and other places the better to secure his new acquired greatness and was the first that admitted the Jews to Inhabit England and finding some stirs in Normandy he re-passed the Seas and fought his Son Robert who dismounted him but knowing his voice remounted him and begged his pardon and by that means they were made Friends and the War ceased However finding Odo Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent secretly Conspiring against him he Confiscated his Estate and Banished him his Dominions and being about to War against the French who during the Contest with his Son had offered some Indignities to his Dominions in Normandy he fell sick of a great pain and disorder in his Bowels whereat the French King in a scofing manner said Our Cousin William is now in Childbed therefore it behoves us to consider what number of Candles we must offer when he is Churched for no doubt they must be very many This being told to King William he in a rage swore by the Resurrection and brightness of God That his Cousin of France should be at no such cost or trouble but that at his Churching himself would light a thousand Candles in France and he failed not in his promise for entering that Kingdom with Fire and Sword he burnt the City of Mentz or Metz and many other places yet being too eager in pursuit of the French and of a Corpulent Body his Horse with a surious bound broke the Inner Rim or Film of his Belly of which when he had quieted the Disturbances abroad and at home and an extream Surfeit he got by overheating himself in action he died after a considerable sickness at Roan in Normandy Anno 1087. and there forsaken of his Sons and Courtiers who hasted to secure their respective Interests his Body was left unburied till one Harulims a poor Country Knight at his proper charge conveyed it to Cane where upon the attempting to bury him in St. Stephen's Chappel it was denied by one Ascelinus Fitz Arthur who in the Name of God forbad it saying It was the very place of his Father's House Floar which the Duke in his Life-time had wrongfully taken from him and upon his Inheritance founded the Church Therefore continued he I challenge the Ground and on God's behalf forbid that the Body of any Oppressor or Dispoiler be buried in my Earth neither shall it be Interred in the Precincts of my right But in conclusion Henry the Conqueror's younger Son hearing of the refusal compounded for 100 pound weight of silver and the Body was accordingly Interred with little or no Pomp for during the Contest his Belly burst in sunder and the Contageon thereby occasioned was so great that few could indure it he died on the 9th day of September 1087. in the 56th year of his Dukedom of Normandy and the 21st of his Reign over England in the 64th year of his Age his Wife was Maud Daughter to Baldwin the first Earl of Flanders his Issue was Robert sirnamed Curthois or Short-boots William sirnamed Miser who died Anno 1028. Richard who after his Father had gained the English Diadem came to a violent Death being gored in the New Forrest by a Stag or as others have it died by the stroke of a Bough William Rufus who succeeded him in the Kingdom of England though he nominated no Successor but left it to God's disposal much bewailing on his Death-Bed the Rigour and Oppressions he had used towards the English Henry born at Selby in York-shire Anno 1070. Cicely a veiled Nun Constance Married to Allain Earl of Britain in France Alice Married to Stephen Earl of Bloys by whom she had Stephen Earl of Mortain and Boleine afterward King of England Gundred Married to William d' Warren a Noble Norman and first Earl of Surry Ela who in her Child-hood was contracted to Duke Harrold afterward King of England Margaret who in her Childhood was given to Alphons King of Gallicia in Spain and William Preverel his Natural Son who was Created Earl of Nottingham His last Will and Testament was That all his Goods should be distributed to Churches Ministers and Poor limiting their respective Portions and to the Church and Monks of St. Stevens in Normandy where he above all â—oveted to be Buried he gave several Mannors as likewise his Crown which was afterward Redeemed by his Son Henry To Robert he left the Dutchey of Normandy but left as we said England free only wishing that his Son William might succeed him in it and presageing that Henry should in Conclusion possess all his Dominions he gave him 5000 Pounds the remainder of his Treasure He Deposed and Imprisoned Stigand Arch-bishop of Canterbury who died in Prison However he built many fair Churches and Abbies endowing them with Revenues and large Priviledges specially Battle-Abby where he slew King Harrold so that any Theâ—f or Murtherer flying thither had safe Protection and if the Abbot came by where any Execution was in hand he might if he pleased save the Malefactor he allowed a certain Pention to the Monks to â—ray for the Soul of King Harrold and those that were â—lain in the Battle In this King's time who was the 20th sole Monarch of England happened a dreadful Earthquake strange Burning Feavors proving very Mortal Murrains causing great Dearth of Cattle extraordinary Rains and Inundations which softned the Hills to that degree that some of them sunk to a flatness and overwhelmed the Neighbouring Villages most of the chief Cities suffered by Fire and London had her Houses and Churches burnt as the fire carried it from the West Gate to the East Gate Thus Lived and sell the Potent Conqueror Death's sorce subdued what ne'er was foil'd in War The Reign of William II. Sirnamed Rufus King of England c. VVIlliam Rufus so named from the redness of his Face although his Elder Brother Robert was alive immediately passing to London he by the assistance of Lanfrank Arch-bishop of Canterbury and VVolstane so far wrought upon the Council that he procured himself to be Crowned Anno 1087. at VVestminster but Odo his Uncle returning from his Banishment stirred up Robert his Brother against him instigating the Nobles to take part with him but Robert wanting Money was obliged for the better carrying on the Expedition to Pawn the Province of Constantine to his Brother Henry but whilst these preparations were in hand VVilliam to ingratiate himself with the English made large Promises to take off the hard Taxes and restore the Laws his Father had abolished upon which the people siding with him he wrested many of the strong Holds out of the hands of thosâ— that had seized them for his Brother Robert proceeding to besiege his Uncle Odo in Richester putting forth his Proclamation by which he ordered all people to repair thither in Arms and whoever refused he should be accounted a Niding which word at that time was so distastful and hated by the English as signifying a Coward or mean-spirited Fellow
affirm to be done upon Salisbury plain but however the Nobles thus dead the Juits Angles and Saxons fell on with Fire and Sword killing and destroying all that came in their way carrying a Torrent of Destruction from Sea to Sea so that the poor Britains being utterly disheartned and destitute of a Head fled before them like Flocks of timerous Sheep to the Mountains and Fastnesses many of them living in Rocks Caves and Woods upon such as Nature afforded them to avoid the fury of the destroying Enemy who resolutely bent upon a total Conquest daily sent over for more of their Companions who came in swarms devouring like Locust all the good things of the Land Thus the misery of the Britains renewed and these People began to frame their Government dividing the Country by Lott into seven Parts or petry Kingdoms called from thence The Hepterchie of the Saxons in this order 1. Kent 2. South Saxons 3. West Saxons 4. East Saxons 5. Northumberland 6. Mercia 7. East Angles These they formed into Kingdoms striving as much as in them lay to exterperate the whole Race of the Britains and raise themselves in their places Some may be curious to know the Original of this Transmarine People but Originals of this kind are generally obscure but Historians conjecture they were a branch of the Sacae an Asian People who came into Europe to find themselves better Habitations and planted on the Banks of the Rhine They were upon their arrival in Britain Idolaters worshipping a God for every day in the Week and greatly persecuted those they found to persevere in the Christian Faith And when they went to Battle they had certain Songs prepared to invoke the favour of their Deities and were very unmerciful for they sacrificed every tenth Captive and would admit of no Ransom The Garments of the Saxons were in the form of a Gassock clasped over or pined with wooden Pins their Weapons bended Swords with three notches on the back in the form of a Back-sword but broader with fiat sloaping points and battel Axes using to try the quarrel of a whole Province by single Combate suffering their Virgins to Marry but once and their Men were forbid plurality of Wives except they were Noble and they only for want of Issue Adultry they punished were severly These People going under the Denominations oâ— Saxons Argles and Jutes devided the Kingdom now called England for King Vortâ—gorn being by his Inrâ—ged Subjects over-whelmed with wildfier in his Castle or Pallace as the cause of all their Calamities by gâ—ving at first too much way and countenance to th◠〈◊〉 they parted it out as they found themselveâ— in most power or advantage by birth and Hengist having leave to take his Lot chose Kent and formed it into a Kingdom Stiling himself the first King of Kent begining his Reign 455 and Reigned with great success 34 years and was succeeded by Esca or Oscia from whom the Inhabitants were called Eskins this Prince began his Reign in the year of our Lord 490 and continued it 24 years giving place to Octa who Reigned 23 years and was succeeded by Imerick who somewhat inlarged his Borders and continued his Reign till 562 and during his time was held the second General Counsel at Constantinople for the Establishment of the Church when by the Pious and Exampler lives and Preaching of good Men Christianity that had been trampled on by the Saxons began to revive in Britain so that Ethelbert that succeeded Imerick began to harken to them and upon the Arrival of Austine the Monk and Forty others with him sent by Gregory Bishop of Rome he was Converted and Baptized Anno 596. In the 36th year of his Age and the 4th year of his Reign giving a general Liberty to his Sujects to Renounce their Paganisme so that these good Men by the Kings Appointment setling at Canterbury are reported to Baptize and Convert 10003. in a very short time which prosperous Work by the Influence of Heaven soon over-spread the Kingdom and God accordingly blessed the King with a Long Reign for he continued in his Throne 36 years and then was succeeded by Edbald who at first was averse to the Christians and for fear of him Melitus and Justus fled their Bishopricks but he being Converted by Laurence Arch-Bishop of Canterbury they were recalled but having Reigned 24 years he gave place to Ercombert Anno 5â—2 This King brought Christianity to be highlier prized than before turning the Idol Temples that had been heitherto allowed into places of True Worship commanding the first Lent to be kept that this Kingdom knew but after a Reign of 24 years he dyed and was succeeded by Egbert his Brother who basely Murthered Ethelred and Ethelbert his two Nephews Sons to Ercombert and â—ast the Dead Bodies into the River Medway for which no doubt his Reign was shorter than any before him for he continued it but 9 years ending it by Death 666 and was succeeded by Lothaire who after holding the Scepter of Kent 11 years Engageing in a Bloody Waâ— against Ethelred King of the Mercians and Edrick King of the South Saxons he was shot through with a Dart which put an end to his Life and Reign In his time aâ— third Counsel was held at Constantinople being the 6th General Counsel for the Provision and Establishment oâ— the Church Agathus being Bishop of Rome and Ederick succeeded this Prince he held not the Scepter long before his Subjects upon a disgust took Arms against him and slew him in a pitched Field maintaining themselves against all Opposers So that the Kingdom lay destitute of a Head for the space of six years 〈◊〉 this Kings Reign being the shortest of any Viz. two years only but at the end of 6 years Withred hiâ— Brother for a great sum of Mony payed to Inas goâ— the Possession and Reigned 33 years and there gave place to Egbert who began his Reign 727 in his time there appeared two fearful Commets thaeatning Wars and Desolation which afterward Ensued by the falling out of Petty Princes he Reigned 23 years and was succeeded by Ethelbert Anno 750 who held the Throne 11 years and gave place to Edrick who lost his Life after a Reign of 34 years in a fatal Battle at Otteford against Offa King of the Mercians and in his time another General Counsel was held at Nice and consequently the second General Counsel and then the Kingdom of Kent was Usurped by Ethelbert the third who for that cause being Wared upon by Kenwoolf he was taken Prisoner and crrried into Mercia 〈◊〉 yet he afterward was released and Reigned 3 years giving at the end of that time place to Cuthred whom Kenwolf King of the Mercians Instated in the Thronâ— of Kent Yet his Reign was short terminating in the space of three years and Baldred succeeding him after a long dispute with the Mercian King and 18 years continuance in his Kingdom was forced to flee and leave the Possession
interposing as some Authors have it â—…tween two Deuelists he was unfortunately run â—…rough after he had reigned six years Edred succeeding Edmund Anno 946. the Danes beâ—…n to gather courage not without being privately aâ—…mated by some treacherous English and amongst â—…em Weelstan Arch-Bishop of York so that â—… the â—… caused himself to be Crowned King of Northumâ—…rland against whom Edred marched with a great Army but had the Rear of it surprised by the underhand dealing of Woelstan however he made his party good put the Danes to the rout and returned with victory He made St. Germans in Cornwal a Bishops See which was by Canute the Dane translated to Credington and at last setled at Exeter by Edmund the Confessor where â—it at present remains This Edred was Tenth sole Monarch of England and reigned Nine years Edwy succeeded Edred Anno 955 and was crowned at Kingston upon Thames where it is repoted he committed Adultery with a great Lady his near Kinswoman in the sight of his Nobles and afterwards caused her Husband to be slain that he might more freely enjoy her He thrust out the Monks and put married Priests in the places of those that affected a single Life Banished Dunstan who is now stiled a Saint and the same that is reported to have taken a shee Devil by the Nose with a pair of Tongues for disturbing him at his Forge These things turned the Peoples Affections against the King to a degree of laying him aside and swearing Fealty to Edgar which made him pine to death after he had Rul'd Four years and was buried in the New Abby Church at Winchester Edgar began his Reign Anno 159 he recalled Dunstan and outed the married Priests making a Penalty against Drunkenness and the Land at that time being pestered with Wolves he laid a yearly Tribute of three hundred Wolves Heads upon the Prince of Wales and upon the Noble-men and Free-holders according to the largeness of their Possessions so that in a few years they were all destroyed He made it his business once a year to ride the Circuit of his Kingdom to inquire of Abuses done by his Judges in Illegal Actings or those that were done by private Persons one to another inflicting severe punishments on such as he found tardy yet he have himself up to prodigeous Lust insomuch that casting his Eyes upon any Women he liked he would have his satisfaction by fair means or force and killed Ethelwald an Earl and one of his principal Courtiers with a Spear as he was hunting in the Forest because he had married a beauteous Lady Daughter to Duke Orgarus when he had sent