reserved her for better Fortune for being studious in the English Bible which was forbid to be read she thereby began to hearken to those who declaimed against the Abuses of the Roman Church and thought her self so well instructed in her Religion that she would debate thereof with the King who impatiently heard her both by reason of the anguish of his sore Leg and because he hated to be contradicted especially in his old Age and by his Wife as he said This was so much aggravated by Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester a bitter Enemy to the Reformation as being against the Six Articles and the Proclamation against Prohibited Books that the King gave leave to him and Wriothsley the Chancellor to draw up Articles against her which they presented to the King and were subscribed by him so that they onely expected a Warrant to carry her to the Tower which the Queen accidentally hearing of fell into a great Passion extremely bewailing her Misfortune of which the King having notice came himself to her Chamber where compassionating her Condition he used such kind Words as did help to recover her so that the next Night coming into the Kings Chamber he began to talk of Religion but she wittily excusing her self by reason of the weakness of her Sex Judgment said She would refer her self in this as in all other Causes to his Majesties Wisdom Not so by St. Mary quoth the K. you are become a Doctor Kate to instruct Vs as We take it and not to be instructed or directed by Vs But the Queen replying That what she said was rather to pass away the time and make him forget his Pain than to hold an Argument and that she hoped by hearing his Majesties Learned Discourse to receive some Profit thereby The King answered And is it even so Sweet-heart Then are we perfect Friends again and therewith lovingly kissed her But her Enemies knowing nothing of this Reconcilement prepared to send her to the Tower the next day according to the Kings Warrant when she being merrily talking with him in the Garden the Lord Wriothsley with forty of his Guard came in whom the King sternly beholding and after calling to him at some distance from the Queen so expostulated the matter that at last he reviled him and commanded him out of his Presence yet at the Kings return she humbly begged his Pardon to whom the King answered Alas poor Soul thou little knowest how ill he has deserved this for I assure thee he has been a very Knave to thee And thus by her opportune Submission she escaped though Winchester absolutely designed her Ruine Not long before King Henry sailed to Callice in a Ship with Sails of Cloth of Gold and the Emperour of Germany served under him as a Soldier at 100 Crowns a day The King sate down before Bulâ—oigne and in six weeks time it was delivered to him This was succeeded by a War with Scotland by the instigation of the French King whereupon Henry sent an Army of 20000 Men to invade Scotland who burnt and plundred several Towns and Villages but James the Fifth of Scotland an active and warlike Prince having raised Forces marched toward the Borders with a resolution to fight the English though dissuaded by his Nobility who remembred the Miseries of the former War and the loss of their last King James having made Oliver Sinclair a Favourite of mean Birth General the Lords were so much disgusted that upon the appearance of onely 500 English Horse apprehending them to be the whole English Army the Scots threw down their Arms and fled Many Prisoners were taken as the Earls of Glencairn Cassils the Lords Maxwell Sommervill Oliphant Gray and Ol. Sinclair with above 200 Gentlemen and 800 Soldiers The News of this Loss with the murdering of an English Herald being brought to King James together with the Birth of a Daughter when he earnestly desired a Son so oppressed him with Grief and Despair that he fell into a Fever and died the thirty third year of his Age and the thirty second of his Reign leaving onely his Infant Daughter Mary to succeed him This turn of Affairs put Henry upon new thoughts of uniting England and Scotland by procuring a Marriage between his Son Prince Edward and the young Queen of Scotland whereupon the King having magnificently treated the Scotch Nobility represented to them this fair Occasion of ending all Quarrels between the two Nations who approving thereof the Match was confirmed both by the Parliament of England and Scotland But Cardinal Beaton Archbishop of St. Andrews fearing that the Consequence of it would be a Change in Matters of Religion opposed it as likewise the French which caused continual Wars and great Devastations And then the King fell again upon France who were â—routed by him in divers kirmishes but in his thirty eighth year a Peace was concluded between England and France And soon after the Duke of Norfolk and his Son the Earl of urrey were convicted of High Treason onely for Quartering the Arms which they said properly belonged to the King for which the Earl was beheaded to the great grief of the People but the Duke by reason of the Kings Sickness and Death soon after was preserved For he was grown excessive Corpulent and the Inflammation of his Leg cast him into a lingring Fever whereby he finding his Spirits decay made his Will wherein he ordered that his onely Son Edward should succeed him and he dying without Issue his Daughter Mary and after her if without Issue his Daughter Elizabeth should succeed appointed the Principal Men of the Kingdom for his Executors And finding his last Moment approaching he sent for Archbishop Cranmer then at Croyden who coming found him speechless The Archbishop desired him to give some Sign of his dying in the Faith of Christ upon which he squeezed his Hand and presently departed after he had reigned thirty seven years and nine months and lived fifty six Thus died King Henry whose Reign had been fatal to his Queens burdensom and cruel to his Subjects yet glorious in respect of his Victories over his Enemies and that the Ax was then first laid to the Root of Superstition and the Door first opened to Truth and Reformation EDWARD the SIXTH King of England c. I seem'd in wisdom aged in my youth A Princely Pattern I reformed the time With Christian Courage I maintained Gods Truth And Christian Faith ' gainst Antichristian crime My Father did begin it in my prime And Bial and Belial from this Kingdom drove And I did still endeavour all my time By all means to advance Gods Truth and Love To add Grace unto Grace I always strove I liv'd beloved both of God and Men My Soul unto its maker soar'd above My Mortal Part returned to Earth agen Thus death my just proceedings did prevent And Peers and People did my loss lament EDward was born at Hampton-Court Oct. 17. 1537. Being the only surviving
all the Muses Nine In Latin Greek and Hebrew she most excellent was known To Forreign Kings Ambassadors the same was daily shown Th' Italian French and Spanish Tongue she well could speak and read The Turkish and Arabian Speech grew perfect at her need JAMES King of England c. EPITAPH WE justly when a meaner Subject dies Begin his Epitaph with here he lies But wherin King whose memory remains Triumphant over-death with Here he Reigns Now he is dead to whom the world imputes Deserved admirable Attributes For shall we think his Glory can decease That 's honour'd with a stile The King of Peace VVhose happy Vnion of Great Britany Calls him The blessed King of Unity And in whose Royal Title it ensu'th Defender of the Faith and King of Truth These girt thy Brows with an Immortal Crown Great James and turn thy Tomb into a Throne BY the death of Queen Elizabeth the Sovereignty of the Tudors expired yielding place to the Stuarts to succeed the first of whom was James the sixth King of Scotland who united both the Kingdoms was of the same Religion with his Predecessor happy because he obtained the Kingdom by lawful Succession no way imbroiled with Wars and Tumults but settled in exceeding great Peace yet as a storm succeeds a calm soon after his entrance a Conspiracy was discovered and the Lord Cobbam Sir Walter Rawleigh and others were accused and condemned for designing the destruction of the King to change Religion to raise Tumults and to introduce Forreigners some of whom were put to death and others Imprisoned He was Crowned at Westminster by Archbishop Whitgift at which time there raged so great a Plague in London that 305 78 died thereof in one year He caused the Bible to be newly translated out of the Original Languages Now though the King had made Peace with Spain yet the Popes Sons thought to have brought ruin upon the King and Kingdom all at once during the sitting of the Parliament to which purpose they had hired a Cellar under the Parliament House wherein they placed thirty six barrels of Gunpowder and upon them several Bars of Iron Faggots and other things for doing Execution but this Hellish Design was happily discovered by a Letter sent to the Lord Monteagle Son to the Lord Morley by some of the Conspirators wherein they advised him not to appear in the House the first day of sitting this Letter being shewed to divers of the Nobility they could not comprehend the meaning thereof but being seen by the King he presently conjectured that the design was to blow up the House with Gunpowder and search being made it was happily discovered and the Conspirators fled Piercy and Catesby being pursued were shot to death before they could be taken others were burnt to Death by drying Gunpowder by the Fire Sir Ever Digby John and Christopher Wright Guy Fawks Grant Winter â—ates and Keys were hanged and quartered as principal Plotters some of them designed an Insurrection in Northampton and Warwickshire but it was soon blown over In his tenth year the Countess of Essex accusâ—ng her Husband of Insufficiency was divorced from him married to the E. of Somerset who was thought to have made love to her before in an unlawful way and therefore Sir Thomas Overbury disswaded him from the Match as being a Vitious Woman which she having notice of they contrived his death and having persuaded him to refuse an honourable imployment offered him by the King he was sent to the Tower for his contempt where with the help of Sir Gervas Elway the Lieutenant Mrs. Turner one Franklin an Apothecary and Weston his death was effected by Poyson which being after discovered they were executed for the same and the Earl and Countess of Somerset condemned but reprieved Fredrick Count Elector Palatine came now to London to marry King James's Daughter which was solemnized with all manner of Joy but soon overclouded by the death of the Virtuous and Heroick Prince Henry Nov. 6. 1612. about which time the gallant Sir Walter Rawleigh after fourteen years imprisonment Petitioned the King that he might make a Voyage into America which the King granted giving him a Commission under the great Seal to set forth Ships and Men for his Service his reputation and merit caused many Gentlemen of Quality to venture their Estates and Persons with him many considerable Adventures hapned as the burning of St. Thomas and others of which Information being given to Count Gondamor the Spanish Ambassador he continually importuned the King for satisfaction Of which Rawleigh as soon as ever landed at Plymouth having notice endeavoured to escape from thence in a Bark to Rochel but being taken he was brought to London and committed to the Tower Gondamor looked on him as a Man of great Courage and Ability but as having much Animosity against his Master being one of those Scourges employed by Q. Elizabeth to vex him and was therefore resolved to use all manner of means to ruine him In consequence whereof in October Rawleigh was brought to the Kings Bench Bar before the L. Chief Justice where the Record of his Arraignment at Winchester was produced and he demanded why Judgment should not be put in execution against him Rawleigh replied That the Judgment was made void by the Kings Commission for his late Expedition The L. Chief Justice replied The Opinion of the Court was to the contrary and thereupon he was sentenced and requiring time to prepare for Death it was answered The time appointed was the next Morning And accordingly he was the next day beheaded in the Old Palace-yard Westminster About this time Queen Ann died and the Palsgrave who had married the Lady Elizabeth having at the Instance of several of the German Princes been chosen King of Bohemia the Emperour was wonderfully inraged thereat and proclaimed War against him driving him first out of Bohemia and afterward out of all Germany yet at last he was received and found bountiful Entertainment in Holland During this Kings Reign the English Plantations were setled in the West-Indies namely Virginia first discovered by Sir Water Rawleigh who gave it that Name in Honour of his Virgin-Mistress Q. Elizabeth Also Bermudas and New-England to which a multitude of Inhabitants quickly resorted and made themselves very commodious Habitations James was K. of England Scotland France and Ireland he was Son to Henry Stuart L. Darnly who was Grandson to the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to King Henry the seventh of England by her second Husband His Mother was Mary Queen of Scotland Grandchild to the Lady Margaret by her first Husband James the Fourth K. of Scotland so that the Lady Margret was great Grandmother to King James both by the Father and Mothers side He Reigned twenty two years and three days and was the forty fourth Sole Monarch of England He died of the Spleen on Saturday March 27. 1625. in the fifty ninth year of his Age and was buried at Westminster
