espoused to Lionel whilst she came out of France by Sea to her Husband was taken in the way whom he was forced to redeem at a great ransom promising also to Edward continual Homage and granting his Brother David to the English who was highly esteemed by Edward But Lionels obedience lasted not above three years for his Wife Eleoner being dead he breaks forth into new rebellions Also David forgetting the great love of King Edward to him fell off presently to his Brother and so with joynt Forces they enter England and did some mischief to Edward both wonderfully inflamed by a false Prophesie of Merlin whereby the Crown of Brutus was promised to Lionel But the Battell being set Lionel was killed by a private Souldier and his Head was brought to the King who caused it to be fastned on a pole and to be Crowned with joy and set up on the Tower of London The lot of David was like to his Brothers who being taken in Wales was drawn with a Horse to the place of execution and there beheaded and his Head set by his Brothers and his four quarters were sent to the four principall Cities of England So Edward revenged the Rebellion of the Welsh and the death of Alphonsus his first born who was killed in the same Battell But a greater cloud hung over his head from Scotland For Alexander the third King of Scotland whilst he rode the Great Horse fell with him and so died leaving his Daughter Margaret to inherit but she shortly after her Father died also leaving the Kingdom to ten Corrivals who strove for it Edward was chosen Umpire by them all to search their Titles but he reduced all their pretences to two especially namely John Bayly and Robert Bruse who with equal right affected the Kingdom whilst the matter sticks between them Edward sets on Bruse promising to him the Kingdom of Scotland for ever so he would do him Homage for it But Bruse refused it preferring his Countries Liberty before his own Honour but Baily yielded to those conditions and so gained the Kingdom of Scotland but the ill will of all his Country men Envy against him increased for refusing justice upon the death of the Earl of Fife who was slain for Baily exempted Albermeth that slew him from punishment whereupon Baily was cited to appear before Edwards Tribunal was forced to plead his cause He was angry for this disgrace and returns to his Kingdom and afterwards denied Homage to Edward and proclaimed Warre making a Covenant with the French King Hence arose the cause of a most bloody Warre between the two Nations which lasted for 300 years only some feigned cessations passing between Armies are Mustered on both sides and the English giving the first onset on the Scotch slew abundance of them and won many Cities and Castles by which loss Brusius was constrained to beg for Peace which was granted but he himself was carried Captive into England and being afterwards set at liberty he ended his daies in France expecting in vain the restitution of his goods And so Edward returned for England leaving after him John Varamius Earl of Sussex his Embassador and Hugh Chrysingamius his Treasurer to take care of the Scotch business But a little after this the Scotch when the King was gone into France making head against the Kings Ministers having William Valla for their Captain they killed Hugh Chrysingamius and with him 6000 English But the King came back for England commanded that his Court should be held at York and presently levying an Army he assaulted the Scotch afresh at Fonkirk and though he himself were dismounted from his Horse that was frighted with the hollow of the enemy and was dangerously wounded two ribs being broken in his body yet he made a great slaughter amongst them 40000 Horse and Foot of them being slain Only Vallas with a small handfull of men escaped by flight from the fury of the enemy All the Noble mens goods are made forfeit to the English and they were all made Tributaries and to swear the third time to be true to King Edward But the false Scot kept his word but a very short time for Brusius the Son of Robert being made King in a Turbulent manner new commotions arise for he fearing the power of John Cuminus caused him wickedly to be murdered in the Temple of Dumfrise When Edward heard this he was wonderfully incensed Presently having raised a gallant Army he marcheth into Scotland not meaning to cease till he had brought down the usurper of that Kingdom The Earl of Pembreke who was marched before with his Brigade lighting suddenly on Bruse destroyed all his men from whose hands the King himself hardly escaped he led a dishonourable llfe in Caves Dens and Crags of Mountains seeking his fortune in other matters His Brothers falling into the power of the enemy were put to extream tortures as Traytors The King fierce with the madness of Revenge spared no mans life but slew all he met withall The Earl of Athol also though he were of the Kings blood was sent to London and hanged there so and by such like waies were the followers of Bruse punished Yet Bruse though he wanted almost any to follow him did not give out but collecting a handfull of souldiers he sets upon the Earl of Pembroke suddenly and put him to the worst with great loss and slaughter and he drove the Earl of Glocester into the Castle of Ayrs and besieged him there untill Edward coming to his relief he was forced to fly to his old sculking holes In the mean time a new Warre breaks forth with the French King Philip the Fair by a controversie between the subjects of either King and arising from pretended injury for Kings that envy one the other do easily break into open hatred The King of England also was justly angry and sought all occasions of wrong greedily by reason that Henry his Cousin Son to Richard the Emperour was killed by the Earl Montfrots Son at which wickedness the French connived In a fight at Sea first a great destruction was brought upon the French at the entrance of the River Sion and elsewhere And Edward when a day was appointed for him as a stipendiary to plead his cause before King Philip he refused to appear and the Homage he did willingly before he now refused to do whereupon a great Army being raised Philip enters upon the Territories of Edward in France by force of Arms. The King of England by the assistance of neighbour Princes the Earl of Flanders the Duke of Brabant and others to which was joyned â—he help that came from Adolphus of Nassaw the Roman Emperour who had promised it presently marched against the King of France but finding the French divided into parts and defrauded of the assistance promised them by the Emperour when he had held his Winter Quarters at Gaunt not without murmuring of the Citizens and great want amongst his Souldiers at the beginning
of the Spring truce being made with the French for three years the King took Margaret the Dukes sister to Wife for Leoner died in the former expedition against the Scot and the Daughter of Philip being betrothed to King Edwards Son he retreated for England Lastly making his incursion into Scotland when he held his Winter Quarters at Carlile where being taken with a dysentery in the way and the disease increasing he died at Burgh upon sands when he had reigned thirty four years He was taller then all the rest of a sorrowfull countenance for chastity like to his Father but in fortitude farre before him he was excellent for Judgement and Continence EDWARD the second King of England Anno 1308. EDward sirnamed Carnarvan by succession came to the Throne when his Father was dead But he at the very beginning shewed what his future Tyranny would be especially in turning upside down what his Father had left in command by his Will and calling Gavestone from banishment a young man of a most base life who for his insolency was exiled by his Fathers order and in his last words forbad him not to recall him who afterwards gave cause of great dissentions for when the King bestowed immoderate gifts upon him he made the Nobility envious against him and himself poor But his Father being yet not interred he endeavoured to conclude the Matrimony with King Philip's Daughter that was contracted when King Edward lived which is performed with great preparation of the Nobles and especially of Gavestone four Kings being present and three Queens except the Bride The Dowry was the Dukedom of Aquitan which the French King had possessed himself of But he being returned into England the Nobles were offended by reason of the too great power of Gavestone they deny the solemnity of the Coronation unless he would banish this insolent odious man from his Court and Kingdom The King seemed to hearken to it and so is inaugurated with his Queen in the Kingdom by the consent of all But whenas he should banish Gavestone he highly promoted him the Nobility not a little murmuring at it In the mean while the chief power was in Gavestone the Nobles had no authority and that he might precede the rest in glory a Tilting was appointed where he obtained the greatest praise His valour was worthy of reward but that the insolent man turned all to the contempt of the Nobility In the mean while a Parliament was called wherein amongst the rest it was Enacted That the Decrees of Magna Charta should be observed Strangers should be put out of their Offices and that all things should be done in a solemn sitting of the Senate nor should the King go out of the Land the Parliament being ignorant of it or against it nor should make Warre against any and that Gavestone should be banished Whereupon he is sent away for Ireland not as a banished man but as President of the Island where also behaving himself well he had deserved commendation and reward But the King by preposterous counsell a contract being made for him with the sister of the Earl of Glocister being impatient of his absence called him back from his banishment and presently settled him in his former grace and favour But he to give the King thanks by cunning flattery sucked the King of all he had that he left him scarce sufficient for his necessity The Nobles in the mean while hating his insolency threaten a generall revolt from the King unless he would send away his proud subject But Gaveston when he had wandred some time in France and Flanders returns privately into England being generally hated being the more confident by reason of the Kings and his Father in Law the Earl of Glecesters favour The King received him most friendly and that his arrivall might be concealed from the Nobles the King takes a journey with him toward York The Nobility that had knowledge of it enter a Conspiracy to which all subscribed but the Earl of Glocester And they make Thomas Earl of Lancaster the head of the faction and so they laid a necessity on the King either to deliver up Gaveston into the hands of the Lords or else to send him out of the Land But Edward being blinde with foolish favour would not hearken to the Lords but shut him up in a strong Castle that so he might escape the envy of the Nobility But they being sworn together besiege the place and compell him to surrender miserably and having taken him they cut off his head Three things were left in charge to Edward by his dying Father and were commanded in his Will namely That he should carry his Fathers bones along with him till he had conquered Scotland That he should expend 30000lb upon the holy Warre And that he should not recall Gaveston He obeyed not the two later for that money decreed for the Holy Warre he bestowed on Gaveston when he was come back for the third we shall see what he did The King of Scots Brusius who had long since intelligence of King Edwards slothfulness would not pass over such an opportunity of well managing his business levying an Army presently reduced all Scotland into his power And not therewith content he enters the borders of England and destroys all by fire and sword Edward to repulse force by force raised an Army of an hundred thousand Souldiers better fitted with furniture than valour which was easily vanquished by the Scotch that were scarce 30000 joyning craft and valour together The chief of the Nobility in this fight were either slain or taken Captives The Earl of Glocester himself when he had given sufficient tokens of his fortitude fighting valiantly in the head of the Army was killed the rest saved themselves by flight This made the hearts of the English to fail and a great part of the Nobles and Commons revolted to the Conquerours by a fearfull example of perjury punished Bruse following his Victories enters upon Ireland with an Army a great part of it he over-runne and depopulated it very farre Also he was saluted King of the same Island the inhabitants falling to him abundantly And he ruled three years untill the Primate of Armath and Berningam the chief Judge in Ireland raising a great Army set upon the Conquerour and take him with a great slaughter of his men and cut off his Head The Scots almost mad with the death of their King waste the Borders of England so farre as York with sword and fire To moderate their Insolence a great Army was raised of the English who marched toward York But discord growing between the Commanders before they saw the Enemy they either slipt away or returned home Then Barwick by the Treason of Peter Spalding was delivered up to the Enemies hands which Edward presently laid siege to But the Earl of Lancaster falling away with his men by reason of a quarrel the Scotch in the mean time making havock of all and
