King on either side whereof was a close Gallery for the King Queen and Prince to be private sutable to the ancient mode Which triall of his if we consider all things the high nature of the Charge against him the pompous Circumstances and stately manner of the triall it self the time that it lasted and lastly of what moment and consequence the success of it must prove I may safely say that no Subject in England and probably in Europe ever had the like Mr. May his History of the Parliament of England l. 1. c. 8. See more there Sir Thomas Roe was Chancellor of the most noble Order of the Garter and of King Charles his Privy Councel and severall years Embassador to the Great Mogor Great Turk King of Sweden and lastly to the Princes of the Protestant Union in Germany Iohn de Montreul a Parisian was he that thinking thereby to do some good office to the King of England negotiated that he might be put into the hands of the Scots This unfortunate Prince of whom he hath since given this testimony that he never saw a man of greater spirit and more vertue delighted often to discourse with him and expressed a great deal of affection to him I learned from a friend of mine to whom he told it himself that he made use of a secret which the King of England had taught him in the long conferences which they sometimes had together 'T was a certain powder very rare which being cast on the paper made that which was before-hand written there with a white liquor to appear which without that was wholly imperceptible His Majesty had a fine stroke with his pen which he practised at all times of leasure By which means he became Master of a pure and elegant stile as both his intercepted Letters and those to Mr. Henderson at Newcastle in the point of Episcopacy and his Book entituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Pourtraiture of his Sacred Majesty in his solitudes and sufferings do most clearly evidence Which Book is put into Latine by Dr Earle At King Iames his Funerall he attended the Herse as the chiefest mourner an action laudable and deserving better interpretation than some make of it He shewed great patience in his sufferings It argued a charitable temper in him in pardoning his enemies when he died and praying for them and charging the Prince his eldest son to pardon them also He was the hundred and tenth Monarch of that line that swayed the Scepter of Scotland successively Bishop Bramhall his Answer to Militiere his Epistle His Works are all in two Volumes Reliquiae Carolinae and Bibliotheca Carolina The Arsenals Store-houses and Ship-docks erected by him are so magnificent and universally usefull that they are become a principall pillar of the Nations support so far as they relate to the Navall defence of it and affords variety of imployment by the manufacture of Cordage as also by the carâ—ening and building of Ships The latter end of his life by reason of the Civil broyls was troublesome and painfull as the Book stiled Iter Carolinum shews Lewis the thirteenth the last King of France spoke ofttimes of the troubles of Great Brittain in his sickness and once he was over heard to say that it was a just judgement because his brother of England would have assisted his Subjects once against him Mr. Howels Corollary to the life of Lewis the thirteenth In his March after Essex to the West it happened that one of his Carriages brake in a long narrow Lane which they were to pass and gave his Majesty a stop at a time of a great showr of rain which fell upon him Some of his Courtiers and others which were near about him offered to hew him out a way through the hedges with their swords that he might get shelter in some of the Villages adjoyning but he resolved not to forsake his Canon upon any occasion At which when some about him seemed to admire marvel at the patience which he shewed in that extremity his Majesty lifting up his Hat made answer That as God had given him affliction to exercise his patience so he had given him patience to â—ear his afflictions Mr. Fords Panegyrick on King Charles the first Let his Conference with the Marquess of Worcester the Papers which passed betwixt his Majesty and Master Henderson and those others with the Ministers in the Isle of Weight testifie how great a Master he was of reason how well read in the Fathers the Councels Ecclesiasticall History and the customes of the Church in all ages Id. ib. He made an admirable Anagram of himself the day before his death Carolus Rex Cras ero lux Id. ib. His death saith the Author of the Additions to Bakers Chronicle was strange and unparalleld We may read saith he of many Kings who came to violent ends but never any that was so formally and solemnly first tryed for his life and then judicially executed in publick by his own Subjects Mr. Love in his Vindication of the London-Ministers against Price his Clerico-Classicum pag. 36. gives good reasons against putting the King to death and saith He was the first Protestant King in the world so put to death by his own Subjects pag. 55. he saith He could produce multitudes of Protestant Divines against the cutting off the Head of our King in particular as the Ministers beyond the Seas the Ministers of Scotland the Ministers of Essex and Lancashire and of many other places of the Kingdome besides the London Ministers who unanimously declared their abhorrency of that horrid fact of taking away the life of the King pag. 59. he saith That there is no president in all the Scripture that the Sanhedrim of the Jewes or Rulers of Israel did ever judicially arraign and put to death any of the Kings of Judah or Israel though many of them were most gross Idolaters and tyrannous Princes who shed much innocent blood and oâ—pressed the people sundry wayes This notwithstanding another Divine of our own hath presumed to publish a Defence of the Sentence passed upon the late King He quotes Gen. 9. 