Primate of England so that he and his Successors became subordinate to the Archiepiscopal See of Canterbury Philip King of France taking advantage of the Kings Absence from Normandy encouraged Robert to make himself Absolute Duke assisting him with Men and Money whereupon the King was again constrained to pass the Seas with a puissant Army being over-eager in laying waste the Country and harassing himself in War being over-heated he fell Sick and hearing that the French King should say in a Scoffing manner He lay a long time in Child-Bed he Replied in a rage That at his Vprising or Churching he would Light so many Candles in France as should Inflame the whole Country And indeed he made his words good for upon his recovery inraged that his Enemies had in his Sickness taken the advantage to waste his Territories he spoiled all the West parts of France Firing the City of Nantz Meux and a great number of Towns and Villages Inriching with part of the Spoil the Church of St. Stephen's in Normandy which was of his own Founding moreover bequeathing in his last Will his Crown and Regal Ornaments to it appointing his Body when he Dyed to be Buryed therein And for the Service done in this War he requited many of his Commanders who had signalized their Vallour with possessions in England to hold them of the Crown one of which Grants for the Antiquity and plain manner of Conveyance exempted from the tediousness now in use I think not amiss to recite viz. I William give to thee Norman Hunter here Who art to me both Leef and Dear The Hop and the Hoptown And all the Bounds up and down Vnder the Earth to Hell and even Above the Earth to Heaven From me and mine To thee and thine As good and faire As ever they were To Witness that this is Sooth I bite the White Wax with my Tooth Before Jug Maud and Margery And my Young Son Henry For a Bow and a broad Arrow When I come to Hunt upon Yarrow In the last Year of this Kings Reign there was found in the Province called Rose in Wales a Sepulcher of 14 Foot Long in which was Buried with much Treasure as the Custom of the Times then were Gawen one of King Arthurs Knights of his Round Table and Bones therein of an exceeding bigness And now as all Kings must come at last to the Grave the Life of this Restless Conquerer grew to a Period for going over to Quiet new Troubles in Normandy he had scarcely Accomplished it before he fell Sick of a Malignant Feaver at Caen in Normandy and after some Languishings Dyed and being a corpulent Man his Belly in a little time Burst and the Stench being great none but a few poor Monks would come near him nor was this all one Ascalinus Fitz Arthur a Norman Gentleman denyed him Burial in St. Stephen's Church saying He had Founded it on his Inheritance violently taken away that it stood upon the Floor of his Fathers House and the Body of no Despoiler should be covered in his Earth however Henry his Fourth Son giving a Hundred Pound Weight in Silver as a recompence he was there Interred but with little or no Ceremony so that he who in his Life time made Nations Tremble being Dead was little or nothing regarded This William the First was Son to Robert the Sixth Duke of Normandy begotten as is said on a Beautiful Damsel named Arlet the Daughter of a Tanner in Honour of whom a Town is called by her Name He began his Reign over England Anno Dom. 1066 on Saturday the Fourteenth of October and Reigned Twenty Years Ten Months and Twenty Six Days being the 21 Sole Monarch of England Remarks on Lincolnshire c. LIncolnshire by reason of its Fens and other Advantagious Pastures produces great numbers of small and large Cattle a good sprinkling of Corn abundance of Fish and Wild-Fowl much Wooll and Leather It is commodiously on the East Bounded with the German Ocean and part of Norfolk so that by reason of its Havens it has a great Trade and very much helped on the North by being Bounded with the River Humber and part of Yorkshire on the West with Yorkshire Notinghamshire and Leicestershire on the South with Northamptonshire and Cambridgshire It is divided into 30 Hundreds containing one City a Bishops See 630 Parishes 33 Market Towns and 9 Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 12 viz. Boston 2 Grantham 2 Grimesby 2 Lincoln City 2 Stamford 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Lincoln was Antiently held to be one of the finest Cities of England being of great Antiquity and made by King Edward the Third the chief Mart for Lead Wooll and Leather here was also a great Battel Fought between Randolph Earl of Chester Robert Earl of Gloucester and King Stephen the latter being Overthrown and taken Prisoner It was Besieged by King Henry the Third and taken from the Barrons Wainfleet was the Birth Place of William Sirnamed thence Wainfleet who Flourished in the Reign of Henry the Sixth being Bishop of Winchester He Founded here a Free-School and Magdalen Colledge in Oxford LINCOLNE SHIRE In the Fens are found the Ategen or Godwitt also a foolish Bird called a Dottrell which Cambden says being Hunted thrusts its Head into a Bush and then thinks all is secure tho' the whole Body is seen and so in Moulting time he is easily taken The Reign of WILLIAM the Second Sirnamed Rufus WHen William the First Dyed his Eldest Son Robert was in Germany Negotiating his Fathers Affairs to draw in those Princes to assist him in making a Vigorous War on the French who were now become somewhat Formidable to their Neighbours so that by the favour of his Absence the Conquerers Last Will the furtherance of Lanfrank and Wolstane two Learned Prelates who had great Influence over the Commons and divers of the Nobles William Sirnamed Rufus from the Redness of his Hair or Face was after many hot debates among the Nobles Crowned King at Westminster by Lanfrank Arch Bishop of Canterbury on Sunday the 26th of September Anno Dom. 1087. This William was Younger Brother to Robert but being of a milder Temper and better affected to the English by reason he had in a manner been bred up amongst them and approved by them Robert found himself greatly Agreived that he had been put beside his Right in England tho' the Dutchy of Normandy was left entirely to him but the Title of Duke not agreeing with his great Spirit when he perceived he might have been a King had not loss of opportunity barr'd it he resolved nevertheless to tempt Fortune in a tryal for the regaining what was overslipt whereupon he raised a gallant Army composed of his own Subjects and Strangers Landing them in England with little or no Resistance not doing any damage to the English but being Encamped Commissioners were sent by King William to treat with him about an Accommodation for the preventing the effusion of
A ROMANE A BRITAINE A SAXON A DANE A NORMAN THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND GIVING A True and Impartial Account of the most Considerable Transactions in CHURCH and STATE in PEACE and WAR during the Reigns of all the KINGS and QVEENS from the coming of Julius Caesar into Britain WITH An Account of all the Plots Conspiracies Insurrections and Rebellions LIKEWISE A Relation of the Wonderful Prodigies Monstrous Births Terrible Earth-Quakes Dreadful Sights in the Air Lamentable Famines Plagues Thunders Lightnings and Fires c. to the Year 1696. Being the Eighth Year of the Reign of his present Majesty King WILLIAM the III. TOGETHER With a particular Description of the Rarities In the several Counties of England and Wales With Exact MAPS of each County By JOHN SELLER Hydrographer to His Majesty LONDON Printed by Job and John How for John Gwillim against Crossby-Square in Bishopsgate-street 1696. MVNIFICENTIA REGIA 1715. GEORGIVS D.G. MAG Bâ— â—â— ET HIR â—â—â— FD. J. Puâ—â— sculp TO THE KING Great Sir MY Presumption in this Dedication would be Vnpardonable were it not that the Subject Matter of this Book is such as does particularly Entitle Your Majesty thereunto and makes it fit for a Prince to Patroniâ—e For it is not only the History of the Lives and Reigns of Your Majesty's Royal Predecessors but also a Description of Your Majesty's Kingdom of England and Principallity of Wales A Country that has been Rescu'd by Your Majesty out of the Jaws of those Devouring Monsters Popery and Slavery which were ready to swallow it up 'T was when the Nation lay Expos'd to the Will and Lust of her Insulting Ravishers that Your Majesty as the Guardian Angel of Great Britain came to her Timely Rescue Exposing Your Royal Person to the Danger of the Sea in the worst Season of the Year that You might Save It from impending Ruine And to whom could the History of England be better Dedicated than to a Prince who has done such Great Things for it Who has Rais'd it from that Oblivion to which the Supineness of the late Reigns had Reduc'd it to make the most considerable Figure of any Kingdom in Europe of which Your Majesty has also again made it the Arbiter Having Rais'd the Genius of the Nation by Your Own Heroick Example above what it was in our Third Edward or Fifth Henry's Days 'T is true indeed both those Princes obtain'd Great Victories over France but it was then Weak and Divided Void of all those Acquisitions that Lewis the 14th has Vnjustly Raâ—ish'd from his Neighbours Whereas Your Majesty has Humbled France in the very Zenith of her Glory when she was Laying the Foundation of an Vniversal Monarchy But it would be too great a Boldness in so Weak a Pen to attempt any thing in Your Majesty's Just Praise when even the most Celebrated Writers must fall far short of Performing it as they ought That Your Majesty may long Live and Reign the Terrour of Your Enemies the Joy of Your Subjests and the Delight of all Mankind shall be the daily Prayer of Your Majesties most Humble Subject and Servant John Seller A New Mapp of ENGLAND and WALES By Iohn Seller THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND CHAP. I. Of its Situation and Fruitfulness The Manners Customs and Religion of the Antient Britains How it was first Inhabited Why call'd Britain and the Name of ENGLAND given to the Part we Inhabit Julius Caesar Invited over c. THIS Island of Great Britain containing at present Three Nations or People of different Languages is the largest in Europe and inferiour to none in the other parts of the World for Fertility Power good Government and Glory of it's Great Actions It is Situated in a healthful Climate between 51 and 58 Degrees of North Latitude Bounded on the East with Germany and Denmark on the West with Ireland and the Atlantick Ocean on the North with the Ducalidonian Seas and on the South with France and Normandy ENGLAND the noblest and largest part of it and a distinct Kingdom of it self though at present all under One happy Monarch formerly sustained many Kings at once all of them commanding great Powers as will appear in the Series of History For in spaciousness it extends it self from North to South in the broadest place 386 Miles and from the Lands End in Cornwal to the Isle of Thanet in the East of Kent it stretches 340 Miles besides the spaciousness of the many Islands as Wight Man Anglesey and others of note which I shall have occasion to mention with every thing else that may give satisfaction to the Reader It is for Longitude placed between the Parallels of 14 and 16 Containing 25 Cities in which are Bishops Seas 'T is full of Parks Rivers and Forrests and abounding in plenty of Arable Ground Pleasant Pastures and Cattel throughout its 40 Counties and the like in the 13 Counties of Wales once a distinct Kingdom but now annexed to the English Diadem As to the time of the first Peopling this fruitful Land some will have it soon after the Floud by Sememothâ—us Sixth Son of Japhet others that it was Peopled by King Brutus in the 2887th Year of the Worlds Creation and that we are of Trojan Original So that this must be about 1231 Years after the Deluge when Elie was High-Priest But it is rather generally accepted though many other Stories without any good ground or much credit are mentioned That a Colony of some neighbouring Nation viz from Germany wafted over and finding it so pleasant a Soile gladly planted themselves in it But since this is doubtful and all we can gather concerning the Natives before the Landing of Julius Caesar is from Forreign Authors we must be content to pass these over As for the Name of this Island being call'd Britain it is held to come from the word Brith which signifies Painting or Staining their Skins and also going Naked which was the Custom of the Antient Britains They Raced their Skins drawing on them the Figures of Birds Beasts Flowers Suns Stars c. to distinguish their Dignity which like the slic'd Bark of a Tree growing wider as they grew up made them appear Terrible to their Enemies and indeed they were for the most part Fierce and Cruel especially those in the Northern parts who Traded not with the Civilized Gauls insomuch that they Sacrificed every Tenth Captive taken in the Wars among themselves to their Idols of which they had a great number called by the Names of Planets and in the form of divers living Creatures And to these senseless Stocks their Druid's or Magi whom they accounted their Wise Men and served in stead of Flamins and Priests compelled them to pay their Adoration Worshiping in Groves accounting Fortified Woods their Towns and Cities They wore about their Middles Iron Chains and to them both Men and Women had short Swords girded bearing in their Hands a Spear with a Brass Knob or Bell at the end of it to make a