French King a Maid of eight years old being betrothed to King Richard For Anna his former Wife was deceased The Duke of Glocester by an importune word blaming the Kings negligence fell into his displeasure and fearing some ill issue of it with his Brothers forsook the Court and entring into a Conspiracy with some friends he attempted to change the state of the Kingdom But the King under-feeling it with his Brother the Earl of Huntington took a progress to the Castle of the Duke of Glocester his Fathers Brother when he came there at night he found the Duke rising out of his Bed and presently going to meet him he was taken by the Earl Marshall and carried Prisoner to Callis and there was hanged miserably Also the Earl of Arundel the chief Conspiratour and some principall Noblemen are east into Prison And he afterwards in a Parliament being questioned for his life had his head cut off the rest being condemned either to be banished or to perpetual Imprisonment And thus Richard by the bloud of the Nobility thought to make good his Kingdom The Dukes of Norfolk and Hereford without any other witness appeaching one the other of Treason are admitted to fight a Duell but when they were both ready to fight they were commanded to forbear and so to spare blood they were both sent away to divers places into Banishment Norfolk went first for Germany then to Venice where he died of meer sorrow and grief But Hereford who had sail'd into France and there being instigated by the Counsel of the Archbishop of Canterbury who was banished for the same Conspiracy returned privately home under a pretence of his Patrimony to be redeemed which the King had brought into the Exchequer after his Fathers death against all Right and Equity but indeed that joyning with the Nobility he might order the Kings Insolence He was scarce landed but the Nobility came from all parts to him and he waxed very strong And having now a sufficient Army he took some Cities and beheaded the Kings chiefest Counsellours Richard in the interim was in Ireland and did his best to subdue the Irish When a Messenger came to him of the Commotions in England he was troubled at it yet made no haste according as the danger required At length the Earl of Salisbury was sent into England before him that he might levy what Forces he could the King promising in six dayes to be with him As soon as the Earl set foot in England he raised with ease a mighty Army of Welsh but the King not appearing a rumour was given that he was dead so part of his Forces went one way some another but a few stood to their Colours The King at last so soon as contrary windes would let him came to them But when he found so much of the Countrey to be fallen to Hereford and the Duke of Lancaster also by the death of his Father he quite fainted in his minde and bad all those men that came to help him to go whither they pleased yet they continuing their fidelity he with the Earl of Exeter and some others fled to the Castle of Conve where he found the Earl of Salisbury Here the Duke of Worcester who was Governour of the Kings House breaking his white Staff a sign of his Office and so renouncing his fidelity fell off from the King to the Lords Conspiratours Then the Earl of Northumberland is sent to the King who from that Castle conveyed him to another place saying also that he came to treat with the King for Conditions of Peace which the King did not refuse But in the way the Earl of Rutland coming upon him he is forced to go to Flint-Castle whether shortly after Henry the Duke of Lancaster came who was guilty and friendly received by the King and then he related the cause of his coming which was that he might receive his Rights and Goods The King granted and ratified all so they went to drink together and afterwards mounting on Horsback they ride towards London in a continued voyage in so great haste that the King had no leisure given him to change his cloaths Then was the King put into the Tower the Castle for the Nobility and was diligently watched there And a Parliament was called by the Command of Lancaster though it were falsly given out in the Kings Name wherein Richard was accused of divers crimes Namely That he had wasted the goods of the Kingdom That he had borrowed a vast summe of Money and not yet repay'd it That he had made all the Laws Arbitrary as he pleased That he had changed the Members of Parliament when he would That he had Tyrannically taken Power to himself over the Subjects Estates That he had corrupted the Judges That he had caused his Vncle Earl of Glocester to be barbarously murdered at Callis That he had imprisoned the Members of Parliament That beyond Right and Equity he had put the Earl of Arundel to extream Terture That be had depopulated his own Kingdome That be had pawned the Ornaments of the Kingdome and Kings out of the Kingdom and so forward For which faults they thought fit to deprive him of all his Honours and Title of King But he that he might seem to desire what he would have avoided willingly resigned all his Right to the Kingdom and freely gave it to Henry of Lancaster whom he nominated to succeed him which was ratified and confirmed by the Great Seal Then Richard being brought to Pomfret-Castle was discharged of his Crown Henry having thus got the Kingdome and not enduring any Competitour one day lamenting was heard to cry out Is there any man will free me from that hatefull man And presently one Peter Exton a Knight that he might winne the Kings favour with such a wickednesse went with eight more unto Richard whom he set upon to kill him being at Dinner but Richard rising hastily wresting the Ax out of the hands of one of his Executioners killed four of them and at last by this Peter Exton he was knocked down dead himself by an unhappy blow on the Head which the Parricides lamented when it was too late Thus the unhappiest and most well-favoured of the Kings of England ended his life and Kingdom HENRY the fourth King of England and France Anno 1399. HENRY of Lancaster who was nominated to succeed was crowned King but that he might not be thought to usurp that Kingdom which he had by Election he endeavoured to be established in his own Right vaunting that he was the next Heir being directly descended from Henry the third but that was false and counterfeit for Roger Mortimer Earl of Marsh deriving his Pedigree from the eldest Sonne of Henry the third had a better Title To this he added his Right of Force whereby he made good the Succession he could not have done by Inheritance Be it what it will be he maintain'd it by his Sword He gave good example when his
of the Battell brought fresh Forces and joyned with Henry whereby he was not a little animated for otherwise he was farre inferiour to Richard in men and so takes heart again The King himself at last entred the fight who after he had given wonderfull tokens of his Valour had killed Henries Standard-bearer put Henry himself in danger he was surrounded by multitudes of souldiers and fighting valiantly was slain Henry got the Victory by Richards death for the Earl of Northumberland who brought up the tear of Richards Army as he came against his will so he refused to fight any longer Not above 1000 were slain of the Kings side and of Henries side hardly 100. The Nobility that yielded were pardoned and Henry had forthwith the Crown set on his Head which they had taken from Richards Head and he is saluted â—ing by all with a generall acclamation Richards body was found amongst the dead and was buried with no Honour at Leicester HENRY the seventh King of England and France Anno 1486. HENRY came to the Kingdom both by Right and Valour and was Crowned at Westminster Anno 1486 the day before the Calends of November Then calling a Parliament he is discharged of the Treason Richard laid to him and he gave Rewards and Honours to some that were grieved He married Elizabeth the Daughter to Edward the fourth and by that Marriage the old quarrell between the White Rose and the Red was ended At his first entrance he kept a strong Guard about him either for his power or Majesty which custom is continued to our daies The English Sweat was rife about this time a disease never known before it destroyed abundance of men but the sharper the disease was the shorter time it lasted Then new troubles arose in the North of England which were easily vanquished by Lovels flight and Staffords death But a new tumult that grew from meer opinion and perswasion gave cause for new cares for one Simon a Priest reports falsly that a Scholar of his who was very like which made the Priest the bolder to give it out was the Sonne to Edward Duke of Clarence which was cast into prison a little before by Henry and he said with him into Ireland and prevailed so much amongst the Peers there that the youth was saluted King at Dublin Then obtaining help from Margaret wife to Burgundy he comes inâ—o England to whom those Lords that favoured the cause of Plantagenet joyned themselves though they knew the fraud yet they hoped to bring on the design But Henry went against them in time and after a most eager fight he slew the Earl of Lincoln and other of the chief men that followed him But he spared Lambert this counterfeit Earl by reason of his youth and innocency and he was made the Kings servant Simondus escaped because he was a Priest Then sending Embassadours into Scotland he treated for peace but when he could not procure it in regard of the malice of the subjects a Truce was made for seven years But a difference rifing between Charles King of France and Francis Duke of Brittany Henry that he might displease neither side being engaged to both made himself Umpire to end the quarrel between them but when he could do nothing by his Embassadours they fell to Arms. Edward Lord Vdevill the Queens Uncle without the knowledge of the King assisted the Duke of Brittany with 400 choice men but the French afterwards getting the Victory the Duke and they were all slain The Duke being dead the contest ended In the mean time in Yorkshire troubles arose because of Tribute required one John Chambers was the Authour of them