Arrow when I come to hunt upon Yarrow He caused a Seal to be made for himself whereon was engraven By this acknowledge William of Normandy to be your Patron But on the other side thus By this Seal you must know that the same is King of England In this Kings Reign lived Bevois or Bevis Earl of Southampton who not being able to endure the Oppression of the Normans gathered all the scattered Fragments of Englishmen whom desire of Liberty and hatred of the Conquerour had made willing to joyn with him associating to him likewise the Strength of the Danes and Welch who met at Cardiff in Wales But Success not depending upon Valour being unable to encounter such expert Soldiers as the Normans their Forces were routed and Bevis fled to Carlisle after which no credible Author relates what became of him Tho' the Monkish Writers have been very injurious to his Memory as well as of others who by repeating incredible things concerning them have made Posterity think there was no Truth in any of their Actions His Place of Residence is said to be Dunton in Wiltshire and his Sword was till of late kept as a Relique in Arundel-Castle not equalling in length that of King Edward the Third at Westminster King William left behind him three Sons Robert to whom he gave his Dutchy of Normandy William Rufus and Henry who both successively were Kings of England and one Daughter named Adela He was of an indifferent Stature strong Make and comly Behaviour of a stern Countenance undaunted Courage resolute in Action and quick in Execution He was discreet and Politick in managing his Affairs and Business yet it seems he perceived his own defect in some Cases for want of Learning and did therefore often excite his Sons to learn with this Saying That an Vnlearned Prince is but a crowned Ass Which Speech made such a strong Impression upon his Son Henry that by his Knowledge and Learning he obtained the Name of Beauclark or Fine Scholar King William feasted and hunted much coveted all oppressed the Conquered and still kept his dearest Friends in an awful regard of him He reigned Twenty years and ten months and died in the Sixty fourth year of his Age 1087. WILLIAM the SECOND SIRNAMED RVFVS WHat my Triumphant Father won I held I tax'd and poll'd this Kingdom more than he Great Tributes from my People I compell'd No Place in Church or Commonwealth was free But always those who most would give to me Their Suit obtained whether wrong or right The Clergy I compelled to agree To sell Church-Plate and Chalices out-right Vntil at last by the Almighty's Power My Kingly Force and Strength was Weakness made And all my Glory perish'd in an Hour My Pomp and Greatness vanish'd like a Shade For hunting in New-Forest void of Fear A Subject slew me shooting at a Deer AT the Death of William the Conquerour Robert his eldest Son Duke of Normandy being in Germany William the younger Brother hastned to London in the Company of Morcar and Wilnoth Sons to King Harold both released from Imprisonment in Normandy where soon after by the procurement of Lanfrank Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop Wolstane who were reverenced by the People and by bestowing many costly Gifts he was soon after made King though most of the Prelates and States were for Robert Soon after Robert by the incitement of Bishop Odo came into England landing at Southampton to regain his Right with a gallant Army of Normans and many French whom King Philip of France had sent to his Aid with whom joyned several of the English But William by his fair Pretences and Promises to repeal the severe Laws and Taxes in his Fathers Reign prevailed with the People to appear for him with whose assistance he regained divers strong Forts and Castles which were seised by the Nobility for the Service of Robert and among others he besieged Rochester-Castle wherein was Odo to the gaining whereof he sent out Orders That all should repair to his Assistance under the Penalty of being accounted a Niding or Coward whereby the People came in such Numbers that the Castle was soon surrendred Odo banished and his Estate forfeited And afterwards Robert out of his peaceable Inclination and to prevent the effusion of Blood accepts of William's Proposals whereby he was to hold the Crown during his Life paying to Robert Three thousand Marks a year and that if he survived he should succeed William in England and so peaceably returns back to Normandy King William having now more surely fixed himself in his Possession of the Kingdom began presently to follow his Fathers Example endeavouring to humble the innate Courage of the English by heavy Oppressions and Impositions and taking it for a Maxim That Riches heightned but Poverty debased the Spirits of Men he laid severe Taxes upon the People which were levied with all kind of despite and cruelty by his ravenous Officers This caused much discontent of which Malcolm King of Scots taking the advantage and being affronted at the English Court he invaded the North Parts with a great Army killing burning and destroying all before him till at last he sate down before a strong Castle in Northumberland valiantly defended by Robert Mowbray the Earl thereof who at last pretending to surrender it and coming out of his Castle-gate well mounted with the Keys thereof fastned to his Lance in stead of delivering them in making low Obeisance to the King in token of Submission clapping Spurs to his Horse he suddenly ran upon the King and with his Lance pierced him into the Eye whereof he immediately died After which by the swiftness of his Horse he made his Escape leaving the amazed Scots to lament their irreparable Loss who returned back to Scotland with their breath'ess King Now Robert Duke of Normandy complaining of the Kings breach of Promise designed to transport an Army to England having again Assistance from the French But William resolving to make an Offensive War abroad raised Forces here with intent to invadeâ— Normandy to the number of Twenty thousand who being ready to imbarque he proposed That whoever would give him 10 s. should be excused from going to Normandy which many willingly did whereby he raised a considerable Sum part of which being privately sent to the French King made him forsake his Ally so that Robert standing alone was soon perswaded to come to an Agreement After which they both joyn their Forces against their youngest Brother Henry who having notice thereof fortified himself in the strong Castle of Mount St. Michael in Normandy which they besieged wherein William was in great danger for some of the Besieged sallying out the King rode against them and was encountred by a Knight who killed his Horse under him and would have killed him too had he not known him by his Voice Whereupon the Soldiers with great respect mounted him on another Horse and he asking furiously who it was overthrew him the Knight stoutly
with several other Christian Princes against the Infidels in the Holy Land being fortunate in all his Proceedings save onely in his Succession to the Crown for his Success was so great there that he was freely offered to be made King of Jerusalem which he as generously refused By reason of his Absence his youngest Brother Henry without the least trouble or difficulty ascended the English Throne with the universal Approbation of the Nobility and Commons whose Inclinations were the stronger toward him because he was born in England after his Father was Crowned King and from the great Opinion they had of his singular Vertues Learning and good Temper Yet before his Coronation the Nobles obliged him to swear That he would ease the People of the great Taxes and many other Pressures under which they suffered which he accordingly performed After he was Crowned for the better ensuring his Estate and Title against the Claim of his Brother Robert he freely distributed the great Treasures left by King William among those who upon all Occasions he judged would stand by his Interest He dignified the Wealthy with high Offices and Titles of Honour He abated the Rigour of the New Laws and promised restitution of their old Privileges He regulated Weights and Measures bringing them all to one Standard He freed the People from the heavy Tribute of Danegilt and from all other unjust Taxes and Payments imposed by the former Kings He gave liberty to the Nobility and Gentry to enclose Parks and Chases with Game for their Recreation He banished from his Court all Flatterers as Traytors to his State and Government and all Luxury Sumptuousness in Apparel and Superfluity in Diet he utterly discountenanced He ordained That Thieves and High-way Robbers should be punished with Death With all manner of diligence and Application he endeavoured to reform the monstrous Pride intolerable Covetousness and extreme Sloth and Negligence of the Clergy He recalled Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury from Banishment and restored him to his Bishoprick giving him full Power to call Convocations and Synods at his Pleasure for regulating the intolerable Abuses of the Church yet leaving to the Pope his Authority to invest Bishops by giving them the Ring the Pall and the Pastoral Staff All such Ecclesiastical Dignities and Revenues which his Brother by the lewd Advice of Reynulph Bishop of Durham had seised into his Hands he freely conferred upon Grave and Learned Persons and committed Reynulph Prisoner to the Tower of London from whence he afterward escaped and earnestly invited Duke Robert who was now returned with great Honour from the Holy Land to recover the Kingdom with his Sword who thereupon raised a great Army with a Design to transport them to England In the mean time Henry having by his Proceedings endeared himself to his People confirmed them now further by marrying Maud Sister of Edgar King of Scots and Daughter of Malcolm by Margaret his Wife Sister to Edgar Atheling and Daughter to King Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside the victorious and valiant King of the Saxons Soon after Duke Robert arrived with his Army at Portsmouth many English joyning with him and great Expectations and Fears arose of a bloody War but by the discreet Mediation of Friends to both Sides a loving Agreement was concluded upon almost the same Conditions as with William Rufus namely That Henry should enjoy the Crown during Life paying to Robert Three thousand Marks a year Whereupon Robert returned back to the great discontent of his own Nobility Afterward Robert returned again to England to congratulate his Brothers good Fortune where he was Royally entertained and at the Request of his Sister Queen Maud he forgave the Payment of the Three thousand Marks a year Yet after a while the Ambition of Dominion caused Henry upon some slight occasion to quarrel with his Brother which proceeded so far that he went over to Normandy with an Army where being assisted by many of the Duke's discontented Nobility and Gentry he so prevailed against Robert that he took the Cities of Roan Caâ—n and Valois from him who being forsaken of all fled from one Place to another to secure himself King Henry returning victoriously into England and Robert perceiving that his Lords and People had utterly forsaken him and refused their Assistance and Henry's Strength and Riches increasing he came privately into England and presented himself to his Brother referring himself and all his Concerns to his own Determination But the King either knowing the Inconstancy of the Duke or being prepossessed by some Whisperers that he did not intend uprightly turned from his distressed Brother with a scornful and disdainful Countenance refusing to accept of this his humble Submission The Duke being struck to the Heart returns back to his own Country resolving to die like a Man in the Field but Henry soon routed his weak Forces and brought him Prisoner into England committing him to Cardiff Castle in Wales where endeavouring his Liberty his Eyes by Henry's Command were put out after which he lived miserably Twenty years and was buried at Glocester About this time Robert Belasme Earl of Shrewsbury raised a Rebellion but being soon vanquished he fled into Normandy where finding William of Mortaigne and Cornwal who was offended with the King for keeping from him the Earldom of Kent he soon perswaded him to raise another Insurrection and joyning their Forces they designed great matters but were presently routed by the King's Forces and kept Prisoners during their Lives The King being now freed from fear of Enemies resolved to take the same Advantages his Predecessors had done as to the Investiture of Bishops and taking vacant Bishopricks into his Hands whereat Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury was so displeased that he refused to Consecrate such new Bishops as had received their Investitures from the King But Girald Archbishop of York freely performed it upon the King's Command Hereupon Anselm went to complain at Rome and prevailed at last against the King by a Synod of the Clergy held at London Three years after Anselm died and King Henry seised the Revenues of his Bishoprick into his Hands which he kept five years and if at any time he were intreated by the Bishops to bestow it he still answered That he onely kept it for an able and sufficient Man Having enjoyed a few years of Peace he was again rowsed out of it by Lewis the French King who joyning with Fulk Earl of Anjou and Baldwyn Earl of Flanders they all made great Preparations for Invading the Dutchy of Normandy But Henry raising an Army of valiant Commanders and Soldiers landed there and soon engaged with them in Battel which continued nine hours with so great fury on each side that though King Henry won the Field and chased his flying Enemies a long way yet he would often say That he then fought not for Victory but Life Quickly after a Reconciliation was made between these four Princes and William King Henry's eldest Son was married to the Earl of Anjou's Daughter But
in their Voyage hither the two young Princes two more of the King's Children and his Niece Lucy with her Husband the Earl of Chester with near one hundred and fourscore others were unfortunately drowned by the carelesness of the drunken Mariners at which the King was wonderfully dismay'd The Welch soon after rebelled raising all the Power they could make which yet the King in a little time and with small Loss overthrew suffering his Soldiers to glut their Swords in the Blood of those Rebels whom neither gentle Usage nor former Severity could oblige to Loyalty The King returning from Wales with Honour soon after sent his Daughter Maud to be married to Henry the Fifth Emperour of Germany her contracted Husband with a Princely Portion of Silver and Gold At the same time he erected the High Court of Parliament appointing it to consist of Three Estates of which himself was the Head so that the Laws being made by the Consent of all should not be disliked of any In his Twenty seventh year Henry the Emperor died without any Issue by Maud who being at that time Twenty four years old was courted by the greatest Princes in the Christian World But the King to strengthen his Kingdom against the French married her to Jeffry Plantaginet Son and Heir to Fulk Earl of Anjou by whom she had three Sons Henry who was King after Stephen Jeffry and William which gave much content to the King to think that his Race should succeed in the Crown and the more to secure it he obliged his Nobility and the Great Officers of the Kingdom to take no less than three solemn Oaths in five years time That with their best Advice and the hazard of their Lives and Estates they would support and defend the Succession of his Daughter and her Heirs It was a Custom in his time that all Bills and Orders which concerned the Servitors of the Court should be signed without a Fee Now it hapned that Thurstan the Steward complained to the King against Adam of Yarmouth Clerk of the Signet for refusing to sign a Bill without a Fee The King heard Thurstan first commending that old Custom and reproving the Clerk for Exaction The Clerk answered I received the Bill and desired your Steward onely to bestow on me two Spiced Cakes made for your own Mouth which he refusing I denied to sign his Bill The King then reprehending the Steward commanded Adam to sit down on the Bench and then ordered the Steward to put off his Cloke and to fetch in a clean Napkin two of the best Spiced Cakes for the King's Mouth and humbly to present them to Adam which being done Adam signed the Bill and the King made them Friends adding That Officers of the Court ought to be kind to Strangers if they wanted their Assistance and much more to gratifie one another Queen Maud his Wife was so devout that she would go to Church bare-foot and was still employed in Works of Charity insomuch that David King of Scotland her Brother coming to visit her found her in her Privy Chamber with a Towel about her Middle washing wiping and kissing Poor Mens Feet which he disliking said