and Breadth Page 1 Boadicea 2 Bonds first sealed 10 Becket Tho. 14 Black Prince 21 A Bishop's Chastity 49 Blasphemy 51 London-Bridge 53. and finisht 53 Shower of Blood 53 Barons 63 Barons first executed 64 A Bishop rescued from the King by force ibid Shower of Blood 78 A miraculous Birth 95 Last Banneret in England 99 A Pond of Blood 108 C. CAractecus Page 4 Cadwallader ibid Constantine ibid Cambridge founded 7 Church-Rights sold. 10 Charles the I. 36 Charles the II. 37 Committee of Safety 39 Canutus 48 Scotch Custom 49 Children born with Horse-tails 52 A barbarous Cruelty 57 Common-Councel-men first in London 58 Charters confirm'd 59 A false Christ. 60 Richard Clare his Valour 61 Coronation-Chair brought from Scotland into England 62 The Value of Calice 66 Clergies Tax ibid Chaucer 68 A noble Citizen of London 69 Combat between Katrington and Annesley ib Character of King Henry the V. 75 A wonderful Cock 78 Cap of Maintainance 89 King Henry the VIII supream Head of the Church 90 First Registers in Churches 92 Cranmer Archbishop his Heart not burnt 96 East-India Company 100 First Master of Ceremonies 103 A monstrous Child 105 King Charles murdered 108 D. DAnes first invade England Page 6 Second Invasion of Danes ibid Drake Captain 34 Dangerfield 45 A Dwarf 63 A great Dearth 65 First Dauphin of France 66 Dukes first created 67 An Appearance of the Devil 74 â—â—fender of the Faith Title 90 Dolphins 95 Captain Drake 99 English first Drunkards ibid Dublin-University 100 A great Drought 101 Deer-killers Penalty 104 Duels restrain'd 105 Countess of Derby's Resolution 108 Lady Eleanor Davis 109 E. ENgland's Length and Breadth Page 2 Its first Inhabitants ibid Their Wives ibid England when so call'd and why 6 Divided into Parishes ibid Kings-Evil first cured 7 A dreadful Example ibid Divided into Circuits 14 Edward the I. sirnamed Long-shanks 17 Edward Caernarven ibid Edward the III. Crowned 19 Edward the IV. 26 Edward the V. 27 Edward the VI. 32 Elizabeth Queen ibid Ethelred 48 Strange Earthquake 49 53 Elephant first seen in England 60 Emperor takes Pay of King Henry 88 A prodigious Earthquake 100 Another 101 F. FIre in London Page 39 Great Fire in London 49 A bountiful Feast 59 Vast Expences in France 60 A great Frost 68 4000 French frighted at the Name of Salisbury 76 A Fort taken by one Man 99 A monstrous Fish 100 G. GOspel first preach'd in England Page 3 First publickly professed here ibid Gaviston 18 Garter first instituted 21. 54 Lady Jane Grey 32 Gunpowder Plot. 35 Guns first used 66 Knights of Garter first ibid Guns first invented 72 First Garter King at Arms. 74 Gold paid by Weight 75 King's Guard first ordained 85 Granada won by the Spaniards 86 An uncourteous Guest 94 H. HEptarchy Page 4 5 Henry the I. Crown'd at Westminster 11 His Death and Issue 12 Henry the II. Plantagenet 13 Henry the III. Crowned 16 Henry the IV. 22 Henry the V. 23 Henry the VI. 24 Henry the VII 28 Henry the VIII 29 Hell Kettles 40 First Burning in the Hand 87 Large Hailstones ibid Ceremonies of Cutting off the Hand for Courtstriking 91 John Hopkins 97 Hacket's strange Reconciliation 99 King James presented with 70 Teams of Horses 103 I. IReland conquer'd Page 14 John King Crown'd at Westminster 15 First Justice of Peace 21 Joan de Lorrain 24 James the I. King 35 James the II. King 40 Installation at Windsor 45 First Lord of Ireland 50 Johannes de Temporibus ibid Ireland first entred by the English 51 Submits to King Henry 52 King of Jerusalem's Title whence 54 Laws first in Ireland 58 A devout Jew 60 Man-Island conquered 66 A noble Justing 70 An Image made to speak 72 King Edward the IV. sits as Judge 79 A melancholy Judge 80 A magnificent Interview 89 King Henry his Justing ibid Viscount Lisle dies of Joy 92 St. James's built 93 English Laws in Ireland 95 A wonderful Journey 104 K. THe Kingdom interdicted by the Pope P. 58 Knighthood compell'd 60 Knights-Templers imprisoned 64 Earl of Kent beheaded 65 Manner of Knighting 70 Obligations of Knighthood 91 Knights-Baronets first created 104 L. A Learned Man became an Ideot Page 59 Laws first pleaded in English 67 Legitimacy by Parliament 71 Barons first made by Letters Patents ibid Lions die in the Tower 77 Judge Littleton 82 Wonderful Lightning at Whitecomb 108 M. FIrst Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London Page 15. 