Nobles constrained him to swear To ease the People of their Taxes and many other Oppressions which he afterwards performed And he restored to the English the use of Lights again which his Father forbad by ringing of a Bell and had continued about the space of 33 years He also ordained several good Laws and annexed his Great Seal to them and his Name with the subscription of several Lords Spiritual and Temporal and caused Copies of them to be sent into every County to be safely kept the heads of them take as followeth in these Seven Branches I. That the Church should be free from Oppressions and Reservation of their Possessions upon vacancy II. That the Heirs of the Nobilty should possess the Lands of their Fathers without Redemption from the King which Favour also should be granted by the Nobles to their Tenants III. That the Gentry might give in Marriage their Daughters and Kinswomen without the King's Licence so it were not to the King's Enemies IV. That the Widow should have her Jointure and not be compelled to marry against her own Will V. That the Mother or next of kindred should be Guardian of the Lands of their Children VI. That Coiners of False Money should be punished and a Measure to the length of the KING'S Arm to be a Standard for Commerce among the People And VII That all Debts to the Crown before his own Time should be forgiven and all Murthers before the Day of his Coronation to be pardoned With other such like Indulgencies And he also at this time confirmed King Edward's Laws And now he made Suit to Edgar King of Scotland to have Maud his Sister to Wise This Year 1100 his Brother Robert Duke of Normandy was elected King of Jerusalem but he hearing of his Brother Rufus's Death refused it in hopes of getting England's Crown And at his return from Jerusalem invaded England landed at Portsmouth Henry to be quit of him and to keep the Crown granted him 3000 Marks yearly and gave him royal Entertainment for six Moneths at Court After this Belasm Earl of Shrewsbury and Roger Mountgomery rebelled but they were overthrown by the King and forced to abjure the Realm for ever And now the Pope's Imp Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury begins to stir and calling a Council at London Excommunicated all Married Priests and deprived many learned Prelates because they were invested by the King and not by the Pope And now Duke Robert returned for England again to congratulate his Brother's Fortune and was so royally entertained that at the Request of his Sister Queen Maud he remitted the Annual payment of 3000 marks But afterwards Henry picking a Quarrel with him he sailed into Normandy and made himself Master thereof Afterwards Robert seeking to regain his own the King took another Voyage for Normandy where a bloody Battel was fought between them and Duke Robert and William Earl of Mortmain were taken Prisoners and the rest flying Henry return'd Conqueror having made Normandy subject to England just that day 40 years that England became subdued to Normandy And the Duke seeking to escape his Imprisonment had both his Eyes put out by the King's Order And now the King begins to shew himself in his Colors making no Bones of breaking his Oath made to his Peers he banished the Flemmings out of England And about this time to wit Anno 1109. the Emperor Henry the IV. took to Wife Maud King Henry's Daughter And now the Affairs of Normandy being disturbed the King hasted thither and after the Suppression of the Rebells he created his Eldest Son Duke thereof by which a Custom grew that thenceforth the Kings eldest Sons were Dukes of Normandy after this Anselm Bishop of Canterbury died Anno Domini 1114. The High Court of Parliament as some Authors affirm was first ordained in this King's Reign Anno 1116. in which year was exceeding great Lightning in March and Thunder and Hail in December and the Moon at both times seemed to be turned into Blood And in October the same year the River of Thames was so dried up that one might have gone between London-Bridge and the Tower on foot This year also King Lewis of France and the Earls of Flanders and Anjou sought to restore William Duke Robert's eldest Son to the Dukedom of Normandy but were frustrated of their hopes by Henry about this time Maud King Henry's Queen died After this Anno 1119. King Lewis enters Normandy again and between him and the King was a bloody Battel fought and Baldwin Earl of Flanders and many thousands besides were slain and the honour of the day fell to King Henry who returned Victoriously into Roan And shortly after the Earl of Anjou to curry the King's Favour gave his Daughter to William the King 's eldest Son in Marriage of which Marriage the King conceived no little Comfort but the budding Hopes of the conceived future Happiness were quickly cropped by the hand of Fate for at the King 's Return for England this new marri'd couple with Richard and Mary other two of the King's Children and Richard Earl of Chester his Lady and other Lords and Ladies were all cast away at Sea The King after this Anno 1121. took to his Second Wife Adilicia Daughter of Jeffery first Duke of Lovain And now Pope Calixtus the II. met the King in Normandy to see if his Threats would work the King's Submission to him that he might have the Packing and Dealing of the Cards for the Game of Spiritual Promotions in England but neither Flatterings nor Threats would work upon him At this Meeting two Youths Sons to the Earl of Mellent and Servants to the King disputing with two of the Popes Cardinals with Logical Syllogisms put the two Rabbies to the Non-plus In this Pope's time Anno 1122. was the first Lateran Council held being the ninth General Council About 3 years after this Anno 1125. Pope Honorius the second sent Cardinal Cremensis to certifie the Abuses of the Married Clergy and to that purpose he made a Set Oration in Praise of CHA-STITY and Dispraise of VNLAW-FVLL LVST for so he termed the Priests Marriage and yet himself was taken that Night with a WHORE and so he returned to his Master the Pope without Success Anno 1126. The King's Son in Law the Emperor died and his Wife returned into England whereupon the King called a Parliament and caused them to swear Fealty to the Empress his only Heir This same year one Arnold an English Preacher of Oxford was cruelly Butchered for preaching against the Pride of Prelates and Priest's wicked Lives The next year after the King married his Daughter the Empress again to Jeffery Plant aginet Son to Foulk Earl of Anjou And about six years after in the 33 year of this King happened so great an Eclipse of the Sun that at Noon-day one might have seen the Stars in the Firmament and about two dayes after this there was a terrible Earthquake And the same year
and was afterwards interred with great solemnity in the Grey-Fryers in Leicester and at the dissolution thereof the stone-trough wherein his Corps were laid was taken up and is now a drinking trough for Horses at a Common Inn in Leicester After the Fight was over the Lord Stanly found the Crown among the spoiles of the field and set it upon the Earl of Richmond's head in the field at which instant began the Reign of this new King and so an End was put to the bloody Contentions between the Yorkists and Lancastrians there were fought here in England eleven Set-Battels five in Henry the Sixt days as St. Albans Blackheath Northampton Wakefield and Towton and five in Edward the Fourths time as Hexham Banbury Lose-Coat-Field Barnet field and Tewxsbury and lastly Bosworth field which put a period to the to the Reign of the Plantaginets and opened away for the Tewdors to succeed them in these Civil Wars between the Houses of Lancaster and York were slain above one Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Men. This Richard the Third was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was a younger Brother to King Edward the Fourth and Son to Richard Duke of York who was Son to Richard Earl of Cambridge who was Son to Edmund Duke of York who was Fifth Son to King Edward the Third his Reign began on Friday the 22 day of June Anno 1483. He reigned two years and two moneths and was the 38 Sole Monarch of England he was slain in the Battel at Bosworth field as is before shewed on Monday 22 day of August Anno 1885. and his Body was buried in the Grey-Fryers at Leicester CHAP. XXVIII Of King Henry the Seventh AFter the Battel at Bosworth field was over the King hasted to London where with great Joy he was received and shortly after Crowned and Edward Plantaginet Earl of Warwick imprisoned in the Tower And now a Parliament being called King Richard was attainted and the Crown intayled on Henry and his heirs for ever About this time was the Sweating-Sickness of which Disease a world of people dyed a new Disease never known in England before And now the King dissolving the Parliament in January after he married the Lady Elizabeth eldest Daughter to King Edward the Fourth who in September after was brought to Bed of Prince Arthur and not long before the King's Marriage was Wheat sold for three shillings per Bushel and Bay-Salt the same price and the Cross in Cheapside was new builded And now the King taking his Progress to York to gain the Love of his Northern Subjects the Lord Lovel with some others that had taken Sanctuary after Bosworth Field raised forces thinking to surprize the King but he with 3000 men under the Conduct of the Duke of Bedford sent either to pardon or Fight them and the Duke proffering pardon the Lord Lovel fled by night and the multitude yeilded without stroak and shortly after Sir Humphry Stafford another Rebel suffered at Tyburn And not long after a new Tumult began upon the Report of one Richard Symon a Priest who broached abroad that one Lambert Symnell Scholar of his was heir to Edward Duke of Clarence who was cast into Prison a little before by Henry and so sailing with him into Ireland he there prevailed so much among the Peers especialy with Thomas Fitz-Girald Lord Chancelor that at Dublin he was Proclaimed and Crowned King and there obtaining some help he returned for England to whom those Lords that favoured the Cause of the Plant aginets joyned themselves although they knew the Fraud among whom the Earl of Lincoln was chief who with the Lord Lovel Sir Thomas Broughton Collonel Swart and Mawrice Fitz Thomas near a little Village about three Miles for Newark called Stoak were all slain by the Kings Army and 4000 Common Soldiers besides and the Counterfeit Symnel with the lewd Contriver of this wicked Stratagem Simon the Priest were both taken and Symnel confessing the business to be forced on him was made one of the King's Falkoners and the Priest Simon was commited to a dungeon and perpetual shackles And shortly after this Battel the King sent Richard Fox Bishop of Exceter and Sir Richard Edgecomb Embassadors to the King of Scots where they to the King 's great Satisfaction concluded a seven years Truce About this time the Duke of Britain sent to the King for his Assistance against France but he unwilling to disoblige either party having been formerly beholden to both sought a reconciliation making himself Umpire between them to which the French seemed to listen but in the mean time prepared for War and at St. Albans gave the Britains a great Overthrow and slew the Lord Woodvile and all or most of his men who was gone to the Duke's aid without King Henry's knowledge hereupon the King prepared to lend his Assisting hand to the Britains but their Duke in the mean time died which put an end to the business And now began some stirs in York-shire where the Earl of Northumberland was slain by the Commons at a place called Cock-Leg near Thirske at the inticement of one John Chambers for demanding the Subsidy granted by Parliament to the King and the Plebeans afterwards made head under the Command of Sir John Egrimont but the King sending an Army against them under the Command of Thomas Lord Howard Earl of Surry they were quickly dissipated and the Ringleadears shortly after received death the due Reward for such Rebels but Sr. John Egrimont escaped to Margaret Dutchess of Britain the common Encorager and Receiver of all King Henry's Enemies About this time the Scots rose in Rebellion against James the Third their King and fought the Army at Bannocks-Burn where in a Mill in the same field he was murthered After this King Henry began to prepare for War against France at the Request of Maximilian the Emperor whom they had basely abused in not only divorsing his Daughter Margaret from the French King but also in making Ann the Heir of the Dukedom of Britain his Wife who had been betrothed to the said Emperor by his Embassadors and the King taking his Voyage for France landed at Callis and marched on as far as Bulloigne and finding the Emperour unprepared upon whose Accounts he had undertaken that War he thereupon made Peace with France and had the sum of 186250 li. granted yearly which was duly pay d during his time and his Son 's until the debt vvas run out After this Voyage Margaret the Dutchess of Burgumdy the King 's grand Enemy obtruded upon the English one Peterkin or Parkin Walbeck by the name of Richard Plant aginet Second Son of Edward the Fourth and many of the Nobility out of Innovation rather than Love knowing it to be a Deceit of the Dutchess sided with him and the Lord Stanly amongst the rest did supply him with Money for which Cause shortly after he lost his Head although formerly he had been a main Instrument
Arch-Bishop of York This King made St. Germans in Cornwall a Bishop's Sea which was afterwards translated to Cridington by Canutus the Dane and at last setled at Exceter by Edward the Confessor This Edred was the 10 Sole Monarch of England his Reign began Anno 946. and he reigned 9 years 11. Edwye He is reported to have abused a Ladie 's Chastity in the face of his Council Monks were expelled from their places by him and married Priests put in their Rooms He also banished Dunstan into Flanders This Edwye was eldest Son of Edmund and eleventh Sole Monarch of England He began to rule Anno 955. and ruled 4 4 years 12. Edgar He had Peace with the Danes and in his time some Divines in Oxford were branded in the face and banished for affirming That the Church of Rome was the whore of Babylon Monkery a stinking Carrion their Vows Nurses of Sodomy c. Dunstan was recalled from Banishment by the King And the sin of Drunkenness being very rife in his time he thereupon caused Cups to be made with certain Pins or Marks with a Penalty to such as should drink deeper than the Mark He also caused the Princes of Wales to render him yearly by way of Tribute 300 Wolves heads by which means Wolves were destroyed in this Nation And every year he rid his Circuit to take Notice of the Abuses and Corruption of his Judges if any were in the Administration of his Laws He is said to be very lascivious not forbearing the very Nuns for he begot St. Edith on Wolfchild the Nun and at Andover plotting to lye with a Western Duke's Daughter he was fitted by the Mother with a Substituted waiting-Creature whom he afterwards retained for his Concubine And now the Fame of the Incomparable Features and Beauty of Duke Orgarus's fair Daughter being spread as far as the Court and ringing in the King's Ears he forthwith longs for the Injoyment of her Company and so Ethelwold a principal Courtier was sent for her but he overcome in Love with her concealed the King's Message and marries her himself And then returning told the King Fame was a Lyar for the Lady was far Inferior in every respect to that which she was reported to be But the King going to hunt afterwards in that part of the Country and going to Ethelwold's house and seeing the Lady's Beauty he perciev'd the Cheat so he slew Ethelwold her Husband with a Javeline as they were hunting and married her himself For these and the like prancks he was injoyned by Bishop Dunstan not to wear his Crown for seven years which he patiently submitted unto but held on his lascivious courses still Vpon the River Dee he had 7 Petty Kings to row his Barge to shew his Greatness This Edgar was the Second Son of Edmund and the 12 sole Monarch of England he began his Reign Anno 959. and reigned 16 years 13. Edward At his Entrance to the Crown was a great Famine and a blasing Star and great Contentions were in his time between the Monks and Married Priests Dunstan being for the Monks and Duke Alfarus for the Priests and the meeting for disputation in an high Room the Prease was so great that the Chamber fell and several were slain and hurt but Dunstan's chair being seated on a post fell not but he continued in his Seat which being taken for a Miracle manifested in behalf of the Monks they thereupon carried the day and the Priests were left to injoy their Wives and lose their places And afterwards the King going a hunting not far from the Castle where his Mother in Law was being dry with pursuing his Game he calls here to take a Glass of Wine she dissembling her Malice with outward Joy to see him caused the Wine to brought which was no sooner at his Mouth but a two-edged Dagger was struck into Back by a Servant appointed for that purpose by her He feeling himself wounded put spurs to his horse and rid away but presently fell from his Horse and was dragg'd about the Fields till he died This Edward was the Eldest Son of Edgar and the 13 Sole Monarch of England he began to reign Anno 975. and reign'd 4 years 14. Ethelred When he was about 10 years old being informed how his Brother Edward was slain by his Mother's means he wept and took on so heavily that his Mother beat him almost to Death with wax Candles nothing else being near at hand This so distasted the King that he could never after endure Wax Candles to be burnt before him He was grievously pestered with the Danes compounding for his quiet with them at 10000 pounds first then they raised him afterwards from 10 to 16 and so to 20 24 30 and lastly to 40000 pounds the Danes never giving over digging in this Golden Myne till they had quite exhausted it Elfrick Earl of Mercia turning Traytor he and his Son Algarus had both their Eyes put out by the King's Command And now the King considering the misery of his People and seeing himself not able to withstand the Danes by force he sought to vanquish them by policy and so gave notice to all his Cities every where on St. Brices day to fall upon the Danes and murther them which was accordingly put in Execution but this News flying into Denmark for all the King's Council was betrayed at all times by Edricus one of his own Councellors there came again fresh Supplies and Swanus the Dane so grievously oppressed the Countrie burning and destroying all before them that he gave them thirty thousand pounds for Peace Not long after they slew 900 Monks and Men of Religion in Canterbury and having wrested a great sum of Money from the Arch Bishop Alphegus they then stoned him to Death at Greenwich The King seeing those proceedings sends his Wife Emma and her two Sons into Normandy to her Brother Richard Duke thereof and shortly after followed himself But at length Swanus the Dane being stabbed by his own Men they make Canutus his Son their King so not long after King Ethelred returns again into England and perceiving the several Treasons against him and seeing himself not able to withstand their Fury he shortly after died In his time was St. Dunstan very famous amongst the Saxons he did use to exercise several Mysteries and Trades at several times to avoid Idleness and one time being working in the Gold-Smiths Trade in a Cell near Glastenbury and making of a Gold Chalice The Devil as the Story goes did there appear unto him in the likeness of a handsome Woman intending to tempt him to lewdness but he by inspiration understood the cheat and so immediately he got the Devil by the nose with the hot Tongs he had in his hands which made the Devil cry out and roar so terribly that People came to see what the matter was who will may believe This Ethelred was third Son of Edgar and the fourteenth sole Monarch of England He
