standing in the Severn adjoyning unto the City of Glocester where both being strong of body they fought like Lions one to secure his Kingdom the other to gain it But in the end the Dane being wounded he intreated a parly which Edmund granted and then with a loud voice thus proceeded What necessity should thus move us most Heroick King that for the obtaining of a Title we should thus indanger our Lives Is it not better to lay malice aside and condescend to an amicable agreement Let us now therefore become sworn friends and divide the Kingdom between us and in such a League of friendship that each may use the others part as his own so shall this Land be peaceably Governed and we mutually assist each others necessity This Speech ended both the Kings cast down their Swords and imbraced each other upon which great shouts arose in either Army who before stood doubtful of the success and this accord being ratified the Kingdom was divided by Lot and that part bordering on the Coast of France fell to King Edmund who howsoever enjoyed it not long for in this Treaty the offence of Duke Edrick was included and upon his submission he taken into favour by the good King and so continued as it were glutted with the favour and princely bounty of two Kings till at last resolving to perfect his many Treasons begun he watched his opportunity as King Edmund was alone in the Draught-house evacuating and having placed himself beneath with a sharp Spear he run it up into the Kings Belly that he there died then coming up he traiterously and inhumanely cut off his Head and escaping with it undiscovered to Canute the Danish King and presenting it to him with these fawning Salutations All Hail thou now sole Monarch of England for here behold the Head of thy Co-partner which for thy sake I have adventured to cut off Canute though ambitious enough of the Soveraignty yet of Princely disposition abashed and sore grieved at so unworthy and disloyal an attempt replied with an Oath that in reward of that Service the bringers Head should be advanced above all the Peers of his Kingdom which high honour whilst the traiterous wretch greedily expected and indeed for a time found some favour his Head by the Kings command was smitten off and fixed upon a Pole on the highest Gate of the City of London as he most justly deserved His Wife and Children were banished and great was the rejoycing throughout England at the Death of this prodigious Regicide and betrayer of his Country King Edmunds Body was buried at Glasten-bury near to his Father King Edgar he was of person tall for Courage hardy strong of Limbs and well could indure the inconveniencies of War for which some think he had his additional name of Ironside with him at that time fell the Glory of the English he leaving but one Son viz. Edward who was Sir-named the Out-law by reason all the Reign of Canute he lived in Hungary and there Married the Queens Sister not returning into England till the Reign of his Uncle King Edward the Confessor Thus fell this good King and thus Heavens vengeance overtook the Traitour whose miserable end in some sort made an atonement for the innocent Blood shed by wicked hands as likewise for the Death of Sigefreth and Morcar King Edmunds Queens former Husband and Brother who were murthered at Oxford by the contrivance of Edrick CHAP. II. The Historical relation of the deposing and barbarous Murther of Edward the Second commonly called Edward of Carnarvan King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine and the Forty eighth Monarch of England with the manner of Gods vengeance upon those that were guilty of shedding his Blood EDward the Second of that Name since the Conquest was Son to Edward the First the terror of Syria and dread of Scotland and his Wife Queen Elenor Born on the 25 of April 1284. at Carnarvan in North-Wales and after the Death of Lewellin ap Griffith in regard of the place of his Nativity he was with the general consent of the Welch created Prince of Wales which Title has ever since devolved upon the Heir apparent to the Crown of England This Edward being the first who had that Dignity conferred on him and his Father dying he was Crowned with great applause in the 23. Year of his Age Then having setled the Affairs of Scotland he passed over to Bulloin and there in great state was Married to Isabel Daughter to Philip the fair King of France and returned with his Bride not passing twelve years of Age in great Triumph when as taking into his Favour one Pierre Gaviston whom his Father had banished but himself intirely loved many of the Nobility were displeased though the King made no great account of such their displeasure This Gaviston was a stranger by Birth Born in Gascoigne but a Gentleman in all respects being in his younger years brought up with the King during his being Prince of Wales and now made Earl of Cornwel yet so prevailed the Enviers of his rise that they procured a Decree for his perpetual Banishment out of England But the Kings love still following him he was made Governour of Ireland and within a while revoaked and in his return met by the King at