him to fetch her for his own use and then took her to Wife He deflowred a Nun called Wolfe-child and got on her a hopeful Brat which was afterwards Sainted by the name of Edith and afterwards another Nun called Ethelflede on whom he begot his Son Edward who succeeded him he had peace except a little bickering with the Welsh all his Reign feared a broad and at home having the greatest Navy of any King before him some Authors reporting it consisted of Three thousand Ships He was crown'd at Kingston upon Thames by Otho Archbishop of Canterbury and reigned sixteen years Edward the Thirteenth sole Monarch of England began his Reign Anno 975 and was usher'd in by a Famine and a Blazing Star with great contentions between the Monks and Married Priests Dunstan taking taking part with the former and Duke Alfarus with the latter and meeting to Dispute in an upper Room the press being great the Flour fell down and many were wounded only Dunstan's Chair stood fixed upon a Post which gave such credit to the Monks who without doubt had contrived the sinking of the Four as appeared by the Chair being fixed that they gained the point and the Married Priests were turned out suffering great necessity no Man daring to entertain or relieve them Soon after this the King going a Hunting and being near the Castle of Queen Elfreda his Mother-in-Law he separated from his Company and went to pay her and her Son a visit But the treacherous Queen to advance her own caused one of her Servants to stab him in the Back whilst he was drinking on Horseback at her Gate whereupon turning his Horse he fled the farther Treachery but not finding his retinue he through lossâ— of blood fainted and falling in the next Wood expired when he had reigned four Years Ethelred the Son of Edgar and Elfreda succeeded Edward who for his slowness in Affairs was Nick-named The Unready he was Crowned at Kingstone upon Thames the ordinary Seat of the Saxon Monarchs and upon his Coronation day a Cloud was seen throughout England half resembling Blood and half Fire and in the third year of his Reign the Danes Landed in divers parts of this Kingdom committing great Outrages and much about the same time a great part of London was laid in Ashes The King not being able to oppose the Torrent of the Danish power compounded a Peace for 10000 Pounds a Year but finding their Advantage they soon raised it to 40000 l which 〈◊〉 heavy upon the Nation and was called Danes Guilt oâ— Danes Money nor did this suffice them but they pillaged and ravag'd the Country so extreamly that the King to free his Sublects from the Oppressions they groaned under gave them private notice on St. Brices day to fall upon the Danes in all the Cities and Towns where they quartered which was done with so much secresie that most of them were cut off this being done on the 13 of November Anno 1002. the News flew into Denmark whereupon new swarms came over under the Leading of Swanus who destroyed all before them with Fire and Sword in such a terrible manner that the People fled to the Woods and Mountains and although the King bought his Peace at the price of 30000 Pounds yet not long after they flew 900 Monks and such as were of Religious Orders in Canterbury and having gotten a great sum of Money from the Archbishop Aphegus for his Ransom they notwithstanding stonâ—d him at Greenwich so that the King perceiving their treachery and cruel dealing and that he was no ways capable of opposing their fury he sent Emma his wise with her two Sons to her Brother Richard Duke of â—â—â—mandy and soon after left the Kingdom to follow them but Swanus being stabbed by his own Meâ— and Canutus his Son set up in his stead Ethelred returned but finding many Treasonable Designs carried on against him by Edricus one of his Dukes and a powerful Enemy in the Land which he was no ways able to oppose he died for grief when he had Reigned thirty seven years and was the fourteenth sole Monarch of England Edmund the Eldest Son of Ethelred Sirnamed Ironside succeeded him Anno 1016. and was Crowned at Kingstone upon Thames by Livingus Arch-bishop of Canterbury though Canute then Reigned as King at Southampton This Edmund
Wedding in Lambeth he suddenly fâ—ll down dead when he had reigned about two years He was third Son of Canute and the eighteenth sole Monarch he began his Reign Anno 1040 and was 〈◊〉 at Winâ—r and with him fell the Dâ—sh Monarchy in England and the Saxons re-entered to the no small Joy of the people Thus Monarchies and Monarchs rise and fall Whilst worldly Pomp is Fortunes Tennis-ball The Saxon Monarchy restored c. HArdicanute being dead Edward the seventh Son of Ethelred by Queen Emma was sent for out of Normandy where he had taken Sanctuary during the Danish Monarchy and Crown'd upon his Arrival at Winchester by Edsine Arch-bishop of Canterbury Anno 1042. and to gain the greater favour of the people he remitted the Tax of 40000 Pounds a year which had for 40 years been levyed upon all Lands except those of the Clergy by the Name of Dane-Guilt and the better to settle his Kingdom he compiled a Body of wholsom Laws from those of the Mercians West Saxons and Danes still known by the Title of Edward the Confessor's Laws written in Latin his Wars were only with the Welsh Irish and some Danes but those very inconsiderable yet Earl Goodwin being very powerful joyned with his Sons against him and in January a very deep Snow falling which covered the Earth till the middle of March the Cattle and Fowls of the Air were starved in abundance and the Summer produced Lightnings that burnt up the Corn whereupon a Famine ensued and the King at the Instigation of Goodwin and Robert Arch-bishop of Canterbury seized upon his Mothers Jewels and committed her Prisoner to the Abbey of Warwick putting her to undergo the Law Ordalium which is to pass over nine hot Plow-shares with naked feet and blindfold laid about a yard asunder which she did without touching them before she knew she was come to the place so that a reconciliation hereupon ensued and this manner of tryal was by way of Purgation for such as were suspected of Incontinency he Imprisoned her for Marrying Canute and not assisting him and his Brothers in their Extremity In this Kings Reign a great Earth-quake happened and Earl Goodwin was choaked at the King's Table with a piece of Bread which he wished might choak him if he had any hand in the Death of Alfrid the Kings Brother He is accounted the first King that ever Cured the King's-Evil he Marry'd Edith Daughter to Goodwin a very Beautiful Lady but had no Children by her being reported never to have Carnally known her and seeing a needy Courtier come into his Chamber one Morning as he lay in Bed with the Curtains drawn and take as much Money out of his Coffer as he could carry he suffered it without speaking but upon his third coming he reproved him of Covetousness charging him to be gone for if Hugoline his Treasurer should come and seize him in the Fact he would be sure to stretch for it and scarce was he gone when the Treasuaer who had casually left open the Coffer came and appeared in a great Consternation at the loss but the King bid him not trouble himself for he that took it had most need of it And lying soon after upon his Death-Bed perceiving those that stood about him to weep he said If you loved me you would not weep but rejeyce because I go to my Father with whom I shall receive the Joys promised to the Faithful not through my merite but the free mercy of my Saviour who sheweth mercy on whom he pleases And giving up the Ghost he was buried at Westminster when he had Reigned 20 Years and 6 Months and 27 Days he rebuilt St. Peter's Westminster and St. Margret's Church made the first Great Seal and was the 19 sole Monarch of England called the Confessor Harrold Son to Earl Goodwin and Sitha his Wife Sister to Swain the younger King of Denmark was upon the Death of King Edward taken for King though he waved the Ceremony of this Coronation and to ingratiate himself with the People lightened the Texes and Behaved himself Courteous and Affable to all Men but he had not long held the Regal Dignity before William Duke of Normandy sent to put him in mind of his Oath which was made during his Imprisonment in Normandy whether in the time of King Edward he had been driven by stress of weather importing that when ever Edward died he should secure the Kingdom for the Norman Duke but Harrold urging what he then did was by constraint and that he conceived himself not obliged to stand to it The Duke prepared to Invade the Kingdom at which time a Dreadful Commet appeared denouncing the Woes and Miseries that ensued for before the Normans arrived a great number of Danes and Norwigeans landed in the North under the Leading of Testo and Harrold Harfrager King of Denmark and spoiling the Country before them marched to York which constrained the King to draw out his Army but being about to pass Stamford-bridge built over the River Derwent his Forces were stopped by a single Dane of Gigantick stature and strength and forty of his Men killed in attempting to remove him but in the end a Soldier getting under the Bridge in a Boat run his Spear through a Creuis and by that means killed him so that the Bridge gained the King gave Battle and overthrew the Enemy with great slaughter killing the Danish King and Tosto his Brother and Olave the Kings Son with Paul Earl of Orkney were taken Prisoners however they upon earnest supplication were suffered to depart the Kingdom in the ships that brought them with the heavy news of their loss but the King had scarce time to consider his advantage before he had News that William Duke of Normandy was Landed with 50000 Men at Pevensey in Sussex on the eigth of September 1066 and fired his Fleet to put his Soldiers out of hopes of return which made Harrold hasten to oppose him who by this time had sent a Messenger to London to demand the Kingdom but they dismissed him with Threats and although the Duke to prevent the effusion of more blood proffered to fight hand to hand yet the King refused it saying It should be tried by more Swords than one Whereupon the Armys advancing pitched in a large Plain and from thence the King sent Spies into the Dukes Camp who being taken were lead from Rank to Rank and made to take a perfect survey of the Army and so dismissed The 14th of October 1366 being come the Armys drew out and faced each other till the Trumpets sounded the Charge when at the first Encounter the Normans were forced to give ground and retire in disorder which the English perceiving and thinking the Battle won carelesly disranked to pursue them which they perceiving and taking that advantage rallied and changed the face of Fortune for the Normans entering the loose squadrons overwhelmed the English with showers of Arrows so that all was turned
that without any constraint or imposition of Penalty they flocked thitheâ— from all parts whereupon the place was constrained to yield and Odo again Banish'd but whilst these thing passed Duke Robert was not idle for having gathereâ— what Forces he could he Landed at Southampton but finding himself unable to resist the Army that was marching against him and not joyned by the expected supply he repassed the Seas without doing any thing oâ— note except the ingageing VVilliam to pay him 3000 Mark a year and after his Decease to resign it to him or his Heirs and now Lanfrank the Arch-bishop dying the King supplied himself with Treasure by keeping the See of Canterbury and many other Ecclesiasticaâ— Promotions vacant for the space of four Years some oâ— which he likewise sold and was wont to say That Christ's Bread is a sweet Dainty and most delicious foâ— Kings Howbeit when two Monks were contending who should give most to be made Abbot of a certain Abby in the King's Disposal he espied a third Monk standing in a corner and causing him to advance he demanded VVhat he would give to be made Abbot Not onâ— Farthing replyed the Monk for I have renounced thâ— VVorld and Riches that I may the more carefully servâ— God Then replyed the King thou art worthy to bâ— made Abbot and the Abbey shall be thine The Scots by this time having Invaded England under the leading of Molcolm their King King VVilliam marched his Army Northward to oppose him but before it came to the trial of Battle a Peace was concluded and the 12 Villages in the Northern Marcheâ— which the Scots had held during the Reign of VVilliam the Conqueror restored them for a Tribute of twelve Marks a year And this year the King to strengthen him against the Scots rebuilt Carlisle in Cumberland which had been demolished by the Danes about two â—undred years before And in Anno 1093 made Anâ—elm a Norman Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury but â—ong the Peace lasted not between the two Kingdoms for Malcolm coming to Glocester to treat about further â—ccord and not being received or entertain'd according to his liking he returned in a rage and raising a great Army in his own Country fell into the English Frontires with Fire and Sword destroying all before him as far as Alnewick and no sooner were these stirs quieted but Robert Mobray and William of Anchon conspired with divers others to depose King William and set up Stephen de Albermarle a Sisters Son but were prevented and defeated The Welsh making many Incursions and Inroades into the Kings Territories he marched a powerful Army into the heart of Wales and there did such notable Exploits that the Welsh finding themselves unable to make head against his Forces submitted themselves so that from the year 1093 VVales has been subject to the Crown of England The King upon new provocations Invaded his Brother Roberts Terretories in Normandy taking divers Castles and strong holds inforcing him thereby to a Peace after which uniting their Forces against their younger Brother Henry who had practised the surprising their Territories he was besieged by them in the Castles of St. Michaels Mount in Normandy during which Siege King VVilliam's life was in great hazard for being too forward in charging such as sallied he was overthrown by a Knight and had his Horse slain but being known the Knight took him up and presented him with another Horse when the King springing into the Saddle and coming up with a fierce countenance demanded who it was that haâ— overthrown him but the undaunted Knight instead of excusing it boldly told him it was he Then saiâ— the King looking mildly upon him by St. Lukes facâ— for that was his usual Oath thou shalt be my Knight and inroled in my Check with a Fee answerable to thâ— worth But in conclusion Henry being constrained foâ— want of Water and other necessaries to submit the Brethren were reconciled and Robert preparing for the Holy Wars mortgaged his Dukedom of Normandy to King VVilliam for 6660 pounds to raisâ— which petty sum at that time he caused great Taxes as they were termed to be laid upon the People and forced the Religious Houses to contribute towards it And in the absence of Robert the French besieging Main in Normandy the King upon notice of it as hâ— sat at Dinner in his Palace of VVestminster swore Hâ— would never turn his back till he arrived there and so causing the Wall to be broke through for his passage he hasted to Sea commanding his Army to follow him but the Winds being contrary and the Seaâ— rough and boisterous the Mariners doubted to set sail and the Pilot besought the King to continue in the Port till the Weather was more favourable but he impatient of delay and disdaining to fear replied Hast thou ever heard that a King has been drowned therefore hoist up the Sails I charge thee and be gone So that safely and unexpectedly arriving in Normandy the French were so terrified that they raised the Siege This King denied that the Pope had any Authority over any Bishop of his Realm and also the Poweâ— of binding and loosing yet in acknowledgement to the See of Rome he paid Peter pence granted by his Father he derided Invocation of Saints and curbed the avarice and aspiring Ambition of the Clergy In his Reign a great Earthquake happened and the Steeple of the Abby of VVinchester was burnt with â—…ghtning which likewise rent the roof of the â—…by casting down the Image of the Virgin Mary â—…d her Crucifix breaking one of her Legs and not â—…ng after so great a Wind happened at London that it â—…ew down sixty some say six hundred Houses taking of the roof of Bow Church and carrying it a great â—…ight in the Air And so great a Famine and Morâ—…ity ensued that the quick were scarcely able to buâ—… the dead Two blasing Stars appeared and many â—…ars as if they shot fiery Darts at each other â—…nd in the last year of his Reign the Sea overâ—…wed her Banks carrying away a great number â—… People Cattle and Houses drowning most of the â—…ands which had been Earl Goodwins which is not â—…covered to this day but retain the Earls Name as â—…own by that of Goodwins Sands At Finchamstead â—…ear Abbington in Barkshire a Well of bloodly coâ—…oured Water sprung up for fifteen days and then â—…eased King VVilliam by this time having setled his Afâ—…irs betook him to Recreations and especially â—…unting in the New Forrest his Father had made by â—…he unpeopling and delapidation of a great many â—…owns and Vilages when so it happened that Sir VValter Tyrre a French Knight shooting at a Stag he Arrow glanced against a Tree and flying aslaunt â—…ruck the King into the breast of which he immeâ—…ately died August 1. Anno 1100. and his Body being â—…id in a Cart the best Herse those times afforded a â—…reat King it broke bemired in a dirty way yet beâ—…g put into
