England where being instructed in the Christian Religion and baptized in the Church of St. Paul by the Bishop of London with great Solemnity in the presence of six Prelates she was married to the aforesaid Gilbert of whom he had Issue this Thomas whose Life we now relate who as his Legend recites was first brought up in a Religious House of Merton afterwards was instructed in the Liberal Sciences and then sent to study in the University of Paris from whence returning home he was by Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury made his Archdeacon a place in those dayes of high degree in the English Cleargy next unto Lord Abbots and Bishops Much about that time Henry Duke of Aquitain and Normandy succeeded King Stephen in the Crown of England who in the very first year of his Reign advanced Becket to be Lord Chancellour of England in which high honour he carried himself like another King His retinue was great his Followers men of good account his House keeping such as might compare with if not surpass the greatest Earls of the Kingdom his Clothes very costly full of bravery his Furniture mighty rich his very Bridles of beaten silver Yea Fortune did seem to have made him her Darling and all things so flowed according to his desire that one would have judged him to have laid clean aside the very thought of a Clergy-man King Henry having Wars in France he served him with a Band of 700. Souldiers of his own Family besides many others with which and some additional Forces after the Kings departure he obtained a great victory At another time he himself in person unhorssed a Frenchman called Enguerranus de Creya a most hardy Souldier renowned for deeds of Arms and Chevalry for these valiant acts in reward and in further hope of his faithful service upon the death of Theobald the King made him Archbishop of Canterbury though the Monks objected against him that neither a Courtier nor a Soundier as he was both were fit to succeed in so high and sacred a Function But Thomas having obtained this dignity forgot the King who had raised him to the same For as the Poet hath it A swelling spirit hates him by whom he climes As Ivy kills the tree whereon it twines So rising men when they are mounted high Spurn at the means that first they mounted by For not long after began that great controversie between Regnum Sacerdotium the Crown and the Mytre the occasion whereof was the King being credibly informed that some Clergy-men had committed above an hundred murthers under his Reign would have them tried and adjudged in his Temporal Courts as Lay-men were but this as being contrary to the priviledges of the Church the Archbishop withstood This affront of a subject the King could not endure finding himself hereby to be but a demy-King Wherefore having drawn to his side most of the Bishops in an Assembly at VVestminster he propoundeth these Articles peremptorily urging Becket to assent to them 1. That none should appeal to the See of Rome for any cause whatsoever without the Kings licence 2. That it should not be lawful for any Archbishop or Bishop to depart the Realm and repair to the Pope upon his summons without licence from the King 3. That it should not be lawfull for any Bishop to excommunite any person that holdeth in Capite of the King without licence of the King nor grant any interdict against his Lands nor the Lands of any his officers 4. That it should not be lawfull for any Bishop to punish perjured nor false witnesses 5. That Clarks crimonous should be tried before secular Judges 6. That the King and his secular Justices should be Judges in matters of Tythes and other like causes Ecclesiastical There points so nearly touched the Papal Sovereignty that Becket resolutely denied to signe them but by the importunity of many Lords and Prelates at last he yields subscribes the Ordinance and sets his hand unto it The King hereupon supposing all contradiction ended and that Thomas would not waver in his faith called an assembly of the States at Clarendon in VViltshire to collect and enact these Laws where John of Oxenford sitting President Becket relapsed saying He had grievously sinned in that he had done and that he would not sin therein any more The King herewith vehemently incensed threatens banishment and destruction to him and his whereupon Becket once again perswaded swears in verbo Sacerdotali in the word of a Priest sincerely that he would observe the Laws which the King entituled Avitae and all the Bishops Abbots Priors and whole Clergy with all the Earls Barons and Nobility did promise and swear the same faithfully and truly to observe and performe to the King and to his Heirs for ever But the King desiring him to affix his seal to an Instrument wherein those Laws being sixteen were contained he refused saying He did promise it onely to do the King some honour verbo tenus in word onely Nor could the example of his fellow Bishops nor the perswasions of Rotrod the Popes messenger move him at all to compose these differences It may be thought a fable yet is related by divers superstitious Authors that one time during this contention certain fellows cut off the Archbishops horses tail after which fact all their children were born with Tails like Horses and that this continued long in their Posterity For may own part though I confess God is able to do this and much more yet I reckon this amongst other ridiculous miracles mentioned of him by those writers as that of Ailwardus who for stealing a great whetstone which the Author that writes it best deserved being deprived of his eyes and virilities by sentence of Law upon prayer to Saint Thomas he had all restored again Yea even a Bird having been taught to speak flying out of her cage and ready to be seized on by a Sparrow Hawk said onely St. Thomas help me and her enemy fell presently dead and she escaped But slighting these follies to return to our History the King summoning a Parliament at Northhampton Becket was cited to appear before his Majesty which he refusing upon his contempt the Peers and Prelates judged his goods confiscated to the Kings mercy He making his appearance the Parliament demanded of him an account of 30000 pounds which he received when he was Lord Chancellour to which he answered that when he was chosen to be Archbishop he was by the Kings authority freed and acquitted of all Debts and Obligations of Court and Exchequer and so delivered over to the Church of England and that therefore at that time he would not answer as a Lay-man having before had a sufficient discharge This answer of the Archbishop was like Oyl cast on fire which instead of quenching increast the Kings anger and the Prelates perceiving the Kings displeasure to tend yet to some further severity premonished him to submit himself for that otherwise the Kings Court
had won it for which cause he fortifies his Camp on all sides stopping all relief that might come to them by Sea with his Navy The French King not able to raise the Siege seeks to divert him by an invasion in England David the second King of Scots a sure friend to the French though allied to the English with an Army of threescore and two thousand enters England supposing considering what great numbers were abroad there were none left at home but Priests and Shepherds but he was utterly deceived of his expectation for at Nevils Cross in the Bishoprick of Durham he was encountred by the Archbishop of York with some Lords of the North who animated by the Queen who was there in person defeated this great Army slew the Earls of Murray and Strathern the Constable Marshall Chamberlain and Chancellour of Scotland with many other Nobles and fifteen thousand common Souldiers took King David himself prisoner together with the Earls of Douglass Fife Southerland Wigton and Menteith Thus France was not alone the stage of King Edwards Victories nor the French alone the Nation over whom he triumphed This loss of the Scots lost the French King the Town of Callis which after eleven moneths Siege was delivered up to King Edward who made Governour of the same one Aymery of Pavia and then with his Queen returned into England But good fortune attended not Edwards person alone it was likewise available in his Lievetenants Sir Thomas Dagworth in Little Brittain overthrew and took prisoner Charles de Bloys Monforts Competitor and besides many Knights and Esquires slew 700. common Souldiers Henry of Lancaster drave John Duke of Normandy King Philips eldest son from the Siege of Aquillon takes and sacks the Towns of Xaintoigne Poictou and Poityers and returns to Burdeaux with more pillage then his Army could well tell what to do withall Sir Walter Bentley puts the Marshall of France to flight with the slaughter of 13. Lords 140. Knights 100. Esquires and store of common Souldiers thus the English prosper every where and the French suffer King Edward was at that time elected King of the Romans but refused the tender as out of his way considering his French and other importunate affairs King Philip dying John his eldest son succeeds him who creates his son Charles Duke of Aquitain Edward herewith incenst bestows the same on the Prince of Wales commanding him to defend that right with his Sword against his adversaries hereupon an Army is raised for the Prince consisting of 1000. men at Arms 2000. Archers and a number of Welshmen with which he arives in Aquaitain and in emulation of his Fathers glory worketh wonders recovering multitudes of Towns and prisoners and loaden with booties returns to Burdeaux Winter being spent he again sets forth sacks spoils and destroyes where ever he goes whom to oppose King John with an Army of threescore thousand follows to Poicters and enforces him to fight the Princes army so small in comparison of his that he might say as Tygranes did of the paucity of the Romans if they come as Embassadours they are too many if to fight too few the French exceeding him six to one but what was wanting in number was made up in valor for after a long conflict they discomfitted their whole Army took King John and his Son Philip prisoners with many other Lords and about 2000. Knights and Gentlemen bearing armories slew 1700. Gentlemen whereof 52 were Bannerets and about 6000. common Souldiers of which victory a modern Poet sings Such bloody lines the English here did write Might teach posterity how they should fight The Prince with his prisoners marcheth in triumph to Burdeaux where resting a while he sets sail for England With what joy he was welcomed home may be easier immagined then expressed his acts exceeding all expection his performances afterwards as I referr to the description of his life and return again to his Father King Edward Who upon receit of the French King releases King David of his long imprisonment thinking it honour enough to have one King prisoner at once he had been here in durance the space of eleven years and was at the incessant suit of his Wife Queen Joan set at liberty yet not without a ransom of a hundred thousand markes with condition to demolish and raze down several of his Castles And now the third time on the behalf of the French two Cardinals solicite Edward for peace to which he yields but on such conditions that the Council of France will not condescend unto whereupon in great displeasure with a mighty Army he again enters France destroying all wheresoever he came and notwithstanding great offers were made him by the French yet would he not desist but concontinued inexarable God saith mine Author displeased thereat sent such a terrible storm of Hail with Thunder and Lightning upon his Hoast that it killed many of his men and horses whereupon wounded and struck with a remorse he vowed to make peace on reasonable conditions and not long after at a treaty at Bretagni concluded the same The chief Articles whereof were 1. That King Edward should have to his possession the Countries of Gascoigne Guyen Poytiers Limosin Balevile Exantes Caleis Guisness with divers other Lordships Castles and Towns without any dependancy but of God 2. That the two Edwards Father and Son should renounce all their right to the Crown of France the Dutchy of Normandy the Countries of Tourain Anjou and Maine as also to the homages of Brittain Armoricke and the Earldome of Flanders 3. That the King of France should pay for his ransom there millions of Crowns of Gold six hundred thousand in hand four hundred thousand the year following and the rest in two years after for assurance whereof a certain number of Hostages should remain in England 4. That the French should not aid nor assist the Scots against the English nor the English the Flemings against the French c. These Articles confirmed on both sides by seals and oaths King John is delivered from his imprisonment and King Edward with his Hostages returneth into England But notwithstanding seals and oaths it was not long ere these Articles were broken yet good correspondence was held during the life of King John who coming over into England to visit King Edward died of grief as one writes that the Duke of Anjou one of his pledges came not into England according as he had sworn after whom his son Charles sirnamed the Wise succeeded who with loving letters and presents works himself into the good opinion of King Edward whilest covertly he defrauds him of his interests in France it fortuned whilst his Ambassadours were in the Kngs presence news was brought him of the forcible invasion of the French in Poictow which when the King heard he commanded the Ambassadours to get them home with their deceitful presents to their treacherous Lord whose mocks he would not long leave unrevenged but King Edwards fortunes
Homero eruditus ille Italus dixit Hic ille est cujus de gurgite facro Combibit arcanos vatum omnis turba furores The deservingly honoured Sir Philip Sidney in his defence of Poesy thus writeth of him Chaucer undoubtedly did excellently in his Troylus and Crescid of whom truly I know not whether to marvail more either that he in that misty time could see so clearly or that we in this clear age walk so stumblingly after him And Doctor Heylin in his elabourate Description of the World ranketh him in the first place of our chiefest Poets Seeing therefore that both old and new Writers have carried this reverend conceit of him and openly declared the same by writing let us conclude with Horace in the eighth Ode of his fourth Book Dignum Laude causa vet at mori Gower and Chaucer were both of the Inner Temple Mr. Buckley a learned Gentlemen of those times gives an account of a Record he read in the same Inner Temple wherein Geofery Chaucer no friend to the covetous and leacherous Cleargy-men of those times was fined two shillings for beating of a Franciscan Frier in Fleet-street a considerable sum money was so scarce in those dayes I intended to have presented the world with the lives of three more of the most eminent of our modern Poets viz. Mr. Edmond Spenser Michael Drayton Esquire and Mr. Benjamin Johnson not that I could thereby imagine to add unto their fames they having built themselves everlasting Monuments in their never dying Works but out of a desire to imitate forreign writers who have ever done their Worthies that right I have not been wanting of a most diligent inquiry but as yet I cannot meet with any of their friends and honorers that are able to render me so full and happy an account of them as that I might have registred them in this volumne to Posterity The Life of HENRY the Fifth HEnry the fifth was born at Monmouth in Wales 1388. Of whom several Authors write that he was the most dissolute Prince but all agree that he was afterwards the most Martial King that England ever bred For during his Father Henry the Fourths Reign his chief associates were men of evil fame wicked life dissolute carriage Robbers and Thieves by whose instigation he struck the Lord Chief Justice of England for which offence he was imprisoned and dismissed of the Presidentship of the Kings Council With these Fratres in malo he committed many insolent pranks but having attained unto the Crown he summoned these his companions before him and instead of preferring them as they expected he banisht them for ever from his presence yet least they should pretend want of maintenance to be a cause of their taking ill courses he gave to every one of them competent means whereby to subsist Having thus reformed himself his next care was to reform his Kingdom and to this end he assembleth a Parliament as best able to informe him for his more discreet grievances of his Subjects and best able to counsel him for their redress In this Parliament was a Bill preferred by the Commons against the Cleargy whose Temporalities they affirmed would maintain fifteen Earls fifteen hundred Knights six thousand two hundred Esquires an hundred Alms-Houses more then before and unto the Kings Coffers twenty thousand pounds by year The Cleargy nettled with the Commons Bill being loath to have their Estates looked into as men who were fuller of goods then of goodness exceeding in riches more then in righteousness and preaching for Gold more then for God to divert the Kings minde another way by the mouth of Chicholy Archbishop of Canterbury propound the recovering of his Rights in France Henry as he affected nothing more then true glory so in nothing more then in Warlike action condescends to the motion sends Ambassadours to the French King to surrender him his Land threatning Fire and Sword upon his refusal but a Crown though accompanied with a great many troubles is not so easily parted withall yet the French King propounds him fair if he would desist from his intended War though the Dolphin in derision sent him a tun of Paris Balls as fitter for him to exercise then to attempt the recovery of the French Crown which King Henry took in such scorn that he swore it should not be long ere he would send such London Balls amongst them that should beat down their houses upon their heads And to make good his promise he raises an Army of 6000. Spears and 24000. Foot besides Engineers and Labourers but being about to put forth to Sea a treason was discovered against his person plotted by Richard Earl of Cambriage Henry Scroop Lord Treasurer and Thomas Gray Earl of Northamberland These men for a million of Gold were procured by the French Agents to kill the King but were discovered by Edmond Earl of March whom they would have drawn into the same Conspiracy Upon their examination they confessed the Treason as likewise the receipt of the money and were for the same immediately put to death For as Mr. Charles Allen writes Man and Money a mutual falshood show Man makes false money Money makes man so This execution done and the winde blowing fair he puts forth to Sea accompanied with his two Brothers the Dukes of Clarence and Glocester his Uncles the Duke of York and Earl of Dorset the Earls of Kent Cornwall and Huntington with many other Lords Barons and men at Arms and on our Lady-Eve landeth at Caen in Normandy where falling devoutly upon his knees desired Gods assistance to recover his right making Proclamation That no man upon pain of death should rob any Church or offer violence to any that were found unarmed From thence with his Army he marcheth to Harflew which after a few dayes was surrendred unto him where he leaveth Sir John Falstaffe with fifteen hundred men and takes his way towards Callis through the Counties of Caux and Eu. Charles the sixth was then King of France a weak brain-sick King his Nobles divided and the whole Court swarming with Factions yet the common enemy endangering all they unite in Counsell and agree the English should be fought with ere they got to Callis wherefore to impede his process they brake down the Bridges plashed the Woods intrenched the wayes struck stakes in Fords and conveyed all victual out of the Countreys thorow which he should go Then having raised a mighty Army they sent Montjoy the French King at Arms to defie him and to let him know he should be fougt with King Henry notwithstanding his Souldiers were faint and weary having spent their provisions some twelve dayes before being forced in the mean time to feed upon nuts roots and berries and drink onely water yet accepted the Challenge and rewarded the Herald for his message then passing the River of Soam he came to a Village called Agen-Court encamping from the French Hoast not above two hundred and fifty paces Their power saith Paradin
Burgundy who doth homage to the Emperour and taketh a truce with King Henry for his Counties of Flanders and Arthois These business ended Burgundy returneth to Graveling Henry into England and the Emperour to Germany But long did not Henry remain in England for having raised a puissant Army he makes his second expedition into France accompanied with many Earls and Lords and an Army of 25527. Souldiers constituting his Brother John Duke of Bedford Protector of England in his absence and on the first of August arives in Normandy near to the Castle of Tonque which he presently besieged and after eight dayes had it yielded unto him at which time the Earl of Salisbury took the Castle of Albervilliers which the King gave to him and his Heirs being the first Land given by the King in France He afterwards marcht with his Army to Caen who trusting unto the strength of the place refuse to render upon the Kings summons whereupon having taken it by assault he adjudgeth some of the most stubborn refusers to death and distributeth the spoil of the Town amongst his Souâ—diers according to the old Law Those who when that they may refuse to have it Shall afterwards have nay although they crave it He next takes in the Castle of Corfye the Town and Castle of Argenton Allenson Fallais with many other Towns and places of importance his uncle the Duke of Exeter bringing him a supply of fifteen thousand men out England he takes the City of Eureux and then encampeth with his Army before the great City of Roan Within the City were a thousand selected Souldiers sent by the Duke of Burgogne besides fifteen thousand Citizens well trained and furnished and stored with provision for a ten moneths siege the City of Lovies being an impediment to his passage he assaults and takes as also a stone bridge strongly guarded the City is summoned by Windsor the Herald who scorning to yield make a sally forth but are beaten in with loss The King the Dukes of Clarence and Exeter with many other Lords encompass it on the East West and North on the South were encamped the Earls of Warren and Huntington the River of Seine running betwixt them over which was built a bridge for enter course the one unto the other The Kings Cousin-Germane the King of Portingale sent likewise a Navy of Ships to the mouth of the River Seine which stopped all passage of succour up the River The siege thus continuing from June unto December the Citizens were brought unto that extremity that they eat Cats and Dogs Rats and Mice and had nothing to drink but Vinegar and Water so that fifty thousand being miserably famished they desired a parley yet notwithstanding their wants stand upon such high terms that nothing was concluded but a truce for eight dayes which being ended and nothing agreed upon they crave one day longer and that being ended four dayes more at the end of which time by the importunity of the common people the City was surrendred upon these Articles following 1. That the Burgesses should give unto Henry towards his expence in the siege three hundred fifty six thousand Crowns of Gold 2. That Robert Liner Vicar-General to the Archbishop of Roan Jehan Jourdan who commanded the Canoniers and Alen Blanchart Captain of the common people should be left to his mercy without condition 3. That all the people should swear faith and loyalty to Henry and his successours 4. That Henry should protect and defend them against all men and confirme unto them their priviledges franchises and liberties which they had enjoyed ever since the time of St. Lewis King of France 5. That all such as had desire to leave the Town might freely depart with his garments onely upon his back and his goods to be confiscated unto King Henry 6. That the Souldiers should bring all their Arms to a place assigned and should depart out of the Town unarmed with a Cudgel in their hands first taking their Oath not to bear Arms against Henry for a twelve moneth next ensuing Roan the chief City of Normandy thus rendred sundry other places of note yielded themselves as Caudebec Monstraillier Diepe Fesohamp Arques Neufchastel Deincourt Moncheaux Eu Vernon Mante Gorney Harflewr Ponteur-de-mer Mollineaux le Treict Tancarvile Abrechier Mauleurier Valemont Neufuille Bellaucombre Fontaines Le boure Logempree Preaux Nougonder-ville Saint German Sur Cuylly Baudemont Bray Villiterre Charles Maisniel Les boules Guillon-court Fanifontaines Le Becy Crepin Backeville and divers other places wherein King Henry placed Garrisons Those great successes of King Henry caused the Duke of Burgundy who bare all the sway with the French King to mediate a peace for which end he sent his Ambassadours to Henry desiring a personall conference to which he assented and assigned the place which was at Melun whither at the time appointed he goes accompanied with the Dukes of Clarence Glocester and Exeter his uncle Beaufort the Bishop of Winchester with the Earls of March and Salisbury and a thousand men at Arms where he found the French King Queen Isabel the Lady Katherine their Daughter the Duke of Burgundy the Count St. Paul with a great train attending his coming many things were propounded but nothing concluded whereupon King Henry not well pleased said to Burgogne Cousin I cannot well digest this refusal but be you assured that either I will have your Kings daughter and all my demands or I will banish both you and them out of France You speak your pleasure said the Duke but before you shall thrust the King them and me out of the Kingdom you will be weary of the enterprise The treaty thus broken up in discontent King Charles repaired unto Paris whilest King Henry quickneth his thoughts for revenge his first enterprise was on the Town of Ponthois a place of great riches which was surprised by the Earl of Longuevyle and the Duke of Clarence and from thence marching on took in the Castles of Vangon Villeirs Gysors Galyard and Dumal so that now all Normandy except Mount St. Michael was reduced to the possession of the King of England Charles the Dolphin in the mean time being bare of money and by that means having no great store of Souldiers seizeth upon his Mothers money Plate and Jewels she in a womanish spleen studies revenge but he to make good what he had done inveagles the Kings head that her designs were dangerous and bent altogether for the alienation of the Crown Whereupon she is sent prisoner to Eours but soliciting Burgogne for her deliverance she is by an ambush taken from her keepers and by his means made regent of France and her Picture stamped upon the Seal of that State These doings of Burgogne displeased the Daulphin yet still he carried fair weather in his countenance notwithstanding he had stormes of revenge in his heart so warily not to say wickedly could he cover his passions untill he had performed what he did intend The Duke doubting no