happened such a Raging Fire in London that it consumed a great part of the City from West-Cheap to Algate The next year after being the 34 of the King Duke Robert the King's Brother after 26 years Imprisonment and the putting out of his Eyes died in Prison And this year Worcester and Rochester were burnt This Henry the First was King of England and Duke of Normandy he was the 4th Son of William the Conqueror by Maud his Wife Daughter to Baldwine the Fifth Earl of Flanders He began his Reign on Wednesday the first day of August Anno 1100. and reigned 35 years 4 moneths and 1 day and was 23 Sole Monarch of England He died of a Surfeit with eating Lampreys at the Town of St. Dennis in Normandy on Munday the Second day of December Anno 1135. being the 36 of his Reign 21 of his Dukedom and 65 of his Age. His Body was buried at Redding in Bark-shire in an Abby of his own Founding CHAP. XIII Of King Stephen sometimes called Stephen of Bloyce THis Stephen at his first coming for England landed at Whitsand-Bay with whom came a wonderful Tempest of Thunder His endeavours for the Crown were aided by Henry his younger Brotherthen Bishop of Winchester William Arch Bishop of Canterbury Roger Bishop of Salisbury and Hugh Biggot late Steward to King Henry all which swore him Fealty although they had sworn it before to the Empress King Henry's Daughter who is now by them rejected And crown'd Stephen King at Westminster on the 26 day of December Anno 1135 by William Corbell Arch-Bishop of Canterbury After which he granted his Subjects a Charter of some Immuities Dated under his hand at Oxford Anno Domini 1136 whose Tenour was as followeth That all Liberties Customes and Possessions granted to the Church should stand firm That all Persons and causes Ecclesiastical should appertain only to Ecclesiastical Judges That none but Clergy men should meddle with the vacancies of Churches or any Church mens goods That all bad usages in the Land touching Forrests Exactions c. should be utterly extirpated And lastly That the antient Laws should be restored This year a Fire began at London Stone in the City of London and consumed all before it from thence East-ward to Aldgate and West-ward to St. Pauls Church Not long after this the King caused several Castles to be built in England but by the advice of Henry Fitz Empress shortly after 1115 of them were demolished again And now Baldwine de Redvers Rebelling again the King was taken and banished and a great Battel was shortly after fought against the Welsh but the English lost the day and many of them were led away Captives by the Welsh Women and such a number of them drowned by the fall of a Bridge over Temd that a passage was made over the Water with their dead Carcasses in the year eleven hundred thirty seven Rochester was destroyed with Fire After this David King of Scots invaded England and took Carlisle and New-Castle and the King marching to oppose his further Progress a Peace was concluded between them Afterwards the King in the Third year of his Reign Created Eustance his eldest Son Duke of Normandy This year the Arch-Bishop's Seat in York St. Martyns Church without the Walls and the Hospital with thirty nine Houses and much Riches were burnt The King now paied his elder Brother Theobald two thousand marks yearly for his Right of Normandy and England and to Jeffery Plantaginet Husband to Maud the Empress he paid five thousand Marks yearly for his Right to the Crown Whilest he was in Normandy setling his affairs the Scots again invaded England committing most barbarous Cruelties as ripping up Women with Child and tossing their Infants on their Spear points several of the Peers likewise Revolted and did Fortifie most of the strong Castles in the Realm against the King intending to bring Maud the Empress to the Crown But the King being no sluggard did so hotly pursue his Barrons that he won most of the Castles from them and put them to a stand And with like success did Ralph Bishop of Durham appointed General by Thurstan Arch-Bishop of York the King's Lieutenant of the North go against the Scots who were come as far as Northumberland and manfully forced them to fly the Country And shortly after the King in Person marched into Scotland and a Peace was again concluded between the two Kings And Stephen brought with him into England Henry David's eldest Son and made him Earl of Huntington And now the King began to quarrel with several of his Prelates as Salisbury Lincoln and Ely and demanding the keys of their Castles exacting likewise great summs of money from them About this time Maud the Empress landed in England and was carried into Arrundel-castle by William de Albeny who married the Queen Dowager King Henry's Widdow the King having intelligence thereof hasted to Arundel at whose coming a Woman's Wit being best at a pinch she perswaded him That none to her knowledge or with her consent were come with her but those who did and would owe him Allegiance Hereupon he honourably conveyed her to Bristol from which place she got to Wallingford-Castle and in the mean while Earl Robert her Brother divulged the News of her Arrivage whereupon he got such a number of People together for her cause that they were hard to be numbred The King hereupon forthwith besieges Wallingford-Castle but not able to accomplish his desires he removed his Siege to Malmesbury and in the mean time the Empress got to Lincoln and stored the City with Provision and other Necessaries Hereupon the King withdrew to Lincoln and so straitly begirt the City with his Siege that if the Empress had not made a shift to escape she had been here taken The King possessing himself of Lincoln Earl Robert and Ranulph Earl of Chester went against him with a mighty Army and making over the River pitched their Tents in the King's sight the King ordering his Army Trumpets sounded to Battel and the Armies joined in Fight but the Kings party being overpowred they began to faint and run away leaving the King almost alone who behaved himself so Champion-like that he drove down whole Troops before him until his Battel-Ax broke and his Sword flew into pieces in his hand and then being Weaponless he was struck down with a Stone which was thrown at him and so was seized on but preserved from Violence by Earl Robert's Command and from thence he was carried Prisoner to the Empress to Gloucester from which place he was sent bound to Bristoll And now the Empress Triumphed as sole Sovereign of England all the People save those of Kent doing her Allegiance to Winchester she marched in State and there received the Regal Crown from thence she went to London where she was received with Royal procession And now the reports of Stephen's Imprisonment being got into Normandy his Subjects there began to incline to Jeffery
Earl John the King's Brother who had endeavoured to gain the Crown in his Brothers Captivity that the Devil was let loose again After his Releasement he came for England and was joyfully received by Hubert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and shortly after Earl John was adjudged by his Peers to loose all his Estate And now the King caused himself to be Crowned again at Winchester and had a new Great Seal made by which Device he got great Summs of money out of his Subjects causing them to have all their Evidences new Sealed after this being at Dinner at Westminster and hearing of the Siege of Nerville he swore he would not turn his Face till he had got thither with his Army and so caused the Wall to be cut down where he was that he might pass through which Breach was to be perceived two hundred years after And now he forgave his Brother Earl John and getting a great Victory over the French at Gysors He thus spoke Not we saith he but DIEVET MONDROIT that is God and our Right hath obtained this Victory after this the Kings of England made it their Motto Afterwards by the interceeding of Pope Innocent the Third a Peace was concluded between England and France And not long after this the King lying a Garrison against the Castle of Chalne was there shot in the left Arm by an Arballaster standing on the Wall with a sqare Arrow out of a Steel Bow of which Wound he shortly after died He banished all the Jews of Norwich St. Edmund Bury Lyncoln Stanford Lyn and York at which last place above five hundred of them besides Women and Children entred a Tower of the Castle and when the Christians came to Besiege them the Jews cut the Throats of their Wives and Children and cast them on the Besiegers heads and then burnt both the House and themselves so desperatly Wicked were they This Richard the first was King of England and Duke of Normandy Guyen and Aquitain He was the third Son of King Henry the Second by Elianor his Queen eldest Daughter and Heir to William Duke of Aquitain His Reign began on Thursday the sixth of July 1189 he reigned nine years and nine Months and was the twenty sixth sole Monarch of England He died of the before named Wound in his Arm on Tuesday the sixth of April Anno Domini 1199 being in the tenth year of his Reign and 42 of his Age His body was buried at Font-Everad CHAP. XVI Of King John commonly termed by his Father John Lackland HE was Crowned at Westminster by Hubâ—â— Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and had much ado before he got the Crown and more ado before the People would swear him Fealty which when they did it was with a Reservation Arthur King John's Nephew by his Elder Brother Jeffery with whom sided Philip King of France did mightily oppose King John's proceedings but he was backt by Otho the Emperour And Hubert the Arch-Bishop in a great Assembly made an Oration wherein he Declared that the Crown of England was meerly Arbitrary and Elective Now the King after several Out-fals between Philip King of France and him at length a Peace was concluded wherein it was agreed that Lewis Heir of France should marry King John's Neece After the Peace concluded the King returned for England and ordered a collection of 3s on every Carucata of Land for the Marriage of his Neece and his Martial uses But Jeffery Arch-Bishop of York Son to King John's Father by Rosamond his Father's Concubine denyed the Payment hereof within his Precincts and likewise refused to accompany the King his Brother into France to solemnize the Marriage and conclude the Peace for which Contemps the King caused all his Temporalties to be Seized on After this the King and William King of Scotland meeting at Lincoln they there swore Amity and Faithful Love upon the Crosier-staff of Arch-Bishop Hubert But now the French King breaking the Peace concluded on several Battels were fought between him and King John and Prince Arthur was taken Prisoner and died The Pope sought a Reconciliation between the two Kings but it took no effect After this the King returned and called a Parliament at Oxford at which time they granted him 33 s. 4 d. for every Knights Fee In the year 1204 Normandy fell from England to the French after it had been disbranched from France about 319 years the next year after the Arch-Bishop died whose Wealth and Possessions were Seized on by the King in Regard of his haughty carriage in his life time and John Gray Bishop of Norwich was translated to Canterbury And now the King bethinks himself again on Revenge upon the French and with a great Army landed at Rochel and presently won the Castle Mount Auban which was reputed invincible after this the City Angiers was also subjected by him And at length the two Kings met but by the interceeding of Forein Prelates a two years Peace was concluded About this time the King sent one Alexander a Divine of Oxford to the Pope to defend his Authority against that of Rome which he very well performed and made out both by Scripture and Reason and writing against the Pope's Authority he was afterwards persecuted and banished by Langton Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and died in Exile shortly after this the Emperour Otho arived in England and was Royally received by the King who after some days of Banquetting returned again And now the Pope begins to play his Prancks depriving Arch-Bishop Gray and setting up Stephen Langton in his place writing to the King in his behalf and now began the King's miseries to approach for upon this Account the King wrote to Pope Innocentius the Third threatning him for intruding upon his Prerogative the Pope returned him a thundring Answer and presently after sent his Apostolical command to the Prelates London Ely and Worcester to interdict the Kingdom if the King continued in his Obstinacy This Commission was put in Execution and the Church Doors shut up for several years some Authors say 6 years so that the People lived more like Infidels than Christians for which affront several of the Clergy were banished by the King and sent to the Pope their Master And now the Irish being in Rebellion the King hasted thither at whose arrival more then twenty petty Kings came to him to Dublin doing their Allegiance About this time Gualter Maxes Arch-Deacon of Oxford preached vehemently against the Pride of the Pope and wrote a Book called the Revelation of the Romish Goliah for which he was much persecuted and hated Shortly after this Philip King of France by commission from the Pope took Ship for England to depose King John the Pope promising him the Crown of England but the King prepared against his coming yet fearing the French Power he unwillingly swore to Pandulphus the Pope's Nuncio to submit in all things to the judgment of the Church hereupon Pandulphus swore him touching all things in his
