Earl of Bristol Hinton St. George Court of Ewick Lenn Court and Walton to the Lord Paulet Connington to the Lord Clifford Wells Palace and Banwell to the Bishop of Bath and Wells Bristol Palace to the Bishop of Bristol With divers Houses of the Gentry pleasantly Sighted c. The Reign of EDWARD the Third commonly called Edward of Windsor EDWARD upon the offer of the Crown to him in his Fathers Life time not being Fifteen Years of Age refused it with Tears and Detestation till Mortimer and the Queen his Mother by Threats and Perswasions wrought him to some compliance nor then would he yeild to be Crowned till his Father had Resigned nor then till he was made sensible by some faithful Counsellors it was the only way to secure the Life of the Deposed King and the Crown in the Right Line For many feared that Mortimer being great with the Queen and high in her favour would find some means to rid her of her Husband and by Marrying her place the Diadem on his own Head for which reason he ever after hated that aspiring Lord and laboured to Revenge the Indignity and Death of King Edward the Second which in time he in some measure did in the Execution of Mortimer as will hereafter appear In the beginning of this Kings Reign the Scots denounced War against England thinking to make their Advantage in the Kings Minority but he tho' Young being of a Martial Spirit scorned to be outbraved whereupon he raised an Army of 50000 valiant Men and Marched into Scotland chasing the Scots from place to place who nowhere durst appear in the Field in any Number and having seized several Towns and Castles and finding his Soldiers tired out in following through Woods Marshes and over Craggy Hills he resolved to return which he did and assembled his Parliament at Northampton in which the two Executed Spencers and Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter who had been put to Death by the Londoners were Attainted of High Treason and all their Goods Lands c. Seized into the Kings hands and then the King by the direction of his Mother and Mortimer concluded a dishonourable Peace with the Scots releasing them of their Homage Fealty and Service due from that Kingdom to the Crown of England and delivered up the Grand Instrument or Charter called Ragman which under the Hands and Seals of their Late King and of the Nobility of Scotland testified their Tenure and Subjection to the Kings of this Realm After that he Married his Sister to David Son to Robert Bruce and created Mortimer Earl of March at which the Generality of the Nobility were exceedingly disgusted Mortimer upon his new Advancement to Honour and relyance on the Queens favour tho' he found the Nobles were not in his Interest bore it with a higher hand than formerly and perceiving Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent the Kings Unkle stood most in his way and crossed his aspiring he and the Queen so laboured with the Young King That infecting him with a Jealousie that the Earl had Designs upon his Life and Crown which being backed by false Witnesses he â—dvisedly gave way to Articles that were suggested â— brought in against him so that by Mortimers Creaâ—es he was found Guilty and Beheaded to the great â—ef of all True Englishmen being a Person of singular â—lour a great Statesman Prudent and Virtuous but â— Blood so Treacherously spilt was not slow in â—ying for and procuring Vengance for the King â—ing made sensible of a familiarity between Mortimer â—d his Mother more than was decent and much to â—er dishonour by being got abroad among the Vulgar â—using many scandalous Reports he would not howâ—ver lightly believe it yet one time being assured she â—as at Mortimer's Castle he with a resolute Band of â—is Followers privately in the Evening entered a back â—way and seizing such Servants as he met to prevent â—iscovery went by the direction of one of them to â—he Chamber where the Queen Lodged and there â—ound her in Bed and Mortimer undressing in order to â—leep with her This so exasperated the Young King â—hat calling him Trator and Villain he seized him with his own hands and delivered him to the Guards he not offering to resist or call for help tho' he had a far greater number of Attendants in the Castle than the King brought with him and being Committed to Prison free liberty was given for any that would to Exhibit their Complaints against him which were summed up in the following Articles 1. That he had wickedly contrived and procured the Murther of the Kings Father 2. That by his false Accusations and sinister Counsels he had caused the King to take away the Life of his Vnkle who was truly Noble Religious Devout Honest and a strong Pillar of the Commonwealth 3. That too familiarly he conversed with Queen Isabel the Kings Mother to her just Reproach and the dishonour of the King 4. That he received of the Scots a Bribe of 20000l for which he procured the Kings Retreat out of Scotland and the Releasment of his Signory and Homage due for that Kingdom 5. That he had deceitfully couzened and beguiled the King of his Wards and Treasury converting the Monies and Profits to his own use and behoof For these Wicked and Treasonable Practices he was Tryed and Condemned and afterward Hanged at Tyburn where he remained Hanging unpittied for two Days And in a little time after the King abridged the Queen his Mother in her Dowry allowing her but 1000 l. per Annum restraining her within a certain Limit In the Fifth Year of the Kings Reign Philip D' Valois who Succeeded Charles in the French Throne required him to come over and pay Homage and Fealty for his Dutchey of Guyan and accordingly he went and was kindly entertained till he refused to do it by any more Ceremony than Words but that not being Accepted he returned to England and upon a Second Summons sent it in Writing under the Great Seal which was not looked on as sufficient yet this submission displeased the English Nobility who told him he ought not to pay any Homage for as much as the Crown of France in Right of his Mother properly belonged to him and thus stated his Title viz. Isabel was Daughter to Philip the Fair Son to Philip the Hardy That Philip the Hardy the Queens Grandfather had two Sons viz. her Father who was King and Charles D' Valois who was also King after him Philip the Fair had three Sons all which Dyed without Issue Male he had also a Daughter which was this Isabel Married to King Edward the Second and that Charles D' Valois the Second Son of Philip the Hardy was Father to Philip D' Valois who then Reigned in France and although by the Salique Law of France Women are barred to Rule yet King Edward being a Male of the Elder branch ought to take place before a Male of the Younger though coming by a
killing the Watch. And now the noble Earl of Warwick Dying the Duke of York a second time was made Regent of France yet the French by Encroachments and Revolts of many Towns encouraged when their Courage failed by one Joan of Arc a Martial Maid who pretended she was sent by Heaven to assist her Bleeding Country and indeed Leading the French Troops she did many brave Exploits till taken by the English after she had received many Wounds they tryed her and burnt her for a Witch tho' great Ransoms were offered for her by the French and this they the rather did not only for that she beat them off from the Siege of Orleance and worsted them in many Skirmishes but because the French conceived a superstitious confidence that whilst she Lived their Proceedings would be successful and prosperous Yet both Potentates in the End on the French recovering Ponthois growing weary of so tedious a War that had wasted their People and Treasure a Conference was appointed at Callice and here they often consulted about Peace but in conlusion adjourned the Negotiation because King Henry's Demands were looked on as unreasonable in Three Points viz. 1. In regard of the great Ransom demanded for the Duke of Orleance 2. For that the peaceable and quiet possession of the Dutchies of Aquitaine and Normandy were required without any Homage or Soveraignty acknowledged to the Crown of France 3. For that the surrendering and yielding up into King Henry's hands all such Cities Towns Forts and Territories in France as the English had at any time enjoyed within the space of thirty Years past was required However tho' the Parley was dissolved yet the Duke of Orleance being brought to Calice tho' King Henry the Fifth on his Death-Bed had commanded he should not be Ransomed he was Ransomed by the Duke of Burgundy and Honourably convey'd to the French Court And now to make way for Calamities at Home as well as Misfortunes Abroad a Quarrel arose between the Cardinal of Winchester and Duke of Gloucester for the Duke being Protector of the Realm making Complaints against the Cardinals Acting many things contrary to the Interest of the King and Kingdome without any Warant or making the King Acquainted with it The Cardinal in Revenge procured the Dutchess of Gloucester to be accused of Sorcery and Witchcraft holding correspondence with Witches to take away the King's Life and tho' most believed there was nothing at all in it yet the Cardinal being backed by the Clergy procured her upon groundless suggestions to do publick Penance twice in the City of London and to be doomed to perpetual Imprisonment and the better to colour the matter some who were pretended to be her Associates suffered the Flames After the refusal of some other Matches as the Earl of Arminack's Daughter c. King Henry by the means and procurement of the Earl of Suffolk Bribed by the French King Married the Lady Margaret whom he received by Suffolk his Ambassador at the Hands of the French King and Reyner her Father Duke of Anjou Titular King of Sicily Naples and Jerusalem tho' with her he had little or no Dowry which made the Match be much disliked by the Nobles and Commons Yet for this Service the Earl was created Duke of Suffolk and stood high in the Queen's favour and they soon found means to dismiss the good Duke of Gloucester from his Protectorship after he had a long time faithfully Served the King and Kingdom And soon after the deposed Protector by the contrivance of his Grand Enemies was Accused in a Parliament assembled by the Queen in the King's Name at Bury of High Treason and committed to the Tower where the next day he was found dead in his Bed to the great Grief of almost all the Kingdom as being a Pious Valliant and Virtuous Prince it was generally concluded he was Smothered for no Wound was found about him But God was not slow in requiring his Blood at the hands of those that were undoubtedly the contrivers of his fall for upon the removal of this great and beloved Statesman Richard Duke of York found an open way to thrust in and set up his pretensions of Title to the Crown making himself strong in Friends and Treasure the better to carry on his designs So that being now Intent on his own Advancement he grew carless of his Command which turned greatly to the advantage of the French for the Truce no sooner expired but they came strongly prepared into the Field and making three Armies took in divers little Towns and this success emboldened them that holding secret correspondence with the Inhabitants of Roan in Normandy they drew an Army before that City whereupon the Citizens compelled the Earls of Sommerset and Shrewsbury to Surrender the place having leave to depart to Caen with all their Goods Soon after Hareflew and divers other places were lost A Rebellion about this time breaking out in Ireland the Duke of Sommerset was made Regent or Lieutenant in Normandy and the Duke of York sent over to quell the Irish Rebells which he easily effected But this dividing weakening the English Strength the Kings Army in Normandy was Overthrown and Caen Lost and soon after all Normandy and now Divisions happened at Home for the Duke of Suffolk the Queens Favourite being Envied by the People they were Instigated by the Duke of York and his Faction to make many grievous Complaints against him upon the miscarriages in Government whereupon he was to please them colourably committed to the Tower yet had his Liberty at will which so Incensed them that making a Fellow their Captain nicknamed Blewbeard they fell into Rebellion but were soon Quelled and some of their Ringleaders Executed the rest were Pardoned Hereupon the King and Queen thinking to reconcile all Differences a Parliament was called but contrary to their expectation the Commons craved Justice on the Duke of Suffolk and upon his Associates viz. James Fines Lord Say and Treasurer of England John Bishop of Salisbury and some others whereupon he was Banished for Five Years but as he Sailed for France being way laid he was taken by an English Man of War brought to Dover and had his Head Choped off on the side of the Ship 's Boat supposed to be done by the Duke of York's contrivance yet he was not Lamented by any but the King and Queen because it was verily supposed he had a hand in the Duke of Glocester's death And now the Duke of York though in Ireland did by his Agents here stir up a Rebellion among the Plebeans whose Ringleader was Jack Cade who falsly Named himself John Mortimer right Heir to the Crown but the King's Forces dispersed them many being Slain and Cade being Proscribed and a Thousand Marks set on his Head it was soon after brought to the King The Duke of York being defeated in this by the Advice of his Friends returned out of Ireland without the King's leave and consulting with
Quarries of Stone It is divided into 4 Hundreds containing 79 Parishes 6 Market Towns and 2 Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 4 viz. Huntington 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire HUNTINGTON SHIRE St. Ives is situate on the same stream with many other pleasant Towns and Villages Here was Born Roger thence Sirnamed St. Ives at Cunington the learned Antiquary Sr. Robert Cotton was Born And indeed this Shire has produced divers famous Men as Gregory of Huntington who Dyed 1610 Henry of Huntington Renowned for his History of England William Whittleseay Arch Deacon of Huntington William Ramsey a famous Poet and others In this County a Lake called Wittlesmeer in the Fairest Weather grows Tempestuous and Rages with Surges like the Sea but in a Storm is much Calmer The whole County is well Watered and boasts of many pleasant Vilages The Seats of the Nobility are Kimbolton-Castle a seat of the Earl of Manchester Hinchingbrook now a seat of the Earl of Sandwich but formerly the seat of Sir Oliver Cromwel Vncle to the late Oliver Cromwel called Protector of England who was a Native of this County Great Gidding a seat of the Lord Rockingham Leyghton a seat of the Earl of Arran There are likewise to be seen the Ruines of many stately Buildings as Castles Monasteries and the like It produces a sort of soft Stone much used in Building in those Parts and in diging for it rusty Armour Arms and Coin have been found denoting some great Battel Fought there in former times The Reign of Harrold Seventeenth Sole Monarch of England c. HArrold Sirnamed Harefoot from his Swiftness in Runing Leaping and Vaulting Succeeded his Father Crowned Anno Dom. 1036 He was Second Son to Canute and upon his coming to the Crown was much opposed by Goodwin Earl of Kent a Person very Powerful and a Politick Intreaguer of those times to make Factions c. But by his liberal Promises and present Renuntiation of Taxes he won the Londoners and Lords on the North side the Thames to his Party and having thus far prevailed he strengthened his Hand by liberally disposing of Gratuities to such as had done him any good offices he promoted the English to Places of Trust and Honour sending away more of the Danes than in doing which he could lay no greater obligation upon them For Time as yet had not worn out the Mortal Hatred between the two Nations He took off likewise a good part of the oppressing Tax called Dane-Gelt which the People not without much discontent had laboured under especially in the