6. Exod. 21. 12. Lev. 24. 17. Numb 35. 30 31 33. Prov. 28. 17. and Mat. 26. 52. to prove the lawfulness of it That private person which sheddeth mans bloud wilfully by man that is by the Magistrate whose power is here stablished saith Ainsworth for killing all wilfull murtherers shall his bloud be shed And this saith Ainsworth there accordeth with the Law Numb 35. 29 30. but private men may not use the sword Mat. 26. 52. Rom. 13. 4. I have read that place Matth. 26. 52. strongly urged by some against Subjects taking up Arms against their Princes but never this way before These Scriptures though he think them of so express a tenour of such a pregnant import I conceive make little for the purpose he alleadgeth them When I consider with my self
where his servant stood as prisoner and commanded him to be ungived and set at liberty William Gascoigne the chief Justice of the Kings Bench exhorted the Prince to be ordered according to the ancient Laws of the Realm or if he would have him saved from the rigour of the Laws that he should obtain if he might of the King his father his gracious pardon whereby no Law or justice should be impeached With which answer the Prince being more inflamed endeavoured himself to take away his servant The Judge considering the perillous example and inconvenience that might thereby ensue with a valiant courage and spirit commanded the Prince upon his allegiance to leave the prisoner and to depart his way with which commandement the Prince being set all in a fury in a terrible manner came up to the place of judgement some thinking that he would have slain the Judge or have done him some hurt but the Judge sitting still without moving declaring the majesty of the Kings place of judgement and with an assured bold countenance spake thus to the Prince Sir remember your self I keep here the place of the King your soveraign Lord and Father to whom you owe double obeysance wherefore in his name I charge you desist from your wilfulness and unlawfull enterprise and from henceforth give good example to those which after shall be your proper Subjects 〈◊〉 and now for your contempt and disobedience go you to the prison of the Kings Bench whereto I commit you and remaine you there prisoner untill the pleasure of the King your Father be further known With which wordes being abashed and also wondering at the marvellous gravity of that worshipfull Justice the Prince laying his weapon apart doing reverence departed and went to the Kings Bench as he was commanded whereat his servants disdaining came and shewed to the King all the whole affair He a while studying after as a man all ravished with gladness holding his hands and eyes towards heaven cried out with a loud voice O mercifull God how much am I bound to thy infinite goodness â—ffâ—ecially for that thou hast given me a Iudge who feareth not to minister justice and also a sin who can suffer semblably and obey justice Sir Thomas Eliot in his Governour saith here a man may behold three persons worthy memory First a Judge who being a Subject feared not to execute justice on the eldest son of his soveraign Lord and by order of nature his successor Also a Prince son and heir of the King in the midst of his folly more considered his evil example and the Judges conscience in justice then his own estate and wilfull appetito Thirdly a noble King and wise father who contrary to the custome of parents rejoyced to see his son and the heir of his Crown to be for his disobedience by his Subject corrected The Oath ex officio it should rather be called in officiosum was brought into the Church under him The Prelates requiring it to discover those which that age esteemed Hereticks and especially those which they called Lollards which Master Fox in his Acts and Monuments calls a bloudy Law In his admonition to his son at his death he said Of English men so long as they have wealth and riches so long shalt thou have obeysance but when they be poor they are alwayes ready to make insurrection at every motion All the time of his sickness his will was to have his Crown set upon his Bolster by him and one of his fits being so strong upon him that all men thought him directly dead the Prince coming in took away the Crown when suddenly the King recovering his senses missed his Crown and asking for it was told the Prince had taken it whereupon the Prince being called came back with the Crown and kneeling down said Sir to all our judgements and to all our griefs you seemed directly dead and therefore I took the