Hell whom they devoutly worshipped as the preserver of their health Shaftsbury likewise wherein one Aquila either Man or Eagle is reported to have prophecied of future times In this City Edward son of Edgar who was murdered at Corf-Castle by his Step-Mother to make way for her own Son was buried In the Reign of K. Edward 2 the great Earl of Lancaster married a Lady from Camford in this County who was taken out of his house by one Richard Martin a deformed lame Dwarf who challenged her for his Wife alledging he had lain with her before the Earl married her whereupon the Lady was examined who voluntarily confessed it was all true and thereupon the ugly Fellow in her right claimed the Two Earldoms of Lincoln and Salisbury In the Fourth of this Kings Reign the Church of Middleton with all the Monuments were consumed with Lightning the Monks being at Mattens In the 22d of Edward 3. a Plague was brought from beyond Sea into the Towns and Villages of England on the Seacosts of Dorsetshire which raged so both there and in other parts of England that scarce the Tenth man was left alive in the Kingdom In 1506. King Philip sailing out of Germany to take possession of the Kingdom of Spain was driven by Tempest upon the Coasts of England and landed at Weymouth to refresh himself and was invited by Sir Tho. Trenchard a worthy Knight of that County to his House who immediately sent word to King Henry 7. of his Arrival who glad to have his Court honoured by so great a Prince sent the Earl of Arundel at present to wait upon him till himself should follow the Earl attended him with a gallant Troop of about 300 Horse and for more state came to him by Torch light upon this Message though K. Philip had many reasons to hasten his Journy yet not to distaste K. Henry he came Post to Windsor where after great and magnificent Entertainment K. Henry taking an opportunity when they were both in a private room laying his Hand civilly upon K. Philip's Arm said Sir you have been saved upon my Coast I hope you will not suffer me to wreck upon yours The King of Castile asking him what he meant I mean saith the King that hair-brain'd Fellow the Earl of Suffolk who being my Subject is protected in your Country and begins to play the Fool when all others are weary of it The King of Castile answered I had thought Sir your felicity had been above these thoughts but if it trouble you I will banish him K. Henry answered That his desire was to have him delivered to him with this the King of Castile a little confused said That can I not do with my honour Well then said the King the matter is at an end at last the King of Castile who much esteemed K. Henry composing his Countenance said Sir you shall have him but upon your honour you shall not take his Life I promise it upon my honour said K. Henry and he kept his promise for he was not put to death during all his Reign but yet he took such order that in the Reign of his Son K. Hen. 8. he had his Head cut off This Earl of Suffolk had lately gone over to Flanders to the Lady Margret K. Henry's sworn Enemy which made the King doubt of his Intentions The Earl was accordingly brought over and sent to the Tower and after K. Philip had received the Order of the Garter and Prince Henry that of the Golden Fleece the King of Castile departed home In the 26. of Q. Elizabeth 1558. at a place called Blackmore in the Parish of Armitage in this County a piece of ground containing 3 Acres removed from its place and went quite over another Close with the Trees and Fences thereon a great way off stopping up an High-way which led to Cerne the same Hedges inclosing it as before and the Trees standing very upright thereon onely one Oak of almost 20 Load fell down in the place from whence it removed there remained a great deep Pit In 1613. Aug. 7. The Town of Dorchester was utterly consumed with Fire which began in the house of a Tallow-Chandler and destroyed the whole Town save a few Houses near the Church and all their Wares and Goods to the value of Two Hundred Thousand Pounds yet no man perished therein In June 1653. a black Cloud was seen over the Town of Pool and soon after dissolved into a shower of Blood which fell warm upon mens hands some green leaves with those drops upon them were sent to London and seen by many The Forrest of the White Hart is in this County so called because in the Reign of Henry 3. the King came hither to hunt and having taken other Deer he spared a most beautiful and goodly white Heart which afterward Thomas de Lynd a Gentleman of this Country with others in his Company took and killed for which the King put a mulct or Fine upon him and the whole County and the very lands which they held pay even to this day every year by way of amercement a sum of Mony into the Exchequer which is called White Hart Silver My self saith Dr. Fuller have paid a share for the sauce who never tasted any of the meat so that it seems Kings Venison is sooner eaten than digested Mr. Ignatius Jordan was born at Lime Regis in this County and when he was young was sent to Exeter to be brought up a Merchant in this City having passed through the several inferiour Offices he at last came to be Mayor and was a Justice of Peace 24 years together yet his beginning was but very mean which he was always ready to acknowledg for when some threatned him with Law-suits and that they would not give over while he was worth a groat he cheerfully told them That he should be then but two pence poorer than when he came first to Exeter for said he I brought but six pence with me hither He would often say He wondred what rich men meant that they gave so little to the Poor and yet raked so much together for their Children do you not see said he what becomes of it and would reckon up divers examples of such as heaped up much for their Children and they in a short time consumed it all on the other side he spoke of such as had small beginnings and afterward became rich or of a competent Estate giving a particular instance of himself I came said he but with a groat or sixpence in my purse to this City had I had a shilling in my purse I had never been Mayor of Exeter In his Troubles in the Star Chamber when one told him he was sorry that the Lord Keeper was against him He answered I have a greater Lord Keeper than him the Lord is my Keeper I will not be afraid He was famous for Justice and Charity in his life and at his death left very large Legacies to the poor
Glocestershire in some places the waters rose three foot in others 5 and 7 and in some Towns and Villages they rose higher than the tops of the Houses so that notwithstanding whatever course could be taken there were 80 Persons drowned besides much Cattle divers Churches and several Parishes overwhelmed thereby it did likewise a great deal of harm in Wales the damages being reckoned above 20 thousand pound In the year 755 Kenwulf King of the West Saxons giving himself up to all manner of Vice and Debauchery coming to Merton in this County to visit a Wench that he kept was there slain and buried at Winchester About the year 1020. Godwin the subtle Earl of Kent cast a covetous eye on the fair Nunnery of Berkly in Glocestershire and thus contrived it for himself he left there a handsome young man as seemingly sick for their Charity to recover the Abbess was a fair and noble Lady Godwin seeking not her but hers gives the young man charge so long to counterfeit till he had debauched the Abbess and as many of the Nuns besides as he could intice to his pleasure and left him withal Rings Jewels Girdles and such toys to give them still when they came to visit him the young man willing to undergo such a task so plaid his part that in a short time he got up most of their Bellies and when he had done told his Lord how he had sped the Earl goes instantly to Court tells the King that such a Nunnery was become a Bawdy House procures a Visitation gets them turned out and begs the Land for his own use At another time this Godwin had a mind to another rich Mannor in Sussex called Boscham and complemented it out of Robert Archbishop of Canterbury in this manner coming to the Archbishop he said Da mihi Basium that is Give me a buss or kiss an usual favour from such a Prelate the Archbishop answers Do tibi Basium I give thee a kiss and therewith kissed him upon which Godwin presently goes to Bascham and takes possession thereof and though here was neither any real intention in him that passed it away nor valuable consideration to him but a meer circumvention yet such was Godwins power and the Archbishops poorness of Spirit that he quietly enjoyed it these rich and ancient Mannors of Berkly and Boscham though distant ten miles asunder are both now met in the Right Honourable George Earl of Berkly as Heir Apparent thereof his Ancestors being long since possessed of them In the Reign of K. Edward 1. the Monastery of Glocester was burnt down to the ground In King Henry 8. time James Bainham Son to Sir Alexander Bainham of this County was burnt for professing the Gospel he was bred in Learning and had knowledge of the Greek and Latin Tongues of a virtuous disposition and Religious Conversation much addicted to Prayer and a diligent Reader of the Holy Scriptures he applied himself to the study of the Law wherein he was very merciful to his Clients ready to give Council to Widdows Fatherless and Afflicted without mony or reward at last he was suspected and complained of to Sir Tho. More then Lord Chancellor and being brought to his House at Chelsey Sir Thomas laboured with frowns and flatteries to withdraw him from the truth which not prevailing he caused him to be tied to a Tree in his Garden called by him the The Tree of Truth and then most cruelly scourged him to make him renounce his opinion this not succeeding Sir Thomas himself saw him cruelly racked in the Tower till he was lamed because he would not accuse some of his acquaintance nor discover where his Books lay then was his Wife Imprisoned and his Goods confiscated yet at last he was persuaded to abjure and solemnly carried a Torch and a Faggot in St. Pauls Church but hereby he rather exchanged than escaped fire feeling such a fire in his own Conscience that he could not be quiet till he had asked God and all the world forgiveness which he did 1st in the Protestant Congregation who met privately in a Ware-house in Bow-lane the next Lords day he went to St. Austins the next Parish Church to St. Pauls that the Antidote might be brought as near as he could conveniently to the place of his poyson where standing up in a Pew with an English New Testament in his hand he declared openly before all the People with abundance of Tears That he had denied God and prayed all the Congregation to believe him and to be warned by his fall not to do the like for said he if I should not return again to the Truth this Word of God holding up his New Testament would damn me both body and soul in the day of Judgement and therefore he intreated them all rather to dye presently than to do as he had done for he would not feel such an hell in his Conscience again for all the World After this he was soon apprehended again and cruelly handled by the Bishop of London putting him in the Stocks and whipping him barbarously for a fortnight together to force him again to recant but all in vain so that he was condemned to be burnt and being in the midst of the Flames which had half consumed his Arms and Legs he spake these words O ye Papists behold you look for Miracles and here now you may see a Miracle for in this Fire I feel no more pain than if I were in a bed of Down but it is to me as a bed of Roses There was in this County one William Dangerfield who with his Wife was imprisoned for the Protestant Faith and was so cruelly used by the Bishop that his legs were almost eaten off with the Irons after a while the Bishop sent for him and told him his Wife had recanted who was as well learned as he and therefore persuaded him to sign a Recantation which they brought having signed it they let him go to his Wife and shewing his Recantation her heart was ready to break crying out Alas Husband thus long we have continued one and hath Satan now so far prevailed with you as to cause you to break your Vow which you made to God in Baptism This so far prevailed with him that he repented of his Apostacy and not long after through the extream cruelty used to them they both dyed in Prison In 1575. Feb. 16. between 4 and 5 in the afternoon great Earthquakes happened in Glocester Worcester Hereford York Bristow and the parts adjacent which caused the People to run out of their Houses for fear they should have fallen on their heads in Tewksbury Bredon and other places the dishes fell off the shelves and books in mens studies fell down before them in Norton Chappel the People being at Prayers and feeling the ground move ran out for fear it should have fallen on their heads part of Rithing Castle fell down and likewise divers brick Chimnies in several Gentlemens Houses In
you may make a Devil of it At which answer they laughed and departed In the Reign of Queen Elizabeth a certain Jesuit in Lancashire as he was walking by the way lost his Glove and one that came after him finding it followed him apace with an intention to restore it but he fearing the worst being inwardly pursued with a guilty conscience ran away and hastily leaping over an Hedge fell into a Marle-pit which was on the other side in which he was drowned In 1613. April 17. in the Parish of Standish in Lancashire a Maiden Child was born having four legs four Arms two Bellies joined to one back one head with two faces the one before the other behind like the Picture of Janus In 1662. July 4. At Litham about two miles from Preston in this County a very strange Fish was cast upon the Shoar it was about four yards in length and as big as an ordinary Horse the forefeet were as long as a mans Arm the hinder feet much shorter but broad like the Finns of a Fish it roared most dreadfully like a Bear it continued alive for some time and multitudes of People came to view it Also much about the same time and nine miles from this place many credible Persons often saw a very dreadful Serpent come forth out of a Wood the length thereof being about five or six yards and they judged it to be bigger than the biggest Cart Axel Tree it was so great that some who viewed the place where it sometimes lay near a Well at Dunkin Hall affirm that it made such an impression on the ground as if an Ox or some more large and pounderous Beast had lain there The Thirtieth of the same month at Ormskirk there happened such a storm of Hail as was hardly ever seen it beat down the Apples spoil'd the Corn broke the glass Windows on that side of the Houses the wind was of and cut the lead in pieces some Hailstones were taken up 8 Inches about and some as big as Pullets Eggs all the French Wheat was utterly spoyl'd and the other Wheat and Barley in the three adjacent Parishes much damaged This County is divided into 6 Hundreds wherein are 26 Market Towns and 61 Churches and is in the Diocess of Chester it elects 14 Parliament men Manchester gives the Title of Earl to Robert L. Montague LEICESTERSHIRE hath Lincoln and Rutland Shires on the East Derby and Nottingham Shires on the North Warwickshire on the West and Northamptonshire on the South It is a Champion Country and abounds with Corn Cattle and Coals the chief City Leicester stands almost in the heart of the County which by Etheldred the Mercian King was made an Episcopal See but being removed the Beauty of the Town decayed yet the renouned Lady Ethelfleda casting an Eye of compassion upon it re-edified the Buildings and compassed it about with a strong Wall whereby the Trade of the City was much increased But in the Reign of Hen. 2. Robert Earl of Leicester rebelling against him the King beseiged took and plundered it throwing down the Walls which seemed hard to be done some parcels of them remaining like hard Rocks by reason of the excellent Mortar The King then commanded the City to be set on fire and burnt the Castle to be razed and an heavy Imposition was laid upon the Citizens who with great Sums of Money bought their own Banishments In the ninth Year of K. Henry 5. a Parliament was called at Leicester wherein an 110 Priories were suppressed because they spoke ill of his Conquests in France and their Possessions given to the King In 1485. King Richard called Crookback set out of this City in the morning to meet the Earl of Richmond afterward K. Henry 7. and chose Bosworth Field to try his fortune with him for the Crown of England that day the Van of his Army was led by the Duke of Norfolk consisting of 1200 Bowmen flanked with 200 Curiassers under the E. of Surrey the main Battle K. Richard led himself being 1000 Billmen empaled with 2000 Pikes the King expected the L. Stanly's 2000 Horse to come for his assistance of whose Fidelity to him the King having some doubt he had before got his Son the Lord Strange as a pledge of his Loyalty with him Stanly not appearing K. Richard sent a Letter to him to come presently into his presence or else he swore by Christs Passion he would strike off his Sons head before he dined to which the L. Stanly returned answer That if he did so he had more Sons alive and he might do his pleasure but to come to him he was not determined Which Answer when K. Richard heard he commanded the L. Strange to be immediately beheaded but it being at the very time when both Armies were in sight of each other his Lords persuaded him it was now time to fight and not to put to Execution and so the L. Strange escaped The Earl of Richmond likewise sent to the L. Stanly to repair presently to him but he sent word he must expect no aid from him till the Battles were joined and therefore advised him with all possible speed to give the onset which Answer somewhat staggered the Earl because his number did but a little exceed one half of the Kings yet to make the best shew he could by the advice of his Council of War he made the Front of his Army thin and broad of which the Earl of Oxford had the leading the Earl himself leading the Battle soon after the Fight begun and the Arrows being spent on both sides they came to handstroaks and just then came in the Lord Stanly to the Earls assistance while they were thus contending K. Richard was informed that the Earl of Richmond with a small number was not far off and thereupon being of an invincible courage whereof he was now to give the last proof he made toward him and gave such a furious assault that first with his own hands he slew Sir William Brandon who bore the Earls Standard next he unhorst and overthrew Sir John Chyney a stout man at Arms and then assaulted the Earl of Richmond himself who unexpectedly for all the Kings fury held him off at the Lances point till Sir Wm. Stanly came in with 3000 fresh men and then opprest with multitude K. Richard was there slain It is said that when the Battle was near lost a swift Horse was brought him with which he might have saved himself by flight but Richard out of his undaunted courage refused it saying He would that day make an end of all Battles or else lose his Life In this Battle Henry E. of Northumberland who led King Richards Rear never struck stroke as likewise many others who followed K. Richard more for fear than love and so he who had deceived many was at this time deceived by many which was not unforeseen by some who caused a Rhime to be set upon the Duke of Norfolk's Tent the
