Lambert Simnell and Ferkin Warbeck two counterfeits set up by Margaret Dutchesse of Burgoyne King Edward the fourths fister but wisely and valiantly he quitted himselfe of them 3. The Cornish Rebells under Michaell Joseph and Thomas Flammoch made a great head against him distressed Exceter and Tanton but in the end were overthrowne at Black-heath in Kent 4. His cruelty in executing the harmlesse Earle of Warwick cannot be excused 5. The King and Queene of Castile driven into Waymouth by a storme were entertained Nobly by Sir Thomas Trenchard and afterwards by the King with great Pompe 6. His eldest sonne Arthur married Katharine Ferdinando's daughter of Arragon and dyes not long after 7. The King executes Penall Lawes to the great grievance of the Subjects by Empson and Dudley which at his death he repents of 8. He was buried in the stately Chappell he built at Westminster where most of his successors lye His Sonne 2. A.C. 1509 HENRY the eight succeeds 1. Marries his brother Arthurs wife Katharine by a dispensation from the Pope 2. He had Warres with the French and Scotts who received a shamefull overthrow by the Earle of Surrie in Flodden â—eild with the death of their King while our King was in France where the Emperour Maximilian was in his pay with this Motto ICH DEIN I serve 3. His favourites Cardinall Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell after much honour were at length cut off by him 4. Exceptions were taken against his Marriage with his brothers Wife and the Popes dallying with him in the businesse lost him his Supremacy and Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas Moore for standing for it lost their Heads 5. The Rebellions against him of Captain Cobler and the Pilgrims under pretence of Religion were quickly appeased 5. He is blamed for his change of Wives Was the first that wrot himselfe King of Ireland set out a book against Martin Luther and gained the title of Defender of the Faith He grew in his latter time to be very harsh and bloudy Dying he left to succeed him his sonne 3. EDWARD the Sixth A.C. 1548 by his wife the Lady Iane Seymour who lost her own life in his Birth to preserve her Sonnes 1. He being Crowned in the 11th yeare of his Age had for Protector his Vnkle Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset 2. The Scots breaking their promise for the Marriage of the young Queene with King Edward received a great overthrow at Muskleborough 3. Three Rebellions against him The first from Cornwall and Devonshire by Humphrey Arundell and some Popish Priests and seduced Gentlemen whom he distressed at Exceter The second in the North by Ombler a yeoman and Dale a Parish Clearke for Religion The third by Kett the Tanner of Norwich with his Complices for Inclosures were successively extinguished by his worthy Chiefetaines 4. He excellently purged the Church from Popish Superstition and setled the true Service of God and Preaching of his word 5. The unlucky dissentions of his two Vnkles the Lord Protector and his brother Thomas Lord Admirall arising from the siding of their Wives who should take Place was the Breakneck of both of of them Thomas suffered for Treason the Protector for Felony Vpon which the Kings Death soon followes leaving by his will the Lady Jane the Duke of Suffolkes daughter to succeed him but it prevailed not against the Title of his Sister 4. A.C. 1553 MARIE who especially won her right by the Norfolke men 1. Beheaded the Lady Iane with her Husband Gilford Dudly and Abettors 2. Vpon her resolution to Marry with Philip of Spaine Sir Thomas Wiat dangerously Rebells under pretence to oppose it and enters London as farre as Ludgate but was at last taken and executed 3. The Lady Elizabeth is accused as accessary to Wiats Insurrection thereupon is committed to the Tower afterwards removed to Woodstock but at length enlarged by the unexpected favour of King Philip. 4. Who prosecutes the Quarrells between England and France takes St Quintins The French recover themselves and get Callice which stuck in the heart of Q. Mary and with some other disasters cast her into a mortall Melancholy 5. She was ridiculously reported to have been with Child and some triumphing there was at home and abroad for her deliverance But it was but a Popish invention 6. Cardinall Poole was recalled and made Archbishop of Canterbury Her brothers Reformation which abrogated the Popes Supremacy she restored with the rest of that annexed Idolatry 7. Gardiner of Winchester and Bonner of London play the Butchers upon the Professors of the Gospell Arch-bishop Cranmer with the Bishops of Worcester and London Latimer and Ridley were burnt at Oxford with others of all sorts conditions otherwhere 8. The Dutches of Suffolke miserably flying to save her life To all which Troubles and Persecutions the Queenes death after five years Raigne set a Period and the most happy succession of her Sister 5. A.C. 1558 ELIZABETH who often solicited to Marry never consented 1. Shee banished all Popish Idolatry and restored the Purity of Religion 2. Pope Pius the fifth deprived her by his Bull fixed to the Bishop of Londons Gate by desperate Felton but it proved but a Calfe 3. The Insurrâ—ctions thereupon of the Earles of Northumberland and Westmoreland ended with the Ruins of the Rebells as also infinite plots against her Person and State had the same Issue See B. Carletons descâ—ption of them in a Table 4. Her protecting of the Low Countries overthrow of the Invincible Armado of the Spaniards in the Sea fight of 1588. Aiding Henry the fourth of France to settle him in his Kingdome Quelling the Irish Rebells and such eminent Atchievements renowned her throughout all the World insomuch as the Proud Turke by an honourable Embassage acknowledged her Excellency and desited her friendship 5. For her mercifull returning home certain Italians that were taken Prisoners in the 88 Jnvasion she was tearmed St Elizabeth by some at Venice whereof one told the Lord Carleton afterward Vicount Dorchester being there Embassadour that although he were a Papist yet he would never pray to any other Saint but that Saint Elizabeth 2. WIthin the Compasse of this Government may be observed 1. The Protestations of Christian Divines and Princes against Romes Tyranny Errours Idolatry Cheatings and Delusions of which a necessary Reformation was began and prosecuted 2. The Politique Plotts and combustions in the Councell of Trent to interrupt frastrate it 3. The censures Treasons and Massacres inflicted upon them that any way stood for it 4. In the mean while brave Huniades and Scanderbeg purchase immortall Glory in their Heroicall exploits against the Turke Columbus Americus Vesputius for discovering Cortez and Pizarro for Conquest of the West Indies Our Sir Francis Drake and Mr Thomas Candish for compassing the Globe of the world 5. But the chiefest thing of all was the cutting of the Combe of the Popes Supremacy so that it may be said As King Henry the seaventh Courted him
and Iohn de Rupe-Scissâ 5. Raymund of Pinnasort a Spaniard of Bercinona composeth the booke of Decretalls Plat. Ciacon whi◠this Pope alloweth In these courses especially against the Emperour old 40. CELESTINE the fourth a Lumbard An. 1241 would have persisted but that almost at his first entrance he tooke a potion that marred his stomack and sent him to his predecessors One Robert Sommerton or Sommerlet an English man because he was upon election to be Pope by the like means was set going the same way 21. weeks the place lies voyd till the Emperour at the request of Baldwine the Easterne Emperour and Raymund of Tholose freed the Cardinalls he had in Prison to goe to an Election Revel 13. This pack of Sorcerers by some is tearmed the Kingdome of the Dragon 2. IN the compasse of this Period are found 1. Besides a knot of Conjurers and Poysoners 2. A Crew of Divelish Rebells abusing Religion to varnish their damnable designes 3. A rable of Orders of Munks that disorder all things 4. Wrangling Sophistry set on foot by Lanfranch Lombard Albertus Magnus with otheir Sects and Factions 5. Canonists glosing and descanting upon their Master Gratian the Collector of the Decrees 6. Comestor with lying Legendaries 7 Hildegardis Katherine of Seene and some other such Shee-Prophetesses notwithstanding Anselme and Bernard and the Hugoes de Sancto Victore and de Sancte-Claro are of better account The vexations of the poore Waldenses and barbarous usage of Learned Beringarius were wonderfull and of long Continuance as their Histories set out at large doe manifest INQVIRIES 3. Whether 1. Necromancy