killing the Watch. And now the noble Earl of Warwick Dying the Duke of York a second time was made Regent of France yet the French by Encroachments and Revolts of many Towns encouraged when their Courage failed by one Joan of Arc a Martial Maid who pretended she was sent by Heaven to assist her Bleeding Country and indeed Leading the French Troops she did many brave Exploits till taken by the English after she had received many Wounds they tryed her and burnt her for a Witch tho' great Ransoms were offered for her by the French and this they the rather did not only for that she beat them off from the Siege of Orleance and worsted them in many Skirmishes but because the French conceived a superstitious confidence that whilst she Lived their Proceedings would be successful and prosperous Yet both Potentates in the End on the French recovering Ponthois growing weary of so tedious a War that had wasted their People and Treasure a Conference was appointed at Callice and here they often consulted about Peace but in conlusion adjourned the Negotiation because King Henry's Demands were looked on as unreasonable in Three Points viz. 1. In regard of the great Ransom demanded for the Duke of Orleance 2. For that the peaceable and quiet possession of the Dutchies of Aquitaine and Normandy were required without any Homage or Soveraignty acknowledged to the Crown of France 3. For that the surrendering and yielding up into King Henry's hands all such Cities Towns Forts and Territories in France as the English had at any time enjoyed within the space of thirty Years past was required However tho' the Parley was dissolved yet the Duke of Orleance being brought to Calice tho' King Henry the Fifth on his Death-Bed had commanded he should not be Ransomed he was Ransomed by the Duke of Burgundy and Honourably convey'd to the French Court And now to make way for Calamities at Home as well as Misfortunes Abroad a Quarrel arose between the Cardinal of Winchester and Duke of Gloucester for the Duke being Protector of the Realm making Complaints against the Cardinals Acting many things contrary to the Interest of the King and Kingdome without any Warant or making the King Acquainted with it The Cardinal in Revenge procured the Dutchess of Gloucester to be accused of Sorcery and Witchcraft holding correspondence with Witches to take away the King's Life and tho' most believed there was nothing at all in it yet the Cardinal being backed by the Clergy procured her upon groundless suggestions to do publick Penance twice in the City of London and to be doomed to perpetual Imprisonment and the better to colour the matter some who were pretended to be her Associates suffered the Flames After the refusal of some other Matches as the Earl of Arminack's Daughter c. King Henry by the means and procurement of the Earl of Suffolk Bribed by the French King Married the Lady Margaret whom he received by Suffolk his Ambassador at the Hands of the French King and Reyner her Father Duke of Anjou Titular King of Sicily Naples and Jerusalem tho' with her he had little or no Dowry which made the Match be much disliked by the Nobles and Commons Yet for this Service the Earl was created Duke of Suffolk and stood high in the Queen's favour and they soon found means to dismiss the good Duke of Gloucester from his Protectorship after he had a long time faithfully Served the King and Kingdom And soon after the deposed Protector by the contrivance of his Grand Enemies was Accused in a Parliament assembled by the Queen in the King's Name at Bury of High Treason and committed to the Tower where the next day he was found dead in his Bed to the great Grief of almost all the Kingdom as being a Pious Valliant and Virtuous Prince it was generally concluded he was Smothered for no Wound was found about him But God was not slow in requiring his Blood at the hands of those that were undoubtedly the contrivers of his fall for upon the removal of this great and beloved Statesman Richard Duke of York found an open way to thrust in and set up his pretensions of Title to the Crown making himself strong in Friends and Treasure the better to carry on his designs So that being now Intent on his own Advancement he grew carless of his Command which turned greatly to the advantage of the French for the Truce no sooner expired but they came strongly prepared into the Field and making three Armies took in divers little Towns and this success emboldened them that holding secret correspondence with the Inhabitants of Roan in Normandy they drew an Army before that City whereupon the Citizens compelled the Earls of Sommerset and Shrewsbury to Surrender the place having leave to depart to Caen with all their Goods Soon after Hareflew and divers other places were lost A Rebellion about this time breaking out in Ireland the Duke of Sommerset was made Regent or Lieutenant in Normandy and the Duke of York sent over to quell the Irish Rebells which he easily effected But this dividing weakening the English Strength the Kings Army in Normandy was Overthrown and Caen Lost and soon after all Normandy and now Divisions happened at Home for the Duke of Suffolk the Queens Favourite being Envied by the People they were Instigated by the Duke of York and his Faction to make many grievous Complaints against him upon the miscarriages in Government whereupon he was to please them colourably committed to the Tower yet had his Liberty at will which so Incensed them that making a Fellow their Captain nicknamed Blewbeard they fell into Rebellion but were soon Quelled and some of their Ringleaders Executed the rest were Pardoned Hereupon the King and Queen thinking to reconcile all Differences a Parliament was called but contrary to their expectation the Commons craved Justice on the Duke of Suffolk and upon his Associates viz. James Fines Lord Say and Treasurer of England John Bishop of Salisbury and some others whereupon he was Banished for Five Years but as he Sailed for France being way laid he was taken by an English Man of War brought to Dover and had his Head Choped off on the side of the Ship 's Boat supposed to be done by the Duke of York's contrivance yet he was not Lamented by any but the King and Queen because it was verily supposed he had a hand in the Duke of Glocester's death And now the Duke of York though in Ireland did by his Agents here stir up a Rebellion among the Plebeans whose Ringleader was Jack Cade who falsly Named himself John Mortimer right Heir to the Crown but the King's Forces dispersed them many being Slain and Cade being Proscribed and a Thousand Marks set on his Head it was soon after brought to the King The Duke of York being defeated in this by the Advice of his Friends returned out of Ireland without the King's leave and consulting with
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
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
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