danger being sent for by the Dolphin unto the Town of Mountstrew repaired unto him where kneeling upon his knee he was by the Dolphin charged with several misdemeanours and by the company there present most barbarously murthered before he could arise from his knee or get out his Sword This more and more exasperateth Queeen Isabel who now thinks of nothing but disheriting the Dolphin and joyning in confederacy with Philip the new Duke of Burgogne incites him to revenge his Fathers death Philip as forward as she was willing they send Ambassadors to King Henry to intreat a Peace which was concluded from the Epiphany to mid March following during which time both sides meeting at Troys in Champagne a finall conclusion was agreed upon whereof the chief Articles were as followeth 1. That King Henry should take Lady Katherine to wife 2. That Charles and Isabel should retain the name of King and Queen and should hold all their Dignities Rents and Possessions belonging to the Crown of France during their natural lives 3. That the Lady Katherine should have her Dowry in England twenty thousand Nobles and if she out lived Henry twenty thousand Franks yearly out of the Lands Places and Lordships that Blanch sometime wife to Philip Beavisal held and enjoyed 4. That after the death of Charles the Crown and Realm of France should remain unto Henry and to his Heires for ever 5. That during the Life of King Charles the faculties and exercise of the Government and disposition of the Publick utility of the Realm of France shall remain to Henry admitting to his Council and Assistance such of the English Nobility as he shall please 6. That Henry of his own power shall cause the Court of France to be kept and observed in as full Authority and in all manner of places that now or in time coming is or shall be subject to King Charles 7. Also that Henry to his power shall defend and help all and every of the Peers Nobles Cities Towns Commonalties and singular persons now or in time to come Subjects to King Charles in their Rights Customs Priviledges Freedoms Franchises belonging or due unto them in all manner of places now or in time coming subject to King Charles 8. That Henry during the life of King Charles shall not call nor write himself King of France but shall abstain from that name so long as King Charles liveth 9. That King Charles during his life shall name write and call King Henry in French in this manner Nostre treschier Filz Henry Roy d'Engleterre heretere de France and in Latine in this manner Praeclarissimus filius noster Henricus Rex Angliae Haeres Franciae 10. That King Henry shall put no impositions or exactions to charge the Subjects of France without cause reasonable and necessary c. Many other Articles were concluded on Sealed and Sworn to on both sides which for brevity I omit King Henry not long after affianced the Lady Katherine and thereupon was proclaimed Regent and Heire apparent to the Crown of France from thence both Kings with their Peers rode to Paris wherein a Parliament of the three Estates assembled all such as were guilty of the Duke of Burgundy's death were justiced The disherizing of the Dolphin confirmed and Wars against those Towns which held for him prepared and thereupon on the fourth day of June the two Kings of France and England James King of Scots who was newly arived the Duke of Burgoigne the Prince of Orange one and twenty Earls five and forty Barons with many Knights and Gentlemen and an Army consisting of French English Scottish Irish and Dutch to the number of six hundred thousand besiege Seins which after twelve dayes was rendred upon composition of life those onely excepted that were guilty of the Duke of Burgundy's death The Duke of Bedford bringing a fresh supply of men out of England they march to Monstreau which by force was entred where the body of the Duke of Burgundy undecently buried was taken up and in great Pomp interred at Dijon the Town being taken the Castle held out still during which Siege King Henry instituted Garter principal King at Arms whom he sent with offers of mercy to the Castle but was by Guiley Captain thereof reproachfully answered which so incensed Henry that he caused twelve of his principle friends to be executed at length the Castle was enforced to yield upon composition of life Those that were guilty of Burgundy's death were onely excepted From Monstreau the Army marched to Melun the Captain whereof was Signieur Barbason an absolute Souldier who countermined some and stopt other Mines made by the English and fought hand to hand with King Henry in the Barriers at length through famine he was forced to yield but being suspected to have had a hand in the murther of the Duke of Burgandy he was sent Prisoner to Paris where upon King Henry's return he was sentenced to death and had suffered had he not appealed to the Officers at Arms the Law Military forbidding That any man having his Brother in Arms within his danger should afterwards put him to death for any cause or quarrell and proved himself to be the Kings Brother in Arms for that in the Countermine he had coaped with him in Combate whereupon the sentence of death was revoked yet was he still retained in prison but at the winning of Castle Galliard nine years after he was delivered to the great joy of the French Yet notwithstanding by this quirk of Heraldry Barbason escaped so well others as little guilty had not so good luck namely Bertrand de Charmont a Gascoigne and two Monks who were all three put to death Charles the Dolphin was cited to appear at the Marble Table at Paris but not appearing he was judged guilty of Burgognes death and by sentence of Parliament banished the Realm King Henry caused a new Coin to be made called a Salute whereon the Arms of France and England were quarterly stamped then appointing his Brother Clarence the Lieutenant General of France he with his Wife Queen Katherine returned into England being received of his Subjects saith Speed as an Angel from Heaven or another victorious Caesar on earth During King Henry's abode in England a sad accident befell him in France namely the losse of his Brother Clarence who making a road into Anjou upon his return was slain together with many Lords and Gentlemen and the Earls of Suffolk and Somorset taken Prisoners King Henry having notice of this overthrow was much perplexed yet considering that nothing is more certain then that the chance of War is uncertain he leaves off womanish tears and prepares again for manly actions a Subsidy being demanded and denied in Parliament he pawns his Crown to his Uncle Beaufort Bishop of Winchester for twenty thousand pound a strange humour in the King to pawn a Crown in possession to purchase one in hope and being thus furnished with money he soon was furnished
practices With many other words to the like effect which wrought so in the auditors that Henry is proclaimed King of England and France such French Lords as were present taking their oaths to be true unto him And great need had the Regent to bestir himself for Charles the French King surviving King Henry but 53. dayes died at St. Denis whose imbecillities were a great help to the English as the Infancy of King Henry was now an advantage to the Dolphin who upon his Fathers Death proclaims himself King by the name of Charles the Seventh and making all the force he could marcheth to relieve Crepan besieged by the English but his enterprise proved very unfortunate being routed with the loss of two thousand men yet nothing daunted at this disaster he resolveth to encounter adverse fortune with encrease of courage and hearing that many of the English had pillaged the Countries of Nugion and Main upon their return into Normandy he sets upon them recovers their booty and slayes fifteen hundred of them then speedily takes he Meulan upon the River of Sein putting all the English therein to the Sword but the possession was short and the revenge speedy being recovered by Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury who to quit scores with the Dolphin killed all the French were found there About this time the three great pillars of the English Monarchy in France the Dukes of Bedford Burgundy and Brittain met at the City of Amiens in Picardy to consult of the whole course and sum of Affairs adding to the old league this addition that it should be offensive and defensive respectively and to make the friendship the more firme the Duke of Bedford married Anne Sister to Philip Duke of Burgundy a Lady whose beauty surpassed the blush that glorified Luna when she kissed the Shepherd on the Hills of Latmos But whilst the Regent was thus busied in promoting the English cause the Parisians had a design to destroy it which was by delivering their City up to the French King but treason being seldome true to its self it came to the Regents ear which cost the chief conspirators their lives and now fresh forces coming out of England his Army augmented be takes from Charles the Towns and Fortresses of Crotoy Baside Riol Rula Gyrond Basile Mermound Milbam Femil Seintace and many other The French finding themselves too weak to deal with the English by force work by policy and allure from their sides the Duke of Richmond and his Brother Arthur who deliver up to the Dolphin the Castles of Crotoye and Yerney the Duke of Bedford hating their perfidiousness assaults and takes Crotoye and besieges Yerney who agree to surrender if not relieved by a certain time the Duke of Allanson with sixteen thousand French undertakes the rescue but finding the English numbers to surmount his Arithmetick he wheeleth about to Vernoyle in Perch whom the Regent overtaking a cruel Battel ensued which for two hours together was maintained with equall courage on both sides the Regent himself with a Battel-ax fought most fiercely winning immortal honour in that bloody journey At length the Victory fell to the English though with the loss of above two thousand of their men on the French side were slain 5. Earls 2. Viscounts 20. Barrons and above 7000. common Souldiers besides 2700. Scots lately arrived there were taken prisoners the Duke of Allanson himself the Lord of Herneys Sir John Towrnebull 200. Gentlemen and many common Souldiers This Battel was fought the 7. of August 1425. That which followeth till the siege of Orleance I have set down out of Paulus Aemytius as Speed hath done before me The fierce Conquerour besiegeth Mantz in Main and with Ordnance beats down part of the Walls it yields an English Garrison is left there after the taking which not being sufficient to keep the Town in due subjection is compelled to fly to a Tower for their safety the enemies which were admitted into it by the Burgers enjoying the rest The Lord Talbot that most noble Captain of the English with whose name Talbot is coming the French used to fright their children presently arrives to the rescue and puts the Malefactors to death The English Empire then extented it self at which time as bath been observed to the River of Loire Charles was called King of Berry Hitherto the English fortunes in France received no check their serene Sky was without Clouds so long as a good correspondence was held betwixt the Burgundian and the English but this knot of friendship was like to have been broken by occasion of the Duke of Glocester who married Jaqueline Countess of Haynoult Holland and Zealand notwithstanding John Duke of Brabant her husband were yet living The Duke of Burgundy his Cousin was greatly offended hereat insomuch that the controversie grew to be so great that the Duke of Glocester sent him a challenge but the Regent well knowing that the discord of the English might prove the union of the French so wrought betwixt them that the sore seemed indifferently well healed Much about that time likewise be compounded a difference between the Protector and Cardinal Beaufort Bishop of Winchester though to effect the same he was fain to come over into England substituting the Earl of Warwick Lieutenant General in his absence But France wanting his company he quickly returned carrying a great number of fresh men over with him During his abode in England Arthur Earl of Richmond made Constable of France by King Charles raiseth an Army of twenty thousand men and with them suddainly besiegeth St. Jean a Town in Normandy the Garrison were at first dismayed with their sudden arrivall but upon better advice they valliantly sallied out crying aloud a Salisbury a Suffolk whose names struck such a terrour into the besiegers that with loss of their Artillery and 800. of their Company they betook themselves to flight To rehearse each particular would make our discourse prove too prolix to come to the siege of Orleance Undertaken by these matchless Worthies the Earl of Salisbury and the Lord Talbot with a puissant Army the Citizens hearing of their intentions prepared to withstand them their Suburbs equall in bigness to a good City they level with the ground chusing rather to destroy a part then hazard the whole the English encompass it on every side and the Citizens begin to feel the misery of want God when mans help fails interposeth his hand the Earl of Salisbury looking out at a Window to take a view for a general assault is unfortunately slain a sad loss for the English for upon the death of this man saith Polydor Virgil the fortune of the War changed The Regent to repair this loss sendeth Sir John Falstaff with fresh supplies who arrived there safe in despite of the Lord De la Brets who with nine thousand men endeavoured to intercept him hereupon the City would yield but to the Burgundian not to the English a cunning plot to divide
five thousand men marched against them and although his numbers was nothing competent to his enemies yet would he not be advised but gave them Battel so that being encompassed on all sides thorow his own rashness was himself slain and his whole Army discomfitted his Son the Earl of Rutland being but twelve years old stabbed by the Lord Clifford his trusty friend the Earl of Salisbury beheaded by the common people and his own head fixt on a pole with a paper Crown was set on the Walls of York for the barbarous mirth of the uncivil multitude The unwelcome news of the Dukes overthrow coming to the Ears of VVarwick to stop the torrent of the Queens proceedings he musters all the men he could and taking King Henry along with him marches from London to oppose the Queen at St. Albans both Armies met where VVarwick lost the day with the slaughter of two thousand of his men King Henry also whom fortune neither favoured amongst friends nor foe was again taken This Victory of the Queens had it been discreetly mannaged might have turned the scales on the Lancastarian side but she wanton with success vainly imagined a security from future competition and either wanted power to restrain her Souldiers or licensed them to a free spoil by which unruly violence she untied the affections of the Commons who by their quiet and profit measure the vertues of their Princes So that the Citizens of London fearing to be plundered hearing of their approach shut up their Gates and arm'd for resistance The Queen hereupon with her plundering Army retires Northwards where we will leave her for a time and look back upon the Earl of March Who being at Glocester at such time as he heard news of his Fathers death spent not his time in womanish lamentation but considering how dangerous leasure in to increase the apprehension of misfortune having encreased his Army with some additional forces he marches against the Earls of Pembroke and Ormand who had raised a great power with purpose to surprise him Near Mortimers Cross on Candlemass-day they encountred each other where the two Earls and their whole Army were put to flight with the slaughter of there thousand eight hundred on the place Edward having obtained this Victory with his Triumphant forces directeth his march towards London in the way at Chipping-Norton he met the Earl of Warwick nothing daunted at his late misfortune and coveting nothing more then by the tryal of a new day to perswade or else to force back victory to his side then enter they London in a triumphant manner the Citizens receiving them with great acclamations of joy the Earl of March wich a joynt consent of them all is chosen King and accordingly proclaimed throughout the City by the name of Edward the Fourth This was done at London in the mean time the Queen and the Lords of her side were daring and vigilant in the North and having raised threescore thousand fighting men they resolved with expence of their blood to buy back that Majesty which the House of Lancaster by evill fate had lost Edward choosing rather to provoke then expect an enemy having mustered what Forces he could with his trusty friend the Earl of VVarwick marches against them and notwithstanding his Army came far short of the others in number yet by his Captains good conduct and his Souldiers valour joyning battel between Caxton and Towton he gave his enemies a mighty great overthrow In no one battel was ever poured froth so much English blood six and thirty thousand seven hundred seventy six persons all of one Nation many near in alliance some in blood fatally divided by faction were now united in death On the Lancastrian side were slain the Earls of Northumberland and VVestmorland the Lords Clifford Beaumont D'acres Gray and VVells John Lord Nevill Son to the Earl of VVestmorland with divers others On King Edwards side the Lord Fitz-VValter and the Bastard of Salisbury with many others of great reputation and courage King Henry with the poor remains of his party fleeth into Scotland whilest Edward in triumph returneth to London But notwithstanding this great overthrow yet did not the indefatigable Queen lose any thing from her spirit or endeavours but makes addresses to all Princes abroad whom alliance reason of state or compassion of so great a disaster might move to her assistance and notwithstanding all her endeavours she gathered together but five hundred French yet adding hope to her small number she crosses the Sea with them into Scotland Here some thin Regiments of Scots resorted to her in whose company taking her Husband King Henry along with her she enters England but this small number scarcely deserving the name of an Army were soon overthrown by the Lord Mountague most of the Lords of her side taken and beheaded King Henry escaped from the Battel but was soon after apprehended as he sat at dinner at VVaddington-Hall in Lancashire and by the Earl of VVarwick brought prisoner to London and committed to the Tower These great services done by VVarwick and his Brother Mountague for King Edward made them set so high a price upon their merits that the greatest benefits he could bestow upon them were received in the degree of a debt not a gift and thereupon their expectations being not answered according to their imaginations they begin to look upon Edward with a rancorous eye and certainly this was the main cause of their falling off from Edwards side though for a while they dissembled the same untill they should meet with a more plausible occasion which soon after was offered unto them for the Earl of Warwick being sent over into France to negotiate a marriage betwixt King Edward and the Lady Bona Sister to the French Queen whilest he was busie in courting this Lady Edward following more his fancy then reasons of State falls in love and marries the Lady Elizabeth daughter to the Dutches of Bedford and widdow of Sir John Gray slain on King Henries part at the Battel of St. Albans But when the Earl of Warwick understood how mighty an affront by this was given to his employment he entertained none but disdainfull thoughts against his Prince And exprest so bold a discontent that Lewis of France who was quick to perceive and carefull to foment any displeasure which might tend to the disturbance of another Kingdom began to enter into private communication with him for ever after this common injury so they called the errour of love in the King the Earl held a dangerous intelligence in France which after occasioned so many confusions to our Kingdom Nevertheless upon his return he dissembled all discontent and in every circumstance of respect applyed himself to applaud the Marriage and in particular the excellent personage of the Queen But long did not the fire of his revenge lie hid under the ashes of dissimulation for King Edward grown secure by an over-bold presumption the daughter of a long prosperity