may be a tollerable way to Ecclesiasticall preferment 2. Pope Sylvesters Brazen head were the same with our Roger Bacons or of any other temper 3. Iohn Gratian the Conjurer had the Popedome at an easy rate for 1500l of Benedict the 9th 4. The Sub-Deacon that poysoned Pope Victor the third in the Chalice and Hildebrand that threw the consecrated host in to the fire believed Transubstantiation 5. Hildebrand aliàs Gregory the 7. poysoned sixe or seaven Popes before he could get the place for himselfe 6. Saladine with the Saracens did lesse hurt to Christianity in the East then the Popes with their Complices in the West 7. The Waldenses in the maine held the same opinions with the Protestants of latter times SECT IX The sixth Ranke of Devouring Abaddons FRom Aegyptian Magitians we fall upon Devouring Abaddons who strengthned their side by multitudes of Monkish Ianizaries that wasted for about 250. years following all that lay before them the leader of these was 1. INNOCENT the fourth of Genua A. 1243 he denounced the fourth Excommunication against the Emperour Frederick who had been his greatest friend held a Councell at Lions and deposed him set Henry of Thuring in his place and after him William of Holland and a great company of Crusiados that the Pope had marked for his own beasts but the Emperour crossed their Crownes as he met with them and Nobly defended himselfe untill he was poysoned at length by the Popes meanes and finally smothered by his bastard Manfred 2. This Pope was the only Patron of the foure orders of begging Locusts Dominicans Franciscans Carmelites and Augustines who hatched under him those addle eggs of Summaries Sophismes Repertories Reductories Quodlibets Exorcismes Breviaries Ritualls and the like 3. He offered to sell the Kingdome of Sicily to Henry the third at a reasonable rate being none of his own and quarrelled with our Robert Grostead Bishop of Lincolne who withstood him stoutly and contemned his Excommunication 4. And after his death is said to have minded the Pope by a thumpe on his side with his Crosyers staffe and this Item Veni miser in judicium Dei come wretch to Gods judgement and so eased the world of this Tyrant He left behind him Apparatum ad decretales an Apology against Peter de Vineis with other tracts mentioned by Ciacon and his successor a Campanian 2. ALEXANDER the fourth A.D. 1254 This man is all for Apulia Excommunicated Munfred diverted the money gathered to recover the Holy Land to work his own ends at home pilled England so farre that Fulke Bishop of London exclaimed against him one Leonard told his Legate that Churches were under the Popes tuition not fruition to defend not to expend and a Clearke he sent to be Prebend of Paules against the Kings Chaplaine was slaine in a tumult 2. He made for money Richard Earle of Cornwall Henry the thirds brother King of Germany whereupon a rime was made Nummus ait pro me nubet Cornubia Romae My purse tells me a quick dispatch 'Twixt Rome and Cornwall for a match Condemnes the bookes of William de Sancto Amore leaves 3. A. 1261 VRBANE the fourth his successor being formerly a Patriarch of Ierusalem He continued his sting against Manfred of Sicily and wrought Charles the King of France his Brother to be his death 2. Withstood the Romanes as much as he could who had set up a new Magistrate amongst them called Bandenses having power of life and death 3. Vpon solicitation by Eva an Anchoresse but as Onuphrius will have it by a drop of bloud distilling from the host in a Priests hand he instituted the feast of Corpus Christi day 4. Albertus Magnus and Aquinas are referred to this mans time 4. An. 1265 CLEMENT the fourth a French man is next who had before a Wife and three children 2. He brings in the French to get Naples sent Octobonus into England to take the value of all Church Revenues But he summoned by Death to a reckoning in a great Hubbub of the Cardinalls 5. A. 1271 GREGORY the tenth a Lombard was thrust into his place whereupon came the verses Papatus munus tulit Archi diaconus unus Quem Patrem Patrum fecit discordia fratrum An Arch-deacon the Papall Incomes gathers Whom Brethrens discord Father made of Fathers 2. He held a Councell at Lions at which was present Mychael Paleologus the Greeke Emperour and acknowledged the Laterane tenent of the proceeding of the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Sonne which twelve times before they had withstood 3. Bonaveuture was by him made Cardinall and Peter de Turantesia Cardinall of Hostia Radulphus of Auspurge Crowned Emperour but would not goe to Rome to have it Quia vestigia as he said ipsum terrebant because the Foxe saw no safe returne Peter de Tarautasia succeeds him by the title of 6. INNOCENT the fifth a Burgundian An. 1276 the first Pope of the begging Fryars being the same Peter Tartaret that wrote upon the Sentences and other workes 2. He endeavoured to set Peace amongst all but dyed before he could effect any thing 7. HADRIAN the fifth a Genoway followes A. 1276 named before Octobonus the same that kept so great a stirre here in England in the Raigne of Henry the third 2. Platina Vide Pitgah Evang. p. 182 He dyes before he was consecrated some say
indelible Character of Antichristian cruelty 3. The successe of usurpations which as most commonly they are undertaken with treacherous cruelty so ever they are attended with Repinings Insurrections Massacres and ending alwaies in shame and confusion INQVIRIES 3. Whether 1. Henry the fourth for Policy Henry the fifth for Valour Henry the sixth for Sanctity exceeded most of their Predecessors 2. Those may be justly censured for Traytors that take up Armes against a manifest V. surper 3. Henry the fourth repented on his Death-bed the wrong usurping of the Crowne 4. Henry the fift's dissolutenesse in his youth experienced him the better to governe 5. King Henry the sixth were a better Christian then King 6. His Queenes violentstirring did not rather hurt then further his cause 7. Ioan of Orleance were no other but as Magdalene Blewbeard and Jack Cade amongst us a cheating Impostrix The House of Yorke DYNAST V. SECT III. THE three of the House of Lancaster having thus Acted more then their parts three other of the House of Yorke succeed upon a better Title of whom the first was 1. A.C. 1461 EDWARD the fourth 1. He by main Valour overthrew Queene Margaret and her Partizans that opposed his Title 2. But by suddain Marriage at home with the Lady Gray a Widdow when he had ingaged himselfe by the Earle of Warwick to the Lady Bona of France he exasperated Warwick against him who with much bloud-shed at length Vnâ—rownes him and restores Henry againe yet living 3. Edward by the Duke of Burgoyne recollects himselfe and with the help of his Brethren Richard of Glocester and George of Clarence who formerly had taken part with Warwick overthrowes Warwick with his Complices and kills him in Bornet Fields Imprisoneth King Henry againe in the Tower where he is Murthered most say by the Duke of Glocester as his sonne Prince Edward was afterward at Tewxbury where the House of Lancaster had the last overthrow In those catching times a Iest of one Burdet a Mercer in Cheapside telling his sonne if he would ply his book he should be heire to the Crowne meaning his owne house that had that Signe cost him his life 4. He sets on foot his Title to France enters upon it with an Army but comes to Composition represses the Scottish incursions by Glocester his Brother and brings them to such Tearmes as he liked 5. George Duke of Clarence his brother clapt into the Tower some say for Treason others from a Dreame the King had that one whose name began with Gâ—should ruine him and his posterity was shortly after found drowned in a Butt of Malmesey The King sickneth upon this and 't is thought hastned to his end by the same hand and leaving the Crowne to his sonne 2. EDWARD the fifth A.C. 1483 who of the age of thirteene comming from Ludlow to London to be Crowned was Trayterously seazed on by his perfidious Vncle the Duke of Glocester the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Hastings 2. Glocester gets himselfe to be Protector and under pretence of safe Custody mewes up the King with his younger Brother Richard in the Tower procures himselfe to be Proclaimed King by the name of 3. RICHARD the third 1. A.C. 1483 He endeavouring to make a League with the French was deservedly rejected for his Villanies 2. By meanes of Sr Iames Terrill Forrest and Dighton King Edward the fifth with his brother Richard were Smothered in the Tower between two Featherbeds 