Crown as being my right but seeing to all our comforts you live I here deliver it much more joyfully then I took it and pray God you may long live to wear it your self In his time were the two famous Poets Chaucer and Gower None of the sons of Henry the fourth did degenerate a thing not usuall in so large a family Henry the fifth died gloriously in the pursuit of his conquests the Duke of Clarence valiantly fighting and though of a naturall death and Glocester of a violent yet died they not with less fame then did the others Biondi his History of the Civil Warres of England l. 5. in Henry the sixth The Duke of Bedfords death is to be numbred among the chiefest causes of the loss of France He was a prudent Prince of long experience in Arms and Government obeyed by his own feared by his enemies Id. ibid. Fourth Henry was by some blind Bard foretold That he should never die till he had seen Ierusalem fourth Henry will be old Ierusalem for him shall be unseen No he shall see it when he least doth ween He swouns at prayers and by religious men Is straight convey'd unto Ierusalem Sir Francis Huberts History of Edward the second The like Prophesie we read of Pope Sylvester the second to whom being inquisitive for the time and place where he should die it was answered that he should die in Ierusalem who then saying Mass in a Chappell called likewise Ierusalem perceived his end there to be near and died In this Kings time Guild-Hall in London was built Gower being very gracious with him carried the name of the only Poet in his time He and Chaucer were Knights The King died in Ierusalem-Chamber in minster in the year of his age forty six He raigned thirteen years and a half wanting five dayes Fourteen years say others CHAP. XIX HENRY the fifth HE was just wise magnanimous valiant To this noble Prince by an assent of the Parliament all the Estates of the Realm after three dayes offered to do fealty before he was crowned or had solemnized his Oath well and justly to govern the Commonweal which offer before was never found to be made to any Prince of England Stowes Chron. His young years were spent in literature in the Academy of Oxford where in Queens-Colledge he was a Student under the tuition of his Uncle Henry Beauford Chancellour of that University When he came to be King he made Thomas Rodban a famous Astronomer in those dayes Bishop of St. Davids and Iohn Carpenter a learned Divine Bishop of Worcester having known them both whilest he lived in the University The Civil Wars of England by Sir Francis Biondi Presently after his Coronation he called before him all his old companions who had been disorderly with him strictly charging them not to presume to come within ten miles of his Court untill such time as they had given good proof of their amendment in manners and left any of them should pretend want of maintenance
end kept a most judicious Journall of all the most principall passages of the affairs of his estate Inclytus Edvardus formatus ab ubere matris Confestim doctis à praeceptoribus artes Ingenuas omnes didicit qui Graeca Latinis Adjungens studio paucis profecerat annis Ut foret inferior nulli quem terra Britanna Protulerat claro magnorum ex stemmate Regum Nullus adaequari posset si flexilis â—tas In puero egresso nondum tria lustra duosque Annos ingenii aut praecox spectetur acumen Quantum ad doctrinas virtutesque attinet almas Ille erat Europae Phoenix quem funere acerbo Ut flos vere novo viridanti carpitur horto Sustulit ante diem mors immatura Britannis Invidet haec terris pietatem jura colentes Oclandi Anglorum praelia In his childhood being about to take down something which seemed to be above his reach one of his fellowes offered him a bossed plated Bible to stand upon and heighten him for taking that which he desired But he perceiving it to be a Bible with holy indignation resused it and sharply reproved him that made the offer A strong assurance of that dear esteem and veneration in which he held that sacred Book in his riper years Dr. Heylins History of Edward the sixth He hath this observation in his Diary the originall of which is in the hands of Sir Thomas Cotton At the sixth year of my age I was brought up in learning by Dr. Coxe who was after my Almner and John Cheek Master of Arts two well learned men who sought to bring me up in learning of tongues of the Scripture of Philosophy and all liberall Sciences Also John Belmain French man did teach me the French tongue He was annointed King at Westminster by Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury being of the age of nine years A Prince of great devotion constancy of mind love of the truth and incredibly studious Godwins Annals of England He knew all the principall Ports in England Scotland Ireland France and other Countries not far distant how they lay when the tide served what vessels of burden they could receive and what winds served for entrance He reformed Religion He caused Images and all monuments of Idolatry to be destroyed and a great Bible in English to be set up in every Church He was in body beautifull of a sweet aspect and specially in his eyes which seemed to have a starry liveliness and lustre in them He would answer Embassadors