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
their Ransom to pay him 356000 Crowns and swear Fealty to him and his Successors and with this Capital City went the currant of the rest so that he became sole Master of Normandy Upon this the Duke of Burgundy came to King Henry under safe conduct to treat of an Accommodation but whatever the King asked was denied which made him in a passion Swear That he would have the Lady Catharine in Marriage and what he demanded with her or otherwise he would ere long drive both him and his Master out of the Kingdom To which the Duke Replied Those words were easie to be spoke but that he must take much Labour and Toil to make them good After this the Duke reconciled himself to the Dauphin ratified under their Hands and Seals before a publick Notary and King Henry to let the world see he resolved to persist in what he had enterprized created Gascoyn D' Foyes Earl of Longeville Sir John Grey Earl of Tankervile and Sir John Bourchier Earl of Ewe in the Kingdom of France and upon the approach of Captain Bueff with 1500 Men to Ponthoyse the Lord Listendame the Governour with 10000 Inhabitants Deserted it leaving for haste most of their Rich Goods behind them This Place the King Fortified and Marched to Paris which he lay before Three Days bringing a great terror on that City but with his small Army not able to incompass it he Marched back to Ponthoyse John Duke of Burgundy as is said having reconciled himself to the Dauphin yet it being superficial and not hearty he determined in a more submissive manner to humble himself unto him that thereby their Loves taking a deeper root might bring forth the fruits of Unity and Peace but when they met the Dauphin whose Mallice was irreconcileable and whose mistrustful Jealosie did perswade him that the Duke would not be faithful procured him treacherously to be Murthered by the blow of a Battel-Ax in his presence as he was about to kneel and pay him Homage This was looked on by many as a just Judgment because much in the same manner he had caused Lewis Duke of Orleance to be Murthered in the Tenth Year of King Henry the Fourth This made not amiss for King Henry but hastened his advancement for Philip Son to the Murthered Duke was so highly displeased that he not only in his melancholy Anger determined forever to separate himself from his Innocent Dutchess without any other reason or cause than that she was Sister to the Dauphin but as his fury abated her Tears and the sober Advice of his Counsellours brought him to better reason so that for that time his Love continued to her as at first Yet he resolved on Revenge another way viz. By joyning his Interest with King Henry for he was very powerful in Flanders as well as Burgundy and was able to give a considerable check to France but more especially to the Dauphins Interest and to bring this about he laboured to Reconcile the Kings of England and France and in those his endeavours he was the more powerful 1. Because his Wife was Daughter to the French King 2. Because the Lady Catharine who could do all with â—â—een Isabella passionately desired to be Married to King â—enry 3. Because the Queen for depriving her of her Treasure â—â—d some other Affronts put upon her had conceived a morâ—â— hatred against the Dauphin insomuch that she could not â—â—dure to hear him Named 4. Because the Dauphin was more Subtile Cunning â—afty and Revengeful Than Politick Wise or Valliant And Lastly Because the treacherous Murther of Burâ—â—ndy had rendered him Abhorred among the Neighbouring â—rinces and for the most part in France And soon after this by the means of the Duke and Queen of France matters so ripened towards a Peace That it was Agreed King Henry should have an Interview with Charles the French King his Queen and Daughter at Trois in Campaign whither he went accompanied with his Brothers the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester the Earls of Warwick Salisbury Huntington Longevile Tankervile and Ewe and to prevent any Treacherous Surprise drew a Camp of 15000 Men â—ear the Place and so luckey were their Consultations that within a few Days a strict Amity was made and a Peace Proclaimed between the two Kings upon many Articles But the Substance briefly was That the Crown of France and all its Rights after the Death of King Charles and his Queen should reâ—â—in to King Henry and his Heirs forever whereupon 〈◊〉 Married the Lady Catharine with great Pomp and â—â—endour So that the Salique Law of France was at â—s time made void Yet the Pope being solicited to â—â—firm King Henry would not consent to it Howâ—â—er the Articles of Peace and Agreement were Proâ—â—med in both Kingdoms so that King Henry being â—w more at leasure and commanding for the French King as being appointed Regent or Protector of France he pursued the Dauphin from place to place stripping him with little labour of many important Towns Castles and Fortresses and in the strong Town of Moylin on the River Seine they took the Lord Barbason and divers others who were concerned in the Murther of the Duke of Burgundy who being sent to Paris were Tryed Sentenced and put to Death and the Dutchess Dowager of Burgundy Appealing to a Grand Council in which the two Kings sat as Judges against the Dauphin and seven others they were Summoned to appear at the Marble Table in Paris at a fixed Day but failing to do it as likewise in the Parliament soon after called They were Banished the Realm deprived of their Honours Names Titles and Dignities whatsoever and Proclaimed Enemies This greatly perplexed the Dauphin Yet going into Languedock he was succoured and supported with Money Arms and other Necessaries by the Earl of Arminack Almost all France being reduced to Obedience the two Kings and Queens took leave and Henry received in his way to England Homage of all the Nobles of the Dutchy of Normandy and conferring high Honours and Titles on many came to Callis and from thence Sailed for England where he was Joyfully received and the February following Queen Catharine was Crowned at Westminster with great Solemnity The Dauphin upon King Henry's departure began to look up a little and having made the Young Duke of Alanson his Lieutenant the Duke of Clarence was left Lieutenant for Henry who deceived by one Andrew Forgusa a Treacherous Lombard whom he too much Trusted thinking to repress the French Forces was drawn into their Ambush and after a desperate Fight against four to one the English were Overthrown near Blangy yet the French lost 1200 of their choicest Men and of the English were slain the Duke of Clarence the Earl of Tankervile Sir Gilbert Vmphervile the Lord Ross and near 2000 of less Note and taken Prisoners the Earls of Suffolk Sommerset and Perch the Lord Fitz-Walter and others But upon the approach of Sir Thomas Beaufort with a Band of Archers the
Fortune However the Lord Grey Deputy of Ireland lost his Head for winking as it was alledged against him at the Irish entering within the English Pale and not timely Repelling them Sir Edmund Knevet of Norfolk having been Arraigned before the Green Cloth for Striking one Mr. Clear of Norfolk within the Tennis Court of the King's House and being found Guilty he had Judgment to lose his Right Hand and to forfeit all his Lands and Goods and all things being prepared for the Execution of this Sentence and Sir Edmund brought in the Chief Justice declared his Offence which he Confessed and humbly submitted himself to the King's Mercy only he desired the King would spare his Right Hand and take his Left For said he if my Right Hand be spared I may Live to do the King good Services Of which Submission and Saying when the King was informed he ordered he should lose neither of his Hands and Pardoned him also as to his Lands and Goods The Scots had lain still a long while but now began under James the Fifth their Young King to make great Disturbances but after some Bickerings and much Spoil in either Country they were Overthrown and the Earls of Cassels and Glencarn the Lords Maxwell Fleming Sommervel Oliphant Gray and Car were made Prisoners and many Slain The News of this Overthrow so perplexed King James That falling into a deep Grief and Melancholly he Dyed a week after leaving only a Daughter to Succeed him who was then but newly Born and Christened Mary Upon notice of whose Birth when he lay Sick he burst out in this Prophetical Saying It came with a Lass meaning the Crown and it will go with a Lass Soon after the King of Scots Death the Lords that were Prisoners in England to curry favour for their Liberty proposed a Match between Prince Edward Henry's Son and their Young Queen which was kindly accepted The Match being proposed to the Parliament of Scotland they seemed highly to approve it ratifying a Writing under the Hands and Seals of the Nobility as also with their Oaths yet the French Faction so prevailed that it came to nothing But King Henry enraged to be thus abused sent a powerful Army into Scotland which spoiled the Country taking several Towns and great Plunder nor was the King flow to pass over to France where laying Siege to Bullen he had it yielded to him and having Fortified it returned into England to raise Money for a Supply of the War which tho' the Emperour without his consent had made a Peace with France he resolved vigorously to prosecute and because Richard Read an Alderman refused Sir Thomas Wryothsltey the Chancellor the Supply he demanded of him he was compelled in Person to Serve the King in his Wars against the Scots by whom he was taken Prisoner and paid a large Ransom And soon after the French were worsted by Sea and Land and the Scots Routed who Invaded England and followed into their Country Whereupon Peace ensued between England and France Soon after the King cavelling with the Duke of Norfolk and his Son the Earl of Surry for bearing in their Escutchion certain Arms appropriated to the King and Prince only tho' they had been born by his Ancestors time out of mind unquestioned being Indicted for High Treason they were both Condemned The Son was Beheaded and the Father escaped by the King's Death which soon ensued viz. on Tuesday the 28th of January Anno Dom. 1546 in the 56th Year of his Age when he had Reigned 37 Years 9 Months and 6 Days He was Buryed with much pomp and Funeral solemnity in the Chappel at Windsor In this King's time happened a great Famin viz. 1527 upon the falling of a violent Raine November December and January and from the 12th of April every day till the 3d of June Anno 1545 William Foxley Potmaker to the Mint Slept in the Tower of London not being by any meanâ— to be Waked 14 Days and 15 Nights and when he waked it seemed to him but as one Night The Number of Religious Houses Suppressed were Monasteries 313 Priories 290 Friaries 122 Nunneries 142 Colledges 152 Hospitals 129 and their Inhabitants turned out to wander in the Fields after long Ease and Luxury Remarks on Yorkshire in its three Ridings THis is the largest Shire in England and not inferiour to some of the biggest Provinces in France It is divided into three Parts or Ridings viz. The North East and West Ridings It produces store of Horses large Cattle Sheep and in many places very good Corn and Pastures great quantities of Woollen Cloth and very Subtil People It is Bounded with the Bishoprick of Duâ—ham the German Ocian Lincolnshire Derbyshire Lancashire and Westmoreland It contains 26 Hundreds 563 Parishes 57 Marker Towns 36 Rivers of which the Humber is the chief 1 City which is an Archiepiscopal See viz. York 14 Castles 62 Bridges 4 Chases â— Forrests and 72 Parks It sends Members to Parliament 30 viz. Alborough 2 Beverly 2 Borrough-Bridge 2 Hildon 2 Hull 2 Knarseborough 2 Malton 2 North-Alerton 2 Pomfret 2 Richmond 2 Rippon 2 Scarborough 2 Thrisk 2 York City 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire YORK SHIRE By I Seller This Shire affoards store of Iron Pit-Coal and Sea-Coal at Whitby are Stones of a Serpentine figure near Burrough Bridge are 4 Piramidal Stones supposed some Roman Monument on Rosemary Topping are Stones found like Sea Wincles and Cockles at Giglesworth are 3 Springs one of which constantly Ebbs and Flows four times an Hour in the North are Ting-tong Wells said to be three Miles in the Earth and near Knarsborough the Well Dripa whose Water distills from a Rock that hangs over it The Castles of note are those of Sheffield Coningsborough Tickil Sandal Harwood Knasborough Cawood Scarborough Kilton Skelton c. On Wakefield Bridge stands a Chappel Founded by Edward the Fourth in memory of the Battel fought there near Flamborough-Head are Waters called Vipsies which flow out of the Springs every other Year and fall violently into the Sea The Seats of the Nobility are Sheffeild-Mannor belonging to the Duke of Norfolk Bishops-Hill and Hemsey Castle to the late Duke of Buckingham Slingsby Castle to the Honourable Family of New-castle Snap to the Earl of Exceter Markin-field to the Earl of Bridgwater Mulgrave Castle to the Earl of Mulgrave Shipton Castle to the Earl of Thanet Nawort Castle to the Earl of Carlisle Wharlton Castle and Javoux Abby to the Earl of Ailesbury Lounsborough Bolton and Braden Tower to the Earl of Burlington Hall and Wimbledon to the Duke of Leeds Thorn-Hill to the Earl of Macclesfield Hackforth Anderly Le Miers to the Earl of Holderness Newborough Abby Coxwold Hall Oulston Hall Aldwark and Murton to the Lord Faulconberg Wressel Castle to the Duke of Richmond Easby Hall to the Lord Eure Baron of Witton Wheldrake to the Lord Howard of Escrick Holm in Spadingmore and Dalton to the Lord Lexinton Wilton Castle to the
the Christian Princes had Elected him and hasted home yet left most of his Troops behind him But by means of his Absence Henry his Youngest Brother so cunningly dealt with the English and Normans that he got much into their Favour and the more because he was Born in England after his Father was Crowned King and for as much as he was of a mild disposition many Princely Virtues making it apparent that his Government would be accompanied with many Honourable Atchievements Gratful Safe and Profitable to the Church and Commonweal so that all things working to his Advancement He was Crowned at Westminster by Maurice Bishop of London Anselm Arch Bishop of Canterbury being Absent on Sunday the 5th of August Anno Dom. 1100 but before his Coronation the Nobles constrained him to Swear he would Ease the People of the oppressing Taxes and other Grievances and Restore to the English the use of Lights and Fire in their Houses which they had been denied for the most part after the Ringing the Evening Bell for the space of 33 Years After his Coronation to make him more Easie in the Throne he caused the Great Seal to pass on several wholsom Laws Subscribing them with his Name and commanded divers of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal to do the like and caused Copies of them to be sent into every County to be kept in the County Courts The Heads of the Laws were in these Branchâ—s 1. That the Church should be free from Oppressions and Reservation of their Possessions upon vacancy 2. That the Heirs of the Nobility should Possess the Lands of their Fathers without Redemption from the King which Favour likewise should be Granted by the Nobles to their Tennants 3. That the Gentry might give in Marriage their Daughters and Kinswomen without the Kings License so it were not to the Kings Enemies 4. That the Widow should have the Jointure and not against her Consent be compelled to a second Marriage 5. That the Mother or the next of Kin should be Guardian of the Lands of their Children 6. That Coiners of False and Counterfeit Money should be Capitally Punished and a Measure to the Length of the Kings Arm should be a Standard of Commerce among the People And 7. That all Debts to the Crown before his coming to it should be forgiven and all Murthers before the day of his Coronation to be Pardoned With other such like Indulgences He also at this time Confirmed King Edward the Confessor's Laws Now tho' this went a great way with the People who found themselves