3. The Bishop of Elie Doctor Morton put the Duke of Buckingham upon the Plott of unkinging Richard and setting the Crowne on Henry of Richmond then beyond the Seas who to make good his Title should Marry with the Princesse Elizabeth King Edwards Eldest Daughter 4. Buckingham looseth his life in the pursuit Morton escapeth to animate Henry in the prosecution 5. Richard plotted by corruption to have Henry made away but to no purpose His Queene Anne dies suddainly to make way for his plotted Incestuous Marriage with Elizabeth his Neece 6. Henry of Richmond Lands at Milford Hauen the Welchmen and others flock unto him 7. Henry and Richard meet at Bosworth Field where the Tyrant after desperate Valour shewen is slaine by Henry his Corrivall How odious his Tyranny was to all appeares somewhat by these Rimes made against his Partakers The Ratt the Catt and Lovell the Dogg Rule all England under the Hogge And Lockey of Norfolke be not too bold For Dickon thy Master is bought and sold This put an end to the bloody contentions between Yorke and Lancaster In which were Fought here in England tenne set Battels five in Henry the sixt dayes The Battell first of St Albones 2. Black-heath 3. Northampton 4. Wakefield 5. Tawton and so many more in the Raigne of King Edward the fourth 1. Exham 2. Banbury 3. The Battell of Loosecoats 4. Barnetfield 5. Tewxbury bâ—sides this concluding Bettle at Bosworth which put a period to the Raigne of the Plantagenets 2. COoncurrant with this Dynasty were 1. the continued persecution of the Waldenses and Hussites which here in England had their share under the name of Lollards 2. The Deposing by the Pope of George Pogeibracius King of Hungary for Favouring them 3. The base and blasphemous Rosary of the Dominican Fryers set on foote by Alanus de Rupe who sware that the blessed Virgin was Married unto him whoÌ„ he makes a Midwife and a Gossip to one Lucia calling her sonne Marianus which being worthyly inveighed against by our Mr Fox in his Martyrology out of an old Manuscript yet hath of late been set forth againe with more trash of the same sinke expressed with artificiall Pictures and Dedicated to the Princes Isabella Clara Eugenia 4. With these notwithstanding contemporize the never to be forgotten Scourgers of the Turkes John and Mathew Huniades with the renowned Scanderbeg and nearer home 5. the French maintainers of the Pragmaticall sanction and our Fortescue a great Assertor of our Lawes with others INQVIRES 2. Whether 1. Edward the fourth be more to be commended for his Vabour then censured for his Lascivious Vanities 2. His Death were hastned by finister means 3. Burdet of Cheapside had not hard measure to be hanged for a lest concerning his Signe of the Crowne which had no relation to the Crowne of the Kingdome 4. Edward the fifth were Smothered in the Tower or dyed of greife and sicknesse 5. Perkin Warbeck were a Counterfeit or really Richard Duke of Yorke conveyed out of the Tower 6. It were likely that Richard the third had His is Arme withered by the Witchcrafts of the Queene Mother and Jane Shore 7. The horrid Crimes and deformities he is charged with were rather forged by Malevolents then proved The Tudors DYNAST VI. THe fourteene Plantagenets thus expiring with Richard the third Five Tudors take their turnes in this manner 1. A.C. 1485 HENRY the seaventh by marrying Elizabeth the eldest daughter of Edward the fourth unites both the Houses of Yorke and Lancaster 2. He was much vexed by
his sonne 16. A.C. 1576 RODOLPHUS the second succeeds him a Prince much addicted to Chimistry 2. He granted liberty of Religion to the Protestants obtained diverse victories against the Turke with whom afterward he made a Peace but according to the Turkish manner it was kept no otherwise then it might advantage them 3. But a closer advantage was taken upon him by his own brother Mathias who extorted from him Hungary and Austria with some other of his Dominions to bury him as it were alive and take his place before he had fairely left it 4. Arch-Duke Leopold shewed himselfe somewhat in the Emperours behalfe but to no purpose 5. His Symbole was OMNIA EX VOLVNTATE DEI All must be as God will have it And God would have his brother 17. A.C. 1612 MATHIAS to succeed with whom Gabriell Battery playing false and tyrannizing over the Pregeny of the Saxons in Transilvania was slaine of his own Souldiers before Verradine 2. The Protestants standing for their priviledges in Bohemia were withstood by some of the Emperours Councell of whom they threw Slabataâ— and Fabritius Smesantius with a Secretary out of a window at Prague 3. Bethlem Gabor is chosen Prince of Transilvania by the States The Iesuits expelled Bohemia Cleselius the Cardinall is violently taken from the Court Bucquoy and Tampier are sent to pacify the Bohemians Over whom the Emperour assignes his Cosen to be King 4. The Moravians banish the Iesuits consine the Cardinall Dithrighstâ—in and Zerotine The Earle of Thurne ènters Moravia and Bethlem Gaber Hungary to force those places from the Emperour 5. Whose Motto was CONCORDIA LVMINE MAIOR ConÌ„cord is more then light To set things right Which prevented by death he could not doe but leaves to be performed by his kinsman 18. FERDINAND the second A.C. 1619 made not long before King of Bohemia The Bohemians except against his election and chuse Frederick Count Palatine of Rhene King of Bohemia He accepts of it enters with the Lady Elizabeth his wife and is Crowned in Prague 2. Bucquoy the Emperours Generall enters Bohemia Bethlem Gabor stirres on the other side in Hungary to make a diversion The Protestants assemble at Nurinburg and the Papists at Wortzburg to make their parties good The Emperour sets out an Edict against the King of Bohemia and sends him monitory letters to desist to which he replies and stands to justify his right 3. Spinola is brought to invade the Palatinate and takes diverse Townes in it Sir Horatio Vere with the English would have encountred him but the Marquesse of Anspacke Generall of the Protestant Army stopps it 4. A.C. 1620 The King of Bohemia with his Queene for saken of the States of that Kingdome are forced to save themselves by flight He is proscribed and put out of his Electorship which is conferred upon the Duke of Bavaria Tampier and Bucquoy the Emperours eaders are both slaine 5. Duke Christian of Brunswick and Count Mansfield stirre for the King of Bohemia Heidelberg is taken by Tilly the Emperours Generall and Frankendale delivered to the Spaniard The King of Bohemia settles himselfe with his Queene and Children at the Hague Tilly drives Maurice Lantgrave of Hassia out of his Countrey The King of Denmarke makes head against him but to his great losse Mansfield having left his forces with the Duke of Saxonweymer dyes neere Venice who with the Husbandmen men of Austria A.C. 1626 otherwise makes head against the Imperialists but with no successe 6 Gustavus Adolphus King of Swedia like a Tempest falls on Germany Frees the oppressed Princes of Pomerania and Brandeburg restores the Dukes of Meckelburg Takes Wrutzburg Mentz and all that lies in his way Overthrowes Tilly in two great Battailes at Leippseike and Leick Overruns a great part of Bavaria In a third Battle at Lutzen puts Walsteene Duke of Freedland to the worst slew the valiant Pappenheim with diverse other of note of the Imperialists But was there slaine himselfe whether by the Enemy or Treason of his own it is controverted by many with whom we also end 7. This Emperours Motto is said to be LEGITIME CERT ANTIBVS It is the better for them that doe so and undertake no Warre but upon just grounds 2. MAtter 's of Consequence may be noted with this Period 1. The Contemporary Emperours of the East 1. Andronicus Paleologus sonne of Michael Paleologus mentioned in the former Period that recovered Constantinople this man would not stoop to the Lattaines Neither his Nephew 2. Andronicus Paleologus junior Him followes John Paleologus under the protectorship of John Catachucenus with whom Calo Johannes Catachnzenus sonne in Law for some tenne years pertakes in the government 4. Then two Calo Johannes 5th 6th 7ly Andronicus with a 8th Iunior Manuell follow in a confus'd and shufling manner A.C. 1454 untill 9. Constantine the 11. In whose time Constantinople the famous seat of the Easterne Emperours was made the Imperiall Citty of the Turkes by Mahomet the Great who thereupon was stiled their first Emperour so that as the Westerne Empire began in Augustus and ended in Augustulus so the Easterne had Constantine the Great that erected it and