Henry Earl of Northumberland Governour of that Country was basely slain by one of the factions multitude then they came on by Troops John Egrimont Knight being their Leader But the King fell on them presently and easily dissipated the tumultuous rabble punishing severely the Authors of it But Egrimont fled to Margaret into Burgundy which was the common place of refuge for the Rebels yet there was nothing abated of the Tribute to be paid A great Tumult about that time fell in Scotland the subects rising against James King of Scotland and they forced his Sonne James to take part with them Henry King of England Charles King of France and the Pope could not reconcile this quarrel and when the subjects gave a harsh answer the Battell began at Strevelin where the subjects got the Victory and the King himself though his Sonne was against it was cruelly slain in a Mill. Then a jarring arose between Frederick the Emperour and some Cities in Flanders the French came to assist the Emperour But Henry not enduring the French so near to Callis sent the Lord Morley with a supply of a thousand men who with two thousand of his souldiers vanquished eight thousand of the enemies but he himself was slain The French to revenge this loss had almost won Newport but being frighted at the coming of the English they lost the Victory Maximilian the Emperour when he endeavoured to marry Anne Daughter to Francis Duke of Brittany which he had betrothed by Embassadours he is hindred by the French King to whom he had espoused his Daughter Margaret for he divorcing Margaret gaping after the Dukedom of Brittany by force got Anne into his power and solemnly made her his Wife Henry was wonderfully offended at this fraud and asked Subsidies from his Parliament taking counsell to make a Warre upon the French King At length he landed at Callis with a small Army and besieged Bononia but finding Maximilian unprepared for whose sake he had undertaken this Warre he easily yielded to make Peace obtaining from the French a great summe of money and a yearly revenue and so returned for England Margaret Wife to the Duke of Burgundy alwaies studied mischief against the English for she bred up for some moneths in her Court a tertain young man who was called Peterkin or Perkin Warbech and obtruded him upon the English Nation for Richard the Sonne of Edward the fourth who was said to have been stifled Many of the Nobility of England either deceived by the appearance or because they desired innovation joyn with that supposed Richard amongst whom was William Stanley who helped Peter with money Stanley was taken convicted and lost his Head though he were the principall cause whereby Henry came to the Crown Peter in the mean time having got a tumultuous number of men landed in Kent where there were taken of his men 160 amongst whom were five Captains who first landed they were hanged at London and other places Peter when he little prevailed there sails into Ireland where he was magnificently entertained by the Inhabitants who much honoured the name of the Plantagenets But when he could expect little help thence from a poor weak people he makes haste into Scotland The Scot had him in high esteem and being deceived by his presence or courtly Carriage which Margaret
stood for a Divorce of Queen Katharine The Pope in the mean time gave his Judgement for Katharine But Henry who had now Divorced Katharine by the Authority of many Divines and of those at Paris who were as it is supposed corrupted by money married Anne of Boloyne privately and being thereupon angry with the Pope he abolished all his Power over the English Church making it high Treason for any man to preferre the Popes Authority before the Kings or should pay Tribute to him which he had no right unto and caused them to be denied unto him for the future and made it a penalty for their life if any man should maintain the Pope to be the supream Head Then he made all the Churches of England and Ireland take an Oath to him that they should acknowledge him to be Head of the Church next under Christ The Discipline was thus changed but nothing in the Doctrine which he confirmed by a Synod called at London For he put to death many of those that followed Luther and Swinglius So Henry behaved himself in the rest of his life that had the Popes not been unjust against him he would willingly have submitted himself under their power The Pope being offended that he had lost his Authority sending out his Writings or Bull as they called it he Excommunicated Henry King of England but when it was known that it was procured by Queen Katharine it was the less regarded and she shortly after being deprived of friends lost her life for her contumacy In the mean time Sir Thomas More once Chancellour of England and John Fisher Bishop of Rochester who both refused to take the Oath of the Kings Supremacy lost their Heads Henry now using his own Authority invaded the goods of the Church and expelled the Monks out of their Monasteries Nor was he content with that but he cut off the Heads of his second Wife Anne of Boloyne Daughter to Thomas Bolen Earl of Wilshire accusing her for Incest and Adultery together with the Lord Rochsfort her Brother and others that were of the Kings Bed-Chamber Then he married Jane Semare who died afterwards in Childe-birth of Edward the sixth of that name who succeeded King Then he Divorced from him Anne of Cleve newly married and for her sake he beheaded Thomas Cromwell who made the match who was risen from a mean estate to a vast power by the success of Fortune Also Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk had his Head chopt off being charged of Treason because he had privily married Margaret Daughter to the King of Scots and Henries Neece Margaret was first detained then she was set free after that she was married to Matthew Earl of Leven King James his Grandfather In the mean time seditions arose in the North parts of England here and there by reason of the change made of Church Ceremonies some were punished for it some were sent home and some were subdued by force of Arms the troubles were happily asswaged yet not without some danger for it was a matter of great concernment to keep all quiet under new customs Henry now married his fifth Wife Katharine Howard but her he beheaded shortly after with the Lord of Rochsfort condemning her for Lasciviousness At that time Henry had the Title of King of Ireland when as before he was called only Lord of it In the interim Arthur Plantagenet bastard to Edward the fourth is accused of Treason but when he was proved not guilty he was received into the Kings favour but Arthur took so much joy at it that he died the next night of meer rejoycing The Scotch now entring the Frontiers of England and spoiling them compell Henry to take Arms who sent the Duke of Norfolk with an Army into Scotland who ruined many Villages and Houses and not seeing any enemy he returned to Barwick The Scot would not suffer this violence to be unrevenged but musters an Army suddenly and fals into England but his men being scattered and killed the Scot fell into such grief of minde and then into a Feaver that he quickly died of it leaving Mary Stewart his Daughter but eight daies old Heir of the Kingdom Henry to put an end to so great dissentions by the union of these two Nations dealt with the captive Lords to Espouse this Inheritrix of Scotland to his Son Edward who were set at liberty to press the business But by the mediation of the Cardinal of St Andrews this Treaty was made void the Daughter being married to the Dolphin Henry was enraged at this and sent a valiant Army into Scotland and burnt Leeth which pacified his wrath Then he made peace with Charles the fifth the Emperour and he married his sixth Wife Katharine Latimers Widow who was brought in danger of her life upon suspition of the change of her Religion but by her prudence and humility she escaped Now Henry by his Covenant with the Emperour proclaims Warre against the French King and sent an Army unto Callis under the command of John Wallop which joyning with the Forces of Charles besieged the City Landreice But the French making shew of a Battell called the Emperour off from the siege and when he had brought provision into the City he retreated having deluded Charles Then Henry mustering a mighty force sails himself into France and besieging Bononia won the place In the mean time the English Ships which they had taken from the French are filled with provision at London but the English had bad success in their fight in Scotland and Henries men were vanquished by which Victory and new forces they had recruited themselves with from France the Scots grew insolent and invade England But the English by the good success of the Earl of Hereford destroyed an innumerable company of Villages in Scotland and returned home Conquerours though otherwise they sustained a mighty loss by the Scots The Admirall of England with a Fleet did mischief on the coasts of Normandy and destroyed a multitude of the enemy but shortly after there was a Treaty made between the French and the English and the conditions of agreement were that the French should redeem Bononia with eight hundred thousand Crowns In the mean time Thomas Duke of Norfolk and Henry Earl of Surrey his Son are accused of Treason because they had engraven something in their Coats of Arms that seemed to be peculiar to the King and though they did defend their Titles very abundantly yet the Earl lost his Head But the Duke was kept in prison till the Reign of Queen Mary Henry died about this time in the year 1547 when he had reigned 38 years and was 56 years old He was a Prince adorned with all gifts of Nature and in whom had he not too much loved his pleasure there was no defect He was a great favourer of Learning EDWARD the sixth King of England France and Ireland Anno 1547. HENRY dying left his Sonne Edward born of Seymer by his Will to succeed him
in the first place and next to him Mary Katharines Daughter and last of all Elizabeth which he begat of Anne of Boloyn Young Edward was Crowned at nine years of age in the year 1547. Because he was young he had sixteen Overseers appointed for him the chief was the Duke of Sommerset Brother to Jane Seymere a man of great integrity The death of Henry being heard of by Francis King of France did exceedingly grieve the old man who being about the same age did presage his own death to be near He kept a Funerall solemnity for him as the manner is for Kings and not long after that he followed him that was gone before him Henry at his death had commanded his Councill before all things that they should press a Marriage for his Sonne Edward with the Queen of Scotland Messengers are therefore sent to treat of conditions and to obtain their consent but when the faction of the Papists prevailed for the Dolphin a great Army was presently raised and sent into Scotland under the conduct of the Viceroy Sommerset The Scots also came to meet him with a powerfull hand they joyned Battell at Muskelburg but they were beaten down and put to flight the chief of their Nobility being slain or taken prisoners After this Victory many Cities yielded and the Nobles fell off from them in greater numbers But that there might be an end made of this Warre and difference they send the Maiden Queen by advice of the Peers to be Educated and Espoused in France In the mean time there was a great change of the old customs in the Churches of England Images were cast out of the Churches by the Authority of Sommerset who was addicted to the Reformed Religion The Sacrament was exhibited under both kindes and the other old Ceremonies were abolished all that made opposition were either cast into prison or lost their places Upon this ground a wonderfull sedition