Flint-Castle in North-Wales and there had bestowed on him to Wife Joan of Acres Countess of Glocester the Kings Sisters Daughter Yet so far prevailed the discontented Lords that a third time they procured his banishment but beyond the Seas his life being often put in hazard by the procurement of his Enemies as some suppose by the Kings secret sending for he returned within six Months to the great trouble of the Queen and her party who by this time began to disaffect her Husband and joyn with the Lords against Gaviston Whereupon first seeming to Petition for a redress of grievances they after took up Arms of which the Earls Lancaster Warwick and Hereford were chief and within a while the Earl of Warwick at a place called Blacklow afterwards Gavenshead having surprized Gavinston cut off his Head to the high displeasure of the King who at that time was not capable of hindering it yet excessive was the grief and displeasure he conceived so that the Lords thought it not safe to lay down their Arms till they had reconciled themselves to the King which was done by the mediation of Gilbert Earl of Glocester and several Prelates who travel'd therein Yet not so firm but the King continued a secret displeasure against the chief Actors but his melancholy was diverted by the Queens being delivered of her first Son at Windsor who succeeded him by the name of Edward the third as shall hereafter be related The Scots upon notice of this Intestine broil grew haughty and under the Command of Robert their King not only put many affronts upon the English who so long before had Lorded it over that Nation but made several
the Earl of Salisbury was taken Prisoner and Beheaded and his head with the Dukes fixed upon York Gates upon this the Queen and her Army came to London and released the King by the overthrow of Warwick at St. Albans restoring him to his Power and Majesty but rested not long e're the Earl of March Eldest Son to the Duke of York advanced with a Puissant Army and the Earl of Warwick having escaped the fight joyned with him which news made the King and Queen retire into the North to provide against the threatning storm whereupon Edward Earl of Mâ—rch without any controul advanced and entered London fearful of a Sack and there by threats and perswasions prevailed with the unstable multitude to give their Assents for his being Crowned King which Ceremony ended though against all Law and Right he drew forth his Army and advanced against the King who had gathered great forces which were in chief by the Duke of Somerset Earl of Northumberland and Lord Clifford both Armies consisting of 112000. the greatest Army of English that ever England saw who upon the charge being sounded began the Fight with great fury near Ferry-Bridge which continued ten hours and was lost on the Kings side by the overhastiness of the Northern Archers who spent all their Arrows at a distance as not being able to discern the Enemy by reason the Snow that then fell was driven full in their Eyes The Nobility that died on the Kings side were the Lords Scales Willowby Beaumont Wells Grey Dacres Fitz Hugh Buckingham and Clifford the two Bastards of Exceter of Knights and Esquires a great number and in all on both parts the slain were computed 35091. a slaughter the like not known in England since the Conquest Upon this fatal overthrow King Henry hs Son the Prince and several great Lords escaped into Scotland where they were kindly received and a Marriage proposed between the young Prince and the Lady Margaret the Scotch King's Daughter upon which Queen Margaret passed into France to negotiate her Husbands affairs with the French King for new supplies In the mean while Edward is Crowned at Westminster and a Parliament called wherein King Henry and Prince Edward his Son are disinherited of the Crown and all Regal Authority upon news of which Queen Margaret returns to Scotland having obtained a considerable supply of men from her Father Duke Reynold Duke of Anjoy King of Naples Jerusalem and Sicily having suffered much by storm from Scotland she passed into England together with her Husband and such Scotch forces as that King assisted her with and took several Castles in Northumberland several Loyal English daily resorting to the Royal Standard which proceeding greatly alarumed Edward so that constituting the Lord Montacute his Lieutenant General he furnished him with an Army with which he gave Battel to King Henry's forces near unto Hexham where the Yorkists prevailed and King Henry is obliged again to fly into Scotland from whence some time after coming into England in disguise he was taken Prisoner by Thomas Talbot in Cletherworth in Lancashire and from thence brought to London with his Legs bound under the Horses Belly so little respect had those Varlets into whose hands he fell to afflicted Majesty and upon his arrival committed Prisoner to the Tower Edward having King Henry in safe custody began to give himself over to sports and Daliances and above all to bethink himself of a Wife upon which several were proposed as the Lady Margaret Sister to King James of Scotland the Lady