easie in these Concessions he yet used other Policies as expecting a storm from the Norman Coast as soon as Duke Robert should Arrive whom he had notice by his Espialls was on his way for having Seized on the plentiful heaps of the last Kings Treasure he Liberally disposed of it among such of his Subjects as he knew would stand him in the greatest stead if things should come to Extremity Then he placed the more Popular Nobles in the chief Offices of State and satisfied the Leading Gentry with Titles of Honour and Places of a lower station absolutely acquitting the People forever from the Tax of Dane Gelt it having been much lessened in the former Reign and from all other Demands and unjust Payments Imposed on them by the two former Kings giving leave to the Nobles and Gentlemen for their Recreation to Inclose Parks for their Deer and free Warrens for their Conies Hares and such like Game And as Traytors to his Virtues State and Kingly Government he Exiled from his Presence and Court Sycophants Parasites Flatterers Niceness in Behaviour Lascivious Conversation Sumptuousness in Apparel Superfluity in Diet c. He made it Death for any to Robb on the Highways and with Indefatigable Endeavours he Corrected and Reformed the Monstrous Pride Intollerable Covetousness Secure Negligence and Sloath of the Clergy Yet the better to please them he Recalled Ansâ—â— from Banishment and Restored him to his Arch Bishoprick of Canterbury giving him full Power to Assemble Convocations and Synods at his pleasure and for the amendment of such Irregularities as were insufferable in the Church he left it wholly to the Pope as also to Invest Bishops by giving them the Ring Cross and Pastoral Staff All such Ecclesestical Promotions and Dignities as by the Lewd Advice and Councel of Reynulph Bishop of Durham his Predecessor had Seized in his hands and converted to his use he voluntarily restored and conferred on honest and grave learned Men and Committed the Bishop of Durham a Prisoner to the Tower of London from whence he Escaped and going for Normandy earnestly Incited Duke Robert by many moving Orations to Invade England who prone enough of himself so harkened to him and relying on the Aids he had promised him here on his Landing raised a great Army of which Henry having timely notice thought fit yet to strengthen himself more by Marriage and in order to it he took to Wife Maud Sister to Edgar King of Scots who was Daughter to Malcolm by Margaret Sister to Edgar Etheling and Daughter to King Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside the Victorious Saxon King These Nuptials were no sooner consummated and a firm League made with Scotland but Duke Robert Landed his Army at Portsmouth which put the English into apprehensions of being involved in a doubtful War but this threatening storm was soon blown over by the discreet mediation and counsel of Friends on both sides so that a friendly Peace ensued between the two Brothers upon such like Conditions as had been Agreed on in William Rufus's Days whereat the Norman Lords were much displeased and returned discontented with the Duke so that the King fearing he would not long rest contented with the Agreement resolved to be beforehand with him and therefore raising a gallant Army he Sailed to Normandy and was joyned by many of the discontented Nobles giving the Duke two great Overthrows After which he being in a manner forsaken shifted from place to place when in the mean while the King pressing his good Fortune won the strong Cities of Roan Caen Valois and others and putting them in trusty hands returned for England where he was received in Triumph The Duke perceiving his Fortune grew worse and worse those that he most Trusted growing Treacherous and betraying his Councils to the King as being Bribed so to do by which means he was almost stripped of his Dutchy of Normandy he Resolved to make an adventurous Experiment and in order to it came privately into England and humbly submitted himself to his Brother leaving it in his discretion to dispose of him and his Dutchy as he pleased but the King desirous to Annex Normandy to his own Dominions turned from him in a slighting manner and commanded him out of his presence which great Indignity roused the Dukes Courage so that in a great Rage he flung out of the Court and returned to Normandy resolving rather to dye by
Encountered by King Robert who Surprisingly fell upon the English by reason of their remissness and the unwillingness of some of the Nobles to Engage because King Edward had given the great Commands into the hands of mean Persons by the Advice of the Spencers and after a bloody and long Fight totally Routed them And here King Edward through bad conduct having been a Spectator of the slaughter of many Valiant Men among which were Gilbert D' Clare Earl of Glocester and 42 other Lords with more than 60 Knights and Baronets besides 22 of Note who were taken Prisoners he was compelled for his own safety to hasten back for England leaving all his Treasure Amunition and Baggage behind him and 22000 common Soldiers Slain and made Prisoners exceedingly disconsolated and perplexed where he soon found new Troubles For one John Poldras a Tanners Son of Exeter in Devonshire boldly affirming himself to be the truly begotten Son of Edward the First aledging that he was changed by his Nurse in his Cradle for a Carters Child raised by this Chimera strange Commotions many People believing by King Edwards proceedings so disagreeable to those of the preceding King that there was some ground of truth in it He also offered divers colourable Proofs for what he said and among others he strongly insisted on the unworthy and sordid conditions of the King sorting to none so fitly as to one of obscure and common Birth so that a great many of the Commons in those parts unadvisedly flocked to him and owned him for their True King looking on Edward as a Changling but they in a hot Skirmish being Defeated the Impostor was taken Prisoner and confessed his Treason and Folly but not any one that set him on work and encouraged him to it so that being convicted by his Confession he was Condemned and Executed and the rest Pardoned which at this time put an end to the Western Troubles But in the North the Scots pursuing theis Success taking many Places Garisoned with English by force and had the strong Castle of Berwick betrayed into their hands by the Deputy-Governor who let them in in the dusk of the Evening at a Sally-Port he had purposely left open yet in the dark scuffle he had his Reward for going with the appointed Signal of safety and in the dark it not being discerned by the Scots they Slew him Nor was this all the misery at this time the Northern County suffered their Cattle Dyed of a grievous Murrain and Famine was exceeding amongst them Moreover divers notorious Thieves and Robbers to the number of 200 taking the advantage of these stirs put themselves into Friars Weeds and Robbed Ravished Burned and laid Waste where they came Murthering divers who Resisted them but in a few Months most of them were taken and put to Death by sundry Torments The Famine was likewise succeeded by a Plague so that the Living were scarce able to Bury the Dead These Calamities and daily cries of his People made the King advance Northward with an Army yet bad success attended him for giving the Scots Battel he was Overthrown and a great part of his Army Slain and so in much vexation returned home This made the Nobles grievously complain of the Spencers and others the Kings Favourites by whose bad Mannagement of Affaires the Realm was at a point to be overwhelmed in Misery laying before the King their Misdemeanours and ill treatment of his Subjects how many Thousands suffered by the Male-Administration of Government and the great Callamities approaching if speedy Redress was not had even to the subversion of the State and then became Importunate Suitors to him that he would be pleased to put those from him that had caused so many Grievances and made him careless of those Duties which by Almighty God were required at his hands They told him likewise As Subjection belonged to the People so the King was bound to Protect them and that most dishonourably he had left his Commons in the North a Prey to the Scots and grievously oppressed with Wants and Extremities and that if he pleased not upon their humble Entreaty and Request to dismiss the Spencers from their Places and Service They must and would presume to do it tho' with the hazard and perril of their own Lives At this tho' the King in Conscience could not but hearken to it being an apparent Truth yet it so highly displeased him who preferred his Favourites before the Good of all his People That he bit his Lip and with an austere Countenance turned at first from them without speaking but considering the ill consequences that might attend his slighting them in a business wherein all his good Subjects were concerned he turned again and gave them a pleasing Answer viz. That since things were come to such extremity there could be no suitable Redress but in a Parliament which he speedily intended to call and would submit to what that Assembly should determine most Necessary for the good and wellfare of the Kingdom However the Nobles afterward seemed dissatisfied as fancying the King when they were so Assembled designed to Seiz them and forcibly make them comply with his Terms yet finding such a meeting was necessary they came strongly Guarded with a numerous Train all in one Livery this much startled the King but most of all it grieved him he now saw he must part with the Spencers whom in the Extasie of his Expressions he had declared to Love dearer than his Queen or Children and accordingly they were Banished during their Lives the King being bound not to Recal them upon any pretence whatever But this caused a hatred in him against the Barons so that he expressed it in Threats and that he ought not to be forced to do any thing against his Mind So that although the Younger Spencer geting a Squadron of Ships turned Pirate Robbing the English Merchants and Strangers The King would not consent to their Intreaties that a Fleet might be sent out to surpress those apparent Injuries and Disgraces but Laughed at them when they proposed it as inwardly pleased at the News they had brought him and soon after contrary to the expectation of all Men Recalled them from Banishment restoring them to their Honours and Offices wherein they became more Insolent than ever The Barons grieved at these Proceedings and Expecting no Redress from the King immediatly took up Arms and the King did the like so that after many sharp Bickerings and Encounters both Armies joyned in Battel and Fought cruelly Kindred against Kindred making no distinction of Relations in the bloody Field But when many of the Barons and other Leaders were Slain their Party gave way and the King Pursued very furiously so that a miserable Slaughter happened and at Burrow-Bridge near where this Battel was Fought The Earl of Lancaster the Kings Unkle and 90 other Nobles were taken Prisoners and sent to Pontfract-Castle where the Noble Earl staid on a Scaffold Seven Hours before
might be any hopes to recover and some were recovered for in so suddain an Execution many received Wounds that were not Mortal This famous Victory obtained the King fell on his Knees and caused all the Army to do the like and with up-lifted Hands say Lord Not unto us not unto us but to thy Name be Glory and Honour In this Battel which the King said should be called The Battel of Agincourt to all Posterity because Fought near that Town were slain of the French Charles Lord Delabreth Constable of France Jaques Lord of Dampire High Admiral John Duke of Alanson Anthony Duke of Brabant Edward Duke of Barre The Earls of Marle Vaudemont Blawmount Grand Pree Russey Faulconbridg Foys and Lastrake 25 Lords 8000 Knights Esquires and Gentlemen and about 10000 of the meaner sort The Prisoners of Note were Charles Duke of Orleance John Duke of Burbon The Lords Donuart Fosseux Humiers Roy Cawny Hamcourt Noell Bonciqualt and some others and on King Henry's part of Note were slain Edward Duke of York and the Earl of Worcester Some Historians will have the latter to be the Earl of Suffolk and not above 600 others of all Ranks The King who before the Battel had Vowed to Dye or Conquer and that England should never be at a Penny charge for his Ransom was informed by some of his Noble Prisoners That the French were so confident of the Victory that they had not only disposed of his Person and the spoil of his Camp before hand but also of Places and Offices in England But when Man proposes God disposes The Dead being Honourably Buried and the Soldiers Inriched with the Spoil the King Marched to Callis without any interuption and having settled his Affairs passed into England where he was received by his Subjects with unspeakable Joy Soon after this the Duke of Exeter Captain of Harestew Ravaged the Countries and Overthrew the Earl of Arminiack the new Constable of France with considerable slaughter taking many Prisoners for which he had large Ransoms And Sigismund the Emperor of Germany coming into England laboured to conclude a Peace between the two Kings but not being able to effect it he made one for himself and being honourably attended by the King and his Nobles to his Ships he returned home highly satisfied with his Entertainment Shortly after the Duke of Burgundy made a Peace with King Henry only for the Counties of Flanders and Arthois for which he was suspected as an Enemy to the Crown of France In the Kings absence the French Besieged Hareflew by Sea and Land but their Fleet Commanded by John Viscount Narbon was utterly destroyed by John Duke of Bedford whereupon the Constable raised the Siege by Land and hasted to Paris upon which the French Nobility Quarelled among themselves about the several bad Successes charging the Miscarriage upon one another which made for King Henry's Interest so that he called a Parliament at Westminster declaring publickly his Right and undoubted Title to the Crown of France and the many wrongs the French had done the English Nation which now they had an opportunity to repair in giving him Supplies to enable him in the prosecution of his Wars which they liberally Granted him and it was raised without any murmurings of the People as in other Reigns had happened on the like occasion In the mean while John Holland Earl of Huntington after a sharp Engagement took three Carracks of Genoa and sunk other six that were going to Aid the French and in the Prizes found great store of Treasure and early in the Spring the King Landed a strong Army in Normandy took the Castle of Tonque whereupon the Villagers of that Dutchy fled into their Walled-Towns and he laid Siege to the City of Caen which after many fierce Assaults he took putting to Death the most obstinate who had too long refused his proffered Mercy in holding out against him and the more Wealthy Citizens he put to Fines and Ransoms And now a Quarrel happened between the Queen of France and the Dauphin her Son for she having raked together great store of Treasure he forcibly seized it for the use of the War which so enraged her that she vowed Revenge and procured John Duke of Burgundy to be Protector of the Kings Person and of the Kingdome so that an irreconcileable Quarrel continued among them The Constable and Dauphin labouring to weaken his Interest and he on the other hand supported by the Kings Favour was not wanting to do the like for them Whilst King Henry was Warring in Normandy and took in about 50 strong Towns and Castles reducing the Normans for the most part to his obedience and having appointed Sir Gilbert Vmphrevile Captain of Caen Castle and Sir Gilbert Talbot the like of the Town Sir John Popham Baylif c. and disposed the other Places in Trusty Hands he Marched to Roan where he found the Citizens had drawn a great Trench about it and strongly Fortified it with Towers and Bullwarks and having laid Siege to it at Pontle-Arch he laid over a strong Chain and a Wooden Bridge to hinder any Succours coming by Water keeping likewise that Passage blocked up with a strong Squadron under the Command of the Earl of Warwick and whilst he lay at this Siege the Lord Kilmay with 16000 Irishmen came to him Armed with Darts and Coats of Mail being joyfully received and proved very servicable But the King finding his violent Assaults were repulsed the Garrison being very Numerous incompassed the place to the Landward with a wide and deep Trench impailed at the bottom with sharp Stakes and so well guarded with Archers that they durst not approach it so there being Multitudes of useless People in the City the Famine encreased so sore among them that nothing Unclean was left uneaten nor were those they turned out suffered to pass the English Camp so that many Hundreds with piteous cries lay and died under the Walls and the Siege having continued from Lamas tide till Christmas on New-Years Day they desired safe Conduct for their Commissioners to pass to the King which was allowed but to little purpose for a bold Frenchman so angered him with his vaunting speech wherein he taxed him with unprincely degenerateness and meanness of Courage for Cloistering up the Garrison to Starve them as not daring to let them be at liberty to Fight and sell their Lives bravely in the Field That he resolved not to hearken to any Terms but the Surrender of the City upon discretion Granting them only a Truce of Eight Days to well advise in the matter but nothing being determined the half-Starved Inhabitants with hideous cries and shouts compelled the Governour and Magistrates to a Surrender so that having Four Days more allowed they Surrendered the City and Castle to the King there being Famished during the Siege 5000 and 12000 Starvelings were turned out who many of them dyed in the Fields and Lanes Then he compelled the Burghers for