by a Shepherd was Buried together with his Body at a place in Suffolk bearing from thence the Name of St. Edmunds-Bury he being soon after Cannonized a Saint and Martyr And with him ceased the East Angle Government there being no mention made of any more Kings that Governed it as a distinct Kingdom About the number of Years he Reigned Authors disagree and therefore I pass them over as uncertain and proceed to the last of the Seven Kingdoms viz. That of the West Saxons 7. The West Saxon Kingdom described with the Succession of its Kings and what things worthy of History happened during their respective Reigns Also by what means they at last Obtained the Sole Monarchy of England c. The Kingdom of the West Saxons contained the spacious and fertil Counties of Cornwal Devonshire Dorcetshire Somersetshire Wiltshire Hampshire and Barkshire Bounded on the North with Monmouthshire Gloucestershire Oxfordshire and Bristol-Channel on the East with Sussex Surry and part of Buckinghamshire on the South with the British-Ocean and part of the Channel on the West with the Ocean These Counties abound in plenty of Corn Wooll Tinn Fruits Cattle and profitable Manufactures having many Excellent Harbours opening advantageously to the Sea so that growing by such means Rich and Powerful they failed not at length to bring under the other Kingdoms Uniting them in a Sole Monarchy under Egbert their Seventeenth King as in the Series of this History will appear Cherdick a Valiant Captain of the Low Country Germans first laboured to form these Counties into a Kingdom but before he could do it he had Six Years Wars with the Britains in which he Fought a great Battel with Aurelius Ambrosius their King and was put to the Rout but upon his Death which happened Two Years after by Poison as has been related Vter-Pendragon Brother to Aurelius being Crowned King of the Britains he borrowed Forces of Hengist who were sent under the Leading of Ebusa and Octa his two Sons but these Forces were as the former overthrown by Vter-Pendragon and Hengists Sons were taken Prisoness but whilst the Victor neglected the Tents of Mars for the softer Alcove of Venus viz. To sport with the fair Igren Wife to the Duke of Cornwal on whom he got the Renouned Prince Arthur who Succeeded him as King over the Britains the Noble Captives Escaped and again advancing their Standard in the Field were Slain with most of their followers These bad beginnings so startled Cherdrick that he found little hopes to keep the footing he had gained but more Forces coming unexpectedly to his Aid he resolved to try another Battel with the Britains which was Fought near Salisbury wherein Fortune turning her Wheel about he put the British Army to the Foil killing Natauleon one of their great Captains and made so great a slaughter of his Enemies that for a time he had no Interruption in settling his Affairs but after the Death of Vter-Pendragon who Died of Poison put into a Well whereof he used to Drink every Morning King Arthur gave great disturbances to him in the settlement of his new acquired Kingdom much Blood being shed between them in divers Battels yet beginning his Reign Anno Dom. 501 he continued it Thirty Three Years Kenrick the Second King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 534. He was Son to Cherdick and a Mortal Enemy to the Britains In his Fathers time he Commanded a part of the Army and Fought several Battels and now coming to the Crown he raised all his Forces and gave the Britains two great Overthrows viz. One at Shrewsbury and the other at Banbury in Oxfordshire He Reigned Twenty Six Years Chewlin the Third King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 560. He Warred upon Ethelbert King of Kent and defeated his Army at Wimbledon slaying two of his chief Commanders and this is held to be the first Battel fought between Saxons and Saxons in England a little before which it remarkably happened at Feversham in Kent That a Tame Wolfe having brought forth Seven Male Young-ones they lived Quietly together till grown up and then never left Fighting till all but one were Destroyed as it afterward befell the Saxon Heptarchy This King gave a great Overthrow to the Britains at Bedford and Surprized Four of their Towns viz. Liganbury Ailsbury Bensington and Evisham He Fought another Battel with them at Deorham and Slew three of their Dukes viz. Farmnagill Coinmagill and Candigan Taking the Cities of Glocester Bath and Cirencester But not long after Encountering them at Wodensbridge his Army was defeated and Cuth his Eldest Son Slain for here a party of Saxons assisted the Britains under the Command of Cearlick his Nephew who had fled to them upon hard usage and fear of being made away by his unnatural Uncle He Reigned Thirty Three Years Cearlick the Fourth King of the West Savons gained the Kingdom by the Overthrow of his Uncle Chewlin which he gave him at Waines-Ditch in Wiltshire Anno Dom. 593 after which he found much trouble ere he could be settled in the Government but the Britains standing his Friends he continued his Reign Six Years Chelwolf began his Reign Anno Dom. 598 but scarce was he settled in the Throne ere the Britains Invaded his Territories making great Spoil but finding they were too weak to withstand him alone in process of time they drew the Scots and Picts to their assistance so that many bloody Battels were fought with various success In which Wars he Dyed in the 14th Year of his Reign leaving his Kingdom in much distress and perplexity He was the 5th King of the West Saxons Kingills the Sixth King of the West Saxons began his Reign Anno Dom. 612. He had great Wars with the Britains and in a pitched Battel at Beandune he put Cudwan their King to the Rout Slaying above a Thousand of his Subjects and having concluded a Peace with Penda King of the Mercians he grievously Oppressed them so that for a long time they were confined to the Mountains and Fastnesses in the Country now called Wales However after he was Converted to the Christian Faith by Berinus he abated much of his Severity making Dorchester a Bishops See and placing that Religious Man in it He was the First Christian King of the West Saxons and Reigned Thirty One Years Kenwald the Seventh King of the West Saxons made great Wars upon the Britains Overthrowing King Cadwallo at a place called Pennum with incredible slaughter but growing Proud on the success and Quarreling with Penda King of Mercia whose Sister he had Married and in Contempt of him turned her away he was by him driven out of his Kingdom But upon Submitting and being Baptized by Bishop Felix he was restored to his Kingdom and thereby obliged by Penda to receive his Wife into Favour He began his Reign Anno Dom. 643 and Reigned Thirty One Years Eskwin the Eighth King of the West Saxons began his Reign
in the dangerous War his Predecessor had set on foot engaging in a Battel against Egbert King of the West Saxons who joyned with the East Angles against him he was Slain in the Second Year of his Reign after which most of the Towns on the East and Western Borders were Sacked and some reduced to Ashes Which Desolation was fore-run by a Comet with a Tail pointing downward like a flaming Sword Watlaf the Eighteenth King of Mercia began his Reign Anno Dom. 826 and with the Kingdom was constrained to espouse the Wars his Predecessors had left as it were Entailed on it so that raising the Strength of his much harassed and weakened Dominions he drove the West Saxons out of Worcestershire and other Western Encroachments yet not without considerable loss in the several Bickerings between them But in the Thirteenth Year of this King Egbert the West Saxon came upon him with a potent Army and in a set Battel overthrew him putting a Period to his Life and Reign Berthulf the Nineteenth King of Mercia came to the Kingdom in a troublesome time viz. Anno Dom. 839 for he not only found his People in War with his Countrymen but a more cruel Enemy had Invaded the Country viz. The Pagan Danes who being Enemies to all alike as desirous of grasping the sole Monarchy of this Island they made such Havock and Desolation in all places where they prevailed That the People of whole Counties in the Northern parts flying their fury left the Towns Naked and Defenceless for the Saxons in Civil War having much impaired their strength found that they at this time were too weak to oppose the Torrent of those Multitudes that were poured in upon them from Denmark and Gothland and also from Shetland the Orcades and other Northern Islands which the Danes possessed beyond Scotland from one of which they brought a Cruel People called Redshanks from the Redness of their long Leggs occasioned by the coldness of that Climate they going for the most part Naked except a Mantle thrown over their Shoulders and are supposed by some Authors for their mighty stature to be of the Race of the Titans or Giants held once to Inhabit part of Britain However they brought such a Terror on the Mercian Kingdom c. That Berthulf was forced to quit it in the Thirteenth Year of his Reign after which in compassion to the oppressed People who were Slain and Spoiled at the pleasure of the Danes Burdred took upon him the Government and being a Prince of great Courage he fought divers Battels with the Danes and at last gained a great Victory insomuch that the Fields and Lanes were strewed with the Dead Bodies But greater Forces arriving to recruite their broken Army he was forced after some strugling to quit his Kingdom when he had Reigned Twenty Two Years viz. Anno Dom. 872. And with him Ended the Succession of Saxon Kings as petty Monarchs of the Mercian Kingdom CHAP. VII The Kingdoms of the East Angles and West Saxons with their respective Succession of Kings and what Happened of Note during their Reigns in Peace and War Particularly the Danish Invasion and by what means England was reduced under a Sole Monarchy 6. The East Angle Kingdom Described with the Succession of its Fifteen Kings THE Kingdom of the East Angles contained Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely Bounded on the East with the German Ocean on the South with Essex and Hartfordshire on the West with Notinghamshire Huntingtonshire and part of Bedfordshire on the North partly by the German Ocean and partly by the River Trent and Northumbrian Kingdom Commodiously Situate for Navigation as being accommodated with divers good Havens famous for Butter Cattel Corn Wooll Cloath Stuffs c. The First Saxon Founder of this Kingdom was Offa a High German Nobleman who brought over considerable Forces upon notice his Countrymen were parcelling out the Southern parts of this Island and Landing at Yarmouth he prevailed with some difficulty to settle himself and his People in the Counties above-mentioned beginning his Reign Anno Dom. 575 and Reigned Seven Years being for the most part at peace In his time a great Eclipse of the Sun happened about Noon almost total so that it continued in a great degree Dark for the space of an Hour Titulus Succeeding Vffa Anno Dom. 583 laboured to settle his Borders and keep a good understanding with his Neighbours and perceiving the British Forces were rather Retired than Subdued he made many wholsom Laws to keep his People in order repaired the Ruined Towns built Forts on the Sea-Coast and Reigned about 32 Years keeping his Country for the greater part of that time in Quiet he was the Second King of the East Angle Kingdom Redwald the Third King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 616. Soon after his coming to the Throne he was Baptized into the Christian Faith but upon some distaste renounced his Baptismal Vows and became a great Persecutor of the Christians amongst others he intended the Death of Edwin afterward King of Northumherland who fled to his Court for Refuge because he interceeded for them But he being a Favorite of the Queens and the King imparting his design to her she pittying the young Prince so laboured to disswade him from it that he not only laid aside his wicked purpose but entered into a strict League with him and an Army was raised to place him in the Kingdom of Northumberland when in a great Battel they Slew Ethelfrid who had got possession of the Throne and had Banished Edwin This Redwald Reigned Eight Years Erpenwald the Fourth King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 624. He by the perswasion of Edwin King of Northumberland became a Favourer of the Christians and was Baptized he built divers Churches and Monasteries but when he had Reigned about Twelve Years Richebert a Pagan Saxon out of a Zeal to their False Gods whose Idol Temples this King had caused to be converted into places of Christian Worship Assnssinated him and fled but being taken endeavoring to pass the Seas he was put to death by exquisit Torments Sigebert the Fifth King of the East Angles began his Reign Anno Dom. 636. He was Son to Redwald and having received a good opinion of the Christian Religion when he was very Young he upon his Fathers Apostatizing fled into that Country now call'd France antiently Gallia where he improved in the Study of Divine things so that being a great lover of Learned Men at his coming to the Crown he Founded a Colledge Endowing it with a plentiful Maintenance viz. Anno Dom. 637 and so passionately he was in love with a Religious manner of Living that laying aside his Crown when he had Reigoed Two Years he took on him the Habit of a Monk yet out of compassion to his suffering People Invaded and driven to great distress by Penda King of the Mercians he laid aside his Cowl and