Northern Counties many Years And now Goodwin Earl of Kent perceiving his Clandestine Practices too weak to enfeeble the Kings Interest in his Subjects affections like cunning Statesman resolves to struggle no longer against this Tide of Fortune and Success and thereupon to make fair with him entered upon an Inhumane Project viz. To betray into his Hands Edward and Alfride Sons to Ethelred and Emma Born at Islip by Oxford but brought up the greater part of their time in Normandy and so cunningly this Traitor to his Country worked the design as knowing Harrold by any means was desirous to destroy them as being the rightful Heirs of the Saxon Line that by specious pretences of Advancement and Honour and how also herself might much profit by it and always stand high in the Kings favour he so dealt with Queen Emma that won by guilded Flatteries and not perceiving the Mortal Hook covered with the Tempting Bait she was easily perswaded to Write to them on this occasion which being seconded by Goodwin and the King the Innocent Princes were decoy'd over and brought as Lambs to the Slaughter for no sooner had the Dane got them in his power but contrary to his Promise he caused Alfride's Eyes to be put out and yet not so contented his Belly was opened with a Razor and one end of his Bowells being fastened to a Post he was forced about it by the pricking of sharp Ponyards till he had twisted them out and so dyed a miserable death which is held to have struck Goodwin the Author of this Mischief with so great a Remorse that he could neither Rest in the Day nor Sleep in the Night without hideous and fearful Dreams till he contributed to the Escape of Edward the other Brother who luckily got away a small time before he was to be Murthered by the like or other as cruel Torments by which his Brother fell a Sacrifice to Policy of State Harrold supposing he had been defeated of the second Game by the contrivance of Queen Emma for Goodwin Swore himself unknowing of any thing relating to it determined to put her to death but cooling a little on his rash Decree and considering she was near Allyed to a Powerful Prince his Neighbour and had been Wife to two Kings the last of them being his Father he changed the Sentence into one somewhat less severe For first he seized on all her Treasure and Possessions which were very considerable and that not being thought a sufficient Punishment he Banished her in a manner Naked so that under such a disgrace and in that poor condition being ashamed to go into Normandy her own Country she got leave to pass the Seas for Flanders where she was received Honourably by the Earl of that Province and there she continued for the most part till the Danish Succession failed and her Son Edward afterward called the Confessor was Invited over to take upon him the Crown Soon after this Harrold fell Sick at Oxford and there Dyed when he had Reigned Four Years He was the Seventeenth Sole Monarch of England and Second of the Danish Line and Reigned Four Years being first Buried at Westminster and after held to be removed to St. Clements Danes without Temple-Barr Remarks on Herefordshire c. HErefordshire is famed for abundance of Fruit-Trees producing great quantities of Cider and other wholsom Liquors Its Wooll is held to be the finest in England especially from those numerous flocks of Sheep that feed on the pleasant Hills about Lempster It also yields abundance of Cheese Butter Swine and all necessary Provisions for the support of Mans Life and has some considerable Forrests and Woods It is Bounded with Shropshire Worcestershire Glocestershire Monmouthshire Radnorshire and Brecknockshire It gives denomination to a Bishoprick the Diocess containing this County and part of Shropshire It is divided into 11 Hundreds containing 176 Parishes 8 Market-Towns and 13 Rivers and sends 8 Members to Parliament viz. Knights of the Shire 2 Hereford 2 Lempster 2 and Weobley 2. The City of Hereford is noted for its Cathedral of Antiâ—â— but Curious Building it gave Birth to Adaâ—â— D' HEREFORD SHIRE Orleton Bishop of Hereford and Roger of Hereford a learned Astrologian Bradwarden-Castle gave Birth to Thomas D' Bradwardine Arch Bishop of Canterbury also to John Guillim a famous Herald whose Systeme of Heraldry is accounted the best on that subject This County
Primate of England so that he and his Successors became subordinate to the Archiepiscopal See of Canterbury Philip King of France taking advantage of the Kings Absence from Normandy encouraged Robert to make himself Absolute Duke assisting him with Men and Money whereupon the King was again constrained to pass the Seas with a puissant Army being over-eager in laying waste the Country and harassing himself in War being over-heated he fell Sick and hearing that the French King should say in a Scoffing manner He lay a long time in Child-Bed he Replied in a rage That at his Vprising or Churching he would Light so many Candles in France as should Inflame the whole Country And indeed he made his words good for upon his recovery inraged that his Enemies had in his Sickness taken the advantage to waste his Territories he spoiled all the West parts of France Firing the City of Nantz Meux and a great number of Towns and Villages Inriching with part of the Spoil the Church of St. Stephen's in Normandy which was of his own Founding moreover bequeathing in his last Will his Crown and Regal Ornaments to it appointing his Body when he Dyed to be Buryed therein And for the Service done in this War he requited many of his Commanders who had signalized their Vallour with possessions in England to hold them of the Crown one of which Grants for the Antiquity and plain manner of Conveyance exempted from the tediousness now in use I think not amiss to recite viz. I William give to thee Norman Hunter here Who art to me both Leef and Dear The Hop and the Hoptown And all the Bounds up and down Vnder the Earth to Hell and even Above the Earth to Heaven From me and mine To thee and thine As good and faire As ever they were To Witness that this is Sooth I bite the White Wax with my Tooth Before Jug Maud and Margery And my Young Son Henry For a Bow and a broad Arrow When I come to Hunt upon Yarrow In the last Year of this Kings Reign there was found in the Province called Rose in Wales a Sepulcher of 14 Foot Long in which was Buried with much Treasure as the Custom of the Times then were Gawen one of King Arthurs Knights of his Round Table and Bones therein of an exceeding bigness And now as all Kings must come at last to the Grave the Life of this Restless Conquerer grew to a Period for going over to Quiet new Troubles in Normandy he had scarcely Accomplished it before he fell Sick of a Malignant Feaver at Caen in Normandy and after some Languishings Dyed and being a corpulent Man his Belly in a little time Burst and the Stench being great none but a few poor Monks would come near him nor was this all one Ascalinus Fitz Arthur a Norman Gentleman denyed him Burial in St. Stephen's Church saying He had Founded it on his Inheritance violently taken away that it stood upon the Floor of his Fathers House and the Body of no Despoiler should be covered in his Earth however Henry his Fourth Son giving a Hundred Pound Weight in Silver as a recompence he was there Interred but with little or no Ceremony so that he who in his Life time made Nations Tremble being Dead was little or nothing regarded This William the First was Son to Robert the Sixth Duke of Normandy begotten as is said on a Beautiful Damsel named Arlet the Daughter of a Tanner in Honour of whom a Town is called by her Name He began his Reign over England Anno Dom. 1066 on Saturday the Fourteenth of October and Reigned Twenty Years Ten Months and Twenty Six Days being the 21 Sole Monarch of England Remarks on Lincolnshire c. LIncolnshire by reason of its Fens and other Advantagious Pastures produces great numbers of small and large Cattle a good sprinkling of Corn abundance of Fish and Wild-Fowl much Wooll and Leather It is commodiously on the East Bounded with the German Ocean and part of Norfolk so that by reason of its Havens it has a great Trade and very much helped on the North by being Bounded with the River Humber and part of Yorkshire on the West with Yorkshire Notinghamshire and Leicestershire on the South with Northamptonshire and Cambridgshire It is divided into 30 Hundreds containing one City a Bishops See 630 Parishes 33 Market Towns and 9 Rivers It sends Members to Parliament 12 viz. Boston 2 Grantham 2 Grimesby 2 Lincoln City 2 Stamford 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Lincoln was Antiently held to be one of the finest Cities of England being of great Antiquity and made by King Edward the Third the chief Mart for Lead Wooll and Leather here was also a great Battel Fought between Randolph Earl of Chester Robert Earl of Gloucester and King Stephen the latter being Overthrown and taken Prisoner It was Besieged by King Henry the Third and taken from the Barrons Wainfleet was the Birth Place of William Sirnamed thence Wainfleet who Flourished in the Reign of Henry the Sixth being Bishop of Winchester He Founded here a Free-School and Magdalen Colledge in Oxford LINCOLNE SHIRE In the Fens are found the Ategen or Godwitt also a foolish Bird called a Dottrell which Cambden says being Hunted thrusts its Head into a Bush and then thinks all is secure tho' the whole Body is seen and so in Moulting time he is easily taken The Reign of WILLIAM the Second Sirnamed Rufus WHen William the First Dyed his Eldest Son Robert was in Germany Negotiating his Fathers Affairs to draw in those Princes to assist him in making a Vigorous War on the French who were now become somewhat Formidable to their Neighbours so that by the favour of his Absence the Conquerers Last Will the furtherance of Lanfrank and Wolstane two Learned Prelates who had great Influence over the Commons and divers of the Nobles William Sirnamed Rufus from the Redness of his Hair or Face was after many hot debates among the Nobles Crowned King at Westminster by Lanfrank Arch Bishop of Canterbury on Sunday the 26th of September Anno Dom. 1087. This William was Younger Brother to Robert but being of a milder Temper and better affected to the English by reason he had in a manner been bred up amongst them and approved by them Robert found himself greatly Agreived that he had been put beside his Right in England tho' the Dutchy of Normandy was left entirely to him but the Title of Duke not agreeing with his great Spirit when he perceived he might have been a King had not loss of opportunity barr'd it he resolved nevertheless to tempt Fortune in a tryal for the regaining what was overslipt whereupon he raised a gallant Army composed of his own Subjects and Strangers Landing them in England with little or no Resistance not doing any damage to the English but being Encamped Commissioners were sent by King William to treat with him about an Accommodation for the preventing the effusion of
the City of Dublin to the Petty Kings and most of the Nobility of the Kingdom and having settled the Civil and Ecclesiastical matters reforming Barbarities and Abuses he brought those that held out in Vlster under Subjection and so returned in Triumph to London Thus was Ireland made subject to the Crown of England and has so continued ever since being a very spacious Country viz. in Length 303 Miles in Breadth 112 in Circumference 948. And such was the over-fondness of this King to his Eldest Son Henry that he caused him and his Wife Margaret Daughter to Lewis the French King to be twice sollemnly Crowned in the presence of his People himself the second time for that day leaving the Title of King and serving as a Servitor at his Son's Table whereat the Bishop of Winchester whispering the Young Henry in the Ear said Never any King of England had such a Sewer at his Table Nay replied the Upstart my Father need not think it any dishonour to him as being but Royal Born on one side when I had both a King to my Father and a Queen to my Mother upon this the old King shook his Head and whispered the Bishop I find my Lord I have raised the Young Man too soon and too late repent of it And from that time he laboured to suppress the Pride of his Sons which made them often Rebel and Conspire with his Enemies drawing away the Hearts of many of his Subjects And altho' at one time Lewis the French King Henry Geoffry and John three of his Sons joyned with Robert Earl of Leicester Hugh Earl of Chester and William King of Scots against him yet by plain Valour he Routed them and made his Sons and others that were his Subjects submit to his Pardon and soon after his Son Henry Dyed in the flower of his Age. But these were not all the Kings Troubles for he was grievously pestered with the stubbornness of Becket Arch Bishop of Canterbury For upon his first admittance to that See he refused to take the Oath for observation of the Articles administred to the Clergy which the rest of the Bishops had done because it was clearly against the Popes Authority and perceiving the King much displeased at his refusal he resolved to set the Pope on his Back and therefore privately withdrawing himself went to Rome where he made grievous complaints against the King and Clergy of England to Innocent the Second upon which the Pope gave him the Pall and appointed him Legate so upon his return he delivered up his Chancelorship and Great Seal not giving the King or any other an account why he did so These Jars between the King and the Arch Bishop imboldened the Inferiour Clergy to commit many Irregularities for which they received but small punishment for if they committed Murthers Manslaughters Fellonies or Robberie being Censured by Men of their own Profession they came off as they could wish so that the Common Wealth being sorely oppressed to Redress these Grievances the King found himself constrained to call a Parliament In which that Law made in King Stephens Reign which exempted the Authority of Temporal Judges from meddling with Ecclesiastical Affaires was Repealed and the Laws held in the Reign of Henry the First and other the Kings Predecessors Established and Inforced being commonly called Avitae Legis but he was stoutly opposed in his Proceedings by Becket and some other Bishops who unadvisedly made themselves partakers of his Faction but after many Conferences Disputes and Consultations all except Becket Ratified and Subscribed those newly revived Laws but he by no means would do it unless he might enter this Clause Salvo Ordine suo which words clearly Annihilated the Life and Substance of those Laws but the Bishops fearing the Kings Anger might turn to their great disadvantage at last prevailed with Becket to Swear to the said Laws but upon another Pet taken he recanted his Oath and was Absolved by the Pope Yet it nothing daunted the King but rather Irritated him to Seiz into his own hands all such Temporalities as he had formerly given to the Arch Bishop requiring him to render an Account of 30000 Marks he had Imbezilled during his being Chancellor But the Prelate in Answer to this boldly affirmed the King had freely given it to him as a free Gift and ought not in Honour or Conscience to demand it back Whereupon all the Moveables that appertained to him were Seized by the Kings express command At which Becket being disgusted he went to Rome without the Kings License and the King perceiving his drift was to incense the Pope against him sent his Ambassadors to represent his perversness and evil carriage and how reasonable things were he had imposed on him entreating the Pope to divest him of his Dignity and he would provide for him and his in another station But Becket had made such interest in the Court of Rome That the Pope not only refused it but with many Threatnings sent two Legates To Curse the King and all his People unless on their demands Becket were immediatly restored to his Dignity also to his Lands and Moveables that were Confiscated and in the mean while he commended him to the Abbot of Pontynack where he was kindly received and for a time entertained But upon the Kings Threats that unless he was Expelled the House that he would leave no Monk of that Order in France he was dismissed the King Commanding That without his License no Cardinal nor Legate should presume to set Footing in England and hereupon he Banished all Beckets Relations which much grieved him yet under-hand he was encouraged by Lewis the French King resolutely to persist in his Obstinacy whereupon King Henry to put an end to this difference that much disturbed the Kingdom Sailed to France and in the French Kings presence Conferred with the Arch Bishop making him an Offer That if he would take the Oath again and subscribe the Instrument Triparte as himself and the Arch Bishop of York had done he should be restored to his Favour and enjoy all that was formerly appertaining to him and his Friends recalled from Banishment but then he started another obstacle consenting to do it if it might be with an exception of salvo honore Dei This more angered the King than the former for by it he seemed to Object the Laws made tended to the dishonour of God and if so consequently were void in themselves bringing a scandal upon those that first Instituted them and also upon himself and the Parliament that had Revived them Whereupon Becket plainly told him That he feared none but God and since his Laws were derogatory to the Antient Customs and Priviledges of the Church and Robbed God of his Honour the King in seeking to Establish them should not have his will whilst he lived And upon this Disagreement the Pope sent two Legates to Interdict the Kingdom till Becket should be restored to his Dignity This so far
