Miller that had been very active in that Rebellion who fearing the approach of the Marshal told a sturdy Fellow his Servant that he had occasion to go from home and if any man should inquire for the Miller he bid him say that himself was the Miller and had been so for 3 years before soon after the Provost came and called for the Miller when out comes the Servant and said he was the man the Provost demanded how long he had kept the Mill These 3 years answered the Servant the Provost then commanded his men to lay hold of him and hang him on the next Tree at this the Fellow cried out That he was not the Miller but the Millers Man Nay Sir said the Provost I will take you at your word and if thou beest the Miller thou art a busie Knave if thou beest not thou art a false lying Knave and however thou canst never do thy Master better service than to hang for him and so without more ado he was dispatched I will conclude the Remarks of this County with somewhat more Comical At the Dissolution of Abbeys K. Ken. 8. gave away large shares to almost every one that asked Amongst other Instances take this merry story It happened that two or three Gentlemen the Kings servants waited at the door where the King was to come out with a design to beg a large parcel of Abby Lands One Mr. John Champernoun another of his servants seeing them was very inquisitive to know their suit but they would not impart it to him in the mean time out comes the King they kneel down so doth Champernoun being assured by an implicit Faith that Courtiers beg nothing hurtful to themselves they present their Petition the King grants it they render him humble thanks so doth Mr. Champernoun afterward he requires his share they deny it he appeals to the King who avows that he meant they should have equal shares whereupon his Companions were forced to allot him the Priory of St. German in Cornwal valued at 243 pound a Year so that a dumb Beggar met with a blind Giver the one as little knowing what he asked as the other what he gave This County is divided into nine Hundreds wherein are 22 Market Towns and 161 Parish Churches It elects 44 Members to sit in Parliament and is in the Diocess of Exeter CUMBERLAND hath Scotland on the North Northumberland and Westmerland on the East Lancashire on the South and the Irish Sea on the West We read that King Edmund with the help of Leoline Prince of Wales wasted all Cumberland and having put out the Eyes of the 2 Sons of Dunmail King of that Province granted that Kingdom to Malcolm K. of Scots whereof their eldest Sons became Prefects King Edward the 1st dyed at Carlile in this County for intending to invade Scotland he raised a great Army which he ordered to attend him at this City but falling sick and being sensible it would be his death he commanded his Son afterward Edward 2. to be brought into his presence to whom he left many good Precepts and Admonitions exhorting him To be merciful just and courteous constant and true both in Word and Deed that he should be pitiful to those in misery that he should carry his bones with him about Scotland till he had subdued it and that he should send his Heart into the Holy Land with Sevenscore Knights and Thirty two thousand Pound of Silver which he had provided for that purpose lastly that upon pain of eternal damnation the said Money should not be expended upon any other use soon after which he died In the 17th Year of this Kings Reign the City of Carlile with the Abby and all the Houses belonging to the Friers Minors were consumed with fire In the Reign of Q. Elizabeth a rich Vein of most pure and native Brass was found at Keswrick in Cumberland which had lain neglected a long time In April 1651 about 5 a Clock in the Afternoon there was a general Earthquake in the Counties of Cumberland and Westmerland wherewith the People were so affrighted that many of them forsook their Houses and some Houses were so shaken that the Chimneys fell down Presently after the Scottish Army came into England to assist the Parliament it rained Blood which covered the Church and Church-Yard of Bencastle in this County At Salkelds upon the River Eden is a Trophy of Victory called by the Country People Long Meg and her Daughters they are 77 stones each of them 10 Foot high above ground and one of them is 15 Foot in height Skiddaw Hill riseth up with two mighty high Heads like Parnassus and beholds Scruffell hill in Anandale within Scotland there is a Rime that Skiddaw Lauvellin and Casticand Are the highest hills in all England These being two other Hills in this Tract according as Mists rise or fall upon these Heads the People thereby prognosticate of the change of Weather and therefore they sing If Skiddaw have a Cap Scruffell knows full well of that The Sea hath eaten a great part of the Land away upon the shores of these Western Shires and Trees are sometimes discovered when the Wind blows at low Water else they are covered over with Sands and the People thereabout say that they dig up Trees without boughs out of the mossy places in this Shire which they find by the direction of the Dew in Summer which they observe never falls on the ground under which they lie Some Emperick Chirurgions in Scotland take a journey to the Picts Wall the beginning of every Summer to gather vulnerary Plants which they say grow plentifully there and are very effectual being sown and planted by the Romans for Chirurgical Uses There is a small Burrough called Solway Frith under which within the very Frith or Bay the Inhabitants report the Engl sh and Scots fought with their Fleets at full Sea and also with their Horsemen and Footmen at the Ebb. This Province was accounted a Kingdom of itself and King Steven to purchase aid from the Scots confirmed it by gift to that Crown which Henry 2. claimed and regained from them since which many bickerings have happened between the two Nations in this Shire but none so fatal to the Scots as the Fight at Salome Moss where the Nobility disdaining to serve under their General Oliver Sinclare gave over the Battle and yielded themselves to the English which dishonour so deeply wounded the heart of K. James the 5. that he died for grief soon after There are many ruines of Castles Walls and Forts in this County with Altars and Inscriptions of their Captains and Collonels This County is not divided into Hundreds as the rest but therein are seated 9 Market Towns 58 Parish Churches and divers Chappels of ease It Elects 6 Parliament Men for the Counâ—y 2. Carlile 2. Cockermouth 2. and is in the Diocess of Chester and Carlile DERBY-SHIRE hath Yorkshire on the North Nottinghamshire on the East