another it was carried to VVinchester â—…nd buried in the Cathedral Church but since the â—…ones have been removed to and laid with those of â—…anute the Danish King This was the King who built VVestminster Hall â—…inety yards in length and twenty four yards two â—…eet in breadth yet when he came to see it he complained it was too little by half and therefoâ—… he would reserve it for a lodging Room He wâ—… slain as you have heard in the thirteenth year his Reign and the sorty sourth of his Age being tâ—… one and twentieth sole Monarch of England Thus Second William by misfortune's hand Drop'd in the Grave and left the wealthy Land Two Sons of the Great Conqueror met their fate VVhere he had laid the Country desolate The Reign â—and Actions of Henry the First King England c. HEnry the First English Monarch of that Namâ— who for his great Abilities in Learning wâ— called Beau-clark or good Scholar upon the uneâ— pected death of his Brother VVilliam and his Brothâ— Robert's being in the Holy Land waring again the Infidels upon many fair promises to the Noblâ— and Commons procured himself to be accepted King and was Crowned at VVestminster Anno 11â— Anselm being Archbishop of Canterbury and at fiâ— made it hisstudy to please all sorts striving to maâ— his House and Court a pattern of Virtue and goâ— Living to the rest of his Subjects permiting the Peâ— ple to have Fire and Candle in their Houses at the own discretion which under severe penalties had beâ— prohibited by his Father freeing the Churches froâ— reservations upon vacancies allowing the Heirs Noblemen to possess their Fathers Lands without Redemption ingaging the Nobles to do the like by the Tenants allowing so it were not to his Enemies tâ— Gentry to marry their Daughters and Kinswomen whom they pleased and that the Widow enjoyiâ— Joynter should be at liberty to maâ—â—y whom 〈◊〉 â—…ased That the Mother and nearest Relations â—…ould be Guardians to Fatherless Children during â—…ir Minority That such as coyned false Money â—…ould loose their Right Hand And if Men be deâ—…ved of their Genitals he ordained a certain Meaâ—…e to be a Standard Measure of Commerce accordâ—…g to the length of his Arm which is our Yard Forâ—…ing all Debts due to the Crown before be came to â—… Renewing the Laws of Edward the Confessor And â—…e better to strengthen his Title he married Maud â—…ughter to the King of Scots by Margaret Sister to â—…gard Atheling joyning in Succession to the Saxon â—…ngs But by this time News came that Robert his â—…der Brother after refusing the Scepter of Jerusalem which for his Valour and Conduct upon taking â—…t City from the Insidels was offered him by all the Western Princes that commanded the numerous Army of Christians in that glorious Expedition was â—…ndâ—d with an Army at Portsmouth and that many â—… the English sided with him which put the King to no small consternation however having got by â—…s lenity and fair pretences the hearts of the greater â—…rt of the People he resolved not to forgo what â—… had gotten and thereupon tried so far the good â—…mper of his Brother that by Presents and large â—…omises he worked upon him to remit his Claim â—…ein of which he was to have three thousand Marks â—…id him yearly and gave him six Months Royal Enâ—…tainment The Sunshine of Peace lasted not long before Beâ—…isine Earl of Shrewsbury and Roger Montgomery â—…ith divers other râ—…d but being vanquished â—…ey sled to Normandy however he was perplexed â—…the Arch-Bishop who influenced by the See of â—…ome contended to regulate the Clergy and dispose â—… Ecclesiastical promotions as he pleased refusing Consecrate such Bishops as the King was desirous to advance yet the King fearless of what mighâ— happen in England upon notice his Brother at thâ— instigation of some English Fugitives was preparinâ— for a second Invasion He resolved to prevent it by carrying the War into Normandy which he effected with such precepitation that he overthrew Robert took him Prisoner and sent him to Cardrâ— Castle where at first he was only Prisoner at large having the priviledge of the Medows and Parks under a slender Guard but as some will have it at tempting his escape but others the People too much pittying his condition and the apprehensions iâ— wrought made the King confine him a close Prisoner and the better to secure himself against any attempts this poor Prince might make cause thâ— Twinkles of his Eyes to be put out or clouded iâ— darkness by burning Glasses and not long after hâ— lost his Life some say by a voluntary starving himself out of a disdain he took that the King his Brother sent him a Suit of his old cast Clothes with aâ— addition That they were good enough for a Prisoner however this unnatural act greatly eclipsed the glory oâ— this King and too plainly shewed that Crowns knowâ— no Kindred when they stand in competion The Duke being dead King Henry seized upon his Dutchy of Normandy so that England may now be said to conquer Normandy though indeed it was unhappy for the English whom he began to restrain with a harder hand seeing he had removed the danger that threatned him banishing the Flemings who were desirous to instruct us in the Wollen Trade retracting many Grants he had passed and to strenghen his Alliance abroad he married Maud his Eldest Daughter to Henry the Fourth Emperor of Germany or the Romans and the Welsh promoting some disorders he forced them to obedience Aâ— likewise these in Normandy where new troubleâ— arose and that which gave him hopes of the settlement of Affairs was the death of the Arch-Bishop who to raise the Popes Power had opposed â—im in his important proceedings and was a great Enemy to the Married Priests who were tolerated â—n this Kings Reign The High Court of Parliament some Authors will have to be constituted in his Reign Anno 1116. William Eldest Son to Robert the deceased Duke of Normandy being alive Lewis King of France togeâ—her with the Earls of Flanders and Anjou laboured â—o fix him in the Dukedom but were frustrated â—nd a great Battle Anno 1119 was fought between â—he two Kings wherein Baldwin Earl of Flanders with divers other Nobles and some thousands of Common Soldiers were slain and the Victory falling â—o the English occasioned great loss and dishonour â—o the French and the Earl of Anjou upon King Henry's return to Roan with Palms of Triumph gave his Daughter and Heiress in Reversion of that Province to William the Kings Eldest Son whose Nuptials were solemnized with great joy and hope of future happiness But all things are unstable in this World for the King setting sail for England and the Prince with his Bride his Brothers Sisters and other great Personages staying six hours sail behind â—o take leave of their Friends resolved notwithstanding to come up with the King before he landed 〈◊〉 that the Marriners running a desperate course
bring Which shows the frailness of each earthly thing The Reign of Henry the Second King of England c. HEnry Plantaginet commonly called Fitz Empress was three times Crowned first by Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterbury at Westminster then at Lincoln and lastly at Worcester and being setled in the Realm he demolished sundry Castles that had given too much incouragement to the falling off of such as at any time grew discontented some that had Honours unduly conferr'd on them he divested and reduced to a private State purged the Land of Forreign Soldiers and chiefly of the Flemings that had come over with King Stephen choosing his Council out of the most Worthy and Learned Men restraining the Incroachments and Oppressions of the greatest Persons without respect of their greatness which made the Lord Hugh Mortimer fall off and take up Arms against whom King Henry went in person and had been slain at the Siege of Bridgnorth had not Hubert d' St. Clare one of his Courtiers stepped between as the Arrow was coming and lost his own Life to save his Masters but this Lord soon reduced and the face of calmness appearing at home he passed into France to do Homage to King Lewis for his Provinces of Normandy Acquitain Anjou Main and Lorain which he claimed as his right 〈◊〉 in himself and partly in Eleanor his Queen and there he adjusted differences between himself and his Brother Geofry and after being highly Caressed and Entertained he returned to England where as much as in him lay intending to live peaceably he contracted an Alliance with Malcolme King of Scots restoring him the 〈◊〉 of Huntingdon The Welsh about this time making Inroads and greatly indamaging the English the King marched against them and joyned Battle but in the heat of the Fight his Standard was cowardly abandoned and his person in danger to be slain or taken Prisoner for which Henry d' Essex Standard bearer being accused by Robert d' Montford as the main cause of the dissertion the Combat as usual upon such Accusations was allowed them at Reading and Essex being overcome the King was notwithstanding contented to spare his life upon condition he became a Monk which accordingly he did and was immediately shorn but in conclusion the Welsh were subdued and the King returning in Triumph was Crowned together with Eleanor his Queen at Worcester where they both at the Offertory laid their Crowns on the high Altar vowing never to wear them after and this was the last of the three Crownings and his Brother Geofry now dead he seized upon sundry Citys and strong places in Normandy and setling his Affairs in that Province he returned to England where Becket Arch-bishop of Canterbury influenced by the Pope began to trouble the Kingdom not only at the Council Tours privately surrendring those Honours the King had heaped upon him to the Pope and from him receiving them again thereby to cast off the acknowledgements he had to the King or his Prerogative but countenanced all manner of violence in the Clergy even to murther so that the complaints of above a hundred Murthers done by the Clergy coming to the King's car and he not finding them punished by Church Censure brought some of them under the Civil Power commanding Justice to be administred without partiality as well to the Clergy as Laity to that end appointing Ministers of Justice in all parts of the Land whose charge it was to enquire into crimes of that or the like nature But this was opposed by Becket with a high hand challenging the King with invading the Rights of the Church demanding at the same time the Castle of Rochester and sundry other places as belonging to the See of Canterbury This made the King assemble all the Bishops in Convocation at Westminster Becket excepted where it was agreed That no Appeals should be made to Rome without the Kings Licence That no Arch-bishop or Bishops upon the Popes Summons should go out of the Land without the like leave That no Bishop should excommunicate any person holding of the King in chief or put any of his Officers under interdiction without the like Licence That Clerks criminals should if the King thought fit be tried before Secular Judges But although the King urged Becket to agree to them yet he absolutely refused it sending thereupon complaints to the Pope who for his profit and interest not desirous to break with England commanded Becket to yield to the King without any Salvo's or exception which not without much stomaching the matter he at last consented to on the word of a Priest and swore that he would observe the Laws which the King called Avitae as being made in the Reign of his Grandfather yet he refused afterwards to set his Seal saying What he had done was rather in some measure to pleasure the King than out of conscience For which and his continuing obstinate he was condemned to the confiscation of his Goods and the Bishop of Chichester in the name of the other Bishops disclaimed and for the afronting the King in his Palace with his Cross he was adjudged as a Traytor and perjured person and that he should as such be taken and imprisond which made him flee into Flanders where Pope Alexander and Lewis the French King openly declared for him which so far incensed King Henry that he banished his Kindred commanding his Sheriffs and other Officers to seize such as appealed to Rome as likewise the Kindred of those Clergy that were with Becket excluding him from being prayed for as Arch-bishop Becket being by this time in France excommunicated the Bishop of London and proceeded in the like nature with others so that there were scarce any found in the Kings Chappel to perform the Service This made him send to the Pope for Legates to absolve his Subjects and settle a peace in the Kingdom and although accordingly they were sent yet Becket standing off with much obstinacy nothing was effected wherefore as some Historians will have it to spite the Arch-bishop the more and the more firmly to establish the Kingdom he caused Roger Arch-bishop of York to Crown his Eldest Son Henry and at the Coronation Feast the King carried up and served at the Table the first Dish of Meat whereat the Arch-bishop whispering the young King said Rejoyce my fair Son for there is no Prince in the World that hath such a Servitor attending at his Table as you have this day To which the early raised Stripling replied Why wonder you at that my Lord seeing my Father knows he doth nothing that is unbeseeming him for as much as he is Royally born on one side but as for our self we are Royally born on both as having a King to our Father and a Queen to our Mother Upon which proud speech the old King told the Arch-bishop That he repented the too early advancement of the Boy And now by the mediation of Friends the old King and Becket were reconciled and all