night before the Fight which was this Jack of Norfolk be not too bold For Dickon thy Master is bought and sold Yet notwithstanding this warning this noble Duke continued firm to K. Richard and lost his Life in his quarrel The whole number slain in this Battle on K. Richard's side was about 1000 Persons Sir Wm. Catesby one of the chief Counsellors of K. Richard with divers others were two days after beheaded at Leicester This Battle was fought Aug. 20. 1485. continuing a little above two hours The Earl Knighted several persons in the Field and then kneeling down he rendred hearty Thanks to Almighty God for the Victory he had obtained and commanded all the wounded men to be cured whereat the People rejoycing clapt their hands and cried K. Henry K. Henry of which joy Sir W. Stanly taking opportunity he took the Crown of K. Richard which was found among the spoils in the Field and set it on the Earls Head as though he had been elected King by the voice of the People The Body of K. Richard after he was slain was script and left naked to the very skin not so much as a rag being left about him to cover his nakedness and being taken up was trussed behind a pursivant at Arms his Head and Arms hanging on one side the Horse and his Legs on the other thus all besmeared with Blood and dirt he was brought to the Gray Friars Church in Leicester and there for some time lay a miserable spectacle and afterward with small Funeral Pomp was there buried But K. Henry 7. afterward caused a Tomb to be set over the place with his Picture in Alabaster which at the suppression of that Monastery was utterly defaced since when his Grave overgrown with Nettles and Weeds is not to be found only the stone Chest wherein his Corps lay is now made a drinking Trough for Horses at a common Inn in Leicester and retaineth only the memory of this Monarchs greatness but his body is reported to have been carried out of the City and contemptuously laid under the end of Bow-Bridge near that Town it is likewise said that upon this Bridg there stood a stone of some height against which K. Richard as he passed toward Bosworth by chance struck his spur which a Witch or wise Woman observing she should say That where his spur struck his head should be broken as they say it was when he was brought back dead He lived 37 years and reigned two years and two months it is memorable that this Sir William Stanly who so seasonably saved K. Henries life and set the Crown on his head was about 11 years after upon pretence of some dangerous words beheaded at Tower-hill by order of the same King Henry Mr. Wanly writes that in St. Martins Church in Leicester there is this very remarkable Epitaph to be seen Here lies the body of John Heyrick of this Parish who died 1589. aged 76 years who lived with his Wife Mary in one House full 62 years and had issue by her 5 Sons and seven Daughters and in all that time never buried Man Woman nor Child though they were somtime 20 in Houshold the said Mary lived to 97 years and died 1611. She did see before her departure of her Children and Childrens Children and their Children to the number of 142. Matthew Paris relates of a Maid in Leicestershire who being exactly watched was found in seven years together neither to eat nor drink but only that on Sundays she received the Sacrament and yet continued fat and good liking which if true we may well believe that in the Resurrection our life may be maintained without meat or drink About Lutterworth in Leicestershire a Miller had murdered one in his Mill and privately buried him in a ground hard by this Miller removed into another Country and there lived a long space till at last guided by the Providence of God for the manifestation of his Justice he returned unto that place to visit some of his Friends while he was there the Miller who now had the Mill had occasion to dig deep in that very place where he found the Carkass of a man this known it pleased God to put it into their hearts to remember a Neighbour of theirs who 20 years before was suddenly missed and since that time not heard of and bethinking themselves who was then Miller of that Mill behold he was ready in Town not having been there for many years before this man was suspected thereupon examined without much ado confessed the Fact was accordingly executed for the same In 1660. Sep. 3. near Worthington in this County there happened a dreadful Whirlwind which tore up a great Tree by the Roots casting it four or five yards from the place rent off the great limbs of an Apple-Tree and threw down a House in the Street the Chappel was much shaken and the Chancel in danger of falling then it passed on with great force and noise to Worthington Hall where it overturned five Bay of Barn-building and a Gate-house it blew down a stack of Chimnies and hurried a man into the Garden who by catching hold of a Tree stayed himself at another Town it rent a House where a woman and three Children were miraculously preserved to which it brought a great Log of Wood no body knew from whence it carried away a Hive of Bees and a load of Thorns which could not be heard of and turned up 20 Load of Wood by the roots this whirlwind ran about three miles in length and not above 20 yards in breadth some said there were flames of fire seen in it Upon the 24. of January following between six and seven a clock at night there was a very great Earthquake in most parts of Leicestershire which came at first like a noise in the Air at great distance it shook the Houses very much and in some places men could hardly stand without holding the continuance thereof was about a quarter of an hour Near Lutterworth is a spring so cold that in a short time it turneth straw and sticks into stone John Wickliff was sometime Parson of Lutterworth Church a man of singular and polite wit and much conversant in the Scripture his bones were afterward taken up and burnt by the Papists Sir Robert Belknap Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in K. Richard 2. time was of this County and that K. having a design to destroy certain Lords sent for the Judges to Nottingham where the Kings many questions were in fine resolved into this Whether he might by his Regal Power revoke what was acted in Parliament to this all the Judges Sir William Skipwith alone excepted answered Affirmatively and subscribed it though this Belknap did it unwillingly as foreseeing the danger and putting to his Seal said these words There wants nothing now but an Hurdle an Horse and an Halter to carry me where I may suffer the death I deserve for if I had not
Emperor Augustus who Pliny says was but two foot and an hand-breadth high but whether he were at his full growth or proportionable he doth not tell us The County of Rutland is divided into five Hundreds wherein are 2 Market Towns 48 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Peterborough It elects only 2 Parliament Man for the County and gives the Title of Earl to John L. Mannours SHROPSHIRE hath Cheshire on the North Worcester Hereford and Radnorshires on the South Montgomery and Den bigh shires on the West It produceth Iron Pitcoal Barley Wheat Cattle Wood and Cloth The Shire Town is Shrewsbury which for Circuit Trade and Wealth doth surpass Ludâ—ow and is inferior to few of our Cities her buildings are fair her Streets many and large her Inhabitants rich her Trade chiefly in our Staple Commodities of Cloth and Freezes In the reign of King John 1197. Robert of Shrewsbury was Bishop of Bangor whom this King afterward in War with Leoline Prince of Wales took Prisoner in his own Cathedral Church and enjoyned him to pay 300 Hawks for his ransome which seemed not so proper that a man of Peace should be ransomed with Birds of Prey yet we read that in the Reign of K. Charles 1. a Nobleman was ransomed at the Isle of Rhee for a brace of Greyhounds neither may it be wondred how the Bishop procured them of a sudden since many were brought from Norway and he might also furnish himself out of Pembrokeshire This Bishop seemed somewhat humorous by a passage in his Will wherein he ordered his Body should be buried in the midst of the Market place of Shrewsbury which may be imputed either to his humility or his foresight that the fury of the Wars then between the English and Welch would fall fiercest on Churches as the fairest Market that men preferring their profit before their Piety would preserve their Market Places though their Churches were destroyed He died 1215. In 1402. K. Henry 4. was made sensible that a Crown can hardly sit easy upon the head if it be not set right on at first for now a new conspiracy was hatched against him the Piercies Earls of Northumberland and Worcester with Henry Hotspur began at this time to fall off from K. Henry because at their request he denied to redeem their Kinsman Mortimer from Glendours slavery that he denied them the benefit of such Prisoners as they had taken of the Scots at Hamilden whereupon they themselves procured Mortimers delivery and then entred into a League Offensive and Defensive with Glendour whereby they agreed to divide the Kingdom into three parts between them wherein Glendour persuaded them they should fulfill a Prophecy as though K. Henry were the Mouldwarp cursed of Gods own mouth and they were the Lyon the Dragon and the Wolf who should divide the Land among them all England from the Severn to Trent South and Eastward was to be the portion of the Earl of March all Wales and the Lands beyond Severn Westward to be Owen Glendours and all the remainder of the Land from the Trent Northward to be the L. Piercies â—n the mean time K. Henry not unacquainted with the Conspiracy published by Proclamation that Mortimer Carl of March had voluntarily caused himself to be taken Prisoner that the Rebels having him in their Custody might pretend some colour for their Conspiracy â—nd therefore he had little reason to take care for his â—eliverance Hereupon the Piercies assisted with a Company of Scots with the E. of Stafford Richard Scroop Archbishop of York and many others resolved to join with Glendour but first they framed certain Articles against the King and sent them to him in writing That King Henry had falsified his Oath given at his landing swearing that he came only to recover his Inheritance and would not meddle with the King or Crown That most Traitorously he had taken Arms against his Soveraign Lord King Richard 2. had Imprisoned him and then most barbarously caused him to be murdered and without any Title or Right had procured himself to be made and crowned King That ever since the Murder of King Richard he had unjustly kept the Kingdom and Crown from his Cousen Edmund Mortimer Earl of March to whom of night it belonged That when no want compelled him he had imposed divers subsidies and Taxes upon the People to their great grief of which they would willingly but durst not complain That no Justice could be expected from him since contrary to his Coronation Oath he had by Letters sent into divers Counties procured such Parliament Men to be chosen as upon occasion might serve his turn And lastly that whereas for Affinities sake he ought to have ransomed his Cosen the Earl of March from his strait and loathsome Imprisonment he not only denied it but falsely and untruly published that he became a voluntary Prisoner for all which and many other causes they utterly defied Henry as a Traytor and Vsurper and as an Enemy vowed his destruction and the restoring the said Earl to his Right K. Henry could not but know that all these Articles against him were true yet since this knowledge did not hinder him from seeking the Crown when he had it not it would less hinder him from seeking to keep it now he he had it and if he were able being a private man to get it from a King he was likely to be more able being now a King to keep it from private Men and as for any objections of Conscience he could answer them all by this That if his Title were good against King Richard by his resignation it was good against Mortimer by his swearing Allegiance and upon these grounds with a mind as confident as if all Circumstances were on his side he raised an Army and marched toward the Lords taking care they might by no means join with the Welch and in Battlefield near Shrewsbury he encountred them in which Fight though the Scots and Henry Hotspur shewed muâ—â— valour yet the Victory rested on the Kings side Hotspâ—â—r being slain the Earl of Worcester taken Prisoner with several others On the Kings part the L. Stafford who that day revolted to him and nine who were that morning Knighted were slain and 1600 common Soldiers but of the Conspirators above 6000 The King was once unhorsed by Dowgâ—â—ss who in his presence slew Sir Walter Blunt who was that day attired in all things like the King Dowglas being afterward taken Prisoner by the fall of his Horse was by the Kings Command for his valour set at liberty without ransom In this Battel the young Prince Henry though wounded in the face with an Arrow lost not his Courage but continued fighting still After this Victory the King caused publick thanks to be given and then ordered the Earl of Worcester to be beheaded and many others to be hanged drawn and quartered after which he sent Prince Henry into Wales with his whole Army but before
the year 1650. Nov. 30. being St. Andrews day about Sun-rising the Sky opened in a dreadful manner in the South west over Standish a Town 5 miles from Glocester and there appeared a terrible fiery Sword shaking with the Hilt upward toward the Heavens and the point downward to the Earth the Hilt seemed to be blew the Sword of a great length moving to and fro and coming lower toward the Earth there was a long flame of fire toward the point sparkling and flaming in a fearful manner to the great astonishment of the Spectators who were many at last the Heavens closing the Sword vanished and the fire fell to the Earth and ran upon the ground this saith Mr. Clark I had from an Eye-witness Glocester is the chief City of this County and lieth stretched out in length over Sâ—â—â—rn The Cathedral Church is a beautiful building conâ—â—sting of a continued window work but hath the loudest praises from the whispering place within which is thus described by Sir Francis Bacon There is a Church at Glocester saith he and as I have heard the like is in some other Places where if you speak against a Wall softly another shall hear your voice better a great way off than near at hand I suppose there is soâ— Vault or Hollow or Isle behind the wall and some passage to it toward the further end of that wall against which you speak so as the voice of him that speaketh slideth along the wall and then entreth at some passage and communicateth with the air of the hollow for it is somewhat preserved by the plain wall but that is too weak to give an audible sound till it hath communicated with the back air In this Church lies the unfortunate Robert Duke of Normandy eldest Son to William the Conqueror in a painted wooden Tomb in the midst of the Quire whose Eyes were pluckt out in Cardiff Castle wherein he was kept Prisoner 26 years Here also the unhappy King Edward 2. lies buried under a Monument of Alabaster who in the 20 year of his Reign was deposed by Parliament who sitting at London sent several Bishops Lords and Gentlemen in the name of the body of the State if that may be called a body which then had no head there to Kenelworth Castle to the King to whom one of the Commissioners represented That the Commonweal had received such irreconcilable dislikes of his Government the pa ticulars whereof had been opened in the General Assembly at London that they were resolved never to endure he should be King any longer that notwithstanding these dislikes had not extended themselves so far as for his sake to exclude his issue but that with universal Applause and Joy the Commonweal had in Parliament Elected his eldest Son the Lord Edward for King that it would be a very acceptable thing to God if he did willingly give over an Earthly Kingdom for the common good and quiet of his Country which they said could not otherwise be secured that yet his honour would be never the less after his Resignation than it was before only the Commonweal would never suffer him to Reign any longer and finally they presumed to tell him That unless he did freely of himself renounce his Crown and Scepter the People would neither endure him nor any of his Children for their Soveraign but disclaiming all homage and fealty would elect some other tâ— be their King who should be of another Blood and Family The King having heard their Message fell down as half dead and being somewhat recovered we cannot say to himself but to a sense of his misery brake forth into Sighs and Tears And being saith Sir Thomas de la More more ready to sacrifice his body for Christs cause than once to behold the disinheriting of his Sons or to be the occasion of the perpetual disturbance of the Kingdom as knowing saith he that a good Shepheard should give his life for his Flock made answer at last to this effect That he knew that for his many sins he was fallen into this Calamity and therefore had the less cause to take it grievously that he was very sorry that the People of the Kingdom were so exasperated against him as that they should utterly abhor his having any longer the Rule and Soveraignty over them he therefore besought all that were present to forgive spare him being so afflicted that yet it was greatly to his good pleasure and liking seeing it could be no otherwise on his own behalf that his eldest Son was so gracious in their sight and therefore he gave them thanks for chusing him to be their King This being said they proceeded to the short Ceremonies of his Resignation which consisted principally in the surrender of his Diadem and other Ensigns of Majesty for the use of his Son the new King Edward being thus unkinged the Ambassadors returned joyfully back to the Parliament at London with the resigned Ensigns and an account of their imployment but he now deprived of his Royal Crown and Dignity remained with his Kinsman Henry E. of Leicester wanting nothing but liberty being shut up like a Monk but his cruel Wife Q. Isabel who had been one of the greatest Instruments of his misfortune being told by her wicked Counsellor Adam Torleton Bishop of Hereford that the Earl was too kind to him ordered Thomas Gourney and John Martravers to take the King into their Custody who carried him from Kenelworth to Coâ—â—e Castle and then to Bristow where they shut him in the Castle till upon discovery of a design laid to get him out and send him beyond Sea they conveyed him to Berkly Castle by the way these Villains exercised divers Cruelties towards him not permitting him to ride but by night that he might not be seen of any they forced him to ride bare headed and when he would have slept they hindred him neither would give him such meat as he could eat but such as he most loathed they contradicted him in whatever he said persuading him he was mad and endeavoured by all manner of ways to break his heart yea they often gave him Poyson in his drink but the strength of his nature overcame it one of them made a Crown of Hay and put it on his head the rest made a scorn and May-game of him they were afraid any of his Friends should meet him and therefore to prevent his being known they resolved to cut off both his hair and beard and coming by a little Ditch they commanded him to come off his Horse and be shaven then setting him on a Mole-hill a Barber came to shave him with a bason of cold water taken out of the Ditch telling him That must serve at present To whom the miserable King looking sternly upon him answered That whether they would or no he would have warm water for his beard and therewithal to make good his word he presently shed forth a shower of Tears at length he was brought to
