or to acknowledge the Authority of the Pope Yet though the Discipline of the Church was altered the Doctrine remained almost the same for there were six bloody Articles likewise enacted and it was made Heresie and thereupon burning to deny any of them They were these 1. That after speaking the Words of Consecration by the Priest the real and natural Body and Blood of Christ as he was conceived and crucified was in the Sacrament and no other Substance 2. That the Communion in both Kinds is not necessary to Salvation 3. That Priests may not marry 4. That Vows of Chastity ought to be observed by the Law of God 5. That Private Masses ought to be continued 6. That Auricular Confession is necessary and expedient to be retained in the Church of God The refusal of these Articles caused the Death of very many Protestants as the denying the Kings Supremacy cut off several Papists so that at the same time Protestants were burnt on one side of Smithfield and Papists hanged on the other which made Foreigners admire not understanding what Religion King Henry was of In his thirty third year the King married Katherine Parr Sister to the Marquess of Northampton and Widow to the Lord Latimer who was likely to have lost her Head if her Virtue and the Kings sudden Death had not
Son of K. Henry the 8. by Q. Jane Seymour his third wife who died soon after her delivery He was very carefully educated by his Father and had such a happy Genius that in a short time he attained to a perfect use knowledge of the ancient and modern Languages and was exceedingly skilled in all the liberal Arts He was of a beautiful body a mild and gracious disposition and an Heavenly wit so that the renowned Cardan calls him a Miracle of Nature After K. Henrys Death Edward by unquestionable right succeeded him his Father having appointed twenty eight Councellours to assist him in the Government till he came of Age who chose the Earl of Hartford afterward Duke of Somerset to be Protector of the King and Kingdom After his Fathers funerals were past several Persons were advanced to honours in order to his Coronation which was performed February 20 1547. At which three Swords were delivered to him as King of England France and Ireland and having received them he said There was yet another Sword to be delivered to him whereat when the Lords wondred I mean said he the sacred Bible which is the Sword of the Spirit without which we are nothing neither can do any thing King Henry before his death strictly charged the Lords of the Council to use their utmost endeavour for perfecting the marriage of his Son Edward with the young Queen of Scots in prosecution whereof the Protector entred Scotland with a considerable Army by Land and a fleet of sixty Ships under the Lord Clinton scoured the Seas upon which the Governour of Scotland erected the Firecross which was two firebrands set in the fashion of a Cross and pitched upon the point of a spear with a Proclamation that all above sixteen years of Age and under sixty should resort forthwith to Musselborough and bring provision of victuals with them upon which so many came in that the most serviceable only were retained the English approaching a Fierce Battle ensued but at last the English remained victors wherein were slain fourteen thousand cots with the L. Fleming and other Persons of Quality and of English only Fifty one Horsemen and one Footman though many wounded this sight was at Edmonstone Bridge near Musselborough there were fifteen hundred Prisoners taken the chief whereof were the Lords Yester Hobley and Hamilton the Master of anepool the Lord Weems and the Earl of Huntley who being demanded how they were stood affected to the Marriage answered That they liked the match well enough but did not approve of this kind of woing After this the English plundred and fired â—eith and took several other places so that the Earl Bothwell and other Gentry of Tiviotdale came and submitted to the Protector entring into Terms of Peace with him The Protector returning to London called a Parliament wherein the six Articles were repealed and those Colledges and Chappels that K. Henry had not seized were given to the K. the Churches were ordered to be purged of Images no Beads Processions Prayers to Saints or for the Dead or in an unknown Tongue to be used Masses and Dirges were likewise abolished upon this divers Bishops