Nobles all due respect and the People amongst other blessings extreamly happy in this That they are Masters of their own purposes and have a strong hand in making their own Laws Of all the Seniories in the World saith P. Comines the French Historian the Realm of England is the Country where the Common-wealth is best governed the People least opprest and the fewest Houses and Buildings destroyed in Civil War It is a Country always most Temperate the Air is thick and much subject to winds rain and dark Clouds and therefore Gundamore the Spanish Ambassador here in K. James's his time bid the Spanish Post when he came to Spain commend him to the Sun for he had not seen him here a great while and in Spain he should be sure to find him The Ocean which beateth upon the Coast of this Island aboundeth with all manner of Fish and the Meadows and Pastures with Corn Cattle and all other necessaries a Spaniard boasting That they had excellent Oranges Lemmons and Olives growing in their Countrey which ours wanted Sir Roger Williams reply'd It is true said he they do not grow here yet all this is but sauce whereas we have dainty Veal and well fed Capons to eat with them with many other delicate Dishes worth the name of Victuals indeed There are more Parks Forrests and Chases in England than in all Christendom beside there are in no place of the World greater and larger Dogs than here which caused them to be most in request by the Romans both for their baitings in their Amphitheaters and in all other their huntings the English Cock is a bold and stout Fowl and will fight valiantly with his Adversary and presently crows when he obtains the Victory which seldom happens till death parts them There are 44 Shires and Counties in England every Shire consisting of so many Hundreds c. and every Hundred of a number of Burroughs Villages or Tythings c. But this may suffice by way of Preface the design of this small Tract being not to give a particular or exact description of every County and the Towns and Villages therein since that has been largely performed by Mr. Speed Mr. Blome and others but only to contract in a little volume and price the Natural and Artificial Curiosities and Rarities in England Scotland and Ireland with Remarks upon some famous Persons and Places as also an account of the Earthquakes Tempests Seiges Battels and other strange Accidents and Occurrences that have happened in each County whereby my Countrymen may observe that there is hardly any thing worth wondring at abroad in the world whereof Nature or Art hath not written a Copy in these Islands and therefore I shall not confine my self so much to methodize matters as to time as not to let slip any thing considerable and because I suppose most Men have a desire to read something of their own Country first I have according to the method of Dr. Fuller and others placed the Counties Alphabetically for the more ready finding of them and will therefore begin with BARKSHIRE whether so called from a striped or bark-bared Oak is uncertain is bounded by Wiltshire on the West Hamshire on the South Surry on the East Oxford and Buckinghamshire on the North thereof the air is temperate sweet and pleasant the soil plenteous of Corn Cattle Waters and Woods so that for profit and pleasure it gives place to none The most remarkable place in this County is Windsor Castle a most Princely Pallace both for strength and State and hath in it a Colledge for Learning a Chappel for Devotion and an Alms-house of decayed Gentlemen for Charity it is reported to have been built by K. Arthur and K. William the Conqueror was so desirous of it that by composition with the Abbot of Westminster whose then it was he made it to be the Kings Possession in this Castle the Victorious K. Edward 3. was born and herein after he had subdued the French and Scots he kept at one time John K. of France and David King of Scotland as his Prisoners after which he graced it with greater Majesty by instituting the Honourable Order of the Garter the Institution whereof some ascribe to a Garter occasionally falling from the Countess of Salisbury though others affirm the Garter was given in testimony of that Bond of Love and Affection wherewith the Knights and Fellows of it were to be bound severally one to another and all of them to the King nay some others make it yet more ancient relating that when K. Richard the 1. was at War against the Turks and Saracens in the Holy Land and that the tediousness thereof began to discourage his Soldiers he to quicken their Courage tyed about the Legs of several choice Knights a Garter or small Thong of Leather the only stuff he had at hand that as the Romans used to bestow Crowns and Garlands for encouragements so this might provoke them to stand together and fight valiantly for their King and for their honour K. Edward the Third found a Chapple erected in this Castle by K. Hen. 1. and other Princes with maintenance for eight Canons to whom he added a Dean 15 Canons more and 24 poor Impotent Knights and other Officers and Servants these were to pray for the good Estate of the Soveraign and Brethren of the most Noble Order the Soveraign and Knights had their particular Laws and Constitutions and K. Edward likewise appointed divers Ceremonies and distinct habits and St. George the pattern of Christian Fortitude is intituled to the Patronage of this Order and the beautiful Chappel in Windsor Castle where his day being April 23. is usually celebrated every year and new Knights commonly installed was consecrated by that King to his memory there are of this Order twenty six Knights of which the Kings of England are one and it is so much desired for its worthiness that 8 Emperors 21 Forreign Kings 23 Forreign Dukes and Princes besides divers Noblemen of other Countries have been Fellows of it The Ensign is a blew Garter buckled on the left Leg on which these words are imbroidered Honi soit qui mal y pense Evil to him that Evil thinks About their Necks they wear a blue Ribband at the end of which hangeth the Image of St. George the Hall of this Pallace is remarkable for greatness Winchester Tower for height and the Terrace on the Northside for pleasure but his present Majesty K. Charles the Second hath added such magnificence to it both within and without that now for Grandeur State and Pleasure it exceeds it may be any Paâ—lace of ever a Prince in Europe The Chappel is graced with the Bodies of King Henry 6. and K. Edward 4. those whom the whole Kingdom was too little to contain the one being of the House of Lancaster and the other of York lie now united in one mould with the branch of both these Houses K. Henry 8. who there lies interred
