his two Brothers Richard and Geofry with many of the English Nobles Against whom the Father with a bleeding heart for his Sons ungraciousness prepared himself and was very successful in Little Britain where himself was in person also in England by his faithful Subjects For Humphrey de Bohun High Constable of the Realm with other Nobles vanquished Robert Earl of of Leicester and took him Prisoner which moved Lewis of France to seek a Truce of him for six Months whereunto King Henry yielded then Ship'd for England landing at the Port of Hampton From whence he took his journey towards Canterbury and being come within about three miles thereof he went barefooted the hard stones so cutting his tender feet that the ground was stained with his blood And after he came to Canterbury and was entred into the Chapter-house of the Monks Baldwin A.B. Cant. he most humbly prostrated himself on the ground begged pardon and by the instancy of his own Petition was by all the brethren corrected with Rods. The number of lashes which he received on his bare flesh amounted to Fourscore About this time William King of Scots that had lately entred England was taken Prisoner and young King Henry was with storms driven back into France and his Fleet scattered shortly after which Peace was concluded betwixt his Father and him But yet again he sought his Fathers ruine though before he could effect it he was prevented by the King of Terrors Death A. D. 1183. The following year Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem arrived in England soliciting the King to undertake the holy War in his own person which by the advice of his Lords he refused yet yielded to aid the Cause with Money and gave them leave to go that were disposed thereto His Son John whom he exceedingly loved and commonly in jest called Sans terre without Land he made Lord of Ireland assuring unto him also Lands and Rents in England and Normandy Richard and Geoffery his Sons rebelled again against him The younger of which in a Turnament at Paris was trod to death under the Horse feet but the elder lived to the further grief of his Father For joyning himself with Philip of France forced his Father out of the City of Mentz the City where he was born and loved above all others which made King Henry to utter these words against him That since his Son Richard had taken from him that day the thing which he most loved in the world he would requite him for after that day he would deprive him of that thing which in him should best please a Child namely his heart And afterwards finding his Son John first in the Catalogue of the Conspirators against him in that action he bitterly cursed the hour of his birth laying Gods curse and his upon his Sons which he would never recall by any perswasions But coming to Chinon he there fell desperately sick and feeling death approach caused himself to be born into the Church before the Altar where after humble confession and sorrow for his sins he yielded up his Soul A. D. 1189 and was buried at Font-Everard His Issue were William Henry Richard Jeffry Philip John Maud and Eleanor His base Issue William sirnamed Longsper and Jeffry Archbishop of York These two by fair Rosamund and Morgan by another Woman Rosamund his beloved Concubine was the Daughter of the Lord Clifford whom to keep safe from the envy of Queen Eleanor he placed in a Labyrinth which he built for her at Woodstock with such windings and turnings that none could come at her retiring Room save the King or whom he instructed Howbeit the jealous eye of Queen Eleanor found her out by a clew of silk which Rosamund let fall as she sate to take the Air. For she suddenly fleeing to escape being seen the end of the silk fastned to her foot and the clew still unwinding which the Queen followed till she had found the lovely Rosamund whom she so dealt with giving her Poyson that she ended her days whose body was buried at Godstow with this Epitaph upon her Tomb Hic jacet in Tumba Rosa mundi non Rosa munda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet King Henry divided England into Circuits appointing that two of his judges should twice in the year in each Circuit administer Justice In the year 1164 he called an assembly of the States at Clarendon in Wilts where amongst other matters it was decreed That all the Clergy should bona fide swear allegiance to the King and should appeal but unto the Archbishop or from him finally to the King without particular licence In the beginning of his reign one Nicholas Breakspear an English man was elected Pope by the name of Adrian the 4th who in the 5th year of his Popedom was choaked with a Fly He sent the Lords Prayer in this manner from Rome to be taught the English people Vre Fadyr in Heaven rich Thy name be halyed everlich Thou bring us thy michel bliss Al 's hit in Heaven y-doe Evar in yearth been it also That holy bread that lasteth ay Thou send it ous this ilke day Forgive ous all that we have don As we forgive uch other mon. Ne let ous fall into no founding Ac shield ous fro the foul thing Amen In the Isle of Wight it rained blood the shower continuing for the space of two hours together A great Earthquake in Ely Norfolk and Suffolk which made the Bells to ring in the Steeples At St. Osyths in Essex was seen a Dragon of marvelous bigness which by moving burned Houses Another great Earthquake which overthrew many buildings and amongst the rest rent in pieces Lincoln Cathedral At Oreford in Suffolk a certain hairy creature perfectly resembling man in all parts and proportions was taken out of the Sea by Fishers in a Net who after he had been kept a while secretly slipt away into the Sea again RICHARD I. A.D. 1189 RICHARD from his exceeding valour sirnamed Ceur de Lion was Crowned at Westminster by Baldwin Archbishop of Canterbury At which time a great number of the Jews were in a tumultuous sort slaughtered by the common people for which many of them suffered death The Coronation rights performed Richard with all speed prepares for his voyage into the Holy-Land appointing William Longchamp Bishop of Ely his chief Justiciar and Lord Chancellor joyning with him Hugh Bishop of Durham for the parts beyond Humber associating to those Bishops divers temporal Lords for the defence and preservation of Justice And with the King of Scots he concluded firm friendship Which done with a royal Navy he put out to Sea and by the way to the Holy-Land he seized on the Island Cyprus where he solemnly took to Wife his beloved Lady Berengaria The Island he committed to the keeping of his own Deputies permitting the Islanders to injoy all such Laws and Liberties as they held in the time of Immanuel the Emperor Furder in his way
durst bear Arms in behalf of that Tyrant Richard to which he answered He was my Crowned King and if the Parliamentary authority of England set the Crown upon a stock I vvill fight for that stock And as I fought then for him I will fight for you when you are established by the said Authority King Richard's Crown which was taken amongst the spoils of the field the Lord Stanley Earl of Derby set upon Earl Henries head The slain body of the Usurper all tugg'd and torn stark naked was trussed behind Blanch St. Lieger a Pursevant at Arms like a Hog or Calf the head and arms hanging on one side of the Horse and his legs on the other after which manner it was brought to Leicester where it was buried in the Grey-Friers Church The stone-Chest wherein his Corps lay was at length made a drinking trough for horses at a common Inn. His body if you will credit tradition herein was born out of the City and contemptuously bestowed under Bowbridge His Issue was Edward dead before himself He founded a Colledg at Middleham beyond York and a Collegiate Chantry in London called our Lady of Barking He endowed Queens-Colledg in Cambridg with 500 Marks of yearly revenue He disforested the great field of Whichwood that King Edward his brother had inclosed for his Game and made some good Laws and when divers Shires of England offered him benevolence he refused saying I had rather have your hearts than your money This scoffing Rhime was divulged in contempt of the Usurper Richard and his three principal Creatures The Cat the Rat and Lovell the Dog Rule all England under the Hog The Cat and Rat meant of Catesby and Ratcliff the Dog of Lovell that creature belonging to the Lord Lovell's Arms and the Hog of K. Rich. whose cognisance it was But William Collingbourn Esquire who had been Sheriff of Wiltshire and Devonshire was upon Tower-hill executed with all extremity as Author thereof Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings Time In his first year VVilliam Billesdon was Mayor Thomas Newland VViliam Martin Sheriffs In his second year Thomas Hill was Mayor Richard Chester and he dying Ralph Astry Thomas Britain Sheriffs HENRY VII A D. 1485 Aug. 22. HENRY Earl of Richmond was Son to Margaret Countess of Richmond and Derby daughter to John Duke of Sommerset son to John Earl of Sommerset son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth son of Edward the third October 30th A. D. 1485 was Henry Crowned at Westminster Then the better to secure his estate he shut up the Earl of Warwick the only son and Heir of George Duke of Clarence in the Tower of London Then instituted a guard for his person consisting of a number of choice Archers with allotment of Fees and Maintenance under a peculiar Captain by the name of Yeomen of the Guard for him and his Successors November the seventh was a Parliament assembled at VVestminster at the sitting whereof Richard the late Usurper was attainted and with him many of the Nobility and Gentry Free pardon was also given to all such saving the persons excepted by name as should presently submit themselves to the Kings mercy Reversed also were all former Acts hurtful either to the King or his Friends and the Crown was established upon the King and his Heirs for ever Next the King assumed into his Councel those two renowned Agents in advancing his fortunes John Morton and Richard Fox A. D. 1486 John Morton A.B. Cant. and January the eighteenth he married the Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter of King Edward the fourth to the utter abolisment of all Hostilities between the two Houses or York and Lancaster But there wanted not some male-contents who assayed to disturb these serene days for the Lord Lovell one of the late Usurpers Creatures with Sir Humphrey Stafford and his brother assembled forces against the King which upon but the news of an Army coming against them dispersed themselves Sir Humphrey was taken out of Sanctuary and executed at Tyburn When this storm was over the White Rose or York faction raised another procuring one Lambert Symnel to personate one of King Edwards sons Which puppet Lambert was conveyed into Ireland where the Irish adhered to him and in Christ-Church in Dublin Crowned him King of England And into Ireland the Dutchess Dowager of Burgundy sister to Edward the fourth sent this Impostor two thousand Souldiers under the conduct of Collonel Swart These with Irish and some English joyned to them landed in Lancashire at the Pile of Fowdray thence they took their march through York-shire so towards Newark every-where as they came proclaiming their new King Not far from Newark and near to a little village called Stoke the King with his Army encountred them where the fight continued doubtful for about three hours but at last the victory fell to King Henry On Lamberts part were slain the Earl of Lincoln the Lord Lovel Sir Thomas Broughton Colonel Swart and Maurice Fitz-Thomas with four thousand Souldiers On the Kings side fell not any man of Honour but almost half his vant-guard was slain so that the Garland was dipt in blood Amongst the prisoners that were taken was the counterfeit King who had been a Scholler in Oxford and his Tutor Richard Simon a Priest Lambert confessed his parents to be mean persons and of a mean Calling Him the King condemned to his kitchin or scullery at length promoted him to be one of his Falconers in which estate he continued till his death Sim. Subtle or Richard Simon was condemned to a dungeon and perpetual shackles Stoken-field battle was fought A D. 1487 June 16 being Saturday A day of the week observed to have been lucky to this Prince Henry who sent his Royal standard to our Ladies Church of VValsingham in Norfolk there to remain as a Monument of this his Victory and gratitude for it And now the King dispatcheth his Agents into Scotland there to settle amity with James the third and to prevent the retreat and protection that his enemies had found therein Shortly after which some discontented persons in York-shire rose in Arms under pretence that they were oppressed in their Tax or Subsidy but some of these Rebels were routed by the Earl of Surrey who took their Leader John a Chamber prisoner and upon the hearing of the Kings approach the rest of them under the leading of Sir John Egremond dispersed themselves John a Chamber with some others of the chief of the Rebels were executed at York The Kings affairs being setled in a present peaceable estate at home he was next ingaged in a War with France For the carrying on of which his Subjects did largely contribute chiefly the City of London out of which he received for his furniture in that voyage almost ten thousand pounds from the Commoners and two hundred pounds besides from every Alderman And this wise King knowing how great a strength that rich City was to him humoured the
Citizens exceedingly Himself did not only become one amongst them causing himself to be entred a Brother of the Merchant-Taylors Company but also wore the habit at a publick Feast and sate as Master of the Company A. D. 1492 Octob. the sixth King Henry with his Host landed at Callis from whence with his whole forces he marched towards Boloigne which when he had besieged Articles of peace were concluded betwixt him and the King of France For King Henry before his going out of England had been dealt with on the French Kings behalf to accept of conditions but would not enter into any Treaty with him till he was in the field and that with such a puissance as vvas likely enough to force his ovvn conditions When Henry had to his advantage setled his transmarine affairs he returned for England vvhere he vvas not to remain long in quiet For the Dutchess of Burgundy had provided another counterfeit King a youth of a Princely personage called Peter VVarbeck the son of a converted Jew This her creature Peter or as some called him Perkin and Peterkin under the name and Title of Richard Plantaginet second son of King Edward the fourth had great honour given him by the King of France And divers persons of eminency in England were so deluded that they believed him to be the true Richard and thereupon sought to advance him to the Crown which cost some of them the price of their heads as the Lord Fitz-VValter Sir Simon Montford Sir William Stanley Lord Chamberlain that gained the Victory for King Henry at Bosworth-field These with more were put to death for favouring of Perkin The King also for the further prevention of dangers caused the coasts of England to be strongly guarded sent a new Lord Chancellor into Ireland Henry Denny a Monk of Langton-Abby and Sir Edward Poynings with some forces whose greatest care and diligence was to punish such as before time had given any assistance to the Mock-king and to restrain such as were likely to do so in time to come The Earl of Kildare falling under suspition Poynings sent prisoner into England where the King did graciously hear and admit his defences and returned him with Honour and continuation of authority The Irish had formerly exhibited many Articles against this Earl the last of which was Finally all Ireland cannot rule this Earl Then quoth the King shall this Earl rule all Ireland constituting him Lord-Deputy thereof But Perkin having gained private assistance from the French King and Maximilian to strengthen yet his enterprize he repairs into Scotland unto James the fourth having special recommendations from the King of France and Dutchess of Burgundy who gave him most courteous entertainment The rare impudency of the youth and that connexion which his darings had with other Princes drew this King into an errour concerning him When he was first brought to the presence of the King of Scots with a right Princely gracefulness he declared to the said King That Edward the fourth leaving two sons Edward and Richard both very young their unnatural Uncle Richard to obtain the Crown purposed the murder of them both but the instruments of his cruelty having murdred his elder brother the young King were moved with pity to spare his life and that thus saved by the mercy of God he was privately conveyed beyond the Seas the world supposing that himself also had been murdred And that Henry Teuder Earl of Richmond after he had by subtle and foul means obtained the Crown he then wrought all means and ways to procure the final destruction of him the rightful Heir to the English Diadem That his said mortal enemy Henry hath not only falsely surmised him to be a feigned person giving him Nick-names so abusing the World but that also to deprive him of his right he had offered large Sums of Mony to corrupt the Princes with whom he had been retained and had imploy'd his servants to murder him That every man of reason might well understand that the said Henry needed not to have taken these courses against him had he been a feigned person That the truth of his manifest cause had moved the King of France and Dutchess of Burgundy his most Dear Ant to yield him their assistence That now because the Kings of Scotland were wont to support them who were spoiled and bereft of the said Kingdom of England and for that he the said King James had given clear signs that he was of the like Noble quality and temper with his Ancestors he so distressed a Prince came to put himself into his hands desiring his aid to recover his Realms promising faithfully that when his Kingdoms were regained he would gratefully do him all the pleasure that should lie in his utmost power The King of Scots was so influenced with this Impostors words amiable person Princely deportment recommendations of Princes his aids from the Irish and assured hope of aid in England that he honourably received him as if he had been the very Richard Duke of York and gave his consent that this pretended Duke should marry the Lady Katharine Gourdon daughter to the Earl of Huntly which accordingly he did and also prepared to invade England in his quarrel although there wanted not them who with many arguments advised this King to repute him for no other than a Cheat. King Henry that he might be prepared for the Scots called a Parliament which granted a Tax to be gathered of six score thousand pounds the Levy of which mony kindled a dangerous fire in England For when the Kings Collectors came amongst the Cornish-men to receive their proportion of the Tax they tumultuously assembled under the leading of one Thomas Flammock a Lawyer and Michael Joseph a Black-Smith of Bodnam Which Captains led their rout towards Kent and at Wells James Tuchet Lord Audley joyned with them From Wells they proceeded to Black-Heath where the Kings forces defeated them without much labour fifteen hundred of the Rebels were taken and the takers had their prisoners goods granted them James Lord Audley was led from New-gate to Tower-hill in a Coat of his own Armories painted on a Paper reverst and torn where he was executed Flammock and the Smith were quartred Memorably strange was the comfort that the Smith cheered himself withall as he was drawing to his execution to wit That yet he hoped that by this means his Name and Memory should be everlasting The Kings care was now to order the War against Scotland whither he sent the Earl of Surrey with an Army to invade the Scotch borders as they had lately done the English The Earl pursued the revenge with great vehemency but in short time by the King of Spains mediation a Truce was concluded betwixt the two Nations One Article of which Truce was That Perkin should be no longer fostered in Scotland Whereupon he withdraws into â—reland whither the Cornish-men sent to him inviting him amongst them promising that at his arrival
the River Thamisis and from thence to the Water of Lea even unto the head of the same water and so forth streight unto Bedford and lastly going along by the River Ouse to end at Watling-street But notwithstanding the agreement the Danes were still unquiet with whom one Hastings a Nobleman of Norway joyned bringing a considerable force to their assistance And in the year of Grace 901 this excellent King dyed much bewayl'd of his Subjects whose body was first buried at Winchester next removed into the Church of the new Monastry and lastly his Body Monument Church and Monastry were all removed without the North-gate of the City since called Hide He was born at Wanading now Wantage in Berks where anciently was a Mannor-House of the Kings of England London that had been destroyed and burnt by the Danes about A. D. 839 King Alfred repaired and made habitable again in A. D. 886. At Edelingsey he built a Monastry at Winchester another at Shaftsbury a Nunnery where he made his Daughter Ethelgeda Abbess The day and night consisting of 24 hours did this vertuous Prince design equally when State-business would permit such an order to Three special uses and them he observed by the burning of a Taper set in his Oratory Eight hours he spent in contemplation reading and prayers other eight hours for his repose and health and the other eight in the affairs of State His Kingdom he likewise divided into Shires Hundreds and Tithings for the better administration of Justice and suppressing of Thieves whereby he effected so great security to his Subjects that honest men might travel without injury and that bracelets of Gold being hanged in the High-ways none durst be so bold as to take them away He ordered all his Subjects possessing two Hides of Land to bring up their Sons in learning till Fifteen years of Age at least saying That he reputed a man free-born and yet illiterate no better than a Beast a Brainless-body and very Sot Nor would he admit any into Office in his Court unless Learned His Census or Tribute he divided into Six parts the first part of which he gave to the poor the 2d to the foundation of Churches 3d to Schollars at Oxford 4th to the Lights of the Church 5th to his Military men 6th to Labourers and Artificers The best Laws for his Subjects good he rendred into English The holy Gospel he translated into the Saxon Tongue and therein the Lords Prayer after this manner Faeder ure thu the Earth on Heafenum si thin nama Gehalgod to be came thin Rice Gewurthe thin willa on eorthan swa swa on heafnum urne ge daeghwanlican hlaf syle us to daeg And forgyf us ure gyltas swa swa we forgivath urum gyltendum And ne gelaedde thu us on cosenung ac Alyse uâ— of yfle Si it swa He was a great protector of the Clergy Widows and Orphans devout in the service of God 'T is also said of him that he layd the foundation of the Unversity of Oxford and of that Colledge called Oxford University Colledge Vniversity Colledge Others say that Oxford was built by one Mempritius a British King and from him was at first named Caer Mempric Et crevit ibi posteris dielus nobile studium generale ab inclyta universitate de Greeklade derivatum Baliol Colledge was founded by John Baliol King of Scots in A. D 1263. Merton Coll. founded by Walter de Merton Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Rochester 1274. Excester Coll. by Walter Stapleton Bishop of Excester and Lord Treasurer 1316. Oriel Coll. founded by King Edward the 2d or by his Almoner Adam Brown 1327. Queens Coll. by Robert Eglesfield Chaplain to Queen Philip Wife of Edward the 3d 1340. New Coll. by William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester 1379. Lincoln Coll. first founded by Richard Fleming Bishop of Lincoln 1420 but finished by Thomas Rotheram Bishop of the same See All-souls founded by Henry Chichely Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 1437. Magdalen Coll. by William Waniflet Bishop of Winchester 1459. Brazen-Nose Coll. by William Smyth Bishop of Lincoln 1513 but finished by Richard Sutton Corpus Christi Coll. by Richard Fox Lord Privy Seal and Bishop of VVinchester 1516. Christ-Church begun by Cardinal Wolsey 1546 and by King Henry the 8th ordained the Cathedral Church of the See of Oxford Trinity Coll. first founded by Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham by the name of Durham Coll. 1518 but after its suppression Sir Thomas Pope restored it and dedicated it to the holy Trinity 1556. St. Johns Coll. founded by Henry Chichely A. Bp. of Cant. by the name of Bernards Colledge 1437 but after its suppression by Henry the 8th Sir Thomas White Merchant-Taylor of London rebuilt it to the honour of St. John Baptist 1557. Jesus Coll. by Dr. Hugh Price 1562. Wadham Coll. founded by Nicholas Wadham of Somersetshire and Dorothy his Wife 1613. Some report that Cambridge was built by Cantabar a Spaniard Cambridge University 375 years before the birth of Christ and that he founded the University there and brought thither from Athens certain Philosophers amongst whom Anâ—ximander and Anaxagoras Another Author thus writeth Oxonii gymnasium instituit Aluredus Alfred hortante Neoto viro sanctissimo unde à tempore quo Cantabrigia sub Sigeberto rege orientialium Oxonium sub Aluredo condita sunt semper fuêre viri in Anglia doctissimi à quibus Lutetia Farisiorum Papia in Italia originem duxerunt Cantabrigiae gymnasium praecessit Oxonio annis 265 nam Sigebert A. D. 630 Cantabrigiam erexit Alured Oxonium A. D. 895. But as some contend Cambridge began not to be an University till such time that Hugh Balsham Bishop of Ely founded the Colledge of Peter-house in A D. 1256. Clare-Hall founded by Elizabeth de Burgo Countess of Clare Widow of John de Burgo Earl of Vlster in A. D. 1347. Pembroke Hall founded by Mary de St. Paul Widow of Adomarius de Valentia Earl of Pembroke 1347. First named Aula de Valence Maria Corpus Christi commonly called Benet Colledg was founded by the Alderman and Brethren of Corpus Christi Guild and the Brethren of our Lady Guild in Cambridge 1351. Trinity Hall was of old time an Hostel or House of study wherein Students lived at their own charge but Dr. William Bateman founded it a Colledge 1353. Gonvil and Caius Coll. first founded by Edmond de Gonvil Rector of Terrington and Bushworth in Norfolk 1353 and was repaired by John Caius Dr. of Physick 1557. Kings Coll. by King Henry the 6th 1441. Queens Coll. by Margret Andegavensis Wife to King Henry the 6th 1441 but finished by Elizabeth Wife to King Edward the 4th 1465 Katherine Hall founded by Robert Woodlark Provost of Kings Colledge 1475. Plemundus A.B. Cant. Jesus Colledge from a desolâ—te Nunnery was converted into a Colledge by John â—lcock Bishop of Ely 1497. Christs Colledge founded by Margret Countess of Derby the Mother of King Henry the 7th in the
