the Reignes of Twenty Five Kings THE Kingdom of Northumberland Extended very largly in the North of England containing Yorkshire Durham Lancashire Westmorland Cumberland and Northumberland Bounded on the North with the German Ocean on the West with the Irish Sea and part of Scotland on the South with Cheshire Derbyshire Notinghamshire and Lincolnshire abounding with Sea-Coale Mineralls Quarries of Stone Cattle Rivers stored with Salmon Trouts and other Fish Fat Pastures Fowl and abundance of Corn. Ida and Ella two Saxon Dukes first Modelled it into a Kingdom Anno Dom. 597 causing divers Towns to be Built that had been ruined in the Wars keeping strong Guards on their Borders to defend them against Encroachments yet after they had Reigned Fifteen Years finding themselves too weak to bandy against the Britains Picts and East Angles who greatly disturbed them in their Settlement to render them able to keep what they had Seized they sent for five German Captains who came with more Forces by which additional Strength the Kingdom was Established But about that time Ida Dying they Quarrelled with Ella for their Parts or Shares whereupon to prevent the effusion of Blood and rending it in pieces by Civil Dissention it was agreed they should Reign with him as Co-Parteners Anno Dom. 562. The Continuance of their Reigns were as followeth 2. Theadwold 1 Year 3. Elappea 5 Years 4. Adda 7 Years 5. Ferthuf 7 Years 6. Theodorick 7 Years But Ella Out-living some and Banishing others when he found he was powerful in the Love of his People and they hated for their Tyranny Reigned singly many Years after and in all Forty Two Viz. till 589. Elthelrick Accounted by the foregoing means the Seventh King of Northumberland Succeeding Ella Anno Dom. 589. His Accession to the Throne was ushered in by a fearful Blazing Star and the Sea breaking in near Hortle Pool in the Bishoprick of Durham swept away divers Villages Drowning many People and Cattle He had Wars with the Picts who bordered on the North of his Kingdom and in a set Battel near Wark in Northumberland gave them a great overthrow as also the Scots their Confederates entering their Kingdom and bringing away large Booties so that they were constrained to sue for Peace which was granted But intending to War on the Britains Death put a period to that Enterprize when he had Reigned four Years Anno 593. Ethelfrid the Eighth King of Northumberland began his Reign Anno Dom. 593 being a mortal Enemy to the poor Britains making Inroads into their Territories and destroying all before him when coming to the Monastery of Bangor in Carnarvanshire the Monks came out with Presents to meet him Singing a Hymn as a demonstration of his Welcom but this and their Innocence which they too much trusted in little availed to Skreen them from his Fury for being of a Bloody temper Eleven Hundred of them in that Monastry and others Adjacient were miserably Massacred at his Command a little while after the meeting of Augustin Bishop of Canterbury with the British Bishops at Austin's Oak in Worcestershire to settle matters of Religion according as it was practiced at Rome but those Bishops in many Points Dissenting from him the Assembly abruptly broke up and for this he is hardly censured and not without ground to be the Instigater of Ethelfrids Cruelty This Ethelfrid Fought with Cadwan King of the Britains near West-Chester and overthrew him with great slaughter and after a Peace concluded which lasted during their Lives he Warred on the Scots and defeated Edanaden their King at Degsaxton on the Marches of Scotland and Banished Edwin his Kinsman and Heir Apparent to the Crown who flying for protection to Redwald King of the East Angles they raised an Army and joyning Battel many of Ethelfrids Souldiers who bore good-will to Edwin seeing his Standard in the Field Revolted whereupon Ethelfrid labouring to restore the declining Battel threw himselfe like a desperate Man among the thickest of the Enemies and was slain when he had Reigned Thirty Two Years Edwin after the Death of Ethelfrid was placed by Redwald in the Throne of the Northumbrian Kingdom and is accounted the Ninth King He began his Reign Anno Dom. 626. It is reported by the Monks of those times who were mightily addicted to such Foolish and Superstitious Fables That in his Banishment the Apostle St. Paul Appeared to him in a Vision Preaching to him the Gospel and telling him if he would cause it to be freely Preached in the Northumbrian Kingdom he should be shortly placed in the Throne which he then promised to do whereupon the Vision laying one Hand on his Head and Commanding him to remember that Sign Vanished But after he gained his desires forgeting his promise the same Apostle appeared to Paulinus the Bishop of York and commanded him to lay his Hand on the Kings Head and demand if he remembred that Sign which he had no sooner done but Edwin fell at his Feet begging Pardon for his neglect and was thereupon with many of his Nobles Baptized at York after which he Built many Religious Houses and was himself a great promoter of Christianity sheltering and relieving such as fled the Persecution of Pagan Kings which Charitable succour of the distressed was the main ground on which Penda King of the Mercians founded his Quarrel so that a Bloody War ensuing Edwin and Offrid his Son were slain in Battel the Mercians at that time being assisted by Cadwallo King of the Britains when he had Reigned Seven Years In his time he much inlarged the Northumbrian Kingdom subduing the Coasts of Britain and the Islands of the Hebrides To prevent whose progress one Eumerius was sent by the West Saxon King to Murther him but was prevented by Lillia the Kings Chamberlain steping between on the push and receiving the Mortal Wound in his own Body He Built the Cathedral at York of Stone which before was only of Wood. Offride or Osrick the Tenth King of Northumberland began his Reign Anno Dom. 633. By Edwin's Example encouraging and promoting the Christian Religion In his time a Little Stream of the Colour of Blood burst from a Rock near York and soon after entering on a War against Cadwallo King of the Britains he was Slain when he had Reigned about a Year Oswald the Eleventh King of Northumberland began his Reign Anno Dom. 634 he followed the steps of his Two Predecessors in promoting the Christian Religion sending for Adian a Scotch Bishop of great note to assist him in so good a Work who Preaching in Landesfeorn or Holy Island in Scotland and the King Interpreting it to the People many of them were Converted and Baptized He had great Wars with the Britains and in a set Battel slew Cadwallo the last but one of the race of the British Kings and the greatest part of his Army at Deniseburn so that he had Peace on that side but thinking to gain the like advantage over Penda the Mercian King
Blood and the Miserie 's such a War was likely to bring on both Nations for being thereby weakened they might easily become a Prey to Forreign Enemies who watched for such an opportunity to work their ends both on Normandy and England especially the Danes and French To these and other Reasons for an amicable conclusion of the Difference the Norman Duke harkened with much mildness so that in a short time it was agreed that Robert after Williams Death should possess the Kingdom and to the end his Heirs might not disturb it he was debarred from Marriage as I find it in some Historians however certaine it is he left no Legitimate Issue behind him And in the mean time he was Yearly to pay the sum of 3000 Marks And the Articles being Signed the Brothers took a Friendly leave of each other so that through Providence this threatning Storm which filled England with many doubts and fears at its approach blew over without doing any harm After the Duke of Normandy had repassed the Seas with his Army the King fearing he might repent him of what he had Agree'd to strengthened the Sea Ports and Built some Castles advantagiously on the Havens to prevent Landing by surprize but knowing his prime Strength and Assurance was in the Love of his Subjects he began to caress the Nobles more than he had done and remitted to the Commons several grievous Taxes for upon his coming to the Crown he thought treading in his Fathers steps was the best Measures but now he found that Mildness rather than Rigor was the surest Policy to keep the Natives of this Island firm to his Interest whereupon he restored much that had been Extorted by his Rigorous Ministers and the better to curry favour with the People caused some of them to be punished for the offences he had enjoyned them to commit About this time Odo Bishop of Bayon the Kings Unkle who had been Banished by the Conquerer came over and was kindly received by his Nephew who Created him Earl of Kent and conferred on him many other Honours and Trusts which made the old Clergy-Man presume so much on the Kings Favour That he took upon him more Authority to Rule than came to his share by many degrees whereupon the Nobles made grievous complaints That a Stranger should presume to Domineer over them in their Native Country so that the King being sensible of his Arogancy changed his Smiles into Frowns which caused him to make a party among the English Normans and to fall into open Rebellion Declaring for Duke Robert and his Right who underhand had promised to Land some Forces but did not This Treachery of the Normans made the King almost totally throw himself on the English for Safeguard and Protection These Fractions and Disorders in the State begat new conceits in Malcolm King of Scots who resolving to take the advantage of them hastily raised an Army and Invaded the Northern Marches wasting all in his way with Fire and Sword whereupon the King Summoning all his Courage not to leave an Enemy at his Back first fell upon the Bishop and gave him and his Rebellious Associates a terrible Overthrow and in the Battel the Bishop being taken Prisoner he was compelled to Abjure the Land This happening the latter-end of the Second Year of the Kings Reign the Third no sooner began but he resolved to be Revenged on the Scots who had broke their League with him in order to lay hold on the Advantages Clandestine Commotions seemed to offer them and finding them Plundering and Spoiling his Subjects he scarce gave them time to Embattel ere like a Tempest he broke in amongst them destroying the greater part of their numerous Army in which fell Twenty of their Nobles and their King was constrained to Acknowledg Subjection to England renew his League upon Oath and in further confirmation of his Subjection he became a Pentioner to King William and to make it more apparent he was Tributary to England payed Twelve Mark Yearly for the Twelve Villages the King restored him after he had taken them from him in this War which he had held in the Reign of William the Conquerer and to Fortifie against the Scots Incursions he Rebuilded and Garisoned the City of Carlisle in Cumberland it having been demolished by the Danes about 200 Years before and Lanfrank Dying at a great Age the King kept the profits of the Arch Bishoprick in his hands Four Years and then made Anselm a Norman Abbot Arch Bishop which much displeased the English Clergy Not long after this Malcolm King of Scots coming to Gloucester where King William held his Court being denied Access and unhandsomly treated by some Carpet-Courtiers who had been raised from a low degree he without acquainting the King with it or demanding satisfaction for the Indignity put upon him flung away in a great rage and arriving in Scotland Assembled the Nobles and incited them to bring all the Forces they could raise to his Standard which they punctually obeyed and entering England with a huge Army he wasted all before him as far as Alnewick which he Besieged and Took it but the strong Castle held out against him which with his numbers he so straightly begirt that Famine got in and much dismai'd the Besieged whereupon an adventurous Knight with a Flag of Truce in his Hand and the Keys of the Castle on his Spear came out at the Gate Mounted on a swift Racer and making low obeysence as if he submitted them to the King of Scots being come pretty near setting Spurs to his Horse he run at the King with his Spear and piercing him into the Eye and Brain he fell Dead to the Ground and the Knight by the swiftness of his Horse escaped through the Scotish Camp at which the Scots were so dismai'd That they raised the Siege and departed with the Body of their King Mournfully into Scotland For this daring piece of Service which turned so much to the advantage of William The Knight had his Name by him changed from Mabrey to Piercey and was created Earl of Northumberland whose Race as Earls continued till of very late days as will appear in the succeeding Reigns But this Success prevented not a Conspiracy against the King for Robert Mowbrey and William of Ancho Plotted to take away his Life by Treachery and Crown Stephen D' Albemarle his Second Sisters Son but the Design being Discovered a little before it was to be put in practice by one of the Accomplices in the Conspiracy some were taken and Executed others Fled And now the Welsh Rebelling under the Leading of Rees their Prince the King with a gallant Army entered Wales but the Rebells shifting from one steep Mountain to another as well knowing the ways in those Fastnesses and climbing the craggy Clifts like Goats many of the English were wasted in pursuing them but at length Starving them out they were constrained to come to a Battel wherein Rees was Slain with
and thence to Norwich where it now remains The Seats of the Nobility are Dukes-Place belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Oxnead-Hall and Paston-Hall to the Earl of Yarmouth Reynam-Hall and Stif-key-Hall to the Lord Viscount Towusend Castle-Rising to the Duke of Norfolk Norwich-Palace and Ludham-Hall to the Bishop of the Diocess Besides divers sightly Houses of the Gentry The Reign of King HENRY the Second commonly called Henry Fitz-Empress AT the time when King Stephen Dyed Henry was in Normandy Besieging a strong Castle the French had a little before taken by Surprize and being advised by some Nobles about him to pass over for England and leave the Siege least another in his Absence might step into the Throne as before had happened he made a Reply full of Discretion and true Valour to this effect The Kingdom of England shall henceforth be at my Command in despight of those that dare to cross me most and so shall these Intruding Frenchmen ere I raise the Siege This resolution redoubled his honour among his Friends and brought fear on the Enemy for when they knew it they surrendered the Castle and submitted themselves to his Mercy and so having settled Affairs in that Dukedom with a Noble Train of Lords and Gentlemen he came for England where he was Crowned three times viz. By Theobald Arch Bishop of Canterbury at Westminster Then at Lincoln and lastly at Worcester He chose his Council of the Gravest Wisest and most Learned Peers and made Thomas of Becket Chancelour and appointed such Judges and Learned Men in the Laws by Industry and Labour to Refine them That the Common Laws were greatly Mended and Improved being rendred more tolerable and profitable to the People and after this he divided the Kingdom into six Circuits and for the better administration of Justice and Trying of Causes between Subject and Subject he appointed his Judges to go those Circuits twice a Year which Order yet continues He Banished the greatest part of Strangers who in those days by multitudes flocked hither and by their extraordinary Sparing and painful Industry procured much Wealth and Begger'd the Natives He Exiled many of the Nobles who contrary to their Duties had adhered to King Stephen and differing much from the Opinion of his Predecessor he affirmed that strong Castles and Forts maintained in the heart of the Kingdom did rather Animate Great Men upon any displeasure to Revolt than Fear them into Obedience whereupon he caused most of them to be Razed to the Ground and Seized such Mannors Lordships Possessions as his Predecessors had either Sold or Given from the Crown holding it to be the Duty of every Subject to refuse the Gift or Purchace of such things as do immediately concern the Honour and Maintenance of a King And the like he did in the Northern Parts where many Great Men Commanding as they list had wrought themselves and their Posterity into many Honours Castles Mannors which properly appertained to the Crown He likewise took into his hands the Provinces of Cumberland Northumberland and the Earldom of Huntingdon which David King of Scots and Henry his Son had received as a Gift from King Stephen to favour his Wars against the Empress However the King entered into Amity with Malcolm King of Scots upon the same Conditions as were Agreed on in Henry the Firsts time and in Token of his Subjection the Scot Offered his Bonnet and Saddle upon St. Peter's Altar at York And about this time Theobald Dying Becket was made Arch Bishop of Canterbury This King even in time of Peace had generally an Army on foot and rarely kept them Idle but would often Transport them to Normandy and there having Exercised them would bring them back again so that on all occasions they were found ready and expert Souldiers And now an advantage opened a way to the English for the Conquest of Ireland For the Eastern part along the Sea being possessed by Dormat-Mac-Mahur King of Leinster his Cruelties had highly incensed his Subjects against him especially upon taking away the Queen of Morice King of Meath so that the Injured King Confederating with Roderick O Conor King of Connought they beat him out of his Country so that he fled for England and craved Aid of King Henry to Restore him which upon taking an Oath of Fidelity and Subjection was harkened to when the better to encourage the design the King for a Sum of Money obtained leave of Pope Adrian an Englishman then advanced to St. Peter's Chair that he might Conquer Ireland promising moreover throughly to Establish the Christian Religion therein and bring it to an acknowledgment of the See of Rome but whilst he was preparing for this Expedition new Troubles arose in Normandy which required his Presence to pacifie but he granted his Letters Patents by which he gave leave with Encouragement to his Nobles and such others as were willing to go for Ireland Dormat impatient of Exile laid hold of this first Advantage and Solicited the Nobles but above all he promised Richard the Kings Son a Young Prince of a Warlike Spirit his Daughter a very Beautiful Young Lady and all his Countries after his Decease to be made over to them he likewise incited one Fitz Stephens who with a Band of Valiant Welshmen was the first that Landed and maintained his Ground with much Courage till the Prince and divers Nobles came over and with little trouble they seized the Town of Wexford which was given to Fitz Stephens for his part of the Charge of the War and soon after many of the petty Irish Kings being Overthrown Dormat was Restored and Dublin the chief City Submitting to him he put to Death by many Cruelties such of his Capital Enemies as he found there However the Prince went Conquering on and Subdued all before him of which King Henry had no sooner Notice but fearing this might flush Ambition and make him practice with his own Subjects for the Crown he speedily returned to England and sent Mandates Commanding all the English under great Penalties to return rallying the Nobility for suffering the Prince in his Absence to go over he was in this so far Obeyed that the Prince was left in Dublin with a small Train the Irish was not slow in taking the advantage of this Retreat and therefore Besieged him in that prime City with an Army of 30000 Men upon which he Sally'd with about 1500 and utterly Routed them taking great Spoils and so in obedience to the Kings commands returned for England where he surrendered into his Fathers hands all the Forts and Cities he had taken Anno 1172 the King Landed in Ireland with a Royal Army and found Dormar to be Dead however he brought such a Terror on the Country That Roderick and most of the other Princes submitted to him intreating him to take the Government on him as their Supream Lord which he Accepted with their Oaths of Fealty and at Christmas he made a Royal Feast in
Earl of Bristol Hinton St. George Court of Ewick Lenn Court and Walton to the Lord Paulet Connington to the Lord Clifford Wells Palace and Banwell to the Bishop of Bath and Wells Bristol Palace to the Bishop of Bristol With divers Houses of the Gentry pleasantly Sighted c. The Reign of EDWARD the Third commonly called Edward of Windsor EDWARD upon the offer of the Crown to him in his Fathers Life time not being Fifteen Years of Age refused it with Tears and Detestation till Mortimer and the Queen his Mother by Threats and Perswasions wrought him to some compliance nor then would he yeild to be Crowned till his Father had Resigned nor then till he was made sensible by some faithful Counsellors it was the only way to secure the Life of the Deposed King and the Crown in the Right Line For many feared that Mortimer being great with the Queen and high in her favour would find some means to rid her of her Husband and by Marrying her place the Diadem on his own Head for which reason he ever after hated that aspiring Lord and laboured to Revenge the Indignity and Death of King Edward the Second which in time he in some measure did in the Execution of Mortimer as will hereafter appear In the beginning of this Kings Reign the Scots denounced War against England thinking to make their Advantage in the Kings Minority but he tho' Young being of a Martial Spirit scorned to be outbraved whereupon he raised an Army of 50000 valiant Men and Marched into Scotland chasing the Scots from place to place who nowhere durst appear in the Field in any Number and having seized several Towns and Castles and finding his Soldiers tired out in following through Woods Marshes and over Craggy Hills he resolved to return which he did and assembled his Parliament at Northampton in which the two Executed Spencers and Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter who had been put to Death by the Londoners were Attainted of High Treason and all their Goods Lands c. Seized into the Kings hands and then the King by the direction of his Mother and Mortimer concluded a dishonourable Peace with the Scots releasing them of their Homage Fealty and Service due from that Kingdom to the Crown of England and delivered up the Grand Instrument or Charter called Ragman which under the Hands and Seals of their Late King and of the Nobility of Scotland testified their Tenure and Subjection to the Kings of this Realm After that he Married his Sister to David Son to Robert Bruce and created Mortimer Earl of March at which the Generality of the Nobility were exceedingly disgusted Mortimer upon his new Advancement to Honour and relyance on the Queens favour tho' he found the Nobles were not in his Interest bore it with a higher hand than formerly and perceiving Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent the Kings Unkle stood most in his way and crossed his aspiring he and the Queen so laboured with the Young King That infecting him with a Jealousie that the Earl had Designs upon his Life and Crown which being backed by false Witnesses he â—dvisedly gave way to Articles that were suggested â— brought in against him so that by Mortimers Creaâ—es he was found Guilty and Beheaded to the great â—ef of all True Englishmen being a Person of singular â—lour a great Statesman Prudent and Virtuous but â— Blood so Treacherously spilt was not slow in â—ying for and procuring Vengance for the King â—ing made sensible of a familiarity between Mortimer â—d his Mother more than was decent and much to â—er dishonour by being got abroad among the Vulgar â—using many scandalous Reports he would not howâ—ver lightly believe it yet one time being assured she â—as at Mortimer's Castle he with a resolute Band of â—is Followers privately in the Evening entered a back â—way and seizing such Servants as he met to prevent â—iscovery went by the direction of one of them to â—he Chamber where the Queen Lodged and there â—ound her in Bed and Mortimer undressing in order to â—leep with her This so exasperated the Young King â—hat calling him Trator and Villain he seized him with his own hands and delivered him to the Guards he not offering to resist or call for help tho' he had a far greater number of Attendants in the Castle than the King brought with him and being Committed to Prison free liberty was given for any that would to Exhibit their Complaints against him which were summed up in the following Articles 1. That he had wickedly contrived and procured the Murther of the Kings Father 2. That by his false Accusations and sinister Counsels he had caused the King to take away the Life of his Vnkle who was truly Noble Religious Devout Honest and a strong Pillar of the Commonwealth 3. That too familiarly he conversed with Queen Isabel the Kings Mother to her just Reproach and the dishonour of the King 4. That he received of the Scots a Bribe of 20000l for which he procured the Kings Retreat out of Scotland and the Releasment of his Signory and Homage due for that Kingdom 5. That he had deceitfully couzened and beguiled the King of his Wards and Treasury converting the Monies and Profits to his own use and behoof For these Wicked and Treasonable Practices he was Tryed and Condemned and afterward Hanged at Tyburn where he remained Hanging unpittied for two Days And in a little time after the King abridged the Queen his Mother in her Dowry allowing her but 1000 l. per Annum restraining her within a certain Limit In the Fifth Year of the Kings Reign Philip D' Valois who Succeeded Charles in the French Throne required him to come over and pay Homage and Fealty for his Dutchey of Guyan and accordingly he went and was kindly entertained till he refused to do it by any more Ceremony than Words but that not being Accepted he returned to England and upon a Second Summons sent it in Writing under the Great Seal which was not looked on as sufficient yet this submission displeased the English Nobility who told him he ought not to pay any Homage for as much as the Crown of France in Right of his Mother properly belonged to him and thus stated his Title viz. Isabel was Daughter to Philip the Fair Son to Philip the Hardy That Philip the Hardy the Queens Grandfather had two Sons viz. her Father who was King and Charles D' Valois who was also King after him Philip the Fair had three Sons all which Dyed without Issue Male he had also a Daughter which was this Isabel Married to King Edward the Second and that Charles D' Valois the Second Son of Philip the Hardy was Father to Philip D' Valois who then Reigned in France and although by the Salique Law of France Women are barred to Rule yet King Edward being a Male of the Elder branch ought to take place before a Male of the Younger though coming by a
common Soldiers yet with an undaunted Courage he Marched on and coming within sight of the Enemy Marshalled his small Army resolving to abide the Battel viz. He divided it into three Battels all which he Impaled in the Rear with Carriages and gave the conduct of the First to Prince Edward his Son who was by reason of his Young Years assisted by the Earls of Warwick and Crawford the Lords Harcourt Stafford Manney De La Warr Chandois Clifford and Bourchier â—ving 800 Men at Arms 2000 Archers and 1000 â—hers The Second Battel was Commanded by the â—rls of Northampton and Arundel accompanied with â—vers Nobles and Gentlemen consisting of 800 Men 〈◊〉 Arms and 1200 Archers The Third and main â—ttel the King Commanded and having Prayed for â—â—ccess and Refreshed themselves they prepared for â—e Fight but that day the French declined the Battel â—t the next it was begun on their side by 15000 Geâ—is with Crosbows Shooting Bearded Arrows but â—ey Charging on the Princes Battel were soon overâ—rn by the English Archers and in their Retreat put â—e French Kings Battel into disorder whereupon â—any of them were Slain by their Friends and then â—e French main Battel Charged on the Prince and put â—im so hard to it that he was obliged to send to the King to succour him who asked the Messenger Whether he was Alive or not And being Answered He â—as he said Report to him from me That he must expect no Aid for this shall be the day wherein he shall win his Spurs â—r lose his Life whereupon the English as Men in dispair Fought so desperately that they put the French Army in all parts to the Rout the Kings Battel standing entire and not Engaging slaying more than 30000 of them and the next day they Overthrew another Army that not knowing of the Defeat was coming to the Camp under the Leading of the Arch Bishop of Roan and Grand Prior of France and among the Slain were 11 Princes 80 Barons 1200 Knights and many of Note made Prisoners The Plunder of the Field the King bestowed upon his Nobles Gentry and common Soldiers which greatly Inriched them carrying the Slain of Note to Mountrell and there Honourably Interred them After this great Victory with inconsiderable Loss to the English the King laid Siege to Callis and the French King tho' he made some shews with a great Army to Relieve it defending the Passes stopt their retiring the Besieged were Summoned and threatned if they Surrendered not immediately to expect no Mercy they Capitulated but their Terms offered was not accepted they obstinately resisted so long that being brought to extremity the King would not accept of their Submission then tendered unless six of their chief Inhabitants would present themselves before him in their Shirts with Halters about their Necks and deliver up the Keys which was done when forthwith he commanded them to be Hanged but at the entreaty of the Queen and Nobles they were spared Whilst this Siege lasted David King of Scots with an Army of 50000 Men entered England and did great mischief but the Queen being then at home gave him Battel with an Army of 12000 and gave the Scots a fatal Overthrow King David was there taken Prisoner by one John Copeland who refused to deliver him to the Queen as claiming him his Prisoner by the Right of War till going over to the King he desired him to do it and for his good Service settled on him 500 l. per Annum in Lancashire and made him a Squire of his Body whereupon King David was committed Prisoner to the Tower of London The King having appointed Sr. Andrew D' Pavie a Lombard Governour of Callis and turned out the French Inhabitants returned to England but upon private notice the Governour for a great Sum designed to betray it to the Lord Cherney Captain of Arrays he went over and was received in the dusk of the Evening he prevented it by surprising that Lord and his Soldiers when they had partly entered and the rest waited for admittance Yet in this Fight the King Encountering hand to hand with Eustace of Ribomount was by him twice stooped on his Knees but scorning to yield he advanced with such fury and redoubled strength that he beat him down and took him Prisoner but having experienced him to be a Valiant Knight he soon released him without Ransom About this time King Philip Dyed and John his Son was Crowned and the Calicians took the strong Castle of Guyens and the King upon the obstinacy of the Flemings in refusing to Aid him removed the Marts to Callis settling there the Woollen Manufacture so that by the Priviledges and Imunities granted to Artificers happy was he that in a few Years could obtain the Kings leave to go over Soon after Prince Edward Sirnamed for his valourous deeds the Black Prince Landed an Army in Gascoine soon subduing the greater part of that Province which made the French King hasten thither with a very numerous Army and tho' he was six to one against the Prince the Battel was Fought near Poictiers where the English Archers put the French Horse into such confusion at the first onset that they fell into Rout and disordered all the Squadrons that were to support them however the Battel where the French King fought valiantly stood manfully to it a considerable time but such was the prevailing valour of the English That King John and Philip his Younger Son were taken Prisoners many Thousands Slain and the rest put to Flight The Fight being over Prince Edward treated his Royal Prisoners with all Gentleness and Humility cheering up their drooping Spirits attending at the Kings Table Lodged him in his own Bed and provided for him Honourable Attendance insomuch that he confessed He rather fancied himself at his own Court than a Prisoner by having met with so Courteous an Enemy From hence he was conducted to Burdeaux and so into England where he was Entertained with the like civilities and respect by the King and Queen and besides these and what Nobles were Slain there were taken 17 Earls 51 Barons and a great Number of Knights and Gentlemen the English Soldiers throughout the Army that had fewest being possessed of two Prisoners and moreover the rich Spoiles of exceeding value were divided amongst them and a Truce was concluded for two Years In the mean while the King of Scots who had been Ten Years a Prisoner was Released at the Ransom of 100000 l. to be Paid in Five Years and upon taking his Oath not to bear Arms against England nor be Aiding to any other in doing it and further he acknowledged Homage and Fealty for his Kingdom of Scotland to King Edward And proposing to the French King his Ransom with Articles to be signed on his Enlargement he sent them to Charles his Eldest Son who was Regent in his absence and to the Nobility of France who utterly disliking the Conditions prepared to Invade King Edwards Terretories to
Fortune However the Lord Grey Deputy of Ireland lost his Head for winking as it was alledged against him at the Irish entering within the English Pale and not timely Repelling them Sir Edmund Knevet of Norfolk having been Arraigned before the Green Cloth for Striking one Mr. Clear of Norfolk within the Tennis Court of the King's House and being found Guilty he had Judgment to lose his Right Hand and to forfeit all his Lands and Goods and all things being prepared for the Execution of this Sentence and Sir Edmund brought in the Chief Justice declared his Offence which he Confessed and humbly submitted himself to the King's Mercy only he desired the King would spare his Right Hand and take his Left For said he if my Right Hand be spared I may Live to do the King good Services Of which Submission and Saying when the King was informed he ordered he should lose neither of his Hands and Pardoned him also as to his Lands and Goods The Scots had lain still a long while but now began under James the Fifth their Young King to make great Disturbances but after some Bickerings and much Spoil in either Country they were Overthrown and the Earls of Cassels and Glencarn the Lords Maxwell Fleming Sommervel Oliphant Gray and Car were made Prisoners and many Slain The News of this Overthrow so perplexed King James That falling into a deep Grief and Melancholly he Dyed a week after leaving only a Daughter to Succeed him who was then but newly Born and Christened Mary Upon notice of whose Birth when he lay Sick he burst out in this Prophetical Saying It came with a Lass meaning the Crown and it will go with a Lass Soon after the King of Scots Death the Lords that were Prisoners in England to curry favour for their Liberty proposed a Match between Prince Edward Henry's Son and their Young Queen which was kindly accepted The Match being proposed to the Parliament of Scotland they seemed highly to approve it ratifying a Writing under the Hands and Seals of the Nobility as also with their Oaths yet the French Faction so prevailed that it came to nothing But King Henry enraged to be thus abused sent a powerful Army into Scotland which spoiled the Country taking several Towns and great Plunder nor was the King flow to pass over to France where laying Siege to Bullen he had it yielded to him and having Fortified it returned into England to raise Money for a Supply of the War which tho' the Emperour without his consent had made a Peace with France he resolved vigorously to prosecute and because Richard Read an Alderman refused Sir Thomas Wryothsltey the Chancellor the Supply he demanded of him he was compelled in Person to Serve the King in his Wars against the Scots by whom he was taken Prisoner and paid a large Ransom And soon after the French were worsted by Sea and Land and the Scots Routed who Invaded England and followed into their Country Whereupon Peace ensued between England and France Soon after the King cavelling with the Duke of Norfolk and his Son the Earl of Surry for bearing in their Escutchion certain Arms appropriated to the King and Prince only tho' they had been born by his Ancestors time out of mind unquestioned being Indicted for High Treason they were both Condemned The Son was Beheaded and the Father escaped by the King's Death which soon ensued viz. on Tuesday the 28th of January Anno Dom. 1546 in the 56th Year of his Age when he had Reigned 37 Years 9 Months and 6 Days He was Buryed with much pomp and Funeral solemnity in the Chappel at Windsor In this King's time happened a great Famin viz. 1527 upon the falling of a violent Raine November December and January and from the 12th of April every day till the 3d of June Anno 1545 William Foxley Potmaker to the Mint Slept in the Tower of London not being by any meanâ— to be Waked 14 Days and 15 Nights and when he waked it seemed to him but as one Night The Number of Religious Houses Suppressed were Monasteries 313 Priories 290 Friaries 122 Nunneries 142 Colledges 152 Hospitals 129 and their Inhabitants turned out to wander in the Fields after long Ease and Luxury Remarks on Yorkshire in its three Ridings THis is the largest Shire in England and not inferiour to some of the biggest Provinces in France It is divided into three Parts or Ridings viz. The North East and West Ridings It produces store of Horses large Cattle Sheep and in many places very good Corn and Pastures great quantities of Woollen Cloth and very Subtil People It is Bounded with the Bishoprick of Duâ—ham the German Ocian Lincolnshire Derbyshire Lancashire and Westmoreland It contains 26 Hundreds 563 Parishes 57 Marker Towns 36 Rivers of which the Humber is the chief 1 City which is an Archiepiscopal See viz. York 14 Castles 62 Bridges 4 Chases â— Forrests and 72 Parks It sends Members to Parliament 30 viz. Alborough 2 Beverly 2 Borrough-Bridge 2 Hildon 2 Hull 2 Knarseborough 2 Malton 2 North-Alerton 2 Pomfret 2 Richmond 2 Rippon 2 Scarborough 2 Thrisk 2 York City 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire YORK SHIRE By I Seller This Shire affoards store of Iron Pit-Coal and Sea-Coal at Whitby are Stones of a Serpentine figure near Burrough Bridge are 4 Piramidal Stones supposed some Roman Monument on Rosemary Topping are Stones found like Sea Wincles and Cockles at Giglesworth are 3 Springs one of which constantly Ebbs and Flows four times an Hour in the North are Ting-tong Wells said to be three Miles in the Earth and near Knarsborough the Well Dripa whose Water distills from a Rock that hangs over it The Castles of note are those of Sheffield Coningsborough Tickil Sandal Harwood Knasborough Cawood Scarborough Kilton Skelton c. On Wakefield Bridge stands a Chappel Founded by Edward the Fourth in memory of the Battel fought there near Flamborough-Head are Waters called Vipsies which flow out of the Springs every other Year and fall violently into the Sea The Seats of the Nobility are Sheffeild-Mannor belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Bishops-Hill and Hemsey Castle to the late Duke of Buckingham Slingsby Castle to the Honourable Family of New-castle Snap to the Earl of Exceter Markin-field to the Earl of Bridgwater Mulgrave Castle to the Earl of Mulgrave Shipton Castle to the Earl of Thanet Nawort Castle to the Earl of Carlisle Wharlton Castle and Javoux Abby to the Earl of Ailesbury Lounsborough Bolton and Braden Tower to the Earl of Burlington Hall and Wimbledon to the Duke of Leeds Thorn-Hill to the Earl of Macclesfield Hackforth Anderly Le Miers to the Earl of Holderness Newborough Abby Coxwold Hall Oulston Hall Aldwark and Murton to the Lord Faulconberg Wressel Castle to the Duke of Richmond Easby Hall to the Lord Eure Baron of Witton Wheldrake to the Lord Howard of Escrick Holm in Spadingmore and Dalton to the Lord Lexinton Wilton Castle to the
Peace which was soon Concluded as had been with France before On the 29th of May 1630. the Queen was deliver'd of a Son who was Christened Charles and Succeeded in the Kingdom At whose Birth it is Remarkable a very bright Star appeared at Noon-day which being shewed the King as he came from his Devotion he greatly Rejoyced thereat as taking it for a fortunate Presage Soon after Dr. Leighton Writing and Publishing a Book Entituled Sion's Plea was Censured for it and Sentenced to have his Nose slit his Ears cropp'd and a Mark or Brand in his Fore-head which was inflicted on him Anno 1631 Mervin Lord Audley Earl of Castle-Haven was tryed by his Peers on the Petition of his Son and Heir for a Rape and Sodomy and being found Guilty lost his Head on Tower-hill The King hearing of some Murmurrings and Discontents in Scotland went thither in Person hoping to give his People of that Kingdom Satisfaction and being solemnly Crowned at Edenborough he called a Parliament But they fearing the bringing in of Episcopacy and the Form of Prayer and other Services in England seemed more and more to be Disgusted However the King having Confirmed and Ratified some Laws which the Scots construed to the worst Sense And which was indeed in order to the establishing Episcopacy there which King James the First had introduced Anno 1616. and which was apparent by the King 's giving Order to the Dean of his Royal Chappel in Edenborough to have Prayer read therein according to the English Liturgy c. In the Year 1632 the King incited thereto by Bishop Laud set out a Declaration for Tollerating of Sports on the Lord's-day which gave great Offence to all sober Men and for refusing to Publish it many of the best Ministers were Suspended and deprived of their Benefices Octob. 13. 1633. The Queen was delivered of her second Son named James afterwards Duke of York and after his Brother Charles his Death King of England c. And at that time the Arch-bishop of Canterbury dying Bishop Laud was made Arch-bishop in his place After this a Fleet was set out by the Supply of a Tax called Ship-money which removed the Hollanders who had Confederated with the French from before Dunkirk and the Flandrians with the assistance of the Spaniard soon Routed the French Army by Land The King Considering the good success of this Fleet sent out an other which Sailing Northward scoured the Seas of the Dutch Busses and spoiled their Fishing-trade so that they were constrained to purchase their leave to Fish on our Coast on Valuable Considerations Several Gentlemen being Dissatisfied with the raising of Ship-money and being done without consent of Parliament refused to pay it upon which the King referr'd it to his Judges of whom Ten were for the Legality of it and subcribed their Names to be Enrolled in the Courts of Westminster but Hutton and Crook refused and thereupon Mr. Hamden of Buckinghamshire refusing to pay it had Judgment given against him which occasioned murmurings among the people of which Dr. Bastwick Prin and Burton taking the Advantage writ Books reflecting on the Bishops and Government for which they were sentenced to pay 5000 l. Fine lose their Ears in the Pillory and Imprisoned during the King's pleasure And Dr. Williams Bishop of Lincoln was fined 10000 l. and Imprisoned in the Tower During pleasure and left to the Censure of the High Commission Court as to what concerned them wherein the Bishop had very hard Measure his Offence being chiefly that he approved not of Archbishop Laud's Exorbitant Actions And now new Troubles arising about the Book of Common-Prayer in Scotland the King marched thither with an Army and the Scots met him near Berwick But a Treaty being began by means of the Scots Nobility a Peace was soon Concluded but they kept it no longer than the King's return to London which occasioned him to make a second Expedition but by this time they had entred into a solemn League and Covenant for the Extirpation of Episcopacy and Establishing of Presbytery On the 13th of April 1640. After twelve Years interval a Parliament met at Westminster to whom the King promised That if they would Supply him to maintain the War against the Scots he would quit his claim of ship-money And the Parliament seemed to have a great Disposition to comply with the King's desires but it being demanded in the House of Commons what supply the King expected It was answered by Mr. Secretary Vane Twelve Subsidies whereas at that time the King only desir'd Six This large Demand put the House into such a Ferment made things look so ill that the King Dissolved the Parliament the next Day having only sat 22 Days The Scots not yet quieted enter into England with an Army and having defeated the King's Forces at Newborn seized upon New-castle and Durham upon which the King is willing to hear their Grievances and receives a Petition from them wherein they require a Parliament to be called in England without which they could have no Redress Declaring their Intention not to lay down Arms till the Reformed Religion was settled in both Nations upon sure Grounds and the Causers and Abetters of their present Troubles Laud and Strafford were brought to publick Justice in Parliament After which several Peers the City of London and divers other places Petition'd the King for the sitting of a Parliament whereupon the King Summon'd another Parliament to meet Nov. 3. 1640. when the People were every where in a Ferment and Prejudice inveighing if not against the King yet against his Ministers of State In this Parliament all Ceremonies in the Church were suppressed except those used in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Strafford Arch-bishop Laud and Bishop Wren were Impeached of High-Treason and committed to the Tower Divers of the Judges that had declared for Ship-money were Voted Delinquents and Judge Berkley Arrested by the Usher of the Black Rod for High-Treason as he sate in the King's-Bench-Court The King being vexed at the proceeding of the Commons complained to the Peers who promised to Labour for a Moderation and good Understanding between the King and his two Houses But matters yet running high he removed divers Ministers of State and Officers in Trust appointing a new Lieutenant of the Tower which greatly displeased the Commons insomuch that tâ—â—â— Articled against the new Lieutenant to be Peers wâ—â— refused to meddle in it it being the King's Prerogative to â—â—nt in whom he pleased But not long after a multitude of â—â—prentices and others came to the Peers House clamouriâ—â—â—o have the Lieutenant removed and Threatning on refusaâ— to turn all Topsy-turvey they also demanded that the Bishops might be excluded the House of Peers And then going into Westminster-Abbey in their unadvised Fury spoiled the Vestments Organs Sepulchres and what else was comely and decent And as they returned by White-Hall uttered very opprobrious Threatnings against the King and his