Elizabeth Sister and Heir Apparent to Henry King of Castile the Lady Bona Daughter to the Duke of Savoy and Sister to the French Queen of which the latter being thought the fittest Match the Earl of Warwick was sent over to negotiate the affair and proceeded so well that he procured a free consent of the French King Queen and the Lady her self when in the mean while Edward had cast his Eyes upon Elizabeth Grey Widdow to Sir John Grey slain in the Quarrel of King Henry at St. Albans and notwithstanding all the perswasions of the Dutchess of York his Mother Married her and made her Queen which Warwick taking as a grievous affront put upon him from that moment Alienated his Affections from Edward and consulted how to restore King Henry to his Crown and Dignity in order to which he first consults his two Brothers George Nevil Arch-bishop of York and John Nevil Marquess of Montacute the former of which soon consented but the latter proposed many delays whereupon the politick Earl the better to bring his designs about resolves to bring to his Lurd George Duke of Clarence Edwards Second Brother whom he knew to be discontented with his Brothers Rule and so effectually wrought with Soliciting that he soon found him pliable and ready to espouse his Interest whereupon the more to secure him he proposed to him his Eldest Daughter in Marriage with the one half of his Wives Inheritance which was afterwards consummated at Calais and in the mean while by the countenance of the Earl many Commotions were raised in England to countenance which and to dispossess Edward of his Usurped Crown to say no worse the Duke and Earl prepared for England having first espoused his second Daughter to Prince Edward Son to King Henry and then arriving a great conflux of People hasted to his Banner so well known and dreaded in England being the White Bear and Ragged Staff to oppose which torrent e're it grew greater Edward hastened and at Woolvy four Miles from Warwick where the Duke and the Earls Host lay pitched his Tents and bid the Earl Battel who undaunted Spirit brooked no such Bravado advance and both Armies stood Imbattled expecting the dreadful blast but it so happened that the Fight was delayed and both Armies retire as if a Peace would undoubtedly insue but crafty Warwick had other designs on foot for within a while after he surprized Edward in the midst of his Army and took him Prisoner committing him to the custody of the Archbishop of York from whom he soon after escaped which greatly perplexed the Earl yet he so ordered the matter as not to seem in the least to regard it Edward upon his escape fled to London and the Duke and Earl continuing in their station levied great forces but upon the Mediation of the Nobility it was so ordered that the Duke and Earl came to Edward upon his Letters of safe conduct but Edward taxing them with Disloyalty and they him with ingratitude nothing was done but both departed Edward to Canterbury and the other returned to Warwick and from thence sent their Agents into Lincolnshire where they dealt with the Commons to take up Arms under the Leading of Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells but he in revenge of his Fathers Death whom Edward had basely Beheaded contrary to his promise rashly ingaged Edwards power before Warwick could come to his Aid and by that means lost
Escutcheons the Armories of St. Edward the Confessor sometime King of England These proceedings for a time made fair weather but not long for a Feud arising between Henry Duke of Hereford and Thomas Duke of Glocester the latter accused the former of speaking several words to the dishonour of the King that King Richard held the Peers of England in no esteem but as much as in him lay sought to destroy them by banishing some and putting others to death That he never troubled his mind with considering how his Dominions were diminished through his carelesness and lastly that all things went to wrack as well in Peace as War Upon this it was ordered that the Accuser and the Accused should try the matter by Combate the latter stoutly denying he ever said any such words as were objected against him so that gages being delivered on both sides they entered the Lists but e're they encountered the King threw down his Warder and upon further consideration banished Norfolk for his Life and Hereford at first for ten years which after he reduced to six which some alleadged was a just Judgment on the former for being instrumental in putting the Duke of Glocester to death he being then Captain of Calais But now ruin and desolation being at hand Portents forerun it all the Bay-trees in England suddenly withered and within a while sprung out again fresh near Bedford the River between the Villages of Harleswood and Swelston where it is deepest drove back on either hand and for three Miles left its Channel dry with sundry other remarkable presages of what after happened To give way to which the King upon notice of his Cousin the Lord Mortimer's being slain by the Irish of Leinster who were up in Arms under their Leader Obrian he resolved to pass over in person to