the City of Dublin to the Petty Kings and most of the Nobility of the Kingdom and having settled the Civil and Ecclesiastical matters reforming Barbarities and Abuses he brought those that held out in Vlster under Subjection and so returned in Triumph to London Thus was Ireland made subject to the Crown of England and has so continued ever since being a very spacious Country viz. in Length 303 Miles in Breadth 112 in Circumference 948. And such was the over-fondness of this King to his Eldest Son Henry that he caused him and his Wife Margaret Daughter to Lewis the French King to be twice sollemnly Crowned in the presence of his People himself the second time for that day leaving the Title of King and serving as a Servitor at his Son's Table whereat the Bishop of Winchester whispering the Young Henry in the Ear said Never any King of England had such a Sewer at his Table Nay replied the Upstart my Father need not think it any dishonour to him as being but Royal Born on one side when I had both a King to my Father and a Queen to my Mother upon this the old King shook his Head and whispered the Bishop I find my Lord I have raised the Young Man too soon and too late repent of it And from that time he laboured to suppress the Pride of his Sons which made them often Rebel and Conspire with his Enemies drawing away the Hearts of many of his Subjects And altho' at one time Lewis the French King Henry Geoffry and John three of his Sons joyned with Robert Earl of Leicester Hugh Earl of Chester and William King of Scots against him yet by plain Valour he Routed them and made his Sons and others that were his Subjects submit to his Pardon and soon after his Son Henry Dyed in the flower of his Age. But these were not all the Kings Troubles for he was grievously pestered with the stubbornness of Becket Arch Bishop of Canterbury For upon his first admittance to that See he refused to take the Oath for observation of the Articles administred to the Clergy which the rest of the Bishops had done because it was clearly against the Popes Authority and perceiving the King much displeased at his refusal he resolved to set the Pope on his Back and therefore privately withdrawing himself went to Rome where he made grievous complaints against the King and Clergy of England to Innocent the Second upon which the Pope gave him the Pall and appointed him Legate so upon his return he delivered up his Chancelorship and Great Seal not giving the King or any other an account why he did so These Jars between the King and the Arch Bishop imboldened the Inferiour Clergy to commit many Irregularities for which they received but small punishment for if they committed Murthers Manslaughters Fellonies or Robberie being Censured by Men of their own Profession they came off as they could wish so that the Common Wealth being sorely oppressed to Redress these Grievances the King found himself constrained to call a Parliament In which that Law made in King Stephens Reign which exempted the Authority of Temporal Judges from meddling with Ecclesiastical Affaires was Repealed and the Laws held in the Reign of Henry the First and other the Kings Predecessors Established and Inforced being commonly called Avitae Legis but he was stoutly opposed in his Proceedings by Becket and some other Bishops who unadvisedly made themselves partakers of his Faction but after many Conferences Disputes and Consultations all except Becket Ratified and Subscribed those newly revived Laws but he by no means would do it unless he might enter this Clause Salvo Ordine suo which words clearly Annihilated the Life and Substance of those Laws but the Bishops fearing the Kings Anger might turn to their great disadvantage at last prevailed with Becket to Swear to the said Laws but upon another Pet taken he recanted his Oath and was Absolved by the Pope Yet it nothing daunted the King but rather Irritated him to Seiz into his own hands all such Temporalities as he had formerly given to the Arch Bishop requiring him to render an Account of 30000 Marks he had Imbezilled during his being Chancellor But the Prelate in Answer to this boldly affirmed the King had freely given it to him as a free Gift and ought not in Honour or Conscience to demand it back Whereupon all the Moveables that appertained to him were Seized by the Kings express command At which Becket being disgusted he went to Rome without the Kings License and the King perceiving his drift was to incense the Pope against him sent his Ambassadors to represent his perversness and evil carriage and how reasonable things were he had imposed on him entreating the Pope to divest him of his Dignity and he would provide for him and his in another station But Becket had made such interest in the Court of Rome That the Pope not only refused it but with many Threatnings sent two Legates To Curse the King and all his People unless on their demands Becket were immediatly restored to his Dignity also to his Lands and Moveables that were Confiscated and in the mean while he commended him to the Abbot of Pontynack where he was kindly received and for a time entertained But upon the Kings Threats that unless he was Expelled the House that he would leave no Monk of that Order in France he was dismissed the King Commanding That without his License no Cardinal nor Legate should presume to set Footing in England and hereupon he Banished all Beckets Relations which much grieved him yet under-hand he was encouraged by Lewis the French King resolutely to persist in his Obstinacy whereupon King Henry to put an end to this difference that much disturbed the Kingdom Sailed to France and in the French Kings presence Conferred with the Arch Bishop making him an Offer That if he would take the Oath again and subscribe the Instrument Triparte as himself and the Arch Bishop of York had done he should be restored to his Favour and enjoy all that was formerly appertaining to him and his Friends recalled from Banishment but then he started another obstacle consenting to do it if it might be with an exception of salvo honore Dei This more angered the King than the former for by it he seemed to Object the Laws made tended to the dishonour of God and if so consequently were void in themselves bringing a scandal upon those that first Instituted them and also upon himself and the Parliament that had Revived them Whereupon Becket plainly told him That he feared none but God and since his Laws were derogatory to the Antient Customs and Priviledges of the Church and Robbed God of his Honour the King in seeking to Establish them should not have his will whilst he lived And upon this Disagreement the Pope sent two Legates to Interdict the Kingdom till Becket should be restored to his Dignity This so far