about him 6. Friga or Frea was Wodens Queen upon the account of Chastity and other Virtues after her Death they set up an Idol in her Likeness on a Pillar resembling Diana compleatly Armed to the Waste with a Bow and a Sword and to her were often Sacrificed those Females that had Violated their Virgin-Chastity Some Authors allow her to have been Expert in Arms by whose Prowess the Antient Saxons extended their German Territories and to her was Dedicated the Sixth Day called then Frea's-Day now Fryday 7. Seater This Idol was placed in the shape of an Old Man on a Pillar treading with his bare Feet on a Pearch with sharp pricks on its Back holding in his Right Hand a Basket of Fruits signifying Plenty and in his Left a Wheel signifying Time when we ought to be careful in laying up our Stores to prevent Scarcity He was held in his Life time to be a great Prophet and Astrologer telling things to come and Teaching the Saxons the Course of the Sun Moon and Stars and to him they Prayed for Knowledge Wisdom and hopeful Children Spring and Fall they Offered Fruits to him and strewed the way to his Temple with Flowers For his Worship they appointed the Seventh Day of the Week calling it Sater's Day now Saturday They had another Idol resembling the Image of Death with Flowing Crimson Robes holding a Lighted Torch in his Right Hand and a Lion Rampant on his Head by the Left Foot with his Left Hand He was placed on a Tomb or Grave-stone to put them in mind of Mortality and to shew Deaths Obduracy and Inexorableness they called him Flint Before his Shrine which was set in a large place Walled about without any Covering they Executed or Sacrificed Offenders for Extraordinary Crimes by Fire Racks and other Exquisit Tortures Having thus given you a Brief Description of the Original and Manners of the Antient Saxons before their coming into this Island I should now proceed to give you an Account of the Succession of their several Kings here during the time of their Heptarchy or Seven Kingdoms until King Edgar overcoming and subduing all the rest reduc'd it again to a Monarchy But that shall be the business of the next Chapter CHAP. V. The Succession of the Petty Monarchs of the Kentish South-Saxon and East-Saxon Kingdoms with what Remarkably Happen'd during their respective Reigns in Peace and War The Time when they Began and Ended them with the Limits of their Dominions 1. Of the Kingdom of Kent and the Succession of its seventeen Kings HEngist the first Saxon Invader as is formerly noted setled Himself and his People in the County of Kent a Fertil part of England large in Extent bounded on the North with the River Thames by which it is divided from Essex on the East with the Channel on the West with Surry and on the South with Sussex He began to Erect a Saxon Kingdom there Anno Dom. 455 and had during his Thirty Four years Reign continual War with the Britains his Brother Horsa Dying of the Wounds he received in Battel gave Name to a place called Horsa's Tomb now corruptly called Horsted where he was Buried and had a famous Monument erected over his Grave the Ruins of which some Hundred Years since were visible It is held by Authors of great repute those Stones of a prodigious bigness on Salisbury Plain which have created Admiration in the Beholders were erected as a Monument where he caused the British Nobles to be Treacherously Slain by which means he gained his design on this Kingdom making way to its Subjection for indeed they are commonly to this day called Stone Hing or Hengist Stones They appear to have been a Treble Row of Stones circularly placed one within another Twenty Eight Foot long for the most part and Seven Foot broad viz. those that are reared upright besides others of prodigious bigness that lie overthwart from one to another and are fastned with Tenents and Mortises but at this day the Form of this Wonderful Structure is very much defaced some of the greater Stones being either faln or reclining towards the Earth Eske by some called Osea succeeded Hengist in the Kingdom of Kent a Man much inferiour to him in Valour and Conduct therefore to make the People if possible to forget what they were that he might live the more at Ease he Tollerated such of the Câ—nti as would to live among his Saxons on condition they would take upon them the Name or Epithite of Eskins and though he Reigned Twenty Four Years nothing very Memorable is Recorded of him in History for the other Saxon Princes in setling their Kingdoms Screening him from the Incursions of the Britains and making the seat of War in the Northern and Western Counties he had for the most part a Peaceable Reign Octa the Third King of Kent began his Reign Anno Dom. 513 he provided prudent and wholsom Laws for the Goverment of his People Built several Castles on the Sea-Coast and the Inland Frontiers commanded the Pagan Idolatries to be strictly Observed and Christianity to be Extirpated sheding much Innocent Blood on that occasion In his time strange sights were seen of Dragons Lions and other furious wild Beasts Fighting in the Air. In the West of Kent it Rained Wheat and soon after great Drops of Blood upon which ensued extream Dearth succeeded by much Bloodshed between his People and the South Saxon borders about setling their Territories at the latter end of his Reign which continued Twenty Years Imerick began his Reign Anno Dom. 533 He made an Edict That Strangrs should be Curteously Entertained and caused Houses of Publick Resort to be built on the Roads and the Highways to be Mended and made Passable at the Publick Charge building Watch-Towers on the Sea-Coasts and setting Lights in them for the guidance of Saylors He restrained the severity against the Christians and is numbered among the good Saxon Kings in his time was the Second General Council held at Constantinople for all Christendom Anno Dom. 553. He Reigned Twenty Nine Years during which space nothing Memorable of any Warlike Actions are Recorded of him Ethelbert The Fifth King of Kent began his Reign 562 He had not long Reigned before Cheuline King of the West Saxons raised an Army against him to Oppose whom he Mustered great Forces and at Wimbleton both Hosts joyned Battel where Ethelbert lost the day Two of his Dukes and Five Thousand of his People being Slain and this is Recorded to be the first Open War among the Saxon Kings However a Peace was soon after concluded and Gregory Arch-Deacon of Rome seeing some fair Youths of this Island standing in the Market of that City to be Sold he demanded from whence they were and being told from Britain out of a Province called Deira he sighing said when he understood Paganisme predominated Ah it is great pity but their Country should be Delivered Ira Dei from the Wrath of
himself to Miletus the first Bishop of St. Paul's in London by his grave Advice was induced to embrace the Christian Religion This famous Church was Founded by him and Ethelbert King of Kent in the place where before stood a Temple Dedicated to Diana wherein many Bloody Sacrifices had been offered to the supposed Goddess and so becoming the first Christian King of the East Saxons he was a great Encourager of Religious Men and Women building at their request divers other Churches in London and elsewhere He began his Reign Anno Dom. 591 and Reigned 21 Years Sered the Fourth King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 611 He revoked the Indulgences of his Predecessors to the Christians and in attempting to Prophane The Lords Table being withstood by Miletus the Bishop of St. Paules he Banished him his Dominions but afterward entering on a War with Kingills King of the West Saxons which continued for some time he was in the conclusion of it Slain when he had Reigned Six Years A little before his Death he had a Dream like to that of Smyrdis Son to Cyrus the Great and Brother to King Cambysis of Persia viz. That he sat on the West Saxon Throne and his Head reached the Skies which being falsly Interpreted by his flatterers who pushed him on in his Ambitiaus designs whilst like the other he lost his Life though by different means the first Murthered by his Brothers command on a Jealousie he designed to Usurp the Persian Monarchy and the latter Fighting to enlarge his Dominions Sigesbert the Fifth King af the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 620. He made several Laws against Murtherers and Thieves that then much abounded in the Country In his time a dreadful Fire happened in London consuming most of the Eastern part of it but it was soon Re-built and much inlarged by this Kings Encouragement and the Michaelmas following a number of Porpoises came up the River whereupon preat Storms followed and the Thames overflowing lay'd many Hundreds of Acres under Water in Kent and Surry He Reigned Twenty Three Years Sigebert the Sixth King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 643. He Restored again the True Worship in that Kingdom being perswaded by Oswy King of the Northumbers to be Baptized by Bishop Finnan giving Large Gifts to the Churches and Monasteries earnestly labouring to settle Peace among his Neighbours but being of a very wild temper and soft by Nature his two Brothers took the advantage of his weakness Conspired against him and Murthered him when he had Reigned Fifteen Years Swithelm the Seventh King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 658 upon the enterance on it he became a Christian and was Baptized by Bishop Cedda Ethelwald King of the East Angles being his Godfather In his time London began to flourish very much in Trade the Merchants and Traders having large Priviledges granted them A little before his Death A Globe of Fire fell on St. Paul 's Church and Burnt the Roof of it His Reign continued only Three Years and odd Days Sighere the Eighth King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 661. He had embraced the Christian Faith but Apostatized on a slight Occasion and of a Father of the Church became a Persecutor but being afflicted with a grievous Disease he was smitten with Remorse of Conscience and many Thousands of his Subjects being Destroyed by a raging Pestilence he Remembered frem whence he was Fallen and Returned to the Christian Communion into which he was gladly received by an Assembly of the Clergy who prevailed with him to destroy the Idols and demolish their Altars He Reigned Five Years Sebba the Ninth King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 666 being given much to a Religious Life and much Repenting the Blood he had shed when he was General in the Wars whereupon when he had Reigned Thirty Years he layed down his Scepter and took on him a Religious Habit in the Monastery of St. Paul's at London bequeathing his Kingdom to Sigherd his Kinsman Sigherd the Tenth King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 696. He sent Forces to assist the West Saxons against the Britains who made strong Incursions into their Territories and carried away great Booties in the mean time divers Pirates from Denmark and Norway Invaded his Sea-Coasts Burning and Plundering many Villages but a mighty Tempest arising they suffered Shipwrack and so many of them as Escaped to Shoar were destroyed by the Country Peasants He Built many Religious Houses and Reigned Seven Years Seofrid the Eleventh King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 703. He Built Forts on the advantagious Havens to the Sea-Coast to prevent the Landing of Foreign Enemies by surprize encouraging his People to Trade with the Neighbour Nations so that many of the North East Countries were discovered and great Riches brought home which caused others who had advantagious Havens to take the like Measures whereupon the Shiping encreased He Reigned Seven Years Offa the Twelfth King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 711. He was a great Encourager of the Christians and in his time the Christian Religion spread into all parts of his Dominions He Invited over Religious Men out of other Countries and ordered Publick Schooles to be Erected and being desirous to see Rome which he had heard so much of by Fame when he had Reigned Eight Years he went thither and being much taken with the Devotion of the Religious there he became a Monk and Dyed in that station leaving large Legacies to the Church Selred the Second and Thirteenth King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 719. In his time a grievous Famine was in this Kingdom for the space of three Years so that People in many places were compelled to Eat Grass Roots Leaves and Barks of Trees and yet many Thousands were Famished Great flashes of Fire likewise Issued out of the Earth which Burnt up the Trees and Grass and Destroyed some People and much Cattel but soon after a great Plenty ensued He Reigned Thirty Eight Years Suthred the Fourteenth and Last King of the East Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 757. He had great Wars with Egbert King of the West Saxons so that in various Battels Fifty Thousand of his People being Slain he was so weakned that not being able to make head any longer he withdrew himself and left his Dominions to the prevailing Enemy when in much Trouble he had upheld them Eight Years So that Egbert annexing it as a Province to his own Kingdom Extinguished the Name of the East-Saxon-Kingdom about the Year of Christ 827. CHAP. VI. A Description of the Kingdoms of Northumberland and Mercia with the Succession of their Kings and the most Memorable Transactions Portents and Prodigies both in Peace and War that happened during their Reignes 4. The Kingdom of Northumberland as it Began and continued in
Arms and Slew him after his Seven Years Second Reign whereupon much Misery ensued to the Kingdom by Usurpers who Tyrannized over the People and Slew whom they pleased at their pleasure Till Alfwald a Prince of the Royal Blood took the Government upon him putting some of the Usurpers to Death and Banished others but he was Murthered by the Conspiracy of one Siga when he had Reigned Eleven Years During these Disturbances and Murthers of Kings many terrible Sights appeared in the Air hollow Groanings and as it were Laments were heard in the Earth in divers places and affrighting Apparitions of Ghosts and Spectrums Haunted the Pallaces and Houses of Noblemen and others Osred the Twenty Fifth King of the Northumbrians Entered upon the Government much distracted and disordered by Intestine Troubles so that wanting Power to keep a steady rein to bridle the unruly People they Justled him from the Throne and Expelled him the Kingdom when he had Reigned about a Year And though this Kingdom is held by some to last much longer Viz. to Anno Dom. 926 yet no Historian I can find making mention of any other Kings I rather chuse to End here than wade into uncertainties which would not only break the Thread of History but leave the Reader to wander in Dark and Doubtful Notions Therefore concluding that some Authors who have alotted so long a time were Mistaken for want of comparing the Continuance of this with the rest of the Petty Kingdoms of the Saxon Heptarchy from the times they Began till they were reduced under a Sole Monarch I shall proceed to the next which is the Kingdom of Mercia c. 5. The Kingdom of Mercia in the Succession of its Twenty Kings or Petty Monarchs c. The Kingdom of Mercia seized and setled by the most powerful of the Saxon Invaders is accounted the Largest of the Seven It Contained Hartfordshire Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire Warwickshire Staffordshire Worcestershire Gloucestershire Shropshire Cheshire Oxfordshire Notinghamshire Derbyshire Leicestershire Northamptonshire Lincolnshire Huntingtonshire and the County of Rutland so that it was Inclosed by the other six Kingdoms and consequently when the Britains were brought Low and the Saxons Elbowed each other to Enlarge their Territories most exposed to War as will appear in the ensuing Account of the Actions of its Kings in the Succession of Twenty of them for so many Reigned before it ceased to be a distinct Kingdom It was Bounded on the East with the Kingdoms of the East Angles East Saxons and German Ocean on the South with the East Saxon and West Saxon Kingdoms on the West with Wales and on the North with the Kingdom of Northumberland Abounding with Cities Towns Cattle Corn Lead Fruit Pastures Rivers Parks Chaces Woods and Pleasant Rising Hills and Flowery Meadows which soon made them grow Rich and Powerful Crida was the First Saxon who made himself King of so spacious a Country Beginning his Reign Anno Dom. 582. Against him the Britains Warred but with various success sometimes the one and sometimes the other prevailing so that much Blood was spilt But at last the Britains being mightily weakened in a Bloody Battel Carecticus their King immured himself within the walls of Chester But being Besieged by Grummond an Arch Pirate who commanded part of Cridas Forces and the Saxons not being able to force the Walls which were stoutly defended by the broken Army of the Britains retired thither with their King Grummond Invented a Stratagem to Fire the City and drive them out like Bees Smok'd from their Hive or Perish in the Flames which was effected by tying Wild-Fire to the Feet of Sparrows and Swallows who lighting on the Thatched Houses set them on Fire and lay'd the whole City in a heap of Ruins but the British King with a few Followers Escaped by Night to the Mountains of Wales and there soon after Dyed of Grief for the loss of his People and desolation of his Country This Crida Reigned Twelve Years Wibba the Second King of Mercia began his Reign Anno Dom. 594. This Man Warred with the Britains and took from them almost all the pleasant Countries they held on his Borders considerably Enlarging what he at first Possessed though not without great effusion of Blood on both sides so that the Dead Bodies lying unburied corrupted the Air and caused a Pestilence that destroyed many Thousands He Reigned Twenty Years Ceorle the Third King of Mercia began his Reign Anno Dom. 614 He finding his Kingdom Large sent over for more Collonies to People it and repair the loss of those that fell in the Wars and then having setled his Borders and placed Garrisons on the Frontiers his next business was to provide such Laws as might the better Establish him in his Kingdom especially for The preventing Treason and apprehending Outlawes or those desperate Persons that lurked in Woods Robbing and Murthering such as passed by them Commanding a certain quantity of Land to be Sowed every Year on great Penalties to the Counties where the Land enjoyned lay if neglected He had some Wars with the Britains but nothing considerable to those of his Predecessors He Reigned Ten Years Penda the Fourth King of Mercia began his Reign Anno Dom. 624 and made great War upon his Neighbours He joyned with Cadwallo the Twelfth King of the Britains against Edwin King of Northumberland and in a Memorable Battel Slew him with Prince Offrid his Son and afterward Oswald who succeeded Edwin And Warring on the East Angles he made great waste of their Country Slaying successively three of their Kings Viz. Sigesbert Eyrick and Anna and being a Pagan he pursued with Cruel Hatred those who Professed the Christian Religion so that The Church mourned his Anger in Tears of Blood he turning the places of Religious Worship into heaps of Rubbish and Slaying as many as fell into his hands that were the Heads or Chief of the Religious Orders Then making War on the West Saxons he defeated Redwald their King in a bloody Battel and Slew him with many Thousands of his Subjects much Enlarging his own Kingdom so that aspiring to the sole Monarchy and having strongly Pushed and Elbowed his Neighbours in the East and West enterprizing the like in the North he was Slain by Oswy King of Northumberland in a pitched Battel with Ten Thousand of his Subjects when he had Reigned 32 Years Peada alias Wedda the Fifth King of Mercia began his Reign Anno Dom. 665. He was the first Christian King of the Mercians causing the Idols every where to be destroyed throughout his Kingdom Banishing their Priests that refused to be Baptized building Churches and Monasteries but before he had fully brought to pass what he intended in this Matter the Pagan Priests incited his Wife some Authors say his Mother secretly to Murther him when he had Reigned Three Years Wolfer the Sixth King of Mercia began his Reign Anno Dom. 659 He Warred on the West Saxons and won the Isle of Wight
from Remald then King of that Island and gave it to Edilwach King of the South Saxons to whom he stood Godfather upon condition of his being Baptized into the Christian Faith though so great an Enemy he was to the Christians before his Conversion That he Caused his two Sons to be put to Death for being Baptized but as a Pennance for that Sin and to Attone for Innocent Blood he Founded the Abby Church at Peterbourough in Northamptonshire and Endowed it with large Gifts He Reigned Sixteen Years and odd Months Ethelred the Seventh King of Mercia began his Reign Anno Dom. 675. He made Wars on the Kentish Kingdom laying it desolate in a manner with Fire and Sword not sparing Churches or any Religious Houses This Desolation was forewarned by the appearance of two dreadful Blazing Stars which were Vissible for the space of three Months at the Instance of his Wife he turned Willfridus out of his Bishoprick but at last being stricken with Remorse of Conscience for the Slaughters and other Wastes he had made he resigned his Crown and Government to Kenred his Nephew whose Right it was before and turning Monk made a Religious End though he had Lived Wickedly the greatest part of his days He Reigned Twenty Nine Years Kenred began his Reign Anno Dom. 704 but seemed little to affect an Earthly Diadem labouring to be at Peace with his Neighbours by restoring as much as lay in his power what his Predecessor had Violently taken from them and when he had Reigned Five Years he resigned his Kingdom to his Cousin Chelred and took his Journey to Rome with Offa King of the East Saxons and Edwin Bishop of Winchester where he became a Monk and Dyed in that station He was the Eighth King of Mercia Chelred the Ninth King of the Mercians began his Reign Anno Dom. 709 but had not long been in the Throne e're Ine or Inas King of the West Saxons emulating his spreading greatness Quarrelled with him about the Boundaries of their Kingdoms so that a fatal War ensued and much Blood was shed they being now the Two most Powerful Kings of the Heptarchy so that others siding with them the whole Nation was Embroyled in their Quarrel nor ended it with his Reign which lasted Seven Years Ethelbald the Tenth King of Mercia began his Reign Anno Dom. 716. He raised great Forces and laying Siege to Summerton had it Surrendered Then he turned his whole Power on the Northumbrians Ravaged the Country and took great Spoile but in his return Cuthred King of the West Saxons gave him Battel for lucre of the spoil and routed him at Burford in Oxfordshire and after that another great Overthrow near Tamworth in Warwickshire where by the procurement of one Bernzed a principal Captain in his Host he was Slain in a Mutiny of his People when he had Reigned Twenty Four Years He is said to have Builded the Monastery of Crowland and divers other Religious Houses Offa the Eleventh King of Mercia began his Reign Anno Dom. 758. He Warred upon Alrick King of Kent Slaying him in Battel near Otteford and made great Spoil and Destruction in his Kingdom as also that of the South Saxons and puffed up with Victory not so contented he Marched through the Countries of the East Saxons as far as the Mouth of the River Humber bringing great Terror on the Northumbrian Kingdom and at his Return Kenwolf King of the West Saxons endeavouring to Intercept him with great Power in hopes to be Master of the Rich Booty he had gathered in divers Counties he was by him Overthrown with much Slaughter near Merton This Offa caused a Ditch of Forty Eight Foot Wide and Fifteen Deep to be Cut or Thrown up running a Line between England and Wales the tract of which is yet visible and retains the Name of Offa's Ditch commanding the Britains under the Penalty of being pursued with Fire and Sword not to pass this bound But they little regarding his Threats threw it down in divers places and came Armed into Mercia making great Spoil though it proved to their disadvantage for Offa entering Wales with a Potent Army Overthrew Marmodius their Prince and most of his Followers wasting the Towns and Villages with Fire for near Fifty Miles This Offa Reigned Thirty Nine Years In his time a terrible Earth-Quake overthrew many Churches and stately Buildings Egfrid the Twelfth King of Mercia began his Reign Anno Dom. 797. This Man was well affected to the Christian Religion Restoring the Church to all her Antient Priviledges which his Father had deprived her of contributing to the Rebuilding those that had been laid in Ruins by Offa in Kent and other Counties He was a great lover of Peace and laboured to reconcile those that were at difference yet his Reign was very short continuing only Four Months and odd Days Kenwolf the Thirteenth King of Mercia began his Reign Anno Dom. 797. He Warred on the Kingdom of Kent and made great Spoil Overthrowing Ethelbert the Third and taking him Prisoner but Released him at the Dedication of a new Church he had Builded at Winchcomb and afterward much Inlarged his Borders during his Twenty Two Years Reign Kenelm coming Young to the Crown Anno Dom. 819 was much given to Pleasure and Recreations leaving the chief Management of his weighty Affaires to Askbert his Tutor who greatly Inriched himself by Oppressing the People and fearing to be called to a strict Account upon the many Complaints made against him he Conspired with Quendride the Kings Sister whose Favourite he was to cover the Guilt of his crimes with a greater so that taking an opportunity when the King was in his Retirement he Murthered him when he had Reigned about Five Months He was the Fourteenth King of Mercia Ceolwolfe Succeeding Kenelm laboured to settle Affairs which were much out of order but the Methods of his proceedings being disliked one Bernulfe a Duke very Powerful at that time among the common People stirred them up to Rebellion so that rising Tumultuously they forced him to Abdicate the Throne by a secret withdrawing to prevent the dire effects of Popular-Fury when he had Reigned One Year So that for a time great Distractions were amongst them but Anno Dom. 821 Bernulfe got possession of the vacant Throne This Ceolwolfe was the Fifteenth King of Mercia Bernulfe by Flattery distribution of Money and fair Promises getting possession of the Kingdom found great Troubles from his Powerful Neighbours the West Saxons and East Angles Egbert King of the former making fierce Wars upon him wasting his Borders and destroying multitudes of his People and after Bernulfe Warring on the East Angles who had entered Lincolnshire and made great Spoil was Slain in a bloody Battel with many Thousands of his Subjects in the Third Year of his Reign Anno Dom. 824. He was the Sixteenth King of Mercia Ludecan the Seventeenth King of the Mercians began his Reign Anno Dom. 824 but being embroyled
re-assumed his Crown when in Battel against him he was Slain in the Third Year after his coming to the Crown Egrick or Edrick for by both Namers Authos make mention of this King began his Reign Anno Dom. 638. He continued the War against the Mercians and gave them divers Foiles but coming to a pitched Battel endeavouring to break in upon Penda's Standard he was Slain upon which his Army was so disheartned that many of them throwing down their Weapons a general Rout and Flight ensued whereupon the Mercians following with great fury about Seven Thousand were Slain and not less than Three Thousand of the Mercians He began his Reign Anno Dom. 638 and Reigned Four Years Anna the Seventh King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 642 and although he Reigned Twelve Years yet few of his Actions are Recorded more than that he endeauoured to settle his Kingdom and laboured for Peace with his Neighbours which at last was accorded though on very hard conditions Ethelbert the Eighth King of the East Angles finding he was too weak to oppose the Northumbrians who had got strong footing in the Northern Frontier Towns he made a League with Penda King of Mercia at which Oswye King of Northumberland being much disgusted raised a great Army and War being denounced the East Angles and Mercians thinking it not convenient to stay his coming resolved to place the seat of War in his Country but in their March a fatal Omen seemed to forbid it viz. Two Flights of Birds one from the North and the other from the South met and Encountered over their Host with such Fury that many drops of Blood as it had been small sprinklings of Raine fell from the Wounds made on each other with their Bills and Talons till at last the Southern Flight turned Taile with a strange Noise or Cryes and were Pursued till out of sight Soon after this Penda Ethelbert and their Confederates joyned Battel with Oswye near Leeds in Yorkshire and in a great Overthrow of their Armys the two Kings were Slain with 18000 of their Men and among them 30 Dukes and chief Leaders This Ethelbert Reigned two Years Edelwald the Ninth King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 656. He purchas'd his Peace with a great Sum when he found he was too feeble to oppose his Enemies and gave up Cantionary Towns to the Northumbers for the security of payment This caused a Murmuring among his Subjects which broke into Tumults so that much grieved at his misfortunes Abroad and at Home he Dyed when he had Reigned Eight Years Aldulfe the Tenth King of the East Angles was advanced to the Crown Anno Dom. 664 in a very troublesome time however with some difficulties he brought the Kingdom to a settlement and continued his Reign Ninteen Years In his time a terrible Earth-Quake happened giving three violent shocks which shattered and overturned divers massy Buildings but the greatest dammage fell upon the City of London many People being destroyed by the fall of Chimneys Houses c. And soon after so great a Frost happened That loaded Carts went over the principal Rivers as securely as if it had been on dry Land Elfwold the Eleventh King of the East Angles began to Reign Anno Dom. 683. The Danes in his time began to be troublesome and Invaded the Scots and Callidonians commiting terrible Outrages in Argyle-shire and other parts subduing all the Islands belonging to Scotland advancing after many Battels upon the Picts and as far as the Tweed whereupon those Nations craved Aid of this and other Saxon Kings to Expel them urging as a main reason the Mutual Danger they were in by the Invasion of so powerful an Enemy which though it proved fatally true was at that time little minded This King Reigned Seven Years Beorne the Twelfth King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 690 And though he continued it Twenty Four Years yet there is nothing Memorable Recorded of him as to certainty of History but his Building some Monasteries and making divers good Laws for the well Governing of his Subjects Ethelred the Thirteenth King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 714. In his Second Year on Midsummer-Day at Sunseting dark Clouds overspread the Skies and then withdrawing the Element seemed on Fire after that many fearful sights appeared in the Air of Armies and Monsterous Creatures upon which followed so great a Storm that many Ships were broken to pieces in the Havens mighty Oaks rent up and Houses overturned He Reigned sometimes in War and at others in Peace Thirty Five Years Ethelbert the Second of that Name and the Fourteenth King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 749. He in the last Year of his Reign sent Ambassadors to Offa King of Mercia to treat of Peace and the restoring some Towns taken from him and his Predecessors which Offa seemed enclinable to hearken to sending them back with Presents and Rewards as also a dissembling Letter to Invite Ethelbert to his Court under pretence of giving him his Beauteous Daughter Alfrida in Marriage that the League between them might be the stronger but indeed aiming to add the East Angle Kingdom to his own Dominions and having gotten the too credulous Prince in his power he consulted with Quindride how he should dispose of him to accomplish his designes who being a Woman Inured to Blood and Mischief Counseled his Death which was performed in the heighth of Jollitry by disguised Ruffians so that instead of a Bridal Bed he had an untimely Grave when he had Reigned Forty Five Years Edmund the Fifteenth and last King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 794. He was a great encourager of Religious Persons allowing large Sums to Churches and Church-men but one of his Nobles whom he had constituted as Vice Roy Ravishing the Beautious Wife of Beorn a Nobleman who in his Progress had sumptuously Feasted him This Beorn preferring his private Revenge to the good of his Country called in the Danes who before were much discouraged and charge the Guilt on Innocent King Edmund because he had not put the Offender to Death as the Law then directed which indeed he durst not do the other being grown too powerful for him And now the King being Overthrown in divers Battels his Country scattered over with his Slain Subjects and most of the principal Towns laid in Ruines he was constrained to fly for shelter to Framingham Castle where the Danes Besieged him and through Famine and loss of Men constraining the Garrison to Surrender they stripped the King of his Royal Robes beat his Naked Body with Cudgels scourging him till the Bones of his Ribs appeared bare he bearing it patiently all the while calling on the Name of Jesus which so enraged the Pagans That Tying him to a Post they Shot him to Death with Arrows then cut off his Head and threw it into a Wood which being found
by a Shepherd was Buried together with his Body at a place in Suffolk bearing from thence the Name of St. Edmunds-Bury he being soon after Cannonized a Saint and Martyr And with him ceased the East Angle Government there being no mention made of any more Kings that Governed it as a distinct Kingdom About the number of Years he Reigned Authors disagree and therefore I pass them over as uncertain and proceed to the last of the Seven Kingdoms viz. That of the West Saxons 7. The West Saxon Kingdom described with the Succession of its Kings and what things worthy of History happened during their respective Reigns Also by what means they at last Obtained the Sole Monarchy of England c. The Kingdom of the West Saxons contained the spacious and fertil Counties of Cornwal Devonshire Dorcetshire Somersetshire Wiltshire Hampshire and Barkshire Bounded on the North with Monmouthshire Gloucestershire Oxfordshire and Bristol-Channel on the East with Sussex Surry and part of Buckinghamshire on the South with the British-Ocean and part of the Channel on the West with the Ocean These Counties abound in plenty of Corn Wooll Tinn Fruits Cattle and profitable Manufactures having many Excellent Harbours opening advantageously to the Sea so that growing by such means Rich and Powerful they failed not at length to bring under the other Kingdoms Uniting them in a Sole Monarchy under Egbert their Seventeenth King as in the Series of this History will appear Cherdick a Valiant Captain of the Low Country Germans first laboured to form these Counties into a Kingdom but before he could do it he had Six Years Wars with the Britains in which he Fought a great Battel with Aurelius Ambrosius their King and was put to the Rout but upon his Death which happened Two Years after by Poison as has been related Vter-Pendragon Brother to Aurelius being Crowned King of the Britains he borrowed Forces of Hengist who were sent under the Leading of Ebusa and Octa his two Sons but these Forces were as the former overthrown by Vter-Pendragon and Hengists Sons were taken Prisoness but whilst the Victor neglected the Tents of Mars for the softer Alcove of Venus viz. To sport with the fair Igren Wife to the Duke of Cornwal on whom he got the Renouned Prince Arthur who Succeeded him as King over the Britains the Noble Captives Escaped and again advancing their Standard in the Field were Slain with most of their followers These bad beginnings so startled Cherdrick that he found little hopes to keep the footing he had gained but more Forces coming unexpectedly to his Aid he resolved to try another Battel with the Britains which was Fought near Salisbury wherein Fortune turning her Wheel about he put the British Army to the Foil killing Natauleon one of their great Captains and made so great a slaughter of his Enemies that for a time he had no Interruption in settling his Affairs but after the Death of Vter-Pendragon who Died of Poison put into a Well whereof he used to Drink every Morning King Arthur gave great disturbances to him in the settlement of his new acquired Kingdom much Blood being shed between them in divers Battels yet beginning his Reign Anno Dom. 501 he continued it Thirty Three Years Kenrick the Second King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 534. He was Son to Cherdick and a Mortal Enemy to the Britains In his Fathers time he Commanded a part of the Army and Fought several Battels and now coming to the Crown he raised all his Forces and gave the Britains two great Overthrows viz. One at Shrewsbury and the other at Banbury in Oxfordshire He Reigned Twenty Six Years Chewlin the Third King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 560. He Warred upon Ethelbert King of Kent and defeated his Army at Wimbledon slaying two of his chief Commanders and this is held to be the first Battel fought between Saxons and Saxons in England a little before which it remarkably happened at Feversham in Kent That a Tame Wolfe having brought forth Seven Male Young-ones they lived Quietly together till grown up and then never left Fighting till all but one were Destroyed as it afterward befell the Saxon Heptarchy This King gave a great Overthrow to the Britains at Bedford and Surprized Four of their Towns viz. Liganbury Ailsbury Bensington and Evisham He Fought another Battel with them at Deorham and Slew three of their Dukes viz. Farmnagill Coinmagill and Candigan Taking the Cities of Glocester Bath and Cirencester But not long after Encountering them at Wodensbridge his Army was defeated and Cuth his Eldest Son Slain for here a party of Saxons assisted the Britains under the Command of Cearlick his Nephew who had fled to them upon hard usage and fear of being made away by his unnatural Uncle He Reigned Thirty Three Years Cearlick the Fourth King of the West Savons gained the Kingdom by the Overthrow of his Uncle Chewlin which he gave him at Waines-Ditch in Wiltshire Anno Dom. 593 after which he found much trouble ere he could be settled in the Government but the Britains standing his Friends he continued his Reign Six Years Chelwolf began his Reign Anno Dom. 598 but scarce was he settled in the Throne ere the Britains Invaded his Territories making great Spoil but finding they were too weak to withstand him alone in process of time they drew the Scots and Picts to their assistance so that many bloody Battels were fought with various success In which Wars he Dyed in the 14th Year of his Reign leaving his Kingdom in much distress and perplexity He was the 5th King of the West Saxons Kingills the Sixth King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 612. He had great Wars with the Britains and in a pitched Battel at Beandune he put Cudwan their King to the Rout Slaying above a Thousand of his Subjects and having concluded a Peace with Penda King of the Mercians he grievously Oppressed them so that for a long time they were confined to the Mountains and Fastnesses in the Country now called Wales However after he was Converted to the Christian Faith by Berinus he abated much of his Severity making Dorchester a Bishops See and placing that Religious Man in it He was the First Christian King of the West Saxons and Reigned Thirty One Years Kenwald the Seventh King of the West Saxons made great Wars upon the Britains Overthrowing King Cadwallo at a place called Pennum with incredible slaughter but growing Proud on the success and Quarreling with Penda King of Mercia whose Sister he had Married and in Contempt of him turned her away he was by him driven out of his Kingdom But upon Submitting and being Baptized by Bishop Felix he was restored to his Kingdom and thereby obliged by Penda to receive his Wife into Favour He began his Reign Anno Dom. 643 and Reigned Thirty One Years Eskwin the Eighth King of the West Saxons began his Reign
Anno Dom. 674. He had Wars with Wolfere King of Mercia and a great Battel was Fought between them at Bidamheaford which continued so Obstinate from Morning till Evening that both the Kings perceiving the great Loss they had sustained in the Night time they raised their Camps and secretly Retreated as being mutually possessed with a fear of the direful consequences they apprehended would attend the next days Encounter He afterward Warred on the Britains but his short Reign affords us no Memorable Achievement in that Enterprize it continuing only Two Years Kentwin the Ninth King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 677 continuing the War on the Britains sorely Oppressing them in all the Neighbouring Counties in the latter end of the Reign of Cadwallo their King which he continued after the Death of that British Prince so that Cadwallader his Son coming to the Crown found himself constrained to draw his People into a lesser compass having at last little more at liberty than the Mountains and some Valleys being perpetually Alarmed on the Frontiers so that Blood was daily spilt like Water This Kentwin Reigned Nine Years A Blazing Sar of a Whitish or Flame-Colour appeared in his time for three Months with a Taile of exceeding length far longer than before had been Recorded in any Age. Ceadwald the Tenth King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 686. He made War on the South Saxons and in a set Battel slew Ethelwolf their King and continuing to prosecute his Ravages in that Country and Kent he spilt much Christian Blood Encountering Barthun Successor to Ethelwolf he likewise slew him in Battel after which repenting what he had done he went to Rome and was there Baptized by Pope Sergius and Named Peter His Reign continued Two Years and odd Days Ine or Ineas the Eleventh King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 688. In his time the poor Britains were sorely Oppressed with War Famine and Pestilence so that the Living were scarce able to Bury the Dead which great Calamity Cadwallader not able to bear left the Land and went to Armorica or Britany to his Cousin Allan and from thence in Pilgrimage to Rome and received a Religious Habit at the Hands of Pope Sergius in which Retirement he Dyed and with him all the hopes of the Britains he being accounted the Last of their Kings the rest being stiled by Authentick Historians only Princes of Wales This Ine made the South Saxons to Submit and annexed that Kingdom to his own He likewise Warred with various success on Chelred King of Mercia and made many wholsom Laws for the good of his People Translated by Mr. Lambert out of the Saxon Language He Founded the Abby of Glassenbury over the Tomb or Burying-place of Joseph of Arimathea who begged our Saviours Body from the Cross and afterwards as several Authors report came over into this Kingdom Preaching the Gospel to the Britains and Dying was Buried at Glassenbury This King afterward went a Pilgrimage to Rome and for the good reception he found there he made a Law That every Housholder who had Goods to the Value of Twenty Pence of One Sort should pay a Penny by way of Gratuity to the Pope every Lammas Day which afterward was Claimed by succeeding Popes by way of Tribute and called Peter Pence He Reigned Thirty Seven Years Ethellard the Twelfth King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 726 being in a manner ushered in by two Blazing Stars both within a quarter of a Year one at North-West and the other at South-East after which a Famine and Pestilence grievously Afflicted all parts of this Island so that Shiping was sent abroad to fetch in Food in Exchange for Metals and other valuable Goods He streightened the Britains in their Mountanous Country and caused many to be slain who passed the appointed Boundaries He Reigned Fourteen Years Cuthred the Thirteenth King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 740 when finding the Britains had gathered Courage by the coming over of Recruits from Armorica or Britany with which Country as an antient Collony of this they kept a strict Allyance after several Battels fought with them in Worcestershire Monmouthshire and other bordering Counties which they laboured to recover he at last in many Encounters proving too weak Leagued with Ethelbald King of Mercia and by that means the Britains were beaten out of most of the places they had gained and being Overthrown in Battel near Carnarvan they found themselves unable to make head against the Victors by reason half their Army most of their Nobles and chief Commanders were slain so that they sued for Peace which after much havock and desolation in their Mountainous Country by the pursuing Saxons was granted in consideration of an Annual Tribute of Three Thousand Marks to be payed to Cuthred but it was not long punctually observed before new Tumults and Disturbances happened for Adelm an Earl of the West Saxons Rebelling against his King and drawing a multitude of the Plebeans to his Party the Britains took that opportunity to cast off their Yoak This Cuthred Reigned Fourteen Years Sigesburt the Fourteenth King of the West Saxons assumed the Throne Anno Dom. 754 and being brought up tenderly in his Infancy and in his Grown Years addicting himself to the conversation of Parasites Flatterers and other Vicious Persons it so corrupted his Manners that by the Advice of such his wicked Counsellours who chiefly Swayed him he caused Earl Cumbria to be put to Death with great Torture For Daring as he himself Expressed it to tell him of his Failings and Defects in his Kingly Office But this Earl being a grave Patriot and a Man of Unblameable Life was so generally beloved by the People that his Death cost Sigesbert his Crown and Life for hereupon they rose up in Arms against him defeated those that stood by him and drove him into a Wood in Dorcetshire where he absconded till he supposed the heat of the Pursuit and Popular Fury was abated but being found by the Earls Swineheard Breakfasting on Acorns under a spreading Oake he with a Battoon beat out his Braines in revenge of his Masters Death no intreaties or promises of reward being able to deter him from this bloody Execution His Reign continued about a Year Kenwolf the Fifteenth King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 755 and had no sooner settled the Government which by reason of Intestine Broyles and the untimely Death of a King was much disordered than he prepared to Invade the Britains but upon their sending to excuse the non Payment of the Tribute on the account of their extream Poverty caused by a Famine that had held two Years in their Country so that the Poorer sort left no Unclean thing un-eaten His preparations were for a time layed aside but some stragling Parties of Britains constrained by Necessity making Incursions into the Saxon Counties War was
