Northampton and in the third was the King himself The Field being thus ordered the King mounted upon a white Hobby and rode from rank to rank encouraging every one to the performance of his Duty The French Army was at least twice more in number consisting of above 60000 Combatants with the flower of all the French Chivalry whereof the chief was the Duke of Alanzon the King's Brother there were besides the Dukes of Lorain and Luxemburg the Earls of Flanders and Artois with other Foreign Princes The French King was so fierce in Confidence of Victory that he would scarce admit of any previous time for Counsel the old King of Bohemia advis'd that the Army should receive some refreshment before the Fight and that the â—rigade of Genâ—ua whereof there were about 15000 Balestiers or Cross-boâ—â—s should make the first Front and the Cavalry to follow next which being agreed upon the Duke of Alanzâ— did stomack that the Genouese should have the Honour of the first Rank This bred such a discontent that they seem'd to be more incens'd against their Leaders then against the Enemy but in the interim there fell such a huge shower of Rain that wetted their Bow-stâ—ings which they had not the wit to cover all the while as the English did insomuch that for the limmerness thereof when they came to Engage they grew useless at the ceasing of the Shower Heaven appear'd in the Action for the English for the Sun did shine full in the faces of the French thereby dazling their Eyes but on the Back of the English King Edward being got into a Wind-mill all the while whence as from a Watch-tower he might explore and behold the face of the Enemy and discerning the disturbance that happen'd because the Genouese were put to change their post instantly gave order to charge that part which made the Genouese recoil Alanzon perceiving this rides about in a rage crying out Sa Sa le ts make way over the bellies of these Italians for they do but hinder us so riding thorow them he came up to the English wing where the Prince of Wales was the fight grew furious and doubtful insomuch that the Commanders about the Prince sent up to the King for a recruit of Power the King asking the messenger whether his Son was wounded or slain and being answered no he replied Then tell them who sent you that as long as my Son is alive they send no more to me for my will is that he win his Spurs and have the honour of this day so the combattings on both sides being wonderfully eager the French King had his Horse killed under him and so with-drew which being known by the English it added much to their Courage so that soon after they became masters of the Field and being in heat of Blood they made no Prisoners but put all to the Sword so that the number of the French slain surmounted the whole Army of the English for there fell about 30000 of the Enemy the chief whereof was the Duke of Alanzon the Dukes of Bourbon and Lorain the Earl of Flanders the Dauphine de Viennois Son to Imbert who afterwards gave the Province of Dauphiny to the French King provided his first Son should be called Dauphine in perpetuum and as a Corollary to this mighty Victory the next day sending Scouts abroad there was another French Army discovered under the conduct of the Arch-bishop of Roan whom the English encounter'd also and utterly defeated There was one passage very remarkable in this Battle whereof Sir Walter Rawleigh makes mention That a day before the Engagement the King sent one Captain David Gam a Welshman to explore and view the French Army which he did with no less danger than Fidelity and brought word that there were in the Enemies Army men enough to Kill enough to take Prisoners and enough to run away which proved true and so the Welsh Captain was knighted in the Field This mighty Victory was seconded a few years after by another more memorable for the Black Prince having now wun his Spurs and being taper'd up to his full growth was sent to Gascoigny where the truce being expir'd he overruns all the Country as far as Tourain thereupon John the then French King rais'd a potent Army more numerous then that at Cressy and going to find out the Prince of Wales he heard of him about Poictiers having not above 10000 effective Men in his whole Army and they also having been tir'd with long Marches whereas the French were fresh and were 6 times as many whereupon the Prince being advised to turn falls about towards Bourdeaux when he was suddenly surrounded by the French Army upon which a Battle being intended there came two Cardinals to mediate an Accommodation but the French King would hearken to none unless the Prince as a vanquish'd man would render up himself and his whole Army to discretion this was of hard digestion at a Prince of such a Courage therefore he answered That at the Mediation of the Holy Father he was willing to restore such places which he had taken en bonne Guerre provided this might be done without prejudice to his Honour whereof he was accountable to the King his Father c. the French King not hearkning to this resolved to fight thereupon the Prince also resolv'd for his part to part with his life at as high a rate as he could in such a strait wherefore making a vertue of necessity by a happy providence he makes choice of an advantagious ground for finding that the French Army consisted most in Cavalry he entrench'd among the adjacent Vineyards where when the French Horse furiously entred being wrap'd and entangled amongst the Vines the English Archers did so ply pelt and gall them that being thereby disordered unrank'd and routed the whole Army in a short time was totally defeated But it seems that this Battel was not so fiercâ— as that of Cressy where no quarter was given for in this a great number of Prisoners were made among whom was King John himself and Phillip his youngest Son whom the Princâ— brought to England and as the French Historian themselves confess he was so civil unto him aâ— the while that he knew not whither he was iâ— quality of a free King or of a Captive And here a fair occasion is given to discoverâ— and vindicate a great truth touching the individual person who first took King John and hâ— was a Welsh Gentleman one Howel of the Life-guard to the Prince which Guard used to carry a kind of battle Axes or Partisans thâ— Howel it seems being one of them in the confus'd medley and fury of the Fight did fortunately meet with the King and seis'd upon him but suddenly in the hurly burly there were some Frenchmen of the Prince's Army rush'd in and the King knowing one of them call'd to him whose name was Myrobrecht de Artois who going on with others to present the Prisoner to
contrary to the Articles of Peace and 2 The contumelious Language used by King Phillip concerning his Person WILLIAM II. SUrnamed Rufus or the Red during his 12 Years and about 8 Months Reign had no Wars with France neither do we read of any just cause given to engage him thereto but he unjustly invaded Normandy then subject to his Brother Robert and disposest him of the County of Owe many Castles and some Monasteries but was in the mean time by divine Justice assaulted by his younger Brother Henry in his own Dominions and it had like to have cost him his Life for he was bore down in fight from his Horse by a valiant Knight who taking his Sword for to kill him was stop'd by the Kings crying out Hold thy hand Knave I am the King of England which words so struck the Knight with Reverence that he mounted him on another Horse and the King to recompence his Valour and Submission swore by St. Luke's Face he should be his Knight and be written in his White Book He was accidentally killed by Sir Walter Tyrell as he was Hunting in the New Forrest Anno 1100. buried at Winchester and died unlamented HENRY I. WHo for his learning was called Beauclerke was youngest Son to William the Conqueror he passing over into Normandy made War against the Earl of Anjou who kept Main against his will and this engaged Lewis the French King to take part with the latter whereupon ensued many sore Battles both in France and Normandy between them with various success at length taking Anjou's Daughter for Wife to his Son William Peace was concluded But it will not be amiss to give the Reader a tast of the high Spirit and Resolution of this King in a personal quarrel he had in France In his fathers life time he accompanying his eldest Brother Robert into that Kingdom while the latter associated himself with the then French King Henry according to the suitableness of their years took up with the company and divertisements of the Dauphine and being one Evening at Chess together the Dauphine happened to lose a considerable summ of Money to the Prince at that Game whereat the former grew so enraged that after some reproachful Language he struck the Prince who not brooking the high affront with the Chess-board knocks the Dauphine fairly down to the ground and being intent to pursue his Revenge his Brother Robert fortunately came in and minding him of the danger away they both fled and with great hast and difficulty recovered the next part of Normandy before their pursuers could reach them This King made his Exit as his Father before him in Normandy in the