Provence In his time there fell great strife between the King and the Barons At first they kept Parliaments apart and after their consultations raised Armies and in a battel the King with his sons Edward and Richard and many Nobles were taken prisoners But Edward being set at liberty got up an Army and fell on afresh so at last the Earl of Leicester and many great ones were slain in the battel of Evesham This begot bloudy wars and brought woful desolations to poor England And to the merciless sword the Lord brought fearful judgements of Plagues Famine Earthquakes and many other strange wonders in heaven and earth But Henry resigned all to death the 16. of November 1273. when he had reigned 56. years and 28. days Edward the eldest son of Henry succeeded his father He married Elianor the daughter of the King of Spain in his fathers life-time Ann. 1254. King Edward banished the Jewes this Nation In the memory of Queen Elianor he built stately Crosses where the Corpes rested every night In his reign there was great wars with the French Welch and especially with the Scots who oft rebelled but were as oft subdued yet in those wars the King got a bloudy Flix of which he died the 7. of July An. 1308. when he had reigned 34. years 7. moneths and odd days Edward the 2. succeeded his father He was said to be a dissolute Prince hated of his Nobles and contemned of the Common people He married Isabel daughter to the French King In his time also the Scots rebelled vanquished the Kings Army and after besieged him in York and burnt the Suburbs The Barons also raised War against the King for defending Piercy and the Spencers his creatures against justice In which straits the King sent the Queen to mediate with her brother the French King She took with her her son Edward But she not returning so soon as her husband appointed her and with all discovering some compliance with some Nobles sled out of England to France the King proclaimed them all to be banished But the Queen her son Edmund Woodstock all of Kent the Kings brother with many Nobles came into England and joyned with the Barons and City of London by which they raised a great Army took divers strong Holds and at last the King and his creatures The King was committed prisoner to the Earl of Lancaster but the creatures were hanged headed and quartered The Queen her son and Barons came presently to London and the next day called a Parliament where the King was deposed when he had reigned 19. years 6. moneths and some daies An. 1328. Edward the eldest son of Edward the 2. was set up in his fathers stead at 14. years of age It is said His father was soon after murdered in Corfe-Castle But the young King was much ordered by his mother A peace was made with the Scots and Daviâ—â— Scotland married Joan King Edwards â—â—ster But to keep all quiet at home the old Queen who contrived the death of King Edward her husband also plotted the death of his brother the 〈◊〉 of Kent and caused him to be beheaded at Winchester the 3. year of King Edward the 3 's reign In the 6. year of Edward the Scots rebelled and possessed Barwick The King laid siege before them and the Scots endeavoured with their Forces to raise the siege But were overcome in battel where were shin of the Scots 8. Earls with 1300 horse and 35000. footmen Upon this Barwick was delivered the King placed Edward Baliol Governour who was after King of Scotland About the 11. year of this King War arose with France King Edward â—â—ised a Navy of about 200. sail of Ships and went to Flanders where in a Sea-sight he overcame the French and Normans and stiled himself King of England and France Thiâ— King took Calice and made great inroads and woâ—â— desolations in France and the 〈◊〉 iâ— the Scots upon England They burnt Calice Penneth and came killing and burning down to Durham But after King Edward made peace both with the French and Scots upon honourable terms After this the King of Spain was driven out of his Kingdom by his Bastard brother and Edward Prince or Wales went to the Kings relief with a great Army and in a battel put the Bastard to flight King Edward reigned 50. years and 4. months who departed this life the 21. of June An. 1378. Richard the son of Prince Edward his father being dead succeeded his Grand-father Edward the 3. He came to the Crown at 11. years of age As he was young he hearkned to young Counsellours and neglected his old and wise Council which brought sad troubles to the Nation and woful misery to himself In the first year of his reign the French made great inroads and wasted many Towns in England and at this time Guns were invented The King in these straits laid a great Tax upon the Nation Upon which some Countries rose in Arms went to London and did great hurt but were after appeased by the King through fair promises This Richard married Anne daughter to the