THE PRESENT VVARRE PARALLEL'D OR A briefe Relation of the five yeares Civil Warres of HENRY the Third King of England with the Event and Issue of that unnaturall Warre and by what course the Kingdome was then setled againe Extracted out of the most Authenticke Historians and Records Vt prospicias futura respicias praeterita The most probable way to know what will be is to observe what hath beene Qui respicit quae fuerunt inspicit quae sunt prospicit etiam quae futura sunt The Historian by running backe to Ages past and then forward to present Affaires comparing one with the other can give a verdict of the State well neere Prophetick Printed in the yeare 1647. THE PRESENT WARRE PARALLEL'D OR A briefe Relation of the 5. yeares Civil Warres of HENRY the third King of England with the event and issue of that unnaturall Warre and by what course the Kingdome was then setled againe HENRY the Third of that Name a man more pious then prudent a better man then King swayed the Scepter of this Kingdome 56. yeares The former part of his Reigne was very calme the latter as tempestuous The main tempest was thus raised The King for many years during that high calme had sequestred himselfe wholly to his harmlesse sports and recreations and intrusted the whole managery of the State to his officers and ministers These taking advantage of his Majesties carelessenesse the maine fault of this King insensibly suck't and drayned the revenues of Crowne and Kingdome till the King awakened by extreame necessitie began to enquire not how he came in for his necessities would not permit that but how he might get out The best way that his evill Counsellors could find to releeve their Master and save themselves was the ordinary way of supply in Parliament declined to have recourse to Monopolies Patents and other extraordinary and illegall Taxations But praeter-naturall courses are never long-lived the free-borne English would not long endure such slavery When the King saw there was no other remedy hee throwes himselfe into the bosome of his people for reliefe and advise in * Parliament * where they undutifully taking advantage of his Majesties extremities instead of reliefe outbrave him publiquely with a * Catalogue of all the mistakes and all the mis-fortunes of his former government which comming to the peoples eares soon stole away their hearts and alienated their affections from their Soveraigne and left him wholly to the mercy and will of his Parliament They sensible hereof and that the reines of Government were now cast upon their necks like Apollo's Horses when Phaeton had the driving of them ran violent by-courses till they set the whole kingdome on fire So far they went as to make an Ordinance That whereas there was present want of a through-reformation in the State the government thereof should be put into the hands of foure and twenty Qui Regiâ potestate suffulti who being armed with Soveraigne power should take upon them the whole care and government of the Kingdome should nominate and appoint the Chancellor Treasurer Chiefe Justices Governours of Forts Castles and Navie and all other great Officers and Ministers of State for all times to come To this traiterous Ordinance the King Metu incarcerationis perpetuae compulsus est consentire for feare of perpetuall imprisonment was inforced to give his Royall assent And for further security to be content to give it under the great Seale and upon Oath that whensoever he attempted to assume unto him his Regal power Lice at omnibus de Regno nostro contra nos insurgere ad gravamen nostrum opem operam dare ac si nobis in nullo tenerentur It should be lawfull for all his Subjects to rise against him and oppose him as if they owed no alleigeance to him Strange it is that he should be content to be a meere Cipher that so latâ—ly was the onely Figure of the whole Kingdome that hee should be content to part at once with every tittle of Soveraignty but the bare title But prodigious that so many choise Senators so many Fathers and Judges of Law and Conscience should so forget God and themselves as to give their assent for the totall subverting of the Regall authority when as they had all taken their corporall Oathes De terreno honore dicto Regi haeredibus ejus servando Which Oath was well kept saith mine Author Ordinando ne unquam regerent sed semper ab aliis regerentur by making an Ordinance that they should never rule againe but alwaies bee ruled by others These foure and twentie thus setled continue the Parliament during their pleasure put the Kingdome in a posture of defense place governors of their own choosing such as they could confide in in the cheife Forts nominate and appoint Judges of Assise Sheriffes of Counties Coroners Bailifes discharging those that were made by the King took an oath of them all respectively And here they would make the people believe they should never be troubled with licencious Soveraignty againe but never more as it proved for now every one of them began to value his owne worth and to hammer his head on every designe that might enlarge his owne power and command In briefe of so many subjects they became totidem Tyranni as the book of St. Albanes speakes so many Tyrants and for one bad King before they have foure and twenty worse But