the English were slain amongst whom the King's Brother the Duke of Clarence was one and the Earls of Somerset and Suffolk with other Lords were taken Prisoners the King having notice hereof embarqued again for France and landed at Callis and chased the Dauphin from place to place he not daring to Fight during these proceedings the Queen was brought to Bed at Windsor of a young Prince Henry which news coming to the King's Ears he in a Prophetical way thus spake Good God saith he I Henry of Monmouth shall have but a short Reign and win much but Henry of Windsor shall Reign long and loose all but the Will of God be done Which words of his afterwards proved true And now the King after several brave exploits by him perform'd in this his last expedition into France died appointing by his last Will his younger Brother Humfry Duke of Gloucester Protector of England his Brother John Duke of Bedford Regent of France and Thomas Beaufort Duke of Exceter Guardian of his Son's Body This Henry the V. was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was the eldest Son of King Henry the Fourth by Mary his Queen Daughter to Humfry de Bohun Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton He began his Reign on Sunday the 20 day of March Anno Do. 1412 and reigned nine years five moneths and 10 days and was the thirty fourth sole Monarch of England He died of a Burning Feavor and Flux at Boice de Vincennois in France on Monday the the one and thirty day of August Anno Domini 1422 and was buried at Westminster CHAP. XXIV Of King Henry the Sixth commonly called Henry of Windsor THis King was Crowned at Westminster being but about 8 months old and a Parliament being called and a Subsidy granted that the regal Chair in the House might not stand empty thither the Queen did carry the young Prince and sate with him in her Lap he speaking to the House in anothers Tongue And now the affairs in France were various Fortune sometimes smiling on the French and other sometimes on the English whereupon the Duke of Bedford Regent of France desired to enter Battel with the French which accordingly was performed near the Vernoil where the French were beaten and about 5000 of them slain besides many taken Prisoners During these proceedings in France James the young King of Scots who had casually been taken Prisoner at Sea in Henry the Fifths time was set at Liberty in England thereby to draw the Scots off from Aiding the French not long after Duke Humphry the Protector was married to Jaqueline of Bavaria her Husband being then living which caused the Duke of Burgundy to forsake the Regent in France and now Factions breeding in the Court of England the Regent left France to appease the dangers at home which he happily performed and then with the Lord Talbot and fresh Forces returned again to France From the beginning of April 1428 unto All-Hallon-Tide after fell such abundance of Rain that not only Hay but Corn also was distroyed About this time at the Regent's Return into France Siege was laid unto Orleance where the Earl of Salisbury was slain yet notwithstanding the Siege continued And Charles the young French King being very pensive not knowing how to remedy this Mischief likely to ensue At Chinon a young Maid called Joane of Loraine a sheeperdess appeared to him bidding him be of good Courage for God had sent her to deliver the Realm and so going to Blâ—yce with the Marshal of France and there getting Forces by her Valour the Siege was raised at Orleance the English loosing 600 men at that Brunt and for some short space after this the loosing and taking of Towns was interchangeable but Joan and the Duke of Alanzon still proceeding in their good fortunes near Jergeaux they fought the Lord Talbot taking him and several Nobles Prisoners and killing about 1000 of the English they not loosing above 600. Hereupon several Towns Revolted from the English and Charles himself who before had kept in now Issued out in Armes thinking to have recovered Paris but he was disapointed of his hopes by the Regent and now the English lying Siege to Champaign Joan the Martial Maid coming to it's Rescue was taken and sent to Roan and there Burnt for a Witch which did not a little dismay the French but success proving still various it was thought that King Henry's presence in France would be a great discouragement to the Carrolines hereupon the King with the Company of the two English Cardinals York and Winchester and other Nobles sailed into France Anno. 1432 and at Paris by the Cardinal of Winchester he was Crowned King of France yet Charles esteemed himself not the less a King for all this the King having thus taken possession of France not long after took his farewel of it his Return was by Roan and so over Land to Callis and thence to England again and now the Soldiers beginning to be weary of their Imployment and discontented with their Wages fell to Mutiny at Paris for which the Regent cashiered 110 and chopt of the heads of four of the Principallest of them Anno 1435 the Theames was so frozen that the Merchants which came to the Thames Mouth were forced to be carryed to London by Land And now after several Changeable Successes in France at length the Regent dyed the news of whose death coming to England Richard Duke of York was sent Regent but Paris was lost before his Arrival in France and after several Skirmishes with the English the French proceeded to besiege Callis to which place the new Regent drew his Army but King Henry hearing hereof and fearing the worst sent the Protector with a great Fleet against the French at whose approach they all ran away and so the Protector Settling the State of Callis returned with great honour But this new Regent performing little or nothing in France he Returned for England and Richard Earl of Warwick went in his place but he after a short space dying the Duke of York went again and at his Return into France prossered several times to fight the French King who never durst undertake to joyn Battel with him Not long after this the Duke of Orleance was set at Liberty who had been Prisoner ever since the Battel at Azin Court which was above 26 yeares before his Ransom was 300000 Crowns the Protector was much against his Releasment Anno 1438. All the Lions in the Tower of London dyed and this same year was held the Council at Florence being the 16 General Council Eugenius the fourth being Pope Julythe 18. Anno 1440. The Postern of London by East Smith-field against the Tower of London sunk by Night and about 2 years after a Contest fell between the Duke of Gloucester and the Cardinal his Uncle and the Duke's Lady was accus'd by the Cardinal Henry Chicely Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for Witch-craft as if by Art Magick she
mean time road Victoriously to London and was again Proclaimed King and a Parliament shortly after being called They disinherited Henry his Queen and Son and about 43 Nobles and others and now the Queen returning into Scotland with her French Fleet and afterwards making for England her Fleet was Scattered by a Tempest so that her Husband and She were left solely to the Aide of the Scots who marching into England as far as the Bishoprick of Durham King Edward prepared to meet them but making an halt at York he sent the Lord Montacute with forces to oppose them who was encountered on Hedgley Moore by the Lords Hungerford Roâ—'s and Sir Ralph Peircy to whom the Lord Montacute gave the foyl taking Sir Ralph Percy and several others being slain and growing proud of this Victory he assail'd King Henry's Camp at Hexham where after great slaughter he took the Duke of Somerset and other three Lords and one Knight which were all beheaded whereupon Henry fled into Scotland and afterwards coming into England in disguise he was taken and having his feet tyed to the stirrups and his guilt spurs taken off his heels he was then committed Prisoner to the Tower of London Shortly after King Edward called a Parliament and Enacted several good Laws especially against pride in Apparrel and now he begins to think of a wife whereupon the Earl of Warwick was sent to sollicite a Marriage between the King and Lady Bona Daughter to Lewes Duke of Savoy and all things being well approved of by the Lady and her Friends the Earl Returned before whose Return the King had set his Affections on the Lady Elizabeth Gray here in England whose Mother was Jaquelline Daughter to Peter Earl of St. Pauls to whom shortly after he was Married The Earl of Warwick took great distast thereat thinking himself hereby abused and endeavoured afterwards to uphold King Henry's Cause drawing to his Assistance some Nobles and Forein Princes and upon these discontents some of the Commons rose under the Command of one Robert Hildern intending to gave seized on York from which place they were beaten back by the Lord Montacute president thereof and their Leader beheaded Yet the Commons not dismai'd hereat chose Henry Lord Fitzhughs Son and Sir Henery Nevil Son to the Lord Latimer but they being but young made choice of Sir John Coniers a valliant Knight and intended their march for London of which the King having notice he made William Lord Herbert Earl of Pembrook General and Sir Richard Herbert his Brother assistant to him And now the Northern forces drawing near Northampton the Lord Stafford and Sir Richard Herbert with 2000 Horse fell in the Rear of them but were repulsed and lost most of their Men afterwards the Armies meeting near Banbury some distast being then taken by the Lord Stafford at the Earl of Pembrook the Kings General he thereupon withdrew his Archers upon which occasion Pembrook lost the field and had 5000 men slain and the Earl with his Brother and other ten Gentlemen were taken and carryed to Banbury and there beheaded After this Victory some Commons under the Leading of Robin of Ridsdale hasten to Grafton the King's Mannour house and there surprized Earl Rivers the Queens Father and his Son John and at Northamton beheaded then and now the King set forth with an Army himself and pitched at Wolny four Miles from Warwick whose Guards were not so vigilant as they should have been the King being at that time animated with some hopes of peace of which the Earl of Warwick taking advantage he entered the King's Camp Treacherously by night and took him prisoner when he never dreamt upon it from whence they conveyd him with easie journys by night to the Castle of Midleham in Yorkshire and there left him to the keeping of George Nevil Arch-Bishop of York Warwicks Brother from whom the King not long after escaped and came to York where the Citizens received him lovingly and so raising an army he past from thence to London not long after this Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells raised 30000 plebeans in Lincolnshire and pitched near Stanford whereupon the King caused the Lord Wells Sir Roberts Father and Sir Thomas Dimmoâ—k his Kinsman to be beheaded which was against the King's Oath and promise to them and then marched to fight Sir Robert who with Sir Thomas Deland were taken Prisoners and Lincolnshire men cast of their Coats and run away whereupon that Battel was called Loss-Coat field there were slain that day about 10000. this Newes made the Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick flye to sea and casting Anchor before the Town of Callis they were there denyed Entrance by the Lord Vanclere who was the Earl of Warwicks Deputy there for which good service he was by King Edward made Captain of Callis and Warwick discharged as a Traytor yet nevertheless he was welcome to the French where the Queen of King Henry at that time was with whom Warwick joyned whose Daughter at that time was betrothed to Prince Edward King Henrys Son and they all sollicited for Forces which was granted and the Earl landing in England with a great Army proclaimed King Henry to whose Aide great store of People flocked the Lord Fawconberge in the West and the Earl of Pembrook in the North doing the like And the Earl of Warwick now taking his March towards London King Edward Commanded his Lords to attend him in the War but several of them disowned his Mandates which he perceiving with some few Nobles in his Company hasted towards Nottingham there to determine what was best to be done but his Foes greatly increasing Bon-fires burning Bells ringing and all the people crying up King Henry for very fear King Edward with his Brother the Duke of Gloucester took shipping at Lyn and sailed into Flanders to Charles Duke of Burgundy and his Queen took Asylum at Westminster where she was delivered of Prince Edward afterwards King of England and at this time several of the Kings Friends took Sanctuary Edward being fled Warwick took King Henry out of the Tower where he was prisoner and Riding in Tryumph through the Streets of London great were the Acclamations of the People crying God save King Henry And now a Parliament being called Edward was declared Traytor and his with all his Adherent's Goods confiscated and the Crown Intayled to the Heirs Males of Henry's body and for default thereof to the Heirs Males of George Duke of Clarence and finally all the Statutes made by King Edward were Abrogated But King Edward having gotten some small Forces of about 12000 men of his Brother in Law the Duke of Burgundy he returned for England as a Subject and proclaimed King Henry deluding the People and so got to York which he making them believe that he came but to look for his own Inheritance surprized and assumed to himself leaving a Garison in it and from hence he marched to Nothingham and so to
credite to Bede but the History of Saint Swithin saith it was by Berinus Bishop of Dorchester 4. Barthun and Authun These two Dukes banishing Ceadwell after Ethelwolf's death were afterwards overcome by him and Barthun slain with whom died the Kingdom And now we proceed to the West-Saxon Kingdom within whose Limits were reckoned Cornwall Devon-shire Dorcet-shire Somerset-shire Wiltshire Southampton-shire and Barkshire It began about the year 501 continued about 515 years and ended Anno 116. and boasted in the Succession of Seventeen Kings as followeth to wit 1. Cherdick This man was a valiant Captain of the Low Country Germans and entred this Island about the year 495. he fought a great Battel against the Britains and slew Natauleon one of their great Princes This Cherdick was the first West-Saxon King and began his Reign over that Kingdom Anno 501. and reigned 33 years 2. Kenrick He began to Reign Anno 534. and reigned 26 years he gave the Britains two great Overthrows the one at Sheresbury in Wiltshire and the other at Banbury in Oxford-shire he was with his Father Cherdick also in several of the Battels against the Britains 3. Chewlin See for what memorable Accidents happened in his time in the VI. Chapter among the Petty Monarcks He began his Reign Anno 560. and reigned 33 years 4. Cearlick He overthrew his Vncle Chewlin at Wannes-Ditch in Wilt-shire and so obtained the Kingdom Anno 593. and reigned 6 years 5. Chelwolf He began his Reign the year 598 and being assaulted by the Britains Scots and Pickts after 14 years Reign he died in the Wars 6. Kingills This Prince at Beandune fought the Britains and slew 1046 of them he made Peace with Penda King of Mercia and was the first Christian King of the West-Saxons he was Converted by Berinus to whom he gave Dorchester his Reign began Anno 612. and continued about 31 years 7. Kenwald He conquered the Britains at Pennum but was afterwards driven out of his Kingdom by Penda King of Mercia whose Sister he had married and turn'd her away but being Baptized by Bishop Felix and receiving his wife again he received with her his Kingdom also he began his Reign 643. and reign'd 31 years 8. Eskwin His Reign began Anno 675. and continued about 2 years He fought a great Battel with Wolfere King of Mercia at Bidamheaford where many Saxons were slain on both sides 9. Kentwin This King was a great Scâ—urge to the poor Britains causing them to flye into Râ—cks and Mountains for Safegard he began his Reign Anno 677. and reigned 9 years 10. Ceadwald He slew Ethelwolf King of the South-Saxons in Battel and after him Barthun another Prince thereof he spilt much Christian blood in Kent also but at length was baptized by Pope Sergius at Rome and was named Peter he began his Reign Anno 686 and reigned about two years 11. Ine This King began his Reign Anno 688. and reigned 37 years he gave a great overthrow to the Britains and fought Cheolred King of Mercia bringing the South-Saxons Kingdom also into a Province and annexing it to the West-Saxons Kingdom He made several good Laws translated by Mr. Lambert out of the Saxon Language he founded the Abby of Glastenbury and after went to Rome on Pilgrimage where he died He caused every housholder that had goods of one kind in his house to the value of twenty pence to pay the Pope yearly a penny on Lammas-day which afterwards was called Peter-pence 12. Ethellard In this Kings time appeared two blasing-Stars he was much emulated by Oswald a Norman his Reign began Anno Domini 726 and continued fourteen years 13. Cuthred He began his Reign Anno 740 and Reigned fourteen years he made Peace with Ethelbald King of Mercia and they both joined in War against the Britains and gave them a great overthrow at length Earl Adelm one of his Subjects Rebelled against him 14. Sigesbert He caused Earl Cumbra to be slain for telling him of his Vices and Cruelties towards his Subjects upon which occasion his Subjects Rebelled against him and drove him into the Woods where he was slain by a Swineheard Servant to Earl Cumbra he Reigned about one year and began his Rule 754. 15. Kenwolf He began his Government 755 and Ruled twenty nine years he several times overthrew the Britains but was at length overthrown himself by Offa King of Mercia as he was going to Merton to visit his Paramour by one Clyto who for his pains the next day was rewarded with Death by one Osricus the King's Captain and all Clyto's followers being 80 men received the same Doom and then Osricus took the King's body and buried it at Winchester 16. Brithrick This King was unwittingly poisoned by the Queen he taking the Poison which she had prepared for one of his Minions whereupon she fled into France and there died miserably several strange Prodigies appeared in this King's Reign he began his Reign Anno 784. and reigned 16 years 17. Egbert He was the first sole Monarch of England See more of him in the Seventh Chapter his Reign began Anno 800. over this Kingdom and continued 36 years after which he reigned 17 years as sole Monarch having reduced England into a Monarchy Anno 827. The next Kingdom we come unto is the East-Saxons which contained Essex and Middlesex whose beginning was Anno 522. Continuance 305 years and its Expiration An. Dom. 827. The Succession of Kings were 14. as followeth 1. Erchenwine He began to Rule over this Kingdom Anno 527. and reigned sixty years 2. Sledda This King reigned nine years 3. Sebert He was converted by Miletus the first Bishop of Saint Pauls in London which Church was founded by Sebert and Ethelbert King of Kent here formerly had stood a Temple dedicated to Diana This King began his Reign Anno 596. and reigned 21 years he was the first Christian King of this Kingdom 4. Sered He began his Reign Anno 617. and reigned 6 years he banished Miletus for prohibiting his Prophanation of the Lord's Table and was afterwards slain by Kingills the West-Saxon King 5. Sigesbert This King began his Reign Anno 623. and reigned 23 years 6. Sigebert He was Baptized by Bishop Finnan through the Perswasion of Oswye King of Northumberland and having too much Clemency two of his Brethren murthered him after he had reigned 15 years he began his Reign Anno 646. 7. Swithelm He began his Reign Anno 661. and reigned 3 years he was baptized by Bishop Cedda Edelwald King of the East-Angles being his Godfather 8. Sighere He turn'd Apostate but being brought to the Faith again by the Industry of Wolfere King of the Merciaâ—s he afterwards caused Idolatrous Temples and Altars to be demoloshed in his time was a great Plague he began his Reign Anno 664 and reigned 5 years 9. Sebba He changed his Princely Robes into a Religious Habit in the Monastery of St. Paul's in London leaving his Kingdom to Sigherd after he had