King of Bohemia who brought hither the use of women riding side-ways on horseback Some Earls and Barons seeing the King missed and the Nation misgoverned by a few persons they considered how it might be reformed and thereupon raised an Army of 40000. and came to London to the King upon this the King called a Parliament suddenly in which Parliament Sir Robert Tresilian chief Justice of England and divers others were convicted of Treason and put to death An. 1388. Richard sent to the City of London Ann. 1392. to borrow of them 1000. li. but they refusing he called the Maior Sheriffs and Aldermen of London to a Council at Nottingham and there appearing the King Arrested and imprisoned them and nulled all their liberties Queen Anne dying the King took Isabel the King of France's daughter to wife and so made peace there The King now grew high again and put to cruel death the Earl of Arundel and divers others for dealing with him about his ill Government This King shed much bloud of the Nobility and Bishops besides others which lay in the bosoms of many and not forgot though he carried it with a high hand But the King going into Ireland Henry Duke of Hereford and Lancaster with others who were out of the Land came into Yorkeshire to whom went the Earl of Northumberland the Earl of Westmerland and many Lords and gathering up an Army they laid siege to Bristol where they took the Lord Treasurer and some others and beheaded them The King hearing of this hasted out of Ireland and landed in Wales and more fully understanding the Dukes strength took to the Castle of Conway and desired a Treaty The Duke of Lancaster met the King but the
his people This division gave hope again to the Danes to set up themselves in the Nation and in a little time they grew so great Etheldred was content to give them yearly tribute of 1000. li. to purchase his peace to sit in the Throne But the Danes finding Etheldred willing to lye down to the burthen while his people had money to pay by degrees they enhanced the 1000. li. per. an to 48000. li. per. an and when the King could not pay the tax he secretly laid a plot to which the people oppressed readily comply'd to pay the Danes for all together So upon the 12. day of Novemb. 1012. the Saxons kill'd all the Danes in the night In revenge of this Massacre Swain King of Denmark invaded England with fire and sword and possessed himself of this Monarchy All the strength that Etheldred could raise was no ways able to repel these conquering Danes but King Swain tyrannized over the Saxons Etheldred died when he had reigned 38. year An. 1014. Swain King of Denmark left his son Canutus to rule in England But Edmund called Iron-side a valiant man son to Etheldred set up himself in the Kingdom after his father and made War upon Canutus the new King of the Danes Many bloudy battels were fought between the Danes and the Saxons and neither part prevailed so that the Kings agreed to end the quarrel for the Empire between them These stout Kings fought hand to hand for the Crown In which Combat they manifested their skill in arms as well as courage and wearied out themselves in fighting but neither overcame and so they agreed to divide the Nation between them this was accordingly done But not long after Edmund was treacherously murdered by one that thought thereby to be preferred by Canutus Yet Canutus like a man of worth hated that wicked murder of so gallant a Prince and for his reward caused the Murderer to be tormented to death and cast into a Ditch Yet here the Kingdom of England was only reduced under Canutus An. 1018. Canutus having thus brought the Nation of England unto the Government of the Danes He put to death the next heir apparent of the Saxons which was in England But the better to confirm the Kingdom to him he propounded a motion of a Marriage with the Widow of Etheldred who was fled into Normandy with two of her sons Emma the widow agreed to match with Canutus upon condition that the Kingdom of England should be confirmed unto the children begotten of her Shortly after she bare a son to Canutus called Hardie Canutus By this Affinity Canutus strengthened himself greatly and subduing the Scots was King of England Scotland Denmark and Norway and reigned 20. years An. 1028. Hardie Canutus having his residence in Denmark Harold son to Canutus by a former wife by assistance of the Danes set up himself King of England Harold knowing by what interest he was brought in and setled in the Throne he displaced the English and put the Danes into places of Honour and Trust. He banished Emma and put Alured her youngest son by Etheldred to death and reigned 3. years An. 1041. Hardie Canutus after the death of his brother Harold possessed the Crown of England and in hatred of his brothers wickedness caused Harolds body to be digged out of the earth and cast in into