made a prey to any Usurper But such and so flexible was the Dukes disposition though in boldness and valour he were second to none that he rather enclined himself to a tranquill and peaceable condition which was gently craved by his Brother then by the effusion of much bloud which of necessity must have followed to possesse himself of this Crowne So that in the end being fairly promised that in case he survived he should succeed He accepted the grant of three thousand Marks per Annum from his Brother and took a friendly leave and returned safely home into his own Dutchie of Normandy Presently after this Malcom King of Scots denyes homage but William enters his Territories with an Army and subduing him takes Hostages for his future Obedience The King by these Victories more strongly footed himself in his Realme of England and being better assured of his establishment than heretofore began to tread in his Fathers steps and with like severity and oppression to humble the haughty spirits of the English and put a check to their courage and finding by pollicy that plenty puffeth up also that penury prevents the danger of opposition by bereaving them of those requisites that might promote his fear and their hope falls to imposing on them many intollerable taxes which by his greedy Ministers he levied with such despite and cruelty that they might well perceive that he meant nothing more then to cut the nerves and sinews of their strength making it his grand design to dash the hopes of their Redemption Now againe Robert the Kings Brother once more proclaimes Warre against him for lack of the Money he promised him in lieu of the forbearance of his Kingdom of England and the King of France taking his part he took some Towns by force from his Brother which of right belonged to him But the King of France bribed by William forsook Robert so that being deprived of assistance he compelled him to crave pardon In the sixt year of his Reign his prosperity was interrupted by the obstinate Rebellion of Rees the last King of the Welch men who so infested him with broken Wars that for many Months together being urged to fight with Mountains to which upon all enforcements they fled instead of combating with men he could find no rest But such was his Resolution and undaunted Courage to withstand the strongest push of all extremities that in the end he slew their King and obtained a glorious Victory and thereby better secured the subjection of the Welch men then any his predecessors heretofore But Malcom finding William embroyled in new troubles again invades England and is slain by Mowbray Earle of Northumberland Now came the King after many covetous and ingratefull oppressions of the English Nobles and Commons to whom he owed his rescue from many perils of his Crowne and Life to use the same hard measure to the Clergy for such was his impiety by all possible means to enrich himself that he sold for money the greatest promotions in Church and Common-weal and did prohibit the Arch Bishop of Canterbury to assemble any Convocation or Synod for the well ordering of the Clergy by means whereof he secretly filled his Coffers with Treasure The Bishop complains to Pope Vrban who having newly excommunicated the Emperour Henry the Fourth the first Christian Prince that ever was excommunicated durst not have too many Irons in the fire at once not knowing what would become of the first forbears his Bull and sends a Command to the King to redintegrate with the Bishops which the King slights nevertheless at last a reconciliation is made This William was as valiant a Prince as the World ever had and a great opposer of the indirect courses of the See of Rome Many fearfull things hapned in his Reigne as Earthquakes dreadfull Lightnings and Apparitions blazing Comets in strange Figures great Inundations to the destruction of many of his people and very much Land overwhelmed with the Sea never to be recovered amongst the which Earl Godwins Lands were drowned and never to be recovered and are now called Godwins Sands At Finchamstead in Berkshire there was a Well that flowed blood fifteen dayes The signs of his unfortunate end were many but not regarded In the thirteenth year of his Reigne as he hunted in the New Forrest that his father had pulled downe Towns and Churches for he was slain with an Arrow by a French Knight named Sir Walter Tyrrel who shot at a Deer but it unfortunately glanced on a Tree and pierced the King into the Body whereof he fell down dead and in a Colliers Carâ— was carryed to Winchester and there buried Not long before Richard his Nephew and Son to Duke Robert of Normandy was there slaine Thus ended the troublesome yet Victorious Reigne of King William third Son to the Conquerour who being of a wanton Disposition and neglecting Marriage and dayly solacing himself among his Whores and Concubines dyed without any lawfull Issue of his Body His Stature was Comely his Limbs firmly compact active strong and healthy exceeding Leacherous and Covetous of high courage constant in his Resolutions scorning Fortune and troubles Thus he lived and thus he