Ambition aiming to Annex Kent to his own large Dominions whereupon both Armies approaching near Ottford joyned in a Bloody Battel which lasted Twelve Hours when Alrick being beaten down and slain with a Battel-Ax his Men fled the Field and were so hotly pursued that many of them were put to the Sword and great spoil made through all the Country which was continued from the South to the North as far as the River Humber In his time The second General Council was held at Nice being the seventh General Council for all Christendom Ethelbert the Third and Fifteenth King of Kent Usurped the Kingdome after the Death of Alrick whereupon Kenwolfe the Mercian upon his denying to pay him Tribute and Homage came against him with a powerful Army and in a fatal Battel he was overthrown and taken Prisoner and carried into Mercia where he continued some Years But Kenwolfe having erected a stately Church at Winchcomb in Glocestershire at the Dedication of it where were present Ten Dukes and Thirteen Bishops he sent for him and at the High Altar freely Released him without any Ransom so he returned again to his People He began his Reign Anno Dom. 795 and Reigned Three Years Cuthred the Sixteenth King of Kent was contrary to the mind of the People placed in the Throne by Kenwolfe King of Mercia but nothing Memorable is Recorded of him He began his Reign 798 and Reigned Three Years In his time a terrible Earth-quake happened in this Island which overthrew many stately Buildings Baldred the Seventeenth and last King of Kent began his Reign 806 but displeasing Kenwolfe King of Mercia he drove him out of the Kingdom when he had Reigned Eighteen Years for the Conqueror annexed it to his own Dominions when it had continued a distinct Kingdom 372 Years 2. Of the South Saxon Kingdom in the Succession of Four Kings Ella a Captain of the Low Germans was the first Founder of this Kingdom as in the foregoing Chapter is mentioned At his Landing at Shorâ—ham in Sussex he divided his Forces under his three Sons viz. Cymen Plettinger and Cissa but finding he was too weak for the Britains that Inhabited Sussex and Surry he was constrained to go over-Sea to fetch greater Strength Then in a set Battel he gave them a fatal Overthrow forcing them into a vast Wood on the South of Kent called Andersleger where many of them perished for want others stole away by Night and some submitted to the Victor whereupon he setled his Borders Bounded on the North with the Thames dividing it from Middlesex and part of Buckinghamshire on the South with the Ocean on the West with Hampshire and on the East with Kent being Counties exceeding fertil in Corn and Rich Pastures stored with excellent Fruits and great numbers of Cattle He began his Reign Anno Dom. 488 and continued it 32 Years Cissa Son to Ella Second King of the South Saxons began his Reign 520 and confederating with Cherdick King of the West Saxons allowing him a small Tribute for some part of his Country which that King layed claim to by Priority he Built Chichester in Sussex and Chisbury Fortifying the Sea-Coast opposing France after that he layed heavy Taxes on his Subjects which Money when raised he sent to Cherdick to maintain his War against the Britains So that being sheltered on all sides from their Invasions he had a long and peacable Reign some Historians alow him 76 Years but this must needs be a mistake considering he was at Mans Estate when he came into this Land and that his Father Reigned 32 Years so that the more moderate allow him to have Reigned only 36 Years Ethelwolfe the Third King of the South Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 596 at which time divers terrible and amazing Sights appeared in the Air of Armies in Rout with great noises of Thunder and flashes of Lightening many drops of the colour of Blood falling at the same time in divers parts of Surry which seemed to Prognosticate the great Bloodshed that afterwards happened when this Kingdom was Invaded by Ceadwald then a Banished Prince of the West Saxons who gathering to him Out-Laws and other Resolute Persons in a Mortal Battel slew Ethelwolfe and divers of his Nobles and pursuing his Victory entered the Kingdom of Kent where he put the Monks to the Sword levelling with the Ground all the Religious Houses that he found in his Progress and then made himself King of the South Saxons after which he greatly lamented the desolation he had made This Ethelwolfe a considerable time before his Death as Bede a very Venerable Clergyman Reports was Converted to the Christian Religion by Bishop Wilfrid though some affirm it to be done by Berinus Bishop of Dorchester He Reigned Twenty Five Years Barthun the Fourth King of the South Saxons and Duke Autban his assistant soon after Ethelwolfes Death prevailed with the People to Banish their Intruding King Ceadwell and within a short time Barthun geting the sole Power into his hands Ceadwell returned with a great Army and after a Fight of Eight Hours on the Plain now called Banstead-Downs Barthun was Slain and his Subjects submitted to the Conqueror who made himself by this Victory a second time King of the South Saxons annexing it by right of Conquest to the West Saxon Kinghom after the Succession of Four Kings who upheld it One Hundred and Thirty Three Years It Begining Anno Dom. 488 and Ending 621. So that by this Addition the West Saxons became very formidable not only to the Britains but their own Countrymen who bordered on them 3. The Kingdom of the East Saxons in the Succession of Fourteen Kings This Kingdom Commenced Anno Dom. 522 containing Middlesex and Essex Counties abounding in Cattle Corn Warrens store of Deer Fowl Fish and other advantagious Commodities Bounded on the North with Suffolk Cambridgshire and Hartfordshire on the South with the River Thames dividing it from Kent and Surry on the West with Buckinghamshire and on the East with the Sea Erchenwin was the First Saxon that framed it into a Kingdom after he had assisted the other Saxons with the Forces he brought over to drive the Britains out of their possessions in the Fertil parts of England and then giving himself much to Peace and framing such Laws from those in Germany as best suited to the wellfare of his People in this Country he continued his Reign Sixty Years Dying in Peace Anno Dom. 582. Sleadda the Second King of the East Saxons Succeeding Erchenwin Encouraged the Idol Temples and much Oppressed the Christians at the beginning of his Reign but upon seeing a threatening Vision of Angels with drawn Swords opposing his Progress he grew much milder at the Latter-end of his Reign which began Anno Dom. 582 and ended 591. Sebert the Third King of the East Saxons though at first a Persecutor of the Christians was at last so far overcâ—me by their harmless and inoffensive Lives that he applying
Duke of Somerset Earl of Devonshire c. Were Beheaded At Aderly on the top of certain Hills are found Stones in the form of Oyters Cockles c. and near Puckle Church is a Vein of blue Stone At Lessington are Stones that represent Stars of the circumferance of a single Penny and the thickness of half a Crown they grow together in Columns about 3 or 4 Inches long and being singly put into Vinegar they naturaly move and tend towards union The Seats of the Nobility are Badminton and Wallastons Grange seats of the Duke of Beaufort Stowel a seat of the Earl of Strafford Berkely-Castle a seat of the Earl of Berkley's Campden-House in Campden a seat of the Earl of Gainsboroughs Overnorton a seat of the Lord Viscount Say and Seal's Corfe-Court and Cockbury seats of the Lord Coventry Glocester Pallace the Bishops seat It has in it also a great many Parks Forrests and all accommodations for Recreation c. The Reign of Ethelred Fourteenth Sole Monarch of England EThelred began his Reign Anno Dom. 979 he was the third Son of Edgar and came very Young to the Crown for I find that being informed of the manner of his Brother Edwards Death to make way for him to the Crown when he was but ten Years old he not only detested the crime and refused to be made King but wept and complained so abundantly for the deceased that the Queen in a great passion snatched a Wax Taper from the Alter nothing else being at hand and beat him so sorely with it that it gave him an Antipathy against Wax Tapers all his life time he never enduring any to be in his sight so that