out of the path of Truth gaping only after their own advantage But the King saith M. Paris remained uncorrigible and the Lady lost both her charges hopes and Travel In the Year 1257. K. Henry 3. kept his Christmas at Winchester where new grievances arose the Merchants of Gascoign having their Wines taken from them by the Kings Officers without satisfaction complain to their Lord the Prince he to his Father who having been informed that their clamour was unjust as relying upon the Prince's favour he falls into a great rage with the Prince and breaks out into these words See now my Blood and my own Bowels oppose me The Prince's Servants likewise relying on their Master commit many outrages abusing men at their pleasure neither was the Prince altogether free for it is said that he caused the Ears of a young Man to be cut off and his Eyes to be pluckt out as he travelled by the way which was the occasion of very great disturbances In this Kings Reign a Child was born in the Isle of Wight who at 18 Years old was scarce 3 Foot high and therefore brought to the Queen who carried him about with her as a Monster in Nature In King Edward 3. time Southampton was fired by the French under the conduct of the King of Sicily's Son whom a Countryman encountred and knocked him â—own with his Club the Prince cried out Rancon Ranâ—on that is he would pay him a Ransom but he neither â—nderstanding his Language nor the Law that Arms â—oth allow laid on him more severely still saying I â—now thee to be a Francon or Frenchman and therefore â—hou shalt die and thereupon knocked him at Head In 1554. the conditions of the Marriage between Q. Mary and K. Philip of Spain were agreed to in Parliament upon these Articles 1. That K. Philip should admit of no stranger in any Office but only Natives 2. That â—e should alter nothing of the Laws and customs of the Kingdom 3. That he should not carry the Queen out of the Realm without her own consent nor any of her Children without consent of the Council 4. That if he outlived the Queen â—e should challenge no right in the Kingdom but it should descend to the next Heir 5. That he should carry none of the Crown Jewels out of the Kingdom nor any Ships or Ordinance Lastly That neither directly nor indirectly he should â—ntangle England in the Wars between Spain and France It was also proposed in this Parliament that the Supremacy of the Pope should be restored which was not assented to without great difficulty for the 6 Years Reign of K. Edward 6. had spread a Plantation of the Protestant Religion in the hearts of many The Marriage being thus agreed several Lords and Gentlemen were sent to fetch over the Prince from Spain who arrived at Southampton July 20. 1554. and was met by the Queen at Winchester where they were openly married the disparity of Years in Princes being not much regarded though he were but 27 and she 38 Years old Then the Emperors Ambassadour being present declared that in Consideration of the Marriage the Emperour had given to King Philip his Son the Kingdoms of Naples and Jerusalem and thereupon Garter King at Arms openly in the Church in the presence of the King Queen and Nobles both of Spain and England solemnly proclaimed the Title and Stile of these two Princes as followeth Philip and Mary by the Grace of God King and Queen of England France Naples Jerusalem and Ireland Defenders of the Faith Princes of Spain and Sicily Archdukes of Austria Dukes of Millain Burgundy and Brabant Counts of Habspurg Flanders and Tyrol In 1608. June 26. In the Parish of Christs Church in Hampshire one John Hitchel a Carpenter lying in bed with his Wife and a young Child by them was himself and the Child both burnt to death with a sudden Lightning no fire appearing outwardly upon him and yeâ— lay burning for the space almost of three days till he was quite consumed to ashes In 1619. there was one Bernard Calvert of Andover in this County that rid from St. Georges Church in Southwark to Dover and from thence passed by Barge to Calice in France and from thence returned back to St. Georges Church the same day setting out about three a clock in the morning and returning about 8 a clock at night fresh and lusty I was at London the same time saith Mr. Clark and saw the man Portsmouth is a very convenient Port The Isle of Wight belongs to this Shire the whole County is divided into 39 Hundreds wherein are 253 Parishes and is in the Diocess of Winchester Out of it are elected 26 Parliament Men Southampton gives the Title of Duke to Charles Fitz-Roy eldest Son to the Dutchess of Cleaveland Winchester the Title of Marquess to Charles L. Pawlet and Portsmouth that of Dutchess to Lovise de Queronalle a French Lady HARTFORDSHIRE so called from Hartford the chief Town therein as Hartford is termed from the Ford of Harts a Hart Couchant in the waters being the Arms thereof It hath Essex on the East Middlesex on the South Buckinghamshire on the West Bedford and Cambridgeshire on the North it is a rich County in Corn Fields Pastures Meadows Woods Groves and clear Rivers and is indeed the Garden of England for Delight and it 's usually said That such as buy a House in Hartfordshire pay two years purchase for the Air thereof no County in all England can shew so many good Towns in so little compass their Teams of Horses are oft-times deservedly advanced from the Cart to the Coach being kept in excellent equipage much alike in colour and stature fat and fair such is their care in dressing and well feeding them and to make an innocent digression I could name the place and Person saith Dr. Fuller who brought his Servant before a Justice of Peace for stealing his Oats and Barley the Man brought his five Horses tailed together along with him alledging for himself That if he were the Thief these were the Receivers and so escaped The most famous place in this County for Antiquity is Verolamium now utterly ruined and subverted and the footsteps thereof hardly to be seen though in very great account by the Romans and one of their Free Cities It was plundered by Boadicia that ever eternized Queen of the Icenians when Seventy Thousand of the Romans and their Confederates perished by her Revenging Sword The magnificence thereof for stately Architecture and Grandeur was discovered by the large and arched Vaults found in the days of King Edgar which were filled up by Eldred and Edmer Abbots of St. Albans because they were the Receptacles and lurking holes of Whores and Thieves hear what our famous Spencer saies of this once renowned City of Verulam I was that City which the Garland wore Of Brittains pride delivered unto me By Roman Victors this I was of yore Though nought at all but ruines now I