arose in divers Countries of England though the Rebels had several intentions some came to pillage others under pretence of Religion set forward other designes the smallest number made it any matter of conscience There was a Proclamation made whereby all were pardoned if they would lay down their Arms but the more mildly they were dealt withall the more did this mad rabble increase They besieged Exceter but the Citizens did resist them with wonderfull Valour enduring great famine and scarcity At length Gray coming with an Army after some small Bickerings raised the siege The Rebels recollecting their Forces began a new fight but they were put to flight or taken presently and hanged When this sedition was quelled another as great rose in Norfolk for Robert Ket a base fellow had drawn twenty thousand men to his party who guarded him that he might deliver up some complaints to the King The King though he disdained to treat with Rebels answered them that their Petitions should be granted at the next Parliament They were not content with this but they laid siege to the City of Norwich and wan it The Earl of Northampton went against them with a small Army and was worsted by the factious rabble and the Lord Sheffeld and others were killed But being strengthned with new forces he went once more against them and holding forth to them the Kings pardon they threw away their Arms and left their Colours returning every man to his place Ket and the rest of the Ring-leaders suffered for it Another tumult rose about the same time which fell of it self only the Ring-leaders were executed The French in the mean while breaking their League proclaimed Warre with England and providing a Fleet when they had assaulted Garnsey Jersey and Bononia in vain with an Army they left off of their own accord In the mean time the Viceroy of England being deceived beheaded the Admirall his Brother being circumvented by the femine fraud of his Wife and condemned him for nothing that was laid to his charge upon which occasion both he and his Authority committed an egregious fault For they that favoured the Admirall were offended with the Viceroy and they that did honour him would trust him but a little so they all fell from him at once though upon divers ends Also the Viceroy was taken up with building a stately Palace which is to this day called Sommerset House And he had demolished divers Temples Towers and sacred places by which injury he had alienated from him not a little the mindes of all men Warwick who was of his own inclination the Viceroy his greatest enemy made use of this occasion and procured some Lords to stand with him and they conspired together against the Viceroy and sending messengers to the King who sojourned at Windsor to certifie him of the good intention of the Lords they desired his consent to cast the Viceroy into Prison But the Viceroy when he would not or could not answer the crimes objected against him he submitted himself to the Kings will and pleasure by which humility he obtained pardon and was received into grace Also the Dukes Daughter to make the friendship lasting by Marriage was betrothed to Warwicks Sonne and Warwick was made Admirall of the Sea Then Peace being ratified between the English and the French Bononia was delivered up to the French King 400000 Crowns being paid to the English The Emperour in the mean time because the profession of the Romish Religion was not allowed to his sister denounced Warre against England but he was pacified by such an Answer as was seasonable to that time Also there was a Treaty for a Marriage between Elizabeth the Kings sister and the King of Denmarks Sonne but Elizabeth could not be perswaded to be married to any man A speech there was further concerning a Marriage between Edward and the French Kings Daughter which was ratified and the Dowry agreed upon In the mean time the Earl of Northumberland that he might bring to pass what he intended endeavours by all means to root out the Duke of Sommerset But he to prevent his snares came one day into his Chamber armed and found him naked in his Bed and whether he were pacified by his false or friendly shew of Love and Humanity he spared him and departed doing nothing to him But afterwards Sommerset was accused by him for high Treason and lost his Head for it being a forerunner of the Accusers destiny Northumberland when as thus farre all things had succeeded as he desired was resolved to follow the success and perswaded the King at length that if he would have the Reformed Religion that was then generally received in England to be confirmed he should pass over his sister Mary who was so strongly addicted to the Church of Râ—me and should nominate Joan Gray for his successour Wife to his Sonne Gilford Dudley who was next of blood after his Sisters The King who was resolved by all means to preserve the Reformed Religion easily yielded to this some others in vain opposing it
The King died shortly after of a Consumption by whose death the Duke of Northumberland being now made partaker of his desire took to himself the Rule of the Kingdom and commanded his Daughter Joan to be publickly proclaimed Queen by King Edwards Testament MARY Queen of England France and Ireland Anno 1553. MARY so soon as the fame was spread of her Brothers death came with Post-horse from Hovesdon where she than resided into Suffolk to whom presently came divers Lords who had first compacted to preserve the Reformed Religion Then she sent by her Letters to the Senate of London that they should proclaim her for Queen But the Lords in the Name of all the people made Answer that by the Testament of King Edward Joan was to succeed and they asserted that Maries Mother was Divorced whereupon they fly to Arms. The Earl of Northumberland with a small Army went against Mary but as he proceeded but slowly Maries Forces increased mightily Also Edward Hastings who was set with four thousand souldiers and six Ships to prevent that Mary might no waies escape revolted to her by which loss the Londoners and Lords were not a little dismaid and grew at odds one with another The London Counsell when they did not hold fast together was commanded openly to proclaim Mary Queen and the same was done in all other places Northumberland when he was certain that his companions had fallen from him that he might not runne the hazard alone called a Counsell at Cambridge and he for want of a Herauld proclaimed Mary Queen of England casting his Cap up in token of joy But that did not at all help his cause for the Earl of Arundel who a little before did not decline to venture his life for Joan coming to Cambridge in Maries Name takes the Duke who in vain intreated for his life and casts him into prison Joan at the command of her Father Duke of Suffolk when the case was altered laid down the Ensignes of the Kingdom with more cheerfulness than she had taken them up The Queen coming to London met her Sister Elizabeth with a thousand Horse and Thomas of Norfolk Edward Contener Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winchester and Sommersets Wife which she received into grace giving them her hand to kiss Then entring upon the Church affairs she abolished those Bishops and Ceremonies that Edward had confirmed setting up others in their room the people were not a little enraged at it and then she punished severely all those that were enemies to the Church of Rome In the interim the Duke of Northumberland the Earls of Northampton and Warwick are Endited of high Treason she spared Northampton but Northumberland was beheaded abjuring the Religion he professed before in hope of pardon His Body was buried by the Duke of Sommerset his Capitall enemy between Anne of Boloyne and Katharine who all suffered the same death The rest persisted and did not renounce the Faith they had professed Joan afterwards with her Husband Dudley Ambrose and Henry Sonnes to Northumberland was condemned to lose her Head but she was reprieved for a time Then a Marriage was Contracted between the Queen and Philip Sonne to Charles the fifth who was afterwards King of Spain which matter was very ill liked by some who did foresee from hence a dangerous consequence to the Kingdom of England Amongst whom was Thomas Wiat who took up Arms to Rebell by the advice of Suffolk Father to Joan Gray drawing some of the Nobility to side with him Also Bres who was sent against him with five thousand men revolted to him by which success he grew more bold and marched toward London and put the Citizens into great fear so that the Lawyers pleaded in their Armour In the mean while the Earl of Suffolk had an Army raised in the County of Warwick but the Earl of Huntington was sent out against him who terrified the feeble Duke that he was forced to flâ—e in haste and to shelter himself in Woods and by-places At last he was discovered by his Host and sent with a strong guard to London and cast into prison Wiat in the mean time coming to London was shut out of the City but he passed over the Thames at Kingston and provided to offer violence to the Citizens After some light skirmishing with the Queens Forces he was overborn by the power of his Enemy and when he had yielded he was sent to prison his Souldiers being scattered or taken The Queen being enraged with that boldnesse of the Subjects began seriously to consider how to punish the guilty Gilford Husband to Joan was first beheaded then Joan her self within the Walls of the Tower of London with a wonderfull Courage Piety and Constancy had her Head chopâ— off She was a Princesse for her Learning and Wisdome worthy of immortal praise It is reported also that Morgan who had given sentence of Death against Joan fell into madnesse shortly after her Death and died mad alwayes crying out That they should take Joan Gray away from him Then Suffolk was beheaded and the same day Wiat the cause of all these mischiefs for Joan had been pardoned had not he with a furious Tumult enraged the Queen Those that followed him some were punished in other places and at severall times amongst whom was Thomas Grey and some were pardoned Also Elizabeth was cast into Prison by the malice of Gardner Bishop of Winchester Without doubt her Life was at stake had she not wisely answered Questions propounded to her concerning her Faith They did severely at that time punish all those that were Enemies to the Religion of the Church of Rome amongst whom was Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Nicholas Ridley Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester these refusing to abjure their Faith were burnt to ashes The Queens Marriage with Philip was now solemnized and Cardinal Pool being sent from the Pope all the Errours of the English are purged as it were and all confessing their sinnes are received under the Popes Tuition The fame was at this time that the Queen was with Childe she was so glad of it that she commanded to let loose many who were prisoners in the Towr Amongst which were the sons of the Duke of Northumberland who were before condemned to lose their Heads But all this hope vanished when the Queens Conception proved to be but a Tympany That there might not lack Examples of Piety the Queen restored to the Church all the Goods she possessed belonging to the Church and when she was told That by so great bounty the Crown-Lands would be much wasted She answered piously and prudently That she preferred her souls health before all the worlds good Philip in the interim went to Brussels to his Father Charles and obtain'd from him the Kingdom of Spain and his other Dominions before his Death then he returned for England Then again he went to Callis to wage Warre with the Frenchman and he staid upon that business above