place as Ego et Rex meus I and my King That Forreigners admired how such Arrogancy could be suffered by any Prince in his Subject but his Fall was swifter than his Rise so that what he chiefly aimed at viz. to be Elected Pope in making Interest for which promotion at Rome and in other Courts it had cost England vast sums of Money he never attained to For King Henry growing into a dislike of the Marriage between him and the Lady Catharine of Spain because she had been his Brother Arthur's Wife tho' indeed as it after appeared rather by a Divorce to make way for a fresh Beauty the Cardinals delays and crossing the Kings haste in this purpose made him fall into disgrace which brought him to his End as will by and by be manifested The King by Riotous Living at home and Expences in Forreign Courts where Ambassadors especially Woolsey were attended with such State that they rather seemed the King himself than his Representatives had now pretty well emptied his Coffers which put him into some discontent But Woolsey both to Enrich the King and himself laid hold of his Melancholy and Wants as a favourable opportunity of his own Authotity granted out Commissions under the Great Seal for Levying a Tax all over England and Wales according to the true value of every Mans Estate viz. Of every Fifty Pound value and upwards Four Shillings in the Pound and for every Pound above Twenty and under Fifty two Shillings and all under Twenty Twelve Pence in the Pound and in London he appointed himself chief Commissioner And by another Commission the Clergy without exception were Taxed Four Shillings in the Pound for their Livings This seemed so grievous to all sorts of People so great a Tax never having been laid on them before and this done without Authority of Parliament that the Meaner sort grievously Cursed the Author and Contriver of their Miseries and those more discreet laboured for these Reasons to have the Commission Revoked 1. Because the Commissions were not established or grounded on the Laws of the Kingdom 2. Because the Execution of them would be a dangerous President against the Liberty and Freedom of the People of England in time to come 3. Because Mens Credits many times exceeded their Estates and to bring them upon Oath or other ways to discover that it would prove their Ruin And Lastly That not one in ten had the value demanded in Plate or Ready Money and if they parted with so much Trade must cease for want of Coin to Trade with But these and many more Reasons prevailed not till the King perceived the Peoples discontents every where so great that he feared a general Insurrection and then he sent his Letters to countermand the Commission dissembling that he knew any thing of those Commissions that had been given out to Levy the Tax and the Cardinal seeing his Project frustrated and fawningly to excuse himself to the People he certified in all Counties by his Letters viz. That because he saw those Taxes were too grievous for them to bear he had in compassion to them kneeled to the King and prevailed with him to Revoke the Commissions Yet few believed him for the greater part were satisfied that it was done against his mind and that he inwardly fretted at the disappointment it being the first rub that had checked his Arbitrary Will When to spend his Gaul on some body and ease his Anger he after he had given the King Hampton Court and all his fine Buildings there in exchange for his Palace of Richmond prevailed to have the ordering the King's Houshould which was no sooner granted but he turned out all worthy deserving Persons and Sold their Places and Offices to such as would be more obedient to him About this time the French King requested the Lady Mary King Henry's Daughter to be given in Marriage to the Dauphin his Son but whilst this Match was solicited and by some liked and by others disapproved a Scruple was cast in the way as most thought upon the secret intimation of Woolsey in despight to the Emperour because by Strength he had not made him Pope when by his Money and Policy he had failed to obtain it by the President of Paris who Questioned Whether the Lady was Legitimate as Born in Lawful Matrimony seeing she was Begotten on the Body of the Lady Catharine who had been his Brother Arthur 's Wife This made the Lawfulness of the King's Marriage be called in Questian and himself so averse to it that by the Counsel of Doctor Longland his Confessor who told him he had Lived Incestuously almost twenty Years he forsook the Queen's Bed to her great grief and discontent And however tho' upon this pretence the Match was broken off yet Woolsey was sent over who concluded a Peace with the French King The Legality of the King's Marriage after this coming hotly to be Disputed to determine which the Pope sent Campeius with a power Legantine which he also granted to Woolsey and so the two Legates reparing to the Queen to Inform her of their Power and Authority which she took very uneasy sharply telling Woolsey He was the first causer of this scruple to be Revenged on her Nephew because he had not made him Pope and on her because she had secretly in a loving and gentle manner often times Admonished him of his Coveteousness and Tyrany his Extortions and Oppressions his Pride and Lechery But with protestations he laboured to excuse it as if he had been altogether Ignorant of the matter and proceeded to erect a stately Court for himself and his Brother Cardinal in the Black Fryars in London where the King and Queen were Cited and Appeared The King protested That nothing but his trouble of Conscience could make him part with so Tender and Loving a Wife and if with the removal of that scruple he could Cohabit with her he should be exceeding Joyful But those that knew what little Scruples this King made in other weighty matters did not lean greatly on the truth of what he said however the Queen advised by her Councel appealed to the Court of Rome But her Appeal was not allowed and tho' the King desired a quick dispatch the business was delayed Yet they proceeded to sit Weekly and hear Learned Disputes on the matter At length the King being informed That after the Last day of July the Legates would sit no more till the Fourth of October in a great passion he sent the Dukes of Norfolk Suffolk and other Lords to demand a dispatch to the Judicial Sentence one way or the other Campeius Answered It could not be done so soon for by the Yearly Custom of the Court of Rome they were bound to Adjourn and if any Sentence in the interim was given it was utterly void in Law At this the Duke of Suffolk in a Rage struck his Fist on the Table saying That never Cardinal nor Legate did any good in England
labouring to destroy the Hugonots or Protestant Party in France constrained them for the safety of their Lives to fall into a Civil War The Queen assisted the latter and had Haverdegrace and New Haven put into her Hands as Cautionary Towns for the reimbursment of her Charges when things should be settled and to keep them firm to her Interest so that they should not make a Peace without her consent and hereupon she sent them 6000 Men under the Command of the Lord Ambrose Dudley and kept the Seas with a considerable Navy Whilst matters went thus Abroad Designs were carrying on against the Queen at Home whereupon divers of Note especially those descended of the Blood Royal by the two Daughters of Henry the Seventh were Imprisoned And she calling a Parliament an Act passed for Assurance of the Queens Royal Power and Authority over all Estates and Subjects within her Dominions And further Enacted That the Oath of Supremacy should be administered to all Persons for the better discovery of such as sided with the Pope against her which much startled the Papists and made them quiet for a time In the mean while the Prince of Conde one of the chief Leaders of the French Protestants being Overthrown at the Battel of Derux was taken Prisoner as likewise Sir Nicholas Trockmorton who paying his Ransom was set at Liberty But the Admiral Chastillion took so many Places as startled the Guises insomuch that they consented to an Edict of Pacification whereby the Princes were to be restored to the French Kings Favour Conde alured with the hopes of the Lieutenancy of France and a Marriage with the Queen of Scots the Hugonets to enjoy the freedom of their Religion c. The Agreement was suddainly made and the English not only treacherously Abandoned but they Joyned with the Papists to drive them out of the places they held and straightly Besieged New Haven which by reason