all Beholders using this Speech to her Leaders O Lord when shall I come to the place of my Purgation but having her eyes uncovered and seeing her self clearly escaped she fell upon her knees and with Tears gave thanks to her deliverer whereby she recovered her former honour and in memory thereof gave 9 Mannors to the Minster of Winchester according to the number of the Plow shares this King was as unkind to his Wife as to his Mother for having Married Editha the beautiful and indeed vertuous Daughter of Earl Godwin because he had taken displeasure against the Father he would shew no kindness to the Daughter he had made her his Wife but conversed not with her as his Wife only at board but not at bed or if at bed no otherwise than David with Abishag and yet was content to hear her accused of Incontinency whereof if she were guilty he could not be Innocent so that what the virtues were for which after his death he should be reputed a Saint doth not easily appear it seems he was chast but not without injury to his Wife Pious but not without ingratefulness to his Mother just in his present Government but not without neglect of Posterity for through his want of Providence in that point he left the Crown to so doubtful a Succession that soon after his Decease it was translated out of English into French and the Kingdom made servile to another Forreign Nation In the year 1184. A Priest at Andover praying before the Altar was slain with Thunder likewise one Clark and his Brother were burnt to death with Lightning and soon after a shower of blood rained in the Isle of Wight two hours together In the year 1250. King Hen. 3. in whose nature it seemed an inseparable quality to be violent in every thing he had a mind to have done and that sometimes without due respect to his Majesty as appears by what follows This King having a design to advance his half Brother Ethelmare to the Bishoprick of Winchester was not satisfied in sending a strict command to the Monks to chuse him but goes to Winchester in Person and the Clergy being met he gets up into the Pulpit and Preaches a Sermon to them taking for his Text these words Justice and Peace have kissed each other from whence he raised this Doctrine That whereas the rigor of Judgment and Justice belonged to him and other Kings who were to Rule the Nations so quiet peace and tranquillity belonged to the Clergy and this day saith he I hope they will both kiss each other for I doubt not but that both for your own good and my desire you will chuse my Brother Bishop this day with many other words to the same purpose whereby the Monks perceiving the earnestness of his desire held it in vain to deny him and thereupon elected Ethelmare but because he was no Priest they did it with this reservation If the Pope did allow thereof but the Pope resolving to make his advantage thereof as well as the King exacted 500 marks of Church Revenues for his Confirmation which made Matthew Paris a Monk to utter this bitter lamentation O Pope the chief of Bishops why dost thou thus suffer the Christian World to be defiled worthily worthily therefore art thou driven out of thine own City and See and like a Runagade and another Cain art inforced to wandâ—r up and down O thou God of just vengeance when wilt thou draw forth thy Sword and imbrue it in the blood of such wretched Oppressors The Pope it seems was then fled from Rome for fear of the Emperor of Germany and though he would neither reform these grand abuses in himself nor others yet Robert Crosthead the stout and learned Bishop of Lincoln resolved to reform the Monks and Fryâ—ers but they appealing to the Pope the Bishop went to him and plainly told him That all Offenders escaped punishment because his heart was so open and ready to receive Bribes from them The Pope dismist him and sent him back with â—n angry Countenance and reproachful words he was â—t this time at Lyons where a while after the Council breaking up Cardinal Hugo Preached a Farewell Sermon â—o the Citizens and among other benefits which they â—ad reaped by the Popes residence in their City reckoned up this for a principal one That whereas at their â—oming to Town there were but three or four Bawdy Houses â—n Lyons now at their departure they left but one but indeed â—hat reached from one end of the City to the other whereby we may observe that France had some part of the Popes Blessings as well as England But it seems the People had no very good opinion of â—he proceedings of this King Henry both against the Lords and the Church and not only Men but Women â—ndertook to reprehend him for the same for Isabel Widdow to the Earl of Arundel a young Lady having â—eceived a repulse from the King in a matter which she â—lledged was hers in Equity presumed to speak thus to â—is face O my Lord King why do you turn away from Justâ—ce we cannot now obtain right in your Court you are placed as 〈◊〉 middle Person between God and us but you neither govern â—s nor your self neither are you afraid to vex the Church divers ways at present as well as you have formerly nor by several â—ppressions to afflict the Nobles of the Kingdom The King â—eing fired at this free discourse looking on her with a â—cornful and angry countenance spake thus to her with â—loud voice O my Lady Countess what have the Lords of England given you a Charter and hired you to be their Advoâ—ate and Orator because they know you have your Tongue at will No my Lord said the Countess They have made me no Charter but the Charter which your Father made and which your self confirmed swearing to keep the same inviolably and constantly and often extorting mony upon promise that the Liberties therein should be faithfully observed which yet you have not kept but have broken without regard to Honour or Conscience therefore you are found to be a manifest violater of you Faith and Oath for where are now the Liberties of England so often fairly ingrossed in Wriâ—ing so often granted so often bought and paid for I therefore though a Woman and all the Natural Loyal People of the Land appeal against you to the Tribunal of the dreadful Judge and Heaven and Earth shall bear us Witness that we are used unjustly and God the Lord of Revenges right us The King saith the Author abashed at these words asked her if she did not look to obtain her suit upon favour since she was his Kinswoman she replied that seeing he had denied that which the Law gave how could she hope to obtain her suit by favour Therefore said she I do appeal to the presence of Christ against those also of your Counsellors who bewitch and dull your Judgment and draw you
grandeur persuaded her Husband that he came thither upon some treacherous design and therefore he with some of his Council contrived his destruction which some say was by causing him to fall into a deep Pit digged to that purpose under his Chair of State and that then being alone one Gimbert took and bound him and then struck off his Head which he presented to the King and Queen Thus was this Innocent Prince unjustly murdered but not without divine Vengeance following the Actors for the Queen Author of this Villany died in three months after and was so tormented in her sickness that she bit and tore her Tongue in pieces which had been the Instrument of this Barbarity and Offa at length being satisfied of the Kings Innocence and the heinousness of the Fact gave the 10th part of his Goods to the Church and according to the Devotion of that Age built the Abby of St. Albans and other Monasteries and went afterward to do Pennance at Rome where he gave to the Church of St. Peter a Penny from every House in his Dominions which were commonly called Romeshot or Peter-Pence and at last was transformed from a King to a Monk Thus the Almighty punished not only him and his Wife but the whole Land suffered for this horrid Murder in being made the Popes Vassals for the Clergy seldom parting with any thing they get the poor English were forced to pay this unjust Tax for many Hundred Years after Nay further the King and his Son also died within a year after this cruel Murder whereby that Kingdom was translated from the Mercians to the West-Saxons In the Reign of K. Henry 3. the Abbot of St. Albans ordered his Servant to fetch him a mans Wife in the Town with whom he pretended earnest business the Servant accordingly brought her to his Masters Chamber and then withdrawing the Abbot told her that her Cloaths were but very mean but if she would be ruled by him she should wear as good Cloaths as any Woman in the Parish and therewith began to be very brisk upon her and finding persuasions would not prevail endeavoured by force to debauch her but all in vain whereupon he kept her several days a Prisoner in his Chamber which her Husband having notice of fetches her from him and tells his Neighbours he will sue the Abbot for imprisoning his Wife which he hearing of prosecuted the poor man in the Ecclesiastical Court for defamation and thereby frighted him from any further proceedings Sir Thomas More though a virulent Papist reports a story of the like Nature That a poor man found a Priest over familiar with his Wife and because he told it abroad and had no Witnesses to prove it the Priest sued him in the Bishops Court and at length the Poor man under pain of being cursed and excommunicated was enjoined to stand up in the Church the next Sunday and say Mouth thou lyest accordingly having repeated what he had reported of the Priest he put his hand to his Mouth and said Mouth thou liest and then laying his hands on his Eyes he said But Eyes by the Mass ye lye not a whit In K. Henry the 7. time an Act was made to punish the incontinency of Priests and Francis Petrarch an Archdeacon thus Anatomizes the Roman Clergy which discovers the extream Chastity of the Popish Batchelors Here Venus with her wanton toys Is honoured with base Bawds and Boys Whoredom Adultery and Incest Are honoured here among the best And counted but for sports and plays Even with the Prelates of these days The Wife is ravisht from her Spouse And to the Sons of th' Church she bows The poor good man must leave the Town Such Ordinances are set down And when her Belly riseth high By Clergy-Men who with her lie The Husband must not dare complain But takes his Wife with Child again In the Reign of K. Hen. 6. 1454. the Duke of York raised a great Army of which the King having notice got considerable forces together and marched to St. Albans to whom the Duke and his Adherents came desiring the King to deliver such Persons whom they would name that they might be deservedly punished To whom the King taking Courage returns this resolute Answer That the Duke and his Accomplices were Traitors and that rather than he would deliver up any Lord then attending him he himself would that day live and dye in their quarrel and defence Whereupon the Duke and his Party went away dissatisfied and the Yorkists fell immediately upon the Kings Party in St. Albans and the Earl of Warwick breaking through a Garden a sharp Fight is immediately begun which ended with very great loss on the Kings side the Dukes of Somerset Buckingham and his Son the Earls of Northumberland Stafford and the L. Clifford being slain and buried at St Albans with above 5000 common Souldiers and the King himself unguarded is left in a poor thatcht house whither he retired from the danger of the Arrows The Duke of York having notice where he was goes with the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury who all three upon their knees present themselves to him making humble Petition for Pardon of what is past and now seeing the Duke of Somerset the common Enemy is slain they had what they aimed at To whom the King throughly affrighted said Let there be no more killing then and I will do what you would have me After which a Parliament was called wherein the Duke of York was made Protector of the Kings Person and of the Realm though the King were 35 years old This Battle of St. Albans was fought May 23. in the 33. Year of K. Henry's Reign wherein the King himself was shot in the Neck with an Arrow In 1461. another Battle was fought at St. Albans between the Earl of March Son to the Duke of York and King Henry the 6. his Queen for the Duke of York being slain at Wakefield his Son Edward E. of March afterward King Edward 4. getting his forces together beat the Queens Army at Mortimers Cross before which Battle it is said the Sun appeared to the Earl of March like three Suns and suddenly joined altogether in one for which it is thought he gave the Sun in its full brightness for his Badge or Cognizance The Queen in the mean time encouraged by the death of the Duke of York got some Northern Souldiers together and marched toward London and coming to St Albans the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Warwick with the forces of the Earl of March King Henry himself being Prisoner among them encountred them where after a stout resistance the Queens Army routed the other of which about 2000 were slain after which the King Queen and the Prince her Son met joyfully together though their joy continued not long King Henry being deposed soon after and Edward Earl of March proclaimed King and all this by the assistance of the Citizens of London and their Wives who were
Vpstarts and Aliens and had procured laudable Statutes Yea these turbulent Nobles went farther and it was contrived by the Bishops saith M. VVestminst That 24 persons should be chosen to have the whole Administration of the Kingdom and to appoint yearly all Officers reserving only to the King the highest places in publick Meetings and salutations of honour in publick Places And to inforce these Articles they were strongly armed and provided with Forces so that the King and Prince Edward were compelled to swear to these Oxford Provisions as they were called for fear of perpetual Imprisonment the Lords having published a Proclamation That whosoever resisted them should be put to death Then the Peers and Prelates rook their Corporal Oaths to be true to the King and that they would all stand to the Trial of their Peers the Lords soon after required VVilliam de Valence the Kings half-Brother to deliver up a Castle to them which he swearing he would not do the E. of Leicester and the rest answered That they would either have his Castle or his Head The People seemed wholly theirs which so heightened the Barons that when Henry Son to the King of â—lmain refused the confederacy or to take the Oath without his Fathers consent they boldly told him That if his Father himself did not hold with the Baronage of England he should not have a furrow of Earth among them These hot proceedings made all the Frenchmen about the King run from Oxford into France yea Richard King of the Romans the Kings Brother coming to see the King and his Countrey the Barons grew suspicious of him and therefore required him to take the following Oath Hear all men I Richard E. of Cornwall swear upon the holy Gospels to be faithful and forward to reform with you the Kingdom of England hitherto by the counsel of wicked men too much deformed and I will be an effectual coadjutor to expel the Rebels and Troublers of the Realm from out of the same This Oath will I observe upon pain to forfeit all the Lands I have in England These proceedings were too hot to hold for a while after the Earls of Leicester and Glocester two of the chiefest Confederates falling at debate among themselves the King took the advantage thereof and in a little time recovered his former Power and Authority But from hence we may observe that the Popish Nobility Clergy nor Laity have not at all times been so very Loyal to their Princes as they would now make the ignorant believe In the 20. Year of his Reign a Scholar of Oxford endeavouring to kill the King in his Camber at Woodstoock was taken and afterward pulled to pieces with wild Horses In 1400. a Conspiracy was contrived against K. Hen. 4. in the first Year of his Reign in the house of the Abbot of Westminster who was a kind of a Book-Statesman but better read in the Politicks of Aristotle than Solomon who remembring some words of K. Henry when he was only Earl of Derby That Princes had too little and Religious men too much and fearing lest now being King he should put his words into Act he thought it better to use preventing Physick before hand than to stand to the hazard of curing it afterward and thereupon invited to his House several discontented Lords as the Duke of Exeter the Duke of Surrey the Duke of Aumerle E. of Salisbury E. of Glocester Bishop of Carlile Maudlin one of K. Richard 2. Chaplains and several other Knights and Gentlemen who after Dinner conferring together and communicating their disaffections to each other against K. Henry they resolved at last to take away his Life and contrived this way to do it They would publish a solemn Justs or Turnament to be held at Oxford at a day appointed to which the King was to be invited to honour it with his presence and there while all men were intent upon the sport they would have him murthered This Plot was resolved on Oaths of secrecy were taken and solemn Indentures for performing the agreed conditions were signed sealed and delivered The Justs are proclaimed the King is invited and promiseth to come secrecy on all hands is kept most firmly to the very day But though all other kept Counsel yet Providence would not for it happened that as the Duke of Aumerle was riding to the Lords at Oxford against the day appointed he took it in his way to go visit his Father the Duke of York and having in his bosom the Indenture of Conspiracy his Father as they sate at dinner chanced to spy it and asked what it was to whom his Son answering It was nothing that any way concerned him By St. George saith the Father but I will see it and therewithal snatching it from him read it and then with great fierceness spake thus to him I see Traitor that idleness hath made thee so wanton and mutinous that thou playest with thy Faith and Allegiance as Children do with sticks thou hast been once already faithless to K. Richard 2. now again art false to K. Henry and art never quiet thou knowest that in open Parliament I became Surety and Pledge for thy Allegiance both in Body and Goods and can neither thy Duty nor my Desert restrain thee from seeking my destruction In faith but I will rather help forward thine And commanding his Horses to be made ready he with all speed rid to the King to Windsor but his Son knowing his danger rid instantly another way and came to the Court before him where locking the Gates and taking the Keys from the Porter pretending some special reason he went up to the King and falling on his Knees asked his Pardon the King demanding for what Offence he then discovered the whole Plot which he had scarce done when his Father came rapping at the Court Gates and coming to the King shewed him the Indenture of Confederacy which he had taken from his Son This amazed the King and thereupon laying aside the seeing of the Justing of others in jest takes care that he be not justled out of the Throne in earnest In the mean time the confederate Lords being ready at Oxford and hearing nothing of the Duke of Aumerle nor seeing any preparation for the Kings coming they were certainly persuaded their Treason was discovered upon which considering their case was desperate they apparel Magdalen who was like K. Richard 2. in Royal Robes and published that he was escaped out of Prison next they dispatch Messengers to require assistance from the King of France and then set forward against K. Henry at Windsor but he being gone to London they could not agree what measures to take and coming to Cicester the Bailiff of the Town couragiously set upon them and with the assistance of the Townsmen beat their forces killing the Duke of Surrey and the E. of Salisbury and taking divers Prisoners above 30 Lords Knights and Gentlemen with Magdalen the Counterfeit being sent to Oxford to