England like old Rome cannot long endure more Kings then one great faction and deadly feud arose between the chiefest of them which the rest taking into consideration and perceiving that by so many heads not onely Monarchy was dissolved but faction and debate every day increased upon them so wrought that all but five agreed that the foresaid Ordinance should be repealed and the King restored to his pristine power But those five Members stifly oppose this agreement and for the maintenance of their cause trahunt multos pseudoprophetas lupos in ovium vestimentis qui contra Christi Vicarios Christum Domini Regem ipsum murmurant non ut Spiritus Sanctus eloqui sed ut superioris potestatis contemptores obloqui dabant they drew to their side many lying Ministers Wolves in sheeps cloathing who murmure and speake evill against the Lords Anointed not as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance buâ— as the despisers of dignities gave them their lessons These Incendiaries by their sheeps clothing a faire conversation drew the people every where to side with them against the King and those that wishe the King his former power Which the King perceiving and how the multitude grew every day more and more tumultuous for all things were now caâ—â—â—ed by tumults was advised by his Privie Councell to withdraw himselfe least His person might be endangered from the Parliament then held at Westminster to His Castle at Windesor After some contestation at this distance it
goe themselves yet by force or feare were compelled to contribute towards the Armies against the King or the Prince also that those that were enforced to be plunderers or to aide and assist any plunder-masters and yet did returne to their habitations as soon as conveniently they could be all left In misericordiâ Domini Regis 13. That all those that wittingly bought any plundred goods restore the value of the goods and be In misericordiâ Domini Regis because they thereby have offended against the Law and done contrary to the Kings expresse command set for half a year before 14. That all those that at the Earles command went into Northampton yet never gave the Rebels their assistance or made any resistance but as soone as they perceived the King comming took Sanctuary provided that this be attested by the oathes of good and lawfull men likewise that those that owed no suite or service to the Earle and yet came upon his command be all fined halfe a years revenue of every one respectively but those that held of the Earle in Fee let them be onely In Misericordiâ Domini Regis 15 That impotent silly people and all such as did no mischiefe may enjoy their Estates as formerly and recover dammages at the Kings Bench against those that shall wrong them 16. That those that accuse any of their fellow subjects out of malice be punished at the Kings pleasure and that his Majestie thence forward do not easily give credit unto them And we judge that they deserve the same punishment as the accused if the accusation were true provided that they loose not life limbe or estate 17. That all such as are accused upon meere malice may still enjoy their estates and recover dammage against their accusers in the Kings Bench as above said 18 That all women injoy their owne inheritances and dowries But those lands that came by their husbands who have been against the King shall be redeemed by a fine according as his Majestie shall impose upon them c. 19 That all such as are acquitted so it be by those that have authority to acquit them remaine and stand in such a condition as they are put into and that all that have paid their fines shall not be responsable for dammages and trespasses committed by them upon those against whom they fought in the time of the late troubles but that all dammages and trespasses be forgiven on both sides provided that the Church may have her dues 20. That because it may be of dangerous consequence that any Castles should remaine in the power of those who were in actuall Rebellion against the King we therefore decree and ordaine that for the Castles of Hardley Bytham and Chertley there be given a reasonable exchange 21 As for the Earle Simon Monfort his Countesse and his sons we decree nothing because our Soveraigne Lord the King hath referred them and their offences to the King of France 22 As for the City of London taking notice it seems of their humble submission we commend it and doe make this motion to our Soveraigne Lord the King that by the advise of his Privie Councel he take order for reforming the state of the Citie and settle their Lands Revenues Buildings and Liberties and that this Order be presently debated 23 For the Lord Ferrers we decree that he be fined seven yeares revenues of all his estate 24 That all that now keepe Killingworth Castle be pardoned except Henry Hastings and those that had any hand in cutting off the Kings Messengers hand all which shall be fined seven yeares revenues of all their estates or else submit themselves to the Kings mercy 25 That all men whatsoever endeavour to keep the peace of the Kingdom that none presume to commit any outrages firings murders robberies or by any other meanes breake the Peace Which if any shal be so hardy as not to observe be thereof lawfully convicted let