dyed getting much and suddenly leaving all William Rufus King of England and Duke of Normandy He was slaine being shot into the body by misfortune in new Forest in Hamshire after he had raigned 12 yeares and 11 monthes at the age of 43 and lieth buried at Winchester Anno 1100. R E sculâ— William the Father being dead and gone William his Son usurps his Brothers Throne They call him Rufus why you need not study Either his hair was red or count'nance râ—ddy Fortune his Reigne continuall Warre alots From the Welch from his brother or the Scots Still he was Victor till the fatall Dart In the new Forrest once his the wrong H'art Why there he fell in Iudgment so seuere If a Religious House be left ask there The father there invades the Churches hedg And the Son suffers for his Sacriledge HENRY the First King of England WHen King William the Second dyed Robert was valiantly warring at the Holy Land by means of whose absence Henry his youngest Brother got a fit opportunity to sit as King in his Throne whereunto without any difficulty he ascended through the favourable affection of the Nobles and Common people whose hearts were the more firmly engaged to him because he was born in England after his father was Crowned King and also because his singular wisdome care learning mild disposition and Princely vertues were apparent demonstrations that his Government would be accompanied with honourable atchievments gracefull safe and profitable both to the Church and also to the Common-wealth Now the Kingdome he had obtained by fraud he means to confirm by gentleness good deeds and just punishments He every where prefers learned men to places in the Church and removed such as were unworthy and unlearned from Church preferment He mitigates the more
one hundred and thirty tall ships of Warre in which were nineteen thousand two hundred and ninety souldiers eight thousand three and fifty Marriners two thousand and eighty Gally-slaves two thousand six hundred and thirty great Ordnance and the 19. of Iuly 1588. they came in sight of England and were in hopes to devour it But by the valour of the English and the Dutch the Fleet was partly worsted partly hindered but especially by a Tempest that rose against it the Spaniard was disappointed of his hopes They often after fought by Sea in Portugall and the West-Indies doing and receiving much harm This great Tempest being blown over the Queen causeth a day of Thanksgiving to be proclaimed and rid Triumphantly to London Notwithstanding all this she had many troubles but strangled all in the birth and England was made the Receptacle of persecuted and afflicted men both from France and Holland by reason of the Wars there In the mean while Sir Francis Drake was sent into the West-Indies and the Earl of Essex to the Coasts of Spaine when after many Victories atchieved by each the Spaniards by the mediation of the French seek peace but the Dutch hinder it In the year 1598. Philip King of Spain died in the seventieth year of his age He aimed at great matters but was unfortunate in most of them whereupon it came to passe that the three Keyes of the Spanish Empire which his Father so called and willed him to keep diligently to wit Gulet in Africa Flushing in Holland and Cades in Spain were neglected The first taken in by the Turks the second by the Confederates of the United Provinces the third much impaired in its strength and impoverished by the English which his father foreseeing in his Life time admonished to make peace with the English and Dutch Anno 1599. died that Reverend and famous Divine Mr. Richard Hooker a man moderate temperate meek and vertuous even to the best imitation and left behind him a living monument of his reall worth his Book entituled Ecclesiastical Pollicy Then peace was confirmed between the Spaniard and the French but the English and the Dutch refused to be comprehended in it because they held it disadvantageous to their buâ—iness but making a Covenant with joynt Forces they invade Spain The Spaniard stirs up the Earl of Tyrone who made a great Rebellion in Ireland Essex was sent thither to subdue the Rebells and to make them conformable but he scurvily neglected an opportunity of conquering the enemy and beyond his commission treats with the Rebells concerning peace He was therefore called home and commanded to answer for his fault by his submission he found the Queens savour afterward prompted on either by shame or his ambition to the Kingdome he raised an Army and entered London and he purposed to have forced the Queen His Forces ran away from him and he was taken prisoner accused of high Treason and lost his head for it Charls Blunt was sent in his Place who in divers fights wonderfully subdued the enemy though the Spaniard had sent many supplies to relieve them in a set battel he overthrew Tyrone and the Auxiliary Spaniards and then made conditions driving them out of Ireland Tyrone afterwards when he had tried all wayes submitted and humbly entreated the Queens pardon In the mean time Richard Levison and William Monson with eight great Ships and some small ones went and