from Heaven For hiring a Cellar under the Parliament-House be laid in a vast deal of Gun-pouder which he purposed to set fire to and so to blow up at once all the Parliament-House together with the King the Prince and all the Nobility but the matter was discovered by the importunate care of the Conspirators who gave warning of the danger to the Lord Mounteagle Sonne to the Lord Morlay a Member of the Parliament and one that they loved very well In this Vault there were found terrible Instruments of this damned wickedness that a man would wonder at which were presently taken away Then the Conspirators were executed Catesbey with his companions John and Christopher Wright and Thomas Pierce flying to his Arms was killed with a shot others were taken and executed Amongst whom was Everard Digbey who was unwillingly drawn into this Conspiracy for otherwise he was a man of excellent parts And thus that hainous wickedness that had troubled the devils themselves was purged away In Northampton and Warwickshire new tumults arose first by Fines then by John Reignold that led them but this faction was soon allayed and the Authors were punished In the mean time Frederick Count Elector Palatine came to London to marry Elizabeth King James his Daughter The Marriage was solemnized with wonderfull pomp but all these joyes were over-shadowed with clouds of sorrow for on the sixth day of November 1612 Prince Henry departed this life Various reports were spread abroad by the vulgar as if indirect means had been used but his Physicians gave it under their hands that he died of a violent malignant Feaver Charles the Kings second Son succeeds him in the Principality of Wales About this time that Gallant and Noble Spirit Sr Walter Rawlrigh after fourteen yeares imprisonment made addresses to the King to get leave to visit the New-found-World in America to which he gave him liberty and a Commission under the great Seal to set forth Ships and Men for that Service his Reputation and Merit caused many Gentlemen of quality to venture their Estates and Persons on the Design Many considerable adventures were performed though with great difficulty but more especially that of the taking and burning St Thomes Information being sent to Gendimer who was Embassadour here in England never rested assaulting the King with importunity for reparation Rawleigh no sooner comes a shore at Plimouth but he had secret information and did endeavour to get from thence in a Bark for Rotchell but being apprehended by Sr Lewis Stukly he is brought to London and committed to the Tower Gondimer that looked upon him as a man that had not only high abilities but animosity to do his Master mischief being one of those scourges that Queen Elizabeth had made use of to afflict the Spaniards Having now gotten him in the Trap he laid his Bâ—its about the King In October he was brought to the Kings Bench-barre at Westminster before the Lord Chief-Justice where the Records of his arraignment at Winchester were opened and he demanded why the judgement should not be put in execution Ralwrigh replied that Judgement was void by the Kingâ— Commission for his late expedition The Lord Chief-Justice replied the opinion of the Court was to the contrary He required time to prepare for death but it was answered the appointed time was the next morning Accordingly on the morrow he lost his Head on a Scafford in the Palace-yard The Earl of Buckingham as great in Title as favour was now grown a Marquess and lying in the Kings bosom every man paid tribute to his smile Worcester and Nottingham are taken off for him to be Master of the Horse and Admirall of England Queen Anne about that time fell sick and died She was a Queen to be had in everlasting memory for her Noble Vertues The King also fell sick but by Gods affistance he recovered The Palsegrave in the mean time who had married Elizabeth by the prompting forward of some of the German Princes was chosen King of Bohemia The Emperour was wonderfully enraged at this Election and proclaimed Warre against him driving him first out of Bohemia and afterwards out of all Germany who in Holland the common refuge for all wretched people found a bountifull and safe entertainment But James that he might help his Sonne in Law made a motion for a Marriage of his Son Charles and the Spaniards Daughter Charles is sent into Spain through France by Land where he saw upon his journey Mary Daughter to Henry the fourth He was received in Spain in outward appearance magnificently but a dissention arising between the Duke of Buckingham and Count Olivares the principall Don of the Spanish Court the Treaty for the Marriage was drawn out at langth but Charles being impatient of delays was called home again by his Father and arrived safe in England and afterwards he married Mary whom he had affectionately beheld in France What remains to be spoken of King James is either scarce worth recording or not so consonant to the truth He died at last of a disease of the Spleen though there were false reports spread abroad that he was poysoned when he had reigned twenty two years and was fifty nine years of age in the year 1625. He was a true Platonick Prince a Husband worthy of his Wife an honest Father to his Children a good King to his Subjects because he was a Prince he was the Most Learned and he was the Best Prince by reason of his Learning When this King reigned the English Plantations were setled in the Indies as in Virginy which Country Sr Walter Rawleigh first discovered and in the Barmudoes whither an infinite multitude of inhabitants presently resorted building publick and private houses and made a Commonwealth The same was done by others in New-England to the great comfort of such as were distressed and fled thither CHARLES the first King of Great-Brittany France and Ireland Anno 1625. CHARLES the first succeeded his Father being twenty five yeares of age The first design he had was to marry Henrietta Mary Daughter to Henry the fourth King of France as he purposed before who landed in England the 22 day of April and was received magnificently Then a Navy was prepared against the Spaniard for all friendship was grown stale between these two Kings by reason of the breach of the Marriage and the business of the Palatinate he joyned with the Ships of Holland and sent away toward Spain and first assaulting Cades and not prevailing they set up sail to Sea and spoyling all the Spanish Vessels they met they return for England Now a Covenant was made between the English and the United Provinces and they resolved with joynt Forces to tire out the Spaxiard but Charles whose Exchequer was empted by reason of his great Expence of his Spanish Voyage and setting forth of his Navy was forced to call a Parliament but Buckingham the Kings chief Minister of State and most dear unto him had
Florus Anglicus OR AN EXACT HISTORY OF England FROM THE RAIGN OF William the Conquerour to the Death of the Late KING By Lambert Wood Gent. LONDON Printed for Simon Miller at the Starre in St Pauls Church-yard 1657.6 The History of England TO THE READER FRIENDLY READER THou hast here a short Compendium of the Affaires of England yet written with so much Care and Diligence that there is nothing almost that is wanting in it but circumstances or things not usefull By this means I suppose I have spared the Reader both labour and time For what will it profit a man to spend his Age in searching out of that which he may have represented to him at an instant You may with one glance of your Eye runne over all the Writings and Pains taken by many Authours And that nothing might be wanting I have drawn forth the History from the very Infancy of it even unto the Death of CHARLES the First not following my own Advice but directed by the Testimony of them who setting aside all Envy were Reall and Eye-Witnesses of this Tragedy I have offered no Violence to the Truth by siding with any part If I loved the one I did not hate the other And if perhaps any Man which in Novelties is much desired by his future Experience shall bring forth the hidden Causes of things to the clearer Light I will not refuse to give Credit to it so farre is it from me from believing my own Report before the Relation of other Men. That which pleased me I think shall not be distastefull unto thee And I hope to reap the fruit of my Labours in it your kinde Acceptance which if I may obtain I aim at nothing else Judge moderately of the Style and censure it courteously It will not cause your Admiration shining forth in a Scholastick Brightnesse it will not retard curious Eyes with the Elegancie of words and glorying in the wittie choise of Sentences What can I say more It must be excused The desire of Praise could not carry me aloft who want Wings for it Moderate things please me when I can reach no higher Only I abhorre the envy of Detractors and the quarrelling of carping Momus Having premised thus much I shall remain A true Friend to my Countrey Lambert Wood. Courteous Reader These Books following are printed and sold by Simon Miller at the Starre in St Pauls Church-yard near the West end Folio The Civil Warres of Spain in the Raign of Charles the fifth Emperour of Germany and King of that Nation wherein our late unhappy Differences are parallel'd in many particulars The History of this Iron-Age with the Original and Causes of all Warres and Commotions that have happened throughout Europe from the Year 1500 to this present Quarto Abrahams Faith or the good old Religion proving the Doctrine of the Church of England to be the only true Faith of Gods Elect by J. Nicholson Minister of the Gospel Mr Boltons Directions The Anatomy of Mortality by George Strode Mr Ainsworth on the Canticles Mr Paul Baynes Diocesans Trial. The Supream Power of Christian States Vindicated from the Insolent Pretences of Gulielmus Apollonii by E. Gralle Politique and Military Observations of Civil and Military Governments The Birth Increase Decay of Monarchies the Carriage of Princes Magistrates Commanders and Favourites by D.P. Esq Mr Pinchin his meritorious Price of Christs Redemption Astrology Theologized shewing what Nature and Influence the Starres and Planets have over men and how the same may be diverted and avoided Octavo The Reconciler of the Bible A View of the Jewish Religion with their Rites Customs and Ceremonies Edward Waterhouse Esquire his Discourse of Piety and Charity A short View and Defence of the Reformation of the Church of England by King Edward and Queen Elizabeth wherein her Doctrine Liturgy and Discipline are considered and preferred before all others Mr Peter du Moulin His Antidote against Popery published on purpose to prevent the delusions of the Priests and Jesuites being seasonable for these times Herberts Devotions or a Companion for a Christian containing Meditations and Prayers usefull upon all occasions Mr Knowls His Rudiments of the Hebrew Tongue A Book of Schemes or Figures of Heaven ready set for every four Minutes of time The Poor mans Physician and Chyrurgeon Florus Anglicus or an exact History of England from the beginning to the death of the Late King Duodecimo Dr Smiths Practice of Physick Grammar Warre Posselius Apothegms Fuciculus Florum Crashaws Visions Robinsons Essayes The Christian Souldier his Combate with the three Arch-enemies of Man-kind the World the Flesh and the Devil together with his Conquest and Crown Vicessimo quarto The New-Testament The third Part of the Bible Playes The Ball. The Conspiracy The Tragedy of Chamlet Example Gamester Dukes Mistresse THE CONTENTS COncerning the first Kings of the Britans 1 Of the first Norman King 9 William the Second 16 Henry the First 20 Stephen King of England 25 Henry the Second 33 Richard the First 38 John the First 45 Henry the Third 53 Edward the First 64 Edward the Second 71 Edward the Third 85 Richard the