Cambrensis tels a strange story that Harold was not slaine in the Battaile but onely wounded and lost his left eye and then escaped by flight to Chester where he afterwards led a holy Anchorets life How Duke William proceeded after his victory at Hastings AS his Valour wonne him the Victory so his Victory wonne him a Crowne that now of an old Duke he was suddenly become a young King and indeed nothing so much renues life and makes the yeares in a manner young againe as addition of Honour specially when it is the fruite of merit First therefore having given publicke thankes to God for his happy successe he led his Army towards London not the direct way perhaps doubting some new Encounter but coasting about through part of Kent through Sussex Surrey Hampshire and Barkeshire where at Wallingford he passed over the Thames and then through Oxfordâ—shire Buckinghamshire and Hartfordshire untill he came to Barkehamstead where there came unto him Aldred Arch-bishop of Yorke Woolstan Bishop of Worcester Willfere Bishop of Hereford and many other Prelates accompanyed with Edgar Atheling with Earle Edwyn and Marâ—har Brothers and men of the greatest sway in the Kingdome and many others of the Nobility It is true upon the defeate at Hastings Earle Edwyn and Marchar had a purpose to set up Edgar Atheling as next Heire of the Royall blood and Grand-childe to Edmund â—ronside and so beloved of the people that he was called their Darling but considering his young yeares and other inabilities but specially finding the mindes of the Bishops who at that time bore all the sway to be otherwise inclined they desisted from that course and thus the Duke without any opposition comming to London was received by Bishops and Lords and all with great joy though small gladnesse and if he had not their hearts yet he had their knees for in most humble manner they submitted themselves to him acknowledging him for their Soveraigne Lord and upon Christmas-day after he was Crowned at Westminster by Aldred Arch-bishop of Yorke the Arch-bishop of Canterbury Stigand not being admitted to doe that office for some defect in his Investiture and perhaps for some aspersion in his manners How he rewarded his followers THough he hath had the name of Conquerour yet he used not the Kingdome as gotten by Conquest for he tooke no mans living from him nor dispossessed any of their goods but such onely whose demerit made unworthy to hold them as appeares by his Act to one Warren a Norman to whom he had given the Castle of Sherborne in Norfolke for when Sherborne who was owner of it acquainted the King that the Castle was his and that he had never borne Armes against him he presently commanded Warren to deliver it quietly up unto himâ— Onely vacancies of Offices and filling up the places of those who were slaine or fled were the present meanes he made use of for preferring his Followers One speciall preferment we cannot omit that where one Herlowyn a Nobleman in Normandy had marryed his Mother Arlette and had by her a Sonne named Hugh Lupus he gave to the said Hugh the Earledome of Chester to hold of him as freely by his sword as himselfe held England by his Crowne by vertue of which Grant the said Hugh ordained under him foure Barons Nigell he made Baron of Halton Malbanke Baron of Nantwich Eustace Baron of Mawpase and Vernon Baron of Shipbrooke Such an Honour as no Subject before or since ever enjoyed the like What meanes he used for securing himselfe in the Kingdome BEsides the Oath of Fealty which he tooke of all his Lords both Spirituall and Temporall at his Coronation in Lent following going into Normandy he tooke along with him the greatest part of the great men of the Kingdome of whom Edwyn and Marchar the two Earles of Northumberland and Mercia Stigand Arch-bishop of Canterbury Edgar Atheling Waltheoff sonne to Syward formerly Earle of Northumberland and Agelnothus Abbot of Glastenbury were the chiefe leaving the care of the Kingdome in his absence to Odo Bishop of Bayeux his Brother by the Mother and to William Fits Osburne whom he had made Earle of Hereford And to abate the greatnesse of the Prelates which at that time was growne in a manner unlimited he ordained that from thenceforth they should not command with any Temporall Authority whatsoever And because the common people are no lesse to be feared for their number then the Nobility for their greatnesse he first tooke from them all their Armour to the end that leaving them without stings they might afterward be but Droanes And because there is seldome any danger from singular numbers but all the danger riseth from plurality therefore to prevent conspiracies and combinations which are commonly contrived in the night he commanded that in all Townes and Villages a Bell should be rung at eight a clocke in the Evening and that in every house they should then put out their Fire and Lights which was called Couure Feu and goe to Bed And for more security he erected Castles in the most doubtfull places of the Kingdome One at Yorke another at Lincolne a third at Nottingham at that time called Snottingham and a fourth at Hastings where he first Landed By these meanes the Kingdome was quiet all the time of his being away in Normandy saving onely that Edrick the Forester in the County of Hereford calling in to his ayde the Kings of Wales made some small disturbance And indeed all the States of the Kingdome might in his very person finde something to make them apt to tolerate his Government For first the People might thinke themselves in a sort advanced being now made members of a greater Body when the Dukedome of Normandy should come to be annexed to the Kingdome of England and by experience of his good Governement being a Duke they might well hope he would not governe worse being made a King And the Nobility might be well content as having a King of their former Kings choosing and though a Stranger yet no Alien as having in him many veines of the same blood and therefore likely also to have some veâ—nes of the same goodnesse of their good King Edward But specially the Clergy could not chuse but be content as having a King who came commended to them by a commending as strong as a commanding the Popes Benediction What Troubles or Insurrections were during his Raigne BUt the Body of a State being more obnoxious to crudities and ill humours then the state of a Naturall body It is impossible to continue long without distempers notwithstanding any preservatives that can be applyed And therefore in the second yeare of his Raigne brake forth the discontentment of Edgar Etheling justly the first as having most cause being the next of the late Royall blood and therefore most apt to be sensible of servitude who taking along with him his mother Agatha and his two Sisters Margaret and Christine stole secretly away to Sea with
his brother Prince Ethelred were then residing he out of his love to both would needs himselfe alone goe visit them where the cruell woman out of ambition to bring her owne Sonne to the Crowne caused one to runne him into the backe with a knife as he was drinking a cup of Wine on horse backe at his departing who feeling himselfe hurt set spurres to his horse thinking thereby to get to his company but the wound being mortall and he fainting thorow losse of much blood fell from his Horse but one foote being intangled in the stirrup he was thereby rufully dragged up and downe through Woods and Lands And lastly left dead at Corfes gate for which untimely death he was ever after called by â—he name of Edward the Martyr He Raigned onely three yeares and â—ix moneths and was Buryed first at Winchester without all Funerall pompe but after three yeares by Duke Alferus removed and with great solemnity interred in the Minster of Shaftsbury Queene Elfrid to expiate this her bloody fact built the two Monasteries of Almesbery and Worwell in the Counties of Wilâ—shire and Southampton in which latter with great repentance she lived till her death After the death of Edward the Martyr dying at the age of sixteene yeares his halfe brother Ethelred at the age of twelve yeares in the yeare 979. was Crowned King at Kingston upon Thames by Dunstan Arch-bishop of Canterbury though much against his will which King by reason of his backwardnesse in Action was commonly called the Unready Before whose time for two and twenty yeares pastâ— the Danes had lived as quiet Inmates with the English but whether weary of so long doing nothing or finding now opportunity of doing something in the second yeare of this King they begin to stirre and inviting from home more forces who in seven Ships arrived upon the Coast of Kent they spoyled all the Country specially the Isle of Thanet and continued this course of forraging the Kingdome sometimes in one part and sometimes in another for eleven yeares together till at last in the yeare 991. the King by advice of his Lords of whom Siricius the now Arch-bishop of Canterbury was chiefe was contented to pay them ten thousand pounds upon condition they should quietly depart the Realme This served the turne for the present but was so farre from satisfying them that it did but give them the greater appetite for the yeare following they came againe and that with a greater Fleet then before against whom the King prepared a competent Navy and committed it to Elfricke Earle of Mercia but he proving treacherous as indeed all other for the most part did whom the King imployed against the Danes as with whom they were allyanced in blood the Danâ—s so prevailedâ— that for the next Composition they had sixteene thousand pounds given them and a yeare after twenty thousand and so every yeare more and more till it came at last to forty thousand by which meanes the Land was emptyed of all Coyne and the English were brought so low that they were faine to Till and Eare the Ground whilest the Danes sate idle and ate the fruite of their labours abusing the Wives and Daughters of their Hosts where they lay and yet iâ— every place for every feare were called Lord-Danes which afterward became a word of derision when one would signifie a lazy Lubber In this distressed state the King at last bethought himselfe of a course He sent forth a secret Commission into every City within his Dominions that at an appointed time they should massacre all the Danes that were amongst them The day was the thirteenth of November being the Festivall of Saint Bricius in the yeare 1002. His command was accordingly performed and with such rigour that in Oxford the Danes for refuge tooke into the Church of Saint Frideswyde as into a Sanctuary when the English neither regarding Place nor Person set the Church on site wherein many of the Danes were burnt and the Library thereof utterly defaced And who would not now thinke but that England by this Fact had cleane shaken off the Danish yoke for ever yet it proved cleane otherwise For the newes of this massacre adding a new edge of revenge to the old edge of ambition made the Danes sharper set against the English then ever they had beene before so as the yeare following their King Sweyne with a mighty Navy entred the Country razed and levelled with the ground the City of Exceter all along from the East Gate to the West against whom the King levyed an Army and made Generall over it the Earle Edricke his great Favourite whom he had created Duke of Mercia and given him his Daughter Edgyth in marriage yet all this great favour could not keepe him from being treacherous for being sent Embassadour to the Danes to mediate for Peace he revealed to them the weaknesse of the Land and treacherously disswaded them from consenting to any Truce Upon this King Ethelred gave order that every three hundred and ten Hydes of Land should build a Ship and every eight Hydes finde a compleat Armour furnished yet all this great preparation came to nothing but onely