they had Prophesied Victory should ever attend the Danes wherever it was Displayed in the Field And soon after the Battel was over Hubba was Buryed and a mighty Hill of Stones cast on him as a Monument which gave Name to the place of his Burial which is called Hubblestow or Stone to this day The King pursuing this advantage and for the Encouragement of his Souldiers having shared the Spoiles taken from the Danes amongst them followed the Retreating Enemy and within a while gave them two other great Defeats one at Ethan-Dun the other at Rhoaf-ceaster now Rochester raising the Siege they had layed before it After this they Recruited and brought another Raven Standard to the Field in hopes of better success But near Alesford in Kent they received another great Overthrow so that the Waters in the Ditches Ponds and Rivers adjacent were coloured with Blood and from thence he chaced them into Essex through the Thames in passing which River pursu'd by the Enemy and their own fears many for haste missing the Fords were smothered in the Deeps This however sufficed not the King whose main Aime was to drive them out of the Kingdom and so give Peace and Rest to his tired and distressed Subjects wherefore he Marched to a place then called Beaufleet where Hastinges a Dane who newly arrived with Eighty Ships had fortified and received his flying Country-men and here likewise Fortune was on his side he giving them the Rout and lastly they were quite discomfited at Boultington by Severn and at the Isle of Mesig or Mersey in Essex at the River Ligea or Ley which goeth to Ware and carryed up their Ships but Alfred Trenching and Drying it they could not bring them back whereupon they fled into Northumberland and then to Denmark THE COUNTYE PALATINE OF CHESTER Remarks on the County Palatine of Chester c. THis County is an Antient Palatinate and one of the Pleasantest Counties in that part of England famous for producing Kine of whose Milk is made the best Cheese in the Nation from which the County seemes to take its Name Its Pastures are exceeding Rich and Corn-Land produces extraordinary Crops it abounds with Fish Fowl Sheep and some Goats It is Bounded with Lancashire Yorkshire Shropshire Staffordshire Darbyshire Flintshire Denbighshire and the Ocean It Contains Eighty Six Parishes One City Seven Hundreds Thirteen Market Towns and Nine Rivers and gives denomination to a Bishop of its Diocess It sends Members to Parliament Four viz. The City of Chester two and two Knights of the Shire The City of Chester is famous in many respects as for its Minster Castle and Stone Bridge and has particular to it a Chief Justice for the Entertainment it gave King Edgar who was Rowed in a Barge on the River Dee by Eight Kings whilst himself held the Helm as their Supreame Sovraign It was made a Principality upon Hugh Lupus a Noble Norman being Invested in it by William the Conqueror To be holden as Freely by his Sword as the King himself holds England by his Crown which was the Tenure of all Counts Palatines more like Princes than Subjects as a modern Author has it It s stately Minster was Builded by Leofrick an Earl to the Honour of St. Werburga and in it was Buryed the Body of Henry the Fourth Emperour of Germany and it gave a Title to the Eldest Sons of our Kings who by Birthright are Earls of Chester Calvely is a very Pleasant Town giving Birth to Hugh Calvely a great General against the French in the Reign of Edward the Third Sr. Robert Knowles and divers others of Note Eccleston is Memorable for the Birth of Thomas thence called Eccleston Banbury is a plesant seated Town as also Wrenbury The large Rivers Dee and Mersey Flow very spaciously on its Western part Chester being advantageously situate on the former and Fordestham on a branch of the latter on the East side it has many pleasant Hills with very fertil Valleys Northwich is likewise pleasantly situate on a stream of Mersy over which is a curious Bridge as there is at Dutton Coxton c. The Seats of the Nobility are Clifton alias Rock Savage and Fordsham belonging to the Earl of Rivers Gawsworth and Alford belonging to the Earle of Maclesfield Dutton belonging to the Lord Gerard Barron of Gerards Bonley Dunham Massey the Seat of the Late Lord Delamer Earl of Warrington Besides many stately Houses of the Gentry The Reign of Edward the Elder Seventh Sole Monarch of England c. EDward Sirnamed the Elder Eldest Son to Alfred or Elfride began his Reign Anno Dom. 901. But not long had he been in the Throne ere his Brother Adelwold envying his advancement to the Regal Dignity conspired to supplant him and in order to it raised a Rebellion But finding he was too weak to maintain his Pretensions he fled with part of his Forces to the Danes who were by this time returned and had gotten some strong holds in the North and they for to colour their design made him King in Title tho' not in Effect and with them joyned the Welsh Northumbers and those Scots that bordered on the River Tweed Against these joynt Forces the King Marched and at St. Edmund's Ditch he gave them Battel but lost the day tho' the Danes gained a bloody Victory for in the Fight two of their Kings were slain viz. Chrochrichus and Ethelwald However to put a stop to their further advancing he built the Castle of Hartford and many other strong places and then having recruited his broken Troops with the whole power of the Western and Southern Counties that remained entirly under his obedience he again advanced his Standard and gave the Danes and their Confederates Battel at Wodens-field near Wolverhampton in Staffordshire where the chance of War turning on his side brought him a great Victory There his Rebellious Brother Adelwold with two Kings or chief Leaders of the Danes viz. Covilfus and Healden were slain This Battel was Fought Anno 910. Upon this Edward settled his Northern Territories as far as Northumberland and upon the Death of Eldred who had Marryed Elfleada his Sister he Establiâ—â— her in those Counties that were formerly in the possession of the Mercian Kings before spoken of and Anno Dom. 915 he gave the Danes and their Confederates another great Overthrow killing Turktilus a reputed King with two Earls Virutes and Scurfa the Dukes of Bedford Buckingham c. also Duke Edrick whom the Danes had made King of the East Angles being Vanquished was Slain by his Subjects And then appointing his Sister a true English Heroin who having endured the sharp pangs of Child-Birth had forsook her Husbands Bed saying The Pleasure was not worth the Pain she suffered resolving never more to run the like hazzard as it were in some degree his Partner in the Kingdom she soon made it known that her delight was more in the rough Fields of Battel than in the downey Bed of Love for
he continued for a time in that station but using many Arts to win upon the Affections of the People finding he should meet with no great opposition in making him self King contrary to the Trust reposed in him he got to be Crowned at Kingston upon Thames in Surry But Wolstan Arch Bishop of York having laboured to oppose it and not being able to do it became his Enemy practising many underhand Treacheries against him siding with Anlafe the Dane who lurked with a few Forces in the Northern parts till Recruits came to him and then by the Bishops means the People of Northumberland Received him as their King A Mapp of DORSETSHIRE By Iohn Seller Hydrog reg at the west end of the Exchang London This King made St. Germans in Cornwal a Bishop See which was afterwards translated to Cridington by Canute King of the Danes Reigning Sole Monarch in England and at last it was settled at Exeter by Edward the Confessor where it now remaines He began his Reign Anno Dom. 946 and continued it Nine Years and was Buryed at Winchester and is accounted the Tenth Sole Monarch of England In his time a violent Earthquake happened throwing down many stately Buildings especially in the Northern parts Remarks on Dorsetshire c. DOrsetshire is very spacious and fertil breeding great numbers of Cattle in its rich Pastures and is much renowned for its Linnen and Woollen Manufactures It produces abundance of Corn and the Isle of Portland joyning as it were to it furnishes us with plenty of Free-Stone used in building Churches and other stately Fabricks in London c. It is Bounded with Wiltshire Somersetshire Hampshire Devonshire and the Channel It Containes 248 Parishes divided into 29 Hundreds 19 Market Towns and four Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 20 viz. Bridport 2 Croft-Castle 2 Dorchester 2 Lyme Regis 2 Melcom Regis 2 Pool 2 Shaston 2 Weymouth 2 Wareham 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire It has in it a great many Parks stored with Venison Dorchester the chief Town in this Shire is of great Antiquity and was called by the Romans Durnovaria being of pleasant situation and its Buildings Rich and Populous Banbury was Antiently the Court of many West Saxon Kings at Cern Austin the Monk Preached up Christianity on his first Arrival in this shire and by the consent of the People destroyed their Idols and among the rest one called Hell Shaftsbury is famed for the History of the Prophecying Eagle probably a Man whose Name was Aquila in this place was Buryed the Body of Edward the Son of Edgar Murthered at the command of his Step-Mother in Corfe-Castle At Winbourn Minster Builded by Cuthburga Queen of Northumberland was Intered the Body of Ethelred Nor must we forget Lime in this County which is Memorable for the Landing of James late Duke of Monmouth there with about fourscore Gentlemen from Holland in the Year 1685 being the first Year of the late King James's Reign And tho' he brought so few along with him yet in a few Days after his Landing he was several Thousands strong and gave the Kings Forces a considerable Repulse at Philips-Norton and had he gain'd the Day at Sedgemore which in all probability he had done had he not been betray'd It is verily believed the greatest part of England had Declared for him so great an Aversion even at that time the Nation had against King James and Popery and I am sure they have no reason to be fonder of him since But Heaven had decreed our Deliverance to be the Work of another hand And therefore the unhappy Duke after his Defeat at Sedgmore was taken at Ringwood in Hampshire and from thence brought up to London and two days after Beheaded upon Tower-Hill whose Death was follow'd by abundance of barbarous Executions in this County so that there is hardly a Town in it but what can shew some Bloody Tokens of King James his Cruelty The Quarters of the poor Macerated Wretches having been placed upon Poles set up in the High-ways for many Miles together As we shall shew more at large when we come to King James's Reign Sherburn was Antiently an Episcopal See and so continued a long time in whose Cathedral were Interred the Body of the Kings Ethelbert and Ethelbald Maiden Castle about a Mile West of Dorchester and Badbury Castle appear by Coin and other Marks digg'd up and found about them to have been Garisons of the Romans if not builded by them The