55 Magna Charta 17 Evil May-day 29 Man hang'd for his Master 32 Mary Queen ibid Monmouth lands at Lyme 42 Defeated and beheaded 43 A Lord devoured by Mice 49 Miracles 58 Maid of Leicestershire 61 Montfort's Audacity ibid Sir John Mandevil 65 Judgement on King Edward's Murderers 83 Name of Merchant-Taylors first given 87 Masking first used in England 88 Meat sold by Weight 93 Mass restored 96 A strange Mortality 98 N. NUns of Codington Page 48 French Navy of 1287. 7 Necromantick Art 76 Last Nuncio in England 98 O. Oswald Page 6 Oxford-University founded 7 Oliver Usurper 37 Oates his Plot. 40 Perjury and Punishment 41 Oath of Allegiance 105 P. AN English-man elected Pope Page 15 Peterkin and Symnel 28 Protestancy founded 32 Abolished 33 Old Parr his Age. 37 Plague in London 39 First Parliament in England 49 Two Popes at once 53 A Bondman came to be Pope ibid King John resigns his Crown to the Pope 48 A wonderful Preservation 63 First Coronation-Pardon 65 A wonderful Pestilence 67 Great Plenty 68 A King obliged to attend the Parliament 70 A strange sort of general Pardon 71 Prince Henry made a Prisoner 73 King Henry the 5ths Prophesie 74 Printing first used in England 77 A wonderful Prodigy ibid The Fickleness of Parliaments 80 First suing in forma Pauperis 86 Popes Authority abolished 91 First Gentlemen-Pensioners 93 Priests Children legitimated 95 A Plague 105 R. ROmans first enter England Page 2 Their Departure 3 Rosamond 14 Richard Coeur de Lion 15 Robin Hood and Little John ibid. 55 Richard the II. 22 Richard the III. 28 King Richard's Reply to the Priest 56 A â—â—ot of Sheep 64 A strange Rainbow 96 A vast Rain ibid Rain of Fire from Heaven 110 S. SAxons Invasion Page 4 Stephen Earl of Blois Crown'd at Westminster 12 His Valour Death Issue 13 Salisbury Church built 16 Scotland subjected 17 Spencers 18 Scots invade England 20 Straw and Tyler 22 A wonderful Sorceress 53 William King of Scots does Homage to King John 57 Sterling Money ibid. 58 King of Scots does Fealty to King Edward 62 Title to Scotland surrendred 65 Defrauding Souldiers punished 66 A Subsidy granted without asking 74 Scriptures ordered to be in Latin 75 A wonderful Slaughter 79 King Edward marries his Subject 80 Sheep sent to the King of Arragon ibid Strange Examples of Severity 81 Length of Shoos Noses 82 Inundation of the Severn 84 Sweating Sickness 85 A Carver made Sheriff ibid A Just at Sheens 86 Sanctuaries
An Act was made That Annats forbidden to be paid to Rome Bishops should pay no more Annats or Money for Bulls to the Pope forasmuch as it was proved there had been paid for Bulls of Bishops since the 4th year of Hâ—â—nry the VII an 160000 l. besides what had been paid for Pardons and other Dispensations Another Act was also then made That No more Appeals to Rome no Person should appeal for any Cause out of this Realm to the Court of Rome but from the Commissary to the Bishop and from the Bishop to the Archbishop and from the Archbishop to the King and all Causes of the King to be tryed in the Upper House of the Convocation The Clergy of England being now charged King Henry supream Head of the Church by the King's Council to be in a Praemunire for maintaining the Cardinal Woolsey's Legantine Power in their Convocation concluded an humble Submission in writing and offered the King an 100000 l. to have their Pardon by Parliament Which Offer after some labour was accepted and their Pardon promised in which Submission the Clergy called the King The supream Head of the Church About the Time that this King married Obligations of Knighthood Ann Bullen all men that had 40 l. a year Land were either obliged to be Knighted or to pay a Fine In the 26th year of this King there was The Pope's Authority abolished an Act made which authorized the King to be supream Head of the Church of England and the Pope's Authority to be utterly abolished On the 10th of June 1541. Sir Edmund The Manner and Ceremony of cutting off the Hand of one that strikes in the King 's Court. Knevet of Norfolk Kt. was arraigned before the Officers of the Green-cloth for striking Mr. Cleer of Norfolk within the Tennis-Court of the King's House Being found guilty he had Judgment to lose his right Hand and to forfeit all his Lands and Goods Whereupon there was called to do Execution First The Serjeant-Surgeon with his Instruments pertaining to his Office then the Serjeant of the Wood-yard with a Mallet and a Block to lay the Hand upon then the King's