Proclaimed and the Britains being Overthrown in divers Battels were forced to fly to the Rocks and the broken craggy Cliffs on the Sea-shoare and the Mountainnous parts for shelter from thence with aking Hearts beholding the blazing Fires that consumed their Habitations and the miserable Desolation made in their almost before ruined Country But as if such Cruelty as no doubt it did seemed displeasing in the sight of God The angry Heavens Warred against him and did what the feeble Britains were unable 〈◊〉 do viz he was driven out of the Country by vioâ—â—nt Rains which Deluging the Valleys and Plaines â—arryed away Men Horse and Baggage so that by â—his means he lost a good part of his Army When â—o put so great a misfortune out of his mind going to Merton to sollace with his Paramour a worse misforâ—une befel him for having Quarreled with Offa King of Mercia Clyto a Mercian Captain upon privat notice of his Journy attended but with a few Servants layed an Ambush and slew him which was the next day Revenged by Osricus one of Kenwolfs Captains who upon news of what had happened by a Shepherd who from a Hill had beheld the slaughter of the King and his Followers crossing the Country by the nearest ways intercepted Clyto in his return and after a sharp dispute slew him and Eighty Souldiers his attendants and caused the Kings Body to be Interred with much State at Winchester This King Reigned Twenty Nine Years Brithrick the Sixteenth King of the West Saxans began bis Reign Anno Dom. 784. He was given up very much to the Love of Women and though he was Marryed to a very Beautiful Queen yet he kept divers Concubins so that his Recreations of that kind taking up much of his time gave his Neighbours for the most part rest especially to the satisfaction of the Britains who were in a low condition and unable to undergo the Charge and Fatigue of a dangerous War as they had lately experienced to their smart and impoverishment yet in his time several strange Prodigies appeared viz. The similitudes of seven Moons in the Firmament which by degrees uniting into one it Shined exceeding Bright for a time above what that pale Planet had usually done and then became dim and cloudy A great Glob of Fire appeared over Winchester and coming near the earth parted or broke into divers lesser Globes or Balls which Fired some Houses and killed many People also a little Blazing-Star appeared three Nights successively and a Month before his Death strange Shrieks and affrighting Voices were heard in his Pallace The manner of his Death was thus The Queen impatient of the Wrongs he did her in keeping Strumpets in his Pallace and causing her sometimes to wait on them was at length prompted to revenge the Affronts put upon her by one of them he best loved and therefore having mixed Poison with some rich Wine she intended to send it to her in the Kings Name as a Present but being unluckily called away to see some sights that were prepared for the diversion of the Court she left it in her Closet and for haste the Door open when as the King coming thither before her return and taking it for a Cordial Drank largly of it and so by the strength of the Poison he Dyed in three Hours and the Queen fearing to suffer a cruel Death though this had un-witingly happened by her means hereupon flying into France through Grief and Want she dyed in a miserable condition This King Reigned Sixteen Years Egbert the Seventeenth and Last Petty King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 800 and whilst he continued in this Station before he came to be Crowned Sole Monarch of the Saxons Uniting the Heptarchy or Seven Kingdoms he had great Wars with the Britains who were assisted by the Cornish-men which from the beginning of his Wars with them to the time he brought them to acknowledge him their Superiour lasted about Fourteen Years in which time he took Westchester and made a strict Law That no Britain or Welshman should pass Offa 's Ditch without leave Then Warring on the Mercians he slew Bernulf their King subdued Kent and compelled the East Angles the South and East Saxons to submit to him and in a great measure having brought the Mercians and Northumbrians under grasping at the Sole Monarchy which he concluded Fortune had or soon would chain to his Sword he caused himself with great Pomp solemnly to be Crowned Soled Monarch of the Saxons that had been for the most part till now distinctly Governed by their respective Kings as appears in the foregoing account of the Succession of them This was performed at Winchester with many of the Ceremonies used at present in the Coronation of our Kings when he had Reigned over the West Saxons Nineteen Years But because I am obliged to Trace the remainder of his Reign viz. Seventeen Years as Sole Monarch in the next Chapter I here omit to mention any more of his Actions And now to clear some difficulties that may arise as far as History gives light into the Truth Note That although Egbert caused himself to be Crowned Sole Monarch and absolutely possessed himself of those Kingdoms whose Succession of Kings ceased before or when he Reigned as that of Kent the East Saxons and South Saxon Kingdoms c. yet others were of a longer continuance and can be supposed only as Tributary to him for we find Burdred the last of the Mercian Kings ended his Reign Anno Dom. 874. viz. Thirty Eight Years after Egberts Death And to the same purpose it is to be considered further viz. where Authors make mention of a longer continuance of the Petty Kingdoms than there is any Succession of Kings Recorded the Judicious Observers and Comparers of History have looked on it as a Mistake in them by taking the Lieutenants or Vice-Roys placed by the Sole Monarchs to Govern under them for petty Kings which Error the Antient Writers of the Affairs of this Kingdom having been too lyable to their Incoherence in respect of Time has not a little puzzled those that came after them which I have as well as the matter will conveniently bear without breaking the thred of History laboured to Reform CHAP. VIII The Succession of the Fifteen Saxon Kings that were Sole Monarchs of England with what Memorable Things happened in Peace and War during their Reigns as Wonderful Sights Prodigies and Remarkable Accidents c. Till the time the Danes wrested the Kingdom with much strugling from them Anno Dom. 1017 about 230 Years after they made their first Invasion Together with a Description of the Counties of England one by one after every Kings Reign which will be continued throughout the Work giving an Account of what is or has been Rare or Remarkable in each of them c. The Reign of King Egbert the First Sole Saxon Monarch of England WHEN the contending Petty Kings of the Saxons had for
appearing half Naked added to her Beauty she being then but very Young the King was so Charmed or Infatuated that he became Enamoured of her and though upon his Address she strongly urged she was his Fathers Widow and the Daughter of a King and that it was inconsistent with the Law of God and her Reputation to yield to his desires her Repulses served but as Air to make the Fire of his Passion blaze to a greater degree till at last between willing and unwilling tempted by Ambitious Inclinations of being a Queen Consort rather than Dowager she yielded to be his Wife And though the Match was highly opposed by his Nobles who layed before him the Scandal it would bring upon his Children if he had any by her and perhaps for his Sins a Punishment upon the Nation he persisting in his Resolution was Marryed though with little Ceremony tending to Magnificence as usual at the Weddings of the former Kings And indeed this brought much trouble on the King and Nation for whilst he Dallianced with his Incestuous Bride and pursued his wanton Pleasures the weighty Affaires of Government were layd aside and as it were altogether neglected which gave the Danes great advantage to recruit their Forces that had been not only weakened by War in the former Reign but with Famine attended on by a grievous Pestilence and when he had Reigned Two Years and Three Months without doing any thing Memorable he Dyed Suddainly supposed by an Appoplexy though some conclude he was Poisoned After which Queen Judith fearing some Mischief might befal her by reason she had upon this Marriage incurred the hatred of the People procured leave from Ethelbert Brother and Successor to Ethelbald to be Transported to France but a Storm arising the Ship was driven on the Coast of Flanders where undertaking to Travel by Land to her Fathers Court she was surprized on her Journey by Baldwin Forrester of Ardenna who compelled her to be his Wife and by kind usage won so much upon her Affections That Writing in her own and his behalf many moving and submissive Letters to the King her Father he not only forgave what had happened but created her Husband Earl of Flanders to hold that Country as his Tributary and from this Match Lineally descended Maud Wife to our William stiled the Conquorer also Baldwin Earl of Flanders who was King of Jerusalem and another of that Name who was by the Latins Invested with the Imperial Diadem of Greece upon their taking the famous City of Constantinople Anno Dom 1284. This Ethelbald was Third Sole Monarch of England Ending his Reign with his Life Anno Dom. 860. BEDFORD SHIRE By John Seller Remarks on Bedfordshire c. BEdfordshire is a very Pleasant In-Land County it is Bounded with Northamptonshire Huntingtonshire Cambridgshire Hartfordshire Buckinghamshire c. It is plentiful in Cattle Fowle Corn fat Pastures Forrests Parks replenished with store of Timber and Deer consisting of Plains pleasant Valleys and gradual rising Hills and is said to yeild the best Barley in England especially in the North parts It containes One Hundred and Sixteen Parishes Nine Hundreds Ten Market Towns and One considerable River It sends Members to Parliament Four viz. Bedford two and two Knights for the County Bedford the Shire Town has been to its cost the Scene of much Action especially in the Wars between King Stephen and the Empress Maud Mother to Henry the Second and in the Wars of the Barons against King John and was raz'd to the ground by King Henry the Third but soon Rebuilt and ever since flourished in much tranquility and splendor In a Chappel not far from the Town Offa the great King of the Mercians was Buryed which being demolished by the overflowing of the Ouse his Spectrum is said often to have appeared on the Water of that River There is a little Rivolet at Asply near Wobourn in this County which is famous for its Petrifying Quality being said to Turn Wood into Stone and that a Wooden Ladder happening to fall into it was some time after taken up again all Stone And that not only the Pivolet or Brook but the Earth in the Banks of it has the same Vertue So that it is justly accounted one of the Wonders of our Isle Dean is a pleasant Town Eminent for the Birth of Francis Dillingham a very Learned Man as Layton Buzzard for the Birth of William Sclater Dunstable called by the Romans Magiovinium the latter Name being taken from a notable Thief called Dun who with his Accomplices Inhabited it and for that cause called Dunstable or Duns Inning Place it also gave Birth to that Leared Author John Sirnamed Dunstable The River Ouse Waters this County with its pleasant Meanders passing through Bedford and hath over it a handsom Stone Bridge with two Gates upon it This County is likewise Beautified with some of the Seats of the Nobility as those of Anthony Grey Earl of Kent at Wrest-House and Harrold the Earl of Bullinbrooks at Bletsho and Melchborn the Earl of Allesbury's at Ampthil and Clophil Its Hills produce the best Marl with abundance of Blue Stone like Slate And the whole County is plentiful in all sorts of Provision and divers profitable Manufacturs The Reign of Ethelbert Fourth Sole Monarch of England EThelbert Second Son to Ethelwolf a Prince of an Active Spirit immediatly Succeeded his Brother Ethelbald being Crowned ten days after his Death the imergency of Affairs not allowing longer delay or much Ceremony in the performance by reason the Danes were again become powerful so that as well as the time would permit having setled the Western parts of his Kingdom and that he might not leave an Enemy at his Back made the Welsh his Friends he commanded the Nobles and Gentry to Muster as many as could be spared from Tilling the Ground and Harvest and were able to bear Arms and with them so Accoutered for the War to repaire to his Standard and being Obeyed in this he Marched towards the Enemy whom he found Ravaging with their usual cruelties the Inland Counties as far as the Western Borders of Bedfordshire sending Heralds before him to demand the reason Why they Invaded his Country and destroyed so many Innocent People stripping the Towns and Villages of all that was valuable and laying many of them in Ashes But they with threats dismissing his Messengers without any satisfactory answer Ethelbert gave them Battel which continued for a time Bloody and doubtful as if Victory knew not to which side to encline but when the Sun was descending in the West a Band of Peasants came to the Kings assistance with Forks Sythes and other Harvest Instruments and falling on the Danes with loud crys they taking this to be a Reserve and thinking there might be more sheltered behind the Woods and Hills hereupon immediatly gave back and the King taking advantage of their fears pressed on so furiously in the head of his Army that from an orderly
Bounded on the North with Barkshire on the East with Surry and Sussex on the South with the Channel and on the West with Wiltshire and Dorsetshire It Containes one City viz. Winchester which is a Bishops See and is divided into 39 Hundreds 253 Parishes 20 Market Towns and 4 Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 26 viz. Knights of the Shire two Winchester Southampton Portsmouth Yarmouth Petersfield Newport Stockbridge Newton Christchurch Whitchurch HANT â—HIRE Limington and Andover two each Note That to this County belongs the Isle of Wight As for Winchester the only City it was the Antient Venta-Belgarum of the Romans it is held to have been Founded by Rudhuidibras an Antient British King and was the Royal Seat and Place of Crowning the West Saxon Kings for many Reigns The Cathedral was Built by King Kenwolfe and made the Burying-Place of the Kings Henry the Third was Born in this City and many Men of great fame Southampton was Built out of the Ruins of the Antient Clausentium and after many Devastations Re-Edified in King Richard the Seconds time It 's said to take this latter Name from Hamo a Roman slain there viz. Hamo's Haven or Southampton At Basingstoke was Born John of Basingstoke the first English Author of a Greek Grammar and at Odiam William Lilly first Master of St. Paul's School Other Places in this County are Famous for the Birth of worthy Persons and memorable Transactions as Andover Warblington Hide Illchester Wickham Okely c. Besides the strength of Portsmouth and the Citadel to secure the Coast here are Hurt-Castle and Calshot-Castle standing as it were in the Sea and many other advantages for the protection of Shipping The Rocks afford Samphire and the White Cliffs abundance of Wild Thyme Marjorum and Rosemary The Seats of the Nobility are Basing-House Abbstone and Hackwood seats of the Duke of Boulton Farnborough Place a seat of the Earl of Anglesey Rockborn a seat of the Earl of Shaftsburys Wharlwell a seat of the Lord La Warrs Mottessant a seat of the Lord Sandys Breamore a seat of the Lord Brooks Wolvesey-House the seat of the Lord Bishop of the Diocess The Reign of Edmund who from his Valour and Hardiness was Sirnamed Ironside Fifteenth Sole Monarch of England EDmund Ironside began his Reign in a very troublesome time Anno Dom. 1016 when the Danes had possessed the greater part of the Kingdom taking on him the Crown rather out of pity to his bleeding Country than desire of Soveraignty and indeed did more than could be reasonably expected from him with such slender Forces and little Treasure for immediatly seting up his Standard to recover a great part of the Kingdom at a point to be lost he gave Canute Battel at Penham near Gillingham where he Overthrew him with much slaughter on both sides then he Fought him again with the like success at Sherestane in Worcestershire and likewise in a third Battel near that place notwithstanding Ederick the Traiterous Duke though seemingly siding with the King gave out in the midest of the Battel that the King was Slain upon which Defeat the Danes fled to London and were pursued by Edmund who drove them thence He discomfited them at Oteford in Kent and had clear'd the Kingdom of them but for Edrick's Treachery who in a sixth Battel the King Fought at Assendune near Roachfor in Essex commanding a part of the Kings Army he purposely fled upon which the Souldiers fell into Rout and Disorder so that the King was compelled for his safety to Retreat towards Gloucester whither his scattered Forces resorted to him and after a little Refreshment he caused other Troops to be raised and again displayed his Standard in the Field often Skirmishing with the Danes and slaying great numbers of them sending likewise a Challenge to Canute their King to end the War by single Combate who accepting it the two Kings in the sight of both Armies prepared on the day appointed viz. the 15th of July in a little Island called Olway made so by the winding of the Severn and about ten in the Morning the Combate began both of them having strong and large Swords They had not long continued it and given to each other mighty Blows but the Blood flowed plentifully from their Wounds and Edmund being a Prince of exceeding strength pressed so hard upon Canute that driving him to the Brink of the River he cryed out tho almost Breathless and Faint by effusion of Blood What need is there for us Noble King thus to endanger our Lives The Kingdom is large enough for us both If you will then consent to divide it between us our hands will be strengthened against our Enemies and we shall Live together in Peace and Vnity as Brothers King Edmund pausing hereupon a while considered That if he slew Canute the Danes might not stand to the Award of leaving the Land as having experienced their breach of Truce and that being mostly Pagans they held it but a small matter to break their Word or Oaths with Christians and that other Commanders might come over with fresh Forces to work new Troubles the Country being already very much wasted he at last concluded upon Canute's dropping his Sword in token he Submitted to shake Hands with him and embrace the offer Whereupon King Edmund having the first Lot chose the Southern Eastern and Western Counties as far as the Borders of Yorkshire and Canute then seemed to be contented with the Northern Counties as far as the Borders of Scotland Mutually Swearing to assist each other against all Invaders and for a time they lived Peaceably in Co-Partnership But Ederick the Traytorous Duke perceiving the Danes by reason of the swarms that came frequently from Denmark to be the stronger laboured to ingratiate himself with Canute tho' he held fair with Edmund who would not be perswaded by his faithful Counsellors to take him out of the way tho' his Treasons were apparent And thinking he should merit much of the Dane by destroying King Edmund at least That he should have some part of the Kingdom assigned him he one day as the King was disburdening Nature at the lower end of his Garden conveyed himself by a back way under the Vault and with Impious Hands Thrust a short Spear in at his Fundament and up his Body till it peirced his Heart so that giving an extraordinary Groan he instantly Dyed The Traytor not satisfied with this but desirous to carry some Testimonial of the Regicide with him crept up at the hole and with his Sword cut off the Kings Head and so privately made his Escape to Canute and at his approaching him cryed out Hail Sole Monarch of England Behold the Head of thy Go-Partner Canute inwardly detesting so base a Treachery yet outwardly dessembling his Resentment received it as a Grateful Present promising the Bringer to Advance him above all the Nobles of the English Nation and indeed in one sence he did it as he deserved for
most of his Army whereupon Wales entirely submitted to the English Obedience These Troubles were scarce over when another Storm threatned from Normandy The Duke spurred on by Philip of France who promised to Aid him a second time prepared for England but the King having an Army on foot concluded it better to seat the War in another Country than in his own and therefore to prevent the Dukes making his Voyage Sailed to Normandy whose surprising Landing brought great fear on the Country however the King finding himself able with the Army he had to do no great matters and being destitute of Money to raise Forces Abroad bethought him of a Stratagem to do it viz. He sent to England many chief Officers to Levy such for the Wars as were of Ability and having Listed Citizens of London and others to the number of 30000 when they came to the Sea Shoar and most of them shewed an unwillingness to Embark as looking back to their Wives and Children from which many of them had been forced upon a pretended pressing urgency it was Proclaimed That such as would lay down Ten Shillings should be Discharged from the Service which most of them did with great Alacrity so that very few of them went With this Money King William underhand bought off Philip the French King from the Duke of Normandy's Interest which he perceiving agreed with his Brother by Ratifying again the former Conditions and the Christian Armies being on foot in most parts of Europe to rescue the Christians in the Holy Land from the Tyrany of the Turks and Sarazens Duke Robert to raise Forces and accompany them Pawned his Dutchey of Normandy to King William for 10000 Pounds and there did many Valiant Exploits insomuch that at the taking of Jerusalem he was first proffered to be made King of it and all the Country lying about it larger than what either David or Solomon possessed but he refused it in hopes of the Kingdom of England after his Brothers Death tho' he was disappointed of it and Dyed a deplorable Death which some have accounted as a Judgment for his having refused the profered Scepter of Jerusalem However on his refusal the Princes chose Godfry of Bulloin Earl of Flanders with which Choice he Joyfully complied but would not be Crowned as he said with a Crown of Gold where our Blessed Saviour for the Sins of Man and to procure his Redemption had some time worn a Crown of Thorns But nearer to My Purpose The King was no sooner returned out of Normandy but News was brought him the Welsh were again in Rebellion whereupon he Marched to Subdue them but returned without effecting it by reason of the violent Torrents occasioned by the Rain and their keeping among the Rocks and Fastnesses till his Army was tired out with Famine and other inconveniencies yet soon after they grew Quiet of themselves But scarce had he time to take breath ere a Rebellion broke out in the North whither he hasted with his Army gave the Rebells a great Overthrow and takeing some of the Ringleaders caused them to be put to Death but extended his Pardon to the common sort and Mowbray who encouraged them was committed to Windsor Castle where he continued a long while Prisoner And the Welsh growing again troublesom by wasting the English Borders and carrying away great spoils the King sent the Earls of Shrewsbury and Chester against them with a strong Power where after some Search and as secret Marchings as they could they found them making Merry in the Isle of Anglesey with the Plunder they had got from the English and falling upon them when they expected nothing less their Feasting was turned into Mourning for the greater part of them was Slain and those that were taken Prisoners mostly lost Feet Hands or Eyes or were put to worse Torments as a Terror to the rest that they should keep Quiet within their appointed limits The King thinking all would now be Quiet resolved to take his Ease and then forgeting how the English had faithfully stood by him and assisted him in his most dangerous undertakings he cast many of them out of Favour Office and Trust laying grievous Taxes on the Commonalty Selling for ready Money the best Promotions in Ecclesiastical and Civil Affairs Prohibiting Anselm Arch Bishop of Canterbury to Assemble any Convocations or Synods for the well ordering the Clergy or for the Correcting such as did Offend without his Leave or License by which means he secretly filled his Coffers with Treasure and tho' the Good Arch Bishop laid before him the ill consequences and dangers of such Proceedings and not being minded he resolved to go for Rome and lay before Pope Vrban the Third the danger the Church was in by Misgovernment and to perswade him to Intercede with the King not to intermedle with Church-Affaires but leave them to his Clergy The King hearing of his Intention sent to command him not to go but the Old Man and his Retinue were before on their Journey however the King sent after him and Pillaged him near Dover of all his Wealth in hopes that would stay him but it did not For he went to Rome and made such Complaints that the Pope in a chafe would have Excomunicated the King But his Clergy Advised him that having already Excomunicated the Emperour Henry the Fourth The first Christian Prince that ever was under Excomunication therefore it would be convenient to see the Issue of that Sentence ere he proceeded any further For says a blunt Abbot your Holiness must have a care how you heat any more Irons before you see how those you have Heated already will be Quenched least they prove too Hot for your handling However many Letters and Verbal Messages were sent to the King Admonishing him not to meddle any more with the Investing of Bishops by giving them the Cross Ring and Pastoral Staff nor Prohibit the Assembling of the Convocations or Synods touching the Affairs of the Church nor the Execution of any Canons tho' they were by Regal Authority Confirmed To this the King Answered That he would still do as he Pleased and not lose so fair a Flower belonging to his Crown And being Reproved in the absence of Anselm by Ralph Bishop of Chichester he cast him into disgrace and Suspended many Churches in his Diocess causing the Revenues to be brought into his Exchequer so that the Clergy finding no Redress greatly Murmured but in vain till his humour was over and then he not only received the Bishop into his extraordinary Grace and Favour but Granted many Honourable Priviledges to his See yet he stood not long on these terms ere the Kings humour changing again he Banished him By these ways the King had Amassed great Sums part of which he laid out in Building viz. He made outward Walls and Bullwarks about the Tower of London on this side the Ditch which Ruined by Time and other Accidents are now Demolished tho' some of the
the Sword valiantly fighting in the Field than again to be guilty of such Meanness The King who was not unacquainted with his humour rightly guessed at what was intended and therefore followed him with an Army and much Treasure and after many Battels overpowering his small number he was taken brought Prisoner to England and closely confined when endeavouring to make his Escape the King to whome in William Rufus his Reign he had done many good offices ungratfully caused his Eyes to be put out with Burning Glasses yet in this Captivity he lived about the space of 20 Years and then as is said the King sending him a Suit of his Old Cloaths he took the Indignity so impatiently that resolving to live no longer in that Misery and Disgrace some Historians have it that he voluntarily Starved himself others that he Beat out his Braines against the Stones of the Prison-Wall however certain it is that in his confinement Dyed the Valliant well Accomplished and much Lamented Robert Eighth Duke of Normandy a Prince in whom all Heroick Virtues shined The King seeming now to be rid of all his Fears began to consider the Clergy by his concessions were grown exceeding Rich and Ingrossed many Temporalities so that resolving to come in with them for a share of what they had Accumulated by his Bounty he laid Taxes on some and reassumed his power of Creating Bishops which so highly disgusted Arch Bishop Anselm That he not only bitterly inveighed against his Proceedings contrary to his former Promises but absolutely refused to Consecrate such Bishops as the King Appointed However to curry favour with the King Gerald Arch Bishop of York performed that Ceremony and Anselm soon after being Banished fled to Rome and made grievous complaints to Pope Paschal the Second of the wrongs as he pretended that had been done him and upon the Popes Intercession about two Years after he had License to return and at a Synod of the Clergy holden in London by the Popes Authority it was Enacted That from thence forth no Temporal Person should give Investiture to any Bishop by the Cross and Ring yet three Years after Arch Bishop Anselm Dying The Temporalities of the See of Canterbury were Seized into the Kings hands who converted them to his use for the space of five Years the See being so long kept vacant he aledging to the Bishops that sued to him to Nominate an Arch Bishop That he only kept it for a worthy Person that might justly deserve it Anno Dom. 1108 The King erected the Bishoprick of Ely appointing the Diocess to extend through the County of Cambridge and Isle of Ely and Endowed it with some of his own Lands in those parts by which means he made fair weather with the Pope because by this addition he had strengthened his Interest the more in England and the Clergy seemed satisfied in part for their Damages sustained But now a Storm threatned in Normandy for the King having gotten quiet Possession after his Brothers Death Lewis Le Gross King of France fearing a further Incroachment on his Territories if the King of England wanting Interuption had liberty to grow Powerful he procured Foulk Earl of Anjou on a weak pretence to seiz on the Country of Mayne and then animated Baldwin Earl of Flanders to Proclaim War for the King of England's with-houlding a Yearly Pension of 300 Marks which the Conquerer had settled on Baldwin fifth Earl of Flanders and had been pay'd by William Rufus to his Son and Nephew because the Earl had assisted the Conquerer with considerable Forces upon his Invading Elngand All these made strong preparations to Invade Normandy But the News soon roused the King from his Bed of Ease and filled him with Princely Resolutions whereupon he passed the Seas with an Army of Nobles Gentry and common Souldiers when losing no time he set upon the Earl of Anjou and his Associates giving him an entire Overthrow so that he was enforced to save himself by shameful Flight leaving the Prime Nobility and Gentry of his Army dead on the Plaines or Prisoners of War with 4000 of lesser note And near unto the Town of Nice which was Surprized and holden by the King of France he Encountered the other Confederates so that a very cruel Fight beginning between them it continued Nine Hours and was on both sides fought with such Eagerness and Heroick Resolution that tho' the King won the Victory and kept the Field whilst his Parties sent after them had a long chace of the flying Enemy he truly confessed He Fought not then for Victory but for his Life Not long after these Victories Overtures of Peace were made and the King fearing some practices against him in England might raise a Rebellion if he should be long entangled in War Abroad he thâ— more readily harkened to them and a Peace was concluded upon a Marriage between William the Kings Eldest Son and the Daughter of the Duke of Anjou but in their return for England staying somewhat behind the King and to make Merry and take leave of their Friends in their Riotous Treatments the Marriners got such plenty of Wine that being for the most part made Drunk coming with full Sail in hopes to overtake the King they run upon the Shallows where the Ship beating along by the violence of the Wind and Waves Foundered yet the Prince with his fair Bride and many others got into the Long-Boat and put off but Mary Countess of Perch his Sister crying from the Sinking Deck pitiously to him To take her in and not let her Perish in the Waters he Rowed back again thinking to do it but then many Lives being at the point to be lost and in that great Extremity â—very one valuing his own Life equal with his Princes neither Words nor Swords could keep so many from leaping in as sunk the Boat so that they together with Richard the Kings Younger Son Lucia his Neice and her Husband the Earle of Chester were swallowed up by the merciless Waves only three or four Sailors escaping on Planks to Shoar as sad Relators of the Tragical News which filled the Court with Mourning and the whole Nation with an Universal heaviness However the King bore it with Prudence and much Princely Fortitude knowing his Grief could not Retrieve his great loss nor had he any long time after his Landing to weigh the mishap ere Wars loud Alarms summoned him to the Field for in his absence the Welsh impatient of the English Yoak had strengthened themselves in Confedracy with some Irish Adventurers and now broke into open Rebellion not as formerly abiding in the Mountains and Fastnesses but relying on a foolish Prophecy That in that Year they should recover their Antient Territories and have a King of their Nation Reign over the whole Island they boldly advanced and unadvisedly gave him Battel in the Plains where they were Overthrown and most of them Slain or taken Prisoners the King inciting the Sword
Courage for the recovery of what was so unjustly taken from him and that if he were destitute of Friends that might Advise and Council him he and his Nobles would willingly supply that defect if he wanted Gold or Silver the Sinews of War his Coffers should be open at his Service or if Valiant Men to Fight for him and his Right many Thousand Frenchmen would venture their Lives in his Quarrel These large and Friendly proffers which rather proceeded from the fear King Philip had of Englands Strength and Prosperity which might as indeed it afterwards fell out get the Ascendant over France than for any cordial Love he bore to the Young Prince keeping him only as a Trump Card in his hand to play his Game as he saw occasion However these great Proffers bore up his Spirits and he wholly cast himself on the French King for Protection submitting to be Governed and Ruled by him in all things Whereupon Forces were Levied in France and Normandy and hereupon some Strong Holds in the latter Revolted from King John and declared for Prince Arthur and others they won however the Kings Lieutenant raised Forces to oppose them so that between both Armies there happened divers Encounters with various success King John hearing of these stirs in Normandy thought there remained no time for delay but gathering a strong Power passed the Seas and joyning with his Lieutenant retook several Towns and Overthrew the Young Prince in a set Battel with great Slaughter of the French Nobles and others that were Engaged with him This made the French King begin to consider he had laid hold on the wrong end of the staff and from that time procured divers Prelates and some Princes as Mediators to bring on Foot a Treaty for a Peace which Treaty gave both sides a short breathing But the King of England's Proposals being no less than the restoring all the Towns taken a defraying of the charges of the War and that King Philip should put for ever Prince Arthur out of his Protection it came in the end to nothing so that the War renewed more furious than before by which means the poor Inhabitants of Normandy were grievously Oppressed by Burning Plundering and many other Miserie 's attendant on Hostilities However to repress these Outrages of the Invading French the King raised a yet greater Army but then found his Treasure was much too scanty to defray the charges of that Expedition of which the Nobles and Commons were no sooner made sensible but of their own accord they largely contributed rather than the Honour of the King and Kingdom should be Eclipsed by the Bravadoes of a dastardly Nation and then Landing with a gallant Army in Normandy the number of his Forces were daily augmented and not long after the two Armies met and sought a dreadful Battel in which the French were Overthrown and Prince Arthur with divers of the French Nobility taken Prisoners and sent to the Castle of Roan where as it was given out leaping from the Walls to make his Escape he leaped short fell into the Moat and there was Drowned Tho' Historians who have made Remarks What a few Steps there are between the Prisons and Graves of Princes tho' they do not charge the King with the knowledg of it are apt to conjecture that this Prince came to be Drowned by other means than his own attempt And indeed the King had all his Life afterward a very troublesome and turbulent Reign For now the Prince was Dead the French King began to pull off his Vizor laying claim to Normandy in his own Right and poured in such a number of Forces that King John's Treasure being spent he could not Levy in any reasonable time Soldiers sufficient to oppose their torrent so that wining many Towns and Castles the whole Dutchy to prevent the Ruin and Desolation threatened it Subjected it self to the French King after it had been disbranched from France about 319 Years And that the King should not be at leasure to Regain it the French King underhand found him work at home by making Pope Innocent the Third his Enemy For about this time Hubert Arch Bishop of Canterbury Dying the Monks of the Order of St. Augustin met in the Cathedral Church about Midnight without the Kings knowledg or License and chose one Reynold a Brother of their own to Succeed in the Archiepiscopal See taking of him an Oath to travel to Rome and procure his Investiture and receive the Pall from the Pope The King hearing of these unwarantable Proceedings was much displeased which so affrighted the Monks that to regain his Favour they proceeded to a second Election and chose John Grey a Person whom the King had nominated to them who was then Bishop of Norwich and so the Kings Anger being appeased he sent Ambassadors with his Letters to the Pope to Entreat him to Ratify the second Choice But in the mean time a new Schism or Faction appeared for the Suffragan because he was not made acquainted nor an Actor in either of the said two Elections made suit to the Pope to displace them both But he imitating the proud Example of many of his Predecessors who coveted to swim against the stream and seldom or never granted any Kings request least in some sort they should be thought to be yeilding neglected both their suits and confirmed Raynold who was first chosen But the King growing angry hereat the Monks to please him rather out of fear than complacency refused to receive into their Quire or own the Arch Bishop the Pope had Confirmed tho' he was of their own chusing giving this Reason for it viz. That it was done Clandestinly and at an unseasonable Time for as much as the choice was made in the Night when as it should have been done in the open Day and so they concluded it void and in it self a Nulity yet remained good till by Judicial Proceedings and a Sentence it were pronounced void so that this matter was Controverted at Rome where the Pope made specious shews and pretences of accomodating the matter to heal the Schisme so that it should be to the satisfaction of the King and Monks but his aim was otherwise for he designed to prefer a creature of his own viz. Stephen Langton a Man that would always move by his dictates having before been made Cardinal of Chrisogone and privatly he Wrote to the Monks to Choose him yet not so cunningly but the King had Notice of it and strictly charged them not to proceed to any other Election but the Popes Threats and Promises of Rewards dispensed with their Obedience to the Kings Commands so that they did Elect him their Arch Bishop This so exasperated the King that he commanded on severe Penalties no Appeals should be made to Rome and that from thence forth he would take a strict account of such of his Subjects that for any matter of Right or Justice should go to Rome to require it seeing he had
health of his own Soul and for the welfare and happiness of his People and Kingdom utterly to defie except his Queen and Children all such as Councelled him or did themselves intend to suppress the Laws and Ordinances established in the Parliament at Oxford or the Authority and Power which for the advantage of the common good was Granted to the Twelve Peers But the King displeased at these Letters returned not any Answer which made them display their Banners and march towards London and as they passed by the Houses of such as favoured the Kings proceedings on the account of the Popes Bulls they Plundered and Spoiled them and laid many in Ruins by Fire Proclaiming such Persons Enemies to the King and Government Approaching London they sent their Letters to the Mayor and Citizens to know whether they were resolved to support the Laws and Ordinances or not and the Authority of the Twelve Peers protesting before God that themselves meant not nor intended any other thing and if they were found defective in any point a speedy Reformation should be made These Letters were no sooner received and read but they were sent to the King who demanded of the Mayor and Citizens whether they would support those Laws and the Twelve Peers or renounce them but fearing their Plunder when such an Army was at their Gates they Assembled in Common-Hall and agreed to send the King Answer That they would stand by the Laws and Peers tho' a little before they had Sworn to the King to stand by him against all opposers This greatly displeased the King but they setting light by his Anger received the Barons with their Army into the City with many expressions of Joy and from hence they Marched to Windsor Castle and displaced all Strangers rifling them of what they had gotten by their Places and Offices especially such as the Prince had put into Trust this yet more offended the King But his Privy Council laboured to pacify him by sending to the Barons to restore the Goods taken from the Aliens and telling him that from thenceforth none but himself should place Persons in Trust but to neither of these the Barons would accord but at last concluded to put the descision of the Controversie to Lewis the French King and inviolably stand to his Award and King Henry agreeing to it Peace for a time ensued and the Swords on both sides were Sheathed and the matter Stated on either part being controverted before the French King it was by him Decreed That all the said Ordinances and Laws should be Annihilated and from thenceforth no Authority or Power should be left in the Twelve Peers But this Sentence was so distasteful to the Barons that they publickly accused him of Partiality to curry-favour with King Henry absolutely refusing to stand by his Award and so strongly were they bent to maintain whatsoever had been in Parliament Established That they repaired again to the Marches of Wales and Levied new Forces and in their passage to London Spoiled and Burnt the Goods Lordships and Houses of Sr. Roger Mortimer who had Counseled the King against them To oppose their Proceedings Prince Edward Marched with the Kings Army against them and a cruel Battel was fought for the space of a whole Day in which the Prince Acted Wonders beyond what could be expected from his Young Years But most of his Commanders being Slain he was at length compelled to leave the Field and March hastily back again with his broken Army leaving the Barons Masters of the Field After this Victory the Barons Marched their Army to London where they were received with great demonstrations of Joy and soon after the Rifraff of the City contrary to the minds of the sober Citizens appointed to themselves two Captains whom they stiled Constables of London and made Proclamation That all who were affected to their Party should take Arms upon Ringing the great Bell at St. Pauls and so Assembling in a Tumultuous manner they committed many Outrages upon the Houses of those that did not approve their Proceedings and then in a great troop went to the Palace of Richard King Henry's Brother who by the German Princes had been Elected King of the Romans and entering it by force seized and carried away all his Plate Treasure and Rich Furniture pulling down and defacing for the most part that stately Building This made him of a Friend ever after an Enemy to the City and Barons For whereas before he had laboured a Reconcilement between the King and them he utterly gave over that good office and exasperated him to continue the War against them so that the King having notice that Sr. Peter Montfort had gathered considerable Forces near Northampton declaring for the Barons he Marched thither whereupon Mountfort retired into the Town with his Forces and was straightly Besieged so that in a little time it being taken by Assault he with Simon the Earl of Leicesters Son and many others were taken Prisoners and disposed of in several Goals till a further course could be taken with them But the Barons being strong in the Field little regarded this blow but advancing their Banners near Lewis in Sussex gave the Kings Army Battel which continued with such obstinate cruelty on both sides that Fathers and Sons Brothers and other near Relations Killed one another without Remorse and such a havock was made that the Army on either side being much wasted the King taken Prisoner with his Brother c. after Fourteen Hours desperate Fighting and the slaughter of 20000 Men on both sides the Royal Party by these Accidents was so weakened that a Treaty ensued and it was Agreed That the King should by new Articles and the renewing his Oath Confirm the Authority granted to the Twelve Peers and all the Ordinances and Laws with this Caution notwithstanding That Two Lords Spiritual and Two Temporal should take a View of and Examine the said Laws and Ordinances and if they saw any reason to Amend or Alter them they might do it and if they agreed not in their Opinions Then the Duke of Britany as Vmpire should be invested with full Power to Arbitrate and End the Difference And the King and his Brother for standing to this had their Liberty and gave their two Eldest Sons as Hostages who upon that account were detained in the Castle of Dover about nine Months Upon this the King called a Parliament which again crossed his expectation by Confirming and Ratifying the Laws of the Oxford Parliament and Authority of the Twelve Peers which constrained the King to take a new Oath to maintain them and the Peers Authority till according to Agreement if any thing was found amiss it should be Reformed c. and all such as in those Wars or otherwise had Maintained them were Pardoned by the King Whereupon the Young Princes were set at Liberty But soon after fell a Difference between the Earls of Leicester and Gloucester the two heads of the Barons Faction