River Stowr in this County abounds with Tench of an extraordinary bigness In the Isle of Purbeck are veins of Marble tho' not continued but scattering here and there as Cambden observes yet run a great way under Ground Great store of the best Hemp growing in England is found between Bemister and Bridport and near Sturpain on the side of the River there is a plentiful production of Madder The Hills in Dorsetshire are few and those for the most part gradually rising some Crowned with pleasant Woods and others with Corn in its season and flocks of Sheep It is Beautified with several Seats of the Nobility viz. Hook Castle the Duke of Boltons Cranbourn-House the Earl of Salisburys Wimbourn St. Giles the Earle of Shaftsburys The Houses of the Gentry are likewise very stately as well in the Towns as seperate so that it may be ranked among the most delightful Counties of England The Reign of Edwye the Eleventh Sole Monarch of England EDwye Eldest Son to Edmund and Nephew to Edrid began his Reign Anno Dom. 955 finding Affairs in a forward settlement the Danes being for the most part expelled the Land or had turned their Forces on the Scots as knowing they had been foiled on this side and had but little hopes of fixing in the Southern parts of the Island He was Crowned at Kingston upon Thames and there is reported to have drawn a Lady near a kin to him and Married to a Nobleman aside after a Ball or Dancing bout as if he had some matter of importance to relate to her and behind the Cloth of Arras forced her to his Lust which being much complained of by the Nobility he proposed for the reparation of her Honour to take her to be his Wife but her Husband opposing it and willing to pass over the high Injury his Prince had done him rather than his Country should suffer by any publick Mischief that might ensue thereon from Popular Fury or Factions at Court the matter seemed hushed for a time but whether the King feared the private Revenge of an abused Husband or having an inclination to a free Enjoyment of the Lady I determine not but so it was ordered that he in conclusion caused the Husband to be Murthered and took his Lady now free from the bonds of Marriage by the untimely Death of her Husband not for a Wife as he had before proposed but for his Concubine which makes some Authors believe her Ambition to glitter so near a Throne tho'
in a Tinsel splendor of ignominy made her consenting to the latter crime however she enclined to the former yet this unprincely action created him such a hatred in the minds of his Subjects That all except his Flatterers extreamly murmured against him and Bishop Dunstan sharply reproving him for his Vices he Proscribed him as an Enemy or Traytor so that to save his Life he absconded in England a while and then fled into Flanders Of these disorders in Government and Disaffections of the People the Danes taking advantage joyned with the Welsh and Invaded the Northern Borders having many Irish and some Scots as Auxiliaries joyned with them so that most of those Counties being violently Oppressed and finding the King slow to relieve them THE BISHOPRICK of DURHAM By Iohn Seller having united their Forces and expelled the Enemy renounced their Allegiance to him and chose his Brother Edgar King a young Prince of an active Spirit who had assisted them in the War to which with little opposition the whole Nation consented and hereupon Edwye being Deposed Dyed of Grief and was Buryed at Winchester In his time there was a great contention between the Monks and Marryed Priests the former opposing the latter as not capable of Officiating in holy Orders according to the Cannons of the Church of Rome and they again alledging those Cannons were contradictory to the Holy Scriptures so the Controversy was put to the King to determine and in this indeed he gave a right Judgment declaring for the Married Priests which is the only commendable thing noted in his Reign He Reigned four Years and was the Eleventh Sole Monarch of England Remarks on the Bishoprick of Durham c. THE Bishoprick of Durham tho' small in circumference abounds in plenty of all things as Cattel Corn Pastures Fruit-Trees Woods Forests and Parks and is Watered with divers pleastant Streams stored with Fish It has to the North and West many pleasant Hills and is Bounded with Northumberland Westmorland Yorkshire and the German Ocean It has in it the City of Durham which is a Bishops See and is a Palatine having divers Priviledges above many Counties It Contains 118 Parishes 6 Market Towns and 11 Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 4 viz. Durham 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire It gained the Title and Priviledge by the great Fame and Renown of St. Cuthberd for the Interment of whom the Cathedral was first Bulded by Bishop Aldwin and much enlarged by Bishop Careleph His Tomb was with much Devotion Visited by Edward Ethelstane and divers other Saxon Kings and by William the Conqueror this Bishoprick was made a County Palatine There is a place called Gallile in the West End of the Church where is to be seen the Tomb of venerable Beda Binchester the Benovium of the Romans was famed for their chief station in the North and many of their Coins have been found in Earthen Vrns upon Digging up old foundations Chester in the Street the Condercum of the Romans is a Place of great Antiquity pleasantly situate and well Inhabited At Nevil's Cross near Durham the Scots were defeated and David their King made Prisoner by one Copeland and carry'd Prisoner to the Tower for which service Copeland received of the King five Hundred Pounds per Annum In this Bishoprick near Darlington are three wonderful deep Pits called Hell Kettles supposed to be sunk by an Earthquake In this Palatine also stands Bernard Castle famous for the many Sieges it has held out against the Scots Over the River Weer with which the City of Durham is almost encompassed are two well built Stone Bridges one from the South the other from the North Road leading into the Town This Palatine has a Jurisdiction within it self to Try Criminals and other Matters from which in many cases there lyes no Appeal The Seats tho' few are very Antient and yet Magnificent Structures viz. Durham Place and Aukland Castle the Bishop Seats being the principal The Reign of King Edgar Twelfth Sole Monarch of England EDgar the Second Son of Edmund began his Reign Anno Dom. 959 at which time the Danes wearyâ—d out with War began to think of settling a Peace â—ith the English upon consideration they might rest at â—uiet in some Northern Counties and have other Adâ—antages which considering the uncertainty of the â—en state of Affairs was not thought amiss to be â—lowed them they owning the King their Superiour â—nd to continue as it were his Subjects And so King â—dgar having received the Crown at Bath from the â—ands of Odo Arch Bishop of Canterbury applied himâ—elf to the Government of his Kingdom and recalled Dunstan from Banishment yet by this means some Divines of Oxford Vniversity were Branded in the Cheek and Banished for Affirming The Church of Rome â—o be the Whore of Babylon Monkery an Offensive Contagion Their Vows of Celibacy an encouragement to Sodomy and other Vncleaneness He made very strict Laws against Drunkenness which was very rife in his time causing Cups to be made with certain Pins or Marks and a penalty to such as should exceed the allowed Draught And England being then pestered with Wolves who destroyed much small Cattle and some People he made a Law That those who held Lands of the Crown should Yearly bring in a cerrain number of Wolves Heads under a Penalty of forfeiting their Tenures And Ludwal the Prince of Wales was alloted to bring in three Hundred Wolves Heads Yearly in consideration of the Lands he held in subjection to the Crown of England Whereupon upon such dilligent search was every where made that â—n a few years there was not one to be found in England except such as were kept tame nor ever since has there been otherways any of the breed in this Country tho' Neighbouring Ireland not long since abounded with them This Edgar Yearly rid the Circuit to take notice of the abuses and corruptions of his Judges and severely Punished their remisness in the Administration of the Laws But notwithstanding all these good Qualities he was very much blemish'd with Incontinency not sparing Wives or Daughters where his desires lead him to pursue the enjoyment of his unlawful Pleasures He begat a Daughter whom he named Edith on Wolfe-child a veiled Nun who was afterward for a considerable sum of Money Cannonized by the Pope and attempting to gaine the possession of Odwina a Western Dukes Daughter her Mother whom he solicited to give her into his Arms preferring the preservation of her Chastity to the Kings Anger and all his Golden Promises contrived a Stratagem to defeat him which she effected by laying her waiting Maid in her Daughters Bed with whose wanton toying in the Dark he was so pleased that tho' he discovered the Fraud the next Morning he not only commended the Dutchess but gave his Bedfellow the Reward he had promised the Yong Lady and kept her as his Concubine Soon after this hearing by Fame of the great Beauty of Duke
Duke of Somerset Earl of Devonshire c. Were Beheaded At Aderly on the top of certain Hills are found Stones in the form of Oyters Cockles c. and near Puckle Church is a Vein of blue Stone At Lessington are Stones that represent Stars of the circumferance of a single Penny and the thickness of half a Crown they grow together in Columns about 3 or 4 Inches long and being singly put into Vinegar they naturaly move and tend towards union The Seats of the Nobility are Badminton and Wallastons Grange seats of the Duke of Beaufort Stowel a seat of the Earl of Strafford Berkely-Castle a seat of the Earl of Berkley's Campden-House in Campden a seat of the Earl of Gainsboroughs Overnorton a seat of the Lord Viscount Say and Seal's Corfe-Court and Cockbury seats of the Lord Coventry Glocester Pallace the Bishops seat It has in it also a great many Parks Forrests and all accommodations for Recreation c. The Reign of Ethelred Fourteenth Sole Monarch of England EThelred began his Reign Anno Dom. 979 he was the third Son of Edgar and came very Young to the Crown for I find that being informed of the manner of his Brother Edwards Death to make way for him to the Crown when he was but ten Years old he not only detested the crime and refused to be made King but wept and complained so abundantly for the deceased that the Queen in a great passion snatched a Wax Taper from the Alter nothing else being at hand and beat him so sorely with it that it gave him an Antipathy against Wax Tapers all his life time he never enduring any to be in his sight so that he may be reputed to be between Ten and Eleven Years Old when he came to the Throne so that the Danes promising themselves great advantages by reason of his Minority Landed in great numbers This King Ethelred by some called Eldred was Crowned at Kingston upon Thames by Arch Bishop Dunstan not as is said by his good will but he was compelled to perform that Office yet instead of a Benediction he Bann'd him as one that Swam to the Throne in the Stream of his Brothers Blood as he Phrased it speaking also as it were Prophetically of the great losses England would sustain in this Kings Reign and indeed Queen Alfreda being soon sensible of the Blood-guiltiness that cried against her and fearing the fury of the People built two Monasteries of Nuns at Amesbury where she lived a solitary Life till she Dyed The King being but slow in his preparations by which means he got himself the nickname of the Vnready Swane King or chief Leader of the Danes and Olaf King of Norway who assisted him got strong possession of divers of the most fertil Counties being secretly encouraged by Duke Edrick a Treacherous Courtier who discovered to them all the Kings Counsels and Fortified the Towns and Castles casting up works to secure what they gained as they made their Encroachments However at length the King gave them Battel and tho' he cannot be said to lose it the parting being somewhat doubtful on either side yet he lost so many of his People that he could not get together a sufficient Army to oppose them so that to save the rest of his Country from Spoil he was constrained to comply with the Enemies exorbitant demands compounding for his Quiet at 10000 l. Then they raised him to 16 20 30 and 40000 Pounds compelling the People to find them Provisions in their Houses where they were Quartered and to see in many places their Wives and Daughters Ravished before their Faces not daring on pain of their Lives to gainsay it The People calling them Lord