him have sentence according to the Lawes of the Land 26 Item that all whom it may concerne take their oathes upon the holy Gospel of God that they will never take any revenge be accessory or consenting to take any revenge nor will suffer as much as in them lyes that any revenge should be taken against any one for any injury suffered in the late times of trouble and if any one shall presume to revenge himselfe we decree that punishment be inflicted upon him in the Kings Bench Court 27 That the Holy Church receive full satisfaction from those that have injured her 28 But if there be any that will not submit to this Ordinance or refuse to be tried by their Peers before our Soveraigne Lord the King let them forfeit their estates for ever And if there be any that have gotten possession of the Rebels Lands and were himself a Rebel he is thereby uncapable of challenging any right to the Land or to have any title to the fine by the Kings Majesties gift 29 Whosoever will not submit to this Ordinance let him be accounted a profest enemy to our Soveraign Lord the King and to his Sons and to the whole Realme and let all the Laity and Clergie as far as the Canon Lawes and Common Lawes will reach prosecute such an one as an enemy to the peace of Church and State 30 Lastly that all those that are imprisoned or any way debarred of their Liberty upon reasonable and competent security shall haue their inlargement by putting in Sureties or such other way as the King hath allowed Dated and set forth from the Campe before Kenelworth the last day of September in the yeere of our Lord God 1266. and of the Reigne of the most renowned King HENRY Third 51. Thus endeth that Famous Ordinance called to this day Dictum de Kenelworth wherein are comprised the wisest rules that the wisest men of those times could possibly devise to uphold compose and recover a tottering distracted dying Kingdome About two Months after the publication of this Ordinance viz. upon Saint Thomas Eve the Castle was delivered up upon conditions too good for those that had so barbarously used the Kings Messenger contemned the King and impoverished the countrey to march away with their goods and to undergoe no fine for taking up Armes This Castle had the King bestowed upon the Earle of Leicester in franke marriage with his sister Elionor but when the Earle by his Rebellon had forfeited and the King had now won it he gave it to his own Sonne Edmund Earle of Lancaster who by this time had reduced the Isle of Axholme and all those rude ignorant people that flockt thither pillaging and plundering the Kings friends round about The Prince also met with Adam Gurdon a famous sturdy Rebell that lay lurking in Aulton Wood in Hampshire robbing and spoyling the adjacent parts Pracipuè terras corum qui parti Regiae adhaerebant the Prince upon his approach hearing of his valour sent him a Challenge for
was agreed upon by the King and his adherents and the five Members and their adherents that the difference should be referred to the French Kings arbitrement * The King of France upon the day of hearing gave sentence that the said Ordinance whereby the King was deprived of his regall power should be made null The five Members and their complices seeing this notwithstanding they had bound themselves by oath to stand to his award flew off and resolving to have their owne wills drew into arms made choice of the Earl of Leicester for their Generall and for their own private interest pretending the publick good drew the greatest part of the Kingdome after them * so easie it is to draw the fickle multitude to the wrong side crying every where at first Liberty and Religion though towards the end of the war not a word of either By their faire pretences they gained so far upon the Londoners that they generally enter into a Covenant to assist the Earle For which purpose besides a new Major or Bailiffe they chose two Commanders Thomas Pywelsden and Stephen Buckerell at whose command by the tolling of St. Pauls great bell they were to be in Armes upon any occasion Their first exploit was a march to Isleworth in a tumultuous manner where they plundered and fired the Kings brothers Mannour-house The Earls Army by this time on their march plundered all that were dis-affected to their cause and proceedings and imprisoned them * Especially those that stood any way affected to the Queen for they all but most of all the Londoners were most maliciously bent against her insomuch that as she was passing the Thames neer the Bridge a rude rabble of the City got together on the Bridge and with confused yellings cryed Drown the witch c. and by throwing dirt and stones at her drave her back which impious affront was punctually remembred in the first fight as you shall hear anon * Besides this main army under the Earle of Leicester they had another army under the command of the Lord Ferrers of whom descended the late Lord of Essex who behaved himselfe insolently towards the King in destroying his Parks as he marcht c. which in the conclusion cost him dear yet to delude the people the main Army bore before them the Kings Arms And to shew they were for the King when they had displaced the old Governours of the Kings Castles and Forts and placed in such as they could confide in