wasted the Spanish Coasts and meeting the Spanish Fleet coming from America with abundance of wealth set upon them but was too weak being disappointed After that he master'd a great rich Ship riding at Anchor in Portugall and burning some lesser Ships returned with her to England At that time the Jesuits and Seminaries were banished At last the Queen died Anno 1602 having reigned 44. years 4. months was buried at Westminst ELISABET D. G. ANG FRAN. ET HIB REGINA FIDEI CHRISTIANAE PROPVGNA TRIX ACERRIMA Thus dy'd Elizabeth Did I say she dy'd Away my babling Muso away ye ly'd She is alive and ever so shall be Could England dote and lose all memory The Neatherlands yea France Spain would give All satisfaction that she still does live And shall untill unknown diseases vex The Vniverse into an Apoplex Of whom this Nation may with comfort say An Evening red foretold a morning gray Thus from the Briny Ocean of our tears The joyfull Venus of our Peace appears JAMES King of Great Britain France Ireland THE losse that England sustained by the death oâ— Queen Elizabeth was abundantly recompenced by her most worthy Successor King â—ames in the happy union of the two warlike Kingdomes England and Scotland He was inferiour to heâ— neither for Religion nor any thing else and by new rejoycings he extinguished that grief the Subjects had conceived for the losse of so dear a Mother to her Countrey He was a King the more happy because he obtained a Kingdom by lawfull succession that was no wayes embroyled with wars and tumults but setled in exceeding great peace But as the calmest weather is not secure from clouds so the affairs of Brittany though in a coâ—dition most peaceable were endangered by the malice and conspiracy of some male-contents â—he Ring-leaders were Henry Cobham and George his Brother Thomas Grey of Wilt-shire Walter Raleigh and others their purpose was to kill the King but newly Crowned to change Religion to raise Tumults to let in Forreigners a terrible design but this flame vanished into smoak the principall being either executed or condemned to perpetual imprisonment or had their parâ—ons granted to them but least peace should be disturbed by new wars he made peace with the King of Spain who was a sworn enemy to England it was solemnly confirmed by both In Northampton and Warwickshire new tumults arose first by Fines then by Iohn Reignold that led them but this faction was soon allayed and the Authors thereof severely punished In the mean time Frederick Count Elector Palatine came to London to marry Elizabeth King Iames his Daughter the marriage was solemnized with wonderfull pomp but all these joyes were overshadowed with Clouds of sorrow for on the sixt day of November 1612. Prince Henry departed this life various reports were spread abroad by the Vulgar as if indirect means had been used but his Physitians gave it under their hands that he dyed of a violent malignant Feaver Charls the Kings second Son succeeds him in the Principallity of Wales About this time that learned gallant and noble spirit Sir Walter Raleigh after 14 years imprisonment made addresses to the King to give him leave to visit the New found World in America to which he gave him liberty and a Commission under the great Seal to set forth Ships and Men for that service his reputation and merit caused many Gentlemen of Quality to adventure their persons and estates on the design many considerable adventures were performed though with great difficulty but especially that of
a man he was of an approved judgement and understanding in State affairs and of a singular fidelity to his King and Countrey William Laud also Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England followed him a man admirably learned But now they touched the Kings bowells for they accuse the Queens Majesty as one that had caused the troubles in Ireland and caused that people of themselves inconstant enough to rebell the King hereupon accused five of the lower house and one of the upper House their names the Lord Viscount Mandevile Pim Hamden Hasilrig Hollis and Stroud cleerly detecting these men of these tumults and dissensions but the Parliament would never suffer them to come to tryal but hid them in the City The Parliament having brought the business to this resolve not to give it over but Ianuary 16. 1642. raised a vast multitude of Citizens and others to the number of 20000. and more under colour to defend the Laws and Liberties The King hasts to Hampton Court commanding his Councellors to follow him especially Essex and Holland who both refuse wherefore the King with a small company took his journey like one that sled so that for hast being he had no Purveyers to provide room for him sufficiently he his wife and children the first night were constrained to tumble all in one Bed The King with some of his friends takes journey to York and is honourably received by the Gentry who proffer their best assistance the Parliament takes advantage of his absence and load him and his Queen with black and scandalous calumnies to render him odious to the City and having his Militia