refusing to comply with the Injunctions in Religion were removed and committed to Prison It was likewise ordained that the Eucharist should be received in both kinds that Bishops should be made by the King under his Letters Patents without any other pretended Authority and that all persons exercising Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction should have the Kings Arms in the eals of their Office after which they confirmed the Kings Supremacy In the mean time the young Queen of cots was conveyed into France and married to Francis the Dauphin at six years old These Alterations of Religion caused divers Insurrections for the Commissioners going into the Country to execute the aforementioned orders as Mr. Body one of the Commissioners was performing his office in the West of England by plucking down Images he was stabbed to the heart by a Popish Priest and the Common People joining with the Priest upon the instigation of other Papists they took Arms to the number of ten thousand refusing the pardon offered them and besieging Exeter which was Gallantly defended but at length the King sending his Forces soon dispersed them several of the Ringleaders being taken and executed in London This was succeeded by another Insurrection in Norfolk under one Ket a Tanner who issued out warrants in his Majesties name acting the part of the Kings Deputy without his Authority and calling the Tree near Norwich wherein he pretended to administer Justice The Oak of Reformation but the Earl of Warwick marching against them upon offer of a General Pardon they laid down their Arms sixty of them being before executed by Martial Law and nine hanged upon the Oak of Reformation A third Insurrection happened upon the neck of this in Yorkshire raised by one Ombler a Gentleman Dale a Parish Clerk and Stephenson a Priest who gathered four or five thousand to assist them upon conceit of a Prophecy That the time should come wherein there would be no King the Nobility and Gentry should be destroyed and the Land ruled by four Governours elected by the Commons holding a Parliament in Commotion which should begin at the North Seas of England And this they thought to be the time and that the Rebels in Devonshire Yorkshire and Norfolk should join together to accomplish this Prophesy but hearing of the bad success of their friends and having a pardon sent them by the King they forsook their Leaders who were taken and executed at York At this time some heats arose at Court between the Wives of the two Brothers the Lord Protector and L. High Admiral about precedency whereupon the Admiral was accused of attempting to get the Kings Person and Government into his hands with divers other matters for which he was condemned by the contrivance of the Earl of Warwick and by his Brothers Warrant beheaded upon Tower-hill And now Cardinal Pool was upon the Death of Paul the third elected Pope which being told him he desired them to consider well whether they were swayed by no passion of mind or did any thing for favour or affection but only for the honour of God and the Church they taking this for a kind of denial presently chose Cardinal Montanus who took the name of Julius the third During these domestick troubles the French had divers times attempted Bulloign and had now got seven thousand men and all other provisions necessary to surprize it but being come within a quarter of a Mile of the Fort the Garrison had notice thereof who put themselves into such a posture to receive them that they were repulsed with a great slaughter fifteen Waggons being laden with the dead bodies afterward they attempted Guernsey and Jersey with no better success being beaten off with the loss of a thousand men upon this succeeded a Peace whereby it was agreed that Bulloign should be surrendred