of the Plague raged grievously in it they had Surrendered to them But the Spanish Greatness threatning England and the French offering reasonable Terms a Peace was concluded between the two Crowns and Ratified upon their delivering Hostages to pay the Queen at a set time a large Sum of Money upon which the French King was Invested with the Order of the Garter Hereupon the Spaniard in a fret prohibited all Commerce between the English and his Subjects which made the Queen remove the Wooll-Mart from Antwerp to Ems in Frizland but the Low Countries being much Impoverished thereby the Edict was Repealed and now the Queen made her great Favourite Sir Robert Dudley Lord Denbigh Earl of Leicester Knight of the Garter Chancellor of Oxford and Master of the Horse and this she seemed to do the better to qualify him for a Husband for the Queen of Scots but it swelled him to that Ambition that he soon aspired to make pretentions to herself and the Queen of Scots soon after Married the Lord Darnly Son to the Duke of Lenox of the Royal Blood and of this Marriage was born James the Sixth of Scotland and first of England This not only displeased Queen Elizabeth but the greater part of the Scots Nobility because he was scarce 20 Years of Age and easie to be sway'd any way However he was sollemnly Crowned King but by the contrivance of Murray the Queen of Scots Bastard Brother and others he some time after was Blown-up in his Lodging and his mangled Body thrown by the force of the Pouder into the Garden The Parliament of England meeting again humbly besought the Queen to Marry but she still declined it Shortly after the Queen of Scots falling into a Languishing condition Recommended her Son to the Protection of Queen Elizabeth yet Recovering Earl Bothwell suspected to be one with Murray in destroying Darnley was forced to fly the Kingdom and Murray raised a Party against the Queen to Depose her when after some contesting being over-powered she fled into England and craved Queen Elizabeth's Protection but by the Advice of some Counselours bribed by Murray's Faction in stead of allowing her tho' near in Blood that favour she was committed a Prisoner in the custody of the Earl of Shrewsbury and after 20 Years Confinement lost her Head for holding Correspondencies with the Papists to take away the Life of the Queen A Passage having been discovered by the English to Russia and great Privileges granted to the Merchants The Czar or Emperour of Moscovy and Russia sent his Ambassadors to Queen Elizabeth with Rich presents of Furrs and such other Commodities as his Country yielded and with them one Anthony Jenkinson an Englishman who had first Sailed the Caspian Sea his demands was to make a League Offensive and Defensive with her but by reason of the distance of the place the Queen agreed not to the former but left the latter indifferent and so the Ambassadors having been highly Treated were dismissed with a return of Presents In Ireland Shan O Neal fell into Rebellion but being defeated by the English and throwing himself on the Hebridians he was by them Slain after a seeming kind reception and the Earl of Desmond was seized and sent Prisoner to England and Sir John Hawkins being in America with some Ships and contrary to the Capitulation set-upon by the Spaniard his Goods rifled and some of his Men slain the English Nation was so exasperated with the Treachery that they demanded a War with Spain which however at that time was not granted for the Queen having taken the French Protestants who were cruelly Persecuted under Charles the Ninth was employed to support them with Money and Ammunition and in providing for such a fled hither tho' they had basely abandoned her at New Haven But the Duke of Alva the King of Spains General making fierce War in the Low Countries he brought in the Inquisition to Extirpate the Protestant Religion There there happened an Accident that opened a Breach between England and Spain viz. Vast Sums of Money being sent in a Spanish Ship by Italian Merchants to be Imployed in the Bank in the Low Countries for the ruin of the Protestants there those Vessells were Chased upon the English Coast by some French Men of War and the Money being brought on Shoar the Queen was Advised by her Privy Council to stay it and give the Merchants Owners Security for the Repaiment of it Whereupon the Duke of Alva caused all the Goods and Effects of the English in the Low Countries to be seized and the Queen caused the same to be done by the Dutch Merchants in England which were of greater Value and Commerce being Prohibited the English removed the Staple to Hamb rough and the Privatieâ—s set out so greatly Endamaged the Spaniard that the Queen was forced to restrain them yet the Duke of Alva secretly practised to raise Rebellion in England and Ireland and the Earls of Northumberland Westmorland and others did make an Insurrection in the North being Instigated to it by Morton a
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
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
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
Francis Lord Lovel and others were Slain with 4000 Common Soldiers and Symnel taken Prisoner June 16 Anno Dom. 1487. At Mansfield was Born the first Earl Mansfield in Germany now a famous Family in the Empire said to be one of King Arthurs Round Table Knights Blythe is a pleasant Town situate on the River Idle Besides these of Note and Antiquity are Hoverham Retford Worksop and Southwell In this County is the much noted Forrest of Shirwood where Robin Hood held his chief Residence and in it are bred a great many of those Hares called the Laner In this County they digg a soft Stone which Burnt makes a Plaister for Flooring their upper-Rooms which dry'd is harder than Plaister of Paris About Worksop grows store of Liquorice The County contains many Parks full of Deer The Rivers Meers and Ponds are stored with Fish and at the Season there is plenty of Wild-Fowl The Seats of the Nobility are Worksop belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Welbeck Abby and Notingham Castle to the late Earl of Newcastle Holm Pierepont to the Duke of Northumberland Rufford to the Marques of Hallifax Houghton and Chare-House to the Earl of Clare Shelford to the Earl of Chesterfield Bestwood to the Earl of Burford Newsted Abby Bulvel Park and Linby to the Lord Rochdale Averham and Killham to the Lord Lexington besides divers pleasant Seats of the Gentry c. The Reign of King RICHARD the First RICHARD the Eldest Son living of Henry the Second was in Normanay at the time his Father Dyed there and could not come over so soon as was expected by reason that Country remained unsettled by Intestine Wars and some Factions the French had made at a great Expence to keep it so which required necessarily his presence However he sent over speedy orders for the Releasment of Queen Elianor his Mother who had endured a long and hard Imprisonment by the strict command of King Henry who would not forgive her at his Death because she had Poisoned Rosamond his fair and much beloved Concubine and after her Releasment she was by King Richard appointed Regent of England till his Return And then by reason her own Experience had informed her what hardships those endured who Languished under Confinement she caused to be set at Liberty all such as were in Prison for ordinary Offences or small Debts The latter she Paid that the Subjects should be no Loosers by her commiseration and Administred the Government Prudently with much Moderation Integrity and Justice The King at length coming over with a splendid Train of Nobility was received with great Joy of