he may be reputed to be between Ten and Eleven Years Old when he came to the Throne so that the Danes promising themselves great advantages by reason of his Minority Landed in great numbers This King Ethelred by some called Eldred was Crowned at Kingston upon Thames by Arch Bishop Dunstan not as is said by his good will but he was compelled to perform that Office yet instead of a Benediction he Bann'd him as one that Swam to the Throne in the Stream of his Brothers Blood as he Phrased it speaking also as it were Prophetically of the great losses England would sustain in this Kings Reign and indeed Queen Alfreda being soon sensible of the Blood-guiltiness that cried against her and fearing the fury of the People built two Monasteries of Nuns at Amesbury where she lived a solitary Life till she Dyed The King being but slow in his preparations by which means he got himself the nickname of the Vnready Swane King or chief Leader of the Danes and Olaf King of Norway who assisted him got strong possession of divers of the most fertil Counties being secretly encouraged by Duke Edrick a Treacherous Courtier who discovered to them all the Kings Counsels and Fortified the Towns and Castles casting up works to secure what they gained as they made their Encroachments However at length the King gave them Battel and tho' he cannot be said to lose it the parting being somewhat doubtful on either side yet he lost so many of his People that he could not get together a sufficient Army to oppose them so that to save the rest of his Country from Spoil he was constrained to comply with the Enemies exorbitant demands compounding for his Quiet at 10000 l. Then they raised him to 16 20 30 and 40000 Pounds compelling the People to find them Provisions in their Houses where they were Quartered and to see in many places their Wives and Daughters Ravished before their Faces not daring on pain of their Lives to gainsay it The People calling them Lord Danes corruptly now Lurdane a by-word for a Lazy Fellow But Elfrick Earl of Mercia and Algarius his Son being found contributes and abettors to the Misery of their Country the King caused their Eyes to be put out and they confin'd to certain Limits during Life And now the King plainly perceiving what a miserable condition the Kingdom was in between private Traitors and professed Enemies he resolved to take a violent and speedy course as he thought to end the War at once and thereupon sent secret Messages throughout the Kingdom That upon the Ringing the Allarm-Bell on St. Brices Day the 13th of November Anno Dom. 1002 the People in all Cities and Towns should fall on the Danes as they lay scattered and had no time to get to their Arms or in any great Body and Massacre them and accordingly it was put in execution so that many places flowed with Danes Blood the injured and imaged People not sparing either Sex of that Nation so that Guni-Child King Swane's Sister was slain at Dorchester This Honour if I may rightly term it one the Women by I know not what Tradition totally ascribe to their Sex tho' no doubt both Sexes were Actors in the Danish Tragedy which had been more Bloody had not Duke Edrick given Swane notice tho' somewhat too late in the main of the Design by which means he saved himself and a great many of his followers and storming at his Loss Repaired it with all speed sending for Recruits from Norway and Denmark It was supposed in this Slaughter about 24000 fell but to Revenge it being Recruited the Danes grievously oppressed the Country Burning and Destroying in all places where they came so that although the King to the Impoverishing himself gave them 30000 Pounds for Peace they observed it but a few Days for having wrested a great Sum of Money from Alphegus who Succeeded Dunstan in the Arch Bishoprick of Canterbury and slain 900 Monks and Men in Religious Orders They Stoned the good Bishop to Death at Greenwich in Kent The King seeing these proceedings sent Emma his Queen with his two Sons to her Brother Richard Duke of Normandy and shortly after not able to endure the Destruction the Enemy made followed them But at length Swane was Murthered by his own Men for denying them their share of Plunder or restraining them from their Insolencies over the English However they chose Canute his Son King Of which change Ethelred thinking to make advantage at the solicitation of his Friends returned but perceiving several Treasons hatching against him That his Councells were betrayed by some he confided in and that he was too weak to withstand the Enemies fury he fell into a Melancholly and Dyed as is supposed of Grief and he was Bury'd in St. Paul's London He Reigned 37 Years unless we exclude the time he was absent in Normandy which by some is accounted between two and three Years He was the Fourteenth Sole Monarch of England Remarks on Hampshire or Hantshire HAmpshire is not only considerable for its Fertility in Corne Cattle Fowle Fish and its producing store of singular good Honey but for its commodious Sea-Ports opening to the South for the conveniency of Shipping outward or inward bound especially Southampton Antiently Hamo's Haven It is
Eglesine Abbot of St Austines had as secretly as they could made them Weapons and lay in Ambush for him which he no sooner entered but every one cut down a Bough to shelter him from present discovery burst out of the Woods on either side the straight he was passing and surrounded his small Train but whilst the King was in suspence what this unusual thing might signifie they all at once threw down their Boughs and stood ready prepared with their Bows Arrows and such other Weapons as they had for the Encounter whereupon the Arch Bishop advancing towards the Conquerer said Behold most noble King the Commons of Kent Assembled to demand a Confirmation of their Antient Rights Laws and Liberties the which if you will Grant them they are willing to Submit and become your Obedient Subjects otherwise in defence of them they are resolved to venture their dearest Blood and presently to give you Battel This unexpected Adventure startled the King that notwithstanding his great Courage a surprising fear seemed visible in his Countenance so that pausing a while he thought it more prudent to yield to Necessity than hazard after so much expence of Blood and Treasure his Life and Kingdom on an uncertain Chance and Nicety Whereupon he signed their demands presented in Writing and gave them a Solemn Promise to Confirm it to them in a Legal manner whereupon they threw down their Arms and Shouted for Joy so that from his Reign to this day that County Enjoys the Priviledges they held in Edward the Confessors time exempted from other Counties as also those in preceding Reigns After this perceiving the Spirits of the English were not so easily brought under as he supposed and hearing that Swain King of Denmark was preparing for an Invasion at the Instigation of Goodwin and Edmund two of King Harrolds Sons he began to relax in his severity and to make fair with the City of London Granted them this short Charter viz. I William King Greet William Bishop and Godfrey Porters and all the Burgesses within London French and English and I Grant you that I Will that you Maintain and Enjoy all your Laws as you did in the days of King Edward meaning the Confessor and I will that each Child be his Fathers Heir and further I will that no Man Wrong you and so God keep you However the Danes Landed a strong Army in the North where they were Joyned by many English in hopes thereby to regain their Liberties but the King hasting thither drove them to their Ships with great slaughter and to revenge him on those that had