sometime upon the suddain either in French or Latin He could call all Gentlemen of account through his Kingdome by their names When Ioan Butcher a blasphemous Heretick was to be burned all the Counsell could not procure him to set his hand to the Warrant Wherefore they employed Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury to deal privily with him for his subscription But the King remained firm both in reason and resolution affirming that he would not drive her headlong to the Devil but because Hereticks for the most part have a strain of madness he thought it best to apply her with some corporall chastisements which with respite of time might happily reduce her to good order The Archbishop was violent both by perswasions and entreaties and when with meer importunity he had prevailed the King in subscribing his name said that he would lay all the charge thereof upon the Archbishop before God Not many years passed but this Archbishop also felt the smart of the fire and it may be that by his importunity for bloud he did offend for a good thing is not good if it be immoderately desired A Miller who had been busie in rebellion against the King knowing the danger willed his man to take the name of the master if any enquired after him Sir Anthony Kingston Provost Martiall came to the Mill and calling for the master the man in his name presented himself who strait commanded him to the Gallows the servant then seeing the danger of death confessed he was not the master but the man Well said the Knight thou canst never do thy master better service then to hang for him and thereupon trusted him up in the next tree The Lord Protector in his dayes marcht with a powerfull Army into Scotland to demand their Queen Mary in marriage to our King according their promises The Scots refusing to do it were beaten by the English in Musleborough fight One demanding of a Scotch Lord taken prisoner Now Sir how do you like our Kings marriage with your Queen I alwayes quoth he did like the marriage but I do not like the wooing that you should fetch a Bride with fire and sword The Kings Uncles Edward-Duke of Somerset Protector of his person Realms and Dominions and Thomas Lord Seymour Baron of â—udley the younger high Admirall of England were both beheaded Strife between their wives about place and precedency caused the death of their husbands and the death of the young King followed speedily after Sir Thomas Seymour Admirall and the younger brother married the Queen Dowager whose hap it was of all the rest to survive her husband She contested with her sister in law for priority of place both were privately encouraged neither would give way to the other The one claimed it as she had been once Queen the other challenged it as she was the present wife of the Protector The wives set their husbands at oddes and their enemies took hold of this advantage The Admirall was shortly questioned for treason by consent of his brother condemned in Parliament and lost his head In the same moneth was the Protector committed to the Tower by the Lords of the Counsell and after beheaded In this Kings dayes when Bonner was kept in prison reverend Ridley having his Bishoprick of London would â—ever go to dinner at Fulham without the company of Bonners mother and sister the former alwayes sitting in a Chair at the upper end of the Table These guests were as constant as Bread and Salt to the Board no meal could be made without them He died in the seventh year of his Princely Government in the sixth of Iuly anno 1553. Some write that he was poysoned The death of this Prince was lamented of all the godly within Europe for the graces given unto him of God as well of nature as of erudition and godliness passed the measure that accustomably is used to be given to other Princes in their greatest perfection and yet exceeded he not sixteen years of age Knoxe his Ecclesiasticall Hist. of Scotland l. 1. p. 97. I wonder that Doctor Heylin in his Epistle before his Ecclesia Restaurata should say therefore Whose death I cannot reckon for an infelicity to the Church of England Cardan made this Epitaph of him Flete nefas magnum sed toto flebitis orbe Mortales vester corruit omnis honos Nam Regum decus juvenum flos spesque bonorum Deliciae saecli
25 26. Her name filed the Christian Turkish Persian American Indian parts Purchas pâ—â—grimage 1. l. 3. c. 1. Sect. 1. See ibid. c. 3. Sect. 3. If she were a Catholick she might be accounted the mirrour of the world saith a secular Priest Meteranus Rer. Belg. hist. l. 23. much commends her That great Elizabeth of England nurse of God Church God hath established her seat with justice and goodness hath made her the terrour of all enemies of Christ and the beauty of Europe â—olynes of the Civil Wars of France Bacons Uniform Government of England part 2. c. 34. She wrote then Tanquam ovis as a sheep to the slaughter He was a bold Preacher who afterwards told her she was now Tanquam indomita juvenca This was Mr. Deâ—ring They presenting to her the Bible in English at the little Conduit in Cheapâ—ide she answered I thank the City for this gift above all the rest it is a Book which I will often and often read over She delighted much