savage Rage fired the City of York and martyr'd St. Edmund King of the East-angles but Ethelred at length gave them a great overthrow slaying one of their Kings nine Earls and an infinite number of common Soldiers but about fourteen days after the Danes put the King to Flight at Basing and giving him Battel again at Merton about 2 Months after they obtained the Victory wounding the King also of which afterwards he died In the third year of this Kings Rule was the fourth general Council of Constantinople under Pope Hadrian the Second This was the eighth general Council of Christendom This Ethelred was the Third Son of Ethelwolf and fifth Sole Monarch of England and began his Reign Anno 866. and reigned 6 years 6. Elfride He fought 7 Battels with the Danes in one year and his Predecessor 9 These Danes so sore oppressed the King that he was forced to fle into the Woods and Desart Places where righting of his Bow and Arrows in a poor Cottage he was sharply blamed by the House-wife for letting a Cake burn on the Hearth for want of turning But after this putting himself into the habit of a Musitian he went playing up and down in the Danes Tents and taking notice of their sluggish Security he returned and gathered together his scattered forces and entring the Danes Tents before they were aware he made a great slaughter of them and took Rafan their Danish Banner which had a Raven of Needle-Work in it that had good Fortune ever attendant And now Halden a Danish Commander landing in Wales was by the Devonshire Men slain at a place near Exeter bearing his name and 818 of his followers after this the Danes sued to the King for Peace which was granted but not long continued This King caused all thieves to be banished and divided his Kingdom into Shires Hundreds and Tythings It is said That Gold-Bracelets were fastned to the Posts in Cross-wayes and that none were so bold as to take them away He is reported to have divided the Natural Day into three parts Eight hours whereof he spent in Prayers and Contemplation Eight hours in the Affairs of the Kingdom and Eight hours in Provision for himself He founded the first Common School in Oxford as Authors affirm which is now called Vniversity Colledge This Elfride was fourth Son of Ethelwolf and the Sixth Sole Monarch of England He began his Reign Anno 872. and reigned 29 years 7. Edward A Rebellion was raised against this King by his Nephew Ethelwald in this King's time one John Patrick Erigena a Britain writ a Book about the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper which was afterwards condemned by the Pope and he received Martyrdom for his Reward This King built the Castle of Hartford and at St. Edmund's Ditch he fought the Danes and was overcome but they lost two of their Kings Ethelwald and Crochricus and encountring again at Wodnesfield there the fortune of the day fell to the King and he slew the two Pagan Kings Cowilfus and Healadinâ—â— and the two Earls Vter and Scurfa and many thousands of the Danes besides Edrick King of the East-Angles was also slain by his own Subjects after this King had vanquished his Army This Edward was the eldest Son of Elfride and the Seventh Sole Monarch of England He began to rule Anno 901. and ruled 24 years 8. Ethelstane He is said to be the first annointed King 〈◊〉 this Island Elfred a Norman rebelling 〈…〉 and sent to Rome to 〈…〉 Edwin the King's Brother was slain the King through some Jealousies consenting thereunto but afterwards Repenting the Fact caused the Procurer thereof to suffer Death And now Anlafe the Dane disguising himself like an Harper entred the King's Tent and returning thought to have surprized the King but getting Intellihence hereof he removed his Tent and a Bishop new come to the Camp pitched there so Anlafe coming at night to surprize the Tent the Bishop hearing started up and so manfully laid about him that he slew five Petty Kings twelve Dukes and a great number of Soldiers but at last pity it was so was slain himself And the King afterwards passing into Scotland he Offers his Knife for good Luck's sake to John of Beverlye Subdues the whole Kingdom of Scotland makes a miraculous Dint in a Stone at Dun-bar with one stroak of his Sword of an Ell deep to testifie his Right to that Kingdom Near Winchester as the Story goes The King was challenged by the insulting Danes to provide a Champion to encounter one COLBRON a Danish Gyant whom they held invincible and none of the King's men daring to fight him he got a Pilgrim from among the Beggars as he was directed in his Sleep that entred the Lists and slew the Gyant and this proved to be Guy of Warwick of whose Vallor and the Faithfulness of his Wife Felice Tradition hath been very prodigal At Long-run the King became Victor of his Enemies and several Kings sent him Presents Hugh King of France sent him the Sword of Constantine the Great which had in the Hilt thereof one of the Nails that fastned CHRIST to the Cross he sent also Constantine's Spear being the same that Longinus pierced CHRIST's side with when he hung on the Cross and with it a piece of the Thorny Crown also And Otho the Emperor sent the King a Lanskip richly set with precious Stones The King of Norway sent him a great Ship richly gilt with purple Sails This King caused the BIBLE to be turned into English This Ethelstane was the eldest Son to Edward and the Eighth sole Monarch of England He began his Reign anno 925. and reign'd 15 years 9. Edmund He was much imployed in warring against the Danes and fought several Battels with them He caused the Eyes of the two Sons of Dunmail to be put out for their Rebellion He was Author of several of those Laws translated by Master Lambert he was Crown'd at Kingstone near London and made King thereof and so were Edwye Edred and Ethelred his Successors But on a time unhappily interposing his Body between two Duellists he was run thorow He bestowed Northumberland on Malcom King of Scotland This Edmund was fifth Son to King Edward and ninth Sole Monarch of England He began his Reign Anno 940 and reigned 6 years 10. Edred In his time Anlafe began to invade England again being animated under hand by Wolstan Arch-Bishop of York and was made King of Northumberland by the Subjects there but after several Skirmishes between Edred and him at length he grew distasteful to the People and so they dis-robed him of his borrow'd Honour and left him in statu quo prius The King in his March to Northumberland against Anlafe spoiled all with Fire and Sword and burnt the Abby of Rippon But at his Return he was basely set upon in the Rear of his Army and several of his Men slain before the rest could face-about which Plot was devised against him by Wolstan
began his Reign Anno 979 and reigned 37 years 15. Edmund He was Sirnamed Ironside He gave the Danes several Battel overthrew them and raised the Siege at London he worsted Canutus 4 times at least in the plain Field and had in all likelihood rid England of him if the Traitor Edrick and others of the Perfidious Clergy and Nobility had not secretly assisted him Edmund fought a single Duel with Canutus the Dane and dangerously wounded him whereupon Canutus desisted and cried out to King Edmund saying What need is there for us thus to indanger our Lives if thou consent to divide the Kingdom between us we shall then be at peace and like two Brothers which thing Edmund consented unto and did accept of Canute for his Co-partner in the Kingdom But not long after Edmund being easing of himself he was by Duke Edrick that Grand Traytor thrust into the Fundament with a sharp Spear and his head cut off and presented to Canute as an acceptable Sacrifice as was hoped but he detesting such Traiterous Villany caused Edricks head to be chopt off and to be advanced upon a Pole above the rest of his Fellows as it was promised him an advancement fit for the betrayers of their King and Country And now the Saxons Monarchy by the Death of Edmund being drawn to a Period and the Standard of their Government overthrown The Danes began to Advance the Banner of their Conquest and after King Edmund's Death displayed it in open Field none being able to withstand them so they made themselves sole Masters of the Island after it had been in Possession of the Saxons about 566 years it was a long time after the Danes first entrance before they became sole Monarchs thereof This Edmund was third Son of Ethelfrid and the fifteenth sole Monarch of England his Reign began Anno 1016 and he reigned about 1 year CHAP. VIII Of the Danes and their Conquest of Britain with the memorable Accidents happening during the time of those three Danish Monarchs who ruled here THE Original of these Danes is thought by some to be from the Scythians but others rather think to come from Scandia an Island scituate Northward not far from the Continent of Denmark As to their Religion it was much alike to that of the Saxons Their first Invasion was about the year 787 and about 230 years after they became sole Masters of England which Sovereignty continued but about twenty four years which they had struggled for above two hundred years Their Succession of Monarchs were these three following 1. Canutus He was Son to Swanus and was Crowned at London by Livingus Arch-Bishop of Canterbury he sent Edward and Edmund the two Sons of Edmund Ironside the last Saxon Monarch to his Brother the King of Sweeden to be made away but he abhorring the Fact transferred them to the King of Hungary And now he marries Emma King Ethelreds Widdow by whose Counsel he wrested 82000 Pounds out of his Subjects to give those lazy Danes that were sent packing to Denmark there being then no more need for them here He called a Parliament at Oxford and enacted several good Lawes which are to be seen in several old Chronicles and too large here to be incerted He is said to be an Enemy to Dissemblers Traytors and Flatterers for on a time he caused himself to be placed in a Chair where the Sea ebbs and flows at Southampton and commanded the Sea that it should not swell so as to wet his Feet but the disobedient Sea the Tide then coming out presently dashed up to his Thighs whereupon he started up and said to the Flatterers who had extoll'd his greatness to be unmatchable You see all the might and power of Kings is but vanity for none is worthy to have the name of King but he that hath allâ— things subject to his Laws And so after that time as some Authors affirm he would never suffer the Crown to come on his head but set it on the Crucifix head at Winchester In the third year of his Reign he went into Denmark and chased from thence the Vandalls who had invaded that Kingdom And at length he went on Pilgrimage to Rome and is Recorded for a very good Man setting aside his intention to have murthered King Edmunds two Sons This Canutus was the 16 sole Monarch of England He began his Reign Anno 1017. and reigned eighteen years he was buried in the old Monastery at Winchester 2. Harrold He was so swift that he was called Harefoot Earl Goodwine was against his coming to the Crown but the Londoners and Lords on the North side of Thames were for him and prevailed he by Treachery of Goodwine afterwards got the two Sons of Emma Edward and Alfride the last of which had his eyes put out and his Belly opened and one end of his Bowels drawn out and fastned to a Stake and then he was pricked with sharp poiniards and forced round about the Stake till all his Intralls were wound out He caused also Queen Emma to be banished and her goods to be confiscate but the Earl of Flandâ—rs received her honourably This Harrold was the Second Son of Canutus and the seventeen sole Monarch of England he began his Reign Anno 1036 he reigned four years and was buried at Westminster as Mr. Stow affirms 3. Hardicanute He was Crowned at London by Elnothus Arch-Bishop of Canterbury He caused the body of his half Brother Harrold to be digged out of his Grave and thrown into the Thames after he had first cut off his Head but some Fishers finding the body buried it decently in St. Clements without Temple Bar this Hardicanute was a great Epicure and had his Tables spread four time dayly and furnished with Dainties for the satisfying of his greedy Appetite through the Perswasions of Earl Goodwine he raised the Sum of 32147 pounds in England for the payment of his Fleet which greatly distasted his Subjects the thing desired by Earl Goodwine two of the Collectors of this Money were slain at Worcester for which offence their City was set on Fire The King Drinking freely at a Wedding in Lambeth got a Surfeit and died some say he was choaked at Dinner there but certain it is he died and with him dyed the Danes Monarchy over England and it fell again to the Saxons for Edward the Seventh Son of Ethelred by Emma his Queen was sent for out of Normandy by the English and was made King which thing was brought about by Earl Goodwines means and Leofrick Earl of Chester This Hardicanute was third Son of Canutus and eighteenth sole Monarch of England He began to Reign Anno 1040 And reigned about two years he was buried at Winchester CHAP. IX Of the Saxons Re-entry again to the Monarchy of England after the Danes Conquest THis new Possession of the Saxons was but of short Continuance till William the Norman Duke came and made a Forceable Entry upon them and though his Entry were
unlawful yet all the force and Law they then had could never obtain a Writ of Restitution the continuance of this new Saxon Monarchy was but during the times of these two Kings following 1. Edward the Confessour He was Crowned at Winchester by Edsine Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the beginning of his Reign the Danes Irish and Welsh entered England and destroyed all in their passage with Fire and Sword but they were withstood in their proceeding by Alfred the Warlike Bishop of Worcester In the fifth year of the King's Reign there fell so great a Snow in January that covered the Ground till the middle of March and much Cattel and Fowl died and in January after happened such an Earthquake that it seemed to rend the ground in sunder and withal such fearful Lightnings were then that the Corn in the Fâ—elds was burnt up which caused a great Dearth And now Goodwine Earl of Kent who was the main Instrument in setting up King Edward for his Favour to the Burgesses of Canterbury falls into dislike with the King and after several thwartings he and his five were banished but about two years after was received again into favour and being one day at the King's Table at Dinner the Cup-bearer coming in got a slip and had like to have spilt the Wine but as one Foot slipped the other recovered it whereupon the Earl said I see one Brother hath helped the other Yes said the King and so would my Brother Alured have helpen me if Goodwine had not been The Earl perceiving the King's Anger he took a piece of Bread and wished it might choak him if he were guilty of betraying the King's Brother so putting the Bread into his Mouth he was choaked therewith and fell down dead After this the King caused his Mother Emma to be tried whether she were guilty of Adultery or no by causing her to go blindfold over the place where nine Plow-shares lay glowing hot and she being clear of the Accusation laid to her charge went over the place where they lay and mist them every one stepping betwixt still all the way as she went when she was past them she not knowing so much cryed out saying Oh Lord When shall I come to the place of my Purgation And having her eyes opened and seeing herself past the Danger she fell on her knees and gave Thanks to her Deliverer this kind of Tryal was called Ordalium It is reported also that his Dealings with his own Beautiful Queen Edith a Daughter to Earl Goodwine were little better she being likewise accused of Adultery and kept in Prison during her Father's Banishment In this King's time was a blasing Star seen for sev'n dayes space all the World over The Abby of St. Peters at Westminster was enlarged by this King and he built the Church of St. Margarets at Westminster and removed the Bishop's Sea from Cridington in Devon-shire to Exeter and made Leofrick first Bishop thereof and he was the first of our Kings that cured the Disease called Struma now the King 's Evil and that first used to Seal his Patents with the Stately Seal now called The KING' 's Great Seal and he remitted the Tax of Dane-Guilt so grievous to his Subjects and Collected all the Laws of his Predecessors into one Body which some say is the Ground or Foundation of our Common Law This King Edward was seventh Son to King Ethelred and first by his Second wife Queen Emma he was born at I slip in Oxford-shire and was the 19 Sole Monarch of England he began his Reign Anno. Dom. 1042. and reigned 20 years 6 months and 27 daies He died the 