revenge his death and therefore to furnish his expedition he raised many of all hands and at the same time his Uncle the Duke of Lancaster dying he seized on his Inheritance without regard to his Son the Duke of Hereford who remained in Exile which the said Duke hearing was so throughly netled that not resolving to wait the expiration of his Banishment he taking the advantage of King Richard's absence resolves for England having upon notice of his Fathers decease taken upon him the Title of Duke of Lancaster and only accompanied with the banished Bishop of Canterbury and about twenty others when having taken Ship he for some time lay hovering on the Coast to understand how the People stood affected to him and the better to give his agents on shore time to work them to his purpose but upon notice that his Faction was strong he Landed only under pretence of recovering his Rightful Inheritance when as there repaired to him the Earl of Northumberland and his Son the Lord Henry his Son the Lord Nevil Earl of Westmorland and others as likewise a great number of the Country People offering him their Service so that within a short time he had formed a Puissant Army the news of which soon alarumed Edmund Duke of York the Kings Uncle who calling to his assistance Edmund Stafford Bishop of Chichester Lord Chancellour Lord Treasurer Earl of Wiltshire Bushy Bagot Green Russel and other Knights of the Kings Council to consult about raising forces to impeach the Dukes passage but their consultation came to nothing the Dukes Faction having so dealt with the common people that they every where refused to take up Arms against him Whereupon Sir John Bushy Lord Treasurer and Sir Henry Green betake themselves to Bristol Castle but it being stormed by the Lancastrians their Heads became a Sacrifice to popular fury but Bagot taking ship Sailed over to Ireland to acquaint the King with what had happened who thereupon making such peace as he could with the Irish he hastens over but before his arrival the Dukes Faction was swelled to such a torrent that there was no opposing it Whereupon the King having Cashiered his Army or they for the most part deserting him he retired to the Castle of Conway in North-Wales whither upon notice of his being there resorted to him the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Earl of Northumberland where after a long Parly the King perceiving no other conditions could be gained required that he and eight more whom he would name might have honourable allowance with the assurance of a quiet private Life that he in consideration thereof would make a resignation of his Crown which demand Northumberland swore should be observed and thereupon the King accompanied them to the Castle of Flint whither the Duke was come with a part of his Army and from thence after a short conference they removed to Chester where the King in consideration of many fair promises never performed put himself into the Dukes hands who conveyed him to London and there made sure of him in the Tower whither several of the Lancastrian Faction daily resorted to him to parly about the surrender of his Crown which at last he consented to do seeing no other Remedy to his Cousin the Duke of Lancaster and at the same time taking off his Signet he put it on the Dukes Finger and at the same time there being a Parliament called in King Richard's name the Arch-bishop of York and Bishop of Hereford were appointed his Procurators to declare what he had done nor was this sufficient for to make him odious to the People they exhibited thirty two Articles against him very scandalous and reproachful Whereupon Commissioners were nominated by the consent of the Houses to pronounce the Sentence of Deposition who were the Bishop of Asaph the Abbot of Glastenbury the Duke of Glocester the Lord Berkly and William Thyrring Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas the Form thus In the Name of God We John Bishop of St. Asaph John Abbot of Glastenbury c. Commissioners specially chosen by the Lords Spiritual of the Realm of England and Commons of the said Realm representing all the states of the said Realm sitting in place of Judgment do renounce all fealty to Richard of Burdeaux and him Depose from all Kingly Dignity c. Upon which the Duke of Lancaster rising from his Seat Crossed himself and then layed claim to the Crown in these words In the Name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claim the Realm of England and Crown with all the appurtenances as coming by the Blood Royal from King Henry and by that Justice which God of his Grace hath sent me by the help of my Kinsfolks and Friends for the Recovery of the said Realm which was in point of perdition through default of Government and breach of Laws This said he was conducted by the Arch-bishops of Canterbury and York to the Royal Throne and there Seated and from thenceforth all Writs and Process Issued out in his Name Richard In the mean space remaining a Prisoner in the Tower and every day in danger of his Life which was often aimed at the more