out of his hands together with the disposing of all places of trust they raise a great masse of money upon publick faith and I know not what State cheats they fortifie all places of strength they next send to the King humble Petitions containing most unreasonable demands calling them Priviledges of Parliament giving the King plainly to understand if he will not grant what they desire they will have it by force and forthwith raise a formidable Army under the command of the Earl of Essex the King is denyed entrance into his Town of Hull by the two Hothams father and son both which afterward their fellow Rebels beheaded on one and the same day spightfully executing the son first least he should have the honour to dye a Knight The King seeing his lenity hath been but their opportunity and that they were now in the field ready to surprize him sets up his Standard at Nottingham levies what forces he could and betakes himself to the field having fortified Oxford his chief Garrison many Battels are fought with various success till that fatal Battel at Naseby in which the Kings forces were totally routed and his very cabinet of private Letters between himself and his wife taken and most barbarously printed and divulged to his Majesties honour and the infamy of the divulgers For that the King in a disguize yields up his Person to the Scots who trayâ—erously sold him to the English for 200000 l. And the Rump having now what they desired murder him at his own Gate Ian. 30. 1648. He lyes buried by Henry the Eight at Windfor The high and Mighty Monarch CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland Defender of the Fayth etc. Are to be sould by Thomas Ionneâ— aty e Royall Exchaunge Thus Ah thus our dread Soveraign Charls the first The best of men was murder'd by the worst At his own Gate by his own Subjects too What more could barbarous Moors and Scythians do False Scots betray'd sold him Scots that would Betray again our Saviour Christ for gold Thus fell our Laws and Liberties Assertor The Churches Champion and the Peoples Martyr To prove him wise just learned only look Into his most incomparable Book Which shall his name from age to age present When Brasse and Marble need a Monument CHARLS IId. King of Great Britain France Ireland CHARLS the second By the Grace of God of England Scotland France Ireland King was born the 29. of May 1630. Never knew May a more hopefull flower than this that happily sprung from the Roses of York and Lancaster joyned to the Lillyes of France a flower to whose composure nature it seems summoned her divided glories as Zeuxis did his divided beauties to make up one Venus Well was this May thought then most happy untill now we have lived to see another May as much more happy as it is to be brought to a Kingdome than to be brought to the world or to be Crowned than to be Cradled His Royall Nativity was attended by a Starre discovered over St. Iames's at mid-day displaying its modest beams in spight of Sun-shine in the middle of the aire an Emblem of his future glory it seems when Vulgar births are passed by every day unobserved the whole frame of nature takes notice of Soveraign births and Complements them with Stars Meteors Thunders Earth-quakes such honour have Gods anointed when he made his own Son King over his holy Hill of Zion a starre came and waited upon him from the East For his Education His Father of blessed memory pitcht upon the Reverend Doctor Duppa Dean of Christ-Church in Ozon Lord Bishop of Chichester and afterward of Salisbury who went to him as his other Genius O â—ow the reverend Father insinuated himself with his sacred Theorems into his Princely soul in short he arrived at that proficiency was his own honour and the worlds admiration as forraign Tongues as Italian French Spanish Dutch c. Adversity hath been his School-master witnesse all Embassadors whom he Elegantly answers in their own Languages This every way accomplisht Prince whom this degenerous Land was unworthy of was expulsed his Kingdomes by Traytors whose names are blacker than my Ink accursed Assassines that murdered the Father than whom a better King England was never happy under and would have sent the thrice Noble Son the same way but that God preserved him miraculously to be the joy and honour of these long bleeding Kingdomes once again At last after many forreign troubles the Scots invite the King upon tearms almost as hard as Exile which yet the King receives and is Crowned in Scotland but tyred out with their Factions he makes for England with his friends and Lashly who at Worcester betrayes him where his Majesty in his own person performing wonders yet lost the day and escaped leaving all things behind him a prey to the enemies who fell upon the Royal plunder so hastily as if they thought to find Saul the King among the stuff but blessed be that losse that saved our Soveraigne But the King escapes their villany and violence and purposely loosing his company goes to White-Ladyes near Boscobil where cutting off his hair disguising his face with Wallnuts and his body with rustick Robes under the conduct of the Penderells he passed the dayes in obscure Coppices and