gave himself over to all licentiousness whilst Warwick had made his faction not onely mighty but monstrous being compacted of several natures for into conspiracy of this great enterprize he had drawn off the Cleargy and the Laity and most of them of affections most opposite The Archbishop of York was the principal mover because he mov'd upon the soul and made treason an act of Religion the easie multitude who build their faith upon the man not the Doctrine thinking it meritorious to rebell in regard his function seem'd to give authority to the action With him a greed the Marquess Mountague and many eminent persons of King Edwards Court whom either desire of War having never lived but in the troubled Sea of discord or want of expected recompence rendered discontented All the partakers in the calamity of the house of Lancaster most passionately at first overture embraced this motion amongst whom was Henry Holland Duke of Exeter who after his ruine with the fall of Henry the Sixth was reduced to such extremity that ragged and bare-footed he begg'd for his meat in the Low-Countries But the wonder of the world then was at the powerful sorcery of those perswasions which bewitcht the Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother to this conspiracy to whom the Earl of Warwick to tye him the faster to his side gave him in marriage the Lady Isabel his daughter and coheire to the rich Earldom of Warwick for consummation whereof they sailed over to Calice of which Town the Earl of Warwick was Captain and in which the young Lady then remained with her Mother Soon was the Ceremony past and soon did the Earl invite his Son-in-law from the softness of the Nuptial Dalliance as who had contrived this marriage for business not for pleasure and design'd the first issue of their embraces to be a monster and the most unnatural one War between Brothers Warwick having thus politickly order'd things that he left little or nothing to fortune with his Son-in-law returns to England where against his return the Archbishop of York with some other of his friends had raised a potent Army to oppose whom on Edwards side assembles a mighty power under the conduct of the Earls of Pembroke and Devonshire but they falling out at Banbury upon a trivial occasion made way for the enemy to conquer them both This overthrow was seconded with a great loss at Grafton in Northamptonshire wherein the Earl Rivers and the Lord Widdevil Father and Brother to the Queen were taken and barbarously beheaded Edward nettled with these losses raises what power he could and marches against Warwick whose pretence being that of all Rebells The good of the Kingdom yet to avoid effusion of blood seemingly is very desirous of peace but when with several overtures he had lulled the King in security in the dead of the night he sets upon his Army kills the watch and surpriseth his person buried in a careless sleep Warwick having thus gotten the prey into his hand he so long desired sends him prisoner to Middleham Castle in Yorkshire there to be kept by his Brother the Archbishop of that Sea but King Edward being of another temper then his predecessour Henry not enduring Captivity soon found a way for his own liberty for having gotten licence to hunt in the adjoyning Park he so contrived with Sir William Stanley and Sir Thomas Burgh that with a selected number they came to his rescue and took him away from his weak guard the Lord Hastings joyning to them with some forces he had raised about Lancaster they march directly to London where they were entertained with great expressions of joy The Earl of Warwick who upon the taking of the King had disbanded his Army hearing of his escape was almost distracted with a thousand several imaginations but soon by letters to the Lords of his faction he reassembles his forces and marches against the King but thorow the solicitation of some persons inclinable to peace an enterveiw was agreed on in Westminster Hall and oaths for safety being past on both sides accordingly they met but such intemperance of Language past at their meeting as rather aggravated then allayed their anger so that now they resolved the Sword alone should decide the controversie The Earl of Warwick leaving his Army under the command of Sir Robert Wells whilst he himself went to raise more men King Edward neglecting not the opportunity whilest they were thus disjoyned gives them battel and overthrows them with the loss of ten thousand of their men Sir Robert Wells was taken prisoner and soon after beheaded This overthrow struck Warwick to the heart so that having not sufficient force to withstand the King he with the Duke of Clarence sail over into France with which King as also with Queen Margret who then remained in the French Court they entred into a combination for the deposing of King Edward and setting up again King Henry And that there might not be left any tract of former discontent or path to future jealousie a marriage was concluded and celebrated between Prince Edward the Queens Son and the Lady Anne younger daughter to the Earl and for want of issue of these two the Crown to come to Clarence and his posterity Matters thus concluded and the French King supplying them with money they return into England to whom flocked almost all the Lords the Commonalty also desirous of innovation adhered unto them so that King Edward seeing himself in a manner wholly abandoned was forced to quit the Land and sail into Holland And now notwithstanding his former hostility with him Warwick restores King Henry to all his former dignity and honour a Parliament is called wherein nothing is denyed which the prevailing party thought fit to be authorized King Edward condemned for a Tyranous Usurper and all his adherents attainted of high treason the Crown is entailed upon King Henry and his Heires Males for default of which to George Duke of Clarence and his Heires for ever The Earls of Oxford and Pembroke and many others restored to their estates and titles the Duke of Clarence put in possession of the Dutchy of York and lastly the Government of the King and Kingdom committed to the Duke of Clarence and Earl of Warwick so that King Henry possest no more then the name of King and seem'd not to be set at liberty but to have changed his keeper King Edward in the mean time having hired four great Holland Ships and fourteen Easterling men of War transports his Army over into England which consisted of two thousand Dutch men and such English as accompanied him in his flight or had escaped over after him at Ravenspur in Yorkshire he landed from thence he marched to York but finding in every place where he came the people generally devoted to the House of Lancaster he fashioned his behaviour to a new art and solemnly took his oath that his intentions was not for the recovering of the Crown but
hath this worthy Princes fame been blasted by malicious traducers who like Shakespear in his Play of him render him dreadfully black in his actions a monster of nature rather then a man of admirable parts whose slanders having been examined by wise and moderate men they have onely found malice and ignorance to have been his greatest accusers persons who can onely lay suspition to his charge and suspition in Law is no more guilt then imagination as the divine Father Chrysostom faith A good man hardly suspecteth another to be evill but an evill man scarcely supposeth any to be good King Richard had three great Favourites as Princes are seldome without some and those according to the constant custom of the World must be envied Catesby Ratcliffe and Lovel King Richards own Arms being the Bore upon which one Collingborne of the West fancied this Libel which in those times was received for excellent Wit The Cat the Rat and Lovel the Dog Rule all England under a Hog But leaving such trifles to return to King Richard Henry Earl of Richmond ambitious of Sovereignty envying his prosperity practises with forreign Princes and confederates with the English Nobles for Assistance and Forces against King Richard The chief abettor in England he had on his side was the Duke of Buckingham one who had formerly constantly adhered to King Richards side but being by him denyed the Earldome of Hereford and Constableship of England grew discontented took up Arms was defeated and afterwards by Marshall Law put to death Yet did not this break the neck of Henries design but having by his fair deportment gained Force from the Duke of Brittain and some other Princes envious of the prosperity of the House of York Richmond puts forth to Sea and lands at Milford-Haven in Wales after some refreshing he marches to a Town called Haverford-West where the people who flocked to him in great number welcomed him as a Prince descended from their ancient Princes of Wales the people generally being very noble and loving to their Brittish Kindred Hither came to him with great Forces the Earl of Salop Sir Rice ap Thomas Sir Walter Herbert Sir John Savage Sir Gilbert Talbot and many others His Army thus strong and united he passes the Severne and marches to Leichfield King Richard hearing of his arrivall prepareth against him but though he thought the Nobility generally cemented to his side yet found he a general defluxion from them to the other side the Earl of Surrey the Earl of Westmerland Viscount Lovel and John Duke of Norfolk being the principall that stuck to him which last was much importuned to have fallen off from him the night before the Battel one writing this Rime upon his Gate Jack of Norfolk be not too bold For Dicken thy master is bought and sold But he regarding more his fidelity then any danger that could befall him doubles his care and diligence on the behalf of his Sovereign The Earl of Northumberland who had received great favours from the King and who had in his Name raised vaste Forces being sent for by him refused to come pretending for his disobedience certain dreams wherein he was forewarned by his Father for to fight on King Richards side But the greatest defection was in the Lord Stanley who notwithstanding he had left his Sonne George Stanley as a Pledge of his faith with the King yet revolted to the other side King Richard notwithstanding all these disadvantages having encouraged his Army gives Richmond a Battle where valiantly fighting after he had with his own hands slain Sir Charls Brandon the Earls Standard-bearer and unhorsed Sir John Cheny and shewed himself a most Heroick Person being over-powered with multitude he was slain on the place With him died the Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Surrey was taken Prisoner and the whole Army quite defeated This Battle was fought at a Village called Bosworth near to Leicester The Victor was crowned in the Field by Sir VVilliam Stanley with King Richards Crown which he as a valiant and confident Master of his right had worn that day King Richards dead body after it was most barbarously mangled and wounded was thrown behinde one upon a lean Jade and so conveyed to Leicester where at last it obtained a bed of earth honourably appointed by the order of King Henry the Seventh in the chief Church of Leicester called Saint Maries belonging to the Order and Society of Grey Friers the King in short time after causing a fair Tomb of mingled colour'd Marble adorned with his Statue to be erected thereupon And notwithstanding the times were such when this great Prince lived that he had scarcely time to sheath his sword yet left he behinde him many Monuments of his Piety He founded a Collegiate Church of Priests in Middleham in Yorkshire another Colledge of Priests in London in Tower-street near to the Church called our Lady Barking he built a Church or Chappel in Towton in Glocestershire he founded a Colledge in York convenient for the entertainment of an hundred Priests he built the high stone Tower at Westminster and when he had repaired and fortified the Castle of Carlile he founded and built the Castle of Perrith in Cumberland He began many other good Works which his sudden fatt prevented as Polidor Virgil witnesseth which Works and Monuments of Piety shew not the Acts of a Tyrant I shall end all with this Eulogy which a learned Writer gives him King Richard was a stout valiant person ever indulgent to his People careful to have their Laws duly observed his making so many good ones if they signified not some goodness in himself were evident arguments of his more then ordinary love to Law and Justice The Life of THOMAS HOWARD Earl of SURREY THomas Howard Earl of Surrey in his time the Ornament of Mars and the Muses was Son to Sir John Howard Knight first made Barron by King Edward the Fourth and afterwards Duke of Norfolk by King Richard the Third in whose quarrel he was slain This noble Earl his Son having been well educated and afterwards trained up in Court his Martial minde hating those silken pleasures admired of Courtiers he with divers other young Gentlemen went over to Charles Duke of Burgundy who then had Wars with Lewis King of France in whose quarrel he behaved himself so gallantly that he won the honour and reputation of a most expert Commander At his return King Edward for his valour bestowed on him the Order of Knighthood to whose side he constantly adhered in that great difference betwixt him and the House of Lancaster That quarrel being ended by the overthrow of VVarwick he afterwards did excellent service in the Wars betwixt him and Lewis the French King King Edward being dead and the Crown by joynt consent both of Peers and People placed on King Richards head and after confirmed by Act of Parliament he with his Father the Duke of Norfolk held firm to his side notwithstanding the many
sollicitations he had from Henry Earl of Richmond and the Lords of his faction who to draw them off from Richards side that morning in which Bosworth Field was fought was found a world of papers strowed before Norfolks door Yet notwithstanding all this he regarding more his oath his honour and promise made to King Richard like a faithful Subject absented not himself from his Master but as he faithfully lived under him so he manfully died with him But to return to his Son the Earl of Surrey in this Battle he had the leading of the Archers which King Richard had placed in the fore-front as a Bulwark to defend the rest the undaunted courage of this Earl and his resolute brave carriage being taken prisoner are delineated to the life by the renowned Sir John Beaumont in his ever-living Poem of Bosworth Field which if to some it may seem a long Quotation the goodness of the lines will recompense the tediousness of reading them Courageous Talbot had with Surrey met And after many blows begins to fret That one so young in Arms should thus unmov'd Resist his strength so oft in war approv'd And now the Earl beholds his Fathers fall VVhose death like horrid darkness frighted all Some give themselves as Captives others fly But this young Lion casts his generous eye On Mowbray's Lion painted in his shield And with that King of Beasts repines to yield The Field saith he in which the Lion stands Is blood and blood I offer to the hands Of daring foes but never shall my flight Die black my Lion which as yet is white His Enemies like cunning Huntsmen strive In binding snares to take their prey alive While he desires t' expose his naked breast And thinks the sword that deepest strikes is best Young Howard single with an Army fights When mov'd with pitty two renowned Knights Strong Clarindon and valiant Coniers try To rescue him in which attempt they die Now Surrey fainting scarce his Sword can hold Which made a common Souldier grow so bold To lay rude hands upon that noble Flower Which he disdaining anger gives him power Erects his weapon with a nimble round And sends the Peasants Arm to kiss the ground This done to Talbot he presents his Blade And saith It is not hope of life hath made This my submission but my strength is spent And some perhaps of villain blood will vent My weary soul this favour I demand That I may die by your victorious hand Nay God forbid that any of my name Quoth Talbot should put out so bright a flame As burns in thee brave Youth where thou hast err'd It was thy Fathers fault since he prefer'd A Tyrants Crown before the juster side The Earl still mindeful of his birth reply'd I wonder Talbot that thy noble heart Insults on ruines of the vanquisht part We had the right if now to you it flow The fortune of your Swords hath made it so I never will my luckless choice repent Nor can it stain mine honour or descent Set Englands Royal Wreath upon a stake There will I fight and not the place forsake And if the will of God hath so dispos'd That Richmonds Brow be with the Crown inclos'd I shall to him or his give doubtless signs That duty in my thoughts not faction shines Which he proved to be most true in the whole course of his life for having continued prisoner in the Tower three years and a half the Earl of Lincoln confederating with one Lambert Simnel raised an Army against the King the Lieutenant of the Tower favouring their enterprise freely offered the Earl licence to depart out at his pleasure which he refused saying That he that commanded him thither should command him out again The King understanding of his fidelity not onely released him of his imprisonment but took him into a more specal regard and soon had he an occasion to make tryall of him a great insurrection happening in the North wherein the Rebells were grown so potent that they slew the Earl of Northumberland in the field and took the City of York by assault against these King Henry assembles a great power making the Earl of Surrey Chief Captain of his Voward who so behaved himself that the Rebells forces were dissipated their chief Leaders taken and soon after executed The King noting his great prudence and magnanimity made him Lieutenant Generall from Trent Northward had Warden of the East and middle Marches and Justice of the Forrests from Trent Northwards in which offices he continued the space of ten years during which time the Scots having committed some outrages upon the Borders he made a road into Tivydale where he burnt and destroyed all before him returning with great spoils and honour Not long after he made another road into Scotland returning with like success James the fifth then King of Scotland raised a great power to withstand him and sent to the Earl a challenge to fight with him hand to hand which he accepted but the King into his demands would have the Countrey or Lands then in Controversie to be made Brabium Victoris which was without the Earls power to engage being the inheritance of the King his Master but he proffers better Lands of his own upon the Combat which was not accepted and so nothing was concluded A peace being concluded with the Scots he was called home and made Lord Treasurer of England of the Privy Council living in great Honor and reputation all the dayes of King Henry who dying his Son Henry that succeded him added to his other dignities the high Marshallship of England and going in person with an Army into France left him Lieutenant Generall from Trent Northward to defend the Realm against the Scots for James the Fifth King of Scotland notwithstanding he were King Henries Brother-in-law yet did so firmly adhere to the French that to divert King Henries proceedings in his own person with a mighty Army he invades England The Earl of Surrey to oppose him raises what Forces he could and at a place called Flodden it came to a pitcht field which was fought with great courage and valour but God who owned the just cause of the English crowned them with success and set the Palm of Victory on the Earl of Surrey's head The Scottish King being slain and with him two Bishops eleven Earls seventeen Barrons four hundred Knights besides other Gentlemen and seventeen thousand common Souldiers The Earl for these services was by the King at his return home highly rewarded and restored to the Dukedom of Norfolk his Fathers Dignity Soon after was he sent chief Commissioner with the Lady Mary the Kings sister to be married unto Lewis the French King and after his return home the King and Queen going to Guines to visit the French King he was made Protectour of the Realm in his absence Old age seizing on him he obtained leave of the King to spend the remainder of his dayes at Framlingham
Castle an honourable Mansion of his own where he continued and kept a bounteful house to the time of his death which happened in the fourscore and sixth year of his age He was buried at Thetford Abbey in Norfolk dying after a most generous life worth a large estate so clear from debt that at his death he owed not one groat to any person whatsoever an unusual happiness to attend so great a Souldier and Courtier as he was From this famous Duke is descended the Right Honorable James Earl of Suffolk whose great Grandfather Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk married Margret sole Daughter and Heir to Sir Thomas Audley Lord Chancellour of England by whom he had issue Thomas Lord Howard of Walden and Earl of Suffolk who built that magnificent Structure at Audley-end who left the same to his Son and Heir Theophilus a worthy Gentleman the Father of James Earl of Suffolk now living Anno 1659. To whom with his most vertuous Lady I wish all encrease of true honour and felicity To the greater honour of these Progenies this Heroick Earl died so much a Laureat that his Songs and Sonnets by all those that rightly understand Poetry are looked upon as in those dayes to have been the Muses Parnassus so that for his Epitaph there needed no more to be writ but that here lies interred The greatest Courtier the most valiant Souldier and the most accomplisht Poet of those times The Life of CARDINAL VVOLSEY Fortunae variantis opus Wolsaeus ad alta Scandit iter dubium certa minitante ruina CArdinal VVolsey the Tennis-ball of Fortune was born at Ipswich in Suffolk of so poor and despicable Parents that were his story of an ancient date and not delivered by Authentique Historians it might pass for a fiction his Father being no more but a poor Butcher from so low a beginning did he rise to the highest pitch of honour His Education in youth was at Oxford in Maudlin Colledge from thence he was preferred to be School-master to the Marquess of Dorsets Children where he first learned to be imperious over noble blood the Marquess dying Wolsey went into France to seek his Fortune and coming to Callis became servant to Sir John Naphant then Treasurer of the Town where he behaved himself with so great discretion that his Master shortly preferred him to King Henry the Seventh Having thus cast Anchor at Court the Haven of hope and Port of Promotion he was more then double diligent in the Kings eye and very serviceable to Doctour Fox Bishop of Wincheter Secretary and Lord Privy Seal as also to Sir Thomas Lovel Master of the Wards and Constable of the Tower who perswaded King Henry having urgent business with Maximilian the Emperour to send Wolsey in Embassage unto him being at that present in the Countrey of Flanders who returned again before he was thought to be gone and withal concluded some Points forgot in his directions to the hight contentment of King Henry for the which he bestowed upon him the Deanry of Lincolne and not long after made him his Almoner But King Henries day now drawing towards night he adores the rising Sun Prince Henry and having found the length of his foot fitteth him with an easie shoe well knowing there could be no loss to humour him who was so able to give nor was he deceived in his expectation for Henry afterwards coming to be King and having conquered the City of Tourney in France bestowed the Bishoprick of the same upon VVolsey and not long after made him Bishop of Lincolne and Archbishop of York And now being Primas Anglia carried himself accordingly by erecting his Cross in the Kings Court although within the Jurisdiction of Canterbury which high presumption VVilliam Archbishop of Canterbury greatly checked But VVolsey not abiding any Superious obtained to be made Priest Cardinal and Legatus de Latere unto whom the Pope sent a Cardinals Hat with certain Bulls for his Authority in that behalf And now remembring the taunts he had received from Canterbury found means with the King that he was made Lord Chancellour of England and Canterbury which was Chancellour dismissed who had continued in that place long since before the death of King Henry the Seventh VVolsey now sitting at the Helm of Church and State had two Crosses and two Pillars born ever before him the one of his Archbishoprick the other of his Legacy by two of the tallest Priests that were to be found in the Realm To the better maintenance of which chargeable estate the King bestowed on him the Bishoprick of VVinchester and in Commendam the Abbey of St. Albans and with them he held in Farm the Bishopricks of Bathe VVorcester and Hereford enjoyed by strangers incumbents not residing in the Realm so that now being Bishop of Tourney Lincolne York VVinchester Bathe VVorcester and Hereford he seemed a Monster with seven heads and each of them crowned with the Mitre of a Bishop far different from the state of his Lord and Master Christ who had not a hole wherein to hide his head Yet his ambition resteth not here next he aspires to the Triple Crown he onely wants Holiness and must be Pope to the attaining of which Dignity he makes means to the Romish Cardinals as also to the Emperour Charles the Fifth Gold he gave to the Cardinals and they gave him golden promises although they proved but empty performances nor did the Emperour serve him any better promising much but performing nothing VVolsey hereat enraged studies revenge and by his instruments seeks to make a divorce betwixt Queen Katherine Dowager the Emperours Aunt and King Henry the Eighth his Master thereby to advance a Marriage betwixt him and the King of France's sister But though he effected the one he failed in the other for contrary to his expectation King Henry fell in love with Anna Bullen a Gentlewoman nothing favourable to his Pontificial Pomp nor no great follower of the Rites of those times which moved the Cardinal the Pope having assumed the sentence of Queen Katherines cause unto himself to write unto his Holiness to defer the judgement of Divorce till he had wrought the Kings minde in another mould But though this was done secretly it came to the Kings ear and wrought his minde quite off from the Cardinal which finally was the cause of his confusion for upon the Kings dislike the Counsel articled against him and the Law found him in a Premunire for procuring to be Legatus de latere and advancing the Popes Power against the Laws of the Realm for which resentment the Kings displeasure was so incenst that the Broad Seal was taken from him and most of his other Spiritual Preferments his house and furniture seized on to the Kings use and himself removed to Cawood Castle in Yorkshire Yet was he still left Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of York to which last providing for his installing state equivalent to a Kings Coronation he was arrested of