brought into England about 12 Years after by William Caxton a Mercer Remarks on Warwickshire c. WArwickshire is an Inland County very pleasantly situate well Wooded and incumbered but with few Hills It is Bounded with Staffordshire Leicestershire Northamptonshire Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire It abounds with Cattle Corn Wooll Cheese Butter pleasant Pastures Fish and Fowl It contains 5 Hundreds in which are 158 Parishes 14 Market Towns 4 Castles 10 Rivers 10 Bridges 13 Parks and 2 Forrests It sends Members to Parliament 6 viz. Coventry City 2 Warwick 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire Warwick the Shire Town is of very Antient foundation held to be Builded by Gurguntus a British King 375 Years before the Birth of our Saviour the Castle yet retaining very many marks of great Antiquity and Memorable for the Residence of the Renowned Guy Earl of Warwick where is kept a Vessel called his Pot and usually filled with good Liquor to be Drunk by all comers on memorable Days It is commodiously situate on the River Avon Coventry joyntly with Litchfield make a Bishoprick on one of its Gates called Gifford-Gate is the Bone of a Monstrous Beast fastned said to be that of the huge Boar Guy slew who with his Snout turned up a deep place now called Swanes Mear At Wolney Anno 1469 King Edward the Fourth was taken Prisoner by the great Earl of Warwick and his Forces scattered At Backlow Hill Pierce Gaviston was taken and Beheaded The other Places of Note are Henly Southam Sutton Atherstone Kyneton Rougby Aulchester Bitford The River Tame abounds with Fish and finely branches the Northern part of the County as Avon does most of the rest over which leading to Warwick is a sightly and strong Bridge At Lemington a Salt Spring arises a great distance from the Sea At Newenham or Menhem Reges is a Petrifying Well Snale Stones Star Stones and Cockel Stones are found near Shugbury The Noblemens Seats are Milcot-House belonging to the Earl of Dorset Compton-Place to the Earl of Northampton Newnham Padox to the Earl of Denby Wormleighton to the Earl of Sunderland Comb to the Earl of Craven Ragley and Luddington to the Earl of Conway Hewel Grange to the Earl of Plymouth Ettington to the Lord Ferrers Warwick Castle Knowel and Beuchamps Court to the Lord Brook Fletchamstead and Stonely to the Lord Leigh Wotenwaven and Aln-Lodg to the Lord Carrington besides many pleasant Seats of the Gentry sightful to Travellers The Reign of King EDWARD the Fourth EDWARD Duke of York having prevailed over the Lancastrians and put to death many of his great Enemies Marched Triumphantly to London where he was by the Citizens joyfully received and Proclaimed King on the 4th of March Anno 1461 and the 19th of June following he was Crowned at Westminster but his carriage towards the Citizens afterward made them repent their forwardness to take part with him against King Henry who had always loved them and been their constant Friend Soon after his Coronation he called a Parliament and laboured therein to settle the Affaires of the Kingdom which were much disordered by the Civil War And all former Statutes made in the Reign of Henry which Attainted him and his Adherents of High Treason were Cancelled and made void The Earl of Oxford and Sir Awbrey Vere his Son were in this Parliament Attainted of sundry Treasons and lost their Heads and to strengthen his Interest he conferred Titles of Honour on a great many of his Friends Whereupon seeing little hopes left of King Henry's Recovering his Crown the Duke of Sommerset Sir Ralph Piercey and others submitted themselves to Edward's Mercy and were received into favour but upon notice the Queen was arrived from France in the North and by the Aid of the Scots had raised a considerable Army they secretly fled to her Edward had soon notice of these Proceedings and sent the Lord Montacute before him with a considerable Force himself followed with the rest of the Army and this Lord with such resolution and bravery set upon the Lords Hungerford and Ross that at the begining of the Fight they Cowardly fled away but Sir Ralph Piercey and other stout Commanders who preferred an honourable death before a shameful desertion of their Men fought it out bravely till they lost their Lives in the Field and left the Victory to their Adversary The Lord Montacute flushed with this success and thursting after fame without staying for the King set upon Queen Margaret's Army and after a bloody Fight put her to the Rout and Henry Duke of Summerset William Tallboies who stiled himself Earl of Kent the Lords Ross Mollines and Hungerford Sir Henry Nevel Sir Thomas Wentworth and Sir Richard Tunstal being Taken were in several places Beheaded and 27 others were shortly after Executed in divers manners But after this Overthrow Henry Escaped to Scotland with his half-Brother Jasper Earl of Pembrook Sir Ralph Grey and others and hereupon all the Castles in the North fell into King Edward's hands For this Service done by the Lord Montacute the King would have given him the Earldom of Northumberland but upon that Earls submitting though he had fought against him he restored him to his Lands and Honours giving Montacute in lieu of his Resignation the Title of a Marquess and to encourage his Soldiers and such as had deserved well he bestowed on them great Bounties out of the confiscated Estates of his Enemies causing many advantagious Laws to be Enacted the better to settle him on the Throne by gaining the affection of the People Soon after this King Henry returning disguised into England was discovered taken Prisoner and sent to Edward who committed him to close ward in the Tower King Edward now thinking himself firmly fixed in the Throne by the advice of the Estates after the proposals of several Matches concluded to send his great Friend Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick to require the Lady Bona Daughter to Lewis Duke of Savoy and Sister to Charete Queen to Lewis the Eleventh King of France in Marriage the Earl was sent over with a very splended Equipage and with many Rich presents to the Lady and was so prosperous in his Negotiation that all things he had in Commission were soon agreed to the Portion assigned and the Instruments for settling her Dowry ratified but this wrought much mischief to King Edward For going to Recreate himself at his Mannor of Grafton he there cast his Eyes on the Beautiful Elizabeth Widow to Sir John Grey slain in King Henry's cause at the Battel of St. Albans and by no perswasions being able to gain her for his Concubine though he had freely granted her her Husbands Estate which she Petitioned to him for so enflamed was he with the desire of Enjoying her and she plainly telling him As she thought her self of too mean a condition to be his Wife so she thought her self much above his demands of being his Concubine and tho' her Life might be at his dispose
delays without any absolute denyal till the Battel of Bosworth-Field ending his Life set her at liberty to Marry the Earl of Richmond whom this News of Courtship hastened over with such Forces as the French King and his own Friends furnished him with to the Number of 2000 with those he Landed at Milford Haven in Wales and for a time few resorted to him yet no sooner the Welshmen understood he was of the Family of the Tuthers and of their own Blood and might prove an especial Favouour of them if he was advanced to the Crown but they flocked to his Standard from all parts under their Captains John Morgan Rice ap Thomas Richard Griffith and others having by this means gotten a little Army he Marched forward by Sir George Talbot Sir Walter Hungerford Sir Thomas Bourcher and others with Forces they had raised for King Richard This News soon flew to London and much perplexed the King insomuch that he scarcely knew who to trust yet he Levied an Army of 20000 Men and with John Duke of Norfolk and others that he had Obliged by many great Gifts Marched against his Enemies resolving to venture his Crown and Life on the fortune of a Battel and tho' many indeavours were used to withdraw the Duke of Norfolk from his side none could prevail to shake his fidelity however the Night before the Battel to amuse him and to weaken his hand This Distich was fixed on his Chamber Door viz. Jack of Norfolk be not too bold For Dickon thy Master is bought and sold On the 20th of August 1485 The two Armies faced each other near Bosworth in Leicestershire But when King Richard perceived the Lord Stanley who commanded a part of his Forces stand wavering at a distance he sent to him to come immediatly and joyn with him to which he Replied He would do it when he saw his time This so enraged him that he commanded the Son of that Lord whom he had as a Hostage of his Fidelity to be instantly cut off however he was diswaded to defer it till the fortune of the Field had been tried and so both Armies joyning fought desperately none knowing which would be victor till by the Lord Stanly's Revolting and breaking in upon the Kings Battallion with fresh Men he turned the scale when the King perceiving Fortune against him resolving to restore the Battel or Dye in a desperate mood he rushed into the Earls Battel and with his Sword made a free passage till he encountered Sir William Brandon Standard bearer to the Earl whom he slew and then singled out Sir John Cheney whom he tumbled to the Ground much Bruised and Wounded and thus gaining a passage to the Earl they Encountered like enraged Lions and Richard in all appearance had slain him had he not been beaten down by others and slain tho' the Earl had it given out he slew him with his own hands for notwithstanding his many evil qualities all Authors allow him to have been Valiant and of extraordinary Strength so that had half his Army imitated his example it is concluded he had been Victor But such was the will of God to punish him for his many Murthers that at once he lost his Kingdom and Life Upon his fall his Army partly fled and partly revolted the Duke of Norfolk likewise Fighting valiantly was slain and in all about 4000 others The Crown he brought into the Field was found in a Hawthorn Bush and placed on the Earl of Richmond's Head by the Lord Stanley whereupon he was saluted King by the General Voice Among other dead Bodies King Richard's was found Stript and carried Naked and Bloody on a Horse to Leicester where it was two days exposed to the view of the People and then Buried in the Grey-Friers Monastery when at the dissolution of Religious Houses the Stone Coffin wherein his Corps lay was taken up and said now to be a drinking Trough for Horses at a common Inn in Leicester He began his Reign June 22 Anno Dom. 1483 and Reigned two Years and two Months Remarks on Worcestershire c. WOrcestershire produces store of Sheep and large Cattle much Corn and rich Pastures It is pleasently Watered by the River Severn branching in a manner through all the County affording store of Fish as the Parks do Venison It is towards Staffordshire pretty Woody with some rising Hills It is Bounded with Shropshire Herefordshire Glocestershire Warwickshire and Staffordshire It sends Members to Parliament 9 viz. Bewdly 1 Droitwich 2 Evesham 2 Worcester City 2 and 2 Knights of the Shire WORCESTER SHIRE At Eversham King Kenry the Third gained a great Victory over the Barons Kiderminster is of great Antiquity also Sturbridg On the edge of this County at Eckington is a Medicinal Well whose Waters are Restorative In this Shire are Hartlebury Holt and Emsley Castles The Seats of the Nobility are Grafton belonging to the Earl of Shrewsbury Lenwick to the Earl of Craven Feckenham Lodg to the Lord Coventry and Hartelbury Castle the Bishops Seat This Shire contains 7 Hundreds 152 Parishes 1 City which is a Bishops See 12 Market Towns and is Watered with 5 Rivers over which and Branches are 15 Bridges It has moreover 7 Castles 1 Chase 2 Forrests and 16 Parks The Reign of King HENRY the Seventh AFter the Battel of Bosworth Henry hasted to London and soon after his arrival was Crowned King Then calling a Parliament King Richard was Attainted and the Crown entailed on him and his Heirs and the January following he Married the Lady Elizabeth Eldest Daughter to Edward the Fourth by which means the long Warring Houses of York and Lancaster were joyned in one and in the ensuing September she was delivered of a Prince who was Christned Arthur and the King published his Pardon to all that had born Arms against him conditionally if they would Swear Fealty and Allegiance to him which many refused and had their Goods and Estates Confiscated Then he chose Grave and Wise Counsellours of State who by their prudent mannagment of Affairs thorowly settled the Kingdom in Peace and Tranquillity and so proceeding to make large amends to the Duke of Britany and French King for the favours he received from them during his Exile But now whilst all things seemed quiet and Trade began to flourish a suddain Rebellion broke out in the North Headed by Sir Humphry Stafford the Lord Lovel and others who left their Sanctuaries and drew great Numbers to side with them But King Henry raised an Army with much celerity and coming swiftly on them the Ringleaders fled by Night which so amazed the Plebeans that the next Morning they submitted to the Kings mercy However Sir Humphry Stafford and his Brother Thomas were taken out of Culuham Abby in Oxfordshire whither they had fled for Sanctuary and the first Beheaded the latter being spared because he Acted by the Dictates of his Brother This combustion was no sooner over but another more dangerous ensued For one