the Profits and Arrears of the See of Canterbury restored But this restles Prelate taking his time to disturb the Kingdom whilst the old King was in Normandy published the Popes Letters by which Roger Arch-bishop of York and Hugh Bishop of Durham were suspended from their Ecclesiastical Functions for that they had crowned the young King in prejudice to the See of Canterbury and the Bishops of Exeter Sarum and London were cut off from the Church by censure for being Assistants at that Coronation nor would he at the young Kings earnest intreaties but under divers restrictions and hard conditions Absolve them Becket's new insolencies coming to the ear of the old King in Normandy he fell into a great rage and let such words fall that some of his Courtiers interpreting them to intimate the Kings desire to be rid of that proud Prelate contrary to his knowledge Richard Fitzurse William Tracie Hugh Brito and Hugh Norvil passed secretly into England and getting admittance into the Cathedral Church at Canterbury took their opportunity with concealed Weapons to fall upon him as he stood in the Evening Service time before the high Altar and there slew him with a Monk or two that made resistance and thereupon made their escapes This news flying to Rome and the Murther charged upon the King as done by hiâ— order the Pope began terribly to mennace him when he to take off the imputation of guilt not only protested his innocence but offered to purge himself by submitting to the Judgment of such Cardinâ— Legates as the Pope should send upon inquiry intâ— the Fact and the better to quiet the people that began to murmur against him he passed into Irelanâ— with a great Army and finding the several pettâ— Kings divided amongst themselves he made a Conquest of that Kingdom and made himself Lord Ireland Upon the Kings return from the Conquest Ireland he found two Cardinal Legates arrived Normandy by whom he was absolved after giving Oath that he was no ways consenting to the death Becket and declaring his sorrow for having let fâ— words in his anger that might administer any ocâ—sion of committing that crime whereupon the coâ—ditions of his Penance were enjoyned viz. That his own charge for the space of a year he should maâ—tain two huâ—dred Soldiers for defence of the Holy Laâ— That he should revoke all Customs introduced to the 〈◊〉 judice of the Churches Liberties and restore and make up the Possessions of the Church of Canterbury That he should cull home and freely receive all that were in Banishment for Becketg 's cause There were other secret Penances enjoyned which upon his coming over he performed The King notwithstanding the satisfaction he gave the Pope was not at ease for the young King Henry his Son instigated by his Mother the Kings of Scotland and France his two Brothers Richard and Geofry with divers Nobles as well English as Normans raised a Rebellion and seized upon many Towns in Britain and other places But the old Kings Fortune prevailed against them and by Humphry Bohun his High Constable in England he overcame Robert Earl of Leicester which made Lewis of France seek a Truce with him of six Months which was accorded and coming to Canterbury three Miles bare footed as his private Penance he entred the Chapter House of the Monks and humbly prostrating himself on the floor begged pardon and suffered himself voluntarily to be whipped on the back with Rods by all the Brethren of the House so that his stripes amounted to fourscore This confirmed the people of his innocency or at least satisfied their anger so that the Scots invading England were so unanimously opposed that they were defeated and William their King taken prisoner Young King Henry attempting to land was driven back to France by contrary Winds but making some other attempts he died in the expedition Anno 1183 And the next year Heraclius Patriarch of Jerusalem came into England to implore the Kings Aid â—gainst the Infidels that grievously oppressed the Eastern Christians and that he would go thither in person but the Nobles being consulted and not approving it only a supply of Money was granted The King the better to quiet his Son John who was of a turbulent spirit constituted him Lord of Ireland assigning him rents in England and Normandy however he conspired with his Brothers Richard and Geofry against him but before any thing came to perfection Geofry was troden to death under the Horses feet at a Turnament in Paris notwithstanding Richard by the assistance of Philip the French King drove his Father out of Mentz the place of his birth and for which reason he loved it above all other whereupon with tears he declared that seeing his Son had taken from him that day the thing which he most loved in the World he would requite him for from that day he would deprive him of that thing which in him should best please a Child viz. his heart and having a Scrowl of the Conspirators he no sooner found his Son John in the head of them and first in that Scrowl but he curst the hour of his Birth laying God's curse and his own upon all his Sons which he could not be prevailed upon to recal but fretting himself for the unnatural proceedings of his Children and worn out with age and toil he fell sick at Charon and finding the approach of death he caused himself to be carried to the Church and laid before the high Altar where after humble confession and sorrow for his sins he gave up the ghost Anno 1189 and waâ— intered at Font Everard This King Henry the Second was King of England Duke of Normandy Guen and Aquitain eldest Son to Jeffery Plantagenet Earl of Anjou Son to Foulk King of Jerusalem by Maud his Wife eldest Daughter tâ— Henry the First He began his Reign on the 25th oâ— October 1154 and reigned 34 years eight months anâ— eleven days and was the twenty fifth sole Monarcâ— of England he had Issue by his Wife Eleaner Will am who died 1156 Richard Geofry and Philip whâ— died very young John Maud who was married 〈◊〉 Henry sirnamed the Lyon Duke of Saxony Eleanâ— married to William King of Castile Joan married 〈◊〉 VVilliam King of Sicily and afterwards to Ramuâ— the fourth Earl of Tholouze By the lovely Rosamond his beautiful Concubinâ— he had natural Issue viz. VVilliam sirnamed Longspur and Jeffry Arch-bishop of York This Rosamond was Daughter to the Lord Clifford and whilst the King prosecuted his Wars in Normandy and France he caused her to be kept in a Labrinth built at VVoodstock to secure her from his jealous Queen but she finding her by a clew of Thred or Silk which the Fair one had accidentially let fall compelled her to drink Poison of which she died to the unspeakable grief of the King who not only detested his Queen for so much cruelty but raised a stately Monument at Godstow with this Scription Hic jacet in
Tumba c. Here lies the Worlds fair Rose which once was sweet But faded now you no such savour meet He had likewise Morgan by another Concubine and in his time it reigned blood in the Isle of VVight for the space of two hours A great Earthquake happened and a Dragon of marvellous higness was discovered at St. Osyph in Essex another Earthquake happened that rent in pieces the Cathedral of Lincoln â—nd at Oxford in Sussex certain Fishermen drew up in their Net a hairy Creature out of the Sea in all proportions like a Man which was exposed to the â—ight of thousands living upon Flesh but in the end â—ole from his keepers and got to Sea again And his King it was that caused Leicester to be burnt the Walls raised the Castle demolished and the Inhabiants to be expulsed for their disobedience and taking â—art with his Enemies This King long strugling for a Throne at last The glitring Diadem he grasp'd so fast That Becket nor 's rebellious Sons nor Rome Could seize the Prize till death had found his 〈◊〉 The Reign and Actions of Richard the First King of England c. KIng Henry the Second being dead Richard his third Son for his strength and courage sirnamed Cour 〈◊〉 Leon or Lyons heart was crowned by Baldwin Arch-bishop of Canterbury and sworn to keep several Articles administred to him by the Peers advantagious to the Kingdom the Solemnity of his Coronation was at Westminster and was followed with much bloodshed in divers parts of the Nation for by the instigation of several Monks and Fryers the people in a tumultuous manner fell upon the Jews and upon some disgust made miserable havock of their Goods and slaughter of their Persons for which divers of the Ring-leaders were executed And now it being in the power of this King to put in practice what he had long determined viz. to pass into the Holy Land with an Army for the rescue of the oppressed Christians wherefore hearing that divers other Princes had determined the like he appointed VVliliam Longchamp Bishop of Ely his Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor and to him he joyned Hugh Bishop of Durham for the Conservation of the Northern parts Beyond Humber and with these he associated divers Temporal Lords concluding at the same time a Peace with the King of Scots so that supposing all safe aâ— home the next undertaking was to furnish his Navy which being done he put to Sea with a very greaâ— attendance not sparing to mortgage and sell severaâ— parcels of his Revenues and forced William d' Turâ—ham his Fathers Treasurer to contribute 1100 pound to defray the Charges and that he might the betteâ— keep his Brother John in quiet during his absence hâ— appointed him for his maintenance the Revenue of Earldoms The King being on his way toward Palastine afâ—â— he had wintered at Sicily passed towards Cyprus wheâ— finding some of his Ships that had put that into Island stress of Weather had been seized by the Cypriots and his men roughly used he sent to the King for reparation but that being denied him not without Threats if he did not depart the Haven our undaunted King not used to be braved beat the Defendants from the shoar and resolutely Landing seized the Island together with its King and appointing a Governour carried that King in Manacles of Gold to Ptolomais where the Christians lay at Siege taking by the way a great Argosey on board which was 1500 Sarazens and Turks furnished beside other things with Fire-works and Barrels of Venomous Serpents bound for Ptolomais since called Acon intending to disperse those Venomous Creatures amongst the Christians as they lay Incamped before the Town but King Richard caused them to be cast into the Sea and in the dispute there perished by the Sword and Waters for many voluntarily cast themselves over-board 1300 of the Sarazens c. The King by this time safely arrived at Ptolomais or Acon found it Besieged by sundry Nations under the Western Princes as Genoways Florentines Flemings Danes Almains Dutch Pisans Friez-landers Lombards and the English that had passed thither under Hubert Bishop of Sarum in the time of King Henry the Second as likewise the Knights Templers of European Nations beside the Asian Christians who made a gallant Army and soon after came Philip King of France and the Duke of Austria with a great Fleet whereupon a Council of the Princes was held concluding that part of the Force being left to maintain the Siege the rest should draw out to give Battle to the Saladine or King of the Turks and Sarazens who lay hovering on the Plains a few Leagues distant with 300000 Horse and Foot but they could not engage him to a fight yet falling upon his rear in his retreat they cut off a great number and took much spoil returning again to the Siege but the Saladine who knew the importance of this strong City followed with greater force but durst not attempt its relief yet in ravaging the Country have gotten at sundry times 1500 Christian captives he sent word If they did not raise the Siege he would cut them in pieces in the sight of the Army Whereupon King Richard sent a Trumpet commanding him to desist For if he put those Christians to death the prisoners in his Camp must expect the like treatment However upon the next assault the Saladine caused them to be put to death whose piteous cries piercing the Ears of King Richard he in a rage caused the Heads of 2500 of the Turks and Sarazen Captives to be sinitten off in the fight of the Enemies Camp and now a general assault was given where the English with showers of Arrows beating the Infidels from the Walls mounted with such resolution and bravery that nothing was able to resist them so that seconded by the rest the strong City of Ptolomais was taken and in the over-running the Streets a great number put to the Sword so that whilst the English were busie in repulsing the Enemy who made a great resistance the Austrians advanced the Standard of their Duke upon the Walls as if by the valour of a handful of men that important place had been taken which so far incensed King Richard that he threw it down and trampled it under foot which rais'd a mortal grudge in the Austrian Duke against our King nor did he rest till in some part he had given his anger vent which at that time he durst not express This place being taken and garrisoned by Christians the next design was upon the City of Jerusalem but Philip the French King envying the glory of the English drew off the greater part of his Army and returned to France the like did the Duke of Austria and divers of their faction not withstanding the prayers and intreaties of the Asian Christians who hoped by the prevailing Arms of these Western Princes to be delivered from the tyranny and oppression they had so long groaned under however King
Richard was no ways dismayed but drawing out his Forces offered the Saladine battle which vvas refused vvhereupon he caused the Army to march towards Jerusalem but by the vvay he vvas diserted by the Duke of Burgundy vvho the French King left as his General vvith part of the Forces and upon no other account as Burgundy himself declared But that it should never be said the English should have the glory of wining Jerusalem vvhich greatly grieved the King that so famous an enterprize should miscarry through malice and emulation and vvhilst he vvas in his melancholly upon this occasion a Knight mounting a high sandy Hill said Come hither Sir and I will show you Jerusalem but the King at these vvords covered his face and fetching a deep sigh said Ah my Lord God I beseech thee that I may not see thy holy City Jerusalem because I am not able to deliver it out of the hands of thine enemies Hovvever he made an honourable peace vvith the Saladine which including that the Christians should quietly enjoy what they possessed and so selling the Isle of Cypruss to the Knight Templers for 30000 Marks he returned with his Army having obtained the nominal Title of King of Jerusalem from Guy of Lusigâ—am the last of the race of the Christian Kings of Jerusalem which Title the King of Spain claims at this day but without power or effect One thing is not lightly to be forgotten viz. that the King above all others that had been in the Holy Land though many great Potentates had been there before him brought terror and dread upon the Sarazens for when at any time their Children cryed they to quiet them would say King Richard is coming and will have you nay when their Horses stumbled they would cry Ha Jade you think King Richard is in the way King Richard as is said returning home with his fair Queen Berengaria was separated upon the Coast of Histria by a storm from the rest of the Fleet and the Ship being broken and in no condition to put to Sea he in disguise of a Merchant or as some say a Knight Templer resolved to pass over Land but being too lavish in his expenses that raised a suspition of his being of great Quality so that near Vienna he was made a prisoner by the order of Leopold the Arch-Duke whose Standard he had thrown down from the Walls of Ptolomais and by him sold to the Emperor Henry the Sixth for 60000 Marks and was ransom'd after sixteen Months imprisonment and very bad usage at 160000 pounds to pay which a great Tax was levyed throughout England yet joyfully disbursed by the people who suffering under such Ministers as were set over them greatly desired the return of their King so that Philip of France having notice he was at large sent to tell John King Richard's Brother who had usurped the Rule during his captivity That the Devil was let loose and although several waits were laid to intrap and retake him after security was given for the Money he landed safe at Sandwich and was joyfully received by Hubert Arch-bishop of Canterbury who had been in the Holy Land with him as likewise by his Subjects but more especially by Queen Eleanor his Mother who by her prudent Conduct and Authority had secured the Kingdom during his absence from the total usurpation of his Brother John who now hasted to meet him and submitting himself was freely forgiven in these words viz. I would that thy faults may be so forgotten of me as thou thy self may keep in memory wherein thou