to make a shew After this the King seeing no end of their invasions nor promise kept upon any composition for three Danish Princes with a great Fleet were now newly arrived He intended to adventure once for all and to commit his cause to God by the fortune of a Battaile To which end he secretly gathered a mightily Power and comming unlooked for when the Enemy was unprepared he had certainely given an end to the Quarrell if the wicked Edricke had not disswaded him from fighting and put him into a causelesse feare by forged tales After this the Danes forraged many Countryes burnt Oxford Theâ—ford and Cambridge and lastly entred Wiltshire which was the seventh shire in number they had laid waste like a Wildernesse The yeare after they make a new Expedition and besiege Canterbury which by treason of a Church-man they wonne tooke Alphegus the Arch-bishop and flew nine hundred Monkes and men of Religion besides many Citizens without all mercy for they Tythed the people slaying all by nines and reserving onely the tenth to live so that of all the Monkes in the Towne there were but foure saved and of the Lay people foure thousand eight hundred by which account Master Lambert collecteth that there dyed in this Massacre three and forty thousand and two hundred persons The Arch-bishop Alphegus for that he refused to charge his Tenants with three thousand pounds to pay for his ransome they most cruelly stoned to death at Greenâ—wich Turkillus the leader of these murtherers tooke into his possession all Norfolke and Suffolke over whom he tyrannized in most savage manner the rest compounding with the English for eight thousand pounds quietly for a while sojourned among them The yeare following came King Sweyne againe and with a great Navy arrived in the mouth of Humber and
the Second called Rufus second Son to William the Conquerour appointed Successor by his Fathers Will was upon the fifth of October in the yeare 1087. by Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterbury Crowned at Westminster King of England Wherein his Father seemes to have followed the Example of Iacob who gave to his younger sonne Ioseph the Land which he had taken with his Sword and his Bow for with his sword and his Bow had King William gotten the Land of England and therefore might justly bestow it on which of his Sonnes he pleased And besides there was cause enough why he should shew this Sonne of his some extraordinary favour seeing in the Rebellion of his brother Robert yet he stood firmely for his Father and in his quarrell incurred no small hazard of his life as wherein he received divers wounds and perhaps also his Father thought the rough disposition of this sonne fitter to bridle the insurrections of the English then the softly disposition of his sonne Robert But though he have thus quietly gotten the Crowne he must not looke to hold it so and indeed at his very beginning is assaulted with two troubles in one for both his Brother Robert prepares to recover it from him and the Lords of the Kingdome combine with Robert to assist him in it The first mover of this trouble was Odo Bishop of Bayeux his Unckle who finding himselfe not to beare the sway he expected and specially for an old grudge he bore to Lanfranke Arch-bishop of Canterbury as by whose means in the former Kings time he had bin imprisoned the Arch-bishop telling him that though he might not imprison a Bishop yet he might imprison an Earle of Kent as this Odo was made not long before he drawes many other Bishops and Temporall Lords to joyne with himâ— in behalfe of Duke Robert against the King but though the storme were violent for a while yet it soon passed over that indeed of his Lords with more difficulty but that of his brother Robert with more cost For it was at last agreed that Rufus should pay him three thousand markes a yeare during his life and leave him the Kingdome after his owne decease But there was difficulty in repressing his Rebell Lords by reason of their spreading themselves abroad in many quarters For Odo fortifyed himselfe in Kent Roger Montgomery Earle of Shrewsbury in Norfolke Suffolke and Cambridgeshire Hugh de Grandmenill in Leycestershire and Northamptonshire Robert Mowbray Earle of Northumberland possest himselfe of Bristow William Bishop of Durham of the North parts of the Realme and divers other of the Clergy and Nobility fortify themselves in Herefordshire Shropshire Worcestershire and all the Countries adjoyning to Wales thinking by this meanes to distract the King that he should not know where to beginne nor whither to turne him But this course as it made it hard to represse them suddenly so it made it easie to represse them at leisure for being thus divided they were but as single stickes that are easily broken where if they had united themselves as into a Faggot they might have made a strength of farre greater resistance But the King having Lanfranke Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Woolstan Bishop of Worcester firme of his side partly by their Authority and love amongst the people but chiefely by his owne promises to restore their ancient Lawes and to allow them liberty of hunting in his Forests he so firmely wonne the hearts of all unto him that some of the Rebell Lords he reconciled with faire words as Robert Montgomery a principall sinew of the Faction some againe he mastered by strong hand and Odo the chiefe Engineere of all the worke he besieged in the Castle of Rochester tooke him Prisoner and forced him to abjure the Realme And thus this great Rebellion was suppressed In which it is observable that though so many hot bloods were up yet there was but little blood spilt A happy rebellion for the English for the Rebell Lords and Bishops being all Normans the King had none to trust to but the English whom for their faithfulnesse to him in this service he ever after respected more then he had done befoâ—e After this storme was over in the South there ariseth another in the North For now Malcolme King of Scots thinking it a fit time to doe some feates when King William was troubled at home invades Northumberland and having burnt and spoyled the Country returnes home laden with booties Which King William hearing he takes his brother Robert along with him and with a mighty Army enters Scotland brings Malcolme to acknowledge his ancient homage and upon Faith given returnes to London After this Duke Robert finding his brother King William not to keep his promise in paying his Pension complaines to the King of France and with his ayde assaults and takes some Townes which he before had delivered in pawne for money to his brother King William who hearing of it hastens into Normandy with an Army and by the mediation of money takes off the King of France and makes his brother being left destitute of assistance to aske him pardon a wise and mercifull course in King William for to buy his peace with the King of France did cost him but money where to have purchased it by Warre must besides money have cost the lives of many After this Malcolme King of Scots came in kindnesse to visit King William at Glocester but the King not vouchsafing so much as to see him put him into so great an indignation that returning home he makes ready an Army invades Northumberland making great spoyle and getting great spoyles but by Robert Mowbray the Kings Lieutenant there was taken in ambush and together with his eldest sonne Edward defeated and slaine This King Malcolme was a most valiant Prince as may appeare by an Act of his of an extraordinary straine for hearing of a conspiracy plotted to murther him whereof one was Authour whose name is not recorded he dissembled the knowing it till being abroad one day a hunting he tooke the fellow apart from the company and being alone said unto him Here now is a fit time and place to doe that manfully which you have intended to doe treacherously draw your weapon and if you kill me none being present you can incurre no danger with which speech of the King the fellow was so daunted that presently he fell downe at his feet confessed his fault humbly asked forgivenesse and being granted him was ever after serviceable and faithfull to him The death of King Malcolme and his Sonne was so grievous and so grievously taken of Margaret his Queene the sister of Edgar Atheling that she made it her Prayer and had it granted not to over-live them and so within three dayes after dyed a woman as full of vertues all her life as at this time of sorrowes whom yet I should not breake order to mention but for one pious Act of hers in causing a most barbarous custome of Scotland to
uttered specially when he was moved with anger Concerning the qualities of his minde they may best be knowne by looking upon the actions of his life in which we shall finde he was never more assured then when he was least sure never lesse dejected then when in most extremity being like a Cube that which way soever he fell he was still upon his bottome For his delights to passe the time there was none in more request with him then hunting a delight hereditary to him which was the cause that as his Father had begunne the great new Forest so he enlarged it to a farre greater extent Other delights of his we finde not any unlesse we shall reckon his warres for delights for though they were oftentimes forced upon him when he could not avoyd them yet sometimes he entred into them when he needed not but for his pleasure And in generall it may be said that one of his greatest vertues was that which is one of the greatest vertues Magnanimity and his worst vice was that which was the worst of vices Irreligion Presages that preceded his Death AT Finchamstead in Barkshire neare unto Abington a spring cast up liquor for the space of fifteene dayes in substance and colour like to bloud The night before the King was kild a certaine Monk dream'd that he saw the King gnaw the Image of Christ crucified with his teeth and that as he was about to bite away the legges of the same Image Christ with his feete spurned him downe to the ground and that as he lay on the earth there came out of his mouth a flame of fire with abundance of smoake This being related to the King by Robert Fits Mammon he made a jest of it saying This Monke would faine have something for his Dreame Goe give him a hundred shillings but bid him looke that he dreame more auspitious Dreames hereafter Also the same night the King himselfe dream'd that the veines of his armes were broken and that the bloud issued out in great abundance and many other like passages there were by which it seemes he had friends somewhere as well as Iulius Caesar that did all they could to give him warning but that as Caesars so his Malus Genius would not suffer him to take it Of his Death and Buriall KIng William having kept his Christmas at Glocester his Easter at Winchester his Whitsontide at Westminster notwithstanding forewarned by many signes of some great dysaster towards him would needs the day after Lammas goe a hunting in the New Forest yet something resenting the many presages he stayed within all the forenoone about dinner time an Artificer came and brought him sixe Crosse-bow Arrowes very strong and sharpe whereof foure he kept himselfe and the other two he delivered to Sir Walter Tyrell a Knight of Normandy his Bow-bearer saying Here Tyrell take you two for you know how to shoot them to purpose and so having at dinner drunke more liberally then his custome as it were in contempt of Presages out he rides into the new Forest where Sir Walter Tyrell shooting at a Deere the arrow glanced against a tree or as some write grazed upon the back of the Deere and flying forward hit the King upon the breast with which he instantly fell downe dead Thus it is delivered by a common consent of all onely one Sugerius a writer that lived at that time and was a familiar acquaintance