they gave them an Oath to be true to the King and to keep those holds to the use and benefit of the King and State yet when the King demanded entrance at one of his Forts wherein they had placed a Governour he was kept out At Sea the Barons of the Cinque-ports seized the Kings Ships took great Prizes but they that sate at Stern upon Land shared in those Prizes as the fame then went By this time the King began to rouze himself and finding nothing now left him but a good Cause and the hearts of his wiser Subjects yet by that and these and the assistance of his Brother Richard King of the Romans in a short space he had raised a considerable Army A King can never be so down but he will rise againe with these he march't and like a snow-ball encreased by motion plundering the Rebels lands as he went to Northampton which was fortified against him by some of the cheifest of the Rebels yet by a furious assault he soon gained it Thence continuing his march into Sussex neer Lewes he received a Message from the Earle the tenour whereof was That as for his Majesty they intended no harm against him but only desired that he would remove his evill Counsellors that did advise his Majesty against them against the honour of the King and welfare of the Kingdom The King in his Answer charges them with Rebellion and disloyalty and commands them to lay down their armes and to return to their obedience that they might be received to mercie but the Earle rejecting the offer when Subjects have once broken their fealty and trust to their Soveraign they never dare trust their Soveraign againe resolves to give the King battell Neer Lewes both armies meet One wing of the Earls Army was made up of London Troops which the Prince being then Generall of the Kings horse observing and remembring not without indignation the abuse offered by the Londoners to the Queen his Mother he clapt spurs to his horse and all his Cavalrie after him crying Here here my brave Cavaliers are the main contrivers of all rebellions and mischief Now now if ever charge home and so fell on with that fury that they presently flie the Prince in an eager and hot pursuit does great execution upon them for four miles But this prosperous beginning of the fight on the Kings side was the utter overthrow of the Kings forces for when the Earle perceived that the Prince a young fiery spirit with all the Kings horse was gone so far in pursuit of the Londoners he fell violently on the Kings foot and soon routed them took the King his horse being slain under him prisoner The Prince at length retreating when he saw all lost surrendered himselfe There were taken in this fight besides those royall prisoners the King the Prince the Kings brother and his eldest Sonne above twenty Noblemen that were for the King and slaine about * 3400. The Earle having thus gotten a compleat victory forthwith endeavours to seize all the Militia and power of the Kingdom for which end he carries the King about with him to countenance his actions but the rest of the royall Prisoners he disposes in severall garrisons And now the Earle beleeves all his own and the people dream of nothing but Peace but alas the warre was not begun till now For when the torne remainder of the Loyal army that escaped at Lâ—wes now keeping garrison in Bristow and other noble spirits saw how insolently the Earle dealt with his and their Soveraign in barring him of his liberty c. They soon raised a considerable power under the command of Roger Mortimer Earle of March unto whom many flockt out of Shropshire Cheshire Herefordshire and Worcester that were well affected to the King Moreover the Queen who was a French woman got over beyond sea to trie her friends for their assistance to restore her Husband to his former libertie and authoritie Quod ad laudem magnificentiam Aelionora Anglorum Reginae libet intexere saith one of that Age quod Domino suo Edvardo filio tam strenuè tam virilitèr tanquam virago potentissima succurrendis fortitèr insudaverit But before these forces were well united the Rebels forces were as well divided for debate arising as is usuall in all confederations where all parties must be pleased or else the knot will dissolve between his Excellency the
a single Combate Gurdon accepts it and performed it so gallantly that the Prince assured him of his life and estate if he would submit which he did and was received into great favour with the Prince but divers of his men were there executed But now the Isle of Ely was strongly fortified by a great multitude got together that refused to submit to the Ordinance of Kenelworth Upon the naturall strength of this Isle and the plenty of all provision therein seditious Rebels have often presumed and from hence have molested more Kings then one as they did now the neighbouring Counties robbing and pillaging Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgeshire plundering the City of Norwich and carrying away the richest Citizens made them redeem themselves at length a message was sent unto them requiring them to submit to the Ordinance of Killingworth to leave off robbing their fellow subjects and to return to their alleigeance Hereto they return this insolent answer that they had taken up arms to defend the good of Church and State and