hast offended and thereupon taking him into his favour he restored his forfeited Possessions who from that time became firm to the Kings interest and did him faithful service especially against the French whose King contrary to his Oath he gave King Richard upon his departure from the Holy Land had warred upon his Countries of Normandy Anjou c. stirring up in his absence many discensions and disorders in England when in one of the Skirmishes taking the Bishop of Bevois prisoner compleatly Armed the Pope interceeded by Letter for the delivery of his dear Son as he termed the Bishop when the King in a merry humour sent his Habergeon Curiass and the rest of his Armour he was taken in and order'd the Bearers in the words of Josephs Brethren to say This we found see if it be thy Sons Coat or not To which the Pope earnestly replyed They belonged not to his Son nor to a Son of the Church but to some Imp of Mars and therefore he should free himself as he could for as for his part he would have no further hand in the matter So that the Bishop was obliged to ransom himself with a large sum and soon after the King at Gysors gave the French a great overthrow taking 100 Knights and Servetors on Horseback thirty Men at Arms 200 great Horses whereof 140 had Barbs and Caparisons armed with Plates of Iron killing a great number many of the first Rank and here the King in Person did wonders bearing to the ground with his Lance Matthew d' Monmerancy Alan d' Rusci Foulk d' Giserval and made them Prisoners and after this Victory it was that the King expressed himself in these Words that have since become the Motto of the Arms of England viz. Diu Mondroit Not we say he have gained this Victory but God and our Right But now the fatal time approached that was to eclipse the Glories of this Prince in the shades of Death for hearing the Count of Limogen had found in one of his Lordships a great Treasure of Silver he sent to him for it as properly belonging to the Sovereign but the Count would not yeild to send him above one half which incensing the King he besieged him in his Castle of Chauluz at which Seige he was shot by a square Arrow out of a Steel Bow into the Shoulder yet he took the Castle and the Arcubalaster being brought before him boldly owned the shot alledging That the King with his own hand had killed his Father and two Brethren which incited him to revenge their deaths in an honourable way Whereupon the King perceiving the undaunted confidence of this Bertram d' Guidon not only forgave him the fact but ordered him 100 shillings yet through the unskilfulness of the Chirurgeons the Wound proved Mortal when the King perceiving his end to approach he greatly bewailed his sins and then receiving the Sacrament expired Anno 1199 having before given order that his Bowels should be buried amongst his rebellious Subjects of Poctiou as those that deserved his worst part his heart at Roan which City had always been constant and loyal to him and his Body at Font Everard there to be laid at the Feet of his Father to whom he had been some time disobedient and for which he greatly reproved himself This Richard the First was King of England Duke of Normandy Guin and Aquitain he began his Reign
the sixth of July 1189 and reigned nine Years nine Months dying in the 42 year of his Age being the 26 sole Monarch of England he was conttacted to Alice Daughter to Lewis the seventh King of France But falling passionately in love with Berengaria Daughter to Sanches the six King of Navar he married her in the way to the Holy Land whether she was accompanying her Father but had no Issue by her yet he left behind him Philip and Isabel his natural Children Thus the stout Lyons Heart to Death did yeild Whose dreadful Arms had strew'd the bloody field Of fruitful Palestine no Infidel Nor French nor Rebels could resist his Steel Victorious every where he did remain Cyprus he won yet by an Arrow slain The Reign and Actions of John King of England c. JOhn called by King Henry the Second his Father Lackland as being out of hopes of the Crown by reason so many Brothers were before him was notwithstanding Arthur his Eldest Brother Geofry's Son being alive crowned upon the Death of King Richard by Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury at Wesâ—minster through the instance of Queen Eleanor and most of the Nobles yet the French King promoted great troubles in England under pretence of Inthroaning the young Prince yet for great sum he connived at his being delivered into his Uncles hands so that upon new disturbances occasioned as well by the Clergy as Laity he was closely imprisoned The Poctovians rebelling the King prepared to quiet them but as well the Clergy as the Lay-peers denied him assistance of Men and Money or to wait on him in person yet with such a Power as he could raise with present Treasure he passed the Seas overthrew the Rebels took the young Prince who had escaped prisoner with divers Peers and two hundred French Knights reducing all the revolted Towns to their obedience so that Prince Arthur now kept under stricter restraint than ever died in prison as some will have it not without suspition of violence which caused much murmuring amongst the people and the French King laying hold of that opportunity cited King John as an Homager for the Dukedom of Normandy c. to appear at a set time to be tried by his Peers upon Articles of Murther and Treason but the King disdaining to obey the Summons he was pretendedly by the French King and his Peers disinherited and condemned in his absence so that by reason of the Intestine Troubles not being able to pass over with a sufficient Army to repel the insulting French men they seized upon many of his Towns and Castles some by force and others by treachery yet quieting matters somewhat better at home and getting a considerable sum of Money from the delinquent Barons and such as had been in Rebellion against him and having moreover a Subsidy granted him he prepared to pass the Seas when in the mean while the French King out of a bravado sent a Knight as his Champion to challenge to single Combate any of the Kings Subjects and in a mortal battle to justifie the proceedings of his Sender To match this Braggadocia John Curcy Earl of Ulster in Ireland who had some time before been brought prisoner into England upon a revolt of the Irish so that the King knowing him to be of a savage and untractable nature went in person to propose this honourable undertaking when looking on the King with a stern countenance enough to strike terror in the beholders he said In thy Quarrel I will neither draw Sword or fight a stroke but for the honour of the Realm of England I will shed my last drop of blood Hereupon the day was appointed and all things ordered to be in a readiness but in the mean while the Monsieur geting knowledge of the Earls Gigantick Stature and proportion of Limbs as likewise the great quantities of Provisions he daily devoured he thought it no boot to stay and thinking it was not safe to return into France he sneaked away and went for Spain so that Philip of France ashamed of the disgrace sent to excuse it yet new troubles as indeed this Kings Reign was a perpetual storm arising hâ— could not so soon get over Sea as he expected how ever upon his coming the French were terrified tâ— a degree of suing for peace and it was upon the relinquishing sundry places they had taken accordingly so that the two Kings appointing an interview anâ— the Irish Earl happening to be there the French Kinâ— was very desirous to see a tryal of his strength wheâ— placing a Steel Helmet upon a knotty trunk of Oaâ—â— the Irish man with a strong Sword that no body bâ— himself could weld after a dreadful sneer or two let fly with so full a charge that he cut not only the Helmet in two but entred his Sword so far into the wood that none but himself could pluck it out when being asked by King John 〈◊〉 he looked so furiously before he gave the blow his â—â—ply was That had he missed it he would have killed not only the two Kings but all the spectators The Truce that the French made with the English at this time served but to gain the greater advantage by rendring King John more supine in his Affairs for by degrees they encroached upon all Normandy geting even the City of Roan it self upon which Main Tourain Poctou revolted nor could King John hinder it having his hands full at home and when he was about to go for Normandy Habert Arch-bishop of Canterbury suspected to be a Pentioner of King Philip peremtorily forbid him to proceed in that voyage and the Earls and Barons a second time denyed their Aid insomuch that the King in a rage seized upon some of their Estates and grievously fined others nor was it a little gainful to him that Hubert the Arch-bishop dyed the same year whose large Treasure the King â—ook for the use of the Wars but now an obstacle â—rose The Monks of Canterbury chose one Reginald for their Arch-bishop who was Subprior of their Convent yet the King opposed it and presented John Grey Bishop of Norwich so that the Pope upon noâ—ice of what had happened rejected both and went â—bout to impose on them one Stephen d' Langton whom the Monks for fear of the Pope's high Curse wherewith they were threatned received as their Arch-bishop but the King knowing him to be one â—f the French Faction and that he would consequentâ— be prejudicial to his Affairs could not be brought 〈◊〉 hearken to it though the Pope sent him a present â—f Rings with some flattering Comments on them â—eclaring That the Right and Power over all Chiâ—â—â—â— as in the See of Rome But the King threatning if he desisted not from such pretentions in England he would stop all Monies that passed from hence to Rome and thereupon a hot contest by Letters happening between them the old blade in a pet Interdicted the Kingdom which the Bigottry of the times made the people think
Reign This Richard the Second was King of England and France Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain second Son to Edward the Black Prince by Joan his Wife Daughter to Edmund Earl of Kent His Reign began the 21st day of June 1377. and he reigned 22 Years three Months and eight days and was the 22d sole Monarch of England c. and was murthered in Pontefract Castle as will appear in the next Reign He had two Wives but no Issue or at least none that survived him his last Wife Isabel Daughter to Charles the Fifth King of France being so young that she was incapable of consummating the Joys of a Marriage Bed c. In his time made Portents and Prodigies happened the Bay and Lawrel Trees withered throughout England and suddenly after became green and flourishing and the deep River near Bedford divided into two Streams leaving the Chanel dry for three miles He caused his Palace of Shene now Richmond in Surry to be demolished occasioned by the excessive grief he conceived for the loss of his first Wife Queen Ann who dyed there he likewise upon the City's refusing to lend him 1000 l took away their Charter and obliged them to ransome it at a far greater Summe Thus we behold how Fortune plays with Kings There 's nothing stable found in earthly things The Greatness that on Power and Honour grows Like the wild Ocean has its Ebbs and Flows The Reign and Actions of Henry the IV. King of England c. HEnry of Bullinbrook so called from the place of his Birth Son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster upon the Resignation of King Richard was crowned by Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury making it his business to ingratiate himself with the People thereby the better to secure what he had gained he sent his Ambassadours likewise abroad to keep up the Correspondency with foreign Princes as also to justifie his Proceedings but France and Normandy approved not of them but rather condemned what had pasted in dishonour of King Richard nor were there divers in England wanting who laboured to restore him and amongst these were John Holland Earl of Huntington Thomas Hollnnd Earl or Kent John Mâ—â—acute Earl of Salisbuy Thomas Spencer Earl oâ— â—â—â—ucester with the Dukes of Surry Exeter and 〈…〉 but these Lords were altogether unsuccessfull 〈◊〉 Undertaking although they raised a considerable number of Persons in Arms giving out King Richard was at liberty and there present the better to confirm which they had gotten his Chaplain to personate him for the Townsmen of Cyrencester assailed them took divers of them and because some of the Lords Servants had fired the Town to contribute to their Masters Escape whilst the People were busie in extinguishing the Flames they in Revenge cut off the Heads of such Noblemen as they had taken without Law or Process and the Commons of Essex did the like to the Earl of Huntingdon in revenge of the Duke of Gloucester's Death mentioned in the foregoing Reign to be made away at Cailais The Lord Spencer falling into the hands of the Rabble at Bristol met the same Fate Others were put to Death at Oxford and some at London John Maudlin the Counterfeit Richard and one Thurby were drawn hanged and quartered The Bishop of Carlisle was condemned but afterwards pardoned and thus the Attempt was totally frustrated yet it proved fatal to Richard for Henry finding he could not assure himself in the Throne whilst the deposed King lived and he purposely letting fall some words before his Favourites as Who shall rid me of the cause of my troubles c. Sir Pierce of Exton to curry-favour with him went to the Castle where King Richard was lodged and gaining admittance under pretence of an Order from the King he and seven of his Accomplices fell upon and murthered that poor Prince with Battel-Axes yet before he fell wresting a Weapon he killed four of them others will have him to dye through Famine and Discontent which may appear something likely when we consider he was exposed at St. Paul's London for the space of three days thereby to assure the People of his Death and prevent any Counterfeit that might be set up and afterwards buried at Kings-Langly in Hartfordshire yeâ— in the fifth year of Henry the V. his Remains were brought to Westminster and interred with his Ancestours where some will have that beautifull Pâ—â—ture of a King Crowned in a Chair of State to be placed at the upper end of the Choir in memory â— him However this freed not Henry from dangâ—â—â—â— for the Scots entered England and the Welsh took 〈◊〉 Arms under the Leading of Owen Glendour but were both defeated yet these publick Practices were seconded with a private one which had proveâ— more dangerous had it taken effect viz. a Calthrop being an Engine with four sharp Spears standing upward was placed in his Bed and had peradventure put an end to his days had he not espyed it before he lay down but it could not be known who placed it there The Welsh who rather retired than over-come took Arms in greater number and overthrowing the Lord Edward Mortimer who was sent to surpress them took him Prisoner and obliged him to marry Glendour's Daughter nor did People spare to spread abroad sundry inveterate Libels for which some were executed and amongst them several Gray Fryars and the King going against the Welsh was repulsed by a mighty Storm yet succeeded his Lieutenant the Early of Northumberland and his Son Piercy Hoâ—spur better against the Scots in the North for by them the Scots were overthrown in two Battels and some Persons of note taken Prisoners The King being at this time a Widower took to Wife the Lady Jane of Navarre Widow to John de Mountfort Duke of Britain which Marriage was followed by dreadfull Prodigies and soon after the Lord Piercy Hotspur when he had done Wonders against the Scots and thinking his Services slighted grew discontented and turned his Arms against King Henry and with him joyned Mortimer Earl of March Henry Piercy his Father and Owen Glendour pretending a Care to reform Disorders in the Government though it was afterwards discovered they intended nothing more than their own Interest for Mortimer was to have the South part of â—â—gland Piercy the North Glendour all beyond the 〈◊〉 and Archibald Earl of Douglas who had beâ—â—â—â— been takan Prisoner to have his Liberty and the Town of Berwick with the Territories belonging to it but before they could gather into any great Body the King was advancing with a powerfull Army towards Shrewsbury which they had fortified when Hotspur no sooner discovered the Royal Standard but resolving to loose his Life or win the Day drew out Fourteen thousand Men and desperately engaged the King and Prince Henry his Son yet being inferiour in number though he fought with a Courage beyond expression Fortune that never before failed him turned her back so that he was slain and the Earls