Year 1135. after he had reigned 35 Years and 4 Months The cause of this War we have before assigned to wit the King of France's taking part with Anjou against Henry STEVEN KIng of England was Son to Adella a Daughter of William the Conqueror and Nephew to the two last Kings he laid claim to the Kingdom of England in the year 1135 notwithstanding his Oath to Mawd the Empress and Daughter to Henry the First to the contrary wherefore without looking abroad into France for any Wars his whole Reign which was Eighteen Years and about ten Months was in a manner taken up in intestine Broils and Contests about his right to the English Crown wherein he was stiffly opposed by several Nobles and by the said Empress Mawd and her Son Henry afterwards Henry the 2d whom she bare to Geoffrey Plantagenet Earl of Anjou and Duke of Normandy from whence sprang the Noble Family of the Plantagenets that so long governed England he was once made Prisoner at Bristol and at last notwithstanding he had Children of his own was forced to adopt Henry for his Son and Heir and the Nobles sware fealty to him accordingly HENRY II. SOn of Mawd and Geoffrey Plantagenet as aforesaid at the Age of Three and Twenty Years and even in the life time of his Mother under whom he claimed began his Reign over England in the Year 1154. This Prince notwithstanding his Domestick Troubles and famous Atchievements against the Welch and his conquest of a great part of the Kingdom of Ireland so as he was the first of our English Kings that was stiled the Lord of that Country yet found opportunity to make War in France upon several occasions the Allyance he had made with the French Court by the Marriage of his Son Henry to King Lewis his Daughter Margaret proving rather an incitative to Contention and Discord then a bond of Peace and Amity The famous city of Tholouse was chiefly the seat of this War which was once and again bravely Assaulted by King Henry and as vigorously defended by Lewis In his first Expedition against this Place he was accompanied with Malcolm King of Scots a Welch King and with others of highest Rank and Dignity in England Normandy Aquitain Anjou and Gascoigny during his second expedition in France the Earls of Bulloign and Flanders with 600 sail of Ships attempted to make a Descent into England but their undertaking proved frustrate and abortive through the vigilance Courage and Prudence of Richard Lacy who then Governed England This King is famous or rather infamous in History for the many base Children he had being no less then 19 in Number for his fair Concubine Rosamond for whom he built that celebrated Labyrinth at Woodstock the recesses whereof could not be penetrated into but by insuperable jealousie the Queen as it was said by the help of a clew of Thread finding of her out at last and so used her that she lived not long after and no less to be mentioned for the troubles he met with from that proud Prelate Thomas a Becket to whose shire after his Murder much blind Devotion has been paid even by the greatest Potentates Tho his Son Henry who was crowned King in his life time and dyed before him gave him much disturbance yet when he found after his death that others and particularly his Son John conspired against him he was so strucken with grief that cursing his Son and the day of his own Birth he died July 6. 1189. Aged 61 having reigned 34 Years and almost seven Months The causes of the War were That King Lewis did incite the Prince his Son against the laws of Nature to oppose Henry his Father in the war time Lewis had promis'd upon the word of a King to meet him in order to a Treaty but he failed for his own Advantage whereupon Henry being sensible of the Fraud sought him out with his Army and made him give ground thereupon another interview being appointed betwixt Terwyn and Arras Histories relate that as the two Kings were busie in Conference there fell a clap of Thunder between them and meeting the next day the like accident happen'd which struck a Consternation in both Armies and inclined the Kings the more to an accommodation RICHARD I. WHo for his Valour was
〈◊〉 takes care to have sufficient Treasure for such an undertaking and therefore in a Parliamentary way raised a vast Summ of Money and so provides an Army and Fleet of Ships suitable to such an Expedition the Army rendevouz'd at Portsmouth the command whereof he gave to his Nephew John de Brytain Earl of Richmond with whom he joined in Commission John St. John and Robert Tripot two prudent Knights from whence they set Sail and Landed at St. Matthews in Bretaign and in the mean time set out three Fleets for the guard of the Seas and to prevent the Depredations of the Enemy they entred the Mouth of the Garonne towards Burdeaux and took two good walled Towns Burgo and Bleya from whence they marched to Lyons and had the town delivered to them about four years after he generously goes over in Person into Flanders for the relief of Guy Earl of that Country who was grievously assaulted by the French King and after many Noble atchievments performed a Peace was concluded Edward taking to Wife Margaret sister to Phillip the fair then King of France This King dyed in 1307 when he had reigned 34 Years 7 Months and odd days Aged 68 and was buried at Westminster 1. One cause of this Breach with France was the Depredations that were committed at Sea 2. The Relief of Guy Earl of Flanders who was in danger of losing his Country EDWARD II. COmmonly called Edward of Caernarvan the first Prince of England that bore in his Fathers life time the Title of Prince of Wales proved an unworthy Successor to so brave a Father for he was a dissolute Prince and wholly guided by his favourites the first whereof was Pierce Gaveston who was bred up with him and on whom he conferred two and thirty Towns and as many Castles in Gascoigny besides great Summs of Money out of the Earldom of Cornwall during his life which together with his arrogance the Barons being not able to brook combined to force the King to banish him and so little did this Prince understand his true interest herein that instead of parting with such a pernicious Man and thereby securing his Interest at Home and taking measures for the same in France and elsewhere he intended to give up Gascoigny to the French King Scotland to Robert Bruce and Ireland and Wales to others as hoping thereby to obtain such aid as might secure him his favourite against all the just attempts of his Barons to the Contrary but no sooner was this Man removed but he had two others the Spencers Father and Son that were as pernicious as he and proved more fatal to Edward every way for though they received at length condign Punishment yet it was through their advice chiefly that Edward refused to go to the French King to do Homage for Aquitain and other lands he held of him and thereby lost Anjou and the Country of Poictiers and 't was his adherence to them that raised his Barons and Queen against him which ended in a sad Catastrophe first in his being deposed next in making a formal Resignation of the Crown and lastly in being soon after barbarously Murdered at Berkley Castle by the procurement of Roger Mortimer Earl of March the Queens favourite He reigned 19 Years 6 Months and odd days and died in 1327. EDWARD III. COmmonly called Edward of Windsor the eldest Son of Edward the Second succeeded his Father upon his Resignation of the Crown being then about the Age of 14 his Reign commencing from the 25 of January in the year of our Lord 1326. he proved a blessing to England and was a Prince of great Wisdom and very successful in his enterprises the younger part of his Reign was much ecclipsed by Roger Mortimer Earl of March the Queen his Mothers paramour but he got quickly rid of him for he was seised at Notingham by the Kings order and concurrence just as he was going to bed to the Queen and for all the Queens crying out to him Bel Fils Bel Fils ayes pitie de gentil Mortimer i.e. Good Son Good Son take pitty upon gentle Mortimer he was forthwith carryed away to London committed to the Tower condemned by his Peers in Parliament at Westminster hanged at Elmes and left hanging upon the Gallows two â—ays and Nights and all this unheard because he had done so by others before this King made several successful expeditions into Scotland and made the King thereof do him homage but the feat of his Wars was in France for Charles King of France dying the Masculine line of Hugh Capet failed and the Crown descended to Edward the Third as he alledged in right of his Mother Isabel who was Sister to the said Charles but Phillip de Valois Uncle to Charles intruded himself by force of Arms and took Possession and was not only Aggressor in this respect but grew so confident of his power that nothing would serve him but he must have all our King had left in France and therefore bends his Force against all the King's Castles and Towns in Aquitain and Poictiers and exercises abominable cruelties upon the English Inhabitants and all this under pretence of taking revenge for his Friends the Scots The King in the mean time holds a Parliament obtains considerable supplies and writes Letters to the French King exhorting him to continue