Sure if your Husband knew this you should never kiss his Lips She replied That the Feet of the King of Heaven were to be preferred before the Lips of any King on Earth King Henry had a Pottle of Wine every Night set in his Chamber but because he seldom used to drink his Chamberlain and Pages were wont to carowse it among them One time about Midnight the King called for Wine whereat the Chamberlain and Pages were much troubled because they had left none At length Pain being called in humbly confessed the matter begging pardon What says the King have you but one Pottle a Night That is too little for me and you For the future I will allow two one for my self and another for you and your Fellows For this Act the King was commended for Bounty and Clemency When King Henry had reigned Thirty five years and four Months he surfeited by eating of Lampreys and died in the Sixty fifth year of his Age 1135. and was buried at Reading in Berkshire He was Wise Learned and Valiant yet more inclined to Peace than War He never levied but two Taxes on his People one for his Wars in France and another for marrying his Daughter Maud the Empress He grew rich of his own and was liberal He made good Laws which were profitable to the Virtuous but sharp against Malefactors using more Severity than Mercy from whence he was accounted cruel by the Common People but styled the Lion of Justice by the Learned He was gentle and grateful to his Friends rough to his Enemies but easily reconciled Yet was he too lascivious in his Life having many Concubines by whom he had twelve Bastards whom he owned He left no Legitimate Sons behind and therefore in this King ended the Issue-Male of William the Conquerour and the Crown was devolved to his general Heirs KING STEPHEN BY wrested Titles and usurping Claim Through Storms and Tempests of tumultuous Wars The Crown and Scepter which were still my Aim I won and wore encompass'd round with Jars The English Normans Scots did all prepare Their utmost Forces to oppose my Power Whilst England was oppress'd with Woe and Fear And War the Sword and Want do all devour But as Years Months Weeks Days do hourly waste And vanish all away â—as things of nought My troublous Royalty decay'd at last And unto nought was my Ambition brought This is the State of Transitory things Befalling meanest Men and greatest Kings THe Experience of all Ages doth inform us That for the eager desire of Honour and Riches Men have broken all Bonds of Honesty and Friendship but if a Kingdom may be obtained though with the breach of the most solemn Oaths and Obligations there is no scruple made of it and Men will venture upon Perjury and Damnation for gaining thereof which was too truly verified at this time For though Stephen Earl of Bulloign Son and Heir of Stephen Earl of Blois by Adela the Conquerour's Daughter was a Person whom King Henry had chiefly obliged by many Solemn and Publick Oaths to further the Succession of his Daughter Maud and her Children yet after his Death finding that all the Nobility who were equally sworn as himself applied themselves to him and awaited his Commands he either forgot or disregarded all his former Vows and caused himself to be Crowned King partly by the procurement of his Brother Henry Bishop of Winchester but chiefly by means of Hugh Bigot who took his Oath that King Henry upon his Death-bed appointed Stephen to be his Successor having disinherited his Daughter Maud upon some disgust taken against her the Prelates swearing to obey him as their King so long as he did preserve the Privileges of the Church and the Nobles swearing Allegiance
to him so long as he kept his Covenants with them and preserved their Rights whereby he acknowledged his Right to the Crown to proceed from their Election To confirm himself in his Dignity he proceeded by the same Method as Henry bestowing his Uncles Treasure freely upon such as either by Arms or Counsel might be useful to him He created several Noblemen He released the People of all extravagant Payments causing a large Charter to be drawn up for mitigating the Severity of divers Laws and bound himself by a solemn Oath to observe the same He granted to the Church and Clergy as great Immunities as they could demand and fully exempted them from the Power of the Temporal Magistrate for all Offences whatsoever without the Bishops Licence And to prevent Rebellions he erected many Castles Forts and Bulwarks in divers Parts of the Land and gave leave to the Nobility Gentry and Clergy to do the like He gave David King of Scots and Uncle to Maud the Empress because he should not assist her the whole County of Cumberland and created his Son Henry Earl of Huntington Notwithstanding which David soon after ravaged the Northern Parts with Fire and Sword in her Quarrel but being encountred by Thurstan Archbishop of York he was overthrown and hardly made his Escape into Scotland leaving above Ten thousand of his Army dead behind him which Victory was judged to be chiefly occasioned by the Courage and Policy of Thurstan who before the Battel openly proclaimed That whoever fell therein should have full Pardon of all his Sins and certainly enter into Heaven which much spirited the English In his sixth year Maud the Empress landed at Arundel in Sussex with onely an hundred and forty Men and was quickly inforced with the English who joyned with her and her base Brother Robert Earl of Glocester and Reynulph Earl of Chester with a stout Party of Welchmen Stephen made all expedition to meet her and a bloody Fight began with equal Success till at length King Stephen's Soldiers left their King almost alone who with his Battel-ax drove back whole Troops of his Enemies and afterward renewed his Assaults till his Sword flew in pieces when being now disarmed he was taken and carried to Bristow-Castle where he continued about three Months and was at last set at liberty in exchange for the Earl of Glocester who was taken Prisoner by King Stephen's Queen This Earl Robert was one of the most valiant Men of that Age he had one Stephen Beauchamp to his Servant whom he made his onely Favourite to the great dislike of all the rest of his Followers And being one time very much endangered in a Battel he called to some of his Company for help but one bitterly replied Call to your Stephen now to help you Pardon me pardon me said the Earl In matters of Love and Wenching I make use of my Stephen but in Martial Affairs I wholly depend upon your Courage and Valour After this Victory Maud the Empress was triumphantly received into Circeter Oxford Winchester and London but refusing to ratifie King Edward's Laws and remit some severe ones which she harshly denied the Londoners contrived to seise her which she having notice of fled suddenly to Oxford where Stephen presently close besieged her who despairing of holding it she and her Followers escaped by clothing themselves in white Linen in a great Snow and so passed unknown to the Sea and got away The Empress being once in the Castle of the Devizes was there in great hazard likewise whereupon she caused her self to be put into a Coffin as though dead and bound fast with Cords and so like a dead Corps she was carried in a Horse-litter to Glocester and soon after being weary of these continual Troubles she went into Normandy King Stephen presently seised all the Castles which were kept by the Barons against him to gain which the sooner it is related he used this Course Having taken the Bishop of Salisbury he put a Rope about his Neck and so led him to the Castle of the Devizes held by his Followers threatning to hang their Bishop and Master if they did not immediately surrender The like he did by Alexander Bishop of Lincoln who held another Castle upon Trent which was thereupon delivered and the King seised all the Treasure and Goods to his own use These Troubles being over the Kingdom for some years enjoyed Peace but Henry called Shortmanâ—le eldest Son to Maud by Jeffry Plantagenet married Eleanor the Daughter and Heir of the Earl of Poictou who had lately been divorced from Lewis the Seventh King of France after she had brought him two Daughters So that Henry was now Duke of Normandy in the Right of his Mother Earl of Anjou by Descent from his Father and Earl of Poictou in Right of his Wife by whom a while after he had likewise the Earldom of Tholouse Prince Henry by the invitation of several of the English Nobility and others was much encouraged to come into England and recover his Right especially since Stephen and Eustace his onely Son did now endeavour to take in the Castles of several Nobles whom they judged to be for Henry's Interest who accordingly landed with a considerable Army King Stephen likewise gathered a very equal Strength to encounter him Both Armies lay near each other and some went between them every day In the mean time Eustace the King's Son by mischance was drowned though others write That being in a rage he set fire to some Corn-fields belonging to the Abby of Bury because the Monks denied him Money and afterwards sitting down to Dinner at the first Morsel of Bread he put into his Mouth he fell into a Fit of Madness of which he died The King though extremely grieved for the Death of his Son yet began to hearken to Terms of Peace and at length he adopted Prince Henry to his Son proclaimed him Heir Apparent to the Crown the Nobles doing Homage to him at Oxford and gave him many Gifts assuring him of his Friendship By this Agreement Arms were laid aside and Peace succeeded the Prince with his Followers returning into Normandy where they were joyfully received But King Stephen being afflicted with the Iliack Passion and with his old Distemper the Hemorrhoids died the next year at Dover 1154. and was buried at Feversham in Kent though his Body was afterward thrown into the River for covetousness of the Lead wherein it was wrapped having reigned Eighteen years and ten months And by the Succession of Henry the Saxon Blood was again restored to the Imperial Crown of this Realm HENRY the SECOND King of England Duke of Normandy Guyen and Aquitain Lord of Ireland TO th' Empress Maud I was undoubted Heir And in her Right my Title being just By Justice I obtain'd the Regal Chair Fair Rosamond I did debauch with Lust For which Heavens Justice hating Deeds unjust Stirr'd up my Wife and Sons to be my Foes Who strove to lay
my Glory in the Dust And compass'd me with cruel Wars and Woes They poyson'd my sweet beauteous tainted Rose By the Contrivance of my furious Queen My Children their own Father did oppose Such Fruit hath Lust such Malice jealous Spleen Crosses and Troubles made me curse my Birth In them I liv'd reign'd and was turn'd to Earth PRince Henry was in Normandy besieging a Castle injuriously seised by the French King when the News of the Death of King Stephen arrived whereupon his Friends and Followers earnestly persuaded him to raise the Siege and expedite his Voyage into England to prevent any Usurpation which might be designed To which Henry discreetly and courageously replied The Kingdom of England shall henceforth be at my command in despite of all that dare oppose me and so I will make these intruding Frenchmen understand before I go from hence This Resolution gained him Honour among his Friends and Terrour to his Enemies who understanding his Determination and fearing the worst quietly surrendred the Castle and submitted to Mercy which he graciously granted and then setling his Affairs there attended with many Lords and Gentlemen of Quality he arrived in England where he was soon after Crowned King and then employed himself in setling the Kingdom by making good Laws banishing Strangers who in Multitudes resorted hither and by their sparing Diet and extraordinary Industry enriched themselves and beggar'd the Natives He likewise exiled many of the Nobility who contrary to their Oaths adhered strongly to King Stephen judging them faithless and unuseful to him He caused all the Forts and Castles built by the order or permission of his Predecessor to be demolished as giving occasion of Insurrections upon the least Discontent He resumed into his Hands all Lands belonging to the Crown as also the Counties of Cumberland Northumberland and Huntington which had been given to David King of Scots by Stephen to hinder them from disturbing him in his Usurpation He chose himself a Council out of the gravest and wisest Nobility and restrained the Insolencies of some Grandees which raised Discontents among them and Hugh Lord Mortimer raised Forces at Bridgenorth in Wales against whom the King went in Person where he had been shot with an Arrow had not Hubert de Clare interposed and received it into his own Body In his thirteenth year he married Jeffry his younger Son to Constance the Daughter and Heir Apparent of the Duke of Britain his Son Richard to Adela Daughter of Lewis King of France and his Daughter Maud to Henry Duke of Saxony about which time his Mother Maud the Empress died Having quieted the Rebels at home he went into Normandy where he did Homage to Lewis for his French Provinces Normandy Anjou Aquitain Main and Lorrain some of them his own by Inheritance and others by his Wife Queen Eleanor and then made an Agreement between himself and his Brother Jeffry In his nineteenth year he sailed into Ireland with a mighty Army and fought victoriously against five Kings who at that time reigned there and at last conquered them all and became sole Lord of that Country which he annexed to the Crown of England After his return both out of fondness and for securing the Succession he caused his eldest Son Henry and his Wife Margaret Daughter of the French King to be solemnly Crowned in his presence at two several times in the last of which he for that day degraded himself from being King by waiting as a Servant upon his Son while he sate at Table which young Henry did little regard boasting That his Father did not hereby dishonour himself since he was onely the Son of an Empress whereas himself was Son both of a King and Queen Which proud Speech the unfortunate Father hearing said privately to the Archbishop then present I repent I repent me of nothing more than untimely Advancements In his latter days many Quarrels hapned between him and Lewis of France in all which Henry Jeffry and John his own Sons Robert Earl of Leicester Hugh Earl of Chester most unnaturally joyned with the French against him and likewise William King of Scots notwithstanding which the Courage of King Henry prevailed against them all and upon submission he pardoned his Sons and all the rest Yet were they justly punished by Heaven Henry dying before his Father in the flower of his Age and John after King was poysoned by a Monk The History of this Kings Reign declares him to be Learned Wise Just and Valiant and though he were concerned in many great Affairs and Wars both in France Normandy Anjou Ireland and other Places and never received any extraordinary Tax or Subsidy from his Subjects yet he left to his Successor above Nine hundred thousand Pound in Money besides Jewels rich Housholdstuff and all manner of Warlike Provisions And though in most Transactions he was prosperous and successful yet in three things he was very unhappy First In the unnatural Disobedience and Rebellions of his own Sons Secondly In his inordinate Love to Rosamond his endeared Concubine who was admirably fair but exceeding wanton and thereby wholly alienated his Affections from Eleanor his renowned Queen and enslaved himself to her Will and Pleasure so that while she lived she was seldom from his Right-hand and after her Death which Eleanor procured by Poyson he caused her with great Pomp to be solemnly buried at Godstow near Oxford fixing this Epitaph on her Tomb Hic jacet in Tumba Rosa Mundi non Rosa Munda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet Within this Tomb lies the Worlds fairest Rose Though once most sweet she 'll now offend your Nose The third Infelicity of his Reign was the great Dissention between him and Thomas Becket the proud and insolent Archbishop of Canterbury which continued full seven years with all manner of asperity and fierceness For Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury had so great a favour for Thomas Becket a Londoner of mean Parentage that he made him Archdeacon of his own Church and still advancing him at last by the Power he had with the King made him Lord Chancellor of England which so pufft up Becket that he grew extreme haughty yet still shewed great Respect to the King who thereupon constantly encreased his Lands and Revenues which daily heightned him more Theobald dying the King preferred Becket to be Archbishop after which he began to discover his ungrateful Humour For going privately to Rome he was there invested in his Bishoprick by the Pope of whom he received the Pall and was made Legate and then returning into England he was much discountenanced by the King but Becket slighting it on a sudden surrendred his Chancellorship and Great Seal of which the King desiring a Reason he obstinately refused to give any These Quarrels encouraged the debauched part of the Clergy to commit many Insolencies and Villanies for which they received small Punishment though their Crimes were Murder Theft and Robbery for not being