Constantine the unhappy that lost his life together with it and was buried in the Empites ruines 2ly Within this Period may be also observed seven Expeditions for the recovery of the Holy Land with infinite charge and losse and no answerable successe 3. The discoveries of the West Indies by Columbus and Americus Vespucius and the conquest in them by Corteâ—z and Pizarro 4. The sayling about the whole world by Sir Francis Drake Sir Thomas Candish and Oliver Van-North to whom Ferdinando Magellane had shewed the way but died before he came to his journeys end 5. Within this compasse besides fell the famous inventions of Gunpowder and Printing They of China boast they had Printing long before but their untowardly characters shew the vanity of that vaunt and what may be expected from them that never attained to the perfection of an Alphabet 6. Hereupon followes the Reformation of Religion by Luther Zuinglius and other pious and Learned Doctors beyond the Sea which was perfected here with us by our domestique Bishops Martyrs and Professorâ— to the admiration and envy of friends and opposers So that our Constantine hath been reckoned the first Christian Emperour our Lucius the first King Christened and our Henry the eight the first that broke the neck of the Popes usurped authority which are blessings never to be recounted without continuall thankes to God that hath so graced this Isle above so many famous Kingdomes round about us Tamberlane Zisâ—a Huniades Scanderbeg and Gustavus King of Sweden of this Period may be justly paralel'd with the most famous Leaders that we read of amongst the Ancients INQVIRIES 3. Whether 1. Iewish Iubilies may be turned into Christian Marts to make sale of Pardons and to get mony 2. To be Crown'd or approved by the Pope conferre any Title or Power to
458 amongst which Ethelbert was most eminent for first receiving the Christian Faith brought from Rome by Austine and for converting Sebert King of the East-Angles to Christianity and assisting him in building Paules in London and St Peters in Westminster as he himselfe built the Cathedrall of St Andrewes in Rochester 6. An. C. 488 SOUTH-SAX from Ella to Adhumus had about tenne Kings Authors agree not in the reckoning of which Adlewolf was the first Christened It quickly fell into the hands of Ina of West-Sax 7. An. C. 527 EAST-SAX from Erchwin to Swithred had thirteene Kings whereof Sigebert the third was the first Baptized by Mellitus Bishop of London 8. Amongst the fourteene Kings of the EAST-ANGLES An. C. 575 from Vffa to Edmund Kadwallus appeared the first Christian but held not so long Etheldreda King Inah's Daughter twice Marryed kept her Virginity and thence gained the Title of St Audrie Edmund the last King for his profession was shott to death by the Danes honoured from Rome with a Sainâ—-ship and at home insteed of a Tombe with the Title of the Towne of St Edmunds Bury 9. An. C. 527 Of the twenty Kings of MERCIA from Crida to Elfird Christianity was first received by Penda that Founded Peterborough as Ethelbald did the Monastery of Crowland and Offa of St Albans 10. An. C. 617 NORTHUMBERLAND had in it two Provinces Diera and Bertitia which in their severall Governments had about 24 Kings from Ida to Ethelbert five Danes thrust in amongst them Raigned successwely for a while till the Government returned to the West-Saxons in the time of Ethelstane and his brother Edmund Here Edwin was the first King Christened Speed whose deliverance from the furious Ethelfride by faithfull Redwall of the East-Angles and the glorious Victory he had over him afterwards his Marriage with Ethelburg the Kentish Princesse a great meanes of his conversion his preservation from a desperate Villaine by the interposition of his servant Lilla who undertook a fatall thrust of a poysoned weapon to save his Masters life and lastly his overthrow and death by Penda are matters of especiall note as also the Acts of Oswall that was Sainted and left the name to Oswalstere in Shropshire The humility of Oswin Beds Speed and the piety of Oswie that miraculously overthrew the Tyrant Penda of Mercia are worth the reading 11. Amongst the 19 Kings of WEST-SAXONS from Cerdicus Kingills is registred to be the first Christian Ive or Ina to have made good Lawes set forth in the Saxon and Latine Tongue by Mr William Lambard and to have granted to Rome Peter-pence Ethelburg King Bithrick's Wife that sled for attempting to poyson her Husband into France where by reason of her exceeding beauty she was put to the choyce to Marry either Charles or his Sonne she pitching on the Sonne missed both and was thrust into a Monastery From the Tyranny of this Bithrick fled 1. An. C. 800 EGBERT first to Offa of Mercia and then into France where he served in the Warres under Charles the great There he became so accomplished a Souldier that returning he vanquished the petty Kings left behind him and turned the Heptarchy into a Monarchy 2. He was Crowned at Winchester King of the whole Kingdome which then of his Angles brought with him and followers in all his Conquests He caused to be called England 3. The Danes then beginning to Invade are repelled His Daughter Editha the Nunne is Sainted his Eldest sonne 2. An. C. 837 ETHELWOLFE succeeds him He took for his first wife Osburga his Butlers daughter Hath good successe in diverse Battles against the intruding Danes 2. For placing the Lady Judith the King of France's Daughter whom he had taken for his second Wife in a Chaire by him at his right hand he was threatned to be Deposed by Adelstane Bishop of Sherburne his owne sonne by his former Wife who in those dayes was a Prelate of great power as was also Swithene Bishop of Winchester by whom the King was much advised to his advantage But this presumption was intolerable and by Royall Prudence soone hushed 3. He ordained that Tithes and Church Lands should be free from all Taxes and Regall services Of the diverse Children that he had by his first Wife his Eldest sonne 3. An. C. 857 ETHELBALD succeeds He blasted all his eminent parts of Valour and Policy by taking Iudith his Stepmother to be his Wife so that she must lye in Bed by his side who might not fit in a Chaire by his Father 2. This prodigious Incest was soone punished from heaven by his untimely death His Wife without Issue returning to the Emperour her Father was intercepted by the way and forced by Baldwin Forrester of Ardenna who at length appeasing her Father was made by him Earle of Flanders from whom this Iudith descended Maud the Wife of our William the Conquerour 3. In this Vacaency the next brother to Ethelbald 4. ETHELBERT takes his place An. C. 860 Much adoe he had to resist the Danes who swarmed continually about him he withstood them manfully for the time and Forces which he had but by his death a greater storme fell upon his Brother 5. ETHELRED that Raigned next In his time Hungar A.Ch. 866 and Hubba men of excessive strength and feirenesse entered this Land with great Forces and harrowed wheresoever they set footing especially being Pagans Levelled all Sucred places with the ground 2. To avoyd their fury and preserve their owne Chastity the Nunnes of Codingham by a rare example cut off their owne Lipps and Noses St Edmund by these Barbarians gained the Crowne of Martyrdome and to make them the more irresistable Streg and Halden two Danish Kings furnish them with fresh supplies whom the Earle of Berkshire ropelled neere Englefield and cut off one of the new-come Leaders 3. This while Ethelred is not Idle but every where so bestirres himselfe that he proves Victorious against them in nine sett Battles fought in one yeare wherein with one of their Kings nine Earles of the Danes were slaine In the end at Merton he received his deaths wound and left his torne Kingdome to the brave 6. ALFRED or Alured his Brother A.Ch. 871 Vpon him three more Danish Kings as though Hell had bin brake loose Guerthren Eskittle and Ammond are poured like haile-shott with their innumerable followers 2. To whom by Wilson Exeter and Abingdon he gave great overthrowes and no lesse then seven times in one yeare Routed and Scattered them 3. Notwithstanding by their obstinate reinforcing he was once brought to that extremity that he was forced to leave his Companies and lurke in Somersetshire Marishes where righting his bow and arrowes by the fire in a poore Cottage he was sharply blamed by the housewife for letting a Cake on the hearth burne for want of turning 4. From thence under the habit of a Fidler he ventures among the Enimies and having noted their loosenesse and many secret intentions returnes to