they could procure an Executioner to Behead him so greatly was he Beloved by all sorts of People but at length a vile Wretch was procur'd out of a Goal for a sum of Money to perform that Office Five others were put to Death there and at York the next day the Lords Clifford Mobray and Derwell were Hanged in Iron-Chaines The Earl of Hereford likewise lost his Head in all at several places Twenty Noblemen so that in no Reign so much Noble Blood by Executions wet the English Earth These terrible Executions astonished the rest and broke their Strength which greatly puffed up the Spencers by whose Instigation more than any cruel inclination in the King it was thought to be done to secure their own State which after this they imagined could not be shaken For soon after some Courtiers Intreating the King for the Life of a Person of mean Rank who had committed a Murther he broke out into a violent Passion in these words viz. A Plague overtake you all for Flatering Knaves you make much Suit for the Life of an errand Caitiff but which of you spoke a word for the good Knight Lord Thomas my Vnkle By the Bread of God this Varlet shall Dye the Death he deserves and so in a Rage he turned from them and soon after he called a Parliament at York in which Prince Edward his Son was Created Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitain and Sir Andrew Harkly whose extraordinary Service was a principal means of the Barons Overthrow Earl of Carlisle and demanded the Sixth Penny of all Temporalities in England Wales and Ireland to defray the Charges of his intended War against the Scots which he obtained yet the People grievously Murmured at Paying it affirming they were altogether Impoverished by the late Wars and Famine And now the Scots geting secret Inteligence of what the King intended against them resolved to begin first and well knowing they had Impoverished the Northern parts and that no further Booty was there to be had they crossed over the Narrow Straights and fell very furiously on Ireland but by the Courage and prudent Conduct of the Bishop of Armagh and the Lord Brinningham they were Overthrown their King Slain and most of them Cut in Pieces upon this advantage King Edward Marched into Scotland which he found full of Terror and Confusion the People every where flying before him into the Woods Mountains and other Fastnesses thinking by that means to weary out the English and indeed their Project failed not for Snows Rains and bitter Frosts ensuing the English were unable to keep the Field especially their Provisions being near spent and a great Mortality by reason of the raw Damps and Colds grievously afflicted the Camp so that contrary to the mind of the King they were forced to return which the Scots perceiving crept from their lurking Holes and carried Fire a cross which is the usual Signal for the Alarum or raising the Country and soon gathered into such Multitudes that following and wasting his Rear at last they boldly set on his main Battel and discomfited it so that he was constrained to fly and leave them Masters of his Treasure and Baggage This Defeat is said to be occasioned by the Treachery of Sr. Andrew Harkley who had been lately Created Earl of Carlisle who being Bribed by the Scots betraied his trust in the Battel But however it happened it was charged upon him and for it he lost his Head Upon the Kings return there happened a Quarrel between the Queen and the Spencers she charging them to have Alienated the Kings affections from her and to cause him to place it on Harlots and the King seeming to excuse or take part with them she so highly resented the Affront that under pretence of visiting her native Country she obtained leave to go over with the Prince her Son where she was received by King Charles her Brother Philip her Father being Dead with many expressions of kindness and shewing her dislike to return unless matters might be Reformed at home some of the Barons in England sent secretly by Letters to Advise her That if she could procure one Thousand Valliant Strangers they would joyn her on her Landing with a considerable Force and endeavour once more to Redress the Disorders of the State This she made known to her Brother who comforted her by earnest Promises and Oaths That by his Assistance and at his Cost her Wrongs and the Kingdoms Injuries should be Repaired but kept not his Word for being Bribed by the Spencers who by their Spies had notice of her tampering in the French Court when she demanded his Performance he grew cold upon it and chid her for such Intentions saying She was foolishly afraid of her Shaddow since she had Vndutifully forsaken the company of her Lord and Husband The Pope also and chiefest Cardinals being Engaged by great Rewards strictly required the French King upon pain of the Apostolick Curse to send home the Queen and Prince so that she perceiving he intended to deliver her into the hands of such as would have Forcibly brought her over she secretly retired with her Son into the Empire however during her stay at the French Court she had done England a kindness in causing by her Mediation the Troubles in Gascoyne to cease and making an Agreement in other matters relating to the King her Husband In consideration of which he was to confer the Dutchy of Aquitain and Earldom of Poictou on the Prince his Son which he did under his Seal and he did Homage for it to his Unkle the French King but upon his sending for her home she refused to come unless hers and others Grievances were Redressed by Parliament which occasioned his trying by other means to make her return but as is said she retiring into the Empire upon suspicion of what was Intended went to Hainalt where she was kindly received and to make her Interest strong at that Court she without the consent of her Husband or the Peers of England Married the Prince to Phillipa the Earl of Hainalts Daughter upon which account and the means of what Treasure she had brought she raised 2700 Soldiers Commanded by Sr. John of Hainalt and the Lord Beamont to whom Joyned the Young Lord Mortimer who had escaped out of the Tower of London and got beyond the Seas with some other Exiled English Noblemen and Strangers so that having all things in a readiness she Sayled for England and Landed at Orwell in Sussex whither a great Number of English resorted to her and the further she went her Army greatly encreased King Edward having notice of this left his Court and retired hastily into the West to raise Forces promising 1000 l. to any that should bring him the Lord Mortimer's Head The King was no sooner retired but the Londoners taking the Advantage of his Absence seized upon the Bishop of Exeter who was appointed to Govern the City and without any Legal Proceedings or Judicial
King to deliver him up to Execution which Insolent Behaviour Sr. William Wallworth Lord Mayor not able to endure Stabbed him with his Dagger so that he fell down Dead and then hasting to raise the City Militia the Rebells after some time were so amazed that they scattered and every one fled for his safety and it was not many days before most of the Ringleaders were by their Companions a thing that seldom fails in such tumultuous Rebellions delivered into the hands of Justice the better to obtain their own Pardons which in the height of their Pride they had scornfully thrown up and the King at this last Conference before their Faces had Cancelled them so that about 1500 or more of the principal Agents were Convicted and Executed in divers Places which put an end to these Popular Disorders and for this Exploit of the Lord Mayor the Dagger was added to the City Arms. Things thus Quieted and the Peoples Fears over The King sued for the Lady Ann Daughter to Charles the Fourth and Sister to Winceslaus the Emperour of Germany in Marriage which was Accorded and the Lady who was exceeding Virtuous and Beautiful was received with great Joy by the King and People and Anno Dom. 1385 he Summoned a Parliament at Westminster in which he Created his Unkle Edmund of Langley Duke of York and Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester his Cousin Henry Eldest Son to the Earl of Lancaster Earl of Derby Edward Son to Edmund of Langley Earl of Rutland Sir John Holland Earl of Huntington and Thomas Lord Mowbray Earl of Notingham Declaring Roger Mortimer Earl of March Son to Edmund Mortimer and Philippa his Wife Daughter and Heires to Lionel Duke of Clarence Third Son to Edward the Third Heir apparent to the Crown but he was Slain by the Rebells in Ireland before the Kings Death And now the King fell into the dislike of his People by hearkening to evil Counsellours especially one Michael De La Pool whom he had made Chancellour and created Duke of Suffolk and Robert Vere whome he created Marquess of Dublin and Duke of Ireland and would have made him King of that Country if the Nobility would have consented to it so that he respected not the sage Advice and Counsel of the grave and most experienced Lords of this the Parliament took great notice and upon the Chancellours insisting on the Kings behalf for a Tax of four Fifteens affirming no less could support his Estate or maintain such Wars as he was likely to undertake the Lords and Commons not only opposed the motion but accused the Duke and others for lewdly Counselling the King and by their Purloyning to enrich themselves wasting his Treasure That by their bad Advice they had kept the King from coming amongst them which according to a received Law and Custom if he refused to do in Forty Days they might Legally break up and depart to their own homes without his leave and of this and other particulars they sent word to the King desiring him within three days he would come amongst them and give Life to those Laws they should make or they were resolved to separate But in Answer to this he required that a select Assembly of Fifty of their Members should attend him This was refused and the Duke of Gloucester and Thomas Arundel Arch Bishop of Canterbury were only deputed who plainly told the King of the Grievances of his People and that by his Absence from Parliament he obscured the light of Justice and hindered the Negotiation of the Commonweal And if he further declined it they must break up and depart to their homes They also craved with humble submssion as they were commanded to be informed by whom his Majesties Treasure belonging to the Commonweal was prodigally consumed and how it came to pass that his large Revenues could not suffice to maintain his Estate and charge seeing he had no Wars This Message and their Demands so angered the King That he Swore had he fore-known the sawcy bouldness of his Subjects whom as he supposed intended to rise in Arms against him he would more willingly have submitted himself to the King of France and have relyed on him for Protection than thus to be baffled and made servil to those whom his Soveraignty ought to command But the two Lords in all humble Duty shewed him that his People stood well affected towards him and that the French had been and were inveterate Enemies to the King of England With this and such-like submissive Discourse he was some what pacified and promised to come to his Parliament in three days and failed not to do it where by Proof and Accusation of the Lords Michael De La Pool Chancellour of England and Duke of Suffolk was Convicted of Purloyning the Kings Treasure and purchasing Estates with it to his own behoof and giving evil Counsel to the great damage of the Kings Subjects and other things so that his Lands were Sequestered to the King's use his Person Fined 20000 Marks committed close Prisoner and deprived of his Chancellourship and other Offices The Arch Bishop being made Chancellour in his stead and in the same Parliament thirteen Persons were Elected Sworn and Authorized with â—he consent of the King published in Writing under â—is Seal to Examine all or any of his Officers touching â—heir Demeanours in their several Offices and Trusts 〈◊〉 censure and condemn any that should be found â—uilty of henious Crimes and the King took an Oath â—ot to revoke or suppress this Commission without the â—onsent of Parliament and it further passed into a â—aw That if any Person should attempt directly or â—â—directly to perswade or encourage the King to inâ—â—ge his Oath and Promise touching all or any of these matters for the first Offence to lose his Lands and Goods and for the second to be proceeded against as a Traitor to the King and Kingdom And then a Subsidy of one half Fifteen was granted if the Commissioners upon view of the Kings Estate thought it needful and so an end was put to this Sessions of Parliament This was no sooner done but the King at the perswasion of his Counsellours Released his Favourite De La Poole and went with him the Duke of Ireland Tresillian his chief Justice other Judges and Ministers of State to Notingham where they Pronounced the Duke of Gloucester Arch Bishop of Canterbury and the Thirteen Commissioners to be Guilty of High Treason because against his will and consent they had compelled the King to Ratifie the Commission by his Oath and under his Great Seal so going to Coventry the Judges by an Instrument in Writing under their Hands and Seals declared and confirmed their Opinions to be agreeable and consonant to the Laws of the Land touching these matters Whilst Affairs had but an ill Aspect at home thâ— French King to Embroyl the Kingdom more if poâ—sible sent his Admiral with a Thousand Noblemen anâ— Gentlemen into Scotland with Arms and
Warlikâ— Stores who joyning the Scots Army Marched intâ— England but upon notice of King Richard's approacâ— with a formidable Army they crossed the Mountain into Wales leaving Scotland open to the English who Burnt Edenburg St. Johnstons Sterling and Dundee anâ— having harassed the Country almost from Sea to Seâ— they returned Laden with much Booty This greâ—â— Loss so perplexed the Scots who had got little Plundeâ— among the Barren Mountains that on their returâ— they made the French Admiral and most that Atteâ—â—â—â— him of note Prisoners till the French King who 〈◊〉 precipitated them into this War should make 〈◊〉 satisfaction as designing his own Interest and â—â—vantage by it and not theirs and tho' he was very â—â—gry at it yet the Scots kept them Prisoners till the â—â—ey demanded was sent for their Ransoms This â—red up the French King to raise a mighty Army with â—â—solution to Conquer England and to Transport it 〈◊〉 prepared 1200 Ships but when they had a long â—e in their unruly March Plundered the French and â—nings and by reason the Duke of Berry the Kings â—kle who was to command them approving not 〈◊〉 Enterprize delay'd to come to them their wants â—e so great that to supply them they Sold their â—rses Armour Weapons and lastly their Cloaths 〈◊〉 then fell so horribly to Plundering the Country 〈◊〉 the French King not able to endure the cries and â—plaints of the oppressed People and dispairing to 〈◊〉 any thing in England with such a half-starved disâ—erly Rout Disbanded them after he had been at â—000 l. Charge The English Nobles now began grievously to comâ—n of the Kings breaking his Oath and Promises in â—rkening to the evil Counsels and Advice of Robert 〈◊〉 Vere Michael De La Poole Alexander Arch Bishop 〈◊〉 York Nicholas Bamber and Robert Trisillian his Chief â—ice together with those flattering Judges who to â—se the King had Subscribed to the Nullity of the â—mmission and had Censured all such as procured it â—e Traitors to the King c. Intreating him to â—ish them the Kingdom but he would in no wise â—rken to any Proposals of parting with those Favoâ— who for their better safety counselled him to give 〈◊〉 Callice and his other Towns in France to the French â—g and rely on him for Aid to curb those proud Subjects who sought to Enslave him their Soveraign but this he looked on as dangerous and would not agree to it But the Nobles finding no Redress flying to Arms he practiced with the Lord Mayor of London to raise him an Army in and about the City which he laboured to do but the Graver Citizens who were well affected to the Nobles not only refused to further it but hindered it all they could declaring it was a means to hasten the desolation of that great City humbly beseeching the King not to require any such thing at their hands but rather seek an Accommodation of Differences This extreamly vexed him but finding he misseâ— of his purpose he dissembled his displeasure and laid aside that Project yet forgot them not But some time after this desiring a Loan of 1000 l. and it being refused him he seized into his hands their Charter and Liberties dissolved their proper Magistracy turning out John Hind their Mayor Henry Warner and John Shadworth Sherifs appointing Sir Edward Dallingredge Warden of the City However finding he could not raise such an Army as he intended by reason most of his inferiour Subjects were well affected to the Lords because they sought not to injure the King but to remove his evil Counsellours who were great Oppressors and Disquieters of the Kingdom he promised to call â— Parliament wherein matters might be Debated with out heat or animosity and that there his five Favors should be Answerable to all Objections and if Convicted stand to such publick Censure or Punishment as the Parliament could justly inflict on them This Concession much pleased the Lords so that they disbanded their Forces and returned the King their humble thanks But it was not long before they were sensible a Snare was laid for them for the Duke of Ireland was privately Levying 5000 Men pretendedly for his Guard and Defence but it was secretly intimated they were to lie in wait in Parties and Surprize the Lords as they were coming to Parliament so that they suddainly recalled their disbanded Forces and shut him up on the Banks of the Thames which he was forced to Swim on Horse-back for the preservation of his Life and posting to the Sea Coast took Shipping for France where some Years after he was Slain in Chasing a wild Boar but so great was then the Kings Love towards him That he caused his Dead Body to be Embalmed brought over and Magnificently Bury'd After the flight of the Duke the Lords Executed some of the chief Ringleaders and suffered the rest to depart to their Houses and so passed with their Army to London where they were Joyfully received by the Citizens The King who kept his Court at the Tower well perceived how much they had gained the Hearts of the greater Part of the People and therefore for his own safety he desired a Conference with them in which it was Agreed a Parliament should be speedily called to Redress Grievances and accordingly a Parliament was Assembled in which the evil Counsellours and corrupt Judges were Sommoned to appear and Answer to the Articles Exhibited against them but upon their default they were Attainted of High Treason against the King and Common-weal and for this John Earl of Salisbury and Sir Nicholas Bambre lost their Heads the Lord Chief Justice Trisilian was Hanged at Tyburn and the rest of these Judges had suffered in like manner had not the Queens incessant supplications prevailed to change their Dooms into Banishment and in this Parliament the state of Affairs was settled to the high contentment of the People And tho' the next Year the Scots began to bustle yet at the Mediation of the French King a Truce was made between the three Kingdoms and King Richard by this means in Peace and Tranquility assisted the Duke of Lancaster to raise an Army when Leaguing with the King of Portugal he Warred on the Spaniard for the Kingdom of Castile which he claimed in Right of his Wife and so prevailed That the Spaniard was compelled to sue for a Peace which was granted on that Kings Marrying Constance the Dukes Eldest Daughter Loading him Eight Waggons with Gold and allowing him and his Dutchess during their Lives 10000 Mark a Year And after having Married Ann his Younger Daughter to the King of Portugal he returned into England Laden with Riches and Honour And now all Appeals to Rome and the Popes Authority in this Kingdom was Abrogated by Parliament and soon after the Vertuous Lady Queen Ann Dyed whose Death so exceedingly grieved the King that for some Weeks he would not be comforted causing the stately House at Sheen in which she Dyed to be utterly Razed
and Solemnity Yet this stopped not the current of the Revolt whereupon no sooner was the King returned to England but the Regent hastned into Normandy to secure his Interest there for things run so strongly he knew not whom he might trust Whilst these things were doing Charles who had been likewise Crowned King of France with many Flatteries and large Promises of Honour Riches and Promotion laboured to withdraw the Duke of Burgundy from King Henry's Interest yet at this time tho' he was not well affected to the English by reason of the distaste he conceived at the Siege of Orleance he refused his offers and acquainted the Regent with the whole Intrigue so that when Charles perceived this device was fruitless he drew down his whole Army before Paris but after many Assaults he was beaten off with a great slaughter of his Men by the English in Garison there and some few Citizens as were well affected to King Henry for which the Regent at his return gave them many Thanks and Rewards at which they seemed greatly to rejoyce promising much but in the sequel performing little These troublesome Wars having held a long time the Princes of Europe mediated for Peace which only came to a six Years Truce and yet that was broke much sooner upon the death of Ann the Regents Dutchess Sister to the Duke of Burgundy and his Marrying the Lady Jaquet Daughter to the Earl of St. Paul For as much as hereupon the Duke of Burgundy's Love to the English more and more declined and the bond of Affinity that tied him more strictly to the Regent being sundered by the Death of his Sister and now the French taking all advantages secretly conveyed 200 Men into the Castle of Roan in Normandy but they were Assaulted by the Garrison with such timely Courage for they had been Introduced by the Treachery of the Deputy-Governour as Friends that they were beaten into the Dungeon from whence they were sentenced some to the Gallows others to a different manner of Death by Cruel Torments and those that sped best were put to great Ransoms Hereupon the Regent took the Field and being Reinforced by 800 Men at Arms brought over by the Lord Talbot who had sometime before by his Ransom being paid been set at liberty and often urged the French to a Battel which they declined In the mean while the Boors in Normandy rose in a tumultuous Rebellion but being Overthrown by the Earl of Arundel about 1000 of them Slain and several of their Ringleaders Executed this disturbance was quieted But as the Earl went to recover St. Rue which had Revolted attempting to take in by the way Greborie Castle he was shot in the Ancle with a Culverin Ball and being taken Prisoner soon after Dyed of his Wound The Duke of Bourbon who had been taken Prisoner at the Battel of Agincourt after fifteen Years Imprisonment paid his Ransom but the day he intended to Imbarke for France Dyed at London And now after many Jealousies between the Regent and Duke of Burgundy their Friends laboured to Reconcile them and they seemingly were again united in strict Amity But going together into the Town of St. Omer's thâ— Regent expected the first Visit as due to his Character and Dignity but the Duke being Soveraign Lord of that Town supposed he should be Checked by his Subjects for such a dishonourable condesention thereupon they declined the Visits and both left the Town in much Anger and forthwith the Duke of Burgundy entered into a strict League with Charles who had taken on him the stile of King of France After this St. Dennis and other Towns were Surprised or otherways Taken by the French but many of them again Retaken and those that were not looked on as Teneable Dismantled And now the Regent by reason of his unwearied Toil falling into a desperate Languishment Dyed and was Buried in a stately Monument erected for him in our Lady's Church in Roan and Richard Duke of York appointed Regent in his stead against the Mind of the Kings nearest Friends and best Counsellours who were not Ignorant of his Aspiring and pretensions to the Crown Soon after Paris Revolted and another Rebellion was raised in Normandy but soon suppressed by the Lords Talbot Seales and others and the Duke of Burgundy laid Siege to Callis but was compelled to raise it and fly by Night upon notice the Protector was sending great Forces from England to Relieve it and 20000 Men soon after Landed Burning and Wasting the Dukes Countries of Flanders and Arthois But now the French began to deal with the Scots the better to Favour their Designs and James the First of Scotland forgetting the Benefits he had received from King Henry the Fifth entered England with 30000 Men and Besieged Roxborough Castle which was valiantly Defended by Sir Ralph Grey But upon the approach of the Earl of Northumberland he raised his Siege and fled About this time Queen Catharine Mother to King Henry Married Owen Tuther a goodly Gentleman descended from Cadwallader the last of the British Kings and by her had Issue two Sons viz. Edmund and Jasper Edmund was by King Henry created Earl of Richmond and took to Wife the Lady Margaret sole Daughter to John Duke of Sommerset and on her he got King Henry the Seventh and Jasper was created Earl of Pembrook And now the Kings Council so prevailed with him that Richard Duke of York was discharged from his Regency in France and the Earl of Warwick appointed in his stead who beat the Duke of Burgundy from the Siege of Croy when in his flight Sir Thomas Tyrrel falling in his Rear took his Cannon and the greater part of his Baggage finding in Plate and Money 20000 l. And the Earl of Mortayn Son to Edmund Duke of Sommerset Assaulting the Castle of St. Avyar in Mayn took it by Storm and put to the Sword 300 Scots and Hanged all the Frenchmen he found therein because having Sworn Allegiance to King Henry they Revolted Whilst these things were doing the Elder Son of Charles raised a strong Faction and Rebelled against him and by publick Edicts divulged the insufficiency of his Father to Rule that Kingdom This Cloud threatened a coming Storm and begat the Question in his Father and his Counsellours of State Whether it was most proper to attempt the curing this Mallady by Civil War letting of Blood or by Discretion and Policy without Blows But the Latter was approved and Proclamations made by the French King to Prohibit all his Subjects on pain of Death not to yield any Obedience to the Dauphins Commands Pardoning such as by his perswasion had undertaken his Service so that divers Letters and Messages passing between them an Accommodation was made Whilest this Difference lasted the English endeavoured the regaining Paris but that failing John Lord Clifford surprised Panthois by Attiring his Men in White and passing the Ditches hard Frozen and covered with Snow scaling the Walls and
her Chastity was not to be violated but with that Cumpulsion that would pull down vengance on his Head that laying aside the thoughts of any other he Married her promoting all her Kindred to Dignities and Honours creating the Lord Rivers her Father Earl Rivers and High Constable of England her Son Sir Thomas Grey Marquess of Dorset and preferred him and others to Rich Heiresses of Noblemen and did many other things for them that displeased his nearest Friends For no sooner the Duke of Clarence his Brother heard of the Earl of Warwick's being greatly displeased at the Kings having put that affront on him but they met and consulted which way to constrain the King to lay aside these new Favourites and so great was the Earl of Warwick's Anger for the disgrace the King had made him incur in Foreign Courts by this Marriage which utterly disannulled that which he had treated about that he cast nothing in his mind more than how he might Depose him and Restore King Henry and several Consults with the Marquess Montacute his Brother and others were held to further his purpose The King who feared Warwick's Greatness and Popularity was not altogether ignorant of his discontents tho' he outwardly dissembled it as well as he could and therefore the better to weather the Storm he saw coming tho' as yet at a distance he concluded a Truce for Fifteen Years with the King of Scots to weaken the Earl on that side and to Henry King of Castile and John King of Arragon he sent as a Present to make Friends with them about a Hundred Cotshall-Sheep a thing they never before nor any of their Predecessors upon any Intreaty or for large sums offered could obtain from the Kings of England from which small Number such Multitudes have since Encreased as in the Woollen-Trade has turned greatly to our damage And that he might be the better able to deal with Lewis the French King if War by him should be Proclaimed or he should underhand assist the Earl of Warwick in any attempt he made a League with Charles the Hardy Duke of Burgundy and gave him his Sister Margaret in Marriage and two other Sisters to the Dukes of Exeter and Suffolk But for all this Warwick's design was closely carried on and it was Agreed among them That he and the Duke of Clarence should go to Callice and there to strengthen the Alliance the Duke should Marry Isabella the Earls Daughter and in their Absence as if without their knowledge or consent the Marquess Montacute and Arch Bishop of York Brothers to Warwick should with the help of their Friends raise a Rebellion in Yorkshire which they did by inciting the Rusticks not to pay Tribute of Corn to the Hospital of St. Leonard in the City of York which upon refusal being exacted by the Collectors commotions arose and at length about 15000 came before the City with an intention to Plunder and Demolish that Hospital c. but by a Sally of the Citizens they were beaten off and so Marched away towards Northampton Headed by Sir John Conyers an Experienced Soldier but were met by William Earl of Pembrook and Humphry Lord Stafford who by the Kings Command had raised Forces in Wales and after they had overthrown 2000 Archers that the Lords had laid in Ambush to fall on their Rear upon a dissention arising between Pembrook and Stafford the latter withdrew his Forces so that the former with much courage tho' few in Number giving the Rusticks Battel in Banbury Field having near gained the Victory the Scale of success was suddainly turned in a surprising manner viz. One John Clapham a Servant to the Earl of Warwick having got his Masters Standard in which was Portraied the White Bear coming in with a small Troop and crying A Warwick a Warwick so daunted the Kings Men who thought the Earl had been there with a fresh supply that they threw down their Arms and fled and being hotly Pursued more than 5000 were slain Sir Richard Herbert and Eight others of Note being taken Prisoners were Beheaded at Banbury by the Rusticks Upon this Success their Army greatly encreased and a separate Party making one Robin of Risdale their Captain Plundered the Kings Mannor-House at Grafton and finding there the Earl of Rivers Father to the Queen and his Son John they carried them to Northampton and Beheaded them and some of the Kings Forces having Taken the Lord Stafford he lost his Head at Bridgwater for Deserting the Earl of Pembrook at Banbury Field The Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick taking the advantage of these Troubles Landed and with considerable Forces put themselves at the head of the Rusticks so that by this addition and Warwick's Great Name in War they became so formidable to the King that at the earnest request of some Nobles who fear'd the desolation of their Country by such a cruel War as was threatened he consented to a Treaty during which the King being more careless than he ought to have been of his Person the Earl of Warwick with a strong Band entered his Camp by Night and having killed the Watch carried him Prisoner from his Tent to the Castle of Middleham in Yorkshire Committing him to the ward of the Arch Bishop but soon after having liberty to go a Hunting he was Rescued by Sir William Standley and Sir Thomas Burgh who upon private notice lay in Ambush behind the Wood with a Troop of Horse and immediatly Posted to London This inwardly vexed the Earl of Warwick who thought to draw great Advantages from his Imprisonment However the Truce continued and a meeting of both sides was appointed in the great Hall at Westminster where nevertheless the objections of good Deserts and unthankful Requitals were with such vehement expressions repeated and maintained by the Earl of Warwick that the King being highly displeased with Threats and Fury they parted from each other The King taking his way to Canterbury and the Confederate Lords into Lincolnshire where they raised an Army and placed Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells in chief Command over it as being very expert in Millitary Affairs King Edward had no sooner notice of this but he sent for the Lord Wells and Sir Thomas Dymock his Brother-in-Law commanding them to use their endeavours to bring over Sir Robert to his Interest but though they very much laboured to do it it proved without effect which so angered the King that contrary to his sollemn promise he caused the Heads of the Lord Wells and Sir Thomas Dymock to be stricken off which gained him much displeasure of the Nobles and Commons and hastned Sir Robert Wells to give him Battel ere the Confederate Lords who wanted but a days March came up with the Lincolnshire-Men he commanded so that the King oppressing him with his Number though he fought Valiantly to revenge his Fathers and Unkles Death his Soldiers at last tired out for want of fresh supplies gave way and soon
different success But at length the Earl perceiving fresh supplies continually press on his weary Soldiers thinking by his Example to give them new Courage he dismounted and with his Sword in his Hand pressed into the Front of his Enemies making miserable slaughter But breaking in too far and not being timely succoured he was slain together with the Marquess his Brother who threw himself into the opening Jaws of Death in hopes to bring the Earl off These great Commanders slain the Army grew faint and giving way by degrees at length fell into a total rout about 10000 being slain and of King Edward's Part of Note only Sir Humphry Bourcher Son to the Lord Barns and the dead Bodies of the Earl and Marquess being brought to St. Paul's were exposed to view three Days and then Honourably Interred among their Ancestors in the Priory of Bissam Queen Margaret having notice of this Defeat fled with her Son to the Abbey of Bewley in Hampshire whither divers Lords resorted to her and agreed to raise new Forces and try the fortune of another Field which they did and were Overthrown at Tewxbury about 3000 being slain and of Note the Duke of Sommerset Sir John Lewkner Sir John Delves c. The Prisoners of Note were the Queen and Prince the Prior of St. John's Sir Jervis Cliffton Sir Thomas Tristram and Twelve others of Note all but the two first being Beheaded the next day and soon after Prince Edward being presented to the King by Sir Richard Crofts who took him Prisoner was piteously Murthered in his sight by the Dukes of Clarence Gloucester and others on the signal given by the King in striking him on the Mouth with his Gantlet nor was it long after that Innocent King Henry was Murthered in the Tower by the same Duke of Gloucester who struck a Dagger to his Heart his Body being afterward exposed to view in St. Paul's three days that the People might be sure he was Dead however these Proceedings caused the King much hatred among the People when somewhat to satisfie them he consented to Ransome the Queen to pay which the poor Prince her Father sold his Titles to Jerusalem Naples and Sicily and returning home she Lived a Melancholy and Disconsolate Life which lasted not long ere she dyed of Grief particularly for the Death of the Prince her Son whom she dearly Loved King Edward by Bloodshed being rid of his greatest opposers took sollace in Pleasures being very Lustful and was rarely without two or three Concubins tho' his Queen was Young and Beautiful and among them Jane Shoar Wife to Mathew Shoar a Goldsmith in Grace-church-street was most pleasing to him though in the end it brought her to shame and misery But to pass this over The King being now as I may term it Established in the Throne the Duke of Burgundy vehemently incited him to War on France and recover it as his Antient Right and Inheritance upon which condition himself promised to do great matters towards assisting him The King was not slow in listening to it for many reasons urged by his Council as The French having frequently assisted his Enemies c. Yet Money being wanting it seemed difficult But to surmount this he resolved without a Parliament to ask it of his Subjects as a Free Gift which many indeed complied with tho' with an ill will But one thing in this is Remarkable The King to oblige them to bring in more freely if not for Love yet for fear of after-claps on Penal Laws seeing many that were Rich had engaged their Persons or Purses in the War against him he sat sundry Hours in a Day to receive it himself when among others a Rich yet Nigardly old Widow brought Twenty Pounds this so highly pleased him That he not only returned her thanks but told her For her kindness she should Kiss a King and having performed it once the Old Woman pull'd out another Bag crying Vdsbodikins if Kings Sell their Kisses so Cheap give me tother Touch on the Lips and here is another Twenty Pound for you The King smiled at this took her at her word and thought his Kisses well Sold. With this Benevolence of his Subjects and his own Treasure he Transported a fair Army over Sea but found the Duke of Burgundy altogether unprovided even of the promised Necessaries for the support of the English who Lying without the Towns on the cold Ground soon began to murmur however to employ them he Marched with the Duke towards St. Quintins which was secretly promised to be delivered to him by Lewis of Luxemburg great Unkle to King Edward's Queen but on their approaching its Walls the Cannon not only plaid fiercely on them but the Garison made great Sallies so that finding no good to be done they were constrained to draw off and soon after the Duke without taking leave went to raise Forces leaving only word That he would come again with an Army as soon as he was able These Proceedings made the King begin to repent he had come over upon his account and the French King making large offers to obtain a Peace it was after some debate Agreed to without the Dukes consent viz. 1. In consideration the French King Paid Edward 65000 Crowns towards his Charge and 50000l per Annum for his Life 2. That in one Year he should send for the Lady Elizabeth King Edward 's Eldest Daughter and Marry her to the Dauphin allowing them for Nine Years space Annually 50000 Crowns and then the Peaceable possession of the Dutchy of Guyan and in consideration of this Hostages should be left till the English had quitted France and were returned home This being Agreed on tho' the Marriage was never performed the Duke of Burgundy hastened to the Kings Camp and in a blustering and storming manner greatly inveighed against what he had done and was as sharply Answered by him whereupon he rod away in much discontent and the French King came to an Enterview with King Edward highly Feasting him and his whole Army giving Money to the Officers and Soldiers and commanding all his Subjects to use them with much Bounty and Civility which done King Edward Marched to Callice and there passed over to England and then the Lord Howard and Sir John Cheney the Hostages were sent after him with great Rewards The Duke of Burgundy however continued the War and was thrice Overthrown in one Year and in the last at Nancy he was slain King Edward being now at leasure to look if therâ— were after so many slaughters any that could lay â— Claim to his Crown or Interrupt by such a pretence the Peace of him or his Heirs for by this time he had two Sons and five Daughters he at last thought on Henry Earl of Richmond who remained with the Duke of Brittany he being of the Royal Blood and near of Allyance to the Crown To get this Prince into his hands he Bribed Peter Landois the Dukes Treasurer with great Sums
Elizabeth Cavendish she Married Sir William Seymour Son to the Lord Beaucham and both at a distance being Allyed to the Crown made the Marriage distasted but her Husband escaped out of the Tower whether he had been Committed for this conjunction and fled beyond Sea and she escaping from her House at Highgate to follow him was intercepted and Dyed in the place aforesaid There being a Peace confirmed with all Nations the King treated with Spain about a Marriage between his Son Charles now Prince of Wales and Heir apparent to the Crown and the Infanta but Ambassadors being sent many delays were made about difference in Religion and some other Objections which the Earl of Salisbury who Negotiated the matter perceiving would come to no good effect the Treaty of Marriage was laid aside and overtures at the same time made in the Court of France but that as the former then succeeded not by the means of the Duke of Savoy The King having been some Years out of Scotland went thither with a splended Retinue and unluckily about this time the Book of Sports was Published allowing on the Sabbath Day for the Recreation of the Younger sort after Evening-Service Dancing about May-Poles Church-Ales and such like which much displeased sober People to behold that Sacred Day so Prophaned however notwithstanding many complaints it continued and some were punished for opposing it by Writing or otherways Sir Walter Rawleigh making overtures to the King to find out a Rich Mine of Gold-Ore in Gunia by the directions of Captain Kentish once his Servant he was dismissed with some Ships and Men but Gondemar the Spanish Ambassador getting notice of this design writ to Spain about it with such Expedition that Letters from thence arrived in the West-Indies to Advertize of his preparations long before he came so that finding almost all places Fortified except St. Thomes they took that and attempted the River but in passing found such opposition as constrained them to retire without attchieving their ends which so perplexed Kentish that he Shot himself in his Cabin and Sir Walter upon his Return was seized by Sir Lewis Stukley his Kinsman and being brought to London was at the earnest instance and clamour of the Spanish Ambassador sent to the Tower and many grievous complaints laid to his charge of Imposing on the King and indangering a War with Spain That it would likewise break off the Treaty of Marrying again renewed between the Prince and Infanta of Spain with such aggravations that the King gave way he was brought to the King's-Bench Bar at Westminster where the Records of his former Arraignment were Read and he demanded why Execution should not be done upon him according to the Judgment that had been pronounced against him and he going about to Justifie himself on the account of his Voyage was told it was not in question but that he stood there upon his former Judgment which the King would have Executed upon him and tho' he urged much against it as the King 's Trust by a new Commission which he look'd upon as a Pardon c. his Execution was appointed and he Beheaded in the Old Palace-Yard at Westminster in the 60th Year of his Age which pacified the Spaniard for the Loss sustained by the West-India Voyage Soon after this Queen Ann dyed of a Dropsie at Hampton Court a prodigeous Blazing Star ushering her to another World And briefly thus stands her Character She was in her great Condition a good Woman not tempted from the heighth she stood on to Embroil things below her only giving herself content in her own House with such Recreations as might not make Time tedious to her so that nothing can be fixed on her but that she may have Engraven on her Monument a Character of Virtue The Bohemians having chosen Frederick Elector Palatine of the Rhine who Married the Lady Elizabeth King James's Daughter their King Revolted from the Emperour Ferdinand but being Overthrown by the Duke of Bavaria the Imperial General and all Bohemia recovered upon his return home he found his Palatinate Invaded by the Spaniards who with other Aides beat him out of it tho' King James sent about 6000 English to his Assistance who did many brave things but being worsted by great Numbers the poor remains of them in the conclusion of the War returned home This made the King call a Parliament to Refund his Treasure wasted in this War and on chargable Embasseys but they would not hearken to it before sundry Grievances were redressed and hereupon divers who had oppressed the People and mis-spent the publick Treasure were Questioned and Disgraced and among others the Lord Chancellour Bacon for Bribery and Extortion a thing he had always condemned in others and for it lost his Peerage and the Great Seal spending his days very melancholly afterward carrying only the empty title of Viscount St Albans to his Grave And after many contendings between the King and Parliament they not answering his expectations in giving the Sums required he Dissolved it and put out a Proclamation to restrain the peoples Talking to his prejudice but it little availed and the Earl of Oxford having been accused on that account by one White a Papist and the Earl of Southampton by others they were committed and continued a considerable time Prisoners The Kings Ambassadors found but slender success in their Negotiations being delay'd in the Courts of the Empire Spain and with the Duke of Bavaria which much troubled and vexed him And there being many strange Opinions creeping up the King sent his Letter to the Arch-Bishops for Regulating the Ministry and Reforming Abuses therein but the Jesuits and other restless People under-hand laboured to Embroil the Factions and caused many disturbances which with other dissatisfactions from abroad cast the King into a Melancholly Temper especially the slights that were put upon the Prince his Son who went thither to Court in Person attended by Buckingham and others they endeavouring to pervert him in change of his Religion c. so that he was Indisposed and so much out of order a long time that his Favorites durst scarcely speak to him Then hearing the Spaniards still trifled his care was to get the Prince home again least having so wealthy a Prize they should detaine it and sent him secret notice to return Whereupon taking leave of the Queen of Spain and Infanta and the other Ladies and Grandees he was attended to the Sea Coast and in his return being in a Barge some distance from the Ships by a suddain Tempest he narrowly escaped being castaway for a time neither being able to reach the Ships or Shoar but at length he arrived safe to the high satisfaction of the King his Father but this Match after vast Expence and Trouble came to nothing tho' the Lady had a long time had Tutors to Teach her English and pleased enough she appeared at it but this was at last found only a device to retard the