Prelates Noblemen and Judges sufficient to determine any Controversies within his Kingdom that should arise either in Church or Common-Weal and added That he would rather expose himself to Ten Thousand Deaths than basely as he was required make himself and his Kingdom Servil to the Popes Insolency and Peremptory Commands But on the other side the Pope threatened what he would do if he was not Obey'd in the Election of Langton and the calling home such Monks as had Fled through fear of the Kings displeasure on this last Election and because this was not speedily done he sent his Apostolical Command to the Prelates of London Ely Worcester c. to Interdict the Kingdom if the King continued in his obstinacy as he termed it This Commission was put in Execution and the Church-Doors were shut up for several Years Some Authors say Six there being neither Prayers Sermons Christenings nor Service at the Funerals of the Dead said or performed publickly during that time so that the People distinguished not the Sabbath from other days but followed their Work and Sports on it living More like Infidels than Christians such power over the Minds of besotted Men had the Popes Usurpation in those dark and ignorant Times For this Affront the King Banished divers Bishops and others of the Clergy whom he found most forward in complying with the Popes Interest seizing on their Temporalities resolving to take the like course with all such as consented to receive Promotions Investitures or Ecclesiastical Degrees from the Pope or new Arch Bishop or that went to Rome upon any occasion without his License or did attempt to put in Execution any Command from the Pope within his Kingdom The Pope no sooner heard of this but resolving not to cool on it he sent into England two Legates viz. Pandulph and Durant to perswade the King to be Reconciled to Langton and the other Bishops and Clergy that were under his Displeasure in England or in Banishment to restore them to their Lands Places and Goods that a good understanding might be renewed between the Pope and him This did but little please the King yet however fearing to be Accursed and Embroyl himself in new Troubles for in those days the Popes Leaden Sword did more mischief in Kingdoms than many of Steel People being for the most part infatuated to believe what he did he did by the immediate Will and Command of God whose Vicegerent he assumed to himself to be He promised to perform all but allowing the Election of Cardinal Langton protesting that if another might be chosen he would yet prefer him to some other Bishoprick but the Imperious Legates instead of gratifying the Kings Request pronounced the Popes Curse not only against the King but all Persons who should do him Service or give him Attendance or supply him with things Necessary Absolving his Subjects from their Allegiance Duties and Oaths requiring all Christian Princes to make War upon him as upon the Arch and Grand Enemy of the Church of God The Pope also published and pronounced against him Sentence of Deprivation and gave his Crown and his Kingdom to Philip the French King if by any secret Plot or open Violence and Hostility he could Expel or Murther him These were the Fruits of this pretended Holy un-Holy Father The Popes Religion and Government and this Usurping Arrogance was a badg of his unsufferable Pride in that he presumed to do what no Earthly Creature can do nor what a Christian ought to attempt to do against a Prince who is Gods Anointed and against such a one as the Almighty has placed in his Kingdom to Govern and Rule his People Yet this Fulmination did not much startle King John and being determined to know the minds of his People how they stood affected to him after this matter he took a sollemn Oath of them for the defence of his Person and the performance of faithful Service to him and then raising an Army he went to Scotland because that King encouraged by the Pope was practicing against him sheltering such as had taken part with the Pope and fled out of England But King Alexander the Second perceiving that Fire and Sword began to devour apace in his Country he with much Humility sent to King John to desire him to spare his People and their Substance and what in reason he required he would accord to and a Peace was made shortly between them he consenting to Banish all the Kings Enemies out of his Country This much disappointed Philip of France who was preparing to Invade England and had to that end provided a gallant Army but by the Wisdom Valour and Circumspection of King John and the Providence of God 300 of his Ships Laden with Corn and other Provisions and Necessaries for the Invasion were Surprized by our Ships which great disapointment put an end at that time to the Design and frustrated his vain hope But after all this the King finding so many Efforts and Treacheries against him that disparing to weather every one of them and pittying the sufferings of his People under these distractions he suddainly without the Advice of his Nobles or of his Privy Council degenerating from his former daring and boldness of Spirit fell on his Knees before the Legate acknowledging his Disobedience craving of him the Popes Pardon resigning with his Crown the possession of his Kingdom to the See of Rome which Crown the proud Prelate took and to put him into some pain in considering whether he should ever have it restored again kept it Four Days and then returned it to the use of him and his Heirs reserving 1000 Marks Yearly by way of Tribute to the See of Rome which was the main thing the Pope had aimed at and for which he had all the while made such a prodigious noise and bustle But this low and Un-Prince-like Submission to a paltry Priest threw him into another mischief which was the contempt and dislike of his Nobles so that for the most part they Revolted from him and entered upon a cruel and unnatural War which went very near to have enslaved this flourishing Island once more to Strangers for the Barons finding they were too weak to oppose the King they leaned on Philip of Frrnce proposing if he would assist them with sufficient Forces and Money they would soon Depose King John and place the Crown upon the Head of Lewis Son to Philip This News fired the Young Ambitious French Prince who had also something of a Martial Spirit that he never left urging his Father till he had furnished him out with an Army But the Pope having now closed with King John on his complaining of this to him he sent his strict command under many Threats to the French King not to suffer his Son to pass the Seas or in the least to molest a Kingdom under the Protection of the Holy See tho' as you have heard a little before himself had given it to them
health of his own Soul and for the welfare and happiness of his People and Kingdom utterly to defie except his Queen and Children all such as Councelled him or did themselves intend to suppress the Laws and Ordinances established in the Parliament at Oxford or the Authority and Power which for the advantage of the common good was Granted to the Twelve Peers But the King displeased at these Letters returned not any Answer which made them display their Banners and march towards London and as they passed by the Houses of such as favoured the Kings proceedings on the account of the Popes Bulls they Plundered and Spoiled them and laid many in Ruins by Fire Proclaiming such Persons Enemies to the King and Government Approaching London they sent their Letters to the Mayor and Citizens to know whether they were resolved to support the Laws and Ordinances or not and the Authority of the Twelve Peers protesting before God that themselves meant not nor intended any other thing and if they were found defective in any point a speedy Reformation should be made These Letters were no sooner received and read but they were sent to the King who demanded of the Mayor and Citizens whether they would support those Laws and the Twelve Peers or renounce them but fearing their Plunder when such an Army was at their Gates they Assembled in Common-Hall and agreed to send the King Answer That they would stand by the Laws and Peers tho' a little before they had Sworn to the King to stand by him against all opposers This greatly displeased the King but they setting light by his Anger received the Barons with their Army into the City with many expressions of Joy and from hence they Marched to Windsor Castle and displaced all Strangers rifling them of what they had gotten by their Places and Offices especially such as the Prince had put into Trust this yet more offended the King But his Privy Council laboured to pacify him by sending to the Barons to restore the Goods taken from the Aliens and telling him that from thenceforth none but himself should place Persons in Trust but to neither of these the Barons would accord but at last concluded to put the descision of the Controversie to Lewis the French King and inviolably stand to his Award and King Henry agreeing to it Peace for a time ensued and the Swords on both sides were Sheathed and the matter Stated on either part being controverted before the French King it was by him Decreed That all the said Ordinances and Laws should be Annihilated and from thenceforth no Authority or Power should be left in the Twelve Peers But this Sentence was so distasteful to the Barons that they publickly accused him of Partiality to curry-favour with King Henry absolutely refusing to stand by his Award and so strongly were they bent to maintain whatsoever had been in Parliament Established That they repaired again to the Marches of Wales and Levied new Forces and in their passage to London Spoiled and Burnt the Goods Lordships and Houses of Sr. Roger Mortimer who had Counseled the King against them To oppose their Proceedings Prince Edward Marched with the Kings Army against them and a cruel Battel was fought for the space of a whole Day in which the Prince Acted Wonders beyond what could be expected from his Young Years But most of his Commanders being Slain he was at length compelled to leave the Field and March hastily back again with his broken Army leaving the Barons Masters of the Field After this Victory the Barons Marched their Army to London where they were received with great demonstrations of Joy and soon after the Rifraff of the City contrary to the minds of the sober Citizens appointed to themselves two Captains whom they stiled Constables of London and made Proclamation That all who were affected to their Party should take Arms upon Ringing the great Bell at St. Pauls and so Assembling in a Tumultuous manner they committed many Outrages upon the Houses of those that did not approve their Proceedings and then in a great troop went to the Palace of Richard King Henry's Brother who by the German Princes had been Elected King of the Romans and entering it by force seized and carried away all his Plate Treasure and Rich Furniture pulling down and defacing for the most part that stately Building This made him of a Friend ever after an Enemy to the City and Barons For whereas before he had laboured a Reconcilement between the King and them he utterly gave over that good office and exasperated him to continue the War against them so that the King having notice that Sr. Peter Montfort had gathered considerable Forces near Northampton declaring for the Barons he Marched thither whereupon Mountfort retired into the Town with his Forces and was straightly Besieged so that in a little time it being taken by Assault he with Simon the Earl of Leicesters Son and many others were taken Prisoners and disposed of in several Goals till a further course could be taken with them But the Barons being strong in the Field little regarded this blow but advancing their Banners near Lewis in Sussex gave the Kings Army Battel which continued with such obstinate cruelty on both sides that Fathers and Sons Brothers and other near Relations Killed one another without Remorse and such a havock was made that the Army on either side being much wasted the King taken Prisoner with his Brother c. after Fourteen Hours desperate Fighting and the slaughter of 20000 Men on both sides the Royal Party by these Accidents was so weakened that a Treaty ensued and it was Agreed That the King should by new Articles and the renewing his Oath Confirm the Authority granted to the Twelve Peers and all the Ordinances and Laws with this Caution notwithstanding That Two Lords Spiritual and Two Temporal should take a View of and Examine the said Laws and Ordinances and if they saw any reason to Amend or Alter them they might do it and if they agreed not in their Opinions Then the Duke of Britany as Vmpire should be invested with full Power to Arbitrate and End the Difference And the King and his Brother for standing to this had their Liberty and gave their two Eldest Sons as Hostages who upon that account were detained in the Castle of Dover about nine Months Upon this the King called a Parliament which again crossed his expectation by Confirming and Ratifying the Laws of the Oxford Parliament and Authority of the Twelve Peers which constrained the King to take a new Oath to maintain them and the Peers Authority till according to Agreement if any thing was found amiss it should be Reformed c. and all such as in those Wars or otherwise had Maintained them were Pardoned by the King Whereupon the Young Princes were set at Liberty But soon after fell a Difference between the Earls of Leicester and Gloucester the two heads of the Barons Faction