under the Jurisdiction of the Civil Magistrate but tried by those of their own Profession their greatest Offences were connived at or very slightly examined whereby many grievous Enormities hapned in the Kingdom Whereupon the King summoned a Parliament wherein that Law of King Stephen exempting the Clergy from the Authority of the Temporal Judge for any Crime whatsoever was repealed and the ancient Laws again revived and enforced This was very much opposed by Becket and some few Bishops more of his Faction but after several Conferences these Laws were confirmed and subscribed by all the Bishops but Becket who would by no means assent thereto without inserting this Clause Salvo Ordine suo Saving the Order of the Clergy which would have utterly invalidated all those Laws At which the King being enraged by the persuasion of the other Bishops who dreaded the Consequence Becket took a solemn Oath to allow of those Laws whereat the King turned his Fury into Kindness toward Becket and immediately caused an Indenture to be drawn betwixt himself and the two Archbishops testifying their Submission to this Oath which was subscribed by the King and the Archbishop of York but Becket again relapsing into his former Obstinacy not onely refused it but expressed much sorrow for his former Oath and desired to be absolved there from by the Pope which was done accordingly some private Penance onely being enjoyned him who required him not to yield but to persist constantly in his opinion Upon which the King being again incensed against Becket seises all his Estate and Promotions into his Hands and required an Account of 30000 Marks which he had received when Chancellor but Becket boldly affirmed That the King had given it him freely and therefore he would give no Account thereof Then Becket went again privately to Rome without License and the King being sensible that his Des gn was to incense the Pope against him sent his Ambassadors with Letters to Rome declaring how reasonaâ—le his Demands were and the extraordinary Perverseness of Becket desiring the Pope he might be deprived of his Dignities and promising to provide for him some other way But the Pope not onely denied his Request but in thundring Terms threatned to send two Legats into England who should curse the King and Kingdom unless Becket were presently restored to his Honours and Estate and in the mean time the Pope recommended Becket to be entertained as a Monk in the Abby of Poâ—tiniack in France The King observing how Matters went grew more exasperated and sent to the Abbot to turn Becket out of his House and threatned upon refusal not to leave one Monk of his Order in France He also published certain Injunctions against the Pope and all Cardinals or Legats who should presume to enter into his Kingdom without his License He then deprived all Becket's Friends and Favourers of their Dignities and Estates banishing them out of the Kingdom as Abettors and Encouragers of Becket in his Obstinacy against the King These Proceedings and especially his being turned out of the Abby for fear of the Kings Anger much troubled Becket yet then Lewis of France though young King Henry had married his Daughter cherisht and entertained him But the King being tired with these Turmoils goes privately into France and in the presence of the French King confers with Becket offering him That if he would now take the Oath and subscribe the Instrument he should return into England and be restored to his Favour and Dignities with all his Friends But he proudly answered That if the King would let him swear and subscribe with this Exception Salvo Honore Dei Saving the Honour of God he would then consent This angred the King more than ever as intimating That those Laws were dishonourable to Almighty God and therefore he would obey no farther than he pleased but Becket undauntedly persisted alledging That he feared none but God and since those Laws did derogate from ancient Customs and Privileges of the Church and robbed God of his Honour the King should never establish them by his Consent as long as he lived The King thus disappointed soon after two Legats came from Rome to curse him and the Realm Whereupon he again goes to Becket into Normandy but finds him the very same Man and therefore he being willing to be quiet consented that Becket should return into England which he did accordingly but the King being much discontented was heard repiningly to say That among all those whom he had advanced there was none would free him from such an insolent and dangerous Enemy He likewise received mean Welcome from the young King Henry because Becket had suspended three or four Bishops who assisted at Henry's Coronation for doing it without a License from him upon which young Henry now banished him his Court and confined him to his own House in Canterbury But a few days after Becket being in the Cathedral of Canterbury standing before the High Altar four Knights and Courtiers fell upon him and slew him there of which Fact King Henry was accused by the Pope but stoutly denied it yet because of his former Murmurings he was forced to submit to the Popes Censure which was To war three years in Person in the Holy Land which he redeemed by building three Monasteries and to go to Becket's Tomb bare-footed which he did and suffered himself to be scourged with Rods by every Monk there And thus the King made a bad end of these Troubles But others soon succeeded for about this time the young King Henry died and his Sons Richard and Jeffry again rebelled against him but the younger was soon after trod to death under the Horses Feet at a Turnament at Paris But Richard yet lived to the further Grief of his Father for joyning himself with Philip King of France he forced his Father out of the City of Mantz the Place where he was born and loved above all others which caused the old King to say That since his Son Richard had taken from him that day the thing which he most loved in the World he was resolved to requite him for after that day he would deprive him of that which ought best to please a Child and that was his Fathers Heart And afterward finding his Son John the very first in the Conspiracy against him in that Action he bitterly curst the Hour of his Birth wishing Gods Curse and his own upon his Sons which he would never recal by any Persuasions But coming to Chiron he fell mortally sick and causing himself to be carried to the Church before the High Altar after humble Confession of his Sins he gave up the Ghost 1189. having reigned Thirty four years and eight months RICHARD the FIRST King of England c. called Coeurdelion THrough the Almighty's Mercy and his Aid Jerusalem I conquer'd and set free The Turks and Saracens who waste it laid I 〈◊〉 from Judea soon to flee The Isle of Cyprus was subdu'd by me
Pope sent two proud Legats into England Pandulphus and Durandus who persuaded the King to agree with Langton and restore the Prior and Monks of St. Austins to their Lands and Offices To which John for fear of the Popes Curse and to prevent any further Quarrels yielded onely desiring to be excused as to the Election of the Archbishop yet protesting That if another might be chosen he would prefer Langton to some other Bishoprick But the Legats in stead of gratifying the King in his Request proceeded immediately to excommunicate him pronouncing the Popes Curse against him and absolving all his Subjects from their Oaths of Allegiance toward him Yea he required all Christian Princes to make War upon him as the Arch and Grand Enemy of the Church of God Nay he published the Sentence of Deprivation against him and gave his Crown and Kingdom to Philip the French King of which he was to take Possession as soon as he could expel or murder John either by some secret Plot or by open Violence and Hostility Thus did this Unholy Father out of his Usurping Arrogance and Hellish Pride presume to dispose of Kings and Kingdoms at his pleasure and all on the cursed Pretence of the Honour of God and Holy Church But the King not fearing these Thunderbolts was resolved to stand his Ground and to that end took a solemn Oath of his Subjects for his Defence and their Fidelity And then raising a strong Army he entred Scotland against King Alexander for supporting divers Rebellious Clergymen and others who adhered to the Popes Authority against him but the King of Scots finding he should gain nothing but Ruine and Destruction by Opposition humbly submitted himself to King John and an entire Friendship and Amity was concluded betwixt them The French King resolving to take Possession of the Popes Gift provided great Forces to invade the Kingdom but by the diligence of King John 300 of his Ships loaden with Corn Victuals and other Warlike Provisions were seised and thereby Philip's vain Hopes at that time prevented However the Pope accursed the King again and again so that despairing of ever bâ—ing quiet without the Advice of his Council or Nobility he all on a sudden submitted himself upon his Knees to Pandulphus the Popes Legat confessing his Disobedience and begging Pardon and by a Publick Instrument in Writing under his Hand and Seal he resigned his Crown and Scepter to the Pope which Pandulphus kept four days for the Popes Use and then gave them both back to John and his Heirs upon Condition to hold his Kingdom from the Pope and pay 1000 Marks a year to him as a Tribute This base Submission so alienated the Affections of his Nobility and Men of War that they revolted from him and fled to his Enemy the French King who resolved to make his Son Lewis Monarch of this Realm and sent him hither with a numerous Army where he did much mischief though often encountred But the Pope being now for King John forbid Philip to proceed any further against him since he and his Kingdom were now reconciled to him and the Church and that the Crown was held from the See of Rome But the French King refused to obey affirming That no King could give away his Kingdom nor the Protection of his Subjects which were committed to him by God without the Consent of the Nobility Gentry and Commons and that therefore this Kingdom could not be holden of the Church of Rome nor protected by her This Answer so vexed the Pope that he presently sent Cardinal Guallo into England who cursed King Philip and Lewis his Son with all the English Nobility who took part with them Though the wiser sort little regarded what the Cardinal did yet the Common People and Soldiers who were ignorantly devout were so amazed that they fled to their Houses and Ships and others entred into the Houses and Grounds of the Excommunicate Lords and Gentry robbing and spoiling all before them supposing that their Robberies were pleasing and meritorious before God by which means the Lords were much distressed and even ready to starve for want of Sustenance none daring to relieve them so that they were at last necessitated to throw themselves at the Kings Feet and crave his Mercy who though by their means he had been reduced to the utmost Extremities yet being of a merciful Disposition he easily pardoned them and restored them to their Honours and Lands By which means the French finding themselves forsaken were forced to return back to France and all their vast Designs perished in a moment But the Pope intending to make his Proceedings against King John a President to other Princes assembled a General Council at Lateran wherein he gave a full Account of all Transactions with the Kings Grant of his Kingdom and the Tenure whereby it was held from the Church of Rome And in the same Council Otho the Emperour Peter King of Arragon Raymond Earl of Tholouse and divers other Sovereign Princes were Excommunicated and others Interdicted with their Kingdoms and Provinces for Heresie as was pretended though the real Design was to make Princes Slaves and Vassals to the Will and Pleasure of the Pope and to enrich himself with their Ruine For in this Council wherein they say were 1215 Catholick Doctors it was positively concluded That the Pope might depose Kings absolve their Subjects from their Allegiance and give away their Kingdoms Likewise That such as spoke evil of the Pope should be damned in Hell and that none should be Emperour till he had sworn Homage to the Pope and had received his Crown from him Also Auricular Confession and Transubstantiation were then decreed and established And thus all these Troubles which had continued ten years came now to an end But the Clergy would by no means be reconciled to King John for such was their inveterate Hatred toward him that under pretence of Kindness he was poysoned by a Monk at Swinstead Abby near Lincoln who to make all sure poysoned himself that he might not fail to do the same to the King And thus died King John when he had reigned Seventeen years in 1216. and lies buried at Winchester He was Politick and exceeding Valiant Bountiful and Liberal to Strangers not given to Revenge for when he was shewed how Honourably one of his Rebellious Barons was Intombed and advised to deface the Monument No by no means says he I wish all 〈◊〉 Enemies were as honourably buried When several Greeks came hither and offered to prove that there were several Errours in the Church of Rome at that time he rejected them saying I will not suffer our Faith which is established to be called in question with doubtful Disputations He left behind him four Sons Henry who succeeded him Richard created King of the Romans William of Valentia and Guido Disnay with three Daughters one married to the Emperour Frederick a second to William Marshal Earl of Worcester and the third