an Army went to Taunton where they slew the Provost Peryn one of the Commissioners of the Subsidy and marching forward James Tutchet Lord Audly joined with them and took on him to be their Leader at last they came to Black-Heath intending to come to the King at London and there incamped on the top of the Hill the King sent the Earls of Oxford Essex Suffolk and others to incompass the Hill that so none might escape and himself incamping in Sr. Georges Fields he sent the Lord Dawbeny to set upon them who won Debtford Bridge from them though strongly defended their Arrows being reported to be a full yard in length and assaulting them every way killed 2000 and took many Prisoners divers of whom the King pardoned but none of the Leaders the L. Audly was drawn from Newgate to Tower-Hill in a Coat of his own Arms drawn upon Paper reversed and all torn and there beheaded Thomas Flammock and Michael Joseph were drawn hang'd and quartered and their quarters set upon stakes It is memorable with what comfort Joseph the Blacksmith cheared up himself at his going to Execution saying That yet he hoped by this his name and memory should be everlasting so dear even to vulgar spirits is perpetuity of name though joined with Infamy what is it then to noble Spirits when it is joyned with Glory They were likewise guilty of another Rebellion in the 2. of K. Edward 6 1549. for injunctions being sent forth by that pious Prince for removing Images out of Churches and that the Ministers should dissuade the People from praying to Saints for for the dead from use of Beeds Ashes and Processions from Masses Dirges praying in an unknown Tongue c. when Commissioners went abroad to see them executed Mr. Body a Commissioner as he was pulling down Images in Cornwall was suddenly stabbed with a knife into the body by a Popish Priest hereupon the People flockt together from several parts of this Shire and taking Arms committed divers outrages as they did also in several other Counties these Religious Mutineers sent several Articles to the King and among other things required to have the Latine Mass again and the six Articles in K. Henry 8. time called the bloody Articles revived again now though the King knew reasons would little prevail with unreasonable men yet he sent them answers in writing and a general Pardon if they would desist and lay down their Arms the answer about the 6 Articles is worth rehearsing You require saith the King to have the Statute of the 6 Articles revived do you know what you ask Do you understand what safety and ease you enjoy without them these Laws were indeed made but as soon repented of for they were too cruel and bloody to be endured by our People oh poor Ignorant Subjects how are you insnared and deceived by subtle Traitors We out of pity took them away beeause they were bloody and you out of Ignorance desire them again you know full well they made us to be cruel and severe and gave us cause to draw our Sword very often they were like a whetstone to our Sword and for your sakes only we left off to use them and since our mercy inclineth us to write our Laws in Milk and Equity how come you to be so blinded as to desire they should be writ in blood But assure your selves and be confident that we make account of nothing under Heaven so much as this to have our Laws obeyed and this cause of God which we have undertaken to be throughly maintained from which we will never remove a hairs breadth nor give place to any Creature living much less to any Subject but therein we will venture our own Royal Person our Crown Treasure Realm and all our Estate whereof we assure you of our high honour and as to the Common Prayer which you are against it cannot certainly offend any reasonable man that the service of God is changed from an unknown Tongue since it is only to make him understand what before he knew not and thereby to give his consent to those Prayers which he hath most need of and to affect his Conscience therewith since God requireth the heart only and that we should offer a reasonable Service to him He concludes We for our parts desire to live no longer than to be a Father to our People and as God hath made us your Rightful King so hath he commanded you to be obedient by whose great Majesty we solemnly protest you shall feel the Power of the same God in our Sword which how mighty it is no Subject knoweth how puissant no private man can judge and how mortal no English heart can think therefore imbrace our Mercy while it is offered lest the blood spilt by your means cry for vengeance from the Earth and be heard in the ears of the Lord in Heaven But the Rebels grew still more outragious coming before the City of Exeter and demanding entrance which being refused they endeavoured to take it by storm and firing the Gates and Mining but all in vain yet they lay so long before it that the Citizens within suffered great want of Victuals making bread of the courfest bran and feeding upon Horseflesh in which extremity an aged Citizen bringing forth all his Provisions to the People told them That as he communicated to them his store so he would partake with them in their wants and that he would feed upon one Arm and fight with the other before he would consent to put the City into the hands of the Seditious but the L. Grey and the L. Russel after many conflicts with the Rebels forced them to raise the Seige and utterly routed them the Sedition being thus suppressed it is memorable what cruel sport Sir William Kingston the Provost Marshal made by virtue of his Office upon men in misery one Boyer Mayor of Bodmin in Cornwall had been amongst the Rebels not willingly but inforced to him the Provost sent word he would come and dine with him for whom the Mayor made great Provision a little before Dinner the Provost took the Mayor aside and whispered him in the ear That an Execution must be that day done in the Town and therefore required to have a pair of Gallows set up against Dinner was done the Mayor provided them accordingly presently after Dinner the Provost taking the Mayor by the hand intreated him to shew him the place where the Gallows was which when he beheld he asked the Mayor if he thought them to be strong enough yes said the Mayor doubtless they are well then said the Provost get you up speedily for they are provided for you I hope said the Mayor you do not mean as you speak In faith saies the Provost there is no Remedy for you have been a busie Rebel and so without respite or defence he was hanged to death a most uncourteous part for a Guest to offer his Host Near the same place dwelt a