Sentence caused his Head to be stricken off at the Standard in Cheapside and then with great violence broke down the Tower Gates killing all they found in it and secured that and the City to the use of the Queen and of the Prince her Son The King being Informed of these Proceedings his Heart failed him so that desisting from his intent of raising Forces he Posted to Bristol and Fortified it committing the Defence thereof to the Earl of Arundale and the Spencer's Father and Son entered with him into the Castle which they determined as a last Refuge to defend with all their Strength but within a few days after the City was Besieged Assaulted and Taken by the Queen and Barons who took and Committed the Earl and divers others of Note to safe custody the King and his two Favourites dispairing of Safety there got out to Sea in a small Fisher Boat intending for Ireland but so Providence ordered it that it was thrice when put out driven by the shifting of the Wind near the Castle so that the last time the Lord Beamont Manning out a Vessel seized it and found there the King and the Elder Spencer the other having got on Shore and shifted away for a time These the Queen presented before the Castle which the Garison no sooner perceived but they Surrendered and here the Lord Arundel was Beheaded and the King sent Prisoner to Kenelworth Castle and by the way they contrived to Shave him to Disguise him least being known he should be Rescued when the Impudent Fellow of a Shaver set him on a Molehill and told him That Cold Water must now serve his turn pointing to the Ditch at which Indignity the King burst out in Tears saying There should be Warm Water whether he would or no. The Queen having thus far proceeded determined the Death of her Capital Enemy dooming him to be Quartered Alive which was done and his Head and Quarters set up in divers places she gave a considerable Reward to the Person who brought her the Head Young Spencer soon after was taken with the Lords Baldock and Reading carried to Hereford and Hanged on a Gallows 50 Foot high And thus fell these Favourites who put too much trust in their own Strength and Pollicy little expecting such suddain turns of Fortune to alter their conditions by throwing them from the Pinacle of Honour into the Gulf of Misery and Disgrace which ought to be a Warning to all who undeservedly aspire cautiously to behave themselves Upon this a Parliament was called to settle the disordered Affaires of the Kingdom who Resolved to transfer the Crown from Edward to his Son whereupon three Bishops three Earls two Barons two Abbots and two Justices were appointed to demand in the Name of the Parliament a surrender of it which if he refused they would perhaps take other measures and give it from his Family to one more worthy This he took so grievously that after many complainings of his hard Usage and a confession of his Failures in Government he fell in a Swoon which moved the Lords to pitty him but being brought to himself after some time bemoaning his hard Fate seeing there was no other Remedy he Signed and Sealed the Instrument tendered him by which he passed over his Crown and Right and Title to all his Dominions to Prince Edward his Son whereupon Sr. William Trussel one of the Judges or Justices in the name of the whole Realm renounced Homage to the King in these words viz. I William Trussel in the name of all Men of the Land of England and of all the Parliament Procurator do resign to thee Edward the Homage that was made to thee some times and from this time forward I defie thee and deprive thee of all Royal Power and Authority I shall never be tendant to thee as for King after this time SOMERSET SHIRE In this Kings Reign Anno Dom. 1311 The Order of the Knights Templers that Fought so long in the Holy Land was Abolished in all Nations Anno 1318 happened such a grievous Famine That the Poorer sort Eat Dogs Cats Rats and other Unclean things The Prisoners in Goals Murthered divers fresh commers and Eat them and yet many Thousands Dyed for want of this Nauseous Food This was succeeded by a Pestilence and Rot of Cattle Breaking in of the Sea Huge Land-Floods Fiery Armies Fighting in the Air and a Terrible Blazing Star Remarks on Somersetshire c. SOmersetshire abounds in Corn Cattle Wooll Woollen-Cloath Serges and many other valuable Commodities On the North-West it opens to the Irish Sea and for the rest it is Bounded by Devonshire Dorsetshire Wiltshire and Gloucestershire it containes 42 Hundreds 2 Bishopricks viz. Bristol Bath and Wells which are accounted Cities 385 Parishes 35 Market Towns 9 Rivers 45 Bridges 2 Forrests and 18 Parks It sends Members to Parliament 18 viz. Bath 2 Bridgwater 2 Bristol 2 Ilchester 2 Milborn Port 2 Minhead 2 Taunton 2 Wells 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Bath in this Shire is very Antient famed for its Mineral Waters Curing Diseases in many People said to be First found out by Bladud an Antient British King Bath and Wells joyntly together make one Bishoprick tho' Wells is principally esteemed for its curious Cathedral held to be Built by Inas King of the West Saxons At Pen the Britains were Overthrown by Kenwald King of the West Saxons and afterward the Danes by Edmund Ironside Bridgwater is noted for a great defeat given the Danes Anon Dom. 845 And for the Battel of Sedgmore near it beeween the late King James's Forces and the Duke of Monmouth Anno 1685 wherein the latter was totally Routed Glassenbury the Avalonia of the Romans is famed for the Burying Place of Joseph of Arimathea the first Preacher of the Gospel in this Island and here it is thought King Arthur was brought and Buried Cadburn is remarkable for a greak Defeat King Arthur there gave the English-Saxons Banesdown Mons Bandonicus was doubtless some Encampment of the Romans as appears by the Coins found there and on the Top there remains the Ruins of some Noble Castle said to be one of the Palaces of King Arthur tho' some Writers have placed this Town in Cornwal Ilchester is of good repute Taunton for its Memorable Siege in the Civil Wars and Bristol for the great Trade it drives and the many Sieges it has endured On Mendip Hills and several Places on the Shoar of the River Froom is store of Pit-Coal In the Quarrey at Kinghâ—â— are found Spiral Stones in the form of Snails at Ochyhale near Wells is a deep Cave in which are many Rivulets and hollow Recesses The Monument of Stones near Stanton Drew near Pensford is very remarkable being great Tracts of some vast Foundations St. Vincent's Rock is famous for the Stones found there nearly resembling Diamonds being equal to those of India in lustre but not hardness The Seats of the Nobility are Clevedon Court belonging to the
Liberty if he would have joyned with the Welsh and some English Nobles that were fled thither he rather chose to endure Extremities than to comply with them Whereupon they solicited the Scots who Invaded the Northern parts of the Kingdom doing much Mischief but the King soon requited it by entering Scotland and laying all waste before him However he no sooner returned but the Scots re-entered England with 20000 Men committing many Barbarous Cruelties but being Encountered by Henry Sirnamed Hotspur Son to Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland 10000 of them were Slain and 500 taken Prisoners and of note Mordacke Earl of Fiffe Archibald Earl of Douglas Thomas Earl of Murray and Robert Earl of Angus The following Year the French sent 12 Ships with 1200 Nobles Gentlemen and others to assist the Welsh but most of them were Shipwrack'd on the Point of Cornwal and the rest with much difficulty returned to France yet soon after he Landed 12000 Men in Wales to assist Glendour and his Rebellious Companions who joyned them with 10000. But upon the Kings approach with an Army the Welsh fled into the Woods and Mountains leaving the French to shift for themselves which made them hasten to their Ships and return to France without doing any thing Memorable which made the French King become a Jest to the English viz. That he was often Big but never Brought-forth Notwithstanding King Henry to Strengthen his Interest Abroad Married Jane Widow to John the deceased Duke of Britany and gave Blanch his Eldest Daughter to William Duke of Bavaria Son and Heir Apparent to the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria and some time after Philippa his Youngest Daughter to the King of Denmark In the Third Year of his Reign he required Henry Piercy Earl of Worcester Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland and Piercy Hotspur his Son to deliver up the Scots Prisoners taken in the late Battel on the Northern Borders but was Answered Those Prisoners were theirs by Right of War and they would not part with them desiring him at the same time to Ransom his Cousin Mortimer but this he refused alledging That he had voluntarily made himself a Prisoner to give Glendour and other his Accomplices a colourable pretence for Rebellion seeing he was so near Allied to the Crown and therefore his own Safety and his good Discretion gave him Advice not to hearken to their Motion but to punish his offence This much displeased the Piercies and designing to Levy War against the King they Ransomed Mortimer at their own charge secretly entering into a League and Friendship with Glendour they promised him great matters when King Henry by their United Strength should be Deposed then they Engaged the Scots Prisoners to take part with them also the Earl of Stafford Richard Scroop Arch Bishop of York and many others and as they had done against Richard so they framed and published Articles against him as to his Misdemeanours in Government false claim to the Crown charging him with the Murther of King Richard his Lawful and Rightful Soveraign also his refusing to Ransom his Cousin Mortimer who was taken Fighting in his Cause but rather wished he might die in a loathsome Prison because the Crown of Right belonged to him as being Son and Heir to Philippa Daughter and Heiress to Lionel Duke of Clarence Elder Brother to John of Gaunt Father to Henry whom they stiled a Usurper This made many joyn with them so that their Army became very Formidable to the King And to bind the Welsh more firmly to them Edward Mortimer Earl of March Married Glendour's Daughter by which means in a little time they flattered themselves they should have a King of England of the Antient British Blood And indeed a very great danger about this time threatened the King for a Calthrop or Engin with three very sharp Teeth or Spikes was placed in his Bed which had certainly procured his Death had he suddainly lain down upon it but it was timely Discovered yet the Party who placed it could not be made known and divers Gray Fryers scattering defamatory Libels against the King several of them were taken and Hanged The King finding his greatest advantage now lay in Expedition suddainly raised an Army and by long Marches prevented the Earls joyning with the Welsh so that both Armies meeting near Shrewsbury Piercy Hotspur a Person of undaunted Courage no sooner saw the Royal Standard but he resolved to throw his Fortune on the hazard of a Battel so the Charge being Sounded the Scots gave the first onset and Fought desperately but were over-born and a great part of them Slain yet notwithstanding the Lords renewed the Battel with great fury and obstinacy perswading themselves of good success until the King and the Prince his Son determining by Honourable Death to leave their Bodies in the Field rather than fall into the hands of their Enemies or betake them to shameful flight and leave their Men a Sacrifice behind them redoubling their Strength and Valour set such Examples to the rest that the declining Battel was restored and Piercy Hotspur with many of chief Command being Slain the Lords Army fell into rout and confusion so that in the Field and Pursuit 6000 were slain the Earls of Worcester Douglas and many others were taken Prisoners and a famous Victory was obtained and it is said the King slew in this Battel 36 with his own hands but because the Earl Douglas in single Combate had fought with him and approved himself a valiant Man he had his Liberty granted without Ransom but the rest of the Prisoners had not that good luck for the Earl of Worcester and several of the chief were Beheaded many of a lower degree Hanged and Quartered and their Heads placed on London Bridge In this Battel the King lost not above 600 Men. To follow this lucky Success the Prince was sent into Wales with part of the Army where he found Owen Glendour forsaken by most of his Companions and with the rest for his safety he retired into a vast Wood which being encompassed and narrowly watched he was there with many others Famished to Death and such as were taken by hunting and beating that Wood suffered by Execution And hereupon the Prince returned to the King and in the mean while the Earl of Northumberland came and submitted himself to the Kings Mercy and tho' he was excused it was with no hearty goodwill but rather to prevent the Castle of Berwick and other strong Places on the Frontiers from falling into the hands of the Scots as being held by such Officers as the Earl had appointed under him These Troubles were no sooner over but Lewis Duke of Orleance sent the King in a Bravado a Challenge to meet him and a Hundred French with a Hundred English to Combate it for Honours sake in an indifferent place whereto the King returned Answer That his former Actions in Warlike undertakings could clearly acquit him from the imputation of Cowardize and that Kings
her Chastity was not to be violated but with that Cumpulsion that would pull down vengance on his Head that laying aside the thoughts of any other he Married her promoting all her Kindred to Dignities and Honours creating the Lord Rivers her Father Earl Rivers and High Constable of England her Son Sir Thomas Grey Marquess of Dorset and preferred him and others to Rich Heiresses of Noblemen and did many other things for them that displeased his nearest Friends For no sooner the Duke of Clarence his Brother heard of the Earl of Warwick's being greatly displeased at the Kings having put that affront on him but they met and consulted which way to constrain the King to lay aside these new Favourites and so great was the Earl of Warwick's Anger for the disgrace the King had made him incur in Foreign Courts by this Marriage which utterly disannulled that which he had treated about that he cast nothing in his mind more than how he might Depose him and Restore King Henry and several Consults with the Marquess Montacute his Brother and others were held to further his purpose The King who feared Warwick's Greatness and Popularity was not altogether ignorant of his discontents tho' he outwardly dissembled it as well as he could and therefore the better to weather the Storm he saw coming tho' as yet at a distance he concluded a Truce for Fifteen Years with the King of Scots to weaken the Earl on that side and to Henry King of Castile and John King of Arragon he sent as a Present to make Friends with them about a Hundred Cotshall-Sheep a thing they never before nor any of their Predecessors upon any Intreaty or for large sums offered could obtain from the Kings of England from which small Number such Multitudes have since Encreased as in the Woollen-Trade has turned greatly to our damage And that he might be the better able to deal with Lewis the French King if War by him should be Proclaimed or he should underhand assist the Earl of Warwick in any attempt he made a League with Charles the Hardy Duke of Burgundy and gave him his Sister Margaret in Marriage and two other Sisters to the Dukes of Exeter and Suffolk But for all this Warwick's design was closely carried on and it was Agreed among them That he and the Duke of Clarence should go to Callice and there to strengthen the Alliance the Duke should Marry Isabella the Earls Daughter and in their Absence as if without their knowledge or consent the Marquess Montacute and Arch Bishop of York Brothers to Warwick should with the help of their Friends raise a Rebellion in Yorkshire which they did by inciting the Rusticks not to pay Tribute of Corn to the Hospital of St. Leonard in the City of York which upon refusal being exacted by the Collectors commotions arose and at length about 15000 came before the City with an intention to Plunder and Demolish that Hospital c. but by a Sally of the Citizens they were beaten off and so Marched away towards Northampton Headed by Sir John Conyers an Experienced Soldier but were met by William Earl of Pembrook and Humphry Lord Stafford who by the Kings Command had raised Forces in Wales and after they had overthrown 2000 Archers that the Lords had laid in Ambush to fall on their Rear