of Burgundy appealed against Charles the late Dauphin and seven others as murderers of her Lord and no defence being made for them they were all summoned to appear at the Marble Table in Paris by a certain day which they refusing were Banished out of all the Territories of France and to forfeit all their Honours Dignities and Estates The Dauphin having notice thereof went to his old Friend the Earl of Arminiach late Constable of France who espoused his cause and assisted him with Men Money and Arms and soon after the Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother meeting with a Body of his Forces under the Command of the Duke of Alanson and being falsly informed of their strength by a trecherous Lombard he fell upon them but was overpowered and slain with several other English Noblemen and near two thousand Common Souldiers K. Henry was much grieved with this unexpected overthrow resolving to be revenged of the Dauphin and his adherents and to that end called a Parliament who gave him a plentiful supply but because it would be long in gathering he pawned his Crown to his Uncle the Bishop of Winchester for 20000 pounds with which soon raising an Army of 30000 stout Men he lands at Calice with John Duke of Bedford and with the assistance of Philip Duke of Burgundy the Earl of Flanders and James K. of Scots he took several Towns from the Dauphin who not daring to venture a Battel fled from place to place designing to tire out the Kings Army in pursuit of him about which time K. Henry had notice that his Q. Katharine was delivered of a Son at Windsor upon which with a Prophetick Spirit as was judged he said I Henry born at Monmouth shall continue but a short time and gain much but Henry born at Windsor shall Reign long and lose all which happened accordingly The King still won more Forts and Castles from the Dauphin who finding the King was gone far from him raised another Army and streightly besieged the City of Cosâ—â—y in Burgundy who agreed to deliver it to him if not relieved within ten days of which K. Henry having advice marched with sufficient Force to succour it but fell so sick by the way that he could travel no further however John Duke of Bedford proceeded on of whose Courage and Conduct the Dauphin being afraid raised the Siege and retired The Kings sickness encreasing he was carried to Boys in Vincennes where he in a few days died before his death he made his Brother John Duke of Bedford Lieutenant General of Normandy and Regent of the Kingdom of France and his other Brother Humfrey Duke of Glocester Protector of England and of his Sons Person and then exhorted them with the rest of the Nobles present to maintain true friendship with his faithful Confederate Philip Duke of Burgundy to be at Unity among themselves to be True and Loyal to his Son King Henry to assist by all means his sad and mournful Queen and to maintain by Wisdom and Courage what he by Gods help and his own valour had gotten He died in the thirty eighth year of his Age and the ninth of his Reign 1442. and his Body being conveyed into England was buried with great Pomp and Solemnity in Westminster Abby upon whose Tomb his Queen caused his Royal Statue to be lay'd covered over with Silver Plate gilt the Head thereof being Massy Silver but in the time of K. Henry the eighth the head and the other Silver was stolen away yet the Headless Monument is to be seen at this day with the following Verses on the Tomb. Dux Normanorum verus Conquestor eorum Haeres Francorum decessit Hector eorum Here Normans Duke so stil'd by Conquest just True heir of France Great Hector lies in Dust HENRY the SIXTH King of England c. MY Father Englands Warlike Mars being dead And I an Infant but of eight Months old The Diadem was plac'd upon my head In Royal Robes the Scepter I did hold But wonderful are the Almighty's Ways And past Mans Reason e're to comprehend For I had nought but sad and woful Days Even from my Birth unto my Tragick End ' Gainst me the House of York their Force did bend Both Peers and People weltred in their Gore That Crown and Scepter they from me did rend My Sire and Grandsire both had worn before Twice was I Crown'd uncrown'd oft blest oft croft At last my Life and Kingdom both I lost THough King Henry the Sixth was not above eight Months old at his Fathers Death yet by the wise Conduct of his two Uncles afore-mentioned the Government was managed with all manner of Prudence and Discretion But soon after the Death of Henry the Fifth Charles the Sixth of France died likewise and the unconstant Frenchmen began to renounce their Oaths and Allegiance to the English Crown and generally revolting to Charles the Dauphin now King of France endeavoured to extirpate the English Nation and Sovereignty from among them To which purpose their new King seised upon Pont Melance a Town on the River Sâ—yn without any warning and slew most of the Engliâ—h Garrison therein but Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury a great Champion in that Age by the Regents Order regained it and caused the Inhabitants again to swear Allegiance to King Henry which they soon after again forfeited and the Parisians invited Charles to come to their City but the Regent having notice thereof tho' he was then engaged in Mirth and Triumphs as having at that time married the Duke of Burgundy's Daughter yet made such speed with his Army that he was at their Gates before they were aware and having seised on the principal Conspirators and executed them publickly by divers cruel Deaths he secured the City by divers new Forts a strong Garrison and a severe Governour The Protector still furnishing the Regent with fresh Supplies of all things from England he daily won divers strong Towns and Fortresses the French King not daring to engage in fight with him though he often shewed himself and boasted of his Valour While all things succeeded well there hapned an unfortunate Accident at Mons where the French suddenly surprised the English within the City and killed them all without the least pity or compassion but the Garrison-Soldiers got into the Castle which the French resolving to besiege and starve them out gave themselves over at present to Ease and Jollity Of this the Lord Talbot was advised who the next Night marched thither with 700 Men and got into the Castle and then issuing out under their Governour the Earl of Suffolk they rushed violently into the Town crying out aloud St. George A Talbot a Talbot wherewith the sleepy drunken Frenchmen were so amazed that some leaped naked over the Walls in their Shirts and broke their Necks about 400 Gentlemen were slain and taken Prisoners the Common People being released After which 30 Citizens 20 Priests and 15 Fryars were put to death
with divers Torments as Conspirators for delivering the Town to the French which was thus gallantly regained to King Henry The Duke of Exeter Tutor to the Kings Person dying at this time the Earl of Warwick was sent to England to take that Charge and the Renowned Earl of Salisbury with an Army of 10000 Men was sent into France with which he besieged the strong City of Orleance upon the River Loyer which had been lately strongly fortified where after two Months Siege the Earl was slain and the Earl of Suffolk succeeded as General who pressed the Siege so close that the Besieged being hopeless of Succour offered to surrender the Town to the Duke of Burgundy who refused it without the Consent of the Duke of Bedford the Regent who though persuaded thereto would by no means consent since he himself had undergone all the Trouble hitherto This Answer pierced the Duke of Burgundy to the Heart so that from thenceforward his Affections grew cold toward the English and he became a secret Well-willer to the French During this Parley a young Maid of about eighteen years old was presented to the French King at Chinon who pretended she was sent from God to deliver France from the English Bondage and thereupon she was called The Mother of God however she in this extremity was believed by the Common People and being armed like a Man she rides to Blois and in company with the Admiral and Marshal of France enters Orleance with fresh Forces and Provisions which so encouraged the Besieged that they issued out at midnight and fell upon the English staying 600 of them in an instant but assaulting the Bastile where the Lord Talbot was he issued out so courageously that they were forced to fly on every side and with very great Loss hardly escaped into the Town but however the next day the Earl of Suffolk raised the Siege This Deliverance was attributed by the Citizens of Orleance to the Conduct of the Martial Maid who was called Joan of Arc and therefore they erected a Monument wherein she and Charles the Seventh King of France were represented kneeling in Armour with their Hands and Eyes toward Heaven After this the English had very doubtful Success for the next day after raising the Siege the Lord Talbot won the strong Town and Castle of Laval and a few days after the Duke of Alanson with Joan of Arc took the Town of Jargeux and in it the Earl of Suffolk and one of his Brothers Prisoners killing another The Duke of Alanson's Army being newly reinforced to near 20000 Men hapned to meet with the Lords Talbot Scales and Hungerford who were marching with onely 5000 to fortifie another Town upon whom the French fell with great fury insomuch that the three Lords were taken Prisoners and 1200 of their Men slain the rest flying into the Town Upon this Defeat several Cities Towns and Castles immediately surrendred to the French King who soon after took Rhemes and was there Crowned which gained him a great Opinion and caused many more Places to be delivered to him and then attempted to take the City of Paris but by the Valour of the English were repulsed and defeated The Duke of Bedford observing the Success which followed upon the Coronation of King Charles caused King Henry likewise to be Crowned at Paris in the Tenth year of his Age and Reign having been Crowned two years before at Westminster About this time a Truce was concluded for Six years which yet lasted not Three And now the Duke of Bedford's Lady who was Sister to the Duke of Burgundy dying soon after her Brother forsakes the English and joyns with the French King which was followed with the taking of St. Dennis and within two years after the Regent died and was buried at Roan whereat the Citizens some years after complained to Lewis who succeeded Charles but the King publickly protested That he deserved a more sumptuous Sepulchre who in his Life-time scorned to stir a Foot back for all the Power of France and that there was no greater Sign of Baseness and Cowardice than to insult over those when dead whom they durst not withstand while alive The French King now proceeds victoriously and Joan of Arc afore-mentioned accompanying the Duke of Alanson takes in many Towns and endeavouring to raise the Siege of Champaigne they enter the City in despite of the English but afterward sallying forth their Troops were beaten and Joan her self taken Prisoner by John of Luxemburgh a Burgundian Knight who for the value of 10000 l. and 300 Crowns a year delivered her to the English who sent her to the Bishop of Bevoirs in whose Diocess she was taken by whom for Sorcery Blood-shed and unnatural use of Manly Apparel she was burnt to death at Roan Many Opinions were held of her Some thought her miraculously raised for the Deliverance of France others that she was a Cheat and Impostor and her Epitaph seems to infer the same Here lies Joan of Arc the which Some count Saint and some count Witch Some count Man and something more Some count Maid and some a Whore Her Life 's in question Wrong or Right Her Death 's in doubt by Law or Might Oh Innocence take heed of it How thou too near to Guilt dost sit Mean while France a Wonder saw A Woman rule ' gainst Salique Law But Reader be content to stay Thy Censure till the Judgment-day Then shalt thou know and not before Whether Saint Witch Man Maid or Whore After the death of the Noble Regent the valiant Duke of Bedford Richard Duke of York succeeded in his room to the great regret of Edmond Duke of Somerset the Kings Cousin which occasioning private Hatred made way for publick Mischief For soon after the City of Paris revolted and divers others followed that Example At this time Queen Katherine the Kings Mother died who after the King her Husbands death married a handsom Gentleman named Owen Tudor who though of mean Estate yet was descended from Cadwallader the last King of tâ—e Brittains by whom she had two Sons Edmund and Jasper the eldest of whom was by King Henry the Sixth created Earl of Richmond and married Margaret sole Heir to John Duke of Somerset on whom he begot Henry the Seventh In a little while the Duke of York is removed and the Earl of Warwick is put in his Place by the Council of England and from henceforth the Affairs in France succeeded worse every day which was occasioned by the Wisdom of the French Nobility who grew sensible of their miserable Divisions and now united against the English Another Reason was the unhappy Marriage of the King with Margaret the Daughter of Reyner King of Sicily a poor Prince so that he had nothing with her and which was worse King Henry was obliged by the Articles of this Marriage to give to her Father all his Right and Title to the Counties of Anjou and Mayn which bordered upon Normandy