head them against the King's Forces in England promising their Aid to help him to the Kingdom so that landing at Whitsand Bay in Cornwal many thousands resorted to him and being strong enough he besieged Exeter but it made a stout Resistence and was in conclusion relieved by the Earl of Devonshire whereupon Perkin's Men perceiving the little success they were like to have against the far greater Forces preparing to encounter them dropped away by degrees which he perceiving fled privately to the Abby of Beaulien in New Forest for Sanctuary but upon Promise of Life and a Pardon for his Crimes he came forth and submitted making his publick Confession and Recantation how he was but the Son of a converted Jew born at Tournay in Flanders and had been wrought upon to take this Enterprise upon him by the Duchess of Burgundy and others upon which he was committed close Prisoner to the Tower Yet some Practices being still on foot King Henry not thinking himself secure caused him to be tried at Westminster for High Treason in attempting to escape and carry with him the Earl of Warwick to raise new Commotions in the Kingdom and being sentenced was drawn to Tyburn and there hanged In this the innocent Earl of Warwick was involved without any other apparent reason than to cut him off that the Succession might be the more firm to Henry's posterity and this poor Prince who had been kept a Prisoner from his Infancy and little knâ—w what belonged to Law or Matters of State being by some who insinuated to be his Friends persuaded to confess upon his Tryall what he never intended or thought of by having a Promise of Pardon upon such a Confession the King very unkindly took him at his word and being condemned for High Treason he was beheaded on Tower-hill and in him failed the Name of Plantagenet as being the last of the Male Line of that illustrious House This cruel execution little inferiour to what Richard the III. had acted by his Newphews is held to be done upon the account of the Match between Prince Arthur the King's Son and the Princess Katharine of Spain the Spaniard appearing averse to conclude it till by the removal of the Earl of Warwick the Succession was better secured Anno 1506. Edmund de la Pool Earl of Suffolk was tried by the King 's express Command at the King's-Bench-Bar Westminster for killing a man and tho he had his Pardon yet being of the Royal Bloud it so disgusted him that he privately retired beyond the Seas and laboured to disturb Henry's Reign by secretly holding Correspondence in England which obliged the King to send his Spies abroad especially Sir Robert Courson who insinuating into the Earl's Favour got out of him who were his Conferates in England whereupon Sir James Tirrel the wicked Instrument in the Murther of the two young Princes Edward and Richard in the Tower and Sir John Windham with three others lost their Heads on Tower-hill Nor did the King spare any Cost or Labour to get the Earl into his hands but when his Pollicy failed Fortune befriended him for Philip King of Spain and Archduke of Austria in whose Countries the Earl remained being at Sea was driven into the West of England by Stress of Weather of which Henry had no sooner notice but he hasted to receive and entertain him which he did in a most splendid manner and with some difficulty procured his Promise to send him over the Earl a Prisoner protesting his Life should be secured to him and accordingly he was sent over and secured in the Tower King Henry supposing himself now secure made it his business to heap up Riches and for that purpose he had his Instruments Empson and Dudly who by grievous unlawfull and indirect ways oppressed the People for which they were justly punished as a Terrour to corrupt Judges which in the next Reign appears but in the midst of this Unrertaking the King dyed viz. anno 1509. on the 22d of April He had Issue by Elizabeth his Queen eldest Daughter to Edward the Fourth Arthur who was married to Katharine of Spain and dyed before his Father anno 1502. Henry Edmund who dyed 1499. Margaret married to James the Fourth King of Scotland Elizabeth who dyed young Mary first married to Lewis the Twelfth King of France and afterward to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk Katharine who dyed young This Henry was King of England and France and Lord of Ireland Son to Edmund Tudor Earl of Richmond by Margaret Daughter and Heir to John Beaufort Duke of Somerset Grandchild to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster He began his Reign in the Year 1485 and reigned twenty three Years eight months and was the 39th sole Monarch of England he dyed in the 52d Year of his Age and was buried in the Chapel of his own Building at Westminster Thus after Toils of State and War are o'er Monarchs lie down to be disturb'd no more The Grave yields quiet and Repose from ill When Fate wound off the Wheels of Life stand still The Reign and Actions of Henry VIII King of England c. KIng Henry the Eighth was in his Father's Life time betrothed to Katharine of Spain his Brother Arthur's Widow and the old King left him to set up with 1800000 l that he had scraped together in his latter days the greatest Treasure any King of England ever left before This Henry was crowned at Westminster on the 25th of June 1509. together with Queen Katharine by William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury chusing many grave persons out of the Clergy and Lâ—iâ—y And now the people being enraged against Empson and Dudly for their illegal Oppressions the King to prevent Tumults that might have happened in the beginning of a young Prince's Reign if Redress had been refused caused them to be arrested and imprisoned and soon after being brought to Tryall and many heinous things proved against them together with the Cries and Clamours of the people for Justice they were sentenced to lose their Heads and were accordingly executed The King being of a martial Spirit and impatient of Ease sent his Heralds at Arms to the French King there in his Name and as in right belonging to the English Crown to demand the Dutchies of Normandy Guine Main and Anjou but they being refused he failed into France with a considerable Army besieged Terwin and thither came Maximilian the Emperour as a voluntary aider to the King and served under the English Standard as a Knight of the Order of the Garter and the French advancing with a considerable power to the relief of this place were routed allmost without fighting so from their cowardly running away being most Horse it was called in derision The Battel of Spurs yet six of their Standards and many Prisoners of note were taken and thereupon the Town yielded and the King marched to the Siege of Tournay which he won and obliged the Citizens for their Redemption to pay him
he surrendred himself and was committed to the Tower and soon after he with the Earl of Southampton were convicted of High-Treason in endeavouring to Leavy War against the Queen c. and the Earl of Essex on the 20th of February 1600 lost his Head on the Green within the Tower not only lamented of the people whose Darling he was but of the Queen her self who at the perswasion of his Enemies had in the heat of her passion signed the Warrant for his Death divers others were Executed on this occasion as it were to bare so great a Man company nor did the Queen enjoy her self after the fall of this Favourite but hastened her own Death by grief dying on the 24th of March 1602 and was buried in Henry the Seventh's Chapell at Westminster when she had Reigned 44 Years 4 Months and 7 Days and in the 69th Year of her Age. This Elizabeth was Queen of England France and Ireland Daughter to Henry the Eighth by his Wife Ann Bulloin in her Reign happened Earthquakes Blazing Stars and a Mortal Plague of which 40000 dyed in and about London She was the 43th sole Monarch of England c. Thus set the Glory of her Sex in Dust Whose endless Memory Fame keeps in trust When Eating Time shall Marble Tombs deface Her Name shall live belov'd in every place The Life Reign and Actions of James the First King of Great Britain c. THe name of the Tudors expiring in Queen Elizabeth gave way to that of the Stuarts James the Sixth of Scotland great Grand-child to James the Fourth and Margaret his Wife Eldest Daughter to Henry the Seventh succeeding to the Crown by reason of the failure of Issue by the Male Line who upon notice of the Death of Queen Elizabeth being invited by the Nobles set forward from his Kingdom of Scotland and entering England was received on the Frontires with great joy and conducted to London being met some distance by the Mayor and Aldermen and five hundred Horse who conducted him to the Charter-House prepared for his Reception but because the Plague raged the Coronation was deferred and the Popish Party who had earnestly expected the death of the Queen in hopes a Papist might succeed finding themselves disappointed laboured to prevent his establishment in the Throne and several were detected who had received Orders from the Pope to seize his Person and bring him to their own terms however on the 21st of July 1603. The King together with the Queen his Royal Consort were crowned at Westminster by Dr. Whitgift Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Conspirators being tryed at Winchester many were found guilty yet only Watson and Clark two Priests together with George Brook suffered death the King pardoning the rest mostly at the place of Execution and then in a dispute between the Bishops of the Church of England and the Puritan Ministers who pretended to a farther Reformation this wise Prince gave it for the first and by learned reasons so confuted the latter that they were utterly non-plussed and after that he caused the Holy Scripture to be new Translated from the Original and Anno 1604 he made peace with Spain and proceeded to a Uniting the Kingdoms of England and Scotland and took upon him the Stile of King of Great Britain banishing the Jesuites and Seminary Priests who began a fresh to disturb the Government which made them as their last Shift or rather cruel revenge contrived that hellish Plot called the Gunpowder-Plot wherein they bound themselves by Oaths and Sacraments for the more secretly carrying it on but nothing escapes the Eyes of the Almighty who when they were in the highest expectation of success turned their Wisedom into Foolishness for by a Letter directed to the Lord Monteagle whom one of the Conspirators was desirous to spare the Nest they had so long been making was found and in it thirty six Barrels of Powder intended to blow up the King Lords and Commons in Parliament this was discover'd under great heaps of Billets but the very Morning they were to assemble in Parliament and Guy Faux at the Vault Door under the Parliament-House Cloaked Booted and Spurr'd with a Dark-Lanthorn and Matches ready to lay the Train upon which the Conspirators were pursued and in the dispute John and Christopher Wright Thomas Piercy and Robert Catesby were slain and Anno 1605 on the 27th of January Sir Edward Digby Thomas Winter Robert Winter Ambrose Rookwood Thomas Bates Robert Keys and Guido Faux were found guilty and Executed as Traitors at the West-end of St. Pauls and in the Palace-Yard In memory of this signal Deliverance the fifth of November the Day on which it was discovered by Authority of Parliament was enacted a perpetual day of Thanksgiving Henry Garnet and divers others concerned in this Plot were Executed at sundry Times and Places Garnet confessing it though a Jesuite and warning the Roman Catholicks not to practice any Treason against their Prince for God would certainly discover and defeat it And soon after there happened Insurrections in the Shires of Liecester Warwick and Northampton about throwing open Inclosures Headed at last by John Reynolds but were dispersed and quieted without much Trouble and the King to honour the City entered himself a Brother of the Cloath-workers Company and by his Example many Nobles were made free of that and divers others the New Exchange was finished Anno 1609 and furnished with Wares being called by the King Britain's Burse The Priests and Jesuites were commanded to depart the Kingdom The Body of Mary Queen of Scots Mother to King James was Anno 1612 removed from Peterborough to the Royal Chappel at Westminster and there splendidly Interred and the Kingdom remained in great Tranquility But to abate the Joy Prince Henry the King 's eldest Son dyed November the 6th of a Feaver though not without some suspicion of Poyson to the great Grief of the Kingdom whose Darling he was And Frederick the Electour Palatine of the Rhine coming into England was married to the Lady Elizabeth the King 's eldest Daughter in the Royal Chappel at White-Hall on the 14th of February following but soon after at the Instance of the Bohemians taking upon him the Rule of that Kingdom he was routed by the Emperour's Forces who seized likewise the Palatinate and the King gave the Citizens of London the Province of Vlster in Ireland and instituted the Order of Baronets limiting them within the number of 200 and to cease with the failure of Issue and Anno 1614 the New River was brought to London to the great refreshment of the City which was much stinted for want of Water being only supplied by a few Conduits in the neighbouring Fields and this year a Divorce being sued out between Robert Devereux and his Countess on her Pretence of his Insufficiency she married Robert Carre Earl of Somerset and the King 's great Favourite for inveighing against which Marriage they procured Sir Thomas Overbury first