the People and puting an end to the Queen Dowager's Regency was Crowned by Baldwin Arch Bishop of Canterbury and Swore to keep several Articles administered to him by the Nobles to the Ease and great Advantage of his Subjects freeing all that were in Prison for Offences against the Crown and such others as without injustice done to his Subjects he could acquit and in the whole course of his Government so provided that Mercy with Justice might extend to all and finding his Brother John of a Turbulent Spirit he heaped many Honours and Promotions on him thereby to satisfie him and alay his thirst of aspiring viz. He Created him Earl of Lancaster and gave him the Counties of Notingham Devon and Cornwal Married him to the sole Daughter and Heiress of the Earl of Glocester by which means he obtained the Lordship of that County But these great Favours and Donations answered not the Kings expectations for when he had showered on him such Bounties he found him by his practices reaching at the Crown as much relying on a Faction at home and the promises of the French to assist him when need required it It being a Policy of theirs to divert King Richard whom all Historians allow to be a Valiant and Warlike Prince from Warring on France in Reparation of the many Injuries his Subjects in Normandy had Sustained by the Inroads they had frequently made However the King mildly reproving his Brother and shewing him his Ingratitude to nurture such Designs also the Guilt and Danger he would incur he made many Excuses and Protestations he had no such Designs as had been suggested of him and they were both his and the Kings Enemies who had spread those reports to set them at variance These and his renewed Protestations of Loyalty and Obedience resolving to live quiet and contribute all he could to the Advantage of the Commonweal prevailed with the King to accept of his Submission and have a good opinion of his Fidelity and the King as an Expiation for the Offences himself had committed against Henry his Father making a Vow to accompany the other Christian Princes for the Recovery of the Holy Land from the Turks and other Infidels who grievously Oppressed the Asian Christians he the more easily winked at what he had plainly seen so that a Reconcilement being made the Kings thoughts were wholly taken up with his intended Expedition but having Lavished away the vast Treasure his Father left in large Donations he found Money was wanting to furnish him out with such an Army and Equipage as might stand with his Honour He had been Solicited besides his own Inclinations by the Pope to this Undertaking with many promised Blessings as others had been if by their Arms they Regained the Holy City Jerusalem from the Infidels yet to raise Money he refused to Levy any Taxes on his Subjects but Sold his Castles of Barwick and Roxborough to the King of Scots for 10000 Pounds the Lordship and Earldom of Durham to Hugh then Bishop of the See for 16000 Pounds as also Honours Lordships Mannors Priviledges Royalties and Crown-Lands upon other Grants and Tenures to divers of his Subjects for much Money so that having as he supposed a sufficient Treasure he prepared things in a readiness but contrary to his expectation it falling short he borrowed Sums of such as he had formerly Liberally bestowed his Bounties on protesting that for the performing so great and Honourable a service he was not unwilling to Sell his City of London if he could find any body of Ability to Purchase it rather than by Taxes he would Oppress his Subjects In this Undertaking at the Instance and earnest Incitement of the Pope were also Engaged Frederick the Emperer Philip the Second Sirnamed Augustus King of France Leopold Arch Duke of Austria and many other Princes so that a gallant Army was prepared and great store of Treasure With these King Richard entered into an Agreement that their General Rendezvous should be in the Island of Sicily the following Spring and That such Wealth and Booty as God and good Fortune should put into their Possession should be equally divided between them and their Forces and thus every thing being in a readiness King Richard appointed William Langchamp Bishop of Ely Regent in his Absence and soon after the better to Establish the Bishops Authority among the
with various success tho' in them the French were â—enerally worsted but Fortune no further favouring his endeavours but only to stop the French Torrent â—nd their further Encroachments he returned for England On his departure the French King Married Alphonsus his Brother to the Daughter of the Earl of Tholouse and gave him the Earldom of Poictiers and so cunningly contrived it that he would have procured the Earl of March to do him Homage for such Lands as he pretended he held in that Province but he refused it and could not by Entreaties or Threats be wrought on to comply which so enraged the French King that he entered with an Army into the Earldom of March and laid all waste before him but was Fought with by the English Army newly Transported near Burdeaux yet the English being much inferiour in Number after a Long Bloody and Doubtful Fight were constrained to quit the Field and King Henry who did wonders in the Battel that day hardly escaped being taken Prisoner whereupon the Earl of March found he was in a necessity to submit to the Terms offered him by the French King after which King Henry settling his affaires as well as he could returned to England and made a fiâ—m Alliance with the King of Scots to strengthen his Interest against France This continued happy to him for a time but his Court not being purged of Parasites and Whisperers who with their stories set him against the English Nobility a fatal Discord befel which at times lasted till his Death for the Nobles grudging he bestowed Favours on those that deserved them not and was scanty in his Liberalities towards them that had Merited of him at the expence of their Blood and Treasure from Murmuring they fell to open Reproaches charging him with the violation of those Liberties and Priviledges that he had so solemnly Confirmed and Granted This Angered the King and made him inwardly Fret but finding they spoke the sense of the greatest part of the Nation to bring things to a quieter temper and alay or satisfie the discontents of his Subjects he called a Parliament at Oxford tho' in it what he aimed at was for the most part if not altogether frustrated so that it was afterward through the Distractions that happened upon it called Insanum Parliamentum or The Mad Parliament For when multitudes of such as were Grieved came for Redress of their Grievances the Lords and Commons endeavouring to Redress what was amiss Established many things Profitable as they intended for the Common-Weal but highly derogatory to the Kings Prerogative and to the end those things that they had so contrived should be lasting and inviolably observed they made choice of Twelve Noblemen by the Title of Les douze Piers or The Twelve Peers giving them absolute Power and Authority to Maintain and Support those Laws of whom the Earls of Leicester and Gloucester were chief and for this they had their Pattent and took a solemn Oath which was Sealed and Ratified by the King although he did it unwillingly so that the Parliament being ended the Commissioners began by strict Execution to give Life unto those Laws and Ordinances thrusting out of their Places and Offices many of the Kings Menial Servants and Attendants placing others in their stead which very much troubled him for by these proceedings he perceived those that waited on his Person were rather to be Trusted by others than by himself