he conquered a mighty Argosey called a Dromond wherein were a-Board a Thousand five hundred Saracens disguised under French-Flags furnished besides all other provisions with Fire-works Barrels or Cages of venomous Serpents for the use of the Sarazens at Ptolemais since called Acon Of the Sarazens he killed and drowned 1300 and then sailed safely to Acon Before which lay these Christian Nations the Genoways and Florentines Flemings Almains Danes Dutch Pisans Friezlanders Lombards and the English under Hubert Bishop of Sarum Besides the Knights Templers collected out of all Nations and also the aids of the Asians The King of France also came to the Siege Where whilst the Christians lay Sultan Saladin cut off the heads of 1500 Christian Captives in revenge whereof King Richard in sight of Saladines Host cut off above 2500 of the heads of Turkish Slaves The Siege before Acon was so well plyed notwithstanding sundry dissensions betwixt King Richard and Philip King of France the two competitors of glory in this Siege that the City of Acon was surrendred upon Articles Which done the French King envying the English Kings noble exploits though contrary to the French mens will returned into France having first given Oath to the King of England that he would well and faithfully keep the Lands and Subjects of King Richard and neither do damage to them himself nor suffer others to do it till Richards return Howbeit whilst Richard was busied in the Holy War the King of France after his return home devised how to trouble and endamage his Dominions but was hindred by his own Nobles In England the Peers and people were much discontented at the incredible insolencies and intolerable tyrannies of the Chancellor which though K. Richard heard of yet kept he himself imployed in the War wherein he performed many Heroic acts Within sight of Jerusalem he encountred Saladine slew a great number of his Soldiers took 3000 Camels 4000 Horses and Mules took his Carriage richly laden from Babylon rescued Joppa repulsing Saladine from thence He also assayed to regain Jerusalem but being in that Enterprize abandoned by the Duke of Burgundy he was perswaded to accept Saladines offers for a three years Truce Which having concluded and setled his affairs in the East he set sail homeward where in his passage his ships were scattered by tempest and driven hither and thither but he happily gaining the shore hoped in disguise as a Merchant to have free journeying through Germany But he being by the way over-free in his expences became suspected for another kind of man than a Merchant and near to Vienna was discovered and imprisoned by the Arch-Duke of Austria under pretence that he was guilty of the death of the Marquess Conrade at Tyre Then the person of this famous King being thought too great a booty for the Duke was gained into the Emperors hands whose usage towards him was very cruel and the ransome required for him most unreasonable being an Hundred thousand Marks sterling to himself and Fifty thousand more to himself and the Duke besides other conditions All which being yeilded unto and ingagement given for the performance Hubert A.B. Cant. after fifteen Months imprisonment he was set at liberty to the great joy of many Princes in those parts and to the unspeakable joy of his own Subjects in general though not of his brother John who with the King of France 't is said were some instruments for the procuring of his unhandsome usage But Ceur de Lyon escaping the way-layings of the Emperor who sent to re-take him after his release safely Landed at Sandwich whither Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury that had been with him in the Holy-Land came with a joyful heart to meet him whom when the K. saw he dismounted bowed his knee then fell upon the earth In like sort the Bishop lay upon the ground over against him till at last both of them rising up ran into each others arms comforting themselves with mutual embraces and weeping for joy His Brother John who had been false to him upon his submission he freely forgave calmly saying unto him Would that thy fault may so be forgotten of me as that thy self may keep in memory what thou hast done And after this the King restored his forfeited possessions to his brother John who from that time became faithful to him and did him very noble services especially against the French with whom Richard then warred In which wars this John Earl of Morton and Markadey Captain of the Routs had made an incursion up to Beauvois where the Bishop being also a Peer of the Royal Blood valiantly fighting was taken in the skirmish armed at all points on whose behalf the Pope wrote somewhat earnestly to K. Richard to set his very dear Son for so he called the Bishop at liberty The K. in a kind of pleasant earnestness caused the Habergeon and Curaces of the Bishop to be presented the Pope with this question See whether this be thy Sons Coat or not Whereupon the Pope replied That he was neither his Son nor the Son of the Church and therefore should be ransomed at the Kings pleasure because he was rather to be judged a Servitor of Mars than a Soldier of Christ In this War with the French the King amongst other victories obtained one of fame Taking an hundred Knights and Servitors on Horseback and Footmen without number Thirty men of Arms also 200 great Horse whereof an 140 had Barbs and Caparisons armed with Iron The King in his own person did most nobly for with one Spear he threw to the earth Matthew de Mummerancy Alan de Rusci and Fulk de Giservall and took them So have we vanquished the King of France at Gysors howbeit we have not done it but God and our right by us said the King in his Letter to the Bishop of Durham But the fatal accident is at hand which put an end to this renowned Warrior for the Viscount of Limoges having found a great hoard of Silver and Gold sent a great part thereof to King Richard as chief Lord with which the King being not contented came with some forces to the Castle of Châ—luz belonging to the Viscount where he supposed the riches were The Garrison of which place offered to yield the same to him and all therein if only their lives and limbs might be saved but the King would accept of no conditions bidding them to defend themselves as they could for he would enter by the Sword and hang them all Whereupon an Arbalaster standing upon the Wall and seeing his time charged his Steel-bow with a Square-Arrow making first his Prayer to God that he would direct that shot and deliver the innocency of the besieged from oppression then discharging it as the King was taking a view of the Castle mortally wounded him in the left shoulder the anguish and peril whereof was extreamly increased by the unskilfulness of the Chyrurgeon The Castle by continual assaults was taken and by
Welsh they made some stirs And one Fitz-Arnulph a Citizen of London attempted to set up Lewis again for the which himself and two others were hanged and many more had their hands or feet cut off The Barons they were high for a confirmation of their Liberties And Lewis of France upon the death of his Father seized Rochel and the whole Country of Poictou which belonged to the King of England into his hands under pretence that K. Henry an Homager for Aquitain was not present at his Coronation nor yet excused his absence by Ambassadors Whereupon Henry summons a Parliament for Aids to recover his losses which being granted he sent over his forces which discomfited the French But the King necessitated for more Monies for the carrying on of his design in Gascoign wrung from the Londoners Five thousand Marks above their Fifteenths alledging that they had to his prejudice given Lewis the like sum The Clergy also were compelled under pain of Papal censure to pay the Fifteenth not only for their temporal but also Ecclesiastical Goods And by advice of Hubert de Burgo Chief Justice the King revoked the Charters of Liberties which for about two years had been practised through the Realm pretending his Non-age when granted Which caused in all a great heart-burning against Hubert Howbeit the King was well furnish'd with money and men which he caused to be transported into Britain and on the same day in which he set sail from England himself in person did visit the poor and feeble dealing large Alms to them and not refusing to kiss the sick and leprous But before that the King had opportunity to effect any thing in those parts considerable the Irish rebelled constraining him to return to reduce then inâ—o order Which when he had done he advanced against the Welsh whom he also repressed though not without considerable loss About this time Hubert de Burgo Earl of Kent was accused by the Bishop of Winchester and others for the committing of many great crimes and he doubting that he should not have a fair Tryal retired himself into Essex whither he was prosecuted by Armed men and in a Chappel at Burntwood was apprehended out of which the rude Soldiers hailed him and sent for a Smith to make Shackles for him which when the Smith understood that they were for him fetching a deep sigh he said Do with me what you please and God have mercy on my soul but as sure as the Lord lives I will never make Iron-Shackles for him but will rather dye the worst death that is For is not this the most Loyal and Courageous Hubert who so often hath preserved England from being destroyed by strangers and restored England to England Let God be judge between him and you for using him so unjustly and inhumanely requiting his most excellent deserts with the worst recompence that can be Notwithstanding all this Sir Godfrey de Crancomb who commanded the party bound the Earl and conveyed him to the Tower of London where he had not long been ere the Bishop of London procured his liberty though shortly after he was again imprisoned In his place the King elected for his Councellor and Confident Peter de Rupibus Bishop of Winchester who displaced the English Officers and in their Rooms placed Poictovins and Britons stuffing the Kings Castles with them intrusting as it were the treasures strength and Realm it self in their hands to the great discontent of the English Peers Who now confederated against the strangers and refused upon the Kings summons to appear in Parliament sending this impudent Message to their Soveraign That if out of hand he removed not the Bishop of Winchester and strangers out of his Court they all of them by the common consent of the Kingdom would drive him and his wicked Counsellors out of it and would consult about creating of a new King Whereupon the King animated by Winchester commanded the Earl-Marshal with all others whom he suspected to appear at Glocester where the King was with an Army Which they refusing to do the King burnt their Mannors and gave away their Inheritances to the Poictovins The Earl-Marshal he contracts strict amity with Leweylyn Prince of Wales and made great spoil on the possessions of the Kings reputed Seducers Shrewsbury he sackt and burnt Gilbert Lord Basset the Earls great Confederate set fire on Alkmundbury not far from Huntingdon But the Earl-Marshal having crossed the seas into Ireland there to recover his Lands taken from him by the fraud of the Bishop of Winchester was there wounded to death for whose loss the King to the wonder of all that saw it broke forth into tears affirming That he had left no Peer about him in the Kingdom And now the Bishop of Winchester hated of the people was commanded by the King not to meddle any farther in State-matters And against Peter Rivallis Lord Treasurer the King was so in raged that he sware he would pluck out his eyes were it not for reverence of holy Orders And by the workings of the Bishops an accord was effected betwixt the King and his Peers and the Poictovins were commanded to depart the Realm Howbeit the Land was not yet eased of its Oppressors and Oppressions for the Pope sent over into England three hundred Romans requiring to have the first Benefice that should become vacant to be bestowed on them requiring also great sums of money of the Clergy for maintenance of the Pope's Wars against the Emperor Which though the Clergy at first opposed yet were forced to yeild unto it at the last The Pope himself had a mind to have come hither in his own person but the King's Councel liked not thereof alledging that the Romans Rapines and Simonies had enough stained England's purity though the Pope himself came not personally to spoil and prey upon the Wealth of the Church About the year 1240 Richard Earl of Cornwall the King's Brother with the Earls of Pembroke Chester Lincoln Salisbury and many other honourable persons departed for the Holy Land and in A. D. 1242 the King passed the Seas to recover Poictou but effected not any thing remarkable though he expended great store of Treasure Upon his return into England he was therefore compelled to be burthensome to his subjects for recruiting of his exhausted Treasure as well by the levy of Escuage as of Loan and otherwise The Jews in especial manner were made sensible of his wants Too much of their money thus rais'd 't is said he expended in Entertainments and Shows though afterward the King reflecting on his former profuseness in gifts and entertainments he shortned the allowances of his houshold and entertainments without any regard to Majesty And to spare his own charge the more he invited himself now to this mans house now to that but no-where contenting himself with his welcome unless himself and his Queen Son Edward yea and chief Favourites were presented with costly Gifts 'T is said that he was sometime
latter forsook the Barons cause and joyned himself with Roger de Mortimer and his associates to whom not long after Earl Warren and William de Valence Earl of Pembroke with other Peers united themselves and Prince Edward escaping came in safety to them the Counties of Hereford Worcester Salop and Chester coming in to their assistance When the Prince having a considerable strength marched against Montford who hearing of the Princes advance encamped at Evesham where Prince Edward inclosed him compelling him either to fight or yield The first of which he elected both Armies joyning battle before the Town of Evesham where the Earls host was with much slaughter especially of the Welsh utterly in the end distressed and discomfited Symon de Montford being slain in fight had his head hands and feet chopt off The King who had been brought a prisoner into the field by his friends valour and good hap was restored to his Liberty And he presently after this cruel battel called a Parliament at Winchester by whose approbation he seized into his hands the Charters of London and other disloyal Towns disinherited such as were on the Earls side distributing their estates amongst his well-deserving Subjects The Legate Cardinal Ottabon excommunicated the Bishops of London Winchester Worcester and Chichester for their adhering unto the Earl And now all things being calm in England Prince Edward with many of the Nobles took the Cross upon them for the Holy-Land And the King to secure the Nations peace held a Parliament at Marleborough where the statutes of Marleborough were enacted But King Henry having been at Norwich to punish the Citizens outrage in burning the Priory Church he in his return fell grievously sick at the Abby of St. Edmond in Suffolk and there died in A. D. 1272. Whose issue was Edward Edmond Sirnamed Crouchback Richard John William Henry Margaret Beatrice and Katherine This King laid the first stone of the new work of the Abby-Church at Westminster He founded the house of Converts where such as forsook the Jewish Religion had provisions for maintenance He also erected and endowed a famous Hospital at Oxford both for the entertainment of Forreigners and Pilgrims and for relief of such as were diseased He was so disposed to performing acts of charity made Leoline Prince of Wales Montfords confederate when he was threatned hardly if he would not live at peace to answer thus I more fear the Alms deeds of the King than all the men of war which he hath and his Clergy to boot King Henry because Thomas de la Linde killed a white Hart in Blackmore Forest which he much fancied set a perpetual fine upon the land which at this day is called White-Hâ—â—â—-Silver In the 17. year of his reign four mock Suns were seen from morning till evening after which followed so great a Dearth that people were forced to eat horse-flesh and barks of Trees and in London twenty thousand were famished A D. 1241. Certain Jews of Norwich were hanged for circumcising a Christian Child and their house called the Thor was destroyed A Scholler of Oxford who attempted to kill the King in his chamber at Woodstock was pulled in pieces by wild Horses Now arose in England a most monstrous impostor who pretended himself to be Christ procuring himself to be wounded in the hands feet and side thinking thereby the more easily to delude the people his punishment was immuring between two walls together with an old hag pretending her self to be the Virgin Mary there to pine to death In this Kings reign flourished in England the Irrefragable Doctor Alexander de Hales who was School-Master to the Angelic Dr. Thomas Aquinas Now also lived Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincoln called Romanorum Malleus who writ boldly against the Pope reproving his arrogant to call them no worse practises At Sorbiodunum or Salisbury Richard Poor then Bishop of Sarum built that stately Church which hath in it as many windows as are days in the year as many marble-pillars as hours as many doors as months Magna Charta containing the Sum of all the written Laws of England was ordained in the ninth year of Henry the third The Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings Reign In his first Year William Hardel was Mayor John Travers Andrew Newland Sheriffs In his second Year Robert Serl was Mayor Thomas Bokerell Ralph Holyland Sheriffs In his third Year Robert Serl continued Mayor Benet Senturer William Blundivers Sheriffs In his fourth Year Robert Serl continued Mayor John Wail or Veil Josue le Spicer Sheriffs In his fifth Year Robert Serl continued Mayor Richard Wimbledon John Wail or Veil Sheriffs In his sixth Year Robert Serl continued Mayor Richard Renger John Veil Sheriffs In his seventh Year Robert Serl continued Mayor Richard Joyner Thomas Lambert Sheriffs In his eight Year Richard Renger was Mayor William Joyner Thomas Lambert Sheriffs In his ninth Year Richard Renger continued Mayor John Trevers Andrew Bokerill Sheriffs In his Tenth Year Richard Renger continued Mayor John Trevers Andrew Bokerill Sheriffs In his Eleventh Year Richard Renger continued Mayor Roger Duke Martin Fitz-Williams Sheriffs In his Twelfth Year Roger Duke was Mayor Stephen Bokerell Henry Cocham Sheriffs In his Thirteenth year Roger Duke continued Mayor Stephen Bokerell Henry Cocham Sheriffs In his Fourteenth Year Roger Duke continued Mayor William Winchester Robert Fitz-John Sheriffs In his Fifteenth Year Roger Duke continued Mayor Richard Walter John de Woborn Sheriffs In his Sixteenth Year Andrew Bokerel was Mayor Michael of St. Helen Walter de Enfield Sheriffs In his Seventeenth Year Andrew Bokerel continued Mayor Henry de Edmonton Gerard Bat Sheriffs In his Eighteenth Year Andrew Bokerel continued Mayor Simon Fitz-Mary Roger Blunt Sheriffs In his Ninteenth Year Andrew Bokerel continued Mayor Ralph Ashwy John Norman Sheriffs In his Twentieth Year Andrew Bokerel continued Mayor Gerard Bat Richard or Robert Hardel Sheriffs In his Twenty first Year Andrew Bokerel continued Mayor Henry Cobham Jordan Coventry Sheriffs In his Twenty second Year Andrew Bokerel continued Mayor John Tolason Gervais the Cordwainer Sheriffs In his Twenty third Year Richard Renger was Mayor John Codras John Whilhall Sheriffs In his Twenty fourth Year William Joyner was Mayor Raymond Bongy Ralph Ashwy Sheriffs In his Twenty fifth Year Gerard Bat was Mayor John Gisors Michael Tony Sheriffs In his Twenty sixth Year Reymond Bongy was Mayor Thomas Duresm John Voyl Sheriffs In his Twenty seventh Year Reymond Bongy continued Mayor John Fitz-John Ralph Ashwy Sheriffs In his Twenty eighth Year Ralph Ashwy was Mayor Hugh Blunt Adam Basing Sheriffs In his Twenty ninth Year Michael Tony was Mayor Ralph Foster Nicholas Bat Sheriffs In his Thirtieth Year John Gisors was Mayor Robert Cornhill Adam of Bewley Sheriffs In his Thirty first Year John Gisors continued Mayor Simon Fitz-Mary Lawrence Frowick Sheriffs In his thirty second Year Peter Fitz-Alwin was Mayor John Voil Nicholas Bat Sheriffs In his thirty third Year Michael Tony was Mayor Nicholas Fitz-Josue