a Fight so that the Conqueror who just before thought he had the whole Kingdom absolutely at Command began now to despair of his own Life of which Consternation the two valiant Prelates taking advantage presented themselves to the Duke and thus addressed him in behalf of their followers Most noble Duke behold here the Commons of Kent are come forth to meet and receive you as their Soveraign in peace upon condition they may for ever enjoy their ancient Liberties Freedoms and Estates which they received from their Forefathers If these be denied they are here ready to give you battle immediately being fully resolved rather to die than to part with our ancient Laws or to live in slavery and bondage the name and nature whereof as it hath been hitherto unknown to us so we will rather every man lose his Life than ever endure it The Conqueror driven to a strait and loth to hazard all upon so nice a point their demands being not unreasonable rather wisely than willingly granted their desires and Pledges on both sides are given for performance Kent yielding her Earldom and Castle of Dover to her new King William Among other Customs they retain one called Gavelkind that is Give all kin whereby Lands are divided among the Male-Children or if there be no Sons among the Daughters by which every man is a Freeholder and hath some part of his own to live upon By vertue of this also they are at full age and enter upon their Inheritance at 15 Years old and it is lawful for them to alienate or make it over to any either by Gift or sale without the Lords Consent By this likewise the Son though his Parents be hanged for Felony or Murder succeedeth them nevertheless in such kind of Lands according to that Rhime The Father to the Bough And the Son to the Plough K. William after this to secure Kent to himself placed a Constable in Dover Castle and according to the manner of the Romans made him also Lord of the Cinqueports which are Hastings Dover Hith Rumney and Sandwich unto which are joined Winchelsey and Rye as principal Ports and other small Towns as Members which because they are bound to serve in the Wars by Sea enjoy many great Priviledges being free from the payment of Subsidies and from Wardship of their Children and are not sued in any Court but within their own Towns and of the Inhabitants therein such as they call Barons at the Coronation of Kings and Queens support the Canopies over them and have a Table by themselves on the Kings Right hand and the L. Warden who is always of the Nobility hath the Authority of Chancellor and Admiralty within his Jurisdiction in very many cases and hath many other Rights Canterbury is the chief City of this County ancient and famous no doubt in the time of the Romans The Archbishop of Canterbury was called Totius Angliae Primas Primate of all England the Archbishop of York only Primas Angliae Primate of England he is the first Peer of the Realm and hath the Precedency of all Dukes not of the Royal Blood or great Officers of State Anselm in recompence of his service in opposing the Marriage of Priests and resisting the King about investing Bishops had this accession of honour given him by Pope Vrbane That he and his Successors should have place at the Popes right foot in all General Councils the Pope adding these words We include him in our Orb as Pope of another world This City hath had a rare Cathedral it is in the midst of the Town the body within being near as large as St. Pauls in London was between the body and the Quire there hangeth a Bell called by the name of Bell Harry being one of those which Henry 8. brought out of France there are also four Spires like St. Sepulchres London on each side of the great West Gate are 2 other Steeples the one called Dunstan and the other Arnold Steeples in each of which are a very pleasant ring of Bells in the same Cathedral there was the famousest window in England for which they say the Spanish Ambassador offered Ten Thousand pound being the whole History of Christ from his Nativity to his Passion but it was afterward battered to pieces In the Quire of the Cathedral Edward called the Black Prince is buried in a Monument of Brass underneath this Cathedral there is a great Congregation of French Protestants the Dutch also have a Church in that Place which is called the Bishops Pallace there are many other Churches in the City and Suburbs The Rebellion under Kett the Tanner in the Oak of Reformation neer Norwich Pa. 149. Tu per Thomae sanguinem quem pro te impendit Fac nos Christe scandere quo Thomas ascendit For the blood of Thomas which he for thee did spend Grant us Christ that we may climb where Thomas did ascend The Pope likewise writ to the English Clergy to make a new Holyday for St. Thomas as they expected pardon through his Intercession to God for them At Halbaldown in Kent there was an Hospital erected by Archbishop Lanfrank wherein was reserved the upper leather of an old shoe which they said had been worn by St. Thomas Becket and being set fair in Copper and Christal was offered to be kissed by all Passengers In the Reign of Edward 3. there was great variance between the A. Bishops of Canterbury and York and the Londoners were cursed by the A. B. of Canterbury because they suffered he of York to carry his Cross in that City but the King ended the difference ordering they should both freely carry the Cross in each others Province but that in sign of subjection the A. B. of York should send the Image of an Archbishop bearing a Cross or some other Jewel wrought in fine gold to the value of 40 pounds to Canterbury and offer it publickly there upon St. Thomas Beckets Shrine They likewise report that Thomas lying in an old House at Otford and finding it want a Spring he struck his Staff into the dry ground from whence issued Water and is called to this day St. Thomas Well and that a Nightingale disturbing his Devotions one time in that place he commanded that from thenceforth no bird of that kind should dare sing there many other such ridiculous miracles are reported which were invented by Popish Knaves and believed by none but Popish Idiots In 1386. William Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury summoned certain of his Tenants to answer an heinous and horrible Trespass as he called it which was That they brought Straw to litter his Horses not in Carts as formerly but in Bags for which wicked Offence having confessed their fault and asked him forgiveness he enjoined them this Pennance That going leisurely before the Procession barefoot and bare leg'd each of them should carry upon his Shoulder a Bag stuffed with Strow hanging out whereupon these Rhimes were made This Bag full of straw