4 of January and was buried at Westminster 2. Harrold This King at his Entrance freed his Subjects from those grievous Tributes his Predecessors had afflicted them withall he was crowned by Aldredus Archbishop of York Now there were three several Reports of Edward's disposing of the Crown some said to the Norman Duke who made that the Anchor-hold of his Claims others to young Edgar to whom he was great Vncle and lastly to this Harrold who in King Edwards days being at Sea in a Fisher-boat upon Pleasure was driven into Normandy where Duke William caused him to swear that if Edward died without Issue the Crown of England should be reserved for the Normans And hereupon after Edward's Death and Harrold's assuming of the Crown Duke William sent his Embassadours to him to put him in minde of his Oath but he returned Answer That it was extorted from him in his Imprisonment and so not obliging At this Answer the Duke was much inraged and prepared for an Invasion and at Harrold's Preparation to Encounter the Duke a fearful Comet appeared which was look'd upon as after it proved a bad Omen And now Harrold's Misery approaching Tosto Brother to Harrold and Harrold Harfagar King of Denmark invaded England and landed at Richal upon Owse in York-shire and spoiling the Country round about marched straitway to York News being brought to the King he with his Army marched Northwards to suppress these Danish Forces and at Stamford Bridg built over the River Derwent he was stopt by a single Dane who slew 40 of his men but at length the valiant Dane was slain by a Soldier who got a Boat and rowed under the Bridge and thrust his Spear up through a hole in the Bridge and so slew the famous valiant Dane Some say He was slain with a Dart thrown at him And the King now getting the Bridge he fell upon the Norwegians and made great slaughter of them and among the rest he slew Harfagar the King of Denmark and Tosto his own Brother and Olave the Son of Harfagar and Paul Earl of Orkny were taken Prisoners who begging their Lives of the King were suffered to depart with the rest of the Prisoners having 20 small Vessels of their great Fleet of three hundred Ships wherewith they invaded the Realm allowed them to carry away their slain and hurt with the heavy news to Denmark of the loss of their King and overthrow of their whole Army These Troubles were no sooner over but William Duke of Normandy landed at Pevensey in Sussex upon the eighth day of September Anno Domini 1066 who after his landing set his own Fleet on Fire that his Soldiers might have no hopes of flying back thither for succour When he first came on shoar his Foot stuck fast in the Sand and the Knight that was next to him said Now Sir Earl England sticks fast to thee Doubt not but presently to be King thereof after some small stirs he sent a Messenger to the King at London to demand the Kingdom but the Messenger was dismissed with Threats and Harrold now seeing no way but one either to fight or yield the Kingdom which was too sweet a Morsel to part with without Blows He therefore advances with his Army into Sussex and pitched his Tents in a fair plain within seven miles of the Enemy and
sending forth his spies they were taken and presented to the Duke who caused them to be sent from Tent to Tent and Feasted and then released them And now the Duke entring the plain where the King was sent a Monk to him to demand the Kingdom or otherwise for the avoiding the effusion of much blood to try it by single Combate or else to hold the Kingdom under him Harrold's Answer was It should be tried by more Swords than one So the next day being the 14 of October 1066 on a Saturday They marshalled their Armies and Trumpets sounding to Battel at the first encounter the Normans had the worst of it and the English thinking they had run dis-ranked themselves for persuit which as soon as the Duke perceived he rallied his men and sell in desperately again and then slew the dis-ranked English on heaps among which King Harrold paid his last Breath to the fury of the Conqueror having an Arrow shot into his Brains and with him died Girth and Leofine his two Brothers and most of the English Nobles and 97974 Soldiers the Duke had three Horses slain under him yet received no harm himself In this same place the Conqueror afterwards built an Abby and called it Battel-Abby And now Aldrede Archbishop of York counselled the People to chuse young Edgar Atheling King being the true lawful Heir to the Crown but it came to nothing for with the determination of Harrold's Reign ceased the Royal blood of the Saxons whose Kings made England an Heptarchy and afterwards had reduced it to a glorious Monarchy and had been Kings and Monarchs thereof from Hengists first Possession of the Kingdom of Kent till Harrold's Deaths about 587 years but Authors agree not in the Computation some accounting more and some less This King Harrold was the Son of Goodwine Earl of Kent by his Wife Sitha Sister to Swain the younger King of Denmark he was the 20 sole Monarch of England And began his Reign Anno 1065 and Reigned about 9 Months and nine days he was slain the 14 of October 1066 at Battel-Field in Sussex and was buried at Waltham in Essex CHAP. X. Of England's Conquest by the Normans and first of William the Conqueror THese Normans who by the Sword gained the Diadem of England and were the last Conquerors thereof in whose Line the Monarchy of England is still continu'd were antiently a mixt Nation with the Warlike Norwegians Swedens and Danes and took their Name from that Northern Climate antiently called Cimbrica Chersonesus and Norway but the Country being thought to be too little for these People Rollo a Famous Noble Norman with many others in his Company betook themselves to Sea to seek Fortunes Court and having practised some Piracies upon the Coasts of Belgia Frizia England and Ireland at length they became so fearful to the French that Charles the Simple King of France gave to Rollo his Daughter Gilla in Marriage with the Dutchy of Normandy And this Duke Rollo was Proavus or Great Grandfather to Richard the Fifth Duke of Normandy which Richard was Elder Brother to Robert Father to this WILLIAM the Famous Conqueror of England whose Famous Actions and Memorable Things we shall now proceed to Treat of After the Fight at Battle-Field Duke William hasted towards London wasting as he went the Counties of Kent Sussex Surry Hampshire and Bark-shire he crost Thames at Wallingford and so marched thorow the Counties of Oxford Buckingham and Hartford And at Barkhampstead he made a Stop to which place repaired Aldred Archbishop of York Wolstan Bishop of Winchester Walter Bishop of Hereford the Earls Edwin and Morcar and Edgar Atheling the Heir to the Crown and here did their Allegiance to the Duke And so marching for London he was stopt at St. Albans by Fredrick Abbot thereof On Christmas-day following he was Crowned at Westminster by Aldred Arch-bishop of York And now considering how to secure the Realm from Invasions he thought it expedient first to fortifie the Cinque Ports and so taking his March towards Dover at the Instigation of Stigand Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Eglesine Abbot of Saint Austines he was surprized by the Kentish men who carrying Boughs and Branches of Trees in their hands they seemed like a Walking Wood which sight so afrighted the Conqueror that he granted their Requests to have all their Ancient Customs whereupon they yielded up to him their Earldom of Kent and Castle of Dover The Conqueror was kind also to the Londoners suffering them to injoy their Priviledges they had in Edward the Confessor's time Shortly after this the Conqueror sailed to Normandy to settle his Affairs there taking with him several English Nobles whose greatness he feared in his Absence for Pledges and making his half Brother Otho Bishop of Bayeux Earl of Kent and William Fitz-Osburne Earl of Hereford to whose Trust he left the Government of the Kingdom till his Return In whose Absence the Welsh rebelled and wasted all to the Mouth of Wye these Stirs called the Conqueror back again who at his Return gave the Lands of the English to his Normans And the English thus turned out of their Estates fell so to Rob and Pillage that the High-wayes between one Town and another lay unfrequented The Earls Edwin and Morcar and Edgar Atheling with his Mother and Sister and several other English Nobles fled into Scotland to King Malcolm to whom the Conqueror sent desiring him to send back for England Edgar Atheling but Malcolm having married his Sister denied him and kept him notwithstanding all King William's Threats And now the Conqueror still going on in his Oppressions of the English he caused every House-houlder to put out both Fire and Candle at eight a Clock at Night to which purpose there was a Bell rung in every City Town or Village by the French called Cover few that is Cover Fire In the Second year of his Reign Goodwine and Edmund two of King Harrold's Sons invaded the Realm out of Ireland and took away great Bootys And the year after the English in the North slew 700 Normans but some of the Authors of the Rebellion being taken had some of them their Heads cut off and other their hands And now Swain King of Denmark assisted the English with 300 Sail of Ships fraught with Soldiers who under Command of Osburne Swaine's Brother and his own two Sons Harrold and Canute arriv'd in Humber and marched for York at whose Approach the Yorkists were so dismay'd that they set their own City on fire and the Minster of St. Peters being then consum'd Aldred their Archbishop died with greif At his time were 3000 Normans slain but the King hearing of these Stirs took his March into the North and after he had overthrown the Enemy he was so inraged at the Northern Disturbers that he spoil'd their Country lying all level with the ground for Threescore miles between York and Durham which lying untilled for nine years space caused such a Famine
Excommunication that he should stand to the Popes Judgment and that he should restore to their former Dignities the Arch-Bishop Bishops and Monks he was also forced to surrender his Crown Scepter Sword Robes and King into Pandulphus's the Popes Attorneys hands laying them at his feet And lastly to hold his Crown in Fee-Farm of the Pope at the yearly Rent of 1000 Marks And now the Pope got the Prey which he so long hunted after But the King was continually after pestered with the Pope between whom and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury he was banded like a Tennice-Ball The Barrons also proved several times disloyal to him and at last betrayed the Crown of England to Lewis of France sending him their Letter of Allegiance hereupon Lewis against the Popes Command set forwards for England with 600 Ships and 80 Boats and landed in the Island of Thaâ—net in Kent to whom all the Treacherous Barrons Fâ—ed from thence he marched to London and at St. Paul's Church he took the Oath of the Citizens and the Oath of the Barons at Westminster The King seeing these proceedings spoiled the Castles of the Barrons which caused them to Repent of their Disloyalty forthwith returning to the King again who then lay sick at Newark and shortly after died In this King's Reign London-Bridge was built of Stone being but of Wood at first and several Prodigies were seen in his Reign and also terrible Storms of Thunder and Lightning with Hail Stones as big as Goose-Egs which destroyed Men and Women besides Cattel and Corn Fields In the 15 of the King a Fire hapning in London near the Bridge People thronging to make some help the Fire by the Violence of the Wind took hold on both ends of the Bridge so that the People could not pass either backwards or forwards and and so Barges Boats c. coming to their Assistance the People thronged so indiscreetly into them that the Boats sunk and above three thousand Persons were drowned in the Thames It is said that this King John was immoderate in blasphemies and execrations and that he was so Luxurious that he destroyed Matilda a Beautiful Maid causing her to drink Poyson because she would not yield to his intreaty to be corrupted by him he is also thought to have sought aid from Mirammula King of Affrica whilest he was in his Troubles promising him the Kingdom of England if he Conquered and to renounce his Christian Faith Anno 1215. being the 16 of the King was held the IV Lateran Council Innocentius the Third being Pope this was the 12 general Council in which Auricular Confession was established and the Cup taken from the Laity in the Communion This John was King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Normandy Guyen and Aquitain he was sixth Son of King Henry the Second by his Queen Elianor eldest Daughter and Heir to William Duke of Aquitain his Reign began on Tuesday the 6 day of April Anno 1199 and continued 17 years 6 months and 13 days He was the 27 sole Monarch of England and was Poysoned by one Simon a Monk of Swinested Abby in Lincolnshire which was upon this occasion as it is said viz. That the King being there at Dinner and having an half penny loaf in his hand he swore if he lived it should be at twelve pence before that time twelve Months and the Monk over-hearing these words poysoned him He died on Wednesday the nineteenth day of October Anno 1216. in the eighteenth year of his Reign and 50 year of his Age his body was buried at Worcester CHAP. XVII Of King Henry the Third commonly called Henry of Winchester THis Henry about the Age of 9 years was Crowned at Gloucester in the presence of the Popes Legate Wallo and other Nobles and the Earl of Pembrook by consent of the Peers was made Guardian of his Person and Kingdom Shortly after a Truce was concluded between Lewis of France and the King Lewis then returning for France but staied not long ' ere he came for England again with fresh supplyes taking his march to Lincoln In the mean while the Earl of Pembrook by the Advice of Wallo and the Bishop of Winchester raised an Army and gave the French Battel at Lincoln where they received a great Overthrow so that Lewis hasted to France for more Aid after Lewis returned from France he was besieged in London and forced at length to make Peace and depart the Realm And now the Nobles falling into Rebellion they were fought by the Earl of Pembrook who shortly after died after whose Death Peter de Rupibus Bishop of Winchester and some others were made Guardians to the King and upon this change the King was Crowned again at Westminster by Stephen Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the King having the Saturday before laid the first Stone of the new work of the Abby Church at Westminster After this the King made Hubert de Burgo cheif Justice of England And now the Barrons and Welsh being in Rebellion again and hearing of the King's march towards them durst not stay his coming Anno 1222 Alexander King of Scotland was married to the King's Sister at York And this year was granted to the King the Ward-ship of Heirs and their Lands about this time an Imposture at the Provincial Synod at Oxford suffered himself to be wounded in the Hands Feet and Side calling himself Christ who together with a Woman that took upon her to be the Mother of God were immured between two Walls where they ended their Lives miserably And shortly after one Constantine Fitz-Arnulf raising a Tumult in London was taken and hanged by Hubert de Burgoe's Order and the common sort had their Hands and Feet cut off Now the Barrons being earnest for Confirmation of Liberties and denied by William Briwere one of the King's Council the King to please all parties Answered All of us have sworn to those Liberties and must keep them And hereupon Writs were issued out to inquire upon Oath what Liberties were currant in or from the time of Henry his Grand-Father Not long after this the King sent Embassadors to the King of France to demand Normandy and other his Transmaritain places but they were denied him and now the King upon some Distast taken against one Falcasius Commanded all Strangers to depart the Realm after this a Parliament being called the King confirmed MAGNA CHARTA under his Seal before they would yield to grant him a Subsidy And now the King having gotten Money sent his Brother Robert and other Nobles into France for the Regaining his Dominions there who in spite of Fate got and held Aquitain after this more aid being sent they endeavoured the gaining of Normandy also The King having now gotten a Fifteenth of all Degrees in his Realm and wrested 5000 marks out of London besides At the next Parliament at Oxford by the advice Hubert de Burgo he revoked the great Charter by Plea of Infra Etatem hereupon the Barrons Rebelled threatning