Salisbury that he might make the King sensible of what he had done invited him to an Entertainment and so ordered it that he should pass to it through a Room wherein he had placed four Tables and on each Table Five Thousand Pounds in Silver when the King came into the Passage he started as amazed at the sight having never before seen such a Sum and asking the Treasurer the meaning of it The Treasurer told the King It was the Boon he bad given to Sir Robert Carr Swounds Man says the King which was the Oath he usually swore but Five Thousand Pounds shall serve his Turn By which means the Lord Treasurer sav'd the King Fifteen Thousand Pounds This shewed how easie he was to be impos'd upon giving his Favourites what they pleas'd to ask without knowing what it was His letting the Dutch redeem their Cautinary Towns upon their own terms and letting them also dispossess the English of their Factory at Amboyna in the East-Indies by the most horrid Massacre that any Age had heard of without any reparation or satisfaction for it however it might Entitle him to be Rex Pacificus it could never be an Argument of his Wisdom nor make him appear a Second Solomon which his Flatterers usually stiled him In the beginning of this King's Reign a Plague raged of which in London and the Liberties in one Year Dyed Thirty Thousand Five Hundred Seventy Eight Persons A terrible Blazing Star appeared before the Queens death and the breaking out of the Wars in Hungary Anno 1603 John Lepton Rode Five times between York and London in Five Days beginning his Journy on Monday finishing it the Friday after Anno 1605 William Calverly of York Esq Murthered two of his own Children in his House Stabbed his Wife and went out with intentions to have Kill'd his Child at Nurse but was prevented and was Pressed to death for refusing to Plead The Reign of King CHARLES the First KING James dying at Theobalds on the 27th of March 1625. The same Day his only Surviving Son Prince Charles was Proclaimed King of Great Britain France and Ireland On the 7th of May following were Celebrated the Funerals of the Deceased King whose Body being brought from Sommerset-House was Interred in the Abbey at Westminster with great Magnificence the King himself being the chief Mourner The next thing after the Celebration of the Funeral was to hasten the coming over of the Queen Henrietta Maria youngest Daughter of Henry the Fourth of France Deceased and Sister to Lewis the 13th then Reigning who had by the King's Proxy the Duke of Chevereux been Espoused to him on the first of May at our Ladies Church in Paris Upon Trinity-Sunday at Night she arriv'd at Dover where being met by the King the next Morning they went from thence to Canterbury where they were Married which the third Day after was Declar'd at White-Hall with great Rejoicing On the 18th of June following the King Summon'd a Parliament to meet at Westminster where he urged them for Supplies for the carrying on the War against Spain for the Recovery of the Palatinate upon which the Commons gave two Subsidies and the Clergy three In this Parliament Dr. Mountague the King's Chaplain was Questioned for certain Tenents in his Answer to a Book called the Romish Gagger and his Defence thereof Intituled Apello ad Caesarem and he being brought before the Bar of the House the Speaker declared their Pleasure That they would refer his Censure till their next Meeting and in the mean time he should stand Committed to the Serjeant's-Ward till Two Thousand Pounds Bail could be procured for his Appearance next Sessions And tho' the King by Bishop Laud's means took him into his Protection as his Servant yet his Bond remained Uncancell'd Divers Laws were Enacted in this Parliament and a Bill for Tunnage and Poundage passed the House of Commons but it Miscarried in the Lords House because it was Limitted to a Year whereas it had been Granted to the King's Predecessors during their Lives And then the Plague greatly encreasing the Parliament was Adjourn'd to Oxford where the King again Soliciting for more Money in order to the setting out the Fleet the Commons entred into a Debate about Grievances and were about drawing up a Remonstrance to present to the King but it bearing hard upon Buckingham the King 's great Favourite they were immediately Dissolved And soon after a Fleet was fitted out and sent against Spain but having staid Considering what to do till they lost the Opportunity of Destroying the Spanish Fleet in Cadiz which at first might have been easily done they Sailed to the Southern Gape in expectation of meeting their Plate-Fleet but the Contagion having got into the Fleet they made an Untimely return without doing any thing but four Dayes before the Fleet came This unprosperous Success of the Fleet very much Displeased the King who prohibited Wimbleton the General for some time from his Presence but he excusing himself laid a great part of the Miscarriage on the Stubbornness of the Earl of Essex But tho' all were Blam'd yet none were Punish'd for the ill Conduct of this Expedition And now the War growing very Chargeable since Parliamentary Aids fail'd the King as advis'd by his Council resolved upon raising Money by way of Loan by Letters of Privy-Seal sent to the Ablest Persons in the Kingdom in each of which Letters the King promised in the Name of Him and his Heirs and Successors to re-pay the Money in Eighteen Months after the Payment thereof to the Collector and the Collectors were Ordered to pay the Sums received into the Exchequer and to return the Names of such as went about to Delay or Excuse the Payment of the Money required of them This manner of Proceedings was by all Wise Men thought very improper for by the Law no Man was bound to lend the King Money so this instead of Supplying the King only tended to Alienate the Affections of his Subjects from him and render things more Difficult in the next Parliament Which after the Coronation was over met the 6th of February but with no better Success than the last For the House of Commons began where they left off at Oxford with matters of Religion and publick Grievances viz. The Miscarriage of the Fleet to Cadiz the Evil-Counsellors about the King Mis-government and Mis-imployment of the King's Revenues and an Account of the three Subsidies and three Fifteenths Granted the 21th of King James That new Impositions and Monopolies were multiplied and settled to continue by Grants Customs inhanced by the new Book of Rates and that Tonnage and Poundage was Levied tho' by no Act of Parliament and the Guard of the Seas neglected In this Parliament also five particular Articles were drawn up against Mr. Richard Mountague wherein he had broken the Laws and Statutes of the Realm and disturbed the Peace both of the Church and Common-wealth Upon all which the House of
Earl's caused the Attorney-General to draw up a Charge against him consisting of Eleven Articles of matters of divers Natures And beside these Articles against the Duke the Earl of Bristol exhibited Eleven others against the Lord Conway The Earl likewise gave in his Answer to each particular Article of his Impeachment And now whilst these two Peers were thus Contesting the House of Commons presented an Impeachment against the Duke consisting of twelve Articles to each of which the Duke made Replies But that not Satisfying the Commons they drew up another Declaration of Grievances against the Duke whom they resolved by all means to bring down which Declaration was read before the Bill of Subsidies Which so Incensed the King that he Dissolved the Parliament the very next Day and thereby lost Four Subsidies and Three Fifteenths rather than the Duke should be farther Question'd by the Parliament tho' one of the Articles against the Duke was for a strong Presumption of his having Poisoned the King's Father And thus ended this King's Second Parliament After this Dissolution the King Committed the Earl of Bristol to the Tower and Published first a Proclamation for Burning all Copies of the Commons Declaration and then a Declaration shewing the Grounds and Reasons of his Dissolving this and the former Parliament There were several Occasions at this time which required considerable Sums of Money for besides the Palatinate there was great Likelihood of a War with France upon occasion of the French King 's using the Vaunt-Guard one of the King's Men of War lent to the French King to go against Genoa with six other Merchants Ships turn'd into Men of War against the French Protestants in Rochel expresly contrary to Agreement and the King being extreamly Troubled at it demanded Satisfaction of the French King who Deferring to give it the King seized a rich French Ship and the French King Arrested the Goods of the English Merchants in France to the Value of about 300000 l. tho' afterwards Restoration was made on both sides But the Insolent Practices of the Priests and Jesuits belonging to the Queen especially her Confessor soon caused another Rupture for he imposed upon her as a Pennance to wait upon his Servants at their Dinner and to walk on Foot in a rainy Morning from Sommerset-House to St. James's and from thence to Tyburn to offer up her Prayers for the Souls of the Romish Martyrs i. e. Traytors or Jesuits that had been Executed there himself the mean while riding by her in his Coach But these Arrogancies being unsufferable the Queens French Domesticks were paid off and sent Home Hereupon the French King tho' this was no more than what himself had done before in sending back all the Spanish Courtiers that came with his Queen Arrested all the English Merchants Ships that lay in the River of Bourdeaux this was so ill resented by the King that the Peace so lately patch'd up was now turn'd into an open War And the King thereupon made use of those Forces against the French which were designed against the Spaniard complying now with the Desires of the Rochelers who had humbly Sued to him for Aid and Protection But the Fleet design'd for their Relief not going out till after Michaelmas a very improper Season to send out a Fleet of great Ships to Sea encountred only with Storms and Tempests and return'd Home again without doing any thing leaving the poor Rochellers in a worse Condition than they were before The Assessment of the Loan again set on Foot since the Parliaments Dissolution being generally Opposed the People of lower Rank were Ordered to appear in the Military-Yar near St. Martins in the Fields to be Listed for Soldiers it being thought fit that those who could not with their Purâ—es should assist the King with their Persons But several Gentlemen and others of Ability for refusing the Loan were Committed Prisoners to the Fleet Marâ—â—â—sea Gate-House and other Prisons Sir John Elliot who Petition'd his Majesty declaring that he could prove by many Presidents That all manner of Aids and Taxes in former Kings Reigns were never Levied but the general Consent of the Nobility and Commons Assembled in Parliament Notwithstanding which he was Committed to the Gate-House Dr. Sybthorp and Manwaring two Eminent Preachers at Court instead of Preaching the Gospel Preach'd up the Necessity and Duty of the Loan one of them Asserting That the Prince hath power to Direct his Counsel and make Laws and that Subjects if they cannot exhibit Active Obedience in case the thing Commanded should be against the Law of God or Nature yet ought to yield Passive Obedience and in all other Cases they were bound to Active Obedience The other was more express to the Purpose and affirmed That the King 's Royal Command in imposing of Loans and Taxes though without Consent in Parliament did Oblige the Subjects Conscience upon pain of Eternal Damnation Which Position being highly Applauded at Court the Sermon of Dr. Sybthorp call'd Apostolick Obedience was approved by Dr. Laud then Bishop of London and an Express sent from the King to Archbishop Abbot to License it which he refusing the King suspended him from his Archiepiscopal See and a Commission was Granted to five Bishops to execute his Office And now the D. of Buckingham to clear his Reputation and shew his Diligence in his Admiral-ship with some difficulty compleated his Naval Forces consisting of 6000 Horse and Foot in Ten Royal Ships and Ninety Merchant-Men with which he set Sail from Portsmouth June 27th 1627. and Published a Manifesto of the King's Affection to the Reformed Churches in France and his Displeasure for the last Mis-employing of his Ships against the Rochellers But after all through the Duke 's ill Conduct or Obstinacy in going before St. Martin's Castle in the Isle of Rhee against which his Council disswaded him rather than against the Mede another Castle in that Island which they might in all likelihood have carried and would have been a safe place of Retreat in case of Necessity this great Design Miscarried with the Death of near Two Thousand common Souldiers Thirty Prisoners of Note and Forty four Colours taken Yet to make some Amends for this Miscarriage a great French Ship was taken upon the Coasts of Holland Laden with all sorts of Ammunition to a great Value Also Sir John Pennington took 34 rich French Merchant-men homeward-bound and brought 'em all safe into England The lowness of the Exchequer the late Miscarriage at the Isle of Rhee and the present distressed Condition of the Rochellers being laid before the Lords of the Council it was thereupon resolved to call another Parliament and Writs were forthwith issued out accordingly And the Parliament met the 27th of March and the King tells them That the greatness of the Danger requires a speedy Supply and hopes they will prove such true Patriots as not to deceive his Expectations The first thing the Commons went upon was the Grievances
King and Parliament in England continuing to increase many that feared the sad Events left the Land others retired to lead private Lives Mary the King 's Eldest Daughter being Married to the Prince of Orange by Approbation of Parliament the Queen went over with her and the King caused all Popish Priests to be banish'd the Kingdom and the Penal Statutes to be put in Execution against Papists Yet the Parliament proceeded to Tax the King about harkning to the Change of Religion and that he had given cause to the Rebellion in Ireland casting many Reflections on the Queen which constrained him to publish his Declaration to wipe off these Imputations but this doing little good he retired with Prince Charles his Son the Palsgrave of the Rhine the Duke of Richmond and others to York Summoning the Nobles Knights of the Garter and all such as held Tenure of the Crown by Lands or Service But the Parliament strictly forbid it Yet many went and among them several Members of Parliament The King seeing no good by fair means to be done he Commanded all the Yorkshire Men to meet him at Howard-Moor near York where there appeared about 60000 and with about 20000 he returned to York Commanding the rest to return to their Respective Homes In the mean while the Parliament was borrowing Money of the Londoners on the Publick Faith and raising 10000 Foot and 2000 Horse they sent them towards York of which the King had no sooner Notice but with a slender Force he repaired to Hull and demanded enterance but Sir John Hotham the Governour appearing on the Walls fell on his Knees and entreated his Majesty not to desire that of him which he could not Grant by reason of the Trust imposed in him by the Parliament whereupon he was proclaimed Traytor and the King sent to the Parliament to complain of this Affront and require a Treaty tending to a Reconciliation promising to repair to them if they would leave London and make choice of some other fitting place but they refused it Whereupon he Proclaimed all those Guilty of Treason that assisted them either with Money or Supplies and threatned to deprive the Londoners of their Charter if they offended herein Then he Fortified Newark and Barwick and sought to gain Hull by Force but failed in the Attempt And the Parliament having proclaimed the Earl of Essex their General the King repaired to Notingham and there set up his Standard and gathered a considerable Army so that now to the great Trouble of most People War was prepared for on both sides with much Vigor and Resolution in which many Gallant Men lost their Lives And Prince Charles seeing his Father's Affairs in a desperate Condition Sailed for the Scillys from whence he was Invited by the Parliament to return for London but not thinking it safe he went to the Hague and continued with his Sister the Princess of Orange till he heard the sad News of his Father's Death In the mean while Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice the King's Nephews Sons to his Sister the Queen of Bohemia came over and were Graced with Commands in the Army After several Skirmishes and the taking some Towns on both sides the two Armies drew near each other and the King perceiving himself Strong upon the Earl of Worcester's coming in with a considerable Force of Welch resolved to out-march Essex and reach London and to that end got a days March before him but Scorning to be pursu'd by a Subject he changed his Measures Faced about and both Parties Facing between Keinton and Edge-hill in Warwickshire on the 23d of Octob. 1642 a sharp Battel was Fought between them in which on both sides were slain between 5 and 6000 Men and the Slaughter had been much greater had not Night come on and parted them After this the King took in the Town and Castle of Banbury and some other places The Parliament to strengthen their Army Voted That all Apprentices that would List should be Free from their Masters and afterward received into Service again whereupon they gained considerable Recruits Then solemnly invited the Scots to their Assistance which the King by his Letters to the Privy-Council of Scotland laboured to prevent but in vain Yet several of the Lords and Commons presented a Petition to him at Cole-brook and had answer He would expect them at Windsor Castle and desired them to hasten the Treaty But this they did to gain time till Essex was Recruited which made the King hasten to Secure Brainford where happened a sharp Encounter tho' at last he forced his way but upon Essex's hastening with his Regular Forces and the London-Militia he retired for fear of being hemmed in to Oxford and because this happened in a time of Treaty the Parliament Voted to have no Accommodation yet after allowed it if he would leave his Army and come to them But this was Rejected and the War waxed fierce so that with various Success Towns were taken and Parties routed on both sides by turns whilst the Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Essex Hartford Cambridge Isle of Ely and the City of Norwich were Authorized by the Parliament to Associate under the Lord Gray of Wark And the Queen arriving with Officers Ammunition and Money from Holland was received at York by the Earls of New castle and Cumberland And these Disturbances at Home gave the Irish an Opportunity to Rebel again at the Instigation of the Pope who to that Purpose sent two Letters one to Owen O Neal and the other to all the Arch-bishops Bishops Nobles and People of the Kingdom Commanding those who had already appeared in the Quarrel and Exhorting others to take Arms wickedly approving the Massacre and bestowing on them his Benediction with plenary Pardons and Absolutions for whatever they should act so that much Blood was again shed which caused by the Mediation of those that were Peaceably inclin'd several new Treaties to be set on Foot between the King and Parliament but they came to nothing being still crossed by those that hoped for Advantages by the Distractions of the times And the Lord Brook besieging Litchfield-Close was there Slain but his Soldiers took it and the Earl of Chester Prisoner And now they proceeded to draw up Articles of high Treason against the Queen some of which were That she pawned the Crown-Jewels in Holland That she endeavoured to raise a Party in Scotland against the Parliament and that she was in the Head of a Popish Army in England This was carried to the Lords by Pym who seemed at first to be Surprized but after agreed to it About this time Robert Yeomans and George Boucher were Hang'd at Bristol on pretence they designed to betray the City to the King and on the like pretence Mr. Tomkins and Mr. Challonor were Executed on the Account of London And during these Heats Arch-bishop Laud was Attainted of High-Treason and lost his Head And the Queen meeting the King at Edge-hill went with him to
another Parliament called there that long harassed Kingdom was brought to a good Settlement And now a Match being Negotiated in the Court of Portugal between the King and Donna Catharina Infanta of that Kingdom her Dowry was settled and in Lieu thereof the English had Tangier which became afterwards a great Charge to the Nation without any Profit So that the Earl of Peterborough having taken Possession of that place on the Continent of Africa for the King the Lady came over Royally attended and the King going to Portsmouth was there Married to her with much Pomp by the Bishop of London and afterwards came to White-Hall and was Joyfully received Sir Henry Vane and John Lambert being Tryed and found Guilty of Treason for things done before the Restoration being excepted out of the Act of Indemnity the former was Beheaded but the latter Reprieved and kept in Prison till he Died and Archibald Johnson Lord Warrestone being taken beyond the Sea and brought over was Sentenced as a Traytor by the Parliament of Scotland and Executed on a Gibbit at Edenborough 22 Foot high A Conspiracy being timely Discovered in Ireland divers were Imprisoned and some Executed which altogether dashed their further Intentions and kept the Kingdom in Quiet a considerable time And in the North of England another much about the same time being discovered one Gibbons and Baker were Tryed found Guilty and Executed whereupon the rest Dispersed The Commons in Parliament having Voted the King a Supply of 2500000 l great Naval Preparations were made which caused our Neighbours the Dutch to fear a Storm and therefore they thought it convenient to provide for their Safety and indeed a Misunderstanding happening between both Nations an Order of Council was made giving Letters of Reprisal against them and about 112 Sail were taken by our Frigats Men of War c. most of them being adjudged Lawful Prizes and hereupon the King set out his Declaration touching his Proceedings for Reparation from the Subjects of the States Whilst these things were doing a Dutchman under the Disguise of a Sweed coming from Guinea publickly reported De Ruytter the Dutch Commander had Destroyed all the English in the Factories on that Coast which for a time caused much Consternation among the Merchants trading thither but it proving False he was Sentenced and Whipt through London However the Parliament being Prorogued War was Proclaimed on the 2d of March 1664 and a General Fast succeeded for a Blessing on the King's Forces to be employed against them and De Ruyter attempting with his Fleet to Plunder the English Plantation of Barbadoes in the West-Indies was beaten off but whilst many Encounters happened at Sea a worse Calamity befell at Land for by reason of the great Heat in the Spring and but little cool breathing Winds to purge and purify the Air about the beginning of May 1665 a Plague began fearfully to Rage so that in London that Year 97306 Persons of all Degrees dyed and of these were accounted 68596 of the Plague However the War was carryed on with great Vigour and on the 3d of June the Duke of York being Admiral of the English Navy the two Fleets engaged and after a long and obstinate Fight which continued many Hours bloody and doubtful the Dutch gave way and such as got off stood to their own Coast The English having taken burnt sunk and shattered about thirty of their Ships and slain and taken Prisoners about 8000 tho' not without Loss considerable on our own part which was chiefly occasioned by most of the great Ships crouding about the Admiral to screen him from the Fury of the Enemy and prevent his being laid on Board by Fire-ships Those English of Note who lost their Lives in this Engagement were the Earls of Falmouth Portland Marlborough and the Lord Muskery Sir John Lawson dyed of his Wounds soon after and 2063 Dutch Prisoners were brought to Colchester whereof 13 were Commanders Hereupon a publick Thanksgiving was performed for this Victory the King likewise Conferred the Honour of Knighthood on such Sea-Commanders as had eminently Signalized their Courage and Conduct in the Action The Plague still continuing to Rage a Fast was Proclaimed solemnly to be held every first Wednesday in the Month till it should cease and Fires were continued in the Streets of London and Westminster for three Days and Nights to purify the Air whilst the King c made his progress through the greater part of England the two Houses of Parliament attending him at Christ-Church in Oxford and upon his laying before them them the necessity of a supply to maintaine the charges of the War the Commons Voted him 1250000 l. And Michaelmas Term by Proclamation was Adjournd from Westminster to that City But the Plague abating the Parliament and Courts of Judicature returned to Westminster as did the King and Queen The French King envying the growing greatness of the English more than any love he had for the Dutch as it afterward plainly appeared Joyned with them and was soon answered in the same Language at the Instigation of others The Fleets being abroad Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albermarle then Joynt-Admirals of the English the latter with a Squadron of fifty Ships the former being to the Westward with the rest engaged 80 of the Dutch on the Coast of Flanders and maintained the Fight two Days when on the third Prince Rupert coming in the Fight continued very Bloody till the Evening with much Loss on both sides and then the Dutch stood away to their own Coast In this Fight the Royal Prince was stranded on the Galloper and burnt by the Dutch Sir George Ascough who Commanded her being taken Prisoner and carryed into Holland About six or seven Weeks after there happened another Sea-Fight and the English chased the Dutch to their own Coasts and on the 7th of August Sir Robert Holms burnt divers Dutch Merchants Ships in the Fly and the Town of Baudaris upon the Island of Scheling and four French Men of War salling in with our Fleet mistaking it in Foggy-weather for the Dutch one of them of 54 Guns was taken On the Second of September 1666 being Sunday began the dreadful Fire of London at one Faringdons a Baker's House in Pudding-Lane the back-side of Fish-street-hill It continued Burning until Wednesday Night following and that time destroyed the greatest part of the City But the best Account of it being Engraven on the North-side of the Monument Erected in the perpetual Remembrance thereof take as followeth In the Year of Christ 1666 the second Day of September Eastward from hence at the Distance of Two hundred and two foot the heighth of this Column a terrible Fire broke out about Midnight which driven on by a high Wind not only wasted the adjacent Parts but also very remote Places with incredible noise and fury It consumed eighty nine Churches the City-Gates Guildhall many publick Structures Hospitals Schools Libraries a vast Number of stately
places of England that had risen on this Revolution But Ireland was in a dangerous Condition for the Earl of Tyrconnel had stopped almost all the Ports and was raising numerous Forces of Irish for the Service of King James so that those who would have fled into England or Scotland were for the most part restrained and obliged to continue under the dreadful Apprehensions of another Massacre being every where in the Countrey Robbed and Spoiled of their Substance and a great many Imprisoned The State of which Kingdom the King earnestly recommended to his Parliament desiring them to hasten the raising such Supplies as was requisite in order to reduâ—d it to Obedience The Lord bishop of London with about one Hundred of the City Clergy waiting on the King to tender their humble Duty he gave them an assurance of his Affection to the Church of England and of all Encouragement to them concluding that they might depend upon his Word And an Act passed about Removing and Preventing all Questions and Disputes about the Assembling and sitting of the Parliament and the King issued out his Proclamation to leave the Irish without Excuse That if they would lay down their Arms and Live quietly they should have their Pardon for all things past and enjoy their Estates but if they continued still in Arms declaring them Rebels and Traytors and their Lands and Possessions Forfeited c. But this Proclamation being not Publish'd in Ireland had little effect tho' in the North the Protestants secured London-Derry Sligo and other places in expectation of being Aided from England And now the King to ease his Subjects consented that the Duty of Hearth-Money that had long been a Burden to the Nation might be taken off which was very pleasing to the People Thomas Pilkington Esq who in the late Reign was Fined 100000 l. upon an Action of Scandalum Magnatum brought against him by the then Duke of York was now chosen Lord-Mayor of London in which Honourable station he continued near three Years And now the Coronation being appointed on the 11th of April it was performed with great Splendor and Magnificence occasioning great Demonstrations of Joy in the People and soon after the Crown of Scotland was by the Commissioners of the Estates presented to the King and Queen which was accepted and the usual Coronation Oath of that Kingdom taken And now Admiral Herbert standing with a considerable Squadron to the Coast of Ireland fought with about 40 French Men of War in Bantrey-Bay in this Engagement Capt. George Aylmer of the Portland a Lieutenant and 64 Seamen were Killed and about 240 Wounded the Enemy losing a greater Number And then at the humble Request of the Parliament the King declared War with France In Scotland Duke Hamilton was made High-Commissioner where the Duke of Gourdon held the Castle of Edenborough for King James and the Viscount Dundee had a considerable Force in the Field to second him and many hot Skirmishes were Fought till at last in an Obstinate Fight Dundee was killed upon which the Duke of Gourdon not finding himself longer able to hold the Castle delivered it up to Sir John Lanier upon Articles â—nd tho' Collonel Cannon Buchanon and others kept up the Party in the Field for a while at length they were dispersed and Scotland entirely Quieted On the 24th of July the Princess of Denmark was brought to Bed of a Son and on the 28th he was Christened William by the Bishop of London the King and the Earl of Dorset standing God-Fathers and the Marchioness of Hallifax God-Mother and then the King declared the Young Prince Duke of Gloucester King James being Landed in Ireland with some French Forces and a considerable number of Officers Arms and Ammunition had with a numerous Army besieged London-Derry which was Defended by the Inhabitants and others till it was reduced to the last Extremity by Famine but then Providence so ordered it that Major-General Kirk sending in Shipping with Provision the Siege was raised The Besiegers in lying before it and by the Besieged's falling on the Rear in drawing off having lost 2000 men and Dr. Walker a principal Man in Defending that place coming over the King Ordered him 5000 l. as a mark of his Bounty with an Assurance of greater Advantages And on the 13th of August the Duke of Schomberg Landed with the English Army at Carickfergus in Ireland and soon Reduced divers Places compelling the advanced Parties of the Irish to retreat before him and held a Winter-Camp on the Plains of Dundalk which being Moorish and Foggy many Gallant Men dyed of the Flux and other Sicknesses But the Iniskilling-men who frequently went abroad in Parties did considerable Service by cutting off the Irish Rapparees Whilst these things passed the King for weighty Reasons dissolved his first Parliament and called another to sit at Westminster the 20th of March 1690 and the Commons chusing Sir John Trevor their Speaker the King told both Houses among other things That his Resolution was to go for Ireland his Presence being necessary there for Reducing that Kingdom Signifying it was his Pleasure to leave the Government in the Queen's Hands during his Absence and accordingly before his Departure an Act was passed to that Purpose And the King of Denmark at this time assisted the King with 6000 Danish Soldiers under the Leading of the Duke of Wirtemburg who did notable Service Charlemont having been straightly Blocked up Capitulated and other places were Reduced by Force And now the King having settled Affairs in England left White-Hall on the 4th June and on the 14th Landed at Carickfergus in Ireland and hastened to order the Army and Marching to the Newry had News that the Enemy having set Fire to their Straw had Decamped and quitted that strong Post This at first scarce gained Credit but Scouts being sent out and the Report confirmed the King changed his March and sent Orders to the Forces at Armagh and Fevergee to march by the great Roads towards Dundalk in which some of our Men fell into an Ambush of the Enemy but behaved themselves with that Courage and Bravery that most of them got off having slain the Commander and brought away his Horse and the King marched towards Drogheda where he found the Enemy Encamped along the River Boyn above the Town and as he was viewing them a Six-pounder grazed on his Shoulder which only rased the Skin but as soon as it was Dressed he took Horse and Commanded Count Solmes to find out a Ford above the Enemy and pass the River which he Successfully did and obliged those that Guarded it after a hot Dispute to retire And upon notice of this the whole Army passed at other Fords the Foot wading some to the Arm-pits sustaining all the Enemies Fire and not returning it till they came close up with them and falling furiously on soon gave them a general Rout but in this Encounter Duke Schomberg and Dr. Walker late of London-Derry
greate noise of Terrour in Combates the Women usually going to War with them and not only Fighting Couragiously by their Husbands sides Animating them by their Courage but often Commanding Battalions and Armys as the Romans too fatally found when they strugled with much Slaughter 123 Years for this Island The Britains appear by all Authors to have been very sparing in their Diet and not much given to Venery Though they had many Wives in Common amongst Brothers and Kindred yet the Children redounded to his credit who first Cropt the Mothers Virgin Rose And by this means as Plutarch a very judicious Author affirms they were of so Healthful and Lively a Constitution That many if not most in the warm Southern parts according to the Term of a Natural Life exceeded 130 Years Yet they much delighted in Ornaments as Bracelets Beads Iron Rings c. And preferred their Paint'd and Carv'd Skins before the most gaudy Cloathing Their Agriculture was but little though the Earth much invited them to it by its promising Fruitfulness They had not the use of Ploughs and only Sowed their Grain on the Mellowest Land after Rain then laying great weights on bundles of Bushes drag it over in the nature of Harrowing Yet they had found out the way of making their Drink with sodden Barly which though perhaps in a higher Improvement continues to this day to the great Advantage and Health of the Moderate People of the Nation As for the flesh of Fowl and Wild Creatures they declin'd it as they did likewise Fish and Milk Then Hares were found in such abundance That they Flock'd together like Sheep fearless of the Hunter or his Hounds Their Opinions in Theology were That the Souls of Men Dyed not but according to Pythagoras had a Transmigration from one Body to another And on their Solemn Days their Druid's and Bards Sung the Praises of Renowned Heroes such as had Dyed in War or been Famous for any Rare Invention and this they did to Incourage and stir up others to Imitation INSULAE ALBION et HIBERNIA cum minoribus adjacentibus Nor did they carry any Provisions with them when they set out only creeping along the Shoar or in Calm Weather Wafting over to the Gallick or Belgian Shoar And most of their Business was to carry Grain and Metals with the latter of which the Island did then and still abounds And some are apt to think for that cause the Greeks Coasting in these Seas and finding the Island abounding with Metals Named it Britania from Prutania Metal or the Metal-Island As for ENGLAND that now so called Exempt from Wales and Scotland it had its Denomination from the East Angloens who seated themselves in the East Angle Kingdom to the Eastern Sea in the time of the Saxon Heptarchie or Seven Kingdoms and that Name through all Revolutions and Changes it has retained for above 900 Years This Land has been taken for the Fortunate Island set forth with many Praises and Encomiums by the Greek Poets and Charles the Great rightly termed it The Grainary and Store-House of the Western World Thus having given you a Brief Account of the Antient Inhabitants of this Country I proceed to shew how it was divided amongst their several Tribes and so come closer to the more sollid Body of History ENGLAND and WALES was possessed by 17 Tribes of Native Britains under these distinctions viz. 1. The Canti possessed Kent 2. Regni Sussex and Surry 3. Durotriges Dorsetshire 4. Damnonij Cornwall and Devonshire 5. Belgae Somersetshire Wiltsâ—â—re and Southamptonshire 6. Artabatij Berkshire 7. Dobuni Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire 8. Catieuclani Warwickshire Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire 9. Trinobants Hartfordshire Middlesex and Essex 10. Iceni Suffolk Norfolk Cambridge and Huntingtonshires 11. Coritani Rutland Northamptonshire Lincolnshire Leicestershire Derbyshire and Notinghamshire 12. Cornabij Staffordshire Worcestershire Shropshire and Cheshire 13. Ordovices Flintshire Denbighshire Carnarvanshire Montgomeryshire and Merionethshire 14. Brigantes Parisi Lancashire Yorkshire Richmondshire Durham Westmoreland and Cumberland 15. Silulers Herefordshire Radnorshire Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire 16. Dimetae Caermarthenshire Pembrookshire and Cardiganshire 17. Ottodoni Northumberland Tweedale Tiffedale March and Louthain Whilst these Tribes were scattered up and down in the several Counties then full of Woods which they Inhabited Lud King of the Trinobants Dyed He was wonderfully beloved not only of his own Subjects but of all the Britains for the good offices he had done them in reconciling their Differences puting an End to many Bloody Wars that fell out amongst them and civilizing their Manners constituting sundry wholsom Laws thereby making them lay aside many of their Barbarous Customs He held a free correspondence with the Gauls and was much Honoured by them their Kings sending him divers Rich Presents as also Artificers to assist him in Building or Enlarging Troy Novant or New Troy which he afterward called by his own Name Care Lud or Lud Town now the famous City of London which then reached no further than Dowgate Eastward the Houses standing up and down Angular and not Regular in Streets Yet he Inclosed it with a good Wall defended by Bullwarks and on it many Watch-Towers calling its Western Gate Lud's Gate which Name it retaines to this day placing his own Effigies in Marble on the Inside of it At his Death he Recommended his two Sons Andragius and Temantius being very Young to the care of Cassibelan his Brother who held his Regal Seat at Verulam now called St. Albanes in Hartford-shire Upon the Death of King Lud the People came and offered the Principality to him and the Heirs of his Body by consent of the Three Estates of the Trinobants viz. those of Essex Middlesex and Hartford-shire But in consideration of his Trust and his Nephews Rights he contented himself with only a Part for when they came to Age he placed Andrageus in Troynovant or London joyning to it all Middlesex and the Dukedom of Kent which in that time he had Conquered bringing the Canti under his Subjection And to Temantius he gave the Dukedom of Cornwall his Right by Marriage Reserving to himself Hartfordshire and Essex only Thus for the space of Seven Years the Nation continued in a happy state after the Death of King Lud before whose Departure a Terrible Blasing-Star with a Bloody Taile appeared at South West for the space of Fifteen Nights being likewise seen in many other Lands Fore-running the Miserys that afterward befell this Kingdom For now Andrageus a Prince of a haughty Spirit considering his Vnkle detained from him part of his Inheritance raised a mighty power and Invaded Hartfordshire But three Miles beyond Barnet being Fought with by Cassibelan he was there overthrown with a fearful Slaughter soon after driven out of most of his Possessions which so possessed him with Anger and desire of Revenge That hearing Julius Caesar who was then but a Roman Consul had subdued all Gallia now called France and a great part of Germany and given Refuge
to divers distressed Princes restoring them to their Principalities upon their submiting to become Tributaries to Rome and that he rather sought Fame and Glory than to Enslave the People he subdued being the greatest Captain that or any former Ages had produced he resolved to cast himself upon him for Protection preferring his Revenge before the Safety of his Country and great was the Destruction and many the Miserie 's the War brought upon it The Young Prince Armed with this Resolution notwithstanding the Grave Counsels of his Fathers Courtiers to disswade him from it laying before him That he ought to submit his Private Injuries to the Publick Peace of all the People of the Nation he took with him his Treasure and some of his trusty Confidents and Sailed in a small Vessel to that part of Gallia now called Normandy where he found Caesar retired from the Toiles of War and setling the affaires of the Country with a design to return to Rome and obtain of the Senate a renewal of his Consulship or longer continuation of his Government When being Introduced by Caesars Lictor's he bending one Knee to the Ground and Rising again Spake in the Gallick Language to this effect Most Mighty Caesar Great Captain of Rome and of the World behold a Distressed Prince of the Britains before you craving your Protection and Imploring a Redress of my Wrongs from you who are the Scourge of Tyrants and ever compassionate to the Injured Caesar wondering at first by the strangeness of his Garb who he should be or to what this Discourse might tend till having heard at large as has been related the cause of his coming and the Fruitfulness of the Country and Thirsting after more Honour to raise his Fame to what it at last aspir'd to viz. The Empire of the World he not only comforted him and â—eated him in his own Pavillion but promised him â—â—stance as Romes Confederate to make War on his â—â—kle so soon as the season would permit and his â—â—â—ires were setled with the Gauls and Germans CHAP. II. 〈◊〉 Account of Julius Caesars Landing in this Island The Battels Fought between Him and the Britains with various Success The British Princes that for the Liberty of their Country withstood him and the succeeding Emperours With Strange Wonders and Prodigies c. WHilst Caesar sent for fresh Legions of Roman Souldiers to reinforce his Army and all Warlike â—â—ovisions to Invade the Britains they had notice of it â—â—â—m the Friendly Gauls which much startled them in 〈◊〉 parts of the Island Yet preferring their Liberty beâ—â—â—e their Lives and finding their Embassy's rejected â—â—less they would become Tributary to Rome they 〈◊〉 General Council of all the Estates Resolved on a â—â—ve Defence And among other Warlike Furniture â—â—ey brought into the Field Five Hundred Waggons â—â—â—led by some Authors British War Charriots These 〈◊〉 fastened to the Sides of them long Sythe-Blades and â—â—â—rp hooked Sickles so rank'd and order'd That if â—â—ey were Worsted they might retire amongst them 〈◊〉 shelter or else drawn with strong Horses break 〈◊〉 among the Enemies Foot and violently hurrying 〈◊〉 cut and tear them in pieces And so Dexterous â—â—ey were in this manner of War That he who manâ—ged or drove it would Run swiftly on the Coppis 〈◊〉 Raile smite his Enemy and return to the Body of 〈◊〉 Waggon or Charriot before he could be Charged 〈◊〉 Annoyed Cassibelan having gotten a numerous Army Fortified as well as he could the Shoars towards France feting a great number of Men on the Chalkie Cliffs to watch and give notice of the Enemies approach So that when Caesar with twelve choice Legions which he brought in 300 Vessels thought to have Landed by Surprise he found himself deceived being beaten off three times by the Britains leaving many Hundreds of his Legionary Souldiers Dead on the Sands and the last time had his own Sword wrested from him by one Scaeva a Britain whom he afterwards Knighted and for his Valour made him a Centurion who did wonders for him in his Wars against Pompey stopping at a Breach a whole Army with his mighty Sword till his Body being stuck with Darts like a Wood after he had Slain a Hundred of his Enemies he fell Dead on the heap of Carkasses and gained a lasting Memory in History Caesar finding the Britains so desperately bent to Sacrifice their Lives for the Liberty of their Country Manned out Open Vessels with Arohers and such as were dexterous at Sling-Stones and Casting-Piles or Roman Darts and lying out of the reach of the Britains Weapons who were not acquainted with that manner of War found them selves obliged to retire from the Shoar Whereupon the Roman Foot-men thrust on Land and made good their Station till the Cohorts of Horse came to assist them Their place of Landing being where the Town of Bright-Hemsted now stands in the County of Sussex Cassibelan perceiving himself at this time over-Match'd made an orderly Retreat to the Fortified Woods of which they had then great numbers sending to the Princes in Confederacy with him for Assistance But more Romans coming from Belgia to Caesars Aid in a Bloody Battel Fought on Barham Downs Anno. Mundi 3873. he overthrew Cassibelan wherein 40000 of his People were Slain and almost as many Romans Among the Slain Britains were found many Women whom the Victor caused to be honourably Interred and then pursu'd the flying Prince who got into Troynovant now called London and Fortified himself causing Stakes to be driven down with Lead about the Heads of them at the places where the Ferrys usually passed to hinder the Enemies Boats For the Thames runing out of its Banks broad and scattering in the Fields was full of Ouse and not passible but at certain places However Caesar who was Fortune's Darling with mighty labour laid over Bridges of Boats and Planks of Timber c. and took the City by Storm yet spared the Lives of the Inhabitants Cassibelan fled to Verulam but Cingitorix King of Kent was made Prisoner And Caravill Taximagul and Segonax Princes of the Southern parts of the Island for siding with Cassibelian had their Countries taken from them Which so startled the Senimagues Cegontians Ancalits Bribrosses and Caffians the States of the Icenians Seeing Caesars swift progress they sent Ambassadors to Treat of Peace and submitted themselves Tributaries to Rome And then he fixed Andrageus in his Principality but he afterwards left it to go with Caesar to Rome and attended him in his Wars abroad Yet Caesar who had seen but a little part of the Country and took it for a Main Continent or as his Soldiers complained when he Encouraged them to Invade the Britains another World different from what they had been in before was no sooner call'd to repass the Seas upon his other affaires but the British Princes joyning together made a great Slaughter of the Roman Souldiers which compell'd him to come over again to quiet them The like upon the same