done for their utter overthrow and extirpation and to the better Corroboration of this our Loyal Band and Association we do also testify by this writing that we do confirm the contents hereof by our Oaths corporally taken upon the holy Evangelists with this express condition that no one of us shall for any respect of Persons or causes for fear or reward separate our selves from this Association or fail in the prosecution thereof during our lives upon pain of being by the rest of us prosecuted and supprest as perjured Persons and as publick Enemies to God our Queen and to our native Country To which punishment and pains we do voluntarily submit our selves and every of us without benefit of any colour or pretence In Witness of all which Premises to be inviolably kept we do to this writing put our Hands and Seals and shall be most ready to accept and admit any others hereafter into this Society and Association The Queen of Scots presently apprehending that this Association was entred into her destruction offers to enter into it herself it permitted to which Q. Elizabeth seemed inclining but it was alledged by her Enemies That the Queen could be no longer in safety if the Q. of Scots were set at liberty that the Reformed Religion lay a bleeding if Papists were admitted into the Court Walls c. In the succeeding Parliament this Association was universally approved and enacted in this form That 24 or more of the Queens Privy Council and Peers of the Realm should be selected and authorized under the great Seal of England to make enquiry of all such Persons as shall attempt to invade the Kingdom or raise Rebellion shall attempt any thing else against the Q's Person for whomsoever and by whomsoever that layeth any claim to the Crown of Eng. and that Person for whom and by whom they shall attempt any such thing shall be altogether incapable of the Crown c. The next Year a dangerous conspiracy was discovered against the Queen for one John Savage by the seducement of Dr. Gifford was persuaded it was meritorious to take away the Lives of Princes excommunicate who thereupon vowed to kill Q. Elizabeth but to make the Queen and her Council secure at the same time they writ a Book exhorting the Papists in England to attempt nothing against their Prince and to use only the Christian Weapons Tears Prayers Watching and Fasting Babington and several other Gentlemen were in this Plot to whom he shewed Letters which he received from the Q of Scots and her Closets being broke open a number of Letters were found from foreign parts offering her their service and 60 Alphabets of private Characters Fourteen of the Conspirators were executed for this Treason and great consultations were held about the Q. of Scots and at last it was concluded to proceed against her by the aforementioned Law whereupon divers Lords are authorized by the Queens Letters to enquire and by vertue of that Law to pass Sentence against all such as raised Rebellion invaded the Kingdom or attempted any violence against the Queen who Oct. 11. went to Fotheringay Castle where Q. Mary was prisoner and the next day the Queens Letters were delivered her which having with a settled Countenance read she said It seems strange to me that the Queen should lay her Command upon me to hold up my hand at the Bar as though I were a Subject â—â—eing I am an absolute Queen no less than her self and especially that I should be tryed by the English Laws It was at last plainly told her by the Chancellor and Treasurer That â—f she refused to answer to such Crimes as should be objected they would then proceed against her though she were absent Being brought at last with much ado to consent the Commissioners came together in the Presence Chamber and the Queen of Scots being come the Chancellor spake thus to her That the Queen had appointed these Commissioners to hear what she could answer to the Crimes laid to her charge assuring her that nothing would be cause of more Joy to the Queen than to hear that she had proved her self innocent Upon which she rising up said That although being an absolute Prince she could not be compelled to appear before them yet to manifest her Innocence she was now content to appear Then one of the Commissioners opened her Crimes shewing that by the Confessions of Babington Ballard Savage and also Nave and Curle her own Secretaries she was privy to their Treasons and consented to the Invasion of England and destruction of the Queen To which she answered that Letters might be counterfeited her Secretaries might be corrupted the rest in hope of life might be drawn to confessions which were not true In this she stood peremptorily that she never consented to attempt any thing against the Queens Person though for her own delivery she confest she did design it and at last requested That she might be heard in full Parliament or before the Queen her self But this request prevailed not for Oct. 25. at the Star-Chamber at Westminster the Commissioners met again and pronounced Sentence against her confirming by their Seals and Subscriptions That after the first of June in the 27th year of Queen Elizabeth divers matters were compassed and imagined in the Kingdom by Anthony Babington and others with the privity of Mary Queen of Scots pretending Title to the Crown of England tending to the hurt death and destruction of the Royal Person of our said Soveraign Lady the Queen A few days after a Parliament began where the Peers of the Kingdom unanimously presented a Petition that for the safety of the Queen themselves and their Posterity the Sentence against Mary Q. of Scotâ— might according to Law be published putting her iâ— mind of the fearful Examples of Gods Judgments in Scripture upon Saul for sparing K. Agag and upon Ahad for not putting â— Benhadad to death The House of Commons likewise enforced this request a while after the Queen at last replied to this effect I protest my chief desire hath been that for your security and my own safety some other way might be devised than that which is now propounded but since it is now evident and certain that my safety without her destruction is in a most deplorable State I am most grievously afflicted that I who have pardoned so many Rebels have neglected so many Treasons either by silence or connivence should now at last exercise cruelty upon a Prince so nearly allied to me As for your Petition I beseech you to rest in an answer without an answer If I say I will not grant your Petition I shall haply say what I meant not if I should say I will grant it then cast I my self into destruction headlong whose safety you do so earnestly desire and that I know you in your VVisdoms would not I should do After this the Queen upon much sollicitation sealed Letters for executing the Sentence but was in much