course is that of pious King Henry the Sixth CHAP. IV. The Barbarous Murther of Henry the Sixth King of England France and Lord of Ireland the three and fiftieth Monarch of England with the particular Marks of Gods vengeance upon the shedders of Innocent Royal Blood together with the Policies and Contrivances that were used to bring about the Barbarous Regicide HEnry the Sixth was Son to Henry the Fifth and Grand-child to Henry the Fourth his Mother was Katharine Daughter to King Charles the Sixth of France upon him the Crown devolved in his Infancy his Father dying when he was about Seven Months old and he Crowned at Eight yet his Warlike Father having time in his sickness made his last Will and Testament constituting his Brother the Duke of Glocester Protector of England during his Sons Minority and his other Brother the Earl of Bedford Regent and to the Duke of Exceter committed he the care of young Henry though to be nurtured and brought up by the Queen Matters being thus settled the King dies of a burning Feaver at Bois D' Vincenois in France and for a time all things were calm especially in England though they continued not long so for although no diligence was wanting in the Dukes Regents yet the Kings Minority gave way to many Exorbitancies as well amongst the Vulgar as the Nobility and France desirous of gaining her former liberty continually struggled with the Conquerour the active Dauphin still assailing the strengths of the English as he found advantage offer so that many places were lost by being taken or by revolt yet the couragious Duke of Bedford the Kings Uncle having received a supply of fresh forces out of England recovered many of them but he in the heat of those troubles dying at Roan the English but weakly maintained their footing in France and within a while after the Faction amongst the Nobles increasing the Duke of Glocester Protector of England and the Kings other Uncle through the procurement of Queen Margaret Wife to King Henry was Arrested in Parliament by John Lord Beaumont High Constable of England and committed to the custody of the Dukes of Buckingham Somerset and others when within a while after he was found dead as they pretended of an Apoplexy though those who enquired more diligently into the matter found by apparent Symptoms that he was made away yet the death of so great a Prince was hushed though it proved fatal to the King and Kingdom For in the death of these two Brothers the two strongest twisted Cords in the Cable of Government were snapped in sunder whereupon it proved too weak to Anchor the Ship riding in so fierce a torrent for now the ambitious Duke of York Cousin to the King having made strong his Faction began to shew himself openly laying claim to the Crown whilst the King was yet alive drawing to his part a number of the discontented Nobility who envied the Duke of Somerset a man true and just to his Country and one whom the King highly favoured but that not being like to bring his designs to perfection taking example by King Henry the Fourth he resolves to make himself popular and within a while so dealt by his Agents with the Mobile that they rose in many Counties in great numbers threatning like a Deluge all before them with ruin and desolation and from the Counties adjacent under the Leading of Jack Cade that audacious Rebel they Mustered about London and Quartered in the Suburbs ruining and plundering many stately Houses nor did Churches scape their Sacrilegious hands The chief of these Rebels were drawn out of Kent and their Petition or rather Peremptory demand after they had made incredible spoil was 1. That Richard Duke of York then in Ireland as likewise several others of his Faction whom they named should be called home and be admitted chief Councillours and have power to manage the principal Affairs of the Kingdom 2. That the Duke of Glocester was falsly Proclaimed a Traitour and therefore they demanded that the Authors might be punished By this we may see who incouraged them to those unnatural Insurrections they had likewise a third Article but it only contained scandalous reflections on the Duke of Suffolk but these Traiterous demands being denied and their Articles rejected they raged worse than before Whereupon Sir Humfry Stafford drawing together such forces as he could get Incountered them at Seven-Oaks whither they were retired but was unfortunately slain and his party routed by Cade the principal Rebel who disarmed him and put on his Armour which ill became such a Villain After this they again advanced towards London and some of the factious Citizens though contrary to the Will of the Magistrates favoring them they enter the City and make great spoil on the Houses of such as they imagined to favour the Duke of Suffolk or indeed the King which caused the Lord Mayor to Assemble the Loyal Citizens and consult what was best to be done who agreed that when Cade was withdrawn as soon after happened they should shut the Gates against him and defend the City for the King which they effected and kept him out though not without the effusion of Blood on either side but he being put to the foil his Companions grew faint hearted