English Tongue and the Bishop of Romes Power was by several Statutes abolished in England howeuer divers of the Popish Bishops and Clergy privately endeavoured to restore it again which he was alwaies aware of and therefore calling his Servants together he discovered to them in what a slippery condition he stood considering the variable affections of the King and the malice and subtlety of his Popish Adversaries and therefore required them to be very circumspect least by their default any quarrel might be pickt against him and soon after some false witnesses accused him of Heresy and of speaking some words against the King yet his Enemies durst not bring him to his answer nor try him by his Peers but procured an Act of Attainder whereby he was condemned before he was heard and the King not long after his death repented his hast wishing That he had his Cromwell alive again When he came upon the Scaffold at Towerhill he spake thus to the People I am come hither to die and not to purge my self as some perhaps may expect I should I am by the Law condemned to dye and I thank my Lord that hath appointed me this death for mine offences for I have alwaies lived a Sinner and offended my Lord God for which I ask him hearty forgiveness It is not unknown to many of you that I was a great Traveller and being but of mean Parentage was called to high Estate and now I have offended my Prince for which I heartily ask him forgiveness beseeching you to pray with me to Almighty God that he will forgive me And once again I desire you to pray for me that so long as life remaineth in this flesh I may waver nothing in my Faith Then kneeling down on his knees he made an excellent Prayer concluding thus Grant O most merciful Father that when death shall shut up the Eyes of my Body yet the Eyes of my Soul may still behold and look upon thee and when death hath taken away the use of my Tongue yet my heart may cry and say unto thee Lord into thy hands I commend my soul Lord Jesus receive my soul Amen Having ended his Prayer he made a Divine exhortation to those on the Scaffold and then quietly gave up his Spirit 1541. Upon his Monument was Ingraven Cromwell surnamed the Great whom Wolsey first raised from the Forge to eminent good Fortunes whom Henry 8. used as his Instrument to suppress the Popes Supremacy and to dissolve Religious Structures whom he advanced to the highest pitch of Honour and Authority whom he cast down suddenly and bereft both of Life and Dignities lies here Interred Surrey is divided into 13 Hundreds wherein are seven Market Towns besides Southwark which keeps the same with London 140 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Winchester It elects 14 Parliament Men and gives the Title of Earl to Henry L. Howard who is also Duke of Norfolk SVSSEX hath Surrey on the N. Kent on the E. the Sea on the S. and Hantshire on the W. The Soil is rich but ill for Travellers in the Winter the Land lying low and the ways being deep the middle Tract is adorned with Meadows Pastures and Cornfields the Sea-Coast with Hills called the Downs abundantly yielding both Corn and Grass and the Northside is overshadowed with Groves and thick Woods called the Weald where sometimes was the famous Wood called Andradswald 120 miles in length memorable for the death of Sigebert King of the West Saxons who being deposed was stabbed in this place by a Swine-heard Chichester in this County is a large and beautiful City very well walled about a little River running hard by it on the West It hath four Gates from whence the Streets lead directly and cross themselves in the middle where in a fair Market House of Stone supported with Pillars round about the Market is kept between the West and South Gates stands the Cathedral Church not very great but handsom and neat having a Spire Steeple of Stone rising a great height It is the residence of the Bishop and has often suffered by Fire It was first built by Cissa the second King of the South Saxons wherein he kept his Royal Court Lewes seems to contend with Chichester for Populousness largeness and buildings where King Athelstan appointed a Mint for his Money and William de Warren Earl of Surrey who came into England with William the Conqueror built a strong Castle and founded an Abby there It is recorded that Edw. 1. in the 8th year of his Reign 1282. sent out his Writ of Quo Warranto through England to examine by what Title men held their Lands and Estates which brought him in much mony till John E. Warren Successor to this William being called to shew his Title drew out an old rusty Sword and then said he held it by that and by that he would hold it till death which caused the King to desist from proceeding any further in that Project In King Henry 3. time the same John Earl Warren had the confidence to kill Zouch Allen Lord Chief Justice with his own hands upon the Bench in Westminster-Hall so much did he presume upon his great favour with the King In the Barons Wars with this King the Lords got into this Castle of Lewes and not far off fought a great Battle wherein the King had his Horse shot under him and was taken Prisoner with his Brother and Son In the year 1058. Harold putting to Sea in a small Boat for his pleasure from Boseham his Mannor in Sussex and having unskilful Marriners was driven upon the Coasts of Normandy where by Duke William he was detained till he had sworn to make him King of England if Edward the Consessor died without Children yet afterward without any regard to his Oath he placed himself on the Throne Duke William hereupon arrived at Pemsey and with his Sword revenged the Perjury of Harold at Battle in this County with such severity that there fell 67974 English Men that day the Conqueror putting himself thereby into full possession of the whole Kingdom over which he Reigned 22 years being victorious both at home and abroad but to discover the vanity of all earthly things it sometimes happens that some great Persons are not suffered to go to rest when their Bed is made and others are pulled out of those Lodgings whereof they had once taken peaceable possession as appears very fully in the following Relation No sooner had the soul of this victorious Prince William the Conqueror left his Body but that his dead Corps was abandoned by his Nobles and Followers and by his meaner Servants he was stript of Armour Vessels Apparel and all Princely Furniture his naked Body left upon the floor and his Funerals wholly neglected till one Harlwin a poor Country Knight undertook to carry his Corps to St. Stephens Church at Caen in Normandy which the dead King had formerly founded At his entrance into Caen the
Stone to be seen at this day for the horrid crimes of the Inhabitants also the wonderful discovery of several Murders c. 6. Admirable Deliverances from imminent Dangers and Deplorable Distresses at Sea and Land Lastly Divine Goodness to Penitents with the Dying Thoughts of several famous Men concerning a future state after this life as St. Austin The Emp. Charles 5. Philip 3. K. of Spain Prince Henry The E. of Northampton Galleacius H. Grotius Salmasius Sir F. Walsingham Sir P. Sydney Sir H. Wotton A. B. Vsher E. of Rochester L. Ch. Justice Hales and others Faithfully Collected from Ancient and Modern Authors of undoubted Authority and Credit and imbellished with divers Pictures of several remarkable passages therein Price One Shilling II. HIstorical Remarques and Observations of the Antient and Present State of London and Westminster shewing the Foundation Walls Gates Towers Bridges Churches Rivers Wards Halls Companies Government Courts Hospitals Schools Inns of Court Charters Franchises and Priviledges thereof with an Account of the most Remarkable Accidents as to Wars Fires Plagues and other occurrences for above 900 years past in and about these Cities and among other particulars the Poisoning of K. John by a Monk The Resolution of K. Henry 3. utterly to destroy and consume the City of London with Fire for joyning with the Barons against him and his seizing their Charters Liberties and Customs into his hands The Rebellion of Wat Tyler who was slain by the Lord Mayor in Smithfield and the Speech of Jack Straw at his Execution the deposing of K. Rich. 2. and his mournful Speech at his resigning the Crown with the manner of his being Murdered The D. of York's coming into the Parliament and claiming the Crown in K. Henry 6. time The Murder of K. Henry 6. and likewise of Edw. 5 and his Brother by Rich. 3. call Crook-back The Execution of Empson and Dudley the Insurrection in London in K. Henry 8. time and how 411 Men and Women went through the City in their Shifts and Ropes about their necks to Westm Hall where they were pardoned by the King The Speeches of Q. Ann Bullen the Lord Protector and Q. Jane Gray at their several Deaths upon Tower hill With several other Remarques in all the Kings and Queens Reigns to this Year 1681. And a description of the manner of the Tryal of the late L. Stafford in West Hall Illustrated with Pictures of the most considerable matters curiously Ingraven on Copper Plates with the Arms of the 65 Companies of London and the time of their Incorporating by Rich. Burton Author of the History of the Wars of England c. Price One Shilling III. The Wars in England Scotland and Ireland Or AN Impartial Account of all the Battels Sieges and other remarkable Transactions Revolutions and Accidents which have happened from the beginning of the Reign of King Charles the First in 1625. to His Majesties happy Restauration 1660. And among other particulars The Debates and Proceedings in the Four First Parliaments of King Charles the First with their Dissolutions The Siege of Rochel The Petition of Right The Murther of the D. of Buckingham by Felton The Tumults at Edinbrough in Scotland upon Reading the Common-Prayer The Et caetera Oath The Cursed Plots and Designs of the Jesuits and other Papists for imbroiling these Three Kingdoms The Insurrection of the Apprentices and Seamen and their Assaulting of Archbishop Lauds House at Lambeth Remarks on the Tryal of the E. of Stafford and his last Speech The horrid and Bloody Rebellion of the Papists in Ireland and their Murthering above Two Hundred Thousand Protestants in 1641. The Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom with the King's Answer thereunto The Proceedings about the Five Impeached Members An Account of the Parliament at Oxford January 22. 1643. with their proceedings and Dissolution An Abstract of the Fights between the King and Parliament The Death of A. B. Laud Mr. Chaloner and Tomkins Sir John Hetham Sir Alexander Carew Duke Hamilton Earl of Holland Lord Capel and others The Illegal Tryal of King Charles the First at large with his last Speech at his Suffering Jan. 30. 1648. Together with the most considerable matters which happened till the Year 1660 Illustrated with Pictures of several Remarkable Accidents curiously engraven on Coper Plates Price One Shilling 〈◊〉 FINIS
Inscription alluding to the Mettal In Martins-Comb I long lay hid Obscure deprest with grossest Soil Debased much with mixed Lead Till Bulmer came whose skill and toil Reformed me so pure and clean As richer no where else is seen This County hath many commodious Havens for Ships among which Totnes was famous for Brutes first entrance if Geffry Monmouth say true and another Poet who writes thus of Brute The Gods did guide his Sail and Course The Winds were at command And Totnes was the happy shore Where first he came to land But it is more certain and withal more lamentable that the Danes first entred at Teignemouth to invade this Land about 787 unto whom Brightrick King of the West Saxons sent the Steward of his house to know their demands whom they villanously slew yet were they forced back to their Ships by the Inhabitants With more happy success hath Plimouth set forth men of renowned Fame and prevented the entrance of Invaders as in the Reign of that eternised Queen the Mirrour of Princes Elizabeth of everlasting memory for from this Port Sir Francis Drake that famous Knight and most valiant Sea Captain set forth to Sea in 1577 and entred into the Streights of Magellane and in Two Years and Ten Months through various changes of Fortune Divine Providence being his Guide and valour his Consort sailed round about the World of whom one writ thus Drake peragrati novit quem terminus orbis c. Drake whom the incompast World so fully knew Whom both the Poles of Heaven at once did view If Men are silent Stars and Sun will care To Register their Fellow-Traveller As he lived most part of his Time so he died and was buried at Sea when his Corps was cast out of the Ship one made this Tetrastick on him Though Romes Religion should in time return Drake none thy Body will ungrave again There is no fear Posterity should burn Those Bones which free from Fire in Sea remain And the Lord Charles Howard High Admiral did not only from Plimouth impeach the entrance of the proud Invincible Spanish Armado in 88. but with his Cannons marked them so as shewed who had had the handling of them as tokens of their own Shame and his immortal Honour The Commodities of this Shire consist much in Wool and Clothing Corn is likewise very plenteous as likewise Fish and Fowl The City of Exeter is the Shire Town environed with Ditches and strong Walls a mile and half in Circuit wherein are 15 Parish Churches and a Castle called Rugemont which commands the whole City and Country about it and hath a pleasant prospect into the Sea The River Lid by Lidford runs under ground the stream sinking so deep that it is altogether invisible but it supplies to the Ear what it denies to the Eye so great is the noise thereof In the Parish of North-Taun on near an House called Bath there is a Pit but in the Winter a Pool not maintained by any Spring but the fall of rain water and therefore commonly dry in Summer of which Pool it hath been observed saith Dr. Fuller that before the death or change of any Prince or some other strange accident of great importance or any Invasion or Insurrection it will though in a hot and dry season without any rain overflow its banks and so continue till that which it prognosticated be past and fulfilled and the Relater who published his book 1648. reports That it overflowed four times in 30 years past There is another thing in this County called the Hanging Stone being one of the bound stones which parteth Comb-Martin from the next Parish it took the name from a Theif who having stoln a Sheep and tyed it about his neck to carry it on his back rested himself a while upon this Stone which is about a foot high till the Sheep strugling slid over the Stone on the other side and so strangled the man which appeareth rather to be a Providence than a casualty in the just execution of a Malefactor We may add to these wonders the Gubbings which is a Scythia within England and they pure Heathens within this place lyeth nigh Brent Tor on the edge of Dartmoor it is reported that about 200 years ago two Strumpets being with Child fled thither to hide themselves to whom certain debauched Fellows resorted and that this was their Original they are a People who live by themselves exempt from all Authority Ecclesiastical and Civil they dwell in Cottages like Swine being rather holes than Houses having all in common and multiplied without Marriage into many Hundreds their Language is the dross of the dregs of the Devonshire Speech and the more learned a man is the less they can understand him during our Civil Wars no Souldiers were quartered among them for fear of being themselves quartered by them their Wealth consists of other mens Goods and they live by stealing the Sheep on the Moor and vain it is for any to search their Houses being a work beneath the pains of a Sheriff and above the Power of any Constable their swiftness is such that they will outrun many Horses they are so healthful that they outlive most men living in the ignorance of Luxury the extinguisher of life they hold together like Burs and if you offend one all will revenge his Quarrel In the year 959. Edgar one of the Saxon Kings of this Land hearing of the admirable beauty of Elfrida the only Daughter of Ordgarus Duke of Devonshire and Founder of Tavistock Abby in that County he sent his great Favourite Earl Ethelwold who could well judge of beauty to try the truth thereof with Commission that if he found her such as Fame reported he should bring her with him and he would make her his Queen the young Earl upon sight of the Lady was so surprized that he began to woe her for himself and had procured her Fathers good will in case he could obtain the Kings consent hereupon the Earl posted back to the King relating to him That the Lady was fair indeed but nothing answerable to the report that went of her yet desired the King that he might Marry her as being her Fathers Heir thereby to raise his Fortune The King consented and the Marriage was solemnized soon after the fame of her beauty began to spread more than before so that the King much doubting he had been abused resolved to try the truth himself and thereupon taking occasion to hunt in the Dukes Park came to his house whose coming Ethelwold suspecting acquainted his Wife with the wrong he had done both her and the King in disparaging her beauty and therefore to prevent the Kings displeasure intreated her by all manner of persuasions he could possibly use to cloth her self in such attire as might least set her forth but she resolving to be revenged and considering that now was the time to make the most of her beauty and longing to be a Queen would
not be accessary to her own injury but decked her self in her richest Ornaments which so improved her beauty that the King was struck with astonishment and admiration at first sight and was fully resolved to be quit with his perfidious Favourite yet dissembling his passion he went to hunting where taking Ethelwold at an advantage he ran him through with a Javelin and having thereby made fair Elfrid a Widdow he took her to be his Wife We read that Ordulphus Son of Ordgarus Earl of Devonshire but whether this or no is uncertain was a Giantlike Man and could break open the bars of Gates with his hands and stride 10 foot at once but of what credit it is I know not Agnes Preist was burnt for the Protestant Faith without the Walls of Exeter her own Husband and her Children were her greatest Persecutors from whom she fled because they would force her to be present at Mass she was Indicted at the Assizes and afterward presented to James Troublefield Bishop of Exeter and by him condemned for denying the Sacrament of the Altar after her condemnation she refused to receive any mony from well affected People saying She was going to a City where Mony had no Mastery she was a simple Woman to behold little of stature and about 50 years old she was burnt in a place called Sothenhay in November 1558. One Child whose Christian name is unknown was a Gentleman the last of his Family being of an ancient extraction at Plimstock in this County and had great possessions it happened that hunting in Dartmore he lost both his Company and way in a deep Snow having therefore killed his Horse he crept into his hot bowels for warmth and writ this with his blood Whoever finds and brings me to my Tomb The Land of Plimstock that shall be his doom The night after it seems he was frozen to death and being first found by the Monks of Tavistock they with all possible hast provided to inter him in their own Abby his own Parishioners at Plimstock hearing thereof stood at the ford of the River to take the body from them but they must rise early yea not sleep at all who over-reach Monks in matter of profit for they cast a slight Bridge over the River whereby they carried over the Corps and interred it in remembrance whereof the Bridge since better built is called Guile-Bridge to this day Nicholas and Andrew Tremain were Twins and younger Sons to Thomas Tremain of Colacomb in this County Esq such was their likeness in all the parts of Face and Body that they could not be distinguished but by their different habits which they would sometimes exchange to make sport which occasioned very merry mistakes they felt like pain though at a distance without any notice given they equally desired to walk travel sit sleep eat drink together at the same time as many credible Gentry of the Neighbourhood by relation from their Father will attest in this they differed at Newhaven in France the one was a Captain of a Troop the other but a private Soldier here they were both slain 1564. death being pitiful to kill them together to prevent the lingring languishing of the Surviver John de Beigny Lord of Ege-Lifford in this County having been a great Traveller and Soldier in his youth retired home married and had 3 Sons in his staid Age of these the youngest went to fight against the Saracens in Spin of whose valor his Father to his great content heard very high Commendations which made him the more patiently endure his absence but when death had bereft him of his two elder Sons he was often heard to say Oh that I might but once imbrace my Son I would be contented to die presently His Son soon after returning unexpectedly the old man instantly expired with an extasy of Joy thus if Heaven should always take us at our word in all our wishes and random desires we should be drowned in the deluge of our own passions This Knight lived in the time of K. Edward 3. Thomas Stuckly was a younger Brother of an Ancient wealthy Family near Ilfra-Comb in this County a man of good parts which himself knew too well having prodigally mispent his Patrimony he entered on several projects the first was peopling of Florida then newly found out in the West Indies so confident was his ambition that he blushed not to tell Q. Elizabeth That he would rather chuse to be Soveraign of a Molehill than the highest Subject to the greatest Prince in Christendome adding withal That he was sure he should be a Prince before his death I hope said the Queen I shall hear from you when you are setled in your Principality I will write unto you quoth Stuckly In what Language said the Queen He replyed In the stile of Princes To Our Dear Sister But his project in Florida being blasted he resolved treacherously to attempt what he could not Loyally atchieve and went over into Ireland and from thence into Italy where he got into the intimate favour of Pope Pius 5. boasting that with 3000 Soldiers he would beat all the English out of Ireland the Pope gave him many Titles in Ireland as Earl of Wexford Marquess of Lemster c. and furnished him with 800 men paid by the King of Spain for this Irish expedition in passing to which Stuckly lands in Portugal just when Sebastian the King thereof with two Moorish Kings were undertaking a Voyage into Africa Stuckly scorning to attend is persuaded to accompany them landing in Africa Stuckly gave this seasonable and necessary Counsel That they should refresh their land Souldiers for two or three days some of whom were sick and weak by reason of the tempestuous Passage But this would not be heard K. Sebastian was so furious to engage and so in the Battle of Alcaser their Army was wholly defeated where Stuckly lost his Life A fatal Fight where in one day was slain Three Kings that were and one that would be fain This Battle was fought in 1578. where Stuckly with his 800 Men behaved himself most valiantly till over-powered with multitude and so ended this Buble of Emptiness and Meteor of Ostentation In the troubles between K. Edward 2. and the Barons one John Powdras a Tanners Son of Exeter gave out that he himself was the true Edward eldest son of the late King Edward 1. and by a false Nurse was changed in his Craddle and that the now K. Edward was a Carters Son and laid in his place for which forgery being taken and hanged drawn and quartered he confessed at his death That he had a familiar Spirit in his House in the likeness of a Cat that assured him he should be King of England and that he had served this spirit 3 years before to bring his design about K. Richard 3. called Crookback lay some few days in Exeter Castle and demanding the name of it they told him Rugemont whereat the Usurper was much startled having