joyned with them he wasted the Country from York to Durham so that for Nine Years the Ground lay waste which occasioning a Famine numbers of People Dyed After this he Summoned a Convocation of the Clergy charging them with many faults and failures in their Functions and Duty towards him for which he Deposed and Deprived divers Learned and Godly Men of their Dignities Living and Substance The two former he bestowed on such as bid most for them and the latter he kept to Maintain his Wars in Normandy where Troubles were arisen in his Absence the French labouring to recover it as part of their Antient Territories But scarce had he Expelled them ere hasty News recalled him viz. The Earls Edwin and Morcar had set up Edgar Etheling and raised great Forces which were so Formidable to the Conquerer by reason the English were generally enclined to favour the Young Prince than he found himself constrained to end the Difference by fair means and to make the common sort more ready to embrace it he Swore to keep Inviolable the Antient Laws of the Land particularly those of Edward the Confessor but not long after he took from the Abby of St. Albans all the Lands between Barnet and London-Stone And to Strengthen himself he made a League with Malcolm King of Scots who had often publickly or underhand made Incursions or raised Commotions in the Northern parts of the Kingdom And the Bounds of the Country were ascertained by rearing a Stone Cross called by the Scots Stain Moor in Westmorland but by the English Roy Cross or Kings Cross and soon after the King Sailed again for Normandy and quelled the Rebellious Normans that were joyned with the French against him and so returned with Victory but his Treasure being Exhausted he to recruit it Sold to Walcher Bishop of Durham the Earldom of Northumberland but he Enjoyed it not long for Oppressing the People to raise the Money he had disbursed they rose in a Tumultuous manner and slew him Anno 1075 and the ensuing Year a Frost continued without Intermission from the 12th of November to the 15th of April so that the Wild Fowl were most destroyed and many Cattle perished for want of Food A Blazing Star soon after appeared whereupon great contentions ensued in Normandy for Robert the Kings Son having Ingratiated himself into the Favour of the People raised great Forces and in a set Battel Wounded his Father in the Arm threw him from his Horse and took it as his Prize gaining an intire Victory in which many of the English Nobles lost their Lives Whereupon the King finding his Army much weakened was constrained to return for England and finding the City of London did not much favour him after this Defeat to lay a curb and awe on them he rebuilt the Tower of London drawing a Ditch about it to the largness as it continues to this day it being before but of inconsiderable Strength viz. Anno Dom. 1078 and so a Peace in a short time being concluded between him and his Son Robert the latter being allowed the nominal Title of Duke of Normandy and entirely to possess it as a Soveraign Prince after his Fathers Death he came into England and was made General against the Scots who breaking the League wasted the Northern Countries as far as the place then called Moonkchester to whom he gave an entire Defeat and in memory of the Victory erected a strong Castle of Stone Naming it New-Castle from which the Town so called on Tine took its Name Not long after this such mighty Rains happened and continued for so long a time that divers Hills were so softened into a Quagmire that they sunk down and overthrew many Cots and some Villages making as it were a Level St. Paul's Church was likewise set on Fire in June following supposed to be done by Lightning and a great part of it consumed but soon Rebuilded by the Liberal Contributions of the Clergy and Laity He held a Synod in London where some Bishopricks were Translated from one place to another as Selwy to Chichester Credington to Exeter Shirbourn to Salisbury Dorchester unto Lincoln and there being a Contention between the two Arch Bishops of Canterbury and York for Primacy he undertook to determine the difference appointing Lanfrank Arch Bishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Thomas Arch Bishop of York only
Ruins yet remain also Westminster-Hall being 90 Yards Long and 24 Yards and 2 Foot Broad yet when he saw it he said It was too Little by half and therefore he would reserve it for a Bed-Chamber though indeed it is accounted the Largest in Europe and one thing is remarkable tho' there are many Cobwebs in the Windows and in the Glass Lanthorn above the Roof yet on the large and curious Wooden Frame tho' never Swept not any appear which has given occasion to conclude it is made of Irish Oak and that the virtue of the Wood is such no Spider will come near it The King being thus at Ease the French were not wanting to take the Advantage of it especially since Duke Robert was absent Warring in the Holy Land and had left his Dukedom in charge with the King of England whereupon they laid Siege to the City of Constantia in Normandy and pressed it very sorely of which King William having news as he was in the height of Sport Hunting in New Forrest he left all his Company on a suddain and Posted towards the Sea Side where finding a small Bark he leaped into it and commanded the Master to set Sail for any part in Normandy but the Sea running high by reason of a Storm he refused to weigh Anchor laying before the King that the passing at that time was full of danger and therefore intreated him to wait for more favourable Weather whereupon much enraged he commanded him to make no delay for any fear or danger of Tempests For when said he have you ever heard a King was Drowned by a Storm So that the Marriners plying the best of their skill to bear in the Wind they got safely over The French no sooner heard the King was Landed but concluding he had a great Army with him or soon to arrive were so chill'd with fear that Courage failing them in much disorder they raised the Siege and the Besieged in Sallying cut off a great many in the Rear took most of their Tents and Baggage left behind for haste and so the King with a small Train coming thither was joyfully received and having better Fortified and Stored it with Provisions conferring some Honours and Gifts on those that behaved themselves well he returned to England met divers of the Nobility who had raised Forces and were coming to his Aid who scarcely believed he could be there in so short a time or what he related of the raising the Siege could be true till they had it confirmed from many hands In the second Year of this Kings Reign a terrible Earthquake happened and in the fourth such prodigious Lightening and Thunder as did great mischief in divers places and particularly it Burnt the Steeple of the Abby at Winchester rent the Beams of the Roof and cast down the Image of the Virgin Mary breaking one of its Leggs as also the Crucifix and not long after so great a Storm happened at London that it blew down 60 some say 606 Houses and took off the Roof of Bow-Church bearing it a great height in the Air and six of the Beams being 27 Foot Long with the fall run a prodigious depth into the Ground the Streets being then un-paved so that with much labour they were digg'd out In his sixth Year was so great a Scarcity of Provisions and a Pestilence that in Populous Places the Living were hardly sufficient to Bury the Dead In his ninth Year two Blazing Stars with long Firey Trains appeared one in the East the other in the West for twenty Nights seeming to dart Fire one at the other And in the last Year of his Reign the Sea overflowed