so that upon the coming forth of the Kings Proclamation to assure them of pardon upon condition they would deposite their Arms they deserted him and then a thousand Marks being offered to any that could take Cade dead or alive he within a short time was killed at Hothfield by one Alexander Eden a Kentish Gentleman and his Head being brought up to London was set upon London Bridge as likewise twenty six more of his Accomplices who had been excluded the Charter of pardon being taken received the reward of their Treason The news of these intestine tumults flying into Ireland and coming to the Dukes Ear who meant nothing less than the deposing of innocent Henry lest his Faction should be weakned by his absence he posts over leaving the Affairs of the Kingdom with which he had been intrusted in a tottering condition and upon his arrival without the Kings leave or liking committed Prisoners to the Castle of Ludlow John Sutton Lord Dudly Reynold Abbot of St. Peters at Glastenbury all of them the Kings friends and afterwards having resolved upon deposing the King he takes up Arms under pretence of removing evil Councillors from about the Kings person almost the original pretence of every Rebellion though the undertakers aim at nothing less then the King himself and the chief person he objects against the only man that kept him from his wicked purposes was Edmund Duke of Somerset and many grievous Accusations the better to colour the business are made against him but the chief insisted on was the loss of Normandy during his Regency though it evidently appeared that the Duke of York himself by fomenting a division amongst the great ones had given the French
THE CRY OF Royal Innocent Blood Heard and Answered Being a True and Impartial Account of Gods extraordinary and Signal Judgments upon REGICIDES With an Historical Relation of the Deposing Murthering and Assasinating of several Kings of England Scotland France c. for near 600 years last past With the Plots Conspiracies Means and Methods that were used to compass their destruction As likewise Gods signal Vengeance immediately succeeding such Tragedies upon the Nations in which they were suffered to be perpetrated as Famine War Pestilence Murraine of Cattle Fires Earthquakes and Inundations Worthy the perusal of all and may serve as an Antidote against Faction and Rebellion Touch not my Anointed nor do my Prophets no harm Psal 105.15 Entred according to Order London Printed for Daniel Brown at the Black-Swan and Bible without Temple-Bar and Tho. Benskin in St. Brides Church-Yard Fleet-Street 1683. K Edmund the 30 Mon of the Enalishmen Assasianated K· Edward the II. Deposed Murthered K· Richard the II. Deposed Murtherd K· Henry the VI. Deposed Murthered K Edward the V. Murthered K· Henry the III of Fra Assasianated K Henry the IIII of Fra Assasinated Henry Stewart K of Scotland Murthered K· Charles the I. Martyred Printed for Dan Browne and Tho. Benskin 1683 TO THE READER REader what ever thou art consider well this Treatise in which as in a Mirrour you may behold the Machivilian Policies of Wicked and desperate Men formed to bring about their Diabolical purposes and at the same time observe how the unerring hand of Divine Vengeance has overwhelmed them with swift destruction for what greater Affront can be offered the Almighty then with Sacralegious Hands to shed the Blood of his Anointed even those whom himself has Chosen from amongst all the Sons of Men to bear his Sacred Character and Govern as his Vice-Gerents upon Earth on whom he has doubly Stamp'd his bless'd Idea and has declared that by him they Reign and Honoured them with Titles above the ordinary rank of Men viz. I have said ye are Gods c. as indeed they are Gods upon Earth to Execute Justice upon the Wicked and Cherrish the Virtuous against whom the wise Man says there is that is there ought to be no rising up and that we ought not to speak Evil of them no not in our Hearts yet such have been the Hellish Engins raised by the Prince of Darkness that not regarding their Allegiance to the King of Kings nor his Vice-Gerents contrary to all Oaths and strictest Ties have not feared to perpetrate such Villanies as in their effects have made whole Kingdoms groan but added Guilt to Guilt by making Religion the Cloak of their Horrid Impieties or at least the Reformation of the Kingdoms wherein their Villanies were Acted which as they insinuated into the unthinking Plebeans must of necessity be effected or that all things would sink into inevitable Ruin when at the same time these Instruments of Satan were brooding more miseries and dire Calamities then Pandoras-Box contained Plagues to Afflict Mankind and turn all things into Confusion though for the most part the Pitt that they digged for others themselves have fallen into for it has been observed how crafty so ever the Regicides of all Ages have been to bring about their amazing Impieties yet none of them sooner or later have escaped the Hand of Divine Vengeance either in some Signal and Exemplary Punishment or by the wounds of a torturing Conscience even in this Life as is at large