infringe this Agreement that then the Duke of York should have present possession of the Crown the Duke having thus got the Government of the Kings Person and Dominions sent Letters to Scotland in the Kings name to the Queen and several of the Lords with her to appear with all speed before the King but they not only refused his Command but marched boldly toward London with an Army of eighteen thousand English and Scots but at Wakefeild the Duke of York met the Queen and perswaded her to submit which not prevailing another bloudy battel was fought wherein the Duke was worsted himself his younger Son Edward and three thousand of his men being slain and the rest fled The Queen having taken the Earl of Salisbury beheaded him and divers others whose heads she caused to be set upon the walls of York in despight of that party which was fully revenged in a short time upon the King Queen and Prince and a great number more of the Lancastrian faction The Earl of March now Duke of York hearing of this overthrow though his Army were only three thousand men fell upon Jasper Earl of Pembroke the Kings half brother Owen Tudor his Father and their Confederates which he soon routed killing four thousand of them and taking Owen Tudor Father in Law to King Henry and divers others Prisoners who were immediately beheaded But the Queens Army about the same time having encountred the Duke of Norfolk and his forces made them fly and leave K. Henry behind whereat the Queen was extream joyful and insolent but hearing of the success of the young Duke of York she retired into the North raising an Army of 60000 Men she met the Dukes Army of forty nine thousand at a place called Towton where after a cruel fight wherein thirty six thousand Englishmen were slain the Duke obtained an absolute Victory The King Queen and Prince Edward their only Son fled to Scotland and were kindly received by that King delivering to him the Town and Castle of Berwick but the Duke rid Triumphantly to York from whose walls he took the heads of his Father and Friends and set up those of the Earl of Devonshire and others in their stead King Henry hopeless of succour sufficient from Scotland sent his Queen and Son to Reyner her Father and the French King for aid he himself remaining in Scotland patiently expecting the event of his future state And here we may properly end his Reign as being after this only the Tennis-ball of Fortune for though he were sometimes put in hope of having his Kingdom established yet he was inthron'd and dethroned in so short a time that it seemed rather like the acting of a Tragedy than of matters really performed He reigned 38 and lived 49 years EDWARD the FOURTH King of England c. I York's Great Heir by the strange Chance of War Was Crown'd Vncrown'd and then again Inthron'd I wholly crush'd the House of Lancaster Whilst woful England under Misery groan'd Fathers and Mothers Childless made did grieve These bloody Bickerings lasting threescore Years E're they to Peace and Quiet did arrive Wherein were slain above an hundred Peers But Age and Time all Earthly things destroys Through Terrors Horrors Mischief and Debate By Truth by Treason by Hopes Fears and Joy I got I kept I left I lost the State Thus as the Powers Divine do smile or frown Glories or Troubles wait upon a Crown EDward Duke of York having thus overthrown King Henry and his Queen and executed many of his chief Opposers returned triumphantly to London where he was joyfully received and Crowned June 19. 1461. and a Parliament being called Aubrey Vere Earl of Oxford and his Son with some other Counsellors of King Henry being attainted of Treason were beheaded And to strengthen himself King Edward created his eldest Brother George Duke of Clarence and Richard he made Duke of Glocester and several others were advanced to Honour and the Duke of Somerset Sir Ralph Pierce with other inveterate Enemies of King Edward finding no hope of success submitted and received Pardon In the mean time Q. Margaret coming from France with her Son and going into Scotland many Scots joyned with her and marching with her Husband to Berwick Castle raised considerable Forces in Northumberland and Durham Somerset and Piercie treacherously going to her but being encountred by John Nevil Lord Montague they were soon routed and fled onely Sir Ralph Pierce died valiantly fighting and pursuing his Victory he utterly overthrew King Henry's Army the Duke of Somerset with seven other Lords being taken and Beheaded Henry fled back to Scotland Edwards Army went forward and recovered divers Castles and Forts in Northumberland and among others Bamborough commanded by Sir Ralph Grey who had formerly sworn Alâ—egiance to K. Edward whom they Beheaded after he had been degraded of his Knighthood by hewing off his Spurs tearing in pieces his Coat of Arms and breaking his Sword over his Head In his third year K. Henry travelling toward London in disguise was taken in the North and being brought to King Edward was committed close Prisoner to the Tower And now the King designing to marry sent his most intimate Favourite Richard Nevil the Valiant Earl of Warwick and Brother to the L. Montacute to propose a match with the Lady Bona the French Kings Daughter which was soon agreed to and concluded In which time K. Edward hunting in Wickwood Forrest and coming to the Mannor of Grafton set his Eyes on Elizabeth the Widdow of Sir John Gray who was slain as he fought for King Henry at St. Albans and counting her very warmly to satisfy his pleasures was modestly and constantly denied which inflamed him the more as having seldom met with refusals upon such an account what therefore he could not obtain unlawfully he resolved to gain by Marriage and accordingly without any further delay or advice made her his Wife she having assured him That as she accounted her self too mean to be his Wife so she thought he self too good to be his Harlot King Edwards Mother would fain have dissuaded him from it alledging among many other reasons that her Widdowhood was a sufficient cause why he should not dishonour himself with Bigamy in his first Marriage to which he merrily reply'd She is indeed a Widdow and hath Children and by Gods blessed Lady I am a Batchelor and have some too and each have good proof that neither of us are like to be barren and therefore pray Madam be contented for I hope I shall get a young Prince that shall please you very well and as for the Bigamy or Widdowhood let the Priest charge me with it when I come to take Orders for I have heard it is forbidden to a Priest but never yet thought in was so to a Prince But however pleasing this Marriage was to the King yet it proved very unsatisfactory to his Subjects and unfortunate to himself for the Earl of Warwick having News
thereof was extreamly displeased at so great an affront and secretly contrived mischief against him to whom the Duke of Clarence who had been disobliged by his Brother joyned himself and married Warwick's Daughter and soon after with other great Lords and Confederates they raised a Rebellion in York-shire and were so strong that at Banbury King Edwards Forces were overthrown and 5000 of them slain the Lord Rivers the Queens Father and the Lord Strafford being beheaded Yet King Edward preparing another great Army marched toward the Rebels but many of the Nobility endeavouring to procure a Peace obtained a Parley during which King Edward being less watchful of himself was seized in his Bed by the treacherous Earl of Warwick and secretly sent Prisoner to Middleham Castle in York-shire to be there kept Prisoner by his own Brother the Archbishop of York who likewise joined with Clarence and Warwick against him from whom either accidentally or willingly he soon after made his escape and at last came safe to London where by the procurement of the Lords the King the Earl of Warwick and the Duke of Clarence met upon security given in Westminster Hall where Warwick used such high Language to the King upbraiding him for his Ingratitude that all parted in high discontent and soon after at the Battel of Loosecoats the Rebels were beaten by King Edward throwing off their Coats for haste to make their escape in which fight were slain 10000 men The Earl of Warwick and Duke of Clarence hearing of this misfortune fled in despair with their Ladies and other Gentlewomen to Callice but were denied entrance by the Governour though the Dutchess of Clarence was then in Labour and delivered on Shipboard whereupon they went to Deip in France and were kindly entertained by that King where divers others repairing to them they consulted to restore King Henry and Prince Edward Henry's Son married the Earl of Warwicks second Daughter whereat the Duke of Clarence was much concerned and resolved to submit to his Brother upon the first opportunity All things being in readiness Warwick and his Confederates imbark for London and land at Dartmouth where his Forces soon increased very much and he then made Proclamation in all places for all men to come to his aid against the Duke of York who falsely and traiterously called himself King In the mean time Edward levied a strong Army wherewith he marched toward the Rebels but being informed of the general love of the People to Warwick and hearing me then loud shouts of King Henry King Henry a Warwick a Warwick he suspected the fidelity of his own Forces and with 800 of his best Friends left his Army and fled in the Night to Lincolnshire and from thence to Holland to the Duke of Burgundy As soon as it was known that Edward was gone the Earl of Warwick câ—me to London and taking Henry out of the Tower carried him triumphantly through the City to Pauls and from thence to the Bishops Pallace where he kept his Court. Then a Parliament being called Edward and his Adherents were attainted of High Treason and their Estates confiscate to the King the Duke of Clarence is declared Heir of the Dukedom of York and the Crown is intailed upon Henry and his Heirs and in default of his issue to the Duke of Clarence and his In a short time Edward by the assistance of the Duke of Burgundy lands in England with small Forces and few joyning with him he declared he came not to challenge the Crown but only his inheritance of the Dutchy of York upon which the People flock't in to him and at last the Lords told him They durst not joyn with him unless he would stile himself King which he did accordingly and the Earl of Warwick with other Nobles coming against him with a strong Army got into Coventry they suspecting the Duke of Clarence who joining accordingly with King Edward they defied the Earl of Warwick who durst not venture without the Walls King Edwar'd hereupon leaves Coventry and marches toward London where he was again joyfully received and King Henry was again committed to the Tower and was soon after followed by the Earl of Warwick who at Barnet was slain with his Brother the Marquess and 10000 men slain After this Queen Margaret landeth from France and some Nobles joyning with her the two Armys met at Teuksbury in Glocestershire where King Edward again remained Victor killing 3000 of his Adversaries and the Queen and her Son Edward were taken Prisoners the Prince being then cruelly murdered by Richard Duke of Glocester and soon after King Henry was found dead in the Tower being wickedly stabbed by the same bloody Richard After this King Edward makes his claim to France and to gain it craved aid of his Subjects by way of Benevolence and among others a covetous Widdow gave him twenty pounds which the King who was there present unknown to her observing not only gave her Thanks but came and kissed her telling her That she should have a kiss from a King for her Money whereat the old Woman was so transported that she told him a Kings kiss was worth more Money and thereupon gave him twenty pound more The King having got an Army together sailed to France but the French King fearing his power chose rather to buy his Peace of the Kings Courtiers which he did accordingly with great Sums of Money paid yearly to the English Nobility Among others he sent two thousand Crowns to the Lord Hastings Lord Chamberlain the Messenger desiring a Receipt for his own security which the Lord Chamberlain scrupling at said Sir What you desire is very reasonable but the Gift comes from the good Will of your King and not from my Request If you please to give it put into the Pocket of my Sleeve and no other Acquittance shall you have of me for it shall never be said that the Lord Chamberlain of England was a Pensioner to the King of France neither shall my Acquittances be ever found in the Chamber of Accounts in France After this the Lord Chamberlain was more esteemed by the French and had his Money paid without a Receipt About this time the Duke of Clarence being sent to the Tower for High Treason was drowned in a Butt of Malmsey and soon after King Edward himself died after he hid lived 40 years and reigned twenty two 1483. He was a very compleat Person exceeding Valiant but too wanton he used to say he had three Mistresses of different Qualities one of them the Fairest another the Merriest and a third the Holiest Harlot alive whom he could never send for to his Bed but she was always at Prayers with her Beads EDWARD the FIFTH King of England c. IF Birth or Beauty Innocence or Youth Could Pity raise within a Tyâ—ants Heart Then surely Richard would have found it Truth And not have acted such a bloody Part. What Glory then to be of Royal Race What Joy is there in
the Lord Lovel and Richard gave the Hog for the supporter of his Arms whereupon one Collingborn made the following Rime and was executed for the same as a Traytor The Rat the Cat and Lovel the Dog Rule all England under a Hog Thus lived and thus died King Richard after he had reigned as a Tyrant two years two months and two days and of his Age thirty nine 1485. HENRY the SEVENTH King of England c. I Was the Man by Providence assign'd To purchase to this restless Kingdom rest I York and Lancaster in one conjoyn'd That by long Wars each other had opprest My Strength and Wisdom both by Heav'n were blest With good success even from first to last And the Almighty turned to the best A world of dangers which I over past I did unite the White Rose and the Red By a Conjugal Sacred Marriage Band Traytors and Treason both I quite struck dead For I was guarded by a Mighty Hand In Honour and Magnificence I Reign'd And after death a glorious Tomb I gain'd HEnry Earl of Richmond being Crowned by the name of King Henry the Seventh he according to his Oath and Promise married the Lady Elizabeth eldest Daughter to King Edward the Fourth thereby uniting the two Houses of Lancaster and York whose differences had been the death of many Thousand gallant men He then chose a select number of men for the security of his Person whom he called the Yeomen of the Guard or Crown and rewarded his Friends with Honours and Offices and among others Edward Stafford Son of the Duke of Buckingham was restored to his Fathers Dignity and Estate and calling a Parliament at Westminster all Acts which made him and his adherents guilty of High Treason were repealed and cancelled and the Crown was intailed upon him and his Heirs In his second year Francis Lord Lovel Humphrey and Thomas Strafford who had taken sanctuary for their safety at Colchester animated many People in the North to a Rebellion but King Henry soon raising an Army and pursuing them their Commanders fled and left the poor Rebels who upon submission were pardoned by the King Strafford again took Sanctuary in an Abby near Oxford but was violently forced from thence as not being sufficient enough to protect Traytors who being condemned was executed but his Brother was pardoned as Acting by his instigation No sooner was this Fire quenched but another broke out for the next year Sir Richard Symond a knavish crafty Priest knowing that Edward Plantaginet Son and Heir to George Duke of Clarence Brother to King Edward the Fourth who was now seventeen years old had from his Infancy been kept Prisoner by the two last Kings in the Castle of Sherry Hutton in Yorkshire and that he had been lately removed from thence to the Tower by King Henry he got a young Boy named Lambert Simnel a Bakers Son whom he instructed in all Court accomplishments and then told him that he was the onely Son of the Duke of Clarence and first Heir Male of the House of York The Youth being Ingenious was soon fired with this Discourse so that he could talk thereof very subtilly as if he had received his knowledge by Inspiration This Priest having throughly instructed this apt Scholar he conveyed him into Ireland and was soon entertained and believed by that barbarous and fickle Nation who gave him all Honour and Reverence yea divers of the Nobility after much conference with him did really believe what he affirmed to be true and among others the Lord Chancellor and Sir Thomas Gerandine pitying his condition