Master-Cook with a Knife to cut off the Hand then the Serjeant of the Larder to set the Knife right on the Joynt then the Serjeant-Farrier with fearing Irons to fear the Veins then the Serjeant of the Poultry with a Cock which Cock should have his Head smitten off on the same Block and with the same Knife then the Yeomen of the Chandry with Searcloths then the Yeomen of the Scullery with a Pan of Fire 〈◊〉 heat the Irons and two Forms for all Officers to set their Stuff on then the Serjeant of the Cellar with Wine Ale and Beer then the Serjeant of the Ewery with Bason Ewer and Towels All things being thus prepared Sir William Pickering Knight-Marshal was commanded to bring in his Prisoner to whom the Chief Justice declared his Offence which the said Knevet confessed and humbly submitted himself to the King's mercy only he desired the King would spare his right Hand and take his left Because said he if my right Hand be spared I may live to do the King good service Of whose Submission and reason of his Suit when the King was informed he granted him to lose neither of his Hands and pardoned him also of his Lands and Goods A. D. 1542. About this Time Arthur Vicount Lisle dieth of excess of Joy Plantagenet Vicount Lisle base Son to King Edward the IV. having been imprisoned upon suspicion of a Practice for betraying of Callice to the French whilst he was the King's Lieutenant there was found to be innocent of the Fact And thereupon the King to make him some reparation for his Disgrace sent him a Ring and a very gracious Message whereat the Vicount took so great Joy that the night following of that very Joy he died In the 30th year of this King it was ordained First Registers in Churches by Cromwel the King's Vicar-General That in all Churches there should be kept a Register of every Wedding Christning and Burial within the same Parish for ever In his 31st year the King first instituted First Gentlemen Pensioners and appointed 50 Gentlemen called Pensioners to wait upon hâ—â—s â—â—erson assigning to each of them 50 l. a year for the maintenance of themselves and two Horses In his 37th year the Brothel-houses Stews put down called the Stews on the Bank-side in Southwark were put down by the King's Commandment and it was done by Proclamation and sound of Trumpet In his 23d year it was enacted That Meat sold by weight Butchers should sell their Meat by weight Beef for a half penny the pound and Mutton for three farthings King Henry in his 24th year built his St. James built Mansion-house of St. James where he made a fair Park In this King's Time one Foxley Pot-maker A great Sleeper to the Tower of London fell asleep and could not be wakened at 14 days In this King's Time also lâ—â—ved Anthony Anthony Fitz-Herbert Fitz-Herbert who has writ 〈◊〉 learnedly of the Law The most NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the Sixth THE Reign of King Edward the VI. A. D. 1547. A miraculous Victory was ushered in with a miraculous Victory over the Scots the Duke of Somerset the Protector of England being General of the English Forces in which Battel there were of the Scots slain above 14000 and on the English Party only 50 Horse-men and one Foot-man After some Rebellions in the West in An uncourteous Guest this King's days Sir William Kingston being Provost-Marshal one Boyer Mayor of Bedwin in Cornwal had been amongst the Rebels but enforced The Provost sent him word he would come and dine with him the Mayor hereupon made great Provision A little before Dinner the Provost took the Mayor aside and required him to put up a pair of Gallows against Dinner was done which the Mayor did Presently after Dinner the Provost taking the Mayor by the Hand entreated him to lead him to the Gallows where being come he asked the Mayor If they were strong enough Yes said the Mayor Well then said the Provost get you up speedily for they were provided for you and the Mayor was hanged accordingly A. D. 1551. In the Reign of King Edward English Laws in Ireland the VI. the charge was given that Ireland should be governed by English Laws In a Parliament in the 4th year of this Priests Children legitimate A Miraculous Birth King Priests Children were legitimate In his 6th year at Middleton-stony 11 miles from Oxford a Woman brought forth a Child which had two perfect Bodies from the Navel upwards the Legs for both the Bodies grew out at the middle where they both were joyned and had but one Issue for the Excrements of them both They lived 18 days and were Women-Children This year also were