slew Iames their King with many Lords and Earls totally routing all that vast Army Henry returning out of France Surrey for his good service was created Duke of Norfolk and Thomas Wolsey a man of mean parentage was made Bishop of Lincolne and at last was made a Cardinall At this time the Pope sent to Henry a Cap of maintenance a Sword and the Title of Defender of the Faith which Grace Henry received with Tiltings and great Pomp. Cardinall Wolsey is made Chancellour of England Charls the Emperor comes to London and is received with great honour and graced with the Order of the Garter But Behold Henry who had lived lovingly with his Wife Katharine 20 years began now to find a scruple in his Conscience whether he might without incest live with his brothers wife Judges were chosen to end this question but Wolsey not having dealt prudently for Henry had all his authority taken away and his estate was confiscate but at last other new dignities being granted him his great losse was somwhat repaired Then a Parliament was called and he was charged with many faults among the rest that he was wont to write I and my King and had stamped the Cardinalls Hat on the Kings Coyne of which he was convicted and again deprived of all honour and Estate a wonderfull example of the inconstancy of humane affairs he that but lately ruled all and the King too as he pleased made Laws swayed Courts of Justice taxed the people oppressed both Clergy and Laity he is now cast down from the high Pinnacle of honour and which is worst hated by all afterwards sent for to make his personal answer at Court he died by the way 't is thought with poyson In the mean time Henry not abiding the Popes delayes with the advice of Divines divorceth his Wife Katharine and marries Anna Boloyne and being angry with the Pope for this disoffice he abollisheth forthwith all his authority over the Church of England and takes Oath of the thanks of England and Ireland to acknowledge himself next under Christ supreame Head of the Church for refusall whereof Sir Thomas More Lord Chancelour of England and Iohn Fisher of Rochester lost their heads Henry now using his own Authority invades the goods of the Church and expels the Monks out of the Monasteries Nor was he herewith content but he cuts off the heads of his second Wife Annae Boloyne together with her Brother the Lord Rochfort on suspicion of incest between them Then he married Iane Seymer who died in child-birth of Edward the sixth Then he divorced from him Anne of Cleve newly married and for her sake he beheaded Thomas Cronewell who made that match this was a man fortunately risen from a mean to a vast estate also Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk had his head chopt off for privily marrying Margaret daughter to the King of Henry's Neece Henry now marries his Fifth Wife the Lady Katharine Howard whom he shortly afterward beheaded for her lasciviousnesse At that time Henry was stiled King of Ireland of which before he was but Lord. About this time the Scotch King dies leaving Mary Stewart a child of eight dayes old heir of his Kingdome whom Henry endeavours to espouse to his Son Edward but the Cardinall of St. Andrews so prevailed that she was married to the Dolphin whereat Henry enraged burns Leith Then he married his sixth Wife Katharine Latimers widow who was brought in danger of her Life but by her prudence and humility escaped Henry next makes an expedition into France and wins Bononia which was redeemed with eight hundred thousand Crowns The Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Surrey are accused of Treason and the father lost his head Henry died presently after having reigned 38. years he was buried at Winsor The most high and mightie Prince HENRY the VIII by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland Henry the Eighth began his Reigne so well Few Predecessors were his Parallel Empson and Dudley he did soon dismisse Those Engines of his Fathers Avarice A comly Prince he was but him I fear The Hangman made too oft a Widower Many for no desert he would exalt And ruine them as quickly for no fault He never spar'd if you my Author trust Man in his wrath or Woman in his Lust. And yet his vices did not so prevaile But that his Vertues still did Even the Scale EDVVARD the Sixth King of England HENRY the Eighth being deceased Edward his Son succeeded him in hiâ— Throne Ianuary 28. 