its Banks in Kent and lay'd under Water all the Lands that had been Earl Goodwin's being about 4000 Acres Drowning much People and Cattel and Demolishing many Villages And to this day has not been Regained That Overflowing is called Goodwins Sands very fatal to Marriners There also rose up a Spring of Water of the Colour of Blood gushing out for 15. days in great abundance at Finchamstead near Abingdon in Barkshire which was held to Presage the Kings untimely Death For he Hunting in the New Forrest where his Father had made such desolation of Churches Religious Houses and Villages upon pretence of Pleasure as the Dogs were at Bay with a Stag and he having spoiled many of them Sr. Walter Terrill one of the Squires of the Kings Body let fly an Arrow which glancing on the side of an Oak slaunted on the King who was pressing on to the Quarry and entered so deep into his Breast that he dyed of the Wound and almost on that spot not long before his Nephew Richard Son to Robert of Normandy was slain by a violent fall from his Horse beaten off by a Bow all which Accidents were looked on as Judgments for the Sacriledge and Waste committed on so trivial an occasion MIDLESEX By John Seller Remarks on the County of Middlesex and the famous Cities of London and Westminster MIddlesex gains the Preheminence of other Counties by reason in it stands the famous City of London The Courts of Judicature and Palaces of our Kings and by reason of the great numbers of Handicrafts for few Manufactures used by the English Nation are here unpractised being in all too many to inumerate This County produces a good sprinkling of Cattle Corn Pastures Parks Chases and store of Deer It is Bounded on the North with Hartfordshire on the West with Buckinghamshire on the South with the River Thames and Surry on the East with Essex It is divided into seven Hundreds viz. Edmonton Hundred Elthorn Hundred Finsbury and Wenslaxbarn one Hundred Goare Hundred Oswelston Hundred Isleworth Hundred Spelthorn Hundred containing 73 Parishes besides those Parishes contained in the Cities of London and Westminster which are 126 viz. 97 within the Walls of London 16 without the Walls but within the Liberties thereof and 7 in the City of Westminster 2 Cities London and Westminster the former being a Bishops See 5 Market Towns and 1 principal River viz. the Thames which washes its South side It sends Members to Parliament 8 viz. London City 4 Westminster City 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire London a City of the greatest Trade in Europe is pleasantly seated on the Banks of the Thames lifting up her lofty Head on gradually rising Hills full of Riches and Beautified with many stately Buildings King Lud who Reigned here a little before the arrival of Julius Caesar much Beautified and Enlarged it if he were not the first Founder calling it after his Name Caer Lud and one of its Western Gates retaines his Name to this day It has a stately Stone Bridge with 19 Arches passing over to Southwark upon which are vast piles of Houses The Tower said to be Built by Julius Caesar and much Enlarged by William the Conquerer is for Strength and Prospect very Famous having a Moat and conveniency to let the Thames Water in and out
to rage in their destruction and consumed with Fire all the places in his March making such a desolation as had not been known in that Country for many hundred Years and by so mighty a Terror having Quieted these People he returned with great Spoil and was joyfully received at London Where Assembling the Nobles he desired a Supply to enable him to Marry his Daughter Maud to the Emperour Henry who had demanded her in Marriage which they granted and it was Leavied in the nature of a Tax on Lands being called Aid pur file Marrier and the same custom for the Marriage of the Eldest Daughters of the Kings of this Realm was a long time continued and may yet be practised on the like Emergency At the same time he devised and ordered the manner and fashion of a High Court of Parliament appointing it to consist of the Three Estates of which himself was the Head so that the Laws being made by the consent of all were highly pleasing to the People This happy beginning of a Good Constitution of Government was First Established at Salisbury in April Anno Dom. 1114 some Authors have it 1116. However it has proved by the continuance and great Improvement of Parliaments happy for England to this day seeing to those August Assemblies we owe the well founding of the best constituted Government it the World Soon after this the King hoping in some measure to repair the loss of his Children Drowned as has been recited Married Adilicia Daughter to Godfrey first Duke of Lovain And Pope Calixtus the Second came to him in Normandy in hopes to perswade him not to meddle in matters belonging to Ecclesiastical Affairs but neither Flattery Threats or Perswasion could work the King to a compliance with his desires and at this meeting two Youths Sons to the Earl of Mellent and Servants to the King Disputing with two of the Popes Cardinals with Logical Sylogisms so Nonplus'd them that they were compelled to own their Ignorance About Three Years after Pope Honorius the Second sent Cardinal Cremensis to certifie the abuses of the Married Clergy and to that purpose he made a long Oration in a large Assembly of Priests and others in praise of Chastity and dispraise of Vnlawful Lust for so he termed that of the Married Priests with their Wives but being narrowly watched by some of them he was by a Publick Officer taken in Bed the same Night with a common Strumpet and so loaden with Shame compelled to return to his Master without Success Yet the King preferring Thurston one of his Chaplains to the Arch Bishoprick of York the Proud Priest refused to Swear Obedience to the See of Canterbury which his Predecessors had both Sworn and performed and Appealing to Rome the King permited the Pope to dispense with his Obedience to that See but he proceeding further to give him the Investure of Arch Bishop by delivering him the Pall Ring and Cross the King was so much displeased that he prohibited his return but in the end the Popes Threatnings Menacing nothing but Curses Excomunications and Suspensions he had leave to Enjoy the Dignity of the Archiepiscopal See least evil affected Persons taking advantage of the Difference might raise Commotions to disturb the Quiet of the Kingdom And soon after one Arnold in a Divinity Lecture at Oxford for Preaching against the Pride of the Prelates and Dissolute and Wicked Lives of the Priests was Assassinated and found Dead with near a Hundred Wounds in his Head Face and other Parts In the 27th Year of this Kings Reign Dyed the Emperour Henry the Fifth of Germany not leaving any Issue by Maud his Empress whereupon the King to strengthen his Interest against France Married her to Geoffrey Plantagenet Son and Heir Apparent to Foulk then Earl of Anjou by whom she had Issue Henry afterward King of England Geoffery and William This fair Ofspring enriched the King with the truest endowment of Content for that as he conceived he saw in them the long continuance of his Line in possessing the Crown of this Realm and to make it the more certain and sure to them he took three sollemn Oaths in the space of five Years of all the Nobility and chief Men of the Kingdom That with their best Advice and with the hazzard of their Goods Lands Lives and Fortunes they should Support and Maintain the Succession of his Daughter and her Heirs And so growing in Years he went over to Normandy to do the like there and settle his Affaires but Eating Lamprys at the Town of St. Dennis he Surfeited