and that he should be furthest from chusing those that were to be nearest to him this made him grow Melancholy and vex himself exceedingly yet thinking to mend what he supposed amiss he called another Parliament which contrary to his expectation Ratified and Confirmed more strongly all that the former had done tho' he at the opening of the Sessions had complained of the hard Usage he had received from the Twelve Peers and by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury and Nine other Bishops of the Kingdom a solemn Curse was denounced against all such as either by Direction Council Arms or otherwise withstood or hindered the Execution of those Laws or the Authority of the Twelve Peers This made the King more Melancholy than before when to divert himself he Sailed to France and had an Enterview with King Lewis who highly welcomed him Lodged him in his own Palace Feasted him and used him with all Gentleness Curtesie and Honour protesting in his Parliament of Estates That he was much dissatisfied in his Conscience for detaining from King Henry his Dutchy of Normandy and such other Territories in France as in Right he ought to Enjoy and on the other hand King Henry intending to conclude an inviolable Peace freely surrendered to him Normandy Anjou Poictiers and Mayn and in the same Parliament with great Solemnity and Honour he received them again to himself and his Heirs Whilst things thus proceeded in France a Quarrel happened between Prince Edward the Kings Son and the Duke of Glocester about the Laws being put too severely in Execution which made the King hasten home to prevent the Danger or Mischief that might happen thereby and with some difficulty he reconciled them and hoping to remove the curb the Peers had laid on him with much Expence he procured Bulls of Pope Alexander the Third by virtue of which himself and all others who had Sworn to maintain those new Laws and Ordinances and to support the proceedings of the Peers and their Authority were freely Absolved from their Oaths yet they took no notice of it but proceeded to displace such Judges Justices and Sheriffs as the King had appointed for not following their Orders and put such in their Places and Offices as they thought fit So that the King being no longer able to endure these Indignities caused the Popes Bulls to be Read and Proclaimed in the chief Towns and Cities of England and Wales straightly Commanding all Persons of what Estate Condition or Degree soever That from thence forth did by Word or Deed Support or Maintain the said Laws and Ordinances or the Authority of the Twelve Peers that they should be committed to Prison and not delivered thence without the Kings consent And hereupon he Swore the Londoners from twelve Years Old and upwards to be True and Faithful to him and to be Aiding to him and his Heirs against all Opposers In the mean while the Barons met and entered into a Resolution among themselves rather to lose their Lives than decline the upholding the Laws and fancying the King had some desperate design upon them their Jealousie so encreased that retiring to the Marches of Wales they raised a strong Army and furnished it with all things necessary for the War they intended yet pretended to abstain from any Hostility or Violence unless the King compelled them to it Then they sent their Letters in a most submissive and humble manner to the King protesting their Duty Service and true Allegiance to him entreating his Highness for the Honour of Almighty God for the
Sentence caused his Head to be stricken off at the Standard in Cheapside and then with great violence broke down the Tower Gates killing all they found in it and secured that and the City to the use of the Queen and of the Prince her Son The King being Informed of these Proceedings his Heart failed him so that desisting from his intent of raising Forces he Posted to Bristol and Fortified it committing the Defence thereof to the Earl of Arundale and the Spencer's Father and Son entered with him into the Castle which they determined as a last Refuge to defend with all their Strength but within a few days after the City was Besieged Assaulted and Taken by the Queen and Barons who took and Committed the Earl and divers others of Note to safe custody the King and his two Favourites dispairing of Safety there got out to Sea in a small Fisher Boat intending for Ireland but so Providence ordered it that it was thrice when put out driven by the shifting of the Wind near the Castle so that the last time the Lord Beamont Manning out a Vessel seized it and found there the King and the Elder Spencer the other having got on Shore and shifted away for a time These the Queen presented before the Castle which the Garison no sooner perceived but they Surrendered and here the Lord Arundel was Beheaded and the King sent Prisoner to Kenelworth Castle and by the way they contrived to Shave him to Disguise him least being known he should be Rescued when the Impudent Fellow of a Shaver set him on a Molehill and told him That Cold Water must now serve his turn pointing to the Ditch at which Indignity the King burst out in Tears saying There should be Warm Water whether he would or no. The Queen having thus far proceeded determined the Death of her Capital Enemy dooming him to be Quartered Alive which was done and his Head and Quarters set up in divers places she gave a considerable Reward to the Person who brought her the Head Young Spencer soon after was taken with the Lords Baldock and Reading carried to Hereford and Hanged on a Gallows 50 Foot high And thus fell these Favourites who put too much trust in their own Strength and Pollicy little expecting such suddain turns of Fortune to alter their conditions by throwing them from the Pinacle of Honour into the Gulf of Misery and Disgrace which ought to be a Warning to all who undeservedly aspire cautiously to behave themselves Upon this a Parliament was called to settle the disordered Affaires of the Kingdom who Resolved to transfer the Crown from Edward to his Son whereupon three Bishops three Earls two Barons two Abbots and two Justices were appointed to demand in the Name of the Parliament a surrender of it which if he refused they would perhaps take other measures and give it from his Family to one more worthy This he took so grievously that after many complainings of his hard Usage and a confession of his Failures in Government he fell in a Swoon which moved the Lords to pitty him but being brought to himself after some time bemoaning his hard Fate seeing there was no other Remedy he Signed and Sealed the Instrument tendered him by which he passed over his Crown and Right and Title to all his Dominions to Prince Edward his Son whereupon Sr. William Trussel one of the Judges or Justices in the name of the whole Realm renounced Homage to the King in these words viz. I William Trussel in the name of all Men of the Land of England and of all the Parliament Procurator do resign to thee Edward the Homage that was made to thee some times and from this time forward I defie thee and deprive thee of all Royal Power and Authority I shall never be tendant to thee as for King after this time SOMERSET SHIRE In this Kings Reign Anno Dom. 1311 The Order of the Knights Templers that Fought so long in the Holy Land was Abolished in all Nations Anno 1318 happened such a grievous Famine That the Poorer sort Eat Dogs Cats Rats and other Unclean things The Prisoners in Goals Murthered divers fresh commers and Eat them and yet many Thousands Dyed for want of this Nauseous Food This was succeeded by a Pestilence and Rot of Cattle Breaking in of the Sea Huge Land-Floods