sent into England and married to King Henry found but little affection from him which Stephen Gardiner then Bishop of Winchester perceiving thought it a fit subject for him to work upon against the Lord Cromwell the first contriver of the match for being in his heart a great stickler for the Pope he resolved to make use of the times He acknowledged the Kings supremacy he perswaded the King that his reformation of Religion would set all the Princes of Christendome against him and at last prevailed so far with him that he consented to have six Articles enacted by Parliament which according as we finde them we have here transcribed to posterity 1. That after the words of confirmation spoken by the Priest the real and natural body and blood of Christ as he was Conceived and Crucified was in the Sacrament and no other substance consisting in the form of Bread and Wine besides the substance of Christ God and man 2. That the communion in both kindes was not necessary unto salvation the flesh onely in the form of Bread sufficient for the Laity 3. That Priests after they had received Orders might not marry by the Law of God 4. That the vows of Chastity either in man or Woman ought by Gods Law to be observed and by which they are exempted from other Liberties of Christian people 5. That private Masses was necessary for the people and agreeable to the Law of God 6. That Auricular Confession was expedient to be retained and continued in the Church of God By this we see the King left the sting of Popery still remaining though the teeth were knockt out by abolishing the Popes supremacy the effect of which bloody Articles the Lord Cromwell soon felt for the King having by him attained his ends and filled his Coffers with the Abbeys wealth left him to the malice of his inveterate enemies Whereupon a Parliament being summoned Cromwell being in the Council Chamber was suddenly apprehended committed prisoner to the Tower the Crimes objected against him were these First he was accused of Heresie and a supporter of Hereticks Secondly that he had dispersed amongst the Kings Subjects many Books containing much Heresie in them Thirdly that he had caused many Books to be Translated into English comprizing matter against the Sacrament of the Altar and that he had commended it a good and Christian Doctrine Fourthly that he had spoken words against the King Whilest he remained in the Tower some Commissioners coming to examine him he answered them with such discretion as shewed him to be of a sound judgement and as able to defend as they to accuse Amongst the Commissioners there was one whom the Lord Cromwell desired to carry from him a Letter to the King which he refused saying That he would carry no Letter to the King from a Traytor then he desired him at the least to carry a message from him to the King which request he assemted to so it were not against his Allegiance then the Lord Cromwell taking witness of the other Lords what he had promised You shall said he commend me to the King and tell him by that time he hath tried and proved you as I have done he shall finde you as false a man as ever came about him But his enemies knowing his innocency and abilities durst not bring him to his answer nor try him by his Peers but procured an Act of Attaindure whereby he was condemned before he was heard For the better illustration of his History before I shall acquaint you with his exit I thought it not improper to insert an example of his Generosity and Gratitude as I have it from Doctour Hackwell in his Apology in these words In those glorious dayes when the English young Gentry endeavoured to out-vie their elder Brothers by undertaking far and dangerous journies into Forreign Parts to acquire glory by feats of Arms and experiencing themselves in the Military Discipline Thomas Cromwel a younger Brother to better his knowledge in Warlike Affairs passed into France and there trailed a Pike accompanying the French Forces into Italy where they were defeated at Gattellion whereupon our English Volantier betook himself to Florence designing to pass thence home again into England but having lost all his equipage and being in a necessitated condition he was enforced to address himself to one Signior Francisco Frescobald an Italian Merchant who corresponded at London and making his case known unto him Frescobald observing something remarkable and a certain promising greatness in the Features Actions and Deportment of Thomas Cromwel who gave an account of himself with so candid an ingenuity and in such terms as beseemed his Birth and the Profession he then was of whereby he gained so much upon Frescobald as inviting him home to his house he caused him to be accommodated with new Linnen and Clothes and other sutable necessaries kindly entertaining him till such time as he testified a desire to return for England when as to compleat his Generosity and Kindeness he gave Mr. Tho. Cromwell a Horse and 16. duccats in gold to prosecute his journey homewards In process of time several Disasters and Bankrupts befalling Signior Frescobald his Trading and Credit was not a little thereby impaired and reflecting on the Moneys which were due unto him by his Correspondents in England to the value of 15000. Duccats he resolved to pass thither and try whether he could happily procure payment During which interval of time Mr. Thomas Cromwell being a person endowed with a great deal of Courage of a transcendent Wit hardy in his undertakings and a great Politician had by these his good qualities gotten himself entrance and credit at Court and highly ingratiated himself with King Henry the Eighth having advanced himself to almost as high a pitch of Honour in as short a time in a manner as his late Highness did The Lord Thomas Cromwell therefore riding one day with a great Train of Noble Men towards the Kings Palace chanced to espy on foot in the streets Signior Frescocobald the Italian Merchant in an ill plight however he immediately alighting from his Horse embraced him before all the world to the great astonishment of the beholders and chid him that at his very arrival he came not to visit him Frescobald being astonished at so unexpected an encounter and receiving so signal a favor from a Personage he could not call to mind he had ever known was quite surprized my Lord Cromwells pressing Affairs at Court not permitting him the while to acquaint him further who he was only engaged him to come and dine with him that day Frescobald full of amazement enquired of the Attendants who that great Personage might be And hearing his name he began to call the Feature of his Face and the Idea of his Person to minde and so by degrees conceiving with himself it might happily be the same Mr. Thomas Cromwell whom he had harboured at Florence he enquired out his Lordships habitation
freer access unto the Princes Court then to any others of the same profession and so by consequence to the presence of the Queen her self who did not think much to enter into discourse with him apart and with much familiarity as often as there was offered any opportunity not onely in reference to his Profession and about matters of Law but also about the weighty affairs of State and the concernments of the kingdom and at all times he gave her such judicious answers that she received great satisfaction by them But though she abundantly cherisht him with the favour of her countenance yet never with the favour of a bountiful hand as never having advanc't him to any publick office either of honor or profit excepting onely one dry reversion of a Registers Office in the Star-Chamber computed at the yearly value of 1600. pound into the possession of which he came not till about twenty years after or thereabout of which office his Lordship said pleasantly in Queen Elizabeths time That it was like another mans Farm bordering upon his own house and so might help his prospect but not fill his Barn But in King James his Reign he at length enjoy'd that office and manag'd it by a deputy Now that he was not sooner preferr'd cannot be any way attributed to the least aversion or displeasure that the Queen had in her minde against him but to the fraud and envy of some one of the Noble men at that time powerful with the Queen who sought by all means possible to depress and hinder him lest if he should be advanced to any heighth of honour his own glory should be eclipsed by him However though in the time of his Mistris Queen Elizabeth his merited promotion was still forestalled or kept back yet after the change of Government and the coming in of his new master King James he with a quickned pace soon made a large progress being by this King eminently enobled with places of trust honour anst great revenues I have seen some letters written with his own hand to King James in which he acknowledgeth him to have been so good a master to him as to have nine times conferred upon him his iterated favours thrice titles of great honour six times offices of profit the Offices he means I suppose were these he being Councel extraordinary to his Majesty in which place he had formerly served the Queen the Kings Sollitour General the Kings Atturney General or principal Procurator made one of the Kings Privy Council while yet he held the place of Atturney General Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England lastly Lord Chancellour of England Which two last Offices although they are the same in Authority and Power yet in their Patent degree of honour and favour of the Prince they differ and since the time of his holding that Magistracy none of his successours hath been honoured with that title unto this day His honours were first his being Knighted by the King then he was created Baron Verulam lastly Viscount of St. Albons besides other rich gifts and extentions of a bountiful hand which his Majesty was pleased to bestow upon him as well out of the profits of the great Seal as out of the Office of Alienation When he had arrived to that part of his age in which fortune smiled upon him he began to think of marrying and at length took to Wife Alice the Daughter and one of the Heirs of Bennet Bernham Esquire and Alderman of London with whom he received a very considerable Dowry as well in Land as in ready money children he had none by her but for as much as children conduce very much to the perpetuating our names after death he was not altogether destitute of that advantage since it was his hap to be blest with an other kinde of Off-spring for the perpetuation of his memory to after times namely the Off spring of his brain in which he was alwayes wonderfully happy like Jove himself when he was delivered of Pallace Nor did this want of children in the least measure abate his affection to his Wife toward whom he behav'd himself as an indulgent Husband and shewed her all manner of conjugal love and respect bestowing upon her rich Furniture precious Jewels and likewise settled upon her a fair Joynture nor is it to be omitted in honourable remembrance of him that she wore a rich Wedding Gown which he had bestowed upon her about twenty years after his death for so long she surviv'd her most honoured Husband The last five years of his life retiring himself from Court-Affairs and all kinde of busie employments he bent himself wholly to study and contemplation which kinde of life seem'd indeed to be most pleasing to him as if he would have chosen by his good will to dwell rather in the shade then in the sun-shine Of which also we may find some not obscure intimations in the reading of his Works in which space of time he wrote the greatest part of his Books as well those that were written in English as in Latin which according to the order of time that they were written in I who was present all the while and observ'd shall endeavour to reckon up and they were these following The History of the Reign of Henry the Seventh King of England written in English The Abecedary of Nature a Metaphysical tractate which I know not by what evil fate perisht The History of the Windes The History of Life and Death The History of Dense and Rare never till now in Print The History of Heavy and Light which also is lost These Books were composed in the Latin tongue Next were certain English Fragments as namely these A Discourse concerning the carrying on of a War with Spain A Diologue concerning the Holy War The-Fable of new Atlantis A Preface to be plac't before the body of the Laws of England The beginning of the History of Henry the Eighth King of England Between some of these came that learned work of his call'd The Advancement of Learning in the Translating of which a thing undertaken of his own accord out of his native Tongue into the Latine our most honour'd Author took very great pains and from time to time inricht it with many and various additions After these came his Councels Civil and Moral formerly call'd Essays augmented both as to their number and weight in the English tongue Some of Davids Psalms Composed into English Verse Moreover divers of his Works already mention'd he converted out of English into Latin which were these The History of the Reign of Henry the Seventh King of England His Counsels Civil and Moral call'd Faithful sayings or the Inward sense of things The Diologue of the Holy War and the Fable of New Atlantis these he translated in favour of Forreigners by whom he heard they were desired Other Books that he writ originally in Latin were his book of the Wisdom of the Ancients review'd by himself The last
by him for a constant Memorial The Life of GEORGE VILLERS Duke of Buckingham TAll Cedars are shaken with the wind when the humble shrub rests secure Envy strikes not at the lowly person her aim is evermore at the tallest How vain then is that man who enjoying the quiet of a retired life ambitiously hunts after honour How few Favorites go to the grave in peace Histories make mention and this Age can testify this truth will be too sadly instanced in the late Lord Duke of Buckingham who from the mean estate of a private Gentleman being raised to the highest pitch of honour a subject could be capable of came at last to an untimely end His first rise began at the Earl of Somersets fall one upon whom King James had heaped many great favours for from the degree of a Knight he was first made Viscount Rochester next sworn a Privy Councellour then created Earl of Somerset and last of all made Lord Chamberlane But this serene Sky of favour was soon over-shadowed with Clouds by the Earls undeserving for having married the Lady Frances Howard Daughter to Thomas Earl of Suffolk and not long before divorced from the Earl of Essex the unfortunate Knight Sir Thomas Overbury for speaking against the match was by their procurement committed to the Tower and not long after poysoned as I have more at large treated of in his Life for which fact both the Lady and Earl were arraigned and condemned yet through the Kings great clemency had their lives spared but were for ever banisht his presence This great Favorite being thus disgusted King James who would not long be without an alter idem or Bosom-friend took into special regard as I have intimated Master George Villers a Gentleman of a good extraction but a younger Brother and finding him susceptible and of good form moulded him Platonically to his own Idea And that he might be a fit companion for a King raised him in honour next to himself yet not all at once but by degrees making him first a Knight and Gentleman of his Bed-chamber soon after a Viscount and Master of the Horse a while after erected Earl of Buckingham then Marquess of Buckingham and made Lord Admiral King James having thus hardened and pollished him about ten years in the School of observance for so a Court is and in the furnace of tryal about himself for he was a King that could peruse men as well as books he made him the Associate of his Heir Apparent together with the Lord Cottington an adjunct of singular experience and trust in forreign travel and in a business of love and of no equal hazard enough to kindle affection even between the distantest conditions so as by various and inward conversation abroad besides that before and after at home with the most constant and best natured Prince bana si sua nocint that ever any Nation enjoyed this Duke which last title was conferred on him in Spain now becomes seized of reiterated favour as it were by descent though the condition of that state commonly be no more then a tenancy at will or at most for the life of the first Lord and rarely transmitted it being a kinde of wonder to see favour hereditary yet in him it proved far otherwise as one writes The King loves you you him both love the same You love the King he you both Buck-in-game Of sport the King loves game of game the Buck Of all men you why you why see your luck And although it be ever the perpetual lot of those who are of choicest admission into Princes favours to feel as strong stroaks of envy and ill will from beneath as they do beams of grace and favour from above the Princes love procuring the peoples hate this Duke contrarily found their affection so great towards him that in open Parliament the generality honoured him with no lesser acclamation then the preserver of his Countrey But what odde turns are in the passions of men and how little time continue their affections may appear in this those very men in a Parliament holden the first year of King Charles accusing him as the onely cause of all bad events which happened in the Common-Wealth drew up a charge of thirteen Articles against him the Prologue whereof expressing the prodigious greatness of this Duke the influence of whose power this ensuing Letter of Sir Henry Wottons doth sufficiently express My most noble Lord When like that impotent man in the Gospel I had lain long by the Pools side while many were healed and none would throw me in it pleased your Lordship first of all to pitty my infirmities and to put me into some hope of subsisting hereafter therefore I most justly and humbly acknowledge all my ability and reputation from your favour you have given me incouragement you have valued my poor indeavours with the King you have redeemed me from ridiculousness who have served so long without any mark of favour by which arguments being already and ever bound to be yours till either life or honesty shall leave me I am the bolder to beseech your Lordship to perfect your own work and to draw his Majesty to the settling of some things that depend betwixt Sir Julius Caesar and me in that reasonable form which I humbly present to your Lordship by my Nephew likewise your obliged servant being my self by a late indisposition confined to my Chamber but in all estates such as I am Your Lordships Henry Wootton But to return where I left to the preface of his Titles as I finde them copied in the Parliaments Declaration against him For the speedy redress of the great evils and mischiefs and of the chief causes of those great evils and mischiefs which this Kingdom of England now grievously suffereth and of late years hath suffered and to the honour and fafety of our Sovereign Lord the King and of his Crown and Dignities and to the good and welfare of his People the Commons in this present Parliament by the authority of our said Sovereign Lord the King assembled do by this their Bill shew and declare against George Duke Marquess and Earl of Buckingham Earl of Coventry Viscount Villers Barron of Whaddon Great Admiral of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and of the Principality of Wales and of the Dominions and Islands of the same of the Town of Calais and of the Marches of the same and of Normandy Gascoigne and Guyen General Governour of the Seas and ships of the said Kingdoms Lieutenant General Admiral Captain General and Governour of his Majesties Royal Fleet and Army lately set forth Master of the Horses of our Sovereign Lord the King Lord Warden Chancellour and Admiral of the Cinque-Ports and of the members thereof Constable of Dover Castle Justice in Eyre of all Forrests and Chases on this side Trent Constable of the Castle of Windsor Lieutenant of Middlesex and Buckinghamshire Steward and Bayliff of Westminster Gentleman of his Majesties
provided in kinde where he was freed from corroding cares and seated on such a rock as the waves of want could not probably shake where he might sit in a calm and looking down behold the busie multitude turmoiled and tossed in a tempestuous sea of dangers And as Sir William Davenant has happily exprest the like in another person Laugh at the graver business of the State Which speaks men rather wise then fortunate He died in Decemb. 1639 having compleated seventy three years His will was made by himself above two years before his death wherein he appointed that his Executours should lay over his Grave a plain stone of Marble with this Epitaph enscribed thereon Hic jacet hujus sententiae primus Author Disputandi pruritus Ecclesiarum scabies Nomen alias quaere Which may be englished thus Here 's lies the first Authour of this Sentence The Itch of Disputation will prove the Scab of the Church Enquire his name elsewhere To acquaint the world with two or three other Instances of the readiness of his Wit he having in Rome retained an acquaintance with a pleasant Priest who invited him one evening to hear their Vesper-Musick at Church the Priest seeing Sir Henry stand obscurely in a corner sends to him by a Boy of the Quire this question written in a small piece of paper Where was your Religion to be sound before Luther To which question Sir Henry Wotton presently under-writ My Religion was to be found then where yours is not to be found in the written word of God To another that asked him Whether a Papist may be saved He replyed You may be saved without knowing that Look to your self To another whose earnest zeal exceeded his knowledge and was still railing against the Papists he gave this advice Pray Sir forbear till you have studied the Points better for the wise Italian hath this Proverb He that understands amiss concludes worse And take heed of entertaining this opinion That the further you go from the Church of Rome the nearer you are to God He left behinde him many Monuments of his Learning whose worth are such that they speak themselves more incomparably to posterity then any Eulogies I can bestow upon them Give me leave to conclude with the words of one of the learnedst Modern Criticks That for the generality of the stile throughout his Works 't is most queintly delightful gentle soft and full of all manner of blandishments onely his pen flowed a little too much with the oyly adulation of Court-flattery Questionless if Sir Henry Wotton was reduced to any of these subserviences they were occasioned from his generous expences in the time of his Embassies for his Masters honour who used him as Queen Elizabeth did Sir Francis Walsingham who had but from hand to mouth The Life of THOMAS VVENTWORTH Earl of Stafford and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland TO particularize all the actions of the Earl of Strafford would of its self require an intire Volume it being a Garden of choice Varieties wherein points of Law are interwoven with Acts of State and the Affairs of Ireland as in the same Escutcheon quartered with those of England I shall onely take a superficial view of his life and not strain my self ambitiously to shew forth the utmost reach of his perfections he being a rare conjunction of Courage attended with loyalty to danger Wisdom accompanied with Eloquence to admiration who could both think and speak speak and do whose answers and replyes to the Articles exhibited against him by the House of Commons show his abilities to be such that whatsoever is spoken of him is infinitely below what was spoken by himself He was born in Yorkshire well descended and as well educated which fitted him to sustain the weighty Affairs he afterwards underwent A great stickler at the first against the Prerogative until allured by Court-preferment he turned Royalist for the King finding his worth and ability never left till he had gained him to himself obliging him to his side by many titles of honour and places of trust whose services he found equivalent to his favours continuing to his death a trusty servant a faithful friend a prudent Counsellour and a constant adherer to his side in all his exigencies The greatest services he did to the King were during the time he was Lieutenant of Ireland by his augmenting and advancing the Kings Revenues there restoring the Churches maintenance suppressing the Out-laws establishing obedience to Royal Authority impediting the Tyranny and usurpation of the great ones over the Commons causing the Irish to leave off many of their barbarous customs and conform themselves to the more civil manners of the English which drew much hatred upon himself for changes though for the better are most times ill resented by the vulgar witness those troubles in England in the time of King Edward the Sixth Nor could these innovations have found more dislike in any Nation under the Heavens then Ireland so wedded are those people to their ancient vain ridiculous customs But since I have inserted his most remarkable actions in the Life of King Charles I shall omit those passages and come to his solemn Trial so paramount in the Equipage of all Cirumstances that as former ages have been unable so future are unlikely to produce a parallell of them This great Minister of State was by the Parliament well known for the length of it accused with twenty eight Articles of High Treason February 16. 1640. The particulars are too long for me here to recite the substance of them being that he endeavoured to subvert the Fundamental Laws and Governments of the Realms of England and Ireland and enriching himself by indirect wayes in his office for incensing the King against the Scots for endeavouring to set things amisse betwixt his Majesty and the people and to have given counsel tending to the disquiet of the three Kingdoms The 13. of April following began his Trial in Westminster-Hall where there was a Throne erected for the King on each side whereof a Cabinet inclosed about with boards and before with a Tarras before that were the Seats for the Lords of the upper House and sacks of wool for the Judges before them ten stages of seats extending further then the midst of the Hall for the Gentlemen of the House of Commons at the end of all was a desk closed about and set apart for the Lord Lieutenant and his Councel The Earl of Arundel was Lord High Steward his Accusers were Pym Glin Mainard Whitlock St. Johns Palmers Sir Walter Earls Stroud Selden Hampden and others Many dayes were spent and much Rhetorick used on both sides for the Lieutenant was no childe but as cunning in the art of defence as any man in England equal if not surpassing his Predecessour the Earl of Kildare in the time of King Henry the Eighth But the House of Commons were implacable in their hatred towards him nothing being satisfactory to them but his downfal So