to the French with all the Forts Artillery and baggage upon the payment of Four hundred thousand Crowns to the King of England The Duke of Brunswick now desired the Lady Mary the Kings Eldest Sister in Marriage but there being a treaty about marrying her to the Infanto of Portugal it was retarded In the mean while the Emperor of Germany demanded by his Ambassador that the Lady Mary might have free exercise of the Mass but neither promises nor threats could prevail with the King to allow it being as he said against his Conscience a treaty was likewise set on foot for a Marriage between the Lady Elizabeth the Kings youngest Sister and the King of Denmarks Eldest Son but when it was almost concluded the princess could by no means be prevailed upon to consent thereto And soon after several of the Nobility were sent in an Ambassy to the French King to Treat of a Marriage between King Edward and his Daughter which at length was agreed on the French being to give her two hundred thousand Crowns as a Portion but it was never consummated by reason of the Kings Death The Earl of Warwick was now created Duke of Northumberland and having an irreconcileable hatred against the Duke of Somerset Lord Protector resolved upon his ruin which Somerset was not insensible of and therefore used all imaginable caution to defeat him but being of a mild disposition though perswaded by his friends to prevent his own ruin by Northumberlands destruction he was unwilling to taste any violent course only he was perswaded by some treacherous acquaintance to go privately armed to the Council Table where being apprehended his bosom was opened and he thereupon committed to the Tower tryed and found guilty upon a new Law which made it Fellony to design the Death of a Privy Councellor and was soon after beheaded on Tower-hill together with Sir Michael Stanhope and Sir Thomas Arundel Sir Ralph Vane and Sir Miles Partridge being hanged there at the same time Mean while the Duke of Suffolks three Daughters which he had by Francis Daughter of Charles Brandon and Mary Queen of France were married at Durham House the Eldest Jane Grey to the Lord Guilford Dudley Fourth Son to the Duke of Northumberland the Second Katherine to the Earl of Pembroke the youngest being somewhat deformed to Martin Keys the Kings Gentleman Porter the Duke of Northumberland having so far advanced his designs as to procure an Alliance with the Royal family now hoped to arrive to the height of his ambition though the people generally hated him for his practices against those two gallant men the Duke of Somerset and the Lord Admiral the Kings Uncles For the King now grew very weak and in a languishing state of body which whether occasioned by grief for the Death of his Uncles or whether caused by poison which as some reported was infused into a Nosegay of Flowers presented to him on new years day as a great rarity or whether by a defluxion of Rheum upon his Lungs is yet uncertain however he fell into an Hectick Feaver which the Physicians declared would suddenly cause his Death whereupon the Duke of Northumberland used several stratagems to secure the Lady Mary and perswaded the King to exclude his two Sisters in regard if the Lady Mary succeeded Popery and Idolatry would be again introduced and she could not be put by unless her other Sister the Lady Elizabeth were likewise excluded since their Rights depended upon one another but if he pleased to appoint the Lady Jane his own next Kinswoman to succeed he might be sure the true Religion would be maintained to Gods great Glory so that the sick Prince out of Love to Religion was prevailed with to exclude his two Sisters and to ordain by his will the Lady Jane to be his Successor which will was subscribed by all the Council Bishops and Judges except Sir John Hales Bishop Cranmer likewise made some difficulty to sign it but at length did as others and a few days after this pious Prince departed this Life at Greenwich July 6. 1553. in the Seventeenth year of his Age when he had reigned six years and five months being buried at Westminster near his Grandfather Henry the Seventh MARY Queen of England c. AS soon as I ascended to the Throne The True Religion I banisht quite Rome Spain and I were all conjoin'd in one To persecute to burn and put to flight All that the Gospel of our Lord profest All who oppos'd blind Error and the Pope All such with grievous tortures were opprest With th' Ax with Fire with Faggot and the Rope Scarce any Nation underneâ—th the Sky Afflicted was as I caused this to be But when my thoughts and hopes were grown most high Then Death at five years end arrested me No Bail would serve I could commaâ—d no aid But in the Prison of my Grave was laid MAry eldest Daughter of King Henry the Eighth by Queen Katha ine of Spain was born at Greenwich 1518. at whose birth though great numbers of the Nobility were at Court yet there was not observed to be the usual joy upon such occasions