Second 100 Henry the Fourth 115 Henry the Fifth 122 Henry the Sixth 131 Edward the Fourth 149 Edward the Fifth and Richard the Third 161 Henry the Seventh 172 Henry the Eighth 182 Edward the Sixth 200 Queen Mary 206 Queen Elizabeth 214 King James 223 King Charles the First 230 AN Exact History OF ENGLAND Concerning the first Kings of the Britans BRitany of old was subject not to one but to divers Kings The Names of four of them are called by Caesar Cingelarix Carvilius Taximagalus and Segonax whereupon the Conquest of the Romans over them was more sure though it were longer in doing for whilst they fought all severally they are generally overcome Yet the Britans did ever now and then make some resistance hardly submitting their necks to anothers Government Amongst whom for her Noble enterprise Vaodicia the Queen was most remarkable who with her two daughters Virgins having formerly been forced by the Roman Souldiery in revenge for her chastity abused raised a mighty Army and over-threw the Enemy with a great slaughter yet the fortune of the Warre changing afterwards she escaped bondage provided for her by drinking poyson This Island was subject to the Roman Government five hundred years but discord creeping in at home they left this place of their own accord which they had won with so much labour yet they took such Britans along with them which they thought most fit for Warre part whereof were slain in the Warre part were consumed with hunger and want and part of them transported themselves into that place in France for their safety which from them is called Britany The Picts and Scots they strive to enter upon the Countrey thus forsaken whom to resist they chose Vortigernus Earl of Cornwall for their King and implored the help of the Saxons or Anglo Saxons a Warlick Nation in
conquering divers Cities and Castles he was forward to retreat To this it fell out that the Yorkshire men raising a great power of the common people and setting upon the Scots were unhappily beaten and killed by them The King removing his siege from Barwick following the Scots that were laden with the prey and the spoil but he was frustrated of his end they having marched another way The next year entring Scotland because the Enemy had wasted all before his coming by reason of hunger and want was compelled to return back again But the Scotch following him and coming suddenly upon him he suffered a great losse and hardly escaped himself and so finding himself too weak for the Enemy he begged a Truce for two years But he was vexed with farre greater troubles than these at home For Gaveston being dead the younger Spencer succeeded in the Kings Grace and Favour who after he had obtained the Government of the Commonwealth in as high a manner as Gaveston had he could not choose but fall under the same malice of the Nobility But the cover of this envy was too unjust that it could be hid by a publick contest some other occasion must be sought for They all with one consent ask of the King that he would keep entire the Conditions formerly granted threatning him with a revolt and so they raise great Forces for War but the Prelates interposing they made Peace on both parts But shortly after a Parliament being called the King complains openly of the wrong they had done him and of Gavestons death But the Nobility say they had committed no sinne in so doing but growing remorse by the admonitions of the Queen and the Earl of Glocester they ask pardon of the King upon their knees They easily obtain'd it which was granted to them under the Kings Broad-Seal Now all the dissention seemed to be laid asleep but as fire raked up in ashes is kindled by any little winde sometimes into a great flame so there needed but a small blast to produce the former troubles The first occasion of defection was given because the wife of the Earl of Leicester with which he had a long time lived quietly was taken from him with the Counties of Lincoln and Salisbury by Richard Sanmartin a very deformed man who said he had conjugal custom with her before which thing she openly confessed when she was demanded concerning it Another occasion was given when at Whitsontide a certain woman riding ridiculously on horsback in fools habit did go into the Court and upbraid the King with his ingratitude toward his faithfull Ministers A third when a certain Knight that had a packet of the Kings was intercepted wherein was written a desire to the King of Scots to cut off the Earl of Lancaster whereupon not a few fell from the King to that Earl A fourth when a certain mad man John Poudras counterfeiting himself to be King Edward and feared not to say that Edward they mistook for their King was falsly supposed to be so which madnesse he paid dearly for by the torture he was put to But the greatest of all was that a certain Baron William Brevisius who had spent the greatest part of his Estate in riot and whoring would needs sell the rest by Port-sale which Humphrey Bobun gaping after asking leave of the King did transact with William for them Also both the Roger Mortimers being ignorant of other Competitours cheapned the Bargain and Spencer had obtained immediate leave from the King to buy them and was preferred before any other It is a wonder what hatred he drew upon himself by this matter Now all the Nobility came together and entred a conspiracy crying out that the Spencers both Father and Sonne were Traitors Corrupters of the King and Plagues to the Commonwealth and at last they fell to their Arms. They come in haste to London with their Army and with leave granted they enter the City and make their complaints to the King which he yeelded to by the Intercession of many Lastly The Spencers were banished but shortly after when the Archbishop of Canterbury contended in a Common-Councel of a London Senate that that banishment was unjust the Spencers are called home again the King being no wayes unwilling to it This drove the Nobility on but another mischief moved the King For the Queen taking her Progresse toward Canterbury whenas she would have diverted towards the Lord of Baldesmire she was dishonourably shut out and was forced to turn away to some other place Of which matter she complained to the King and it made him extream angry who now doth think of nothing but revenge for that injury collecting suddenly a Band of Souldiers he assaulted that Castle which when he had overcome the Governour of it Thomas Culpeper was hanged and Baldesmire with his wife and children was cast into Prison and all his goods Confiscate And the Kings Blood being now hot he proceeded farther and resolved to make Warre upon the Nobles but they finding that his Army increased part returned to their Obedience and part fell to their Arms But their Army being either slipt away or vanquished some were killed in the fight the rest were taken amongst whom was the Earl of Lancaster who was beheaded before his own Castle the rest were either hanged or beheaded that England was never more sorrowfully wet with Noble Blood Now the last and worst mischief of all hanged over his head for the King of France for the Possessions that Edward had in France required Homage from him for them but Edward refusing he enter'd his Provinces with an Army At length Queen Isabella Edwards wife was sent to intreat him not to waste his Countrey she went willingly partly to performe the Kings Commands partly to complain to her Brother For Edward by the Instigation of Spencer was no little estranged from her and had offended her with great contempt Roger Mortimer went with her with whom the Queen held unlawfull Familiarity which when the King understood he sent to the French King some that should desire him to send home the Queen with the Prince her Sonne But she not returning is banished out of all the Kings Dominions and Garisons made to drive her off if she came against the Kings Will. But she flying to the Earl of Hannonia Matrimony being contracted between Prince Edward and the Earls Sonne she procured a good Army from him John the Earls Brother being Generall Setting sail they land about Harwich to whom immediately Henry Earl of Lancaster and other Nobles joyned themselves The King receiving news of it was wonderfully frighted he left London without stay the City being addicted to the Queen and purposing to flie into Lundy Island by a Tempest he was driven into Wales In the mean while the Londoners that they might shew their loves to the Queen cut off the Heads of Gualter Stapleton Treasurer of England most cruelly because he was addicted to the King and some
much augmented his own affairs But when all things went not as they should do in France and Sommerset was held to be the cause of all and after him Suffolk Many complaints by consent of the Lower-House of Parliament were alleadged against him whereof he was found guilty and cast into Prison but he is suddenly set at liberty But a new sitting being summoned at the instance of the Lower-House he was banished for five years but whilst he sailed into France he was intercepted by the English and his Head cut off leaving his Body disgracefully on the shore and so the death of the Duke of Glocester was paid for Richard Duke of York in the mean time having won the Irish hearts gave the first step to end the differences between the White Rose and the Red and for a beginning of his own Right to the Crown for he descended from Lyonel Duke of Clarence the third Son to the third Edward Nor was it difficult to change the state of the Kingdom when so many abuses and errours that were so well known to the common people were crept in And King Henry wholly unfit for the Government as the people would say by whose foolish negligence France and Normandy were lost The men of Kent by the perswasion of York gave their Votes to John Mortimer and with a great and well-appointed Army they march toward London Mortimer himself commanding them The Army made a stay between Eltham and Greenwich and then they sent up their Complaints to the King and Parliament concerning the present state of the Kingdom and amongst the rest they petition That the Dukes of York Buckingham and Exceter may be restored to their places and former favour there was no answer given but a crying out to their Arms. But the men of Kent when they were come to the Battel killing both the Staffords who commanded the Army they put the Kings Forces to flight whereupon the greatest part of the Kings men fell off for they came running by companies to Mortimer whose Forces thus increased wonderfully wherefore the King fled to Killingworth Castle in the County of Warwick expecting the issue By his departure Mortimer grew more bold and came to the Suburbs of London and then possessing himself of the Bridge he came into London doing no wrong to any man for his Army was very well disciplined to keep down the violence of the Souldiers whereby he won the affections of many but afterwards the Men of Kent being sharpned with hope of the prey fell upon some of the richer Citizens which was very ill resented by all Mortimer was now Master of London and he cut off the Heads of some of those that were the Ministers of those Errours as John Say Chief-Treasurer of England and his Sonne in Laws and some others But the Londoners detesting his haughtiness arm themselves and craving help from Scales the Lord Lieutenant of the Tower with such Forces as they had collected Matthew Gogthus being their Captain in the night they fall upon Mortimers Army that were in the Suburbs of St Georges on the other side of the Thames But the Kentish men repulse them with such violence that the Londoners were forced to give ground and to leave the Bridge to the Conquerours who hereupon being enraged fell to cast in fire to burn the Houses upon the Bridge and so put a great