Danes corruptly now Lurdane a by-word for a Lazy Fellow But Elfrick Earl of Mercia and Algarius his Son being found contributes and abettors to the Misery of their Country the King caused their Eyes to be put out and they confin'd to certain Limits during Life And now the King plainly perceiving what a miserable condition the Kingdom was in between private Traitors and professed Enemies he resolved to take a violent and speedy course as he thought to end the War at once and thereupon sent secret Messages throughout the Kingdom That upon the Ringing the Allarm-Bell on St. Brices Day the 13th of November Anno Dom. 1002 the People in all Cities and Towns should fall on the Danes as they lay scattered and had no time to get to their Arms or in any great Body and Massacre them and accordingly it was put in execution so that many places flowed with Danes Blood the injured and imaged People not sparing either Sex of that Nation so that Guni-Child King Swane's Sister was slain at Dorchester This Honour if I may rightly term it one the Women by I know not what Tradition totally ascribe to their Sex tho' no doubt both Sexes were Actors in the Danish Tragedy which had been more Bloody had not Duke Edrick given Swane notice tho' somewhat too late in the main of the Design by which means he saved himself and a great many of his followers and storming at his Loss Repaired it with all speed sending for Recruits from Norway and Denmark It was supposed in this Slaughter about 24000 fell but to Revenge it being Recruited the Danes grievously oppressed the Country Burning and Destroying in all places where they came so that although the King to the Impoverishing himself gave them 30000 Pounds for Peace they observed it but a few Days for having wrested a great Sum of Money from Alphegus who Succeeded Dunstan in the Arch Bishoprick of Canterbury and slain 900 Monks and Men in Religious Orders They Stoned the good Bishop to Death at Greenwich in Kent The King seeing these proceedings sent Emma his Queen with his two Sons to her Brother Richard Duke of Normandy and shortly after not able to endure the Destruction the Enemy made followed them But at length Swane was Murthered by his own Men for denying them their share of Plunder or restraining them from their Insolencies over the English However they chose Canute his Son King Of which change Ethelred thinking to make advantage at the solicitation of his Friends returned but perceiving several Treasons hatching against him That his Councells were betrayed by some he confided in and that he was too weak to withstand the Enemies fury he fell into a Melancholly and Dyed as is supposed of Grief and he was Bury'd in St. Paul's London He Reigned 37 Years unless we exclude the time he was absent in Normandy which by some is accounted between two and three Years He was the Fourteenth Sole Monarch of England Remarks on Hampshire or Hantshire HAmpshire is not only considerable for its Fertility in Corne Cattle Fowle Fish and its producing store of singular good Honey but for its commodious Sea-Ports opening to the South for the conveniency of Shipping outward or inward bound especially Southampton Antiently Hamo's Haven It is
having got the Crown on his Head he held it too precious a Jewel so lightly to part withal so that when the Duke of Normandy sent to demand it putting him in mind of his Oaths and Promises he Reply'd That what was extorted from him in his extremity was not Binding besides the Nobility and Commonalty of his Realm would not consent to his delivering it up to a Stranger as having had sad Experience of the great Mischiefs that had and must consequently again ensue and finally what he demanded of him was not in his power to grant and therefore prayed him to rest satisfied with his own Territories which were sufficiently large enough for any Prince This Answer made the Duke storm and resolve to hazard all rather than miss of his aim whereupon selling his Jewells and Plate he Levyed Men in France Switzerland Germany c. And tho' the Pope strictly forbid him to molest England under pain of Excommunication he took no regard of his Menaces but encreased his Shipping and sent to Norway and those parts from whence the Normans originally descended to stir them up by Landing in the North in savour of his Invasion on the South parts of England and so in order to it continued his Levys making a League with the French King That he should not Invade his Country in his Absence However Harrold having notice of his proceedings raises a great Army which was not long Idle For Tosto Brother to Harrold upon some displeasure flying to Denmark forwarded the Norman Dukes Negotiation so that with a considerable Army they Landed at Richall upon Ouse in Yorkshire and fell to Burning and Plundering whereupon the King Marched his Army towards them who were Advanced to Stanford Bridge built over the River Dâ—rwent upon which Bridge he was stopped with his whole Army by a Single Dane of Monstrous Size who slew Forty of his Men who adventured to remove him and had in all likelyhood prevented his passing at that time over the Bridge had not a Souldier Rowed with a Boat under it and run up his Spear through a crevise into the Danes Body whereupon he fell down Dead and the King hasted with his Army over the Bodies of the slain and falling upon the Danes and Norwegians made of them an incredible slaughter slaying Tosto his Brother and Harfager King of Denmark and Norway Olave the Son of Harfager and Paul Earl of Orkney were taken Prisoners who begging their Lives were suffered to depart with the rest of the Prisoners having only 20 of their 300 Ships left to carry them with the woful News into Denmark the rest being broken on the Rocks by a mighty Storm the day before the Battel happened These Troubles were no sooner over and the Northern parts a little settled but News came posting to the King that Duke William of Normandy was Landed at Pevensey in Sussex on the Eighth of September Anno Dom. 1066 who thereupon caused his Ships to be set on Fire that his Souldiers might take Courage to Fight the more desperately as having no hopes of returning home unless they Conquered and when he first came on Shoar his Foot stuck fast in the Sand so that he fell on his Hands and being perceived by a Knight to bring up a handfull of Earth when he rise he said Now Sir Duke England sticks fast to you and is your own since you have taken Livery and Seizen doubt not but presently to be King thereof By this Time King Harrold was hastily returned to London whither the Norman Duke sent a Message to him to demand a peaceable surrender of the Kingdom for sparing the lives of the People But this Messenger was dismissed with Threats and both Armies advanced towards each other and on a fair Plain in Sussex called from the ensuing Fight Battel-Field the Normans pitched their Tents to expect the King who was about seven Miles from them and some of the Spies he sent being taken Duke William caused them to be carried from Tent to Tent and plentifully Feasted after which he dismissed them So the next Morning both Armies came in sight of each other and drew up in Battel Array where a second time the Duke sent a Monk to the King to demand a peaceable surrender of the Kingdom or otherwise for avoiding the effusion of much Blood to try it by single Combate or else to hold the Kingdom as his Tributary But Harrold would agree to neither of these returning for Answer That more Swords than one should decide the Controversie So that the next day being the 14th of October Anno Dom. 1066 no agreement being in likelyhood to be made between them it was resolved it should be tried by the Sword and so both Armies being Marshalled for the Battel the Trumpet sounded the Bloody Blast and the Kentish-men who claimed it as their Right to Lead the Van-Guard fell on furiously beating down the Normans and putting their Advanced Parties to the Rout keeping close together in thick Ranks and wedging into the Enemies Squadrons and Battallions so that a miserable slaughter ensued tho' on our part The Normans slew many by shooting their Arrows at random in the Air which violently falling on the Heads of such as were unarmed entered their Sculls so that many fell Dead who never struck stroak in the Battel however the Duke who passed through every part of the Army to give necessary orders knowing if he lost the day his Life and Interest went with it perceiving his Men could not break the thick Phalanxes of the English he commanded they should seem to faint and make an orderly Retreat as if they Fled which succeeded to his wish for hereupon the English supposing it had been a real Flight disranked in pursuit of them whereupon the Normans speedily facing about broke with great fury into their loose Array beating down all before them with their mighty Swords and Battel-Axes pouring perpetual showers of Arrows on them so that although the English kept together and â—ought Valliantly about the Kings Standard yet he being Shot into the Brain with an Arrow and falling dead they were so disheartned that the Standard was taken the Kings two Brothers Girth and Leofine in defence of it slain with most of the Nobles and as credible Authors affirm 97974 of the Common sort LEICESTER SHIRE The Duke in this Battel had three Horses slain under him and yet escaped without any hurt in the place where this Battel was Fought he afterwards Founded an Abby which to this day is called Battel-Abby After this the small remainder of the Nobles and Clergy consulted what was to be done but finding their weakness they concluded to submit to the Conquerer having Buried the Body of Harrold at Wadham in Essex when he had Reigned about Nine Months and Nine Days and is accounted the Twentieth Sole Monarch of England whereupon Duke William took possession of the Kingdom Remarks on Leicestershire c. LEicestershire is a very fine Inland
Blood and the Miserie 's such a War was likely to bring on both Nations for being thereby weakened they might easily become a Prey to Forreign Enemies who watched for such an opportunity to work their ends both on Normandy and England especially the Danes and French To these and other Reasons for an amicable conclusion of the Difference the Norman Duke harkened with much mildness so that in a short time it was agreed that Robert after Williams Death should possess the Kingdom and to the end his Heirs might not disturb it he was debarred from Marriage as I find it in some Historians however certaine it is he left no Legitimate Issue behind him And in the mean time he was Yearly to pay the sum of 3000 Marks And the Articles being Signed the Brothers took a Friendly leave of each other so that through Providence this threatning Storm which filled England with many doubts and fears at its approach blew over without doing any harm After the Duke of Normandy had repassed the Seas with his Army the King fearing he might repent him of what he had Agree'd to strengthened the Sea Ports and Built some Castles advantagiously on the Havens to prevent Landing by surprize but knowing his prime Strength and Assurance was in the Love of his Subjects he began to caress the Nobles more than he had done and remitted to the Commons several grievous Taxes for upon his coming to the Crown he thought treading in his Fathers steps was the best Measures but now he found that Mildness rather than Rigor was the surest Policy to keep the Natives of this Island firm to his Interest whereupon he restored much that had been Extorted by his Rigorous Ministers and the better to curry favour with the People caused some of them to be punished for the offences he had enjoyned them to commit About this time Odo Bishop of Bayon the Kings Unkle who had been Banished by the Conquerer came over and was kindly received by his Nephew who Created him Earl of Kent and conferred on him many other Honours and Trusts which made the old Clergy-Man presume so much on the Kings Favour That he took upon him more Authority to Rule than came to his share by many degrees whereupon the Nobles made grievous complaints That a Stranger should presume to Domineer over them in their Native Country so that the King being sensible of his Arogancy changed his Smiles into Frowns which caused him to make a party among the English Normans and to fall into open Rebellion Declaring for Duke Robert and his Right who underhand had promised to Land some Forces but did not This Treachery of the Normans made the King almost totally throw himself on the English for Safeguard and Protection These Fractions and Disorders in the State begat new conceits in Malcolm King of Scots who resolving to take the advantage of them hastily raised an Army and Invaded the Northern