Fiery Armies Fighting in the Air and a Terrible Blazing Star Remarks on Somersetshire c. SOmersetshire abounds in Corn Cattle Wooll Woollen-Cloath Serges and many other valuable Commodities On the North-West it opens to the Irish Sea and for the rest it is Bounded by Devonshire Dorsetshire Wiltshire and Gloucestershire it containes 42 Hundreds 2 Bishopricks viz. Bristol Bath and Wells which are accounted Cities 385 Parishes 35 Market Towns 9 Rivers 45 Bridges 2 Forrests and 18 Parks It sends Members to Parliament 18 viz. Bath 2 Bridgwater 2 Bristol 2 Ilchester 2 Milborn Port 2 Minhead 2 Taunton 2 Wells 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Bath in this Shire is very Antient famed for its Mineral Waters Curing Diseases in many People said to be First found out by Bladud an Antient British King Bath and Wells joyntly together make one Bishoprick tho' Wells is principally esteemed for its curious Cathedral held to be Built by Inas King of the West Saxons At Pen the Britains were Overthrown by Kenwald King of the West Saxons and afterward the Danes by Edmund Ironside Bridgwater is noted for a great defeat given the Danes Anon Dom. 845 And for the Battel of Sedgmore near it beeween the late King James's Forces and the Duke of Monmouth Anno 1685 wherein the latter was totally Routed Glassenbury the Avalonia of the Romans is famed for the Burying Place of Joseph of Arimathea the first Preacher of the Gospel in this Island and here it is thought King Arthur was brought and Buried Cadburn is remarkable for a greak Defeat King Arthur there gave the English-Saxons Banesdown Mons Bandonicus was doubtless some Encampment of the Romans as appears by the Coins found there and on the Top there remains the Ruins of some Noble Castle said to be one of the Palaces of King Arthur tho' some Writers have placed this Town in Cornwal Ilchester is of good repute Taunton for its Memorable Siege in the Civil Wars and Bristol for the great Trade it drives and the many Sieges it has endured On Mendip Hills and several Places on the Shoar of the River Froom is store of Pit-Coal In the Quarrey at Kinghâ—â— are found Spiral Stones in the form of Snails at Ochyhale near Wells is a deep Cave in which are many Rivulets and hollow Recesses The Monument of Stones near Stanton Drew near Pensford is very remarkable being great Tracts of some vast Foundations St. Vincent's Rock is famous for the Stones found there nearly resembling Diamonds being equal to those of India in lustre but not hardness The Seats of the Nobility are Clevedon Court belonging to the
after fell into a general Rout throwing away their Coats to run the nimbler for which reason it is to this day called the Battel of Loose Coat Field and in it were slain about 10000 Sir Robert and some other of Note being taken Prisoners lost their Heads The Earl of Warwick Duke of Clarence and other Lords hearing of this fatal Overthrow distrusting the fidelity of the Army they Commanded left it secretly by Night and with a small Train took Shipping at Dartmouth and Sailed till they came before Callice but was denied Enterance by Monsieur Vaucler whom the Earl had left as his Deputy there for which he was made Captain of the place by King Edward and had a Thousand Pounds a Year Pension from the Duke of Burgundy And here on Shipboard the Dutchess of Clarence was brought to bed of a Son to whom Vauclear would not send any Necessaries nor suffer the Child to be brought on Shore to be Christened yet Sayling hence to Diep they took by the way a Rich Prize belonging to Burgundy and Landing were met by the French King at the Castle of Amboys on the River Loyer and highly welcomed with promises of Assistance and being conducted to the French Court they found there Queen Margaret Prince Edward her Son and Jasper sometimes Earl of Pembrook who had escaped a little before out of the Tower of London with others where they entered into new Conferences in order to Depose King Edward and Restore King Henry and the Earl of Warwick to make his own Party the Stronger gave his Second Daughter in Marriage to Prince Edward and soon after the French King furnishing them with Shipping Men and such Necessaries as they required leaving Queen Margaret and the Prince her Son at the French Court to attend their success they put to Sea and Landed at Dartmouth in Devonshire where the Earl Marshalled his Forces then few in Number but quickly encreased by the Peoples flowing to his Standard from all sides upon his putting out a Proclamation in King Henry's Name requiring them to repair to his Aid with Money Victuals and all things Necessary for the War and valiantly to fight against the Duke of York whom he stiled a Usurper and bloody Tyrant untruly and falsly calling himself King Having by this time mustered a powerful Army he Marched it towards London The King was not idle at this Juncture but with what Army he could gather on the suddain Marched to give the Earl Battel yet on the way hearing that in all the places where his Enemies came the People applauded them and no cry was heard but King Henry and a Warwick and having little confidence in his own Soldiers by the wavering he found in them notwithstanding his wonted courage his Heart now failed him Whereupon in the Night taking with him about 800 of his Friends he could rely on he left the Army and posted into Lincolnshire but finding nothing there in a readiness to advantage him he took Shipping and Sayled for Holland and so passed to Burgundy where he was kindly received by the Duke his Brother-in-Law Upon this the Earl of Warwick came to London and King Henry was taken out of the Tower and carried in Triumph to St. Paul's Church where having paid his Devotions and made his Offerings he was convey'd to the Bishop of London's Palace where he kept his Court with much Bounty and Magnificence and a Parliament being assembled at Westminster in his Name in it Edward and all his principal Adherents were Attainted of High Treason their Goods and Possessions Confiscated to King Henry and by the same Authority the Duke of Clarence was declared to be the next Heir to Richard Duke of York tho' his Second Son and the Dutchy of York was setled on him and his Heirs Also the Crown entailed to King Henry and the Heirs Male of his Body and for want of such Issue to the Duke of Clarence and his Heirs Male and such as had been dispossessed for Henry's Cause were restored to their Titles and Estates Clarence and Warwick were stiled the Kings best Friends Patriots of their Country and made chief Rulers in all things under Henry Upon notice of this great Revolution Queen Margaret and her Son came over but long they had not been here ere Edward furnished by the Duke of Burgundy with Ships Men and Warlike Stores Landed at Ravenspurg in Yorkshire declaring he came not now for the Kingdom but to possess himself of the Dutchy of York his Rightful Inheritance on which he intended as a Subject to live Peaceably which drew many to favour his Cause but having got admittance into that City he soon discovered other Intentions For tho' a little before he had Sworn the contrary to the Citizens â—he Garisoned it with his own Soldiers and exacted Money of them to raise more Forces and so Marching towards London the Marquess Montacute who was sent to oppose him let him pass whereupon he caused himself to be Proclaimed King setting up the Royal Standard This obliged the Earls of Warwick Oxford and divers other Nobles to raise an Army and advance to give him Battel but the Duke of Clarence Marching another way with a separate Army being reconciled to his Brother Edward and joyning his Army with him the Earl