his old amity but neither this nor the Pope's Mediation for a Peace would do so King Edward makes mighty preparation both by Sea and Land and the first Action happened to be by Sea and as memorable an one as any in the records of time for he took and sunk 200 Sail of French ships which Phillip de Valois had prepared in the Haven of Sluce for the Invasion of England which Fleet like that of 88 was held invincible but King Edward had equipp'd another as formidable a Fleet in opposition whereof he was Generalissimo and Admiral himself It was one of the most glorious Victories that ever was got at Sea for the Chronicles mention that the whole French Navy perished and 30000 Men Wounded Slain and Taken This great Naval Battel was fought upon Midsummer Eve and Heaven appeared much for the English for they had Wind and Sun favourable to them in the Fight and to make it more glorious King Edward himself was wounded in the Thigh with an Arrow whereof he was quickly cured He then goes in Person to France with 8000 common Soldiers 15000 Archers but he raised most of his Horse in France he took over with him his Son the Prince of Wales then but 15 years Old called afterwards the Black Prince He enters Normandy like a Whirle-wind and carries all the Countrey before him as far as Poissy about 10 miles from Paris and after divers hot Skirmishes a main Battel is appointed The English Army encamped near a Village called Cressy where it was divided into 3 Battallions the first was led by the Prince of Wales the second by the Earls of Arundel and
the Prince there was a contest who took him first and the King was desired to point at him so he pointed at Howel and said this is the Man who took me There are authentick Records in some Welsh Manuscripts that confirm this Moreover they have a general Tradition and some Songs which continue fresh to this day how Howel did put a Bridle in the French King's Mouth with many other Expressions touching this great Act. Now for that signal exploit the Prince knighted him in the Field and he was ever after call'd Sir Howel y Fuyall Sir Howel with the Axe he had the Constableship of Crikyth Castle given him with the farms of Chester mills and other considerable things conferr'd upon him which surely would not have been but for the merit of some high signal Service The British Records besides Tradition and common Report that mention this were to be found in Sir John Winn's Library an honourable knowing Knight who was a curious collector of Antiquities These and many other glorious exploits were done by this King in France who ceased not his pursuits till he had got the Key of it hanging at his Girdle to wit the Town of Calais that in those days was looked upon to be impregnable which he carried after a long Siege This Kings Reign is also memorable upon many other accounts as for the Institution of the noble Order of the Garter for removing the staple of Wool from Flanders into England for that great Champion against Rome the famous Wickliff and for his own numerous issue by his Heroick Queen Phillipa being no less then seven Sons and five Daughters his Sons were these Edward the Black Prince the hopes of England and who died before his Father William of Hatfield Lioneâ— Duke of Clarence John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Edmund of Langley Duke of York William of Windsor and Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester he died at Richmond in 1377. when he had Reigned 50 Years and odd Months The cause of the War twixt the English and French in Edward the III. time was a claim to the Crown and Kingdom of France in right of his Mother Isabel which they would make invalid by their Salique or distaâ—â— Law to which the greatest Civilians do allow 〈◊〉 essence at all and Du Haillan the great French Historian hath no better Opinion of it but to be a meâ— Chymera or Imaginary thing but of this more presently OF THE Salique Law HERE I judge it no ways impertinent to be a little more particular yet touching the claim of this King Edward to the Crown of France and what grounds the French had by vertue of this Salique Law for the exclusion of him claiming from a Female and first we will briefly state his claim as it then stood and then come to the Law it self and it was thus Phillip the IV. surnamed the Fair had three Sons Lewis the Contentious Phillip the Long and Charles the Fair all these successively reigned after him and died without issue inheritable he had likewise a Daughter named Isabel I purposely omit the other being foreign to the present affair married to Edward the II. King of England and so was Mother to Edward the III. The issue male of Phillip the Fair thus failing Phillip Son and Heir of Charles Earl of Valois Beaumont c. who was Brother to Phillip the Fair laid claim to the Crown as next heir male against King Edward who made answer to the objection of the Salique Law that admitting it was as they asserted yet he was heir-male though descended of a Daughter and this in a publick assembly of the States of France first about the Protectorship of the Womb for Queen Joan Dowager of Charles the Fair was left with Child and delivered of a Daughter named Blanch afterwards Dutchess of Orleans was had in solemn dispute by Lawyers on both sides and applied at length also to the direct point of inheriting the Crown and so adjudged against King Edward What followed hereupon we have in some measure traced in the Preceding History of his Wars and are more at large recorded in Walsingham Froissart Aemilius and a multitude of more modern Writers whereby it appears and will in the Wars of this King's Successors in France how the denial of this Soveraignty to him by the French cost the lives of many thousands of their Men and involved that Country into long and miserable Calamities But as for the Law it self whereby they pretended such an exclusion of him it may well be said with Drayton in his Poly-Albion that every mouth speaks of it but few understand the thing it self or so much as the Etymology of its name and therefore to clear this point as well as we can we are necessitated to ascend a little higher then these times wherein it was made use of in prejudice to the English claim and to begin with the Original of the Francks with whom they affirm it was brought into France The Francks therefore according to many modern Historians came originally from Asia into Germany though others and perhaps upon better grounds make their original to be in Germany it self but this is certain that upon the decline of the Roman Empire they inhabited Franconia a Province of Germany and about the year 413 or according to Davila 119 invaded France under Pharamond whom they chose to be their King and Leader which Pharamond they make to be Son to Marcovir a Prince that governed them in Franconia but first before they began their Expedition they held a general Assembly near unto a River named Sala and there by the advice of the Salij their Priests or as others of the Salians whom they make to be the same with Francks enacted Laws for Government and amongst the rest one for the Exclusion of Females from inheriting the Crown which from the aforesaid appellations whether one or all it matters not came to be denominated the Salique Law But Goropius that fetches all our of Dutch and this perhaps more tollerably then many of his other Etymologies deriving the Salians name from Sal which in contraction he makes to be from Sadel inventors whereof says he the Salians were interprets them to be as much as Horse-men a name fitly applied to the War-like and most noble Persons of any Nation as Equites in Latin Chevaliers in French and Marchog in Welch do very well agree to so that upon the whole the Salique Law is made by him to be as much as a Chivalrous Law and Salique Land Quae ad equestris ordinis dignitatem in capite summo in caeteris membris conservandam pertinebat which very well agrees with a sentence given in the Parliament at Bourdeaux upon an ancient Will devising all the Testator's Salique Lands which was in point of Judgment interpreted to be a Fief and who knows not but that Fiefs were originally military Gifts but if things be so how then comes Salique to extend to the