fright upon the City and made a great slaughter At last their heat began to remit and these men of Kent began to detest the wickednesse Mortimer had done and desired to return home again which when the King understood he sent his Seal for their Pardon and for all his men being gone from him Mortimer was left without a Guard who thinking to escape by flight was taken and slain This Tumult was appeased but a far greater arose shortly after for York depending upon his Right comes to London under pretence of Complaints against his Adversaries and especially against Sommerset who had lost France and was now come home but the truth was to make a Party he obtained the help of Norfolk and the Earls of Sarisbury and Devorshire to assist him and so marching into Wales he quickly raised an Army The King hearing this prepares his Forces also and collecting Forces he made haste thither with the Duke of Sommerset Both the Armies meet at last and the King sending messengers asked York What should be the cause of so great a Tumult Who cast all the fault on the Kings evil Counsellours and chiefly upon Sommerset promising that if he were cast into Prison untill such time as he might be tried that then he would disband all his Army Hereupon Sommerset is cast into Prison under a colour and York gave his Passe-port which being done the King went toward London with York But Sommerset who before was cast into prison being now set at liberty accompanied the King and in his stead York was brought like a Prisoner before the King At last they come to London and there grew a hot dispute between these two Dukes before the Kings Councel the one accusing the other of Treason the matter came at last to this head That York should take a solemn Oath to be true to the King and should go toward his Castle Wigmore for the report was that Edward Earl of Marsh Sonne and Heir to York was now drawing up with an Army And in the mean time a Messenger came from Burdeaux craving help against the French John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury is sent thither who after he had behaved himself gallantly was slain with a Gun The French by his death recover all they had lost except Burdeaux In the mean while the Duke of York did his best to allure the mindes of the Subjects and then gaining the Nobility to his side who were all offended with Sommerset and joyning the Earls of Sarisbury and Warwick with him he prevailed so farre that Sommerset in the Kings absence was sent to the Tower But Henry when he heard that though he were sick and returning to London he not only sets him at Liberty he makes him Governour of Callis and of all the other places in France which thing so provoked York that he and his Assistants March to London with a great Army The King with Sommerset Buckingham and his Sonne Humphrey the Earl of Northumberland and a sufficient Army goes against them At St Albans the Armies came in sight one of the other York sent Letters in the Morning to the King requiring Sommerset to be delivered up to him that he might be tried the King refusing this he makes the first On-set Sommerset and with him the Earl of Northumberland and Humphrey Earl of Stafford fell in the Battel and five thousand men with them Many were wounded and taken The King himself who had fled into a Countrey-mans house for fear of the weapons was taken by the Conspiratours This Battel fell on May the 23th and the 13th year of his Raign But
had bred him to sufficiently in her Palace he gives him in Marriage Katharine the Daughter of the Earl of Huntley and sent him toward the Borders of England with a great Army to do what he could in hopes to attain some of the Subjects to him either by fear or affection but all proved in vain Henry being wonderfully offended by reason of the Scots invasion musters an Army and marches against the Scots under the Command of Danby but he was called back again to suppress a Rebellion that rose in Cornwall by reason of Tribute to be paid The Cornish the Lord Lieutenant Audley being their Leader march for London but when they came thither they were vanquished and scattered by the Royalists two thousand of them being slain and many taken the greatest part of them were pardon'd except the Ring-leaders for Audley was ignominiously drawn to Execution and lost his head and others that put the people forward as Thomas Flammok Michael Sonne to Joseph a Blacksmith were hanged up The Scot takes occasion hereby during these Tumults to go forward on his enterprise and spoils the Frontiers of England again and then besieged the Castle of Durrham but the Earl of Surrey collecting an Army of 20000 Men and with a great Navy not only raised the siege but pursued the Enemies into Scotland ruin'd many of their Forts and Castles and when they would not stand to fight with him he returned to Barwick By the Mediation of the King of Spain truce was made between England and Scotland for some years but on this condition that Perkin Warbech must leave Scotland He when he was gone from thence hearing that new Tumults were up in Cornwall came thither with a few Souldiers out of Ireland whether he had transported himself and his Family and what by fair words what by pretences he drew some of the Inhabitants to his side and so mustering about three thousand Souldiers he beleaguer'd Exceter but when he heard of the Kings March he forsook his Army and fled to the Altar The King in the mean time being now certain of his flight caused diligent search to be made for him his Wife Katharine a very beautifull woman and of a most noble Family was taken and delivered up to the King who by reason of her Beauty and Descent assigned to her a yearly Revenue Then Henry punished the Rebels but he laid only a small Penance on them and so set them at liberty Peter when he had long staid in Sanctuary and found no place of safety at last yeelded up himself voluntarily and was sent Prisoner to the Tower In the interim Sebastian Gabat a Citizen of Genoa but born at Bristow procuring from Henry one or two Ships sailed to new Countreys in the West and after two years returned again into England Peter who we said was cast into Prison made his escape shortly after and went to Richmond he was taken again and made a publick shame and once more imprisoned in the Tower but when he began a new Conspiracy with the Earl of Warwick whose name Lambert had taken and with some other familiar Friends of the Lieutenant of the Tower he was drawn to Execution and was hanged together with two of the Lieutenants Servants Also Warwick that he might give no more cause for new troubles was beheaded after a short time This was the eldest Sonne of the Duke of Clarence and the last male off-spring of the Family of the Plautaganets who was put in prison from his very childehood a thing beyond the knowledge and memory of man Hence arose a new sedition and of the same kinde For Patrick an Augustin Frier counterfeiting a new Earl of Warwick of one of his Scholars stirred up the people to Rebellion in his Pulpit but he and his Scholar were taken The young man was hanged Patrick was cast into perpetual imprisonment such was the reverence they gave at that time to holy Orders that they would never put to death any of them though they were guilty of high Treason Marriages were made about this time between Katharin the King of Spains Daughter and Arthur Prince of Wales and between Henries Daughter and James King of Scotland From this last Marriage proceeded at length Mary Stuart Mother to King James who was Father to Charles and the Kingdoms were united Arthur five moneths after his Marriage died in Wales But Henry that he might not be defrauded of the Dowry and Friendship of the King of Spain married Katharin by the Popes Indulgence to Henry his second Sonne who was unwilling to it Edmund Pool Earl of Suffolk Sonne to Elizabeth Sister to Edward the fourth being offended with the King at that time for some private injury conspired against him in Flanders The matter being discovered and the Conspiratours taken he only escaped to Philip Arch duke of Austria But Philip by the death of Ferdinand King of Spain having got the Kingdom in the name of his Wife Joan who was the Kings Daughter Sister to Katharine which as was said was married to Arthur Prince of Wales took his journey thither and by a contrary Tempest was brought into England King Henry went to meet him with all honour and obtained from him the Earl of Suffolk upon the Condition that no violence should be offered to his Life Henry cast him into Prison and spared his Life but after he lost his Head in the Raign of Henry the eighth Henry being now in the height of his glory had procured his Subjects fidelity and respect from his Neighbours He was very happy had he not about the end of his Raign and Life been so greedy after the goods and wealth of his Subjects He was long sick of the Gout and afterwards he fell into an Asthma also in the 52 year of his Life and the 23 year of his Raign he died in the year 1508. HENRY the eighth King of England France and Ireland Anno 1508. HENRY the Eighth having got the Kingdom at the beginning he behaved himself with great Obedience Prudence and Justice Marrying Katharine his Brothers Wife which his Father had betrothed He chose the wisest Counsellours and he executed the cursed Ministers of his Fathers exaction He spent then the first year of his Raign in Tilting and other Recreations But at the request of the King of Spain the Queens Father an expedition was undertaken into Spain against the Moors but before the English came there was a Peace made with the Moors and so it was but lost labour and nothing being done only the Captain receiving honours from the King returned again for England Edward Poining a Knight was sent with 1500 Bowmen to Charls Prince of Spain to assist him against the Duke of Gelderland he succeeded prosperously and loaded with rewards he came back again In the mean time a Scotch pirate one Barton who was wonderfull bold and valiant did great mischief about the Coasts of England the Admiral of the Sea was sent out after him after