discovered in this Treatise which contains the Tragedies of many good Kings of these latter Ages Deposed and Murthered by their Subjects or rather Devils in the Shapes of Men especially such Kings of England as have come to untimely Ends by such means for Six Hundred Years past together with Compendious Histories of their Lives and Reigns and the Calamities that thereupon have befallen this and other Nations Worthy the perusal of all Persons and may serve as a terrible Memento or Warning-Peice to those whose Consciences Start not when either Ambition or Profit is the Master at the Horridest Impiety that Hell can Dictate THE CRY OF ROYAL BLOOD Heard Answered OR An Historical Account of the Deposing Murthering c. of several KINGS of England c. and of Gods severe Vengeance on the Regicides AMongst the many Crimes that hasten Heavens vengeance on wretched miscreants there is none so vile in the sight of the Worlds Creator who is a God of purer Eyes than to behold iniquity than the loud Tongu'd Scarlet Crime of shedding innocent Blood a sin so heinous that it seldom escapes Exemplary punishment in this World the better to deterr barbarous wretches from violating the Persons and bereeving of Life those on whom God has been pleased to impress his Sacred Stamp by Inspiring them with immortal Souls and setting before them a large prospect of Heaven and Eternal happiness but more immediately when Hell-born Villains dare Murther those on whom his Sacred Image is doubly stamped as Kings and Men against whom they should not imagine evil no not in their hearts But since History abounds with the relation of such execrable Treasons and villainous Assassinations I shall make it the subsequent discourse of this Treatise to lay open the nature and manner of those amazing Tragedies by what means and treasonable divices the Regicides of almost all Ages have accomplished their most pernicious Enterprizes and how Heavens vengeance with a level aim at first or last has hit them sure and brought them to destruction Passing over the Murthers of Agamemnon Darius Alexander the Great Hannibal Pompey Caesar and divers other Emperours Kings and Princes who fell by treachery and whose Blood was thorowly revenged on the Murtherers even when they supposed themselves the most secure I shall proceed to more modern times and not exceeding 670. years past And First I shall begin with the Murther of good King Edmund Sirnamed the Ironside being the thirty third Monarch of the English-men This King of the Saxon Line succeeding his Father King Ethelred was Crowned at Kingstone upon Thames by Livingus Arch-Bishop of Canterbury on the 16 of April Anno 1016. At what time the Pagan Danes with bloody cruelties insested this Island destroying and burning all before them without regard to either Sex or Age. But such was the success of this valiant King that he not only put a stop to their proceedings but gave them many fatal overthrows and had past all dispute forced them to have left the prey the which so long with bloody hands so eagerly they grasped had it not been for the prodigious Treasons of the Monster Edrick a Person who by this Kings means during the Reign of his Father though ill deserving such a Title had been created a Duke and was now General of King Edmund's Army and by the power of such a trust sought by all means the downfal of his Lord which to his Eternal Infamy he at last effected as shall
a Jesuit William Cawley a Brewer Nicholas Love Son to Doctor Love of Winchester John Dixwel a Recruit to the Long Parliament Daniel Blagrave Daniel Broughton Edward Denby John Hutchison Francis Lossely Lord Munson James Challenor Sir Henry Mildmay Robert Wallop James Harrington and John Philips These were the pack of Hellhounds that were thought most fit to hunt after Royal-Blood as Indeed they were for such Monsters never Breathed before on Brittish-Soil Matters being brought to this pass on the 20 of January 1648. Bradshaw the President with about 70 of the aforesaid pack Guarded by Partizans came into Westminster-Hall and sate down in the Court whither the King was brought by Collonel Thomlinson and placed at the Bar by the Serjeant at Arms where a Crimson-Chair was set in which he sate down without moving his Hat or Regarding the Monsters yet the President stood up and declared why he was brought thither laying many Notorious Falsities to his charge and was seconded by Solicitor Cook but the King not to Impair his Kingly Character absolutely denyed the Jurisdiction of the Court and so Learnedly opposed the Illiterate Rout with Stupendious Arguments that they were beaten from all Defences and nothing to say but that they were well satisfied in their Power and that it was not for him to dispute their Jurisdiction as indeed it availed not for past doubt they Right or wrong had before-hand determined his Destruction and yet they convened his Majesty before them the day following and the next day as also on the 23 and still pressed him to answer the charge and own the Jurisdiction of the Court without permitting him though he earnestly desired it to give his reasons why he refused