but the Island grew quickly too hot for him Plymouth also was plundered and divers Houses burnt whereupon the Western men were permitted to set out Ships of War whereby they sufficiently revenged themselves of the French and at one time took 40 Sail. The French take footing again in the Isle of Wight with 1000 Men but they were repelled with the slaughter of many hundreds afterwards the Admiral of Britany with the Lord of Castile and 30 sail attempt Dartmouth where at a fierce assault du Castile was slain with his two Brothers The English during this Reign had occasion also to signalize themselves by Land in France upon two several occasions for a great Feud happening between the Duke of Burgundy whom the French King and his eldest Son favouredâ— and the Duke of Orleans whose Father had been put to death by the procurement of the former it came at last to open Wars between them but Burgundy finding his adversary had powerful assistance from the Kings of Navarre and Arragon the Dukes of Bituria Bretaign and others makes his application to King Henry for aid who aâ—â— first gave him good Counsel and afterwards seâ—â— him good force under the command of Thomas Earl of Arundel the famous Sir John Old-castâ—â— Lord Cobham and others with which reinforcement he prevailed powerfully against his Enemy insomuch that about a year after Orleans also becomes a Suiter to the same King Henry for assistance against Burgundy which the King also granted and dispatched away under the command of Thomas Duke of Clarence Edward Duke of York c. many valiant Men who landed in Normandy where Orleans was to meet them but did not at the time appointed however they prosecuted their design and took many strong places and at length Orleans and Clarence meâ— and having settled their Affairs the English departed to their Winter Quarters in Aquitain Henry like a wise Prince designed to make use oâ— these Dissentions in France and exprest as much to the Archbishop of Canterbury saying Behold now is the acceptable time let us go into France and win with small adâ— that which is our right but being then labouring under a great Sickness he was by his Lords with much difficulty perswaded to the contrary and thus ended his Wars in France he himself dying soon after this last expedition under Clarence to wit on the 20th of March Anno 1412. Aged 46. when he had Reigned 13 Years and about 6 Months and was buried at Canterbury by his first Wife the Lady Mary Daughter to Bohun Earl of Essex he had issue four Sons Henry that succeded him Thomas Duke of Clarence John Duke of Bedford and Humphry Duke of Glocester of whom it was said they could not be distinguished for their excellency save that Henry was the Eldest He had also 2 Daughters Blanch Dutchess of Bavaria and Phillipa Queen of Denmark The causes of this War was first self-preservation and that the French assisted the Scots against England and had also sent 12000 Men to Owen Glendower a Brittish Prince who was up in Arms against the King but a few daies after they landed at Milford Haven they ran again back to their Ships HENRY V. COmmonly called Henry of Monmouth the eldest Son of Henry IV. proved a great Prince was a mirror of Magnanimity and stands to this day one of the greatest Ornaments of our English Chronicles he no sooner mounted the Throne but he had his Eye presently upon France for recovering his Royal Right to that Crown in order whereunto he alter'd in his Arms the bearing of Semy Deluces and quarter'd the 3 full Flower Deluces as France her self did bear them thereupon he sent the Duke of Exeter in a magnificent Embassy attended with 500 Horse to Paris to demand the Crown and receiving no satisfactory answer but rather a jeer the Dauphine sending King Henry a sackful of Racket Court-balls to employ his time he replied that for every one of those Balls he had so many fiery Bullets to bandy at the proudest Towers of France as he should quickly find and so he presently got over and encounter'd the French Army at Agen-Court the French King himself being at the head of it which he utterly overthrew and took more Prisoners then he had common Soldiers the battel was fought upon a Sunday Morning about the time of high Mass for having sent notice to England before that extraordinary prayers should be made in all Churches about ten a Clock in the Morning he stood upon the defensive part all the while till then but then making a moving oration to his whole Army and among other strains telling them how all England was praying for them at that very hour he obtained a most glorious and compleat Victory Besides that great Act of Piety another of Policy was us'd for the King to prevent the fury of the French Cavalry appointed divers stakes studded with Iron at both ends of about 6 foot long to be pitch'd behind the Archers and ordered that Pioners should attend to remove them as they should be directed which invention conduc'd much to the good success of the Action The King himself charged the Duke of Alanzon who being beaten off his Horse was slain there was also a great slaughter of all kind of French Prisoners because the number was so great that nothing could give assurance of safety but by making them away At length after many wonderful Feats and Successes performed especially by himself and noble Brothers the Dukes of Clarence Bedford and Glocester he was upon Articles agreed between him and Charles VI. then King of France made Regent of that Kingdom and proclaimed both there and in England Heir Apparent to the French Crown and did thereupon take Katherine the said Kings Daughter to Wife but the Dauphin afterwards Charles VII who judged himself much aggrieved hereby made a strong Party in the Kingdom and with a great Army laid Siege to the Town of Cosney which King Henry was so concerned at that he resolved to go in person to the raising of it but he was so eager and over-hasty in his March that he could reach no further then Senlis trusting to his Brother the Duke of Bedford's care in the prosecuting of that design who relieved the Town and obliged the Dauphine to retreat and there his Fever so increased upon him that he made his last Will and appointed his Jewels to be sold for the payment of his Debts and ordained his Brother the Duke of Bedford to be Regent of France and Normandy and so died at Vincennes leaving no issue but a young Son whose Education he left to the Cardinal of Winchester and the Government of England during his Minority to Humphrey Duke of Glocester being the year of our Lord 1422. Aged 38 and having Reigned 9 Years and odd Months he had the mortification to have his Brother Clarence slain with many fine Soldiers at the Siege of Bauge in Anjou before he died but
surnamed Ceur de Lion was the third Son of Henry the II. but the Eldest when his Father died aged 35 years when he began his Reign the former part whereof was spent by him in the Wars in the Holy-Land William Longshamp Bishop of Ely and Chancellor of England governing the Kingdom during his absence in this War he signalized his Valour to a wonder having first taken Cyprus in his way thither and at Acon in Syria so behaved himself that he became an object of Envy to other Christian Princes especially to King Phillip of France as you shall see hereafter where ever he went Terror was his forerunner insomuch that it grew common amongst those Eastern People to terrifie their Children with the apprehension of King Richard's coming in his return being driven upon the Coast of Dalmatia and thinking to pass home by Land incognito he was made Prisoner by the Duke of Austria who brought him to the Emperor Henry and was detained by him in Custody for a Year and five Months till he paid a great Ransom his unparallell'd Valour and Bravery was the occasion of this misfortune these and other Princes bearing him Envy especially the French King who invades Normandy during his absence which obliged Richard to make a Peace with Saladine for Three Years much to the disadvantage of the cause they fought for Phillip attacked Gisors and had it surrendred to him and many other Places and then hasted to lay Siege to Roan but found such a vigorous defence made by the Valiant and Noble Earl of Leicester that he was forced to quit his Enterprize and so returned into France On the 12th of March 1194. King Richard landed at Sandwich was recrowned again reduced the Kingdom entirely to his Obedience which was much divided because of his Brother John's pretentions in his absence and hearing the King of France had besieged Vernail he passed over into Normandy and arrived at Harfleur with 100 Ships full of Horsemen Armour c. the noise whereof so frighted the Monsieur that he left the Siege and went his ways whereupon Richard enters the French Dominions takes in several strong Places but the Noble Leicester had the misfortune to be taken Prisoner who afterward paid a great summ of Money for his Ransom and soon after ensued a Truce for a short time which was no sooner ended but Richard takes the Field possesses himself of the Castle of Brisen Novencourt c. the French King in the mean time besieging Albermarl whither Richard hastening to succour the Place a sharp Battle was fought between both Armies wherein the French prevailed chiefly upon the account of the English being wearied with their hard March But Richard had no sooner recruited and refreshed his Soldiers but he laid Siege to Miligio took it and burnt it down to the Ground whereupon ensued some overtures of Peace Albemarl in the mean time falling into the French hands and ran the same fate with Miligio Some three Years after Richard turned his Arms against the Barons of Poictiers that rebelled against him with prosperous success till at last besieging the Castle of Chaluz and having brought it to that extremity that he would grant no other Conditions but a surrender at Discretion he was shot in the left Arm out of a Cross-bow with an invenomed Dart by one Bartram de Gordon of which wound he died the 6th of April 1199. after he had reigned Nine Years and Nine Months and was buried at Fonteverard at his Fathers Feet The Causes were that while Richard went on so prosperously in the Holy Land