the Thames But Hardie Canutus being at a marriage feast died suddenly in the midst of his cups in the third year of his reign in England An. 1043. Here ended the Line of the Danish Kings and the Saxons again restored Edward the remaining son of King Etheldred was again brought into England and crowned at Winchester He released the money paid to the Danes call'd Danes-gift He also collected a body of Common Laws He cured the swelling of the Throat since called the Kings evil And for holiness of life was called Sr. Edward and Edward the Consessor King Edward took to wife Edgiâ—ha the daughter of Earl Godwin but died without issue when he had reigned 23. years and 6. moneths and odd daies An. 1067. In the life time of Edward he made Harold son to Earl Godwin Regent of England in the non-age oâ— Edgar grand-child to Edmund Ironside who was the heir apparent to the Crown until he should come to age Unto which Edward the Confessor took an Oath of Harold But when Edward was dead Harold refused the Regentship and crowned himself King of England which shortly after brought distraction upon him and misery to all the Nation Yet for all I may not pass in silence the good nature of the man that he had some respect to Prince Edgar For though he took his Kingdom yet Harold gave him the Earldom of Oxford and above all spared his life But the righteous God soon raised black clouds and sad storms to disquiet Harold with his dear purchased Crown and the whole Nation for their wicked compliance with a sorsworn King Harold King of Norway came with a great Army to fall upon England both by Sea and Land And while Harold of England was preparing to encounter the King of Norway William Duke of Normandy landed a compleat Army in England the 28. of September An. 1067. and claimed the right to the Crown of England by gift from Edward the Confessor This the Duke pretended and what small probability there is to assert the truth of it men may easily judge by Edwards care to set up Edgar the next in succession of bloud Harold of England at this time had much wasted his men in a great battel fought with Harold of Norway But having got the better of that enemy he rallied his wearied Souldiers to fight William Duke of Normandy a new competitor for his ill got Crown In this battel Harold was slain and the Normans got the Victory and the Kingdom together where there fell with their King 66654. English Souldiers when Harold had reigned but 3. moneths An. 1067. Here ended the Race of Saxon Kings in England Normans Kings of England WIlliam Duke of Normandy called William the Conqueror was a Bastard-son of Robert Duke of Normandy who began his reign over England the 14. day of October 1067. or by many 1066. Upon these Wars Edgar the true heir to the Crown of England fled into Scotland and many English men with him who after raised an Army and came into England and besieged York where William had a Garison for himself Edgar got the City and possessed it But William came with a great Army and dâ—ave Edgar back to Scotland At Williams first coming to the Crown very considerable Cities in England stood against him so that he was established in the Throne by shedding of bloud of much innocent bloud which God hath and will yet judge some for In the 4. year of his reign was a dreadful Famine in
Flanders The Duke of Clarence followed the King to London where they set King Henry again at liberty after 9. years imprisonment and newly elected and crowned him King But soon after King Edward returned again to England with some Souldiers and then the Duke of Clarence his brother turned to him and so greatly increased the Kings strength that he came to London and took King Henry prisoner and then followed the Earl of Warwick whom he also overcame and slew with his brother the Marquess of Mountacute When Warwick was down the King pursued Queen Margaret wife to King Henry and getting the Victory in a battel at Tewksbury he took the Queen prisoner with Prince Edward her son And soon after King Henry was murdered in the Tower And after him the Duke of Clarence was murdered in the Tower a sad but just reward of a turn-coat To all other the bloud and Tyranny mention'd of this Usurper sad is the story recorded of Mr. Burdet of Arrow The King hunting in his Park with others kill'd one white Deer of which he set some esteem and for Mr. Burdets saying I would the Horns of the Buck was in the belly of him that shewed him the King the said Mr. Burdet was accused and condemned and executed for a Traytor and so lost both life and estate Indeed his words being a curse were sinful But yet a small offence to the King to have so sharp a censure But not long after the Lord shot the Dart of death at him summoning of him to appear before Divine Justice the 9. of April An. 1484. when he had reigned 22. years 1 month and odd days Edward the 5. about