in the love of her people What gentle language would she use to them What cordiall prayers would she make for them Speeds Chron. Surely Surely a Prince so high in the favour of God and so mighty with men so blessed with dayes and prosperous in her Raign so beloved at home and so dread abroad so absolute for blessings and so admired for Government was never seen in England William Leighs Queen Elizabeth paraleld second Sermon He paralels he there in her princely vertues with David Ioshua and Hezekiah 1. With David in her afflictions to build the Church First Serm â— 2. With Ioshua in her puisâ—â—nce to pâ—otect the Church Second Sermon 3. With Hezekiah in her piety to reform the Church Third Sermon Her Motto was Semper eadem It Plutarch were alive to write lives by paralels it would trouble him both for vertue and fortune to find for her a paralel amongst women Sir Francis Bacon the Lord Chancellour Elsmere She was the happy instrment of God to promote the Protestant Religion in all parts May his History of the Parliament of England l. 1. c. 1. See more there Robert Cecil Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester the Lord Howard Admâ—ralâ— Walsingham What famous Captains were Generall â—Norris Captain Williams Morgan the noble Earl of Essex and others in land afâ—airs Who more renowned than Captain Drake Frobisher Hawkins Candish with the â—est in Sea travails Sir Philip Sidney was her great favourite Sir Richard Bakers Chron. Bishop Iewel was the glory of her Raign for learning Grafton in Q. Mary Cette vivacité d' esprit fermetè de jugement generuse resolution aux bauteâ— enterprises esquelles excelloit vostre Royale Loyale soeur là brave Elizabeth d' Angleterre Memoires de Sully Multa Regis Phiâ—â—pi secundi indignationem sâ—â—m 〈◊〉 adversus 〈◊〉 Reginam tantâ— quidem 〈◊〉 sensu â—uanto pro benefiâ—â—is proque viâ—a iâ—sa quam et bis â—â—tque dedisse rev Rex affirmabâ—t dum conspirationum insimulatam è â—arcere capitalique judicio liberaverat pro bâ—s aliis que promâ—ritis alias super alias accepisse se indesinenter injuâ—ias agnoscebat Viderat statim ab initio Principem Orangium as Belgarum populos consilio pecunia milite ad defectionem ab illa concitatoâ— Iâ—diâ—rum provincias à Draco à Conditio ab aliis ejus emissarlis vâ—xatas ac direptas â— regiam pecuniam interversam ac naves in Anglia râ—tâ—â—tas â—lenconâ—am spâ—ruptiarum ia Angliam allectum atque inde in Belgium ad capiendam Brabantiae coronam instructum Stradae de bello Belgico Decas 2. l. 9. Vide Cambdeâ—â—l Annales See Purchas Pilgrim part 3 4 c. 9 â—ct â— Reginam â—um vixit ut sororem diligentissimè observavit Anglosque pariter caeteros eximiâ— dilexit Camd. Annal. An uncharitable Jesuit in a scandalous Libell spread abroad and published some years after Q. Elizabeths death saith that she died without sense or feeling of Gods mercies and that she wished she might after her death hang a while in the air to see what striving there would be for her Kingâ—dome Camd. Eliz. transl Preface * Ita repugnante nâ—â—ine Scotiae Rex Angliae possessionem 〈◊〉 primâ—â—sque intra omnem annalium memoriam Britanniae totam Insulam uno imperio complexus est Groti hist. Belg. One that writes Ruinorum conspiratio saith Quinqus Reges ex honoratissima Sâ—uartorum familia etiam eodem omnes praenomine continuâ—â—aserie invicem succedentes in ipsâ— aetatis ant flore aut vigore extinctos acceperant relictis semper regni haeredibus pueris aut impuneribus qui per atatem gerendis rebus non sufficerent Favins Theater of Honour l. 5. c. â— See Dr. Heylins Geog. of the Brittish Isle See Mr. Wentworths Book before quoted This Margaret was Grandmother to King Iames by his father and mother Grotii â—ist Belg. See Osbornâ— Miscellanies of Esâ—ayes Paradoxes p. 6 7 8 9. Dr. Reynolds at its first coming out being shewed it read it over and bought it saying he was concerned and wronged in it Sir Walter Rauleigh his Hist. of the World part 1. l. 5. c. 6. Sect. 2. See more there Vide Idaeam Rosae sive de Jacobi Regis virtutibus â—â—arrationem Quis hodie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vere amans non optet ex animo magnae Britanniae magnum illuns Regem ob eximias doctrinaâ— dotes quibus tanti neminis Majestaâ—i sempiternam famam circumfudit in universals reformatarum Ecclesiarum Concilio ad modum magni illius Constantini Episcopis Pastoribus non modo ad externi ordinio conservationem veâ—ùm etiam ad controversiarum quae hodieagiantur definitionem aliquando praâ—sidere Gers. Buc. Dissert de Gubernat Eccles. p. 115. * Liber à Rege ad fillum conscriptus in quo optimus Princeps omnibus â—umcris absolutua elegantissimè depingitur â—acre ibtle est quot homiâ—um animos studis inde sibi conciliarit quartum sui expectationem cum admiratione apud omnes concitarit Camdeni Annal. rerum Anglie part 4. p. 171. Sâ—â—vent je l' oioi plaindre que S. M. d' Angleterre trop arreste a quelques petites dissensiones entre les siens â— ' avoitpas asses de soin de la guerison de plus profondes playes qui sont en l' Eglise La vie de M. du Plessis l. 2. The 29 of May is famous for our present Kings birth and return to London * See Mr. Gatakers Vindication of the Annotat. of Ier. 10. 