his Crowne for seaven years which he penitently submitted unto but held on his lascivious courses 3. It was a successefull device to free his Country from Wolves by injoyning the Prince of North-Wales to bring him yearly 300 skinnes of them for a Tribute and another Ordinance he made for putting pinnes in cupps that none should quaffe whole ones 4. Vpon the river Dee he had seaven petty Kings to row his Barge to shew his greatnesse 5. After his death great stirre there was who should succeed him Elfrida the Queene and the Duke of Mercia interposed strongly for her sonne Ethelred but Dunstane and the Monkes carried it for 13. EDWARD the sonne of his former wife An. C. 975 Ethelfreda the White In this mans time the greatest troubles were between the Matried Clergy and Monkes Duke Alfarus standing for the Married men and Dunstane for the single 2. At an Assembly in Winchester the married Priests lost the day by the decision of a Woodden Rood which never spake before nor after and at another meeting the ruine of the House with the preservation in it of St Dunstane and his party ruind the poore Priests cause although manifest delusion appeared in both 3. The end of this young King was lamentable being stab'd by his Step-mothers treachery when he was drinking a cup of Wine on Horse-back when he in kindnesse came to visit her through which wound fainting and falling from his Horse he was drag'd to death by his foot intangled in the stirrop This made a bloody way for the succession of his brother 14. An. C. 978 ETHELRED or Egelred who had little comfort in it For the Danes grew upon him so fiercely that he was forced to purchase his Peace from them with great summes of Mony to the undoing of his poore Kingdome who yet never rested contented but multiplied the oppression of the Subject enforcing them to drudge to maintain these Lurdan's idle 2. To put a period to this insufferable Vassalage a Bloudy Massacre was executed upon them by the Kings secret Commission A.C. 1012 on St Brices day but such brutish courses never find a wished close 3. The Danes rather exasperated to revenge then any way thereby dismaied returne with Swaine their King and desolate all the Country The perfidious Earle Edrick with other of the Clergy and Nobility underhand abet them the King opposeth to his power but with extreame difficulty 4. After the death of Swaine who some say was miraculously gored by St Edmunds Sword for his Sacriledge in Thetford Canutus his Sonne arrives with greater forces The King dyes after a lingering sicknesse 5. His second Wife was Emma tearmed the flower of Normandy Duke Richards daughter by whom he had diverse children but more by his first Wife Elgiva of which 15. EDMUND surnamed Ironside succeeded in valour and performance if not beyond surely not inferior to any of his Predecessors 2. He raised the Siege of London worsted the valiant Canutus foure times at least in plaine field and had in all likelyhood rid England of him if the Traytor Edrick and others of the perfidious Clergy and Nobility had not secretly assisted him 2. In a Duell between him and Canutus in the I le of Alney he overmatched the stout Dane and wounded him to be supplicant By compact they divide the Kingdome between them 3. But that Villanous Duke Edrick found the means to have this excellent Prince gored as he sate on a Draught for whose head presented to Canutus he had his own exalted upon a Pole above the rest of his Peeres as it was promised him An Advancement fit for betrayers of their King and Country 2. THis Distance runs a long with the Period of Charles the Great and his successors from whose Military Discipline our Egbert learned to Conquer and bring dismembred Polyarchies and Heptarchies into the best kind of Government which hath been approved by all to be Monarchy 2. Notice may be here taken of the continued irruptions of the Northerne Nations to infest the Southerne whom they excelled most commonly so much in boysterous strength and number as they came short of them in Learning Civility and Policy wherein the providence of God appeared that the Conquerors should be Conquered by those they had subdued being of Pagans made Christians and of boysterous Tyrants submissive brethren so that malum ab Aquilone became bonum Aquiloni by Divine disposition which permiteth not evill but to produce good out of it 3. Learning so stifled by tumults of former ages begins here to bud againe by Alcuinus Beda but especially by King Alfreds liberality encouragements and good Example INQVIRES 3. Whether 1. The Saxon Heptarchy were distinctly visible at any one time or grew up more successively by degrees 2. Alfred were the first founder of the Vniversity of Oxford or only a munificent Reviver 3. The Relations of the humorous carriage and strange atchievements of Guy of Warwick be for the most part put upon him without ground 4. The Nunnes of Codingham did well by mangling their faces to preserve their chastity 5. The miracles ascribed to St Dunstane were rather deluding sleights or Divelish Magick then Acts of Piety 6. Edward basely stabbed by his Step-mothers treachery may be justly held a Martyr 7. Ethelreds Massacre of Danes may passe for warrantable Policy Of the Danes DYNASTY III. THe third Dynasty that outed the Saxons and possessed their Dominions is that of the Danes who partly invited by Beorn Bocador Vice-Roy of Northumberland Speed to revenge the ravishing of his Lady by Osbright and partly taking occasion from the murther of Lothbrook alias Lether-breech by Benick St Edmunds Faulkouer for which no satisfaction could be obtained never desisted to Invade the whole Realme till they became sole Masters of it In this Dynasty or Government we have but three Danes and two others in this succession 1. CANUTUS the Conquerour A.C. 1018 a Valiant and prudent man He was an enimy to Dissemblers Traytors and Flatterers for the Nobility that to curry favour with him assented to the Disinheriting of Ironsides Issue were ever after slighted by him and came to Dishonourable ends The Traytor Ederick vaunting his good service in murthering his Soveraigne he caused to be executed with the extreamest and disgracefull tortures And a company of Flatterers that extolled his Greatnesse and Power to be unmatchable he caused to place him in a Chayre where the Sea Ebbs and Flowes at South-Hampton that by the disobedience of the Tyde that would not stop at his Command but presum'd to dash his Royall Garments they might learne how Low man is at the Highest not to applaud his fortune but feare his fall 2. By the valour of Earle Goodwin and English he drove the Vandales out of Denmarke which fell to him by his brother Swaynes death and got the neighbouring Norway by subduing Olave the King who had quarrelled with him without any provocation In like manner he vanquished Scotland so that
England Denmarke Norway some adde also part of Sweden together with Scotland were wholy subject unto him 3. His Iealousies of Ironsides Children moved him to send his sonnes Edward and Edmund to Swanus King of Denmarke to be dispatched but he abhorring such Villâ—ny transfer'd them to the King of Hungary where Edmund dying Edward Married Agatha the Emperour Henry the fourths Daughter by whom he had Edgar Etheling the surviving Heire of the Crowne of England which he could never recover 4. To strengthen his Title what he might he takes Emma to wife King Etheldreds Widdow M. Lambard makes good Lawes extant in the Saxon tongue and Latine gave one hundred Talents of Silver and one of Gold for St Augustince Arme which he bestowed on Coventry as a memoriall of his Zeale though not according to knowledge 5. He had Issue by Emma his second Wife the faire Gunhilda and Hardy-Canutus Gunhilda was Married to the Emperour Henry the third where falling into suspition of Incontinency she was vindicated by her English Page overthrowing in her quarrell a great Gyant Hardicanutus was designed to succeed by his Father here in England but was put by in his absence by his Brother 2. A.C. 1038 HAROLD called Harefoot by reason of his swiftnesse Earle Goodwin withstands his entrance but by secret prevailing meanes was soone made his friend 2. A Letter is forged in Queene Emma's name to bring over her sonnes Edward and Alfred which she had by Ethelred to claim their Right to the Crowne Alfred comes and by Earle Goodwin is made away with all those that came with him at Gilford 3. Emma is banished but courteously entertained by Baldwin Earle of Flanders Harold thus secured as he thought from Competitors lives