Earl of Chester and Prince of Wales and caused the Nobles to swear him Fealty about this time the famous Dr. John Wickliff of Oxford maintained sundry learned points against the Church of Rome This Edward the Third was King of England and France Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain c. he was eldest Son of King Edward the second by Isabel his Queen Daughter to Philip the Fair King of France he began his Reign on Saturday the 25 day of January Anno 1329 and reigned 50 years 4 months and 26 days and was the 31 sole Monarch of England He died on Sunday the 21 day of June Anno 1377 being the 51 year of his Reign and about the 65 of his Age his Body was buried at Westminster CHAP. XXI Of King Richard the Second commonly called Richard of Bourdeaux IN the beginning of this King's Reign the French invaded England and burnt the Town of Rye the Scots the Town of Rocksbrough And after this the French took the Isle of Wight and forced the Inhabitants to pay them a hundred marks not long after they burnt the Town of Hastings All these Advantages being taken by reason of the King 's tender years upon the Occasion of these daily Rapines one Sir John Philpot of London seeing the remissness of the Lords at his own proper costs and charges manned out a Fleet to scour the Seas which Fleet shortly after took 15 Rich Spanish Ships which well recompenced Sir John for his charges About this time Barwick was surprized by the Scots who killed Sir Robert Boynton the Governour and about nine days after it was regained by the Earl of Northumberland the Scots being all put to the Sword And now a Parliament being called at London for Manning of those Services a Subsidy was granted to the King by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal the Commons at that time being exempted from it Shortly after this Sir John Arundel and several other valiant Knights and Esquires being sent to the Duke of Britain for his aid against the French were all drowned But the King sending more Forces after these as the Duke of Lancaster Buckingham Warwick and Stafford with others of the cheif of the Nobility they landed safely at Callis and went through France to Britain spoiling Countries burning Towns and killing People the French not daring to oppose them About this time Vtred Bolton John Ashwerby Walter Brute John Ashton and Peter Pateshall were persecuted some by perpetual Imprisonment and some by Banishment for Preaching and maintaining Dr. Wickliffs Doctrine After this the King calling another Parliament at Northampton they granted him Poll-money of Twelve pence per head of every one above such an Age. The next year after this the Commons of Kent Essex Surry Suffolk Norfolk and Cambridge rebelled and under the Conduct of Wat Tyler and Jack Straw marched suriously to London burning the Priory of St. John's without East Smithfield and turning also the Savoy and the Bishop of Canterbury's House in Lambeth into Ashes Beheading Simon Tybald the Archbishop Sir John Hales Lord Prior with others And now they sent a malicious arrogant Petition to the King whose Tenor the King durst not deny his Person being then in manifest Danger of them But Wat Tyler cavelled at the conditions of Peace Suggesting strange Hopes of high matters to himself hereupon he was desired to ride to the King which accordingly he did and there behaved himself so insolently that he offered to kill Sir John Newton one of the King 's Attendants for the omission of some Punctilio of respect to him But the insolent Traytor for this affront received his Death's Wound from the hand of Sir William Walworth Lord Mayor of London And the Lord Mayor presently raising a thousand Citizens surprised the headless Monster and caused them to beg their Lives of the King John Lister the Dyar who headed the Rabble in Suffolk was also taken by Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich and there was executed of this rebellious Rabble in London and elsewhere about 1500. Now these Plebean Furies being over the King took to Wife Anne Daughter to the Emperour Charles the IV and shortly after John Duke of Lancaster was accused of Treason touching the King's Person but the Accusers Reward was Death which he hoped and intended for the Duke's Lot After this the Duke sailing into France concluded a Truce for about two years space and then a Parliament being called at London the Laity sought to depose the Clergy of their Estates but the King answered their Request in these words I will saith he maintain the English Church in the quality of the same Estate or better than I found it when I came to the Crown At this Parliament was Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford Created the first Marquess of Dublin This year also the Duke of Lancaster set Sail for Spain to regain the Kingdom of Castile to which by Right of his Wife he laid claim to Within a while after several Lords rebeled against the King and were all pardon'd before they came to their Tryals yet notwithstanding the King's Clemency they still kept together and raising great Forces they did not stick to charge the King with several misdemeanours and now the Duke of Lancaster returning for England again Peace was concluded between him and Spain and the King thereof gave him 200000 Nobles towards the defraying of this charges he had been at at whose return the King made him Duke of Aquitain After this the King desiring of the Londoners the Loan of a thousand pounds it was denied him whereupon he seized on their Liberties and dissolved their proper Magistracy turning out their Mayor John Hind and John Shadworth and Henry Wanner their Sheriffs and appointed Sir Edward Dallingredge Warden of the City And about two years after the King having a desire to go for Ireland had a Subsidy granted him four years Truce being then concluded with France but after this he with the Company of the Duke of Lancaster and Earl of Gloucester sailed into France where he espous'd the Lady Isabel Daughter to Charles King of France this Journey besides Losses at Sea cost him 4000 marks At his return from France certain Peers revolted from him making Forces removing such Officers from the King as they thought fit whereupon the Earl of Arundel one of the Rebells had his Head lopt off and the Earl of Gloucester was smothered with Pillows and Feather Beds at Callis and shortly afterwards the King made himself Earl of Chester and created several Dukes and Earls at that time And not long after this the River between Swelston and Harleswood near Bedford stood still and divided it self so that the Bottom remained dry about three miles space And now the King extorting Money and taking up Carriages and other Necessaries intending for Ireland to suppress the Rebells there who had slain Lord Mortimer Lord Lieutenant there And the Duke of Lancaster dying about this time the King seized his
Princess Catherine in Marriage to King Henry but these proffers found no Acceptance for Antelope the Pursevant at Arms was sent to the French King with Letters of Defiance Hereupon Charles sent a million of Gold out of France to the Lords Scroop Gray and Cambridge all three in especial favour with King Henry to betray or murther him before he arrived in Normandy which they O the prevalency of Gold intended to have put in execution but being discovered the Night before the King intended to have put to Sea they were all three beheaded And so the King embarked for France and landed near Harflew commanding his Army that they should do no violence to Churches Church-men Women or Children and so advanced towards the Town and laid Siege to it which shortly after was yielded to him and he turned out the French and Peopled the Town with English Artizans from hence he marched with 2000 Horse and 13000 Foot through the Countries of Caux and Ewe towards Callis but finding so many Obstacles in his way the French having plased shed Woods pulled down Bridges and carried all Victuals out of the Country where he intended to pass and his Soldiers growing sick and faint for want of Victuals he therefore resolved to march back to Callis The French upon this Advantage thinking to surprize the King near Azin Court pitched their Banner Royal their Host consisting of 150000 Horse and 10000 Men at Arms Princes Noblemen and Knights King Henry considering the faintness of his Soldiers through want of Victuals and that the French were six to one desired a Peace but was denied the French making themselves so sure of the Victory as that they had disposed of Court-places and other preferments in England among themselves each knowing his place but this day proved more fatal to them than they expected for King Henry seeing no way but one encouraged his Men and entered Battel obtaining a most glorious Victory with the loss of Edward Duke of York the Earl of Worcester and some few others but of the French fell that day 4000 Princes Nobles Knights and Esquires besides 10000 Common Soldiers and so many Prisoners taken that they far exceeded the Conquerors wherefore the King Commanded to kill them all least they should rise up against them From thence the King marched to Callis and so took Ship for England landing at Dover where he was received with great Triumph and at his entrance into London was presented with 1000 pounds in Gold and two Gold Basons worth 500 pounds Not long after Sigismond the Emperor arrived in England desiring a Peace between England and France which would not be granted and so concluded a Peace between himself and England and received the honourable Order of Knight-hood of the Garter from King Henry he returned And now the King of France having a Navy wasting on the Seas with many Bravadoes the English Fleet under the Command of John Duke of Bedford battered sunk and took the most of them and sent the three great Carracks of Genoa to England But Burgundy now siding with France against England the King thereupon called a Parliament and a Subsidy and tenth was granted him for the maintenance of the Wars against France but all not being sufficient for defraying so vast a charge he was forced to pawn his Crown and sell his Jewells for raising more moneys And being now well prepared he made his Brother John Duke of Bedford Protector of England and so made his second Expedition for France and arrived in Normandy whose Terrour was such that 25000 Families fled out of the Country upon his Arrival His first Attempt was against Conquest the strongest Castle in Normandy which he presently took and bestowed it on his Brother Thomas Duke of Clarence and the Castle of Aumbelliers on the Earl of Salisbury with that of Lovers on the Earl Marshal and presently after Cane was also taken by him About this time the Scots laying Siege against Barwick and Roâ—ksborough they were all scared away with fear when they heard that the Lord Protector and Arch Bishop of York with other Nobles were drawing near them with an Army Presently after a Parliament was called by the Protector 's Authority for raising Money for the Wars in which Parliament Sir John Old-Castle Lord Cobham who held the opinion of Dr. Wickliff was condemned and hanged in St. Giles's Fields being burnt also whilest he was hanging The King at this time laid against the Town and Castle of Fallais which after a while was surrendred upon certain Conditions and after this he divided his Army into several parts under the Command of Himself and Nobles who wan several Castles here and there he with his party laid Siege to Roan which after six months Siege was forced to Surrender there being famished in the Town during the Siege 50000 and 12000 Starvelings turned out of the Town who died in Ditches He caused the Burgesses there to pay him 356000 Crowns towards his Expences in the Siege and likewise to swear Fealty to him and his Successors This place had been about 215 years in the possession of the French from the time that King John of England lost it Presently after the Surrender of this place about 40 other Towns and places of note did yield themselves to the King and now the Duke of Burgundy sought to make Peace but it was denyed King Henry following on now to make an absolute and entire Conquest which shortly after he effected a Flood-Gate being opened unto him for accomplishing of the same by reason of some affronts offered by the Dauphin to his Mother the Queen who impatient of wrongs raised Forces and with the help of the Duke of Burgundy became Regent of France which civil Broils made well for King Henry for Peace being sought with him it was granted with these Conditions that the Crown of France and all its Rights after the Death of the French King Charles and his Queen should remain to King Henry and his Heirs for ever whereupon he married Lady Catherine Daughter to King Charles and so the Sallique Law of France at this time was made void but the Pope being sollicited to confirm Henry King of France would not condescend to it Upon the Sealing and Swearing the above mentioned Articles Philip Duke of Burgundy did Homage to King Henry who was then Stiled and Proclaimed Regent of France and kept his Court at Paris for a time Parliaments being then called which confirmed all things the Nobles all swearing to be true to King Henry except the Dauphin and his party who were in Rebellion and in the last Parliament had Sentence of Disinheritance pronounced against him and in the Court of Chancery in Paris all things were sealed with the Seal of King Henry And now all things thus confirmed the King with his Queen came for England who was no sooner out of France but the Scots hasted thither to the Aid of the Dauphin and in a Skirmish several of
Leicester and from thence to Coventry where Warwick lay but durst not Fight him and so to Warwick whither the Duke of Clarence being come he and Edward became Friends and they marching to London where the Geates were set open every one crying King Edward Here Henry was again taken and sent Prisoner to the Tower the Earl of Warwick perceiving how things went found it was no time to be idle and therefore resolved to win or loose all by Battel and so marched towards London as far as Barnet King Edward pitching his Tents at Gladmore near Barnet to oppose him having at this time King Henry with him on Easter day they joyned Battel and Fortune sided with King Edward the Earl of Warwick and Lord Montacute his Brother were slayn and three Lords on King Edward's side and in all on both sides about 10000 besides several Nobles as the Duke of Somerset the Earls of Oxford and Exceter c. fled and took Sanctuary and afterwards proved Broachers of new Plots And now King Edward rid Triumphantly to London having King Henry still with him and about this very time landed Queen Margaret Henry's Wife and her Son Edward in England but hearing of the loss at Barnet field they took Asylum at the Abby of Ceerne to which place the Lords that fled from Barnet repaired who comforted the Queens heart with future hopes here forces repairing to them they flye from place to place and at length fought King Edward at Teuxsbury where three or four of the Chief of them as the Earl of Devonshire and Somersets Brother were slain and 3000 men besides and Prince Edward heir to Henry was taken and several Lords taking Sanctuary at Tewxsbury were nevertheless haled thence and beheaded and it is reported Prince Edward was basely murthered by the Duke of Gloucester and some of King Edwards Servants for speaking somewhat to boldly in the Kings Presence After this Queen Margaret was taken from Sanctuary and carryed Prisoner to Worcester and shortly after from thence to London after this the Lord Fawconberge Son to the Earl of Kent raised a confused Army of 17000 men for the Aide of King Henry but he was quickly curbed and fled to Sea And shortly after King Henry was stabbed to the heart by Crookt-back Richard Duke of Gloucester who as is shewed before was a main Instrument in Prince Edward's Murther it is recorded of King Henry that he had an honest mind a comely personage and was more like a Saint than a King now Queen Margaret being ransomed by her Father went beyond Seas to him and there languished away her dayes And after this all Henrys Friends being either banished or put to Death Edward was then at quiet and calling a Parliament all King Henry's Laws were Abrogated And about this time the Duke of Burgandy sent to desire King Edward's Assistance against King Lewis of France so the King went in Person with as great an Army as ever went out of England but he did Burgundy little good for he concluded a Peace with France on condition that Lewes should pay King Edward 70000 Ducats for his Charges and 50000 to be paid him yearly and that the Dauphin should marry Elizabeth his eldest Daughter and so returned for England About this time one John Huss suffered the flames on Tower hill for the profession of a good Faith and now all things being setled King Edward followed his pleasure and being on his Progress in Warwickshire he chanced to hunt in the Park of one Thomas Burdet Esq and killing store of Deer among the rest a white Buck was killed which Mr. Burdet hearing of he wished the horns in his belly that Councelled the King to kill him for which words he was beheaded at Tiburn And in those catching times a Jest of a Mercer in Cheapside telling his Son if he would ply his Book he should be Heir to the Crown meaning his own house that had that sign cost him his Life After this the Duke of Clarence being falsely Attainted and Condemned by Parliament he was shortly after drowned in a Butt of Malmsy in the Tower And James King of Scots about this time sent into England to dare King Edward to Fight who sent an Army under the Command of his Brother the Duke of Gloucester whereupon the Scots fainted and concluded Peace upon certain conditions and yielded up Barwick into the hands of the English out of whose possession it had been about 21 yeares After this the French breaking the Articles of Peace by the Dauphin's Marriage to Lady Margaret of Austrich Grand Child to the Emperour Frederick the King hereupon intended War against them but was prevented by Death Of those four Concubines King Edward delighted in Jane Shoare was not the least beloved by him This Edward the Fourth was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was Son to Richard Plantaginet Duke of York by his Wife Daughter to Richard Nevil Earl of Salisbury He began his Reign on Monday the fourth day of March Anno 1460. and Reigned 22 years 1 Moneth and 5 dayes and was the 36 Sole Monarch of England He dyed of a Surfeit at Westminster on Friday the 9 day of April Anno 1483 being the 40. year of his Age and 23 of his Reign His body buried at Winsor in the new Chappel whose was foundation himself laid CHAP. XXVI Of King Edward the Fifth THis King was never Crowned for at the very first his Uncle the Duke of Glocester began to think of deposing him drawing to his side the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Hastings they resolve forthwith to remove all the Queen's Friends from the King and to compass their Design they perswade the Queen that her son the King might come to London to his Coronation accompanied only with some few of his friends which she little suspecting what they aimed at easily condiscended unto and now they proceed to the taking of their Prey imprisoning the Lord Rivers the Queens Brother at Northampton they then hasted after the King to Story-Stratford whither he was gone on his way for London and here they made bold in the King's presence to arrest the Lord Richard Woodvile Sir Richard Grey and Sir Thomas Wagham and carried the King and all his company back to Northampton there displacing such of his Servants as they thought fit and putting others whom they pleased in their places Having thus far proceeded in their Design the perfidious Duke of Gloucester took upon himself the Order and Governance of the young King and sent Lord Richard Woodvile and the other two Knights to Pontefract Castle in York-shire where in Conclusion they were beheaded The Queen having notice of these proceedings betook her self with her Children to Sanctuary in Westminster where shortly after the Arch-Bishop of York then Lord Chancelour delivered her the Great Seal but afterwards considering of the Danger he might incur hereby sent for it again And now the Dukes of Gloucester and Buckingham coming to