That her being a Widdow might be sufficient to restrain him to whom the King replied Whereas you say Madam that she is a Widdow and hath already Children by Gods blessed Lady I am a Batchellor and have some too and so each of us have a proof that none of us is like to be barren and he accordingly married her being the first of our Kings since the Conquest that married his own Subject yet was his love divided among three other of his Mistresses of whom he was wont to say The one was the fairest the other the merriest and the third the Holiest Harlot in England as being alwaies at her Beads in the Chappel when he sent for her to his Bed His Queen lived to see the death of her Husband murther of her two Sons restraint of her self and the rest of her Children so that she had more greatness than joy height than happiness by Marriage she finished Queens Colledge in Cambridge and died not long after At Fotheringay Castle in this County was acted the Tragedy of Mary Q. of Scots Mother to K. James in the 29 year of Q. Elizabeth 1587. This Mary was the Daughter and only lawfully begotten Child of James 5. and succeeded in her Cradle to the Throne she was promised in Marriage to King Edw. 6. of England but by the power of the Hamiltons carried into France and there married to Francis 2. King of France about which time Reformation in Religion began to be practised in Scotland as well as England for at the Preaching of John Knox and some other Ministers Images Altars and such things were defaced and it was further put into the heads of the Nobility That it pertained to them of their own Authority to take away Idolatry and by force reduce the Prince to the prescript of Laws whereupon there was presently bandying of the Lords of Scotland against the Queen Dowager and each of them sent for Aid she from France and the Lords from England but this was matter for Consultation it seemed a bad example for a Prince to give Aid to the Rebellious Subjects of another Prince on the other side it seemed no less than Impiety not to give Aid to Protestants of the same Religion but most of all it seemed meer madness to suffer enemies to be so near Neighbours and let the French nestle in Scotland who pretend Title to England upon such considerations it was resolved Queen Elizabeth should send them Aid and thereupon an Army of 6000 Foot and 1200 Horse were sent under the Duke of Norfolk and others who going into Scotland joined with the Lords where passed many light Skirmishes many Batteries and sometimes Assaults which growing tedious soon after ended in a Peace between France and England upon condition That neither the King of France nor the Queen of Scotland should thence forth use the Arms or Titles of England or Ireland and that both the English and French should depart out of Scotland and a general pardon should pass in Parliament for all that had been Actors in those Stirs The Peace was scarce concluded when Francis the young K. of France died and left Mary Qu. of Scots a Widdow soon after the House of Commons in Parliament humbly moved Queen Elizabeth to Marry who answered That she was already Married to the Kingdom of England and behold saith she the pledge of the Covenant with my Husband and therewith held out her Finger and shewed the Ring wherewith at her Coronation she gave her self in Wedlock to the Kingdom and if said she I keep my self to this Husband and take no other yet I doubt not but God will send you as good Kings as if they were born of me for as much as we see by dayly experience that the issue of the best Princes do often degenerate and for my self it will be sufficient that a Marble Stone declare that a Queen having reigned such a time lived and dyed a Virgin She had indeed many matches propounded to her to whom she gave Testimonies of her Princely favour but never pledges of nuptial Love about this time the Earl of Feria who had Married the Daughter of Sir William Dormer being denied leave of Queen Elizabeth for some of his Wives Friends to live in England he grew so inraged that he persuaded Pope Pius 4. to Excommunicate her as an Heretick and Usurper but the Pope pretending to great gentleness writ to her lovingly To return to the Vnity of the Catholick Church and made great offers if she would hearken to his Counsel particularly That he would recall the Sentence against her Mothers Marriage confirm the Book of Common-Prayer in English and permit the use of the Sacrament in both kinds but the Queen neither terrified with Feria's practices nor allured with the Popes great offers according to her Motto Semper eadem always the same persisted constant in her resolution to maintain that Religion which in her Conscience she was persuaded to be most agreeable to the Word of God and the practice of the Primitive Church Queen Mary after the death of her Husband went from France to Scotland and then sent Letters to Q. Elizabeth offering readily to enter into a League with her so she might by Authority of Parliament be declared her Successor which was but her Right to which Q. Elizabeth answered That though she would no way derogate from her Right yet she should be loth to endanger her own security and as it were to cover her own eyes with a grave cloth while she was alive The two Queens were indeed both of great Spirits Mary doubting Queen Elizabeth meant to frustrate her Succession and Elizabeth lest the Queen of Scots meant to hinder her Succession which created Jealousies and many unkind passages between them as by the sequel appears The Queen of Scots having a desire to Marry again Queen Elizabeth proposed the Earl of Leicester to her but she Married the Lord Darnly Son to the Earl of Lenox and thereupon the next Parliament again move Queen Elizabeth to marry to declare her Successor to the Crown some of them boldly arguing That Princes were bound to design a Successor and that in not doing it the Queen would shew her self no better than a Parricide and destroyer of her Country The Queen was contented to bear with words spoken in Parliament which out of it she would never have endured and commanded 30 of each House to appear before her to whom she said That she knew what danger hangeth over a Princes head when a Successor is once declared she knew that even Children themselves out of a hasty desire of bearing Rule had taken up Arms against their own Father and how could better be expected from Kindred And therefore though she had given them leave to debate the matter of Succession she bid them beware not to be injurious to their Princes patience After which they never made any further motion to her but now the love between the Queen of