them But King Edward being returned into England he summoned a Parliament to York giving the Scots a day to appear at it which they not doing nor acknowledging that they ought so to do he entred Scotland with a mighty Army where when he was near the enemy as he was putting his foot into the stirrup his horse being affrighted with the sudden shout of the Scotch Army threw him down and striking with his heels broke two of the Kings ribs who nevertheless proceeded to battle Captain Wallis encouraged his men with this short speech I have brought you to the King hop gif ye kun In this battle fought at a place called Fawkirk and English slew of the Scots 70. thousand After which victory King Edward took sundry places in Scotland then returned into England where in Parliament holden at London and Stamford he confirmed Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta and yielded that there should be no Subsidy or Taxation levied upon the people without consent of the Prelates Peers and people And for the more ample satisfaction of some then discontented he left out this Clause in the end of his Grants Salvo jure Coronae nostrae Saving the right of our Crown upon the Popes request he set John late King of Scotland at liberty who departed into France And then the King made it his whole affair to finish the annexation of Scotland to the Crown of England to which end Rob. Winchelsey A. B. Cant. he passed with a dreadful Army into Scotland where the Scots not being able to withstand him by force of Arms they procured inhibitory Letters from the Pope but these the King set light by swearing per sanguinem Dei that he would not desist And when the Scots threatned that if he would not desist his hostility the Pope would take the matter upon him the King with a disdainful smile answered Have ye done homage to me as to the chief Lord of the Kingdom of Scotland and do ye now suppose that I can be terrified with threatning lies as if like one that had no power to compel I would let the right which I have to go out of my hand Let me hear no more of this for if I do I swear by the Lord I will consume all Scotland from Sea to Sea To which the Scots replyed that in defence of Justice and their Countrys rights they would shed their blood Howbeit that the King might not seem altogether to neglect the Court of Rome he sent the Earl of Lincoln thither in justification of his proceedings and at the instance of the Pope he granted Truce to the Scots from All-Saints to Whitsuntide But the Pope not long satisfied with this directly opposed the King in his martial proceeds against that Nation wherefore the King in a Parliament holden at Lincoln by the consent of the whole Representative body of the Realm returned a copious defence of his whole proceedings with protestations first That he did not exhibite any thing as in form of judgment or tryal of his Cause Gualter Renold A. B. Cant. but for satisfaction of his holy Fatherhoods conscience and not otherwise And because the Pope required that the King should stand to his decision for matter of Claim the Earls and Peers to whom the King wholly referred it with one mind directly signified That their King was not to answer in judgment for any rights of the Crown of England before any Tribunal under Heaven and that by sending Deputies and Atturneys to such an end he should not make the said truth doubtful because it manifestly tended to the disinherison of the said Crown which with the help of God they would resolutely and with all their power maintain against all men To the which they all being an 100. Peers subscribed their Names Dated at Lincoln 1301. The Names of those Worthy Patriots who withstood Papal Usurpation JOhn Earl Warren Thomas Earl of Lancaster Ralph de Monthermer Earl of Glocester and Hereford Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hartford and Essex Roger Bigod Earl of Norfolk Guy Earl of Warwick Richard Earl of Arundel Adomer de Valence Lord of Monterney Henry de Lancaster Lord of Monmouth John de Hastings Lord of Bergevenny Henry de Percy Lord of Topclife Edmond de Mortymer Lord of Wigmore Robert Fitz-Walter Lord of Wodham John de St. John Lord of Hannake Hugh de Vere Lord of Swanestampe William de Breuse Lord of Gower Robert de Monthault Lord of Hawarden Robert de Tateshall Lord of Wokeham Reinold de Grey Lord of Ruthin Henry de Grey Lord of Codnore Hugh Bardolph Lord of Wormgay Robert de Clifford Chatellaine of Appleby Peter de Malowe Lord of Mulgreen Philip Lord of Kime Robert Fitz-Roger Lord of Claverings John de Moham Lord of Dunestar Almerick de St. Amound Lord of Widehay William de Ferrers Lord of Groby Alane de Zouch Lord of Ashby Theobald de Verdon Lord of Webberley Thomas de Furnivall Lord of Schefield Thomas de Multon Lord of Egremont William Latimer Lord of Torby Thomas Lord Berkly Fowlk Fitz-Warren Lord of Mitingham John Lord Segrave Edmund de Eincourt Lord of Thurgerton Peter Corbet Lord Caus William de Cantelow Lord of Ravensthorpe John de Beauchamp Lord of Hacke Roger de Mortimer Lord of Pentethlin John Fitz-Reinold Lord of Blenleveny Ralph de Nevil Lord of Raby Brian Fitz-Allane Lord of Bedale William Marshal Lord of Hengham Walter Lord Huntercombe William Martin Lord of Cameis Henry de Thies Lord of Chilton Roger le Ware Lord of Isefield John de Rivers Lord of Angre John de Lancaster Lord of Grisedale Robert Fitz-Pain Lord of Lainnier Henry Tregoze Lord of Garinges Robert Hipard Lord of Lumford Walter Lord Faucombridge John Strange Lord of Cnokin Robert Strange Lord of Ellesmere Thomas de Chances Lord of Norton Walter de Beauchamp Lord of Alecester Richard Talbot Lord of Eccleswell John Butetourt Lord of Mendesham John Engain Lord of Colum Hugh de Poinz Lord of Comualet Adam Lord of Wells Simon Lord Montacute John Lord Sulle John de Melles Lord of Candebury Edmund Baron Stafford John Lovell Lord of Hackings Edmond de Hastings Lord of Elchunhonokes Ralph Fitz-William Lord of Grinthorpe Robert de Scales Lord of Neusells William Tuchet Lord of Lewenhales John Abadan Lord of Deverstone John de Haverings Lord of Grafton Robert la Ward Lord of White-Hall Nicholas de Segrave Lord of Stowe Walter de Tey Lord of Stonegrave John de Lisle Lord of Wodton Eustace Lord Hacche Gilbert Peche Lord of Corby William Painell Lord of Trachington Roger de Albo Monasberio Foulk le Strange Lord of Corsham Henry de Pinkeny Lord of Wedon John de Hodeleston Lord of Aners John de Huntingfield Lord of Bradenham Hugh Fitz-Henry Lord of Ravenswath John Daleton Lord of Sporle Nicholas de Carr. Lord of Mulesford Thomas Lord de la Roche Walter de Muncie Lord of Thornton John Lord of Kingstone Robert Hasting the Father Lord of Chelessey Ralph Lord
Wingrave was Mayor William Caston Ralph Balancer Sheriffs In his eleventh Year John Wingrave continued Mayor John Prior William Furneaux Sheriffs In his Twelfth Year John Wingrave continued Mayor John Pointel John Dalling Sheriffs In his Thirteenth year Hammond Chickwel was Mayor Simon de Abingdon John Preston Sheriffs In his Fourteenth Year Nicholas Farendon was Mayor Renauld at the Conduit Will. Prodham Sheriffs In his Fifteenth Year Hammond Chickwel was Mayor Richard Constantine Richard de Hackney Sheriffs In his Sixteenth Year Hammond Chickwel continued Mayor John Grantham Richard de Ely Sheriffs In his Seventeenth Year Nicholas Farendon was Mayor Adam of Salisbury John of Oxford Sheriffs In his Eighteenth Year Hammond Chickwel was Mayor Benet of Fulham John Cawston Sheriffs In his Ninteenth Year Hammond Chickwel continued Mayor Gilbert Mordon John Cawston Sheriffs In his Twentieth Year Richard Britain was Mayor Richard Rothing Roger Chauntelere Sheriffs EDWARD III. EDWARD the third was Crowned King upon Candlemas-day A. D. 1327. being the eighth day after that his Father had made a resignation of the Crown to him And now because sundry great persons with the whole order of Friars Preachers took pity on the old Kings captivity Mortimer therefore hastned to dispatch him out of the way in order to which he procured an Express from the young King then about 16. Years of age to remove him from Kenelworth Castle delivering him into the hands of those ignominious Knights Thomas de Gourney Seniour and John Mattrevers who conveying him from Kenelworth to Barkly-Castle there murdred him by running a burning spit up into his body as he was about to disburden nature September 22. 1327. His body was buryed at Glocester To animate the bloody Regicides to the commitment of the horrid fact 't is said this ambiguous phrase was invented by Adam de Torleton Bishop of Hereford and sent to them by Mortimer Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est Gourney or Corney and his villanous companions when they would needs shave the King on his way to Barkley lest he should be known and rescued inforced him to sit down on a molehil and the rascal Barber insulting told him That cold water out of the next ditch should serve for his trimming at that time To whom the sorrowful King answered Whether you will or no there shall be warm water and therewith shed tears plentifully But young King Edward at his Fathers death was upon the borders of Scotland where having invironed the Scots in the woods of Wividale and Stanhope by the Treason of Mortimer they escaped and he returned inglorious after an huge wast of Treasure and great peril of his own person For had not his loyal Chaplain stept in and received the mortal weapon in his own body the Kings life had been lost Shortly after this peace was concluded with the Scots upon dishonourable terms to the English by the procurement of the Mother-Queen and her Minion Mortimer Joan the Kings Sister was marryed to David Bruce the Scots in derision calling her Joan Make-peace King Edward at the Treaty of Peace sealed Charters to the Scotish Nation the contents whereof were contrived by his Mother Roger Mortimer and Sir James Douglas without the privity of the English Peers He also delivered to them that famous evidence called the Ragman-Roll and likewise quitted them of all his claim to the government of Scotland withal rendring back certain Jewels taken by the English from the Scots amongst which was one of special Note called the Black-Cross of Scotland In the same year being the year of our Lord 1327. dyed Charles the fair King of France by whose death the Crown of that Kingdom devolved to Edward King of England in right of his Mother Queen Isabel Tho. Bradwardin A. B. Cant. who was daughter to Philip the Fair and Sister to Lewis Hutin Philip the Long and Charles the Fair all Kings of France successively and all three dying without Issue the whole right now seeming to be Isabel the only Child of the said Philip that had any Issue But the French pretending a fundamental Law or Entail called the Salique Law by which no woman was inheritable to France sought to debar King Edward his right receiving to the Crown Philip of Valois whose Father was younger Brother to Philip the Fair advancing the Brothers son before the Daughters son not following the propinquity or descent of blood but meliority of the Sex Against the stream of the Queen and her Lord Mortimers absolute sway some great persons now stood amongst whom was the Kings Uncle Edmund Earl of Kent whose death the Queen and Mortimer shortly procured Nor was Mortimers fall now far off for the King beginning to perceive his own peril in the others potency upon good advice therefore surprized Mortimer with the Queen-Mother in Nottingham-Castle and by a Parliament held at Nottingham Queen Isabel's Dowry was taken from her and only a pension of a thousand Pound per Annum allowed her Mortimer was condemned in open Parliament at VVestminster for causing the young King to make a dishonourable peace with the Scots from whom he received bribes For procuring the death of Sr. Edward of Caernarvon the late King For over-familiarity with Isabel the Queen-Mother For polling and robbing the King and Commons of their Treasure He was ignominiously drawn to Tyburn then called the Elmes where he was executed on the common Gallows there hanging two days and nights 1330. With him there dyed for expiation of the late Kings death Sr. Simon de Bedford and John Deverell Esquire About this time befel great disturbances and divisions in Scotland occasioned by young Bruce and Baliol who both pretended right to that Crown which opportunity King Edward took hold on conceiving himself not obliged to stand to that contract made in his minority by the predominancy of his mother and Mortimer the Scots also detaining his Town and Castle of Berwick from him Wherefore he raises an Army and with Edward Baliol marcheth to Berwick which having besieged David Bruce sent a puissant host to the relief thereof and at Halydon-Hill the English and Scoth Armies joyned battle where the Scots were vanquished with a lamentable slaughter of them There dyed Archibald Dougles Earl of Angus and Governour of Scotland the Earls of Southerland Carrick and Foss the three Sons of the Lord Walter Steward and at least fourteen thousand others with the loss only of one Knight and ten other English-men Hereupon Berwick was surrendred to King Edward and Baliol was accepted to be King of Scotland and had faith and allegiance sworn unto him by the Scotch Nobles Simon Islip A.B. Cant. Which done Baliol repaired to King Edward then at Newcastle upon Tine where he submitted to Edward the third as his Father John Baliol had done to Edward the first After which the King of England assisted this Edward Baliol as his homager going himself in person divers times for suppressing the Brucean party which
and was so successful that within a short space he took fifteen Ships of the Spaniards fraught with Rich Merchandize By a Tempest were cast away at Sea four Knights and above a thousand Englishmen in their passage to Little-Britain In the year 1392 the Londoners were so unkind to the King that they refused to supply him with the loan but of a thousand pound and because a certain Lombard offered to lend the same they abused and almost killed him for which the King took away their Charter The year of Christ 1394 was famous or notable for the deaths of many great Ladies and amongst the rest of Queen Anne the Kings first wife whom it is said he loved to a kind of madness In the same year that the King was deposed the Bay or Lawrel Trees withered all over England and afterwards reflourished and on the first of January near Bedford-Town the River where it was deepest did on the sudden stand still and so divided it self that the bottom remained dry for about three miles Now flourished Sir John Hawkwood whose Chivalry had made him renowned through the Christian World Sir Geoffry Chaucer Poet Lawreat now also lived Queen Anne wife to King Richard the second first taught English women to ride on side-saddles when as before that time they rid astride She also brought in high head attire piked with Horns and long trained Gowns for Women The Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings Reign In his first Year Sir Nicholas Brember was Mayor Nicholas Twiford Andrew Pikeman Sheriffs In his second Year John Philpot was Mayor John Boseham Thomas Cornwallis Sheriffs In his third Year John Hadly was Mayor John Helisdon VVilliam Barra Sheriffs In his fourth Year VVilliam VValworth was Mayor Walter Doget William Knighthode Sheriffs In his fifth Year John Northampton was Mayor John Rotu John Hinde Sheriffs In his sixth Year John Northampton continued Mayor Adam Bramme John Sely Sheriffs In his seventh Year Sir Nicholas Brember was Mayor Simon Winchcome John Moor Sheriffs In his eighth Year Sir Nicholas Brember continued Mayor Nicholas Exton John French Sheriffs In his ninth Year Sir Nicholas Brember continued Mayor John Organ John Churchman Sheriffs In his tenth Year Nicholas Exton was Mayor William Stondon William More Sheriffs In his eleventh Year Nicholas Exton continued Mayor William Venor Hugh Falstalfâ— Sheriffs In his twelfth Year Nicholas Twiford was Mayor Thomas Austen Adam Carlehul Sheriffs In his thirteenth Year William Venor was Mayor John Walcot John Love Sheriffs In his fourteenth Year Adam Bamme was Mayor John Francis Thomas Vibent Sheriffs In his fifteenth Year John Hinde was Mayor John Shadworth Henry Vamere Sheriffs In his sixteenth Year William Stondon was Mayor Gilbert Mafield Thomas Newington Sheriffs In his seventeenth Year John Hardley was Mayor Drew Barintin Richard Whitington Sheriffs In his eighteenth Year Sir John Froyshe was Mayor William Bramston Thomas Knolls Sheriffs In his nineteenth Year Sir VVilliam More was Mayor Roger Ellis VVilliam Sevenoke Sheriffs In his twentieth Year Adam Brown was Mayor Thomas VVilford VVilliam Parker Sheriffs In his twenty first Year Sir Richard VVhitington was Mayor John VVodcock VVilliam Ascham Sheriffs In his twenty second Year Sir Drew Barintin was Mayor John VVade John VVarner Sheriffs HENRY IV. A D. 1389 HENRY of Bullingbroke the son of John Duke of Lancaster the fourth son of King Edward the third was Crowned at VVestminster by Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury His Cousin the late King Richard seem'd so little concern'd for the loss of his Crown that when it was told him of Bullingbrokes being accepted by Parliament for King in his stead he only used these words I look not after such things but my hope is that after all this my Cousin will be my good Lord and friend But now Henry seated in Richards Throne used all the best means to retain the hearts of the people that sided with him and to weaken the opposite party and withal sent Ambassadors to forreign Princes to justify his unjust proceedings But the King of France and people of Aquitain would not allow of his pretences and the Citizens of Burdeaux openly said That since the world began there was never a more cruel unreasonable nor wicked fact done That the good Prince was betrayed by faithless men and that all Law was violated In England were many that inclined and contrived to set King Richard again upon his rightful Throne though to seek a captive Kings deliverance doth commonly hasten his death The principal Conspirators were John Holland Earl of Huntingdon Thomas Holland Earl of Kent the Dukes of Surrey Excester and Aumarl John Monticute Earl of Salisbury Thomas Spencer Earl of Glocester and the Bishop of Carlile Their plot was to kill Henry Bullingbroke and his son Henry but before the time of intended execution was come the whole conjuration was discovered Many attempts the conspirators made to effect the re-establing of Richard and amongst the rest they procured one Maudlen King Richards Chaplain to personate his Lord but this with all the rest of their projects failed The Towns-men of Cyrencester assayled and took some of the discontented Lords and then cut off their heads because some of their followers set fire on Cyrencester thinking that whilst the Towns-men were busied in quenching the fire they might set their Lords at liberty The Commons in Essex took the Earl of Huntingdon and cut off his head in revenge of the Duke of Glocesters death which he had had a hand in The Lord Spencer the Commons beheaded at Bristol Some others of them were put to death at Oxford some at London where also John Maudlen the counterfeit Richard a goodly personage and one VVillian Ferby were hang'd and quartred The Bishop of Carlile was by the Kings Clemency saved after his condemnation King Richard did not long survive his friends but at Pontfract Castle was put out of the way by hunger cold and great torments though the Scots have untruly writ that he escaped out of prison and led a solitary and vertuous life in Scotland and there dyed and was buryed at the black-Fryars in Sterling After Richards murder at Pontfract King Henry caused his dead body to be brought up to London where in St. Pauls with his face uncovered he lay for a time exposed to the view of all men then was his body transported to Langley in Hartfordshire where it lay buried till Henry the fifth in the first year of his Reign caused the Royal remains of his body to be Translated to VVestminster That beautiful Picture of a King sitting Crowned in a chair of State at the upper end of the Quire in VVestminster-Abby is said to be of him And now King Henry to divert the thoughts of the people from his Predecessors Tragedy prepared a puissant Army and marched with it into Scotland where he only did some hurt by wasting the Countrey and then returned Shortly after which he advanced against Owen Glendour that had
rescue between whom and Alanzon was a hard contest Alanzon giving the King a slighty wound and the King at length striking him down to the ground whom the Soldiers in the heat of fight then slew contrary to the Kings command The French Reer-Guard seeing the disaster of their Van and Main Battel to save themselves ran away leaving the English no more work to do The number of prisoners taken by the English here was very great But King Henry perceiving fresh troops of the King of Sicils to appear fresh in the field and the same strong enough without any new rallied forces to encounter with his wearyed Souldiers to the end therefore that he might not have at once prisoners to guard and an enemy to fight contrary to his generous nature he commanded that every man should kill his prisoner which was immediately done certain principal men excepted Then by his Heralds he commanded those Troops either forthwith to come and fight with him else to depart the field either of which if they delayed he would revenge upon them without mercy Whereupon they quit the field When the fight was over and the field won King Henry fell down upon his knees and commanded his whole Army to do the same saying that verse in the Psalm Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give the glory And demanding what was the name of the place when it was answered him Agincourt then to all posterities following saith he shall this battel be called the battel of Agincourt The spoil here taken in Armour Jewels and Apparel was very great Of the English were slain the Duke of York the Earl of Suffolk two Knights David Gam Esquire and twenty eight private Souldiers Of the French were slain four thousand Princes Nobles Knights and Esquires and ten thousand common Souldiers Prisoners of Account taken in the field were Charles Duke of Orleans John Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Richmond Louis de Bourbon Count de Vendosme the Earl of Eu Edward de Rouen with divers others Just before this battel of Agincourt when it was reported that the French forces were very numerous Captain Gam resolutely said That if there were so many there were enough to be killed enough to be taken prisoners and enough to run away The next day after this battel Great Henry marched towards Callis and in the next month following spread sails for England and on November 23 in Triumph-wise he entred London where he received the gratulations of his people The City presented him a thousand pound in Gold and two golden Basons After some time of refreshing the King called a Parliament to London which granted him a Subsidy and a Tenth for the carrying on of his Wars in France which he graciously accepted though it was too short for the defraying so vast a charge Therefore to make it up the King pawned his Crown to his Uncle Cardinal Beauford for a great Sum of Money and certain Jewels to the Lord Mayor of London for ten thousand Marks Then with an Army of 25527 Souldiers every fourth being an Horseman besides a thousand Carpenters and Labourers Upon July 28 1417 he took to the Seas and August the first arrived in Normandy to their great terror many of the Inhabitants for fear flying into Britain And as soon as on shore to encourage his followers he dubbed 48 Knights then laid siege against Conquest the strongest Castle in Normandy which he took August the sixteenth He took likewise the Castles of Aumbelliers and Lovers the first of which he gave to his brother Clarence the second to the Earl of Salisbury and third to the Earl Marshal Caen in Normandy the King took by force giving the pillage thereof amongst his Souldiers Now whilst King Henry was busied in France the Scots wrought what mischief they could against him at home entred England in an Hostile manner bringing with them one whom they pretended to be King Richard the second laid strait siege against Roxbrough and Berwick but upon the report of an Army of English coming against them they broke up their sieges and well was he that could first set foot in his own Country In January the strong Town and Castle of Fallors was delivered to the King after which he divided his Army into several parts under the Conducts of the Dukes of Clarence and Glocester and Earl of Warwick who took sundry garisons The King the while besieged Roan which after about a Twelve-months siege was delivered to him upon Terms i. e. That the Burgesses should pay unto him three hundred fifty six thousand Crowns of Gold Should swear faith and loyalty to him and his successors c. A. D. 1418. Immediately after the surrender of this sundry other places of Note yielded themselves wherein King Henry placed Garisons And now France trembling at the English successes and their own losses sought a peace from King Henry who yielded to a personal conference to be held at Melun vvhither Charles the French King his Queen Isabel the Princess Katharine Duke of Burgundy Count of St. Paul with a thousand Horse came first then King Henry his brothers of Clarence and Glocester attended likewise with a thousand Horse met them When much conference passed but nothing was concluded which did not well please the King of England wherefore ready to depart he thus spoke to Burgundy Cousin I may not well digest this refusal but be ye assured that either I will have your Kings daughter and all my demands or else I will banish both you and them out of France You may speak your pleasure answered the Duke but before you shall thrust us out of France you shall be weary of the enterprize The Treaty thus broke Burgundy reconciled himself with the Daulphin and Henry displeased herewith prosecuted the War more sharply set upon Ponthois the last of July and in few hours gained the Town wherein great spoils fell to the Souldiers shares The news of this made King Charles to remove his Court from Paris to Troys in Champagne whilst Henry went forward with his intended enterprizes he and his Generals winning many strong-holds And to make the more way for the English successes the Daulphin and his Mother the Queen fell at great variance when the Queen by the procurement of Burgundy the King being very infirm was made Regent of France whose female authority and the hatred to her own Son the Daulphin did not a little prejudice the Crown of France And to the greater advantage of the English the Daulphin killed the Duke of Burgundy whereupon the Queen and young Duke of Burgundy perswaded King Charles to disinherit the Daulphin his Son and to give the Lady Katharine in marriage unto the King of England which accordingly was done and a peace was concluded betwixt the two Kings of England and France The prime Articles of the peace were these That Charles and Isabel should retain the name of King and Queen and should hold all their