in advancing the King to the Crown About this time Wheat was sold for six pence per Bushel and Bay-Salt at three pence half peny Nantwich salt six pence per Bushel white Herring six shilling per Barrel red Herring three shilling per Cade Sprats six pence per Cade and Gascoign wine six pound per Tun. And now this Psendo Richard was discovered to the King to be but Perkin Warbeck by one Sir Robert Clifford a great actor for Perkin beyound Sea but afterwards won to the King with Gold for Perkin's sake all the Flemmings were banished the Realm and several of his Complices here discovered by the said Sir Robert Clifford were put to death And now Perkin coming on Shoar in Kent expecting a great Relief receiving in lieu therof great distress for being encountred by the Mayor of Sandwich and the Kentish men five of his Cheif Captains and 164 of others were taken and shortly after executed whereupon he fled back into Flanders and from thence fled into Ireland but expecting little help from so poor a Nation at last he betook himself into Scotland and the King of Scots being taken with Courtly cariage believed his Reports and Married him to Catharine Gourden the Earl of Huntly's Daughter and then the King in Person with a great number of Scots came with him against the Marches of England doing great harm and Proclaiming much favor and immunity to such as would joyn with Perkin and â— 1000 pounds to such as could take King Henry but all this working no Impression upon the Peoples minds the Scotish King thereupon returned into Scotland esteeming the less of his new Cozen because none would rise in his behalf Upon this Account a Subsidy of 120 thousand pound was granted to the King for maintenance of the War against Scotland and the Lord Dawbnye sent General but on his March was called back to suppress some Cornish Rebells who withstood the Collectors of the Subsidy under the Command of one Thomas Flemmock a Lawyer and Michael Joseph a Black-Smith these marching for Kent expecting more Aid at Well the Lord Awdly joyned with them who together with the other two Leaders were taken at Black-Heath in Kent and their Forces Routed three hundred being slain and 1500 taken Prisoners and afterwards the Lord Awdly was beheaded at the other two hanged and quartered at Tyburn for their Rebellion During these Stirs the King sent the Lord Howard Earl of Surry to defend the parts in the North aganst the Scots who were then doing great Damage in the Borders but before he got thither the Scots withdrew yet notwithstanding he marched into Scotland and after some Booty taken he returned again for a time And now Hialus the Spanish Embassador coming into Scotland he concluded a Peace between the two Kings And about this time Anno 1497 fell Hail-Stones at St. Needs in Bedfordshire of eighteen Inches about now upon the Conclusion of the Peace aforesaid Perkin's main Hope being gone his last Refuge were the Cornish men of whom he had a great Army but the King marching against him and he not daring to trust to his Cornish followers he thereupon fled by night and took Asylum at Bewdly which when his Followers perceived they all yielded themselves to the King's Mercy And not long after Perkin their Leader did the like and was carried to London and conveved through the Streets on horse-back for People to gaze at and afterwards attempting to escape from his Guard he was pursued and retaken and set in the Stocks upon a Scaflold a whole day before Westminster-Hall and another day in Cheap-side in London and after sent Prisoner to the Tower About this time one Ralph Wilford a Shoo-makers Son of London was hanged for assuming unto himself the name of Edward Earl of Warwick who was then close Prisoner in the Tower and not long after Perkin was hanged at Tyburn and Edward Plantaginet the Earl of Warwick beheaded for seeking to make their escape out of the Tower this Earl was Son to George Duke of Clarence who was Brother to King Edward the Fourth and was the last Heir of the Plantaginets Shortly after this there happened such a devouring Plague that the King and Queen left London and fled to Callis in France and after the Plague abated they returned again about which time the Lady Catherine of Spain arrived in England and was presently after married to Prince Arthur who injoyed her Bed not long for about five months after being then in Wales he was cut off by Death an and the next year after James the IV King of Scotland married the Lady Margaret the King 's eldest Daughter and not long after the Queen died and Henry the King 's second Son was made Prince of Wales and by the Pope's Indulgence took to Wife the Lady Catherine of Spain his Brother Arthur's Widow And now the Earl of Suffolk being fled and intending a Rebellion certain of his Adherents being discovered were thereupon taken and suffered Death as Courtney Earl of Devonshire the King's Brother in Law William de la Pool Brother to the Earl of Suffolk Sir James Tirrel King Richard's Wicked Instrument in the Murther of Edward the V. and his Brother and Sir John Windham and others all these with the Earl and the rest of his Faction were by Authority of the Pope's Bull Proclaimed at Paul's Cross to be accursed After this the Earl fled to Philip Duke of Austria who afterwards by the Right of his Wife coming to be King of Spain as he was on his Voyage thither was by Tempest driven into England where he was Royally entertain'd by King Henry and at their parting it was agreed between them that the Earl of Suffolk should be delivered up to King Henry upon Condition that no Violence should be offered to his Person and so he was only imprisoned but in Henry the Eighth's time lost his Head Now the King having dissipated all his Enemies he began to extort Money from his Subjects two Lawyers Empson and Dudly being the cheif Instrument herein by calling People in question for the breach of old moth-eaten Penal Statutes but the King's Death shortly after ensuing These beginning Oppressions were thereby also brought to a Period before they attained to that maturity which was feared by some but wished for by others especially by Empson and Dudly During this King's Reign there were about some nine Persons Men and Women that suffered the Flames for the Profession of a good Faith besides several others that did Pennance with a Faggot on their Backs and some were burnt in the Cheek with a hot Iron This Henry the Seventh was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland he was son to Edmund Tewdor Earl of Richmond by Margaret his Wife Daughter and Heir to John Beaufort Duke of Sommerset Grand Child to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster he began his Reign on Monday the 22 day of August Anno 1485 and reigned 23 years
hear the King's Cause pleaded which accordingly was done and when Sentence of Divorcement should have been according to the King's expectation pronounced Campius then caused Proclamation to be made and adjourned the Court and referred the Sentence to the Pope The King highly displeased hereat sent Dr. Cranmer and some others to the Pope to dispute the unlawfulness of the Marriage who gave Cornelius Agrippa the grand Rabbi in those days such Satisfaction in this point so that none of the Pope's Disputants durst encounter the Doctor about it whereupon a Parliament being called by the King all persons were forbidden to appeal or make payment to Rome and further the King's Marriage with the Lady Catherine of Spain by the said Parliament was Dissolved Upon these proceedings in England the Pope caused his Curse to be set up at Dunkirk in Flanders against the King and pronounced the Marriage Lawful but the King regarded it not for hereby the Pope lost his Supremancy in England and Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas Moore their Heads for standing for it And now the King married the Lady Ann Bullin Daughter to Viscount Rochford which Lady was accounted a Lutheran and Cardinal Wolsey for his dislike of this Marriage and Adjourning of the Court as is before shewed fell into the Kings Displeasure and several Articles being exhibited against him in Parliament as that he used to write in his Letters I and my King and had caused the Cardinals Cap to be stamped on the Kings Coyn and several other grand Offences hereupon he lost all his Dignities and his House and Furniture were seized and the Earl of Northumberland was sent to bring him up to answer his Charge who took him at Cawood Castle about seven miles from York and as he was on his Journy to London at Leicester Abby he ended his dayes by taking an over much quantity of an Italian Confection for breaking Wind from his Stomach as Report went He is said to have suppressed 40 Monasterys for the raising his two Colledges in Oxford and Ipswich and to have laid by 12 Barrels full of Gold and Silver to serve the Pope in his Wars About this time Elizabeth Barton called the holy Maid of Kent was reported by those who feared the Downfall of Babel to have Revelations from Heaven among which one was That if the King proceeded in his Second Marriage he should not Reign a Moneth to an end but the Mouth of this Oracle was quickly stopt for herself with seven of her Disciples were all execued at Tyburn for Treason And now the Pope seeing his Revenue here in England likely to go to wrack began to write and stir up James the Fifth King of Scots against King Henry his Uncle promising the Crown of England to those that could win it About this time Queen Ann was deliver'd of the Princess Elizabeth afterwards Queen of England and the next year after of a Dead Child and not long after she was sent to the Tower and falsely accused of Adultery and Incest for which she with her Brother the Lord Rochford and Norris Weston and Brierton gentlemen of the Privy Chamber together with one Marks all lost their Heads and the next day after Queen Ann's Death the King married the Lady Jane Seymer And now began the Lord Cromwells rising who by birth was a Black Smyth's Son and had been Cardinal Wolsey's Soliciter he was first made Master of the King's Jewel-house Baron of Oakham in Rutlandshire then Knight of the Garter after that Earl of Essex and then Lord high Chamberlain and lastly the King's Vicar general he was the Sole cause of the demolishing of Monasteryes and the pulling down of Images Idols and Shrines in the Churches of England but this Pillar of the Church was undermined by Stephen Gardener that Murtherer of Protestants in Queen Mary's dayes and so by his means being brought into Dislike with the King at length he was beheaded Now several Commotions arose in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire occasioned by the demolishing of Abbys the Commons being incited thereto by the Monks who had lost their Roast-meat and took ill with Courser Fair but after several propositions made by the Commons to the King and Answers thereunto having Pardon granted they threw down their Arms but several of the Monks rising again with several persons of Quality as the Lord Darcy Lord Hussye Sir Robert Constable Sir Thomas Percy Sir Francis Biggot Sir Stephen Hambleton Sir John Bulmer the Abbot of Fountains Abbot of Gervaulx Abbot of Rivax and Prior of Burlington were afterwards taken and suffered Death and now the King having been two years a Widower since the death of Queen Jane who dyed in Child-Bed of Edward the Sixt afterwards King he was married to the Lady Ann of Cleve but about half a year after through Gardiner's false Suguestions was by Parliament divorsed from her and not long after he Married Catherine Howard Daughter to Edward Brother to Thomas Duke of Norfolk but about 6 Moneths after her Marriage she was condemned of Adultery and lost her Head at Tower Hill and with her the Lady Jane Rochford and several others that year as Margaret the Countess of Salisbury Lord Grey Lord Dacres Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpeper and now the King married the Lady Katherin Parr Wife to the Lord Lattimer And about this time it was enacted by Parliament to be high Treason either to deny the Oath of the King's Supremacy or to acknowledg the Pope and though by this the Discipline of the Church was altered yet little of Doctrine was changed for it was made heresie and death to deny any of the Six Articles following as 1. That after the speaking of the words of Consecration by the Priest the Real and Natural Body and Blood of Christ as he was Conceived and Crucified was in the Sacrament and no other substance 2. That the Communion in both kinds is not necessary to Salvation 3. That Priests may not marry 4. That Vows of Chastity ought to be observed by the Laws of God 5. That private Masses ought to be continued and 6. That Auricular Confession is necessary and expedient to be retained in the Church of God Upon the denial of these six Articles several People suffered the Flames Anno 1541. The King took upon him the Title of King of Ireland and the same year sent an Army against the Scots under the Command of the Duke of Norfolk who when he came to Fight the Scots they willingly lost the day and suffered themselves to be taken Prisoners out of disdain to their Leader Oliver St. Clere for grief whereof their King James the fifth dyed there was at this time 21 men of Account taken Prisoners and committed to the Tower of London but shortly after these Prisoners were released again and a Peace for 10 years concluded upon the promise of a Marriage with the Lady Mary King James his only Child and Prince Edward Henry's Son and Heir afterwards King by the name