1547. He was all the Issue Male of King Henry who had six Wives whereof two were beheaded two divorced and Iane Seymer mother to King Edward dyed in Travell This King began his Reigne in the ninth year of his age and the same day that he was publickly proclaimed King in London he came from Enfield to the Tower as perhaps for other reasons so chiefly that according to the manner of the Kings of England he might passe in solemne and magnificent sort from thence to Westminster where he was to be inaugurated The day following the Lords to whose care the deceased King had committed his Son and heir by Will assemble themselves to consult of the affairs of State they all with one consent appoint Edward Seymer Earl of Hertford the Kings Uncle Protector of the Kings person and Governour of his Majesties Realms untill the King came of age mature enough for to hold the Reins of Government hereof publick proclamation was made through London and Westminster The first Act of this Lord Protector after his investiture was that he created the King Knight who remained then in the Tower and he rising up took the same Sword of the Earl of Hertford and conferred the same honour upon Henry Hoblethorne Lord Major of the City of London February the 15. the funeralls of King Henry are solemnized in all princely sort and his Body entombed in the midst of the Quire of the Cathedrall Church of Windsor and two dayes after certain of the Peers are adorned with new Titles of Honour Seymer Lord Protector and Earl of Hertford is created Duke of Somerset William Par Earl of Essex created Marquesse of Northampton Dudly Viscount Lisle Lord high Admirall of England created Earl of Warwick and high Chamberlain of England Sir Thomas Wriothsley Lord Chancellour was created Earl of Southampton Sir Thomas Seymer Brother to the Lord Protector was advanced to be Lord Sudley and also high Admirall of England for as much as the Earl of Warwick was contented to resigne Sir Richard Rich was made Lord Rich and Sir William Willoughby Lord Willoughby of Parham and Sir Edmund Sheffeild was made Lord Sheffeild of Butterwike Now was great provision made for the Kings Coronation who rode with great Royalty and splendor through the City of London to Westminster the â—4 of Feb. and the day following was in due form and order inaugurated by Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury About four years since in
a League concluded between England and Scotland and upon the discharge of some Scotch Lords Prisoners in the Tower of London a marriage was promised between Edward and the young Heir of Scotland which afterward was falsified and she married to the French King whereupon the Duke of Somerseâ— with a well provided Army enters Scotland and fought the Scots at Musselburgh and slew of them mâ—re than 14000 amongst whom besides the Lord Lohemore and the Lord Fleming fell almoâ—t all the young Nobillity of Scotland There were taken in fight Earl Huntley Chancellour of Scotland The Lords Hester Hobbey and Hamilton and 1500 more of good account possessing themselves of many strong Forts and Castles with abundant spoile and then betaking themselves homewards they not a little recreated the minds of the dejected Scots by their departure While these things thus fell out in Scotland there happened great alteration in the Ecclesiasticall State at home divers of the Kings Tutors being earnestly bent to a Reformation of Religion and especially the Lord Protector himself and it was therefore Resolved by the Kings Tutors and Counsell that whatsoever King Henry had enacted for the abrogating of the Popes authority should stand in full force and authority whereby the English Church became purged of Popery And what is very memorable the same day that Images and Superstition were thrown out of the Church news was brought of the great victory atchieved upon the Scots at Musselburgh The Popishly affected Stephen Gardiner and bloudy Bonner are committed to the Tower About this time fell out an unlucky difference betwixt the Protector and his Brother which proved the ruine of them both for they both lost their heads This Year Bishop Ridley preached before the King and in his Sermon took occasion to discourse of the necessity of Alms-deeds which the King earnestly attending and laying to heart sent for the Bishop after Sermon and entered into private communication with him causing him to set down in a chair and whether he would or not to put on his hat about relief The King to shew his wonderfull charity appointed severall Hospitalls to which he gave Lands to the value of 600 pounds per annum which had belonged to the Savoy and 4000 Marks a year in mony beside About the beginning of the next year the King fell into lingring sicknesse then into a Hectick Feaver whereof together with a consumption of the Lungs he died at length not without suspicion of poyson And now Northumberland began to devise how he might gain the Crown of England to his posterity he therefore imparts the businesse to the Duke of Suffolk requesting his eldest Daughter Iane to be given in marriage to his son Gilford Dudley then he takes upon him to perswade the King not only to disinherit his two sisters but also by Will to constitute his Cousin the Lady Iane Queen after him which accordingly the good King yeilded preferring the true worship of God before all naturall respects A few dayes before things were thus ordered King Edward not yet 16. years of age sent forth his blessed soul at Greenwich to wit the sixt day of Iuly when he had held the Kingdome under Governours six years five months and nineteen dayes shewing forth even in that tender age blossoms of vertue together with singular piety towards God constancy of mind love of right and an incredible