in his Journey to France spent Vast Expences in France 2700000 l. which was more then than ten times so much now In the 25th year of this King Aldermen Aldermen first in London were first chosen within the City of London who then had the rule of the City and of the Wards of the same and were then yearly changed as now the Sheriffs are The City of London was now allowed to present their Mayor to the Barons of the Exchequer to be sworn which before was to be presented to the King where-ever he were In this King's Time a Proclamation was Who obliged to be Knighted set forth That all such as might dispend 15 l. a year in Land should receive the Order of Knighthood and those that would not or could not should pay their Fines There was a Man now that took upon A false Christ. him to be Christ and had five Wounds made in his Body in resemblance of our Saviour's and continuing obstinate in this humour he was taken and immured between two Walls A certain Jew chancing to fall in a Privy A devout Jew on a Saturday would not that day be taken out because it was the Sabbath the Earl of Gloucester would not suffer him to be taken out the next day because it was the Christian Sabbath and on the third day he was taken out dead In this King's Reign there was sent by An Elephant first in England the King of France the first Elephant that was ever seen in England Matthew Paris relates of a Maid now in A Miracle of Nature Leicestershire that being exactly watched was found in seven years together neither to eat nor drink but only that on Sundays she received the Communion and yet continued fat and in good liking Also in this Time a Child born in the A Dwarf Isle of Wight at 18 years of Age was but three Foot high who being brought to the Queen she kept him for a Monster of Nature Richard de Clare Earl of Gloucester in a A valiant Earl Battel against Baldwin de Gisnes a valiant Flemming employed by King Henry himself alone encountred 12 of his Enemies and having his Horse slain under him he pitched one of them by the Leg out of the Saddle and leapt into it himself and continued the Fight without giving ground till his Army came to rescue him Simon Montford was a Man of so audacious The strange Audacity of Montford a Spirit that he gave King Henry the Lye to his face and in presence of all his Lords the King feared him strangely for being frighted off the Thames by Thunder and meeting Montford who bid the King not fear for the danger was past the King said No Montford I fear not the Thunder so much as thee NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the First IN King Edward the First 's Time Leolin A. D. 1274. Leolin the last Welsh Prince being the last Prince of Welsh Blood for Rebellion was slain and his Head set upon the Tower of London This King by the Statute of Rutland in Wales and England united the 12th year of his Reign united the Government of Wales to England At this time there were ten Competitors Baliol Scots King does Fealty to K. Edward for the Scotch Crown at last King Edward determined the Business and Baliol was chosen who did Homage and swore Fealty and Allegiance to King Edward as his liege Lord. King Edward caused the fatal Chair The Coronation-Chair brought into England wherein the Kings of Scotland used to be inaugurated to be brought into England and put in Westminster-Abbey amongst the Monuments where it still remains All the Scots swore Allegiance to this The Scots swear Allegiance to King Edward King except William Walleys who of a private Gentleman came to be their Guardian Angel In his Time three Men for rescuing of a Prisoner had their right Hands cut off at their Wrists In this King's Time the Title of Baron Barons was confined to such only as were called by Writ to serve in Parliament In this King's Time there was a Rot of A Rot of Sheep Sheep which continued for 25 years together which 't was thought began by a Ship of incredible greatness brought out of Spain In his 16th year it chanced in Gascoin A wonderful Preservation that as the King and Queen sate in their Chamber upon a Bed talking together a Thunderbolt coming in at the Window behind them passed betwixt them and slew two of their Gentlemen that stood before them NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the