upon a dissention arising between Pembrook and Stafford the latter withdrew his Forces so that the former with much courage tho' few in Number giving the Rusticks Battel in Banbury Field having near gained the Victory the Scale of success was suddainly turned in a surprising manner viz. One John Clapham a Servant to the Earl of Warwick having got his Masters Standard in which was Portraied the White Bear coming in with a small Troop and crying A Warwick a Warwick so daunted the Kings Men who thought the Earl had been there with a fresh supply that they threw down their Arms and fled and being hotly Pursued more than 5000 were slain Sir Richard Herbert and Eight others of Note being taken Prisoners were Beheaded at Banbury by the Rusticks Upon this Success their Army greatly encreased and a separate Party making one Robin of Risdale their Captain Plundered the Kings Mannor-House at Grafton and finding there the Earl of Rivers Father to the Queen and his Son John they carried them to Northampton and Beheaded them and some of the Kings Forces having Taken the Lord Stafford he lost his Head at Bridgwater for Deserting the Earl of Pembrook at Banbury Field The Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick taking the advantage of these Troubles Landed and with considerable Forces put themselves at the head of the Rusticks so that by this addition and Warwick's Great Name in War they became so formidable to the King that at the earnest request of some Nobles who fear'd the desolation of their Country by such a cruel War as was threatened he consented to a Treaty during which the King being more careless than he ought to have been of his Person the Earl of Warwick with a strong Band entered his Camp by Night and having killed the Watch carried him Prisoner from his Tent to the Castle of Middleham in Yorkshire Committing him to the ward of the Arch Bishop but soon after having liberty to go a Hunting he was Rescued by Sir William Standley and Sir Thomas Burgh who upon private notice lay in Ambush behind the Wood with a Troop of Horse and immediatly Posted to London This inwardly vexed the Earl of Warwick who thought to draw great Advantages from his Imprisonment However the Truce continued and a meeting of both sides was appointed in the great Hall at Westminster where nevertheless the objections of good Deserts and unthankful Requitals were with such vehement expressions repeated and maintained by the Earl of Warwick that the King being highly displeased with Threats and Fury they parted from each other The King taking his way to Canterbury and the Confederate Lords into Lincolnshire where they raised an Army and placed Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells in chief Command over it as being very expert in Millitary Affairs King Edward had no sooner notice of this but he sent for the Lord Wells and Sir Thomas Dymock his Brother-in-Law commanding them to use their endeavours to bring over Sir Robert to his Interest but though they very much laboured to do it it proved without effect which so angered the King that contrary to his sollemn promise he caused the Heads of the Lord Wells and Sir Thomas Dymock to be stricken off which gained him much displeasure of the Nobles and Commons and hastned Sir Robert Wells to give him Battel ere the Confederate Lords who wanted but a days March came up with the Lincolnshire-Men he commanded so that the King oppressing him with his Number though he fought Valiantly to revenge his Fathers and Unkles Death his Soldiers at last tired out for want of fresh supplies gave way and soon
different success But at length the Earl perceiving fresh supplies continually press on his weary Soldiers thinking by his Example to give them new Courage he dismounted and with his Sword in his Hand pressed into the Front of his Enemies making miserable slaughter But breaking in too far and not being timely succoured he was slain together with the Marquess his Brother who threw himself into the opening Jaws of Death in hopes to bring the Earl off These great Commanders slain the Army grew faint and giving way by degrees at length fell into a total rout about 10000 being slain and of King Edward's Part of Note only Sir Humphry Bourcher Son to the Lord Barns and the dead Bodies of the Earl and Marquess being brought to St. Paul's were exposed to view three Days and then Honourably Interred among their Ancestors in the Priory of Bissam Queen Margaret having notice of this Defeat fled with her Son to the Abbey of Bewley in Hampshire whither divers Lords resorted to her and agreed to raise new Forces and try the fortune of another Field which they did and were Overthrown at Tewxbury about 3000 being slain and of Note the Duke of Sommerset Sir John Lewkner Sir John Delves c. The Prisoners of Note were the Queen and Prince the Prior of St. John's Sir Jervis Cliffton Sir Thomas Tristram and Twelve others of Note all but the two first being Beheaded the next day and soon after Prince Edward being presented to the King by Sir Richard Crofts who took him Prisoner was piteously Murthered in his sight by the Dukes of Clarence Gloucester and others on the signal given by the King in striking him on the Mouth with his Gantlet nor was it long after that Innocent King Henry was Murthered in the Tower by the same Duke of Gloucester who struck a Dagger to his Heart his Body being afterward exposed to view in St. Paul's three days that the People might be sure he was Dead however these Proceedings caused the King much hatred among the People when somewhat to satisfie them he consented to Ransome the Queen to pay which the poor Prince her Father sold his Titles to Jerusalem Naples and Sicily and returning home she Lived a Melancholy and Disconsolate Life which lasted not long ere she dyed of Grief particularly for the Death of the Prince her Son whom she dearly Loved King Edward by Bloodshed being rid of his greatest opposers took sollace in Pleasures being very Lustful and was rarely without two or three Concubins tho' his Queen was Young and Beautiful and among them Jane Shoar Wife to Mathew Shoar a Goldsmith in Grace-church-street was most pleasing to him though in the end it brought her to shame and misery But to pass this over The King being now as I may term it Established in the Throne the Duke of Burgundy vehemently incited him to War on France and recover it as his Antient Right and Inheritance upon which condition himself promised to do great matters towards assisting him The King was not slow in listening to it for many reasons urged by his Council as The French having frequently assisted his Enemies c. Yet Money being wanting it seemed difficult But to surmount this he resolved without a Parliament to ask it of his Subjects as a Free Gift which many indeed complied with tho' with an ill will But one thing in this is Remarkable The King to oblige them to bring in more freely if not for Love yet for fear of after-claps on Penal Laws seeing many that were Rich had engaged their Persons or Purses in the War against him he sat sundry Hours in a Day to receive it himself when among others a Rich yet Nigardly old Widow brought Twenty Pounds this so highly pleased him That he not only returned her thanks but told her For her kindness she should Kiss a King and having performed it once the Old Woman pull'd out another Bag crying Vdsbodikins if Kings Sell their Kisses so Cheap give me tother Touch on the Lips and here is another Twenty Pound for you The King smiled at this took her at her word and thought his Kisses well Sold. With this Benevolence of his Subjects and his own Treasure he Transported a fair Army over Sea but found the Duke of Burgundy altogether unprovided even of the promised Necessaries for the support of the English who Lying without the Towns on the cold Ground soon began to murmur however to employ them he Marched with the Duke towards St. Quintins which was secretly promised to be delivered to him by Lewis of Luxemburg great Unkle to King Edward's Queen but on their approaching its Walls the Cannon not only plaid fiercely on them but the Garison made great Sallies so that finding no good to be done they were constrained to draw off and soon after the Duke without taking leave went to raise Forces leaving only word That he would come again with an Army as soon as he was able These Proceedings made the King begin to repent he had come over upon his account and the French King making large offers to obtain a Peace it was after some debate Agreed to without the Dukes consent viz. 1. In consideration the French King Paid Edward 65000 Crowns towards his Charge and 50000l per Annum for his Life 2. That in one Year he should send for the Lady Elizabeth King Edward 's Eldest Daughter and Marry her to the Dauphin allowing them for Nine Years space Annually 50000 Crowns and then the Peaceable possession of the Dutchy of Guyan and in consideration of this Hostages should be left till the English had quitted France and were returned home This being Agreed on tho' the Marriage was never performed the Duke of Burgundy hastened to the Kings Camp and in a blustering and storming manner greatly inveighed against what he had done and was as sharply Answered by him whereupon he rod away in much discontent and the French King came to an Enterview with King Edward highly Feasting him and his whole Army giving Money to the Officers and Soldiers and commanding all his Subjects to use them with much Bounty and Civility which done King Edward Marched to Callice and there passed over to England and then the Lord Howard and Sir John Cheney the Hostages were sent after him with great Rewards The Duke of Burgundy however continued the War and was thrice Overthrown in one Year and in the last at Nancy he was slain King Edward being now at leasure to look if therâ— were after so many slaughters any that could lay â— Claim to his Crown or Interrupt by such a pretence the Peace of him or his Heirs for by this time he had two Sons and five Daughters he at last thought on Henry Earl of Richmond who remained with the Duke of Brittany he being of the Royal Blood and near of Allyance to the Crown To get this Prince into his hands he Bribed Peter Landois the Dukes Treasurer with great Sums
to make that report to their Neighbours and that this was all that had occasioned the Disturbance and Execution in the Tower Nor had Hastings been dead above two Hours ere a large Proclamation with the Broad Seal to it was read in divers parts of the City by a Herauld at Arms so that it was plain to the People that this matter was not suddain but premeditated These Advances coming near the Throne the Citizens were Assembled at Guild-Hall and the matter openly proposed to them by the Duke of Buckingham who used many Arguments to induce their consent to the Proclaiming Richard Duke of Gloucester King and lay aside King Edwards Line but they appeared little inclinable to it However Dr. Shaw Brother to the Lord Mayor in a Sermon at St. Paul's Magnified him as a Prince of the greatest Magnanimity and Virtue imaginable labouring to Bastardize Edward the Fourth and all the other Sons of Richard Duke of York except this Richard who he said was his own Picture and the true imitator of his Valour and Virtues Which was taken for such a piece of Dissimulation and Flattery that he being afterwards very evilly spoken of he was ashamed ever after to appear in a Pulpit This weighty matter being now brought to a home push the Duke of Buckingham to finish the work he had begun carried divers Citizens of the meaner sort to Baynards Castle where the Protector kept his Court where he made them seem to impose the Crown on him with threats if he refused it to place it on the Head of some Nobleman not of the Family of the Plantagenets for they would not have any of Edward the Fourth's Line to Rule over them This and much more to the like purpose the Duke spoke for them which with a faint shout of God save King Richard made him with great unwillingness as appeared to them accept what he had so hard laboured for and passionately desired And thus an end was put to Edward the Fifth's Reign if I may so terme it two Months and thirteen Days after his Fathers Death and was afterward together with his Brother Murthered in the Tower as will appear in the next Reign The Reign of King RICHARD the Third RIchard Plantagenet Third Son to Richard Duke of York having by Pollicy and Stratagem crouded himself into the Throne he called a Parliament wherein by the power of a leading Faction he was confirmed King The Crown Entailed on him and his Heirs his only Son Prince Edward being made Heir apparent But against his Coronation fearing some Insurrection on the meeting of so great a concourse as that solemnity required he sent for 5000 Soldiers out of the North under the Leading of Robert Risdale and after it he set at Liberty the Arch-Bishop of York and the Lord Stanley but continued Bishop Morton yet at the humble supplication of the University of Oxford he was delivered to the Duke of Buckingham who sent him to his Castle of Brecnock in Wales as a Prisoner at large for he had his Liberty of the Parks and Grounds lying about it King Richard knowing his Title to be bad laboured by Favours and Interest to strengthen it He Created his Son about Ten Years of Age Prince of Wales and John Howard a Man of great Experience in feats of Arms Duke of Norfolk and Sir Thomas Howard his Eldest Son Earl of Surry The Lord William Barkley was Advanced to the Earldom of Notingham and Francis Lord Lovel his great Crony and Favourite was made Viscount Lovel And thus as he immagined having settled his Estate securely at Home he sent Ambassadors to Lewis the French King to conclude a Peace with him thereby to prevent Storms from Abroad But that Prince so far detested his proceedings with his Nephews That he would not admit his Ambassadors to his Presence nor own him for a King This much perplexed him and as is thought put him upon the Project of Murthering the Young Innocent Princes as supposing by what had passed at the French Court he could never be Reputed and truly Honoured as a King whilst they Lived and that their Murther might not be imputed to him he purposely took a Progress to visit the City of Gloucester from whence he sometimes took his Title and from thence sent his Letters to Sir Robert Brakenbury Lieutenant of the Tower whom he had raised from a Low Degree to a considerable Fortune expressly Commanding him to make away the two Princes But either fear of after-claps or his abhorrence of so villanous a Deed made him absolutely refuse it Upon notice whereof Richard stormed and appeared much perplexed in Mind retiring himself for some Hours to consider how it might be done and then remembering there was one Sir James Terril a retainer to the Tower whom he knew to be very Indigent and Necessitous this Man he doubted not to prevail on for the Execution of his wicked purpose and therefore sent him a supply of Money with large promises of preferment if he Executed his pleasure and withal his Commands to the Lieutenant to deliver him the Keys of the Tower This wicked wretch not weighing the Guilt closed with the Golden offers and had the Keys delivered to him tho' not without regret by Sir Robert Brakenbury and the same Evening he hired two desperate Ruffians viz. John Dighton and Miles Forrest to Smother the Princes in their Beds which they as wickedly performed by claping Pillows on their Faces and lying on them with all their force till by their no longer strugling they found they had bereaved them of Life This cruel Murther being committed the next thing was to consider how to dispose of their Bodies which after some consults about it they Buried under the Stairs from whence they were removed and Buried none knows where Thus King Edward the Fourth's Male Issue became extinct which some looked on as a Judgment for his consenting to the Murther of Pious King Henry and Innocent Prince Edward his Son However it alleviates not the Guilt of those that dipt their hands in this Blood for all that were concerned in it came to untimely ends so just and severe is God in punishing Murther even in this Life for rarely wee find his vengance stays till the shedders of Innocent Blood drop into a timely Grave This being rumoured abroad tho' many things were urged by his creatures to excuse the Kings knowledge of it and Terril was secretly commanded to fly beyond the Seas But in Henry the Seventh's time returning was Executed for Treason yet the People as well Nobles as Commons detested him for it The Queen grew Frantick for some time and much ado they had to prevent her laying violent hands on herself but being brought to her Sences with Tears and bitter Excecrations against her wicked Brother-in-Law she passed a Melancholy Life for many Months King Richard after this was troubled with fears and frightful Dreams of Devils and Spirits haling and tormenting him that he is