into three Ranks 1. Poor by Impotency 2. The Poor by Casualty 3. The Thriftless Poor And soon after this the King fell Sick of a Languishing Disease which began with a Hectick Feaver and by degrees inclined to a Consumption When Northumberland who had gotten the power into his hands was Plotting how if the King Dyed he might get the Crown into his Family and at last concluded to lay his Project with the Duke of Suffolk which was That his Youngest Son Dudley Lord Gilford should Marry the Duke of Suffolk's Eldest Daughter the Lady Jane who was of the Blood Royal and that they would prevail with the King to Disinherit his two Sisters and by his Will appoint her Queen if the Dutchess of Suffolk would be so contented whose Right was before her Daughter And indeed this Northumberland prevailed with the Languishing King to do under a specious pretence of securing the Reformed Religion on which to serve his ends he laid a mighty stress tho' himself was not much concern'd for any as will appear in the next Reign Upon this account divers Marriages were contracted and the Nuptials celebrated viz. The Pious and Virtuous Lady Jane Eldest Daughter to the Duke of Suffolk in a fatal hour was Married to the Lord Guilford Dudley Fourth Son to the Earl of Northumberland for all his other Sons were Matched before Catharine another Daughter of the Earl of Suffolk's was Married to the Earl of Pembrooks eldest Son and Mary a third Daughter some what deformed to Caies the Kings Master Porter and the Duke of Northumberland gave Catharine his youngest Daughter to the Lord Hastings Son to the Earl of Huntington Whilst these things were doing the Kings Sickness much encreased for Northumberland had displaced his Physitians and put him into the hands of a Woman to cure who it is thought hastened him to his Grave for no sooner had they procured him by his Will which was read in the hearing of the Counselors Judges c. And confirmed by their Assents to Disinherit Mary and Elizabeth his Sisters whose Interest as Northumberland said was so closely Joyned that if the Crown fell to either of them it must first come to the Lady Mary who was a professed Papist and not by any entreaties to be brought over to the Reformed Religion and by his said Will to appoint the Lady Jane his Successor but plain Symptoms of Death appeared And not above Three Hours before he Dyed thinking no body had been near he thus Piously Prayed Lord God deliver me out of this Miserable and Wretched Life Take me amongst thy Chosen howbeit not my will but thy will be done Lord I Commit my Spirit to Thee O Lord thou knowest how Happy it were for me to be with thee yet for thy Chosens sake if it be thy will send me Life and Health that I may truly Serve thee O my Lord Bless thy People and save thine Inheritance O Lord God save thy Chosen People of England O my Lord God defend this Realm from Popery and maintain thy True Religion that I and my People may Praise thy Holy Name Amen About three hours afterward he said I faint Lord have mercy upon me and receive my Spirit and so yielded up the Ghost The Conjectures how this Sickness came upon the King were various among the People some that it was caused by his smelling to an Impoisoned Nosegay presented him for a New-Years-Gift others That Northumberland's Woman purposely destroyed him and such indeed was then that Dukes power that though the King's Physitians shook their Heads as much grieved yet they durst not utter their Minds He was a Prince exceeding Pious and Learned to a Miracle considering his Years in Latin Greek French Italian Spanish Musick Logick c. He Dyed the 6th of July Anno Dom. 1553 in the 7th Year of his Reign and the 16th of his Age having Reigned 6 Years 5 Months and 8 Days and was Buried without any great Solemnity at Westminster In this Kings Reign one George Paris a German was Burnt in Smithfield for Arianisme in denying the Divinity of our Saviour Three Whales and divers Dolphins were taken in the Thames and on the Coast A Woman at Middleton near Oxford brought forth a Monstrous Child with two Heads and two Bodies joyned together of the Female Sex and all other Members proportionable the Bodies being as it were Head and Tail one Head at one end and the other at t'other it Lived 14 Days and was killed at last by Cold in being too often exposed naked to satisfy Peoples curiosity A great blow of Gunpowder was given in a House near the Tower which killed Fifteen Gunpowder-Makers shattered divers Houses and wounded many Persons in them Remarks on the Principallity of Wales THE Principallity of Wales does strictly contain but Twelve Counties and is commonly Divided into North-Wales and South-Wales North-Wales Contains Flimshire Merionethshire Anglesey Montgomeryshire Carnarvanshire Denbeighshire South-Wales Contains Cardiganshire Glamorganshire Pembrookshire Brecknockshire Caermarthenshire Radnorshire Of each of which I shall give you a brief Account Alphabetically 1. ANGLESETY Island called Mam Cimbiae or The Mother of Wales for its Fertility Rich Pastures breeding store of Cattle c. It is divided from Carnarvanshire by the Water or River Mennay the rest incompassed with the Irish Sea It contains 6 Hundreds 74 Parishes 2 Market Towns 4 Rivers 8 Bridges and 2 Chases It sends Members to Parliament 2 viz. Beaumaris 1 and a Knight of the Shire This Town was Built by King Edward the First and stands advantageous for a Passage to Ireland Newborough is a place of Antiquity and once a Court of the British Princes The chief Rivers are Llinnon Guynt Keveny Alow and Brant THE PRINCIPALITY OF WALES By John Seller 3. CARDIGANSHIRE lies on its West part commodious to the Irish Sea and the rest Bounded by Caermardenshire Pembrookshire Brecknockshire Radnorshire Montgomery and Monmouthshire It is very Hilly tho' well Watered with Rivers and has in divers places large Mears and Pools It containes 5 Hundreds 64 Parishes 4 Market Towns and has a Bishop belonging to it It s principal River is Tivy which Waters its South Borders and branches into the County and in it are 13 Bridges and 1 Park It sends Members to Parliament 2 viz. Cardegan 1 and 1 Knight of the Shire Cardigan the Shire Town was Walled about and Fortified with a Castle by Gilbert D' Clare who was Lord of the whole County by the Gift of King Henry the First 4. CARNARVANSHIRE has in it divers Meers and Pools some branching Rivers and a sprinkling of Hills It affords some Corn store of Pasture and a considerable quantity of Cattle It is Bounded on the West by the Irish Sea and the Isle of Anglesey and the South has the Sea flowing to it as likewise the North so that what remaines to the Land-ward is Bounded by Denbighshire and Merionethshire It contains 7 Hundreds 68 Parishes 6 Market Towns 17 Rivers
Nobles who little approved him the Pope appointed him his Legate in England and so early in the Spring the King with about 30000 Men at Arms with divers Nobles and Gentlemen set Sail and safely arrived in the Port of Messina in Sicily whither the King of France and some other Princes whose Territories lay near were got before him and there they renewed their Resolves not to Return till they had won Jerusalem but this fair Sunshine held not long on the French Kings part for his Army being exceeded by the Gallantry of the English he feared they would win from him the Glory of the Undertaking which his Flatterers had told him would redound totally to his Honour and the lasting Fame of the French Nation so that clouds of discontent appeared on his Brows and in a little time he gave free Reins to the former Displeasure that had been hushed for that King Richard had rejected his Sister and Married the Daughter of the King of Navar yet as well as he could he dissembled his displeasure seeing the Eyes of all Christendom were fixed on this Undertaking and without the apparent loss of his Honour he could not presently draw back when he was so far Engaged and so weighing Anchor they set forward with a fair Gale but at length a Storm arising the English Fleet was separated from the rest and driven on the Coast of the pleasant Island of Cyprus where some of his Ships putting in to Repair the Dammage they had received at Sea divers of their Marriners upon Landing were Slain by the King of the Island 's command who professed himself a Christian and well-wisher to this Undertaking this so much transported King Richard with a desire of chastizing such Inhospitality and Outrage that he Tack'd with his whole Fleet Landed his Army on the Island and easily Overthrew the King and took him Prisoner carrying him along with him Manacled in Silver Chaines to Syria and having secured the Island to his Interest by leaving a Governour and Garisons in the strong Forts he Sailed to Ptolomais which place he had News the Christians had Besieged and there was Joyfully received by many of the Princes in Leagre and having a day or two refreshed and comforted his Forces it was agreed that a general Assault should be given at the places where the Battering Rams and other forcible Engins had made Breaches in the Walls which was so hotly carried on that all their Out-works were won in a few Hours whereupon the Garison not expecting present Relief and fearing to be put to the Sword if the Town was taken by Storm Surrendered upon Condition they might safely depart thence This was agreed to upon their leaving 5000 Hostages till a great Sum of Money should be Paid and that Saladine the Turkish Sultan should deliver up such Prisoners as he had taken being Christians and so about 50000 Marched out many of them almost Starved the Famine having been extream among them No sooner they had vacated the City but the Duke of Austria's Standard bearer hasted to plant his Masters Colours on the Battelment as if by the sole Valour of the Austrian Arms the Place had been Taken which indeed had the least share in the Danger This so highly displeased King Richard that not staying to Command any other to do it he stept on the Wall and plucking down those Proud Colours trampled them under his Feet This put the Duke into a great chafe which made him afterward Confederate with Lewis the Second to hinder the progress of Affairs in the Holy Land that King Richard might not carry from them the Glory Yet he little regarded their Anger but pursuing this success gave Saladine Battel not far from this City and Overthrew him with incredible Slaughter having the execution of the Enemy for many Miles so that the Fields and Lanes were covered with their dead Bodies and thereupon he Marched his Army towards Jerusalem being chosen General by the Knights Templars and most of the Princes But in the midest of these great Designs Mallice thrust in to hinder the progress of the Christian Arms as to what was intended to be done for the Discontents of Lewis and the Duke of Austria more and more growing on them they at length shewed it so openly as to withdraw a great part of their Forces from the Army and the former pretending want of Health and the Climates not agreeing with him Sailed back to France carrying with him the best of his Forces and tho' before he went he gave his Oath at the earnest Request of the Popes Legate that he would not injure King Richards Territories neither in Normandy nor England yet soon after recalling the rest of his Forces with them went the Duke of Austria whom he had constituted his Lieutenant General in Syria He did make War against Normandy and strove to raise distractions in England but in the former Attempt he was mostly worsted yet at last swept away some small Towns and Castles and in the latter the Threatnings of the Popes Curse against all that should Rebel in England prevented his Intrigues in a great measure though some Commotions happened as you will hear in the sequel Notwithstanding thse Disappointments King Richard Wintered his Army in those Towns the Sultan had Ruinated in his Retreat to prevent their falling into the hands of the Christians Rebuilding and Fortifying those that were most commodious resolving in the Spring to lay Siege to Jerusalem but when his Forces were drawn into the Field he found by Sickness and many that had Deserted his Army was so wasted that he was not able to undertake it The Sultan fearing some such design had strongly Garisoned it with 30000 Men However the King Marched forward and took by the way divers Castles and Fortresses and 5000 Camels Laden with Riches from Egypt and Arabia which much Encouraged his Soldiers as being mostly distributed amongst them When one day Marching a Knight climbing up a high Hill came hastily to the King and told him from thence he might have a Prospect of Jerusalem which instead of Joy drew Tears from his Eyes when lifting up his Hands he passionately said O Lord I beseech thee let me not See thy Holy City since by the Disappointments I have met with I am not able to Deliver it out of the hands of the Enemies of thy Name and so turning aside he returned to Ptolomais where he found some new Adventurers Arrived when Marching cross the Country and Subduing all before him he brought such a Terrour upon the People that his very Name was frightful to them and as some Historians have it a long while after used to Bugbare their Children with it when they cry'd and were untoward viz. If you hold not your peace King Richard is coming and will have you which had such effects on them that they became still as Lambs However finding no more Forces were in Europe preparing to enable him to take Jerusalem
the main design of his Preparations having private notice that his Brother John was practicing against him and fearing whilst he was warring abroad he might lose his Kingdom at home he resolved to make such Conditions with the Turkish Sultan as might be best for the Settlement and Peace of the Christians in Syria But the crafty Infidel being very sensible of the weak condition the Christian Army was in would not hearken to any other Terms than to have all the Towns that were taken Ptolomais Excepted surrendered and upon that condition they should be suffered to have a quiet Enjoyment of their Effects and to Trade in the Country and so having made this Agreement and Sold the Island of Cyprus for a Sum of Money to Hugh of Lusingham the last Christian King of Jerusalem though at that time but in Name which Title he confered on King Richard and it lasted to many of our Kings afterward who were stiled Kings of Jerusalem he Embarked in divers Vessels with his Queen who had accompanied him in that dangerous Voyage and Sailed for England but the Ship he was in being separated from the rest of the Fleet in a Storm was driven on the Coast of Histria lying between Aquileia and Venice where he was Ship-Wrack'd and saving his Life by Swimming was made Prisoner and presented to the Duke of Austria in whose Territories he Landed but the Queen who was in another Ship and the rest of the Fleet came safe to England The King by misfortune thus made a Prisoner to his Enemy whom he had disgusted by throwing down his Standard as is said was Sold by him for 40000 Pounds to the Emperer Frederick who set his Ransom at 100000 Pounds Fourscore Thousand of which was raised in England but Duke Leopold was constrained to Pay the other Twenty Thousand Pounds before he could be released from the Popes Curse pronounced against him for making a Prince his Prisoner who for the honour of the Christian Name had Warred Victoriously in the Holy Land So that after almost a Years Imprisonment the King was set at Liberty of which Lewis the French King had no sooner notice but be sent John the Kings Brother word The Devil was got loose again However he did not immediately return to England but went to Normandy and with the Terror of his coming frighted the French out of many strong holds they had taken in his absence then raising a puissant Army he entered France wasting all before him with Fire and Sword reducing to his Subjection all such places as had been taken and made the Rebellious Norman Peers who had engaged in the French Faction prostrate themselves before him whose humble Submission he accepted and accordingly Pardoned them on promises of future Obedience and Fidelity Let me now speak of something that happened Remarkable in England during the Kings absence I told you he had left the Bishop of Ely Regent This Man being of mean Parentage his Grandfather a Plowman and himself the Son of a Cowheard soon forgot his Original as such mostly do who are raised from a low Estate to high Promotion and grew so Insolently Proud that he would not Ride abroad without a Guard of 500 Men to attend him his Table was exceeding Expensive on the Publick Cost and his Insolencies over all sorts as well the Clergy as Laiety was so great that he soon procured himself a Universal