Occasion he did a Third Time Laying a Tax of 300 l. per Annum Tribute But having cast in his Mind the gaining the Supream Dominion over Rome he left Comius his Deputy and carrying away great numbers of the British Youth to serve him in his Wars he departed And by Pompey's Overthrow in Pharsalia and two other Bloody Battels made himself Emperour But soon after was Stabb'd by the Senators with 23 Wounds in the Senate-House Augustus Caesar Nephew to Julius Caesar Succeeding him in his Empire more Forces were sent into Britain who still Incroached upon the Natives and put them to divers servile Labours as Building Forts Digging Trenches and Hewing Timber So that finding themselves uneasie betook them again to their Arms Which made this Emperour three times prepare to come in Person but was as often hindred by other Business Till at last the Prince of Peace in the 24th Year of his Reign being Born for the Salvation of Mankind Anno. Mundi 3870. A Vniversal Peace spread it self into all Nations So the Gates of Janus Temple at Rome was shut which had not happen'd for 300 Yearâ— before And in this Emperours time Cunobeline a British Prince who held his Royal Seat at Malden in Essex and was Knighted had leave to Stamp his Image on his Coin after the Roman manner and was made Deputy of Britain by Augustus and Succeeded by Guiderius his Son in his Principality who denied the Romans Tribute but was thereupon Overthrown by Claudius Drusius in which Battel himself was Slain as some Historians have it by one Hamo a Britain who privately sided with the Romans got near him under pretence of receiving Orders from him so Treacherously thrust him through and Fled But being furiously pursued by Anviragus the Kings Brother he Slew him at the Sea side From whose Death the Place was called Hamo's Haven and is that where the Commodious Town of Southampton in the County of Southampton now stands Tiberius Caesar Succeeded Augustus in the Empire The Romans finding how advantageous this Island was to them by reason of the large quantities of Metal and Corn they every Year Received by the Barks they sent Loading Annually about 800 Encreased their Collonies as not being willing to have so valuable a Prize wrested out of their Hands Yet the British Princes Laboured earnestly to be rid of so uneasie an Incumbrance but their designs did not end with Success Wherefore they applied themselves to the Neighbouring Gaulls for succour but they were in as bad or worse condition themselves being every where bridled with Roman Forts and Garrisons So that Cogidunus a Prince of great esteem among the Britains Submiting The Emperour bestowed several Cities on him to Hold and Govern them paying a small Tribute and by that means he brought over the rest So that a setled Peace ensued and Arts began to Flourish the Romans Teaching them to the Natives And so each Nation grew more familliar and friendly In the 18th Year of this Emperours Reign the Sun Rising Fair and Bright in the Morning immediately drew in its Light so that a palpable Darkness was over the Earth which Frighted and Astonished the People and made them think that the Light of that Glorious Planet was quite Extinguished Yet in some Hours it recover'd its Luster The Cause not proceeding from any Eclipse of the Sun by the Interposing Moon but from the Wickedness of Man who were at that time Crucifying The Son of Righteousness Which made Dyonisius Areopagita a Learned Philosopher who wondered at the Cause of it truly say That either the God of Nature Suffered or the frame of the World was about to be Dissolved Caius Caligula Succeeding Tiberius his Debaucheries and Gluttony gave him leave to look but little after his Affaires in Britain Yet he Banished Pontius Pilate who Adjudged Christ to Death whereupon in Despaire he Slew himself Anno. Dom. 41. He more for humour and extravagancy than advantage plained Mountains caused Fish-Ponds to be filled with Rose-Water and Built Towers in the Sea But hearing that the Britains had Raised a Formidable War and overthrown his Legions he came with a powerful Army to the Belgian Shoar but being Frighted at the Noise of such a War he caused a Charge to be Sounded and his Souldiers immediately to March to the Sea-side where they were Commanded to fill their Helmets with Cockle-shells and so Returned braging them to be the spoiles of the Ocean He Reigned but Three Years and Ten Months in which time the Britains had Recovered a great part of what they had Lost Yet many of them Dyed of a lamentable Famine which happened in the Last Year of this Emperour by Reason most of their Corn was spoil'd with mighty Raines Haile and a strange Lightening accompanied with Prodigious Thunder that not only Burnt and Destroyed the Corn but many Houses and Killed Numbers of People and Cattle There also Gushed a great Stream of Blood out of a Rock near Flint in Wales for Three Days Foreshewing that the Poor Britains must again Bleed As in the following part of this History will appear CHAP. III. A Continuation of the Succession of Roman Emperours Commanding in Britain The British Princes that Opposed their Conquest Christian Religion first Planted here by the Apostles St. Paul and St. Peter their Martyrdoms and the Ten Heathen Persecutions with the Dreadful Signs and Wonders fore-running them By what means the Gospel was Established in a National Church The Romans leaving the Kingdom c. THE Britains in the Reign of Caius Caligula finding by the neglect of his Government they had a fair prospect of regaining their Antient Liberty which they prized above all Earthly things and of the like Value it continues to this day among the Natives of the Kingdom flew again to Arms denying the Taxes that were lay'd upon them and Exacted by the Roman Lieutenants with Rigour making a great Slaughter of the Roman Souldiers at York and divers other places which compelled them to send for Aid when as Claudius Drusius who Succeeded Caligula in the Roman Empire sent Aulius Plautus with a mighty power constituting him Lieutenant against whom Charactacus a British Prince of the Silures raised great Forces and many Bloody Battels were Fought Victory giving the Lawrells sometimes to one side and sometimes to the other But in the many conflicts the Roman Host was so much wasted and Intimidated that Plautus found himself constrained to Write to the Emperour speedily to come over with Succour and restore the face of War by his Authority and Conduct or in neglecting it expect one of the most fruitful Provinces to be rent from the Empire Upon this notice he delay'd not to waft over with 500 Armed Vessels Fought divers Battels and took Caractacus Prisoner and so setling affairs returned to Rome in Triumph and the Britains finding themselves much weakened the Plains being almost every where strewed with their Dead Bodies were constrained to live Peaceably during
with the Bodies and Blood of the Slain but fresh Forces arriving they found themselves constrained to submit and had to augment their Miseries great Tribute lay'd on them so that they groaned under the burthen of their Opression This Emperour began his Reign Anno Dom. 72 and Reigned Nine Years Titus Vespasian his Son succeeded him in the Empire and sent Offers of Peace to the Britains who accepted them He for his good Nature and Humanity was stiled Delicii Humani Generis The Delight of Mankind He took off part of the Taxes and permitted the Exercise of the Christian Religion which began to flourish in this Island making it his business every Evening to Examine his Actions of the past Day and if he had done no Good Deeds he accounted that Day lost yet his Reign was short viz. Two Years and Three Months Dying greatly Lamented throughout the Empire Domitian his Brother Succeeded him a Person of a cruel Nature who had sought his Death but was prevented This Man began his Reign Anno Dom. 83 he turned his rage and fury against the Christians causing multitudes of them to be Tortured to Death not only in this Land but throughout his Empire inventing New Torments which he first try'd in his Solitudes on Flys and other Insects so that when any one asked Who was with the Emperour It was the usual answer Non Musca not so much as a Fly He appointed Julius Agricola his Lieutenant whom the British Princes of the North opposed making a great Slaughter of his Souldiers but after many Skirmishes in a set Battel were overthrown on the borders of the Tweed Whereupon he Marched his Army through that Country now call'd Scotland with little opposition and was the first Roman that found this Country to be an Island 136 Years after the Landing of Julius Caesar This Emperour began his Reign Anno Dom. 83 and Reigned 15 Years having caused to be destroyed by several sorts of Deaths 10000 Christians At his Death a terible Tempest and Earthquake happened Flames ascended out of the Ground in Cornwal and the Sea broak in on the Essex-Shoar destroying many Villages Towns People and Cattel and Ebbing again left many Monstrous Fishes on the Plains Coceeius Nerva Succeeding this cruel Emperour recalled his Edicts against the Christians gave Peace to the Britains and had done many good things had he not been too hastily disappointed by Death He was called the Patron of the Poor being very Charitable His Reign began Anno 99. and continued only Ten Months Trajan Succeeded Nerva and at his first enterance began the Third Persecutian against the Christians he appointed Spartianus his Lieutenant in Britain with whom the British Princes Fought divers Battels with various success but were at last compell'd to submit being wasted with Slaughter and a grievous Famine that happened amongst them This Emperours Reign began Anno 100 and continued 21 Years and six Months before his Death a terrible Blazing-Star appear'd and the Sea in many places seemed all on Fire in the Night-time Strange and Amazing Voices were heard in the Air and the Water of the Humber seemed for two Days of the colour of BLOOD Adrian continued the Persecution of the Christians with great earnestness making the Streets of the Principal Towns stream with their Blood He appointed Trebellus his Lieutenant in Britain and though he had no open War with the Britains he wasted great numbers of them in digging Mines draining Marshes and making Bridges over Rivers to which servile Labours they were compell'd with rigor He began his Reign Anno Dom. 121 and continued it 22 Years Antonius Pius Succeeding Adrian stayed the Persecution of the Christians restoring them to their Goods and Lands that had been taken from them He constituted Lollius Vrbicus his Lieutenant in Britain against whom the Brigantes made head surprized him in his security and cut off a great number of his Souldiers But afterward in a bloody Battel they were overthrown compelled to submit and pay large Taxes to be restor'd to their possessions This Emperour was called the Patron of Virtue from the gifts and rewards he distributed among pious and learned Men. In his time the Christian Religion flourished and many places of Publick Worship were errected in Britain He began his Reign Anno 139 and Reigned 23 Years Marcus Aurelius Succeeding Antonius Abrogated his Edicts in favour of the Christians and Persecuted them with great fury Agricola was his Lieutenant in Britain and kept the Country in Peace all his time He began his Reign Anno 162 and continued it 19 Years Commodus though of a very wicked Life was however moved at the Sufferings of the Christians and restrained the Persecution In his time flourished King Lucius a Britain Son to King Coillus who Built Colchester and great Grandson to King Arviragus who Married the Emperour Drusius's Daughter He to the honour of this Nation was the first King in the World that embraced Christianity and by it set a good Example to others and to be the better informed in so Sacred a matter he sent Elvanus and Medvinus two of his Learned Counsellors to Elutherius Bishop of Rome to commune with him and receive Instructions from him for the good Government of his Kingdom The good Bishop at this greatly rejoyced and not only Instructed them in the Holy Faith but sent Faganus and Damianus to the King with the following Letter Good King you have received as I understand by your Messengers to my great Rejoycing in the Kingdom of Britain by Gods Mercy both the Law and the Faith of Christ Jesus our ever Blessed Lord you have both the Old and New Testament out of the same through Gods Grace by the Advice of your Realm take a Law and by the same through Gods sufferance Rule you your Kigndom of Britain for in that Kingdom you are Gods Vicar By this we see what different Spirits the Bishops of Rome were of in the time of Primitive Christianity to what they have since been they were then too Modest to Usurp Authority out of their own Jurisdiction and claim Supremacy over Kings yet Luxury Pride and Riches has since brought them not only to such a prodigious height of Arrogancy to set the World in a Flame with Wars and Mischiefs but even to dare to Corrupt the Holy Scriptures and by bringing in Traditions of their own jostle out the Doctrine of our Saviour and his Apostles filling the Nations with Blood and laying them Disolate where they have been opposed or their Revenge could take place The King upon this Advice called a Council and changed the Seats of the three Arch Flammins or Heathen Priests into Arch Bishopricks Viz. at London Glocester and York and the 24 Subordinate Flammins into so many Bishops Sees The Idol Gods of the Britains were laid in the Dust who were many viz. Taramis or Jupiter Tutates or Mercury Helus or Mars Hues or Bacchus Belenus or Apollo Belisama or the Moon Owvana or Minerva
Adreste or Venus Victrix of the Romans Ceres Proserpina and other Infernal Deities to whom they made Nightly Sacrifice so that now Christian Churches and Temples were Built in most Cities Religion and Arts flourished and the Nation had a prospect of Peace and Happiness after many Miseries and Toils of War This Commodus began his Reign 182 and Reigned 13 Years the Britains living peaceably under him To him Succeeded Didus Julianus In this Emperours Reign little can be expected he began it Anno. 194 and Reigned only two Months Julius Severius his Lieutenant in Britain keeping things quiet in his time Yet a terrible Blazing-Star appeared fore-running Miseries at hand Septimus Severus Reigned next This Man raised The fifth Persecutian and Heraclianus his Lieutenant being worsted by the Calledonians a People Inhabiting the South of Scotland he found himself constrained to come hither with a great power and in cuting down Woods building Bridges and draining Fens Bogs and Moors to follow those retiring Britains and their Confederates he lost above 50000 of his Men yet at last he brought them under subjection But upon his departure they again betook them to Arms which caused him to make a second Expedition resolving utterly to destroy them from Sea to Sea but Death prevented him he Dying at York when he had Reigned 18 Years begining it Anno Dom. 195. After his Death Bassianus Caracalla was Proclaimed Co-Emperour with his Brother Geta but he quickly Slew him and took the Government upon himself He had no War with Britain but liv'd a Lewd Life lying with his Mother-in-Law being very Proud and Cruel to his Subjects during his Reign which began Anno Dom. 218 and lasted six Years Opilius Macrinus began his Reign Anno 218 he Continued it but one Year and two Months in whose time Britain was at Peace and Trade Flourished Heliogabilus or The Priest of the Sun being taken from his Priestly Office and Crowned Emperour became so Debauch'd and great a Glutton that he was abhor'd of all Men his wishes were That his Neck might be as long as a Crane's that he might the longer taste the sweetness of Food in its passage to his Stomach and That the whole People of Rome had but one Neck so that he might gain him a lasting Memory by striking it off He lay with his own Mother and divers of his near Kinswomen so that his not minding Publick Affairs gave the Britains Peace and Religion time to Encrease and flourish He began his Reign Anno 219 and Continued it about Four Years The next was Alexander Severus This Man proved a good friend to the Christians suffered the Britains to live in Peace and caused Arts and Sciences to be Taught them In his time Armies of Footmen and Horsemen were seen in the Air over London and divers other places Fighting together with great Blasts Thunders and Lightening followed by mighty Storms of Hail and Tempests that did much Dammage He had no Wars with the Britains The Almain Souldiers Mutinied against him when he had Reigned 14 Years and six Months and having first put his Eyes out Slew him Maximinus a Person of a Cruel Nature raised The Sixth Persecution against the Christians more violent for the time than any before He designed to War on the Britains but Death prevented him He began his Reign 237 and Reigned only Three Years Gordianus Reigned but Forty Days and had no War with Britain Yet in his time the Iceni and Coritani Warred on each other about setling the Boundaries of their Provinces and made great Slaughter of their People till the Roman Lieutenant decided the matter and set them at Peace Claudius Puppienus and Celinus Balbinus were Co-Emperours but little in Britain was done in their time they begining their Reign 239 and continued it only Two Years nor in the time of Antonius Gordianus who Reigned Four Years Also Julius Phillipus who succeeded him had no War with Britain He was a great favourer of the Christians and some Historians allow he was Baptized into the Christian Faith so that the Natives of this Kingdom finding Advantages from the Arts they Learn'd of the Romans and considering how long they had strugled in vain to the vast effusion of Blood quietly submited and became Companions with them as one Incorporated People Decius sent out his cruel Edicts for The Seventh Persecution against the Church of Christ wherein many fell here for their Religion but no open War happened At his coming to the Throne it Rained Blood in divers parts of this Kingdom and a Terrible Bloody Sword was seen in the Air for Three Nights a little after Sunset He began his Reign Anno Dom. 250 and continued it Two Years Trebonianus and Volusianus Succeeded him as joynt Emperours Anno Dom. 252 they had no War with Britain their Reign continuing but Two Years and odd Days Emelianus who Succeeded them Reigned only Two Months for indeed the Praetorian Souldiers having taken upon them to make and unmake Emperours set the Empire to Sale as often as they pleased displacing one and placing another for Gain some of which they Murthered and others they Banished as the humour serv'd them Valerianus an Enemy to the Christians being placed on the Throne notwithstanding their supplications and protesting to do any thing for him so they might enjoy their Religion he sent out his Bloody Edicts to Persecute them in all the Roman Provinces spilling their Blood like Water He caused St. Lawrence to be Broyled Alive on a Gridiron which the Martyr endured with Invincible Patience only saying Turn the other Side O Tyrant for this is broyled enough and so by his constancy in Suffering Converted even some of his Tormentors who afterward for publick owning the Faith were put to Death St. Cyprian likewise suffered Martyrdom under him But God stayed this issue of precious Blood by cuting off the Tyrant when he had Reigned about two Years in which time Britain had no Wars nor in the time of Galienus who Succeeded him tho' he Reigned Fifteen Years Flavius Claudius began his Reign Anno Dom. 269 he Invented divers new Torments to be put in practice against the Christians but God cut him off before he could put them in practice when he had Reigned two Years During his time the Britains were in Peace but a Terrible Earth-Quake happened that overthrew many Buildings Quintillius soon after he had taken the Empire finding a Conspiracy of the Great Ones against his Life retired to a Summer-House in his Garden and there opening his Veins prevented their Malice by voluntarily Bleeding to Death In his time peace was continued in Britain Aurelianus began his Reign Anno Dom. 271 he raised The Ninth Persecution against the Christians and in his five Years Reign by casting them to wild Beasts in the Amphitheatres Burning them at Stakes and divers other Torments destroyed the Lives of 300000 of them Tacitus who Succeeded him recalled his Bloody Edicts and sent Letters of Comfort to
or Fastnesses of Wales and Cornwal which gave the Saxons by degrees an opportunity to form the several Counties their Chiefs had possessed into Kingdoms 1. Hengist the first Invader made himself King of Kent in the time of Vortigern Anno Dom. 455 erecting there the Kentish Kingdom 2. Ella a Duke of the Germans who brought fresh Supplies and Landed at Shoram in Sussex his Dominions extending through the Counties of Sussex and Surry he began his Reign Anno Dom. 488. 3. Childrick a Captain of the Low-Country Germans erected the West-Saxon Kingdom containing Cornwal Devonshire Dorcetshire Somersetshire Hampshire and Barkshire Anno Dom. 501. 4. The East Saxons Kingdom was erected by Erchenwin Anno Dom. 527 containing Essex and Middlesex 5. The Kingdom of Northumberland containing Yorkshire the Bishoprick of Durham Lancashire Westmoreland Cumberland and Nortbumberland was erected by two Saxon Chiefs viz. Ida and Ella who as Co-partners began their Reign Anno Dom. 547. 6. The Kingdom of Mercia containing Huntingtonshire Rutlandshire Lincolnshire Northamptonshire Shropshire Leicestershire Derbyshire Notinghamshire Oxfordshire Cheshire Glocestershire Warwickshire Staffordshire Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire and Hartfordshire being the largest of all was erected by Crida one of their great Captains Anno Dom. 582. 7. The Kingdom of the East-Angles containing Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgshire and the Isle of Ely was erected by Vffa who brought fresh Aids against the Britains when the Saxons were in many parts distressed Anno Dom. 575. Thus you see how this Island was coveted and strugled for by strange Nations as soon as they had tasted of its Sweetness and saw its Fertility Its Fruitfullness and abundant plenty of all things necessary for the subsistance of Mankind being a great Motive to encourage them in its Conquest and in that sense a great cause of its own Misery But ere I come to give a direct Account of the Kings that Governed these Kingdoms before they were United under a Sole Monarch and the British Princes that Opposed them in their Setling I think it necessary to say something as to what these Saxons were in their Original with a Brief Discourse of their Laws Manners Habits Customs Idolatrous Worship and other things that shall Occur suitable to History As for their Original Historians report them to have sprung from the Sacae a People in the Lesser Asia who being distressed with great Droughts and Famine sent Colonies abroad to seek more agreeable Habitations who coming into the North-East part of Europe and finding Plentiful Countries they sent for greater Forces to Enable them to settle therein and so after a long and doubtful War with the Strong Nations that bordered on Germany viz. Prusia Poland and Hungary they got possession planting their Families in the most Fruitful part of that large Region calling it Sacaesons Land or Saxony And in a short time by Warring on their Neighbours stretched their Dominions from the River Albis to the Rhine in Length and in Breadth from the German Ocean and River Oder to the Borders of Hessia and Turingia But the Country held at present by the Dukes of Saxony is crouded into a narrower compass having lost by its Neighbours incroachments much of its former Extension Their Leader in this Expedition was one Tuysco whom for his Valiant Exploits and giving them Laws to Govern by they stiled a God seting his Image on a Pillar in the Figure of an Aged Man in flowing Robes of Purple holding a Scepter in his Hand signifying he was the first Establisher and Governour of their European Dominions and ascribed to him a Day in the Week by the Name of Tuysco's Day and now by us called Tuesday The Idols of the Ancient Saxons Sun Moone Tuysco Woden The Idol of the Sun was made as here Appeareth lile half a naked man set upon a Piller his face like the Image of the Sun The Idol of the Moon made for a Woman but had a short coat like a man w th a cap with a larg eares the holding the Moon before her brest The Idol Tuysco the first and Chiefest man of name among the Germans The Idol Woden after the name of a most valient and Victorious Prince Captain his Idol was worshipped like God As for their Laws or Customs They Punished Robbers and Adulterers with Death Their Virgins were permitted to be Marry'd but Once and their Men restrained from Plurality of Wives unless the Chief of their Tribes for the sake of Children to keep up their Names and Families tho Barrenness was accounted among them an immediate Curse from their Gods If any great Difference arose among them it was usually decided by Champions in single Combate As for their Worship or Religion upon their first coming over and a long time after it was pay'd to Idols of which they had many and with their Abominations and Heathenish Sacrifices they poluted the Christian Churches and Temples grievously Afflicting and Persecuting the Mournful Christians making them to Wander in Desolate Places 1. They set up the Image or Idol of the Sun in the form of half a naked Man on a Pillar with Rays or Sun-beams about his Face holding in his two Hands before his Breast a Wheel of Circling Flame representing the Element of Fire and this Image was Worshiped on the day attributed to it viz. Sunday And Offerings made of Wheat and other products of the Earth in its Temple 2. They had another Idol to represent the Moon having the Face of a Woman a short Coat to the midle of the Thighs and a Hood with long Ears holding the Figure of the Moon in its Encrease with both her Hands before her Breast and to it they did Nightly Sacrifice in Groves and Mountains This Idol claimed peculiar Devotions on her day called Moonday 3. Tuysco who claimed Veneration on Tuesday which I have already described his Feast was kept every third Moon with Songs declaring his Actions with Dancing and much Jollitry 4. Woden this Idol was set up in Memory of one of their Victorious Princes who had Fought successfully against the Huns and Lumbards who entered Germany in the wain of the Roman Empire They placed him in King-like State on a Pillar a Crown on his Head and a Shield on his Left Arm holding up a Sword in his Right Hand To him they Offered Humane Sacrifice of the Tenth Captives taken in War and forbid any to Name him unless with Reverence and profound Respect ascribing to him a day viz. Wodensday now Wednesday and Lamps were always Burning before his Shrine The Idols of the Ancient Saxons Thor Friga Seater Flint This Idol was Majestically placed upon a Covered bed on his head a Crown of Gold This Idol Represents both sexes as Hermophrodite in her Right hand she held a drawn sword in her left a Bow This Idol was placed on a Pearch with a sharp prickled back bare headed and bare footed This Idol was set on a great Stone made like the Image of Death with a sheet
God And coming soon after to be Pope he Remembring what he had said sent Augusting the Monk accompanied with Forty Men of several Religious Orders into Britain Anno Dom. 596 who making their Address to King Ethelbert were by him kindly received and had Canterbury then but a poor Village allowed them for their Residence with Liberty to Convert his Subjects to the Christian Faith so that by their painful industry in Preaching and exemplary Lives they made a considerable progress in the Glorious work of Salvation to poor Souls leading them out of the Darkness of Paganisme into the Marvelous Light of the Gospel so that again the Candle was Lighted which God for the Pride and Lukewarmness of the Christians had suffered in a great measure to be Extinguished in this Island and the King falling in Love with their Inoffensive Lives and conceiving a good Opinion of their Doctrine was Baptized with many Thousands of his Subjects in the Thirty Sixth Year of his Age and Fourteenth of his Reign Anno Dom. 596 for which God Blessed him with a long and prosperous Reign viz. Fifty Six Years Edelbard the Sixth King of Kent soon after his coming to the Crown was Converted by Lawrence Arch-Bishop of Canterbury whom Augustine on his Death-Bed had appointed his Successor in that See whereupon he Divorced himself from his Mother-in-Law whom he had Married after his Fathers Death and recalled Militus and Jusâ—us whom he had caused to fly beyond the Seas for fear of Persecution restoring them to their Bishopricks In his time Two mighty Whales were taken on the Coast of Kent and a Fight of Birds of various kinds were seen in the Air near Rochester about Noon whose numbers in that place in some measure Darkened the Sun for the space of an Hour He began his Reign Anno Dom. 618 and Reigned Twenty Four Years Ercombert the Seventh King of Kent began his Reign Anno Dom. 642. This Man was a great Lover of the Christians everywhere in his Dominions suppressing the Idol Temples causing the Christian Worship strictly to be Observed throughout his Dominions Building divers Churches commanding the Fast of Lent to be kept He Reigned Twenty Four Years Egbert the Eighth King of Kent began his Reign Anno Dom. 666. He was of a cruel Nature Murthering his two Nephews Ethelred and Ethelbert to secure the Kingdom to his Posterity casting their Dead Bodies into the Medway a River runing by Rochester and Chattam whose Water thereupon for a time seemed of the colour of Blood and was so corrupted that a number of Fish dyed in it which was held as a Divine Judgment to upbraid the Murtherer after which he had a troublesome Reign his own People murmuring against him and being often ready to Rebel A little before his Death a terrible Blazing-Star appear'd for six Nights at South East soon after the seting of the Sun He Reigned Nine Years and odd Days Lothaire the Ninth King of Kent began his Reign Anno Dom. 675. In his time there was held the Third General Council at Constantinople where 600 Bishops were present Three of which went from England and had the Precedency given them before divers other Nations Agatho being then Bishop of Rome Afterward engaging in a War against Ethelred King of Mercia and Edrick King of the South Saxons he charging in the thickest of the Battel and endeavouring to break in upon the Mercian Standard where that King stood Invironed with his Nobles a Dart being thrown overthwart with a strong hand struck him on the Left Side and pierced through the Right so that he instantly fell Dead on the place when he had Reigned Eleven Years and his death so discouraged his Souldiers who had before near-gained the Victory that they quitted the Field and fled Ederick the Tenth King of Kent was a Man of great Courage but using some Cruelty towards his Nobility they grew displeased with him and laboured to stir up the common People to a dislike of his Government and at last raised a Rebellion against him and in a great Battel near Maidstone he was Slain and his Body very despitefully used The Night before this Battel there were Groans and Cries heard as proceeding out of the Air and most of the Lawrels throughout the Country Withered after which great Mischief happened for the Victors not agreeing about dividing the spoil fell into parties and in clandestine Broyles shed much Blood so that there was no King in Kent for six years This Ederick Reigned only two Years and ten Days begining it Anno Dom. 682. Withred the Eleventh King of Kent upon his Brothers Overthrow fled from the Popular Fury to Ine King of the West Saxons with whom he remained till the expiration of the six Years when agreeing with him for a considerable sum of Money he Restored him to the Kingdom which sum not exceeding 6000 l. being raised on the Subject caused great Murmurings but he quieted them by promising to Live Frugally Proclaiming a general Pardon and granting them many Priviledges which in former Reigns they enjoyed not so that he lived rather like a Private Man than a Soveraigne Prince Yet he had great Wars with Ethelred King of Mercia He Reigned 33 Years beginning it Anno Dom. 694. Edbert the Twelfth King of Kent Succeeded Withred He at the beginning of his Reign laboured for Peace and setled the Kingdom that had been harrassed and in a manner destroyed by the Mercians in the former Reign Rebuilding the Churches and Monastries they had Ruinated But in the Fourth Year of his Reign the Beacons of Heaven foreshewed more Misery to the already suffering Kingdom two Blazing-Stars appearing successively the one in the South West and the other at South East after which great Dissentions arose among the Saxon Kings and much Blood was spilt in divers places the Britains were likwise extreamly distressed by the Invading Norhumbers and West Saxons who penned them within the Streights and Mountains of Wales till Famine coming on numbers were Starved in the Rocks and Caves whither they had retired for shelter He began his Reign Anno Dom. 727 and Reigned 23 Years Ethelbert the Thirteenth King of Kent began his Reign Anno Dom. 750. At his coming to the Crown he laboured to promote Christianity gave large Gifts to the Cathedral Church of Canterbury and to St. Andrews in Rochester Built by Ethelbert the Second King of Kent He laboured also to keep Peace with his Neighbours yet such was the greedy desire of the Saxons to incroach on each other having beaten the poor Britains out of all the Counties that were worth Possessing that Wars ensued and much Blood was shed Yet he Dyed in Peace whan he had Reigned Eleven Years Alrick the Fourteenth King of Kent began his Reign Anno Dom. 761 but after he had Reigned 34 Years Offa the great King of the Mercians Quarrelled with him for Entertaining Duke Edesin who Fled from his Fury yet this seemed only a pretence his
instead of revenging the Death of Edwin he underwent the same fate being slain in Battel after he had Fought couragiously six Hours and hemmed himself in with Dead Bodies This great Battel was Fought at Oswaltree in Shropshire Nor did the Mercians Cruelty cease after he was slain for he Inhumanly caused his Body to be torn in pieces when he had Reigned Nine Years Oswye the Twelfth King of Northumberland began his Reign Anno Dom. 643. And though he laboured for Peace yet the greatness of his encroaching Neighbours suffered him to enjoy little quiet however he Encouraged Religion and Trade and made many wholsome Laws and one in particular for the Relief of the Poor and to prevent Robberies and Murthers on the Northern borders and continued his Reign 28 Years Egfride the Thirteenth King of Northumberland began his Reign Anno Dom. 671 but long he had not enjoyed the Throne before a fierce War broke out between him and Ethelred King of Mercia he first drawing it on his Kingdom whereby his People greatly suffered yet not content with several Defeats or seeing the weakness his Subjects were reduced to he made War on the Irish because some of that Nation had Pirated on his Coast but pursuing them too far among the Mountains and Fastnesses of craggy Rocks he was there slain and most of his Souldiers that escaped the overthrow perished for want of Provision when he had Reigned Fifteen Years Alfrid the Fourteenth King of Northumberland began his Reign Anno Dom. 686 finding the Kingdom much Impaired in its People and Treasure so that he made it his first endeavour to restore the face of Trade appointing Fairs and Marts allowing them great Priviledges to Invite the Borderers to Trade with him and gave Liberty for as many as would with their Families to setle in his Dominions which caused him to be Envyed by the Saxon Kings his Neighbours yet he pacified them with fair Words and Friendly Offices making a Law That distressed Strangers Travelling about their Lawful Occasions should be Maintained at the Publick Charge So that his Reign continued for the most part Peaceable Religion flourishing under it Twenty Years Osred the Fifteenth King of Northumberland began his Reign Anno Dom. 706 but led a Life very contrary to his Predecessor giving himselfe up to all manner of Debauchery making it his Business to visit the Nunneries that he might single out the fairest for his Lust which he Commanded to his Bed with great rigour insomuch that some of those Virgins preferring their Chastity before Life suffered Martyrdom rather than they would yeild to his desires so that whilst he held on this course the Kingdom was much distracted with Intestine Broyles his Nobles grew unruly and the poorer sort were Oppressed so that to free the Kingdom from impending Ruine Kenred and Oswick two of his near Kinsmen Conspired against him and Slew him when he had Reigned Nine Years and then Successively Governed the Relm Kenred the Sixteenth King of Northumberland having Conspired with Oswick and Slain Osred caused the Crown to be placed on his Head Anno Dom. 716 yet found a very troublesome Reign his Co-partner in the Conspiracy labouring to supplant him and indeed his Reign was very short continuing only two Years Oswick having made his way to the Throne Anno Dom. 718 laboured to settle himself in the Affections and good liking of the People by giving large Gifts to the Nobles and in distributing Corn to the Poor out of his Granaries in his Second Year when a great Scarcity happened so that in his Eleven Years Reign he kept his People quiet at home and for the most part free from Wars abroad Cealnulf the Eighteenth King of the Northumberian Kingdom began his Reign Anno Dom. 722 devoting himself soon after his coming to the Crown to a Religious Life causing many Abbies and Monasteries to be Builded Endowing them with competent Annuities for the Maintenance of Men and Women qualified to enter into Religious Orders so that a great many resorted to him from beyond the Seas whom he kindly entertained and being much taken with their manner of Living when he had Reigned Eight Years growing weary of an Earthly Diadem he lay'd the weight of Government aside and withdrawing himself to Holy Island took on him the Habit of a Monk where in a little Monastery he had caused to be Built he spent the remainder of his Days In the last Year of his Reign Two Blazing Stars Appeared the one after Sunset and the other a little before its Rising continuing so to do for the space of a Fortnight Terrifying the People by seeming often to dart Firey Launces from their Blazing Tails Egbert the Nineteenth Monarch of Northumberland began his Reign Anno Dom. 738 in the beginning of which Fleeces like Wool seemed to drop out of the Clouds covering many large Fields and Plains as if it had been Snow and soon after a terrible Rot happened among Sheep all over England c. He appointed his Nobles to here the Complaints of the Poor and to redress their Wrongs and Grievances studdying to keep his Subjects Quiet at Home by securing Peace Abroad and when he had Reigned Twenty Years following the Example of his Predecessor he was shorn a Monk and Dyed in that state Oswulph the Twentith King of Northumberland began his Reign Anno Dom. 758 and continued it but one Year for growing Proud and Cruel putting divers undeservedly to Death his own Servants grew into such a hatred of him that attending him in his Progress they found an Opportunity to Murther him at Mickewoughton of which Conspiracy though he was Informed the day before yet Fate consented not to its Prevention Edilwald the One and Twentieth King of Northumberland began his Reign Anno Dom. 759 but being of an easie Temper and somewhat Supine in the Management of his Affairs which after many Troubles that thereupon arose through the Male Administration of the Government by such as he placed under him in Trust and Great Offices gave Alured a Duke and high in Favour with him an opportunity to Conspire against him and Murther him in his Pallace in the Sixth Year of his Reign Alured having Trecherously Slain Edilwald compelled some through fear and won others by large Gifts to Proclaim him King Anno Dom. 765. But using much Cruelty and giving himself up to Riot and Luxury his Subjects grew weary of his Government and by General Consent Expelled him the Kingdom when he had Reigned Nine Years Ethelred upon the Expulsion of Alured was admitted to the Throne Anno Dom. 774. But his Government being distasted by the Nobles because he advanced mean Persons to great Dignities and made them his Favourites two of them Viz. Edibald and Herbert made a Faction and Banished him the Kingdom in the Fifth Year of his Reign but he was afterwards Re-called upon promise of Amendment yet not keeping of his Word in many nice particulars his Subjects rose up in
in the dangerous War his Predecessor had set on foot engaging in a Battel against Egbert King of the West Saxons who joyned with the East Angles against him he was Slain in the Second Year of his Reign after which most of the Towns on the East and Western Borders were Sacked and some reduced to Ashes Which Desolation was fore-run by a Comet with a Tail pointing downward like a flaming Sword Watlaf the Eighteenth King of Mercia began his Reign Anno Dom. 826 and with the Kingdom was constrained to espouse the Wars his Predecessors had left as it were Entailed on it so that raising the Strength of his much harassed and weakened Dominions he drove the West Saxons out of Worcestershire and other Western Encroachments yet not without considerable loss in the several Bickerings between them But in the Thirteenth Year of this King Egbert the West Saxon came upon him with a potent Army and in a set Battel overthrew him putting a Period to his Life and Reign Berthulf the Nineteenth King of Mercia came to the Kingdom in a troublesome time viz. Anno Dom. 839 for he not only found his People in War with his Countrymen but a more cruel Enemy had Invaded the Country viz. The Pagan Danes who being Enemies to all alike as desirous of grasping the sole Monarchy of this Island they made such Havock and Desolation in all places where they prevailed That the People of whole Counties in the Northern parts flying their fury left the Towns Naked and Defenceless for the Saxons in Civil War having much impaired their strength found that they at this time were too weak to oppose the Torrent of those Multitudes that were poured in upon them from Denmark and Gothland and also from Shetland the Orcades and other Northern Islands which the Danes possessed beyond Scotland from one of which they brought a Cruel People called Redshanks from the Redness of their long Leggs occasioned by the coldness of that Climate they going for the most part Naked except a Mantle thrown over their Shoulders and are supposed by some Authors for their mighty stature to be of the Race of the Titans or Giants held once to Inhabit part of Britain However they brought such a Terror on the Mercian Kingdom c. That Berthulf was forced to quit it in the Thirteenth Year of his Reign after which in compassion to the oppressed People who were Slain and Spoiled at the pleasure of the Danes Burdred took upon him the Government and being a Prince of great Courage he fought divers Battels with the Danes and at last gained a great Victory insomuch that the Fields and Lanes were strewed with the Dead Bodies But greater Forces arriving to recruite their broken Army he was forced after some strugling to quit his Kingdom when he had Reigned Twenty Two Years viz. Anno Dom. 872. And with him Ended the Succession of Saxon Kings as petty Monarchs of the Mercian Kingdom CHAP. VII The Kingdoms of the East Angles and West Saxons with their respective Succession of Kings and what Happened of Note during their Reigns in Peace and War Particularly the Danish Invasion and by what means England was reduced under a Sole Monarchy 6. The East Angle Kingdom Described with the Succession of its Fifteen Kings THE Kingdom of the East Angles contained Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely Bounded on the East with the German Ocean on the South with Essex and Hartfordshire on the West with Notinghamshire Huntingtonshire and part of Bedfordshire on the North partly by the German Ocean and partly by the River Trent and Northumbrian Kingdom Commodiously Situate for Navigation as being accommodated with divers good Havens famous for Butter Cattel Corn Wooll Cloath Stuffs c. The First Saxon Founder of this Kingdom was Offa a High German Nobleman who brought over considerable Forces upon notice his Countrymen were parcelling out the Southern parts of this Island and Landing at Yarmouth he prevailed with some difficulty to settle himself and his People in the Counties above-mentioned beginning his Reign Anno Dom. 575 and Reigned Seven Years being for the most part at peace In his time a great Eclipse of the Sun happened about Noon almost total so that it continued in a great degree Dark for the space of an Hour Titulus Succeeding Vffa Anno Dom. 583 laboured to settle his Borders and keep a good understanding with his Neighbours and perceiving the British Forces were rather Retired than Subdued he made many wholsom Laws to keep his People in order repaired the Ruined Towns built Forts on the Sea-Coast and Reigned about 32 Years keeping his Country for the greater part of that time in Quiet he was the Second King of the East Angle Kingdom Redwald the Third King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 616. Soon after his coming to the Throne he was Baptized into the Christian Faith but upon some distaste renounced his Baptismal Vows and became a great Persecutor of the Christians amongst others he intended the Death of Edwin afterward King of Northumherland who fled to his Court for Refuge because he interceeded for them But he being a Favorite of the Queens and the King imparting his design to her she pittying the young Prince so laboured to disswade him from it that he not only laid aside his wicked purpose but entered into a strict League with him and an Army was raised to place him in the Kingdom of Northumberland when in a great Battel they Slew Ethelfrid who had got possession of the Throne and had Banished Edwin This Redwald Reigned Eight Years Erpenwald the Fourth King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 624. He by the perswasion of Edwin King of Northumberland became a Favourer of the Christians and was Baptized he built divers Churches and Monasteries but when he had Reigned about Twelve Years Richebert a Pagan Saxon out of a Zeal to their False Gods whose Idol Temples this King had caused to be converted into places of Christian Worship Assnssinated him and fled but being taken endeavoring to pass the Seas he was put to death by exquisit Torments Sigebert the Fifth King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 636. He was Son to Redwald and having received a good opinion of the Christian Religion when he was very Young he upon his Fathers Apostatizing fled into that Country now call'd France antiently Gallia where he improved in the Study of Divine things so that being a great lover of Learned Men at his coming to the Crown he Founded a Colledge Endowing it with a plentiful Maintenance viz. Anno Dom. 637 and so passionately he was in love with a Religious manner of Living that laying aside his Crown when he had Reigoed Two Years he took on him the Habit of a Monk yet out of compassion to his suffering People Invaded and driven to great distress by Penda King of the Mercians he laid aside his Cowl and