John Barton John Parvess Sheriffs In his seventh Year Sir Richard Whittington was Mayor Robert Whittington John Butler Sheriffs In his eighth Year William Cambridge was Mayor John Butler John Wells Sheriffs In his ninth Year Sir Robert Chichely was Mayor Richard Gosseline William VVeston Sheriffs HENRY VI. A. D. 1422. HENRY of Windsor was crowned about the Eighth Month of his age The guard and custody of this Royal Infant was committed to Thomas Duke of Excester the Nurture and Education to his Mother the Queen-Dowager the Government of England to Humphrey Duke of Glocester and the Regency of France to John Duke of Bedford The first disadvantage that befel the English Cause after the late King's decease was the death of Charles the French King who survived Henry but 53 days for the imbecilities of this Prince were a strength to the English on the other side the Infancy of young Henry was an advantage to young Charles by them of his party now called King of France though by the English he was called only King of Berry because little else was left unto him Howbeit now he seeks to enlarge his Dominions having received Aids from Italy and Scotland And not far from the Town of Vernoil his and the Regents Forces joined battel when the English inured to the French Wars having born the first heat of their enemies encounter by perseverance utterly broke them and put them to flight The Regent himself fought most fiercely winning unto himself a lasting Honour On the enemies part was slain the Constable and Lieutenant of France the Earls of Wigton and Vantadour with about five thousand others Prisoners taken was the Duke of Alanzon himself with about two hundred others of special account After this Victory the Regent besieged Mants in Main and with Ordnance beat down part of the Walls whereupon it was yeilded this being one of the Articles at the surrender which perhaps might be upon every like occasion That if any person was found within the City which had been consenting to the murder of John Duke of Burgundy Father to Philip Duke of Burgoigne that they should simply be at the Regents mercy Some time after this and not much Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury with a dreadful puissance besieged the City of Orleans and so enforced it that the inhabitants were willing to articulate and to yeild themselves to the Duke of Burgundy then being in his company but the Earl highly disdaining thereat said in the English Proverb I will not beat the bush and another shall have the bird Which Proverbial speech 't is said so offended the Duke that it wholly alienated his mind from the English to their great loss in all the French Wars following And now appeared that famous French Shepherdess Joan of Lorrain about 18 years of age daughter to James of Arcke This Maid to comfort Charles of France presented her self to him at Chinon bidding him to be of good courage and constantly affirming that God had sent her to deliver the Realm of France from the English yoak and to restore him to the fulness of his Fortunes Then she armed her self like a man and required to have that Sword which at that time did hang in Saint Katharines Church of Fierebois in Tourain and being warlikely arrayed she gets into Orleans which did greatly animate the fainting French From Orleans this Maid of God for so the French called her sent a Letter to de la Pole Earl of Suffolk in words to this effect King of England do reason to the King of heaven for his blood-royal yeild up to the Virgin the keys of all the good Cities which you have forced c. I am the chief of this War wheresoever I encounter your men in France I will chase them will they nill they c. The Virgin comes from heaven to drive you out of France be not obstinate for you shall not hold France of the King of heaven the Son of St. Mary but Charles shall enjoy it the King and lawful heir to whom God hath given it He shall enter Paris with a goodly train c. Vnderstand these news of God and the Virgin spare innocent blood leave Orleans at liberty This Letter was entertained of the English with laughter and Joan reputed of them no better than a Bedlam or Inchantress But be she what she would yet by her encouragements and conduct the English had Orleans pluckt out of their hopes and with much loss were driven to raise the siege In all Adventures Joan was one and the foremost At one Sally she being shot through the arm said to her followers Come this is a favour let vs go on they cannot escape the hand of God The English lost at this siege the Earl of Salisbury the Lord Moline the Lord Poynings Sir Thomas Gargrave and of all sorts if you believe the enemy were slain in such Sallies as the Martial Maid made 8000 our own Writers say but 600. After the raising of this siege some Towns were took by the English but at a Village called Potay the French coming upon them before the Archers could fortifie their battels with an empalement of stakes the English after three hours bloody resistance were put to the worst The Lords Talbot Scales Hungerford and Sir Thommas Rampstone were taken prisoners Which loss was followed vvith the sudden revolt of sundry Tovvns Nor vvas it long ere Charles recovered Aunerre and Rhiemes in the last of vvhich according to the Maids direction he vvas solemnly crovvned King of France Hitherto the Virgin had been very lucky but coming to the rescue of Champagne distressed by the English and Bâ—rgundians she vvas taken by a Burgundian Knight vvho sold her to the English and they sent her to Roan vvhere she vvas burnt for Sorcery Bloodshed and unnatural use of man-like Apparel and Habiliments contrary to her Sex The rumor of vvhose death and ignominious cause thereof vvas something incommodious to Charles's affairs for a time and it vvas thought that the coming of young King Henry into France vvould be much more vvho Decemb. 7.1431 vvas crovvned King of France in Paris by the Cardinal of Winchester At vvhich time such of the French Nobility as vvere present did their homage to him The Kings Patents and Grants touching French matters passed under the seal and stile of Henry King of the French-men and of England And about this time the English Affairs succeeded pretty fortunately in France The Earl of Arundel and Lord Talbot carry about victorious arms and terrifie Main Anjou and other places vvith their successes A D. 1435 that famous Patriot and General John Duke of Bedford dyed at Paris Upon vvhich many Tovvns voluntarily yeilded and multitudes of the French forsook the English to joyn vvith Charles And though the English Forces then in France vvere not altogether slothful yet through a fatal security or negligence or both at home there vvas not speedy sufficiencies of resistance ministred Richard Duke
of York vvas created Regent of France but before he arrived there Paris vvas lost by the treachery of the Citizens Feb. 27. 1436. And Philip Duke of Burgundy novv in person gives proof of his disaffections to the English bringing his Forces before the Tovvn of Callis for the relief of vvhich place the Protector Humphrey Duke of Glocester passed vvith a great Army but Burgundy had vvithdravvn his Forces before the Duke arrived Hovvbeit the Duke took some revenge on him by vvasting part of his Dominions Which done he vvith honour returned to his Charge in England In France the Earl of Warwick vvas very active driving the Duke of Burgundy's Forces from Crotoy freeing Albeville from the danger of a Bastile for tvventy days spoiling the Country of Picardy about Amiens and Artois The Duke of Somreset Lords Talbot and VVilloughby were also busied in other places for the security of what the English had gained John Stratford A. B. Cant. But the common enemy the Turk increasing in strengths Ambassadors were sent from all parts to determine these bloody differences betwixt the Nations of France and England whereupon a Truce was taken by the two Kings for eighteen months A. D. 1444 was King Henry married with Margaret the daughter of Renate Duke of Anjou and Lorrain In which marriage say some begun the mournful Tragedies of our Country For after this day the fortune of the World began to decline the King so that he lost his friends in England and revenues in France for shortly all was ruled by the Queen and her Councel to the great disprofit of the King and his Realm and to the mauger and obloquie of the Queen her self who had many a wrong and false report made of her A. D. 1447 Good Duke Humphreys death was effected He was much hated by the Queen and her party as the only man who by his prudence as also by the Honour and Authority of his birth and place seemed to impeach that Soveraign Command which they pretended to settle in the King but meant indeed as the manner is under soft Princes to reign themselves in anothers name Many great Lords were drawn on at the time of a Parliament then holden at St. Edmondsbury to concur for his destruction not perceiving that thereby they pluckt up the flood-gate at which the Duke of York should enter This great Duke being come to attend in this Parliament was Arrested of High Treason by John Lord Beaumont High Constable of England the Dukes of Buckingham Sommerset and others and to guard him certain of the Kings household were appointed but it was not long before he was found dead whose body was shewed to the Lords and Commons as if he had died of a Palsey or Imposthume His servants Sir Roger Chamberlain Richard Middleton Thomas Herbert Arthur Tursey Esquires and Richard Nedham Gent. were condemned of High Treason and had this unexampled punishment They were drawn from the Tower to Tyburn there hang'd let down quick stript naked mark'd with a knife to be quartred and then a Charter of Pardon for their lives was shewed by the Marquess of Suffolk Thomas Wild the Dukes servant also being condemned and pardoned had for a preamble in his Letters Patents words importing That he had been one among many other Traytors against the King with Duke Humphrey who went about and practised to deliver Eleanor late wife to the Duke out of Prison for which purpose he had gathered a great power and number of men to come to the Parliament at Bury there to have contrived the Kings destruction Such was the end of this great Prince who by the people of England was thought to be doubly murdered by detraction and deadly practise He was not only a true Lover of learned men but himself was also learned and a Father of his Country And now the whole frame of government seemed to repose it self on the Queen and such Favourites as the King by her commendations liked The affairs of France were neglected And the Duke of York perceiving the King to be ruled and not to Rule began secretly to allure his friends of the Nobility and privily declared to them his Title to the Crown as likewise he did to certain Governours of Cities and Towns Which attempt was so politickly and closely carried that his provision was ready before his purpose was publick The very state of things invited this fatal conspiracy there being now a milder King than England was worthy of a Councel out of favour with the people manifold losses and dishonours abroad a turbulent and jealous condition of things at home Of all which the Duke of York made his best use cherishing the popular discontents and instead of seeking to redress any evils in the State he represented them to be worse than they were thereby to ripen that breach of Loyalty in the hearts of men which his ambition wrought upon In France matters went on very unhappily on the English side For the Duke of Sommerset during the Truce suffered a Town of Britain to be surprised denying restitution thereof cherished his Souldiers in their riot and disorders The French therefore making this their example surprized Town after Town till they had gained all Normandy and within few years extorted the Dutchy of Gascoign out of the English possession In the mean time the Duke of York raised his esteem in England by his appeasing of a tumult which had hapned in Ireland And at a Parliament holden at Westminster many Articles were exhibited by the Lower-House against the Duke of Suffolk wherein he was charged with evil demeanor Misprision and Treason and committed Prisoner to the Tower from whence he was discharged within a few weeks after About this time Adam Molins Bishop of Chichester and keeper of the Privy-Seal a wise and stout man stood in the Duke of Yorks way to the Crown therefore he procured him to be slain at Portsmouth by certain Ship-men And in a Parliament holden at Leicester the Duke of Suffolk a principal pillar of King Henries safety was set at again by the Yorkists They charge that for a crime on him namely the delivery of Anjou and Main which themselves had universally in a former Parliament assented unto and ratified This they prosecuted so effectually though unjustly against him that he was condemned to be banished for five years but in his way to banishment he was by some imployed on purpose taken at Dover-road where they struck off his head at the side of a Cock-boat nor was his death much lamented of the people because he was thought to have been a private actor in the death of the Noble Duke of Glocester Now the Yorkists having thus rid Suffolk out of the way think it no unfit time to begin to put their designs in practise so induce the Commons of Kent to make an Insurrection John Kemp. A. B. Cant. The Captain of the Rebels was a Villain named Jack Cade whom some by contraries called
is no other substance consisting in the bread and wine besides the substance of Christ God and man Secondly That the Communion in both kinds was not necessary to Salvation the flesh only in form of bread being sufficient to the Laity Thirdly That Priests might not marry by the Law of God Fourthly That the vows of chastity ought by Gods law to be observed Fifthly That private Masses were necessary for the people and agreeable to the Law of God Sixthly That auricular Confession was expedient to be retained in the Church of God For offending against the former Law of abjuring the Popes Supremacy c. was John Fisher Bishop of Rochester put to death and Sir Thomas More Lord Chancellor so merry conceited a person that he could not forbear his jests though bloody death stared him in the face For when on the Scaffold the Executioner desired his forgiveness he replied I forgive thee but I promise thee thou wilt get no honour by â—utting off my head my neck is so short And when he was to lay his neck on the block he stroâ—kt out his white beard and said to the Heads-man I pray let me lay it over the block lest you should cut it off For though you have a Warrant to cut off my head you have none to cut off my Beard Besides these two there were put to death for the same cause many Abbots Priors and Friars For oppugning the six Articles and asserting Gospel-truths did many Christians of the reformed Religion suffer death in the flames Amongst the rest Dr. Robert Barns was one and Mrs. Anne Askue a person of rare wit and elegant beauty who when she had been twice tormented upon the Rack to the disjoynting of her bones then gave her body to the flames for Christs sake And the life of Queen Katharine Parre was hard laid for by Stephen Gardner but through her wisdom and prudent carriage towards the King it was preserved About A. D. 1545 was a match concluded to be made betwixt Prince Edward King Henrie's son and the young Princess of Scotland the Scotch Nobility approving thereof and in a Parliament of the three estates the match was confirmed in England the like also in Scotland but Cardinal Beton Archbishop of St. Andrews fearing lest hereby Scotland should also change the Church-Orders and the French likewise not liking the union means was therefore wrought to break the said intended marriage of the two young Heirs whence wars insued and the English invaded Scotland spoiled Leith burnt Edenbrough and wasted the Country for seven miles about set fire upon Haddington and Dunbar then returned And because the French refused the performance of certain Covenants King Henry made war also upon that Nation and in short time won the strong Town of Bulloigne Then the French King with intent to balance the loss of Bolloign invaded the Isle of Wight and Sea-coasts of Sussex though it proved to the loss of many of his Captains and thousands of his Souldiers A. D. 1546 the Reingrave came with a great force to victual a Fort built near to Bulloigne which the Earl of Surrey sought to prevent him from but was discomfited with the loss of many brave mens lives Shortly after which by the mediation of the Empâ—ror and other Christian Potentates peace was concluded betwixt France and England A. D. 1547 and January the twenty eighth King Henry yielded to deaths impartial stroke whose body with great solemnity was buried at Windsor In his Will he ordained howsoever Titles had been made invalid in Parliaments That his three Children should succeed each other for want of other Issue One thousand Marks he commanded should be given to the poor and to twelve poor Knights at Windsor each of them twelve-pence a day for ever every year a long Gown of white cloth the Garter to be embroidred upon the breast and therein the Cross of St. George and a Mantle of red cloth to be worn thereupon His Wives were Katharine his brothers Relict Anne Bullen Jane Seymore Anne of Cleve Katharine Howard Neece to the Duke of Norfolk and Katharine Parre the daughter of Sir Thomas Parre of Kendal His Issue Henry which lived not full two months another son not named and Mary these by Katharine of Spain Elizabeth and a son still-born by Anne Bullen Edward by Jane Seymour His natural Issue Henry Fitz-Roy After the dissolution of the religious Houses he erected the Bishopricks of Westminster Chester Oxford Peterborough Bristol and Glocester and also erected the Cathedral Churches of Canterbury Winchester Worcester Chester Peterborough Ely Glocester Bristol Carlile Durham Rochester and Norwich In all which he founded a Dean with a certain number of Prebendaries The Colledge of Christ-Church in Oxford begun by Cardinal Wolsey he ordained to be the Cathedral of this Bishops See Many died of the sweating sickness in England especially about London In the twenty third year of his raign Richard Rice a Cook was boiled to death in Smith-field for poysoning divers persons In the thirty seventh of his raign the Stews on the Bank-side in Southwark were put down by the Kings appointment A. D. 1546 William Foxly continued sleeping fourteen days and fifteen nights and could not by any means be awakened during that time yet when he did awake he was in very good temper as though he had slept but one night and lived forty years after King Henry by Act of Parliament assumed the Stile and Title of King of Ireland former Kings of England bearing only the stile of Lords thereof 'T is said that now Turkey Carp Hops Pickarel and Beer came into England all in a Year Mayors and Sheriffs of Londen in this Kings Time In his first Year Thomas Bradbury was Mayor for the part of the year Sir VVilliam Capel for the rest George Monox John Doget Sheriffs In his second Year Sir Henry Kebble was Mayor John Milborne John Rest Sheriffs In his third Year Sir Roger Acheley was Mayor Nicholas Shelton Thomas Mersine Sheriffs In his fourth Year Sir William Copinger was Mayor for part of the year Sir Richard Haddon for the rest Robert Holdernes or Alderns Robert Fenrother Sheriffs In his fifth Year Sir William Brown was Mayor John Dawes John Bruges Roger Bosford Sheriffs In his sixth Year Sir George Monox vvas Mayor James Yarford John Munday Sheriffs In his seventh Year Sir William Butler vvas Mayor Henry Warley Richard Gray William Baily Sheriffs In his eighth Year Sir John Rest was Mayor Thomas Seymour John or Richard Thurston Sheriffs In his ninth Year Sir Thomas Exmewe was Mayor Thomas Baldrie Ralph or Richard Simons Sheriffs In his tenth Year Sir Thomas Mersine was Mayor John Allen James Spencer Sheriffs In his eleventh Year Sir James Yarford was Mayor John Wilkinson Nicholas Patrick Sheriffs In his twelfth Year Sir John Burg vvas Mayor John Skevington John Kyme alias Keble Sheriffs In his thirteenth Year Sir John Milborn was Mayor John Breton or Britain Thomas Pargitor Sheriffs In his
danger he was in changed his note confessing himself to be but the man Sir Anthony said Well thou canst never do thy Master better service than to hang for him causing him to be trussed up on the next tree Other commotions arose in other parts of the Realm but the most dangerous was that in Norfolk headed by Robert Ket a Tanner of Wimonham who took upon him to be the Kings Deputy giving out Warrants in the Kings name for what he pleased His Tribunal-seat was in an old Tree where sate the jolly Tanner accompanied with his Counsellors and Assistants being two chosen men out of every hundred of the rout Hither came the complaints of the Camp and from hence Commissions were issued out to plunder Ships and Gentlemens houses of Armour and Artillery so that this Tree was termed the Oak of Reformation Whence likewise sometimes Sermons were delivered and once by the Reverend Dr. Parker for which his life was endangered his Sermon was so displeasing to the Rabble To pacifie these rebells the King caused his general pardon to be proclaimed by an Herald at Arms. Notwithstanding which they still proceeded in their rebellion and made themselves Masters of the City of Norwich The King therefor sent William Parre Marquess of Northampton against them but him they over-powered Then the Lord Dudley Earl of Warwick was imployed against them who with small resistance gained the Market-place of Norwich where he caused sixty rebells whom he had taken immediately to be executed by Martial Law The main body of the rebells entrenched themselves at the foot of the Hill called Dussin-dale partly upon vain Prophesies given forth amongst them by Wisards That Hob Dic and Hie meaning the Clowns should with their clubs fill up the valley of Dussin-dale with dead bodies On August 27 the Earl prepared for fight the rebells likewise set themselves in order placing in their fore-rank all the Gentlemen whom they had taken prisoners coupled in Irons Upon the rebells Captain Drury with his own Band and the Almains charged couragiously and opened their Battel to the setting at liberty of the captive Gentlemen and the Earls light Horsemen came so valiantly on that the rebells gave back and fled and with the foremost their Captain Ket The chase held three miles and more with the slaughter of 3500 rebells The rest of the rebells that kept about the Ordnance by the Generals perswasions and promise of pardon cast away their Weapons and with one voice cried God save King Edward The next day following Ket was apprehended in a Barn where he had hid himself and shortly after was hanged in Chains upon the Castle of Norwich William Ket his brother was hang'd upon the high Steeple of Wimonham and nine other of them were hang'd upon the Oak of Reformation This Rebellion was at the first broacht under the pretence of throwing open the Inclosures which the King by Proclamation had commanded to be done though it was neglected These disturbances being setled others were made in the North by Thomas Dale a Parish Clark William Ombler a Yeoman and one Stevenson the Post of Seymour Their pretences were to restore the Church her rights and to disburthen the Land of Grievances giving out that the Pope was the man that K. Edward was an intruder if not a meer Heretick that the Church had power of both the Swords When these fellows were increased to the number of about 3000 the Kings pardon being sent to them they most of them departed to their own homes but Ombler and Dale with four others were executed at York Septemb. 21 1549. And as the Commons disquieted the Country so did some Lords and Ladies disquiet the Court. The Protector 's brother Thomas Seymour Baron of Sudley High Admiral of England had married Queen Katharine Parre which Lady contending for place with the Protector 's Dutchess occasioned the haughty Dutchess 't is said to procure the Lord Sudley's ruin Which Lord was accused to have designed the getting of the Kings person into his custody and Government of the Realm for the which with some smaller matters charged upon him he was condemned by Act of Parliament and by his brother the Protector 's Warrant was beheaded on Tower-hill March 20. But the Brothers being now disjoined who might have supported each other had they lived together in brotherly love the Protector himself is marked out for destruction Divers Lords article against the Duke accusing him That he had animated the rebells in their rebellion That he was a sower of sedition amongst the Nobles That he had against Law erected a Court of Requests in his own house inforcing divers of the Kings Subjects thither to answer for their free-holds c. And so close and cunningly they prosecuted the matter against him that they got him into the Tower Octob. 12 1549 but the King procured his liberty immediately though not his former Authority In the mean space that the Protector was under these troubles the Scots recovered the places that the English had gained from them The French also attempted to gain the Fort of Bulloinberg by surprize unto which enterprize 7000 men were chosen who secretly marched in the night with Ladders and furniture meet for the design and approached within a quarter of a Mile of the Fort but one Carter an English man a soldier amongst them understanding what was intended hastily and privately made from his Company and gave the Alarm to his Countrymen in the Fort whereupon Sir Nicholas Arnalt the Governour made such preparations against the French mens coming that at their approach he repulsed them with so great a slaughter that fifteen Wagons went away laden with dead bodies of the French After this the French assaulted the Isles of Garnsey and Jersey but were beaten off with the lost of a thousand men Howbeit the French King gave not over till he had recovered by surrender Bulloinberg and the Town of Bulloin which last he purchased at a high price A. D. 1550 that mortal disease called the sweating-sickness raged extreamly through England whereof died the two Sons of Charles Brandon both of them Dukes of Suffolk successively besides an infinite number in their best strength And which is wonderful this disease followed only English men in foreign Countries no other people being infected thereby And to fill up the dolours of these doleful times the good Duke of Sommerset was again by the over-reachings of the Earl of Warwick lately created Duke of Northumberland and other his emulators committed prisoner and not long after put to death For the Duke of Sommerset giving ear to such false friends as sought his ruin privily armed himself and so went to the Council-Table his flatterers having put him in fear of some sudden attempt intended against him But at the Council-Table his bosom being opened and the Armour found he was forthwith apprehended as intending the death of some Counsellor and sent to the Tower Octob. 16 1551 and in December