the age of 13. years was to succeed his father Edward the 4. But about 3. months after his fathers death his Uncle Richard Duke of Glocester caused him to be secretly murdered conveyed away that it was not known where he was buried and so set up himself An. 1484. Richard the 3. brother to Edward the 4. to get the Crown murdered Prince Edward and Richard Duke of York his brothers sons in the Tower with George Duke of Clarence his own brother also Henry Duke of Buckingham Hastings Rivers Vaâ—ghan Grey and very many others and his own wife Anne that so he might make way to marry his Couzen Elizabeth Yet this wicked Tyrant raged but a short time For Henry Earl of Richmond the heir apparent came out of France with the Earl of Pembrook his Uncle the Earl of Oxford many others to whom some of the Nobility joyned in England who gave battel to Richard the 22. of August neer Bosworth where Richard was slain when he had born his usurped Crown 2. years and 2. months Ann. 1486. Henry the 7. who was heir to the house of Lancaster when he came to the Crown married Elizabeth the daughter of Edward the 4. whom Richard intended to have taken and so united the houses of Lancaster and York Henry had also a strain of the British Race and of the French bloud In this Kings time were great Tumults Taxes and Taxes brought Tumults and the shedding of much bloud And when Taxes were not willingly paid the King craved or begged benevolence or something of their own good will Divers rebellions there were some from without and some within the Nation and it 's noted that Lambert was a chief rebel in these times The Scots also made inroads into the North parts But to quiet them the King gave his eldest daughter in Marriage to the King of Scots When Henry had reigned 23. years and 8. months he died An. 1510. Henry the 8. succeeded his father Henry the 7. He enjoyed the Crown in much quiet by union of the Families for which there had been fought 17. pitcht battels in which were slain 8. Kings 40. Dukes Marquesses and Earls besides Barons Knights and Gentlemen and about 200000. common people This King married his brother Arthur's widow which Arthur died before his father And so Henry began he was for Religion a Roman Catholike and in his zeal writ against Luther for which great act his father the Pope gave him the Title of Defender of the Faith which the Kings and Queens held to the last Yet when Henry the 8. grew great he cast off the Popes Supremacy over England and judged himself fit enough to be head in Church and State The King going to War in France James King of Scots came with a great Army into England but in a bloudy battel was repulsed About this time Mary the Kings sister was contracted to Lewis the 12. King of France but was before promised to the King of Castile Yet after Charles Duke of Suffolk wedded the Lady Anno 1516. About Ann. 1533. King Henry put off Katherine and married Anne Bullin and she was proclaimed Queen Upon this divorce many were discontented but the King sent out an Oath to be taken by all people especially to the Priests to swear fidelity to the King Queen Anne and their heirs But the Lord Chancellour some Bishops and many others for refusing this ungodly oath were committed to the Tower and other prisons But to the rest of this Kings sins when he had cast off the Popes Supremacy he became Pope of England and was made head of the Church of England having full authority over the same And withal took the first fruits and tenths An. 1535. In the next year the 2. of May Queen Anne was committed to the Tower and there beheaded Also the Queens brother with 18. of the Kings Privy Chamber were put to death the 17. of May and the 20. of May the King married Lady Jane Seymor The 12 of October 1537. Queen Jane brought forth Prince Edward and lost her life the 14. day The 3. of January 1539. the King married Anne of Cleve Thomas Cromwel Secretary to the King was a rising Favourite and promoted to places of trust and honour above any in his time beginning about An. 1536. and An. 1540. he was beheaded at Tower-hill and the new Queen Anne of Cleve divorced The King had another wife in good readiness if not already married for the 8. of August following the Lady Katherine Howard appeared openly as Queen But he made as speedy dispatch with her for the 13. of February following she was beheaded in the Tower yet after the King had cut off that Katherine the 12. of july following the King married the Lady Katherine Parr late wife to the Lord Latimer 1543. and the 35. year of the Kings reign All this Kings time were mutinies heading hanging and abundance of bloud-shed continually of all sorts Nobles Bishops Priests and people He cut down all that stood in his way who answered not his desires Thus this King spent 37. years 9. months and odd days An. 1548. Edward the 6. succeeded his father