therefore ought to be restored to their lands without paying any fine In briefe they require hostages into the Island and that they might hold it five yeers peaceably till they saw how the King would performe his promises perfidious subjects ever suspect their Princes fidelity which high insolency of theirs unheard of till our times so exasperates the King that he resolves to try the utmost to reduce them to their obedience for that purpose marches with a mighty Armie against them the Prince also joyns with a considerable power after many assaults at length after they had held it above two yeers by the helpe of new made bridges and boates they stormed it on every side that they were forced to yeeld And now men thought that the fire was quite out But there were yet some live embers which the Earle of Glocester upon some distaste blowing suddainly flamed out again in London where the Commons of the City forgetting their late punishment and as men saith mine author without dread of God or the King drew up in Arms again flock't to the Earle of Glocester plundered the well-affected to the King sequestred their estates brake the Prisons chose a new Mayor and Sheriffes made Bulwarks and Barbicans and forfeited the City wonderously and were so confident of their strength and cause that they durst bid the King battell appointing Houâ—sloe-heath for the field The King by a speedy march came to the place at the time appointed but they instead of meeting his Majesty ran about the Citie in a tumultuous manner Some to Westminster and there plundered the Kings Pallace fenestras ostia fregerunt saith Mat. Westm. vix manus à combustionâ— totius Palatii cohibentes brake the doores and windows hardly forbearing to set it all on fire Then the King removed his campe to the other side of the City and had his head-quarters at Straisord three miles off the Citie the rest of his Army lay at Ham a village hard by The wiser Citizens foreseeing the danger that hung over them desired a treaty with the King wherunto though they were most unworthy of so much clemency His Majesty was graciously pleased to condescend and upon these easie termes they were vain received to mercy Imprimis Salvo in omnibus aicto Killingworthi that the ordinance of Killingworth should be observed in all points then that the fortifications should be razed and the trenches filled up lastly that 1000. Marks dammages should be paid down to the Kings brother for his Mannour of Isleworth fiâ—â—d by them long before Also his Majesty for some yeares following choâ—â— the Mayor and Sheriffes himselfe but toward the latter end of his Reign being fully reconciled he restored them their often forfeited * Priviledges Thus after the Almighty whose judgements are unsearchable had suffered crafty seditious spirits to seduce a whole Nation to trample upon his Anointed and to tread his Honour in the very dust for a time yet at length all his enemies are clothed with shame and upon himselfe his Crown flourisheth again And now after this furious dreadfull Tempest after so many storms and showers of blood began a joyful long-expected Calm which that they might enjoy without any intervening of more stormes and for the better setling and quieting the Kingdome the King gives expresse command for the razing of divers in-land Castles as Farnham c. That so if another Rebellion should be begotten it might no where find a Nurse and then it could not be long lived Also for the more quiet and secure travelling of his Subjects he appoints a Captain in every County who with a Troop of Horse should alwaies assist the Sheriffe for the taking and punishing all stragling reliques of the late Armies and high-way robbers wherwith the Kingdome did abound at that time no place free from them In some places also Ruricolae saith Rishanger the Countrey people would generally rise against them as against Wolves or Beares and at one time they took and kill'd fifty of them that were got together neer St. Albans in Hartfordshire Besides the King Proclamari fecit contra pacem regni disturbantes set forth a Proclamation against all such as should any way disturbe the quiet of the Realm by plundering or stealing c. And that if any man should presume to steal but a Cow or a Sheep vel aliquid aliud saith mine Author he should surely be put to death These were the petty devises of that Age to pump and draine the huge sinke of the Kingdom but the Staple Policie was by a Forraign expedition like a wide â—uce to let out all the filth at once for which purpose therefore among others it was resolved upon that a great Army should be raised under the Command of the Prince for a voyage to Palestine And by this course especially did his Majesty soon spend the insolencies of his owne and the Rebels Souldiers made Lawlesse by the late unavoidable Liberty of Civill Armes And here was an end of this wasting groundlesse unnaturall War wherin the Subject having struggled and wrestled with Soveraigntie till they had wasted the Kingdom and wearied themselves at last are content to sit downe by the losse to let the King have his own Rights again and some of theirs according to the usuall event and issue of such imbroylements A Postscript OUt of this briefe Narration may be extracted somewhat for KING and Commons For the KING First for preventing Seditions and Rebellions then for setling a Kingdome after the Rebellion supprest For the first That he beware how hee entrust the Government of His Kingdome to others How he suffer His Favourites and great Officers of State to suck him into necessities and inthrall Him by indigency and be thereby drawne by extraordinary illegall Impositions and Taxes to vexe and alienate the hearts and affections of His Subjects and then as he must be constrained to flie to them for reliefe and