into England bringing thence many sick Soldiers which dangerously infected the Nation with a long continuing Plague About the year 1564 the Irish sought to shroud themselves from their obedience unto Queen Elizabeth under the shelter of Shan O-Neal a man cruel by nature and claiming an Hereditary right to the Province of Vlster as the O-Neals formerly had done to all Ireland Against this rebel so great preparations were made that he terrified therewith came over into England and on his knees begged the Queens pardon which she granted him Howbeit not long after he rebelled but at length was slain by some of his own Countrymen A. D. 1567 so great civil dissensions were in Scotland that outrages were not only committed upon the best Subjects but even upon the King and Queen themselves him they barbarously murdred and forced her to leave Scotland Which unhappy Queen having embarqued her self for France Edward Grindal A. B. Cant. hoping there to find many friends was by cross winds drove upon the English Coasts from whence she might not return but was detained Prisoner in England A. D. 1568 by the working Instruments of the old Doctor at Rome there were discontents bred and nourished in some great persons of England as the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland Leonard Dacres Nevill c. who had in readiness certain English Priests Morton and others with Bulls and Instruments of Absolution Reconciliation and Oaths to be taken to the Pope These Romish rebels raised forces and with Banner displayed entred Burrowbridge old Morton being their Ensign-bearer in whose Colours was painted the Cross and five wounds of Christ But at the approach of her Majesties Forces the Captains of the rebells fled into Scotland and their followers were taken without any resistance Of these Traytors were put to death at Durham by Martial Law an Alderman a Priest sixty-six Constables besides others of them in other places about A. D. 1570 Leonard Dacres of Harlsey renewed the rebellion and had amongst his followers many Women-soldiers but upon a Moor nigh unto Naworth the Lord Hunsdon dispersed them in fight August 22d of this year was the Earl of Northumberland beheaded at York where in his last speech he avowed the Popes Supremacy denied that subjection was due to the Queen affirmed the Realm to be in a Schism and that obedient subjects were no better than Hereticks For you must know that Pope Pius the fifth had by his Bull dated 1569 deprived the Queen of her Kingdoms absolved her subjects of all subjection to her and pronounced all that yielded her obedience accursed Which Bull was privately hung upon the Bishop of London's Palace-gate at the West-end of St. Pauls And such influence it had upon the spirits of many persons disaffected to the Reformed Religion that they sought by divers means to work the Queens destruction Many were the projects and devices to ruin the Church and Queen but by the good providence of Almighty God the projectors were defeated in their purposes and suffered deserved punishment In Norfolk John Throgmorton Brook Redman and others sought to raise a commotion for the which they suffered death Dr. Story executed for his treason 1571. John Sommervil instigated by one Hall a Seminary Priest to murther the Queen was executed John Payn imployed to murther her as she took her recreation abroad was executed so was Edmond Champion a Seminary Priest also executed Francis Throgmorton for endeavouring to procure an Invasion was executed William Parry who purposed to have murdred the Queen was executed Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland being privy to the Plots of Throgmorton for the bringing in of foreign powers was committed to the Tower where to save the Hangman a labour he shot himself to the heart Thomas Howard being too busie in some Popish designs was also put to death John Whitgift A B. Cant. Other Popish Traytors were likewise deservedly executed whose names facts and places and times of execution for brevities sake are omitted A. D. 1572 Novemb. 18 appeared a strange Star or Comet Northward in the Constellation of Cassiopeia not much less than the Planet Venus never changing place fixed far above the Moons Orb the like to which never did appear since the beginning of the world that we read of saving that at the Birth of Christ A. D. 1573 was built at London the Royal-Exchange so named by her Majesty whose founder was Sir Thomas Gresham A. D. 1576 Sir Martin Frobusher sailed into the Northeast Seas far further than any man before him had done giving to those parts the name of Queen Elizabeths Foreland A. D. 1577 and Novemb. 15 Capt. Drake set sail from Plimouth and in three years wanting twelve days he encompassed the Earth landing again in England on Novemb. 3 1580. In America in the Country which he named Nova Albion the King thereof presented unto him his Network Crown of many coloured feathers and therewith resigned his Scepter of Government unto his dispose The people there so admired the English men that they sacrificed to them as to their gods At his departure from thence he reared a Monument to witness her Majesties right to that Province as being freely given to her Deputy both by King and people The little Ship called the Pelican wherein this admirable Voyage was performed was at her Majesties command laid up in the Dock by Deepford as a Monument of Englands fame and Captain Drake was honoured with Knighthood A. D. 1581 was the motion renewed for a Marriage betwixt Francis Valois Duke of Anjou and Queen Elizabeth and so effectually was the suit moved and acceptably heard of her Highness that the Monsieur came over in person though to the little liking of many of the English Nobles and to the great discontent of the Commons as was made known by a Book written against it which cost William Stubs the Inditer thereof the loss of his right hand About A. D. 1583 the Pope and King of Spain sent supplies to the Irish rebells under the command of Thomas Stukely an English fugitive whom the Pope had stiled Marquess of Ireland These landing in Ireland raised their consecrated Banner built their Fort Del Ore but the Lord Grey of Wilton Lord Deputy quickly put most of them to the sword A. D. 1585 after several suits made unto the Queen by the distressed States of the Netherlands and their Grievances recommended to her by the King of France with promise of his own assistance her Majesty was graciously pleased to undertake their protection sending to their assistance Sir John Norrice with 5000 Foot and a thousand Horse all retained at her Highness pay during those Wars against Spain which monthly amounted to 12526 l. Sterling For which moneys so disbursed the Towns of Flushing and Brill with two Sconces and the Castle of Ramekins in Holland were delivered to the Queens use in pledg until the money was repaid The considerations moving her Majesty to assist â—he United Provinces were The
Edenburgh the common People both Men and Women flung cudgels stones stools or any thing that came next hand at him and after that was done re-inforced their assaults upon the Bishops then present Nor was it the rabble only that were disaffected to the Church-Liturgy and Discipline but persons of all degrees and orders who mutually obliged themselves and the Scottish Nation in a Hellish Covenant to extirpate Episcopacy and to defend each other against all persons To reduce this People to a more peaceful practice the King sent Marquess Hamilton as his Commissioner but there were new seeds of discontents and war dayly sown so that to pacific the discontents of the Scots his Majesty at length gave order for revoking the Liturgy the High-Commission the Book of Canons and the five Articles of Perth made by King James also granted that a general assembly of the Kirk should be holden at Glascow Novem. 21. 1638. and a Parliament at Edenburgh 15 of May 1639. When the Assembly were met they fell to declare against Bishops to excomunicate them and their adherents and to abolish Episcopacy and the Covenanters were also so daring that they seized upon the Kings Revenue surprized his Forts and Castles and at last put themselves in Arms. Cardinal Richlieu of France heightning them 't is said in their factious proceeds by promising them assistance from the French King King Charles now well perceiving that his Clemency to the Scots was converted to his own prejudice raises therefore a gallant Army with which he marches within two miles of Berwick within sight of the Rebel Scots but they Petitioning for a pacification the King yielded thereunto A. D. 1639 and June 17 the King disbanded his Army expecting that the Scots would have done the like according to the Articles of accord but the Covenanters instead of keeping those Articles retained their Officers in pay changed the old form of holding Parliaments invaded the Prerogatives of the Crown and solicited the French King for an aid of men and money His Majesty hereupon calls a Parliament in England to sit April 13 1640. and another in Ireland The Irish Parliament granted money to raise and pay 8000 men in Arms and to furnish them with ammunition but the English Parliament were not so free in granting supplies against the Scots although the King promised them for ever to quit his claim of Ship-money and give satisfaction to their just demands if now they would supply him When his Majesty sent old Sir Henry Vane unto them to demand six subsidies he either purposely or accidentally the first is rather thought named twelve which put the Commons into such a heat that they were about to remonstrate against the War with Scotland Whereupon the King was forced to dissolve the Parliament May the 5. 1640. Howbeit he continued the Convocation of the Clergy which granted him four shillings in the pound for all their Ecclesiastical promotions Soon after this a tumult was stirr'd up at the Bishop of Canterbury's insomuch that a great number of Apprentices and vulgar persons assaulted his house at Lambeth some of whom being apprehended and imprisoned were by their Companions rescued out of Prison for which one of the Ringleaders was hang'd and quartered Now whilst these things were acting at home the turbulent Scots had entred England and defeated a part of the Kings Army before the whole could be imbodied and had gained Newcastle and Durham And no sooner was his Majesty come to his Army in the North but there followed him from some English Lords a Petition conformable to the Scotch Remonstrance which they called the intentions of the Army viz. not to lay down Arms till the reformed Religion meaning Scotch Presbytery was setled in both Nations and the causers and abetters of their present troubles were brought to publick Justice and that in Parliament The King therefore summons the Lords to appear at York September the 24 1640. who accordingly met where it was determined that a Parliament should be called to meet November the third following then a Treaty was agreed upon betwixt the English and Scotch for the ceasing of all Acts of Hostility and one of the Articles was That the contribution of 850 l. per diem should be raised out of the English Northern Counties to maintain the Scotch Army during the Treaty and till peace was secured The fatal long Parliament began November the third which day as 't is said was looked upon by the Archbishop of Canterbury as an unlucky day for meeting of Parliaments in reference to Church-affairs having proved so in the time of King Henry the eighth whereupon he advised the King to put off their setting to another day which his Majesty inclined not unto but at their meeting acquainted them that he was resolved to put himself wholly upon his English Subjects that he would satisfie all their just grievances then commended to their care the chasing out of the sawcy Scots making provisions for his own Army and relieving the oppressed Northern Counties But the Parliament instead of complying with their Soveraign in his just proposals they first set upon purging their house of such whom they thought wou'd not comply with their designs finding fault either with their elections or else making them criminals in some publick grievance then setled Committees for grievances and receiving Petitions voted down Monopolies impeached the Lord Wentworth Earl of Strafford of High-Treason and committed him to the black Rod committed Archbishop Laud likewise to the black Rod and ten weeks after voted him guilty of High-Treason and sent him to the Tower In the mean while Prynn Burton and Bastwick were freed from their confinement and conducted into London in great State and Triumph Alderman Pennington with some hundreds attending him presented the Commons with a Petition from the Citizens of London against the present Church-government Divers Petitions from other places came before them of the like nature And now the Parliament well perceiving their own strength and interest drew up a bill for Triennial-Parliaments wherein the power of calling that great Council of the Nation was upon refusal of the King and neglect of others devolved upon Constables This the King through their importunities granted unto them February the 16 the Parliament voted That no Bishop should have any vote in Parliament nor any Judicial power in the Star-Chamber-Court nor have any sway in Temporal affairs and that no Clergy-man should be in Commission of Peace And after about five months from their sitting the Earl of Strafford Lord Deputy of Ireland was brought to his Tryal in Westminster Hall before the Lords as his Judges The King Queen and Prince setting behind a curtain in an adjoyning Gallery and round about the Court stood the Commons his accusers and the Witnesses against him were English and Scotch Anti-Episcoparians and Irish Papists his charge consisted of 28 Articles to all which the Earl answered with such firm reasons that he could not be found
Deputy thereof Ireton was very successful against the Marquess of Ormond the Lord Inchequin Marquess Clancard Earl of Castlehaven and other the Kings friends taking many Garisons from them the like did Oliver in Scotland from the Kings friends there Howbeit His Majesty hoping that now at length England might be favourable to his just Cause he advances into England by the way of Carlile with about 16000 men bending his course by a swift march for the West of England though it was hoped by his friends he would have directed his course for London But August the 23 the King with his Army entred the City of Worcester and Cromwel with all hast marched after him by the way joyning with Fleetwood Desbrough the Lord Grey of Groby Lambert Harrison and the Militia-forces of several Counties so that his Army when he was come to Worcester could not amount to fewer then 80000 men In Lancashire the Earl of Derby had raised for the King near 1500 Horse and Foot against whom Colonel Lilbourn marched and routed them taking many persons of quality the Earl of Derby himself with much ado escaped to the King at Worcester where on that twice fatal but once Lucky day September the 3d his Majesty being surrounded by his Enemies resolved to sally upon them with his whole force which accordingly he did and at the first made the disloyal party retire somewhat disorderly the King himself performing the part of a Valiant Souldier at the head of his Horse But at length his Army being overpowered by the numerous fresh supplies of his enemies His Majesties side was put to the worst his Horse flying amain towards the North and his Foot into Worcester whither they were followed at the heels by their Victors who entred the City with them which they plundred killing and taking most of the Scots Prisoners those Horse that fled were pursued and great part of them taken and the poor stragling Scots were either made Prisoners or killed by the Country People The number of the Kings party slain were judged to be about 3000 and of Prisoners taken in the whole near 10000 amongst whom were Duke Hamilton the Earls of Shrewsbury Derby Cleveland Lauderdaile Rotho Carnwath and Kelly the Lord Synclare Sir John Packington Sir Charles Cunningham Sir Ralph Clare Major General Piscotty Major General Mountgomery Colonel Graves Mr. Fanshaw the Kings Secretary the Adjutant General Marshal General General of the Ordnance together with five Colonels of Horse 13 of Foot 17 Lieutenant Colonels 19 Majors 109 Captains there was also taken 158 Colours the Kings standard Coach and Horses Coller of SS and Star-Cloak with other things of great value His Majesty through the good providence of God escaped the hands of his enemies wandring about England in disguise for six weeks at length being transported from a Creek near Shoram in Sussex to Freccam near Haure de Grace in France although his foes made the strictest search for him possible withall menacing those that should conceal him and promising high rewards to those that should discover him A little before this fight at Worcester divers persons many of them Presbyterian Ministers were seized on for holding correspondence with Charles Stuart none might as they loved their lives and estates call him King and on August the 22 were two of them namely Mr. Christopher Love Minister and Mr. Gibbons beheaded on Tower-hill The common Prisoners Scots and English taken at Worcester were sent up to London and that they might no further trouble the States of England they were transported into Foreign Plantations October the 15th the Earl of Derby was beheaded and Sir Timothy Fetherstonhaugh dyed the same death also for the same crime viz. for honouring the King In short time after the fight of Worcester the Mock-Parliament had the welcome news of reducing the Isle of Man the Barbadoes the Isle of Jersey and Cornet Castle in Guernsey but a little to allay their transport they had the unwelcome news of the death of their Admiral Popham and Ireton their Deputy of Ireland this last dyed of the plague under the Walls of Limirick but was buryed in great State in Westminster-Abby All was now in a calm at home and Scotland and Ireland both almost subjected to the English States they therefore in this leisure-time judg it seasonable to vindicate themselves on the Vnited Netherlands for the affronts done to their Ambassadors Oliver St. John and Walter Strickland in Holland and their incroaching on the English merchants trade and slighting the English States who proffered strict amity and alliance Hereupon they prohibited the importing any Foreign Comodities except upon English bottoms or such as were of the Country whence the goods came beginning withal to stand high upon the claim of dues and reparations for the prejudice done the English in their Trading and when no satisfaction would be given but the Dutch grew rather more Lordly calling into question the English Soveraignty in the narrow Seas and refusing to give the English the honour of the FLAG the States of England resolved to beat them into better manners And in the Year of our Lord 1652 on May the 19th was the first Sea-fight between the States of England and the Netherlands the fight continued about four hours till the night parted them without much cause of boasting on either part that which was the English had a right to But shortly after this Admiral Blake took twelve Dutch men of War August the 16th Sir George Ayscough with a squadron of seven Ships charged through and through the Dutch Fleet consisting of sixty men of War in which Encounter Captain Pack was slain September the fifth as the French Fleet who took part with the Dutch were going to the relief of Dunkirk most of them were taken by General Blake and about the conclusion of the same month the Dutch were bang'd to purpose by Blake at a place called the Kentish-Knock and were pursued by the English into their very Harbor But in the beginning of Winter Blake was worsted by the Dutch in the Downs losing the Garland Bonadventure and two Merchantmen Upon the 18 19 and 20th days of February the two Fleets fought again when the Dutch were forced to fly the English taking fifty-two of their Merchant-men they had in Convoy and nine men of War A. D. 1653 and April the 20th Oliver Cromwell took upon him to put a period to the fitting of those long winded-Members at Westminster objecting to them when he came to displace them That they delayed if not utterly neglected the redressing of publick Grievances that they designed their own interest and perpetuating themselves therefore they were to sit there no longer Instead of these Members turned out of doors Oliver and his Officers constituted a Council of State to rule the Common-wealth though they resolved to rule the Council of State June the 2d the English and Dutch Fleets engaged again in Fight when at the very first shot made by