Marches wasting all in his way with Fire and Sword whereupon the King Summoning all his Courage not to leave an Enemy at his Back first fell upon the Bishop and gave him and his Rebellious Associates a terrible Overthrow and in the Battel the Bishop being taken Prisoner he was compelled to Abjure the Land This happening the latter-end of the Second Year of the Kings Reign the Third no sooner began but he resolved to be Revenged on the Scots who had broke their League with him in order to lay hold on the Advantages Clandestine Commotions seemed to offer them and finding them Plundering and Spoiling his Subjects he scarce gave them time to Embattel ere like a Tempest he broke in amongst them destroying the greater part of their numerous Army in which fell Twenty of their Nobles and their King was constrained to Acknowledg Subjection to England renew his League upon Oath and in further confirmation of his Subjection he became a Pentioner to King William and to make it more apparent he was Tributary to England payed Twelve Mark Yearly for the Twelve Villages the King restored him after he had taken them from him in this War which he had held in the Reign of William the Conquerer and to Fortifie against the Scots Incursions he Rebuilded and Garisoned the City of Carlisle in Cumberland it having been demolished by the Danes about 200 Years before and Lanfrank Dying at a great Age the King kept the profits of the Arch Bishoprick in his hands Four Years and then made Anselm a Norman Abbot Arch Bishop which much displeased the English Clergy Not long after this Malcolm King of Scots coming to Gloucester where King William held his Court being denied Access and unhandsomly treated by some Carpet-Courtiers who had been raised from a low degree he without acquainting the King with it or demanding satisfaction for the Indignity put upon him flung away in a great rage and arriving in Scotland Assembled the Nobles and incited them to bring all the Forces they could raise to his Standard which they punctually obeyed and entering England with a huge Army he wasted all before him as far as Alnewick which he Besieged and Took it but the strong Castle held out against him which with his numbers he so straightly begirt that Famine got in and much dismai'd the Besieged whereupon an adventurous Knight with a Flag of Truce in his Hand and the Keys of the Castle on his Spear came out at the Gate Mounted on a swift Racer and making low obeysence as if he submitted them to the King of Scots being come pretty near setting Spurs to his Horse he run at the King with his Spear and piercing him into the Eye and Brain he fell Dead to the Ground and the Knight by the swiftness of his Horse escaped through the Scotish Camp at which the Scots were so dismai'd That they raised the Siege and departed with the Body of their King Mournfully into Scotland For this daring piece of Service which turned so much to the advantage of William The Knight had his Name by him changed from Mabrey to Piercey and was created Earl of Northumberland whose Race as Earls continued till of very late days as will appear in the succeeding Reigns But this Success prevented not a Conspiracy against the King for Robert Mowbrey and William of Ancho Plotted to take away his Life by Treachery and Crown Stephen D' Albemarle his Second Sisters Son but the Design being Discovered a little before it was to be put in practice by one of the Accomplices in the Conspiracy some were taken and Executed others Fled And now the Welsh Rebelling under the Leading of Rees their Prince the King with a gallant Army entered Wales but the Rebells shifting from one steep Mountain to another as well knowing the ways in those Fastnesses and climbing the craggy Clifts like Goats many of the English were wasted in pursuing them but at length Starving them out they were constrained to come to a Battel wherein Rees was Slain with
Guyan Gascoyne and other Provinces the former being mostly Victorious recovering many places and driving the Enemy for the most part out of his Territories there But whilst the King was intent to go over and finish what had been so well begun and carried on the French King as much as in him lay to cross his proceedings had made a Faction in Scotland against the new King who compelled him to renounce his Allegiance to King Edward and send Defiance to him nor was this all but with an Army hastily gathered he entered and wasted the Northern parts of England Slaying Burning and Plundering without Pity or Remorse Whereupon King Edward recounting his manifold Favours and the great love he had to the Revolted King of Scots this base Ingratitude so stirred his Anger That he resolved a bloody chastisement should be the punishment of his unthankfullness Whereupon recalling some of his Forces and raising more he Marched to the succour of his Subjects and such was his good Fortune that in a little time he met with and fought the Scotch Army slaying 25000 of them winning the strong Castles of Berwick and Dunbar and soon after the City of Edenburough with many other places of note which made King John too late see his Errors and to what distress his rashness had driven him However thinking to find Favour by an humble submission or at least prevent the further Ruin and Desolation of his Country he came and cast himself at King Edwards Feet wholle submitting with himself the Crown and Kingdom of Scotland to be at his dispose in expectation to have been Restored but King Edward resenting very heinously his ungrateful proceedings sent him under a strong Guard to the Tower of London yet ordered him allowance of Liberty Diet and Attendance as became his state when Marching from Sea to Sea without any farther resistance he settled the Affaires of Scotland committing the Government of the Kingdom to John Warren Earl of Surry as his Lieutenant Constituting Hugh Cressingham Lord Treasurer and William Barnsley his Chief Justice confining some of the Rebellious Scots within the Marches of England that they might be disabled from giving any Disturbance in his Absence and so returned in Triumph with great Honours and high applause of his Subjects The King being now at leasure to remember the Injuries the French had done him and resolving to Revenge them Leagued with Guy Earl of Flanders and Transported an Army thither and Fought with Robert Earl of Arthois whome he Routed taking many Towns and Fortresses on the Frontiers which made the French King play over the game again of stirring up the Scots to Rebellion hoping by that means to constrain him to return but on the contrary he appointed Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland his General for that War who mannaged it with that Prudence that after some Marching Training them into the open Field he gave them Battel with incredible Slaughter so that many Miles of Ground were in a manner covered with their dead Bodies by which great Overthrow they found themselves constrained to return to their former Obedience so that the French King perceiving his Project took not on that side seemed very desirous to try his Strength with King Edward in the Field but his Courage failing he reposing more confidence in his Policy than Valour he proceeded to tamper about proposals of Love and Amity that might settle a lasting Peace and King Edward being now a Widower he earnestly solicited him to take his Sister to Wife to make the Alliance stronger which by the cunning subtilty of some Courtiers Bribed by the French King was brought about and Peace ensued after a tedious War that had caused much Bloodshead So the King with his Queen returned home and soon after he made Prince Edward his Son who had been Born at Carnarvan in Wales the better to ingratiate himself with those People Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester and to gain the Hearts of the Londoners he restored them those Liberties his Father had deprived them of and without which they had continued the space of Twelve Years during which time a Governour was set over them by the King and their Magistrates chosen by his order But whilst things were well ordering at home the Scots again fell into Rebellion Whereupon the King sent to demand their Ring-leaders who had drawn them into this danger which principally was one Wallis a Gentleman of an inveterate Spirit against the English Nation with a promise of Pardon to all the rest upon their laying down their Arms or else threatned to waste the Country with Fire and Sword from Sea to Sea and spare none of that Nation he should find in his way But driven on by their hard Fate they were Deaf to these Proposals making yet greater preparations to weather as they thought the Storm they could not but expect and so upon the Kings entering the Marches of Scotland they bid him Battel where before the Armies joyned he made them the same Offers which they seemed to reject with scorn so the Bloody Blast being sounded by the order of the Incensed King who resolved now to Scourge them in earnest the English fell on with such fury and violence that they broke like a Tempest into the Scots Battel carrying all before them so that a miserable slaughter ensued and the King pressing too furiously upon those that Fled in the eagerness of the Pursuit fell from his Horse and broke two of his Ribs yet he lightly remounting and not regarding his Hurt drove them out of the Field with the slaughter of 32000 of them he not now as at other times restraining the Swords of his Soldiers but gave scope and encouragement to their thirst of Revenge and in this Battel fell the flower of the Scots Nobility and Gentry but on our side very few were slain some Historians make mention but of 28 of all Degrees tho' that seemes too Partial But in comparison of the Scots they were certainly very inconsiderable The Prisoners that were taken were not many by reason few were spared in the Fight or in the pursuit that were overtaken so that the small remainder of the Nobles came and Humbled themselves before the King charging the fault on such as they said had justly received their Deserts by being slain in the Battel and this Submission upon their taking a new Oath of Fealty and Homage was accepted and returning home upon the earnest request of Pope Boniface the Eighth he Released John the Deposed King of Scots out of the Tower who went to Normandy to live quietly there on Lands alotted him called Bayliolls Lordship or Lands where falling Blind and being much in Years he Dyed leaving his Estate to his Son Edward However his Death put not an end to the Scots Troubles for they had not long enjoyed Peace but forgetting their Oaths or at least despising all conditions with the English they again Revolted and again felt the same Scourge
brought into England about 12 Years after by William Caxton a Mercer Remarks on Warwickshire c. WArwickshire is an Inland County very pleasantly situate well Wooded and incumbered but with few Hills It is Bounded with Staffordshire Leicestershire Northamptonshire Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire It abounds with Cattle Corn Wooll Cheese Butter pleasant Pastures Fish and Fowl It contains 5 Hundreds in which are 158 Parishes 14 Market Towns 4 Castles 10 Rivers 10 Bridges 13 Parks and 2 Forrests It sends Members to Parliament 6 viz. Coventry City 2 Warwick 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Warwick the Shire Town is of very Antient foundation held to be Builded by Gurguntus a British King 375 Years before the Birth of our Saviour the Castle yet retaining very many marks of great Antiquity and Memorable for the Residence of the Renowned Guy Earl of Warwick where is kept a Vessel called his Pot and usually filled with good Liquor to be Drunk by all comers on memorable Days It is commodiously situate on the River Avon Coventry joyntly with Litchfield make a Bishoprick on one of its Gates called Gifford-Gate is the Bone of a Monstrous Beast fastned said to be that of the huge Boar Guy slew who with his Snout turned up a deep place now called Swanes Mear At Wolney Anno 1469 King Edward the Fourth was taken Prisoner by the great Earl of Warwick and his Forces scattered At Backlow Hill Pierce Gaviston was taken and Beheaded The other Places of Note are Henly Southam Sutton Atherstone Kyneton Rougby Aulchester Bitford The River Tame abounds with Fish and finely branches the Northern part of the County as Avon does most of the rest over which leading to Warwick is a sightly and strong Bridge At Lemington a Salt Spring arises a great distance from the Sea At Newenham or Menhem Reges is a Petrifying Well Snale Stones Star Stones and Cockel Stones are found near Shugbury The Noblemens Seats are Milcot-House belonging to the Earl of