20. against Lilly p. 75. Of a Feavor His birth Being about the age of twenty five years God so loosed his tongue at his triall that he spoke without the least stammering or hesitation Sir Franck Wortley his Character Dr. Gaudâ—n in his Eccles. Aug. Suspiria l. 3. c. 22. saith he was stedfast and able in his judgement against Popery * Letter 20. to the Queen speaking of Religion he saith It is no thank to me to trust thee in any thing else but in this which is the only thing of difference in opinion betwixt 〈◊〉 See M. Gatakers Apologeticall Discourse aginst Lillie Harvei excreit 64. de generat animal He as well as the Countess of Desmond so much spoken of for her great age is said to have lived in the Raign of Edward the fourth H. L'estrange The History of the French Academy p. 220. Id. ib p. 221. Boxhornius in his Metamorphosis Anglorum hath collected Apophthegmata Carolina 1. Theologica 2. Moralia 3. Politica The Author of the Character of him mentions his severall vertues King Iames his Works are all in one volume in Folio both in Latine and English Mr. Philpots Kent surveyed and illustrated See M. S. â—ords Loyall â—ubjects Indignation for his Râ—vall Sâ—veraâ—gnâ— Dâ—col 〈◊〉 Primus Reformatus à Reformatis à suis subjectis Salmaqi ad militorum responsio D. Cornelius Burgess preached against it on Amos 5. 13. Dr. Gauden protested also against it I have heard that four French Divines Bochart Amyraut Vincent and de Laâ—gly have written against the Kings death of which some I have seen The Princess of Tureine Daillé Gachens and Grelinâ—court have also written against it * Effundi volo ejus sanguinem per Magistratum scilicet volo in cum animadverti eum capito plecti lege talionis Mercer Vide Paul Fag col lat Translat in loc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vide Grotium de jure belli pacis l. 1. c. 3 4. Cameronem ad Rom. c. 13. v. 3. Imperii sinis unicus populi utilitas Jun. Brut. vind contra Tyranui * Quod asseverant cum à quo aliquis constituitur esse superiorem constituto verum duntaxat est in ea constitutione cujus effectus perpetuò pender à voluntate constituentis non etiam in eâ— quae ab initio est voluntatis postea vero effectum habet necessitatis Grotius de jure belli pacis l. 1. c. 3. Vide plura ibid.
and speech encouraged both Commanders and souldiers saying to them as I have heard If her brother Philip came she would give fire to the first Piece against him I might alledge the testimony of your greatest enemy in confirmation of your Majesties valour at Worcester-battle Kings bear a double image of God as they are men and as they are Magistrates The Scripture saith Those which rule over men should be just ruling in the fear of God One saith They should labour to be more religious and pious toward God than ordinary persons because of the great need they have of his illumination in their counsels of his conduct in their enterprises of his force in their executions and of his provident care in their various occurrents dangers difficulties The Kings seat was so set in the Temple that all might see him there Ezek. 46. 10. 2 Chron. 6. 12 13. 2 King 11. 14. 23. 3. that by his example the devotion of his people might be stirred up God having done such great things both abroad and at home for your Majesty expecteth great things from you I shall humbly implore the Almighty that he would so guide you in all your wayes that you may make his Interest your great interest by reforming what is amiss in Court and Kingdom by promoting his pure worship encouraging the power of godliness and all such as walk according to Scripture-rule are peaceable and hold the Fundamentals by discountenancing Atheisme errour and profaneness the fruits of abused peace and prosperity altering the old speech for the better Exeat aula Qui vult esse pius into impius So shall White-Hall answer its name and your Majesty approve your self to be what your Father desired Charles the Good which is the earnest prayer of Your Majesties most humbly devoted and Loyall subject Edward Leigh TO THE CURTEOUS AND CANDID READER Reader I Here present thee with Choice Observations of all the Kings of England I suppose the Subject will not be unpleasing to an Englishman if the work be answerable to the Title I have excerped my Materials out of the best Latine Writers the Monks to whom we are especially beholding for the History of our Kings of England and chiefest English Chroniclers and Annalists and such as have written of a few or any one of our English Princes Bedes Historia Gentis Anglorum set out by Wheelock of whom Petavius in his History of the world lib. 8. cap. 4. saith thus Bede made his Brittain famous with no lesse Godlinesse and Learning than History who even unto the year 735 hath concluded the Christian beginnings of that Nation Rerum Anglicarum Scriptores post Bedam praecipui in Latine in folio set out by Sr Henry Savill containing the History of Gulielmus Malmesburiensis Henry Huntington Roger Hoveden and others Anglica Normannica Hibernica Cambrica a veteribus Scripta in Latine also in Folio put out by Camden Matthew Paris his Works set out by Dr Watts who is a faithfull Historian and hath written the Reigns of the first seven Kings