loosly dyes speedily and without Issue leaves the Kingdom to 3. A.C. 1041 HARDICANUTUS who made it his first worke to disintombe his Predecessors Corps and threw it into Thamisis but some Fishermen more courteous recovered it and buryed it againe in St Clements neare Temple-Barre 2. His recalling his Mother Emma and half Brother Edward and entertaining them respectively deserves commendations As also the prosecuting Earle Goodwin and the Bishop of Worcester for Prince Alfreds death but the Earle quitted himselfe by his Oath and a rich Present and the Bishops questioning is said to be for the Murther of the Kings Taxe-Collectors in Worcester by the inraged Citizens for which their City was afterwards consumed with fire 3. His Epicurismo left an ill Custome to all posterity Foure times a day his Table must be covered to invite men to Intemperancy Through which at a Marriage he is thought to have Choaked himselfe at Lambeth most rejoycing to be rid of him in memory whereof Hock-tide a Feast of scorning was a long time continued after In this third Heire expired the Danish Line and the Saxon revived againe in 4. EDWARD the sonne of Ethelred Emma A.C. 1043 commonly called the Confessour 1. To gaine the more love of his Subjects at his first entrance he remitted the Taxe of Danegilts so greivous to the Commonds collected the Lawes of his predecessors into a body for the administrationof Iustice which some say are the ground of our Common-Law though the Pleading be altered since the Norman Conquest 2. He was threatned by the Dane See M. Lambards Archnom and vexed by Griffith the Welch Prince who was quelled by Harold especially who was imployed against them Betweene him and the potent Earle Goodwin were such debates that twice came to the hazard of dangerous Battles if wise mediation of the Nobles had not prevented them the death of which Earle is reported to be his Choaking with a bitt of Bread upon an imprecation laid on himselfe that that might be his last if he had a hand in the death of the Kings Brother Prince Alfred though some say he died of the deadpalsie 3. Grafton In this man's time Coventry purchased its Freedome from Earle Leofrie by the Riding of his Countesse Godina naked through it but such order was taken by the Townesmen that shutting up all Doores and Windowes none beheld it 4. His unnaturall dealing with his good Mother Emma and vertuous faire Wife Editha Earle Goodwins Daughter cannot be excused For upon a poore surmise of Incontinency with Alwin Bishop of Winchester his Mother in his presence was put to the Ordalium to passe Blindfolded between nine glowing Coulters which she did untouched and his spotlesse Queene Editha denied Marriageright perchance for hatred to her Father and with one Waiting-maid to live disrespected in a Nunnery 5. Such actions so opposite to Gods word should Saint no man The first curing the Kings Evill is referred to him and thence to have continued to his Successors More Laudable was his respect to Edgar Etheling Grandchild to to Ironside by his sonne Edward the Out-law that died in banishment whom he intended for his successour and he had the best right to it but he being young and wanting meanes and friends to support him 5. A.C. 1066 HAROLD sonne of Earle Goodwin makes bold to take the place a man of excellent parts and approved valour as the Welch and others which he subdued in his Predecessors time found to their cost 2. He droven by Tempest into Normandy was affianced to young Adeliza Duke William's Daughter with whom he Covenanted upon Oath to make him successour to Edward in the Kingdome of England 2. But this contract he held as a nicity or complement and constrained Oathes no way to bind wherein he soothed himselfe but God is not mocked and usurpations thrive not long 3. Three Enemies at one time assault him Tosto his owne Brother Harold Harefager or Fairelocks of Norway and William Duke of Normandy The two former he manfully quelled but fell under the hand of William in that famous Battle of Hastings in Sussex the setter up of the next Dynasty 2. IN those times whiles Princes sought the ruines one of another Popes grew up to dispose of them and their Kingdoms and those that protested against such deformities and enormities could not be heard INQVIRIES 3. Whether 1. Canutus had the largest Dominious of any that ever Ruled in this Kindome 2. St Augustines Arme were worth so much as he gave for it 3. Edward the sonne of Etheldred deserved the Title of Confessour 4. Our Common-Law have its grounds from his Collections 5. Ordalium by hott Coulters be fit to purge suspition of Incontinency 6. Stopping the rights of Marriages without consent for a time of both Parties be not directly against Gods word 7. Harold were bound to keep his Oath to William of Normandy for the Crowne of England in prejudice to Edgar Etheling the apparent right Heire Of the Normans DYNASTY IV. THe Fourth Dynasty is of the Normans to the Plantagenets and hath in it 1. A.C. 1067 WILLIAM the Conquerour the seaventh Duke of Normandy the sonne of Robert begotten on Arlot a poore Skinners daughter whom he affected for her
handsomenesse and comely dauncing which by chance he beheld among her country companions 2. After the overthrow of Harold with little lesse then the losse of 68000 men on both sides in Battle field he quickly brought under the rest of the Kingdome The Kentish men circumvent him by a stratageme and thereby retained their ancient Customes and Liberties 2. Edgar Etheling the right heire formerly wronged by Harold with the discontented Earles Edwin and Morcar make some resistance but to no purpose Edgar flyes with his Mother and Sisters into Scotland where King Malcolme entertaining them nobly takes Margaret his Sister to Wife and by his constant and effectuall standing for him Edgar was reconciled unto the Conquerour and had Royall allowance from him 3. To those insurrections that here vexed him his eldest sonne Robert added a more unnaturall in Normandy which he hastening to appease was in Battle Vnhorsed by his own sonne whom upon submission he was content to pardon for the time 4. The Church found no friend of him whose Revenues he alienated and burthened with unusuall taxes not sparing the poore meanes of Vniversity Colledge in Oxford which must be diverted from the Students 5. Besides the imposing of the Norman Lawes he left the Doomesday Booke in the Exchequer containing a Survay in generall of all England For a groat to short in payment of some dues required he forced the Monkes of Ely to lay downe a 1000 markes notwithstanding for all this the Pope bucks him and allowes his doings and Title 6. He depopulated about thirty miles in compasse Cambden iâ— Hantshire and outed the Inhabitants to make a forrest for Wild-beasts which pleasured not himselfe so much as it proved unluckie to his Posterity The plainnesse of these times of Letting Lands is worth the comparing with the intricate prolixity of our times Then it passed for good From me and mine to thee and thine As good and as faire as ever they mine were To witnesse that this is sooth I bite the white waxe with my tooth But now we find it otherwise 7. After all these transactions abroad he is summoned by Death as he was in Normandy but had the place of his buriall compounded for before he was interred and then the Grave proved too little for him that had proved so great a Conqueror in the World His second sonne 2. A.C. 1087 WILLIAM Rufus by Arch-Bishop Lanfrankes working for him gets the place 1. He is strongly opposed by his elder brother Robert whom he calmeth with promising faire words without performance and Robert joynes in the famous expedition to the Holy Laud with Godfrey of Bullaine 2. As his Father began so he persisted to withstand Papall intrusions He sleighted the Popes Binding Loosing and held it bootlesse to invocate Saints Curbed Anselme Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and taxed the then swelling Clergy for their Pride Luxury Idlenesse and Avarice Heard a Disputation of the Iewes who bribed him to favour them against the Christians but they lost the day and their mony togither 3. A Groome of his chamber on a time bringing him a paire of Breeches of three shillings price was blamed of him and commanded to furnish him with a paire fit for a King that should cost a marke He goes and presenting him with a meaner paire which he said cost so much yea Bellamy or by St Lucies face saith the King they are well bought such was the frugality of those times and difference from ours 4. His liberality to Religious persons and