Hatred yet a while he Proudly spread his Peacocks Train being Served at his Table and every where Waited on by the Sons of Noblemen to whom he gave in Marriage with some Portion and Preferment divers of his Rustick Kindred thinking thereby to strengthen his Interest but this proved to him a broken Reed for finding he was generally hated by the Nobles and Commons to shun the storm that threatened him with some violent End he sewed up many Jewels and some Gold in the Garments of a Pedlar Woman and Disguised in that Habit resolved to leave the Land carrying under his Arm a piece of Country Cloath which he offering to sale at Dover was Discovered and Seized suffering much outrage from the Common People and being sent to London the Lords Committed him to the Tower where he remained till the Kings return who not only released him but restored him to his Bishoprick yet having seen the folly of his Pride he grew more Humble and shortly after Travelling to Rome Dyed by the way unlamented by all that had known his former carriage The Queen-Mother in the Kings absence perceiving her Son John's aspiring who had a hand in bringing the Bishop of Ely into Disgrace and Outing him made a strong Party of her Friends as soon as she heard King Richard was a Prisoner compelling the Nobles and such others as were in Offices and Trusts to Swear to be True to him and Conserve the Realm to his use and behoof and John hearing he was Released and in Normandy hasted to excuse himself submitting to his Grace and Mercy voluntarily surrendering all the Forts and Castles he had Seized into his hands saying What â—e had done he was provoked to do by the Extraordinary Pride and Insolent Behaviour of the Bishop of Ely who unworthily had disordered the Government of the Realm and particularly for the Outrages he had committed on the Person of Jeffery Arch Bishop of York the Kings Brother Yet by the Peers he was Condemned in the Forfeiture of his Goods Estate and Honours but not long after received them again and was restored to the Kings Favour and came with him to England where the King at his Landing was Joyfully received by Hubert Arch Bishop of Canterbury and most of the Nobles causing himself a second time to be Crowned and the Coronation Solemnity was performed at Winchester Then he made a new Broad-Seal by which device he got much Money out of his Subjects who were obliged to have their Patents Royal Grants for Offices and other Evidences new Sealed the former being declared null and void And yet this not sufficing to put the Kingdom in a good Settlement pay his Soldiers Arrears and repay the Money that had been taken upon trust for his Ransom the Treasuries of Religious Houses were ransacked and a Parliament being called he was allowed to reassume into his hands such Mannors Lordships Lands and Offices as had been disposed of at his setting out to the Holy War for Ready Money so that the Purchasers were enforced to content themselves with the Profits they had Received in lieve of the Money they had Paid After this as the King was at Dinner in his Palace of Westminster News came to him that the French had Besieged Nerville in Normandy upon which in a great Passion he Swore He would never turn his back till he had got thither with his Army and to save his Oath a place by order was immediatly broken in the Wall through which he passed the breach heing left open above a hundred Years afterward in Remembrance
Officers he replenished his Treasury with 236000 Marks And about this time Dr. Scotus called Subtilis Preached against the Popes laying claim to St. Peter's Keys his abusing the Episcopal Authority as also that Transubstantiation which wild Notion had been Introduced not long before was contradictory to Scripture and common Reason but the Popish Clergy soon Persecuted him into silence Long had not the Peace continued between England and Wales ere Llewelling by the rash Perswasions and Incitement of his Brother David a Man more contentious than Provident and less Valiant than Mutinous and yet one whom the King did extraordinarily love and favour fell into Rebellion again forgetting his Oath which made him little prosper in his Enterprize to enlarge his Borders for after many sharp Encounters with Sr. Roger Mortimer the Kings Lieutenant on the Western Marches he and his Brother were taken their Heads struck off and placed on the Tower of London Yet their followers gave not over but kept in Parties Ravaging and Spoiling by Incursions within the English Pale and then with their Booty retired again to their Woods and Fastnesses where they had Builded Huts as if they conceived this Trade would be of a long continuance without shifting But the King not longer able to bear the Cries and Complaints of his suffering Subjects Marched a sufficient Army thither but not finding the Enemy in the Field to Ferret them out he caused the Woods to be cut down and consumed with Fire whereupon some submitted others dyed of Cold and Hunger in their Retreatments and many of the Ringleaders were put to Death by sundry manner of Executions by which means they were reduced to a more sociable kind of life and began to practice divers commendable Occupations Arts and Sciences and took some pleasure from thenceforth to live like Honest Men. After this Alexander King of Scots by a fall from his Horse off a Cliff by the Seaside whither upon some suddain Fright he carried him furiously breaking his Neck and leaving no Male or Female Issue his three Sisters the Eldest of which was Married to John Baliol Earl of Galloway the Second to Robert Le Bruce Lord of Valley Androw and the Third to John Hastings Lord of Abergavennie an English Peer laid claim to the Crown by their most powerful Friends many Disputes passed and Reasonings about it but these little availing it came at last to the Sword which for many Years made miserable Havock in that Kingdom each of the Competitors laying claim to the Crown in Right of their Wives refering the Decision of their Cause to King Edward under whose Ward they agreed to put the Government till matters could be determined whereupon he passed into Scotland attended with a considerable Army there as Soveraign Lord to determine the Strife and put the state of Affairs in good order But such was their mutual desires to Reign that no perswasions prevailed to make any one of them recede from his coveted Soveraignty yet they all agreed by a publick Writing under their Hands and Seals to refer themselves and their Titles to the Censure and Judgment of King Edward and by the same Instrument surrendered the Crown and Administration of Affaires to him To the end that thereby he might enable himself absolutely to possess such a one of them of the Kingdom as in his Judgment ought to have the Regal Dignity conferred on him and with the Writing he received their several Demands and Claims fairly drawn up with the Proofs and Arguments to maintain them Whereupon he Summoned a Council of Twenty English and as many Scotch Noblemen Prelates and Lawyers to consider and advise what was most proper to be done in this great Affair and when he had duly informed himself of the matter and was well satisfied in his Conscience about it he gave the Definitive Sentence in favour of John Bailiol who had Married the Eldest of the Three Sisters and he upon doing Homage to King Edward received from him the Crown and Government of Scotland Whilst these things were doing the French supposing the King over-busied in so weighty a matter and not altogether at leasure to mind his own concerns entered into Guyan Gascoyne and other his Territories beyond the Seas taking some Towns and committing many Outrages on his Subjects and their Possessions The King roused upon notice of this inâ—ury done him summoned his wonted Courage and gave speedy orders for Levying a potent Army but upon computing the Charge Money was found in a great measure wanting so that by the Advice of William Marcbyan his Treasurer he exacted it of the Clergy who for the most part having been exempted from the charge of former Wars were grown very Rich he demanded of them half the profit of their Ecclesiastical Revenues seizing into his hands the useless or superfluous Plate Jewels and Treasure of the Churches Abbies Monasteries and other Religious Houses and Places This made them exceedingly murmur against him and labour to Alienate the Hearts of his Subjects from him tho' in some sort he was not wanting to give them satisfaction by promising restitution when his Treasure should by encreased and tho' they little relied on such a Promise as thinking the King would at no time empty his own Coffers to replenish theirs finding they should be stript of their Treasure without remedy they found out another way as they supposed to make themselves amends in time though no great matter presently could be expected from it There had been a Statute Enacted in the Fourth Year of his Reign strictly Prohibiting the giving and conveying Lands or Tenements to any Corporation whatsoever called The Statute against Mortmain unless with the Kings consent and this stood in the way especially to hinder Persons in their Wills to bequeath any thing of that kind to the Church or Religious Houses This they prayed might be Revoked But he Replyed As of himself he could make no Laws so without the Consent of Parliament much less could he Annihilate them for he was honester than to pretend to a Dispensing Power and tho' this vexed them inwardly to be frustrated of all that could be expected to their advantage yet such was the power he had gained oveâ— them that they durst not express any outward dislike of his Proceedings After this he imposed a Subsidy upon every Sack oâ— Wooll also upon all Flesh and Hides that were to bâ— Transported out of the Kingdom and further to maintain his Wars required the tenth part of every Mans Substance or moveable Goods compelling the Clergy over and above to bring into his Treasury all such Sums of Money as they had promised to remit to Rome for the Popes use towards the maintenance of the War against the Turks and other Infidels in the Holy Land and so having sufficient he Transported his Armies sending with them besides other Necessaries 100000 Quarters of Wheat for their Subsistance where many Battels were Fought between the English and French in
contrary to the Mind of his People in general and to despite them the more took him into his particular Favour Vowing if it lay in his power he would willingly share the Kingdom with him heaping Honours on him and Liberally opening his Coffers to him so that he no sooner asked but his desires were granted This much perplexed the Nobles and made them Remonstrate to the King the ill consequences that were likely to follow on such his Proceedings putting him in mind of his dying Fathers charge to him and urging many other things but he little regarded them so that perceiving the King entirely to doat on this upstart Favourite who thereupon grew very Proud and Insolent advancing him to the Barony of Wallingford and Earldom of Cornwal making him Master of his Jewels and Treasure a great part of which he sent beyond the Seas to provide for himself against such a Storm as he might reasonably expect They for a time held their peace tho' they inwardly grieved at the Miscarriage of things The King was now Married to Isabel Daughter to Philip the French King a Lady of admirable Beauty but of a haughty Mind impatient of Injuries yet this Loose Favourite to cross her because he stood not high in her esteem laboured by introducing fresh Beauties to the King to Alienate him from her Society and Bed carried him often to Revellings and made him Drink to Excess that his Conscience might not find any deliberate time to Check him for his Lawless Enterprizes The Queen at this was both Grieved and Angry labouring however by all mild ways and endearing perswasions to Reclaim the King laying before him his Unkindness to one that so tenderly Loved and Honoured him and the Scandal and Contempt he would cause of himself among his People if he who was placed in so eminent a Station to give good Examples to others as Patterns for them to follow shewed in himself such an evil one Intreating him to follow the Prudence and Heroick Virtues of his Father and not despising the sober Advice of his Grave Counsellors harken to and be lead away by base Parasites and Flatterers But the King not regarding what she said tho' the People at the same time greatly Murmured and spoke evil of him for his Loose and Un-Princely manner of Living as also of Gaveston to whom they bore an irreconcileable hatred The Nobles found themselves constrained for redressing these Mischiefs and preventing greater that threatened the Kingdom To Petition the King for Gaveston's Banishment wherein they set forth his evil Practices and Faults with the Sorrow of his Majesties best affected Subjects for that he more than was fit or comely was Guided and Governed by that unworthy Favourite earnestly entreating his Highness he would be pleased for preventing such Mischiefs as were otherwise likely to ensue To Banish that Lewd Person from his Court and Kingdom The King upon this fearing some danger threatned if he refused to comply with his Nobles whom he found resolutely bent no longer to suffer such Indignities as Gaveston had put upon them tho' much against his will agreed he should be sent into Ireland which accordingly was done yet the King sent after him many comfortable Messages and at length constituted him his Lieutenant of that Kingdom sending him store of Plate Jewels and Corn to maintain his State and Granâ—ure by which he might conclude his Banishment but â—n Honourable Embassy and an occasion presented â—hereby to the King to make him more Rich and Poâ—ent Besides all this the Kings discontents and passions â—or his Absence appeared to be so many and great That the Nobles were grieved for the perplexities of â—is Mind which made them in hopes of his Favourites â—â—ture amendment of all things that had been found â—miss in him after this Humbling of their own accord Petition the King that he might be Recalled But â—ike the Leopards Spots his Vices were so natural to him and so inherent in him that he was nothing changed but upon his return grew more Insolent than â—ever which occasioned him but a short time for at the â—ncessant Importunities of the Nobles he was again Banished into Flanders yet remained not long ere the King impatient of his Absence Recalled him without the consent of his Nobles and to Agrandize him the more Married him to his Kinswoman the Earl of Glocesters Daughter a Virtuous and Honourable Lady when bearing himself much on this Alliance he grew to such a height that he scorned the greatest Peers in England and in his State Attendance and Table outâ—ied even the King Glorying and openly boasting how he Ruled the King and by what ways he had misleâ— him This however did him no kindness for the King â—â—â—ding he could no longer Protect him against the potent Nobles and the clamours of the Common People which â—hreatned ruin in his stay he was constrained to part with him a Third time But the â—oise and discontents by his Absence was no sooner pacified and alay'd but the King sent to him privately to Return tho' very fatal to him for upon his Landing entering into the Castle of Scarborough he was there Besieged and taken by the Earl of Warwick and with the consent of the Earls of Lancaster and Hereford carried to Warwick-Castle and Beheaded The King had no sooner notice of the untimely end of his Favourite but in a vehement passion he Cursed those Noblemen and expressed his Anger and Vows of Revenge in many threatning terms But Time rendering him cooler and the Reasons that were given for their hasty Proceedings he Pardoned them in consideration that all which belonged to Gaveston should be put into his hands However his inclinations were such that he could not be long without a Favourite to whom he might impart his Secrets on all occasions wherefore he made Sr. Hugh Spencer and Hugh his Son of his Cabinet Council raising them from a mean Estate to Lord it over the Nobles and whatever he did of any importance was by their Advice and Direction he made the Elder of them Earl of Winchester and gave to both of them many Honourable Places and Offices which caused them to become more Insolent than Gaveston and altogether as much hated in a little time Robert Bruce mentioned in the foregoing Reign upon notice of these Disorders in England thought it was now a fit time for him to possess himself of the Crown of Scotland and therefore returning from Norway he was Joyfully received by the Scots as well Nobles as Commons and was by them a second time Crowned King whereupon he Levied a great Army and entered into the English Marches miserably wasting the Country as he passed with Fire and Sword which made King Edward shake off his soft repose and hasten to the Field whose coming put a stop to the torent and made the Scots retire beyond the Tweed Whereupon King Edward having strengthened his Army entered Scotland doing great Damage but was at Bannocks Bourn