who Succeeded in the Kingdom successively but she Dying he took Judith Daughter to the King of France in a second Marriage by whom I do not find he had any Children In this Kings Reign the Picts were destroyed by Kenneth King of Scotland their chiefest City Camelon Stormed and as well Women and Children as Men who retired thither for safety put to the Sword in revenge of the Death of Alpine the King of Scots Father who being Overthrown by Burdus King of the Picts was taken Prisoner and had his Head struck off on a publick Scaffold and fixed on the Wall of Camelon but soon taken thence by some Scots who came thither in Pictish Habit and so implacable were the Scots in the utter extirpating this Nation which had long stood a boundary between them and the Southern parts of the Island being in a manner placed in the middle of it that having destroyed all the People that fell into their hands they slew their Cattel and suffered them to Rot on the Ground rooted up their Corn and layed their Towns and Villages level with the Ground not sparing Churches nor any Religious Houses pursuing the Flyers to their last Refuge viz. The strong Castle of Maidens now called Edenbourough Castle straightly Besieging them so that the Besieged having endured extream Famine and dispairing of relief desperately Sallying broke in the Night time through the Leagure and as many as escaped fled into England craving Aid of Ethelwolfs Lieutenants or Tributary Regents in Northumberland and other Northern Counties but little was done at this time by reason the King expected an Invasion by the Danes who were preparing in Denmark to succour their distressed Forces that kept but slender footing in England and others of the Picts who before had escaped the miserable desolation of their Country fled to Norway and Denmark and there in consideration of Refuge and present Support resigned their Interest in Pictland in their own and the Names of the rest of their Nation that survived the slaughter Which giving the Danes a colourable Title to make their Claim occasioned great calamities to England and Scotland to the subduing the former after a long continued War as in the sequel will appear Thus fell the Pictish Kingdom and was Annexed to Scotland Anno Dom. 839. After as some Historians Record they had continued under a Succession of Kings 1173 Years But its setting in Blood happened not without dreadful Omens and Prodigies at Camelon their chief City the Bishops Crosier Staff he Officiating at the Altar was reduced to Ashes by Lightning A dreadful Comet appeared and two Firey Armies were seen in the Air running at each other with Burning Spears a noise of Clashing of Arms and Neighing of Horses was affirmed to be heard in England and Pictland without any visibility of either which then were little minded but afterward looked on as the Forerunners of the dire calamities that ensued Upon this destruction of his Neighbours Kingdom Kenwolf was much perplexed because till now they stood as a Barricado to hinder the Incursion of the Scots whereupon he sent Ambassadors to Kenneth peaceably to suffer those of that Nation that were scattered in his and other Countries to return and Rebuild their Ruinated Towns but he would by no means harken to it which constrained him to Fortify the Towns in the Northern Marches and put strong Garisons into them And having a great love for the Clergy of whose number he had been he freed all Church-Lands from Tribute and Regal Services and being desirous to see Rome of whose Magnificence he had heard many wonderful Relations settling his Affairs in the best manner he could with divers of his Clergy and Nobility he Sailed thither and was Entertained with such Magnificence that in recompence of his Reception he confirmed Peter Pence to that See and after his Return gave Annually during his Life Three Hundred Marks to the Bishop of Rome This Ethelwolf Eldest Son to Egbert Began his Reign Anno Dom. 837 and Continued it Twenty Years Buckinghamshire Described c. BUckinghamshire is bounded with Northamptonshire Bedfordshire Oxfordshire Hartfordshire Middlesex and Barkshire It abounds in Corn Pastures large Cattle and numerous Flocks of Sheep feeding on its gradual rising Hills and has in it divers stately Forrests and Chaces BUCKINGHAM SHIRE By J. Seller Chilton was the Birth-Place of the Learned Sr. George Crook a Famous Lawyer Amersham or Agmondisham took its Name from the Great Agmond and gave Birth to John Surnamed Amersham and divers other Learned Men. Windover gave Birth to Roger Surnamed Windover Historian to King Henry the Third Houton did the like to Roger Goad a very Learned Man of great Repute This Shire is divided into Eight Hundreds viz. those of Newport Buckingham Cotslow Ashendon Ailesbury Burnham Disborough and Stocke It sends Members to Parliament for Alesbury two Amersham or Agmondisham two Buckingham two Chipen-Wiccomb two Marlo two Wendover two and two Knights of the Shire It Contains One Hundred Eighty Five Parishes Eleven Market Towns and is Watered with Two considerable Rivers viz. The Thames on its South side and the River Ouse on which the Town of Buckingham is seated and in a manner is surrounded with it unless a little on the North side it lies open and over this River are three fair Stone Bridges Ailesbury is likewise very pleasantly situated in the midst of most delightful Meddows and Pastures and the Vale bearing its Name is accounted the most Fertil in Europe As for the Churches in the Principal Towns of this County they give a goodly Prospect to Travellers and are not only well Adorn'd and Fair without but very Beautiful within The Noblemens Seats of Note are Buckingham-House and Whadon lately belonging to George Duke of Buckingham Cheynes one of the Seats of William Duke of Bedford Latimers one of the Seats of William Duke of Devonshire Ashbridge part in Bucks and part in Hartfordshire one of the Seats of John Earl of Bridgwater Wing and Ethrop the Seats of the Earl of Carnarvan Laurendon one of the Seats of the Earl of Lichfield Overwinchendon-House one of the Seats of the Lord Wharton with divers stately Houses many Newly Erected belonging to the Gentry and that which makes it so well Inhabited is the Wholsomness of the Air which contributes to and continues a Healthful Constitution The Reign of Ethelbald the Third Sole Manarch of England EThelbald was Eldest Son to Ethelwolf by Osburga his first Queen and in his Fathers Lifetime held the Kingdom in a great measure as if he had been his Co-Partner His Valour the Danes experienced in divers Bloody Battels in many of which he Prevailed killing numbers with a mighty Faulchion he used in Fight which few but himself could wield yet after the toiles of War giving a little respite to his wearyed Body Judith his Stepmother came attended with divers Lady 's to Congratulate his Success in a very splendid Dress so that her Snow-white Breasts
conclude But now to the King of Denmark belongs Norway formerly a distinct Kingdom and some other Countries which render his Territories much larger than when the Danes first possessed it As for their Religion when they first Invaded England and long after it was Paganism Their Idols were many out-numbering those of the Pagan Saxons to some they Offered Horses to others Humane Sacrifice Fruits Flowers Water Bread Wine Fish c. They were a People very Bloody and Cruel to those they prevailed over and extreamly Lustful and Treacherous Their Habit was close girted Coats their Arms Spears of a moderate length Battel-Axes and Faulchions their Diet many times the Flesh of their slain Enemies Rost or Sodden it was about 230 years from their first Invading England before Canute got the Sole Monarchy of whose Reign I am next to treat The Reign of Canute Sixteenth Sole Monarch of England and first of the Danes that Reigned here CAnute Son to Swane who as you have heard was Murthered by his Souldiers began his Reign as Sole Monarch Anno Dom. 1017. He was Crowned at London by Livingus Arch Bishop of Canterbury and at his first coming to the Crown kept the English under with a very strict Hand every where disarming them and making it a capital Crime for above a certain number of them to meet together unless called by his Authority so that Faires and Marts were in a manner laid aside He Deposed and Banished the Popular Nobles conferring their Titles of Honour and Estates on his Danes and yet not thinking he was sufficiently secured whilst Edward and Edmund the Sons of Edmund Ironside remained in the Kingdom and yet thought that if he should dip his Hands in their Innocent Blood he must of necessity incur the perpetual hatred of the English he concluded to take away their Lives privately so that he might excuse it and lay the blame on others whereupon he sent the Young Princes to his Brother King of Sweden with private Instructions to make them away but he detesting so base a crime Transferred them to the King of Hungary where Edmond Dyed but Edward getting favour at Court and being a Prince endowed with much manly Beauty and excellent Parts Agatha Sister to the Empress of Germany fell in Love with him to whom he was Married and by her had Edgar Sirnamed Etheling who Dyed without Issue Margaret who Married Malcolm King of Scots she had Issue Christian a Veiled Nun Edgar David and Alexander all three Kings of Scotland proceeded from this Line as also Maud wife to King Henry the first King of England who had Issue Maud the Empress Mother to King Henry the Second so that the design of making away these Princes abroad by a wonderful Providence turned in the end to the Advantage of both Kingdoms in restoring the Saxon Line after the Norman Conquest to England in the person of Henry the Second and producing many worthy Kings in Scotland Canute to strengthen his Interest Marryed Emma Sister to Richard Duke of Normandy and widow to King Ethelred and soon got possession of the Kingdom of Norway which has ever since been annexed to the Crown of Denmark then Warring on the Scots he made them Tributaries so that some reckon him to be the possessor of Four Kingdoms he made a strict League with the Normans and set out a huge Navy to Sea bringing thereby a Terror on all the Neighbouring Sea Coasts laying a Tax of 82000 Pounds on his English Subjects with which Money at the perswasion of Queen Emma he pay'd off and sent away the greater part of the Lazy Danes to their Native Country which won him much favour with the English Then he set himself to the contriving and establishing wholsom Laws for the better settlement of his Kingdom and for the more firmly founding them he called a Parliament at Oxford He is commended for his aversion to Dissemblers Traitors and Flatterers for one of the latter having told him He was Soveraign King not only of the Land but the Sea and not only his People but the Winds and Waves were subject to his Command to disprove and upbraid the Parasite being at Southampton he caused his Chair to be placed on the Sand and Commanded the Sea that it should not swell to wet his Royal Robes but the Waves Rowling towards the Shoar in their wonted Flowings Dashed him up to the Thighs whereupon rising hastily he said to his Attendants Now you see all the Might and Power of Kings is but Vanity for none is worthy to have the Name of King but he that hath all things subject to his Laws and from that time as several Authors affirm he not only Banished all Flatterers from the Court but refused to wear his Crown In the Third Year of his Reign with a great Navy he Sailed to Denmark that Country being then Invaded by the Vandalls who had over-run the larger part of Germany and overthrowing them in a bloody Battel Slaying their chief Leaders he chased the rest out of his Kingdom and causes Castles and Forts to be Builded on the Frontiers to secure it against their Incursions And so returning with Victory he was received at London in Triumph and having settled his Affairs in a flourishing condition the Kingdom thereby much recovered its Antient Renown and he having received the Christian Faith a considerable time before hearing of the Magnificence of Rome and desirous to see its stately Structures the manner of their Living c. went thither not Royally Attended but as a Pilgrim where nevertheless being known he was received with great respect and having given liberally to that See after he had visited all the places of note in that Superb City once Mistriss of the World he returned highly satisfied with the Undertaking causing the Ruined Churches to be Repaired and Founded divers Religious Houses giving great Priviledges to the Monastery of St. Edmunds-Bury in Suffolk which he had re-Edified and then taking a Progress to restore the Face of Justice in the several Counties punishing the corrupt Ministers and Oppressors worn out with the Toiles of War and Indefatigable Study in settling his new acquired Kingdom he fell Sick on the Road some Miles from Shaftsbury and being conveyed to that Town in a short time he paid the debt by Nature due from all that are cloathed with Mortality Dying Anno Dom. 1036 when he had Reigned 18 Years and tho' the First of the Danish yet is accounted the 16th Sole Monarch of England Remarks on Huntingtonshire c. HUntingtonshire is as the former an Inland County Bounded by Northamptonshire Bedfordshire and Cambridgshire It produces store of Wooll Cattle Corn and many fertil Pastures it is somwhat Woody tho' incumbered with few Hills of any considerable height it has many small Streams abounding with Roach Dace Chub Trouts Carp and Pike and abundance of Wild Fowle resorts to its Meers and Marshy Places it contains divers Parks of Deer and some Warrens also
County and produces store of large Cattle much Corn plenty of Fowl Fruits Fish wholsom Pastures c. It is Bounded by Darbyshire Notinghamshire Lincolnshire Rutlandshire Northamptonshire and Warwickshire It is divided into 6 Hundreds containing 192 Parishes 11 Market Towns and one noted River It sends Members to Parliament 4 viz. Leicester 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Leicester is pleasantly seated on the River Stower and well compacted being the County Town and a place of considerable Trade it is of great Antiquity as held to have been Builded by King Leir a famous British King for which cause it was antiently called Leir-Cester Lutterworth gave Birth to the famous John Wickliff who was Parson of it and the first English Reformer or Detector of the Errors in the Church of Rome frequently Writing and Disputing against them in the Reign of Edward the Third for which many snares were laid to take his Life by the Romish Clergy but he escaped them and Dyed a natural Death leaving the Candle of Truth Lighted by which John Huss Jerome of Prague Luther and others took their prospect of a happy Reformation that soon after ensued Bosworth is Memorable for the Battel fought near it on Redmore August 22 Anno Dom 1485 wherein Richard the Third was slain by the forces of Henry Earl of Richmond and his Crown found in a Hawthorn Bush which was placed on the Earles Head and he Proclaimed King which put an End to the fatal Feuds between the Houses of York and Lancaster In the West of this County once stood Clycester a famous City in the time of the Romans called by them Bennone though now nothing but a few Ruins of it remain The other Towns of note are Mountsorell Loughborough Waltham on the Woald Ashby-de-la-Zouch Bildsdon Lutterworth Harborough c. At Cole-Overton in the Hundred of West Goscot and other parts of this County great store of Pitcole is digg'd of a Bitumencus Nature very hard and fast about Luterworth are Allomey Veins and Welâ—s whose Waters strained through them are Medicinal and Petrefying so that it is said they turn Straw and Sticks into Stone by reason of their Exceeding Coldness near Belvoir-Castle on a R ck are found Snake Stones Cockle Stones and Star Stones The Seats of the Nobility are Pleasantly Situate viz Garerton one of the seats belonging to the Late Duke of Albemarle Burbage to the Earl of Kent Belvoir-Castle partly in Lincolnshire to the Earle of Rutland Ashby-de-in-Zouch Donington-Park to the Earl of Huntington Broadgate and Grooby to the Earl of Stamford Stanton-Bruâ—nell to the Earle of Cardigan Ashby-Folville to the Lord Carrington Besides these there are iâ— great many fine Houses of the Gentry standing sightly to the Fields and Roads some Parks and store of Ganie at all proper Seasons CHAP. XI An Account of the Norman Original How they came to be called Normans With a Description of the Dutchey of Normandy c. BEfore I enter upon the particulars of the Reign of William the First stiled the Conquerer I shall take the Method observed upon other Turns and Changes of Government viz. To give some Account of these New Invaders who at last laid claim to England by Conquest These Normans so called from the Northern Climes which first produced them were composed of Norwegians Swedes and Danes who finding their Country too straight for them betook them to the Seas to seek their Fortunes and practiced Piracies upon the Coasts of Belgia Frizia and England on the latter of which they Landed under the Leading of Rollo their Duke and became very troublesom to the English Saxons between whom there was great Wars Till at last Rollo Dreaming He sat on the highest Hill in France and a pleasant Spring Issued out of a Rock on which he laid his Head running down in many Streams to which flocked a number of Birds with Red Brests to Drink the Water and then flew to fragrant Groves where they Sung so Melodiously that he was Ravished with their Notes and beneath this Hill he fancied there lay so pleasant a Country that the like he had never beheld in his Life When Waking much pleased with his Dream he sent for a Monk of Crowland accounted a great Diviner telling him his Dream and demanding the Interpretation of it who willing for his Countrys sake to be rid of such troublesom Guests told him at an adventure as is supposed That the Fates had Decreed him to settle his Dominions in one of the most pleasant Countries of France Which he gave creadit to and perceiving England much wasted and impoverished by a tedious War and a Famine that then raged having exacted some Aides and Supplies of Money he Transported his Forces over the Narrow Sea and Warred five Years with such Fury on the French that fearing to lose all Charles their King Sirnamed the Simple gave him his Daughter Gilla in Marriage and as her Dowry the Peaceable Possession of what they had already gained by the Sword which being modeled into a Dutchy they called Normandy which Name through all the changes of that Kingdom it bears to this day This Rollo was great Grandfather to Richard the Fifth Duke of Normandy Elder Brother to Robert Father to William the Conquerer As for a Brief Description of the Dukedom of Normandy once a Patrimonial Inheritance of the Kings of England and to which they now have a Right It is Bounded on the East with the Isles of France at the River Epta which passes by the City of Gisors on the West with Britany the Antient Armorica and a Collony of the Britains from which it is separated by the River Crenon Northward by the Sea on the South with the Country of Mayne and is divided by the River Seine Abundantly Rich in Merchandize through the commodiousness of its Havens and Rivers The People are the most Subtil Apt and Ingenious of all the French Provinces yet Affable Curteous and greatly enclined to Learning Their Manufacture consisting most in Wooll and Linnen Cloth the Country producing no Vines capable of making good Wine unless about Caen a very pleasant City The chief City is Roan very famous for many Sieges as in the Series of History will appear having an Arch Bishop whose Jurisdiction extendeth to the River Oyse and a Parliament till of late that the French King has assumed such a Despotick Power and much lessened its Authority was usually held here for the consulting the good of the Province The other Cities of note are Auranche Argences Alancon Falaise Fecham Newhaven or Haver-de-Grace St. Valery Sileaux Constance Manta St. Michale and divers Walled Towns to the number of Eighty So that when the French by reason of our Civil Dissentions wrested it from us they plucked one of the fairest Jewells out of the English Diadem which in time we may yet hope to regain especially under the Auspicious Reign of WILLIAM the Third our present Heroick and Victorious King The Reign of WILLIAM the First
Sirnamed the Conquerer AFter the Victory obtained at Battel-Field by the Normans over the English and King Harrold Slain as has been mentioned in the former Chapter Duke William designed for London yet taking a great compass wasting as he Marched the Counties of Sussex Kent Surry Hampshire and Barkshire by whose Spoiles he Inriched his Normans Then crossing the Thames at Wallingford and so in the like manner the Counties of Oxford Buckingham c. At Burhamsted he made a stop as being assured by this time the English Forces were dispersed and in no condition to oppose him and hither repaired Aldred Arch Bishop of York Wolstan Bishop of Winchester Walter Bishop of Hereford The Earls Edwin and Morcar with Edgar Etheling the True Heir to the Crown paying Homage and Allegiance to him and entreating him seeing it was not in their power to prevent it That he would take upon him the Administration of the Government and be Gracious in his Clemency to the People of England And so passing to London he was on Christmas-Day Anno Dom. 1066 Crowned at Westminster by Aldred Arch-Bishop of York Being thus settled in the Throne by the Fortune of a Battel he studied how to secure the Realm more firmly to him as knowing the English submitted not out of any hearty good will whereupon he Fortified the Cinque-Ports laying his claim to the Kingdom by Right of Conquest as having indeed no other reasonable one to Pretend to And to secure it he used the following Policy 1. He seized the chief Offices both of Honour and Profit and conferred them on his Normans and as a Recompence to such others as had Aided him in the War 2. He made the Natives give Hostages of the best and dearest esteem to secure their Fidelities especially such as were either Honourable or Potent 3. To lessen the Authority of the Clergy among the People he barred them of all Temporal Command or Jurisdiction 4. He caused the Natives to be Disarmed to prevent Insurrections 5. He debared them from frequent and common Meetings especially in the Night to prevent their confering and Conspiring against him for the Recovery of their common Liberty causing a Bell to be Rung in every City Town and Village at Eight in the Evening whereupon all Englishmen were enjoyned to put out their Fire and Candle and keep within their Houses under great Penalties and this was and is yet called Cover le Feu the raking up or out of the Fire 6. To lessen the Nobility he sent them to his Wars beyond the Seas not to return without orders and little or no Praise or Reward was given them though they Valiantly behaved themselves The like he did with the Meaner Sort whom he found any ways Active compelling them from their Wives and Children to Fight Abroad whilst they Languished at Home for Food and found little support 7. As a strong curb he erected Forts and Castles in sundry places putting Normans as Commanders into them who grievously Oppressed the People yet they durst not openly repine against it because they found there was no Redress to be had from the King but their Complaints were charged upon them as Mutinies and many Punished who privately Murmured at their hard Usage and finding the Clergy were the Richest he fell upon them first taking away the Plate and Ornaments that had been Consecrated to Holy Vses Alledging That Thieves Traitors and Rebels had Lodged them under their Protection to defraud him of his Forfeitures and secretly to support themselves to raise a Rebellion when they saw fit opportunity 8. He caused Laws to be made in the Norman Language whereupon though Ignorant of them many Transgressed who were for the smallest Offence Imprisoned and forced to redeem themselves to their undoing Disallowing the Patents and Grants of former Kings and publishing them to be meerly void so that by this he raised great sums for Renewing them and those that could not raise Money the Normans and other Strangers had their Honours Trusts and Estates held in Fee of the Crown bestowed on them 9. He caused all the Lands to be viewed Measured and Taxed at an unusual value by which means he got great Wealth but Impoverished the People as was chiefly intended by it 10. He Erected many Courts of Judicature for puting in execution his New Laws and ordered his Judges to follow his Court upon his Removes by which means he tired out the English Nation with Extraordinary Troubles and Excessive Charges in the prosecution of their Suits And to make an easie way for more French and Normans to come over if the English should happen to Rebel he layed the Churches Towns nnd Villages next to the Sea Coast in Hampshire waste for Sixty Miles in circumferance under pretence of making a New Forrest for his Pleasure in Hunting where as a Judgment for those Dilapidations and ruining so many Families William Rufus his Son and Successor was slain as in his Reign will more at large appear He Seized likwise all the Forrests and Chaces of England into his hands and made severe Laws against those that should kill or disturbe his Game Punishing them with the loss of Eyes Limbs and the like 11. He gave Territories and spacious Field to his Favorites who divided them into Farms for their particular use and the residue they Leased at Yearly Rents to their Servants thereby creating Mannors and entituling themselves the Lords of them He divided the Lands into Hydes every Hyde containing 20 Acres Eight of which was a Knights Fee the Tenures which he reserved were Knights Service in Capite and those that so held were enjoyned to do him Service in his Wars or to his Person when required for the performance of which he took Oaths of them in Publick Courts and by reason hereof he disposed of the Bodies of the Heirs in Marriage as he listed retained in his Custody and Wardship and converted to his own use their whole Inheritance till they accomplished the Age of 21 Years and by his Example others of great Possessions did the like which has in some cases given a bad Example to this day Thus have I shewed you as in a Map the Model or Description of a rigorous and sharp Government under a Conquering Power to which low Ebb of Misfortunes it ought to be every Good Mans Wish and Prayer this flourishing Kingdom may never sink again But to proceed The Conquerer thinking now he had shackled all secure undertook a Progress to view Dover to give orders for Repairing the Castle and Strengthen more than ever the Sea Coast to prevent Invasions from the Low Countries whither many of the English Nobility were fled and having but a small number with him for his Guard coming near Canterbury he was all on a suddain Surprized by as he thought a Walking Wood For the Kentishmen having notice of his coming at the perswasion of Stigand Arch Bishop of Canterbury a second Judas Maccabeus for his Countries wellfare and
Officers he replenished his Treasury with 236000 Marks And about this time Dr. Scotus called Subtilis Preached against the Popes laying claim to St. Peter's Keys his abusing the Episcopal Authority as also that Transubstantiation which wild Notion had been Introduced not long before was contradictory to Scripture and common Reason but the Popish Clergy soon Persecuted him into silence Long had not the Peace continued between England and Wales ere Llewelling by the rash Perswasions and Incitement of his Brother David a Man more contentious than Provident and less Valiant than Mutinous and yet one whom the King did extraordinarily love and favour fell into Rebellion again forgetting his Oath which made him little prosper in his Enterprize to enlarge his Borders for after many sharp Encounters with Sr. Roger Mortimer the Kings Lieutenant on the Western Marches he and his Brother were taken their Heads struck off and placed on the Tower of London Yet their followers gave not over but kept in Parties Ravaging and Spoiling by Incursions within the English Pale and then with their Booty retired again to their Woods and Fastnesses where they had Builded Huts as if they conceived this Trade would be of a long continuance without shifting But the King not longer able to bear the Cries and Complaints of his suffering Subjects Marched a sufficient Army thither but not finding the Enemy in the Field to Ferret them out he caused the Woods to be cut down and consumed with Fire whereupon some submitted others dyed of Cold and Hunger in their Retreatments and many of the Ringleaders were put to Death by sundry manner of Executions by which means they were reduced to a more sociable kind of life and began to practice divers commendable Occupations Arts and Sciences and took some pleasure from thenceforth to live like Honest Men. After this Alexander King of Scots by a fall from his Horse off a Cliff by the Seaside whither upon some suddain Fright he carried him furiously breaking his Neck and leaving no Male or Female Issue his three Sisters the Eldest of which was Married to John Baliol Earl of Galloway the Second to Robert Le Bruce Lord of Valley Androw and the Third to John Hastings Lord of Abergavennie an English Peer laid claim to the Crown by their most powerful Friends many Disputes passed and Reasonings about it but these little availing it came at last to the Sword which for many Years made miserable Havock in that Kingdom each of the Competitors laying claim to the Crown in Right of their Wives refering the Decision of their Cause to King Edward under whose Ward they agreed to put the Government till matters could be determined whereupon he passed into Scotland attended with a considerable Army there as Soveraign Lord to determine the Strife and put the state of Affairs in good order But such was their mutual desires to Reign that no perswasions prevailed to make any one of them recede from his coveted Soveraignty yet they all agreed by a publick Writing under their Hands and Seals to refer themselves and their Titles to the Censure and Judgment of King Edward and by the same Instrument surrendered the Crown and Administration of Affaires to him To the end that thereby he might enable himself absolutely to possess such a one of them of the Kingdom as in his Judgment ought to have the Regal Dignity conferred on him and with the Writing he received their several Demands and Claims fairly drawn up with the Proofs and Arguments to maintain them Whereupon he Summoned a Council of Twenty English and as many Scotch Noblemen Prelates and Lawyers to consider and advise what was most proper to be done in this great Affair and when he had duly informed himself of the matter and was well satisfied in his Conscience about it he gave the Definitive Sentence in favour of John Bailiol who had Married the Eldest of the Three Sisters and he upon doing Homage to King Edward received from him the Crown and Government of Scotland Whilst these things were doing the French supposing the King over-busied in so weighty a matter and not altogether at leasure to mind his own concerns entered into Guyan Gascoyne and other his Territories beyond the Seas taking some Towns and committing many Outrages on his Subjects and their Possessions The King roused upon notice of this inâ—ury done him summoned his wonted Courage and gave speedy orders for Levying a potent Army but upon computing the Charge Money was found in a great measure wanting so that by the Advice of William Marcbyan his Treasurer he exacted it of the Clergy who for the most part having been exempted from the charge of former Wars were grown very Rich he demanded of them half the profit of their Ecclesiastical Revenues seizing into his hands the useless or superfluous Plate Jewels and Treasure of the Churches Abbies Monasteries and other Religious Houses and Places This made them exceedingly murmur against him and labour to Alienate the Hearts of his Subjects from him tho' in some sort he was not wanting to give them satisfaction by promising restitution when his Treasure should by encreased and tho' they little relied on such a Promise as thinking the King would at no time empty his own Coffers to replenish theirs finding they should be stript of their Treasure without remedy they found out another way as they supposed to make themselves amends in time though no great matter presently could be expected from it There had been a Statute Enacted in the Fourth Year of his Reign strictly Prohibiting the giving and conveying Lands or Tenements to any Corporation whatsoever called The Statute against Mortmain unless with the Kings consent and this stood in the way especially to hinder Persons in their Wills to bequeath any thing of that kind to the Church or Religious Houses This they prayed might be Revoked But he Replyed As of himself he could make no Laws so without the Consent of Parliament much less could he Annihilate them for he was honester than to pretend to a Dispensing Power and tho' this vexed them inwardly to be frustrated of all that could be expected to their advantage yet such was the power he had gained oveâ— them that they durst not express any outward dislike of his Proceedings After this he imposed a Subsidy upon every Sack oâ— Wooll also upon all Flesh and Hides that were to bâ— Transported out of the Kingdom and further to maintain his Wars required the tenth part of every Mans Substance or moveable Goods compelling the Clergy over and above to bring into his Treasury all such Sums of Money as they had promised to remit to Rome for the Popes use towards the maintenance of the War against the Turks and other Infidels in the Holy Land and so having sufficient he Transported his Armies sending with them besides other Necessaries 100000 Quarters of Wheat for their Subsistance where many Battels were Fought between the English and French in
might be any hopes to recover and some were recovered for in so suddain an Execution many received Wounds that were not Mortal This famous Victory obtained the King fell on his Knees and caused all the Army to do the like and with up-lifted Hands say Lord Not unto us not unto us but to thy Name be Glory and Honour In this Battel which the King said should be called The Battel of Agincourt to all Posterity because Fought near that Town were slain of the French Charles Lord Delabreth Constable of France Jaques Lord of Dampire High Admiral John Duke of Alanson Anthony Duke of Brabant Edward Duke of Barre The Earls of Marle Vaudemont Blawmount Grand Pree Russey Faulconbridg Foys and Lastrake 25 Lords 8000 Knights Esquires and Gentlemen and about 10000 of the meaner sort The Prisoners of Note were Charles Duke of Orleance John Duke of Burbon The Lords Donuart Fosseux Humiers Roy Cawny Hamcourt Noell Bonciqualt and some others and on King Henry's part of Note were slain Edward Duke of York and the Earl of Worcester Some Historians will have the latter to be the Earl of Suffolk and not above 600 others of all Ranks The King who before the Battel had Vowed to Dye or Conquer and that England should never be at a Penny charge for his Ransom was informed by some of his Noble Prisoners That the French were so confident of the Victory that they had not only disposed of his Person and the spoil of his Camp before hand but also of Places and Offices in England But when Man proposes God disposes The Dead being Honourably Buried and the Soldiers Inriched with the Spoil the King Marched to Callis without any interuption and having settled his Affairs passed into England where he was received by his Subjects with unspeakable Joy Soon after this the Duke of Exeter Captain of Harestew Ravaged the Countries and Overthrew the Earl of Arminiack the new Constable of France with considerable slaughter taking many Prisoners for which he had large Ransoms And Sigismund the Emperor of Germany coming into England laboured to conclude a Peace between the two Kings but not being able to effect it he made one for himself and being honourably attended by the King and his Nobles to his Ships he returned home highly satisfied with his Entertainment Shortly after the Duke of Burgundy made a Peace with King Henry only for the Counties of Flanders and Arthois for which he was suspected as an Enemy to the Crown of France In the Kings absence the French Besieged Hareflew by Sea and Land but their Fleet Commanded by John Viscount Narbon was utterly destroyed by John Duke of Bedford whereupon the Constable raised the Siege by Land and hasted to Paris upon which the French Nobility Quarelled among themselves about the several bad Successes charging the Miscarriage upon one another which made for King Henry's Interest so that he called a Parliament at Westminster declaring publickly his Right and undoubted Title to the Crown of France and the many wrongs the French had done the English Nation which now they had an opportunity to repair in giving him Supplies to enable him in the prosecution of his Wars which they liberally Granted him and it was raised without any murmurings of the People as in other Reigns had happened on the like occasion In the mean while John Holland Earl of Huntington after a sharp Engagement took three Carracks of Genoa and sunk other six that were going to Aid the French and in the Prizes found great store of Treasure and early in the Spring the King Landed a strong Army in Normandy took the Castle of Tonque whereupon the Villagers of that Dutchy fled into their Walled-Towns and he laid Siege to the City of Caen which after many fierce Assaults he took putting to Death the most obstinate who had too long refused his proffered Mercy in holding out against him and the more Wealthy Citizens he put to Fines and Ransoms And now a Quarrel happened between the Queen of France and the Dauphin her Son for she having raked together great store of Treasure he forcibly seized it for the use of the War which so enraged her that she vowed Revenge and procured John Duke of Burgundy to be Protector of the Kings Person and of the Kingdome so that an irreconcileable Quarrel continued among them The Constable and Dauphin labouring to weaken his Interest and he on the other hand supported by the Kings Favour was not wanting to do the like for them Whilst King Henry was Warring in Normandy and took in about 50 strong Towns and Castles reducing the Normans for the most part to his obedience and having appointed Sir Gilbert Vmphrevile Captain of Caen Castle and Sir Gilbert Talbot the like of the Town Sir John Popham Baylif c. and disposed the other Places in Trusty Hands he Marched to Roan where he found the Citizens had drawn a great Trench about it and strongly Fortified it with Towers and Bullwarks and having laid Siege to it at Pontle-Arch he laid over a strong Chain and a Wooden Bridge to hinder any Succours coming by Water keeping likewise that Passage blocked up with a strong Squadron under the Command of the Earl of Warwick and whilst he lay at this Siege the Lord Kilmay with 16000 Irishmen came to him Armed with Darts and Coats of Mail being joyfully received and proved very servicable But the King finding his violent Assaults were repulsed the Garrison being very Numerous incompassed the place to the Landward with a wide and deep Trench impailed at the bottom with sharp Stakes and so well guarded with Archers that they durst not approach it so there being Multitudes of useless People in the City the Famine encreased so sore among them that nothing Unclean was left uneaten nor were those they turned out suffered to pass the English Camp so that many Hundreds with piteous cries lay and died under the Walls and the Siege having continued from Lamas tide till Christmas on New-Years Day they desired safe Conduct for their Commissioners to pass to the King which was allowed but to little purpose for a bold Frenchman so angered him with his vaunting speech wherein he taxed him with unprincely degenerateness and meanness of Courage for Cloistering up the Garrison to Starve them as not daring to let them be at liberty to Fight and sell their Lives bravely in the Field That he resolved not to hearken to any Terms but the Surrender of the City upon discretion Granting them only a Truce of Eight Days to well advise in the matter but nothing being determined the half-Starved Inhabitants with hideous cries and shouts compelled the Governour and Magistrates to a Surrender so that having Four Days more allowed they Surrendered the City and Castle to the King there being Famished during the Siege 5000 and 12000 Starvelings were turned out who many of them dyed in the Fields and Lanes Then he compelled the Burghers for
Edward the Fourth and the last of the Male Line of the Plantagenets who had sway'd the Scepter from Henry the Second King Henry by this Bloodshed having more firmly Established his Throne or at least himself from those fears that he apprehended from mutable Fortune whilst this Young Prince Lived Married Arthur Prince of Wales his Eldest Son to the Lady Catharine Daughter to Ferdinand King of Spain with great Magnificence in St. Paul's But that Young Prince soon after Dying she was Married to Henry his Second Son who Succeeded But upon some pretended scruples Divorced as will appear at large in the History of his Reign And James the Fourth King of Scots suing for the Lady Margaret the Kings Eldest Daughter the Match was concluded tho' the French King and others had required her but could not obtain their Suits for in this Henry wisely considered That if his Sons Issue should fail it would be a means to unite Scotland to England when if he had Married her to a more Powerful Kingdom this must have been Subjected to that which he concluded would prove very dishonourable to the English Nation and the Lady being sent to Edenbourough was there Married with great Solemnity The King in the latter end of his Reign growing exceeding Covetous contrived how he might extort Money from his Subjects and for this as his chief Instrument he used Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley two Lawyers whom he appointed to put the Penal Laws in execution with great Rigor which they spared not to do to the utmost tho' in the next Reign it cost them their Lives nor was the complaints of the oppressed People minded tho' exceeding great and many from all parts of England which encouraged a whole swarm of Locusts as under Officers to pill and pole them in every Shire which caused the King much hatred After this Philip Duke of Austria in Right of his Wife coming to be King of Spain was in his Voyage thither driven by a Tempest into Weymouth Harbour in Dorsetshire where with his Queen he was Entertained by Sir Thomas Trenchard and after Invited to the King's Court at Windsor where for the Entertainment he gave him he procured the Duke of Suffolk fled into Austria to be put into his hands on condition he should have no violence offered him and indeed during this Kings Reign he was only kept a Prisoner but in the next lost his Head King Henry soon after falling Sick of a languishing Disease which was looked on as a Judgment for oppressing his Subjects remitted all offences against his Penal Laws enlarged all Prisoners except for Treason Murther restored Moneys to those that had been Ruined relieved the Poor and did many good Acts. And having Reigned 23 Years and 8 Months he Dyed and was Buried at Westminster in the famous Chappel of his own founding by Elizabeth his Queen who Dyed not long before in the 52d Year of his Age. In this Kings Reign Wheat was Sold for Six Pence a Bushel Nantwich Salt 6 d. and Bay Salt 3 d. per Bushel White Herings 6 s. per Barrel Red Herrings 3 s. per Cade Sprats 6 d. per Cade and Gascoign Wine at 6 l. per Tun. Anno 1495 a mighty Storm of Hail fell killing and wounding many Cattle and People several Stones being taken up at St. Neots in Huntingtonshire 18 Inches about And soon after a fearful Plague raged which made the King and Queen for a time remove their Court to Callice And during his Reign about Nine Persons Men and Women suffered the Flames for the profession of a good Faith Several did Penance by carrying Faggots on their Backs and some were Burnt in the Cheek c. Remarks on Wiltshire c. WIltshire is Renowned for the Frugal Industry of the Inhabitants It produces numerous Flocks of Sheep of whose Wooll Cloath is made and many Thousands of People set on Work as also large Cattle store of Corn and Pastures Venison Fish Fowl c. It is Bounded with Barkshire Hampshire Dorsetshire Somersetshire and Gloucestershire It contains 29 Hundreds in which are 304 Parishes 23 Market Towns 5 Rivers 1 City viz. Salisbury which is a Bishops See 3 Bridges 1 Castle 1 Chace and 2 Parks The River Avon branches its Southern parts and Wilby-Bourn extends to the West as also does a part of Avon and in other parts it is pleasantly Watered the Castle is that of Castlecomb It sends Members to Parliament 34 viz. Bedwin 2 Caln 2 Chipenham 2 Cricklade 2 Devizes 2 Downton 2 Heitsbury 2 Hindon 2 Ludgarsale 2 Malmsbury 2 Marleborough 2 New Sarum 2 Old Sarum 2 Westbury 2 Wilton 2 Wooton Basset 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire WILTSHIRE On Salisbury Plain is the memorable Wonder called Stone Henge supposed to be Erected as a Monument to Hingest the first Saxon Invader its Stones are of a prodigious bigness some 28 Foot long and 7 broad Morticed one within another tho' wasted by time some are falln Near Sawerth are Cockle-stones and those called the Grey Weathers near Marlborough On the Borders of this County between Great Bedwin and Lockington are certain deep Holes called the Giants Caves The Water breaking out of certain Stones near Knet is accounted a presage of Dearth At Luckington is a Well whose Virtue is to Cure Sore Eyes At Aubury is cast up a Ditch of a prodigious depth near Circular set round with large Stones supposed once a strong Encampment of the Romans as Yarnborough Castle on Salisbury Plain is supposed to have been one of their Fortresses The Seats of the Nobility are Marleborough-House and Allington-House belonging to the Duke of Somerset Wilton and Falstone alias Fallerdown to the Earl of Pembrook Clarlton to the Earl of Barkshire Stourton-Castle to the Lord Stourton Wardour-Castle to the Lord Arundel of Wardour Long Leats to the Viscount Weymouth Baron of Warmister the Bishops Seat in Salisbury The Reign of King HENRY the Eighth HENRY the Eighth being Eighteen Years old began his Reign the 22d of April Anno Dom. 1509. and was Crowned at Westminster by William Warham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury His first Policy was to wind himself into the Affections of his Subjects and soon found out a way to do it by issuing out Proclamations That such as had been Injured by Extortions and Oppressions of evil Persons in his Fathers Reign should be favourably heard and receive Satisfaction for the wrongs done them Whereupon great Numbers came with grievous Complaints those that had received the least Injury being the most clamorous and having recompenced many to please the rest Empson and Dudley the two corrupt Judges were Convicted of High Treason and Beheaded on Tower-Hill and divers imployed under them were Disgraced by Pillories Stocks and Whipping-Posts tho' these Catterpillars had exceedingly Enriched the Kings Treasury as well as their own Coffers For his Father left behind him the greatest Mass of Money that any King of England before him had done Things being a