Earl of Lowborough Soon after this six Ships with Stores Ammunition and Provision which the Duke had caused to Watch the Coast and Intercept Mary if she should fly fell into her hands as driven by stress of Weather into Yarmouth when a great part of her Forces were there by whom they were seized And Sir Henry Jerningham consigned them to her use Having by this means got a Traine of Artillery she Marched towards Northumberland Snow-Ball like gathering as she proceeded which made the Duke send to the Lords at London to supply him with more Forces for on the Muster he found many were Deserted and till their coming he resolved to stay at Cambridge but they hearing how things went and finding the People unwilling to engage began more to consult their own safety than any other matter and leaving the Tower they met at Bainard's Castle and there contrary to their sollemn promises they consulted to Depose the Lady Jane whom they had so lately advanced to the Throne and the Earl of Arrundel being Spokesman boldly declared the necessity of it enveighing bitterly against the Duke of Northumberland recounting many things that have been already mentioned of him urging the unlawfulness of what they had done and that there was no better Cure of Error than mature and timely Repentance and therefore he besought them all present with one Heart and Mind to endeavour to the utmost that Mary the undoubted Lawful Heir of the Crown might presently be Proclaimed Queen See in this the wonderful Conversion Fear can work in Mens minds for untill he perceived the Lady Mary Powerful and likely to come in by Force except Northumberland he was the most violent against her Upon this Advice and some other Debates it was agreed the Lady Mary should be Proclaimed Queen for the Earl of Pembrook saying he heartily agreed with Arrundel and laying his Hand on his Sword Swore He would try it with any one that should presume to maintain the contrary most became willing and the rest were carried away in the stream of Power and so sending for the Lord Mayor and Aldermen they went to Cheap Cross and there to the great wonderment of the People Proclaimed Mary Queen and passing to St. Paul's Te Deum was Sung sending some to take possession of the Tower and others to Summon the Duke of Suffolk laying all Excuses aside to appear at the Council-Board The Duke perceiving Ruin threatned him and his Family by laying too great a stress on Treacherous Friends and drawn into a Snare by Northumberland's subtilty he yet concluded to use such means as he hoped might avert the coming Storm wherefore upon this notice he went to his Daughters Chamber of State causing her to lay aside her Princely Ornaments Advising her not to take it grievously that she was to return home and live a Private Life To which with a composed Countenance she Reply'd Most loving Father I with more Joy and Gladness entertain the Message you now bring me than that when sore against my will you placed me in the Throne I then displeased my self that I might shew my Obedience to you and my Mother I believe I have greatly Offended in what I have done but now I willingly Obey you and am well contented to renounce the Crown and to confess my fault if at last so great an offence may be wiped away by an acknowledgment of my Error After this she retired to her Closet and the Ladies that waited on her were discharged from that Office and desired to retire to their respective Habitations which they did tho' not without Tears to see Innocence precipitated into so great a misfortune as was likely to follow The Duke of Suffolk after this went to the Council of Lords and subscribed the last Proclamation and thereupon the Earl of Arrundel and divers others posted to Queen Mary for so now I must stile her with a great Train and procured their Pardons The Duke of Northumberland somwhat late hearing of these Proceedings in much perturbation of mind shewed his meanness of Spirit in running into the Street at Cambridge and Proclaiming Queen Mary throwing up his Cap and capering amongst the croud as if he had done it with all the sincerity and alacrity imaginable when every body knew Fear and hope of Pardon compelled him to it Yet a few days after he and divers others whilst they were preparing for Flight as doubting the worst were Arrested by the Lord Arrundel and convey'd to the Tower of London and the Army he commanded Disbanded and ordered on pain of being reputed Rebells to repair immediatly to their several Houses and the Virtuous Lady Jane after ten Days Acting the Queen as on a Stage by special order confin'd to the Tower The Marquess of Northampton was Imprisoned and divers others of Note who they suggested were any way concerned in this business and the Lady Elizabeth upon her Sisters coming towards London went to meet her Sister and Congratulated her Success highly commending her for so undauntedly pursuing her Right to the Crown and upon her enterance into London she caused the Duke of Norfolk and Edward Courtney Son to the Marquess of Exceter Beheaded in Henry the Eighth's time to be set at Liberty as also Stephen Gardener and all the Romish Clergy were released from their confinement with many others Constituting Gardener Lord Chancellour of England restoring the deprived Popish Bishops to their Offices and Dignities outing those of the Reformed Religion that had by King Edward been preferred to those Bishopricks as London Winchesâ—â—â— Durham Worcester Chichester c. But for all this Dr. Bourn Preaching at St. Paul's Cross and bitterly inveighing against the Reformed Religion had a Dagger flung at him whose mortal Point narrowly missed his Breast tho' the party that did it upon the narrowest search and scrutinie could not be discovered Things being a little settled the Queen by Advice of her Council chosen for the purpose proceeded to Revenge herself on her opposers and procured the Duke of Northumberland the Earl of Warwick his Eldest Son and the Marquess of Northampton to be Try'd and Condemn'd for High Treason and soon after the Duke was brought to the Scaffold on Tower-Hill where he declared himself in hopes of Life a Roman Catholick Advising all present to return to the Mother Church and not to embrace a new uncertain Religion that had work'd so many Mischiefs and Disorders in the Kingdom And that for his own part he always embraced and loved the Religion he received from his Ancestors with much more to the same purpose But by the way pray hear what he said to King Edward when he perswaded him to exclude his Sisters from the Crown which I should not have mention'd had he by his Ambition brought none but himself to this kind of Misfortune He told him The Lady Mary his Eldest Sister was a professed Roman Catholick and if she came to the Crown would destroy the Reformed Religion and
to perswade him to change his Religion and Praying fervently he among other Expressions Desired the Queen to forgive him as he forgave all that had offended him At which Dr. Weston who had been earnest with him to change his Religion said aloud to the people The Queen had forgiven him Whereupon some Reply'd such forgiveness God send you And then preparing for the Stroke he underwent it with much constancy and courage not varying from what the series of his Life had expressed him Divers taken in Wiat's Rebellion being about this time Executed and some Pardoned Wiat in hopes of Life was wrought on to Accuse the Marquess of Exceter and the Lady Elizabeth the Queens Sister but being nevertheless brought to Execution he heartily begged both their pardons with Tears excusing them from having any hand in his Rebellion for which tho' he dyed by the Ax his Body was Quartered and set upon several Gates in the City and within a while Thomas Lord Grey Brother to the Duke of Suffolk was Beheaded For this Queen seemed to have learned her Fathers way viz. To spare none that stood in her way or from whom she apprehended any danger The Queen calling a Parliament propounded to the Houses her Intended Marriage and the desire she had of restoring the Popes Supremacy but to the latter at this time she could not get their Consents the Nobles imagining they must restore the Church-Lands if the Pope once came to assume a power over the Ecclesiastical State But the former upon several advantagous additional Articles they allowed and King Philip with a great Train of the Nobility of Spain and other Nations came to Winchester where the Queen stay'd to receive him and on St. James's Day they were Married there with great pomp and solemnity and their Stiles pronounced in Latin French and English Whereupon John Figuora the Emperours Ambassador resigned to them in his Masters name the Kingdom of Naples and the rejoycing being a little over they came to London where they were received in much splendor and going to Windsor the King was Installed Knight of the Garter and Cardinal Pool sent for over to settle the affairs of the Church being appointed the Popes Legate and in Parliament his Attainder was taken off and he restored to all his Honours and Dignities and making a moving Oration to both Houses won upon them to be Absolved by him as in Form he did after the whole Kingdom and in the end procured Popery to be restored but not the Lands of the Church For tho' they set light by Religion those were too sweet morsels to be parted with The Queen after this laboured to have King Philip Crowned but the Parliament refused their consent and soon after that she fancied herself to be with Child and by her Error led many to believe it so that the Infant was Pray'd for Some in the Pulpets undertook to describe its featurs when it should be born others to direct how it should be brought up abundance of Cradles Rockers Nurses and such like were provided and at last it was spread abroad with uncertain Rumour she was Delivered of a Prince then he was described again in the Pulpits the English Merchants at Antwerp fired their Guns and made great Rejoycing but at length it was discover'd the Queen had never been with Child But if any thing was in it she had been deceived by a Mole which tho' without Life some times stirrs as if it were Quickened However it occasioned various Conjectures of the Queen but time blew over the Censures Many Persons now were advanced to Dignities to ballance in the House of Peers and the Earl of Savoy and Piedmont coming to see England was highly welcomed and Lodged at White-Hall but after a short stay he departed to his own Country and the Prisons being in a manner fill'd many were Pardoned others without it set at Liberty and Sir Nicholas Throckmorton's Head being aimed at the Jury for Acquitting him upon Tryal were severely Fined and Punished to the Ruin of the greatest part of them The Lady Elizabeth Sister to the Queen after a long Imprisonment in the Tower and other places being often put in danger of her Life by Firing the Boards under her Lodgings Ruffians enterprising to Murther her and many hardships undergon so that she wished her self a Milk-Maid when she heard the merry contented Life of one singing in a Park near her Prison was set at Liberty as also the Lord Courtney Marquess of Exceter who had been a Prisoner from the time of his Fathers being Beheaded in Henry the Eighth's Reign The Lord Stourton a great stickler for Popery having Murthered one Hargil and his Son relying on his Pardon found he was deceived for himself was Hanged in a Silken Cord and four of his Servants who assisted him in Hemp. It seemes there had been Law-Suits and other Variances between him and the Murthered Person and the sooner to end them he and his Servants knocked them down with Clubbs cut their Throats and Buried them Fifteen Foot deep but such was the will of God the Murther should be discovered by such as went to digg Gravel and the Murtherers punished Thomas Stafford second Son to the Lord Stafford getting a few Ships Landed in the North and surprized Scarborough Castle Proclaiming Queen Mary held the Crown without Right and had betray'd the Kingdom to the Spaniards but six Days after his Landing he was Taken by the Earl of Westmoreland and at London lost his Head Three of his Followers being Executed at Tyburn And King Philip being in War with France upon the account of his Father Charles the Emperour notwithstanding by Articles of Marriage it was agreed upon that the English should not Intermeddle the Queen laboured to Quarrel that she might come in with a colourable pretext to Assist her Husband and therefore made divers Complaints of Injuries done especially That the French King had fitted out Stafford with Men and Money and encouraged divers others to molest her Kingdom and was about to Proclaim War But Pope Paul the Fourth Envying the Emperour and taking part with the French hereupon to cross Queen Mary's purposes took Cardinal Pool's Authority Legantine from him and appointed one Peter Petou a Monk of the Order of St. Francis to Succeed him naming him Bishop of Salisbury but the Queen forbad his Landing and by submitting to the Pope got Pool restored Whilst these things passed King Philip raised an Army in Flanders and other Countries of 25000 Foot and 12000 Horse and the Queen under-hand sent to his Aid 1000 Horse and 4000 Foot under the Earl of Pembrook and other experienced Generals which overthrew the French Army and took the Town of St. Quintins and because the English had thus assisted contrary to the Truce between the two Nations the Duke of Guise set down before Callice and battered it furiously of which the Queen having notice ordered Supplies to be immediatly sent of Men Ammunition and