Dorset Compton-Place to the Earl of Northampton Newnham Padox to the Earl of Denby Wormleighton to the Earl of Sunderland Comb to the Earl of Craven Ragley and Luddington to the Earl of Conway Hewel Grange to the Earl of Plymouth Ettington to the Lord Ferrers Warwick Castle Knowel and Beuchamps Court to the Lord Brook Fletchamstead and Stonely to the Lord Leigh Wotenwaven and Aln-Lodg to the Lord Carrington besides many pleasant Seats of the Gentry sightful to Travellers The Reign of King EDWARD the Fourth EDWARD Duke of York having prevailed over the Lancastrians and put to death many of his great Enemies Marched Triumphantly to London where he was by the Citizens joyfully received and Proclaimed King on the 4th of March Anno 1461 and the 19th of June following he was Crowned at Westminster but his carriage towards the Citizens afterward made them repent their forwardness to take part with him against King Henry who had always loved them and been their constant Friend Soon after his Coronation he called a Parliament and laboured therein to settle the Affaires of the Kingdom which were much disordered by the Civil War And all former Statutes made in the Reign of Henry which Attainted him and his Adherents of High Treason were Cancelled and made void The Earl of Oxford and Sir Awbrey Vere his Son were in this Parliament Attainted of sundry Treasons and lost their Heads and to strengthen his Interest he conferred Titles of Honour on a great many of his Friends Whereupon seeing little hopes left of King Henry's Recovering his Crown the Duke of Sommerset Sir Ralph Piercey and others submitted themselves to Edward's Mercy and were received into favour but upon notice the Queen was arrived from France in the North and by the Aid of the Scots had raised a considerable Army they secretly fled to her Edward had soon notice of these Proceedings and sent the Lord Montacute before him with a considerable Force himself followed with the rest of the Army and this Lord with such resolution and bravery set upon the Lords Hungerford and Ross that at the begining of the Fight they Cowardly fled away but Sir Ralph Piercey and other stout Commanders who preferred an honourable death before a shameful desertion of their Men fought it out bravely till they lost their Lives in the Field and left the Victory to their Adversary The Lord Montacute flushed with this success and thursting after fame without staying for the King set upon Queen Margaret's Army and after a bloody Fight put her to the Rout and Henry Duke of Summerset William Tallboies who stiled himself Earl of Kent the Lords Ross Mollines and Hungerford Sir Henry Nevel Sir Thomas Wentworth and Sir Richard Tunstal being Taken were in several places Beheaded and 27 others were shortly after Executed in divers manners But after this Overthrow Henry Escaped to Scotland with his half-Brother Jasper Earl of Pembrook Sir Ralph Grey and others and hereupon all the Castles in the North fell into King Edward's hands For this Service done by the Lord Montacute the King would have given him the Earldom of Northumberland but upon that Earls submitting though he had fought against him he restored him to his Lands and Honours giving Montacute in lieu of his Resignation the Title of a Marquess and to encourage his Soldiers and such as had deserved well he bestowed on them great Bounties out of the confiscated Estates of his Enemies causing many advantagious Laws to be Enacted the better to settle him on the Throne by gaining the affection of the People Soon after this King Henry returning disguised into England was discovered taken Prisoner and sent to Edward who committed him to close ward in the Tower King Edward now thinking himself firmly fixed in the Throne by the advice of the Estates after the proposals of several Matches concluded to send his great Friend Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick to require the Lady Bona Daughter to Lewis Duke of Savoy and Sister to Charete Queen to Lewis the Eleventh King of France in Marriage the Earl was sent over with a very splended Equipage and with many Rich presents to the Lady and was so prosperous in his Negotiation that all things he had in Commission were soon agreed to the Portion assigned and the Instruments for settling her Dowry ratified but this wrought much mischief to King Edward For going to Recreate himself at his Mannor of Grafton he there cast his Eyes on the Beautiful Elizabeth Widow to Sir John Grey slain in King Henry's cause at the Battel of St. Albans and by no perswasions being able to gain her for his Concubine though he had freely granted her her Husbands Estate which she Petitioned to him for so enflamed was he with the desire of Enjoying her and she plainly telling him As she thought her self of too mean a condition to be his Wife so she thought her self much above his demands of being his Concubine and tho' her Life might be at his dispose
the chief of them they named the Protector sending abroad Proclamations wherein they lay'd many grievous Crimes to his charge as his Male Administration of Government and the great Mischiefs that had thereby befallen the Kingdom his converting the Publick Treasure to his Private Vse his endeavouring to set the Peers at Variance c. The Duke upon this finding â—he Londoners denyed him Aid but on the contrary had assisted his Adversary Warwick with 400 Armed Men who had drawn most of the Peers to his side and that contrary to his expectation he was left in a manner alone he now too late saw his Brothers Fall was contrived to usher in his However putting the best construction on the matter he sent a Messenger to them desiring they would forbear all rough proceedings and deal with him according to Law and Right which they promising to do he yielded himself and the King's Person into their hands and was committed to the Tower together with Sir Thomas Stanhop Sir Thomas Smith and others his Favourites but having been a Prisoner 3 Months and nothing made out against him upon acknowledging himself worthy of the punishment he suffered and begging the King's Pardon he was set at Liberty but deposed from his Protectorship and by the more Peaceable Nobility the Earl of Warwick and he were made Friends and to bind it the firmer the Earls Eldest Son was Married to the Dukes Daughter and new Honours bestowed on persons that had well deserved viz John Lord Russet was created Earl of Bedford William Lord St. John Earl of Wiltshire Sir William Paget Lord Paget and soon after the King called a Parliament at Westminster wherein was Enacted a Statute for the punishment of Rebells and Riotous Assemblies upon which ensuing Statute the Duke was about two Years after Condemned The Parliament being ended the Earl of Bedford and Lord Paget were sent Ambassadors with other Assistants to France and the Emperour by whose means a Peace was concluded upon divers Articles advantageous to the English and the Queen of Scots was included in it and it was Proclaimed with great Joy in the City of London Now all the high Altars being taken down in the Churches Tables were placed in their stead for receiving the Communion and Sir Andrew Jude Builded the Free-School at Tunbridge and six Alms-houses in St. Hellins within Bishopsgate And the Book of Common Prayer which had in some part been Corrected and Amended was appointed by Parliament to be Read in all Churches and Chappels In Aprill Anno 1551. An unaccountable Sweating Sickness happened and held till October of which vast numbers of people dyed Most that were taken with it dying in 24 Hours or sooner it seizing mostly on lusty young Men and very little on Women Children or aged people and of it dyed Henry Duke of Suffolk and his brother Sons to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk both of the Royal Blood by the Mothers side viz Mary younger Sister to Henry the 8th So that the Dukdome fell to Henry Grey Marquess of Dorset who had marryed the Lady Frances Eldest Daughter to Brandon and Mary his Wife And now the Duke of Northumberland growing powerful and labouring to get the King at his disposal to bring his purposes about found he could not do it unless the Duke of Somerset were Removed And the feud growing hot between them the Duke of Somerset by the perswasion of some private Enemies Employed by his Adversary went Armed to the Council under his Surcoat where the Duke of Northumberland feignedly pretending to Clasp him about as in Friendship discovered his Coat of Male and found Weapons about him Whereupon Northumberland laying hold on the opportunity Charged him with an Intention to have Murthered some of the Kings Privy Counsellors and afterwards produced Witnesses to aver he had before come with Armed Men to attempt his Life but that his Courage failed him and one of his followers when he returned demanding if he had done it and he saying No replyed then you are undone Upon this with divers of his Favorites he was sent to the Tower and process being drawn up against him he was Tryed by his Peers in Westminster Hall on two Articles 1. For High Treason viz. That he had not only Imprudently but Treacherously administered the weighty affairs of Government 2. For Conspiring the Death of Northumberland who was a Privy Counsellor which by the new Law was Fellony Of the former he Acquitted himself wherupon the Ax being taken away such a shout arose in the Hall among the Common People that it was heard to Charing Cross but on the other Article he was found Guilty and Condemned but it was a considerable time before they could constrain the King to Sign the Warrant for his Execution which he did not without Tears Saying he was the unhappyest Creature Living For at his Birth he had been the Death of his Mother And had since tho against his Inclination signed the Death of one of her Brothers and now they urged him to do the like for the Noble Duke his Vncle and therfore concluded the Lord Judge between me and you that Constrain me to do this against my mind However having got the Warrant signed they hastened the Duke's Execution and diverted the Kings Melancholly the mean while with Balls Plays and Musick And so infatuated was this Great Man that according to the opinion of divers had he thought upon demanding his Clergy he might have saved his Life his Crime by the new Act being only Fellony However he made a very Pennitent and Christian-like end much bewailing he had forwarded his Brothers Destruction and now saw it brought his own upon himself by opening a way to his Enemies He lost his Head on Tower-Hill and was much Lamented by all sorts of people except his enveterate Enemies who Rejoyced at his removal to another World and in his fall many of his Favourits boâ—e their part by Northumberland's contrivance viz. Sir Ralph Vane and Sir Thomas Arundel Beheaded for Conspiring with Somerset to Kill Northumberland the latter of which declared his Blood should be a Bolster for the Duke of Northumberland as long as he Lived intimating thereby he should have a troubled Conscience and all of them professed their Innocency to the last as to the Crimes they were charged with Doctor Ridley Bishop of London Preaching before the Young King of the excellency of Charity and Alms-deeds he was so affected with his Sermon that thinking he directly pointed at him who was in the highest Station after the Sermon was ended he held a private Conferrence with him how he might effectually bestow his Charity who advised him to send for the Mayor and Aldermen of London who would give him satisfaction in that matter as being most acquainted with the needs of the Poor which he did and after consulting with them allotted them Christs Hospital formerly the Grey Fryars of St. Francis Order St. Thomas's Hospital and Bridewel dividing the Poor