which some thought proceeded from a secret impulse that she was rather born for a Scourge than a Blessing to the Nation as it after happened when she grew up she was committed to the Tuition of the Countess of Salisbury who above all things instructed her in the Romish Principles which may be thought the reason of her furious Zeal therein and especially since Stephen Gardiner a keen enemy to the Reformation was her Ghostly Father of whom she once demanded What he thought of those that were not of her Opinion He told her They would infallibly be damned since there was no Salvation in any Church but that wherein the Pope Christs Vicar was the Head and that it was dangerous to converse with them but a mortal sin to spare any of them if she had advantage against them it being pleasing to God to destroy them as obstinate Hereticks which pernicious Counsel as soon as she had power she fully put in practice After the death of King Edward the Lady Jane was proclaimed Queen which the Lady Mary who was at her Mannor at Hovesdon in Herefordshire having notice of she sent a Letter to the Lords of the Council to deplore her Brothers death and demand the Crown as her right but they writ her an answer wherein they insisted on the lawfulness of her Mothers divorce whereby she was made Illegitimate and by several Acts of Parliament yet in force uninheritable to the Crown Imperial of this Realm together with the Will of King Edward and the proclaiming of Queen Jane and therefore desired her to be quiet and obedient to the present Government This was Signed by above twenty of the Council divers of them being Executors of the Testament of the last King The Lady Mary perceiving their Resolution to stand by Queen Jane went to Framingham Castle in
Sir Edward Sherburne Kt. Storekeeper W. Bridges Esq Keeper of the Records in the Tower Sir Alg. May. Kt. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London and the Wards whereunto each long Above the Chair Sir Henry Tulse Kt. Lord Mayor Breadstreet Sir W. Turner Castle Baynard Sir W. Hooker Cornhil Sir Robert Vyn r. Langborn Sir J. Edwards Candlewick Sir John Moor. Walbrook Sir W. Pritchard Bridge without Below the Chair Sir Ja. Smith Portsoken Sir R. Jefferies Cordwainer Sir W. Rawstern Limestreet Sir J. Peake Billingsgate Sir T. Beckford Aldgate Sir J. Chapman Towerstreet Sir Si. Lewis Bassishaw Sir Jo. Reymond Bishopsgate Sir Dud. North. Faringdon without Pet Rich Esq Aldersgate Sir P. Daniel Sheriff Bridge within Sa. Dashwood Esq Sheriff Cheapside Sir B. Bathurst Cripplegate Sir J. Buckworth Colemanstr Sir Ben. Newland Vintry Jacob Lucy Esq Dowgate Ch. Duncomb Esq Broadstreet Pet. Paravicini Esq Queenhith B. Thorogood Esq Faringdon within Recorder Sir Tho. Jenner Chamberlain Mr. Ailworth Com. Serjeant H. Crisp Esq Townclerk W. Wagstaff Esq Vicechamberl J. Lane Esq The Colonels of the Six Regiments of the Trained Bands of London The Red Sir R. Vyner Green Sir Ja. Edwards Yellow Sir John Moor. Blue Sir Will. Pritchard Orange Sir Ja. Smith White Sir John Peake Post master of England E. of Arlington and under his Lordsh P. Froud Esq His Majesties Lieutenants of the several Counties of England Berks Duke of Norfolk Bucks Earl of Bridgwater Bedford Earl of Ailsbury Bristol Duke of Beaufort Cheshire Earl of Derby Cumberland E. of Caâ—lisle Cambridge Lord Alington Cornwal Earl of Bath Devon Duke of Albemâ—rle Dorset Earl of Bristol Derby Earl of Devon Durham L. Bish of Durham Essex Duke of Albemarle Glocester Duke of Beaufort Hereford Duke of Beaufort Hertford E. of Bridgwater Huntingdon E. of Ailsbury Hampsh E. of Gainsborough Kent Earl of Winchelsea Lancashire Earl of Derby Leicester Earl of Rutland London L Mayor and the Lieutenancy Lincoln Earl of Lindsey Monmouth D. of Beaufort Middlesex and Southwark Earl of Craven Norfolk Duke of Norfolk Northampt. E. Peterborough Northumberl D. Newcastle Nottingham D. Newcastle Oxford Earl of Abingdon Purbeck Isle D. of Beaufort Rutland E. of Gainsborough Suffolk Earl of Arlington Surrey Duke of Norfolk Shropshire Visc Newport Stafford Earl of Shrewsbury Somerset D. of Somerset Sussex Earl of Dorset To wer Hamlets L. Alington Worcester E. of Plymouth Warwick E. of Sunderland Wilts Earl of Pembroke Westmorland E. Carlisle North and South-Wales Duke of Beaufort East Rid. York D. Somerset West Rid. E. of Burlington North Rid. V. Faulconbridge