little settled Ferdinand the King's Father-in-Law craved Aid of him against the Moors who infested his Kingdom which he obtained and drove them by that means out of Spain but the War ceasing he sent home the English poor and ill rewarded for their Service which much offended the King and Wars arrising between Pope Julius the Second and Lewis the French King in Italy where the latter seized on the strong Towns of Bologna and La Gasse and became very Formidable King Henry became a friendly Mediator between them But the French King refusing to yeild to Proposals of Peace pursuing his Conquests he required him by his Ambassadors to restore him the Peaceable possession of Guyan and Normandy with his Antient Inheritance of Mayne and Anjou unjustly detained from his Ancestors and himself which being refused he Proclaimed War and for this and Writing a Book in defence of the Roman Pontificate against Martin Luther the Pope on whose account this Quarrel was espoused stiled him Defender of the Faith which Title has ever since been retained by the Kings and Queens of England The King was not slow in raising an Army and King Ferdinand of Spain having notice of his preparations sent to offer his Service if he would Land his Forces in Biscay a part of his Country and from thence March into Guyan which was agreed to and done under the Leading of Thomas Crey Marquess of Dorset But the crafty Spaniard intending nothing but his own advantage by this after the English had suffered many hardships in his Country he joyned them and fell unexpectedly on the Kingdom of Navarre which he seized in a short time the Natives being so amazed at the suddainness of the Invasion that they made little or no resistance But after this success he afforded them no subsistance or any part of the spoil which made the Soldiers Disband of their own accord and come straglingly into England Poor and almost Naked But Sir Edward Howard Youngest Son to the Earl of Surry being Lord Admiral of England many times Landed in the French Territories and greatly endamaged them and at Sea overthrew their Navy in which Fight Sir John Carew of Devonshire in the Regent grapling with a great Carrick of Brest both Ships in the contest fell on Fire and in them on both sides about 800 Men perished This distress on his Coast made the French King augment his Fleet and Fortify his Harbours However the Admiral entered that of Brest with Boats and armed Barges and assailed three great Galleys of Rhodes brought to the assistance of the French King by Prior John these they soon Boarded but the Boats and Barges then returning and leaving them well Manned to be brought off at high Tide by this oversight the French regained them and in the contest the Admiral was born overboard by a Pike and Drowned But in few days his Elder Brother was made Admiral and two Land Armies prepared one under the Leading of George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury and the other by Charles Somerset Lord Herbert Chamberlain to the King These had not long been Landed but the King leaving the publick mannagement of Affaires to the Queen and directing the Earl of Surry to Guard the North against the Scots Incursion he Sailed to Callice and caused his Army to March to Terwyn which he Besieged and upon the overthrow of the French Army that came to its Relief had it put into his possession which he rased and consumed by Fire except the Cathedral and Bishops Palace During this Siege Maximilian the Emperour with 30 Nobles and Gentlemen repared to King Henry's Camp where to the Honour of England they Enrolled themselves in the King's Pay and were Nobly entertained The next Place that opposed him in his intended Conquest was Tournay which despairing of succour after many fierce Assaults yielded and on condition of their paying 10000 l. the Citizens were received into Henry's Protection and Wolsey his Almoner took an Oath of Allegiance of them to be True to him as his own Subjects However in his Absence the Scots Invaded England with 8000 Men under the Command of the Lord Humes and did great mischief but as they were returning with their Plunder Sir William Bulmer who lay in wait with 1000 Archers put them to the Rout in a sharp Fight slew 500 and took 400 Prisoners and recovered all the Booty so that those who had the luck to Escape returned Poor and Beggarly into Scotland But King James the Fourth to revenge this disgrace raised the Power of his Kingdom and come before the Castle of Norham some Historians say with 100000 Fighting Men which he Took by reason the Captain being prodigal of his Powder too soon spent it But the Earl of Surry Marching against the Scots with 26000 Fighting Men Anno 1513 the fatal Battel of Floden Field was Fought September 9 in which the Victory fell to the English the Scots King 2 Bishops 12 Earls 14 Lords and 12000 others of lesser note being slain For this good Service the Earl of Surry was Created Duke of Norfolk Charles Brandon Viscount Lysle Duke of Suffolk and Woolsey was made Bishop of Lincoln and after some Bickerings with the French on the Coast of Normandy King Lewis stricken much in Years sued for Peace and the better to confirm it Married the Lady Mary Second Sister to King Henry a Young and very Beautiful Lady at whose Wedding and Coronation many brave feats of Chivalry were performed by the English Nobility and Gentry who waited on her But Lewis the 12th Dying three Months after this Marriage she returned again for England and with the King 's private consent was Married to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk who had a long time been her Lover Woolsey who was a Butchers Son at Ipswich now began to rise a pace for Doctor Bambridge dying he was made Arch-Bishop and after by the Pope Cardinal of York which puffed him up with so much Pride that he undertook to Rule the King and Kingdom doing for a time without controul what he listed placing and displacing Officers and meddling in all Affairs where there was Advantage or Homage to be gained Especially when made Lord Chancelour and Counsellour of State demanding Accounts of the Treasurers Captains and other Officers that had been in the Wars by which he got much Money out of some that were Rich and those that could not furnish him he Punished and Imprisoned Erecting Courts of his own head and by subtilty got himself to be made the Popes Legat and to Build two Colledges by the Popes permission suppressed and seized on the Lands Effects of many Religious Houses which gave an inlet to King Henry's suppressing the rest some time after who concluded if it were not Sacriledge in the Pope but he could alow of it at pleasure it would be none in him However this Cardinal was sent on several Honourable Embassies wherein he behaved himself so Proudly Naming the King but in the Second
Commons Ordered he should be brought to Exemplary Punishment and all his Books Burnt Nor do I hear that ever he made any Defence or Answer to those Articles that were brought against him It is affirmed That Dr. Laud who was a mighty stickler for Arminianism and Ceremonies and who first of all set up this Mountague understanding from the D. of Buckingham that the King intended to leave Mr. Mountague to a Tryal was heard to say I seem to see a Cloud arising and threatning the Church of England God in his Mercy dissipate it After this the Commons Question'd several Persons who were of the Council of War in the Affairs of the Palatinate concerning the management of that Business But the King understanding that the House of Commons were very busie in searching the Original of a Letter under the Signet written to the Mayor of York for Reprieving divers Jesuits Priests and Popish Recusants interrupted their Proceedings therein by a Message sent by Sir Richard Weston Chancellor of the Exchequer demanding a Supply for the English and Irish Forces this was so highly resented by the House that Mr. Clement Cook one of the Members openly Protested That it was better to Dye by a Forrign Enemy than to be Destroy'd at Home And Dr. Turner another Member of the House seconded him with these Quaeries 1. Whether the King had not lost the Regality of the Narrow Seas since the D. of Buckingham was Admiral 2. Whether his not going as Admiral in this last Fleet was not the Cause of the ill Success 3. Whether the King's Revenues has not been Impaired through his Immense Liberality 4. Whether he hath not Engrossed all Offices and preferred his Kindred to unfit Places 5. Whether he hath not made Sale of places of Judicature 6. Whether Popish Recusants have not Dependence upon his Mother and Father in Law These bold Expressions so provok'd the King that he immediately sent Sir Richard Weston to Demand Satisfaction whereupon Dr. Turner made a Speech in his own Vindication alledging That what he had said was for the Good of the Kingdom and not Reflecting upon any one in particular with much more to the same Purpose And the further Debate of the matter being referr'd till another time Dr. Turner in the mean time with-drew himself and sent a Letter to the Speaker to excuse his Absence Sir William Walter speaking his Opinion about Grievances said That the true cause of them was because as was said of Lewis the 11th all the King's Council rode upon one Horse Thereby alluding to the D. of Buckingham's sole Management of all Affairs But for all these Discourses the Commons taking the King's Necessities into Consideration Voted three Subsidies and three Fifteens and that the Bill should be brought in assoon as the Grievances represented were redressed They likewise Consider'd of the matter of the D. of Buckingham and the mis-employing of the Revenue But the King observing they did not make such haste as he Expected in answering his last Message Summons both Houses together and by the Lord-Keeper complains to them for not Punishing Dr. Turner and Mr. Cook and likewise for searching his Signet-Office and justified the D. of Buckingham to have acted nothing of publick Concernment without his special Warrant and therefore forbid them to Concern themseves any farther therein and Blamed them for being too sparing in the matter of Supply and for Ordering the Bill not to be brought in till their Grievances were heard and Answered which he would not Admit of To which the King himself added He must also put them in Mind That his Father moved by their Counsel and won by their Perswasion broke the Treaties and that be himself was their Instrument towards his Father and was Glad to be Instrumental in any thing which might please the whole Body of the Realm nor was there any in greater Favour then than the Duke whom they now Traduced but that now finding him so far intangled in a War that he could make no Honourable nor safe Retreat they made Necessity their Priviledge and set what Rate they pleased upon their Supplies a Practice not very Obliging towards Kings And whereas Mr. Cook told them It was better for them to Dye by a Foreign Enemy than to be Destroyed at Home indeed he thought it more Honourable for a King to be Invaded and almost Destroyed by a Forreign Enemy than to be Despised at Home The Commons in Answer to this presented the King with a very Dutiful Remonstrance acquainting him That they gratefully Acknowledged his Majesty's Expressions of Affection to his People and Parliaments that they had taken Mr. Cook 's and Dr. Turner's Words into Consideration and might have given a good Account thereof by this time if His Majesty's Message had not Interrupted them That they had the Presidents of former Parliaments for Searching Letters of his Majesty and his Secretary of State the Signet-Office and other Records upon the like Occasions That it was the unquestionable Priviledge of Parliaments to Complain of any Person of any Degree and their Proceedings in Relation to the Duke should not Prejudice either Crown or Kingdom That they were willing to Supply his Necessities Liberally and Faithfully if Additions might be made of other things which concerned his Service and were now in Consultation amongst them The King having received this Remonstrance returned this Answer to it That he would have them in the first place Consult about matters of the greatest Importance and they should have time enough for other things afterwards Not long after this the Earl of Bristol being Ordered by the King to be Examined by a Committee of Lords about his Negotiations in Spain and having been in Prison and prohibitted access to his Majesty ever since his Return Petition'd the House of Lords for his Liberty or to come to a Tryal who applying themselves to the King he granted a Writ for the Earl's coming to Parliament but with a Proviso That his Personal attendance should be forborn Whereupon the Earl sent another Petition to the Lords that he might be heard both as to his Restraint and of what he had to say against the Duke At this the King was much concern'd and let the Lords know That it was his Royal Pleasure that the Earl of Bristol might be sent for as a Delinquent to answer his Offences to the House and his Scandalizing the Duke of Buckingham and the King likewise by Reflection Upon this the Earl was brought to the Bar and being ready to be Impeached of High-Treason by the Attorney-General the Earl said My Lords I am a Freeman and Peer of the Realm Vnattainted I have something to say of high Consequence to His Majesty's Service and I beseech your Lordships give me leave to Speak The Lords thereupon bid him go on Then said he I accuse that Man the Duke of Buckingham of High-Treason And immediately he presented Twelve Articles against him This unexpected procedure of the
Aberdeen presented him with 1500 l. which so angered the Estates that they strictly forbid all other Towns under great Penalties to do the like And coming to Edenburg he was a second time Proclaimed King July 16. Anno 1650. But the English overthrowing the Scots Army commanded by Montgomery at Muscleborough his Coronation was put off till January when with much Solemnity he was Crown'd at Scone and setting up his Standard at Aberdeen made him self Generallissimo of the Scots Army and Fortifying Sterling he removed his Court thither Whilst these things passed the English Parliament as they pretended found out several Plots against them for which Sir Henry Hyde and Capt. Brown Bushel were Beheaded and soon after Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Love a Presbyterian Minister Cromwel perceiving he could not draw the Scots to a Battel Transported 1600 Foot and 4 Troops of Horse over the Fife who assisted by Lambert and Okey routed Sir John Brown's Forces killing about 2000 on the place taking him and about 200 more Prisoners and the King perceiving his Enemies prevail so fast in Scotland calling a Council it was agreed he should March into England to try what Friends he had to assist him But they came in very slowly the Parliament having taken care before to prevent it so that in a long March very few joyned him except the Lord Escreek's Son with a Troop of Horse and the Earl of Derby with 250 Foot and 6 Horse but whilst the King lingered by the way Lambert being Guided over the Moors and Dales in Yorkshire got before him and Cromwel pursued hard after yet after a sharp Dispute with Lambert he gained the Pass of Warington-bridge and sent to Coll. Mackworth to Surrender Shrewsbury but he refused it whereupon he marched to Worcester and was recieved with much Joy into that place but whilst he was Fortifying this Place news came that the Earl of Derby who went to raise Forces in Lancashire was overthrown by Lilburn and most of his chief Commanders slain or taken Prisoners and now the Trained-Bands from all parts gathering about Worcester Cromwel and others came up with the Regular Forces and Lambert gained the Pass at Vpton where the Bridge was broke down by swimming the River and rescuing a Party of their Men besieged by Massey in a Church and by this means beat the King's Party and entirely gained the Pass and Cromwel laid a Bridge of Boats over the River but the King scorning to be cooped up with his Army on the third of Sept. 1651 sallyed out of Worcester and gave the Enemy Battle but having Charged several times and two Horses shot under him over-powred by Numbers he was forced to Retreat but was closely pursued by the Parliament Forces who thrust with his into the Town and then the Cry being to Save the King he had the good Luck to get away with the Lord Wilmot and coming to a Farmer 's House on the edge of Stafford-shire disguised himself cutting off his long black Hair with a Knife for want of Scissars and after that was Secured a while in Boscobel-house by the Pendrills Hudstone a Priest and some few others that were thought fit to be made acquainted with his being there but 1000 l. being set upon him and Search almost every where made he narrowly Escaped one Evening by getting out at the Back-door into the Wood whilst the Searchers were entring at the Fore-door and there he made an Oak-Tree his Palace which shelter'd him till the heat of the Search was over And at length by the means of Mrs. Jane Lane for whose Servant he went and passed by some of Oliver's Troopers as such After having escaped many Dangers and passed through many Difficulties he Landed at New-Haven in France from whence he went to his Mother then at the French Court. In this Battle about 3000 were Slain but a far greater Number were taken Prisoners and most of the Scots sold as Slaves here and to the Plantations Their Colours taken were hung up in Triumph in Westminster-Hall and the Earl of Derby who was taken at his Overthrow was Beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire The Marquess of Ormond and Lord Inchiqueen standing out in Ireland levied considerable Forces for the King's Service and the former Besieged Dublin with a Formidable Army but being Negligent and many of them raw Soldiers Collonel Jones the Governour Sallying first with a few and then with the whole Garison raised the Siege and took almost all the Plunder of the Camp afer which several other Towns were taken and Cromwel coming over with a sufficient Force took Drogheda and divers other places in many of which the bloody Irish were put to the Sword unless such as by hiding found means to Escape his Fury and in three Years time Ireland was Quieted and Reduced Scotland and Ireland being thus Reduced to the Obedience of the Common-wealth of England as it was then stiled the Parliament Resolved that Scotland shall be United to England and Monarchy Abolâ—shed also in that Kingdom and that Scotland shoul send up Deputies in such a Proportion as the Parliament should think meet to represent them in the Parliament of England which tho' the Kirk party opposed was notwithstanding done After which follow'd an Act of Grace to all the People of England pardoning whatever they had done and all Hostilities committed against the Parliament provided they take the Engagement which was To be true and Faithful to the Common-wealth of England as then Established without King or House of Lords No sooner were these things over and all things seemed Quiet at Home but our Young Common-wealth found new Occasion for the exercise of their Arms abroad There had been for some time a Grudge between them and the Senior Common-wealth of Holland occasion'd by the Assassination of their Agent Dr. Dorislaus there and afterwards by the Affronts put upon their Embassadors Oliver St. John and Walter Strickland by the common People in Holland insomuch that these Embassadors not thinking themselves sufficiently Vindicated by the States came away in great Discontent and afterwards when the States sent Embassadors here to Excuse themselves and to desire a Pacification they were answer'd with Demands of Reparation for their Herring-Fishing and Question'd about the Business of Amboyna and other things of that Nature which made them go back re infecta Upon this the Hollanders resolving to be as Stout as they set out a great Fleet for the Security of their Trade under the Command of Van Trump with instructions not to strike his Flag to the English Admiral c. Upon which on the 17th of May 1652. Van Trump came into Dover-road with 42 Sail of Men of War and Blake the English Admiral encountred them with a far less Number and tho' there was no great matter done on neither side yet Van Trump had the worst of it having had one Ship sâ—nk and another taken and about 150 men Slain whereas the English had not any Ship
England of the most Religious and Sanctified Persons he could Nominate This was called the Little-Parliament and indeed they did Little exept it were making an Act against Tythes and an Act for Marriages by a Justice of Peace and then being weary of their Power they gave it up to Oliver who had given it to them And now another sort of Government comes next For the Officers of the Army had drawn up a new System and presented it to Oliver desiring him to take the Government upon him under the Title of Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland He at first made a shew of refusing it tho' every one believ'd there was nothing that he desir'd more but being further pressed to it he accepted of it and was that afternoon install'd at Westminster Tho' the Dutch had been already severely beaten and were extreamly Solicitous for a Peace yet that they might get the better Terms they resolved to try the Fortune of War once more which yet prov'd more in-auspicious to them than the former for in the next Battel which was on the 29th of July 1653. Admiral Van Trump was Slain and 33 Sail of Ships sunk to the bottom of the Ocean out of which 1200 men were Sav'd by the English taken up out of Boats and swimming in the Sea This was so great a Mortification to the Dutch that the States were afraid of a general Revolt And therefore they forthwith apply'd themselves to Oliver for a Peace which in the Infancy of his new Government he was willing to Grant upon reasonable Terms tho' they were reduc'd to so low a Condition that he might have made what Terms he pleas'd The Success the English had against the Dutch made other Nations fear Cromwel The Spanish Ambassador coming early to Congratulate his Authority and the Portugals came in a Splendid Embassy to sue for Peace Nor were the French backward to own his Power So that he had now no apprehension of Trouble but only from the Royalists to suppress whom a Plot was soon after found out of several Persons for an intended Assassination of the Protector and several Persons Executed for it The King about this time went into Germany and Solicited several of the Princes there for assistance but with little Success Ireland being wholly reduc'd to Obedience the Marquess of Ormond and the Lord Inchiqueen having timely withdrawn themselves and Embarqued for France an Itinerant High Court of Justice was set up and several of the chief Rebels that began the Massacre in Forty-One were Try'd and Executed for the same among which that notorious Villain Sir Philem O Neal was Hang'd and Quarter'd and his Head plac'd upon Dublin-bridge Some attempts for a rising having been made by several of the Nobility of Scotland they were utterly Defeated by General Monk who was made Commander in chief of that Kingdom And now the Protector having according to the Articles of Government called a Parliament who beginning to Question the Power by which they were called they were soon dissolved again and several of the Royalists taken up about a new Conspiracy The Protector about this time having a mind to some of the Spaniards Indian-Gold sent a Fleet and Army to surprize Hispaniola in the West-Indies but sailing in that attempt by the ill Conduct of General Venablers they went from thence to the Island of Jamaica which they took and which has continued ever since in the Power of the English being now a very rich and flourishing Plantation And General Blake being with his Fleet in the Streights and coming before Tunis and sending to the Governour to demand Satisfaction for the Wrongs done by their People to the English and that the English Captives there might be deliver'd to him had return'd for answer That their Castles of Guletto and Porta Ferina were both well Mann'd and furnished with Ordnance and therefore they did not fear him Whereupon Blake with his great Ships and their Seconds came into the Bay of Porta Ferina within Musquet-shot of the Castle and fired with such fury upon them notwithstanding the frequent Discharges of sixty Great Guns upon his Ships that in two Hours the Castle was made Defenceless and all their Guns dismounted at the same time Burning Nine of their Ships which he found in the Road. This Noble Action strook such a Terror not only upon Tunis who were willing then to Submit to Blakes Proposals but also upon Algeirs and Triâ—olâ— that they quickly came to a Treaty and a Peace was made very much to the Advantage of the English About this time there having been an horrible Massacre made upon the Poor Protestants of Piedmont by the Command of the Duke of Savoy 〈◊〉 the instigation of the Popish Priests and Jesuits the Protector espous'd their Quarrel and not only sent to the Duke on their behalf causing his Edict against them to be recall'd but likewise caus'd a solemn Day of Humiliation to be kept and vast Sums of Money Collected throughout all England for their Relief and sent it or at least part of it by Sir Samuel Moreland to them which made Oliver be look'd upon abroad as the great Patron of the Reformed Religion Upon the War made with Spain by the attempt upon Hâ—spaniola and Jamaica before-mentioned a Peace ensued with France by which among other Articles the King and his Royal Brothers were excluded that Kingdom After which Rear-Admiral Stayner with a part of the English Fleet set upon eight Spanish Ships within four Leagues of the Bay of Cadiz the Admirals Ship in which was General Don Marco del Porto with 600000 pieces oâ— Eight ran ashore in the Bay the Vice-Admiral Commanded by Don Francisco de Esquevel and having in heâ— 1200000 pieces of Eight was taken as was also another Ship Commanded by Don Rodiques Calderon both theâ— were set on Fire one by the Spaniards themselves to prevent their being made Prisoners and the other by accident Two other very rich Ships were taken and kept and severâ— of the Spanish Nobles being taken were brought up tâ— London but Oliver being satisfied with the Treasure takâ— in the Ships dealt very Generously with the Spanish Nobleâ— and after a small time of detaining them here sent theâ—â— home without Ransom The next Year General Blaâ—â— lying with some Ships near Cadiz to watch for they turn of the Spanish Plate-Fleet had intelligence that they were put into the Bay of Santa-Cruz and sailing thither he discern'd the Spanish Fleet to the number of sixteen barricado'd in the Bay but this did not hinder Blake but that the next Morning he sailed into the Bay and whilst some of his Ships pour'd their Broad-sides into the Castles and Forts he and Stayner fought the Spanish Fleet and obtained an intire Victory but perceiving he could not bring away the Spoil set them all on Fire but one that was Sunk But that which is most wonderful in this Noble Action was That the Wind which blew
Edifices Thirteen thousand two hundred Dwelling-houses four hundred Streets Of the six and twenty Wards it utterly destroy'd fifteen and left eight other shattered and half burnt The Ruins of the City were four hundred thirty six Acres from the Tower by the Thames side to the Temple-Church and the North-East Gate along the City-Wall to Holbourn-Bridge To the Estates and Fortunes of the Citizens it was merciless but to their Lives very favourable that it might in all things resemble the last Conflagration of the World The Destruction was sudden for in a small space of time the same City was seen most flourishing and reduced to nothing Three days after when this fatal Fire had baffled all humane Counsels and Indeavours in the Opinion of all it stopt as it were by a Command from Heaven and was on every side extinguished This Dreadful Fire was both begun and carried on by Papists as appeared by Hubert's own Confession who was Executed at Tyburn for the same and also by several Depositions given in to the Parliament Whereupon the following Inscription was Engraven round about the Pedestal of the Monument viz. Which Inscription being Razed out in K. James's Reign was set up again since the late Revolution And now large Supplies were Voted the King by the Parliament and War declared against Denmark and a ship of 52 Guns belonging to that Crown taken on the Coast of Scotland whilst Capt. Robinson took and destroyed three Dutch Men of War near the Texâ—l A Rebellion breaking out in Scotland Forces were sent thither which put 1500 of the Rebels to Rout and some of the Ring-Leaders being taken were Executed which put an end to that Disturbance and an Act passed for the speedy Re-building the City of London The Dutch attempting Burnt-Island in Scotland were beaten off but their whole Fleet coming to an Anchor in the Gun-fleet and finding us altogether unprepared several of their Frigats entered Chatham and the Thames River and burnt several Ships tho' with the Loss of two of their own But Sir John Harman with 16 Sail engaged 30 French Men of War near Martinego and burnt and Sunk the greater part of them Whereupon at a Treaty held at Breda all sides grown weary of War a Peace was Concluded with France Denmark and the States General which was Solemnly Proclaimed and soon after with Spain And upon the Address of the Commons the Laws were put in Execution against Recusants and Assemblies of Nonconformists with much Heats for a considerable time In the beginning of 1668 Great Tumults happened in the Suburbs of London by an Insurrection of Apprentices and ill Persons joyning with them so that much mischief was done under pretence of pulling down Bawdy-Hâ—â—ses upon which eight were Condemned for High-Treason and four of them Executed The Duke of Albemarâ—â— dying the King undertook the Charge of his Funeral which was very Magnificent being Interred in Westminster-Abbey And the same Year Dyed Mary the Queeâ— Moâ—â—er of England at Columbâ— in France and 〈◊〉 Dutchess of Orleance the King's Sister coming over to Vâ—sit him after a short stay she upon her Return dyed at Sâ— Clâ—â—s in â—rance There being now Peace near Home the King resolve to Chastize the Algerines for their Insolency and in Oâ—der to it sent Sir Thomas Allen with a strong Squadron of Men of War who took and sunk divers of their Ships and compelled them to renew the Peace they had lately broken and to deliver up a great Number of the English Captives And much about the same time Coll. Blood with other Accomplices Gagg'd the Keeper of the Jewel-House in the Tower took away the Crown and had carried it off had not speedy pursuit been made and being Imprisoned for this whilst the People were expecting what Punishment would be inflicted on him for so unpresidented a Crime the King freely pardoned him And now Orders were given out upon view for the Repairing and better Fortifying all the Sea-ports for the King very much resenting some new Affronts put upon him by the States-General of the United Netherlands a second War began to Threaten but Money being wanting which is the main Engine and Sinews of War the Exchequer was shut up which caused a general Murmurring and much Loss to many People To palliate this the King declared That nothing could have moved him to it but only the looking upon his Government under the Threatning of the States-General and other Neighbouring Princes without his appearing in the same Posture but seeing the Necessity was inevitable It was needful that some extraordinary Course should be taken till Money could be otherways procured After this the King published a Declaration of Indulgence to such as Dissented from the Established Religion And now the War being fully resolved on Sir Robert Holms who was cruising with five Frigats about the Isle of Wight fell in with the Dutch Smyrna-Fleet and other Ships coming from the Streights under the Convoy of six Men of War between whom there happened a smart Engagement upon their refusing to strike and lower their Flags which continued till Night and 〈◊〉 the next Morning renewed and five rich Dutch Merchant-men were taken and their Rear-Admiral for want of more Assistance sunk and the rest got home This first blow given War was Declared the French King joyning with us in it being Obliged by the Treaty to send a Squadron of his best Ships which was Commanded by the Count d' Estreeâ— as were the English by the Duke of York and standing over to the Coast of Holland a fierce Engagement soon happened with much Effusion of Blood on both sides for either part being Emulous of Honour fought with extraordinary Eagerness till at last the Dutch stood away to their own Coast and the English after them as near as they could for the Shallows but under the shelter of a Fogg they got into their Harbours In this Fight the English lost the Noble Earl of Sandwich and the Royal James and long they had not lain on the Flemish Coast but the Dutch Recruited and came out again but after two other Engagements with much Loss on either side a Peace was concluded and the King hereupon became Mediator for the like Accommodation between the Crowns of France and Spain labouring by his Embassadors to compose the Differences between them Commanding at the same time his Subjects not to enter into the Service of any Foreign Prince without his Leave The Parliament now sitting gave the King 584900 l. for the speedy Building thirty Ships of War whereupon he resolved to enter into an Allyance with some Princes abroad that they might be able to put a stop to the Torrent of the French King's Conquests in Flanders And to render the Union stricter he Married the Lady Mary his Neice and eldest Daughter to his brother to the Prince of Orange and proceeded to raise Forces so that in a short time he had a considerable Army on Foot and the Parliament promised
of Leinster arriving wiâ—h freâ—h Supplies from England and being joyned by a Detachment from the King's Camp under the Command of Lieutenant-General Talmash they marched towards Newport and 4 Regiments were sent to Possess themselves of Furnes which successfuly they did and 2000 Pioneers ordered to fortifie it and soon after Dyxmude fell into our hands with the Villages and dependant Territories and several Skirmishes happened with various success to the end of this Campaign And on the 8th of September 1692 an Earthquake happened in England giving 2 or 3 Quick Shoâ—ks yet with little harm and was felt almost at the same time in Ireland France Holland Flanders and other places it lasted about a minute The King of England was then in his Camp at Grammen in Flanders Dining in an old decay'd house which shook very much and every one apprehendâ—ng it would fall he was Perswaded to leave that Ruin-threatening-Fabrick but the Surprize was soon over and no harm happened there The Campaign now being ended the King by the way of Holland returned to England and found all things peaceable and well Governed by the Queens prudent mannagement not only in England but in the otheâ— two Kingdoms where War and Tumults ceasing Trade began to Flourish Whilst these things passed a very great Fleâ—t of Turkey and Streights Merchants Dutch and English set Sail richly Laden under a Convoy of Men of War Commanded by Sr. George Rook and in the Streights unexpectedly fell in with the French Fleet But though our Ships fell into this Ambush yet ours and the Dutch Men of War behaved themselves with such Conduct and Courage as also did the Merchantmen that whilst the French were making up and the Dispute lasted most the latter by running along the Shore got into Harbours and others came back again with Sir George who made a very good Retreat so that the French got but little though had they not been over hasty in appearing in probability the greater part of them might have been Encompassed by their whole Fleet. The King as is said being returned after Congratulations a day of Thanksgiving was appointed for Gods singular Providence that had protected him in the greatest dangers to which he had exposed his Royal Person for our Safety The Winter was spent in making Levies by Land and great Preparations at Sea The Parliament chearfully giving such Supplies as were necessary to carry on the War Early in the Spring the Streights and Turkey Fleet put again to Sea but entering the Streighte mouth such a violent Storm arose as blew many of the Ships cleaverly out of it and divers were Lost and much damaged yet many got safe to their proper Ports In March the King passed over to hasten an early Campaign and the Elector of Bavaria being appointed Governour of Flanders sent the Duke of Arco to Complement him on his arrival and Parties being abroad divers Skirmishes and Bickerings happened with various Success in a village called Malterne 100 Newburghers took 80 French Prisoners of War and brought them with their Arms Horse and Baggage to the general Rendesvouz However they sent an Army to Ravage the Palatinate and burnt divers places of note and to divert the Spanish Forces in Flanders a vigorous War was pushed on in Catalonia the Duke D' Nouailles Commanding in chief but met there with many Disapointments by our main Fleet 's appearing on the Coast yet drawing off a part of the Army for that Service The Duke of Wirtemburg with a considerable Body of Horse and Foot forced the Enemies Lines and Entering French Flanders for several Miles put the Country under Contribution raising a Million of Livres taking in divers small places and much Booty This Constrained the Duke of Luxemburg General for the French King to Endeavour by one Exploit or other to draw him back and first with 50 Squadrons of Horse and ten Battallions of Foot and some Field-pieces he attempted to fall on a part of the Garison of Liege and Maestrich being about 18 squadrons of Horse and some Regiments of Foot Commanded by Count Tilly but upon notice retired over the River Sare Leaving three Squadrons to secure his Retreat which beat back the French advanced parties But this was only as a Forerunner to greater Action for the King Marching to releive Huy had notice in his way of it's surrender and thereupon Strengthening the Garison of Liege Marched near Hespan and halted to get Intelligence of the Enemies further design and some hours after had notice they appeared from the high Grounds of St. Gertruden-Landen so that upon notice from the Scouts that it was the Vaunt-Guard of their Army all things were ordered to Receive them if they adventured to make any attempt which they soon after did and a terrible fight ensued which lasted from Sun-rising to Sun setting in this Battel the King was in all parts giving the necessary Orders and acted the part not only of a brave General but also of a Couragious Captain but in the Conclusion the Confederate Army being over-powered by Numbers the French being 80000 and the Confederate but 40000 they were forced to retire and left the French Masters of the Field tho' their loss was more than that of the Confederates Such another Encounter the French made in Savoy where Monsieur Catinat Commanded for France in which the Duke of Schomberg fighting Valiantly at the Head of his Battalion was slain and the Savoyards compelled to leave the field but the French notwithstanding this Success found themselves in so bad a Condition that being compelled to pass the Mountains very late for Recruits and Supplies of Necessaries abundance of them were lost in the Snow and deep Pits with Carriages and Cannon Tho' the French on these Occasions boasted of some Success by Land their Naval Forces since the last Overthrow were but slenderly Recruited and Admiral Russel having notice by a Swede there was a great Fleet in Conquet-Bay Laden with Corn and Naval Stores sent Capt. Pickard with another Man of War and a Fire-ship to get an account of them which struck such a Terror they supposing these Ships the Vaunt-Guard of our main Fleet that cutting their Cables they run on the Flats and Rocks into our Hands others sunk by the Shot so that there were computed about 50 Sail to have been Lost and soon after the Admiral had Orders to joyn the Spanish Fleet on the Coast of Catalonia to prevent the French Designs on that side which brought such a Terror on the French main Fleet under the Command of Monsieur Torville that he immediately got into Thoulon and there lay penn'd up not daring to stir till the English Fleet returned Being in those parts they brought a Terror on Argeirs and other Pyratical Governments so that they sent their Submissions and appeared very desirous to be at Peace with England However a sufficient Squadron being left in the narrow Seas Commanded by the Lord Berkly he attempted the French Coast
the Plew-Posts in Spring-Garden and struck with Horrour at so Stupendious a Wickedness acquainted the Earl of Portland with it intreating him to Discover it to the King which he did and Pendergrass was thereupon introduced by him to the King in his Closet where he opened the nature of the Conspiracy with the Circumstances but was a long time pressed to it before he would name the Conspirators which at last he did under Promise he should not be brought in for a Witness unless he would voluntarily do it This was seconded and confirmed by Monsieur De la Rue who was introduced to the King by Brigadier Lewson who gave in the Names of those he knew And much about the same time came Expresses from the Duke of Wirtemburg that the French Forces to the number of 22000 were drawn down to Callis Dunkirk and other Sea-ports where there lay about 500 Transport-ships and a great many Men of War to conduct them for their Landing in England with the first fair Wind with the late K. James at the head of them The Duke of Berwick had been in England and was returned with an account of what Preâ—arations their Friends were making here for their Reception which made the French King say he never knew a Design more fairly laid for assurance of Success and his Ministers bragged of it in Foreign Courts And indeed a great part of the Fleet did put to Sea before we had Notice of them but were driven back by contrary Winds and then lay expecting the Sign at â—â—ver-Clifts that King William was Assassinated and it was given out in France that he was drawing towards his end and that they wondered that they heard not of his Death At other timer times it was said he was Kill'd a Hunting c. which makes it plain their intended Invasion depended chiefly on their intenced Assassination for K. William alive to face them at the Head of his victorious Troops that had often beat them at their own Doors they could have little Hopes to prevail but they on the other hand expected to find us all in Confusion as they gave it out we were if the Assassination had taken but were strangely startled when they saw Admiral Russel with about 60 Men of War blocking up their Harbours and threatning to burn them with his Fire-ships which constrained the Land-forces to Disimbark and at length with Shame Loâ—s and excessive Charge gave over their Enterprize which the French thought before so easy that they said K. James was not coming to invade England but to take the quiet possession of his Throne and the 〈◊〉 King had sent him large Bundles of plausible Declarations to be dispersed at his Landing with a Promise to supply him with more Troops as he saw Occaâ—â—oâ— and Scotland as well as Eâ—gland was to have been invaded Whilst these things were doing beyond the Seas divers of the Conspirators were Seized here and imprisonâ—â— before the King put out his Proclamation as Charâ—ock Bartram â—rimeâ— Anbury and others and the King going to the House of Peers and senâ—â—iâ—g for the Commons acquainted them with the Conspiracy and intended invasion Whereupon they Congratulated his Safety and declared their Abhorrance of the Villanous and Barbarous Design Solemnly Promising to assist him to the utmost against the Late King and Deâ—â—â— his Royal Person against all his Enemies and if he should come by a Violent Death which God forbid to Revenge it upon the Papists and soon after entred into an Association to the same Purpose as since all the Cities and Corporations c. in his Dominions have done Expresses were sent immediately away to Scotland and Ireland the Sea ports stopped and all Suspected Persons with their Horses and Arms secured and an Act passed for the continuing the sitting oâ— the Parliament if the King should chance to Dye till the next Heir in Succession should come to the Crown to Dissolve it Thus things being pretty well secured and the King's Proclamation out for the Apprehending divers of the Conâ—pirators by Name and 1000l Reward with Pardon for such as should come in Voluntarily and make Discovery most of them that were known to be in it were Apprehended On the 11th of March Robert Charâ—ock Edward King and Thomas Keys were Tryed at the Old-Bailey on a special 〈◊〉 and upon full Evidence being found Guilty they received Sentence as â—â— Case or High-Treason and on the 18th were drawn to Tyburn and there Hang'd and Quartered Charnock and King boldly Confessing it in the Papers they left and Keys made no Denyal of it The next was Sir John Friend a Brewer in the Minories he took his Tryal for High-Treason at the Old-Bailey and being found Guilty as was also the next Day Sir William Parkyns both of them received Sentence as the fore-going and at their Execution owned the Fact in General and many Particulars and were nevertheless Absolved by three Non-jurant Parsons for which Presumption two of them were Committed Tryed and Fined The next that came on the Stage for this Horrid Conspiracy were Ambrose Rookwood Robert Lowick and Charles Cranburn who were Tryed at the King's-Bench-Bar at Westminster April 21 22. for High-Treason and the Fact being plain they were found Guilty and received Sentence and according to it they were Drawn Hang'd and Quarter'd Cramburn and Rookwood Confess'd what was Sworn against them and Lowick said he would willingly have assisted King James had he Landed The Heads and Quarters of these and the others Executed were set on the Gates of the City as terrible Examples of Offended Justice Two more were also brought to Justice on this Account viz. Mr. Peter Cook and Capt. Knightly the first found Guilty upon a long hearing and the latter Pleaded Guilty to the Indictment and both receiving Sentence have hitherto found sparing Mercy Things being at this pass the King having given Audience to the Venetian Ambassadors who passed through London in great State and dismissed them Prorogued the Parliament and leaving the management of Affairs in the hands of the Lords Justices went to the Army in Flanders And the Duke of Savoy contrary to the Mind of the Confederates clapped up a Peace with France No Memorable Transaction except a Battel between the Eâ—ector of Saxony and the Turks in Hungary has hitherto happened as to this Campaign and Peace more than War is at present the common Discourse And thus have I brought down this History to the Year of our LORD 1696 being the Eighth Year of the Reign of his most Excellent Majesty King WILLIAM the Third whom God grant Long to Reign FINIS