thought fit at that time to take other measures not harkening to any fair Words or large Promises to draw him from King Henry's side but bitterly inveighed against the Duke of Clarence saying He had always rather be an Earl firm to his Word and Oath than a Perjured Duke tho' in hopes of a Kingdom Edward being now very much strengthened Marched to London whilst Warwick was raising more Forces and being with some difficulty received by the Citizens he sent King Henry again to the Tower yet having continual News of Warwick's approach he drew out his Forces and Encamped near Barnet about Ten Miles from London having King Henry as a pledg with him fearing if he had left him in the Tower the Londoners in his Absence would have set him at Liberty and the next Morning the Earl of Warwick resolving to throw all on the fortune of a Battel drew up in Battel Array viz. The Right Wing he gave to the Marquess his Brother and the Earl of Oxford the Main Battel to the Duke of Sommerset and others the Left Wing was Commanded by himself and the Duke of Exeter the Vant-Guard of King Edward's Army was commanded by the Duke of Gloucester the Main Battel by himself and the Duke of Clarence in which was King Henry the 6th the Rear-Guard by the Lord Hastings and after they had confronted each other a little space and both Generals made moving Orations to animate their Soldiers the Trumpets sounded the Charge and they rushed together with great fury fighting five or six Hours so desperately that Victory seemed to encline to no side whilst the City of London was greatly amazed and terrified with various Reports of the
Popish Priest and by their Declaration Invited all the Roman Catholicks to joyn them and at Durham Toâ—e in pieces all the English Bibles and Common Prayer Books they could find in the Churches but being Proclâ—imed Traytors upon the approach of the Queens Forces they Fled with a small company into Scotland from whence the Earl of Westmoreland fled into the Low Countries and there Lived in a poor condition till he Dyed and divers being taken were Executed Soon after this a Rebellion broke forth in Cumberland but the Rebells were routed and dispersed by the Lord Hunsâ—on and another in Ireland but quieted by the Lord Deputy And one Felton by the Popes Command fâ—stned in the Night time a Bull Declaratory to the Bishop of Londons Palace Gate wherein he Absolved all the Queens Subjects from their Oath of Allegiance but Felton being taken Confessing Justifying the Fact he was Condemned and Executed near the place where he fixed the Bull it being at that time hung about his Neck And the Duke of Norfolk having been Imprisoned for designing a Marriage with the Que n of Scots and endeavouring her Escape upon his humble Submission and a Writing â—igned wherein he promised never to think of the Marriage or any thing derogatory to Queen Elizabeth's Authority he was discharged And a great many of the English for sundry crimes being fled into Scotland upon refusal of delivering them up the Earl of Sussex and the Lord Scroop entered that Kingdom with an Army and compelled the Scots of the Queens party to abstain from Hostility and utterly forsake the English Rebells And a Rebellion being raised in Ireland by the Earl of Thumond and his adherents the Earl fled into France for fear of being delivered to the Lord Deputy by his Friends but upon his humble submission was restored to his Estate and Dignity and the Duke of Norfolk being again Imprisoned was brought to his Tryal for High Treason and was thereupon Condemned and lost his Head and soon after Dr. John Storey a great Persecutor in Queen Mary's Reign who was decoyed on Board an English Ship under pretence of seazing Prohibited Goods as being made the Duke of Alva's chief Searcher being Tryed for Treason was found Guilty and Executed at Tyburn And Matthew Stewart Earl of Lenox the Young King of Scotland's Grand-Father and Regent of Scotland being surprized by the contrary Faction was Murthered and the Earl of Marr chosen Regent who Dyed within 13 Months after And divers about this time suffered for conspiring the Queens Death And a League was concluded with France and soon after at the celebration of the Marriage between the King of Navar and the Lady Margaret the French Kings Sister happened the cruel Massacre at Paris and by the French King's command the Protestants were Massacred in all the Provinces of that Kingdom to the Number of 300000 among them fell the Admiral Chastillion and divers other Nobles yet God delay'd not to Revenge their Innocent Blood for the King Dyed a while after with Blood issuing from all his Vents The Duke of Guise who had contrived at one blow to cut off all the Protestants in France was Murthered in his Palace by the Succeeding King's command and most of the rest that had contrived this Tragedy came to untimely Ends. The Earl of Northumberland who since his Rebellion had sheltered in Scotland was by the Earl of Morton delivered to the Lord Hunsdon for a Sum of Money and soon after Beheaded at York And Walter Devereux Earl of Essex whom the Queen held in high favour being sent with Forces into Ireland to depress the Rebellion and being envied by some Great Men at Court in his Absence they made Parties against him Charging many Miscarriages in his Conduct so that the Queen was constrained to call him home with a command to resign up his Authority in Vlster but the Earl of Leicester being Jealous of his presence at Court as imagining he was not indifferent to the Queen soon procured him to be sent back again with the empty Title of Marshal of Ireland which he took so much to Heart that in a short time he Dyed The Prince of Orange Heading the Flemings and they supplicating the Queen for Aid after mature deliberation with her Council and the States of the Low Countries putting Cautionary Towns into her Hands for Security she sent over Forces and permitted as many Voluntiers as would to go and Casimire Son to the Elector Palatine at the Queens charge brought in a considerable Number of Horse and Foot These Forces were unexpectedly Attacked by Don John of Austria and the Prince of Parma with a Numerous Army of the Spaniards best Forces but so fiercely Encountered that after an obstinate Fight they were forced to retreat leaving some Thousands Slain which Victory was attributed to the Valour of the English and Scots The Duke of Alanzon the French Kings Younger Brother now made earnest Suit to the Queen and tho' by the means of one Simier a French Courtier he so far insinuated into the Queens favour as to be admitted to come over Incognito and hold a private Conference with her yet by reason of his Youth and some other Obstacles this Treaty of Marriage as well as the rest had done came to nothing yet the Earl of Leicester for enveighing against it so far as to reflect on the Queen was for a time confined to Greenwich-Castle and the Queen being on the Thames in her Barge a young Fellow fired a Piece which Shot one of the Rowers through the Arm for which being Sentenced to be Hanged the Queen then understanding it was done Accidentally and not out of any Design against her Pardoned him And the Queen having procured of the Grand Signior a liberty of free Trade in all his Dominions a Company of Turkey Merchants was first set up The Pope having bestowed Ireland on the King of Spain a Rebellion was raised there but the Lord Grey being made Deputy the Irish Spanish and Itallians were totally routed and put to the Sword Captain Francis Drake a Native of Plymouth in Devonshire adventuring to America with a few Ships Discovered divers Coasts before unknown and is reputed to Sail about the World because he shot the Gulf of Magelan returning brought home great Riches and after being Knighted he made several advantagious Voyages with greater Force and became such a Terror to the Spaniards in those parts that they started to hear him Named Also Hawkins Forbusher and others pursuing that Voyage not only greatly endamaged the Spaniard but greatly enriched England with Gold and Silver so that the Queen having called in the bad Money the Land soon abounded with plenty of her own Coin The Earl of Desmond being routed in Ireland was after a great Search made for him found and slain by a common Soldier which gave much quiet to that Kingdom And now the Papists using secret Practices against the Queen among other Expedients to prevent the