study of Learning Not above three hours before he expired thinking no body had been by he uttered this Prayer Lord God deliver me out of this miserable and wreâ—ched life take me among thy chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be done Lord I commit my spirit to thee O Lord thou knowest how happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy Chosens sake if it be thy will send me life and health that I may truly serve thee O my Lord blesse thy people and save thine inheritance O Lord God save thy chosen people of England O my Lord God defend this Realme from Papistry and maintain thy true Religion that I and my people may praise thy holy Name Soon after he cried out I faint I faint Lord have mercy upon me and take my spirit and so yielded up the Ghost The high and Mighty Monarch Edward the VI. by the grace of GOD King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland Defendor of the Earth etc To thee Great King it was a gain to dye Whose death was crown'd with immortality Nor does he erre whoever takes thee for Edward the Saint the Second Confessor Thou that in pious Paths so Even hast trod Art Enoch like translated by thy God Who as thy death does evidently show Lov'd thee too well to leave thee long below Whos 's every act the Vniverse convinces And is a pattern to succeeding Princes When thou of Popery didst the Temple purge Thy Scepter turn'd into thy Saviours scourge MARY Queene of England MARY so soon as she heard of her Brothers death posted to Framingham Castle in Suffolk to whom resorted divers Lords who had formerly compacted to preserve the Romish Religion Then she sent to the Senate of London that they should proclaim her Queen but the Lords in the name of all the people made answer That by the Testament of King Edward Iane was to succeed and they asserted that Maryes mother was divorced whereupon they fly to Arms. The Earl of Northumberland with a small Army marches against Mary but as he proceeds but slowly Maryes Forces increase mightily also Edward Hastings who was set with six Ships to prevent Maryes escape into France revolted to her by which losse the Lords and Londoners were not a little dismayed and grew at odds one with the other and the Londoners proclaimed Mary Queen and Northumberland when he was certain of his friends falling from him that he might not run the hazard alone calls a Counsell at Cambridge and himself for want of an Herauld proclaims Mary Queen of England c. casting his Cap up in token of joy But that did not at all help his Cause for the Earl of Arundell who a little before did not decline to venture his life for Iane now coming to Cambridge in Maryes name takes the Duke and Casts him into Prison he in vain intreating for his life Iane at the Command of the Duke of Suffolk her father when the Case was thus altered layes down the Ensigns of the Kingdome with much more cheerfullnesse then ever she took them up The Queen coming to London met her Sister Elizabeth with 1000 Horse and Thomas of Norfolk Edward Contener Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester and Somersets Wife which she received into Grace giving them her hand to kisse Then entering upon the Church affairs she abollished those Bishops and Ceremonies that Edward had confirmed setting up others in their roome the people not a little offended at it and then she punished severely all those that were enemies to the Church of Rome In the interim
the Duke of Northumberland the Earls of Northampton and Warwick are indicted of high Treason she spared Northampton but Northumberland was beheaded abjuring that Religion he professed before in hope of pardon his body was buried by the Duke of Somerset his Capitall Enemy between Anne of Boloyne and Katharine who all had suffered the same death The rest persisted and did not renounce the Faith they had professed Iane afterwards with her husband and his two brethren Ambrose and Henry were all condemned to dye but Iane was reprieved for a while Then the Marriage was contracted between Mary and Philip of Spain whereat Wyat and others offended conspire lead an Army to London and are overthrown and executed The Queen enraged with the boldnesse of the subjects began seriously to consider how to punish the guilty Gilford husband to Iane was first beheaded then Iane her self within the Walls of the Tower with a wonderfull courage piety and Constancy had her head chopt off She was a Princesse for her learning and wisdome worthy of immortall praise It is reported that Morgan who passed Sentence upon her fell mad shortly after and cried Take away Lady Iane from me Then Suffolk was beheaded and the same day Wyat the cause of all these mischiefs for Iane had been pardoned had not he raised that furious tumult and enraged the Queen those that followed him some were punished and some pardoned Also Elizabeth was cast into prison by the means of Gardiner Bishop of Winchester without doubt her Life was at Stake had she not wisely answered to questions concerning her Faith They did severely at that time punish all those that were averse to the Romish Religion