both of that City and County he died in 1640. This County is divided into 29 Hundreds wherein are 19 Market Towns and 248 Parish Churches It is in the Diocess of Bristol Elects 20 Parliament Men and gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Sackvil who is also Earl of Middlesex as the Town of Dorchester doth the Title of Marquess to Henry L. Pierrepoint and Shaftesbury the Title of Earl to Anthony L. Ashley DVRHAM This Bishoprick hath Northumberland on the North divided by the Rivers Derwent and Tyne and Yorkshire on the South the German Ocean on the East Cumberland and Westmoreland on the West it abounds with Coals Lead and Iron near Darlington in this County whose waters are warm there are three Pits wonderful deep called Hell Kettles these are judged to come of an Earthquake which happened in 1179. For on Christmas day say our Chronicles at Oxenhall which is this place the ground heaved up aloft like a Tower and so continued all that day as it were immoveable till evening and then fell with so horrible a noise that it affrighted the Inhabitants thereabout and the Earth swallowing it up made in the same place three deep Pits it is reported that Bishop Tonstall put a Goose into one of these Pits having first given her a mark and the same Goose was found in the River Tees which if true these Kettles have passages under ground within the River Weer at Butterby near Durham in Summer Time their issues a salt reddish water which the Sun makes white and growing thick becomes Salt which the People thereabout always use In the Reign of William the Conqueror one Wolstan was Bishop of Durham whom upon Lanfranks reporting to be insufficient for the place for want of Learning the King commanded to put off his Pontifical Robes and to leave his Bishoprick when suddenly out of Divine Inspiration saith our Historian Wolston answered A better then you O King bestowed these Robes upon me and to him will I restore them and therewithal going to Edward the Confessors Shrine who had made him a Bishop and putting off his Robes he struck his Staff upon St. Edwards Monument which stuck so fast saith the Author in the Stone of it that by no strength it could be drawn forth till he pluckt it out himself which so terrified both Lanfrank and the King that they intreated him to take his Robes again and keep his Bishoprick When K. Edward the 3. was Victorious in France the Scots with David Bruce their King by the incitement of the French King invade England with an Army of Threescore and two Thousand Men and marched as far as Durham supposing that none but Priests and Shepheards were left at home because such a vast number were abroad upon Service but they found it otherwise for the Lords in the North as Gilbert Vmfrevile the Earl of Angus Henry Piercy Ralph Nevil William Dayncourt with the Archbishop of York the Bishop of Durham and others of the Clergy gathered such great Forces and ordered them so well that by the animation of Queen Philip who though big with Child rode in Person through the English Troops and with wise and gracious words incouraged them that they obtained a very signal Victory for meeting the Scots at Nevils Cross in this Bishoprick they utterly defeated their great Army and took David their King Prisoner with the Earls of Fife Menteith Murray Sutherland Dowglas the Archbishop of St. Andrews and others and slew fifteen thousand Scots who yet could not be charged for want of valour especially the King himself who had two Spears hanging in his body his leg desperately wounded with an Arrow his Sword and other weapons beaten out of his hand and yet disdaining to be taken Captive endeavoured by provoking language to induce the English to kill him and therefore when one John Copland Captain of Roxborough Castle advised him to yeild the King struck him so fiercely over the face with his Gauntlet as beat out two of his Teeth but since he could not force a death he must submit to be a Prisoner and was conveyed by Copland and eight of his Servants out of the Field the Queen retired to Newcastle to attend the event of the Battle and understanding that K. David was taken she sent Letters to the Captain to deliver up his Royal Prisoner which he refusing she sends over a complaint to K. Edward who ordered him to come to Calice where he made so discreet a defence that he was sent back and had 500 pound a year in Land given him in any place which he should chuse near his own dwelling with order to deliver up his Prisoner to the Queen which he did accordingly at York with such a modest and ingenious Apology as satisfied both the Queen and the Lords of the Council King David was committed Prisoner to the Tower and continued so eleven years and then was set at liberty upon condition to pay one hundred thousand Marks in ten years as a Ransom Cicely Nevil whose Fathers vast Estate afforded him a Mansion House for every week in the year cannot be here omitted as being the clearest instance of humane frail felicity she was youngest Daughter and Child to Ralph Earl of Westmoreland of which Family Raby in this Bishoprick was the chief Seat he had twenty one Children in all but she exceeded her Sisters in honour being married to Richard Duke of York she was blessed with three Sons each born in a several Kingdom Edward afterward K. Edward 4. born at Burdeaux in France George at Dublin in Ireland and Richard at Fotheringhay in England this was her happiness behold now her Miseries she saw her Husband killed in Battel George Duke of Clarence her second Son cruelly murdered in a Butt of Malmsey K. Edward her eldest Son cut off by his own intemperance in the prime of his years his two Sons butchered by their Uncle Crookbackt Richard who himself not long after was slain in the Battel of Bosworth she saw her own reputation publickly murdered at Pauls Cross by the procurement of her youngest Son Richard taxing his eldest Brother for Illegitimate and a Bastard and yet our Chronicles do not charge her with haughtiness in her good nor dejection in her ill Estate an argument of an even and steddy soul in all alterations indeed she lived to see Elizabeth her Grand-child married to K. Henry 7. but little comfort acrued to her by that conjunction the party of the Yorkists were so depressed by him she lived 35 years a Widdow and died in the 10 of Hen 7. 14â—5 and was buried by her Husband in the Collegiate Church of Fotheringay in Northamptonshire which Quire being demolished in King Henry 8. time their bodies lay in the Church-yard without any Monument till Q. Elizabeth coming thither in Progress gave order that they should be interred in the Church and two Tombs erected over them hereupon their Bodies wrapt in Lead were removed from their plain
ominous and presaging our civil Dissentions There is a Proverb in this County He may fetch a Flitch of Bacon from Dunmow This Proverb dependeth on a custom practised in the Priory of Dunmow which was founded by Juga a noble Lady for black Nuns 1111. But it seems the property of it was after altered into a Male-Nunnery the Friars whereof were sometimes it appears very merry for they ordained That if any person from any part of England would come thither and humbly kneel on two stones yet to be seen at the Church door before the Convent and solemnly take the ensuing Oath he might demand a Gamon or Flitch of Bacon which should be freely given him You shall swear by the custom of our Confession That you never made any nuptial Transgression Since you were married Man and Wife By houshold Brawls or contentious Strife Or otherwise in Bed or at Board Offended each other in deed or Word Or since the Parish Clerk said Amen Wished your selves unmarried agen Or in a Twelve Month and a day Repented not in thought any way But continued true and in desire As when you join'd hands in Holy-Quire If to these conditions without all fear Of your own accord you will freely swear A Gamon of Bacon you shalt receive And carry it hence with love and free leave For this is our custom at Dunmow well known Though the sport be ours the Bacon's your own It appeareth in an old book on Record that Richard Wright of Badesworth in Norfolk in the 23. of Heâ— 6. when John Canon was Prior and that Stephen Samuel of Little Easton in Essex the 7th of Edward 4. and Thomas Lee of Coxhall in Essex the 2. of Hen. 8. took the aforesaid Oath demanded their Bacon on the premises and received it accordingly Randolph Peveril of Hatfield-Peveril in this County was in great esteem with K. Edward the Confessor who was very bountiful to him as having married the Daughter of Inglerick his Kinsman who was of great Nobility among the English Saxons this Lady was of such admirable beauty that she therewith conquered William the Conqueror who desired nothing more than to be a Prisoner in her Arms to obtain which he inriched St. Martins Le Grand in London first founded by her Father and her Uncle K. Edward he then preferred her two Brothers William Peveril to be Keeper of Dover Castle and Pain Peveril he made Baron of Bourn in Cambridgshire having thus preferred her Kindred he began to sollicite her by the Messengers of the Devils Bed-Chamber that is subtil insinuating Pimps and Bawds and sometimes he himself visited her like Jupiter in a golden shower by these forceable demonstrations of love and unavoidable allurements especially from a King she was at length brought to his unlawful Bed unto whom she bore a Son named William who was Lord of Nottingham but his Mother being afterward touched with remorse of Conscience to expiate her guilt was taught by the Doctrine of those times to found a Colledge in the Village of Harpsfield which she consecrated to the honour of God and St. Mary Magdalen wherein setting apart all worldly affairs she spent the remainder of her days and died about the year 1100. In the 17th of Henry 2. there was seen at St. Osythes in Essex a Dragon of wonderful bigness which wherever it moved burnt the Houses and places about it In the Reign of Hen. 3. the King commanded Hubert de Burg Earl of Kent to be apprehended who having notice thereof rose at midnight and fled into a Church in Essex the Officers found him upon his knees before the High Altar with the Popish Sacrament in one hand and a Cross in the other however they seized him and carried him away Prisoner to the Tower of London Roger Niger then Bishop made great complaint to the King of this violence and wrong done to Holy Church and would not be satisfied till the Earl was carried back to the same Church again though well guarded there however this it is thought saved the Earls life for the Kings anger cooled and he was soon after reconciled to him In the year 1510. in the Marshes of Dengey Hundred near South-Minster in this County there suddenly appeared an infinite number of Mice which over-run those Marshes tearing up the Grass by the roots and so poysoned it with their venemous Teeth that the Cattle which grazed thereon died but at length a great number of strange painted Owls came no man knew whence and devoured all the Mice it is reported that there happened the like in Essex in 1648. There were no less than forty four Persons who suffered Martyrdom for the Protestant Religion in this County among whom was William Hunter a young man of 19 years old born of religious Parents who instructed him in the Truth and sent him to be an Apprentice in London where refusing to go to Mass and receive the Sacrament he went home to his Parents at Burntwood and one day going into a Chappel there he found a Bible which while he was reading a Summoner came in and asked him whether he could expound the Scripture he answered He did only read it to his Comfort the Sumner replied It was never a merry world since the Bible came forth in English Hunter answered Say not so for Gods sake for it is Gods Book out of which every one ought to learn how to please God and therefore I pray God that we may have the Blessed Bible amongst us Ay said the Sumner I know your mind well enough you are one of those that do not like the Queens Laws but you and many more must turn over a new leaf or you will broil for it pray God give me grace said Hunter that I may believe his word and confess his name whatever comes of it Nay said the Sumner you confess the Devils name and will all go to him The Sumner then fetcht a Priest out of a blind Alehouse who finding Hunter reading reviled him for it and then asked him what he thought of the blessed Sacrament of the Altar whether there were not really Christs Body and Blood Hunter said He found no such thing in Scripture ah quoth the Vicar now I find you are an Heretick Hunter replyed Would you and I were both tyed to a Stake to try whether of us would stick closest to our Faith The Priest left him and informing against him he was seized and brought before Bishop Bonner who finding that he stood firm to his Principles caused his Officers to set him in the Stocks in his Gate-house where he lay 2 days and had nothing but a crust of brown bread and a cup of cold water after Imprisonment three quarters of a Year the Bp. condemned him and sent him to Burntwood to be burnt where his Father and Mother came to him beseeching God he might continue constant to the end His Mother added she was happy in bearing such a Child who could find in his heart
Berkâ—y Castle where he was courteously received by Thomas Berkly Lord thereof who was allowed a 100 shillings a day for keeping him close Prisoner But Q. Isabel being much troubled that her Husband lived consults again with the wicked Bishop of Hereford pretending that she was much troubled with frightful dreams which presignified that if her Husband should be again restored to his dignity he would burn her for a Traitor or send her into perpetual banishment the Bishop and several other great Men both of the Nobility and Clergy finding themselves likewise equally guilty became uneasy while the King lived and therefore sent chiding Letters to the Keepers pretending they gave the King too much liberty and kept him too high and delicately and withal added this line at the end of the Letter contrived by the Bishop Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est To shed King Edwards blood Refuse to fear I count it good Never was the fallacy of pointings or ambiguity of Phrase more mischievously used to the destruction of a King or for the defence of the Contrivers than in this hainous Parricide for it was so craftily contrived in a double sense that both the Keepers might find sufficient warrant and himself might find sufficient excuse the Keepers guessing at the meaning took it in the worst sense and therefore putring the L. Berkly out of the Castle they shut up the King in a close Chamber where with the stinch of dead Carkases laid in the Cellar under him he was almost poysoned of which he made complaint to some Carpenters who worked at his Chamber-window but these wretches perceiving this would not do the work they rushed one night into his Chamber and casting as many heavy bolsters upon him as 15 men could carry they pressed them down hard and not content with that heated an Iron red hot and through a Pipe like a Trumpet thrust it up into his body that no marks of a violent death might be seen but however they were heard for when they were thus doubly murdering him he was heard to roar and cry all the Castle over Gourney and Martravers his Murtherers expecting rewards had the reward of Murtherers for the Queen and Bishop Torlton disavowing the Command threatned to question them for the Kings death whereupon they fled beyond Sea and Gourney after three years being taken in France and sent into England was in the way upon the Sea beheaded Martravers flying into Germany had the grace to repent but lived ever after miserably thus died this unfortunate Prince in 1327 about half a year after his deposing never certainly was any King turned out of a Kingdom in such a manner many Kingdoms have been lost by the chance of War but this was lost before the Dice were cast no blow struck no battle fought done forceably and yet without force violently and yet with consent both parties agreed yet neither pleased for the King was not pleased to leave his Kingdom and the Queen was not pleased to leave him his life though he often declared in his Captivity That nothing grieved him so much as that tâ— Queen his Wife would never be persuaded to come and see him and swore very devoutly That from the first time he saw he face he could never like of any other Woman by which it appears that neither Gaveston nor the Spencers his wicked Favourites had so far debauched him as to make him false to his Bed or disloyal to his Queen but she was hardened against him thinking it not safe to leave him a part by which he might afterward recover the whole which was the chief occasion of his coming to this miserable end The County of Glocester is divided into 30 Hundreds wherein are 26 Market Towns 208 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Glocester out of it are elected 8 Parliament Men. For the County 2 for the City of Glocester 2 Tewksbury 2 Cirencester 2. HANTSHIRE hath Berkshire on the North Surry and Sussex on the East the Sea on the South Dorset and Wiltshire on the West from North to South it is 54 miles and from East to West 30. It is fruitful in Corn plenteous in pasture and for all advantages of the Sea wealthy and happy Wools Cloths and Iron are the general Commodities of this County Winchester is a City which flourished in the time of the Romans and now indifferently peopled and frequented by water it is about a mile and an half in Circuit within the walls which open at 6 Gates and is adorned with magnificent Churches and a Bishops See Dr. Heylin tells us That one of the Principal Orders of Knighthood is that of the round Table instituted by Arthur King of the Brittains and one of the worlds 9 worthies It consisted of 150 Knights whose names are recorded in the History of King Arthur the principal of them were Sir Lancelot Sir Tristram Sir Lamarock Sir Gawin c. all placed at one round Table to avoid quarrels about Priority and Place The round Table hanging in the great Hall of Winchester is falsly called Arthur's round Table it being not of sufficient Antiquity nor containing but 24 Seats In the Year 959. Edgar the Saxon King hearing the Daughter of a Western Duke exceedingly praised for her Beauty he was so inflamed therewith that he presently made a journey into those parts and coming to Andover in this County he commanded the Virgin to be brought to his Bed the Mother being tender of her Daughters honour brought her Maid in the dark to the King who pleased him as well in his lascivious dalliance the morning approaching this late Maid made haste to rise but the King being loth to part so soon with his supposed fair Lady asked her why she made such haste she told him she had a great deal of work to do and that her Lady would be very angry if she did not rise and dispatch it but being kept longer than her time she upon her knees did beseech the King to free her from her angry Mistriss alledging That she who had been imbraced by the King ought not to serve any other The King hereby perceiving the deceit was very angry yet since he could not recall what was past after having severely reproved the deceitful Lady he turned it into a jest but the Girl it seems pleased him so well that he took her for his Concubine whereby she ruled over them who lately commanded her and loved her entirely keeping to her alone till he was married to the fair Elfreda before mentioned This King likewise debauched a Nun named Wolfchild on whom he begat Edith afterward accounted a Saint He committed the like folly with Ethelfleda Duke Ordmars Daughter who for her extraordinary beauty was called The White on whom he begot his eldest Son Edward for which Mr. Fox affirmeth he did 7 Years Penance enjoyned him by St. Dunstan This Edward succeeded him in the Kingdom at 12 Years old the beginning of whose Reign