it nor to plead for the Liberty of his Subjects which most of all he insisted on but Adjourned the Court to the 27 when notwithstanding the Kings Learned Arguments and perswasions which they impatiently heard they passed Judgment upon him which after a long repetition of what had passed during the Tryal concluded in the words For all which Treasons and Crimes this Court doth adjudge that he meaning the King as a Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and Publick-Enemy shall be put to Death by severing his Head from his Body after which Bradshaw declared It was the Act and Resolution of the whole Court And thus they layed to his charge things that he knew not nor could be possible Guilty of for Kings are accountable to none but God nor can any man of Sence Imagine that Treason can be committed against a Subject by his Prince no Law allowing that it can descend but it must ever ascend Yet to the amazement of all Nations having carryed on their Villany to this height they proceeded further for on the 29 of January a Warrant was directed under the Hands of John Bradshaw Thomas Lord Gray of Grooby and Oliver Cromwell to Francis Hacker Collonel Hunks and Lieutenant Collonel Phray for the Execution of their wicked Sentence the place appointed for the Tragedy being before VVhitehall and the next day between the hours of ten in the Morning and five in the Afternoon to compleat the great wickedness But to amuse the People that every where detested against their Diabollical proceedings and to prevent any attempt that might be made to rescue his Majesty they caused it to be Rumoured that they would respite the Execution yet on the Fatal 30 of January in the Year aforesaid the Commissioners met and ordered four or five of their Canting Tub-Preachers to attend upon his Majesty at St. James's but he refused to have any conference with those Varlets In the Morning before his Majesty was brought thence Dr. Juxon Bishop of London officiated and read Divine Service when as the Second Lesson appointed to be Read for that day by the Church Calender happened to be the 27 Chap. of St. Matthew being the History of our Saviours passion which caused his Majesty to Thank the Doctor for chusing so fit a place of Scripture but being given to understand that it fell in course he was highly Animated then his Majesty received the Sacrament after which and some other Devotions ended he was conveyed to Whitehall through the Park by a Regiment of Foot but about his Person were a private Guard of Partizans the Bishop on the one hand and Collonel Thomlinson on the other when with a chearful voice he bid the Guard march faster saying That now he went before them to strive for a Heavenly Crown with less Solicitude then he had often Incouraged his Souldiers to Fight for an Earthly Diadem Being come to the Stairs of the long Gallery he passed through and coming in to an appartment appointed for him continued in fervent Prayer wondering at the delay but the reason was because the Scaffold was not Finished here he received a Letter from the Prince brought by Mr. Seymour and Dinner time came he refused to Dine only Eat a bit of Bread and Drank a Glass of Clarret About one of the Clock Collonel Hacker came with his Guard of Officers and brought his Majesty accompanyed with the Bishop and Collonel Thomlinson through the Banqueting-House and from thence upon the Scaffold a Bridge being made from one of the Windows to it round about which stood a Guard of 7 Regiments of Horse and Foot there placed to keep off his weeping Subjects from approaching to commiserate their dying Soveraign the Scaffold was hung with mourning and so Villanously were they bent on their wicked purpose that fearing his Majesty would not willingly submit to the Axe they had driven in Iron staples to force him to the Block with Cords O monstrous Barbarity of these Inhumane monsters His Majesty looking upon the Blcok and having asked Hacker whither there were none higher turned to Thomlinson and began his Speech wherein he declared His Innocence the unjust Incroachments of the Parliament upon his Perogative Royal and their begining the unnatural War against him yet Prays to God to forgive them all and all that had a hand in his Death advises them to restore the Church and Liberties of the People and the Crown to his Successor laying down the particular means and methods that would unavoidably conduce to the Nations happiness declaring till they were effectually observed the Nation would be miserable and Lastly that his Blood was causelesly shed and that he Dyed the Martyr of the People and then at the motion of Dr. Juxon declared his Religion saying That he Dyed a good Christian according to the Profession of the Church of England as he found it left to him by his Father of which this good man can bear me witness meaning Dr. Juxon then turning to the Officers said Sirs Excuse me for I have a good Cause and I have a Gracious God then turning to Hacker he said Take care they do not put me to pain after which he said to the Executioner I shall say but very short Prayers and when I thrust out my Hands