places shewes that he was not voyd of Religion though he could not endure Appeales to Rome and his building the Towre in London and Westminster Hall of 270 foot in length and 74 in breadth are sufficient testimonies of his Magnificence 5. His death was casuall by the glance of an arrow from a tree Cambden in Hantshire ex G. Mapes shot by Sir Walter Tirrell at a Stagge in the New Forrest wherein foure Abbies and thirty fixe Parish Churches had been demolished with the removing of all the Inhabitants to make roome for Beasts or Doggs game as one calls it Rex cervum insequitur Regem vindicta Tyrellus Non bene provisum transfixit acumine ferri The King the Stagge vengeance the King doth chase Tyrells hard hap concludes this Tragick case Also Richard his brother and Robert his Nephew came to their untimely ends in the same place so dangerous it is to prove Abaddons especially in consecrated things A Colliars Cart that removes him thence brake in the way and left him in the dirt whence he was after taken and buried as a King in Winchester dying without issue his Scepter descended to his brother 3. A.C. 1100 HENRY the first surnamed Beauclark for his Learning He was wont to say that an unlearned King was a Crowned Asse 1. Great stirres he had with his brother Robert who returning from Ierusalem where he was made King to possesse England but missed of it and at length lost Normandy togither with his eyes by his unnaturall brother 2. He Married Maud King Malcolmes daughter of Scotland by her Mother Margaret lineally descended from Edmund Ironside to strengthen his title to the Kingdome 3. As his predecessors did so he stoutly denyes the Popes incroachings Curbs Anselme that continued Romes agent establisheth the Lawes of Edward the Confessor Holinshed and addes other convenient of his owne 4. A.C. 1114 He is said to have held the first Parliament which he ordained should consist of Three Estates of which himself was the Head Martin A great Bickering began in his time between Canterbury and Yorke for priority which continued a long time after till Canterbury carried it And Cardinall Cremensis the Popes Legate sent hither to interdict Priests Marriages was taken in the Act with a common strumpet which he excused in saying he was no Priest himselfe but a corrector of them 5. The drowning of his sonne William with diverse other Nobles was repaired in some sort by the Marriage of Maud his Daughter first with Henry the fifth Emperour of Germany and he dying without Issue next with Jeffery Plantagenet Earle of Anjoy by whom she had Henry Fitz Empresse Heire apparant to the Crowne But his Grand-father dying unexpectedly by eating of Lampresse and he not upon the place 4. STEPHEN of Blois steps in A.C. 1135 sonne to Adeliza daughter to the Conquerour and holds it which was the cause of no small stirres and blood-shed especially it being against his Oath which he had taken with the Nobles for the Empresse Mauds succession and first brake it The Bishops excused it that it was for the good of the Church but Perjury promotes not Piety 2. Lesse he could not expect then continuall oppositions from the Empresse and her sonne Henry to recover their right wherein after various successe and windings on either side At the Battle of Liucolne notwithstanding his Herculian laying about him with his slaughtering Axe the King himselfe was taken Prisoner
opposing Pope Innocent the third in Stephen Langtons preferment to the See of Caterbury sleighting the Monks and vexing them 3. Their Combinations forced him after the Interdicting of the Realme for six years three moneths and sixteene dayes to render his Crowne to Pandulphus the Popes Legate and take it againe in Fee-Farme at the Rent of a Thousand Markes yearely which exasperated his Nobles against him howsoever it warped the Pope and Clergy to be for him 4. His Bickering abroad with the French and at home with his Barons made his Raigne very Tragicall which ended at Swansted Abby by Simon the Monkes Poyson as some say and gave way to his sonne 4. A.C. 1216 HENRY the third who Crowned between nine or tenne yeares Old 1. Cleared this Realme of the French who had Invaded it by the Popes interdiction by William Martiall Earle of Pembroke his Protector 2. Hubert De Burgo Earle of Kent did him much good service for which he had small recompence 3. His immoderate and exasperating favours cast on Strangers drew on the Barons Warres in which an Insanum Parliamentum held at Oxford appointed twelve Peeres in prejudice of his Regality The Earles of Leicester and Glocester are the greatest sticklers in it who took Prisoners the King with his brother Richard King of the Romanes and his sonne Prince Edward in the Battle of Lewes in Sussex 4. He confirmes Magna Charta The Earles fall at deadly fend between themselves Prince Edward tels the King of it and joyning with Glocester Rights himselfe by the Ruine of Leicester in the Battle of Eversham in Worcestershire 5. London is threatned to be Burnt by the King for taking the Barons part 6. Glocesters service failing of expected Favours repines to no purpose and undertakes to goe to the Holy Land but shrinking that enterprise is performed by Prince Edward and his Heroick Princesse Elianor who suck'd out there the poyson of an invenomed wound given him with the hazard of her owne life whereby he recovered He did there great service untill he was called back to succeed his Father that dyed after fifty six yeares Raigne by the Title of 5. EDWARD the first commonly called Longshanks A.C. 1273 1. He brought the Welch with their Valiant Prince Lewillin under the English Subjection 2. Conquered Scotland being at Variance who should be King brought thence the Marble Chayre in which the Scottish Kings were wont to be Crowned spoken of before 3. Hesleighted the Popes Inhibition to forbeare Scotland and in the Parliament of Lincolne under the subscription of the Peeres utterly renounced Pope Boniface his Supreame Authority 4. He banished the Jewes for their Exactions and Censured the Judges and Officers for their Corruptions 5. Vpon his Death-bed charged his sonne to continue the Banishment of Pearce of Goveston and to convey his Heart to be buried in the Holy Land 6. Of his sixteene Children which he had by two Wives Elianour of Spaine and Margaret of France 6. A.C. 1307 EDWARD the second surnamed Carnarvan the first English hereditary Prince of Wales succeeds him 2. He against his Oath calls Gaveston twice out of Banishment permits him to convey beyond the Seas his Iewels with a Table and Tressels all of Beaten Gold 3. In place of Gaveston beheaded by the Nobles he takes the Spencers Father and sonne to be his Favourites worse if it might be then Gaveston 4. At Estreveline and twice afterwards he received three notable overthrowes by the Scotts to the losse of all his Interest there and the Devastation of the Northerne parts of his Kingdome 5. Vpon these preposterous events Iohn Poydrus an Exeter man would needs prove the King a Changling and said himselfe was Long-shanks sonne But his claime was quickly strangled with an Halter 6. To right these wrongs the Barons by a Parliament get the Spencers banished The King recalls them the Barons take Armes receive a great overthrow and two and twenty of them are Behoaded The Spencers the more insult 7. The Queene flyes with the Prince into France is deserted by her bribed Brother the French King and commanded to returne by the Pope finds favour with Robert of Artois Earle of Henalt and Sr Iohn his brother returnes by their help into England is assisted by the Barons takes the King and the Spencers at Bristow The Londoners behead Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter for withstanding the Queenes proceedings The Spencers are executed the King is Deposed in Parliament sent to Killingworth as Prisoner and thence to Barkly Castle where he was barbarously Spitted to Death leaving his sonne 7. A.C. 1327 EDWARD the third otherwise calied Edward of Windsor to governe better 1. He surprised Mortimer the Minion of his mother and Executed him at Tyburne who had by his pernicious plotting caused King Edward the second to be made away by an Amphibologie Edvardum occidere nolite timere bonum est To shed King Edwards blood Refuse to feare I hold it good And the Scottish Ragman to be redelivered in the Non-age of this King whereby the English laid claime to Scotland together with their Black Crosse so that the People cried out Vae pueris terrae saepissime sunt ubi guerrae Woe to the Land where Rulers age Is not mature to stop mens rage 2. Notwithstanding