I bear on my Back Because my Lords Horse his Litter did lack If you be not the better to my Lord Graces Horse You are like to go barefoot before the Cross In the Reign of K. James Dr. George Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury being hunting in a Park and shooting at a Deer his Arrow by mischance glanced and killed a man upon which Fact it was much debated whether by it he were not become irregular and ought to be deprived of his Archbishoprick as having imbrued his hands though unwillingly in Blood but Bishop Andrews of Winchester and Sir Hen. Martin Advocate defended him giving such reasons for mitigation of the Fact that he was cleared from all imputation of crime and thereupon judged regular and in state to continue in his Archiepiscopal Charge yet out of a religious tenderness of mind he kept that day in which the mischance happened as a solemn fast all his life after In the Year 1553. Nicholas Wotton Dean of Canterbury being then Ambassadour in France dreamed that his Nephew Thomas Wotton was inclined to be a Party in such a Project as if he were not suddenly prevented would turn to the loss of his Life and ruine of his Family the night following he dreamed the same again and knowing that it had no influence upon his waking thoughts and much less the desires of his heart he did then more seriously consider it and resolved to use so prudent a Remedy by way of prevention as might be no great inconvenience to either party and thereupon writ a Letter to Queen Mary that she would cause his Nephew to be sent for out of Kent and that the Council might interrogate him in such feigned Questions as might colour his Commitment into a favourable Prison of which he would hereafter give Her Majesty the true Reason this was done accordingly and soon after the Queen being married to K. Philip divers persons declared and raised forces against it among whom Sir Thomas Wiat of Kent with whom the Family of the Wottons had an entire Friendship was the Principal who being defeated suffered death with many others for the same and of this number Mr. Wotton in all probability had been for he afterward confessed to his Uncle that he had some strong intimation of Wiat's design and believed he should have been engaged in it if his Uncle had not so happily dreamed him into a Prison Thus much for Canterbury Rochester is another City and Bishops See in this County the Cathedral is low and little saith Dr. Fuller proportional to the Revennues thereof yet hath it though no Magnificence a venerable aspect of antiquity therein There was a Castle built in K. William's time but now all in ruines In the woful Wars of the Barons when K. John was viewing this Castle held against him by the E. of Arundel he was espied by a very good Archer who told the Earl thereof adding That if he would but say the word he would quickly dispatch the cruel Tyrant God forbid vile Varlet said the Earl that we should procure the death of the Holy One of God Why said the Souldier he would not spare you if he had you at the like advantage No matter for that said the Earl let Gods Will be done he will dispose thereof but let us not hurt the King Chatham joins to this City and is now one of the Royal Docks for building Ships of which this story is recorded It happened the dead Corps of a man was cost ashore in this Town and being taken up was buried decently in the Church-Yard now there was an Image or Rood in the Church called our Lady of Chatham this Lady say the Monks went next night and roused up the Clerk telling him that a sinful person was buried near the place where she was worshipped who offended her Eyes with his ghastly grinning and unless he were removed to the great grief of good People she must remove from thence and could work no more miracles therefore desired him to go with her to take him up and throw him into the River again which being done soon after the Body floated again and was again taken up and buried in the Church-Yard but from that time all miracles ceased and the place where he was buried did continually sink downward this Tale is still remembred by some aged People receiving it by tradition from the Popish times of darkness and Idolatry In the Reign of K. Will. Rufus all the Lands in Kent sometime belonging to Earl Godwin were by breaking in of the Sea covered with sands and are called Godwins Sands to this day It is said that Thira a Dane Godwins Wife used to make Merchandise of the beautiful Virgins of England by selling them to Denmark at a dear rate seeking thereby to satisfie her own Covetousness and the Danes Lusts which practice she continued till Divine Vengeance fell upon her by a Thunderbolt from Heaven whereby she was slain In 1199. The Town of Malling in Kent with the Nunnery were consumed with Fire In 1216. about Maidstone a certain Monster was found struck with Lightning which had an head like an Ass a belly like a Man and all other parts far differing from any other Creature 〈◊〉 the first of Q. Mary the bravest Ship then in England called the Great Harry being of Burden a Thousand Tun was burnt by negligence at Woolwich About the same time the Parson of Crondall near Canterbury preaching upon a Shrove Sunday went besides his Text into an impertinent discourse in commendation of the Popes Articles lately set forth and in disgracing the Protestant Religion speaking thus to the People My Masters and Neighbours rejoyce and be merry for the Prodigal Son is come home for I know your hearts well enough that the most of you are like my self and I shall tell you what happened to me this Week I have been with my Lord Cardinal Pool and he hath made me as clean from my Sins as I was at the Font-stone and he hath also appointed me to publish unto you the Bull of the Popes Pardon reading it to them and adding he thanked God that ever he lived to see that day and he believed by vertue of that Bull he was clean from sin as the Night he was born which words he had no sooner uttered but he was struck with sudden death and never stirred more to the astonishment of the Spectators In 1575. a vast mighty Whale was cast upon the Isle of Thanet in Kent Twenty Ells long and 13 Foot broad from the belly to the backbone and his Tail as broad the nether Jaw was 12 Foot and as much between the Eyes some of his Ribs were 15 Foot long and so was his Tongue one of his Eyes being taken out of his Head was more than a Cart with 6 Horses could draw the Oyl being boiled out of the Head was Parmacitte In 1548. one Mr. Mr. Arden of Kent by procurement of his Wife was murdered in his own
done this I should have dyed for it and because I have done it I deserve death for betraying the Lords Yet it had been more for his credit to have adventured Martyrdom in defence of the Laws than to hazard the death of a Malefactor in the breach thereof but Judges are but men and most men desire to decline that danger which they think nearest to them but he and the other Judges were condemned for High-Treason in the next Wonder working Parliament and hardly had escaped death if the Queen had not earnestly interceeded for them The County of Leicester is divided into six Hundreds wherein are 200 Parish Churches and 12 Market Towns it is in the Diocess of Lincoln and gives the Title of Earl to Robert L. Sydney LINCOLNSHIRE hath Yorkshire on the North the German Ocean on the East Cambridge and Northampton Shires on the South and Leicestershire on the West it abounds in Fish Fowl Corn Cattle and Flax. Lincoln is the chief Place well inhabited and frequented It stands upon the side of a Hill where the River Witham bends his course Eastward and being divided into three small Channels watereth the lower part of the City in the highest part thereof is the Cathedral a stately structure being built throughout with singular and rare Workmanship especially the West end it is very ancient and had 50 Parish Churches in it whereof at this day only 15 remain besides the Minster In the year 1180. a great Earthquake overthrew many Buildings amongst which the Cathedral Church of Lincoln was rent in pieces by it about this time the Bishoprick of Lincoln was so long void that a certain Hermit of Tame prophecied there should be no more Bishops of Lincoln but he proved an untrue Prophet for after 16 years vacancy Geffery the Kings Bastard Son was preferred thereunto of whom it was said That he was more skilful in fleecing than feeding his Flock this Gallant Bishop would usually in discourse protest By the honour of his Father but one of the Kings Chaplains told him Pray Sir remember sometimes the honesty of your Mother as well as the Royalty of your Father he used to put in his Episcopal Seal The Seal of Geffery Son of the K. of England A poor Country Husbandman coming to Robert Grostead Bishop of Lincoln challenged kindred of him and thereupon desired him to prefer him to such an Office which he was very unfit for Cousen said the Bishop If your Cart be broken I will mend it if your Plough be old I will give you a new one or seed to sow your Land but a Husbandman I found you and a Husbandman I will leave you In 1537. King Henry the 8. by advice of the L. Cromwell sent abroad injunctions whereby the People were permitted to read the Bible and to have the Lords Prayer the Creed the Ten Commandments and all the Articles of the Christian Faith in English to be taught by all Parsons and Curates to their Parishioners which so inraged the stupid Papists that in Lincolnshire Twenty Thousand of them assembled together against whom the King himself went in Person who by persuasion winning their Chief Leaders brought the rest upon pardon to submit themselves but when he had himself done the work of mercy he afterward sent the Duke of Suffolk Sir John Russel and others to do the work of Justice who caused Nicholas Melton and a Monk who called himself Captain Cobler with 13 other Ringleaders of the Sedition to be apprehended and most of them executed In 1564. a monstrous Fish was driven on the shoar at Grimesby in this County being 19 yards in length his tail was 15 foot broad and six yards between his Eyes 15 men stood upright in his mouth to get the Oil. Job Hartop was born at Bourn in this County and went in 1568. with Sir John Hawkins his General to make discoveries in New Spain He was a Gunner in one of Queen Elizabeths Ships called The Jesus of Lubeck long and dangerous was his Voyage eight of his men being killed at Cape-Verd and the General himself wounded with poysoned Arrows but was cured by a Negro who drew out the Poyson with a clove of Garlick he first writ of that strange Tree which may be termed The Tree of Food affording a Liquor which is both meat and drink The Tree of Raiment yeilding Needles wherewith and Thred whereof Mantles are made The Tree of Harbour Tiles to cover Houses being made out of the solid parts thereof so that it beareth a self-sufficiency for mans maintenance Job was his name and patience was with him so that he may pass for a Confessor of this County for being with some others by this General left on land for want of Provisions after many miseries they came to Mexico he continued a Prisoner twenty three years that is 2 years at Mexico one year in the Contractation House in Sevil another in the Spanish Inquisition in Triana 12 years a Gally Slave four years with the Cross of St. Andrews at his back in the Everlasting Prison and three years a drudge to Hernando de Soria to so high a sum did the inventory of his sufferings amount so much of his patience now see the end the Lord made with him whil'st inslaved to the aforesaid Fernando he was sent to Sea in a Flemish Vessel which was afterward taken by an English Ship and so he was safely landed at Plymouth Dec. 2. 1590. And died soon after Sir William Mounson was extracted out of an Ancient Family in this Shire and was from his Youth bred in Sea Service wherein he attained to great perfection Queen Elizabeth having cleared Ireland of the Spanish Forces and desiring carefully to prevent a Relapse altered the Scene of War from Ireland to Spain from defending to invading and Sir Richard Levison being Admiral and Mounson Vice Admiral they in 1602. went to Portugal where without drawing a Sword they quite killed Trading on those Coasts no Ships daring to go in or out of their Harbours there they had Intelligence of a vast Carract ready to land in Sisimbria which was of 1600 Tun richly laden out of the East-Indies resolved to assault it though it seemed placed in an invincible posture of itself it was a Gyant in comparison of our Pigmy Ships and had in her 300 Spanish Gentlemen the Marquess De Sancta Cruce lay hard by with 13 Ships and all were secured under the Command of a strong and well fortified Castle but nothing is impossible to the English Valour and Gods blessing thereon After an hot dispute which lasted for some hours with the Invincible Arguments of Fire Sword the Carract was conquered the wealth taken therein amounting to the value of Ten Hundred Thousand Crowns of Portugal Account But though the Goods gotten therein might be valued the good gotten thereby was inestimable for ever after the Spaniards beheld the English with admiring Eyes and quitted the thoughts of Invasion this worthy Knight
died about the midst of the Reign of King James In 1614. Such great Inundations of Water happened in Lincolnshire and the parts adjacent that the Sea entred 12 miles into the Land I have a Letter by me saith Mr. Clerk dated July 7. 1606. written by one Mr. Bovy to a Minister in London where he thus writes Touching News you shall understand that Mr. Sherwood hath received a Letter from Mr. Arthur Hildersham which containeth this following Narrative That at Brampton in the Parish of Torksey near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire an Ash-Tree shaketh both in the Body and Boughs thereof and there proceeds from thence sighs and groans like those of a man troubled in his sleep as if it felt some sensible torment Many have climbed to the top thereof where they heard the groans more plainly than they could below One among the rest being atop spoke to the Tree but presently came down much astonished and lay groveling on the Earth Speechless for 3 hours and then reviving said Brampton Brampton thou are much bound to pray The Author of this News is one Mr. Vaughan a Minister who was there present and heard and saw these Passages and told Mr. Hildersham of it The Earl of Lincoln caused one of the Arms of the Ash to be lopped off and a hole to be bored into the Body and then was the sound or hollow voice heard more audibly than before but in a kind of Speech which they could not comprehend nor understand In 1666. Oct. 13. there was an extraordinary and dreadful Storm of Thunder in Lincolnshire accompanied with Hailstones much bigger than Pigeons and some as large as Pullets Eggs immediately after there followed a terrible storm and Tempest attended with a very unusual noise and with such violence that at Welborn it threw most of the Houses to the ground brake down some and tore up other Trees by the Roots scattering abroad much Corn and Hay but by Divine Providence only one Boy was killed in that Town It went thence to Willingore the next Town overthrowing some houses and killing 2 Children with the fall it fell so violently on the Church of the next Town to this that it presently dashed the Spire Steeple to pieces and rent the Stone and Timberwork of the Church so violently that but a little of the Wall and only the Body of the Steeple was left standing it threw down many Houses Trees and out-houses in this Town as well as in two others far distant It was observed to move only in a channel or small breadth and if it had been considerably broader could not but have ruined a great part of the Country to some that saw it at a distance before it came near them it had the appearance of Fire and was by some observed to move in a kind of circle though at the same time it kept its general course along It passed also through Nottinghamshire some of the Hailstones being measured were 9 Inches about this Whirl-Wind extended above 60 Yards in breadth In the Forrest of Sherwood it broke down and overthrew at least 1000 Trees it brake one short off in the Body which was three Foot in Diameter it overthrew divers Wind Mills some Boats in the River and in one Town consisting of 50 Houses it left but 7 standing The same Evening over Derby Town and some other places there appeared a fiery Sword hanging in the Air over them The Thursday after in the Evening there were strange Fires seen hanging over Nottingham Town sinsomuch that some of the Inhabitants coming homeward from a Country Market thought the Town to be on Fire in three several places these Informations saith Mr. Clerk I had from Eye-Witnesses worthy of Credit About April 26. 1661. at Spalding Bourne and several other places in Lincolnshire it rained Wheat some grains whereof were very thin and hollow but others of a more firm substance and would grind into fine flower several Pecks of it were taken up out of Church Leads and other houses that were leaded several Inhabitants who were Eye-Witnesses brought up a considerable quantity to London There is a Proverb in this Country As mad as the baiting Bull of Stamford the Original whereof was thus occasioned William Earl of Warren Lord of this Town in the time of King John standing upon the Castle Walls of Stamford saw two Bulls fighting for a Cow in the Meadow till all the Butchers Dogs great and small pursued one of the Bulls being mad with noise and multitude quite through the Town this sight so pleased the Earl that he gave all those Fields called the Castle Meadows where first the Bull-duel began for a common to the Butchers of the Town after the first grass was eaten upon condition they find a Mad Bull the day 6 weeks before Christmas-day for the continuance of the sport every year some think that the men must be as mad as the Bull who can take delight in so dangerous a pastime whereby Gods providence more than mans care is to be observed that no more mischief is done The Horrid Murther of K. EDWARD 2. Pa. 78. The Dreadfull Tempest in Devonshire Pa. 55. The County of Lincoln hath three Divisions wherein are 30 Hundreds and hath in it 35 Market Towns 630 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Lincoln It elects 12 Parliament men and gives the Title of Earl to Edward Lord Clinton as Stamford doth to Henry Lord Gray MIDDLESEX hath Hartfordshire on the North Buckinghamshire on the West Essex parted with the Ley on the East Kent and Surrey severed by the Thames on the South The Air is generally very healthful especially about Highgate where the expert Inhabitants report That divers who have been long visited with sickness not curable by Physick have in short time recovered by that sweet salutary Air The Soil is very fruitful pleasantly beautified on all sides with sumptuous Houses and pretty Towns Harrow-Hill is the highest in all this County under which there lie a long way together Southward exceeding rich and fruitful Fields especially about Heston a small Village which yieldeth such fine flower for Manchet that the Kings Bread was formerly made thereof and therefore Q. Eliz. received no Composition Money from the Villages thereabout but took her Wheat in kind for her own Pastry and Bakehouse Hampton Court a Royal Pallace and the neatest of all the Kings Houses is in this Shire it is a Work of admirable magnificence a City rather in shew than the Pallace of a Prince for stately Port and gorgeous Building saith Weaver not inferiour to any in Europe It was built out of the ground by that Pompous Prelate Cardinal Woolsey in ostentation of his Riches one so magnificent in his expences that whosoever considers his House-building would admire that he had any thing for his House-keeping or House-furnishing He bestowed this on K. Hen. 8. who for the greater grace thereof erected it to be an honour Princes having Power to confer dignities