Cursing any that should afterward Build it yet this Sorrow wasting by time to strengthen his Alliance he Sailed to France and took the Lady Isabel Charles the Sixth's Daughter to Wife and brought her to England with her Nurse and a great Train of Ladies and not exceeding Seven or Eight Years she was called The Baby Queen the King having contracted not to Bed her till she should be Fourteen Years of Age and a 30 Years Peace was concluded whereupon the King gave up to the Duke of Britany the strong Town and Castle of Brest which much offended the English Nobles especially the Duke of Glocester his Unkle who plainly told him he had dishonoured himself and the English Nation by tamely parting with such an important Place which had not been gained but at the expence of much Blood and Treasure this so angered the King that he privately Swore to be Revenged on him and such other Noblemen as he said usually checked and controuled him in his Proceedings and accordingly getting a Parliament to his mind Sir John Bushe one of his Creatures being Speaker of the Lower House This upstart Speaker boldly Accused Thomas Arundel Arch Bishop of Canterbury who fitting in the House of Peers by the King was ordered not to Answer and it should be no damage to him his silence nevertheless was taken for Confession and he was Banished the Realm the Earls of Arundel and Warwick in this Parliament were Attainted of High Treason upon which the former lost his Head and the latter being confined to the Isle of Wight through Grief and want of Necessaries shortly Dyed But the Duke of Glocester stood too high in the Peoples Favour to be reached this way therefore he was privately seized at his own House hurried to Callice and there by the command of Thomas Moubray then Earl of Notingham and for this wicked exploit created Duke of Norfolk the Valiant Prudent Virtuous and Renowned Duke was Smothered to Death tho' in the manner of it Authors disagree some will have it by pressing and keeping him long between Feather-Beds others that he was thrown into and headed up in a Butt of Malmsey However here he was wickedly made away and never seen afterward to the great grief of all but the King and his Favourites who hugged themselves with joy to think they had removed out of their way the great Obstacle that hindered their Advances to Arbitrary Power After this Moubray proceeded to Accuse Henry Duke of Hartford Son to the Duke of Lancaster of Speaking Treasonable and Scandalous Words of the King whereupon Hartford Challenged his Accuser to the single Combate to try by the Sword the Truth and Justice of his Accusation but when they were both entered the Lists and prepared for the Encounter the King threw down his Warder staid the Combate Banished Hartford for six Years and Moubray forever who Travailing to Venice there Dyed miserably confessing his Guilt and trouble for the Death of the Noble Duke of Glocester but Hartford was honourably Entertained by Charles the French King who would have Married him to a Beautiful Lady Daughter to the Duke of Berry his Unkle but King Richard industriously prevented it as fearing such an Alliance might enable him to grasp at his Crown and when the Duke of Lancaster Dyed he seized on his vast Treasure tho' he had given his Cousin Henry leave on his departure to appoint his Attorney to Act for him and take care of his Inheritance But these Proceedings bred much Mischief For the King having lost most of his old and getting a new set of Counselors viz. The Earl of Wiltshire Sir John Bushe Sir James Bagot and Sir John Green they advised him to many things contrary to the Advice of his grave Council and much troubled the People and now the Irish Rebelling the King to Raise an Army Farmed the Kingdom and all his Revenues belonging thereunto for certain Years and Sailed for Ireland The Duke of Hartford who wanted no Intelligence how matters went in England looked on the Peoples Ferment and the Kings Absence to give him a very favourable advantage to shake off his Chains wherefore as privately as he might he came to England accompanied by the Banished Arch Bishop and many other trusty Friends declaring to the People he only came to take quiet Possession of his Dutchy of Lancaster which by the Death of his Father was his Undoubted Right so that Trousands flocked to him And finding how the People were bent to favour his cause he Raised a considerable Army and seized the before named Counsellours whom they Beheaded King Richard in Ireland hearing of these Stirs setled Affaires there as well as he could and hasted over with a small Army but before he could pass Wales most of them had Deserted him and then being ascertained that his Counsellours in whom he had reposed much trust to Levy Forces for him were taken off despairing of any safety to be gained by force he came to Henry Duke of Lancaster of his own accord and publickly owned his Insufficiency and Weakness to Govern well praising the Duke's rare and singular Virtues his absolute worthiness to be a King c. profering to make him an absolute Surrender of his Kingdom if he would accept of it The Politick Duke who well knew this proceeded not cordially from him but from the effects of fear and constraint however refused it for tho' he much affected the wearing of a Crown yet he thought it more advisable to receive it at this time from the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty and hereupon he caused the King with a very respective and honourable Attendance to be conveyed to the Tower and a Parliament being called in his Name Twenty Four Articles were Exhibited against him for Mismanagement and ill Conduct in Government and many henious Crimes which in his Restraint he seemed to confess and own and by an Instrument under his Hand and Seal he Resigned his Crown and Kingdom to Henry of Bullenbrook Duke of Lancaster which being publickly and generally Ratified and Approved by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled in Parliament Henry stood up and made this Challenge to the Crown viz. In the Name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster Claim the Realm of England and the Crown with all the Appurtinances as coming by the Blood Royal from King Henry the Third and the Justice which God of his Grace hath sent me by the help of my Friends for the Recovery of the said Realm which was at the point of Perdition through default of Government and breach of Laws These words being said all the Estates acknowledged him for King and Richard was formally Deposed in the words and in manner Recited in Edward the Seconds Reign and thereupon was sent to Pomfret Castle but long he had not been there ere upon some practices of his Favourites to Reinstate him he was villanously Murthered by Sir Pierce of Exton and Eight others of whom he
to be Spokesman who laid many Reasons before her of the Necessity at that juncture which required her consent But with Sighs and Tears she Replied That the Duke being Sickly and Weak none was more fit than his own Mother to look to him that Brothers when together rarely so well agreed as with those that were not so near a kin But the main is said she my Lord it is dangerous that these Princes as Affairs stand should be together since asunder they are each others safety And if the one of them do well the other cannot be in Peril or Danger and there is nothing more hazardous than to keep them in one place since the Life of the one separate is maintained in the Body of the other But for all these Reasons perceiving he would be forced from her if she consented not willingly to deliver him after many tender Kisses and falling Tears praying Almighty God to preserve and defend him from all dangers she delivered him bitterly Weeping to the Arch Bishop saying That before the High Majesty of Heaven she should require that poor Innocent Infant at his Hands The Protector who with many Nobles waited in the Star-Chamber was over-joyed when he saw the Arch-Bishop return with what he so passionately desired and taking the Young Duke in his Arms he kissed him and said Welcom my Lord with all my Heart Protesting so great a love to him that most believed it real Thus having gotten the Prize he aimed at the better to secure it he conveyed both him and the King in great State through the City of London to the Tower in order as he pretended to the Coronation when things were setled tho' indeed there was nothing out of frame but what himself had disordered where having placed them under such as he confided in he began more openly to tamper with the Duke of Buckingham whom he knew was Popular and Powerful offering to Marry his Son to his Daughter and give him the Earldom of Hartford which the Duke claimed in King Edward's time as his Right but could not obtain if he would to the utmost endeavour to place the Crown on his Head and by this means he won him entirely to his Interest tho' it afterward proved to his destruction For Gloucester being made King performed nothing of his promise The next thing he had to do was to gaine the Lord Hastings who had been in high favour with Edward the Fourth and was now Lord Chamberlain to the Young King but fearing to disclose his mind openly to him for great Rewards he procured one Catesby a Favourite of Hastings secretly with dark discourse to sound him This Man tho' he had been maintained by that Lord and had his Fortunes raised to what he was by him proved so Treacherous that having done what he could and finding that Lord no ways inclinable to favour Gloucester's design he not only told him of it but encouraged him to remove him out of the World if he intended to compass his desires Which being Resolved on he called a Grand Council of Lords at the Tower to consider of suitable preparations for the Coronation and when they had sat a considerable time he came in and took his Chair Jesting with some of them after he had excused his too long stay requesting of Doctor Morton Bishop of Ely some Strawberries that grew in his Garden at Holbourn which he immediatly sent for and took it as a favour that the Protector was so kind to him as to put it in his power to oblige him in any thing for there had been formerly no good understanding between them Then making excuse for a short Absence he desired them to proceed in the method proposed when about an hour after coming in he took his Chair frowning biting his â—ip and rubbing his Fist which tokens oâ— displeasure strangely amazed them so that they kept a profound silence which the Protector perceiving demanded what punishment they deserved who had wickedly procured his destruction he being Unkle and Protector of the King This amused them more than before but knowing themselves Innocent of any such intention the Lord Hastings who by reason of the antient Friendship that had been between them thinking he might make bold Replied My Lord such as have so transgressed deserve the severest Punishment the Law can inflict To which the other Lords Assented Then said he that Sorceress meaning the Queen and Shoars Wife having Conspired by Witchcraft to destroy me So drawing up his Sleeve he shewed his Arm which had been wasted from his Infancy as they all knew as a Testimony of what he had said biding them behold how their Charms had begun already to take effect on him Hereupon the Lord Hastings who had taken Jane Shoar to his Bed upon the Death of King Edward thinking to excuse her said My Lord if they have done so they deserve punishment Thou Traytor Replyed the Protector Servest thou me with Iffs and And 's I tell thee they have done it and that I will make good upon thy Body And so striking his Fist upon the Table the Room was presently filled with Armed Men one of which struck at the Lord Standley and as nimble as he was to sink under the Table grievously Wounded him in the Head and himself Arrested the Lord Hastings biding him make hast to shrive himself For by St. Paul which was his usual Oath he would neither Eat nor Drink till his Head was off And accordingly he was Beheaded on a Log on the Green within the Tower and the same day by the Protectors order the Lords and Sir Thomas Vaughan were Beheaded at Pomfret to whose Death this Lord had consented as appears by his own Story to one Hastings a Priest whom he met on Tower-Hill as he was going to the Council viz. That he should soon hear that Snare they had laid for him in Edward the Fourths time which caused him much trouble would now take themselves One thing more is remarkable The Lord Stanley the Night preceding Dreamed That he and Hastings were Wounded by a Boar that the Blood run about his Ears and seeing the Protector had the White Boar for his Cognizance he truly Interpreted it desiring he would accompany him in Flying ere they could be missed out of his reach but he made slight of it desiring the Messenger to tell his Lord That Dreams were Fables and Fancies yet at his Death he repented he had not taken this warning as sent from Heaven The Protector having Imprisoned the Lord Stanley Arch-Bishop of York Cardinal Bishop of Ely and several others put himself and the Duke of Buckingham into old Armour as if first come to hand in some great danger and sending for the Lord Mayor and many of the chief Citizens movingly told them That himself and the Duke of Buckingham were by Conspiracy of Hastings and his Accomplices to have been Murthered at the Council Table had he not by force prevented it desiring them
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