Princes This most holy Religion with the Hierarchy and Liturgy thereof we solemnly protest that by the help of Almighty God we will endeavour to our utmost power and last period of our life to keep entire and inviolable and will be careful according to our duty to Heaven and the tenour of the aforesaid most Sacred Oath at our Coronation that all our Ecclesiasticks in their several degrees and incumbencies shall preach and practise the same Wherefore we enjoyn and command all our Ministers of State beyond the Seas as well Ambassadours as Residents Agents and Messengers and we desire all the rest of our loving Subjects that sojourn either for curiosity or commerce in any Forreign parts to communicate uphold and assert this our solemn and sincere Protestation when opportunity of time and place shall be offered For the for ever silencing of such black-mouthed people I have here set down his Majesties Speech and Protestation before his receiving the Holy Eucharist at Christ Church in Oxon 1643. His Majesty being to receive the Sacrament from the hands of the Lord Archbishop of Armagh used these publique expressions immediately before his receiving the blessed Elements he rose up from his knees and beckning to the Archbishop for a short forbearance made this Protestation My Lord I espy here are many resolved Protestants who may declare to the world the Resolution I now do make I have to the utmost of my power prepared my soul to become a worthy receiver and may I so receive comfort by the Blessed Sacrament as I do intend the establishment of the true Reformed Protestant Religion as it stood in its beauty in the happy dayes of Queen Elizabeth without any connivance at Popery I bless God that in the midst of these publick distractions I have still liberty to communicate and may this Sacrament be my damnation if my Heart do not joyn with my Lips in this Protestation But to proceed in our History the King was not so busie in preparing against the Scots but they were as forward in providing for his resistance those of the Nobility and Gentry who stood firm for the King they imprisoned they invited and procured to their service many Commanders from Holland and reared works of Fortification in all places agreeable to their designs In this state stood the Affairs of both Kingdoms when April 13. according to pre-appointment the Parliament assembled the Earl of Strafford being led into the upper House by two Noble men to give them account of his proceedings in Ireland having there obtained the grant of four Subsidies for the maintenance of ten thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse implicitely hinting agreeable to what Scheme England should proportion their supplies The King also to forward the business sent a message to the Lower House representing to them the intollerable Indignities and Injuries wherewith the Scots had treated him and withal declared to them that if they would assist him with supplies suitable to the exigency of his sad occasion he would for ever quit his claim of Ship-money and into the bargain give them full content in all their just demands This Message delivered by Secretary Vane he whether wilfully or casually mistaking I leave undetermined required twelve Subsidies whereas it was said his express order was onely for six This Proposition raised the House of Commons to such animosity as the King advising with his Juncto their Compliance was represented to him so desperate as May the fifth he ordered the Dissolution of the Parliament But though the Parliament were sullen and would not give down their milk the Gentry and others contributed largely especially the Cleargy who in their Convocation granted a Benevolence of four shillings in the pound to be assest upon all the Cleargy for six years together towards this Expedition With these and other forementioned aids a Royal Army was raised whereof the Earl of Northumberland was appointed Generalissimo and the Earl of Strafford Lieutenant General but both Generalls falling sick the charge of the Army was committed to the Lord Conway who marching with the Army as far as Newburn upon Tine was encountred by the Scots and worsted three hundred of the English being slain and taken Sir Jacob Astley then Governour of New Castle hearing of this Defeat deserted the same as not tenable against so potent an Army which Town was taken into the Scots possession The King who had stayed behinde during the time the Queen was brought to bed of her third Son Henry advances after his Army when at Northalerton he was certified of the Lord Conway's discomfiture and Sir Jacob Astley quitting New Castle this being accounted an unlucky omen some of the Lords desirous of Peace working upon the occasion presented to the King at York this following Petition To the Kings most excellent Majesty The humble Petition of your Majesties most loyal and most obedient Subjects whose Names are under-written in behalf of themselves and divers others Most Gracious Sovereign The zeal of that duty and service which we owe to your Sacred Majesty and our earnest affection to the good and welfare of this your Realm of England have moved us in all humility to beseech your Royal Majesty to give us leave to offer to your Princely Wisdom the apprehension which we and others your faithful Subjects have conceived of the great distempers and dangers now threatning the Church and State and your Royal Person and of the fittest means by which they may be removed and prevented The evils and dangers whereof your Majesty may be pleased to take notice are these 1. That your Majesties sacred Person is exposed to hazard and danger in the present Expedition against the Scottish Army and by occasion of this War your Majesties Revenue is much wasted your Subjects burthened with coat and conduct of money billiting of Souldiers and other Military Charges and divers Rapines and Disorders committed in several parts of this your Realm by the Souldiers raised for that service and your whole Kingdom become full of fears and discontents 2. The sundry Innovations in matters of Religion the Oath and Cannons lately imposed upon the Cleargy and other your Majesties Subjects 3. The great encrease of Popery and the employing of Popish Recusants and others ill-affected to the Religion by Laws established in places of power and trust especially in commanding of Men and Arms both in the Field and sundry Counties of this your Realm whereas by Law they are not permitted to have any Arms in their own houses 4. The great mischiefs which may fall upon this Kingdom if the intentions which have been credibly reported of bringing in Irish and Forreign Forces should take effect 5. The urging of Ship-money and prosecution of some Sheriffs in the Star-Chamber for not levying it 6. The heavy charge upon Merchandize to the discouragement of Trade the multitude of Monopolies and other Patents whereby the Commodities and Manifactures of the Kingdom are much burthened to the great and
of Northumberland which lieth betwixt Tweed Cumberland and Stanemore doing homage to the Kings of England for the same By this Peace was Edgar Atheling and those other male-contented Lords restored to the Kings favour for William although a Martial Prince sought to establish his Crown rather by Peace then by the Sword which made him the more apt to forget former injuries And no doubt but this his too much lenity was one principle cause of his continual troubles for Edwin and Morcar the two stout Earls mentioned before combining with Fretherick Abbot of St. Albanes fell into a new conspiracy setting up Edgar Atheling once again their Generall William storming at these disloyal attempts with a mighty power hastneth against them who desperately bent to maintain what they had begun resolved to make the Sword their Judge but King William loath to lose that with shame which he had gotten by the effusion of so much blood prevailed so far with them that an Assembly was appointed to meet at Berkhamsted where he solemnly sware upon the Holy Evangelists and the Reliques of St. Albane the Martyr inviolably to observe the Ancient Laws of this Land especially those compiled by King Edward the Confessor which so wrought him into their good opinions that they all forthwith laid down their weapons But the storme being past the danger was soon forgotten and these mountains promises proved but molehill performances for notwithstanding his oath he dealt more roughly with the English now then before thrusting some into Exile and depriving others of their Lands which he bestowed upon his Normans whose Charters were of a far other tenour forme and brevity then those tedious and perplexed Conveyances since in use as may appear by this one taken out of on old Chronicle in the Library at Richmont I William King the third year of my reign Give to thee Norman Hunter to me that are both leef and dear The hop and the hopton and all the bounds up and down Vnder the Earth to Hell above the earth to Heaven From me and mine to thee and to thine As good and as fair as ever they mine were To witness that this is sooth I bite the white wax with my tooth Before Jug Maud and Marjery and my youngest sonne Henry For a Bow and a broad Arrow when I come to hunt upon Yarrow Nor need we wonder the King was so liberal to the Hunter since he himself loved hunting so well that to maintain his game he depopulated above 30. miles in Hampshire where had been saith Carton twenty six Towns and eighty Religious Houses so that where before God was Worshipped now wilde Beasts grazed a sin which God punished in his posterity his two sons William and Richard and his grandchilde Richard son to Duke Robert coming there to untimely ends which place was then and is to this day called by the name of the New Forrest The more to inrich his Coffers he laid great Subsidies upon the Land causing a strict Survey to be taken of the whole Kingdom exacting six shillings for every hide of Land to the so great impoverishing of the English Nation that they grievously groaned under their miserable estate nor would he permit any English man to bear any office of credit or countenance The English to ingratiate themselves with the Conquerour being forced to leave off their former customs and habits conforming themselves to the fashions of the Normans so that England was now wholly become French excepting Kent which retained their former Customs a long time after Towards the conclusion of his reign dissentions betwixt Philip King of France and him drew him once more over into Normandy where falling sick and keeping his bed more then he used to do the French King hearing that his disease was in his belly scoffingly said Our Cousin William is laid now in Childe-bed Oh! what a number of Candles must I offer at his going to Church surely I think a hundred thousand will not suffice This French frump being told to King William he made this answer Well our Cousin of France I trust shall be at no such cost but after this my Child-birth at my going to Church I will finde him one thousand Candles and light them my self And accordingly towards August following he enters France with a mighty Army spoiling all the West parts thereof before him And lastly set the City Meux on fire wherein he consumed the fair Church of our Lady in the Walls whereof were enclosed two Anchorites who might but would not escape holding it a breach of their Religious Vow to forsake their Cell though in never such extremity and so became their own murtherers The King busied in these attempts cheered his men to feed the fire and came himself so near the flames that with the heat of his harness he got a sickness which was encreased by the leap of his horse that burst the inward rim of his belly that returning to Roan he shortly after ended his life He was buried at Caen in Normandy in the Abby Church of Saint Stephen the first Christian Martyr to the Monks whereof he bequeathed two Mannors in Dorcetshire one Mannor in Devonshire another in Essex much Lands in Barkshire some in Norfolk a Mansion house in Woodstreet of London with many Advowsions of Churches as also his Crown and Regal Ornaments thereto belonging which his son Henry afterwards redeemed with the Mannor of Brideton in Dorcetshire his Tomb was afterwards opened by the Bishop of Bayeux in Anno. 1542. wherein was found a gilt Plate of Brass and this Epitaph engraven thereon Qui rexit rigidos Northmanos atque Britanos Audacter vicit fortiter obtinuit Et Caenomenses virtute coercuit enses Imperiique sui legibus applicuit Rex magnus parva jacet hac Gulielmus in urna Sufficit magno parva domus domino Ter septem gradibus se volverat atque duobus Virginis in gremio Phoebus hic obiit In English He that the sturdy Normans rul'd and over English raign'd And stoutly won and strongly kept what he so had obtain'd And did the swords of those of Mains by force bring under awe And made them under his command live subject to his law This great King William lieth here entomb'd in little Grave So great a Lord so small a house sufficeth him to have When Phoebus in the Virgins lap his circled course apply'd And twenty three degrees had past even at that time he dyed The Life of THOMAS BECKET Archbishop of Canterbury THomas Becket was the Son of one Gilbert Becket a Person of good Alliance and Riches who in his youth travelling to Jerusalem as he returned was taken prisoner by a Saracen Admiral with whom he remained a year and a half during which time the onely Daughter of the Admiral was so taken with his carriage and qualities that he having by flight obtained his liberty she wounded with his love abandoned her Fathers House and Countrey and followed him secretly into
the rumours of the people concerning his Fathers death a War is proclaimed against Scotland to revenge those overthrows the English had received from their valiant Chieftain King Robert le Bruce but by the treason of the Lord Mortimer who is said to have received bribes from the Scots the journey proved unsuccessful the young King hardly escaping with life for one Sir James Dowglass a valiant Scot with 200 light horses assailed the Kings own Pavilion where the King was so near death that a Chaplain of his who stoutly behaved himself was slain in his masters defence and Sir James retired from thence with safety These treasons of the Lord Mortimer together with his excessive pride and over much familiarity with the Queen-Mother made him so distasteful unto the Lords that notwithstanding his strong guard consisting of no less then ninescore Knights he was by the young King and the confederate Lords surprized on a sudden at Nottingham Castle from thence removed to the City of London condemned of treason and executed at the common Gallows And here may the King be said to begin his Reign living before at the Queen and the Lord Mortimers allowance which was onely the third part of the Revenews of the Crown which now he assumeth all to himself putting the Queen to a pension of a thousand pounds a year and confining her to a Castle all the dayes of her life such was the miserable condition of this wretched Woman the Daughter Sister Wife and Mother of a King as one of our Moderns hath it So true is that the wise man once did say That none are happy till their dying day King Edward having thus raised himself would next out of Charity help his Neighbour Edward Baliol Son to John Baliol sometimes King of Scotland having remained in France two and thirty years comes over into England whom King Edward aids against his Brother in Law King David who at that time was with the King of France at Hallidown-Hill where he utterly defeats the whole power of Scotland slew of them 7. Earls 90. Knights and Banerets 400. Esquires and 32000. common Souldiers causing Baliol to be Crowned King doing homage to King Edward as his superior Lord for which though he had the Knees he had not the Hearts of his people who would be subject to none that were subject to another But these were but petty actions scarce worth the rehearsal considering what he performed afterwards his endeavours for the French Crown which that I may in order describe I will begin with the original cause of this invasion King Phillip of France dying without issue the right of succession unto that Crown belonged to King Edward as nearest in blood being his Sisters Son but Philip of Valois the Heir to Charles a former King usurps the Crown pretending a Law which they call Salique wherein Females are debarred from inheritance or as they term it the distaff from meddling with the Crown according to that in the 6. of Matthew Consider the Lillies the arms of France how they grow they toil not neither do they spin Philip hereupon summons Edward to do homage for the Lands he held in France which though prejudicial to his after claim yet in regard his Kingdome of England was scarce well settled and himself but young he was contented to do but this his Homage was exacted with such pride on the French Kings part that it left a rancour in his heart for ever after so that returning into England he studies revenge nor long wants he an instrument to spur him on for one Robert of Arthois being banished out of France comes over into England and becomes an incendiary betwixt the two Kings this fugitive King Edward entertains makes him Earl of Richmond and one of his Council then passing over into Flanders by perswasion of the Flemings he takes upon him the Stile Title and Arms of the King of France who hereupon establish a League with him accounting themselves disobliged of the Bond of tweny hundred thousand Crowns which they had entred into never to bear Arms against the King of France confederating himself with them and many other Princes with a well selected army he enters France King Philip on the other side was not idle but draws to his part the King of Bohemia the Bishop of Leige Earl of Luxembourge Henry Count Palatine Aubut Bishop of Metz Otho Duke of Austria Ame Earl of Geneva with many other and with a mighty Army confronting King Edward near to Vermandeis who notwithstanding part without doing any thing worth the relating unless we should relate what to some way seem ridiculous A Hare starting out before the head of the French Army caused a great shout to be made whereupon they who saw not the Hare but onely heard the shout supposing it to be the onset to the Battel disposed themselves to fight and fourteen Gentlemen for encouragements sake as the custom is were Knighted called afterward in merriment Knights of the Hare King Edward returning into England left the Earls of Salisbury and Suffolk in Flanders to oppose the French who having performed many great exploits in an encounter near Lisle were both taken prisoners King Edward to repair this loss prepares again for France to impeach whose landing King Philip had provided a Navy of 200. sail whereof when Edward was advertised he prepares the like number of ships to encounter with them and sets out to Sea upon Midsummer-eve the next day Sir Robert Morley brings an addition to his Fleet which joyned together set upon the French in the Haven of Sluce defeated their whole Navy took and sunk all their Ships and slew thirty thousand of their men as a Poet versifies on those times Thus Salsburies and Suffolks loss which they Receiv'd on Land at Sea was washt away Many of the French to escape killing drowned themselves trusting to the mercy of the Waves rather then to the pitty of the English which made the French Kings Jeaster set on to give him notice of this overthrow to repeat often in the Kings hearing Cowardly English men Dastardly English men Faint-hearted English men and being by the King asked the reason why Because said he they durst not leap out of their Ships into the Sea as our brave French men did by which speech the King came to have knowledge of their overthrow The French lay the blame of this defeat on one Buchet who having a chief command in the Navy armed his ships with men of base condition content with small pay and refused Gentlemen and sufficient Souldiers in regard they required greater wages according to the old Law When covetous Chiefs are sparing of their Crowns Few Souldiers will be prodigal of wounds Edwards Wings thus plumed with Victory he flies amain to the Siege of Tournay with an Army of five and fifty thousand where he is encountred by the Duke of Burgandy and Earl of Armigniack who slew four thousand of his men upon the place