were very liberal toward him He then gave private notice thereof to the Lady Magaret Dutchess Dowager of Burgundy and Sister to King Edward the Fourth who though she certainly knew he was a Countefeit yet bearing a mortal hatred to King Henry and the House of Lancaster and hoping if the Design succeeded it might procure the inlargement and advancement of her true Nephew Edward to the Crown she published the report thereof in England and all other places and that the Irish had received him for their Sovereign neither would she be wanting to support him with Men Money and Arms to the utmost These vain reports caused her Sister Eiizabeth the Lord Lovel and several other of the discontented English Nobility to transport themselves to her into Flanders and she having raised about 2000 men sent them to Ireland to joyn with 2000 more all resolving for England In the mean time King Henry to discover the Cheat caused Edward the young Earl of Warwick to be brought publickly through the City from the Tower to St. Pauls Church where vast numbers of Nobility and Commons discoursed with him And now Lamberts Forces landed near Lincoln to whom Henry sent an Army who soon routed the Irish for want of Arms and dispersed the rest most of their Commanders being slain Symonds the Priest and Lambert were taken Prisoners the first being committed to perpetual Imprisonment and Lambert was first made Scullion Boy and afterwards the Kings Falkoner In his fourth year a Tax being raised by Parliament for assisting the Duke of Brittain against the French the Countrey People in Northumberland and Durham refused to pay it and cruelly murdered the Earl of Northumberland who was employed in raising thereof and increasing in number they committed many Insolencies but the King sending a compleat Army against them under the Earl of Surry and following himself in person the Rebels as Men amazed soon fled after which followed severe execution upon all whom the King suspected to dislike his Government In his seventh year King Henry sailed with an Army into France and Besieged Bulloign assaulting it fiercely but the French King by the Mediation of his Friends and Money soon procured a Peace very honourable to Henry About which time his ancient and inveterate Enemy the Dutchess of Burgundy set up another Pageant against him having instructed a Dutch Boy called Perkin Warbeck to personate Richard Duke of York second Son to Edward the Fourth and Brother to King Edward the Fifth instructing him exactly in the Pedegrees of the Houses of Lancaster and York and telling him she resolved to advance him to the Crown whereby the youth in a short time became as expert in the Language and Linage as any Englishman whatsoever The French King expecting daily an English Army to be raised in Brittain sent for Perkin and promised to assist him in regaining his Kingdom honouring him with all manner of magnificence so that the youngster could not but strongly imagine that he was born to be a King But in the midst of his flattering hopes the Peace between France and England aforementioned was concluded upon which for fear he should be delivered up to King Henry he fled secretly out of France to his Titular Aunt the Dutchess who received him joyfully entertaining him like a Prince with plenty of Money and costly Apparel and ordering thirty Gentlemen of Quality to wait
therefore proclaimed War against France upon which occasion and for writing against Martin Luther the Pope stiled him Defender of the Faith Henry sending a Fleet and an Army thither took the Towns of Tyrwin and Tournay At the same time James the Fourth King of Scots though he had married Margaret King Henry's eldest Sister contrary to his Oath and Articles invaded England with an Army of 100000 Fighting Men but the Earl of Surrey with 26000 Men marching against them utterly routed the whole Scotch Army at Flodden field King James himself being slain valiantly fighting After this succeeded a Peace and the French King married King Henry's second Sister Mary And now Cardinal Wolsey of mean Parentage grew extreme Great by the Kings extraordinary Affection toward him and among other extravagant Actions he procured a License from the Pope to pluck down several small Abbies and Priories and to settle the Lands upon two Colleges which he had built one in Ipswich and another in Oxford which President occasioned King Henry some years after to pull down all the rest In his eighth year a Riot hapned in London against Merchant-Strangers and Artificers for which many were condemned of High Treason but were all pardoned by the King The Truce with France was soon broken by the French King whereupon King Henry sent an Army thither who won and burnt Morlaix and several other Towns returning home with great Booty In his twentieth year the Kings Marriage with Queen Katherine of Spain is questioned which was thought to be cunningly contrived by Cardinal Wolsey whereupon the King refrained her Bed and it was judged unlawful by six Foreign Universities so that notwithstanding the Popes Opposition who would have had it referred to him it was made null and void by the next Parliament upon which the Pope caused his Curse to be set up at Dunkirk against the King pronouncing the Marriage lawful But Henry little regarded those Paper Pellets for hereby the Pope lost his Supremacy in England and Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas More were beheaded for defending it The King soon after married Ann Bullein Daughter to the Lord Rochford who was judged a Favourer of Protestants and therefore disliked by Cardinal Wolsey who for abundance of Misdemeanours was found guilty of a Praemunire and all his Estate and Honours were taken from him for grief whereof he soon after died In his twenty sixth year the King was by Parliament declared Supreme Head of the Church within all his own Dominions in all Ecclesiastical Causes and all Popish Bulls and Indulgences were made void and several Religious Houses of Nuns and Monks whose Revenue exceeded not 200 l. a year were suppressed The next year Queen Ann the Kings dearly-beloved Wife was beheaded though she protested her Innocency at her death being accused for prostituting her Body to her own Brother the Lord Rochford who with some others were put to death for the same This Tragedy being over the King within twenty days married Jane the Daughter of Sir John Seymour by whom he had the Virtuous Prince Edward who succeeded him but within few days after the good Queen died James King of Scotland being slain as aforementioned his Queen Margaret eldest Sister to King Henry was afterward married to Archibald Dowglas Earl of Angus who had a Daughter by her called Margaret this young Lady the Lord Howard married without the Kings leave for which she being of the Blood Royal he was beheaded as a Traytor The Kings Proceedings against the Pope caused a Rebellion in Lincolnshire but they were soon dispersed and Captain Cobler their Leader with others executed This was no sooner supprest but an Insurrection begun in the North of above 40000 who called themselves The Holy Pilgrims but upon the Kings Pardon they all quietly departed â—ome A third Rebellion succeeded in Westmorland upon the same account but was likewise defeated and seventy of the principal Conspirators executed In his twenty eighth year several Persons were executed for denying the Kings Supremacy and the Lord Cromwel is made Vicegerent in all Spiritual Matters by whom all Images and Shrines in Churches were taken down and destroyed and the Houses and Lands of Abbots Priors Monks and Nuns for their many Misdemeanours were all taken away and their yearly Revenues amounting to above 200000 l. setled on the King who freely exchanged them for other Lands with divers of his Nobles and Gentry thereby preventing as much as possible the restoring them to their former Uses After the Lord Cromwel had performed this great Business he persuaded the King to marry Ann of Cleve whom he never liked so that though he was married to her four Months he never conversed with her as a Wife the Clergy soon after dissolving the Marriage and the King married Katherine Howard Daughter to the Lord Howard Brother to the Duke of Norfolk The King then began to frown upon Cromwel which his Enemies who were many observing procured his Downfal for he was attainted in Parliament and without being suffered to defend himself was condemned and executed for High Treason and about this time the Lord Hungerford and the Lord Leonard Gray were put to death King Henry was very unfortunate in his Wives for soon after his last Marriage he was informed that his Queen Katherine had before Marriage lived very lasciviously with one Francis Derham and Thomas Culpeper whereupon the Queen and the Lady Rochfort who was privy thereto were soon after attainted of Treason by Parliament and beheaded and the other two hanged at Tyburn About this time an Act of Parliament was made declaring it High Treason to deny the Oath of Supremacy or to acknowledge the Authority of the Pope Yet though the Discipline of the Church was altered the Doctrine remained almost the same for there were six bloody Articles likewise enacted and it was made Heresie and thereupon burning to deny any of them They were these 1. That after speaking the Words of Consecration by the Priest the real and natural Body and Blood of Christ as he was conceived and crucified was in the Sacrament and no other Substance 2. That the Communion in both Kinds is not necessary to Salvation 3. That Priests may not marry 4. That Vows of Chastity ought to be observed by the Law of God 5. That Private Masses ought to be continued 6. That Auricular Confession is necessary and expedient to be retained in the Church of God The refusal of these Articles caused the Death of very many Protestants as the denying the Kings Supremacy cut off several Papists so that at the same time Protestants were burnt on one side of Smithfield and Papists hanged on the other which made Foreigners admire not understanding what Religion King Henry was of In his thirty third year the King married Katherine Parr Sister to the Marquess of Northampton and Widow to the Lord Latimer who was likely to have lost her Head if her Virtue and the Kings sudden Death had not
to the French with all the Forts Artillery and baggage upon the payment of Four hundred thousand Crowns to the King of England The Duke of Brunswick now desired the Lady Mary the Kings Eldest Sister in Marriage but there being a treaty about marrying her to the Infanto of Portugal it was retarded In the mean while the Emperor of Germany demanded by his Ambassador that the Lady Mary might have free exercise of the Mass but neither promises nor threats could prevail with the King to allow it being as he said against his Conscience a treaty was likewise set on foot for a Marriage between the Lady Elizabeth the Kings youngest Sister and the King of Denmarks Eldest Son but when it was almost concluded the princess could by no means be prevailed upon to consent thereto And soon after several of the Nobility were sent in an Ambassy to the French King to Treat of a Marriage between King Edward and his Daughter which at length was agreed on the French being to give her two hundred thousand Crowns as a Portion but it was never consummated by reason of the Kings Death The Earl of Warwick was now created Duke of Northumberland and having an irreconcileable hatred against the Duke of Somerset Lord Protector resolved upon his ruin which Somerset was not insensible of and therefore used all imaginable caution to defeat him but being of a mild disposition though perswaded by his friends to prevent his own ruin by Northumberlands destruction he was unwilling to taste any violent course only he was perswaded by some treacherous acquaintance to go privately armed to the Council Table where being apprehended his bosom was opened and he thereupon committed to the Tower tryed and found guilty upon a new Law which made it Fellony to design the Death of a Privy Councellor and was soon after beheaded on Tower-hill together with Sir Michael Stanhope and Sir Thomas Arundel Sir Ralph Vane and Sir Miles Partridge being hanged there at the same time Mean while the Duke of Suffolks three Daughters which he had by Francis Daughter of Charles Brandon and Mary Queen of France were married at Durham House the Eldest Jane Grey to the Lord Guilford Dudley Fourth Son to the Duke of Northumberland the Second Katherine to the Earl of Pembroke the youngest being somewhat deformed to Martin Keys the Kings Gentleman Porter the Duke of Northumberland having so far advanced his designs as to procure an Alliance with the Royal family now hoped to arrive to the height of his ambition though the people generally hated him for his practices against those two gallant men the Duke of Somerset and the Lord Admiral the Kings Uncles For the King now grew very weak and in a languishing state of body which whether occasioned by grief for the Death of his Uncles or whether caused by poison which as some reported was infused into a Nosegay of Flowers presented to him on new years day as a great rarity or whether by a defluxion of Rheum upon his Lungs is yet uncertain however he fell into an Hectick Feaver which the Physicians declared would suddenly cause his Death whereupon the Duke of Northumberland used several stratagems to secure the Lady Mary and perswaded the King to exclude his two Sisters in regard if the Lady Mary succeeded Popery and Idolatry would be again introduced and she could not be put by unless her other Sister the Lady Elizabeth were likewise excluded since their Rights depended upon one another but if he pleased to appoint the Lady Jane his own next Kinswoman to succeed he might be sure the true Religion would be maintained to Gods great Glory so that the sick Prince out of Love to Religion was prevailed with to exclude his two Sisters and to ordain by his will the Lady Jane to be his Successor which will was subscribed by all the Council Bishops and Judges except Sir John Hales Bishop Cranmer likewise made some difficulty to sign it but at length did as others and a few days after this pious Prince departed this Life at Greenwich July 6. 1553. in the Seventeenth year of his Age when he had reigned six years and five months being buried at Westminster near his Grandfather Henry the Seventh MARY Queen of England c. AS soon as I ascended to the Throne The True Religion I banisht quite Rome Spain and I were all conjoin'd in one To persecute to burn and put to flight All that the Gospel of our Lord profest All who oppos'd blind Error and the Pope All such with grievous tortures were opprest With th' Ax with Fire with Faggot and the Rope Scarce any Nation underneâ—th the Sky Afflicted was as I caused this to be But when my thoughts and hopes were grown most high Then Death at five years end arrested me No Bail would serve I could commaâ—d no aid But in the Prison of my Grave was laid MAry eldest Daughter of King Henry the Eighth by Queen Katha ine of Spain was born at Greenwich 1518. at whose birth though great numbers of the Nobility were at Court yet there was not observed to be the usual joy upon such occasions which some thought proceeded from a secret impulse that she was rather born for a Scourge than a Blessing to the Nation as it after happened when she grew up she was committed to the Tuition of the Countess of Salisbury who above all things instructed her in the Romish Principles which may be thought the reason of her furious Zeal therein and especially since Stephen Gardiner a keen enemy to the Reformation was her Ghostly Father of whom she once demanded What he thought of those that were not of her Opinion He told her They would infallibly be damned since there was no Salvation in any Church but that wherein the Pope Christs Vicar was the Head and that it was dangerous to converse with them but a mortal sin to spare any of them if she had advantage against them it being pleasing to God to destroy them as obstinate Hereticks which pernicious Counsel as soon as she had power she fully put in practice After the death of King Edward the Lady Jane was proclaimed Queen which the Lady Mary who was at her Mannor at Hovesdon in Herefordshire having notice of she sent a Letter to the Lords of the Council to deplore her Brothers death and demand the Crown as her right but they writ her an answer wherein they insisted on the lawfulness of her Mothers divorce whereby she was made Illegitimate and by several Acts of Parliament yet in force uninheritable to the Crown Imperial of this Realm together with the Will of King Edward and the proclaiming of Queen Jane and therefore desired her to be quiet and obedient to the present Government This was Signed by above twenty of the Council divers of them being Executors of the Testament of the last King The Lady Mary perceiving their Resolution to stand by Queen Jane went to Framingham Castle in