of the said Tyrels against the current of all Writers affâ—irmes that he had often heard the said Sir Walter sweare that he was not in the Forest with the King all that day I have beene the longer upon this point because a more pregnant example of Gods judgement remaines not any where upon Record For not onely this King at this time but before this a brother of his named Richard a young Prince of great hope and also a Nephew of his the sonne of his brother Robert came all in this place to violent deaths that although King William the Founder of the Forest escaped the punishment in his owne person yet it was doubled and trebled upon him in his issue Thus died King William Rufâ—s in â—he three and fortieth yeare of his age and twelfth and some moneths of his Reigne His body was drawne in a Colliers Cart with one Horse to the City of Winchester where the day following it was buried in the Cathedrall Church of Saint Swithen and was laid there in the Quire under a Marble stone till afterward it was translated and laid by King Canutus bones Men of Note iâ— his time FOr men of valour he must stand alone by himselfe for men of learning there was Lanfranke a Lombard but Bishop of Canterbury also Robert a Lorayne who Epitomized the Chronicle of Marianus Scotus also Turgotus an English man Deane of Durham who wrote the Annals of his owne time and divers other works but especially Osmund Bishop of Salisbury who composed the ordinary Office or book of Prayer THE RAIGNE OF KING HENRY THE FIRST Of his comming to the Crowne ALthough Henry came not to the Crowne as his Brother William did by the gift of his Father yet he came to it by the Prophesie of his Father For when his Father made his Will and divided all his Estate in Land betweene his two eldest Sonnes giving to Henry his youngest onely a portion in money with which division he perceived him to be much discontented he said unto him Content thy selfe Harry for the time will come that thy turne shall be served as well as theirs And now the time was come that his prediction was accomplished for on the fifth of August in the yeare 1100. he was Crowned King of England at Westminster by Maurice Bishop of London as Deane of all the Bishops of England and therefore might doe it without any prejudice to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury though he had beene present who was indeed at this time in Exile But though it appeares fuisse in Fatis to be decreed by the Divine Providence that it should be so yet it would not have been so if his owne endevours had not beene concurring And therefore being in the New Forest when his Brother King William was killed he never stayed to complement the Dysaster but rode presently to Winchester and there not without some opposition of the keepers seisâ—d upon his Brothers Treasure as knowing treasure to be the meanes for getting of Friends and Friends the meanes for getting the Crowne and having now gotten the first meanes he made use of it for the sâ—cond and both of them together brought him to this he is Yet withall there were circumstances in his owne Person that conduced to it his Brother was borne when their Father was but a Duke he when he was a King Robert was a Forrainer being borne in Normandy himselfe a Native borne at Selby in Yorkeshire and it was not the least circumstance that he was called Beauclerke as to say a good Scholar having
differences in the Country But now the King of Spaine pretends a title to Aquitaine and to take him off King Henry sends to treate of a marriage betweene Prince Edward and his Sister Eleanor which being accepted by the King of Spaine the Marriage is solemnized at Burgos where the King of Spaine knights the Prince and quits his claime to Aquitaine for him and his Successours for ever and King Henry invests the Prince and his Wife in it and gives unto him besides Ireland Wales Bristow Stamford and Grantham and from hence it came that ever after this the Kings eldest Sonne was immediately upon his Birth Prince of Wales and Earle of Chester After this King Henry prepares to returne home and well he might having spent in this and his former Journeyes into those parts the summe of seven and twenty hundred thousand pounds More then all the Lands if they had beene sold were worth which when the King was told he desired there might be no words made of it for his credite And now being to returne he is desirous with the King of Frances leave to passe thorow France and comming to Paris with a thousand Horse where he stayed eight dayes is there most Royally Feasted by the King of France and he as royally Feasts the King of France againe But it is the Londoners and the Iewes that are like to pay for all For comming home about Christmas when the Londoners presented him with a hundred pounds in money and afterwards with two hundred pounds in Plate it was so sleighted and so ill taken that a hole was presently found in their coate for an escape of a Prisoner which cost them three thousand Markes Yet was not this enough but he takes good Fleeces from the Iews and then lets them out to Farme to his Brother Richard for a great summe of money and he to make what more of them he could Yet after all this he complaines of his Debts which he saith are at least three hundred thousand Markes which must needes be the heavyer to him because he had diminished his ownâ— meanes by the allowance of fifteene thousand Markes per annum to his Sonne the Prince The onely hope is in the Parliament but a Parliament being called they fall presently upon their old Grievances complaining upon the King for breach of Charters and renuing their Claime to have the Chiefe Justiciar the Chancellour and Treasurer to be chosen by themselves so nothing was done for the King at this time and the Parliament being prorogued till Michaelmas after as little then by reason many of the Peeres came not as not being summoned according to the tenour of Magna Charta And now while the King was using meanes to winde himselfe out of Debt there happened occasions to put him further in For now Thomas Earle of Savoy the Queenes Brother being at warre with the City of Thuryn must be supplyed with money towards it by the King of England Now the Elect Bishop of Toledo the King of Spaines Brother comes into England and must be sumptuously Feasted and have great gifts presented him Now Eleanor the Princes Wife arrives with a multitude of Spaniards and must all be entertained at the Kings charge and have no small presents given them at their departure Now comes Rustandus from the Pope with power to Collect the Tenth of the Clergy for the Popes use and the Kings and to absolve him from his Oath of the Holy warre so he would come to destroy Manfred Sonne to the Emperour Fredericke now in possession of the kingdome of Sicilie and Apulia And this man likewise hath great gifts bestowed upon him besides a rich Prebend in Yorke But the Pope by too much seeking his profit loseth credit and all for the Clergy sleights him and will give him nothing and when he would have borrowed of the Earle of Cornwall five hundred Markes the Earle answered he liked not to lend his money to one upon whom he could not Distraine But King Henries greatest charge was his purchasing a kingdome for his Sonne Edmund for now comes the Bishop of Bâ—nonia from the Pope with a Ring of Investiture to Prince Edmund in the kingdome of Sicilie which he pretends to be at his disposing and King Henry takes it in so good earnest that after this he cals his Sonne Edmund by no other name then King of Sicilie But all this was done by the Pope but to angle away King Henries money as indeed upon this hope he had drawne the King into the engagement of a hundred and fifty thousand Markes for to draw the King on it was given out that the Pope had deleâ—ted all Manfreds Forces and was thereby in possession of the kingdome when the truth was that Manfred had defeated the Popes Forces and was thereby himselfe established in the kingdome The yeare 1275. the King keepes his Christmas at Winchester where new Grievances arise The Merchants of Gascogny having their Wines taken from them by the Kings Officers without satisfaction complaine to their Lord the Prince he to his Father and his Father having beene informed before-hand by his Officers that their clamour was unjust as relying upon the Princes favour he falls into a great rage with the Prince and breakes out into these words See! now my Blood and my owne Bowels impugne me but afterwards pacified he gives order the injuries should be redressed And now the Princes Followers themselves come to be a Grievance who relying upon their Master commit many outrages and spoyle and wrong men at their pleasure and the Prince himselfe is not altogether free of whom it is said that meeting a young man travailing by the way he caused one of his eares to be cut off and one of his eyes to be put out and many such prankes plaid by him and his Followers in Wales made the Welsh breake out into open Rebellion which the Prince would faine have suppressed but there was no money to be had towards the doing it And now the King fals to shifts he comes into the Chequer himselfe and there layes penalties upon Sheriffes that returne not their moneys in due time then he fals upon measures of Wine and Ale upon Bushels and Weights and something he gets but London is his best Cheqâ—er and every yeare commonly he hath one quarrell or other to the Londoners and they are sure to pay And now fals out an accident seeming of great honour but certainely of no profit to the kingdome Richard Earle of Cornwall the Kings Brother is Elected King of the Romans for although Alphonsus King of Spaine the great Mathematician were his Competitour yet Earle Richards money wrought more then his Learning and the Arch-bishop of Câ—llen comes over to fetch him and Crowned he is at Aquisgrane This Earle of Cornwall is reported able to dispend a hundred Markes a day â—or ten yeares besides his Revenues in England But now as a man that payes deare for an Office lookes that his
and therâ—fore were to stand upon their Guard and provide the best they could for their safety To which purpose the first thing they did was to apparell Magdalen in Princely robes a man as like to king Richard in countenance and pesonage as one man lightly can be to another and to give forth that he was king Richard escaped out of Prison thereby to countenance their proceedings The next thing was to dispatch meâ—sengerâ— to the king of France and require his assistance This done they set forward in Battell-array towards Windsor against king Henry but finding him gone to London before they came they then deliberate what course to take Some advised to set K. Richard at liberty before their counterfeit Richard should be discovered Others â—hought best to follow the king to London and set upon him unprovided and befoâ—e he had gâ—thered Forces In this division of Advises when they could not doe both they did neither but as men amazed maâ—ched on though they knew not well whâ—ther till they came to Colbrooke by which time the king had gathered an Army of twenty thousand and was marching towards them but they not thinking so well of their câ—â—se that they durst put it to the tryall of a battell or perhaps staying for ayde out of France withdrew themselves back to Sunnings neere to Reading where the young Queen layâ— to whom their comming gave some flashes of comfort but quenched before they were throughly kindled and from thence they march to Cicester where the Duke of Surry and the Earle of Salisburyâ—oâ—ke â—oâ—ke up their lodging in one Inne the Duke of Exceter and the Earle of Glocester in anothâ—â— And now a strange Accident beyond the reach of all consultation gave a period to their Designe for who would thinke that a private company durst oppose those Lords having their Army so neere