off in Five Days tho' the Physitians gave out he dyed of a Malignant Fever Whatever his Disease was it carried him off on the 6th of November 1610. in the blossom of his Youth he being 18 Years 8 Months and 17 Days Old He was a Prince of Extraordinary Wisdom and Piety much above his Years Of strength and ability of Body equal to most Men of a Noble and Heroick Disposition and an hater of Flattery and Flatterers He had an high Esteem of Sir Walter Rawleigh and used to say No other King but his Father would keep such a Man as Sir Walter in such a Cage meaning the Tower He kept his Court at St. James's which was much frequented by the most sober of both the Nobility and Gentry Something of the gravity of the Prince's temper may be known by the following story Once when the Prince was hunting the Stagg it chanced that the Stagg being spent crossed the Road where a Butcher and his Dog were travelling and the Butchers Dog killed the Stag which was so great that the Butcher could not carry him off When the Huntsmen and Company came up they fell at odds with the Butcher and endeavoured to incense the Prince against him to whom the Prince soberly Answered What if the Butcher's Dog killed the Stagg what could the Butcher help it They Replyed If his Father had been served so he would have Sworn at that rate That no Man could have endured it Away replyed the Prince All the Pleasure in the World is not worth an Oath In the time of his Sickness a Person whom he lov'd and who had been the Companion of his Diversions coming to see him and asking him how he did the Prince among many other sober Expressions answer'd him thus Ah Tom I in vain wish for that time I lost with thee and others in vain Recreations But England was not worthy of so great a Blessing as the Life of this Excellent Prince For whom notwithstanding the Court was not long in Mourning because of the Nuptials that ensued and the Elector Palatine having been highly Feasted and Entertained departed with his Bride The King having raised one Sir Robert Carr who had been his Page high in his Favour creating him Viscount Rochester so that he Acted as it were all in all and the Earl of Essex's Lady falling in Love with him and complaining of her Husbands inability in performing his Nocturnal Duties the King gave order to the Archbishop that a Divorce might be sued out which accordingly was done and she Married the Viscount But Sir Thomas Overbury who had been his great Favorite inveighing much against this Marriage and labouring to disswade him from it because the Lady lay under much scandal of Lust and Incontinency was by his and her procurement committed to the Tower and there by tampering with Sir Gervis Ellows the Lieutenant of that Garison and one Weslon and others they procured him to be Poisoned and the Earl of Northampton who was privy to it the better to colour the business gave out he dyed of the Pox and that strange noisom Sores were found on his Body but this did not long conceal so wicked a practice for it proved their Ruine Northampton dyed soon after in a Melancholly disordered condition and a little after the Apothecaries Man who was hired to give Sir Thomas Overbury a Glister that had been poisoned falling Sick at Flushing revealed what he knew as to the Poisoning and who was concerned in it This News coming over by the means of Sir Ralph Winwood who had been Ambassador in Holland made a great noise and more and more suspicion appearing the King sent for the Judges to search narrowly into the Truth of it Imprecating a Curse on them and their Posterity if they were negligent in it and the like on himself and Posterity if he favoured any Guilty Person so that the Viscount made Earl of Somerset in consideration of his Marriage with the Lady Catharine Howard Daughter to the Duke of Suffolk and Niece to the Earl of Northampton who had been Divorced from the Earl of Essex when he had got his Pardon signed as being charged before with Imbezling the Crown Jewells c. had it stopped under the Broad Seal and the Lord Chief Justice Cook sending for him he went to the King to complain of the Indignity put upon him looking on it as a great presumption in the Man that had done it But the King much to his dissatisfaction replied Thou must go then for if Cook sends for me I must go too and when he parted with him turning his back he smiling said I shall never see thy Face more and the same Day the Earl and his Countess were made Prisoners and divers others as Weston Mrs. Turner a great confident of the Countesses Sir Jarvis Ellows and one Frankling The Four last being first Tryed were found Guilty received Sentence of Death and were Executed confessing the fact and soon after the Earl and his Countess were Tryed and Condemned but the King Pardoned them or rather Reprieved them giving them only a Lease of their Lives for Term of Years utterly Banishing them the Court and his Favour So that deprived of all Honours places of Trust and Fortunes they led mean and despicable Lives the dying very miserably her Privy Parts Rotting and he of Discontent and Melancholly So punctual is God in his Providence to revenge Innocent Blood on the shedders of it and bring them to shame even in this Life The fall of this Favourite made way to the rise of George Villers Son to Sir George Villers of Lancashire by a second venture who being a comely Person and his Parts improved by Travel the King upon his first arrival at Court cast his Eyes on him made him his Cupbearer at large and in the End created him Duke of Buckingham growing in a little time as high in favour as the former doing all with the King as he pleased and continued so to do till he was Stabbed by one Felton at Portsmouth as will appear in the next Reign Sir Thomas Mason being Arraigned as concerned in the Murther of Overbury had his Tryal set aside and the Lord Chief Justice chequed for venturing to insinuate That in this there might be the Discovery of more than a Private Person intimating tho' not plainly That Overbury's untimely remove had something in it of retaliation as if he had been guilty of the same crime against Prince Henry and glancing some what that the Earl of Northampton had but how truly I determine not assured the Lieutenant of the Tower That the making away of Sir Thomas Overbury would be acceptable to the King he had his wings ever after clipped Soon after this the Lady Arabella Dyed in the Tower which set Mens Tongues and Fears on work that she followed the same fate but nothing publick appeared in it She was Daughter to Charles Stewart Younger Brother to the King's Father and
King from medling in the Affairs of the Palatinate and the design of this Marriage was his chief aime to restore it whereupon he gave orders to the Earl of Bristol his Ambassador positively to declare to the King of Spain That unless that was restored to the Elector the Treaty should proceed no further and that being refused the Prince grew cold in his Love and so all was dashed upon his thoughts with a Match with the Youngest Daughter of Henry the Fourth of France whom he had seen in his passage that way to Spain and to whom after his Fathers death he was Married Upon this the King called another Parliament and missing the Duke of Richmond his old Friend and sending to his Lodging he was found dead in his Bed without any Wound or sign of force upon him which put the King into such grief and consternation that he would not go to the House in his Robes and so put them off for some Days longer This Parliament greatly inveighed against the Duke of Buckingham for perswading the Prince to take such a hazardous Journey out of the Land and advised the King since so many Delays and Tricks had been put upon the Honour of the Nation to break the Treaty with Spain protesting to assist him for the regaining the Palatinate with their Lives and Fortunes c. They insisting on a Religious War that might be Aiding to the afflicted Protestants in Germany and France but the King however seemed more to encline to Peace as appeared by his Letters and Speeches on this occasion for fearing that when the War was begun he should not find wherewithal to maintain it and therefore thanking them for their proffers and advice he told them he would consider better of it however the Treaty with Spain was utterly dissolved This and some forwardness for War so fretted the Spanish Ambassador that whether out of Truth and Knowledge as he pretended or Malice only cannot be determined he sent to the King to let him know that Buckingham had some dangerous Design against him tending to his destruction and that it would be the safest to confine him to some Country-House for his Life however tho' it was generally thought to proceed from spight because the Duke set himself against the Spanish Interest it put the King into such fears being now grown Old that all the Duke's protestations could not a long time remove them nor till the Duke's Friends gave upon Oath their knowledge of the Duke 's sincere intentions and that this was contrived with the Ambassador by the Advice of a Jesuite and this Parliament the Earl of Middlesex by Buckingham's procurement was Questioned but there came no great matter of it for the Parliament knowing it was done by the Duke's means upon his Questioning for the Money excessively spent in Spain they had no great mind to back him in it Whilst these things passed a melancholy Account came from the East-Indies where the English had five several Factories two at Hitto and Lerico and two at Latro and Cambello in the Island of Seran but the Principal of them was at Amboyna which is the chief Place in all the East-Indies where Nutmegs Mace Cinnamon Cloves and other Spices grow and from these Factories the English supplied not only England and all Europe with Spice but Persia Japan and other Countries in the East-Indies This made the Dutch to Envy the English and therefore resolved to dispossess them of the Spice-Trade which is the best in all the East-Indies The English in all these Islands were better beloved than the Dutch and had built a Fortress in Amboyna for the safety of their Trade but the Dutch having two hundred Soldiers on that Island forced this Fortress from the English and then pretending a Plot between the English and the Natives of Amboyna for the Recovering of the said Fort from the Dutch to the English the Dutch by horrid Torments burning them under the Soles of their Feet and under their Armpits and pouring Water down their Throats when stretched on a Rack till they were ready to burst and by other barbarous ways Massacred the English there and seized upon the English Factories to the value of Four Hundred Thousand Pounds making the rest of the English that had escaped their Massacre Slaves and sent them into other Islands which the Dutch had possessed themselves of This was in the Year 1622 when but three Years before the Dutch had concluded a Treaty of Trade between the English and Dutch in the East-Indies This News extreamly troubled the East-India Company who humbly petitioned the King to demand satisfaction of the States General But the King cared not for War and tho' the Dutch refused to make any satisfaction for this Unheard-of Villany the King only told the Dutch Ambassador That he never heard nor read of a more Cruel and Impious Act than that of Amboyna yet said he I do forgive them and I hope God will but my Sons Son shall revenge this Blood and punish this horrid Massacre And so left the Dutch in the quiet Possession of what they had so basely gotten from the English without offering to draw his Sword against them Which perhaps occasion'd his being pictur'd with his Sword in his Scabbard and two Men pulling at it but could not get it out And now the King having permitted the Count Mansfield General for the Elector Palatine to raise some Forces here he soon after fell sick of a Tertian Fever a little before his Death he called for the Prince and rowsed himself as desirous to speak to him but being too weak sunk down in his Bed again and Dyed at Theobalds on the 27th of March 1625. when he had Reigned over all Britain 22 Years and three Days being the Twenty Third of his Reign and Fifty Ninth of his Age. He was buried at Westminster He was of a Stature inclining to tallness being somewhat higher than Ordinary his Body very well compacted his Hair of an Aubourn Colour and of a Pleasing Countenance and towards his latter End somewhat fat and burly He had the repute of a Wise Prince but his Reign did not shew it He indeed Writ several Books against the Jesuite's King-Killing Doctrin but that shewed his Fear more than his Learning and that he was therein acted by a Principle of Self-Preservation For the Gunpowder-Plot in England and the Assassination of Henry the Fourth by Ravilliac in France were enough to make him afraid of the Jesuites He was wholly ruled in all things by his Favourites to whom he was excessively bountiful and thereby squandered away the Treasure of the Nation At his coming to the Crown he found the Exchequer Rich but at his Death which was a great Unhappiness to his Son he left it very poor and well he might giving so profusely as he did to his Flatterers and Favorites It is reported of him That having given Sir Robert Carr Twenty Thousand Pounds the Lord Treasurer
King and Parliament in England continuing to increase many that feared the sad Events left the Land others retired to lead private Lives Mary the King 's Eldest Daughter being Married to the Prince of Orange by Approbation of Parliament the Queen went over with her and the King caused all Popish Priests to be banish'd the Kingdom and the Penal Statutes to be put in Execution against Papists Yet the Parliament proceeded to Tax the King about harkning to the Change of Religion and that he had given cause to the Rebellion in Ireland casting many Reflections on the Queen which constrained him to publish his Declaration to wipe off these Imputations but this doing little good he retired with Prince Charles his Son the Palsgrave of the Rhine the Duke of Richmond and others to York Summoning the Nobles Knights of the Garter and all such as held Tenure of the Crown by Lands or Service But the Parliament strictly forbid it Yet many went and among them several Members of Parliament The King seeing no good by fair means to be done he Commanded all the Yorkshire Men to meet him at Howard-Moor near York where there appeared about 60000 and with about 20000 he returned to York Commanding the rest to return to their Respective Homes In the mean while the Parliament was borrowing Money of the Londoners on the Publick Faith and raising 10000 Foot and 2000 Horse they sent them towards York of which the King had no sooner Notice but with a slender Force he repaired to Hull and demanded enterance but Sir John Hotham the Governour appearing on the Walls fell on his Knees and entreated his Majesty not to desire that of him which he could not Grant by reason of the Trust imposed in him by the Parliament whereupon he was proclaimed Traytor and the King sent to the Parliament to complain of this Affront and require a Treaty tending to a Reconciliation promising to repair to them if they would leave London and make choice of some other fitting place but they refused it Whereupon he Proclaimed all those Guilty of Treason that assisted them either with Money or Supplies and threatned to deprive the Londoners of their Charter if they offended herein Then he Fortified Newark and Barwick and sought to gain Hull by Force but failed in the Attempt And the Parliament having proclaimed the Earl of Essex their General the King repaired to Notingham and there set up his Standard and gathered a considerable Army so that now to the great Trouble of most People War was prepared for on both sides with much Vigor and Resolution in which many Gallant Men lost their Lives And Prince Charles seeing his Father's Affairs in a desperate Condition Sailed for the Scillys from whence he was Invited by the Parliament to return for London but not thinking it safe he went to the Hague and continued with his Sister the Princess of Orange till he heard the sad News of his Father's Death In the mean while Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice the King's Nephews Sons to his Sister the Queen of Bohemia came over and were Graced with Commands in the Army After several Skirmishes and the taking some Towns on both sides the two Armies drew near each other and the King perceiving himself Strong upon the Earl of Worcester's coming in with a considerable Force of Welch resolved to out-march Essex and reach London and to that end got a days March before him but Scorning to be pursu'd by a Subject he changed his Measures Faced about and both Parties Facing between Keinton and Edge-hill in Warwickshire on the 23d of Octob. 