Practices which much rejoyced the Popish Clergy who supposed by this they had gained a main Point to Exterpate those of the New upstart Religion as they called them tho' indeed what they sincerely Professed was as Antient as Christ and his Apostles being upon Earth but God blasted this design by putting an end to this King in the expiration of his Life when he had waded through a Sea for the most part of Innocent Blood incited thereto by the cruel Principles and sinister Designs of the Popish Clergy And so on King Edward the Sixth's coming to the Crown a happy Reformation ensued but whether God was angry with us for not making a right use of his Favours and Indulgence so mercifully extended towards us or intended to try the Faith Constancy and Patience of those he designed for Vessels of Honour I determine not but that Good Prince being taken to a better Life after a short Reign Mary his Eldest Sister Succeeding him set open again the flood-gates of Persecution by restoring the Popes Supremacy and by severe Lawes made by a Popish Parliament strictly Prohibiting the excercise of the Protestant Religion for so now it was called from some Cities and Provinces in Germany Protesting against the Romish Errors and Superstitions yet so mightily were the Professors of it strengthened by the Divine assistance that neither Flames nor other Tortures could bring about her purposes But after she had put divers of the Nobility to Death who stood in the way to hinder the introducing Popery under pretence of their opposing her coming to the Crown c. which see at large in her Reign she and her Counsellors singled out the most Eminent of the Reformed Clergy dooming them before-hand to Death thinking thereby to terrify those of a meaner Rank into any compliance that should be required whereupon they were dispossessed of their Bishopricks and Popish Bishops Officiated Thomas Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was sent to the Tower and to put a more colourable gloss on this Design a Disputation was appointed at Oxford between the Reformed and Romish Clergy which was willingly undertaken against all Opponents by Arch-Bishop Cranmer Nicholas Ridley Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer who had been Bishop of Worcester The chief Points to be Disputed on was about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and tho' they were shut up in Prisons had no Books nor Friends to Conferr with and a short warning yet on their several Days notwithstanding the Noise Clammour Reproaches and great Numbers of their Opposers one by one suffering the violence of many at once without Order Measure or Modesty Confuted their Adversaries to that degree with found Reasons and Arguments from Scripture Fathers and the Use of the Primitive Church That being non plussed all they in a Rage could retort was viz. You have the Word and we have the Sword see which is likeliest to prevail And indeed the Disputation finished they passed Sentence of Death upon those venerable Prelates That they should be Burnt as Hereticks which Sentence they received with great Alacrity and Constancy of Mind Lattimer expressing much Joy that the pleasure of God was such that being near Fourscore Years of Age he should have so happy a Period as Martyrdom and so they were remanded to Prison to expect it at the leasure of their Enemies and indeed their Execution was delay'd a considerable time in hopes they would have Recanted but at length Ridley and Lattimer were brought to the Town Ditch in Oxford and bound to the Stake Exhorting the People to a constant perseverance in the True Religion and recommending their Souls into the hands of Almighty God Sung even in the Flames and so made an exchange of Earth for Heaven Whilst Cranmer from his Prison beheld the dismal Spectacle and on his Knees was Praying that their Faith and Constancy might not fail in this their Firey Tryal The Archbishops Death was deferred for a time but the Pope sending an Express Order to Degrade him and deliver him over to the Secular Power to be burnt within Ten Days committing the Degrading part to Thurlby Bishop of Ely and Bonner Bishop of London who succeeded Ridley which done the Aged Prelate was so cunningly dealt-with by one Fryar John a Spaniard That he prevailed over his Humane-Frailty in desiring Life upon promising a Pardon and Advancement to Recant his former Tenents and be reconciled to the Church of Rome whereupon he Subscribed a Writing to that purpose but Cardinal â—ool â—or â—ardener was Dead who had designed it for himself wanting the â—rchbâ—shoprick The old Popish Maxim of No Faith to be kept with Hereâ—â—ke was turned upon him and in the height of expectation of â—ire he was brought to Execution and tho' they certified him there was no hopes of Pardon but he must instantly suffer the Flames yet they used many Perswasions to induce him to a Publick Recantation before he went to the Stake shewing him the Writing he had Signed at the sight of which he burst out into Tears Then in a composed Temper addressing himself to the People after he had Exhorted them in moving words to amend their Lives and bring forth Fruits worthy of a Christian Profession he repeated the principal Articles of the Christian Religion Explained his own Opinion and professed the Kingdom of Antichrist was contained in the Papacy and upheld by the Popes Authority And Lastly he shewed how greatly he had offended God by his Recantation Professing that his Right Hand which had rashly Signed it should first feel the Punishment But here he was so Interrupted by the Clamours and Railings of the Popish Priests that he could be heard but little more and then being clad in very vile Garments and hurry'd to the Stake with many Taunts and bitter Scoffs when the Fire was lighted he stretched his Right Hand into the Flame and drew it not back unless once seeming to wipe his Beard till it droped off and the Flames raging high he lift up his Eyes and left and towards Heaven crying out Lord receive my Soul and Dyed not moving his Body whilst he had Life And when the whole Frame was consumed his Heart was found whole and unsinged by the Fire in which God himself by a Miracle gave testimony that his Heart was upright with him And this in any of the Popish Faction would have been sufficient for a Canonization and crowded for a place in the Calender among their Adored Saints And soon after the Bodies of two Learned Men viz. Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius were a long time after they had been buried dug up accused of Heresie and burnt in the Market-place in Cambridge and Peter Martyr's Wife dug up likewise and buried in a Dunghill so it appears their Rage and Mallice extended as well to the Dead as the Living And Cardinal Pool immediatly entered upon the Archbishoprick which before was only sequestered Whilst these Great Men fell those of a lower Rank escaped not for Mr.
labouring to destroy the Hugonots or Protestant Party in France constrained them for the safety of their Lives to fall into a Civil War The Queen assisted the latter and had Haverdegrace and New Haven put into her Hands as Cautionary Towns for the reimbursment of her Charges when things should be settled and to keep them firm to her Interest so that they should not make a Peace without her consent and hereupon she sent them 6000 Men under the Command of the Lord Ambrose Dudley and kept the Seas with a considerable Navy Whilst matters went thus Abroad Designs were carrying on against the Queen at Home whereupon divers of Note especially those descended of the Blood Royal by the two Daughters of Henry the Seventh were Imprisoned And she calling a Parliament an Act passed for Assurance of the Queens Royal Power and Authority over all Estates and Subjects within her Dominions And further Enacted That the Oath of Supremacy should be administered to all Persons for the better discovery of such as sided with the Pope against her which much startled the Papists and made them quiet for a time In the mean while the Prince of Conde one of the chief Leaders of the French Protestants being Overthrown at the Battel of Derux was taken Prisoner as likewise Sir Nicholas Trockmorton who paying his Ransom was set at Liberty But the Admiral Chastillion took so many Places as startled the Guises insomuch that they consented to an Edict of Pacification whereby the Princes were to be restored to the French Kings Favour Conde alured with the hopes of the Lieutenancy of France and a Marriage with the Queen of Scots the Hugonets to enjoy the freedom of their Religion c. The Agreement was suddainly made and the English not only treacherously Abandoned but they Joyned with the Papists to drive them out of the places they held and straightly Besieged New Haven which by reason of the Plague raged grievously in it they had Surrendered to them But the Spanish Greatness threatning England and the French offering reasonable Terms a Peace was concluded between the two Crowns and Ratified upon their delivering Hostages to pay the Queen at a set time a large Sum of Money upon which the French King was Invested with the Order of the Garter Hereupon the Spaniard in a fret prohibited all Commerce between the English and his Subjects which made the Queen remove the Wooll-Mart from Antwerp to Ems in Frizland but the Low Countries being much Impoverished thereby the Edict was Repealed and now the Queen made her great Favourite Sir Robert Dudley Lord Denbigh Earl of Leicester Knight of the Garter Chancellor of Oxford and Master of the Horse and this she seemed to do the better to qualify him for a Husband for the Queen of Scots but it swelled him to that Ambition that he soon aspired to make pretentions to herself and the Queen of Scots soon after Married the Lord Darnly Son to the Duke of Lenox of the Royal Blood and of this Marriage was born James the Sixth of Scotland and first of England This not only displeased Queen Elizabeth but the greater part of the Scots Nobility because he was scarce 20 Years of Age and easie to be sway'd any way However he was sollemnly Crowned King but by the contrivance of Murray the Queen of Scots Bastard Brother and others he some time after was Blown-up in his Lodging and his mangled Body thrown by the force of the Pouder into the Garden The Parliament of England meeting again humbly besought the Queen to Marry but she still declined it Shortly after the Queen of Scots falling into a Languishing condition Recommended her Son to the Protection of Queen Elizabeth yet Recovering Earl Bothwell suspected to be one with Murray in destroying Darnley was forced to fly the Kingdom and Murray raised a Party against the Queen to Depose her when after some contesting being over-powered she fled into England and craved Queen Elizabeth's Protection but by the Advice of some Counselours bribed by Murray's Faction in stead of allowing her tho' near in Blood that favour she was committed a Prisoner in the custody of the Earl of Shrewsbury and after 20 Years Confinement lost her Head for holding Correspondencies with the Papists to take away the Life of the Queen A Passage having been discovered by the English to Russia and great Privileges granted to the Merchants The Czar or Emperour of Moscovy and Russia sent his Ambassadors to Queen Elizabeth with Rich presents of Furrs and such other Commodities as his Country yielded and with them one Anthony Jenkinson an Englishman who had first Sailed the Caspian Sea his demands was to make a League Offensive and Defensive with her but by reason of the distance of the place the Queen agreed not to the former but left the latter indifferent and so the Ambassadors having been highly Treated were dismissed with a return of Presents In Ireland Shan O Neal fell into Rebellion but being defeated by the English and throwing himself on the Hebridians he was by them Slain after a seeming kind reception and the Earl of Desmond was seized and sent Prisoner to England and Sir John Hawkins being in America with some Ships and contrary to the Capitulation set-upon by the Spaniard his Goods rifled and some of his Men slain the English Nation was so exasperated with the Treachery that they demanded a War with Spain which however at that time was not granted for the Queen having taken the French Protestants who were cruelly Persecuted under Charles the Ninth was employed to support them with Money and Ammunition and in providing for such a fled hither tho' they had basely abandoned her at New Haven But the Duke of Alva the King of Spains General making fierce War in the Low Countries he brought in the Inquisition to Extirpate the Protestant Religion There there happened an Accident that opened a Breach between England and Spain viz. Vast Sums of Money being sent in a Spanish Ship by Italian Merchants to be Imployed in the Bank in the Low Countries for the ruin of the Protestants there those Vessells were Chased upon the English Coast by some French Men of War and the Money being brought on Shoar the Queen was Advised by her Privy Council to stay it and give the Merchants Owners Security for the Repaiment of it Whereupon the Duke of Alva caused all the Goods and Effects of the English in the Low Countries to be seized and the Queen caused the same to be done by the Dutch Merchants in England which were of greater Value and Commerce being Prohibited the English removed the Staple to Hamb rough and the Privatieâ—s set out so greatly Endamaged the Spaniard that the Queen was forced to restrain them yet the Duke of Alva secretly practised to raise Rebellion in England and Ireland and the Earls of Northumberland Westmorland and others did make an Insurrection in the North being Instigated to it by Morton a
Counsellors which made him Fortify his Pallace and accept of a Guard of the Inns of Court Gentlemen who offered their Service to defend his Person from any Insults The Parliament hereupon apprehending a fear of Danger that threaten'd them assumed a Guard for their Defence constituting the Earl of Essex Captain of it and appointed an extraordinary Assembly in the City of London and soon after committed twelve Pishops Prisoners to the Tower which scared most if not all the rest from giving their Attendance and many Ministers of State were Accused and Censured And the Earl of Strafford upon his Tryal being accused of many things and plainly answering all that by Articles was laid to his Charge and the Court Adjourning without prefixing any time of meeting the Commons proceeded to draw up and dispatch a Bill of Attainder against him which the King with great difficulty and some reluctancy of Mind Signed but the Warrant for his Execution he laboured much to defer saying He had heard the Cause and believed in his Conscience the Earl was not guilty of Treason and yet he could not clear him of Misdemeanour but hoped a way might be found out to satisfie Justice and their Fears without oppressing his Conscience and had consulted about it with his Judges and Bishops before he had Signed the Bill as also a Bill for the sitting of the Parliament during the pleasure of both Houses which last was occasioned for satisfying the Scots who required vast Sums of Money However the Earl was Executed tho' the King laboured much to save him proposing his perpetual Imprisonment and many other things He was attended at his Execution on Tower-Hill by the Arch-bishop of Armagh and to this Effect addressed him to the People viz. That he was come thither to pay the last Debt he ow'd to Sin with a good Hope of rising to Righteousness that he Dyed willingly Forgave all and patiently submitted declaring himself Innocent of the Crimes charged against him wishing Prosperity to the King and People He advised his Adversaries to repent of their violent Proceedings against him saying He thought it a strange way to write in Blood the beginning of Reformation and Settlement of the Kingdom however he wished his Blood might rest and not cry against them declaring he Dyed in the Communion of the Church of England for whose Prosperity he Prayed and concluded with a Desire that the Spectators would pray for him And then had his Head stricken off There having been about this time some Tumults made about White-Hall and Westminster and the King being inform'd they were encouraged by the Lord Kimbolton and five Members of the House of Commons the King demanded those five Members whom he accused of High-Treason as also the Lord Kimbolton a Member of the House of Peers but they were refused to be delivered Whereupon he came with about 500 armed Men to the House of Commons where the Speaker resigned the Chair to him but looking about and not seeing those he expected for upon Notice they were withdrawn he declared his good Intentions to the Parliament saying He hoped they would send him those Members against whom he had matters of high Concern But they were so far from doing it that they put the City of London in Arms and Adjourned their sitting for five days forbidding the Citizens to help the King to find out any of the accused Members and so far were they from it that the Parliament sitting again they carry'd them in Triumph and placed them in their Seats shouting and threatning as they passed by White-hall and to lessen the King's Power the Parliament sent Letters to the adjacent Counties commanding the Militia to draw up in Arms Whereupon they found that upon occasion more than 20000 Men could be got in a Readiness These proceedings made the King withdraw to Hampton-Court whose absence much encreased the Parliaments Authority among the People and to endear them to the Citizens they adjourned from Westminster to London and sent their Mandates to the Governors of Sea-port Towns strictly forbidding them to Obey