them yet the Bailiffe of the Towne upon intelligence no doubt that these Lords were up in Armeâ— against the King taking with him a company of Townsmen in the night assaulted the Inne where the Duke of Surry and the Earle of Salisâ—ury lay who thus assaulted made shift to defend themselveâ— till three a clock in the afternoone but then being in danger to be taken a Priest one of their company set divers houses in the Towne on fiâ—e thinking thereby to divert the Assailants from prosecuting the Lords to save their houses but this inflamed them the more and so hotly they pursued their asâ—ault that they wounded the Duke and the Earle to death who dying that night their heads were stricken off and sent up to London With them also were taken Sir Bennet Shelley Sir Barnard Brocas Sir Thomas Blunt and eight and twenty other Lords Knights and Gentlemen who were sent to Oxford where the King then lay and there were put to execution The Duke of Exceter in the other Inne hearing of this assault fled out of the backside towards the Campe intending to bring the whole Army to the rescueâ— but the souldiers having heard a clamour and seeing fire in the Towne supposing the King had been come with all his Forces out of a sodaine feare dispersed them selves and fled which the Duke seeing he also with Sir Iohn Shelley fled into Essex where wandring and lurking in secret places he was at last apprehended as he sate at supper in a friends house and led to Plashey and there shortly after beheaded the place where by his counsell and countenance the Duke of Glocester formerly had been apprehended that we may observe how the Divine Providence in revenging of injuries takes notice and makes use of the very circumstance of place where the injuries are â—one The Earle of Glocester fled towards Wales but was taken and beheaded at Bristow Magdalen the counterfeit king Richard was apprehended and brought to the Tower and afterward hanged and quartered with Mr. Fereby another of king Richards Chaplaines Divers other Lords and Knights and Gentlemen and a great number of meane persons were in other places put to death that so much Noble blood at one time and for one cause hath scarce been heard or read of The Abbot of Westminster in whose house the Plot was contrived hearing of these misfortunes as he was going between the Monastery and his Mansion fell suddenly into a Palsie and shortly after without speech ended his life About this time also a strange peece of Treason is reported to have been practised against the kings life that there was found in his bed-cloaths an Iron with three sharpe pikes standing upright that when the king should have layd him downe he might have thrust himselfe upon them But seeing there is no farther mention of inquiring after it it seemes to have been but an idle rumour not worth beleeving But now that the hot English blood was well allayed the Welch blood springs up as hot For now Owen Glendour an Esquire of Wales brought up at the Innes of Court in London partly out of a desire to revenge a wrong done him as he conceived in a suit for lands in controversie between the Lord Grey of Ruthin and him but chiefly out of an humour of aspiring endeavored to draw the Welchmen to a generall defection telling them That the English being at variance amongst themselves now was the time to shake off their yoake and to resume their owne antient Lawes and Customes To whose perswasions the Welchmen hearkening made him their king and Captaine and he having gotten a competent Army sets first upon his old Adversâ—ry â—eyâ—old Lord Grey of Ruthin and takes him Prisoner yet with promiâ—e of Releasement if he would marry his daughteâ— which offer though the Lord Grey at first not onely refused but scorned yet out of necessity at last he was contented to accept when notwithstanding his deceitfull father in Law trifled out the time of his enlargement till he dyed But the Welchmen growing confident upon this successe breake into the borders of Herefordshire making spoyle and prey of the Country as freely as if they had leave to doe it for indeed none opposed them but onely the Lord Edâ—â—nd Mortimer who had formerly withdrawne himselfe to his Castle at Wigmore anâ— he having assembled the Forces of the Country and joyning bâ—ttell with them was taken Prisoner and then fettered and cast into a deepe and vile Dungeon It was thought if Glendour had as well known how to use his victory as to get it he might at this time have put the English yoak into a great hazâ—rd to be shaken off but he having killed a thousand of the English thought he had done for that time and so giving over the pursuit retired The inhumanity of the Welsh women was here memorable who fell upon the dead carkasses of the English first stripping them and then cutting off their privie parts and noses whereof the oâ—e they thrust into their mouthes the other they pressed between their buttockâ— Many noble men specially his kinsmen the Percies sollicited King Henry
in the North was raising a new army against whom King Edward upon the twelveth of March marched with his forces from London and by easie journeyes came to Pomfret Castle from whence the Lord Fitzwater was sent to guard the passage at Ferribridge to stop the Enemies approach that way King Henry likewise advanceth forward sending his power under the conduct of the Duke of Somerset the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Clifford whilest himselfe with his Queen and Sonne stay at Yorke The Lord Clifford very early on Palm sunday with a troop of Northern men fals upon those that guarded Fetribridge and defeated them with the slaughter of the Lord Fitzwater and the bastard of Salisbury The Earle of Warwicke hearing of this defeate comes posting to King Edwards Câ—mpe and in his presence killing his horse Proâ—ested his resolution to stand with him to the Death Upon â—his Resolution of the Earles the King made presently Proclamation that all who were afraid to sight should at their pleasure depart but to those that would stay he promised good reward adding withall that if any that stayed should after turn his back or flee then he that should kill him should have double pay After this he gave order to the Lord Fawconbridge and Sir Walter Blunt to leade on the Vawâ—rd who in their march about Dandingdale encountred with the Lord Clifford who formerly in cold blood had slaughtered the young Earle of Rutland and he being stricken into the throate with an arrow some say without a head and presently dying the Lord Nevill Sonne and heire of the Earle of Westmerland was also slaine with most of their companies and the rest put to flight The next day likewise the Duke of Norfolke being dangerously sick to whom that place was assigned Fâ—â—conbridge and Blunt continue the leading of the Vaunt-guard and on Palm-sunday by break of day they came to a plaine field between Towton Saxtoâ— from whence they made a full survey of king Henries Army and certified king Edward that the Enemy was threescore thousand strong where his Army was but forty thousand and six hundred whereupon a second Proclamation was made through the Campe that no quarter should be kept nor prisoner taken The Armies being both in sight the Lord Fauconbridge gave direction to the Archers upon a signall by him given to shoote every man a flight-arrow for that purpose provided and then to fall back three strides and stand The Northern men in the mean time plyed their bowes till all their sheaves were empty but their arrowes fell short of the Enemy by threescore yards and not onely did no hurt to the Enemy but did hurt to themselves for their arrows being spent and comming to hand-blows their own arrows sticking in the ground galled their shins and pierced their feet Ten houres the battell continued doubtfull till the Earle of Northumberland being slaine with the Lord Beaumont Gray Dacres and Wells Sir Iohn Nevill Andrew Tâ—ollop and many other knights and Esquires the Earles of Exeter and Somerset fled leaving the Conquest to King Edward but the bloodiest that ever England felt for there fell that day six and thirty thousand seven hundred threescore and sixteen persons no prisoner being taken but the Earle of Devonshire The battell ended K. Edward hastes to York where he caused the heads of his father and other friends to be taken down and buried with their bodies setting in their places the heads of the Earle of Devonshire and three other there at that time executed The Earle of Somerset acquainting King Henry with this overthrow perswades him with his Queen and Son to flie to Barwick where leaving the Duke of Somerset they flie further for succour to the King of Scots who comforteth them with promise of reliefe but maketh a sure bargaine for in lieu of a pension to be allowed King Henry during his abode there the Towne and Castle of Barwick were delivered to him Queen Margaret and her Sonne are sent into France who obtained of Lewis the Eleveâ—th her Cosin that all of King Edwards friends were prohibited Stay or Traffick in the French kings Dominions but all King Henries friends might live there freely After this king Edward comes to London and upon his entrance to the Tower makes foure and twenty knights and the next day foure more and upon the 28 day of Iune in the yeare 1461. he rode from the Tâ—wer to Westminster and was there Crowned in the Abby-Church Shortly after a Parliament is summoned which began at Westminster the fourth of November In which all Acts of king Henry the Sixth prejudiciall to king Edwards Title are repealed and therein Iohn Earle of Oxford a valiant and wise man he who in a former Parliament had disputed the question concerning the precedency of Temporall and Spirituall Barons a bold attempt in those dayes and by force of whose Arguments Judgement was given for the Lords Temporall with his Sonne Aubry de Veer Sir Thomas Tiddingham knight William Tyrrell Walter Montgomery Esquires were without answer convicted of Treason and beheaded And to encourage others to well-deserving king Edward at this time advanced many in honour his brother George he created Duke of Clarence his brother Richard Duke of Glocester Iohn Lord Nevill brother to the Earle of Warwicke he made first Viscount then Marquesse Montacuâ—e Henry Bourchier brother to the Archbishop of Canterbury is made Earle of Essex and William Lord Fauconbridge Earle of Kent And now their new honours are presently put into imploiment the Earls of Essex Kent accompaneid with the Lords Audeley and Clinton Sir Iohn Howard Sir Richard Walgrave and others to the number of ten thousand are appointed to scowre the Seas who landing in Britaine took the town of Conqueâ— and the Isle of Ree and then returned At this time Henry Duke of Somerset Ralph Percy and divers others came in and humbly submitted themselves to king Edwards mercy who protested his propension of freely pardoning them and as many other that would submit themselves as they did All this time King Henry was in Scotland and Queen Margaret in France where she obtained of the French King a company of five hundred men with whom she sayled towards Newcastle and landed at Tinmouth but suddenly againe returned and was herselfe by tempest beaten to Barwick but her company was driven on the shore before Bamburg Castle where they set their Ships on fire and fled to an Islâ—nd called Holy Island but were so assayled there by the bastard Ogle and Iohn Manners Esquâ—re that many of them were slaine and almost foure hundred taken prisoners onely their Coronell Peter Bressie hâ—ppened upon a Fisherman who brought him to â—â—â—wick to Queen Margaret and by her was made Captaine of the Castle of Alnewick which he with his French-men kept till they were rescâ—ed Shortly afterâ— Queen Margaret having gotten together a great company of Scots and other of her friends bringing her husband with her and leaving