Scots and the Lord Darnly began to cool and their unkindness was fomented by one David Risio an Italian Musician and afterward the Queens Secretary who had often secret conference with her when the King might not be admitted this indignity the Lords about the King made him sensible of and thereupon his death was contrived and he was killed in an outer Chamber next the Queen she being then with Child and like by the affright to have miscarried the Earl of Murray base Son to K. James 5. and base Brother to the Queen was the chief instigator of this murther of the foulness of which Fact when the King was sensible he resolved to be revenged upon Murray who having notice thereof prevented it with causing the like to be done to him for soon after the King in a stormy tempestuous night was strangled in his Bed and then cast forth into the Garden and the House immediately blown up with Gunpowder the rumor of this murther being spread abroad common fame laid it upon Morton and Murray and their Confederates Morton and Murray lay it upon the Queen the King thus murthered the Queen was advised by them to Marry James Earl of Bothwell though he was the man that had acted the Murther but upon condition that above all things respect might be had to her young Son and that Bothwell might be legally quitted both from the bonds of his former Marriage and also of the Kings Murther hereupon it is plotted that Bothwell should be brought to the Bar and Morton being his advocate by the sentence of the Judges he is clearly acquitted and then by consent of some of the Nobility he is Married to the Queen being first made Duke of Orkney which bred a suspition in many that the Queen was conscious of the Murther which was the thing the Confederates aimed at by this Marriage for they by all means increased the suspition that they might have the better colour against her and so the very same men who absolved Bothwell and consented to the Marriage now take arms against her as a Delinquent in both forcing her Husband to flee and then seize upon the Queen whom clad in a very homely garment they thrust into Prison in Lochlevyn Queen Elizabeth hearing of it sends Sir Nicholas Throgmorton to expostulate the matter with them who alledged The Queen was subject to no Tribunal under Heaven That no Judge on Earth might call her in question c. They again opposed the peculiar right of that Kingdom and used Buchanans argument in his Treasonable Dialogue That in extraordinary Cases the People have power both to create and to depose their King They then persuaded her to resign the Kingdom which if she refused to do fairly they threatned to question her openly for her incontinent living for the Kings Murther for Tyranny so that through fear She resigned her Kingdom to her young Son James at that time scarce thirteen months old who was five days after anointed and Crowned King and she constituted Murray Vice-Roy during his Minority soon after some of Bothwells Servants were executed for the Kings Murther who cleared the Queen from being concerned in it The Queen having been 11 Months Prisoner afterward made her escape and raised Forces which being unexperienced were soon defeated by Murray whereupon she endeavoured to save her self by flight and travelled 60 Miles in one day and contrary to the advice of her Friends went with a few of her Attendants in a small Bark and landed at Wickington in Cumberland sending Letters to Q. Elizabeth that having made an escape from her insolent and rebellious Subjects she was now come into England upon certain hope of her approved Clemency and therefore humbly desiring that she might be forthwith admitted to her presence Q. Elizabeth sent her Letters of comfort and promised her aid defence according to the equity of her cause but denied her access since she was held guilty of many crimes giving command to have her brought to Carlile as a place of more safety Q. Mary then desired she might depart to some other Country but upon consultation most were of Opinion to have her detained as one taken by right of War and not to be dismissed till she had made satisfaction for assuming the Title of England and for the death of Darnly her Husband who was born one of the Queens Subjects After this many Conspiracies were made to set the Queen of Scots at Liberty The Pope sends out his Bull against Q. Elizabeth freeing her Subjects from all Allegiance to her and the Duke of Norfolk is beheaded upon her account These and many other contrivances and conspiracies seemed very much to indanger the Life of Q. Elizabeth and tended to the Invasion of England whereupon the better to provide for her safety a number of her Subjects the Earl of Leicester being the chief and others of all ranks and conditions enter into an Association wherein they declare That since by Her Majesties Life they and all other Her Majesties Subjects do enjoy inestimable benefit they do by this Writing make manifest their duty for the safety of their Sovereign Lady They then proceed And to that end we and every of us first calling to Witness the name of Almighty God do voluntarily and most willingly hind our selves every one of us to the other jointly and severally in the Band of one firm and Loyal Society and do hereby vow and promise by the Majesty of Almighty God that with our whole Powers Bodies Lives and Goods and with our Children and Servants we and every of us will faithfully serve and humbly obey our said Sovereign L.Q. Elizabeth against all States Dignities and Earthly Powers whatsoever and will as well with our joint and particular Forces during our Lives withstand offend and persue as well by force of Arms as by all other means of revenge all manner of Persons of what state soever they shall be who shall attempt against Her Royal Person c. to the utter extermination of them their Counsellours Aiders and Abettors And if any such wicked attempt against her most Royal Person shall be taken in hand and procured whereby any that have may or shall pretend Title to come to this Crown by the untimely death of Her Majesty so wickedly procured which God for his mercies sake forbid may be avenged we do not only bind our selves jointly and severally never to allow accept or favour any such pretended Successor by whom or for whom any such detestible Act shall be attempted or committed as unworthy of all Government in any Christian Realm or Common-Wealth And do also further vow and protest as we are most bound and that in the presence of the Eternal and Everlasting God to prosecute such Person and Persons to death with our joint or particular forces and to take the utmost revenge upon them that by any means we or any of us can devise and do or cause to be devised and