to the Earl of Leicester HENRY the THIRD King of England AMidst great Troubles and Confusions I In Youth ascended to the English Throne England was then opprest with Misery By Frenchmen who by me were overthrown For the brave English under my Command Did soon expell those their insulting Foes My Barons did my Sovereignty withstand And brought upon themselves and me great Woâ—â— For in each Battel none but I did lose I lost my Subjects Lives on every Side From Civil Wars no better Profit grows Friends Foes my People all that beat or died My Gain was Loss my Pleasure was my Pain These were the Triumphs of my troublous Reign AFter the Death of King John Henry his eldest Son of nine years old was Crowned King the Earl of Glocester who had married one of his Aâ—â—â—s and was Learned Wise and Valiant being made Protector of him and the Kingdom who administred Justice faithfully among the People The Youth of the King and the Treachery of many of the English Nobility encouraged Philip of France and Lewis his Son to land fresh Forces in the Realm to whom the Welch likewise joyned all the Forces they could raise But the new Protector raised an Army against them and in many Encounters defeated them And Pope Honorius finding the French slighted his Thunderbolts sent out new Curses more sharp and severe than any of his Predecessors whereupon Prince Lewis seemed at present to be affrighted and to prepare for his Departure though his Father Philip still sent new Forces over But Hugh de Burgh Governour of the Ciâ—â—uâ—-Ports preparing a gallant Fleet valiantly encountred them at Sea and took all their Ships This great Victory brought Lewis to treat of Peace and being absolved by Guallo the Popes Legat and receiving a considerable Sum of Money he surrendred all the Forts Towns and Castles he had taken and with all his Forces sailed back to France leaving his English Friends who had assisted him all these Wars to the rigour of the Law whereby they were cut off by miserable and cruel Deaths The Kingdom having now time to breathe a Parliament was called wherein the Laws of King Edward were revived and the Grand Charter called then Magna Charta containing several Laws for the Liberty Ease and Security of the Subject was confirmed and a Tax granted for sending an Army into France to recover Poictiers and Gascoigne under Richard the Kings Brother which had been injuriously seised by the French for some years Those Provinces were soon regained wholly back to the English which in a short time produced a Peace between both Nations But then worse Troubles succeed it at home for the King confiding onely in some leud Officers about him disregarded his Nobility and most Loyal Subjects invading their Liberties and Estates and vexing them with many grievous and unnecessary Taxes which were levied upon them by his Officers with all manner of severity At length a Parliament was called at Oxford wherein his Designs were altogether crossed and the Proceedings therein of such ill Consequence that it was stiled Insaâ—um Parliamentum or the Mad Parliament For when Multitudes came to complain of their Wrongs and Oppressions the Lords and Commons for redress thereof established many things which they judged necessary but highly intrenching upon the Kings Prerogative for they chose Twelve of the most Considerable Persons in the Kingdom whereof the Earl of Glocester and Simon Montfort Earl of Leicester were Chief who were called Les Douze Pieres or The Twelve Peers to whom full and absolute Power was granted by a Patent sealed by the King though unwillingly to support and maintain the Laws they had made The Parliament being ended the Commissioners began strictly to put those Statutes into Execution whereby they dismissed most of the Kings Menial Servants from their Attendance on him placing others of their Mind in their State This above all other things did most disturb the King and thereupon he grew extreme melancholy But hoping for better Success he summoned another Parliament wherein he with extreme Passion and Grief complain'd of his hard Usage by the Twelve Peers but the Lords and Commons were so far from remitting any thing that they further ratified all that had been done and the Archbishop with nine other Bishops publickly denounced a solemn Curse against all that by Advice or Assistance should oppose those Laws or the Authority of the Twelve Peers This still encreased the Kings Discontent who could take no delight in any thing he enjoyed and therefore went over to divert himself with Lewis King of France who treated him with all manner of Kindness and Magnificence About this time Hugh de Burgh Earl of Kent was accused by the Bishop of Winchester and others That he had scandalised and abused the King That he had enticed and trayterously defiled the King of Scots Daughter whom he married in hope to succeed her Brother in her Right That he stole out of the Jewel-house a Jewel of such excellent Vertue as to make those who had it Invincible which he had bestowed upon Llewellin Prince of Wales the King's Enemy These and many other Articles was he charged with who doubting the Power of his Enemies retired into Essex where he was seised by Soldiers who sent for a Smith to make Shackles for him to prevent his escape but the Smith understanding who they were for fetching a deep Sigh said Do with me what you pl ase and God have mercy on my Soul but as sure as the Lord lives I will never make Iron Shackles for him but will rather die for most cruel Death imaginable For is not this the most Loyal and Courageous Hubert who hath so often preserved England from being destroyed by Strangers and restored England to England Let God be Judge between him and you for using him so unjustly and inhumanely requiting his most excellent Deserts with the worst of Recompences However the Commander bound him and carried him Prisoner to the Tower of London from whence by the means of the Bishop of London he was a while after released The King being continually tormented with the diminishing of his Regal Authority endeavoured to procure some Remedy from abroad and to that end with great expence of Money he secretly obtained twâ— Bulls from Pope Alexander the Third whereby the King and all those who had sworn to maintain the new Laws and Ordinances and to support the Authority of the Twelve Peers were freely absolved and discharged from keeping those Oaths But this being kept private the Twelve Peers ruled all and were so diligent in their Business that they left the King nothing to do so that he was King in Name onely not in Power Soon after Hugh Spencer being Lord Chief Justice and a great Favourite with the King was removed by the Twelve Peers being charged with Corruption and Arbitrary Proceedings They likewise dismissed such Sheriffs and Justices as the King had made chusing others in their Places which
in a short time from the Holy Land to England where he was joyfully received both by the Peers and People and soon after Crowned King in the One and thirtieth year of his Age at which 500 Great Horses were let loose for any to take that would in honour of so Martial a Prince After the Battel aforementioned wherein Simon Montford Earl of Leicester his Son Henry and many other Lords were stain and the Lady Eleanor his Daughter was banished but kindly received by Philip the Hardy of France thereby to gain the Good-will of many English Lords who being discontented with the last Kings Government were not well pleased with his Son who constantly assisted his Father against them Philip being likewise sensible of the Courage of King Edward to prevent his own danger he secretly incited Lluellin Prince of Wales to rebell promising him likewise the Lady Eleanor in Marriage But Edward having private notice of this Contract and that the Lady was coming over to Wales he intercepted her at Sea and kept her Prisoner upon which Lluellin took the Field with many thousand Men but mean and thievish Fellows On the other side King Edward resolving to make himself terrible to the Welch raised a very formidable Army but Lluellin being sensible or his inability to resist and out of his extreme Love to the Lady submitted himself to the King and made many solemn Oaths of his Fidelity to the King against France and all others whereupon Edward who was inclinable to Mercy freely granted him his Pardon his Favour and his beloved Lady so that all was ended without a drop of Blood But a few years after David his Brother of a mutinous Temper and yet one much in favour with the King persuaded Lluellin to put himself again into Arms and many sharp Conflicts passed between him and Sir Roger Mortimer but at length they were both taken and their Heads sent to the King who caused them to be set upon the Tower of London Yet were the Welchmen so perversely bent to ruine themselves that within a few Months after they twice rebelled but were soon subdued by many terrible Slaughters and severe Executions And because they maintained their Wars more by hiding and shifting among vast Woods and Forests the King caused all the Woods to be cut and burnt down by which means they were reduced to more Civility and applied themselves to Arts and Trades like other Men. In his eighteenth year Alexander King of Scots fell from his Horse and broke his Neck leaving no Issue behind him He had three Sisters the eldest married to John Baliol Lord of Galloway the second to Robert Bruce Lord of Valley Andrew and the third to John Hastings Lord Abergaveny in England These three contended for the Crown losing many Men on all sides and the Country much ruined whereupon King Edward as their Sovereign Lord went into Scotland to compose those Differences and in the end they were all contented to refer themselves to his Judgment by an Instrument under their Hands and Seals Whereupon King Edward chose Twenty Englishmen and as many Scots of good Understanding and Discretion who consulted thereof and upon their Determination he declared John Baliol who had married the eldest Sister to be King who thereupon received the Crown from King Edward and did him Homage for the same And now the French King wrongfully invading the English Territories in Gascoign and Guyen the King to supply his Necessities seised upon all the Plate Jewels and Treasure of the Churches and Religious Houses within the Kingdom being advised thereto by William March Lord Treasurer who alledged That it were better this money should be stirring and according to the Name Currant and go abroad to the Use of the People than to lie rusting in Chests without any Use or Advantage whatsoever The King likewise compelled the Clergy to give one half years Revenue of all their Ecclesiastical Dignities which when they scrupled at affirming That by a Canon lately made at the Council of Lions they were excused from all Temporal Supplies he told them plainly Since you refuse to help me I will also refuse to help you If you deny to pay Tribute to me as your Prince I will deny to protect you as my Subjects And therefore if you be spoiled robbed or murdered expect no Succour nor Defence from me nor mine But to get some Amends they humbly petitioned the King to repeal the Statute of Mortmain or the Will of a Dead Mans Hand which forbad all Persons to give any Houses or Lands to the Church either at their Deaths or before without leave from the King But he resolving never to gratifie them in any thing replied That it was not in his Power without the Consent of a Parliament to make void any Law whatsoever So that they were forced to be contented though with much inward Vexation Having thus fleec'd the Clergy he laid a new Tax upon Wooll and Hides exported out of the Kingdom and required the tenth part of every Mans Estate to be paid him to maintain his Wars He caused the Clergy to bring into his Treasury all such Sums of Money as they had promised to pay the Pope for the War against the Turks and took up 100000 Quarters of Wheat which he sent to his Armies in Normandy where they fought with doubtful Success sometimes winning and then again losing In his Twenty fifth year 1296. John Baliol King of Scots by the secret incitement of the French King and some others about him sent a proud Defiance to King Edward and a Renunciation of his Fealty and Homage and with a tumultuous Army entred the Northern Borders cruelly destroying all with Fire and Sword Whereupon Edward upbraiding him with his many Favours and Honours received from him resolved to revenge his Ingratitude and with strong Forces marched thither taking the Castle of Berwick with the Slaughter of 25000 Scots He likewise won Dunbar Edinburgh and all other Places of Strength The King of Scots observing no Safety in Resistance humbly submitted himself to the King and surrendred the Kingdom into his Hands who with a strong Guard sent him Prisoner to the Tower of London but with large allowance of Liberty and Attendance and then committed the Government of Scotland to John Warren Earl of Sussex Sir Hugh Cressingham High Treasurer and Wistiam Earnly Lord Chief Justice of that Kingdom Having so happily performed this he then turned his Arms to France who to divert him animated the Scots again to rebell but King Edward resolving not to leave the French if possible without fighting continued still in Normandy sending Orders to the Earl of Northumberland and others to suppress that Rebellion which they did with a very bloody slaughter Upon which the French King perceiving himself disappointed would not venture to engage the English Army but sent honourable Propositions of Peace which were accepted by the King and a general Peace was proclaimed After his return