of Glocester finding this proceeding like to be a rub in his way at least not fit for his designes he presently fals to undermining writes most loving letters to the Queen protesting all humble and faithfull service to the king and her but withall perswading her that this great guard about the king might be presently dismissed which did but minister matter of suspition and would be apt to breed new jealousies in them who were now throughly reconciled The Queen of a nature easie to be wrought upon gives credit to his glozing letters and thereupon sends in all haste to her Sonne and to her brother the Lord Riâ—ers requiring them by all meanes for some causes to her known to dismisse their gâ—â—â—d not â—enâ—â—oning by whose advice she writ them which if she had done they would never have done but now upon her letters they presently did and came forward with oâ—â—ly a sober company And now is Glocesters first work 〈◊〉 but he knowing that the worke yet behinde was too great to be done by himselfe â—â—one gets the Dâ—ke of Buckingham and the Lord Hastings two of the greatest men of power at that time in the kingdome to joyn with him in opinion that it was not fit â—he 〈◊〉 kindred should be so wholly about the king and others of better blood and dâ—â—â—rt to be estranged from him and therefore by all means fiâ—â—o endeavour to â—emove them to which the Duke of Buckingham is easily wrought upon a promise to have the Earledome of Hartford conferred upon him and the Lord Hastingâ— not hardly upon a hope by this means to cut off many whom in king Edwards daies 〈…〉 â—ustly offended And now another great worke was done It remaines in 〈…〉 place to put it in execution which was presently this eâ—fected The 〈◊〉 king had been at Northampton and from thence was gone to Stonystratford 〈◊〉 the two Dukes of Glocester and Buckingham aâ—rived but pretending the Town to be too little for the entertainment of their Compâ—nies they went back to â—â—â—thampton and alighted at the same Inâ—e where the Earle Ryverâ— had taken up hâ—s lodging for that night intending the next morning early to overtake the king Upon this their accidentall meeting great shews of courtesie passed between them and supper ended the Dukes pretending wearines retire to their lodgings the Earle to his but the Dukes being entred into their Chambers enter into consultation 〈◊〉 their private friends in which they spent a great part of the night and then secretly get the keyes of the Inne gates suffering none to passe either in or out whereof the Earle having notice by his Host though he suspected the worst yet setting a good countenance upon the matter and trusting to his own Innocency he boldâ—y went to the Duke of Glocesters Chamber where he found the Duke of Buckingham and the rest closely set in counsell with whom he expostulates the reason of this coâ—â—se to imprison him in his Inne against his will bâ—t they in stead of answer câ—mmand presently to lay hands on him charging him with many crimes whereof themselves were onely guilty And then taking order for his safe imprisonment they speedily took horse and came to Stonistratford at such time as the king was taking horse whom in all reverent manner they saluted but presently in the kings presence a quarrell is pickt against the Lord Richard Grey the kings halfe brother The Duke of Buckingham making relation to the king that he and the Marquesse his brother with the Earle Rivers the Queens brother had endeavoured and almost eâ—fected to draw to themselves the whole mannaging the affaires of the kingdomâ— and to set variance between the Peeres of the Realme and particularly that the Lâ—â—d Marquesse without any warrant had taken out of the Tower of London both Treasure and Armour to a great quantity but to what purpose though they were ignorant yet there was just cause to suspect it was to no good end And therefore it was thought expedient by the advise of the Nobility to attach him at Northampâ—â—â— to have him forth-comming to make his answer for these and many other his evâ—â—-bâ—ld actions The king unable to sound the depth of these plots mildly â—aid 〈◊〉 him What my brother Marquesse hath done I cannot say but for my Uncle 〈◊〉 Brother here I dare answer that they are innocent of any unlawfull practises 〈◊〉 against me or you Oh saith the Duke of Buckingham that hath been their 〈◊〉 to keep their treachery from your â—races knowledge and thereupon â—nâ—anâ—â—y in the kings presence they arrested the Lord Richard Sir Thomas Vanghan Sir Richard Hall and brought the king and all his company back to Northampton pâ—â—â—ing away aâ—l his old servants and placing in their roomâ— creatures of their own whom they had power to command At which â—ealing the young king wept but it 〈◊〉 nothing and to colour the matter the Duke of Glocester at dinner sent a dish from his own table to the Lord Rivers bidding him â—e of good cheer for all 〈◊〉 should be well but the Lord Rivers thanking the Duke prayed the Messenger to carry it to the Lord Richard with the same message for his comfort as one to whom such adversity was strange but as for himselfe he had all his dayes been acquainted with it and therefore could the better beare it But for all this comfortable courtesie of the Duke of Glocester he sent the Lord Rivers and the Lord Richard with Sir Thomas Vaâ—gâ—â—â— into the North Country into divers places to prison and afterward to Poâ—fres where in Conclusion they were all beheaded And now the Duke of Glocester having thus gotten the custody of the King set forwards toward London giving out by the way that the Marquesse and the Queens kindred had plotted the destruction of the king and of all the antient Nobility of the Realme and to alter the Government of the Commonwealth and that they were onely imprisoned to be brought to their tryall according to Law and the better to settle these suggestions in the apprehension of the Vulgar they brought along with them divers Carts laden with Armour of their own providing with Dryfats and great Chests wherein they reported to be treasure for the payment of souldiers with which they so possest the common-people that all was believed for truth which was thus rumored But the finest devise of all was to have five of the Duke of Glocesters instruments manacled and pinioned like Traytors and these in every place where the King lodgedâ— to be dispersed and given out to be men of great birth drawn into this vile plot of Treason by the Queens brother who must seem to be penitent for their offence and to confesse their own guilt and this devise continued acting till the king came to Lâ—ndon where their visards were pull'd off and the disguise was soon discovered The Queen in the mean time having intelligence of these dolefull accidents and fearing there were worse
Sir Giles Capell Thomas Cheiney and others obtained leave of the King to be at the challenge where they all behaved themselves with great valour but specially the Duke of Suffolke whose glory the Dolphyn so much envied that he got a Dutch-man the tallest and strongest man in all the Court of France secretly as another person to encounter him with a purpâ—e to have the Duke foyled but indeed it turned to his greater honour for he foiled the Dutch-man in such sort that when they came to the Barriers the Duke by maine strength took him about the neck and so prommeled him about the head that he made the blood issue out at his nose many other Princes and Lords did bravely and after three dayes the Justs ended King Henry was not long behinde to solemnize it in England also for at Greenwich the Christmas following on Newyeers night and Twelfth night he presented such strange and magnificent devices as had seldome been seene and the third of February following he held a solemne Justs where he and the Marquesse Dorset answered all commers at which time the King brake three and twenty speares and threw to the ground one that encountred him both man and horse At this time preparation was making for King Henry in person to go to Callice there to meet with the French King and Queene but death hindred the designe for before the next spring the first of Ianuary the French King dyed at the City of Paris fourscore and two dayes after his marriage teaching others by his example what it is for an old man to marry a young Lady King Henry hearing of the French Kings death sent the Duke of Suffolke Sir Richard Winkefield and Doctor West to bring over the Queene Dowager according to the Covenants of the marriage Whereupon the Queene was delivered to the Duke by Indenture who obtaining her good will to be her husband which was no hard matter that had been her first love wrote to the King her brother for his consent whereat the King seemed to stick a while but at last consented so as he brought her into England unmarried and then marry at his return but the Duke for more surety married her secretly in Paris and after having received her Dower Apparrell and Jewels came with her to Callice and there openly married her with great solemnity At their coming into England King Henry to shew his contenâ—ment with the marriage in the company of the Duke of Suffolke the Marquesse Dorset and the Earle of Essex all richly apparelled held a new kinde of Justs running courses on horseback in manner Volant as fast as one could follow another to the great delight of the beholders This yeer the King at his Mannour of Oking Woolsey Archbishop of Yorke came and shewed him letters that he was elected Cardinall for which dignity he disabled himselfe till the King willed him to take it upon him and from thenceforth called him Lord Cardinall but his Hat and Bull were not yet come after which Doctor Warham Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancelour of England finding Woolsey being now Cardinall to meddle more in his office of Chancelourship then he could well sufferâ— resigned up the Seal which the King presently gave to Woolsey About this time Cardinall Campejus was sent by Pope Leo to King Henry to solicite him to a Warre against the Turke with whom Cardinall Woolsey was joyned in Commission who hearing of the ragged retinue of his fellow Cardinell sent store of red cloath to Callice to make them fit followers of so great a Lord and when Campejus was landed at Dover Cardinall Woolsey caused the gentry of Kent to waite upon to Black-heath where he was met and received by the Duke of Norfolk and many Prelates there in a Tent of cloath of gold shifted himself into his Cardinals robes Eight Mules he had laden with necessaries but Woolsey not thinking them enough for his honour sent him twelve more But now see the shame of pride for in Cheap-side his Mules by some mischance overthrew their Carriages and Coffers on the ground whose lyds flying open shewed the world what treasure it was they carried old Breeches Boots and broken Shoos broken Meat Marybones and crusts of Bread exposing him to the laughter of all the people yet the Cardinall went joging on afore with his Crosses guilt Axe and Mace unto Pauls Church and by the way had an Oration made him by Sir Thomas Moore in name of the City and then waited on with many Bishops was conducted to Bath Place where he was lodged for his own particuler he got well by the Journey for the King gave him the Bishoprick of Salisbury but the errand he came about which was to have Ayde by mony for a Warre against the Turke he could not obtaine for it was well known to be but a devise to get money without any intention of what was pretended In his seventh yeer King Henry kept his Christmas at his Mannour of Eltham where on Twelfth night according to his custome was a stately Maske of Knights and Ladies with solemne Daunsing and a most Magnificent Banquet It was now the eight yeer of King Henryes Reigne when the new league between him and the French King was Proclaimed in the City of London and this yeer Mageret Queene of Scots eldest Sister to King Henry having before married Archibald Dowglasse Earle of Angus by reason of dissention amongst the Lords of Scotland was glad with her husband to flye into England and to seek succour at her brothers hands who assigned to her the Castle of Harbottell in Northumberland to reside in where she was delivered of a daughter named Margaret From thence the King sent for her and her husband to come to his Court and thereupon the third of May Queene Margaret riding on a white Palfrye which the Queen of England had sent her behinde Sir Thomas Parrâ— came through London to Baynards Castle and from thence went to Greenwich but her husband the Earle of Angus was secretly before departed into Scotland which when King Henry heard he onely â—aid it was done like a Scot. And now in honour of his sisters coming King Henry the nine and twentieth of May appointed two solemne dayes of Justs where the King the Duke of Sâ—ffolke the Earle of Essex and Nicholas Carew Esquire took upon them to answer all commers amongst others the King and Sir William Kinston ran together which Sir William though a strong and valourous Knight yet the King overthrew him to the ground all the rest was performed with no lesse valour then magnificence This yeer died the King of Aragon Father to the Queene of England for whom was kept a solemne Obsequie in the Cathedrall Church of Pauls and Queene Margaret after she had been a yeer in England returned into Scotland In this yeer were sent twelve hundred Carpenters and Masons with three hundred Labourers to the City of Tourney in France to build a Castle