among whom was Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Ridley Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester these refusing to abjure their Faith were burnt to ashes The Queens Marriage with Philip was now solemnized and Cardinall Poole being sent from the Pope all the Errors of the English are purged and they received under the Popes tuition The Fame was at this time that the Queen was with Child and for joy Te Deum was sung at Pauls and she released out of the Tower many Prisoners among whom were the Sons of the Duke of Northumberland who were condemned to lose their heads But all this hope vanisht when the Queens Conception proved to be but a Timpany The Queen restored to the Church all the Goods she possessed belonging to the Church and when she was told that by so great a bounty the Crown Lands would be much wasted she replied piously and prudently She preferred her souls health before all the worlds goods Philip in the interim went to Brussels to his Father Charls and obtained of him the Kingdome of Spaine and his other Dominions before his death then he returned to England then again he went to Callice to wage war with the French and staid upon that businesse above 18. months the English murmuring and the Queen lamentâ—ng his absence Thomas Stafford at that time was instigated by the French to make warre against the Queen and landing with an Army he wan York Castle but he soon was conquered and taken and beheaded at London and his followers were hanged Then the Queen sent Pembroke to assist her husband and won a great victory over the French but drawing too many Forces out of Callis the Duke of Guise assaulted and won it after it had been in the hands of the English two hundred years Guina followed it and so the English were cleane thrust out of all France The Queen was wonderfull grieved for the losse of Callis which together with her Dropsie put an end to her life in the year of our Lord 1558. the fifth year of her Reigne and the fourty third of her Life ELISABET D. G. ANG FRAN. ET HIB REGINA FIDEI CHRISTIANAE PROPVGNA TRIX ACERRIMA What means this Popish Fogg the Church to smother Where is the Queen should be a nursing Mother Edward preceeded thee in the same form That a bright Sun foreruns a blustering storme For Age and Sex all at the stake we see O burning zeal and frozen Charity If to deny the Tyranny you please Behold a Cloud of faithfull Witnesses No it were better to bethink with speed What Sackcloth such a world of ashes need But Madam were not these your own intents How have you suffer'd in your Instruments ELIZABETH Queene of England ELIZABETH Daughter to Henry the Eighth by Anne Boloyne succeeded her Sister Mary being raised from the Prison to the Throne By her Coronation the Papal authority fell again the second time all the Ceremonies Mary had brought in she abollished and reformed all according to rule of her Brother Edward Being she was of a flourishing age and Queen of a flourishing Kingdome it could not be but she must be sought to of many lovers Maximilian the Emperour the Kings of Spaine and Sweeden the Arch-Duke of Austria and the Duke of Angiers sent to woe her but all in vaine First because the Queen would not marry for at her inauguration the Condition was That she should marry no Stranger whereby there was hopes left to the Natives for so great a match The French and Scotch they hoped to prevaile much by reason she was a woman and of tender years whereupon they invade and spoile the English Frontiers The French King pretending Title to the Crown of England in right of his Wife Mary Stewart allyed to Henry the seventh but at last peace is confirmed betwixt Elizabeth the Scotch and French and all the Romane Catholicks are routed out of Scotland Mary when Francis was dead return'd for Scotland and made a firme agreement with Elizabeth but envy and ambition soon violated it and their sister-like concord to the ruine of Mary at last Mary takes to her husband Henry Darley and after Bothwell but discontents and warres arising she flees to Elizabeth in England who received her in her Arms She was at first liberally entertained but after moving dissention in England being a most bitter enemy to those of the Reformed Religion she was kept more narrowly For eighteen years she was kept in prison at last she began to riot in hope of the Kingdome and to lay snares for the Queens Life for which cause at the request of the severall Orders of England she was beheaded Also the Duke of Suffolk who privily sought to marry her suffered the same punishment Elizabeth in the mean time assisted those of the Reformed Religion in France Now fell out a warre between Philip the Second and the low Countreys in which Elizabeth assisted the united Provinces The Queen for this assistance was hated by the Spaniards who had before privately laid snares for her life but now he breaks forth into open warre for he raised a mighty Fleet from Spaine and other places it was the greatest Navy for Provision and Men that ever the Ocean bare and carried the presumptuous Title of Invincible It consisted of