the French King out of Envy and contrary to his Sacramental Oath invaded Normandy which forc'd King Richard to make peace with Saladine so much disadvantagious to all Christendom JOHN THe Brother of Richard who died without issue and youngest Son of Henry the II. succeeded his Brother to the prejudice of Arthur Geoffrey his Elder Brothers Son who was the real heir of Course This Arthur in right of his Mother was Earl of Bretagne in France so that by this exclusion England lost one of the best Provinces in that Kingdom and by advancing John to the Throne we not only lost almost all our Possessions in France but England it self became vassal to the Pope the Clergy of those times growing strangely bigotted to Rome and perverse to the King King John was in Normandy when his Brother dyed and though he wasted over into England with all possible speed to take Possession of the Crown and that his presence was so necessary here for to keep his new Subjects in their Obedience to him yet he could make no long stay for before a Year came about he was forced to return into Normandy again upon information that Phillip King of France had with a powerful Army made an irruption into Normandy who took the Country of Main and several other places from the English the Britons at the same time possessing themselves of the City of Angiers the Towns of Gorney Butenant and Gensoline Arthur doing also Homage to King Phillip for Anjou Poictiers Turain Main Bretaign and Normandy but soon after a Peace was concluded between the Kings and thereby many places confirmed to the French King that he had taken and others yielded up by John upon the account of his neece Blanch's Marriage with Lewis heir of France besides 30000 Marks in Silver paid to Phillip and all this to the great dishonour as well as detriment of the English Nation About two Years after this to wit the third of the Kings Reign one Hugo Brune a Noble Man of Aquitain raised a Rebellion against King John in that Province but he and his Adherents being unable to withstand John's Forces made complaint of him to Phillip of France whereupon he was summoned by the Nobles of France as Duke or Earl of Aquitain and Anjou to appear before the French King and to stand to the Judgment of his Peers which he refused upon which the Court adjudged him to be deprived of all his Lands which he or his Predecessors held of the King of France King Phillip forthwith raises a great Army invades Normandy takes in many Castles and a great part of the Country without resistance but Arthur Duke of Bretaign besieging the Castle of Mirable with Queen Eleanor then in it King John fell upon him there with such Force and Fury that he routed his Army and took Arthur and many others of Note Prisoners Arthur sometime after was sent Prisoner to the Tower of Roan and was there barbarously Murdered some said by King John's own hands but in all this time Phillip prospered in so much that in a very short space King John was in a manner despoiled of all the Lands he held in Fee of the Crown of France King John once and again made great preparations to recover his lost Dominions and had the good success to destroy the French Fleet and recover the Province of Poictou but his Domestick troubles both
from his Barons and Clergy prevented his further designs yet about the 15th Year of his Reign having entred into a strong confederacy with other Foreign Princes he set sail for Bretaign and laid Siege to Nantes where a bloody Battle was fought the French King being once in great danger of his Life but at length proved victorious and took many Prisoners whereof of Note were the Earls of Brabant Holland Flanders and Bolloign the Emperor who was also at the Battle being driven out of the Field and 6000 marks on the King of Englands part was the purchase of a Truce for Five Years Commotions in England soon followed upon the neck of this and for male-Administration in so much that aâ— length Lewis the Dauphine was invited over by the Barons to take upon him the Crown of England who came accordingly with little opposition but being soon after displeased with their new King they resolved to cast him off and so he was fain at last to depart from whence he came This was an unhappy Reign but memorable for Magna Charta and for building of London Bridge of Stone This King dyed at Lyn as he was marching with his Army to Fight the Dauphine when he had reigned Seventeen Years and about five Months and was Aged 51 Years Anno. 1216. The first ground of this War was That Phillip of France did infringe the Truce made with England for 5 Years and invaded Normandy Then another Truce being made he violated that also and still fomented the Barons Wars HENRY III. COmmonly called Henry of Winchester from his Birth Place succeeded his Father King John at the Age of Nine Years as next heir maugre all the attempts of Lewis the Dauphine of France whose Forces were defeated at Lincoln by the Kings Guardian and Brother-in-Law the famous Earl of Pembrook and so from that time forward things went worse and worse with him most places yielding by Land and his Fleet utterly destroyed by Sea by Hubert de Burg Eustace a Monk that commanded it being slain by Richard a Bastard Son of King John he yielded up his claim to the Crown and so returned with a glimmering of it into France Henry about the 14th Year of his Reign determined to make War upon France and to that purpose he assembled at Portsmouth all his Nobility Knights and such a vast number both of Horse and Foot as never was done by any of his predecessors designing to have recovered all those Territories his Father had lost but when they came to be Shipped they had not Carriages enough for half the Army which he imputed to the Treachery of Hugo de Burg his chief Justice and in a rage drawing his Sword would have killed him had it not been for the Earl of Chester that interposed the Earl of Bretaign who was present and bound by an Oath to conduct the King to his Country and others perswaded him to defer his Expedition for that Season and so his mighty Preparations for the present vanished But the Year following King Henry with a mighty Army sailed into Bretaign and after he had ravaged and committed great Spoil in the Country laid Siege to the City of Nantes but after the Consumption of a vast Treasure and the loss of many Men by sickness and otherwise returned into England the same Year but set all things first in order for the Conservation of the Country of Bretaign The French making use of the Opportunity of the King's absence took the City of Rochel and so pushing on their Conquest reduced the whole Province of Poictiers to their obedience which King John his Father had Conquered whereat Henry being nettled prepared for another mighty Expedition but with the same fatal success as before For after several Bickerings wherein were lost many of his Men he made a Peace and returned re infecta but recovered at last the Province of Aquitain The later part of his Reign was so taken up with intestine Broils in the Barons Wars wherein sometimes he was worsted and imprisoned sometimes prevailed against his Enemies that he had no leasure to look after his Territories abroad and call the French to an Account for them till at last after he had lived 65 Years and of them Reigned 56 and odd Days and lavished away an immense Treasure he resigned his Breath to him that gave it at Edmundsbury in Suffolk was buried at Westminster Anno. 1272 and was happy in nothing so much as in the hopes of his eldest son Edward 1. One Cause of his Wars with France was that the French assisted the Scots against him 2. Another was the Recovery of those Towns and Provinces the French unjustly took from him and his Ancestors EDWARD I. SUrnamed â—ong-shanks the Son of Henry was in the Holy Land with Eleanor his Wife when the Crown fell to him being then about 33 Years old He began his Reign the 16th oâ— November and arrived with his Queen in England the 15 of Aug. following being in the Year 1273 He proved a warlike wise and victorious Prince and may justly be stiled The best Law-giver He made several Expeditions against Wales and Scotland the latter became Tributary to him and the former he reduced entirely under the Obedience of the Crown of England and has so continued to this day but the Stratagem he used for to satisfy those unruly Spirits and keep theâ— in Subjection may be worthy of observation Having about the 12th Year of his Reign reduced all Wales and by a Statute made at Ruthyn incorporated and annext it to the Crown of England but finding he could not win the good will of the People unless he would engage to reside amongst them or allow them a Prince of their own Nation to govern them and that after several Conferences no English Deputies would do but that they were content to submit to any Man he should name provided he were a Welchman at length he privily sends for his Queen then big with Child and caused her to remain at Carnarvaâ— Castle where she was brought to bed of a Son at which time he sends for the Barons and chief Men of Wales to come to him to Ruthyn to deliberate about the affairs of the Country and when they came he told them he had now occasion to go out of that Country but before he went he was determined to name them a Prince if they promised to obey him they replyed They would proviâ—â—d he were one of their own Nation wherefore 〈◊〉 King rejoined he would name one born in 〈◊〉 m and that could speak never a word of â—â—glish and who was of unspotted Life and Conâ—â— Csation and when all was agreed to he namâ—d his Son Edward born as aforesaid But notwithstanding this King had so much to do with Wales and Scotland yet he was no ways â—egligent of his Affairs and Interest in France 〈◊〉 as soon as he had any leasure which was 〈◊〉 the 22d Year of his Reign first like a wise