Dorcetshire with about fourscore men and a considerable quantity of Arms and Amunition declaring his intention to deliver the Kingdom from the danger it was likely to be brought into by the prevailing power of the Papists under the influence of a King who had professed himself openly to be of the Roman Communion c. and divers of his Declarations were printed and scattered abroad for printing which one Mr. Desney a Councellour was seized and Tryed at the Marshalsea upon an Indictment of High Treason and being by the Jury found guilty he was sentenced and executed his head being afterward placed on London Bridge The Duke of Monmouth encreasing his Forces in the West and causing himself to be Proclaimed King not onely the standing Guards but a great number of New-raised forces were sent against him as likewise the Scotch Regiment sent from Holland when after sundry skirmishes in which divers were killed on both sides On the sixth of July the Duke in the dead of the night by a silent March endeavoured to surprize the King's Forces encamped on Sedgmore near Bridgwater commanding the Foot in person and ordering the Lord Grey with the Horse to take a compass and fall in the Rear but the design being discovered by an early Alarum after many brisk firings between the Foot and the Dukes Horse not coming timely up the King's Horse entred the Ranks and in spite of the opposition that was made broke and disordered them so that about daylight they fled in great confusion and a piteous slaughter ensued so that two thousand are held to be slain The Duke with most of the Commanders escaped the Field but having been Attainted in Parliament and a premium of 5000 l set upon his head he was upon the information of an old Woman searched for in the Inclosures near Holt Lodge and after divers attempts to escape was taken and by easie Marches brought to White-Hall and by the Council committed to the Tower and the third day after brought to the Scaffold on Tower-Hill where after he had made a very Christian-like and Heroick Speech he had his Head severed from his Body at five stroaks so barbarous was his execution the Body of this unfortunate and much lamented Nobleman in whose Veins flowed by the Father's side the Royal Bloud was put into a Hearse in order to its Interment but this execution allayed not the fury of some persons for the Lord Chief Justice Jeffries and others being sent into the West to try such as escaped Military execution caused about 300 to be executed in divers places amongst whom the Lady Lile was beheaded at Winchester for harbouring some persons who had escaped the Battel and soon after a Woman was burnt at Tyburn upon the like occasion During these proceedings the Earl of Argyle was Routed in Scotland taken in a pond and beheaded at Edenburg Rumbold the Malster was hanged and quartered and his quarters sent to England and set upon the Gates of London Colonel Ayloffe and Mr. Nelthorp were sent prisoners and executed one before the Temple and the other before Gray's-Inn And the Parliament meeting again after its prorogation the King told them that in consideration of sundry good Services several Roman Catholick Officers had done him he was willing they should continue in their places notwithstanding the Parliament was very earnest to have them removed and pardon granted them for what had passed in Acting contrary to Law as not being Qualified for places of Trust without taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy however they were continued and the Parliament soon after Dissolved An Embassadour was sent to Rome and the Pope's Nuncio came to England being kindly received by the King and now it began to be rumour'd that Father Petre a Jesuit was got to the Helm of Affairs and soon after he was declared a Privy Councellour And divers persons were Tryed upon the Account of what had been done in the Reign of King Charles the Second for which Alderman Cornish suffered in Cheapside and Charles Bateman a Chirurgeon at Tyburn And the Dissenters were severely prosecuted though at the same time the Popish Priests began to build them Chapels in Limestreet Bucklers-Bury St. John's and Southwark promising themselves no less than the re-establishment of that Religion and some people were punished for opposing their proceedings the City Trained Bands being ordered on Sundays c. to guard those houses from the violence of the Multitude and most of the Judges having declared a Dispensing Power in the King Papists throughout the Nation were put into places of Trust and Offices without taking the Oaths Especially after the Tryal of the Case of Sir Edward Haleâ— at the Court of King's-Bench where the Verdict went for him c but the Members of the Church oâ— England seeming not well pleased there followed an unexpected closing with the Dissenters and a Declaration was published for Toleration or Liberty of Conscience and a promise to Establish it by Law The Church of England-men we almost every where displaced and Papists and Dissenters placed in their stead most of the Fellows of Magdalen College in Oxford turned out and a President imposed on it A High Commission Court was â—erected to censure the Clergy the Bishop of London was suspended and most of the Corporations had their Charters taken into the King's hands some of them being shortly after restored with alterations The standing Forces were increased Campaigns were held on Hounslow Heath to exercise the Souldiers and the King designing to call a Parliament the people were questioned in many parts of the Kingdom whether they would themselves if chosen or give their Voices for such as should be willing to take away the Penal Laws and Tests And the Archbishop of Canterbury with Six other Bishops were sent prisoners to the Tower â—nd afterwards Tryed at the King's-Bench Bar but â—cquitted for petitioning the King to revoke his Order of Reading his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience in Churches in time of Divine Service And during their Imprisonment we had news that â—he Queen was brought to Bed of a Son for which 〈◊〉 Thanksgiving day was appointed and the Conâ—uits in London ran with Wine as likewise in many other places and the Embassadours in foreign Courts made great Rejoycing But whilst this â—oy lasted at Court and things were making ready or the calling a Parliament news came that great â—reparations were making in Holland with a design â—o pass an Army into England which changed the â—ace of Affairs for those that had been turned out â—f places of Trust were restored the Bishops were received into savour the Charter of London and other Charters were restored Depositions were taken relating to the Birth of the Infant and enrolled in Chancery and the King was willing no Papist should be a Member in Parliament with many other concessions and great Levys were made for Sea and Land however the Dutch Fleet without much interruption came to Torbay in
business inviting many of the Nobles that he thought disaffected to the King he made them Prisoners in his Palace and by that means constrained them to render their Castles as Ransoms for their Persons which much weakened the Interest of the Empress yet Earl Robert burnt Worcester for holding out against her and the like did Ralph Painel one of her Captains to Nottingham The Empress finding her Measures broken by the crafty Bishop of Winchester hasted to Lincoln but the King followed close and besiged that City and took it yet she made her escape so that new Measures being taken her Forces daily increased insomuch that becoming strong in the Field Robert Earl of Glocester and Ralph Earl of Chester gave the King battle near Lincoln which was maintained with great obstinacy and effusion of blood Victory seeming to incline to neither party till such time as the Kings Horse gave way thought to have been done by treachery however the Foot stood manfully to it but being overcharged and trampled down for want of their Horse to cover them they fled likewise leaving the King who chose rather to die than give back to fight the Battle when with a very weighty Battle-Ax like an inraged Lyon he drove whole squadrons before him killing a great number for wherever he struck the blow proved mortal but in the fury of the Fight having broken his Battle-Ax and after that his Sword he was beaten down with a Massiestone thrown at him and by that means brought under and taken Prisoner King Stephen thus made a Prisoner was carried to Glocester where the Empress expected him and from thence sent Prisoner to Bristol whereupon all but the County of Kent acknowledged her as their Soveraign so that going to Winchester in state she there received the Regal Crown and passing to London she was met with Procession and the Acclamations of the people but the Earl of Glocester Brother to the Empress being taken by some of the Nobles that sided with King Stephen and Imprisoned at Glocester searing if any violent Death befel the King he should run the same Risque he so far solicited the matter that an exchange was made and both the one and the other had Liberty after which the Earl went for Normandy which had revolted from Stephen to raise Forces to secure what was gained but whilst this was doing the Londoners being displeased as not receiving the satisfaction they expected and the Nobles thinking themselves slighted by her the restless Bishop of Winchester set the Nation again into a Blaze of dissention making a strong Party for King Stephen besieging the Empress in the Castle of Winchēster seven weeks and then the better to work his advantage feigning a Peace and causing it to be proclaimed set open the City Gates but she and her followers almost starved out with Famine were scarce departed when he caused them to be pursued in which pursuit many were slain and taken Prisoners and amongst them Earl Robert who by this time was returned with a slender Train and others taking Sanctuary in the Nunnery of Worwell were burnt together with the House nor did the Bishop spare Winchester but fired it for taking part with the Empress The Empress escaping this Storm betook her self to the Castle of the Devizes in Wiltshire but being closely pressed by the prevailing party and out of all hopes of relief she contrived a Stratagem to prevent her falling into their hands viz. Inclosing her self in a Coffin and making it known to a few of her Trusty Friends under pretence it was the dead Body of a Person whom the Besiegers knew to be dead in that place procuring a pass for the burial of it with its Ancestors She was in a Horse-litter carried to Glocester and there joyfully received by those of their Party But finding it not safe to continue there she hasted to Oxford where being straightly Besieged by the King in the depth of Winter and the Suburbs gain'd she found her self in no capacity longer to defend the place but taking the advantage of a Snow that had fallen she put on white Garments and by that means in the dusk of the Evening passed alone undiscovered to Abington on Foot and from thence to Wallingford on Horseback the same Night so sweet is a Crown that no Difficulties or Dangers are thought too much to attain it It was indeed strugled for with various success causing a great deal of blood shed as the Partys prevailed with Burnings and Devastations However that he might assure the Succession of his Son Eustuce he called a Council at London commanded Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterbury to Anoint him King but having received the Pope's Mandate to the contrary he refused it for which he was obliged to leave the Land and flie to Normandy yet the King for this refusal seized upon his Possessions But shortly after Prince Eustace dying the King became more inclinable to an agreement with the Empress The death of this Prince is by some Historians thus reported viz. Having set fire to the Corn Fields belonging to the Abby of Bury because the Monks refused to supply him with a sum of Money for his present occasion after that at his first sitting down to Dinner upon the first bit of Bread he touched he fell distracted and died in that fit but this seems a Fable of the Monks to terrifie people from medling with their Diana or the abundance of Treasure they in those days of Ignorance scraped to themselves even from those that had far greater need However the Kings hope dying in this Prince he was content to adopt Henry by some called Fitz Empress though indeed Plantaginet for his Son and Successor to whom at Oxford in the great Assembly held there for that purpose the Peers did Homage as to the undoubted Heir and the Prince acknowledged the King as his Father and after whom he was to Reign nor did Stephen live long when this was done for being afflicted with the Illiack pasio and the Haemorhoids worn out with Labour and continual toil left the Crown which he had worn with so much trouble and variety of Fortune to young Henry dying at Dover Anno 1134 and was Buried at Feversham in Kent though afterward his Body only for the value of the Lead that inclosed it was cast into the River by the covetous Sexton This Stephen was King of England and Duke of Normandy third Son to Stephen Earl of Blois by his Wife Adilicia or Alice Daughter to William the Conqueror he began his Reign the second of December Anno 1135 and Reigned Eighteen Years Ten Months and 20 Days and had Issue by Maud or Matilda his Wife Daughter of Eustace Earl of Bulloigne Brother of Godfry and Baldwin Kings of Jerusalem Baldwin Eustace William Maud and Mary he had likewise two Natural Sons Gervas the younger he made Abbot of Westminster Thus in a Tempest liv'd the Warlike King Small rest he found till death the calm did
to be the greatest Malediction that could befal them so that the Priests to strengthen their Masters Power and make him more dreadful to the World lay idle for the space of six years and fourteen Weeks in which time there was neither publick preaching nor praying no Administration of the Sacrament Burial or Christning by which we may plainly see whatever the Papists pretend as to the Sanctity of their infalible Father how much he prefered his private revenge before the Service of God and this he denyed not to Hereticks but to Papists so that the people being greatly discouraged many parts of the Kingdom lay untilled and became as it were desolate when the King on the other hand prescribed the disloyal Clergy confiscated their Temporalities as also their Bishopricks Abbies and Priories puting them into the hands of Lay-men suffering the Clergy to be oppressed without taking notice of it or righting them by civil Justice declaring they had by obliging the Pope put themselves out of hiâ— protection yet some of the more prudent as the Bishop of Durham and his Successor the Bishops of Winchester and Norwich incouraged the King not to regard the Papal Curse as being weak and insignificant like wise the Abbots of Cistercian Order took no notice oâ— it but went on as before till such time as the Popâ— suspended them for that contempt and the more tâ— shew his spleen Anathamatized the King by name whereupon some as well Nobles as Plebeans diserte his service for which in a stout resolution he bâ—nished and fined them but wearied out with thâ— practices of the Clergy against him and the Rebellioâ— of his Nobles he concluded it was better to give waâ— to the humour of a petish Pope than to live in diâ—quiet and daily hazard his Kingdom whereupon Langton was offered to be confirmed the other Bishops and Clergy restored and that the Churches should have its Franchises as in the time of Edward the Confessor but not being willing as indeed he was not at that time in a condition to restore the Monies received for Ecclesiastical confiscations the Legate sent by the Pope would not come to a conclusion This being the state of Affairs and the Pope desirous to humble the King discharged his Subjects from their fealty and Allegiance to him which some taking as a good warrant utterly disowned him for their King and the Welsh thereupon took up Arms which so inraged the King that he caused the 28 Hostages which they had given for the security of their good behaviour to be hanged up at Notingham but by this time the Barons had invited Lewis Dauphin of France to invade the Kingdom promising to set the Crown upon his Head when in the mean time while Stephen Langton and other Bishops implored the Popes assistance to settle the Church which must otherways fall into ruine whereupon he decreed that King John must be deposed ere it could be settled sending to Philip the French King to take upon him the Crown and Kingdom offering him a pardon for all his sins in case he effected it King John upon notice of the spightful proceedings prepared to oppose the French or any other Invader by Sea or Land but in the mean time Pandulph the Pope's Legate came into England and so wrought with the King that he suffered himself to prevent the storm conditionally to be deposed and at the Knight Templers house at Dover he surrendred his Crown into the hands of the Legate some say whilst he kneeled the proud Priest kicked it off with his foot for the use of the Pope and to be disposed as he thought fit laying his Scepter Sword and Ring at the Legates feet and subscribed a Charter whereby he resigned his Kingdom to the Pope professing but how sincerely I suffer the Reader to judge he did it not through fear or force but of his own voluntary accord as having no other way to make satisfaction to God and the Church for his offence and from that time forward he would hold his Crown and Kingdom in fee of the See of Rome at the Aâ—â—al pension of 1000 Marks for England and Ireland a very hard case but necessity it seems has no Law so that the Legate having gained his ends more favourable than he could reasonably expect passed over