in respect of them whom he left behinde him for if they in his absence should by any accident be drawne to waver in their resolution they might worke their owne safety with his destruction and make themselves seeme innocent in his guiltinesse To which one of the Lords replied and said Your Grace makes a doubt of that which cannot be for which of us all can wash his hands cleane of this businesse and therefore it behooves us to be as resolute as your selfe and the Earle of Arundell to testifie his resolution in the matter said he was sorry it was not his chance to goe with him at whose feet he could finde in his heart to spend his blood So the Duke with the Marquesse of Northampton the Lord Gray and divers other of account on the fourteenth of Iuly set forward on the journey with eight thousand foot and two thousand horse and passing through Shoreditch the Duke said to the Lord Gray see how the people presse to see us but not one of them saith God speed you The Duke had every dayes march how farre he should goe appointed him by Commission which being very slow whether it were done of purpose by some that favoured the Lady Maries side was certainly a great helpe to her proceedings for by this meanes she had the longer time to make her preparations and indeed in this time two accidents happened of great benefit to her one that Edward Hastings the Earle of Huntingtons brother having an Army of foure thousand foot committed to him by the Earle of Northumberland he now left his Party and went to the Lady Mary the other that six great Ships which lay before Yarmouth to intercept the Lady Mary if she shouly attempt to flye now at the perswasion of Master Ierningham came in to her aide which two revolts so terrified the Londoners that though Doctor Ridley Bishop of London on the sixteenth of Iuly at Pauls Crosse Preached a Sermon wherein he invited the people to stand firme to Queene Iane whose cause he affirmed to be most just yeâ— few or none were perswaded by him so as the Lords themselves fell off from the side who assembling at Beynards-Castle first the Earle of Arundell then the Earle of Pembrooke fell to invectives against the Earle of Northumberland and then all the Lords joyning in opinion with them they called for the Major and in London Proclaimed the Lady Mary Queene as likewise the Lord Windsor Sir Edmund Peckham Sir Robert Drurie and Sir Edward Hastings did in Buckinghamshire Sir Iohn Williams of Tame and Sir Leonard Chamberlaine in Oxfordshire and Sir Thomas Tresham in the County of Northampton All this came soone to the knowledge of the Duke of Northumberland being then at Burie who thereby seeing how the world went thought it his best course to turne with the streame and thereupon returning to Cambridge he tooke the Major of the Towne with him into the Market-place and there himselfe for want of a Herauld Proclaimed the Lady Mary Queene and in signe of joy threw up his Cap which yet served not his turne for the next morning Henry Fitz-Allen Earle of Arundell came into Cambridge from Queene Mary who entring his Chamber the Duke at his feet fell on his knees desiring him for Gods love to consider his case that had done nothing but by the Warrant of him and the Councell My Lord said the Earle I am sent hither by the Queen to arrest you and I said the Duke obey your arrest yet I beseech your Lordship to use mercy towards him whose Acts have been no other then were injoyned by Commission you should have thought of that sooner said the Earle and thereupon committed him to a Guard and left him to the Queenes mercy Thus ended all this great Dukes designes in his owne destruction and brought him to fall on his knees to them who had often before bowed their knees to him and the Earle who at the Dukes going ouâ— could have beene contented to spend his blood at his feet was now contented to be made an instrument of his fall so sudden are the turnes of mens affections and so unstable is the building upon their asseverations at lest no man must looke to have his case be of any weight against him who hath his owne case put in the Ballance Together with the Duke his three Sonnes Iohn Ambrose and Henry the Earle of Huntington Sir Andrew Dudley the two Gates Iohn and Henry Sir Thomas Palmer and Doctor Sands were conveyed towards London and brought to the Tower and the next day the Marquesse of Northampton the Lord Robert Dudley and Sir Robert Corbet Before which time the Duke of Suffolke entring his daughters the Lady Ianes Chamber told her she must now put off her Royall Robes and be contented with a private life to which she answered She would much more willingly put them off then she had put them on and would never have done it but in obedience to him and her Mother And this was the end of the Lady Ianes ten dayes Reigne THE REIGNE OF QUEEN MARY THE Lady Mary having bin Proclaimed Queen in London and other parts of the Realme removed from her castle of Framingham towards London and being come to Wanstead in Essex on the thirtieth of Iuly the Lady Elizabeth her sister with a traine of a thousand horse rode from her place in the Strand to meet her on the third of August the Queene rode through London to the Tower where at her entrance were presented to her Thomas Duke of Norfolke Edward Lord Courtney Stephen Gardiner late Bishop of Winchester and the Duâ—chesse of Somerset who all kneeling downeâ— she kissed them and said These be my Prisoners and then caused them presently to be set at liberty the next day she restored the Lord Courtney to his Marchisate of Exceter and the same day also she not onely restored Stephen Gardiner to his Bishopricke of Winchester but a few daâ—es after made him Chancellour of England yet this was the man that had subscribed to her Mothers Divorceâ— and had written Bookes against the lawfulnesse of her mariage The fift of August Edmund Bonner late Bishop of London prisoner in the Marshalsey and Cutbert Tunstall the old Bishop of Durham prisoner in the Kings Bench had their Pardons and were restored to their Sees Sortly aftâ—r all the Bishops which had been deprived in the time of King Edward the sixth were restored to their Bishopricksâ— and the new removed as Ridley was removed from London and Bonner placed Skory from Chichester and Day placed Miles Coverdale from Exceter and West placed Iohn Hooper from Worcester and Heath placed Also all Beneficed men that were married or would not renounce their Religion were put out of their Livings and other of a contrary opinion put in their rooms On the thirteenth of August one Master Bourne a Canon of Pauls preaching at Pauls Crosse not onely prayed for the dead but also declared that Doctor Bonner
mercy and gave them their Pardon of which number were Master Rudston of Kent Sir Iames a Crofts the Lord Iohn Gray brother to the Duke of Sufâ—olke and some others About this time a little before and after were advancements in honour the Lord William Howard Lord Admirall of England was created Baron Hoâ—ard of Eâ—â—ingham Sir Iohn VVilliams was created Baron of Tames Sir Edward North was created Baâ—on of Chartleigh Sir Iohn Bridges was created Baron Chandowes of Sudeley Gerrard Fitz Garret was created Earl of Kildare and Bâ—ron of Ophelley and not long after Sir Anthony Browne Master of the Horse was created Viscount Mountagâ—â— It is scarce worth remembring that in the end of this firâ—â— yeer of â—he Queens reignâ— one Elizabeth Croâ—t a wench of eighteen yeeres old was by prâ—ctice put into a Wall and thereupon called the Spirit in the Wall who with a whistle made for the purpose whistled out many seditious words against the Queene the Prince of Spaine the Masse Confession and such other Points for which she did Penance standing upon a skaffold at Pauls Croâ—â—e all the Sermon time where she made open confession of her fault There had beene good store of Laymens blood shed already and now the times is comming to have Clergie mens shed and for a preparative to it on the tenth of Aprill Cranmâ—r Archbishop of Canterbury Nicholas Ridley laâ—e Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer late Bishop of Worcester are conveyed from the Tower to Oxford there to dispure with Oxford and Cambridge men in points of Religion but specially of the Eucharist the Oxford men were Cole Chaâ—scy Pye Harpsefield Smith and Doctor Weston Prolocurour the Cambridge men Young Seaton Watson Atkinson Fecknham and Sedgewicke the Disputation ended which we may well thinke as the matter was carried went against the prisoners on the twentieth of Aprill they were brought again on the Stage and then demanded whether they would persist in their opinion or else recant and affirming they would persist they were all three adjudged Hereticks and condemned to the fire but their execution we must not looke for till a yeere or two hence but in the meane time we have Iohn Rogers the first Martyr of these time burnt at London the fourth of February after whom the ninth of February Iohn Hooper late Bishop of VVorcester burnt at Glocester after him Robert Ferrar Bishop of Man burnt at Carmarden after him Iohn Bradford with many others and then the two famous men Ridley and Latimer no lesse famous for their constant deaths then their religious lives both burnt at Oxford the sixteenth of October This rising of VVyat had beene a Remora to the Queenes marriage and now to avoid all such obstacles hereafter the Queen in Aprill called a Parliament wherein were pâ—opounded two things one for confirmation of the Marriage the other for restoration of the Popes Primacie This latter was not assented to but with great difficulty for the six yeers reigne of King Edward had spred a plantation of the Protestâ—nt Religion in the hearts of many but the Proposition for the marriage was assented to readily but yet with the adding of some conditions which had noâ— beene thought of in the former Articles First that King Phillip should admit of no Stranger in any Office but onely Nativesâ— secondly that he should innovate nothing in the Lawes and Customes of the Kingdome Thirdly that he should not carry the Queen out of the Realme without her consent nor any of her children without consent of the Councell Fourthly