himself for not delivering of St. Quinâ—â— alleadging that if he had done it he could â—â—ve done him no further service in the Kingâ—om of France but added that seeing the King 〈◊〉 England was come over in Person he would 〈◊〉 the future do whatever the Duke should comâ—and him and gave him his Faith in Writing he â—ould serve him and his Confederates to the utâ—ost of his Power against all Opponents whatsoâ—â—er the Duke delivers the Constables Letter to the King adding some things thereto of his own head as that the Constable would certainly dâ—liver up St. Quintin and all other places in 〈◊〉 Power as soon as ever he came before them which the King willing to believe marches tâ—gether with the Duke forthwith from Peronne tâ—wards St. Quintin the English expecting to be â—â—ceived with ringing of Bells approached thâ— Town in a careless manner but had a quite contrary entertainment for they from the Towâ— fired their Cannon upon them and withâ—â—â— made a Sally both with Horse and Foot wherâ—in some English were slain and others taken Prâ—soners This double dealing both of the Constable anâ— Duke made the King the more readily hearkâ—â— to the Overtures of Peace that the French Kinâ— offered him wherefore in a Village near Amiâ—â— Commissioners for both Kings met whereof 〈◊〉 France were the Bastard of Bourbon Admiral 〈◊〉 Lord St. Peter and Bishop of Eureux and for Eâ—â—land the Lord Howard one Chalanger and Doctâ—â— Morton where it was agreed the French Kiâ—â— should pay the King of England presently befoâ—â— his departure out of France Seventy Two Thoâ—sand Crowns towards the expence of the Engâ—â—â—â— Army and 50000 Crowns a year for ever 〈◊〉 that the Dauphine should marry King Edwards â—â—dest Daughter and have the Dutchy of Guien 〈◊〉 her maintenance but at the King's return 〈◊〉 English Barons held it to be an inglorious Peâ—â—â— though 't was said to be made by the Holy Ghâ—â—â— â—or a Dove was seen to be often on King Edward's â—ent during the Treaty But the last Article was never performed for the Dauphine was afterward married to Margaret Daughter to Maximiâ—an Archduke of Austria so much to the disappointment and sorrow of King Edward that he â—ell sick upon it as Comines saies and departed â—his life at Westminster the 9th of April at the Age of 41. when he had Reigned 22 Years and â—bout one Month Anno 1483. and was buried at Windsor where before he had provided him a â—esting place this King had three Concubines whereof Jane Shoar was one of whom he would say one was the Merriest another the Wiliest and the third the Holyest Harlot in his Realm The cause of this War was a defection of the French from their Loyalty to England in Conjuction with the assistances they gave Queen Margaret and the Earl of Warwick against King Edward EDWARD V. ELdest Son of King Edward IV. was not above 12 years of Age when his Father died during this Kings short Reign if it may be called 〈◊〉 there was neither nor well could be any war 〈◊〉 act of Hostility that we read between Engâ—â—nd and France for it was but three Months that he reigned for Richard Duke of Glocester his Unkle knowing how easie a step it was from the place of a Protector and first Prince of the Blood to the Crown turned every stone to get the the Protectorship from the Lord Rivers the King's Unkle by the Mother side and having compassed it his next business was to get Prince Richard the King's Brother into his Clutches also whom the Queen Mother was fain to part with in great arfliction and struggling of Nature for she delivered him up as it were for Execution and the Protector who was resolved to make both him and the King a victim to his ambition looks upon the two young Princes from that very time as two Birds in a Cage that should not be long-lived but to blind the People he forthwith gave orders for the King's Coronation whilst he secretly contrived with the Duke of Buckingham his great Coajutor in his cursed designs to fix the Crown upon his own head Buckingham with his Artifices forced in a manner the City to a compliance which nolens volens was at last forced to proclaim Richard King of England the Duke pretending that all the late Kings issue were Bastards and the Protector only true heir to the Crown who when it was offered unto him by the Duke in the name of the City refused it with a counterfeit angry Countenance but when his Privado making himself the mouth of the Assembly said that if his Grace would not accept of the Crown they would find one that should then he was pleased to take it upon him as his right RICHARD III. WAs youngest Brother to Edward IV. of whom 't was said he was born with Teeth in his Head and Hair on his Shoulders At his first coming to the Crown he took his Seat in the Court of King's Bench where like a gracious Prince he pronounced Pardon of all offences committed against him to insinuate thereby to the People what a blessed Reign this was like to be but he spared not the two young Princes then in the Tower but they were by his Order stiffled in their Beds this reign was so troublesom at home that Richard though a warlike Prince in himself had not leasure to mind his affairs abroad for the Duke of Buckingham the great instrument of all his Villanies whether through the horrour of the said Murder or some other resentment did most certainly from that time project his ruine who had been the chief instrument of his elevation there was then at the Court of the Duke of Bretaign in France Henry Earl of Richmond the next heir to the House of Lancaster whose advancement to the Crown Buckingham and others resolved upon with proviso that Henry should consent to marry the Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter to Edward IV. whereby the Houses of York and Lancaster should be united into one but before the Plot took effect the Duke was taken and lost his Head without any form of Tryal or any regard had to his former Service Richmond lands at Milford Haven in Wales but with 200 men from whence advancing forwards by dayly reinforcements made up a body of 5000 men with whom he incountred K. Richard at Bosworth in Leicestershire being Aug. 12. 1485. The fight was very sharp but successful to Henry who carried the day and with it the Crown of England for there Richard was slain after he had acted the part of a great Captain and most valiant Soldier and so ended his bloody and short Reign which was but two years two Months and odd days but however to his praise it must be said that during his Reign he procured many good Laws for the ease of his People and omitted nothing that might tend to the honour of the English Nation HENRY VII BOrn in Pembrocke Castle in Wales succeeded next
to Richard upon Bosworth Battle and assumed the Crown as heir of the House of Lancaster by his Mother side Margaret Countess of Richmond then alive and lived many years after daughter and heir of John de Beauford Duke of Sommerset Son of John Earl of Summerset Son of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster by Jane Swinford but born before Wedlock though afterward legitimated by Act of Parliament yet with a Proviso of not being capable to inherit the Crown his Father was Edmund Tewdor Son of Owen Tewdor descended as 't was said from Cadwallader the last Brittish King so that here was but a very slender Title in so much that Henry according to a former compact was necessitated for the strengthning of it to take Elizabeth eldest daughter to Edward the IV. to Wife and Heir to the House of York to whom he proved no very indulgent Husband tho she wanted no attractive accomplishments but his aversion to the house of York was so predominant that it found place not only in his Wars and Council but in his Chamber and Bed but his assuming of the Crown first in his own name and afterwards never making use of hers either in his Coins Proclamations or any Administrations spun him out a Thread of many Seditions and Troubles at home and might perhaps divert him from great undertakings abroad for he was a Prince that wanted neither Wisdom nor Courage however it was in his time that the Dutchy or Bretaign was annext to the Crown of France which it was in his power to have prevented and indeed herein he seemed to be outwitted by Charles the French King who by his Artifices engaged King Henry to be a mediator between him and the Duke of Bretaign while he with his Forces besieges Nantes and routs the Dukes whole Army 't is true the Lord Woodville the Queen's Uncle secretly stole over into Bretaign with a small band of Men from the Isle of Wight which action exposed the