on Houses as well as Persons The King increased and enlarged it so that it now containeth 5 very large inner Courts incompassed with fair buildings of curious Workmanship Now whereas other Royal Pallaces found their fatal Period as Holdenby Oatlands Richmond Theobalds Hampton Court had the happiness to continue in its former Estate of which one thus writes I envy not its happy Lot but rather thereat wonder There 's such a rout our Land throughout of Pallaces by plunder Osterly-House must not be forgotten built in a Park by Sir Thomas Gresham who here magnificently entertained and lodged Q. Elizabeth Her Majesty found fault with the Court of this House as too great affirming That it would appear more handsome if divided by a Wall in the middle What doth Sir Thomas Money commanding all things but in the night time sends for Workmen from London who so speedily and silently apply their business that the next morning discovered that court double which the night had left single before it is questionable whether the Queen next day were more contented with the conformity to her fancy or more pleased with the surprise and sudden performance thereof whilst the Courtiers disported themselves with their several expressions some avowing it was no wonder he could so soon change a building who could build a Change Others reflecting on some known differences in this Knt's Family affirmed That any house is easier divided than united Edward the 5. sole surviving Son of K. Hen. 8. and Jane his Wife was born at Hampton Court in this County 1537. He succeeded his Father in this Kingdom and was most eminent in his Generation saith Dr. Fuller seeing the Kings of England fall under a five fold Division 1. Visibly vicious given over to dissoluteness and debauchery as K. Edward the Second 2. Rather free from Vice than fraught with Virtue as King Henry the Third 3. Those in whom Vices and Virtues were so equally matched as it was hard to decide which got the mastery as in King Henry 8.4 whose good qualities beat their bad ones quite out of distance of competition as K. Edward 1.5 Whose Virtues were so resplendent no faults humane frailties excepted appeared in them as in this K. Edward He died July 5. 1553. and pity it is that he who deserved the best should have no Monument erected to his memory Smithfield in London being Bonners Shambles and the Bonfire General of England no wonder if some sparks thereof were driven into the Neighbourhood as Barnet Islington and Stratford Bow where more than twenty Persons were Martyred as in Mr. Fox it doth appear nor must we forget Mr. John Denly burnt at Vxbridge who began to sing a Psalm at the stake and Dr. Story there present caused a Faggot to be hurled in his face which so hurt him that he bled therewith however we may believe that this Martyrs Song made good melody in the ears of the God of Heaven The last pitcht Battle in England between the two Houses of Lancaster and York was fought at Barnet 1472. by K. Edward 4. who hearing that the Earl of Warwick on the behalf of K. Henry the 6. was with his Army incamped on a Heath near Barnet he marched toward them upon April 13. being Easter Eve and came that evening from London thither where he would not suffer a man of his Army to stay in the Town but commanded them all to the Field and lodged with his Army nearer to the Enemy than he was aware by reason of a thick mist raised as some say by Fryar Bongey the Conjurer which made it so dark that it could not well be observed where they were incamped In taking his ground he caused his People to keep as much silence as was possible thereby to keep the Enemy from knowing of their approach great Artillery they had on both parts but Warwick had more than K. Edward and therefore in the night time they shot continually at the Kings Army but did little hurt because they overshot them as lying nearer than was conceived on Easter day early in the morning both Armies are ordered for Battle the Earl of Warwick appointed the command of his Right Wing which consisted of Horse to his Brother the Marquess Montacute and the Earl of Oxford the left Wing likewise consisting of Horse was led by himself and the Duke of Exeter and the main Battle of Bills and Bows was conducted by the Duke of Somerset on K. Edwards part the Van was commanded by Richard D. of Glocester the main Battle in which the unfortunate K. Henry was Prisoner was led by K. Edward himself and the L. Hastings brought up the Rear after exhortations for incouraging their Souldiers the fight began which with great valour was maintained for six hours without any apparent disadvantage on either side only Warwicks Van seemed by the courage of the Earl of Oxford to overmatch King Edwards which made some flying toward London carry the news that the Earl of Warwick had won the Field and so perhaps he had indeed but for a strange misfortune which happened to the Earl of Oxford and his men for they having a Star with streams on their Liveries as K. Edwards men had the Sun the Earl of Warwicks men by reason of the mist not well distinguishing the badges shot at the Earl of Oxfords men who were of their own side whereupon the Earl of Oxford cryed out Treason Treason and fled with 800 men at length after great slaughter made on both sides K. Edward having the greater number of men caused a new recruit of fresh Souldiers to come on whom he had reserved to that purpose which the Earl of Warwick observing being a man of an invincible courage nothing dismayed rushed into the midst of his Enemies where he adventured so far that amongst the press he was struck down and slain though some write that seeing the desperate condition of his Army the Earl leapt on his Horse to fly and coming to a Wood where was no passage one of K. Edwards men came to him and killed him and stript him to his naked skin The Marquess Montacute thinking to relieve his Brother lost likewise his life and left the victory to King Edward There were slain on both sides at least Ten Thousand Men and hereby King Edward again got the Kingdom and King Henries Friends not being afterward able to raise any considerable power on his behalf he was soon after sent to the Tower and there murdered by the Duke of Glocester I shall not speak any thing in this place concerning London as having already published a book of the same price with this of Historical Remarks and Observations of the ancient and present state of London and Westminster wherein the most considerable particulars relating thereto for several hundred years are succinctly discovered The County of Middlesex is divided into 7 Hundreds wherein are 4 Market Towns and 73 Parish Churches besides those in London and Westminster It
he was justly punished for his Treachery K. Stephen had only one Son named Eustace a Prince of much blossoming valour as being cut off at 18 years of Age some say by drowning and others by a stranger Accident but strange Relations must not alwaies be rejected for though many of them be forged yet some no doubt are true and who knows but it may be of this kind which some writers relate of this Prince That being at the Abby of Bury in the Diocess of Norwich and denyed some money he demanded he presently in a rage went forth and set the Cornfields belonging to the Abby on fire but afterward sitting down to Dinner at the first morsel of bread he put into his mouth he fell into a fit of madness and in that fit dyed certainly the Persons of Princes are for more observation than ordinary People and as they make Examples so they are sometimes made Examples In the 11th of K. Hen. 2. there was so great an Earthquake in Norfolk and some other Counties that it overthrew many who stood upon their feet and made the Bells towl in the Steeples In his 18th Year the Cathedral Church at Norwich with the Houses thereto belonging was burnt and the Monks dispersed In the Reign of K. Richard 1. a Jew being turned Christian at Lynn in Norfolk he was persecuted by those of his own Nation and assaulted in the street who thereupon flying to a Church hard by was followed thither also and the Church assaulted which the People of the Town seeing in defence of the new Christian they fell upon the Jews of whom they slew a great number and after pillaged their Houses By this Example the Jews were assaulted in other places and vast multitudes of them massacred and some of them being blocked up in a Castle at York cut the Throats of their Wives and Children and cast them over the Walls on the Christians Heads and then burnt the Castle and themselves neither could this Sedition be stayed till the King sent his Chancellour the Bishop of Ely with force of Arms to punish the offenders In the 5th of Hen 5. a great part of the City of Norwich was burnt and all the Houses of the Friers Preachers where two of the Friers themselves were burnt in the flames In the 2d of Edward 6. 1549 a dangerous Rebellion broke forth in Norfolk about Grievances for Inclosures The Rebels had got one Ket a Tanner to be their Leader who with others encouraged them to pull down Inclosures and in short time they grew to a Body of 20000 so that the Sheriff of Norfolk commanding them in the Kings name to depart or else he would proclaim them Traitors he had been certainly slain had not his Horse been too swift for them they furnished themselves with Arms and Artillery and for their better security they fortified themselves upon Monshold hill near St. Leonards hill by Norwich where they carried a face as it were of Justice and Religion for they had one Convers an Idle Fellow for their Chaplain who morning and evening read solemn Prayers to them also Sermons they had often and as for Justice they ordained a Seat of Judgment in an old Tree whose Canopy was the Cope of Heaven in this Tree sate the Tanner as Chancellour and chief Judge giving out Warrants in the Kings name and as his Deputy committed many Persons of Quality to Prison he was assisted by two chosen men of every hundred among them from whom Commissions were sent to bring in to them Powder Shot Victuals and all things necessary and here such as had exceeded their Commission were ordered to be imprisoned so that this Tree was called The Oak of Reformation whence likewise some Sermons were delivered to the People and once by the Reverend Dr. Parker which had like to have cost him his Life and now beginning to grow to a height they presented certain Complaints to the King requiring he would send an Herald to give them satisfaction the King though he took it for a great Indignity to have such base Fellows capitulate with him yet framing himself to the time he returned this answer That in October following he would call a Parliament wherein their Complaints should he heard and all their Grievances redressed requiring theâ— in the mean time to lay down their Arms and return to their houses and thereupon granting them a general pardon But this was so far from satisfying the Seditious that thereupon they first assaulted the City of Norwich took it and made the Mayor attend them as their servant and then returned again to their Station at Moushold Soon after the Marquess of Northampton the L. Sheffeild with several other Lords 1500 Horse and a small Band of Italians were sent against them whom the Seditious so stoutly opposed that much mischief was done on both sides the L. Sheffeild falling with his Horse into a Ditch was taken Prisoner and as he pulled off his Helmet to make himself known he was struck down dead by a Butcher so that the Marquess with his Forces not prevailing the Earl of Warwick was sent with 6000 Foot and 1500 Horse and many other Persons of Quality When the Earl approached the Camp of the Rebels he sent a Herald offering them the Kings Pardon if they would disband which they were so far from accepting that a lewd Boy turned up his naked Breech toward the Herald and bid him kiss it upon this many skirmishes passed between the Earl and them with loss sometimes of one side and sometimes of another at last they came to a Battle where the Rebels placed in the Front all the Gentlemen they had taken Prisoners designing they should first be slain of whom yet very few were hurt but of the Rebels above 2000 were killed and now once again the Earl of Warwick offered them pardon but for all their losses they continued obstinate at last the Earl sent to know if they would entertain their Pardon if he should come in Person and assure them of it this moved them much and they answered That they knew him to be so honourable that from himself they would embrace it whereupon he went to them and causing their Pardon to be read again he confirmed it by his words so effectually that they all cast away their Arms and with one voice cried God save K. Edward The day following Robert Ket the Tanner and Arch-Rebel was taken and hanged in Chains upon the Castle of Norwich and William Ket the younger was hanged upon the high Steeple of Wimondham and 9 of the other principal Rebels were hanged upon the Oak of Reformation and thus ended the Sedition in Norfolk the day of the defeat of the Rebels being a long time after observed as a Festival by the Citizens of Norwich with no less joy than the Jews did when they escaped the sword of wicked Haman In 1578. the 20 of Q. Elizabeth Matthew Hamond of Hitherset 3 miles from Norwich Plow-Wright for
Scots and the Lord Darnly began to cool and their unkindness was fomented by one David Risio an Italian Musician and afterward the Queens Secretary who had often secret conference with her when the King might not be admitted this indignity the Lords about the King made him sensible of and thereupon his death was contrived and he was killed in an outer Chamber next the Queen she being then with Child and like by the affright to have miscarried the Earl of Murray base Son to K. James 5. and base Brother to the Queen was the chief instigator of this murther of the foulness of which Fact when the King was sensible he resolved to be revenged upon Murray who having notice thereof prevented it with causing the like to be done to him for soon after the King in a stormy tempestuous night was strangled in his Bed and then cast forth into the Garden and the House immediately blown up with Gunpowder the rumor of this murther being spread abroad common fame laid it upon Morton and Murray and their Confederates Morton and Murray lay it upon the Queen the King thus murthered the Queen was advised by them to Marry James Earl of Bothwell though he was the man that had acted the Murther but upon condition that above all things respect might be had to her young Son and that Bothwell might be legally quitted both from the bonds of his former Marriage and also of the Kings Murther hereupon it is plotted that Bothwell should be brought to the Bar and Morton being his advocate by the sentence of the Judges he is clearly acquitted and then by consent of some of the Nobility he is Married to the Queen being first made Duke of Orkney which bred a suspition in many that the Queen was conscious of the Murther which was the thing the Confederates aimed at by this Marriage for they by all means increased the suspition that they might have the better colour against her and so the very same men who absolved Bothwell and consented to the Marriage now take arms against her as a Delinquent in both forcing her Husband to flee and then seize upon the Queen whom clad in a very homely garment they thrust into Prison in Lochlevyn Queen Elizabeth hearing of it sends Sir Nicholas Throgmorton to expostulate the matter with them who alledged The Queen was subject to no Tribunal under Heaven That no Judge on Earth might call her in question c. They again opposed the peculiar right of that Kingdom and used Buchanans argument in his Treasonable Dialogue That in extraordinary Cases the People have power both to create and to depose their King They then persuaded her to resign the Kingdom which if she refused to do fairly they threatned to question her openly for her incontinent living for the Kings Murther for Tyranny so that through fear She resigned her Kingdom to her young Son James at that time scarce thirteen months old who was five days after anointed and Crowned King and she constituted Murray Vice-Roy during his Minority soon after some of Bothwells Servants were executed for the Kings Murther who cleared the Queen from being concerned in it The Queen having been 11 Months Prisoner afterward made her escape and raised Forces which being unexperienced were soon defeated by Murray whereupon she endeavoured to save her self by flight and travelled 60 Miles in one day and contrary to the advice of her Friends went with a few of her Attendants in a small Bark and landed at Wickington in Cumberland sending Letters to Q. Elizabeth that having made an escape from her insolent and rebellious Subjects she was now come into England upon certain hope of her approved Clemency and therefore humbly desiring that she might be forthwith admitted to her presence Q. Elizabeth sent her Letters of comfort and promised her aid defence according to the equity of her cause but denied her access since she was held guilty of many crimes giving command to have her brought to Carlile as a place of more safety Q. Mary then desired she might depart to some other Country but upon consultation most were of Opinion to have her detained as one taken by right of War and not to be dismissed till she had made satisfaction for assuming the Title of England and for the death of Darnly her Husband who was born one of the Queens Subjects After this many Conspiracies were made to set the Queen of Scots at Liberty The Pope sends out his Bull against Q. Elizabeth freeing her Subjects from all Allegiance to her and the Duke of Norfolk is beheaded upon her account These and many other contrivances and conspiracies seemed very much to indanger the Life of Q. Elizabeth and tended to the Invasion of England whereupon the better to provide for her safety a number of her Subjects the Earl of Leicester being the chief and others of all ranks and conditions enter into an Association wherein they declare That since by Her Majesties Life they and all other Her Majesties Subjects do enjoy inestimable benefit they do by this Writing make manifest their duty for the safety of their Sovereign Lady They then proceed And to that end we and every of us first calling to Witness the name of Almighty God do voluntarily and most willingly hind our selves every one of us to the other jointly and severally in the Band of one firm and Loyal Society and do hereby vow and promise by the Majesty of Almighty God that with our whole Powers Bodies Lives and Goods and with our Children and Servants we and every of us will faithfully serve and humbly obey our said Sovereign L.Q. Elizabeth against all States Dignities and Earthly Powers whatsoever and will as well with our joint and particular Forces during our Lives withstand offend and persue as well by force of Arms as by all other means of revenge all manner of Persons of what state soever they shall be who shall attempt against Her Royal Person c. to the utter extermination of them their Counsellours Aiders and Abettors And if any such wicked attempt against her most Royal Person shall be taken in hand and procured whereby any that have may or shall pretend Title to come to this Crown by the untimely death of Her Majesty so wickedly procured which God for his mercies sake forbid may be avenged we do not only bind our selves jointly and severally never to allow accept or favour any such pretended Successor by whom or for whom any such detestible Act shall be attempted or committed as unworthy of all Government in any Christian Realm or Common-Wealth And do also further vow and protest as we are most bound and that in the presence of the Eternal and Everlasting God to prosecute such Person and Persons to death with our joint or particular forces and to take the utmost revenge upon them that by any means we or any of us can devise and do or cause to be devised and