Vnder these are Deputy-Lieutenants who are most of the Principal Gentlemen of each County The Officers of His Majesties three Troops of Horse Guards The Kings Troop Captain Duke of Albemarle Lieutenants Aston Esq Edw. Villiers Esq Edw. Griffin Esq Cornet Sir Walter Clerges Guidon Major Binns The Queens Troop Captain Sir Philip Howard Lieutenants Sir Geo. Hewit Sir John Fenwick Cornet Charles Orby Esq Guidon Ph. Darcy Esq His Royal Highness's Troop Captain Earl of Feversham Lieutenants Colo. Worden Colonel Oglethorp Cornet Philip Darcy Esq Guidon Major Edm. Meine The Kings Regiment of Horse under the Earl of Oxford Lieut. Col. Aubrey E. Oxford Major Sir Francis Compton The Foot Guards The Kings Regiment Colonel Duke of Grafton Lieut. Col. John Strode Esq Major William Eyton Esq The Coldstream Regiment Colonel Earl of Craven Lieut. Col. E. Sackville Esq Major John Huitson Esq His Royal Highness's Regiment Colonel Sir Ch. Littleton Lieut. Col. Ol. Nicholas Esq Major Richard Baggot Esq The Holland Regiment Colonel Earl of Mulgrave Lieut. Col. Sir Tho. Ogle Major Windram Esq Governors of Countries Islands Cities Towns Forts and Garrisons Barbadoes Sir Ric. Dutton Bermudos Sir Hen. Heydon Berwick D. of Newcastle Carlisle Lord Morpeth Chepstow Duke of Beaufort Chester Sir Geof Shakerley Dover and Cinque-Ports Col. John Strode Gravesend and Tilbury Sackville Tufton Esq Guernsey Visc Hatton Holy Island Sir J. Fenwick Hull Earl of Plymouth Hurst Castle Ireland Duke of Ormond Jersey Island Sir J. Lanier Jamaica Sir Tho. Lynch Languard Fort Sir R. Manly Leeward Islands Sir Will. Stapleton St. Maws Sir Jos Iredenham Maryland Lord Baltimore New Engl. H. Cranfield Esq New York Col. Dungan Pensylvania Mr. Will. Penn. Pendennis Cast L. Arundel Plymouth and St. Nicholas Island Earl of Bath Portsmouth E. Gainsborough Sandown Cast Sir A. Jacob. Sherness Sir Cha. Littleton Scilly Isâ— Godolphin Esq Scarborough Cast Sir Tho. Slingsby Surat Jo Child Esq Presid Tinmouth Sir Ed. Villiers Virginia L. Howard of Effin Upnor Cast R. Minors Esq Isle of Wight Sir R. Holmes Windsor Castle Constable Duke of Norfolk General Officers Commissary General of the Musters H. Howard Esq Pay-master Gen C. Fox Esq Secretary at War William Blathwayte Esq Judge Advocate Clarke Esq His Majesties Consuls in several Parts of the World Alicant Tho. Jefferies Esq Alexandria Mr. Browers Aleppo Mr. G. Nightingale Argiers Mr. Sam. Martin Bayon Mr. Jo. Westcomb Barcelona Seignior de Roca Cadiz Sir Martin Westcomb Canaries Mr. Rich. Owen Carthagena Mr. Hen. Petit. Cyprus Mr. Sauvaâ— Genoa Mr. John Kirk Lisbon Tho. Maynard Esq Legorn Sir Tho. Dâ—reham Maâ—aga Jam. Pendarvis Esq Marseilles Mr. Rob. Lang. Messina Mr. Ch. Ball. Naples Mr. Geo. Davies St. Sebastian Mr. Morgan Sevil Tho. Rumbold Esq Smyrna Mr. Will. Raye Tunis Mr. Fr. Baker Tripoly Mr. Rich. Baker Venice Mr. Jo. Hobson Zant Mr. Pendarvis The Names of the Nobility Lords Spiritual and Temporal Knights of the Garter and Deans of the Kingdom of England 1684. Dukes and Dutchesses James D. of York and Albany onely Brother to His Sacred Majesty Henry Howard D of Norfolk Cha. Seymour D. of Somerset Geo Villiers D. of Buckingham Chr. Monck D. of Albemarle Jam. Scot D. of Monmouth H. Cavendish D of Newcastle Barbara D. of Cleveland Lovisa de Querovalle D. of Portsmouth Cha. Lenos D. of Richmond Ch. Fitz Roy D of Southampt Hen. Fitz Roy D. of Grafton James Butler D. of Ormond Hen. Somerset D. of Beaufort Geo Fitz Roy D. Northumberl Ch. Beauclaire D. St. Albans Marquesses Cha. Paulet M. of Winchester Geo. Saville M. of Hallifax Earls and Countesses Aubrey de Vere E. of Oxford Cha. Talbot E. of Shrewsbury Anthony Grey E. of Kent Will. Stanley E. of Derby John Manners E. of Rutland Th. Hastings E. of Huntingd. Will. Russel E. of Bedford Tho. Herbert E. of Pembroke Edw. Clinton E. of Lincoln James Howard E. of Suffolk Charles Sackville E. of Dorset and Middlesex James Cecil E. of Salisbury John Cecil E. of Exeter Jo. Egerton E. of Bridgwater Phil. Sidney E. of Leicester Geo. Compton E. of Northampt. Edw. Rich E. of Warwick and Holland W. Cavendish E. of Devonsh Wil Fielding E. of Denbigh John Digby E. of Bristol Gilb. Holles E. of Clare Ol. St. John E. of Bolingbroke Cha. Fane E. of Westmorland C. Mountague E. of Manchest Tho. Howard E. of Berkshire Jo. Sheffield E. of Mulgrave Tho. Savage E. of Rivers