Romans With the several Races of the British Saxon Danish and Norman Kings till the present year of his Majesty Charles the Second whom God long preserve It gives likewise an Account of all the Archbishops of Canterbury since it was erected into a Metropolitant See Of all the Mayors and Sheriffs of London since their First Creation till this present year It contains likewise a List of the Members of this present Parliament assembled in March last 1678 9 with the Names of the Lords and others of His Majesties present Privy Council the Commissioners of the Treasury and Navy And in a word enough to let us see how by the blessing of God the prudence of Governors and the unanimity and loyalty of the People this Kingdom though sometimes over-clouded by home-bred Dissentions yet has continued for many Ages to be the Envy and Terror of its Neighbours abounding in all the Worldly Enjoyments that were fit to be expected from a bountiful God or to be desired by a vertuous People To conclude We may expect still the continuance of the same Blessings unless our sins and wantonness bring upon us the same or worse Judgements than our Forefathers ever felt and instead of a delightful and fruitful Soil turn our Land into a Barren Wilderness and give us cause to say with the Poet Infelix colium steriles dominantur avenae T. N. MEDVLLA Historiae Anglicanae BRITAIN THIS most flourishing Island Britain is bounded on the South with Normandy and France on the East with Germany and Denmark upon the West with Ireland and the Atlantick Ocean and on the North with the Deucalidon Seas The length thereof from the Lyzard-point Southward in Cornwall to the Straithy-head in Scotland containeth 624 miles the breadth from the Lands-end in Cornwall in the West unto the Island Tenet in the East containeth 340 miles It is sited under the 9th and 13th Climates of the Northern temperate Zone insomuch that at the Summer Solstice in the Northern parts of Scotland there is no Night at all but only an obscure twilight A Country it is for Air mild for Soyl fruitful and for length of Days pleasant and delightful In Winter the absence of the Sun is relieved with the warmth of its invironing Seas and in Summer the heat is moderated by frequent showers and Sâ—a-winds O happy Britain said the old Panegyrist and more blisful than all other Regions Nature hath inriched thee with all commodities of Heaven and Earth wherein there is neither extream cold in Winter nor scorching heat in Summer wherein there is such abundant plenty of Corn as may suffice both for Bread and Wine wherein are Woods without wild-beasts and the Fields without noisom Serpents But infinite numbers of Milch-Cattel and Sheep weighed down with Fleeces and that which is most comfortable long Days and lightsom Nights And as our English Lucan sings The fairest Land that from her thrusts the rest As if she car'd not for the World beside A World within her self with wonders blest This Queen of Islands was at the first called Albion either from Albion Marcoticus who seated himself herein or ab albis rupibus from the white Rocks appearing towards the Coasts of France or from Olbion signifying rich or happy in regard of its fertility temperature and riches Next It was called Britain either from the two British words Pryd and Cain which signifie Beauty and White or from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying Mettals with which it aboundeth or from the British word Beyth that is painted stained coloured the Inhabitants of old using to dye their bodies with Woad to which the Greeks added Tania that is a Region thence called Britons-Land or Britanie At last The Southern and best part of it from the Angle-Saxons then inhabiting it was called Angle-Land now England which said part of Britain is bounded on the East with the Germane on the West with the Irish on the South with the British Ocean on the North with the River Tweed and a Line drawn from it to the Solway Westward The longest day in the Northern part of England is Seventeen hours and near Thirty minutes and the shortest day in the most Southern part thereof almost Eight hours long Englands dimension in length from Berwick to the Lands-End is 386 miles in breadth from Sandwich to the Lands-End 279 in compass by reason of the many Bays and Promontories about 1300 miles England in the Romans time was divided into Britania prima containing the South part of England Britania secunda containing the Western part now called Wales and Maxima Caesariensis containing the Northern parts beyond Trent The first of these in the Britains time belonged to the Arch-Bishoprick of London the 2d to the Arch-Bishoprick of * Glamorgan Caerleon and the 3d. to the Arch-Bishoprick of York The Britains or first Inhabitants of this Island were derived from the Gauls as both their Speech Laws Customs and Buildings manifest The Story of Brute with his Trojans Conquering this Island in A.M. 2887 or whenever else seems to be only a Fable of Geofry of Monmouths framing Amongst the Ancient Britains none save the better and more civil sort did wear any cloathing They painted their bare bodies with sundry Pictures representing all manner of living creatures flowers and the heavenly bodies conceiting that this made them appear the more terrible to their enemies About their Wasts and Necks they wore Chains of Iron supposing them to be a goodly Ornament The hair of their heads they wore long which was naturally curled all other parts they shaved save the upper-lip Of all the Provinces the Kentish were the most civilized persons by reason of their converse with other Nations in Trafficking and Merchandizing Their buildings were many and like to those of the old Gauls French poor rude Cottages yet did they give the name of Towns to certain cumbersom Woods which they fortified with Rampiers and Ditches whither they made their retreat and resort to eschew the invasions of their enemies The Romans first taught them to build their Houses of Stone Their Wives were many Ten or Twelve apiece which they held common among Parents and Brethren yet was the Issue reputed his only who first Married the Mother when she was a Maid The Children they brought up in common amongst them Their diet was spare and mean being Barks and Roots of Trees and Milk also a kind of food they had no bigger than a Bean after the eating of which for a considerable time they did neither hunger nor thirst They eat likewise Venison and Fruits Their usual drink was made of Barley The Habits of the Ancient Britaine 's Printed for Abell swalle at the Vnicorn at the West End of St Pauls Page 4. F. H. Van. Houe sculp Their Religion was Paganish superstition They had many Idol-gods and used mans flesh in their Sacrifices They had Priests and Instructers the chief of which were called Druides who were the
Bertualdus A. B of Cant. reigned in peace the term of four years but affecting a private retired life he appointed Chelred his Cousin to rule in his stead and accompanied with Offa King of East-Saxons KENRED and Edwin Bishop of Winchester he went unto Rome where himself and Offa became Monks and there dyed CHeldred the 9th King of the Mercians CHELRED A.D. 709. was all along during his seven years reign engaged in Wars against Inas King of the West-Saxons Which Inas being in pilgrimage at Rome in A.D. 720 gave a tribute to Rome called Peter-pence being a peny for every house At first it was called the Kings Alms it was also called Romescot Inas built a Colledg at Wells and a stately Abby at Glastenbury where formerly the old Cell of Joseph of Arimathea had been He also built a Castle at Taunton King Chelred dyed in A. D. 716 and vvas buried in the Cathedral Church at Lichfield EThelbald the 10th King of the Mercians ETHELBALD spent the most part of his reign in peace and too much thereof in Luxury for the vvhich he vvas reproved by Boniface an English man Bishop of Mentz Whose Epistle Redargutory had this influence upon the King that in sign of repentance he priviledged the Church from all Tributes to himself and founded the Abby of Crowland About which time it was appointed by Arch-Bishop Cuthbert and his Clergy in a convocation held in his Province that the Sacred Scriptures should be read in their Monasteries the Lords Prayer and Creed taught in the English tongue A. D. 733. In January the Sun suffered so great an Eclipse that the Earth seemed to be overshadowed as with Sack-cloth And A. D. 756 and in December the Moon being in her full appeared both dark and bloody for a Star though there be none lower than the Moon seemed to follow her and to deprive her of light till it had got before her But great Ethelbald fighting against Cuthred the West Saxon was trayterously slain by the procurement of one of his own Captains near Tanworth and was buried at Repton in Derbyshire OFFA A.D. 758. OFFA the 11th King of the Mercians as is said was born both lame deaf and blind continuing so unto his mans estate He was of such stout and daring spirit that he thought nothing impossible for him to attain unto The first that felt his fury were the Kentish men whose King Alrike he slew in fight with his own hands From south to north he then marched and beyond Humber made havock of all that opposed him Whence returning in triumph he vanquished Kenwolph and his West-Saxons with whom Marmadius King of the Britains sided He caused a great ditch to be made between his and the Britains borders that is from Basingwark in Flintshire and North-Wales not far from the mouth of Dee running along the Mountains into the South ending near Bristol at the fall of Wye The tract whereof in many places is yet seen being called Clawdh Offa Tarninus and Nothelmus A.B. Cant. or Offa's Ditch The Danes that had invaded England he forced back to their ships with the loss of all their booty and many of their lives Then making his son Egfryd Partner with him in the Kingdom he went to Rome where he made his Kingdom subject to a tribute called Peter-pence and gave rich gifts to Pope Hadrian for canonizing Alban a Saint in honour of whom at his return he built a Magnifick Monastry over against Verolanium Also in testimony of his repentance for the blood he had shed in his Wars he gave the tenth part of his goods unto the Church-men and poor At Bath he built a Monastry and in Warwick-shire a Church where the adjoining town from it and him beareth the name Off-Church He dyed at Offley in A D. 794 and was buried without the town of Bedford in a Chappel standing upon the bank of Owse which long since was swallowed up by the same River In A D. 755 was Sigebert King of West-Saxons slain by a Swineherd and in A.D. 760 Kenwolph King of West-Saxons made Wells an Episcopal See EGfryd the son of Offa restored to the Church her ancient priviledges which his Father had deprived her of EGFKID A.D. 794. He dyed in the first year of his reign and was buried in the Abby-Church of St. Albans KEnwolph the 13th King of the Mercians KENWOLPH A.D. 795. was at home a president of peace religion and justice and abroad of temperance humility and courtesie In War stout and victorious in Peace studious of enriching his subjects He vanquished the Kentish men and carried away their King prisoner detaining him captive and giving his Kingdom to Cuthred He built a fair Church at Winchcomb in Glocestershire where upon the dedication thereof he led Pren his captive King of Kent up to the high altar and there without either his entreaty or any ransom set him at full liberty He dyed A. D. 819 and was buried at Winchcomb where was buried also Kenelm his son murder'd by his sister Quendred SAXON MONARCHS EGBERT A.D. 819. EGbert the 18th King of West-Saxons first warred against the Cornish and Welsh a remnant of the old Britains which for fourteen years held side against this King which so enraged him that he made it present death for any Britain to pass over Offa's pitch into England Their great Caer-legion now Westchester he took from them and at London cast down the Image of their Prince Cadwalle He subdued Kent East-Saxons and East-Angles also the Mercians and indeed all upon the North and South of Humber yeilded him obedience He was crowned at Winchester absolute Monarch of the whole Island in A. D. 819 and caused the South of this Island to be called England Three several times the Danes landed in England in his reign whom he expelled He dyed in A. D. 836 and was buryed at Winchester Cuthbert and Brogmius A.B. Cant. But his bones were since taken up and with others bestowed in Chests set upon the Wall on each side the Quire of the Cathedral with these verses inscribed Hic Rex Egbertus pausat cum Rege Kenulpho nobis egregia munera uterque tulit His issue were Ethelwolph and Ethelstan and one Daughter named Egdith commonly called St. Edith who was Governess of a Monastry of Ladies at Pollesworth in Warwickshire EThelwolph was in his youth committed unto the care of Helmestan Bishop of Winchester ETHELWOLPH 836. and by him unto learned Swithun the Monk He took such a liking unto the quiet and solitary life enjoyed only by religious men all other estates being molested to withstand the intruding Danes that he took upon him the Monkish Vow and profession and was made Deacon and shortly after upon the death of Helmestan he was elected if not consecrated also Bishop of Winchester But the death of his Father immediately following by the intreaty of the Nobles and constraint of the Clergy he was made
above all the Peers of his Kingdom A while after performing this his promise by causing Edrick's head to be cut off and placed on the highest Gate of London But some say that King Edmond dyed a natural death at London when he had reigned seven Months whose body was buried at Glastenbury His Issue were Edward sirnamed the Out-law because he lived out of England during the reign of the Danes and Edmond DANES CANUTE A.D. 1017 CANVTE the Dane after the death of Edmond seized upon the other half part of the Kingdom the English Nobles owning him for their rightful King and swearing allegiance to him He was crowned at London by Living us Elstane Arch-bishop of Canterbury A. D. 1017. And to establish the Crown more sure to himself he banished Edwin the son of King Ethelred who for his melancholy and regardless behaviour was called The King of Churles He also sent away Edward and Edmond the sons of Edmond Ironside Next he espoused Emma the Widow of King Ethelred and sister to the Duke of Normandy on this condition That the issue of her body by him should inherit the English Crown Then calling a Parliament of his Peers to Oxford he there established these Laws following viz. That all decent ceremonies tending to the encrease of reverence and devotion in the service of God should be used as need required That the Lords Day should be kept holy That a Clergy killing a Lay-man or for any other notorious crime should be deprived both of his Order and Dignity That a married woman convict of adultery should have her nose and ears cut off And a Widow marrying within the space of twelve months after her Husbands dectase should lose her Joynture With many others He went on pilgrimage to Rome where he complained against the excessive exactions and vast sums of money extorted by the Pope from the English Archbishops at such times as they received their Palls from thence Which the Pope engaged to redress for the future The greatness and glory of this King was such that some Court-Parasites sought to perswade him that he possessed a more than humane power but he to demonstrate the contrary being then at Southampton caused a Chair to be set on the shore when the Sea began to flow then sate himself in it and in the presence of his many attendants thus spake to the swelling-waves Thou Sea art part of my dominion don't therefore on pain of punishment presume so much as to wet the robes of thy Lord. But the unruly Sea swelling on further and further first wet his skirts then thighs so that the King suddenly started up and retiring said Let the inhabitants of the world know that the power of Kings is but weak and vain and that none is worthy the name of King save He that keepeth Heaven Earth and Sea in obedience to his own will After which time he would never wear his Crown but therewith crowned the picture of Christ on the Cross at Winchester which became a prize to the Church-men He dyed in A.D. 1035 and was buried at Winchester His Issue were Swein Harold Hardicanute and two Dâ—ughters In Essex he built the Church of Ashdon where he had the victory of King Edmond In Norfolk he founded the Abbey of St. Benets and in Suffolk the Monastry of St. Edmond Egelnoth A.B. Cant. which Saint he much dreaded To the Church of Winchester besides other rich Jewels he gave a Cross worth as much as the Revenue of England amounted to in one year And unto Coventry they say he gave the Arm of St. Augustine which at Papia cost him an hundred Talents of silver and one of gold HARALD A.D. 1035 HARALD for his exceeding swiftness sirnamed Harefoot the base son of King Canute in the absence of Hardicanute his Fathers son by Queen Emma was admitted King by the Nobility and crowned at Oxford by Elnothus Archbishop of Canterbury Which done for the better securing of the Crown to himself he sought means to gain Edward and Alfred the two surviving sons of King Ethelred into his hands In order whereunto he sent to them into Normandy a Letter feigned in their Mother Emma's name inviting them over into England for the recovery of their right But when Prince Alfred was accordingly arrived Earl Goodwin who pretended great kindness unto him betrayed him and his small party brought over with him into Haralds hands who at Guilford committed them to the slaughter only reserving every tenth man either for service or sale Alfred he sent prisoner into the Isle of Ely where his eyes being put out he in short time after dyed through grief and pain Queen Emma's Goods Harald confiscated banished her out of the Realm and oppressed the English people with great payments He dyed at Oxford Elnothus A B. Cant. A.D. 1040 and was buried at Westminster HArdicanute upon the death of Harold was by the States of the Land HARDICANUTE A.D. 1030 as well English as Danes invited over from Denmark to take upon him the government of the Kingdom which he accordingly did and was crowned at London by Elnothus Archbishop of Canterbury The dead body of his half brother King Harold he caused to be taken up and to be thrown into the River Thames which being found by a Fisherman he buried it in the Churchyard of St. Clements Danes so called because the great burial-place of the Danes Hardicanute for the maintaining of his Fleet imposed heavy tributes on the English insomuch that two of the Collectors thereof named Thurstane and Feader were slain by the Citizens of Worcester for which fact their City was burnt and their Bishop Alfred expulsed the See till that with money he had purchased his peace Earl Goodwin presented to this King a Ship whose Stern was of Gold with Eighty soldiers in her all uniformly and richly suited On their heads they all wore gilt Bargenets and on their bodies a triple gilt Habergion swords with gilt hilts girded to their wasts a battel-ax after the manner of the Danes on their left shoulders a target with gilt bosses born in their left hands a dart in the right hand and their arms bound about with two bracelets of gold of six ounces weight But as Hardicanute was revelling and carousing at Lambeth in a solemn Assembly and Banquet He suddenly fell down dead The day of whose death instead of laments was annually celebrated amongst the common people with open pastimes in the streets Which time being the eighth of June is called Hoctide or Hucxtide signifying a time of scorn and contempt which fell upon the Danes by his death He was buried at Winchester A. D. 1042. About four years before the Danes first coming into England which was near the year of our Lord 789 showers of blood fell from Heaven and bloody Crosses were therewith marked upon mens garments 'T is said also that after the Danes had seated themselves in England whilst the English were drinking
ancient Laws If these things be denyed they are here presently to abide the verdict of Battel being fully resolved rather to dye than to part with their Laws or to live servile in bondage The Conqueror in this streight more wisely than willingly granted their demands Some of the English this Norman King banished and most part of every mans estate he seized into his own hands bestowing the Lands of the Natives amongst his followers He deprived Monastries Bishopricks Lanfrank A B. Cant. Cities and Corporations of their ancient liberties and priviledges putting them to redeem them at his own rate And for default of lacking the weight of a Groat in the payment of 700 Marks by the Monks of Ely for the restoring to their Abby the ancient possessions they were constrained to pay a 1000 Marks more The Clergy he charged with maintenance for his Wars bereaved the Religious Houses of their Treasures Chalices and rich Shrines abrogated for the most part the ancient Laws of the Land ordaining new in their stead not so equal or easie to be kept also causing them to be writ in the Norman Tongue He ordained the four Law-Terms whereas before the causes of the Kingdom were determined in every Shire or by the late Law of King Edward in their Gemote or Conventicle held monthly in every Hundred He commanded every English Housholder to put out both Fire and Candle at eight of the Clock at Night At which hour in all Cities Towns and Villages he caused a Bell to be rung by the Normans then called Covre-feu that is Coverfire to prevent nightly meetings He laid great Subsidies upon the Land And that the same might amount to his greater benefit he caused an exact survey to be taken of the whole Kingdom and of every particular part and Commodity thereof causing all the people of England to be numbred their names taken and what every one might dispend by the year their substance Money and Bondmen recorded How many yokes of Oxen and Plow-lands were in the Realm and what services they owed him Which done he exacted Six Shillings to be paid him for every Hide of Land The Book thus made of every several survey by the English was called Doomes-day Book He permitted no English man to bear any office of trust and credit He dispeopled 36 Parish Towns laying the Churches and Towns flat with the earth making thereof a Forest for pleasure now called New-Forest To strengthen himself against revolts and rebellions he fortified such places as he thought most convenient for his purpose and built the Tower of London the Castles of York Lincoln Nottingham and Hasting He was the first that brought the Jews to inhabit England His Son Robert rebelled against him in Normandy and in sight dismounted him but then knowing his voice desired his pardon and remounted him Odo Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent his Brother by the Mother for secretly siding with the King of France he committed to Prison not as Bishop but as he was Earl and seized his Estate Some of whose Gold ground into powder was found hidden in the bottom of Rivers The Conqueror going to War against the King of France in Normandy fell sick when keeping his Bed beyond his wont and the French King hearing that the Disease was in his Belly scoffingly said of him Our Cousin William is laid now in Child-bed Oh what a number of Candles must I offer at his going to Church surely I think an Hundred thousand will not suffice Which King William hearing of said Well I trust our Cousin of France shall be at no such cost but after this my Child-birth at my going to Church swearing by the resurrection and brightness of God I will find him a Thousand Candles and light them my self And accordingly not long after he entred France with a great Army spoiling all where he came and setting the City Mauntz on fire But he came so near the flames that with the heat of his Harness he gat a sickness which increased with a leap of his Horse that burst the inward rim of his belly cost him his life He dyed at Roan in Normandy A. D. 1087. And forsaken of all his Courtiers his body was left unburied till that one Harluims a poor Countrey Knight at his own charge conveyed it to Caen. Where when it should have been buried a certain man in Gods name forbad the interment in that place which said he was his and his Ancestors right taken from them violently by the said Duke Whereupon they were forced to compound with him ere they interr'd the Corps His Issue were Robert Richard William Henry and six Daughters His base Son named William Peverel was Earl of Nottingham By his last Will and Testament he commanded all his Treasure to be distributed to Churches Gods Ministers and the poor limiting to each their several portion To the Church and Monks of St. Stephens at Caen in Normandy he gave divers Mannors in England and great store of Land yea and his Crown and Regal Ornaments which his Son Henry redeemed To his Son Robert he had before given the Dukedom of Normandy England he left undisposed only wish'd his Son William might succeed him in it And to Henry he gave Five thousand pound presaging that all his Dominions should become Henries in the end He did oft-times exhort his Children to the study of Learning with this saying That an unlearned Prince is but a Crowned Ass He built a Religious House called Battel-Abby in the same place where King Harold was slain dedicating it to the holy Trinity and St. Martin That there the Monks might pray for the Souls of Harold and the rest that were slain in that place endowing it with many great priviledges and amongst the rest these Two That if any Murderer or other Felon for fear of death fled thither he should be freed from all punishment And that it should be lawful for the Abbot of that place to deliver any Thief or Robber from the Gallows if he should chance to pass where any such execution was in hand At Selby in Yorkshire he founded the Abby of St. Germans at Excester the Priory of St. Nicholas and at Caen in Normandy the Monastry of St. Stephens In his time it was decreed at Rome That the See of York should be stiled primas Angliae and the See of Canterbury Primas totius Angliae The setting Seals to Bonds and Writings was now first used in England there being before only Witnesses to them Stigand Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was deposed by the Conqueror and dyed in Prison The Abbot of St. Albans told this King that the reason why he gained England in one Battel which the Danes could not do in many was because the maintenance of Martial men with a part of the Lands Revenues was converted to maintain religious men and to religious uses In the time of this Kings Reign befell a most fearful Earth-quake strange burning Feavers very mortal Murrains