dispairing of his purpose he yielded himself Prisoner and was shortly after beheaded and 50 Persons more of his Complices were hanged in London and 23 in Kent and the Lord Courtny and Lady Elizabeth afterwards our Queen were clapt up in the Tower upon suspition of favouring Sir Thomas Wyat's proceedings and this Innocent Lady without respect to her Person being extream Sick at her Mannor of Asbridge was nevertheless brought away Prisoner to London and was so straitly kept in the Tower that a little Boy about 4 years of Age who was wont every day to carry her some Flowers and prattle and talk to her Command was given to his Father that the Boy should go no more and the next day the Child going and the Door being shut he peeped in at a hole Crying unto her Mistress I can bring you no more Flowers now From hence this pious Princess was removed to Woodstock where one day sitting sollitary at her Prison window she espied a Maid singing merrily over her milking Pale whose condition she esteemed to be better than hers A little before Arrival of King Philip two Suns were seen at one time and a Rainbow reversed the Bow turning downwards before the Marriage certain Honourable Conditions were propounded to King Philip and agreed to by him And now the Protestants began to be hated Mr. Bourn a godly Minister having a Dagger thrown at him as he was Preaching at Paul's Cross and Bishop Bonner caused all Scriptures painted on the Church-walls to be blotted out and Cardinal Pool coming into England Images Holy Water Pax Censures Oyl and Cream were brought into the Church again And about this time fell such abundance of Rain that for the space of six days men might row with Boats in Saint George's Feilds and the Water was half a yard deep in Westminster-hall Now the Queens cruel Bishops with her consent partly through their perswasions consumed in the Flames during her Reign for the Profession of their Faith 5 Bishops 21 Divines 18 Gentlemen 84 Artificers 100 Husband-men Servants and Labourers 26 Wives 20 Widdows 9 Virgins 2 Boys and 2 Infants in all 287 besides 16 other Persons that perished in Prison and 7 scourged and several Condemned which were released upon the happy entrance of Queen Elizabeth Many also in these perilous times fled amongst whom the Dutchess of Suffolk and her Husband Mr. Berty were two who suffered both Hunger and Cold and were often in Danger of their Lives till at length they got into Poland where they were Honourably treated till Queen Mary's Death And now nothing being Talked of but the Queens being with Child Prayers were made for her safe Deliverance Midwives Rockers and Cradles and all things else prepared but when it come to the point indeed it proved nothing but a Tympany and King Philip seeing himself so frustrated of his Expectation took Shipping for Spain and stayed at that time 19 months from the Queen in whose absence her Exchequer was intended to have been Robbed but some of the Plotters Vdal Throgmorton Peacham Daniel and Stanton were taken and suffered Death and others fled and the same year that Coaches were first used in England viz. Anno 1555 began the hot burning Feavers whereof died many old Persons so that in London died 7 Aldermen in less than 10 months time about 2 years after this Thomas Stafford Son to the Lord Stafford rose in Rebellion but was taken and beheaded And now the King being instigated by his Queen prepared an Army against France and several Nobles went thither where their greatest exploit was the winning of St. Quintins which was repayed by the French winning Callis from the English after it had been in their Possession about 211 years This loss so grieved the Queen that shortly after she died of a Burning Feaver telling her Physitians That they would find Callis written in her Heart if they dissected her Body after her Death That year Queen Mary died the Quartaine Agues continned very sharp so that many old Folk died especially Parsons and Priests so that a great number of Churches were unfurnished and a little before the Queen's Death dyed two of her Physitians besides many Bishops and Noble men And in July the same year a Tempest of Thunder as it went through two Towns near Nottingham beat down the Churches and all the Houses in the Towns the Bells were thrown out of the Steeples and some of the Webs of Lead thrown 400 Foot into the Feild and wreathen up together like a glove Trees were plucked up by the roots and cast 12 score foot off and a Child was taken out of a man's hand and carried an 100 foot and then let fall and died five or six men were killed and Hail-stones fell 15 Inches about This Mary was Queen of England France and Ireland She was the eldest Daughter of King Henry the Eight by Catherine his first Queen Daughter to Ferdinando the VI King of Spain and Widdow Dowager to Prince Arthur King Henry's Elder Brother She began her Reign on Thursday the sixth day of July Anno 1553 and reigned five years four months and 11 days and was the 42 sole Monarch of England She died of a Burning Feaver on Thursday the 17 day of November Anno 1558 being in the Sixth year of her Reign and 40 of her Age Her Body was buried at Westminster CHAP. XXXII Of Queen Elizabeth THis Queen was Crowned at Westminster by Owen Ogilthorp Bishop of Carlile Pool Arch-Bishop of Canterbury dying the same day that Queen Mary dyed At her Entrance the Title of Supremacy was again restored by Parliament and all Queen Maries Statutes in favour of Rome repealed and she being desired by Parliament to marry said That she intended a Virgins Life which accordingly she performed for being Courted by Maximilian the Emperour Ericus Son to the King of Sweden and by the Arch Duke of Austria and Duke of Anjou she denied them all and now Divine Service being celebrated in English and Images thrown out of the Churches again The Scots also began to seek Reformation too whereupon there arose great Tumults among them and the King of France sending the Romanists Aid there the Reformers were forced to crave help from Queen Elizabeth which she sent them under the Command of the Lord Grey and the Queen Mother Regent of Scotland dying the French thereupon concluded Peace for Scotland and left it The year 1561 In June a Terrible Tempest of Thunder and Lightning happenned about London which set Paul's Steeple on fire and burnt it down to the Roof of the Church consuming all the Bells Lead c. And in March the year after a Mare brought forth a Fole with one Body and two Heads and a long tail growing out between them a Sow also Farrowed a Pig with four legs like to the arms of a Child with Hands and Fingers and in April after another Sow Farrowed a Pig with two Bodies eight Feet and but one Head and many
Whiteguift Arch Bishop of Canterbury at which time all people of the City of London were forbidden to repaire thither by reason of the then raging Plague among them there dying that year in London and the out-Libertys 30578 persons of the same disease he continued Religion as it was begun in Queen Elizabeth's days and caused the Bible to be truly Translated according to the Original at his Entrance to the Kingdom Plots were contrived for the destroying of his person and his Eldest Son Prince Henry to change Religion to raise Tumults and let in Strangers but they were happily discovered and some of the Ring-leaders apprehended and put to death some adjudged to perpetual Imprisonment and some pardoned An. 1603. one John Lepton of Repwick Esquire in the County of York undertook to Ride 5 several times betwixt London and York in six days to be taken in one week between Monday morning and Saturday night and began his Journy Monday Morning the 20 of May and finished his Journy on Friday after to the great Admiration of all men Two years after to wit Anno 1605. one William Calverly of Calverly in the County of York Esquire murthered two of his own Children at home at his own house then Stabbed his Wife into the Body with full Intent to have killed her and then went out with Intention to have killed his Child at nurse but was prevented he was Pressed to death at York for this murther because he stood Mute and would not plead And now although the King had made Peace with the Popes Champion the King of Spain yet his Holiness Sons thought to have brought the Ruine of the King and all the Kingdom to Light Anno 1605. by a treacherous Plot of blowing up the King and whole Nobility Root and Branch at one Blow when they were Assembled in Parliament to which end they had laid in several Barrels of Gunpowder Barrs of Iron Faggots and and other things for doing Execution under the Parliament house but this Hellish Design was hapily discovered by a Letter sent to the Lord Mounteagle son to the Lord Morley by some of the Conspirators wherein they wished him to stay his Appearance from the House the first day of the sitting this Letter being Communicated and shewn to several of the Nobility they could not sathom the depth of the dark meaning thereof but at length being shewn to the King he presently conjectured that the Plot was to blow up the House with Gunpowder and so narrow Search being made it was happyly found out and the Conspirators discovered who were some of them shot to death to wit Percy and Catesby for disdaining to be taken others of them were slain by Gunpowder which they had drying by the Fire and Sir Everard Digby the two Wrights John and Christopher Fawkes Graunt Winter Boits and Keyes were Hanged Drawn and Quartered for being chief Actors in this Plot. After this storm was over the Faces of more troubles appeared through the Insurrections of Fines and Rainolds in Northamptonshire and Warwick-shire but this flame quickly vanished into Smoak About this time the Lady Elizabeth the King's Daughter was married to Frederick Count Elector Palatine The Joyes of their Nuptial were shortly after overshadowed with clouds of sorrow which ensued upon the death of Prince Henry which happned Anno 1611 his death was supposed to be something untimely but his Docters gave Satisfaction herein that it was by Course of Nature and not by Poyson as was suspected And now Charles the King 's Second Son afterwards King succeeded his Brother in the Principallity of Wales about this time Sir Walter Rawleigh was released intending to visit the new found World and many Gentlemen took their fortunes with him but unhappily in his Voyage burning St. Thomes it shortly after cost him his Life for Intelligence being given to Condibert then Embassador in England he never left pressing the King for Reparation hereupon Sir Walter as soon as he came to Plymouth was apprehended by Sir Lewis Stuckly and was brought tryed and condemned in the Kings Bench and the next Morning after his Tryal was Beheaded And about this time the King being very Sick he happily Recovered again but his Loving and vertuous Queen Ann dyed Anno 1618. After this the King made a Motion of Marriage for his Son Charles Prince of Wales with the King of Spains Daughter thinking thereby to gain opportunity of helping his Son in Law who having been lately chosen by some of the German Princes King of Bohemia was afterwards upon some distast driven out of Bohemia by the Emperor and afterwards out of all Germany and remained at this time in Holland being a Refuge for all distressed people To effect this marriage the Prince with the Duke of Buckingham went for Spain where seeing the Marriage with himself and the Lady Maria the Infanta of Spain procrastinated and delaid left the Court and Returned for England Anno 1623. The Plantations in the Indies were settled in this Kings time he was a very learned King as appears by his Works now in print he was an honest Father to his Childern worthy of his wife and good to his subjects and a great desirer of Peace whose Motto was Beati Pacifici and as he desired Peace so he dyed in Peace This James was King of England Scotland France and Ireland he was Son to Henry Stuart Lord Darly who was Grand Child to Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to King Henry the VII of England by her Second Husband and his Mother was Mary Queen of Scotland who was Grand Child also to Lady Margaret by her first Husband James the fourth King of Scotland so that the said Lady Margaret was great Grand-mother to King James both by Father and Mothers side He began his Reign on Wednesday the 24 day of March Anno 1602. Reigned 22 years and 3 days and was the 44 Sole Monarch of England He dyed of the Spleen on Saturday the 27 day of March Anno 1625 being in the 23 year of his Reign and nine and fiftieth year of his Age his Body was buried at Westminster CHAP. XXXIV Of King Charles the first SHortly after his Coronation at Westminster he proceeded to a Marriage with Henrietta Maria Daughter to Charles the Fourth King of France whom he had formerly seen in his journy through that Country into Spain his first Complement to her when he went to meet her at Dover was That he desired to be no longer Master of himself then he was Servant to her and indeed this Love he continued to the last hour of his Life for on the day before his unfortunate end he desired his Daughter the Lady Elizabeth to assure her Mother if ever She see her again That his Thoughts had never Strayed from her and that his Affections should be the same to the Last After the King's Marriage was over his dislike against the Spaniards at his Departure from that Court was still fresh in his memory
Scotland to the Relief of King Baliol for which he was very liberally gratified and at length had the Interest of the whole Kingdom of Scotland granted to him by King Baliol he reserving only a yearly Pension to himself About the year 1340. the Isle of Man was conquered by William Montacute Earl of Salisbury who thereupon was honoured with the Title of King of Man Not long after this the King created his eldest Son Edward surnamed the Black Prince Earl of Chester and Duke of Cornwall and being now wholly intent upon his French War the Scots daily revolted from King Baliol and David the banished King and his Queen returned again into Scotland And now the King having taken his Voyage for France took upon him the Title of King of France causing the Flower de Luces of France to be quartered with the Lions of England and at this time burnt and spoiled the North parts of France as far as Turwin and so returned for England and confirmed MAGNA CHARTA having received liberal Aides from his Subjects for the maintenance of the French War Now the French hearing of the King 's Second Preparation had a Fleet of 400 Ships ready in the Sluse in Flanders to intercept which the King having notice of set sail thither and fought their Fleet killing about 30000 of their Men and sinking about 200 of their Vessels And after this good Fortune at Sea the King entred France and at the Siege of Turney sent to the French King a Challenge who refused to fight About this time Dr. Bradwardine of Oxford wrote 3 Books in Defence of God's Grace against Free-Will Now after the Siege of Turnye the Armies of England and France intending to fight it but by the Mediation of Lady Jane Mother in Law to King Edward and Sister to the King of France a Truce was concluded for a short time and being afterwards drawn out for Fight again a new Truce by the Intercession of two Cardinals was concluded for the space of three years And the King returning into England shortly after made it High Treason for any Strangers to enter upon any place spiritual in England by the Pope's Authority This King it was that ordained the most Noble Order of the Knights of the GARTER upon the occasion of the Countess of Salisbury loosing her Garter before the King as she was Dancing saith Mr. Camden which the King taking up and seeing some of the Nobles smile he looked on them and said HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE The number of this Order is to be XXVI whereof the King is to be one After this the King returning again for France he mustered there twenty five hundred Horse and thirty thousand Foot his Son Edward the Black-Prince being with him who in the French Wars merrited Immortal Glory near Cressy the King pitched for Battel marshalling his Army into 3 Battalions and barracading them up behind to prevent their flying causing them all to put away their Horses so that they thereby all became Foot Soldiers Philip the French King came to the Field bravely appointed with a gallant Army and joining Battel after a sore Fight the French were Vanquished and the Honour of the day fell to the English the French King and his Soldiers flying the Field the gallantry of this day was solely attributed to the Prince King Edward never coming in with his Forces there being no necessity for it in this Battel the French lost 2 Kings 2 Dukes 7 Earls and 1500 Barrons Knights and men of Arms and about 30000 Soldiers and the next day were several Prisoners taken From hence the King went to lay Siege against Callice and after a strait Siege for a time the Town at last yielded and the King placed there Collonics of English in the Town Now during these Stirs in France David King of Scotland by the French King's procurement entered England supposing all the Nobles to be in France and that none but Priests and Sheppards were left in England but to his no small Damage he found the contrary the greatest part of his Army being slain near Durham and himself also taken Prisoner by one Copland to whom the King gave 500 pounds per annum at Vlverston in Lancashire and David the Scotch King was carried Prisoner to the Tower in London At the King's return from France there happened so cruel a Plague that in one year there was buried in one Church-yard in London 50000 about this time Dr. Orum of Oxford Preached before Pope Vrban at Rome condemning the Papacy and writ the Epistle from Lucifer to the Clergy thanking them for sending so many Souls to Hell After this Henry Earl of Lancaster was Created the First Duke thereof by King Edward and now the Prince of Wales took Ship for France there to defend his Right to the Dutchy of Aquitain and taking great Store of Towns and Prisoners he returned with the spoil to Burdeaux But John the French King promising himself letter fortune than his Father made bold to encounter Prince Edward who though the French were 3 to one by his great valour obtained a great Victory killing 52 Lords and 1700 Knights and Esquires besides 6000 common Soldiers and taking the King of France and Philip his Son one Arch-Bishop 10 Earls and about 200 Knights Esquires and Gentlemen Prisoners after this the Prince having well refreshed himself and Soldiers he hoised Sail for England where he was Joyfully received and the Prisoners courteously used the French King and his Son being kept in the Savoy under a safe Guard and others secured in other places And now David the Scotch King after eleven years Imprisonment at the incessant Suit of Joan David's Queen and King Edwards Sister was set at Liberty paying 100000 marks stirling and after him John King of France after four years imprisonment through the interceeding of Simon Langres the Pope's Legate was also set at liberty paying for the same 3000000 of sutes of Gold which amounteth to 500000 pounds Sterling About this time Dr. Killington of Oxford wrote several Books against the Monks and Fryers and some 5 years before Richard Fitz-Ralph Arch-Bishop of Armagh and Chancelour of Oxford wrote against begging Fryers and about the year 1362 Anno 37 of the King it was ordained that Lawyers should plead in their Mother Tongue Now after the Releasing of the King of France as is before shewed the King created Prince Edward Duke of Aquitain where he and his Wife went and remained at Burdeaux And now Anno 1366 Peter-pence was ordained to be paid no more MAGNA CHARTA was 12 times confirmed during this King's Reign who calling a Parliament in the 50 year of his Reign they laied several complaints and Accusations to the charge of Alice Peers the King's Concubine and against Lord Latimer the King's Chamberlain and during the sitting of this Parliament the Mirrour of Princes Edward the Black-Prince of Wales died whereupon the King made Richard Prince Edward's Son