after the Conquest Of the English Chroniclers Speed Martin and Baker seem to be the best Voluminous Hollingshead Stow and How are not much esteemed by the Learned Sr John Hayward hath written well of the three Norman Kings and Edward the sixth he hath written briefly also of Henry the eourth Godwin of Henry the eighth Edward the sixth and Queen Mary and also of the Bishops of England in Latine and English Sr Robert Cotton of Henry the third Habington of Edward the fourth Sr Thomas More of Richard the third both in Latine and English and Buck my Lord Bacon excellently of Henry the seventh my Lord Herbert of Henry the eighth Camden Annals of Queen Elizabeth and Dr Heylin as is said of King Charles the first History is both pleasing and profitable especially the memorable things of all our own Kings and Governours who have for so many years Raigned amongst us Examples of Superiours especially are very prevalent which of the Rulers believed in him One saith if King Edward the sixth had lived a little longer his only example had bred such a Race of worthy learned Gentlemen as this Realm never yet did afford Here are examples of all sorts good and bad to be followed and eschewed Some loose vain and licentious others learned wise valiant minding the publick welfare of the Nation The Pope could but little prevaile here in England during the Raign of King Edward the third and Richard the second Henry the eighth cast him out then when he had too great power and command over other Princes As he cast out the Pope so did his children Edward the sixth and Queen Elizabeth cast out Popery out of England and so freed us from his spirituall bondage as the other did from his Temporall May their memory be therefore still precious amongst us as the Reformation we enjoy chiefly by their means is a singular blessing Let Him be accounted our English Josias and Her our English Deborah on whom those Verses were made Spains Rod Romes Ruine Netherlands Relief Earths Joy Englands Gem Worlds Wonder Natures chief Prince Henry likewise eldest Son to King James was a virtuous and hopefull Prince had he not been taken away in the flower of his youth he would its thought have much opposed the Pope and Spaniard I have read somewhere of him that he would not swear no not at his Sports and Recreation and being demanded the reason tâ—ereof he said they were not of that weight as to draw an oath from him I hope therefore this Nation having had such worthy Princes and not being ignorant of the slavery they formerly indured when the Pope called England his Ass will never be so foolish as to turn back again into Egypt As long as Mr Foxe his Martyrology is so common to be read eighty eight and the fifth of November are so fresh in our remembrance let us valew the losse of Rome here amongst us no more than that Emperour Honorius did of whom Zonaras writes that he had a Hen called Roma and it being told him Rome was last he was troubled and said She was here even now yea said the other the Hen is here but the City is lost he was then well pleased Our Countriman Beda hath prophetically expounded that Roman S. P. Q. R. of our Englishmen travelling to Rome Stulâ—us Populus Quaerit Roman Though perhaps in some cases one may go too far from Rome yet since some of our Bishops formerly have written well against Antichrist and others have made the Pope to be Antichrist and since also the Iesuites are still busie amongst us I wish there may be no unwarrantable compliance either with the Romish Doctrine or Rites Thomas Lever who Preached before King Edward the sixth and escaped the fury of Queen Maries dayes is commended by Bullinger in his Epistle to Hooper He was the first
where he sate which being stayed miraculously so long as he was sitting as soon as he was up immediately fell upon the place where he sate able to have crushed him in pieces Fox Martyrolog Having prepared a great Fleet of Ships for a journey into Flanders and being at Winchelsey where the Ships were to meet it happened that riding about the Harbour his Horse frighted with the noise of a Wind-mill which the wind drove violently about scrambled up and leapt over the mud-wall of the Town so as neither the King nor Horse was to be seen but every one judged the King could not choose but be thrown and killed yet such was the divine providence over him that the Horse lighted upon his feet and the King keeping the Saddle returned safe He was crowned at Westminster together with his wife Queen Elenor by Robert Kilwarthy Archbishop of Canterbury He ingeniously surprized the Welch into subjection proffering them such a Prince as should be 1. The son of a King 2. Born in their own Countrey 3. Whom none could taxe for any fault The Welch accepted the conditions and the King tendered them his son Edward an Infant newly born in the Castle of Carnarvaâ— Wales was united to the Crown of England in the eleventh year of his Raign who thereupon established the Government thereof according to the Lawes of England A wise a just and fortunate Prince who in regard of his Princely vertues deserveth to be ranged among the principall and best Kings that ever were A right noble and worthy Prince to whom God proportioned a most