were Kill'd and about 300 of lesser Note on our Part The Enemy lost 3000 and were pursued 4 Miles and upon this Defeat Drogheda Surrendred and K. James with part of his broken Army hasted to Dublin and from thence he went to Waterford where soon after he took Ship and Sailed for France and the King of England coming to Dublin was received with all imaginable Demonstrations of Joy and a great many Protestants who had been Imprisoned were set at Liberty the Papists disarmed and the Affairs in those Parts settled and many places that stood out Surrendred The Brass and Copper Money K. James had Coined as passable in that Kingdom was called in or set at the Value of the Metal only Sheriffs appointed and the Face of Justice restored Whilst these things were doing beyond the Seas an Engagement happened between the English and French off Beachy viz. on June 30. in which the Dutch Squadron being forward to gain the Weather-Gage of the Enemy received great Loss many of them being Burnt or so shattered that after the Fight they fell into the Hands of the Enemy the English red Squadron not coming up as was expected for which Miscarriage our Admiral the Earl of Torrington was Tryed but acquitted and after the Fight the French insulted our Coasts burning Tingmouth a Viâ—â—age of Fishers Cots and doing some other Damage after which they retired to their own Coast and one Godfrey Cross an Inn-keeper in Kent for going on Board the Enemy and giving Intelligence was afterward Try'd Condemned and Executed near St. Thomas's Waterings in the Kentish-road from London And this Year the King besieged Lymerick in Ireland but by reason of the Strength of the Place advancing of the Season and great Rains that over-flowed the River Shannon on which it is seated having in vain summoned it he drew off and returned to England But our Fleet standing to that Coast and the Earl of Marlborough on board it with considerable Land-Forces and joyned upon Landing by part of the Army already there they took Cork and Kinsale with little Loss at the Siege of the first the Noble Duke of Grafton amongst others pressing too forwards on the Works was Slain by a small Shot A Plot was soon after Discovered to have set the City of Dublin on Fire and in that Hurry to have fallen on the King ' Forces in Garison there and by a miserable Slaughter to have Surprized it but some Letters intimating the Intention being found by the Care of the Lord Sidney and Conningsby whom the King had appointed Lords-Justices the Mischief was prevented by securing Suspected Persons And now the Parliament of England waited on the King with their humble Addresses of Thanks for the great Things he had done for these Kingdoms and to Congratulate his happy Return and Success and the King was not slow by Marks of Honour and Promotion to Gratify those that had well-behaved themselves in the Service and among others Coll. Cuts was Created Baron of Gowran in the Kingdom of Ireland he also appointed his Privy Council there and all other Officers of State Judges and Magistrates restored such as had been outed and appointed some new Bishops causing a Regulation of the Clergy in General The Winter thus passing on the King prepared to pass the Seas to be at the Congress of Princes and Embassadors appointed at the Hague to Concert the Measures for carrying on the War against France and after he had passed several Acts and Prorogu'd the Parliament he Embarq'd with a splendid Train of Nobility and with great Difficulty by reason of the Ice it being January Landed near Maesland-sluys and being Complemented by the Deputies of the States passed to the Hague where the States General and Council of State with other Colledges made their Complements to him as also the Foreign Ministers and to make his Reception the more Magnificent three Triumphal Arches were Erected one by the States-General and two by the Magistrates with sundry Motto's and Devices Expressing the great things he had done and what more Glorious were Promised from his Heroick Virtues too many here to Enumerate and in the Evening the Cannon Illuminations Fire-works and shouts of the People spoke more loudly the Welcome of a Prince that has so well deserved of that Nation And at his first appearing in the Assembly of the States-General taking his Place at the upper-end of the Table he with many Obliging Expressions declared his Affections and good Inclinations to them in a most Elegant Speech which being deliberated on the Heer Van Wickers President of the Assembly in the name of the rest made a suitable Answer and the Duke of Brandenburg and other Princes being met a League and strict Amity was agreed on for restoring the Peace and Tranquility of Europe in reducing by Arms the Grand Disturber of it to Reason and a Restitution of what he had wrongfully either by Surprize or Vioolence taken from the Confederates for which War had been Proclaimed by them Whilst the King was thus busy beyond the Seas some ill-affected Persons were Designing at home to betray our Strengths into the Hands of the Common Enemy by giving account of the Ports Shipping and what else might facilitate an Invasion and on this account the Lord Preston John Ashton and Edmund Elâ—ot were seized in a Smack as they were passing out of the River of Thames by Captain Billop and Papers of Dangerous Consequence found with which they were designed for France for which the two first being Tryed and found Guilty of High-Treason Ashton was Executed The King having appointed the Baron D' Ginkle chief Commander of his Forces in Ireland having received Supplies and Stores from England he besieged Ballymore which surrendred upon Discretion And having Garisoned it the Army marched and set down before Athlone where they had put up French Colours to make him believe the Garison mostly consisted of that Nation However a Breach being made and succeeded by a vigorous Attack the Base Town was soon won and the other followed the same Fate in a short time tho' their whole Army lay behind it and the Soldiers furiously entring a great many were put to the Sword This was no sooner Repaired and Garisoned but the Army pursued the Retreating Enemy and in a long-Contested Battel at Aghrim gave them a total Rout so that they never considerably appeared in the Field after it St. Ruth the French General was slain with a Cannon-shot at the beginning of the Fight and all their Cannon Baggage Ammunition and Plunder of the Camp fell to the share of our Men. And being Refreshed they marched to Galloway which place after a considerable Battery was Surrendred on Articles and the Garison marched to Lymerick which was the next place besieged but holding out Obstinately and having in it a numerous Garison it was thought fit after a considerable Siege to grant advantagious Articles and as many as would had leave to depart the Kingdom And
places of England that had risen on this Revolution But Ireland was in a dangerous Condition for the Earl of Tyrconnel had stopped almost all the Ports and was raising numerous Forces of Irish for the Service of King James so that those who would have fled into England or Scotland were for the most part restrained and obliged to continue under the dreadful Apprehensions of another Massacre being every where in the Countrey Robbed and Spoiled of their Substance and a great many Imprisoned The State of which Kingdom the King earnestly recommended to his Parliament desiring them to hasten the raising such Supplies as was requisite in order to reduâ—d it to Obedience The Lord bishop of London with about one Hundred of the City Clergy waiting on the King to tender their humble Duty he gave them an assurance of his Affection to the Church of England and of all Encouragement to them concluding that they might depend upon his Word And an Act passed about Removing and Preventing all Questions and Disputes about the Assembling and sitting of the Parliament and the King issued out his Proclamation to leave the Irish without Excuse That if they would lay down their Arms and Live quietly they should have their Pardon for all things past and enjoy their Estates but if they continued still in Arms declaring them Rebels and Traytors and their Lands and Possessions Forfeited c. But this Proclamation being not Publish'd in Ireland had little effect tho' in the North the Protestants secured London-Derry Sligo and other places in expectation of being Aided from England And now the King to ease his Subjects consented that the Duty of Hearth-Money that had long been a Burden to the Nation might be taken off which was very pleasing to the People Thomas Pilkington Esq who in the late Reign was Fined 100000 l. upon an Action of Scandalum Magnatum brought against him by the then Duke of York was now chosen Lord-Mayor of London in which Honourable station he continued near three Years And now the Coronation being appointed on the 11th of April it was performed with great Splendor and Magnificence occasioning great Demonstrations of Joy in the People and soon after the Crown of Scotland was by the Commissioners of the Estates presented to the King and Queen which was accepted and the usual Coronation Oath of that Kingdom taken And now Admiral Herbert standing with a considerable Squadron to the Coast of Ireland fought with about 40 French Men of War in Bantrey-Bay in this Engagement Capt. George Aylmer of the Portland a Lieutenant and 64 Seamen were Killed and about 240 Wounded the Enemy losing a greater Number And then at the humble Request of the Parliament the King declared War with France In Scotland Duke Hamilton was made High-Commissioner where the Duke of Gourdon held the Castle of Edenborough for King James and the Viscount Dundee had a considerable Force in the Field to second him and many hot Skirmishes were Fought till at last in an Obstinate Fight Dundee was killed upon which the Duke of Gourdon not finding himself longer able to hold the Castle delivered it up to Sir John Lanier upon Articles â—nd tho' Collonel Cannon Buchanon and others kept up the Party in the Field for a while at length they were dispersed and Scotland entirely Quieted On the 24th of July the Princess of Denmark was brought to Bed of a Son and on the 28th he was Christened William by the Bishop of London the King and the Earl of Dorset standing God-Fathers and the Marchioness of Hallifax God-Mother and then the King declared the Young Prince Duke of Gloucester King James being Landed in Ireland with some French Forces and a considerable number of Officers Arms and Ammunition had with a numerous Army besieged London-Derry which was Defended by the Inhabitants and others till it was reduced to the last Extremity by Famine but then Providence so ordered it that Major-General Kirk sending in Shipping with Provision the Siege was raised The Besiegers in lying before it and by the Besieged's falling on the Rear in drawing off having lost 2000 men and Dr. Walker a principal Man in Defending that place coming over the King Ordered him 5000 l. as a mark of his Bounty with an Assurance of greater Advantages And on the 13th of August the Duke of Schomberg Landed with the English Army at Carickfergus in Ireland and soon Reduced divers Places compelling the advanced Parties of the Irish to retreat before him and held a Winter-Camp on the Plains of Dundalk which being Moorish and Foggy many Gallant Men dyed of the Flux and other Sicknesses But the Iniskilling-men who frequently went abroad in Parties did considerable Service by cutting off the Irish Rapparees Whilst these things passed the King for weighty Reasons dissolved his first Parliament and called another to sit at Westminster the 20th of March 1690 and the Commons chusing Sir John Trevor their Speaker the King told both Houses among other things That his Resolution was to go for Ireland his Presence being necessary there for Reducing that Kingdom Signifying it was his Pleasure to leave the Government in the Queen's Hands during his Absence and accordingly before his Departure an Act was passed to that Purpose And the King of Denmark at this time assisted the King with 6000 Danish Soldiers under the Leading of the Duke of Wirtemburg who did notable Service Charlemont having been straightly Blocked up Capitulated and other places were Reduced by Force And now the King having settled Affairs in England left White-Hall on the 4th June and on the 14th Landed at Carickfergus in Ireland and hastened to order the Army and Marching to the Newry had News that the Enemy having set Fire to their Straw had Decamped and quitted that strong Post This at first scarce gained Credit but Scouts being sent out and the Report confirmed the King changed his March and sent Orders to the Forces at Armagh and Fevergee to march by the great Roads towards Dundalk in which some of our Men fell into an Ambush of the Enemy but behaved themselves with that Courage and Bravery that most of them got off having slain the Commander and brought away his Horse and the King marched towards Drogheda where he found the Enemy Encamped along the River Boyn above the Town and as he was viewing them a Six-pounder grazed on his Shoulder which only rased the Skin but as soon as it was Dressed he took Horse and Commanded Count Solmes to find out a Ford above the Enemy and pass the River which he Successfully did and obliged those that Guarded it after a hot Dispute to retire And upon notice of this the whole Army passed at other Fords the Foot wading some to the Arm-pits sustaining all the Enemies Fire and not returning it till they came close up with them and falling furiously on soon gave them a general Rout but in this Encounter Duke Schomberg and Dr. Walker late of London-Derry