English Ambassadors who then mediated a Peace to no small Danger but the reinforcement was so inconsiderable as to do the Britons no great service But the Battle of St. Alban aforementioned wherein the Britons were overthrown with the loss of 6000 or their Men and the Duke of Orleans who sided with them with the Prince of Orange taken Prisoners allarmed King Henry in such sort that he forthwith dispatcht succors into Bretaign under the command of Robert Lord Brook to the number of Eight Thousand choise Men who quickly joined the remainder of the Britons Forces and marched towards the Enemy who though flush'd with their late Victory well knowing the English Courage kept themselves within their Trenches and declined Battle but in the mean time took all advantages upon our Men with their light Horse though they commonly came off with loss especially by means of the English Archers But while these things were thus transacting Francis Duke of Bretaign dies whereupon the principal Persons of that Dutchy partly bought and partly through faction put all things into such confusion that the English finding no Head nor Body to join forces with and being jealous of their Friends as well as in danger of their Enemies upon the approach of Winter returned home five Months after their landing At this time Archduke Maximilian Son to the Emperor Frederick was Govâ—â—nor of Flanders and in treaty of Marriage with Anne Heiress of Bretaign when 〈◊〉 happened a Rebellion at Bruges which was carryed on by the Lord Ravenstein who seized upon Ipre and Sluce and sent to the Lord Corde's French Governor of Picardy infamous in History for that saying he could be content to lie in Hell Seven Years so he might win Calais from the English for aid who as being before provided immediately besieges Dixmude whereat the King of England being displeased sends forthwith the Lord Morley with a 1000 Men to the Governour of Calais and with an addition of a 1000 more from thence had order but under pretence of securing the English Pale about that City to put themselves into Dixmude which in conjunction with some Germanâ— they effected undiscovered and so with the Garrison attacked the Enemies Camp with that Resolution and Bravery that after a bloody and obstinate Fight they beat them out of it with the loss of about 8000 Men but on the English parâ—not above an 100 Men and among them the Lord Morley The Cannon and Baggage fell also into their hands with which they marcheâ— to Newport from whence the Lord Daubigny returned to his Government of Calais leaving thâ— Wounded and some other Voluntiers there Cordes having intelligence hereof departs immediately from Ipre with a great force and attack Newport and had carried the principal fort 〈◊〉 the Town when fortunately there arrived in the Haven a reinforcement of English Archers who beat him out of it again whereat he became so discouraged that he raised his Siege which accidents tended to an open Rupture between the two Crowns Hereupon King Henry advises Maximilian to press on his Marriage with Anne of Bretaign which he did accordingly insomuch that the marriage was consummate by Proxy the Lady put to Bed and Maximilian's Embassador with Letters of Procuration in the presence of many noble Personages putting his naked Legg between the Espousall sheets Maximilian thinking all things now sure neglected for a time his further proceeding and intended his Wars in the mean while the French King consulting his Divines got them to declare this way of consumâ—ation invalid so as they made sport of it in France saying That it was an argument Maximilian was a Widower and a cold Wooer that could content himself to be a Bride-groom by a Deputie and would not make a little Journey 〈◊〉 put all out of question and easily by Emissaâ—ies whereof he had store about her prevailed â—pon the young Lady to consent to become his â—ife who was a young King and a Batchellor Which procedure and artifice of France distasted 〈◊〉 Henry that he caused his Cancellor to tell 〈◊〉 French Embassadors who were sent to sooth 〈◊〉 up upon this occasion that he was resolâ—ed to recover his right to Normandy Gutien Anjou and to the Kingdom of France it self unless the French King were content to have King Henry's Title to France at least tribute for the same handled in a Treaty Maximilian and with good reason storms more then any body at this perfidious dealing of France sends forthwith Embassadors both to England and Spain to incite them to enter into an offensive League against France promising to concur with considerable forces oâ— his own hereupon Henry calls a Parliament gets plentiful supplies and raises a puissant Army in which were many noble personages and over whom he makes Jasper Duke of Bedford and John Earl of Oxford Generals under his own person and on the 9th of September in the 8th year of his Reign departs towards the Sea Coast October 6th he imbarked at Sandwich and the
Life as to Forreign Affairs for he died not long after to wit in the Year 1547. the Fifty Sixth of his Life and of his Reign the Eight and Thirtieth The causes of this War with France were partly reasons of State and partly the League which King Henry had made with the Emperor EDWARD VI. BOrn at Hampton Court succeeded his Father King Henry VIII at the Age of nine Years a most excellent Prince and the wonder of the the Age both for Learning and Piety but England did not long enjoy the fruit of the Blessings coutched in his Person his Reign being shortned by an immature Death as it had been in a great measure rendred uneasie through the Feuds of the Nobles during his Life this together with the Reformation carried on at home made the Enemy insult abroad insomuch that the French assumed the boldness in Conjunction with the Scots to attack us in our own Borders for in the second year of this King's Reign on St. Peter's Eve Monsieur Dassey the French General with 10000 French and Germans besides Scots laid siege to Haddington a Town in Scotland but then in the hands of the English the Town made a most vigorous defence and at length came 1300 Horse from Berwick with intent to relieve it but failed in the attempt for most of the Horse being surrounded by the Enemy were either slain or made Prisoners together with Sir Robert Bowes and Sir Thomas Palmer their Commanders but for all this great discouragement and misfortune the Garrison would not flinch but continued making frequent and successfull Sallies upon the Enemy till Aug. 20. when the Earl of Shrewsbury with 16000 Men 4000 whereof were Germans came to succour the Place the Enemy had no sooner intelligence thereof but they marched away with all speed but first highly applauded the bravery of the Garrison the Earl revictualled the place for that time and then returned tho it was thought afterwards convenient to demolish it which was accordingly performed the 20th of September following by the Earl of Rutland The Year following i.e. the 3d. of the Kings reign it came to an open rupture between England and France the French thinking to surprise Jersey and Guernsey came suddenly with many Gallies upon our Fleet there but were received with that Resolution and Bravery that they were forced to flee with great loss both of Men and Shipping News came to the King and Protector Aug. 28th that the French had taken Blackness Hamiltoun and Newhaven near Bulloign by the means of one Sturton as 't was said a natural Son of the Lord Sturton who betrayed this last place into the Hands of the Enemy and took service himself in the French Army hereupon the Captain of Bulloign Bark fearing the consequence after he had conveyed the Stores and Ordinance to the High Town blew up the Fort the French made all possible preparations to attack the Place and for the more vigorous carrying on of the Siege and encouragement of the Soldiers the French King comes before Bulloign in Person where were many famous exploits done both by the Assailants and Defendants but the brave Sir Nicholas Arnold who was Governor began and continued to make so prudent as well as brave resistance that the French were constrained at last to quit their Enterprize and hereupon were made some overtures of Peace which at last was concluded and wherein it was agreed that Bolloign should be delivered up to the French upon condition there should be a reservation of King Edward's Title to the Crown of France and due payment made unto him of 500000 Crowns This King being about Sixteen Years Old died at Greenwich July 6th having reigned Six Years and about Five Months The cause of this War was the King's Minority and Feuds at home whereof the French thought to take advantage MARY ELdest Daughter to King Henry VIII by Q. Katherine of Spain succeeded her Brother Edward Anno 1553. pursuant to their Father's Will though contrary to her Brothers who left the Lady Jane Grey his Successor and after some small opposition by the foresaid Lady's Party more especially the Duke of Northumberland her Husbands Father got peaceable possession of the Throne and was crowned at Westminster the last of April in great State and Magnificence the former part of her Reign which in all was but short was much taken up in restoring Popery and