Edward notwithstanding continues his Siege to the relief whereof King Philip sends all the Forces he could make But by the mediation of the Lady Jane of Valois who was Sister to King Philip and Mother of King Edwards Wife a truce was concluded from Michaelmas till Midsummer and both their Armies again dissolved Edward hereupon puts out of pay his forreign aids and returning into England had notice that the Scots besieged the Castle of Striveling for relief whereof he makes all the haste he can but being disappointed of his provision that was to come by Sea he makes a Truce with the Scots for four moneths and returns home during this truce the Scots send to King David who upon their message leaves France and returns into Scotland and as soon as the truce was ended with a strong Army enters Northumberland besiegeth New Castle upon Tyne but is valiantly resisted by John Nevile the Governour who took the Earl of Murray prisoner and slew divers of his men from thence he passeth into the Bishoprick of Durham where he useth all kinde of cruelty killing men women and children burning and destroying Houses and Churches untill he came to the Castle of Salisbury but hearing of King Edwards approach who certified of these things made all the haste he could he returns homewards King Edward pursues for three dayes together at length a truce was concluded for two years and William Earl of Salisbury prisoner with the King of France was set at liberty in exchange for the Earl of Murray Whilst Edward was thus busied about the Scots a new difference arose in France John Earl of Monfort claims the Dutchy of Brittain and in pursuance of his title is taken prisoner by the French King his Wife solicites King Edward for succour who sends her aid under the conduct of Robert of Arthois and not long after follows himself Philip sends aid to Monforts Competitor and both Armies encamp near to the City of Vannes where was like to have been a cruel Battel had not Pope Clement the sixth interposed two Cardinals from him conclude a peace Vannes is delivered up to the French King and the Earl of Montfort is set at liberty The murmuring Drum now silenced and stern Mars for a while confined to prison least rusty idleness should entomb their worth and want of exercise make them forget their Arms King Edward erects a round Table at Windsor in imitation of the Renowned Arthur and to invite great men from forreign parts rich Salaries are the reward of high designs King Philip fearing this association would be to him of ill consequence writes after Edwards coppy and erects a round Table in his own Countrey to allure the men of War of Germany and Italy and so to keep them from coming into England King Edward thus prevented in his design by the French King institutes the most honourable order of the Garter the Original case whereof is dubious some conjecture that it arose for that in a Battel wherein he was victorious he gave the word Garter for the word or sign Cambden saith King Edward the Third founded this order to adorn Martial vertue with honours rewards and splendour The Original Book of the Institution deduces the invention from King Richard the First and that King Edward adorned it and brought it into splendour but the common received opinion is that a Garter of his own Queen or as some say of Joan Countess of Salisbury slipping off in a Dance King Edward stooped and took it up where at some of the Nobles that were present smiling as an amorous action he seriously said It should not be long ere Sovereign Honour were done to that Garter whereupon he afterwards added the French Motto Honi soit qui maly pense therein checking his Lords sinister suspicion Nor need we with Polydor Virgil trouble our selves to make an Apology for the courseness of this Original since according to the Poet They swell with love that are with valour fill'd And Venus Doves may in a Head-piece build The number of Knights in this order is six and twenty whereof the King is alwayes president so much accounted of in other Countries that there have been nigh twenty and six forreign Emperours and Kings of the same the glory whereof by a learned Poet is celebrated for to be such That now Burgundians scorn their fleece of Gold The French the Escalopt Collar set with grace Their Crossed weeds Rhodes Elba Alcala hold As worthless all matcht with thy George are base King Edward whose Eye was fixt upon France as the mark of his Conquest having notice that King Philip had put many of his friends to death in Normandy namely Clisson and Bacon Knights of the best note glad that the truce was broken on King Philips part prepares again for the invasion of France and taking along with him the young Prince of Wales with an Army of 2500. Horse and 30000. Foot arives in Normandy where he took and and sackd many Towns of Importance Clissons hands being nailed on the Gates of Carenton he turns it into Cinders making a Funeral-pile thereof for his slain friend He takes also the populous and rich City of Caen marching with his Army to the very Walls of Paris Philip awakened with Edwards Victories raises one of the greatest Armies that ever were seen in France Edward laden with spoil is not unwilling to retire which Philip interpreteth a kinde of flight the River of Some he passeth with much danger and defeats Gundentor du Foy who was placed there to hinder his passage King Philip set on fire with his disaster resolveth to give King Edward Battel who was incamped nigh to a Vilage called Crescy his Army consisting of 30000. he divided into three Battalions the first whereof was led by Edward the Black Prince of Wales having in his company Beuchamp Earl of Warwick Godfrey of Harecourt the Lords Stafford Laware Bourchier Clifford Cobham Holland c. together with the number of 800. men at Arms 2000. Archers and 1000. Welch In the second Battel were the Earls of Northampton and Arundel the Lords Ross Willoughby Basset Saint Albane Malton c. with 800. men at Arms and 1200. Archers The third and last Battel was commanded by the King himself having in it 700. men at Arms and 3000. Archers The French Army was far greater consisting of sixscore thousand men having in it the two Kings of Bohemia and Majorica and of Princes Dukes Earls Barrons and Gentlemen bearing Arms about 3000. The vantguard was led by the King of Bohemia and the Earl of Allanson The main Battel King Philip commanded himself and the Earl of Savoy the Reer But since in this Battel the Prince of Wales was the chief General I shall refer the further prosecution thereof to the description of his following life and proceed in our History of King Edward who after the good success of this Battel marched directly to Calice resolving not to stir untill he
Brother Earl of Longuevile Charles Earl of Vendosme the Earls of Tankervile Salbruch Nassaw Dampmarlin La Roch with many other Lords besides two thousand Knights and Gentlemen nor did the slain come far short of the prisoners the Chiefest whereof were Peter of Burbon Duke of Athens high Constable of France John Clermont Marshall George of Charney Lord great Chamberlain the Bishop of Chalons the Lords of Landas Pons and Chambly with others to the number of 1700. Knights and Gentlemen The Prince having commended his Souldiers needed not at that time reward them giving them the rich plunder of the Field which did sufficiently recompence them for their victory This indeed whetteth a Souldiers valour when desert is recompensed with reward The English whose valour was most conspicious were the Earls of Warwick Suffolk Salisbury Oxford and Stafford the Lords Cobham Spenser Berkley Basset and Audley which last named Lord for his valour was rewarded by the Prince with the gift of five hundred marks Fee simple in England which he presently gave to four of his Esquires whereupon the Prince demanding whether he accepted not his gift he answered that these men had deserved the same as well as himself and had more need of it with which reply the Prince was so well pleased that he gave him five hundred marks more in the same kinde an example worthy of immortal memory where desert in the Subject and reward in the Prince strive which should be greatest Nor did the Prince use less humanity towards his prisoners whom he entertained in most honourable manner so that King Johns Captivity was onely restraint of his liberty being attended on like a King in the hands of his enemy for noble spirits scorn to insult over misery 't is Plebean rage that is merciless Having refreshed his Army he marcheth with his prisoners to Burdeaux where he tarried a while longer to rest his Souldiers from thence he sets sail for England ariving at Plymouth King Edward as soon as he had knowledge of the Victory caused a general Thanksgiving all over England eight dayes together giving God the thanks and glory knowing him the Author and his Son but the instrument of this unparallel'd victory By reason of these his wonderful Atchievements his name grew famous all the Christian world over to whom for succour comes Peter King of Castile driven out of his kingdom by the French with the assistance of the King of Arragon and his Bastard Brother Henry placed in his room Prince Edward considering what a dangerous president this might be against all lawful Kings that any one should be thus dis-throned having obtained leave of his Father resolveth to aid him and taking along with him an Army of thirty thousand men makes his way through the streights of Rouncevallux in Navarr accompanied with the Kings of Castile and Majorca John Duke of Lancaster his Brother with many other Knights and Gentlemen On the other side King Henry for defence of his Diadem had assembled an Army of an hundred thousand consisting of French under Glequin their famous Captain as also of Castilians both Christians and Saracens On the borders of Castile at a place called Nazers it came to a Battel where the Prince obtained a glorious Victory slew many thousands of his enemies and took above two thousand prisoners nor left he off here but proceeded so far untill he had set him in Burgus upon his Throne again The greater the benefit is of him that receives it the more monstruous is his ingratitude that doth not acknowledge it this ungrateful King notwithstanding the benefits he had received of the Prince dismissed his without money to pay his Army which constrained him in his return to Burdeaux to coin his Plate but that not supplying his present necessities he layes upon his Dominions in Gascoigne a new taxation which was the cause of a most dangerous revolt But this was not all the mischief that he accrewed by this journey for the Prince brought back with him such an indisposition of body that he was never throughly well after Some report him to have been poysoned by King Peter and probable enough he might be guilty of such wickedness whose whole course of life was so full of vice Duke John of Lancester was not freed from the suspition of hastening his death though the heat of the Countrey and the unfitness of the Season might be the principal cause How ever it was certain it is he survived not long after dying at Canterbury upon Trinity Sunday Anno 1376. aged about six and forty years a Prince excelling all the princes which went before him and surpassing in Martial deeds all the Heroes that have lived after him His body was buried at Christ-Church in Canterbury where his monument standeth leaving behinde him onely one Son who was afterwards King of England by the name of Richard the Second unless we should reckon his natural issue Sir John Sounder and Sir Roger Clarendon Knights which latter is thought to be Ancestour to the house of the Smiths in Essex The Life of Sir JOHN HAWKWOOD AMongst those many Worthies which this Martial age produced that valiant Knight Sir John Hawkwood deserveth remembrance who though of low birth by his Martial prowess purchased his own renown over the Christian world He was born at Sible Heningham in the County of Essex and was in his youth bound apprentice at London with a Taylor from whence he was prest in the musters for service of King Edward the Third and sent into France as a common Souldier where contrary to the Proverb which saith Taylors are no men he behaved himself so valiantly that he was made a Captain over a Company of Foot Souldiers and not long after upon some further good service by him performed advanced unto the order of Knighthood but a peace being concluded between the French and English and his estate not able to maintain his Title he was loath to return home again to follow his old occupation it being something preposterous from a Knight to turn Taylor again wherefore he joyned himself with the Companies called the Late-comers who being about five or six thousand made great spoil upon the East parts of France passing through Champain Burgondy and Damphin even to the very Gates of Avignion in Province From thence he departed into Lumbardy having the leading of that part of the Companies which was called the White Band with whom he served valiantly in the Wars of John Marquess of Montferrat but Lionel Duke of Clarence Son to Edward the Third King of England coming over into Italy to marry with the Lady Violanta Daughter of Galeacio Duke of Millain he forsook that service and attended the Duke to the marriage To omit their sumptuous entertainment which by Paulus Jovius upon the life of Galeacio is written at large Barnaby the Brother of Galeacio having at that time great Wars with the State of Mantua obtained of the Duke of Clarence that Sir John Hawkwood
consisted of an hundred and fifty thousand Horse besides them for carriages which were innumerable the Vantguard was led by the Constable of France the Dukes of Orleance and Bourbon the Earls of Ewe Richmond and Vandosme the Lord Dempier the Lord Admiral of France the Marshal Bouciquale and others The main Battle by the Dukes of Barre and Alanson the Earls of Vawinont Salings Blamont Grantpee and Russy And the Reer-guard by the Earls of Marle Dampmarlin Fauconbridge and Monsieur de Lorney Captain of Ardy King Henry desirous to know the numbers of the French sent forth one Captain Gam for discovery who brought word that there were of them enow to kill and enow to take and enow to runaway The French were so confident of victory that they sent to King Henry to know what Ransome he would give but they who reckon without their Hoast we say must reckon twice they might better have sent to know what Ransome he would rake who as full of courage though not so full of bravery was busied in the mean time about marshalling his Army The Vantguard he committed to the conduct of the Duke of York the main Battle he commanded himself and the Reer-guard was led by the Duke of Exeter Then to prevent the fury of the French Horse he commanded two hundred Bowmen to lodge in a low Meddow being provided with sharp stakes studded with Iron at both ends to guard them from danger and to endamage the French Horse The Battels thus ranged the most valiant King gallantly mounted with a chearful countenance and words full of courage thus animated his followers somewhat as I have it from other Historians to this purpose My most faithful Companions and worthy Souldiers we now are marching into the Field of Honour which your great valours so long have expected and prayed for loe the day is now come your enterprise is the noblest in the world pour now therefore forth your undaunted valours that ages to come may know what the Lance the Axe the Sword and the Bow can do in the hands of Englishmen Whosoever therefore desires riches honour and rewards here he shall finde them Nimirum haec medio posuit Deus omnia campo Having this said his Army fell prostrate on the ground and committing themselves to God their devotions ended the Drums and Trumpets summoned them to action the French Vant-guard being exquisitely appointed intended with their Horse to have burst thorow the Archers with a violent course who counterfeiting flight brought the over-hasty French into the jaws of destruction for having left their sharp pointed stakes sticking in the ground they miserably goared the foremost of their Enemies Horses being pressed on forward by the following Troops and then turning head sent such tempests of Arrows on the French that many thousands their knells were rung out that dreadful day The main Battles joyn together the Dukes of Glocester and Alanzon like enraged Lions encounter each other but Glocester is wounded and overthrown whose body his Brother Henry bestriding delivered from further danger and with redoubled stroaks brought the French Gallant himself to the ground with whose fall fell the courages of the French who for all their former bravadoes they turned their backs shamefully and fled with whom the Reer-guard ran for company not having struck one stroak all this while In all this fight which continued three hours were none taken Prisoners but the Sword now made weary and drunk with blood all danger past and humanity retired Prisoners were taken and lives spared which hitherto was neglected lest mercy to others might have proved destruction to themselves Whilest these things were thus acting certain of the French Troops led on by Robert Bondile and the Captain of Agencourt fell to rifeling the Kings carriages being guarded onely by Lackies and Laundresses whose terrible shreeks made King Henry to think some fresh Forces were come certain Troops also of the King of Sicills appearing in the Field made him give present order that every man should kill his Prisoner certain principal men onely excepted then setting his men in order he sends to the assembled Troops either to come to Battle or depart the Field but they fearing to drink of the same cup their fellows had done with shame and dishonor depart away The field thus cleared and the King by his Scouts satisfied that no more enemy was to be seen be caused the whole Army in their array as they were to give thanks unto God the Clergy then present singing the Psalm of David In exitu Israel de Egypto the Footmen kneeling down and the Horse men bowing their bodies at this verse Non nobis Domine non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam Then singing Te Deum with other Hymnes and Anthems he divideth the rich spoil of the enemies Camp among his Souldiers There were slain of the French in this Battel above ten thousand whereof a hundred twenty and six were of the Nobility bearing Banners of Knights and Gentlemen of Coat Armour seven thousand eight hundred and seventy four and of common Souldiers about sixteen hundred On the English side the account falls far short some reckon but sixteen slain in all other six and twenty the most not six hundred whereof the Duke of York and the Earl of Suffolk were chief whose slain bodies King Henry brought over with him into England The Duke was buried at Fodringhey in Northamptonshire and the Earl at New-elme in Oxfordshire Great was the joy of the English for the Kings return the City of London receiving him with Triumph as at a Coronation whilst France lamenteth the loss of her Nobles To unite the differences betwixt these two Kingdoms Sigismond the Emperour having been with the French King cometh over into England and with him the Archbishop of Rheimes as Ambassadour from France to treat of peace Henry willingly hearkeneth unto them and sends the Bishop of Norwich and Sir Thomas Erpingham with Commission to Beauvois to treat further of the matter but hearing the French in the mean time had besieged Harflew he recalleth his Amabssadours and would hear no further of peace but sendeth his Brother the Duke of Bedford with the Earls of March Oxford Warwick Huntington Salisbury Arundel Devonshire and divers others with two hundred sail of Ships to the rescue of Harflew who entring the mouth of the River of Seyne encountred with the French Fleet commanded by Viscount Narbon where after a sharp fight the Victory fell to the English who took and sunk most of their Navy chasing the residue into Brittain and relieved Harflew with men and victuals The Emperour hereupon leaves mediating any further for peace with France and concludeth a League offensive and defensive with King Henry the pope onely excepted who was the master Bee that then lead the swarm His affairs finished he returneth homeward whom King Henry accompanieth as far as Callis whither upon hostages given for his safe return repaireth the Duke of
with Souldiers to the number saith Engnerrant of thirty thousand with whom he returneth again into France No sooner was he arrived but he sends the Earl of Dorset and the Lord Clifford with twelve hundred Horse and Foot unto Paris to relieve the Duke of Excester who was straightned of Victualls by the Dolphinois whilest he with the rest of the Army hasteth to relieve Chartiers besieged by the Dolphin with seven thousand Souldiers but hearing of King Henry's coming he packed up his pipes and retired to Tours though before he had given out that he would meet him in the Field Chartiers relieved Henry marcheth to Dreux which agreed to surrender if not relieved by a certain day the time expir'd and no relief come the Town was delivered the Souldiers permitted to depart upon their Oaths not to bear Arms against Henry for one whole year after then takes he in the Towns of Baugency and Rougemont where all that craved he took to mercy and supplying his Army with fresh Forces he layes siege to the Town of Meanx in Brie During the time of this Siege news was brought him that his Wife Queen Katherine was delivered of a Son named Henry at the Castle of Windsor whereat he rejoyced though he liked nor the place of her delivery having before commanded the contrary prophecying That what Henry of Monmouth should get Henry of Windsor would lose Queen Katherine for her disobedience to her Husband herein commanded at her death that her Coffin should be left open to be seen and handled of any that would Should the Coffins of all the women that have disobeyed their Husbands in our dayes be left open I fear we should have but few closed so much is the Apostle Pauls Precept forgotten Ephes 5.24 The Town of Nans holding out long without relief made their conditions the harder upon the surrender the Captain Vaurus having hanged many English and Burgundians upon a tree which he named Vaurus was now on the same hanged himself and his head fixed upon a pole on the top of the same tree Meaux being taken Crespi the Castle of Pierrepont Offemont Merlau and sundry other places submitted themselves so that now Henry had in possession all the Fortresses in the Isle of France Champagne Piccardy Brie and Normandy Yet though Henries part in France was great all was not reduced unto his obedience many places holding out for the Dolphin who with an Army of twenty thousand besieged Cosney a Town of the Duke of Burgundies upon the River Loir Henry hasting to raise the Siege at Senlis fell sick of a burning Feaver and Flux whereupon the command of the Army was committed to the Duke of Bedford who with Queen Katherine was lately come out of England whereof he was Regent to visit King Henry Upon the Dukes approach the Dolphin retired into Berry whereof in mockage he was after called King of Berry King Henries sickness encreasing more and more he was removed to Boys de Vencennois and finding himself not able long to continue he appointed his Brother John Duke of Bedford Regent of France and his Brother Humprey Duke of Glocester Protectour of England till his son came of age Then exhorting them to unity amongst themselves to be true and faithful to the Duke of Burgoigne loyal to their young Prince and serviceable to his Queen in a right mind hope and found memory he rendted his soul to his Creator after he had reigned nine years five moneths and fourteen dayes His Body with Pomp and Solemnity conveyed into England it was interred in the Abbey of Saint Peter at Westminster upon whose Tomb Queen Katherine caused a royal Picture to be laid covered all over with silver Plate gilt the head thereof altogether of massy silver all which at that Abbeys suppression in the time of King Henry the Eighth were sacrilegiously broken off and by purloyning transferred to far prophaner uses where at this day the headless Monument is to be seen with these Verses inscribed upon his Tomb. Dux Normanorum verus Conquestor eorum Haeres Francorum decessit Hector eorum Here Normans Duke so stil'd by Conquest just True Heir of France great Hector lies in dust We will end our Discourse of this renowned King with the commendations given him by Walsingham a learned Historian He was godly in heart sober in speech sparing of words resolute in deeds provident in counsel prudent in judgement modest in countenance magnanimous in action constant in undertaking a great Alms-giver devout to God-ward a renowned Souldier fortunate in Field from whence he never returned without victory Martin writes of this Prince that his Father King Henry the Fourth being seized on by a deadly Appolexy being near his last end he caused his Crown to be placed by him on his Pillow least peradventure in the extremity of his sickness it might be delivered to some other who had better right to it then he had but when his attendants verily supposed that he was dead this Martial Prince seized on the Crown whereat the King started up raised himself upon his armes and demanded who it was that had taken away his Crown the Prince answered that it was he Henry the Fourth fetching a deep sigh said My Son my Son what right I had unto this Crown and how I have enjoyed it God knows and the World hath seen Comfort your self in God sayes the Prince my good Father the Crown you have and if you dye I will have it and keep it with the Sword as you have done which his successfull Reign and hath been declared to his greatest honours afterwards made good The Life of JOHN Duke of Bedford JOhn Duke of Bedford was third Son to King Henry the Fourth a valiant Captain and a great help to his Son Henry in the Conquest of France I shall not therefore like the idle Levites of our times rehearse any of the former Transactions but begin with the pursuit of his life where we ended having chose the rather to write the History of this honourable person as with the exit of his life our English Affairs ceased to have any further footing in France He being Regent there to proceed his care was to preserve the same for his Nephew and knowing that what was won by the Sword must be kept by the Sword he strengthens the confines of his government with Garrisons assembleth his powers and labours to retain the hearts of his own party his chief assistants were the two French Dukes of Burgoignt and Brittain and those two terrours of France Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury and John Lord Talbot to whom after the Death of King Henry the Fifth he being then Regent made averation exhorting them to be true and faithfull to their young King Henry friend to his friends and enemy to his enemies that seeing the hatreds and enmities began now to dye between the French and English names it was too late for the French to be again renowned by their fraudulent