that surviving the Queeâ— he should challenge no right in the Kingdome but suffâ—r it to descend to the next heire Fiftly that he should carry none of the Jewels of the Realme out of the Kingdome nor suffer any Ships or Ordnance to be removed out of the Realme and lastly that neither directly nor indirectly he should cause the Realme of England to be intangled with the warre betweene Spaine and France All things being thus agreed on the Earle of Bedford Lord Privie Seale the Lord Fitzwaters and divers other Lordâ— and Gentlemen are sent into Spaine to fetch over Prince Phillippe who arrived at Southampton the twentieth of Iuly in the yeere 1554. and the three and twentieth came to VVinchester where the Queene met him and the five and twentieth the marriage betweene them there was openly solemnized the desparity of yeeres as in Princes not much regarded though he were then but seven and twenty yeeres of age shee eight and thirty at which time the Emperours Embassadour being present openly declared that in consideration of that mariage the Emperour had given to Prince Phillippe his sonne the Kingdomes of Naples and Hierusalem and thereupon the solemnity of marriage being ended Garter King of Heraulds openly in the Church in the presence of the King the Queene and the Lords both of England and Spaine solemnly proclaimed the title and stile of these two Princes as followeth Phillip and Mary by the grace of God King and Queen of England France Naples Hierusalem and Ireland Defenders of the Faith Princes of Spaine and Scicily Archdukes of Austria Dukes of Millany Burgandy and Brabant Counts of Habspurge Flanders and Tyroll After this the King and Queene by easie journeys came to Winsor Castle where the King was instal'd Knight of the Garter and the Earle of Sussex with him The eleventh of August they removed to Richmond the seven and twentieth to Suffolk-place in Southwark and the next day to London where the stately shews that were made may well enough be conceived without relaring from hence after foure dayes they removed againe to Richmond where all the Lords had leave to depart into their Countries and indeede so many departed that there remained not an English Lord at the Court but the Bishop of Winchester from Richmond they removed to Hampton-court where the Hall door within the Court was continually kept shut so as no man might enter unlesse his errand were first known which might perhaps be the fashion of Spain but to Englishmen seemed very strange About this time Cardinall Poole sent for by the King and Queene came over into England and had come sooner but that the Emperour fearing he might prove a corrivall with his sonne Phillip had used meanes to stop his passage but now that his Sonnes marriage was past he was content to let him passe who though he came from Rome with the great authority of a Legat â— Latere yet he would not but come privately into London because his Attaindour was yet upon Record an Act therefore was presently passed to take it off and to restore him in blood for passing of which Act the King and Queene in person came to the Parliament house whither a few dayes after the Cardinall came himselfe which was then kept in the great Chamber of Whitehall because the Queen by reason of sicknesse was not well able to goe abroad and here the King and Queene sitting under the cloath of Estate
wonted treacherous manner proffered some kinde of submission to the Lieutenant but withall made unreasonable demands The State of Ireland being thus in combustion a serious consultation is holden whom to send to quench it the Queen and most of the Counsell thought Sir Charls Blunt Lord Mountjoy the fittest manâ— but Essex covertly intimated that he had no military experience and besides was too bookish to prove a good Commander he seem'd to aym at the place for himself though he made a shew modestly to refuse it and yet still ready with his exceptions if any other were nominatedâ— many thought it dangerous to have an Army put into his hands for his followers talked of great matters that he forsooth was descended of the blood Royall of Scotland and England and had better Right to the Crown then any other of the Competitors In Conclusion he is appointed Vice-Roy with ample Authority to make Warre or conclude Peace and pardon all offenders even Tir-Oen himselfe An army is allotted him as great as he desired Indeed greater then ever Ireland had seen before Twenty Thousand Foot and Thirteen Hundred Horse with these and a great Retinue besides of the Nobility he passeth into Ireland where as soon as he had taken the Sword contrary to his Commission which was to go immediately against the arch-Rebell he marcheth towards Munster against the petty Rebels taketh the Castle of Cahir and driveth the Rebels into the Woods and Groves adjoyning His Forces being now impaired he tarrieth to make them up but in the mean time sendeth directions to Sir Coniers Clifford President of Connacht to set upon the Rebels in one place thereby to sever their forces while he assaulted them in another Clifford marcheth toward Belike with 1500. Souldiers where the Rebels are upon them at unawares under the conduct of O-Rorke his Sonne that was hanged here in England The English repell them at first with ease and march along but the Rebels finding they wanted Powder set upon them againe and put them to flight in which Skirmish Clifford and many of the old Souldiers were slain Essex having by this time received new supplies out of England and a check for neglecting the Queens Command setteth forth at length toward the Borders of Ulster with Thirteen hundred Foot and five hundred horse being come thither Tir-Oen by a Messenger requesteth Parley Essex refuseth saying he might speake with him the next morning between the two Armyes the next day word is brought to Essex that Tir-Oen craved the Queens mercy and that he might onely be heard speake appointing the shallow of Balla Clinch for a most convenient place thither came Essex alone with whom Tir-Oen riding his horse up to the girts had private conference a full houre A while after Con Tir-Oens base Sonne came to Essex requesting in his Fathers name a second Parley and that some of the chiefe on both sides might be present Essex consented so there came not more then six At the day appointed many words had not passed but it was argued that their Delegates should Treat the next day concerning a Peace between them it was concluded that a Truce should be held from six weekes to six weeks till Mayâ—day By this time the Qu. understanding that no more was done after so much time and money spent in a great anger taxeth the Earls proceedings and I know not how it fell from her to some others that stood by that he had other thoughts in his mind then the good of his Prince and Country And thereupon dispatched very sharp Letters to him blaming his delay and letting slip every faire opportunity with which Letters Essex was so netled and chiefely troubled that the Queen had now made Cecill Master of the Wards which he expected himselfe that he beganne to cast strange Projects within his minde and held private consultations of returning into England with part of his Forces to surprize his Adversaries But from this course the Earl of Southampton and Sir Christopher Blunt disswaded him as being dangerous and wicked Yet within a moneth over he went and came to the Court at Nonesuch to informe the Queen of the State of Ireland By the way the Lord Gray of Welton crossed him but saluted him not whom one of his followers offered to kill for his contempt but Essex would not suffer him And made such hast that early in the Morning he was upon his Knees before the Queen in the Privy Chamber She enteriained him courteously but not with the countenance She was wont and after a little talke bid him keepe in his Chamber And soon after Committed him to Custody in the Lord Privy Seales House where entring into Consideration of his case he giveth himselfe wholly to Divine Contemplation and writeth wonderfull Letters to his friends of the vanity of the things of this life It was now the yeer one thousand six hundred and the two and fortieth of Queen Elizabeths Kaign when after the departure of the Earle of Essex Tir-Oen began to carry himselfe as Monarch of Ireland and sendeth Kernes to make spoyle in the possessions of such as continued in their loyalty to the Queene under Mac-Guir their Captaine who lighting casually upon Sir Warham Saint Leger thrust him thorough with a speer and was himself thrust thorough withall Whereupon the Queen sent Sir Charls Blunt Lord Montjoy to take upon him the Deputies place who looseth no time but first of all marcheth towards Ulster buildeth a fort within eight miles of Armagh which in hononr of Sir Iohn Norris under whom he had his first military schooling he calleth by the name of Mount Nâ—rris there he placed Edward Blanye who kept the Rebels in awe in those paâ—â—s from thence back he goeth into Leynster wherein the Glynnes he reduceth into order Donell-Spaniah Phelim Mac-Pheoph and the Rebelling Nation of the O-Tooles taking hostages of them then back into Ulster again being victor wheresoever he cometh and at Tradagh receiveth into protection Mac-Henry Mac-Cowly and other rebels who fell at his feet for mercy All this and more he did in his first yeer and no lesse successefull was Carew President of Munster who drave out of the County the Titular Earle of Desmond and having found Munster a turbulent Province in Aprill he overcomed and made it so quiet by December following that the Rebels maintained not one Fort in it against the Queen And now a new consultation was holden in England touching a peace with the King of Spaine the which he sought both by the French King and by Albâ—rtus the Archduke who was now returned into the Netherlands out of Spain where he was marryed to the Infanta The Queen consenting to a Treaty left it to the French King to nominate both the time and place for the meeting of the Delegates who set down the Month of May and Bulloigne in France But now foreseeing that a question would arise about Precedency some were appointed to search Ancient Records concerning