any of the King's Orders unless they were confirmed by them This more weaken'd his Power than all their former Proceedings which the King by an early precaution in Garisoning those parts might have prevented The King considering that things were likely to go ill and that he had given away his Power and could not dissolve this Parliament he endeavoured by mild Terms to win them to his Interest and Writ from Windsor protesting his good meaning towarâ—s both Houses and that he would be ready to any thing that might be for the good of his People whereupon they sent Messengers to desire him to return to London but for some Reasons he refused it Hereupon the Commons drew up an humble Remonstrance which seemed so unreasonable to the Peers as to what therein they proposed that they rejected it till they saw the Commons uniting against them and then Messengers were sent to the King with it who with some Reservation yielded to part of it and denyed the rest which not satisfying them they proceeded to Petition the King That the accused Members might be freed from all imputation of Guilt which was Granted During the King's being busie in Scotland a horrid Conspiracy and Rebellion broke out in Ireland which was discovered but the Night before it began to the Lords-Justices by Owen O Conally by which means Dublin and some other places were secured and divers of the Conspirators apprehended However it was carry'd on with such a Rage and Fury by the Encouragement of the Popish Priests Monks and Fryars that nothing for a time but Slaughter and miserable Cruelties on the English and Scots were to be seen in most of the Provinces the Romish Priests loudly declaring that they were Hereticks and ought to be Extirpated from the Earth that it it was no more Sin to kill them than Dogs and a mortal one to Relieve and Protect them giving the Sacrament to divers on condition that they should spare neither Man Woman nor Child saying It did them a great deal of Good to wash their Hands in their Blood and they were told If any of the Murtherers in this Attempt were slain they should immediately go to Heaven so that nothing but Blood-shed and piteous Cries were to be seen and heard in most parts of that Kingdom The King to Redress this Solicited the Scots Parliament to send ovâ—r Forces but they refused Alledging It was a dependant Kingdom on England and if the English Parliament would make use of and pay any of their Men they might raise them or otherwise they would not intermeddle And the Parliament of England being slow in sending over Succours about 200000 of all sorts fell in this unparrallel'd Massacre but Forces going over the Cut-throats were every where Routed many Slain and the rest betook themselves to their Fastnesses and the state of Affairs were restored to some good Order The Contendings between the
were Kill'd and about 300 of lesser Note on our Part The Enemy lost 3000 and were pursued 4 Miles and upon this Defeat Drogheda Surrendred and K. James with part of his broken Army hasted to Dublin and from thence he went to Waterford where soon after he took Ship and Sailed for France and the King of England coming to Dublin was received with all imaginable Demonstrations of Joy and a great many Protestants who had been Imprisoned were set at Liberty the Papists disarmed and the Affairs in those Parts settled and many places that stood out Surrendred The Brass and Copper Money K. James had Coined as passable in that Kingdom was called in or set at the Value of the Metal only Sheriffs appointed and the Face of Justice restored Whilst these things were doing beyond the Seas an Engagement happened between the English and French off Beachy viz. on June 30. in which the Dutch Squadron being forward to gain the Weather-Gage of the Enemy received great Loss many of them being Burnt or so shattered that after the Fight they fell into the Hands of the Enemy the English red Squadron not coming up as was expected for which Miscarriage our Admiral the Earl of Torrington was Tryed but acquitted and after the Fight the French insulted our Coasts burning Tingmouth a Viâ—â—age of Fishers Cots and doing some other Damage after which they retired to their own Coast and one Godfrey Cross an Inn-keeper in Kent for going on Board the Enemy and giving Intelligence was afterward Try'd Condemned and Executed near St. Thomas's Waterings in the Kentish-road from London And this Year the King besieged Lymerick in Ireland but by reason of the Strength of the Place advancing of the Season and great Rains that over-flowed the River Shannon on which it is seated having in vain summoned it he drew off and returned to England But our Fleet standing to that Coast and the Earl of Marlborough on board it with considerable Land-Forces and joyned upon Landing by part of the Army already there they took Cork and Kinsale with little Loss at the Siege of the first the Noble Duke of Grafton amongst others pressing too forwards on the Works was Slain by a small Shot A Plot was soon after Discovered to have set the City of Dublin on Fire and in that Hurry to have fallen on the King ' Forces in Garison there and by a miserable Slaughter to have Surprized it but some Letters intimating the Intention being found by the Care of the Lord Sidney and Conningsby whom the King had appointed Lords-Justices the Mischief was prevented by securing Suspected Persons And now the Parliament of England waited on the King with their humble Addresses of Thanks for the great Things he had done for these Kingdoms and to Congratulate his happy Return and Success and the King was not slow by Marks of Honour and Promotion to Gratify those that had well-behaved themselves in the Service and among others Coll. Cuts was Created Baron of Gowran in the Kingdom of Ireland he also appointed his Privy Council there and all other Officers of State Judges and Magistrates restored such as had been outed and appointed some new Bishops causing a Regulation of the Clergy in General The Winter thus passing on the King prepared to pass the Seas to be at the Congress of Princes and Embassadors appointed at the Hague to Concert the Measures for carrying on the War against France and after he had passed several Acts and Prorogu'd the Parliament he Embarq'd with a splendid Train of Nobility and with great Difficulty by reason of the Ice it being January Landed near Maesland-sluys and being Complemented by the Deputies of the States passed to the Hague where the States General and Council of State with other Colledges made their Complements to him as also the Foreign Ministers and to make his Reception the more Magnificent three Triumphal Arches were Erected one by the States-General and two by the Magistrates with sundry Motto's and Devices Expressing the great things he had done and what more Glorious were Promised from his Heroick Virtues too many here to Enumerate and in the Evening the Cannon Illuminations Fire-works and shouts of the People spoke more loudly the Welcome of a Prince that has so well deserved of that Nation And at his first appearing in the Assembly of the States-General taking his Place at the upper-end of the Table he with many Obliging Expressions declared his Affections and good Inclinations to them in a most Elegant Speech which being deliberated on the Heer Van Wickers President of the Assembly in the name of the rest made a suitable Answer and the Duke of Brandenburg and other Princes being met a League and strict Amity was agreed on for restoring the Peace and Tranquility of Europe in reducing by Arms the Grand Disturber of it to Reason and a Restitution of what he had wrongfully either by Surprize or Vioolence taken from the Confederates for which War had been Proclaimed by them Whilst the King was thus busy beyond the Seas some ill-affected Persons were Designing at home to betray our Strengths into the Hands of the Common Enemy by giving account of the Ports Shipping and what else might facilitate an Invasion and on this account the Lord Preston John Ashton and Edmund Elâ—ot were seized in a Smack as they were passing out of the River of Thames by Captain Billop and Papers of Dangerous Consequence found with which they were designed for France for which the two first being Tryed and found Guilty of High-Treason Ashton was Executed The King having appointed the Baron D' Ginkle chief Commander of his Forces in Ireland having received Supplies and Stores from England he besieged Ballymore which surrendred upon Discretion And having Garisoned it the Army marched and set down before Athlone where they had put up French Colours to make him believe the Garison mostly consisted of that Nation However a Breach being made and succeeded by a vigorous Attack the Base Town was soon won and the other followed the same Fate in a short time tho' their whole Army lay behind it and the Soldiers furiously entring a great many were put to the Sword This was no sooner Repaired and Garisoned but the Army pursued the Retreating Enemy and in a long-Contested Battel at Aghrim gave them a total Rout so that they never considerably appeared in the Field after it St. Ruth the French General was slain with a Cannon-shot at the beginning of the Fight and all their Cannon Baggage Ammunition and Plunder of the Camp fell to the share of our Men. And being Refreshed they marched to Galloway which place after a considerable Battery was Surrendred on Articles and the Garison marched to Lymerick which was the next place besieged but holding out Obstinately and having in it a numerous Garison it was thought fit after a considerable Siege to grant advantagious Articles and as many as would had leave to depart the Kingdom And
the Plew-Posts in Spring-Garden and struck with Horrour at so Stupendious a Wickedness acquainted the Earl of Portland with it intreating him to Discover it to the King which he did and Pendergrass was thereupon introduced by him to the King in his Closet where he opened the nature of the Conspiracy with the Circumstances but was a long time pressed to it before he would name the Conspirators which at last he did under Promise he should not be brought in for a Witness unless he would voluntarily do it This was seconded and confirmed by Monsieur De la Rue who was introduced to the King by Brigadier Lewson who gave in the Names of those he knew And much about the same time came Expresses from the Duke of Wirtemburg that the French Forces to the number of 22000 were drawn down to Callis Dunkirk and other Sea-ports where there lay about 500 Transport-ships and a great many Men of War to conduct them for their Landing in England with the first fair Wind with the late K. James at the head of them The Duke of Berwick had been in England and was returned with an account of what Preâ—arations their Friends were making here for their Reception which made the French King say he never knew a Design more fairly laid for assurance of Success and his Ministers bragged of it in Foreign Courts And indeed a great part of the Fleet did put to Sea before we had Notice of them but were driven back by contrary Winds and then lay expecting the Sign at â—â—ver-Clifts that King William was Assassinated and it was given out in France that he was drawing towards his end and that they wondered that they heard not of his Death At other timer times it was said he was Kill'd a Hunting c. which makes it plain their intended Invasion depended chiefly on their intenced Assassination for K. William alive to face them at the Head of his victorious Troops that had often beat them at their own Doors they could have little Hopes to prevail but they on the other hand expected to find us all in Confusion as they gave it out we were if the Assassination had taken but were strangely startled when they saw Admiral Russel with about 60 Men of War blocking up their Harbours and threatning to burn them with his Fire-ships which constrained the Land-forces to Disimbark and at length with Shame Loâ—s and excessive Charge gave over their Enterprize which the French thought before so easy that they said K. James was not coming to invade England but to take the quiet possession of his Throne and the 〈◊〉 King had sent him large Bundles of plausible Declarations to be dispersed at his Landing with a Promise to supply him with more Troops as he saw Occaâ—â—oâ— and Scotland as well as Eâ—gland was to have been invaded Whilst these things were doing beyond the Seas divers of the Conspirators were Seized here and imprisonâ—â— before the King put out his Proclamation as Charâ—ock Bartram â—rimeâ— Anbury and others and the King going to the House of Peers and senâ—â—iâ—g for the Commons acquainted them with the Conspiracy and intended invasion Whereupon they Congratulated his Safety and declared their Abhorrance of the Villanous and Barbarous Design Solemnly Promising to assist him to the utmost against the Late King and Deâ—â—â— his Royal Person against all his Enemies and if he should come by a Violent Death which God forbid to Revenge it upon the Papists and soon after entred into an Association to the same Purpose as since all the Cities and Corporations c. in his Dominions have done Expresses were sent immediately away to Scotland and Ireland the Sea ports stopped and all Suspected Persons with their Horses and Arms secured and an Act passed for the continuing the sitting oâ— the Parliament if the King should chance to Dye till the next Heir in Succession should come to the Crown to Dissolve it Thus things being pretty well secured and the King's Proclamation out for the Apprehending divers of the Conâ—pirators by Name and 1000l Reward with Pardon for such as should come in Voluntarily and make Discovery most of them that were known to be in it were Apprehended On the 11th of March Robert Charâ—ock Edward King and Thomas Keys were Tryed at the Old-Bailey on a special 〈◊〉 and upon full Evidence being found Guilty they received Sentence as â—â— Case or High-Treason and on the 18th were drawn to Tyburn and there Hang'd and Quartered Charnock and King boldly Confessing it in the Papers they left and Keys made no Denyal of it The next was Sir John Friend a Brewer in the Minories he took his Tryal for High-Treason at the Old-Bailey and being found Guilty as was also the next Day Sir William Parkyns both of them received Sentence as the fore-going and at their Execution owned the Fact in General and many Particulars and were nevertheless Absolved by three Non-jurant Parsons for which Presumption two of them were Committed Tryed and Fined The next that came on the Stage for this Horrid Conspiracy were Ambrose Rookwood Robert Lowick and Charles Cranburn who were Tryed at the King's-Bench-Bar at Westminster April 21 22. for High-Treason and the Fact being plain they were found Guilty and received Sentence and according to it they were Drawn Hang'd and Quarter'd Cramburn and Rookwood Confess'd what was Sworn against them and Lowick said he would willingly have assisted King James had he Landed The Heads and Quarters of these and the others Executed were set on the Gates of the City as terrible Examples of Offended Justice Two more were also brought to Justice on this Account viz. Mr. Peter Cook and Capt. Knightly the first found Guilty upon a long hearing and the latter Pleaded Guilty to the Indictment and both receiving Sentence have hitherto found sparing Mercy Things being at this pass the King having given Audience to the Venetian Ambassadors who passed through London in great State and dismissed them Prorogued the Parliament and leaving the management of Affairs in the hands of the Lords Justices went to the Army in Flanders And the Duke of Savoy contrary to the Mind of the Confederates clapped up a Peace with France No Memorable Transaction except a Battel between the Eâ—ector of Saxony and the Turks in Hungary has hitherto happened as to this Campaign and Peace more than War is at present the common Discourse And thus have I brought down this History to the Year of our LORD 1696 being the Eighth Year of the Reign of his most Excellent Majesty King WILLIAM the Third whom God grant Long to Reign FINIS