on them and after a short Sickness Dyed This King was accounted Wise Learned Mild and Just beyond most of his Predecessors more enclined to Peace than War extending his Bounty to such as merited it by Publick Service confining his Gifts within the limits of Thrift and Measure He was a gentle Friend but a stuborn Enemy He had several Children by his Concubins which he promoted to Honours and Places of Trust He Erected the two Bishopricks Ely and Carlisâ—le and Founded the Monastries of Shirbourn Circester the Priory at Dunstable and the Abby of Reading in Barkshire where he was Intered in a stately Tomb. He began his Reign Wednesday the First of August Anno Dom. 1100 and Reigned 35 Years 4 Months and 1 Day and was the 33d Sole Monarch of England In the 16th Year of his Reign great Thunders Lightenings and Hail happened in December doing much harm and the Moon for two Nights appeared of the Colour of Blood in October the same Year the Thames was so Dry that the People passed at the Tower and almost as far as the Bridge to the other side on Foot In the 33d Year of his Reign happened so great an Eclips of the Sun that at Noon-day the Stars plainly appeared and about two days after there was a terrible Earthquake and the same Year happened a dreadful Fire in London which consumed it from the West End of Cheapside to Aldgate and the nex Year Worcester and Rochester were Accidentally Burnt and a little before his Death a Blazing Star with a Bushy Tail of the colour of Blood appeared at South West Twelve Nights successively Remarks on Northamptonshire c. NOrthamptonshire is a pleasant Inland County held to be Situate in the Middle of the Kingdom being mostly Inclosure affording store of Corn Pease Fruits good Pasturs and larg Cattle Sheep and Foul in abundance divers Parks stored with Deer and much Fish It contains in it one City viz. Peterborough which is a Bishops See tho' Northampton is the Shire Town It is divided into 20 Hundreds and in them 326 Parishes 13 Market Towns and 5 Rivers It is Bounded with Cambridgshire Huntingtonshire Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire Warwickshire Leicestershire and Lincolnshire sends Members to Parliament 9 viz. 2 Knights of the Shire Peterborough 2 Northampton 2 Brackley 2 Higham Ferries 1. NORTHAMTON SHIRE Oundle or Houndhill is famous for a Well wherein at certain
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
Liberty if he would have joyned with the Welsh and some English Nobles that were fled thither he rather chose to endure Extremities than to comply with them Whereupon they solicited the Scots who Invaded the Northern parts of the Kingdom doing much Mischief but the King soon requited it by entering Scotland and laying all waste before him However he no sooner returned but the Scots re-entered England with 20000 Men committing many Barbarous Cruelties but being Encountered by Henry Sirnamed Hotspur Son to Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland 10000 of them were Slain and 500 taken Prisoners and of note Mordacke Earl of Fiffe Archibald Earl of Douglas Thomas Earl of Murray and Robert Earl of Angus The following Year the French sent 12 Ships with 1200 Nobles Gentlemen and others to assist the Welsh but most of them were Shipwrack'd on the Point of Cornwal and the rest with much difficulty returned to France yet soon after he Landed 12000 Men in Wales to assist Glendour and his Rebellious Companions who joyned them with 10000. But upon the Kings approach with an Army the Welsh fled into the Woods and Mountains leaving the French to shift for themselves which made them hasten to their Ships and return to France without doing any thing Memorable which made the French King become a Jest to the English viz. That he was often Big but never Brought-forth Notwithstanding King Henry to Strengthen his Interest Abroad Married Jane Widow to John the deceased Duke of Britany and gave Blanch his Eldest Daughter to William Duke of Bavaria Son and Heir Apparent to the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria and some time after Philippa his Youngest Daughter to the King of Denmark In the Third Year of his Reign he required Henry Piercy Earl of Worcester Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland and Piercy Hotspur his Son to deliver up the Scots Prisoners taken in the late Battel on the Northern Borders but was Answered Those Prisoners were theirs by Right of War and they would not part with them desiring him at the same time to Ransom his Cousin Mortimer but this he refused alledging That he had voluntarily made himself a Prisoner to give Glendour and other his Accomplices a colourable pretence for Rebellion seeing he was so near Allied to the Crown and therefore his own Safety and his good Discretion gave him Advice not to hearken to their Motion but to punish his offence This much displeased the Piercies and designing to Levy War against the King they Ransomed Mortimer at their own charge secretly entering into a League and Friendship with Glendour they promised him great matters when King Henry by their United Strength should be Deposed then they Engaged the Scots Prisoners to take part with them also the Earl of Stafford Richard Scroop Arch Bishop of York and many others and as they had done against Richard so they framed and published Articles against him as to his Misdemeanours in Government false claim to the Crown charging him with the Murther of King Richard his Lawful and Rightful Soveraign also his refusing to Ransom his Cousin Mortimer who was taken Fighting in his Cause but rather wished he might die in a loathsome Prison because the Crown of Right belonged to him as being Son and Heir to Philippa Daughter and Heiress to Lionel Duke of Clarence Elder Brother to John of Gaunt Father to Henry whom they stiled a Usurper This made many joyn with them so that their Army became very Formidable to the King And to bind the Welsh more firmly to them Edward Mortimer Earl of March Married Glendour's Daughter by which means in a little time they flattered themselves they should have a King of England of the Antient British Blood And indeed a very great danger about this time threatened the King for a Calthrop or Engin with three very sharp Teeth or Spikes was placed in his Bed which had certainly procured his Death had he suddainly lain down upon it but it was timely Discovered yet the Party who placed it could not be made known and divers Gray Fryers scattering defamatory Libels against the King several of them were taken and Hanged The King finding his greatest advantage now lay in Expedition suddainly raised an Army and by long Marches prevented the Earls joyning with the Welsh so that both Armies meeting near Shrewsbury Piercy Hotspur a Person of undaunted Courage no sooner saw the Royal Standard but he resolved to throw his Fortune on the hazard of a Battel so the Charge being Sounded the Scots gave the first onset and Fought desperately but were over-born and a great part of them Slain yet notwithstanding the Lords renewed the Battel with great fury and obstinacy perswading themselves of good success until the King and the Prince his Son determining by Honourable Death to leave their Bodies in the Field rather than fall into the hands of their Enemies or betake them to shameful flight and leave their Men a Sacrifice behind them redoubling their Strength and Valour set such Examples to the rest that the declining Battel was restored and Piercy Hotspur with many of chief Command being Slain the Lords Army fell into rout and confusion so that in the Field and Pursuit 6000 were slain the Earls of Worcester Douglas and many others