the King repaired this afterward by the overthrow of the Scotts at Hallidowne Hill which wiped off their contumelious Rime made upon their Victorie over the English in his Fathers dayes being this Long Beards heartlesse Painted Hoods witlesse Gray Coates gracelesse Make England thriftlesse And also in taking their King David the valiant Bruces sonne Prisoner at Nevils Crosse in his absence in France by the Queene and placing in Edward Balioll to be King 3. Against the French by himselfe and this Valiant sonne Edward the Black Prince He obtained eminent Victories at Cressay and Poycters In the last of which their King John was taken and brought into England 4. He Founded the Order of the Garter first quartered his Armes with France In his old age was much abused by a Strumpet Alice Pears 5. After he had seene the death of his Victorious sonne Edward the Black Prince he died peaceably at Sheene in Surry leaving to succeed him his Grandchild the Black Princes sonne 8. RICHARD the second 1. A.C. 1378 He misled by his Favorite Michael De La Poole and other Syeophants incurres the hatred of his People Iohn Wall Priest Watt Tylor lack Sraw and Jack Shepherd raise a Rebellion against him which happily was quieted by the Maior of London's William Walworths mortall blow given Watt Tylor 2. Thirteene Commissioners were appointed to see matters reformed but it came to nothing 3. An Invasion of French with twelve hundred Ships under Sayle against England by Gods providence were utterly scattered Iohn of Gaunt his Vncle Warreth successively in Spaine and himselfe in Scotland 4. He continues his hatred against his Nobles executes diverse of them Banisheth his Cosen Henry of
Bullingbrook for his freedome to have things reformed In his absence seâ—zeth upon his whole estate Bullingbrook returnes when the King was in Ireland The People flock to him The King resignes his Crowne to him is committed to Pomfred Castle there assaulted by eight Assassines valiantly kills foure of them and so is slaine himselfe 2. WIthin compasse of this Section are remarkable 1. The strange Vsurpation of Popes to make good or disanull the Titles of Kings and Demising of Kingdomes to Farme 2. The bringing in of Auricular Confession and Transubstantiation not for informing but infatuating Gods People 3. The persecutions of the poore Waldenses not for detestation of their Tenents which they laboured not to examine but out of a Iealousie lest these mens plaine dealing should discover their drifts and marre their Maâ—kets 4. The protestations of Wicliff and his followers against the grosse Superstition brought in by Monkes and Friers in Doctrine Discipline notably scourged by Ieffery Chaucer the Learned and Famous Poet of those times 5. Lastly upon remissnesse in Government and neglect of execution of Iustice the breaking out of such Out-Lawes as were Robin Hood and Little John with their Comrades or starting up of such Impostors and Villaines as were 1. William Longbeard under Richard the first a sharp reprover of Vice and Disorders in the Common Wealth Himselfe at last being found to be a Murderer that had fleaed a man and a Whoremaster that had used his Concubine in a Church and a Witch that worshiped at home a familiar in forme of a Catt 2. John Poydras a Tanners sonne of Exeter that stood upon it that Edward the second was a Changling substituted in his Cradle for him who was the right Heire to the Crowne 3. Iohn Wall a Preist 4. Wat Tyler 5. Jack Straw 6. Jach Shepherd with 7. William Lister their Captaine would make all Leveli without distinction of King or Subject Master or Servant INQVIRIES 3. Whether 1. Henry the second consented to the Murther of Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury 2. The cause he suffered for were pertinent to saint him 3. Expiatory Pennance enjoyned for that murder were fit for a Preist to propose or a King to undergoe 4. King Iohn could forfeit his Kingdome to the Pope or the Pope let it to Farme 5. He were poysoned by a Monke or dyed otherwise 6. Queene Isabell were not more to blame for prosecuting her Husband Edward the second then the King was for sticking so close to Gaveston 7. King Richard the second were starved to death or barbarously Butchered by St Piers of Exton Lancastrians DYNAST V. SECT II. THus farre the Plantagenets have continued in an unquestionable right line Now followes the division of the Houses of Lancester and Yorke three of each succeeding in their order Of Lancaster we have 1. A.C. 1399 HENRY the fourth surnamed Bullinbrooke 1. This man backt his usurpation of the Crowne by Parliament Wherein John the Religious Learned and resolute Bishop of Carlile openly contradicted but could not be heard whereupon the Duke of Anmerle his Cosen Then the Percyes joyning with the Scots and French together with Owen Glendore and his Welch make a strong head against him 3. But in the Battell of Shrewsbury Henry Hotspurre is slaine outright Douglas the valiant Scot taken but released without ransome The Earle of Worcester beheaded Owen Glendore pursued by the Prince into Wales and famished there in the Woods 4. The like successe he had in discovering and suppressing the Earle of Northumberlands Rebellion with some Nobles and the Scots his Complices 5. Intending a voyage into the Holy Land he is arrested by an Apoplexie acknowledged to his sonne who had seized upon his Crowne upon supposall he was dead the little right he had to its and so by his Death leaves it to his eldest sonne 2. A.C. 1412 HENRY the fifth of Monmoth 1. At his first entrance he cashiered all his dissolute companions that followed him when he was Prince Reformes abuses in the Commonwealth growes upon the Clergy but was Politiquely diverted by Henry Chichesly Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to imploy his forces for the recovering of his Title to France 2. Vpon which he enters having cut off Richard Earle of Cambridge brother to the Duke of Yorke who by Treason would have prevented it takes Harflew gave the French with the oddes of about sixe to one an admirable overthrow at Agencourt where more Prisoners were taken then their surprisers whose throats were cut upon an after Alarum by Robinet of Bonvill 3. In a Sea-fight before Harflew the French had another extraordinary overthrow 4. He subdues all Normandy and takes Cane and Roane 5. The Dolphin of France being in disgrace by rifling his Mothers treasure and murthering John the young Duke of Burgoyne an agreement is made that Henry should marry Katharine the Kings Daughter of France and so succeed him in the Kingdome 6. This was Proclaimed and Performed accordingly He keeps his Court at Paris as Regent with incomparable Magnificence Returnes with his Queene into England who is delivered of a Sonne at Windsor upon which he is said to have spoken Prophetically I Henry of Monmoth shall remaine but a short time and gaine much but Henry of Windsor shall Raigne long and loose all 7. In his returne into France to rescue his friend Philip Duke of Burgoyne he sickneth and dyes at Bloys leaving his Sonne to succeed him but of nine Months old 3. HENRY the sixth of Winsor 1. A.C. 1422 His Protector was Humphrey Duke of Glocester Regent in France Iohn Duke of Bedford Manager of many weighty businesses at home Thomas Duke of Exeter his three Vnkles 2. All went well in Erance of which he was Crowned King in Paris untill the Seige of Orleance where Ioane the Sheapherdesse of Lorraine put in with her devices which wrought much mischiefe but at length she was taken and executed 3. Mountecute the valiant Earle of Salisbury and the Lord Talbot failing all things in France went to wrack till all was lost 4. Humphrey Duke of Glocesters murther the Kings Marriage with Margaret poore King Rayners daughter of Scicily with the Rebellion of Blewbeard and Iack Cade weaken the affaires at home 4. Richard Duke of Yorke sets on foot his Title to the Crowne got it by Parliament so farre forth as to be Heire apparent to Henry who was taken Prisoner in the Battle at St Albone but in prosecution of that businesse he lost his life with his Sonnes young Rutland 5. Notwithstanding at length Edward Richards Sonne the right Heire overthrew the King in Towton field and so recovered his Due 2. FAlling in with these times may be observed 1. That as Popes had deposed Kings now the Councells of Constance and Basill deposed Popes and set other in their places without the suffrages of Cardinalis 2. The perfidious dealing with Iohn Husse and Hierome of Prague which the Bohemians then complained of and yet sticks to Rome as an