the Empire descended to Charles King of Castile the fifth of that Name Henry in the mean while was idle for lack of Warre spending his time in Tiltings Dancings Pleasures and other Courtly Delights Then that Peace might not be without its Glory a solemn Meeting was appointed between the two Kings of England and France For that purpose a magnificent Palace of Wood was built in France At last they met in wonderfull start they applied themselves to Turnâ—ments running at the Ring and other such Recreations and an Agreement was renewed between the Emperour and the Kings of England and France Wolsey in the interim did what he pleased he found no hinderance in his attempts whatsoever He charged the Duke of Buckingham of high Treason whether it were to or out of envy is uncertain but the Duke lost his Head for it A new cause is given for a Warre between the Emperour and the King of France wherefore Wolsey is sent Umpire between both who did not behave himself so prudently as loftily whereby he incurred the French Kings displeasure Hugh of Moncada besieged Tourney and though the French did his best to relieve it yet he became Master of it Henry in the mean while because he had written a Book against Luther had the Title given him to be Defender of the Faith which hath passed to all his Successours At that time cause was given of a Warre between the French and the Scotch King by occasion of the Duke of Albany and by reason the French had not paid the Money which he promised to Mary Henries Sister so the Covenant being broken they fell to Warre William the sonne of William a Knight the Admiral-Lieutenant with eight and twenty Ships spoiled the Coasts of Scotland burnt their shipping and so returned home Charles the Emperour in the mean time came to London where he was received in great State and Honour and with a solemn Ceremony was graced with the Order of the Garter Then under pretence of conducting the Emperour into Spain by shipping the Earl of Surrey the Kings Admiral sets upon Brittany and conquers Morleys who also was again sent into France with a great Army and he ruined many Towns and Castles and consumed them by fire but he attempted the Fort Heding in vain having left his great Guâ—s at home and so could make no Battery but having behaved himself honourably he retreated to Callis Also the Marquess of Dorset destroyed by fire and Sword an innumerable company of Villages and Forts in Scotland but could not come to joyn Battle with them Sands sallied out of Callis and skirmishing with the Enemy after he had ruined many of their Castles he came back to the City When therefore King Henry understood that the Duke of Albany who commanded all in Scotland had a choice Army in France he sent William Sonne to William with a Navy that he should set upon him in his coming back again but when he had scouted up and down at Sea in vain he at last set his men on Land and with a handfull of his he overthrew a great Army of the French and obtained thereby both the Victory and the Prey and burning the Suburbs of Triport he returned for England Henry now thinks seriously again of a Warre with France and sends Suffolk and many principal Nobility with a great Army into France who at first assault overcame Bell-Castle and made William Scevington the Governour of the Garison In the mean time the Duke of Burbon Constable of France revolted to the English King with ten thousand French who being strengthned by these new Forces enter upon Picardy and conquers many Towns and Castles but Winter coming on and scarcity of provision and the Souldiers murmuring not waiting for the supply that Henry sent he was necessitated to retreat to Callis yet he had done a great mischief to the Enemy The Scotch in the mean while supposing the English to be over-busied with the French Warres lift up their Heads again and assaulting the Borders of England they win divers Towns But the Earl of Surrey entring into Scotland with six thousand Souldiers wan divers Forts and joyning a light Battel with the Scotch he returned Conquerour not without great loss to the Enemy besides the Castle of Judworth and the Town that he burnt up So with uncertain Fortune the business being acted in those parts there was a conclusion for a Cessation of Arms that so they might have time to treat of Peace Francis the first King of France at that time was conquered by the Emperour Charles the fifth at Papion and was taken Prisoner which was no small happiness for the English affairs but a sad loss for the French Then Peace was ratified between the Emperour and the French and the English agreed with them also But the Emperour and the French shortly fell to a new Warre Peace being confirmed abroad England began to be in an uproar with greater Troubles in Civil Dissentions For Henry who had lived twenty years peaceably with his Wife Katharine had a scruple of Conscience put upon him whether he could without Incest live with his Brothers Wife for as we said she was first married to his Brother Arthur Judges were chosen to end this Question But Cardinal Wolsey who had not prudently dealt for Henry had all his Authority taken from him and his Estate was Confiscate But at last other new Dignities being granted to him his great loss was somewhat repaired Then a Parliament was called and he was charged with many faults and amongst the rest that he was wont to write in his Letters I and my King and had caused the Cardinals Hat to be stamped on the Kings Coyn. He was convicted of all these things and deprived of all his Estate which shews a wonderfull example of the inconstancy of all humane affairs for he that but lately ruled all and the King too as he pleased made Laws and swaied Courts of Justice rooted out the Nobles at his pleasure burdned the subjects with great Taxes deprived both Clergy and Laity of their goods he is now cast down from his high Pinnacle of Honour hated by all and made no way like himself Afterwards when he was sent for to the Court to answer his charge he died of grief by the way In the mean time the business for a Divorce was transmitted to Clement the Pope of Rome at the suit of Queen Katharine But the Pope fearing to displease King Henry who had lately the Title of Defender of the Faith given him by Leo the tenth nor did he think it safe to provoke the Emperour who ruled in Italy spun out the business with delays by his Legate Campeius who at length with a great disgust to the English after many hastings and procrastinations departed from England leaving the business uneffected The King in the interim burning with new flames of love and so admitting no delay Warham being dead created Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who
Ministers of the Barbarians Pansanius and Cunaus to procure a supply out of the Popes Treasury yet it is supposed that the King knew nothing of it promising if she prevailed that the Catholicks in Ireland should have greater liberty in their Religion But Rosset denied that any such assistance could be granted to any unless to a Catholick Prince as they term it but if the King would abjure the Reformed Religion and cleave to the Church of Rome he promised all assistance but he hating such a sacriledge nothing was done Rosset for this business was in great danger for the English who after they had renounced the Roman Religion hated his name more than the Plague or death it self when they saw that his followers had more freedom and were not ignorant of Rosset who was the Author of it they make a tumultuous head against him that they might tear in pieces this hurtfull instrument of so hatefull superstition but he hardly escaping in disguised apparell hid himself amongst the friends of the Queen Mother Mary de Medicis who at that time was in England and afterwards he escaped all danger by the assistance of John Justinian the Venetian Embassadour and Embarking himself he sailed into Flanders but when he came to Rome Pope Vrban the eighth rewarded his good service with a Cardinals Cap. The Irish in the interim were broke forth into a new Rebellion and the Parliament used all means to finde a remedy for such a mischief And the King being not at quiet caused the Liturgy to be new printed which he imposed upon all the Churches in England and forbad all Ceremonies to be used otherwise than they were in Queen Elizabeths daies In the mean while that no new cause of divisions might be wanting seven Romish Priests are cast into prison and are condemned by the Parliament to suffer death but the French Embassadour pitied their miserable condition and sued to the King for their pardon the King answered he could grant nothing in that business without consent from his Parliament Then it was motioned to the Parliament who presently yielded to it The King when he knew this thought by an importunate anticipation to gain the thanks of that business to himself and of his own accord commands the Priests to be freed from the prison The Parliament was angry at the Kings over-forwardness and changed their former Decree of freedom into a Sentence of condemnation The King he began to urge their discharge and to stand upon it resolving never to leave the business untill the Parliament were met in a full number and should give their finall determination They of their own accord cause one or two of these Monks to be put to death It is wonderfull how great good will of the people they procured to themselves by this deed especially when by their publick Writings they began to infringe the Kings Authority using such sweet words to the people that might win their good liking of it The King in the House of Peers complains of the insolence of the Lower House and by a sharp Speech inveighed against their stubborness saying that he neither could nor would wink at so great affronts Others again complain against the Kings too great Power and desire remedies The King in the mean time strove to put out some from their places of publick employment and to put in others amongst the rest he put out Montjoy from his Lieutenants place of the Tower and put in another that stood fast to his part The Lower House interprets this business as if the King strove to draw all the power of Government to himself and accused this new Lieutenant before the Upper House for a factious person and who was before condemned by the Judges to dye and therefore a man unfit for so weighty an imployment They added farther that this matter could not be without danger for he having the command of the Tower might destroy all the City of London The Upper House answered That unless they would put their sickle into another mans Corn it were wickedness in them to hinder the King in that matter for it was an ancient and received prerogative of the Kings openly refusing their consent Nor was it long ere a multitude of Servants which they call Apprentices and a rabble of other people came to the Hall door crying out and thundring that unless they would remove out of that place the Lieutenant of the Tower who was a Papist a factious a wicked and unworthy man they would turn all upside down and they prevailed by this means so far that both the King and the Lords were forced to consent Nor was this furious multitude of the people content with this but they made a fresh onset to abolish the Government of Bishops and would have them all to be forwarnd the Parliament House for that they were addicted as they pretended to the Church of Rome and to force them to it they runne like furies into Westminster Abbey that was venerable for it's Antiquity and they fall in their rage upon the sacred Garments Organs Sepulchres and spoil all that was either comely for its Ancientness pretious for cost or to be valued for curious Workmanship they hardly spared the Bones and Ashes of the dead their impure purity had hurried them so farre Then they runne to the Kings Court crying urging and thundring out the same things The King had them all go about their business threatning them with severe punishment that refused and least the next day they should terrifie him with greater multitudes he fortified himself with a stronger Guard The Parliament either fearing themselves or because they would not be inferiour to the King require a strong Guard of Souldiers to defend them the Earl of Essex might be the Captain of it The King neither granted nor denied it Then they attempted a new business and that was not usual appointing an extraordinary Assembly in the City that should manage all weighty and great occurrences and this they did without the Kings leave or knowledge And to weaken his Majesty the more or rather to satisfie the insolence of the people they cast twelve Bishops into prison because they went about to maintain their priviledge by the publick Charter That business much troubled the King and all those that loved the publick quiet above all things but they that hoped to finde some good for themselves out of these tossings and tumults did laugh in their sleeves fomenting the troubles and turning every stone untill such time as the Earl of Bristol and his sonne were involved in the same danger Strafford the year before lost his Head to satisfie the people who was a man of a commendable and most approved understanding William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of England followed him But now they touched his bowels for they began to accuse the Queens Majesty as if she had privately caused the troubles in Ireland and had secretly moved that people that are