princely presence and personage a right worthy seat to entertain so heroicall a mind For he not only in regard of fortitude and wisdome but also for a beautifull and personall presence was in all points answerable to the height of royall Majesty whom fortune also in the very prime and flower of his age inured to many a Warre and exercised in most dangerous troubles of the State whilest she framed and fitted him for the Empire of Brittain which he being once crowned King managed and governed in such wise that having subdued the Welch and vanquished the Scots he may justly be counted the second ornament of Great Brittain No Realm but did resound first Edwards praise No praise was ever won with more deserts And no deserts though great could counterpoise Much less out-balance his heroick parts Mars taught him Arms the Muses taught him Arts Whereby so great he grew that might there be A love on earth that earthly love was he Sir Francis Huberts History of Edward the second In the long Warres he had with Robert King of Scotland having by triall found how greatly his presence advantaged the success of his affairs and how he was ever victorious in any enterprise he undertook in his own person when he died he bound his son by solemn oath that being dead he should cause his body to be boiled untill the flesh fell from the bones which he should cause to be interred and carefully keeping the bones ever carry them about him whensoever he should happen to have Warres with the Scots as if destiny had fatally annexed the victory unto his limmes Mountaigne his Essayes l. 1. c. 3. Baliol King of Scotland came to Newcastle upon Tine where King Edward then lay and there with many of his Nobles swears fealty and doth homage to him as his Soveraign Lord. Afterward there grew a great dissention between him and the King and the two Nations which consumed much Christian bloud and continued almost three hundred years King Edward entered Scotland with a great Army King Baliol was taken prisoner The marble Chair in which the Kings of Scotland used to be crowned was also brought thence to Westminster and placed there amongst the Monuments where it still continues Ni fallat fatum Scoti quocunque locatum Invenient lapidem regnare tenentur ibidem Except old sawes do fain And Wizards wits be blind The Scots in place shall raign Where they this stone shall find Of his Warres with the Scotch and his victories over them see Ayscâ— his History of the Warres Treaties Marriages and other occurrents between England and Scotland from King William the Conquerour untill the union of them both in King Iames. In his twelfth year the Justices Itinerants began In his time Iohn Baliol King of Scots builded Baliol-Colledge in Oxford Walter Merton Lord Chancellour of England and after Bishop of Rochester founded Merton-Colledge in Oxford One made this Epitaph of him Dum viguit Rex valuit tua magna potestas Frauâ— latuit pax magna fuit regnavit honestas He raigned thirty four yeares seven moneths one and twenty dayes and lived sixty eight years and twenty dayes EDWARD the second He degenerated wholly from his fathers vertues and esteemed not the good advertisements and precepts which he gave him before his death He granted the Charter to London to elect yearly one of the City at their own pleasure to be their Maior He was the first of the King of Englands children which bore the title and quality of the Prince of Wales Since whose time the eldest sons of the Kings of England were called Princes of Wales as the eldest sons of the Kings of Franâ—e are called Dolphins and of Spain Infants He was called Edward of Carnarvan for the Welch men after Leolines death were earnest with the King for a Prince of their own Countrymen the King told them they should have a Prince there born that could speak no English which they being contented with he named his Infant son who was born there the Queen being brought to Carnarvan He divided Wales incorporated into England into Shires and Hundreds His great affection to Pierce Gaveston and Spenser his Favourites was a means of stirring up the Barons against him It is thy sad disaster which I sing Carnarvan Edward second of that name Thy Minions pride thy States ill managing Thy Peers revolt the sequell of the same Thy life thy death I sing thy sin thy shame And how thou wert deprived of thy Crown In highest fortunes cast by fortune down Sir Francis Huberts History of Edward the second Nine Kings had raigned since the conquest here Whom I succeeded in a rightfull line My father all domestick tumults clear Did warre and win in fruitfull Palestine This Northern Sun even to the East did shine The French were fearfull hearing but his name French Scots and Turks aeternized his fame He married Isabel daughter to King Philip sirnamed le Bean the fair and heir to France all her brothers being dead without issue Gourney most barbarously caused the miserable King to sit on a Mole-hill whilest the Barber shaved him and to take cold water out of a ditch to wash him withall which the patient King seeing told them That in despight of them he would have warm water at his Barbing and there withall shed abundance of tears Being deposed from his Kingdome