John Amend-all Their demands were That the Duke of York now in Ireland might be called home and that he with some others whom Cade named might be principally used in Council That those guilty of good Duke Humphrey's death might receive due punishment That the Grievances of the people might be redressed These Kentish Rebels with whom others from Essex joined after they had committed some outrages in and about London as in beheading the Lord Say Treasurer of England Mr. Cromer High Sheriff plundering many of the Citizens c. upon the King's Proclamation and assurance of Pardon returned to their own homes But Cade afterward attempting to raise new troubles was slain by Mr. Edan a Kentish Gentleman The Duke of York finding the humours of the popular body fitted for his purpose came suddenly out of Ireland and confederated with divers Noble-men to take the Crown from Henry's head and to set it on his own Howbeit their pretence in taking arms was only for the reformation of the State professing that they meant all honour and obedience to the King Which King Henry and his Friends chiefly the Duke of Somerset could not believe Therefore an Army was prepared and also advanced against the Yorkists But before the Armies came to engage in fight by such that secretly favoured the Duke of York the King was perswaded to a reconciliation and that Somerset should be commanded prisoner to his own house Tho. Bourchier A. B. Cant. Which done and York having dissolved his Army he came to the King making great complaints against Somerset who hearing thereof presented himself to the King against his accuser answering York face to face and in plain terms accused him of highest Treason as having conspired to depose the King and to take the Soveraignty upon himself Whereupon York was for a time put under restraint till in St. Pauls Church in London before the chief of the Nobility he took a solemn oath to be a true faithful and obedient subject unto King Henry A. D. 1452 John Lord Talbot first Earl of Shrewsbury of that Family with an Army was sent to regain Gasgoin Burdeaux her self yeilded to this great Soldier Whence he went to relieve Chastilion but charging the Enemy upon much unequal terms was there slain in the field together with his Son the Viscount Lisle After which battel when the flames of intestine War began to flash out in England betwixt the two Families of York and Lancaster the Martial men of England were called home out of France to maintain the Factions here At which time a French Captain scoffingly asked an English man When they would return again into France To whom the English man feelingly and upon a true ground answered When your sins shall be greater and more grievous in the sight of God than ours are now A. D. 1453 the Queen was delivered of a Son who was named Edward A. D. 1454 the Duke of York in despight of his sacred Oath so publickly taken raised arms against the King marching with his forces towards London Against whose coming King Henry prepared an Army with which he advanced to St. Albans where a sharp battel was fought and the Royal party worsted On the Kings side were slain the Duke of Somerset Earls of Northumberland and Stafford Lord Clifford with sundry worthy Knights and Esquires The King himself was shot into the neck with an arrow taken prisoner and conveyed back to London where in July immediately following a Parliament was holden the precursor whereof was a Blazing-star which appeared in June extending its beams to the South The first popular Act of this Assembly was to restore the memory of Duke Humphrey to honour declaring him to have been a true subject to the King and Realm The next was to free the Yorkists from treason as to their taking up of arms In this Parliament the Duke of York created himself Protector of England the Earl of Salisbury his great Confident was made Lord Chancellor and the Earl of Warwick Salisbury's Son Captain of Callis They spared as yet to touch King Henry's life because the people did wonderfully esteem and reverence him for his holiness But that they the Yorkists might with the more facility uncrown and at last kill him they by degrees workt out his ancient Councellors and placed of their own creatures in their rooms And now the French encouraged by our inward divisions landed at Sandwich Fifteen thousand men where they did some spoil then departed Another part of them burned Foway and some other towns in Devonshire A. D. 1458 the Lords met at London to compose all quarrels bringing with them great troops of armed attendants which through the great vigilancy and providence of the then Mayor of London Godfrey Bullein Queen Ann Bulleins Ancestor dutifully kept the King's peace This Meeting of the Lords ended in a Composure though it continued but a very short time before both sides made preparations for War and at Blore-Heath they came to battel which was long and bloody but at length the worst of the day fell to the Kings side Howbeit not long after the King put the Yorkists to flight at Ludlow which town was spoiled to the bare Walls In a Parliament holden at Coventry the Duke of York Earls of March Salisbury Warwick Rutland and others were attainted of High treason and had their whole Estates confiscated But on July 9 1460 at Northampton was the fatal battel where Henry's Forces vvere utterly broken and vanquished through the treachery of the Lord Grey of Ruthen vvho quit his place and fled to the Yorkists The Duke of Buckingham Earl of Shrewsbury Viscount Beaumont Lord Egrimond Valiant Sir VVilliam Lucy vvith many others of the Kings Friends vvere slain and the King himself fell a prey into his enemies hands vvho carried him to London vvhere a Parliament begun Octob. 8. At which Parliament Richard 〈…〉 his claim to the Crown publ◠〈…〉 â—gree to them on this sort nam◠〈…〉 third son of King â—dward the third had Issue Philip his daughter who was married to Edmond Mortimer Earl of March who had Issue Roger Earl of March who had Issue Edmond Earl of March Roger Anne and Eleanor which said Edmond Roger and Eleanor died without Issue and Anne the Heir of that House was married to Richard Earl of Cambridge the son of Edmond Duke of York fifth son to King Edward the third which said Earl of Cambridge had Richard now Duke of York He also alledged that the descendents of John of Gaunt fourth son and younger brother to Lionel had hitherto holden the Crown of England unjustly for that himself the said Richard Plantagenet Duke of York was the lawful Heir being the son of Richard Earl of Cambridge and Anne aforesaid Whilss this weighty controversy to whom the Crown of right belonged was under debate a Crown which hung for an Ornament in the middle of the roof of the Room where the Knights and Burgesses met to consult and also
the Crown which for like cause stood upon the highest Tower of Dover-Castle both fell suddenly down which were vulgarly construed to be of ill-portent to King Henry The conclusion of the Parliament concerning the Crown was That Henry should enjoy it during life and then it should remain to Richard Duke of York and his Heirs and King Henries Heirs to be for ever excluded Whereupon the Duke was proclaimed Heir Apparent But this while the Queen was gathering forces in the North resolving if possible to maintain the possession of a Crown and to secure it for her son The Duke of York therefore with an Army marcheth against her and neer unto Wakefield both Hosts join battel where the Queen at length gained the Victory The Duke himself with divers men of account were slain in the fight and the Earl of Salisbury was taken prisoner and beheaded And now Edward Earl of March the son of Richard Duke of York takes upon him to maintain the quarrel and at Mortimers Cross neer Ludlow he set upon the Queens Army At which time there appeared three Suns which suddenly joyned into one The Battels maintained themselves with great fury but in the end March obtained the Victory There were taken Sir Owen Teder or Tudor Father to Jasper Earl of Pembroke whom Earl Edward caused to be beheaded Taken also were Sir John Scudamor with his two sons and other persons of Rank A. D. 1461. Both Armies met and ingaged in fight at St. Albans where the Queens side won the day and recovered the King whom the Yorkists had brought along with them from London Howbeit the Londoners stood wholly for the Earl of March whose presence and carriage made him amiable amongst the people especially women and at his return to London from the fight proclaimed him King of England King Henries Issue was only Edward He was a Prince free from pride given much to Prayer well-read in the Scriptures Charitable so chast and modest that when certain young women presented themselves before him in a Mask with their hair loose and bare breasts laid out he immediately rose up and departed with these words Fie fie for shame forsooth ye are to blame He took all injuries whereof he received plenty so patiently that he not only did not seek to revenge them but gave God thanks that he did send them to punish his sins in this life that he might escape punishment in the life to come To a Russian that struck him on the face whilst he was prisoner he only said Forsooth you are to blame to strike me your anointed King Not long before his death being demanded why he had so long held the Crown of England unjustly he replied my Father was King of England quietly enjoying the Crown all his Reign and his Father my Grandsire was also King of England and I even a Child in the Cradle was proclamed and Crowned King without any interruption and so held it forty years well-neer all the States doing homage unto me as to my Ancestors Therefore I say with King David My lot is fallen in a fair ground I have a goodly Heritage my help is from the Lord which saveth the upright in heart He founded those Famous Colledges of Eatoâ— and Kings Colledge in Cambridge In or neer the year of our Lord 1442. was Eleanor Cobham the good Duke Humphries wife arraigned of Sorcery and Treason for setting on Buâ—lingbrooke and Southwell to take away the Kings life by Necromancy Something of the fact she either confessed or was proved against her for the which she was put to solemn and publick penance in London three several days then was committed to perpetual imprisonment The Art of Printing was first found out in Germany by a Knight called John Guttenberghen and brought into England by William Caxton a Mercer of London who first practised the same in the Abby at Westminster Anno Dom. 1471. The Mayors and Sheriffs of London in this Kings Reign In his first Year Sir William Waldren was Mayor William Eastfield Robert Tatarfel Sheriffs In his second Year VVilliam Cromar was Mayor Nicholas James Thomas Watford Sheriffs In his third Year John Michal was Mayor Simon Seamen John Bywater Sheriffs In his fourth Year John Coventry was Mayor William Mildred John Brokle Sheriffs In his fifth Year Sir John Rainwel was Mayor John Arnal John Higham Sheriffs In his sixth Year Sir John Gedney was Mayor Henry Frowick Robert Otely Sheriffs In his seventh Year Sir Henry Barton vvas Mayor Thomas Duffhouse John Abbot Sheriffs In his eighth Year Sir William Eastfield was Mayor William Russe Ralph Holland Sheriffs In his ninth Year Nicholas Wotton vvas Mayor Walter Chertsey Robert Large Sheriffs In his tenth Year Sir John de Wells was Mayor John Aderly Stephen Brown Sheriffs In his eleventh Year Sir John Parveis was Mayor John Olney John Paddesley Sheriffs In his Twelfth Year Sir John Brokle was Mayor Thomas Chalton John King Sheriffs In his Thirteenth year Sir Roger Oteley was Mayor Thomas Barnewel Simon Eyre Sheriffs In his Fourteenth Year Sir Henry Frowick was Mayor Thomas Catworth Robert Clopton Sheriffs In his Fifteenth Year Sir John Michael was Mayor Thomas Morsted William Gregory Sheriffs In his Sixteenth Year Sir William Eastfield was Mayor VVilliam Hales William Chapman Sheriffs In his Seventeenth Year Sir Stephen Brown was Mayor Hugh Dyker Nicholas Yowe Sheriffs In his Eighteenth Year Robert Large was Mayor Philip Malpas Robert Marshal Sheriffs In his Ninteenth Year Sir John Paddesley was Mayor John Sutton William Welinhale Sheriffs In his Twentieth Year Robert Clopton was Mayor William Combis Richard Rich Sheriffs In his twenty first Year John Aderley was Mayor Thomas Beaumont Richard Nordon Sheriffs In his twenty second Year Thomas Catworth was Mayor Nicholas Wyford John Norman Sheriffs In his twenty third Year Sir Henry Frowick was Mayor Stephen Foster Hugh Wâ—tch Sheriffs In his twenty fourth Year Sir Simon Eyre was Mayor John Darby Godfrey Fielding Sheriffs In his Twenty fifth Year John Olney was Mayor Robert Horne Godfrey Bullen Sheriffs In his twenty sixth Year Sir John Gedney was Mayor William Abraham Thomas Scot Sheriffs In his twenty seventh Year Sir Stephen Brown vvas Mayor William Cotlow William Marrow Sheriffs In his twenty eight Year Sir Thomas Chalton was Mayor VVilliam Hulin Thomas Canning Sheriffs In his twenty ninth Year Nicholas Wilford was Mayor John Middleton VVilliam Deare Sheriffs In his thirtieth Year Sir VVilliam Gregory was Mayor Matthew Philip Christopher Wharton Sheriffs In his thirty first Year Sir Geoffry Fielding vvas Mayor Richard Lee Richard Alley Sheriffs In his thirty second Year Sir John Norman was Mayor John Walden Thomas Cook Sheriffs In his thirty third Year Sir Stephen Foster vvas Mayor John Field VVilliam Taylor Sheriffs In his thirty fourth Year Sir VVilliam Marrow vvas Mayor John Young Thomas Oldgrave Sheriffs In his thirty fifth Year Sir Thomas Canning was Mayor John Styward Ralph Verney Sheriffs In his thirty sixth Year Sir Godfrey Bullen
head Howbeit the Traytor Banister did not only lose his promised reward but also received just punishments from Heaven for his eldest son fell mad and so died in a Hogstie his second son became deformed and lame in his limbs his third son was drowned in a small puddle of water his eldest daughter was struck with a foul Leprosie and himself being of extream age was found guilty of murder but saved by his Clergy Divers of the Earl of Richmond's party were put to death and so jealous was the King now of his ill-gotten greatness that he stored the Sea-coasts with armies of men furnished the Ports with store of munition and made all things ready to prevent Earl Henry's arrival caused a Parliament to be assembled at Westminster wherein the said Earl and all such as had fled the Land in his behalf were attainted and were made enemies to their native Country their Goods confiscate their Lands and possessions condemned to the Kings use Moreover the Usurper sent his Agents laden with Gold and many gay promises to the Duke of Britain offering what not if he would either send Earl Henry into England or commit him there into Prison but the Duke himself lying extream sick his Treasurer Peter Landose corrupted with Gold had betrayed the Earl into Richard's hands had not the Earl had timely notice of it and prevented it by a speedy escape unto the French-Court where he received great favours Dr. Richard Fox then a Student in Paris was eminently serviceable to the Earl in that Nation And the Duke of Britain when he understood the treachery of Landose was highly displeased and continued a favourer of the Earl and his Cause But all these things with many more were against K. Richard which he very well foresaw though he knew not well how to remedy yet that he might make his Title and interest as good as he could he devised to marry with his Neece the Princess Elizabeth but his Queen Anne stood in his way to this for the present though not long for she fell into the remorseless hands of death but whether a natural or violent is not well known After which Richard courts the Lady Elizabeth his own Brothers daughter though in vain for she detested him Howbeit when Henry heard of Richards attempts herein and not knowing what time through flattery and perswasions from some persons might do upon the young Princess her good nature he hastned for England setting sail from Harfleet with about 200 men August 15 and arrived at Milford-Haven the seventh day following from vvhence he advanced tovvards Shrewsbury On his way to which place there met him Sir Rice ap Thomas a man of great command in VVales with a great body of men to side in his quarrel which Earl Henry afterwards requited by making this his first Alder Governour of VVales From Shrewsbury the Earl marched to Newport where Sir Gilbert Talbot met him with two thousand men from the Earl of Shrewsbury Thence he passed to Litchfield where he was honourably received But when the Usurper understood that the Earl daily increased in strengths and that he was advanced so far without any opposition from his Court at Nottingham he set forth his Host to meet the Earl which he did near unto Market-Bosworth in Leicestershire His Vant-guard he disposed of a marvellous length to strike the more terror into the hearts of his foes the leading whereof was committed to John Duke of Norfolk His own Battalion was furnished with the best approved men of War When he had ordered his army for fight he animated his followers to behave themselves valiantly alledging to them that it was against a company of Runnagates Thieves Outlaws Traytors beggarly Britains and faint-hearted French-men that they were to fight who would oppress and spoil them of their Lands Wives and Children that these their enemies were such Cowards that they would fly faster from them than the silly Hart before the Hound that the Earl of Richmond Captain of the rebellion was but a Welsh Milk-sop For their love to him their Prince their zeal to their native Country he wished them that day to shew their English valour assuring them that for his part he would either triumph in a glorious victory or die in the quarrel with immortal fame Now S. George for us and us for victory saith he Haste therefore forward and remember this that I am he that with high advancement will prefer the valiant and hardy and with severe torture will punish the dastard and cowardly run-away The Earl of Richmond's forefront was commanded by the Earl of Oxford the right wing by Sir Gilbert Talbot the left by Sir John Savage the main Battel by the Earl himself and his Uncle Jasper When the Earl had ordered his small Host consisting of about 5000 men he rode from rank to rank and wing to wing encouraging his followers to fight alledging the justness of their quarrel which God would bless assuring them that for so good a cause as to free the Land of a Monster a Tyrant a Murderer he would that day rather become a dead carrion upon the ground than a Carpet-prisoner kept alive for reproach Advance therefore forward saith he like true-hearted English-men display your Banner in defence of your Country get the day and be Conquerors lose the day and be villains God and St. George give us a happy success Then immediately a fierce Battel commenced and was manfully continued on either part At length the King having intelligence that Earl Henry was but slenderly accompanied with men of Arms he therefore with his Spear in the Rest ran violently towards the Earl in which rage at the first brunt he bare down and overthrew the Earls Standard slew Sir William Brandon the bearer thereof next encountred Sir John Cheiny whom he threw to the ground thereby making an open passage to the Earl himself In which very instant when the Earl was like to be distressed the Lord Stanley sent in aids of fresh Soldiers under the leading of Sir William Stanley which were raised as he pretended for Richard but intended them when he should see his time for Richmond's service These entred the fight with such courage that they put the Usurpers forces to flight when the Usurper closing his Helmet said to such that brought him a swift horse for his escape This day shall finish all Battels or else I will finish my life So thrusting into the throng of his enemies he manfully fighting died in the place A. D. 1485 Aug. 22. There died with him that day the Duke of Norfolk the Lord Ferrers of Chartley Sir Richard Ratcliff Sir Robert Brakenbury The number of both parts slain in the field were 4000 Sir William Catesby with two other persons of quality were taken and two days after were beheaded at Leicester Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey the Duke of Norfolks son and heir being then also taken prisoner the Earl of Richmond demanded of him how he