II. THis King going towards Scotland to A. D. 1307. King Edward beaten by the Scots raise the Siege of Striveling with an 100000 Men was defeated by the Scots who had but 30000 Men. This King being always at dissention First noble Blood shed since the Conquest with his Barons and they rebelling against him there was many of them taken and executed being the first that suffered in this manner in England since William the Conqueror This King was perswaded in his own Edward the II deposed Life-time to surrender his Crown to his Son and all Persons renounced Allegiance to him In this King's Time an Ordinance was Knights-Templers imprisoned made against Knights-Templers accused of Heresie and other Crimes and they were all apprehended and committed to divers Prisons The Bishop of Hereford being by this A Bishop rescued from the King by force King arrested for high-Treason the other Bishops came and rescued him by force In this King 's 8th year was so great a A greatDearth Dearth that Horses and Dogs were eaten and Thieves in Prison pluckt in pieces those that were newly brought in amongst them and eat them half alive which continuing three years brought in the end such a Pestilence that the living scarce sufficed to bury the dead In this King's Time lived John Mandevile Sir John Mandevile the great Traveller a Doctor of Physick and a Knight NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the III. AT the Coronation of Edward the III. A. D. 1327. The first Coronation-Pardon a general Pardon was proclaimed which was the president and foundation of the Custom since used by all Kings that at their first coming to the Crown a general Pardon is always granted This King surrendred all his Title to Title to Scotland surrendred Scotland which his Grandfather had obtained there Edmond Earl of Kent this King's Uncle Edmond Earl of Kent beheaded being condemned for high-Treason was so generally beloved that he stood on the Scaffold from one a Clock till five before any one could be found to execute him In this King's Time the Isle of Man was Man-Island conquered conquered by William Mâ—â—ntacute Earl of Salisbury for which Service King Edward gave him the Title of King of Man 'T is said that this King
at the Siege of Guns first used Callice first made use of Guns About this Time Philip King of France First Daulphin of France died leaving his Son John to succeed him in the beginning of whose Reign Humbert Prince of Daulphin dying without Issue made him his Heir and thereupon Charles King John's Son was made first Daulphin of France Sir John Midsterworth Knight about this Defrauding Souldiers punished Time was hanged drawn and quartered at Tyburn for Treason by him committed in defrauding Souldiers of their Wages There was an Offer made to King Edward The Value of Callice to leave him 1400 Towns and 3000 Fortresses in Aquitain upon condition he would render Callice and what he held in Picardy In the 45th year of this King in a Parliament The Clergy grant a Tax at Westminster the Clergy granted him 50000 l. to be paid the same year and the Laity as much which was levied by setting a certain rate of 5 l. 15 s. upon every Parish which were found in the 37 Shires to be eight thousand six hundred Some say this King instituted the Order Knight of the Garter first of Knight of the Garter This King caused all Pleas in Law Law first pleaded in English which were before in French now to be made in English that the Subject might understand the course of the Law In this Time at the instance of the Londoners Apparel for Whores an Act was made That no common Whore should wear any Hood except striped with divers colours nor Furs but Garments reversed the wrong side outwards This King also was the first that created Dukes first created Dukes of whom Henry of Bullingbrook Earl of Lancaster created Duke of Lancaster in the 27th year of his Reign was the first but afterward he erected Cornwal into a Dutchy and conferred it upon the Prince after which Time the King 's eldest Son used always to be Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwal and Earl of Chester In the 22d year of his Reign a contagious A wonderful Pestilence Pestilence arose in the East and South Parts of the World and spread it self all over Christendom and coming at last into England it so wasted the People that scarce the 10th Person of all sorts were left alive