indeed fit to give a vent to the passage of Honour which during Queene Elizabeths Raigne had been so stopped that scarce any County of England had Knights enow in it to make a Iury. Before we goe further it will not be amisse to shew what great men attended King Iames out of Scotland as namely the Duke of Lenox the Earle of Marre the Lord Hame and many other great Lords and many other whom he afterward made great Lords as bring in his speciall favour first Sir George Hame made afterward Earle of Dunbarre then Sir Thomas Erskin made Earle of Kelly then Sir Iohn Ramsey made Earle of Holdernesse which two last had the fortune to come first in to his rescue against the Gowries then Sir Iames Hay made afterward Earle of Carlile and then Sir Richard Preston made Earle of Kildare in Ireland but whose great fortune by marrying the Heire of that Earledome was afteward the occasion of his great misfortune for comming out of Ireland he was unfortunately cast away and drowned But though King Iames was now safely come himselfe to London yet he accounted himselfe but halfe come untill his Queene and children were come to him and therefore there are now appointed to goe to conduct them of Lords and Earle of Sâ—ssex the Earle of Lincolne the Lord Compton the Lord Norris and Sir George Carow Knight Lord President of Munster of Ladies the Countesse of Worcester the Countesse of Kildare the Lady Anne Herberts daughter to Henry Earle of Pembrooke the Lords Scroopes Lady the Lady Rich wife to the Lord Rich and the Lady Walsingham one of the late Queenes bedchamber But although these only were appointed to goe yet many other Lords and great Ladies went of themselves to attend her Majesty as the Countesse of Bedford the Lady Hastings the Lady Cecill the Lady Hatton the Lady Harington and divers other and with this Princely attendance the Queene with two of her children namely Prince Henry of the age of nine yeares and the Lady Elizabeth on the eleventh of Iune came to Yorke where resting themselves some few dayes on the seven and twentieth of Iune they came to Easton in Northamptonshire a house of Sir George Fermors where the King met them at dinner and afterward they rode together to a house of Sir Iohn Fortescue and so to London The Kings younger sonne Charles Duke of Albany came not at this time as being not three yeeres old and therefore not thought able to endure such a journey but the yeare following falling sick of a feavor Doctor Atkins one of the Kings Physitions was sent to conduct him who in six weekes cured him of his feavour and the first weeke of October brought him safe to Windsor where the King then lay for which service he was so well rewarded that together with the gaynâ—s of his usuall practiceâ— hee grew to a greater wealth then was usuall for Physitions King Iames had distributed the meaner Order of Knighthoâ—d very plentifully now he thinks fit to raise his distributions to a higher degree and therupon on the twentieth of May he made Sir Robert Cecil Baron of Esindon Sir Robert Sidney Baron of Penshurst Sir William Knowles Baron of Greyes and Sir Edward Wooten Baron of Morley and not long after hee made the Lord Henry Howard Earle of North-Hampton and Thomas Sackvile Lord Buckhurst he made Earle of Dorset The King had by this time found the love and affection of his own people but the affection of neighbouring Princes towards him stood yet in suspence when now to take away that doubt came first in the beginning of Iune an Embassador from the Palsgrave of Rhyne presently after another from the States of Holland and Zeland another from the Arch-Duke of Austria another from the King of Spaine from the Seignory of Venice another another from the Duke of Florence and lastly on the eight of Iune Monâ—ieur de Rhosny from the King of France all congratulating his happy comming to the Crowne of England for entertainment of which Embassadors and all other that should come after the King had erected an Office by the name of Master of the Ceremonies allowing him two hundred pounds a yeer Fee and the first that had the place was Sir Lewis Lewkenor a Gentleman who besides other good parts was very skilfull in the neighbouring languages Vpon the seventeenth of May this yeere were made fourteene Serjeants at Law whereof eleven had received Writs the last yeare of Queene Elizabeth namely Thomas Coventry Robert Haughton Lawrence Tanfield Iohn Crooke Thomas Foster Edward Philips Thomas Harris Iames Altham Henry Hubbard Augustine Nicholls and Robert Perker to whom the King added three new Iohn Sherley George Snygge and Richard Hutton who all kept their Feast together in the Middle Temple Hall One would thinke that by this time all Offences against Queene Elizabeth had been forgotten but King Iames more tender of wrongs done to her than to himselfe would not suffer Valentine Thomas so to escape who after he had lyen many yeeres prisoner in the Tower was on the fourth of â—une arraigned at the Kings Bench-Barre and for conspiracy against the late Queene and some of her Counsell was on the seventh of Iune after six a clock at night drawne to Sâ—â— Thomas Waterings and there hanged and quartered About this time the Honourable Charles Lord Montjâ—y returned out of Ireland bringing alone with him Hugh O Neale Earle of Teroen at whose comming to the King the Lord Montjoy was sworne of the Kings Privie Counsell and the Earle of Teroen who had beene the cause of so much English bloud shed was yet pardoned and Proclamation made that by all men he should be used with respect and honour All this while the King had moved within his own Spheare and had done nothing out of the Realme his first Imployment abroad was now in Iune to his brother the King of Denmark to whom he sent in Embassage the Earle of Rutland upon two occasions the one to be Godfather to his sonne who was named Christianus the other to present him with the Order of the Garâ—er upon the like imployment soone after he sent the Lord Spenâ—er to Frederick Duke of Wirtenberg which Lords saw the said Princes Invested with the Garter and after honourable entertainment returned home It was now a time that every man might sit under his Vine and enjoy the happinesse of a peaceable Government when suddenly like a storme in a faire Somers day brake forth a Treason of a strange Composition for where in all TreasoÌ„s commonly they are all of some one Faction in this there were people of all sorts Priests and Laymen Papists and Protestants Noblement Knights and Genâ—lement that one would think it should be a well mannaged Treason and yet was the shallowest that was ever set on foot so shallow that it could scarce be observed either what the Authors of it ayled or what it was they would hâ—ve done Indeed the great
favour which King Iames at his first comming to the Crown shewed to the Earle of South-Hampton was like to breed no good blood in those that were his oposites and it was said how true I know not that as the King had sent to enlarge the Earle of South-Hampton and apointed him to meet him upon the way So when he heard of an Intention that the Lord Cobham and Sir Walter Ralegh had to meet him he sent them word they should spare their labour But why there it were so or no it seemes they found some â—ause of discontentment and discontentment will never want Complyces and by this meanes was the composition of this Tâ—eason made up and thereupon were apprehended Henry Lord Cobham and George Brook his brother Thomas Lord Grey of Wilton Sir Walter Ralegh Sir Griffith Markham and Sir Edward Parham Knights Bartholmew Brookesby and Anthony Copley Gentlemen William Watson and William Clerke Priests But though they were apprehended in Iuly yet they come not to their arraignment till November following for by reason of the sicknesse which was then hot in London the Terme was put off till Crastino Martini and then to be kept at Winchester in Hamp-shire only the Courts of the Exchecker Wards Liveries and the Dutchy of Lancaster were kept in the Kings Mannour at Richmond in the County of Surrey and so in the fourth of November following all the foresaid Delinquents were removed from the Tower of London and other Prisons by strong Guards to Winchester and there arraigned whose Indictment was for Conspiring 1 To kill the King 2 To raise Rebellion 3 To alter Religion 4 To subvert the State 5 To procure Invasion by Strangers Concerning the first Point it was proved that the Lord Grey intended to obtaine the levying of two thousand men for defence of the Low-Countreyes and with them to seize uâ—on the King and Prince and take the Lords of the Counsaile in their chambers For the other Points It was proved that the Lord Cobham and Sir Walter Ralegh met at S Martins in the Fields and there consulted about raising Sedition mooving Rebellion altering Religion subverting the State and to set up the Lady Arbella And particularly for the Point of subverting the State It was proved that Watson was designed to be Lord Chancellor George Brooke Lord Treasurer Sir Griffin Markham Secretary and the Lord Grey to be Master of the Horse and Earle Marshall of England and for effecting of these Treasons It was proved that Waston the Priest had devised Oaths in writing by which all parties were bound to keep them secret And for the last point It was proved that Sir Walter Ralegh was appointed to treate with Count Aramberg for six hundred thousand Câ—owns and the Lord Cobham to go to the Arch-Duke and to the King of Spaine to perswade them to assist the Lady Arbella These things being proved against them on the dayes in which they were severally Indicted the most which was replied in mitigation of their fault was first by Waston who affirmed it could not be Treason because the King was not yet Crowned and then by the Lord Grey that it was but a verbal matter and never took effect and therfore could be no Treason but these assertions being both refuted they were al except Sir Edwâ— Parham who only was acquitted on their severall dayes of inditement found guilty of Treason and had Iudgement accordingly The Priests Watson and Clerk were executde at Winchester the nine and twentieth of November George Brooke was beheaded the fift of Decemb. but then the hand of Iustice stayedâ— and this was the course which the K. held in shewing mercy After the death of the three before named he signed three other warrants for the execution of the late L. Cobham the Lord Grâ—y and Sir Griffin Markâ—hâ—m on a certain day then following but before that day came he privately framed another warrant written with his own hand to the Sheriffe who was then Sir Benjamin Tichburne by which he countermanded the former Warrants and that there might be no notice taken of it he sent it by Mr. Iohn Gybbe a Scotch-man and one utterly unknown to all the company appointing him to deliver it so that it might not take effect til after their severall confessions and at the very point of their Execution which was accordingly performed At which time it was a wonderfull thing to see how the Delinquents falling on their knees lamented their misdoings and most of all how they extolled the Kings unspeakable mercy But though thus pardoned yet were they carryed back to the Tower where the L Grey not long after dyed and in him was extinct that Barony which had formerly broâ—ght forth many valourous worthy men Sir Griffin MarkhaÌ„ after some time was set at liberty passed beyond sea wher he lived long after in meane account The Lord Cobham likewise was afterward discharged of imprisonment but deprived of his Estate lived divers years after in great pennury and in him ended that noble Family which had flourished in great honor many Ages Sir Walter Ralegh was kept in the Tower where to his great honour he spent his time in writing and had bin a happy man if he had never beene released But such is our state that no mans fortune is understood whether it be good or bad untill it be discovered by the Event But in this meane time many things had passedâ— for his Majesty having deferred the Feast of St. George untill his being at some of his owne houses held now the said Feast at Windsor the second of Iuly where the Prince was installed Knight of the Garter as also the Duke of Lenox the Earle of South-Hampton the Earle of Mâ—rre and the Earle of Pembrooke and at the same time were elected the King of Denmark and the Duke of Wirtenberg though their investing have been spoken off before And now was preparation made for the Kings Coronation and for a preparative unto it hâ— first restored the Earle of South-Hampton and then raised in honor these following Sir Thomas Egerâ—on Lord Chancellourâ— he made Baron of Elsemere Sir William Russell Baron of Thornâ—ugh Sir Henry Grey Baron of Grobye Sir Iohn Peter Baron of Writtle Sir Iohn Harington Baron of Exton Sir Henry Denvers Baron of Daâ—sey Sir Thomas Gerard Baron of Gerads Bromely in the County of Stafford and Sir Robert Spenser Baron of Wormeleyton After this he conferred inferiour Orders and made Knights all the Iudges and Serjeants at Law all Civilians and Clerkes of the Signet all his Gentlemen Vshers and divers other and lastly made Knights of the Bathe threescore and two most of them Noble mens sons and the rest Gentlemen of speciall worth These things done on the five and twentieth of Iuly being St. Iames day the King and Queen were together crowned and anoynted at Westminster by the hands of Iohn Whitegift Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in presence of the Nobility and other namely Sir Robert Lee Lord