the papal Power in her Dominions which she effected in a great measure through the shedding of much innocent Blood which has left a bitter stain upon her Memory in the Records of time as well for her Cruelty as Superstition tho Authors generally represent her to be a Princes of her self Compassionate and good natur'd she was married to Phillip King of Spain on St. James day in the second year of her Reign and this marriage engaged her about the fifth year of her Reign in a War with France for King Phillip passing over to Calais and so to Flanders made great preparations against the French King and was assisted therein with a Thousand English Horse Four Thousand Foot and 2000 Pioneers whereof the Earl of Pembrock was General with this reinforcement King Phillip directs his March to St. Quintin and after a sharp Siege takes the place the English of whom the Lord Henry Dudley who first advanced the Standard upon the Wall was here slain doing him mighty service herein which the King generously rewarded with the spoils of the Town but this Action may be truly said to have been fatal to England in regard 't was the principal cause of the loss of Calais for while the greatest part of that Garrison was imployed in the foresaid Siege and before Calais was reinforced having then but 500 men in it the Duke of Guise with a Powerful Army advances towards it entrenches himself at Sand-gate sent one detatchment along the Downs towards Risebank and anotherb to Newnem-Bridge he soon possesses himself of oth for the few Soldiers that guarded them had fled secretly into the Town the next day they raised a Battery from the Hills of Rise-Bank against the Walls of Calais between the Water-gate and the Prison and continuing the same for three days made a small breach by which they could not well enter neither was it so designed for while the English were busie in the defence of this place the French making their way through the Ditch which was full of Water entred the Castle designing thence to pass into the Town but here the brave Sir Anthony Hagar withstood them and stopped their further progress though to the loss of his own life For there was not a man besides killed during the Siege till the Governour the Lord Wenthworth that same Evening which was the fifth of January considering succours far the Enemies nigh approach and the weakness of the Garrison thought fit to capitulate and so it was agreed the Town with the Ammunition and Artillery should be delivered to the French the
Treaty of Peace they were forced to restore all to the English again but they left St. Christophers in so pittiful a plight by destroying all the Plantations that it seemed in a manner to be as much a Wilderness as when first the English took footing in it About Seven Years after things veer'd about the French joining with the English against the Dutch in a second Dutch War during this Reign and here a late learned Author has observed that as the English were so succesful in the former War against both and the Dane to boot and were never beaten but once and that when the Fleet was divided so in this the English in all the Fights they had which were Four came off with more loss then the Dutch but the truth of it is the French only came out to learn to fight both in the one and the other War for they stood still looking on or firing at a very great distance while the English and Dutch battered one another and Monsieur de Martel for falling on and engaging bravely was recalled check'd and dismissed his imploy in so much that the Parliament who began to smell the French designs moved November the 4th 1673. that the Allyance with France was a Grievance and so a Peace was concluded with the States and our King sets up for a Mediator at Nimeguen between the French and Dutch with their Confederates and in the mean time having got considerable supplies from his Parliament raises Forces for the French King had during this Navall War possessed himself of a great part of Flanders and the Territories of the States but before a Peace was shuffled up or at leastwise before the Prince of Orange knew or would know of its being concluded the Prince not staying for Eight Thousand English that were on their march to join him did with the assistance only of Ten Thousand English under the command of the Duke of Monmouth and Earl of Ossery storm the Duke of Luxemburg's Camp fortified with all Imaginable Art before Monts with that resolution and bravery that he beat him out of it and relieved the place and this was the last act of Hostility between England and France of any kind during this Reign this King afterwards instead of putting a stop to the growing greatness of that Kingdom fell in more and more with the interest of it and the Nation during the latter part of his Reign was almost rent to pieces with the Parties of Whig and Tory which are but too much felt to this day and he himself at last died on the 6th of February 168 4-85 in the Fifty Fifth Year of his Age and the 37th of his Reign computing it from his Father's Death JAMES II. ONly Surviving Brother to Charles II. immediately assumed the English Crown of which notwithstanding the opposition made against him in the preceding Reign he got a peaceable possession but had not been long invested with the regal Dignity when the Earl of Argyle landing in Scotland and the Duke of Monmouth in the West of England put him in no small danger of losing that he had so lately attained but this storm blew over and ended in the Execution of both the aforesaid Chiefs with a multitude of their followers and that in a very barbarous manner which execution as it drew no small emulation upon his Person so the success egged him on with so much violence in the pursuits of his designs for the advancing of the Papal Power in these Kingdoms that it made the Subjects now in danger of the loss both of their Religion and Civil Properties have recourse for relief to that Prince who has since so worthily filled the Abdicated Throne and who then readily embraced their Quarrel and in the most perillous season of the Year with an Army from Holland landed at Torbay Novemb. 5th 1688. a day and year memorable in the Annals of time for the English deliverance and having wished success was the 13th of February following with his Princess Proclaimed King and Queen of England c. King James having sometime before withdrawn himself into France with whom he was so far from having any Wars during his absent four Years Reign that he entred into a stricter Alliance with that Crown but since his present Majesty's ascending of the Throne what traverses of War there have been between England and France by Sea and Land and what the Causes of them were consists in the following Pages WILLIAM III. UPon King James's withdrawing himself out of the Kingdom and retiring into France in consideration the French had committed many Hostilities in the Palatinate on the Rhine and on the Frontiers of Flanders and assisted the Irish in Rebellion with considerable Naval and Land Forces a War was Proclaimed and the King of England entered into a strict confederacy against the French King with Brandenburgh Spain and the United Provinces c. to hinder the Excessive Power and growing Greatness of France from Insulting over the Neighbouring Princes and Forces were sent over under the Command of the Earl of Marlborough and others who gained considerable advantages over the French Parties But as yet the greatest Scene of War on our Part was in Ireland where the Earl of Tyrconnel had declared for King James and put most of the Irish Papists especially in Arms stopping the Ports and hindering the Escape of many English nor was it long e'er King James Landed there with a great many French Officers and Soldiers so that most of the Principal Places in that Kingdom fell into his Hands A Party of the Iniskilling Men and London-Derry being almost all the Loyal English held in Ireland and these two acted wonders and in fine baffled the Enemies Power for the former gained in several signal advantages in the Field and the latter the Town being commanded in chief by one Mr. Walker a Minister a very valiant Man though enduring the Extremity of Famine that no unclean thing was left uneaten held out a Siege of 105 days Killing a great number of the Enemy in Salleys and from the Wall whose Army against it was at least 40000 so that the Besieged being relieved with Provisions by the way of the River the Besiegers despairing of success drew off and were pursued loosing a great many Men and some Cannon Tents and Ammunition in the Retreat On the 13th of August 1689. the Duke of Schomberg with a fair Army from England Landed at Carickfergus whereupon the Garison of Antrim deserted and Carickfergus after a short Battery surrendred the Garison being only allowed to march out without Baggage to the next Garison and that Winter the Duke Encamped after reducing some other Places on the Plains of Dundalk whose unhealthy Air and Dampness destroyed abundance of our Men yet in that Season Parties were daily out took some Places and got great Advantage over the Enemies Parties in the Field In 1690. The King with a Royal Army set forward and landed the fifteenth