his attendants in tumultuous manner made into London his followers crying through the streets that the said Earl of Essex should have been murdred by Cobham Cecill and Rawleigh Howbeit instead of finding that friendship in London which they expected the Earl was proclaimed Traytor in divers places thereof Wherefore the Earl made haste back and fortified his own house in the Strand but after some little resistance yielded himself to the Lord Admiral and the same night was sent prisoner to the Tower And upon February the nineteenth the Earls of Essex and South-hampton were Arraigned and condemned at Westminster and on February 25 1600 the Earl of Essex suffred death on the Green within the Tower whose dying speech was to this effect That his punishment was just his sins innumerable his last sin for which he died a great crying bloody and infectious sin that had drawn others for love to him to offend God their Soveraign and the World He prayed God to forgive his sins and her Majesty and the state to forgive him Prayed for them thanked God that he was never Atheist in denying the Scriptures nor Papist in trusting to his own merits for Salvation but in the merits of Christ Jesus his Saviour Prayed the people to joyn with him in prayer that his Soul might be lifted up by faith above all earthly things desired forgiveness of all the World as he from his heart forgave all men His head was with three strokes severed from the body and his death generally lamented For Accessories and Abettors in the offence were executed first Captain Lee and after him Sir Gilliam Merrick and Henry Cuff a learned man were executed at Tyburn and on Tower-hill were beheaded Sir Charles Davors and Sir Christopher Blunt But as the death of this Noble person was much bewayled of the Subjects so was it likewise of her Majesty who would oft times shew passions of her grief for his death even until her own death which to the great sorrow of her people befel on the 24 of March 1602. Her body was buried in Henry the sevenths Chappel at VVestminster where her Successor King James erected her a Princely Monument Memoriae Sacrum c. She was 't is said Spains rod Romes ruin Netherlands relief Earths joy Englands gem worlds wonder Natures chief In her Raign were executed in England of Jesuites and Seminary-Priests for sowing sedition and plotting Treason the number of sixty seven and fifty three more of them were banished A. D. 1571 and February the seventeenth at Kingstone near Marlech in Hereford-shire the ground opened and certain Rocks with a piece of ground removed and went forward the space of four days It removed it self betwixt six of the Clock in the evening and seven the next morning forty paces carrying great Trees and sheep-coats some with flocks of sheep in them It overthrew Rinnastone-Chappel also two high-ways were removed nigh an hundred yards with Trees and Hedges The ground thus carried being in all twenty six Acres and where tillage-ground was there pasture is left in place and where pasture there tillage A. D. 1578 Mark Scaliot a Black-smith of London made a Lock of Iron Steel and Brass of a eleven several pieces and a pipe-Key all which weighed but one grain of Gold He also made a Chain of Gold of forty three links which Chain being fastned to the Lock and Key and put about a flea's neck the flea drew them with ease Chain Key Lock and Flea weighâ—d but one grain and an half A. D. 1580 In the Marishes of Dainsey in Essex was so infinite a number of Mice that they almost covered the whole Marsh and so tainted the grass with their venemous teeth that the Cattle grazing thereon were infected with the Murrain and died And by no art could men destroy these Mice but at length Owles in abundance to the great admiration of the Country came and devoured them In or nigh the Year of our Lord 1591 was VVilliam Hacket a hot-headed Sectarist Arraigned and found guilty of having spoken many Seditious and Trayterous words c. For the which he was brought from New-gate in London to a gibbet in Cheapside and there executed Divers persons called Brownists were executed in several places of England for sowing sedition namely Henry Barrow and John Greenwood one Penrie a VVelch-man Elias Thacker and John Copping A. D. 1600 and August the fifth did James the sixth King of Scotland narrowly escape a grand Conspiracy practised by the Earl of Gowry and his brother A. D. 1586 that mirrour of men for Letters and Arms Sir Philip Sidney died of a wound received at Zutphen-fight in Guelderland Mayors and Sheriffs of London in her Reign In her first Year Sir VVilliam Hewet was Mayor Thomas Lodge Roger Martin Sheriffs In her second Year Sir VVilliam Chester was Mayor Christopher Draper Thomas Roe Sheriffs In her third Year Sir VVilliam Harper was Mayor Alexander Avenon Humphrey Baskervile Sheriffs In her fourth Year Sir Thomas Lodge was Mayor VVilliam Allen Richard Chamberlain Sheriffs In her fifth Year Sir John VVhite was Mayor Edward Banks Rowland Heyward Sheriffs In her sixth Year Sir Richard Mallory was Mayor Edward Jackman Lionel Ducket Sheriffs In her seventh Year Sir Richard Champion was Mayor John Rivers James Hawes Sheriffs In her eighth Year Sir Christopher Draper was Mayor Richard Lambert Amb. Nicholas John Langley Sheriffs In her ninth Year Sir Roger Martin was Mayor Thomas Ramsey John Bond Sheriffs In her tenth Year Sir Thomas Roe was Mayor John Oliph Robert Harding James Bacon Sheriffs In her eleventh Year Sir Alexander Avenon was Mayor Henry Beecher VVilliam Dane Sheriffs In her twelfth Year Sir Rowland Hayward was Mayor Francis Barneham VVilliam Boxe Sheriffs In her thirteenth Year Sir VVilliam Allen was Mayor Henry Milles Johr Branch Sheriffs In her fourteenth Year Sir Lionel Ducket was Mayor Richard Pipe Nicholas VVoodrosse Sheriffs In her fifteenth Year Sir John Rivers was Mayor James Harvey Thomas Pulloccel or Pullison Sheriffs In her sixteenth Year Sir James Hawes was Mayor Thomas Blancke Anthony Gamage Sheriffs In her seventeenth Year Sir Ambrose Nicholas was Mayor Edward Osborne VVolstane Dixie Sheriffs In her eighteenth Year Sir John Langley was Mayor VVilliam Kempton George Barne Sheriffs In her nineteenth Year Sir Thomas Ramsey was Mayor Nicholas Backhouse Francis Bowyer Sheriffs In her twentieth Year Sir Richard Pipe was Mayor George Bond Thomas Starkie Sheriffs In her one and twentieth Year Sir Nicholas VVoodroffe was Mayor Martin Calthorp John Hart Sheriffs In her two and twentieth Year Sir John Branch was Mayor Ralph VVoodcock John Allot Sheriffs In her three and twentieth Year Sir James Harvey was Mayor Richard Martin William Webbe Sheriffs In her four and twentieth Year Sir Thomas Blancke was Mayor William Roe John Haydon deceased Cuthbert Buckle succeeded Sheriffs In her five and twentieth Year Sir Edward Osbourne was Mayor William Mashaw John Spencer Sheriffs In her six and twentieth Year Sir Thomas Pulioccell was
in their service for the Publick Cause should be secured from the injury of their Masters and their time to go on toward their freedom by which means multitudes of Youth forsook their Masters to fight for the Parliament They also invited their Brethren the Scots as they call'd them to come into England to their aid And to animate the people to take up Arms for the Parliament some busie Clergy-men made great not good use of that sacred Text in their Pulpits Curse ye Meroz c. Judges the 5.23 But blessed are the Peace makers saith the Prince of peace About the beginning of March Commissioners were appointed to treat at Oxford in order to a rcconcilation but the Parliaments proposals were so out of reason that the treaty proved fruitless A. D. 1643 in the beginning of the Spring the Queen returned into England bringing with her considerable supplies of Men Money and Ammunition out of France and that year his Majesty became Master of the North and West some few Garisons excepted July the 5th Sir Ralph Hopton with his Cavaliers routed Sir William Waller at Lansdown near Bath and July the 15th he again defeated him at Roundway-hill by the Devizes killing many hundreds in the place and taking many more Prisoners Bristol and Exeter were yielded unto those two Martial Princes Rupert and Maurice Sons of Fredrick Prince Palatine of the Rhine and Elizabeth his Wife Sister to King Charles the first Gloucester the King besieged with a brave Army and the besieged under the command of Colonel Edward Massey defended themselves with great bravery till the Earl of Essex came with an Army and raised the Siege From this Siege the two Armies marched within few miles each of the other without any engagement save a little skirmish by Alborne-Chace till they came to Newbury where a sore Battel was fought On the Kings part were slain the Earls of Carnarvon and Sunderland and the Learned Lord Faulkland Essex lost many of his Officers January the 22 those loyal Members of Parliament who dissented from them at Westminster met at Oxford by the Kings Summons of these besides the Prince and Duke of York the Lord Keeper Littleton Treasurer Cottington Duke of Richmond and Marquess of Hartford there were nineteen Earls and as many Lords and one hundred and seventeen Knights and Gentlemen Other Loyal Lords Knights and Gentlemen Members of Parliament were at this time imployed in the Kings service in divers places of the Nation In this month and year the Scotch Army under the Conduct of the Earl of Leven entred England for the Parliament being about 18000 foot and 2000 horse About this time was Loyal Newark besieged by Sir John Meldram but by Prince Ruperts coming it was relieved and the Parlimentarians forced to march away after great losses on such conditions as the Prince would grant them This year upon a cessation of Arms in Ireland some forces came over to the Kings assistance This year also that Rebellious thing called a Parliament at Westminster and their Adherents and some to save themselves from punishment took the Scottish Solemn League and Covenant with hands lifted up to the most high God swearing to endeavour the preservation of the reformed Religion the extirpation of Popery and Prelacy to preserve the Rights and priviledges of Parliament and liberties of the Kingdom and to defend and preserve the Kings Majesties person and Authority c. All the Parliaments pretence in raising Arms was reformation for the defence of the Kings person to rescue him from his evil Council and to make him a glorious King which at length they did when they deprived him of his natural life A. D. 1644 Sir William Waller defeated Sir Ralph Hopton about Brandon Heath The Lord Fairfax and his Son Sir Thomas took divers of the Kings Garisons in the North. Prince Rupert raised the Siege of Latham-house June the 29 the Kings forces gave a great defeat to Wallers Army at Cropredy-bridge And presently after this the King drove the Earl of Essex up into Cornwall but the Earl deserted his Army passing by water to Plymouth and his horse taking the advantage of a dark night escaped leaving the Foot to shift how they could who capitulated for their lives leaving their Arms Cannon Amunition and Baggage to the Kings disposal Then Ilferdcomb Barnstable and Saltash yielded to the King who now victoriously marched towards London July the third was a great fight at Maston-Moor where the Parliament obtained a very considerable Victory And October the 27th Essex Waller and the Earl of Manchester met the King as he came out of the West at Newbury where a sharp Battle was fought and the Kings part forced out of the field In November Mac-Mahon an Irish Rebel was hang'd and quartered at Tyburn And December 23d Sir Alexander Carew was beheaded on Tower-hill for attempting to give up the Island of Plymouth to the Kings forces January the first Hotham the Son and January the second Hotham the Father were beheaded on Tower-hill for designing to betray Hull to the Royalists and for other treacheries January the 10th William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury was brought to the Scaffold on Tower-hill where he preached his last Sermon taking for his Text Heb. 12. Vers 2 So yielded his neck to the stroak of the Executioner The charge against him was endeavouring to subvert the Laws Religion and Priviledges of Parliament January the 30th by his Majesties procurement a Treaty was held at Vxbridge where the Parliaments demands were That Episcopacy might be extirpated that Presbytery might be establisht and that the King should yield up the Militia solely into the Parliaments dispose which were such unreasonable demands that the King could not yield to them February the 20th the Lord Mac-Guire another of the grand Irish Rebels was executed at Tyburn About this time was the Parliaments Army new-moduled The Earl of Essex and the other Commanders who were Parliament-men Oliver Cromwel was excepted were by the self-denying ordinance lately made to attend in Parliament in whose steads other and more active persons were appointed Sir Thomas Fairfax was constituted Captain-General Oliver Cromwel then the Sectaries Darling was made Lieutenant-General Henry Ireton Commissary-General c. After which model the Kings affairs of the Nation began fatally to decline A. D. 1645 His Majesty drew his Army out of Oxford in order to relieve his Nothern Counties and Garisons but after he had stormed and taken Leicester in his way he was called back to secure Oxford which the Parliament Army threatned with a Siege This while Sir Thomas Fairfax had intercepted a Letter of the Lord Gorings to the King wherein that Loyal Subject had desired of his Majesty to forbear engaging with the Enemy till he could be joyned with him Hereupon Fairfax left his Siege afore Oxford and made directly towards the King with a purpose to fight him before that addition of strength should come in And at a place near
the Dutch General Richard Dean was slain June the 3d the Fleets joined again and the dispute was very hot and bloody till at length the Dutch tacked about and made haste to their own Coasts Of the Dutch were taken Prisoners six Captains 1350 others Eleven men of War were taken and two Hoys six of their best Ships were sunk and two blown up Of the English were slain besides Admiral Dean one Captain and a hundred and twenty others but not one Ship lost or disabled Cromwell this while with some of the leading Officers of the Army had made choice of certain persons not above 150 for the three Nations who were to have the Legislative power and to be stiled a Parliament These Parliament-Gentlemen and Soldiers of the new-fashioned Election met July the 4th at Westminster where they chose Mr. Rouse for their Speaker but not agreeing amongst themselves for about sixty of them contested hard for the taking away of Tythes from the Ministers as Antichristian they fairly re-delivered their power into Oliver's hands December the twelfth after they had Enacted a Law That Justices of the Peace and not Ministers should join persons together in sacred Wedlock But while this cunning thing called a Parliament was doing little or little to the purpose the active Dutch were again put forth to Sea with about 120 Men of War and before the Texel were Encountred by the English July 29th the Fight was vigorously maintained on both parts till the Dutch Admiral Van Trump fighting in the midst of the English Fleet was with a Musket-shot shot into the left-Pap and slain outright whereby the rest of their Fleet was so discouraged that they made to the Texel as speedily as they could The Dutch in this Fight lost 30 Men of War and about 1200 of their Men were taken The English had slain on their part Graves Owen Chapman Newman Taylor Crisp Cox and Peacock Captains and 400 common Seamen The Ship named the Oak was fired and two or three disabled For this eminent piece of service the little Parliament ordered that Chains of Gold should be presented to the Admirals Blake and Col. George Monk Vice-Admiral Pen and Rear-Admiral Lawson and that other Chains likewise should be presented to divers Flag-Captains and Medals of Silver to the Officers of the Fleet. But to return to Oliver who after his patcht Junto had dissolved themselves called a Council of Officers with some others of his Creatures to consult about the settlement of a Government and these at length after great pretences of seeking Gods mind herein concluded to have a single person again to be the head of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging And was accordingly installed with much formality and ceremony in the Chancery-Court at Westminster before the Judges the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London with the chief Officers of the Army on December the 16th Immediately after which all publick Writings changed their stile from that of the Keepers of the Liberties of England to that of Oliver Lord Protector of England c. And the City of London to manifest their good liking of this Government and Governour at least to make shew of it invited the Protector to a magnificent Feast at Grocers-Hall on Febr. 8. and Oliver to gratifie them for this favour Knighted Thomas Viner then Lord Mayor Aspiring Cromwell having thus obtained the Supream Authority in short time yielded to a peace with the Dutch who had been brought exceeding low with the War with England A. D. 1654. and in the Month of May upon an accusation of a Plot to destroy the Protector seize the Tower raise an Army and bring in the King there were divers Royalists apprehended and committed to prison three of whom were condemned by an High Court of Injustice and two of them Executed namely Col. John Gerrard who was Beheaded on Towerhill and Mr. Vowel who was hang'd at Charing-cross on the same day with Col. Gerrard was Beheaded Don Pantaleon Sa Brother to the Portugal Embassador for a Riot made in the New Exchange but death was so terrible to this person that his heart was nigh quite dead within him before his neck came to the Block September the third a pretended Parliament met at Westminster where after they had heard their Master Oliver's Speech and chose William Lenthall for their Speaker they debated Whether the Legislative power should be in a single person and a Parliament or in a Parliament only The Protector 's faction were for the former those called the Commonwealth-party that were for a Democratical Government were for the latter one declaring That as God had made him an Instrument in cutting down Tyranny in one person so now he would not endure to see the Nations Liberties shackled by another whose right to the Government could be measured out no other way than by the length of his Sword But when these things were reported to the Usurper Oliver he hasted from Whitehall to Westminster and there declares to his Parliament that he would have them to take notice of this That the same Government made him a Protector as made them a Parliament That as they were intrusted with some things so was he with others That there were certain Fundamentals which could not be altered as That the Government should be in a single person and Parliament That Parliament's should not be perpetual That in Religious matters there should be liberty of Conscience c. And then he enjoined them to sign this Recognition of the Government viz. I do hereby promise and engage to be true and faithful to the Lord Protector and Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and shall not according to the tenour of the Indenture whereby I am returned to serve in Parliament propose or give my consent to alter the Government as 't is setled in one person and a Parliament The subscription to this was refused by several Members the rest who subscribed it were permitted to sit till January the 24th 1654 at which time Oliver dissolved them because they delayed to settle him in the Government December the 19th Pen and Venables with a Fleet of thirty Ships wherein were three thousand forces put to Sea and in April following arrived at Hispaniola and came within sight of that Golden Town Sancta Domingo upon which their first and chief enterprize was designed but through the excessive heat of the Clime want of fresh-water and some other discouragements great numbers of the Soldiers perished and that design was fruitless therefore they set sail for the Island Jamaica where being arrived they were there so successful as in short time to possess themselves of the chief Town called Ottranto bringing the whole Island into subjection In England the Royal party were busie to take down the Protector 's Greatness but the Plot was discovered before it was ripe for execution and many of the Conspirators in several places seized on by the
the better to strengthen himself at home and to raise his Family into esteem he gave his eldest Son a Command in the Army his younger Son he made Lord Deputy of Ireland his two younger Daughters that were not yet disposed of in marriage he matched the elder of them with Mr. Robert Rich the Earl of Warwicks Grandson and the youngest with a person of great Honour And that he might be as King-like as possible and withal check the Commons in Parliment he constituted an Upper House of Parliament instead of the House of Lords 62 in number most of them his own creatures amongst whom were Colonel Hewson one by trade next kin to a Cobler and Colonel Pride formerly a Brewers servant who before this had been made two of his knights errants And to honour his Mushrooms he elected to set in his Upper House some few Noble men as the Earl of Warwick c. February the 20th the Parliment that had been adjourned now reassembled but because they admitted those Members to sit with them who at first refused to subscribe to Olivers Instruments and because they questioned the Protectors power in erecting his Upper House which in contempt they called the other House Oliver hereupon sent for them to his Upper House Bar where he made a large speech to them and in conclusion told them That it did concern as well the peace and tranquility of the Nation as his own interest to terminate that Parliament and therefore he did at this time put an end to their sitting February the fourth A. D. 1658. This Year began with a discovery of a most horrible Plot as Oliver called it and indeed he had an excellent Art for the discovery of Plots having his mercenary trepans and instruments of falshood who counterfeiting themselves forward Royallists thereby insinuated themselves into the Counsel of the Kings friends and then betrayed them And the King himself was troubled with one of these false Creatures about his own person for Captain Manning one of his Secretaries Clerks was taken in the very act of receiving Letters from Thurloe Olivers Secretary for the which he was instantly Shot to death But the Loyal Confederates in the late discovered Plot were divers of them apprehended as Dr. Hewit Colonel Edward Ashton Mr. Mordant the Earl of Peterboroughs Brother and others who were indicted of High Treason for endeavouring to levy War against his Highness and the Government and to promote Charles Stuart to the Government of these Nations and for holding correspondency with the said Charles Stuart Mr. Mordant was acquitted but Dr. Hewit and Sir Henry Slingsby were beheaded on Tower-hill June the eighth though many endeavours were used by divers persons of quality and Ministers for the saving of their lives especially the Doctors Colonel Ashton and others were hang'd and quartered in London Near about this time there came up the Thames as far as Greenwich a Whale of a very great length and bigness June the 25th the Town of Dunkirk was surrendred by the Spaniards to the French who immediately resigned it to the English forces which had been the main instrument in gaining it this resignation was made according to former Articles agreed upon between the King of France and Lord Protector of England But whilst the English were rejoicing abroad Oliver had occasion of sorrow at home for his most dearly beloved Daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Claypole on August the eighth departed this Life whose body was interred in the Royal Chappel at Westminster T is said of this Gentlewoman that she was much troubled at the harsh usage of the Royal party and that upon her knees she beg'd of her Father to save Dr. Hewits life but his hard heart would not yield thereto though he loved this Daughter so passionately that he never injoyed himself after her death but growing pensive and melancholy in short time was seized with a Tertian ague which ended his life at VVhite-hall on September the third He was born in the Town of Huntingdon and descended from a worshipful family of the Cromwels alias VVilliams his Mother was the Daughter of Sir Richard Steward and his wife Elizabeth the Daughter of Sir James Bourchier He was of a very martial Spirit and of excellent conduct and attended with very good success in his attempts Nor was he a Souldier only but also a very good Orator and deep Politician and so great a Dissembler that he could shed Crocodillian tears at pleasure when those would at any time advantage him among the Religious an high pretender he was to Religion though as his actions manifested it was only thereby to obtain his ambitious ends so impiously resolute for the effecting his designments that he valued not the violation of the most solemn promises or sacred Oaths nor the shedding of any though the blood of the Lords anointed Yet was this Man courted or feared by most of the Princes in Europe and the Kings of France and Sweden were entred into so strict a League with him as had he lived might have troubled good part of the world In Olivers stead Richard Cromwell his eldest Son whom he had appointed his Successor was proclaimed Protector Shortly after which several Addresses protesting both love and obedience to Richards Highness were presented from the Armies of the three Nations from the London-Ministers from divers Counties Cities and chief Towns of England And the Foreign Ambassadors then in England pretended to lament with Mr. Richard for the death of his Father desired the continuance of that League and Amity which was granted and maintained by his late Highness Oliver Lord Protector November the 23 were the Funerals of Oliver Solemnized after his Herse had lain in the greatest State some weeks in Somerset-House at a vast charge and in greater Pomp than had formerly been used for the greatest English Kings his Corps had been privately interr'd many days before in the Chappel-Royal of Henry the Seventh at Westminster But the vast expences of those Funerals were never discharged but those Tradesmen who had hopes of gaining the most by it sat down the greatest losers at last As soon at the Funeral-rites of this old Fox Oliver were accomplished his Son Richard proceeded to the carrying on of matters of publick concernment The first of which was the sending a Naval-supply to the King of Sweden for the aiding him against the King of Denmark The next of any moment was the calling of a Parliament to convene January the 27th at Westminster where when they were met they chose for their Speaker Mr Challoner Chute and the Members severally took the Oath not to alter the form of Government Which done they went to purge out those Members who had born Arms for the King then after many debates it was at length resolved that the House of Commons would transact with the persons of the other House as a House of Parliament during the present Parliament but with this proviso That it was not intended