Oxford where having Recruited his Army he marched to Gloucester which he Besieged And Prince Rupert having taken Bristol and gained some other advantages came to him In the mean while Essex hasted away with the City Trained-Bands and Auxiliaries added to his Army and between the King and him a great Battel was Fought on Newbury-heath soon after for upon his coming having raised the Siege he followed the King and having view'd his Army presently Engag'd and after a sharp Fight the King's Party had the worst And now the Parliament getting the Fleet from Sir John Pennington made the Earl of Warwick Admiral and watched the Coast to prevent the Landing of Foreign Forces and Sir John Hotham and hâ—s Son being Tryed for intending to deliver Hull to the King on some Disgust taken were Condemned and Beheaded and the Parliament proclaimed all Traytors that should assist the King against them with Horse Arms or Money and Treason for any Member of their House to Desert them and go to him And soon after the second Newbury Fight ensued in which the King was worsted and between 4 or 5000 Men Slain on both sides after which the Vxbridge Treaty began But the Parliaments Demands were such that it broke off without coming to any Agreement Whilst these and other matters happened in England the Marquess of Montâ—osâ— with a handful of Men performed Wonders in Scotland overthrowing the Lord Burleigh and divers others but not being Succoured as he expected it onâ—â— diverted the Scâ—ts for a time from entring England And upon the Parliaments passing the Self-denying Ordinance the Earls of Essex Manchester and Denbeigh Surrendred their Commissions in the Lords House and 10000 l. per Annum was Voted to Essex out of Delinquents Estates And now Sir Thomas Fairfax was made General of their Army and Oliver Cromwell Lieutenant-General of the Horse and most of the Commission-Officers were Changed and Col. Mitton Surprized Shrewsbury one of the King's head Garisons York being Relieved by Prince Rupert the bloody Fight at Marston-Moor ensued in which 9000 were Slain which occasioned the Surrendering that City and Col. Massey Defeated the Prince at Lebury But that which most Ruined the King was Naseby Battel where besides the slain the greater part of his Soldiers and Officers were taken Prisoners also divers of his menial Servants his Coach and Cabinet of Letters This Battel was Fought in a Fallow-Field on the North-West-side of Naseby a mile broad which Ground was wholly taken up by the Armies so that the Battel was exceeding bloody both sides being vâ—ry Couragious and Numerous not being 500 Odds And here the King besides his Men lost 12 pieces of Cannon 8000 Arms 40 Barrels of Pouder 200 Carriages and his baggage besides his Treasure that should have paid his Army or raised Recruits and was never after able to recover the Blow but faintly Strugled whilst the Parliament Forces swept away almost all his Garisons Oxford being the last of any Note in which the King was closely Besieged and that City made a very stout Resistance but there being no Army in the Field that could relieve it the King fearing a Storm resolved to go thence privately and cast himself for Protection on the Scots Army that was advanced as far as Southwel and thence to New-Castle The Scots promised him Protection and appeared very Joyful of his Presence among them yet all waa but Dissimulation for the English Parliament demanded his Delivery and they wanting their Pay which they could not by any other means foresee they should have in consideration of 200000 l. they Surrendred him Prisoner and immediately marched back over the Tweed in the mean while Oxford Litchfield Worcester Pendennis the Island and Castle of Scilly and many others Surrendred and the few Parties of Royalists that made Head were frequently routed But briefly to pass over this Bloody Scene which cannot be very Grateful to English-men I come to a close of this unhappy Reign Having got the King in their Hands they sent him Prisoner to Holmby-Castle whilst many earnestly Laboured for an Accommodation the Surry-men Petitioned but were set upon by the Soldiers some Slain and many Wounded nor fared the Kentish-men better At length a Treaty was set on Foot but Letters were purposely scattered to fright the King away intimating Designs against his Life for then he had a kind of Liberty being brought to Hampton-Court in order to the Treaty When escaping into the Isle of Wight he was there made Prisoner by Coll. Hammond in Carisbrook-Castle and it was Voted No further Address be made to the King But that was afterward Annulled and the King's Concessions Voted Satisfactory and things were in a fair way to an Agreement But the Army Officers knowing their Commissions lasted but with the War dealing under-hand with some designing Men in the Parliament-House who under pretence of a Publick Good had all along along aimed at Self-interest the Soldiers being by Interest and Promises made of their Party all such Members as were for the Accommodation were by Military Force excluded the House and the King brought to Hurst-Castle and afterwards to Windsor and his Party went extreamly to wreck at Maidstone Ponifract Bow Stratford Kingston and Colchester after a brave Resistance being taken Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle were shot to Death tho' Quarter had been given them And now those Members that were left in the House of Commons contrary to the Consent of the Lords being backed by the Army made an Act as they called it for the Tryal of the King and Erected a Tribunal called by them a High-Court of Justice to that end of which John Bradshaw a Serjeant at Law was President and 56 others as Judges and the King being called before them and accused of several Crimes as that he gave cause for the Cruel Blood-shed in England and Ireland that he had Proclaimed War in setting up his Standard against the Parliament That he had commissioned his Son and others to wage War and therefore was pronounced a Traytor a Tyrant and an Enemy to the Common-wealth of England To this Charge the King refused to Answer or to acknowledge the Authority of the Court offering his Reasons but they were not admitted and being several times brought before them and urged thereunto on his refusal on the the 27th of Jan. 1648. the Sentence was pronounced against him viz. That he the said Charles Steuart was fallen from all Dignity was Guilty of High-Treason and to be put to Death by Severing his Head from his Body for being a Tyrant a Murtherer and an Enemy to the Common-Wealth The Sentence being read the Court stood up in Confirmation of it as an Act and Resolution of them all and the King offering to speak was Violently Hurried away by the Guard And tho' the Dutch Embassador the Scots and most of the English Nobles interceeded to stay Execution he was on the 30th of Jan. 1648. brought from St. James's to White-Hall