their affections the Regent and his Council being sent unto thought it not reasonable that the English having been at all the cost should not reap the profit the Burgundian on the other side resented this repulse ill as thinking the English too nice in resentments of Honour Whilst matters stood thus betwixt the French and English there was presented unto King Charles at Chinon a young Maid about eighten years of age named Joan of Arc who pretended she was sent from God to deliver France from the English yoak whereupon she was called La pucelle de Dieu or the Maiden of God though many judged her but a meer imposter however credit is given to her words and she being armed like a man she rides to Bloyes where Forces and Victuals lay for the relief of Orleance her first attempt was successfull she with the Admirall and Marshall of France enters safe bringing fresh courage to the dying hopes of the Townsmen who upon her encouragements sally forth slew 600. of the English and adventured upon the Bastile where the Lord Talbot commanded who repelled them with great slaughter of their men but yet the next day the Earl of Suffolk gave over his Siege and dispersed his Army into their Garrisons In memory of this admirable deliverance they of that City erected a Monument where Charles the Seventh King of France and Joan the Martiall Maid were represented kneeling in Armour elevating their eyes and hands to heaven in sign of thanks and acknowledgement At this time the success of War began to be various on both sides the Lord Talbot took the Town of Laval with the Castle but this gains was small in respect of the loss they received at that time the Duke of Allanson with Joan and other great Captains take by assault the Town of Jargeux and in it the Earl of Suffolk with one of his Brothers slew another of his Brothers and 200. Souldiers and having his numbers augmented encounters the Lord Talbot at a village called Patay whom he discomfits and slew of the English above a thousand The Lords Talbot the glory of the English Scales Hungerford and Sir Thomas Rampestone were taken prisoners these losses shook the whole fabrick of the English greatness in France and caused the revolt of many Towns to King Charles who encouraged by these successes marcheth into Champaigne where by composition he taketh the Cities of Troys and Auxerre Chalous and Rheimes yield themselves in which last according to the Maids direction he was solemnly Crowned King The Duke of Bedford upon the upleasant tydings of Orleance rescued and Talbot taken opposeth himself and having an Army of ten thousand English besides Normans marcheth out of Paris sending letter of defiance to the French King affirming that deceitfully and by unjust means he had stollen many Cities and places of importance belonging to the Crown of England which he was come to justifie by Battel if he would appoint a time and place who returned answer by the Herald that he would sooner seek the Duke then the Duke should need to pursue him yet notwithstanding his brags upon the Dukes approach he marcheth away the Regent follows and overtakes him at Senlys there both the Armies encamped and embattelled yet onely some light Skirmishes passed between them for the French King either thorow sear or policy or both in the night time fled to Bray the English Souldiers deeming it fear would have pursued him but the Regent judging it to be his policy to draw him further from the City of Paris of whose fidelity he had no great assurance refused to follow him any further The Bishop of Winchester Cardinal Beaufort having at that present raised four thousand men in aid of the Pope to suppress the Bohemians who began to slight his Pontifical pomp at the request of the Duke of Glocester went over with them to the Regent for a present expedition against King Charles who by the subtil working of the Pucelle was received into Campaigne and had many Towns of importance rendred unto him Yet notwithstanding his numbers exceeded twice the Regents yet by no provocations could he be drawn to Battel but secretly fled to Crispis whereupon the Regent also returned to Paris where he staid but a while but passeth into Normandy to provide for a safe retreat there if the English by the inevitable will of God should be driven out of their other Dominions exhorting them as their ancestours had alwayes been to be true and faithful to the Crown of England In the mean while the French King was not idle but gets by practice the Town of St. Denis from whence he sends the Duke of Allanson and Joan the Martial Maid to try their Friends and Fortunes at Paris but Joans good Fortune having ascended the Meridian began now to decline for the English gave them so rough an encounter that Joan her self was wounded and the rest with much slaughter forced to fly the Regent hearing of these attempts returneth to Paris commending the Souldiers for their vigilancy and valour in resisting the French and having fresh supplies out of England marcheth to reduce Champaign to his obedience The French under the conduct of their Martial Virago attempt to raise the siege and enter in despight of the English and Burgundians that besieged it but afterwards sallying forth their troops were beaten and Joan her self taken prisoner by John of Luxemburgh a Burgundian Knight who for the value of ten thousand pounds Turnoyes and three hundred crowns yearly rent delivered her to the Regent and he to the Bishop of Beauvois in whose Diocess she was taken who judicially proceeding against her as a Sorceress and deceiver of the King and his Subjects she was condemned and afterwards burnt to death at Roan Many sundry opinions were conceived of this Woman some judging her miraculously raised up by God for the good of France others that she was but a meer Imposter we will suspend our judgement herein and refer you to the Epitaph which we finde thus written on her Here lies Joan of Arc the which Some count Saint and some count Witch Some count Man and something more Some count Maid and some a Whore Her life 's in question wrong or right Her death 's in doubt by laws or might Oh innocence take heed of it How thou too near to guilt doest sit Mean time France a wonder saw A woman rule ' gainst Salique Law But Reader be content to stay Thy censure till the judgement day Then shalt thou know and not before Whether Saint Witch Man Maid or Whore And now the Regent seeing the great success that had attended King Charles ever since his Coronation would needs have King Henry Crowned in France to see if the like effects would follow the English whereupon he is sent for over and by the Bishop of Winchester solemnly Crowned in the City of Paris such of the French Nobility as were present doing their Homage and now was France a
Monster with two heads the misery of which Nation by occasion of these Wars is thus described by Polydor Virgil. While the English and French quoth he contend for Dominion Sovereignty and life if self mens goods in France were violently taken by the Licence of War Churches spoiled men every where murthered put to death or tortured Matrons ravished Maids forcibly drawn from out their Parents arms to be deflowred Towns daily taken defaced spoiled the riches of the Inhabitants carried whither the Conquerours thought good Houses and Villages round about set on fire no kinde of cruelty left unpractised upon the miserable French omitting many other kindes of other calamities which all at once oppressed them I shall onely adde that the Commonwealth being destitute of the help of Laws which for the most part are mute in times of War and Tumults floated up and down without any anchorage of right or justice Neither was England her self void of these mischiefs who by reason of her Civil Wars every day heard the news of her valiant Childrens Funerals slain in perpetual Skirmishes and Bickerings her general wealth continually decreasing so that their evils seemed almost equall and the whole Western World ecchoed the groans and sighs of either Nations quarrels being the common argument of the discourse and compassion of all Christendom The Regent having lately buried his Wife Sister to the Duke of Burgandy did now without his privity marry the Earl of St. Pauls Daughter no friend to the Burgundian which drave him into a discontentent and that discontent did King Charles so work upon that at length he seduced him from the English side though to effect the same he was fain to stoop so low as to send him a blank and bid him set down his own conditions which were both many and unreasonable saith Serres yet worth his cost For as Aemylius saith The end of that War did redeem the French from a Forreign Government as the first assuming thereof had made the English Lords over France The Regent out-lived this revolt not long but died at Paris with whom died all the English mens good fortune in France his body was with all Funeral Solemnities buried in the Cathedral Church of our Lady at Roan on the North side of the high Altar under a sumptuous and costly Monument which Tomb certain Courtiers would have perswaded King Lewis the Eleventh to have demolisht to whom he answered God forbid I should disturb him dead who living would have disturbed us all no let his bones rest in peace well worthy to have a more stately Monument How mighty a Prince he was this his stile sheweth Regent of France Duke of Bedford Alanzon and Anjon Earl of Main Richmond and Kendale and Constable of England But which excelleth his greatness as my Authour writes was that he was one of the best Patriots and Generals that ever blossomed out of the Royal Rosiar of England He died the 14. of September 1435. The Life of RICHARD NEVIL Earl of VVARWICK THis undaunted Heroe whose Life we now relate was he who in those times made and marr'd Kings and handled their Fortunes at his pleasure and was himself a great part of those famous Civil Wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster he was the eldest Son of Richard Nevill Earl of Salisbury and by Marriage with Anne the Sister and Heir of Henry Beauchampe Earl and after Duke of Warwick was in her right created Earl of Warwick His Grandfather was Ralph Nevill Earl of Westmerland whose Daughter the Duke of York had married which might be one cause of his adhering so much to that side and the effusion of so much bloud as ensued thereon For the Wars being now ended in France which we have declared unto you in the Lives of Edward the Third Edward the Black Prince Henry the Fifth and John Duke of Bedford those uncivil Civil Wars soon after brake forth betwixt the two Houses of York and Lancaster For though during our Forreign Wars these dissentions appeared not so much as in the Embrio both sides spending their stock of valour against the common enemy these Wars being ended these Martial mindes difused to peace would still be acting though against themselves The two chief Heads of these Factions was Richard Duke of York and Henry the Sixth King of England if we may call him a head who had so faint an heart and not rather the Queen who acted all though under his name The Duke of York claiming the Crown as Heir to the third Son of Edward the Third the Line of whose eldest Son Edward the Black Prince extinguisht in the deposition and paracide of Richard the second procured by Henry of Bullingbrooke the first King of the house of Lancaster Edward the Thirds second Son dying without issue Henry pleaded the advantage of a long Reign an interrupted descent in Majesty for threescore years a Sovereignty acknowledged abroad by by all Christian Princes and obeyed at home by all Englishmen without dispute a title according to the Law Salique undubitable and which had been confirmed at the first entry of his Grandfather Henry the Fourth into the Kingdom not onely by resignation of Richard the Second but even by approbation nay particular negotiation of Edmond Duke of York Edward Duke of Aumerle and Richard Earl of Cambridge Father Uncle and Grandfather to the said Duke of York This weighty business being not the work of one day the Duke of York draws to his side the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick and the better to prepare his way he practises all means to draw the King into the hatred of the people as one insufficient to supply the room which he held but Henry's piety having placed him so high in the affections of the people he seeks to undermine him in the downfall of his friends pretending not against the King but his evill Counsellours a pretence that hath been made use of in latter times The King at that present lying very sick he neglects no advantage but by the help of his friends wrought so effectually that the Duke of Somerset was sent to the Tower this man was exceedingly hated of the Commons conceiving him the chief cause that all Normandy was surrendered into the hands of the French of which their malice the Duke of York made good use though his intentions for the removing him out of the way was the hinderance he knew he would prove to his after claim of the Crown but when the King had recovered his strength again and resumed to him his Princely Government he caused the Duke of Somerset to be set at liberty and preferred him to be Captain of Calice wherewith not onely the Commons but many of the Nobility which favoured the Duke of York were greatly offended saying that he had lost Normandy already and would also lose Calice Hereupon the Duke of York with his adherents the Earls of Warwick Norfolk and Salisbury the Lords Cobham and Fawconbridge with many
other Knights and Esquires raised an Army about the edge of Wales and marched with the same towards London King Henry being informed thereof assembled likewise an host to resist them and being accompanied with the Dukes of Buckingham and Somerset the Earls of Northumberland Stafford Wiltshire Dorset Pembroke and Devonshire the Lords Clifford Sudley Barnes Rose and many others marched against him at Saint Albons both Armies met where betwixt them was fought a sore Battel which continuing doubtfull for a time the Earl of Warwick with great courage breaking in upon them and crying a Warwick a Warwick discomfitted the Kings side with a great slaughter no less then five thousand losing their lives among whom the chiefest was the Duke of Somerset the Earls of Northumberland and Stafford the old Lord Clifford with many other Knights and Gentlemen the King himself being wounded was taken prisoner and the next day carried to London Soon after began a Parliament at Westminster wherein the Duke of York was made Protector of the Realm the Earl of Salisbury Lord Chancellour and the Earl of Warwick Captain of Calice and the Territories of the same and thus the rule of the Realm rested in the Duke and Chancellour and all the Warlike Affairs in the Earl of Warwick the Kings authority consisting onely in name which they made use of for their own ends upon every occasion But the Queen stomacking these high indignities done to the King studies revenge and making sure to her side many of the Lords under a pretence of hunting conveyes the King to Coventry whither in a friendly way she sends for the Duke of York and the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury to which place the said Lords resort but having secret intelligence that mischief was intended against them they privately departed from the Court with mindes inrag'd against the Queen and her party but thorow the mediation of some Lords together with the Archbishop of Canterbury all parties meeting together at London a reconciliation was concluded on with many outward ceremonious shews of friendship But this calm lasted not long the Earl of Warwick upon some debate betwixt him and the Kings servants was by them assaulted and for safety of his life forced to fly unto Calice in a Barge this affront done unto him was seconded by another a Privy Seal being directed to him for the discharging of him of the Captainship of Calice the young Duke of Buckingham his enemy being constituted Captain in his room But for as much as he had his Commission from Parliament he would not obey the Privy Seal and to show his abilities fit for the mannagement of any design he with fourteen sail of Ships sets forth to scowre the Seas bringing home in little space prizes to the value of ten thousand pound a considerable sum in that age before the Indies wealth overflowed Europe In the mean time the Duke of York and Earl of Salisbury assemble an Army to revenge the injuries done to the Earl of Warwick to oppose whom the Queen sent James Twichet Lord Audley at Blore-heath near Mucklestone both Armies met where the Lord Audley was overthrown himself and 2400. of his men slain And now the Conquerours resolve to unvizard themselves and to raise what forces they could for the obtaining of their purposes The Earl of Warwick bringing to them a very great power from Calice the King on the other side raises a mighty great Army and having marched as far as Worcester to fave the effusion of blood sent unto them Richard Beauchamp Bishop of Salisbury with a general Pardon if they would give over their enterprise yet upon further advice having sent an excusatory Letter to the King they withdrew themselves into divers parts beyond the Seas Soon after was a Parliament holden at Coventry wherein the Duke of York Edward Earl of March his Son and Heire the Earls of Warwick Rutland and Salisbury with many other Lord and Gentlemen were attainted of Treason One Sir Baldwine Fulford undertook on pain of losing his head that he would destroy the Earl of Warwick but having spent the King a thousand marks returned without effecting his purpose On the other side the Earl of VVarwick sent some of his men who by night coming to Sandwich carried away the Lord Rivers and Sir Anthony VVoodvile his Son with many great Ships And now the Earls of March VVarwick and Salisbury being invited by the Kentishmen crossed the Sea and landed at Sandwich where they were met by Thomas Bourchier Archbiship of Canterbury and many others who conducted them to London in most solemn manner where having convocated the Cleargy in Saint Pauls Church the Earl of VVarwick in name of the rest took his oath upon the Cross of Canterbury that they had ever borne true faith and allegiance to King Henry Having by this oath gained credence of the Citizens they leave the Earl of Salisbury Governour thereof and with their Forces march down to Northampton where the King then lay with a strong power and first they affay to get him into their hands by fair means but that not prevailing they resolve force whereupon both Hosts encountred each other but the Lord Edmond Grey of Ruthen who commanded the Kings Voward forsaking his side and joyning with the Earl by that means set a palm of Victory upon his head and a Character of Treachery upon his own for betraying the trust reposed in him There were slain on the Kings part th Duke of Buckingham the Earl of Shrewsbury the Lords Beaumont and Egremont with many Knights and Esquires the King himself was taken prisoner and with seeming liberty conveyed to London And now to authorise their actions the better a Parliament is call'd wherein it was agreed that King Henry in relation to a long succession should enjoy the Crown during his natrual life which afterwards should devolve to Richard and his Heires in whom it was then apparently proved that the Title to the Kingdom did remain in which agreement was likewise manifested that Henry should make immediate forfeiture whensoever either he or any of his Party should attempt to disanul this act But the Queen with many of the Lords not being at the bargain making thought themselves not tied to the Conditions whereupon she having in her company the Prince her Son the Dukes of Exeter and Somerset the Earl of Devonshire the Lord Clifford and in effect all the Lords of the North with an Army of 18000. men marched from York to Wakefield with whom joyned the Lord Nevill Brother to the Earl of Westmorland who having gotten a Commission from the Duke of York under his name raised 8000. men but brought them all to the adverse party But the Duke of York whom fortune had hitherto waited on as his hand-maid nothing daunted at their number leaving the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of VVarwick to attend the King he with the Earl of Salisbury and his Son the Earl of Rutland with about some
proquaestor primum post Cancellarius Lancastriae tandem Angliae miro principis favore factus est Sed interim in publico regni senatulectus est orator populi praeterea legatus regis nonnunquam fuit alias alibi postremo vero Cameraci Comes collega junctus Principi Legationis Cuthberto Tonstallo tum Londinensi mox Dunelmensi Episcopo quo viro vix habet orbis hodie quicquam eruditius prudentius melius Ibiinter summos Christiani orbis Monarchas rursus refecta faedera redditamque mundo diu desideratam pacem laetisimus videt Legatus interfuit Quam superi pacem firment faxintque perennem In hoc officiorum vel honorum cursu quum ita versaretur ut neque Princeps optimus operam ejus improbaret neque nobilibus esset invisus neque injucundus populo furibus autem homicidis haereticisque molestus Pater ejus tandem Joannes Morus Eques in eum Judicum ordinem à Principe cooptatus qui regius consessus vocatur homo civilis innocens mitis misericors equus integer annis quidem gravis sed corpore plus quam pro aetate vivido postquam eo productam sibi vidit vitam ut filium videret Angliae Cancellarium satis in terra jam se moratum ratus lubens migravit in coelum At filius defancto patre cui quamdiu supererat comparatus juvenis vocari consueverat ipse quoque sibi videbatur amissum jam patrem requirens editos ex se libros IV. at Nepotes XI respiciens caepit apud animum persenescere Auxit hunc affectum animi subsequuta statim velut ad petentis senii signum pectoris valetudo deterior Itaque mortalium harum rerum satur quam rem à puero semper optaverat ut ultimos aliquot vitae suae annos obtineret liberos quibus hujus vitae negotiis paulatim se subducens futuram posset immortalitatem meditari eam rem tandem si coeptis annuat Deus indulgentissimi principis incomparà bili beneficio resignatis honoribus impetravit atque hoc sepulchrum sibi quod mortis eum nunquam cessantis adrepere quotidiè commonefaceret translatis huc prioris uxoris ossibus extruendum curavit Quod ne superstes frustra sibi fecerit neve ingruentem trepidus horreat sed desiderio Christi lubens oppetat mortemque ut sibi non omnino mortem sed januam vitae felicioris inveniat precibus eum Lector optimè spirantem precor defunctumque prosequere Pro Vxoribus suis Chara Thomae jacet c. Sub quo haec quoque subjuncta Carmina occurrunt Chara Thomae jacet hic JoannaVxorcula mori Qui tumulum Aliciae hunc destino quique mihi Vna mihi dedit hoc conjuncta virentibus annis Me vocet ut puer trina puella patrem Altera privignis quae gloria rara novercae est Tam pia quam gnatis vix fuit ulla suis Altera si mecum vixit sic altera vivit Charior incertum est haec sit an haec fuerit O simul ô juncti poteramus vivere nos tres Quam bene si factum religioque sinant Et societ tumulus societ nos obsecro Coelum Sic mors non potuit quod dare vita dabit The Life of THOMAS CROMWELL Earl of Essex Fortunae speculum Cromwellus scandit ad alta Vt casu graviore ruat Regisque favore Tollitur hincque cadit livore oppressus inique THomas Cromwell from so low a beginning as from the Forge attained to so high a pitch of honour as to be raised to a Pillar of State His Father as our Chronicles report was a Blacksmith to whom may be applied what Juvenal said of Demosthenes Whom his poor Father blear-eye'd with the soot Of sparks which from the burning Iron did shoot From Coals Tongs Anvil and such Black-smiths tools And dirty Forge sent to the Rhetrick Schools He was born at Putney in Surrey four miles from London being endued with a singular excellency of Wit His first advancement was under Cardinal Wolsey who made him his Solliciter employing him for the suppression of forty Monasteries to the erection of his Colledges at Oxford and Ipswich At the fall of the Cardinal he got him to Court where he was by King Henry first advanced to be Master of his Jewel-house then Barron of Oakham in Rutlandshire then Knight of the Garter ere long he was created Earl of Essex then made Lord great Chamberlain and lastly ordained the Kings Vicar General over the Spirituality by vertue of which Office he sat in the Convocation-house as Head over the Bishops an Honour so great that never any subject enjoyed the like in England Drayton thus epitomizes his Honours First by my Knighthood rising by degree The Office of a Jewel-house my lot After the Robes he frankly gave to me From whence to Privy Councellour I got Then of the Garter and then Earl to be Of Essex yet sufficient these were not But to the great Vicegerency I drew Being a Title as supream as new And now finding by Wolsey's predicting fall that the foundations of Monasteries were not unmoveable he puts it into the King head to have them all suppressed who being not long before declared supream Head of the Church thought his state in danger so long as the Pope had such Pillars to uphold his Power Another main thing was their excessive Riches which was valued at the yearly sum of 1865 12. pounds 8. shillings 1. d. o. q. besides the two Universities and divers Monasteries which were unvalued And no wonder that Bell sounded so sweetly in the Kings ear when so much profit pull'd the rope what ever was the true cause the pretended cause was the gain that was got by ignorant devotion and gadding on Pilgrimage as likewise that they were the receptacles of all traiterous attempts against the peace of the Land and Supremacy of the Crown Besides the Whoredoms Adulteries Incests and filthy Sodomies of the Monks Friers and Priests which put together weighed so heavy that by Act of Parliament they were granted all to the Kings use and Injunctions sent forth for the Bible in English to be read in all Churches and Register-books of Weddings Christenings and Burials in every of them to be kept These Actions of the King exasperated many especially the Pope who feared his Dagon would down if the King should be acknowledged supream Head of the Church whereupon he pronounceth him an Heretick and seduceth amongst others James the Fifth King of Scotland against him Cromwel that his Master might be able to bandy with the Pope counselleth him to allie himself with some Protestant Princess the King then a widdower entertained the motion and a marriage is concluded betwixt him and the Lady Anne Sister to William Duke of Cleve whose other Sister Fredrick Duke of Saxony had espoused a great favourer of the Gospel and maintainer of Martin Luther the promulgator and professour thereof But the Lady