were taken Prisoners and a famous Victory was obtained and it is said the King slew in this Battel 36 with his own hands but because the Earl Douglas in single Combate had fought with him and approved himself a valiant Man he had his Liberty granted without Ransom but the rest of the Prisoners had not that good luck for the Earl of Worcester and several of the chief were Beheaded many of a lower degree Hanged and Quartered and their Heads placed on London Bridge In this Battel the King lost not above 600 Men. To follow this lucky Success the Prince was sent into Wales with part of the Army where he found Owen Glendour forsaken by most of his Companions and with the rest for his safety he retired into a vast Wood which being encompassed and narrowly watched he was there with many others Famished to Death and such as were taken by hunting and beating that Wood suffered by Execution And hereupon the Prince returned to the King and in the mean while the Earl of Northumberland came and submitted himself to the Kings Mercy and tho' he was excused it was with no hearty goodwill but rather to prevent the Castle of Berwick and other strong Places on the Frontiers from falling into the hands of the Scots as being held by such Officers as the Earl had appointed under him These Troubles were no sooner over but Lewis Duke of Orleance sent the King in a Bravado a Challenge to meet him and a Hundred French with a Hundred English to Combate it for Honours sake in an indifferent place whereto the King returned Answer That his former Actions in Warlike undertakings could clearly acquit him from the imputation of Cowardize and that Kings
ought not to be so careless of their Peoples wellfare and safety as to meet every Madman who had the vanity to send them a Challenge But that he would be at all times ready to Repel any Violence or Injury which he should dare rashly or unadvisedly to Attempt against him or his People This exceedingly nettled Mounsieur so that in an angry mood designing Revenge he Besieged the Town of Vergie in Guyan but having wasted his Army in almost a four Months Siege he was constrained to raise it and retire with disgrace After this the Duke of Burgundy to mend the matter raised an Army to reduce Callis but upon King Henry's preparations to pass the Seas with an Army he was Remanded by the French King which he looking on as the Duke of Orleances doings to hinder him from gathering expected Lawrels a mortal hatred sprung up between them and several Battels were Fought King Henry first assisting Burgundy and then Orleance and gained much Money by their Contention whilst they weakened each other and the whole Estate of France whilst they drew in Parties to side with them In the mean while the Marshal of France laying Siege to a Town in Gascony with 4000 Men at Arms was beaten off by Sir John Blunt with 300 English 12 Noblemen and 120 Gentlemen taken Prisoners and carried into the Town in Triumph And now tho' the King had Pardoned the Earl of Northumberland yet he resenting some Indignities put on him grew restless for Revenge and therefore Associating with Richard Scroop Arch Bishop of York Thomas Moubray Earl Marshal The Lords Hastings Faulconbridge Bardolf and divers others Forces were resolved to be raised and another hazard of the Field to be Enterprised But the Earl of Westmoreland whom they would have drawn to their Party revealing their Design to the King he secretly Marched with an Army into the North and surprising Moubray Scroop and some others caused their Heads to be stricken off but Northumberland Bardolf c. Escaped to France from whence they afterward came to Scotland where that King promised to Aid them but to prevent the threatening Danger the King raised a potent Army and sent it under the Prince of Wales into Scotland where he Retook Berwick Alnwick and other strong places that the Earl had delivered to the Scots and Burnt many Towns in the heart of that Kingdom whereupon the Scots finding themselves unable to make Resistance craved a Truce which was Granted for twelve Months and thereupon the Prince returned home with his Spoils Whilst this was doing the French to favour the Design set out several Armed Ships to Alarum the Coast Towns of England when the Lord Castile with three other Lords 20 Knights and a great many Soldiers Landing at Dartmouth were Encountered by the Country People who Slew Castile and most of his Soldiers and taking the rest Prisoners brought them to the King who very well rewarded the Rusticks for their Care and Vigilancy and put the Lords and Knights to great Ransoms and the King going to see them on Board at their departure in his return from the Downs very narrowly scaped being taken by a French Privatier's supposedly lying purposely in wait for him whereupon the Lord Commois who attended him being a Norman Nobleman was suspected of Treachery but upon his Tryal acquitted and received into Favour The Truce with Scotland Expired Northumberland and Bardolf Animated the Scots to Invade England which they did doing much mischief in Northumberland and other Northern parts Whereupon the King Levied an Army and Traveled by long Marches to Encounter them but before his Arrival they were Fought-with and Overthrown by Sir Thomas Rookby High Sherif of Yorkshire who slew the Earl and sent his Head as a Present to the King that was very acceptably received and the Lord Bardolf being Wounded fled into Scotland and there Dyed of his Wounds After this the King Assembling a Parliament Created therein his three Younger Sons viz. Thomas Duke of Clarence John Duke of Bedford and Humphry Duke of Gloucester and many Laws were therein Enacted profitable to the Common-weal and from this Day till his Death the King Enjoyed a Life free from Hostility but found such Inward perplexities of Mind for having Consented to or Instigated the Murther of King Richard his first Cousin for the lucre of his Crown that to make some Attonement and quiet his Conscience he Levied an Army resolving as he had Vowed to make War against the Infidels that Oppressed the Christians in the Holy Land which the Popes of those times declared was a full Atonement or sufficient Expiation for any Crime how Notorious so ever but whilst things were getting ready he fell into an Appoplexy and finding Death approaching caused his Crown to be placed on his Pillow with an intent to deliver it to the Prince when he was near Departing but he impatient of delay supposing him when fallen into a Drowsâ—ness to be Dead removed it thence whereupon the King raised himself and missing it demanded Who had taken it And the Prince Replying It was he The King fell back and fetching a deep Sigh said My Son what Right I had to this Crown and how I have Enioyed it God knows and the World hath seen and thereupon he fetched a deep Groan but the Prince not minding that said Comfort your self in God Father The Crown you have and if you Dye it is mine and I will keep it with my Sword as you have done and within a few Hours the King dyed in the 46th Year of his Age when he had Reigned 13 Years 5 Months and 19 Days and was Buried at Canterbury Anno 1412. In this Kings Reign two Blazing Stars appeared before the breaking out of the Piercy's Rebellion and many Drops of Blood fell on Peoples Garments in the Northern Parts as from the Clouds Anno 1407 a great Plague happened that destroyed in London 30000 Persons and multitudes else where and the Year after a violent Frost held 15 Weeks And by the wicked procurement of Thomas Arundel Arch Bishop of Canterbury William Sawtree William Swinderby and William Thorp worthy Divines suffered Martyrdome for opposing the Romish Superstitions and Idolatry Preaching the Gospel and much adhearing to Wickliffe's Doctrine Remarks on the County of Surry c. SUrry is a very spacious County and would be aboundantly Fruitful did not a ridge of barren Hills run in a manner quite through it however it abounds in Corn Cattle Rich Medows and Vpland Pastures and Open and Inclosed Grounds yeilds store of Honey Wooll Fowl Fish Deer and is abundant in pleasant Gardens and Orchards of Fruit-Trees It is Bounded on the North with the Thames and Middlesex on the East with Kent on the South with Sussex and on the West with Hampshire and Buckinghamshire It contains 13 Hundreds in which are 141 Parishes 8 Principal Market Towns 7 Bridges 4 Forrests and 17 Parks as for Rivers there are many small ones as at Gilford