wires and Iron of the Clock melted the Tempest being over and the people recovering their senses some of them were found marked with strange Figures on their Bodies and their Garments not perished neither were any marked who stood in the Chancel In January 1648. there was seen a great fiery Meteor in the Air near Bristol on the South side of the City for divers nights together long in shape and shooting out fiery streams East and West this happened saith Mr. Clark a week before the death of K. Charles 1. and I had it from an Eye witness In August 1655. a Carpenter living at Pennard in this County went to a Fair at Lidford not many miles off to set up some Stalls and left his Wife and four small Children at home but at his return he found all his four Children murthered the eldest being about nine years old and put into a Chest it was supposed to be done by his Wife the Childrens own Mother because she was not to be found Wockey hole in Mendip Hills near two miles from Wells is very remarkable It is an underground concavity admirable for its spacious Vaults stony Walls and creeping Labyrinths I have been at but never in this wonderful Cave saith Dr. Fuller and therefore must use the description of a Learned Eye-witness Entring and passing through a great part of it with many Lights among many other strange Rarities worth observing we found saith he the water which continually dropped from the roof of the Rock made some impression in it but was not turned into Stone as appeared by the shape colour and hardness thereof it being of a more clear and glassy substance than the Rock itself though doubtless in time it will turn to the same substance and thereby the Rocks will be increased John Courcy Baron of Stoke-Courcy in this County was the first Englishman who subdued Vlster in Ireland and therefore deservedly created Earl thereof He was afterward surprized by Hugh Lacy Corrival for his Title sent over into England and imprisoned by King John in the Tower after this a French Castle being in controversy was to have the Title thereof tryed by Combate the Kings of England and France beholding it Courcy who was of a lean lank body with staring Eyes is sent for out of the Tower to undertake the Frenchman and because weakned by Imprisonment a large allowance of Victuals is given him to recruit his strength The Monsieur who was to fight with him hearing how much he eat and drank and guessing at his courage by his stomach took him for a Canibal who would devour him and was therefore afraid to encounter him Afterward the two Kings being desirous to see some proofs of Courcies strength caused a steel Helmet to be laid on a block before him Courcy looking about him with a stern and grim Countenance as if he intended to cut it with his Eyes as well as with his Arms cut the Helmet in two pieces at one blow striking his Sword so deep into the wood also that none but himself could pull it out again Being demanded the cause why he looked so sternly he replied Had I failed of my purpose I would have killed the two Kings and all the rest in the place words well spoken because well taken saith Dr. Fuller all Persons present being then highly in good humor He died in France 1210. The County of Somerset is divided into 42 Hundreds wherein are 30 Market Towns 385 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Bath and Wells It elects 18 Parliament men and gives the Title of Duke to Charles L. Seymour Bath the Title of Earl to John L. Greenville and Bristol to John L. Digby STAFFORDSHIRE hath Cheshire on the North Darbyshire on the East Warwick and Worcester shires on the South and Shropshire on the West The Commodities of this County consist chiefly in Corn Cattle Alabaster Wood Iron Pitcoal and Fish whereof the River Trent is very full Stafford Town was built by King Edward the Elder incorporated by King John Litchfield is far greater of much more fame it is a very ancient City known to Reverend Bede by the name of Lichidfield that is The Field of dead Bodies by reason of the number of Christians there Martyred in the bloody Persecution of Dioclesian The City is low seated of a good largeness and Fair withal divided into two parts by a shallow Pool of clear water which are joined by two Bridges made over them having sluces to let out the water the South part is the greater consisting of divers Streets having in it a School and an Hospital of St. John founded for the relief of the Poor The farther part is the less but beautified with a goodly Cathedral Church which is incompassed with a very fair Wall like a Castle this Church mounteth up on high with three Pyramids or Spires of Stone making an excellent shew and for elegant and proportionable building yieldeth to few Cathedrals in England but by the late confusions it was much defaced In the 35th of Queen Elizabeth 1591. there was a great Tempest in Staffordshire whereby the shaft of the Steeple in Stafford Town was rent in pieces all along through the middle and thrown upon the Church wherewith the roof was so shattered that a 1000 pound would not repair it Many Houses and Barns were overthrown in divers places in that Shire In Cauck Wood above 3000 Trees were blown down and likewise more than 50 Steeples soon after there was a strong North-wind and a very great rain which continued 24 hours In 1662. July 30. between two and three a clock in the afternoon there happened a great storm at Eardly in this County accompanied with Thunder which made such a continual strange noise in the Air that it struck a terror into all that heard it of which there was no intermission for a long time also there fell a shower of Hailstones as big as Hens Eggs some 5 6 and 7 Inches about I my self saith the Relator measured one after the Storm was over and a good part of it melted yet then it was five inches about There was a Gentleman who measured some of them by a good big Watch and they were full as big as it within half a mile of this place the Hailstones lay upon the ground a quarter of a yard thick there was a Man getting in a Load of Hay and his Horses as well as all others would not be ruled but ran about as mad which forced the man to continue in the storm and his back shoulders and arms were black and blew with the Hail it did much hurt to the Barley and struck it out of the Ear as if threshed it beat down other Corn as it stood on the ground all to pieces it also killed abundance of Fowl Sheep and Lambs some of the Hailstones tasted Salt like Sal Prunella and were kept long after without being at all wasted The people were very much amazed and
plenty of all things especially Fish it is adorned with a very stately Market place wherein standeth their Common Hall of Timberwork a very handsome building About 6 miles from Salisbury upon the Plains is to be seen a huge and monstrous piece of Work for within the circuit of a Pit or Ditch there are erected in the manner of a Crown certain mighty and unwrought stones whereof some are 20 Foot high and 7 broad upon the heads whereof others like overthwart pieces do bear and rest cross-wise with Tenents and Mortesses so that the whole frame seemeth to hang whereof it is commonly called Stone-henge Near Badmington is a place called The Giants Cave whereof there are 9 in number some deeper than others being two great long stones on both sides and a broad one to cover them both these are thought to be some ancient works either of the Romans Danes or Saxons In the Year 975. Queen Elfrida having barbarously murdered K. Edward her Son in Law to set up her own Son K. Etheldred afterward repenting of her cruel Fact and to pacifie the crying Blood of her slain Son built the two Monasteries of Amesbury and Worwel in Wiltshire and Hamshire in which she lived and died with great Penance but these and the like Foundations being built with Rapine and Blood have felt the Woe pronounced by the Prophet That the Stone in the Wall shall cry and the Beam out of the Timber shall answer it woe to him that buildeth a Town with Blood and establisheth a City with Iniquity In the Year 1154. K. Stephen seizing into his hands the Bishop of Salisburys Castles and Goods a Synod was called by the Popes Legate to right him where the King was summoned to appear to answer for his imprisoning of Bishops and depriving them of the r Goods which being a Christian King he ought not to do The King by his Attorney answers That he had not arrested him as a Bishop but as a Servant who ought to make up his Accounts about his Employments This answer caused some Debates they not presuming to excommunicate the King without the Popes leave and therefore they fell from Authority to Submission falling at his Feet and beseeching him to have pity on the Church and not make dissention between the Kingdom and the Priesthood which shews the great magnanimity and courage of K. Stephen that he was able to pull down the high Spirits of the Prelates in that time this rich Bishop of Salisbury who built the Castle of the Devizes and divers other strong Castles in this County being now thrown out of all his Grandeur was so swallowed up of over much grief that he ran mad and spake and did he knew not what In 1275. K. Edward 1. calls a Parliament at Salisbury without admitting of any Church-men to sit therein and Marchian his Treasurer acquainting him That in Churches and Religious Houses there was much Treasure to be had if it were lawful to take it He made no scruple of it but caused it to be seized and brought into his Exchequer but finding that he had thereby displeased the Clergy he bid them ask what they would have who required the Repeal of the Statute of Mortmain which hindered devout People at their death from giving all their Estates from their Children to the Church To which the King answered That it was a Statute made by the whole Body of the Realm and therefore it was not in his Power who was but one Member of that Body to repeal it In another Parliament at Salisbury this King requires certain of his Lords to go to the Wars in Gascoign who all excusing themselves the King in a great rage threatned they should either go or he would give their Lands to others that should Upon this the Earl of Hereford High-Constable and the Earl of Norfolk Marshal of England declare That if the King went in Person they would attend him otherwise not Which answer offended the King more and being urged again the Earl Marshal protested he would willingly march in the Front if the King went himself But the King told him he should go with any other without him I am not bound to do so said the Earl neither will I take this Journey without you The King swore by God he should either go or hang And I swear by the same Oath said the Earl I will neither go nor hang and so without leave departs shortly after the two Earls assembled many Noblemen and 1500 Souldiers wherewith they stand on their own Guard but the King being obliged to go to France condescends to their Demands and desires them that since they would not â—o they would do nothing prejudicial to himself and the Kingdom in his Absence and upon his return the King solemnly confirmed the two great Charters which appeased the present disturbances In the 4. of Q. Mary 1454 exemplary Justice was done upon a great Person for the Lord Sturton a man much in the Queens favour because he was an earnest Papist was for a Murther committed by him arraigned and condemned and he with 4 of his Servants were carried to Salisbury and there in the Market-place hanged he having this favour to be hanged in a silken Halter and his servants in places near adjoining where the Murther was committed Not long since saith Mr. Clark a Souldier in Salisbury in the midst of his Cups drinking and carousing in a Tavern drank a Health to the Devil saying That if the Devil would not come and pledge him he would not believe there was either God or Devil whereupon his Companions being struck with horrour hastened out of the Room and presently after hearing a hideous noise and smelling a stinking savour the Vintner ran up into the Chamber and coming in he missed his Guest and found the Window broken the Iron Bar in it bowed and all bloody but the man was never heard of afterward Wiltshire is divided into 29 Hundreds wherein are 23 Market Towns 304 Parish Churches and is in the Diocess of Salisbury It elects 34 Parliament-Men and gives the Title of Earl to Charles L. Pawlet as Salisbury doth to James Lord Cecil and Marleburgh to William L. Ley. WORCESTERSHIRE hath Staffordshire on the North Warwickshire on the East Glocestershire on the South Hereford and Shropshire on the West It is a County rich and populous the soil is very fertile producing besides Corn Cattle and Wood abundance of Apples and Pears which yield pleasure to the sight and also profit for with the juice they make great quantity of Sider and Perry both very pleasant and wholsome Drinks The City of Worcester is most pleasantly seaâ—ed and is admirable both in respect of the Antiquity and Beauty thereof It standeth in a place rising somewhat with a gentle ascent by the Rivers side which hath a fair Bridge with a Tower over it it is well and strongly walled and the Inhabitants are much enriched by the Trade of Clothing It is 1650 paces
no Temporal Authority at all but yet in Spirituals he rather raised them as appears by a passage between Aldred Archbishop of York and this King for one time upon denying a certain suit the Archbishop in great discontent offered to go away but the King for fear of his displeasure staid him and fell down at his feet desiring his pardon and promising to grant his Suit the King for sometime lay at his feâ—t and the Noblemen that were present put the Prelate in mind that he should cause the King to rise Nay said the Archbishop let him alone let him find what it is to anger St. Peter And as by this story we may see the insulting Pride of this Prelate in those days so by another we may observe the equivocating falshood of another Prelate at that time for Stigand A. B. of Canterbury would often swear he had not one penny upon Earth when under the Earth it was afterward found he had hidden great Treasure It is also memorable but scarce credible of another Bishop who being accused of Simony and denying it the Cardinal before whom he was to answer told him That a Bishoprick was the gift of the Holy Ghost and therefore to buy a Bishoprick was against the Holy Ghost and thereupon bid him say Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost which the Bishop beginning and oft trying to do saith our Historian could never say and to the Holy Ghost but said it plainly when he was put out of his Bishoprick In the 19th of King Henry 3. 1235. there was a great dearth in Eng. so that many poor people died for want of food the Rich being so cruelly covetous as not to relieve them and among others Walter Gray A. B. of York had great store of Corn which he had horded for five years together yet at that sad time refused to bestow any of it upon the necessities of the poor but suspecting that it might be destroyed by Vermine he commanded it to be delivered to Husbandmen that lived in his Mannors upon condition to return him as much new Corn after Harvest but behold a terrible Judgment of God upon him for his covetousness when they came to one of his great stacks of Corn nigh the Town of Ripoon there appeared in the Sheaves all over the heads of Worms Serpents and Toads so that the Bailiffs were forced to build an high wall round about the stack of Corn and then to set it on fire least the venemous Creatures should have gone out and poysoned the Corn in other places In the Reign of K. Edward 4. 1570. George Nevil Brother to the great Earl of Warwick at his Instalment into his Archbishoprick of York made a prodigious Feast to the Nobility chief Clergy and many Gentry wherein he spent 300 Quarters of Wheat 330 Tuns of Ale 104 Tuns of Wine 1 Pipe of spiced Wine 80 fat Oxen 6 wild Bulls 1004 Sheep 3000 Hogs 300 Calves 3000 Geese 3000 Capons 300 Pigs 100 Peacocks 200 Cranes 200 Kids 2000 Chickens 4000 Pigeons 4000 Rabbets 204 Bittours 4000 Ducks 400 Herons 200 Phesants 500 Partridges 4000 Woodcocks 400 Plovers 100 Curlews 100 Quales 1000 Egrets 200 Rees above 400 Bucks Does and Roe-Bucks 1506 hot Venison Pasties 4000 cold Venison Pasties 1000 Dishes of Jelly parted 4000 Dishes of Jelly plain 4000 cold Custards 2000 hot Custards 300 Pikes 300 Breams 8 Seals 4 Porpusses and 400 Tarts At this Feast the E. of Warwick was Steward the Earl of Bedford Treasurer the Lord Hastings Controller with many more noble Officers 1000 Servitors 62 Cooks 515 Scullions But about 7 Years after the King seized on all the Estate of this Archbishop and sent him over Prisoner into France where he was bound in chains and in great Poverty Justice thus punishing his former prodigality The East-Riding of Yorkshire is divided into 4 Hundreds wherein are 8 Market Towns the West-Riding is divided into 10 Hundreds wherein are 24 Market Towns the North is divided into 12 Hundreds wherein are 17 Market Towns it is in the Diocess of York hath 563 Parish Churches and elects 29 Parliament men York gives the Title of Duke to His Royal Highness Richmond that of Duke to Charles Lenos Son to the Dutchess of Portsmouth Hallifax the Title of Earl to George L. Savil. WALES THis Principality hath the Severn Sea on the South the Irish Ocean on the West and North and England on the East It is 100 Miles from East to West and 120 from North to South it consisteth of 3 parts Northwales Powis and Southwales wherein are contained 13 Shires or Counties of which I have not room to give a particular account as before but shall only observe what is memorable in each of them the names thereof are Anglesey Brecknockshire Cardigan Carmarthan Carnarvan Denby Flint Glamorg n Merioneth Monmouth Montgomery Pembroke and Radnor The name of Wales some derive from Idwallo the Son of Cadwaller who with the small Remainder of his Brittish Subjects made good the dangerous places of this Countrey against his Enemies and was first called King of Wales This Country is Mountainous and barren not able to maintain its People but by helps elsewhere their chief Commodities are course cloths called Welch Freez and Cottons Lewellin Son of Griffin the Brother of David the last Sovereign Prince of VVales of the Race of Cadwallader was slain by K. Edward 1. 1282. whereby the Principality of Wales was added to the Crown of England though it may be this Conquest happened not for want of Valour since Hen. 2. in a Letter to Emanuel Emperour of Constantinople gives this Testimony of them The Welch Nation is so adventurous that they dare encounter naked with armed men ready to spend their blood for their Country and pawn their Life for praise Anglesey is an Island separated from the Continent by a small and narrow Streight of the River Menai In divers places in the low Fields and Champion Grounds of this County there are divers Trees digged out black within like Ebony and are used to inlay cupboards c. it is hard to resolve how they came hither some imagine the Romanes cut them down as being the coverts of Rebellion others think they fell of themselves and with their own Weight in those waterish places buried themselves and that the clammy Bituminous substance that is found about them keeps them from Putrefaction This Island yields such plenty of Wheat that they call it the Mother of Wales He that relateth wonders saith Dr. Fuller walks on the edge of an house if he be not careful of his Footing down falls his credit This shall make me exact in using my Authors words That Cloaks Hats and Staves cast down from the top of an Hill called Mounch-Denny or Cadier Arthur which hath its top above the Clouds in the County of Brecknock will never fall but are with the Air and Wind still beaten back and blown up again nor will any