for France to put a stop to King Philip's preparations but he declared that seeing the Pope had been the main Instrument in seting him on and that the charge was already very great he would not desist though the Pope should Excommunicate him and calling a Council of Peers all but Ferdinand Earl of Flanders approved his intentions and the Barons denied to aid him till he was Assailed of the Excommunication and that all their Laws and Liberties granted by Henry the First were restored which obliged the King to send divers rich Presents to Rome thereby to allure the Pope who upon the Receipt sent the Bishop of Tusculum who would have perswaded him to have made over the Kingdom of England but not only the Arch-bishop but all the Peers of the Kingdom opposed it so that in Parliament it was Enacted That since the King could not without the consent of Parliament bring his Kingdom and People to such a Thraldom therefore if the Pope should in the future attempt any such thing they with their Lives and Fortunes were ready to oppose it So that the Pope finding there was no good to be done this way sent his Authentick Letters for the repealing the Edict yet not without the restitution of 1300 Marks to the Clergy most of which came to his Coffers so that the King passed into his Transmarine Territories but before he could quiet the disturbances news came that the English Barons had bound themselves at the high Altar of St. Edmundsbury by Oath to pursue the King with Arms till he had granted them their Charter of Liberties granted in the Reign of Henry the First whereupon he found himself necessitated to return and finding they had not only seized London but were otherways very formidable a Council to reconcile differences was held in Runing Marsh between Stains and Windsor since called Council Mead and there he granted them Magna Charta and Charta Forestae and consented that 25 select Peers should command the rest who were bound by Oath to be obedient but the King long dijested not this abating of his Power but withdrawing himself he sent to complain of it to the Pope as likewise to his Friends abroad for Aid and was in both successful for at Rome by a definitive Sentence the Barons Charters were made void and both they and the King accursed if either of them observed the conclusion of the Treaty in Council Mead he likewise had considerable Forces sent him from Gascoin Brabant and Flanders so that he again took the Field dividing his Army in two parts when himself marching Northward and the Earl of Salisbury Southward they brought all into subjection and
of Worcester and Douglas Sir Richard Vernon Barron of Kinlaton taken and beheaded 200 Esquires and Gentlemen of Cheshire and a great number of common Soldiers lost their Lives not without considerable Loss to the King and the ending his Life for Hotspur broke furiously through the Squadron where the Standard was and there had killed or taken him Prisoner had he been seconded as he expected yet this so incensed the King that he caused his Body whom his own Party had carried off and buried to be taken out of the Grave the Head cut off and the Quarters to be dispersed in divers Places As for the Earl of Northumberland he was taken after this Defeat as he was raising Forces in the North yet had his Life pardoned but was abridged in his Estate and the better to quiet the like Disturbances the King called a Parliament but could get no considerable Supply neither in that nor the other two Parliaments that succeeded it About this time William de Willford being abroad with a Squadron of Men of War brought in 40 Prizes laden with Iron Oyl and Rochel Wine which was sold to supply the King's Coffers and a Troup of Western Men brought 3 foreign Lords and 20 Knights of note Prisoners from Dartmouth having slain the Lord Castile and a great many of his Followers who cruzing on the Coast attempted to burn and plunder that place as before they had served Plimouth for which Service the King bestowed liberal Rewards amongst them and in Parliament caused the Earl of Northumberland to be restored to his entire Possession yet these things quieted not the minds of the Nobility for soon after Thomas Mowbray Earl-Marshal of England drew Richard Scroop Arch-Bishop of York into a Conspiracy who tampering with the Earl of Westmoreland and he promising them fair instead of siding with them delivered them up to the King and they were thereupon beheaded but the Pope being highly incensed at the Arch-bishop's Death excommunicated all those that had a hand in it This was seconded by another of the Earl of Northumberland and the Lord Bardolf but their Forces being weak they were encountred by the Sheriff of Yorkshire where the Earl in a sharp conflict was slain in the Field and the Lord mortally wounded and as a mark of Ignominy the Earl's Head was carried on a Pole through London and fixed on the Bridge-gate and because the Scots had encouraged this Undertaking and to surpress the Rumour that went abroad of King Richard's being alive the King marched an Army of 37000 Men to their Borders battered Berwick with a piece of Cannon the first that was used in England and took it as likewise siezed on all the Castles belonging to the Earl of Northumberland then marched into Wales but was â—isappointed in that Expedition by the sudden Inâ—undations and Torrents of Water that flowed â—rom the Hills whereby fifty of his Waggons with Treasure and Provisions were destroyed and a great part of his Food which obliged him to reâ—ire The King to repair his Loss called another Parâ—iament which through his Importunity was constrained to grant him a Subsidy and in the year 1407 a Plague raged throughout England and destroyed in London 30000 Persons A great Frost followed it that lasted 15 Weeks yet the Duke of Burgundy craving the King's Aid against the Duke of Orleance had his Request granted And amongst other memorable Actions of the English Sir John Blunt raised a Siege beat Four thousand French-men with Three hundred English taking about Twelve Noblemen and One hundred and Twenty Gentlemen Prisoners And now Wickliff's Doctrine beginning to spread the Arch-Bishop Arundel so incensed the King that William Sawtree William Swinderby and William Thorp all eminent Divines were put to Death for their profession of a good Faith but the King did not long survive that Cruelty for Anno 1413. falling sick and into an Appoplexy whilst his Crown was placed on his Pillow Prince Henry his Son came and took it thence which the King perceiving upon his reviving sent for him and demaâ—ded the reason of his hastiness who boldly replyed That he seeming dead in all Men's esteem he took it as his Right Whereupon the King with some trouble of mind looking on him said Ah Son with what Right it was got God only knoweth who forgive me the Sin To which the Prince fiercely replyed However it was got I mean to keep it when it shall be mine and defend it with my Sword as you by your Sword have obtained it and soon after the King dyed and was buried at Canterbury This Henry the IV was King of England and France Lord of Ireland c. eldest Son to John Duke of Lancaster by Blanch his Wife He began his Reign the 29th of Sptember Anno 1399 and Reigned 13 Years 3 Months and 16 Days and was the 33d sole Monarch of England by his first Wife Mary he had Issue Prince Henry Thomas Duke of Clarence John Duke of Bedford Humphrey Duke of Gloucester Blanch and Philippa by his second-Wife no Issue that survived him Thus ill-got Crowns create a troubl'd Reign Howe'er so easie got hard to maintain Such Crowns have Thorns that still the Wearer pain The Life Reign and Actions of Henry the V. King of England c. HEnry of Monmouth so called from the place of his Birth in his youthfull years lead away by wild and debauched Courtiers committed many extravagancies not being exempted from Robbing on the High-ways putting his Father in fear of some Design he had upon his Person and attempting to rescue a Prisoner from the Face of Justice in the Court of King's-Bench but when he came to the Crown he was wonderfully changed commanding his former leud Companions to alter their manners or not dare to approach his Court nor within Ten miles of his Person chusing grave and worthy Counsellours and much honouring the Clergy and the more to ingratiate with the People every day after Dinner he was wont for the space of an hour to receive Petitions in order to redress Grievances which he would doe with wonderfull Equity much lamenting the untimely Death of King Richard and so near it touched him that he sent to Rome to be absolved from a Fact he had no hand in Whilst things went on prosperously a Parliament was called wherein it was moved that the superfluous Lands and Temporalties belonging to Religious Houses were sufficient of the Maintainance of 15 Earls 1500 Knights 6200 Esquires and 100 Alms-Houses and over and above 20007 l per Annum to the King's Coffers and this to curb the Pride of the Clergy was pressed very home and had gone on had not the Arch-Bishop of Canteâ—bury to turn his Thoughts from it perswaded him to seek his Right in France of which Kingdom he told him he was the true Heir enforcing it with strong Reasons insomuch that the young King being naturally of a fierce and warlike Spirit soon hearkned to what he had suggested and sent
the Revenge of some Courtiers whom he had iâ—jured and they soliciting the King to proceed further he commanded him to leave the Court and retire to York but as he was on his way he was overtaken and arrested by the Earl of Northumberland and his House and Furniture siezed Hiâ— Charge was for speaking Arrogant Words against the King which were interpreted that he meant to take revenge for his disgrace but at Leicester Abby in his way to London taking an Italian Confection to break Wind from his Stomach he dyed not without suspition of Poisoning himself rather than after so great a share of Power and Grandure as he had possessed to fall into the hands of his Enemies His last words were these viz. If I had served my God as faithfully as I have served my King he would not at this time cast me off As for his Birth it was mean being the Son of a Butcher at Ipswich rising from a low degree by his Policie Cuning and prompt Genus About this time Queen Ann was delivered of a Daughter Christened by the name of Elizabeth afterward our renowned Queen of England and two years after of a dead Child but the Popish party at Court perceiving this good Queen strongly to incline to the Lutheran Doctrine and encourage those of the Profession they found an opportunity to strike in with some displeasure of the King 's and accuse her of Incest and Adultery with her Brother the Lord Rochfort which appeared upon no other Foundation than his waiting upon her whilst she was in Bed to inquire of her Health and for joy of her recovery presuming to salute her however she was beheaded on Tower-Hill making a very Pious and Christian-like end and for the same Fact dyed Her Brother in like manner on the 19th of May 1536. and the next day the King gave a greater light into this cruel Execution by Marrying the Lady Jane Seymour Daughter to Sir John Seymour which looked as though the removing one from his Embraces was only to make way for the other Wolsey as is said being dead Thomas Cromwell a Black-smith's Son of Putney who had been an under Favourite of the Cardinals began to rise in the Kings esteem being first made Master of the Jewel-house then Barron of Okeham then Earl of Essex after that great Chamberlain of England and Vicar General of the Spiritualities he was a great favourer of the Reformed Religion and strove what in him lay to promote it but this and his greatness proved his downfall by raising powerfull Enemies at Court against him so that after he had done many great things for the King and Kingdom he was Arraigned Condemned and lost his Head however some change of the Face of the Romish Worship made the Monks and Fryars invite the Plebeans to take up Arms under pretence of redressing Grievances and reforming matters of State and were headed in Lincolnshire by one Mackarel a Monk but being promised by the King their requests should be partly answered they laid down their Arms but it was not long before another rout got together under the name of Pilgrims carrying in their Banner the Picture of Christ with his five Wounds the Chalice Cake and other foolish Devices declaring for Holy Mother Church and a Reformation in State These assembled in Yorkshire to the number of 40000 Commanded by one Diamond a Fisherman who Stiled himself the Earl of Poverty and one Robert Aske yet upon the approach of the King's Forces though they had for a time appeared very formidable being promised as the former some Redress of their Demands and a Pardon for what had passed they dispersed themselves yet upon these and the like stirs several of the Ringleaders were taken and Executed as four Abbots two Pryors three Monks and 3 Priests nor did Captain Mackerel escape this Execution and of Temporal Persons dyed the Lord Dacres Sir Robert Constable Sir Francis Bigod Robert Aske and divers others and now the Churches began to be purged of Images and other Trumpery which greatly inriched the King's Coffors for many of them were of Gold and Silver set with precious Stones and those of Wood were burnt nor were the Monasteries and Religious Houses long delayed of which there were suppressed Monasteries â—645 Colledges 90 Chanceries and Free Chapels â—374 So that the Bible was read in English Register Books appointed and Weddings and Christenâ—ngs Commenced in due order to hinder Clandestine Iniquities for upon their being demolished great numbers of Childrens Sculls and Bones were found which had been Murther'd stopt up in the Walls and other places to hide the Infamy of the Lascivious Nuns and Fryars c. But by this means the Revenues siezed swarms of Monasticks were turned out to shift which made them labour to incense not only many of the Commons but some Noblemen and Gentlemen against the King and the Pope sent a Bull Excommunicating the King but the Bull bearer being taken as he was fixing it upon the Bishop of Londons Palace he was as a Traytor conveyed to Tyburn and there hanged with the Bull about his Neck and the Marquess of Exceter the Lord Montacute and Sir Edward Nevile were Executed at Tower-Hill for Conspiring to depose Henry and place Cardinal Reignald Pool Grand-son to the Duke of Clarence in the Throne The Lady Jane Seymour whom Henry hade made â—his Queen dying in Child-bed with Prince Edward afterward our Edward the Sixth the King Married the Lady Ann Sister to the Duke of Cleve and she being sent over the King no sooner fixed his Eyes on her but he took dislike a to her Person and pretending he had been deceived in the Report of her Beauty the Beding was refrained and a Divorce procured in Parliament barring her the Tittle of Queen and he proceeded to Marry the Lady Catharine Howard Neice to the Duke of Norfolk but she soon after run the same Risque as Ann of Bulloin had done for she had not been Married much above a year before she was accused of Fornication and Adultery the one with Francis Derham before Marriage and the other with Thomas Culpeper after she was Queen for which she together with the Lady Jane Rochfort lost her head on Tower-Hill the latter suffering for Concealing the Fact of the former though the Queen declared to her Confessor to the last she was innocent as for Derham and Culpeper they were Executed at Tyburn nor did the Countiss of Salisbury Daughter to George Duke of Clarence and Mother to Cardinal Pool escape the cruelty of the King for upon a suspition she held Correspondence with her Son she was attainted in Parliament and beheaded upon that Attandure and about the same time the Lord Leonard Grey lost his Head for Treason and for refusing to deny the Pope's Supreamicy and acknowledge the King's upon a Statute acknowledging the King Supream Head in his own Kingdom John Fisher Bishop of Rochester and the famous Sir Thomas Moor Lord Chancellor