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
therefore it was the Duty of a good and Religious Prince to set light by all natural tyes and respects of Blood in regard of the Glory of God and the benefit of his Subjects Salvation That vengeance awaited those that should do otherwise for when this Life was ended they must appear before Gods high Tribunal there to give an Account of all their Actions either to receive the Reward of Eternal Life or the Doom of Eternal Death But this was then to serve his ends And I pray God too many in our days do not make Religion a pretence to advantage themselves One thing more is remarkable in this great Mans fall of which it is said he took exceeding notice viz. As he passed to the Tower when first committed a Woman out of a Balcony shook a bloody Handkerchief saying Look you here 's the Blood of a right Noble Man and the Kings Vnkle which was shed through your wicked Treachery and now cryeth for Revenge against you But his profession of the Popish Religion saved not his Life tho' it is supposed Dr. Heath his Confessor had on this account put him in great hopes of Pardon which was conjectured from the unwillingness that appeared in him to submit to the stroak Near the same time Sir John Gates and Sir Thomas Palmer two of the Dukes Favourites were Beheaded for accompanying him to Cambridge which by the Judges was construed Rebellion and consequently Treason against the Queen And divers Protestant Bishops as Dr. Hooper of Gloucester Dr. Coverdale of Exceter Dr. Farrar of St. David's c. and all Ecclesiastical Persons were deprived of their Livings who would not comply with the Romish Religion Soon after these Proceedings the Lords Ambrose and Guilford Dudley two Sons to the Duke of Northumberland with the Virtuous Lady Jane Wife to the latter were Try'd and found Guilty of High Treason and Condemned Arch Bishop Cranmer was Imprisoned but nothing of Treason appearing against him he was at that time Released but afterwards Condemned to the Flames for Heresy as in the Martyrology annexed to this Reign will appear wherefore by the way take notice that to avoid breaking the thred of History by so many occasions as must in his and other cases of that nature occur for the better understanding of the Reader I shall omit them here to place them by themselves However they agreed to send Peter Martyr under safe conduct to Antwerp supposing he would there fall into rougher hands but he escaped into Germany The Queens Coronation had been hitherto deferr'd but now was performed with much Pomp and Solemnity And a Parliament was called in which almost all the Laws Enacted in the Reigns of Henry the 8th and Edward the 6th against Popery were Repealed and in a Synod at London Disputations were held concerning the Real Presence in the Sacrament in which the Popish Doctors were nonpluss'd yet as their saying was They had the Sword tho' we had the Word so that by outclamouring some and over-awing others they gave sentence That it was necessary the Roman Catholick Religion should be Restored And the Queen exhibited a General Pardon so called but with so many Exceptions and Exclusions That those of the Clergy and Laity that stood in most need of it could reap no benefit by it and soon after this the Queen enclining to Marry Phillip King of Spain among many others proposed was thought the most agreeable Match for as much as it was laid before her That an unsettled Kingdom ought to have a potent Prince to defend it if Troubles should arise as well Abroad as at Home which upon Gardener Bishop of Wincbester's moving Oration to the Lords was approved and the Spanish Ambassadars coming over with full Power to Treat about it the Marriage was concluded on and Articles signed very advantageous to the English as to Trade and disencumberance from Wars Abroad she being to Rule Absolute and he not to intermeddle with the Affaires of the Kingdom unless by way of Advice and that such Children as should proceed from this Marriage should be here brought up and not carry'd out of the Kingdome Yet many disliked it as fearing when the Queen was Married her Husband would do as he pleased by easily prevailing on her to have the disposal of Offices Treasure and Armies and under this pretence Sir Thomas Wiat raised a Rebellion in Kent and attempted to enter the City of London but being forcibly resisted at London-Bridge fetching a compass to pass the Thames at Kingston in the mean while such Forces were prepared as routed his Followers and obliged him to surrender himself Prisoner and being Committed to the Tower he soon after lost his Head This Rebellion in which her Father had under-hand sided hastned the Death of the Lady Jane and her Husband for Dr. Fecknam being sent to her to perswade her to the Romish Religion but she being constant and unmovable the Warrant was signed for her Execution and the Lord Guilford being first Beheaded she unconcern'd beheld his Body brought all Bloody into the Tower exposed to her view the more to terrify her and with a settled Constancy of Mind tho' she did not much exceed Sixteen Years mounted the Scaffold and Embracing the Divine that had attended her Desired God to reward him for his Pious endeavours in Counselling and Advising her about the weighty Concern of an Immortal State and then turning to the by-standers with a composed Countenance Lovely in Sorrow she thus spoke her Mind If I am Guilty said she it is not because I affected the Kingdom but that I refused it not being cast upon me and must leave a memorable Example and Monition to all Posterity That Innocency cannot excuse those grievous Actions which tend to the Publick Damage for it seemes they commit wickedness enough that serve the Ambitious Designs of others tho' it be much against their own will Having Spoken these words she Pray'd fervently then desiring her Gentlewoman to help her off with her Gown she vailed her Eyes and submitting to the Block denied the Executioner to do what the Law had appointed as her bitter Portion whereupon her Head being stricken off caused many Tears even in those that favoured not her Religion And thus a worthy Author speaks of her She was says he Religious Wise and Learned above her Age or Sex who for taking the fatal Title of a Queen unsought-for and forced upon her by others was snatched from a Throne to a Prison and from thence to the place of Execution where she suffered Patiently for the Offences of others and yet overcame the many blows of Adversity with Constancy and Innocency A while after the Duke of Suffolk being Imprisoned was Condemned for having a hand in Wiat's Rebellion and attempting to raise others as it was Charged against him on his Tryal tho' on very slender proof Being brought to the Scaffold he thrust from him the Popish Priests who were busy and troublesome in endeavouring
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