There died in London some say in Norwich between the 1st of January and the 1st of July 57374 Persons In Yarmouth in one year 7052 Men and Women before which Time the Parsonage there was worth 700 Marks a year and afterwards was scarce worth 40 l. a year This Plague began in London about Alhollantide in the year 1348 and continued till the year 1357 where it was observed that those who were born after the beginning Decrease of Teeth in men of this Mortality had but twenty eight Teeth whereas before they had two and thirty In this King's Time a Frost lasted from A great 〈◊〉 the midst of September to the Month of April In the 11th year of his Reign there was Plenty of all things so great Plenty that a quarter of Wheat was sold at London for two Shillings a fat Ox for a Noble a fat Sheep for Six-pence five Pidgeons for a penny a fat Goose for Two-pence a Pig for a penny and other things after that rate In this King's Time lived the so much Chaucer famed Sir Geoffry Chaucer the famous English Poet. NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King RICHARD the II. IN the beginning of this King's Reign A. D. 1377. A noble Act of a Citizen of London one Mercer a Scottish Pirat committing many Outrages upon the Seas against the English Merchants a Citizen of London one John Philpot at his own Charges set forth a Fleet and in his own Person encountring Mercer took him and all his Ships About this Time one Sir John Annesley A Combat between Katrington and Annesley Knight accused Thomas Katrington Esq for betraying the Fortress of St. Saviour to the French which Katrington denying at the suit of Annesley a solemn Combat is permitted to be between them at which Combat the King and all the great Lords were present The Esq Katrington was a man of a mighty stature the Knight Annesley a little man yet through the justness of his Cause after a long Fight the Knight prevailed and Katrington the day after the Combat died After the Rebellion of Wat Tyler and 〈◊〉 executed for Treason Jack Straw in this King's Time Sir Robert Tresilian Lord Chief Justice being appointed to sit in Judgment against the Offenders 1500 being found guilty were all executed The manner of Knighting in these days Manner of Knighting thus They caused him to put a Basenet upon his Head and then the King with a Sword in both his Hands struck him strongly upon the Neck This King added the Dagger to the Arms of London This King for a considerable time kept the Great Seal in his own hands The French in this King's Time designing The French prepare a Navy of 1287 Ships to invade England presuming no less than to make a Conquest of it prepared 1287 Ships but the Attempt as it was impertinent signified nothing A Parliament in this King's Time declared The King obliged to attend the Parliament to the King That by an old Ordinance it was enacted that if the King should absent himself 40 days not being sick from his Parliament the Houses might lawfully break up and return home This King being at dissention with his Lords could procure none to fight against them 'T is almost wonderful what is related of A strange Accident in a Family the Family of the Hastings Earls of Pembroke that for many Generations the Sons never saw the Fathers the Fathers being always dead before the Sons were born In this King 's 13th year a Royal Just A noble Justing was proclaimed to be holden within Smithfield in London which being published many Strangers came hither of the most noble Families of Europe At the day appointed there issued out of the Tower about three a Clock in the afternoon 60 Coursers apparelled for the Justs and upon every one an Esquire of Honour riding a soft pace after them came forth almost 40 Ladies of Honour mounted on Palfreys and every Lady led a Knight with a Chain ofGold and so they came riding through the Streets of London to Smithfield where the Just held 24 days At this Time in a Parliament the Duke A Bastard legitimated by Parliament of Lancaster caused to be legitimated the Issue he had by Catharine Swinford before he married her of whom Thomas Beaufort was created Earl of Somerset In a Parliament about this Time the What Articles first to be handled in Parliament Judges gave their opinions that when Articles are propounded by the King to be handled in Parliament if other Articles be handled before those are determined that it is Treason in them that do it A