1642 a sharp Battel was Fought between them in which on both sides were slain between 5 and 6000 Men and the Slaughter had been much greater had not Night come on and parted them After this the King took in the Town and Castle of Banbury and some other places The Parliament to strengthen their Army Voted That all Apprentices that would List should be Free from their Masters and afterward received into Service again whereupon they gained considerable Recruits Then solemnly invited the Scots to their Assistance which the King by his Letters to the Privy-Council of Scotland laboured to prevent but in vain Yet several of the Lords and Commons presented a Petition to him at Cole-brook and had answer He would expect them at Windsor Castle and desired them to hasten the Treaty But this they did to gain time till Essex was Recruited which made the King hasten to Secure Brainford where happened a sharp Encounter tho' at last he forced his way but upon Essex's hastening with his Regular Forces and the London-Militia he retired for fear of being hemmed in to Oxford and because this happened in a time of Treaty the Parliament Voted to have no Accommodation yet after allowed it if he would leave his Army and come to them But this was Rejected and the War waxed fierce so that with various Success Towns were taken and Parties routed on both sides by turns whilst the Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Essex Hartford Cambridge Isle of Ely and the City of Norwich were Authorized by the Parliament to Associate under the Lord Gray of Wark And the Queen arriving with Officers Ammunition and Money from Holland was received at York by the Earls of New castle and Cumberland And these Disturbances at Home gave the Irish an Opportunity to Rebel again at the Instigation of the Pope who to that Purpose sent two Letters one to Owen O Neal and the other to all the Arch-bishops Bishops Nobles and People of the Kingdom Commanding those who had already appeared in the Quarrel and Exhorting others to take Arms wickedly approving the Massacre and bestowing on them his Benediction with plenary Pardons and Absolutions for whatever they should act so that much Blood was again shed which caused by the Mediation of those that were Peaceably inclin'd several new Treaties to be set on Foot between the King and Parliament but they came to nothing being still crossed by those that hoped for Advantages by the Distractions of the times And the Lord Brook besieging Litchfield-Close was there Slain but his Soldiers took it and the Earl of Chester Prisoner And now they proceeded to draw up Articles of high Treason against the Queen some of which were That she pawned the Crown-Jewels in Holland That she endeavoured to raise a Party in Scotland against the Parliament and that she was in the Head of a Popish Army in England This was carried to the Lords by Pym who seemed at first to be Surprized but after agreed to it About this time Robert Yeomans and George Boucher were Hang'd at Bristol on pretence they designed to betray the City to the King and on the like pretence Mr. Tomkins and Mr. Challonor were Executed on the Account of London And during these Heats Arch-bishop Laud was Attainted of High-Treason and lost his Head And the Queen meeting the King at Edge-hill went with him to
away upon the Lemon-Sands and many Worthy Gentlemen were Lost in her but the Duke by the assistance of a Yacht come to help them got off just as the Ship was sinking being reserv'd by Divine Providence as a further Scourge to these Nations About this time also two Famous Embassadors came into England from Princes never known to have sent Embassadors here before the one from the Emperor of Fez and Morocco whose Business was to establish a Peace in relation to Tangier and the other was from the King of Bantam in the East-Indies who presented the King with several Diamonds and other things of great Value And now the World began to see the Cause of the City Charter's being taken away for the Duke of York and his Party that now ruled all things at their own Pleasure were resolved to take off all those Gentlemen that were most Zealous for the Protestant Religion and that in Parliament had been most forward for the Bill of Exclusion And this was to be done by Pretence of a Plot to take away the Life of the King and the Duke and alter the Government and this was pretended to be executed at the Rye-House in Hartfor-shire as the King should come back from New-market and was said to be prevented by a Fire happening at New-Market which caused the King to come away sooner than he intended and so before the Conspirators were ready This Plot was Sworn by one Keeling who had been conversant among the Dissenters For this pretended Plot the Earl of Essex the Lord Russel Lord Howard of Escrick Collonel Sidney and Mr. Hambden of Buckingham-shire were taken up and several others of less Note among whom were Walcot Rouse and Hone which were first Tryed and found Guilty and soon after Executed at Tyburn Walcot declared himself Innocent of any design against the King or his knowledge of any Plot some Words he Confessed had been spoken in his Company by those that were Witnesses against him and which he did not discover Praying God to forgive those who had Causlesly brought him to that undeserved Death Rouse spake much to the same Purpose that he had heard Words about the Feasibleness of seizing the Tower but knew of no such Design But these were but Prologues to the more fatal Tragedies that were after to be acted For the Lord Russel was next brought to his Tryal where the Lord Howard of Escrick and Coll. Rumsey were the principal Witnesses against him the Lord Howard told a story of a Counsel of Six for carrying on the Design consisting of himself Coll. Sidney Mr. Hambden the Lord Russel the Earl of Essex and the Duke of Monmouth and Rumsey gave an Account of a Declaration taken out of Ferguson's Bosom and read at Shepheards The Lord Russel answer'd every Particular and declared his own Inoocency but while he wâ—â— at his Tryal there was News brought that the Earl of Essex in the Tower struck with the Horrour of a Guilty Conscience had cut his own Throat and this was improv'd by the King's Counsel as an Argument of the Lord Russel's Guilt as it is believ'd the Plot had been laid before-hand and accordingly the Jury brought him in Guilty and he was thereupon Condemned and soon after Beheaded in Lincolns-Inn-Fields whose excellent Speech and Behaviour at his Death declaring his Innocency to the very last made very few of the Numerous Spectators unless it were those of the Duke of York's Faction go away with dry Eyes This Noble Lord was the eldest surviving Son of William Earl of Bedford and was a Person of great Honour and Integrity and Zeal for the Protestant Religion which what ever was pretended was his true Crime he being the Person that carried up the Hill of Exclusion to the House of Lords and saying in the House of Commons when Popery began to be Rampant If I can't Live a Protestant I am resolv'd to Dye one The Proceedings against him appear'd so Unjust and his Innocency so clear that the Parliament since this last Revolution took off the Attainder against him and his present Majesty has since his coming in Created his Noble Fathâ—r Duke of Bedford as some Compensation for the loss of so Incomparable a Son as the very Words of the Patent has it Having told you how the News of the Earl of Essex's having cut his Throat in the Tower it will be convenient to give some Brief Account of it That Noble Lord was taken out of his own House at Caisho-Berry near Watford and Committed to the Tower upon this Plot where he sent for his own Servants to attend him and his own Cook to dress his Meat being Jealous perhaps of Sir Tho. Overburies Fate and also sent for his own Wine for his Drinking and hearing that the Lord Russel was to be Try'd that Day order'd one of his Servants to go and take Notes of the Lord Russel's Tryal and bring to him but so it was that that Morning that the Lord Russel was Tryed the King and the Duke went to the Tower where they had not been for several Years before whilst they were there the Duke was for some time absent from the King and soon after he was come to the King again there was News brought to his Majesty whilst he was in the Tower with his Brother that the Earl of Essex had cut his own Throat The King was extreamly Surpriz'd at the News and immediately gave Order to the Lord Allington the Constable of the Tower that his Lodgings should be shut up and no one suffered to go in till the Coroners Inquest had sate upon the Body But notwithstanding this Order of the King 's by the Direction of Some Body else the Body was stript and wash'd and so was the Room also before the Coroners Inquest came and his Cloathes taken away which when the Coroners Inquest desir'd might be brought to them that they might see them were told They were to sit upon the Body and not upon the Cloaths and so were deny'd the sight of them And when they were about adjourning till the next Day before they gave in their Verdict they were told they must give it in presently and not stir till they had done it because the King stay'd for it And so they were hurried into a Verdict of the Earl's being Felo-de-se And when from some Information of a Rasor thrown out of the Window of the Earl's Closet and some other Concurrent Circumstances one Mr. Lawrence Braddon went about to Discover that the Earl was Murder'd and did not Kill himself he was prosecuted for it with the greatest Violence imaginable as if the Discovery of the Earl's Murther had been the Arraignment of the Government After this the Honourable Algernoon Sidney was also Try'd as one of the Council of Six and for Writing and Publishing a Libel tho' it was only found in Writing in his own Closet and not prov'd to be his own Writing neither but by the Similitude of Hands which
Elizabeth Cavendish she Married Sir William Seymour Son to the Lord Beaucham and both at a distance being Allyed to the Crown made the Marriage distasted but her Husband escaped out of the Tower whether he had been Committed for this conjunction and fled beyond Sea and she escaping from her House at Highgate to follow him was intercepted and Dyed in the place aforesaid There being a Peace confirmed with all Nations the King treated with Spain about a Marriage between his Son Charles now Prince of Wales and Heir apparent to the Crown and the Infanta but Ambassadors being sent many delays were made about difference in Religion and some other Objections which the Earl of Salisbury who Negotiated the matter perceiving would come to no good effect the Treaty of Marriage was laid aside and overtures at the same time made in the Court of France but that as the former then succeeded not by the means of the Duke of Savoy The King having been some Years out of Scotland went thither with a splended Retinue and unluckily about this time the Book of Sports was Published allowing on the Sabbath Day for the Recreation of the Younger sort after Evening-Service Dancing about May-Poles Church-Ales and such like which much displeased sober People to behold that Sacred Day so Prophaned however notwithstanding many complaints it continued and some were punished for opposing it by Writing or otherways Sir Walter Rawleigh making overtures to the King to find out a Rich Mine of Gold-Ore in Gunia by the directions of Captain Kentish once his Servant he was dismissed with some Ships and Men but Gondemar the Spanish Ambassador getting notice of this design writ to Spain about it with such Expedition that Letters from thence arrived in the West-Indies to Advertize of his preparations long before he came so that finding almost all places Fortified except St. Thomes they took that and attempted the River but in passing found such opposition as constrained them to retire without attchieving their ends which so perplexed Kentish that he Shot himself in his Cabin and Sir Walter upon his Return was seized by Sir Lewis Stukley his Kinsman and being brought to London was at the earnest instance and clamour of the Spanish Ambassador sent to the Tower and many grievous complaints laid to his charge of Imposing on the King and indangering a War with Spain That it would likewise break off the Treaty of Marrying again renewed between the Prince and Infanta of Spain with such aggravations that the King gave way he was brought to the King's-Bench Bar at Westminster where the Records of his former Arraignment were Read and he demanded why Execution should not be done upon him according to the Judgment that had been pronounced against him and he going about to Justifie himself on the account of his Voyage was told it was not in question but that he stood there upon his former Judgment which the King would have Executed upon him and tho' he urged much against it as the King 's Trust by a new Commission which he look'd upon as a Pardon c. his Execution was appointed and he Beheaded in the Old Palace-Yard at Westminster in the 60th Year of his Age which pacified the Spaniard for the Loss sustained by the West-India Voyage Soon after this Queen Ann dyed of a Dropsie at Hampton Court a prodigeous Blazing Star ushering her to another World And briefly thus stands her Character She was in her great Condition a good Woman not tempted from the heighth she stood on to Embroil things below her only giving herself content in her own House with such Recreations as might not make Time tedious to her so that nothing can be fixed on her but that she may have Engraven on her Monument a Character of Virtue The Bohemians having chosen Frederick Elector Palatine of the Rhine who Married the Lady Elizabeth King James's Daughter their King Revolted from the Emperour Ferdinand but being Overthrown by the Duke of Bavaria the Imperial General and all Bohemia recovered upon his return home he found his Palatinate Invaded by the Spaniards who with other Aides beat him out of it tho' King James sent about 6000 English to his Assistance who did many brave things but being worsted by great Numbers the poor remains of them in the conclusion of the War returned home This made the King call a Parliament to Refund his Treasure wasted in this War and on chargable Embasseys but they would not hearken to it before sundry Grievances were redressed and hereupon divers who had oppressed the People and mis-spent the publick Treasure were Questioned and Disgraced and among others the Lord Chancellour Bacon for Bribery and Extortion a thing he had always condemned in others and for it lost his Peerage and the Great Seal spending his days very melancholly afterward carrying only the empty title of Viscount St Albans to his Grave And after many contendings between the King and Parliament they not answering his expectations in giving the Sums required he Dissolved it and put out a Proclamation to restrain the peoples Talking to his prejudice but it little availed and the Earl of Oxford having been accused on that account by one White a Papist and the Earl of Southampton by others they were committed and continued a considerable time Prisoners The Kings Ambassadors found but slender success in their Negotiations being delay'd in the Courts of the Empire Spain and with the Duke of Bavaria which much troubled and vexed him And there being many strange Opinions creeping up the King sent his Letter to the Arch-Bishops for Regulating the Ministry and Reforming Abuses therein but the Jesuits and other restless People under-hand laboured to Embroil the Factions and caused many disturbances which with other dissatisfactions from abroad cast the King into a Melancholly Temper especially the slights that were put upon the Prince his Son who went thither to Court in Person attended by Buckingham and others they endeavouring to pervert him in change of his Religion c. so that he was Indisposed and so much out of order a long time that his Favorites durst scarcely speak to him Then hearing the Spaniards still trifled his care was to get the Prince home again least having so wealthy a Prize they should detaine it and sent him secret notice to return Whereupon taking leave of the Queen of Spain and Infanta and the other Ladies and Grandees he was attended to the Sea Coast and in his return being in a Barge some distance from the Ships by a suddain Tempest he narrowly escaped being castaway for a time neither being able to reach the Ships or Shoar but at length he arrived safe to the high satisfaction of the King his Father but this Match after vast Expence and Trouble came to nothing tho' the Lady had a long time had Tutors to Teach her English and pleased enough she appeared at it but this was at last found only a device to retard the