counsell in Parliament where he may then be sure he must be Subject to his Subjects and they will be kings over their King where Hee must be content to be lesse then he should be and the Subject will be more where he may be sure they will make advantage of his necessity and Hee must undergoe many hard censures and be vexed with undutifull demands before they will relieve him But whether they part with their money or not let the King take heed of ever parting with his Power Then after the heat and heart of a Rebellion be broken not to be severe against any lest the rest grow desperate Severity may blow up never blow out the flames of Rebellion Yet to shew some acts of Justice and power as well as grace and mercy not to use the extremity of Justice least he thereby renew the present rebellion yet to shew some Justice to prevent a future By a sweet mixture of mercy and justice the King shall at once both humble and oblige his delinquent Subjects By mercy in not taking the rigour of the Law by Justice in taking a part of the Law by this he shall humble them in taking so much by that he shall oblige them in taking no more Next to take speciall care in rewarding and cherishing and countenancing and remembring before others all those that stuck close unto him that by their persons or their purses shewed themselves really for him and without all fallacie loyall After this to prepare speedily for some Forraigne Expedition wherein to imploy all the late Active Spirits and working heads who will quickly make worke againe at home if they have not worke abroad Lastly to place some one as a Scavenger in every County to carry away the dreggs that are left behinde Such as will not beyond Sea cannot work and are ashamed to begg For the People this First that they suffer not themselves to be abused and mis-led into disloyalty by any ambitious unquiet cunning Spirits upon what pretences soever when Liberty Religion or any publique good is pretended then most of all to suspect their private ends Next that the people never get by this course but often loose their former ancient Liberties and Priviledges according to that observable though not observed Maxime EVERY REBELLION SUPPREST MAKES THE KING MORE KING AND THE SUBJECT MORE SUBJECT Lastly that taking Armes without Soveraigne Authority upon what pretences soever be they never so faire as for Religion or Libertie never so foolish as that it is not against the King but for the King is most abominable in the eyes of God and though it seem to prosper for a time yet most surely and severely is it punished in the end ending commonly in a generall impoverishment if not in the end of the people and some dreadfull Judgment upon the Contrivers My Sonne feare thou the LORD and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change For their Calamity shall rise suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both FINIS * Anciently called the wood oâ—mad Parliament or 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 styled 〈◊〉 Parliâ—mentum Fabian * Chron. Norwic * Like the Remonst of Decemb 15. 1641. Matth. Westm. Math. Paris Matth. Westm. Chron. orig. sub sigillo Nil nisi pro umbra nominis habebatur Matth. Westm. Matth. Westm. Regist. Rossen Matth. Westm. Preaching that Religion could never bee throughly reformed or the differeâ—es fully compeled sine gladio 〈…〉 and that all that 〈…〉 lose their lives in this cause were Martyrs 〈…〉 Chron. Dunst * Rishanger * Cotton Hollinsh * Rishanger For disswading the King to stand to the foresaid Ordinance of Parliament * Rishanger Dover Chron. Dunstan Cambdens observation in the case of Robert Earle of Essex Equites haec haec seditionum seclerumque omnium capita sunt nunc nunc fortiter adjicite tela * Southwell Rishanger * Rishanger Fabian Rishanger * Rishanger * This Lord Henry the Kings Nephew was a valiant Souldier and having found out the Lord Ferrers at Chesterfield gave him battel and overthrew him and because he had been pardoned once before it was decreed that he should be degraded and deprived of his Earledome for ever and fined fifty thousand pounds Dictum de Kenelworth About the end of October the King assembled all the Lords Spirituall Temporall and Knights of Shires to Northampton where this decree was confirmed by Act of Parliament The Barons of Cinque Ports seeing the King prosper made their peace with the King Rishanger Fabian * Then did the King command that Peace should be proclaimed all the Kingdome over which was received with joyfull acclamations So at a late Dyet or Parliament in Germany after they had undutifully strived with the Emperour and wasted the Empire it was concluded That all should be reduced to the same state as it was in the yeer 1618. Prov. 24. vers. 21.22