its worthiness Dr. Heylin termeth Primus in Historia When at last being desirous of his liberty he studied his exit acquainting the King with the avaritious Intelligence of a rich Mine which himself and one Captain Kemish had formerly discovered by the Informations of the Indians in the Countrey of Guiana For the obtaining of which if his Majesty would please to give him leave to make a journey thither he made no doubt but to benefit the State without prejudice to the Spaniard Which Proposition was condescended unto by the King as he then imagines he would be far enough from his Complices but he commanded to set down not onely the Countrey but the very River by which he was to enter it as also to name his ships number men and Artillery Which being known to Gundamore Leiger Ambassadour here for the King of Spain he writes to his Master with the purpose of his Voyage Upon which the King of Spain directed his Letters to all parts of the Indies to provide for his comming Nevertheless Sir Walter Raleigh prosecuted his design and having endured infinite dangers besides a tedious journey at last he came to Guyana where he was much cherished of the Indians of his acquaintance But falling desperately sick he gives order to five small ships to sail into Drinoque having Captain Kemish for their Conductour towards the Mines But passing up the River by Saint Thame they were set upon by the Spaniard whereupon they assaulted the Town and took it But in the charge Master Walter Raleigh Sir Walters son more desirous of honour then safety was slain The English finding such stout opposition that there was no way for them to obtain their purpose but onely by desperate designs the Spaniards having so fortified the passage to the Mines they were forced to return to the great grief of Sir Walter Raleigh who told Kemish upon his return that he had undone him and wounded his credit with the King past all recovery which caused Kemish desperately to kill himself And now Sir Walter Raleigh being returned into England Gundamore so exclaimed against him to the King for breach of Peace and so wrought upon his timerous disposition that he was committed to the Tower Where expecting every hour to be sacrificed to the Spanish cruelty some few dayes before he suffered he sent for Master Walter Burre who formerly printed his first Volumn of the History of the World whom taking by the hand after some other discourse he askt him how that Work of his had sold Mr. Burre returned this answer that it had sold so slowly that it had undone him At which words of his Sir Walter Raleigh stepping to his Desk reaches his other part of his History to Mr. Burre which he had brought down to the times he lived in clapping his hand on his breast he took the other unprinted part of his Works into his hand with a sigh saying Ah my Frend hath the first part undone thee the second Volume shall undo no more this ungrateful world is unworthy of it When immediately going to the fire side he threw it in and set his foot on it till it was consumed As great a loss to Learning as Christendome could have or owned for his first Volumn after his death sold thousands And now the time approached wherein he was to act his last part on the Stage of this world he first sent this following Letter to King James Sir Walter Raleigh to King James before his Trial. It is one part of the office of a just and worthy Prince to hear the complaints of his Vassals especially such as are in great misery I know not amongst many other presumptions gathered against me how your Majesty hath been perswaded that I was one of them who were greatly discontented and therefore the more likely to prove disloyal But the great God so relieve me in both worlds as I was the contrary and I took as great comfort to behold your Majesty alwayes learning some good and bettering my knowledge by hearing your Majesties discourse I do most humbly beseech your sovereign Majesty not to believe any of those in my particular who under pretence of offences to Kings do easily work their particular revenge I trust no man under the color of making examples should perswade your Majesty to leave the word merciful out of your stile for it will be no less profit to your Majesty and become your greatness then the word invincible It is true that the Laws of the Realm are as no lesse jealous of the Kings then Caesar was of Pompey's Wife for notwithstanding she was cleared for keeping company with Claudius yet for being suspected he condemned her For my self I protest it before God Almighty and I speak it to my Master and Sovereign that I never invented Treason against him and yet I know I shall fall in manibus corum à quibus non possum evà dere unlesse by your Majesties gracious compassion I be sustained Our Law therefore most merciful Prince knowing her own cruelty and knowing that she is wont to compound Treasons out of her own presumptions and circumstances and doth give this charitable advice to the King her supream Non solum sapiens esse sed misericors c. cum tutius est reddere rationem misericordiae quam judicii I do therefore on the knees of my heart beseech your Majesty from your own sweet and conformable disposition to remember that I have served your Majesty twenty years for which your Majesty hath yet given me no Reward and it is fitter I should be indebted to my Sovereign Lord then the King to his poor Vassal Save me therefore most merciful Prince that I may owe your Majesty my life it self then which there cannot be a greater debt Limit me at least my Sovereign Lord that I may pay it for your service when your Majesty shall please If the Law destroy me your Majesty shall put me out of your power and I shall have none to fear but the King of kings Walter Raleigh Being brought before the Lord Chief Justice at the Kings Bench in Westminster Hall the Attorney General demanded Execution according to the Judgement formerly pronounced against him Whereupon he was asked what he could say why he should not die according to the Law His answer was That this fifteen years he had lived by the meer mercy of the King and did now wonder how his mercy was turned into justice he not knowing any thing wherein he had provoked his Majesties displeasure and did hope that he was clear from that Judgement by the Kings Commission in making him General of the Voyage to Guiana for as he conceived the words To his trusty and well-beloved Subject c. did in themselves imply a pardon But the Court resolving otherwise he was committed into the hands of the Sheriff of Middlesex who presently conveyed him to the Gate-house in Westminster The Imputation of the first bringing in of Tobacco
of speaking were a thing planted in him by nature not unlike what Ovid in the business of composing Verse sung of himself What ere I try'd to write became a Verse As aften as he was constrain'd by his Office to condemn any guilty person which duty was incumbent upon him as being learned Councel to the Kings majesty whether in criminal matters of a lesser nature or in capital offences he never carried himself proud or lofty towards the delinquent but always milde and of a moderate temper and though he knew that it was his duty in behalf of the King to urge and aggravate the crime as much as in him lay against the guilty person yet he so carried himself that at the same time he lookt upon the fact with an eye of severity upon the person with an eye of mercy In matters of State when he was called into the Kings Privy Council he ever observ'd the best manner of counselling not ingaging his master in any rash counsels or such as were grievous to the people but rather temporate and equal insomuch as King James honoured him with this testimony That he knew the method of handling matters after a milde and gentle manner and particularly exprest himself that it was a thing highly pleasing to his Majesty Nor was he when occasion serv'd less gracious with the Subjects of the Kingdom then with the King himself he was ever very acceptable to the Parliamentary Committees while he sate there of the Lower House in which he often made Speeches with great applause After he was advanc't to the office of Atturney General and elected to sit in Parliament liberty was granted to him by common suffrage of sitting in consultation among them a thing not known to have been granted to any other Atturney General And as he had the praise of a good Servant towards his Master for as much as in nineteen years administration as he himself affirm'd he never incurr'd the Kings displeasure for any offence immediately committed against the Kings Majesty so he obtained the name of a good Master towards his own Servants and freely rewarded their diligent services with eminent Offices as often as they came into his power to bestow which was a main cause why he was almost wearied with prayers to receive into the number of his Pages so many young men of the better sort and sprung from noble families and if any of them abus'd his grace and favour that was onely to be attributed to the errour of his native goodness though it redounds to their perpetual infamy and intemperance This our worthy was a strict worshiper of the Divine Majesty for although it hath been a custom among the vulgar to brand political persons and men of eminent wits with the note of Atheism yet that he both acknowledg'd and worshipt God appears most evidently by various testimonies dispersed through the whole course of his Works for otherwise he had destroyed and overthrown his own principles which were That Philosphy onely sipt and slightly tasted of draws us from God as that which magnifies second causes beyond their due but that Philosophy taken in a full draught brings us at length back unto God Now that he himself was a very profound Philosopher there is no man I suppose that can deny nor is this all but he was likewise both able and ready to render an account of that hope which was in him to any one that desired it and of this that Confession of Faith set forth at the end of his Volumne hath left a sufficient proof He very frequently us'd when he was in perfect health to be present at Divine service whether privately or publickly celebrated at the hearing of Sermons at the Participation of the holy Eucharist and at length he quietly slept in the true Faith establisht in the Church of England This is to be affirm'd for a certain that he was utterly void of all malice which as he said himself he never brought forth nor nourisht of the revenging of injuries he never so much as thought since to the performance thereof had he been so disposed he was sufficiently armed both with opportunity and power A remover of Officers from their places he was not in the least manner although he might have inricht himself by the destruction and ruine of others nor did he ever bear the name of a calumniator of any man to his Prince On a certain day when one of the chief Ministers of State who had borne him no good will being lately dead the King askt him what he thought of that Lord who was dead he answered That he was such a one as never had promoted his Majesties Affairs or made them better but that doubtless he had done his best to keep them from sinking or declining This was the hardest Sentence he would utter concerning him which indeed I reckon not among his Morall but his Christian vertues His name was more celebrated shin'd brighter abroad amongst forreigners then at home among his own Countreymen as it is mentioned in holy Writ A Prophet is not without honour except in his own Country and in his own House To make this good I shall produce a little passage out of an Epistle sent from Italy the shop of polite Wits to the late Earl of Devonshire at that time Baron Candish which was thus The new Essays of the Lord Chancellor Bacon as also his History and whatsoever besides he is now about I shall expect with infinite thirst of mind but especially in his History I promise to my self a perfect and well polisht work and chiefly in the Affairs of Henry the Seventh in the relating of which he will have liberty to exercise the gift of his accute wit That Lord daily increaseth in fame and his Works are more and more in chocie request among us and those who in humane Affairs are wise above the vulgar repute him among the greatest and most sublime wits of the age and so in truth he is Many of his Books were taught other languages as well the ancient and modern both heretofore and of late by those of forreign Nations Divers eminent men while he was living came over into England for no other cause but onely to see him and to have an opportunity of discoursing with him upon one of whom he bestowed his Picture drawn whole at length from head to foot to carry back with him into France which he thankfully receiv'd as a thing that would be very grateful and acceptable to his Countreymen that so they might enjoy the Image of his Person as well as the Images of his Brain viz. his Book Among others the Marquess of Fiat a Nobleman in France who came Ambassadour into England in the first year of Queen Mary's comming over the Wife of King Charles was affected with a very earnest desire of seeing him whereunto having gain'd an opportunity and coming into his Bed-chamber where he lay sick of of the Gout he addrest
University and on them he bestowed the preferments which fell in his gift thus he weighed their merits in the Balance His own manner of preaching being no less wise then eloquent so he would have men of his profession to be possessed with a Christian and religious wisdom to preserve peace and truth together Nevertheless as he understood his own qualifications he the better knew what men of his function were able to perform And though his improvements were admirable after he was Vicar of Saint Giles and his dislikes of all preaching which by being too frequent is withal too loose thence was his censure on himself recorded by Bishop Brockridge in his Funeral Sermon that when he preached twice a day at St. Giles he prated once not but that his very table talk and what in the depth of his humility he called his prating was more useful more learned then the very best preaching of them that are enemies to his Glory as well as Doctrine But because he thought the word of God was never well enough handled and that the work of God was never well enough done until it had received the utmost care and circumspection as Mr. Fuller excellently discoursing of preaching twice a day commends the necessity of a large repitition in the afternoon which he compares to a dish of cold meat which with a little addition will suffice those that are not of too greedy appetites all ear and nothing else Doctor Dun renders an excellent reason why some are so tedious and long-winded in their holding forth For that saith he there ware is course they can afford the larger measure But to return to our present undertaking our Bishops fidelity in his Almoner-ship was such that he would never suffer one penny of that which accrewed to him by that place to be mingled with any of his own Rents or Revenues and wherein he kept a more exact account then of his own estate And if upon accounts at any time he found any surplusage he would never suffer it to lie by him but like a faithful Steward distribute the same to poor housholders and other persons where he saw most need But in recounting his vertues let us not forget to what height they preferred him having held the Bishoprick of Chichester about four years his Majesty advanced him to that of Ely wherein he sat about nine years in which time he was made a Privy Councellour first of England and then of Scotland in his attendance of the King thither He was afterwards preferred to the Bishoprick of Winchester and the Deanry of the Kings Chappel which two last preferments he held to the day of his death He was ever faithful provident and careful to keep in good repair the Houses of all his Spiritual Preferments and spent much money that way As upon the Vicarage House of Saint Giles the Prebends and Deans House of Westminster and the Residentiaries House of S. Pauls Upon the house belonging to the Bishoprick of Chicester he expended above four hundred and twenty pound Of Ely above two thousand four hundred and forty pound Of Winchester besides a Pension of four hundred pound per annum from which he freed his See at his own charge he spent two thousand pound He bequeathed several Legacies to the Parishes of Saint Giles Saint Martins Ludgate where he had dwelt Saint Andrews in Holborn Saint Saviours in Southwark All-Saints Berking where he was born and others Also to Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge where he had been a Schollar Fellow and Master a thousand pound to purchase Land for two Fellowships Besides three hundred Folio Books of his own to the encrease of their Library together with a gilt Cup and a Bason and Ewer of great worth His gratitude to those from whom he had received any benefits was most conspicuous as Doctour Ward son to his first School-master upon whom he bestowed the Living of Waltham in Hampshire Master Mulcaster his other Schoolmaster he alwayes reverendly respected living and being dead caused his Picture having but few other in his House to be set over his Study door Upon a Kinsman of Doctor Wats which was all he could finde of that Generation he bestowed preferments in Pembroke-Hall But should I go about to particularize all his Vertues it were sufficient of its self to make up a Volumn Master Crashaw the second Herbert of our late Times write these following Verses in Latine and English on the Bishop some of which are placed before his Picture to his Sermons In Picturam reverendissimi Episcopi D. Andrews Haec charta monstrat fama quem monstrat magis Sed ipsa quem dum fama non monstrat satis Ille ille solus totam implevit tubam Tot ora solus domuit famam quoque Fecit modestam mentis igneae pater Agilio radio lucis aeternae vigil Per alta rerum pondera indomito vagus Cucurrit animo quippe naturam ferox Exhausit ipsam mille Faetus artibus Et mille linguis ipse se in gentes procul Variavit omnes fuitque toti simul Cognatus orbi sic sacrum solidum jubar Saturumque coelo pectus ad patrios libens Porrexit ignes hac eum Lector vides Huc ecce charta O utinam audires quoque Vpon Bishop Andrews Picture before his Sermons This Reverend Shadow cast that setting Sun Whose glorious course through our Horizon run Left the dim face of this dull Hemispheer All one great eye all drown'd in one great tear Whose fair Illustrious soul led his free thought Through Learnings Universe and vainly sought Room for her spacious self until at length She found the way home with a holy strength Snatcht her self hence to Heaven fill'd a bright place ' Mongst those immortal fires and on the face Of her great Maker fixed her flaming eye There still to read pure true Divinity And now that grave aspect hath deign'd to shrink Into this less appearance if you think 'T is but a dead face Art doth here bequeath Look on the following leaves and see him breath To draw to a period of his Life which happened September 25. 1626. in the third year of the Reign of King Charles and 71. of his Age. When he changed this mortal for an immortal life becoming one of those heavenly Choristers which sing continual Hallelujahs unto the Lord as Master Waller admirably expresses in his Poems All that the Angels do above Is that they sing and that they love He lieth buried in the upper Isle of the Parish Church of Saint Saviours in Southwark over whom his Executours have erected a very fair Monument of Marble and Alablaster enscribed with this Epitaph LECTOR Si Christianus es siste morae pretinum erit Non nescire te Qui vir hic situs sit Ejusdem tecum Catholicae Ecclesiae Membrum Sub eadem faelicis Resurrectionis spe Eandem D. Iesu praestolans Epiphaniam Sacratissimus Antistes Lancelotus Andrewes Londini oriundus
Bed-chamber and one of his Majesties Honourable Privy Councel in his Realms both of England Scotland and Ireland and Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter The same Parliament likewise was the Duke accused of High Treason by the Earl of Bristol and the Earl of Bristol in like manner accused of High Treason by the Duke the Factions of both sides were passing jocund at this contest observing That whilest between these Grandees mutual malice brake out truth came to her own But that Parliament being broke up abruptly the people were frustrated of their expectations To recover the Dukes reputation which seem'd eclipsed by this charge of High Treason a Navy being made ready for the relief of Rochel the Duke was made Commander both by Sea and Land who endeavouring by his Atchievements to remove all cause of calumny against him by the ill successe of that enterprize more exasperated the hatred of the people The cause of this expedition that we may relate things in order to truth was as followeth The French King during the Treaty of Marriage between England and France pretending a Martial design against Italy and the Valtoline obtained of King James the Loan of the Vant-guard a parcel of the Navy Royal and with the owners consent of six Merchants Ships more but a rumour being spread that those ships were intended against Rochel then revolted from him an express caution was put in to the contrary But before those ships set out King James died and the French King and the Rochellers by the mediation of King Charles came to an accord but no sooner was the French Army advanced for Italy but the Rochellers upon pretence that the King had not kept touch with them in slighting Fort Lewis under the leading of Subize surprize the Isle of Rhee surprize many ships in the Harbour and bad fair for the taking of Fort Lewis had not the Duke of Vendosme posted thither with relief The French King nettled at this insolency began to raise an Army sets forth all the ships he could procure obtained naval aid of the Dutch and demanded of Captain Pennington the delivery of the English ships agreeable to his Masters promise Pennington refuses to deliver any till a further signification of his Majesties pleasure but King Charles rather willing to submit to the hazard of Lewis his breach of faith then to the blame of receding from his own promise returned answer That his will was that he should consign up his own and the six Merchants ships to the service of his Brother With these Forces he quickly undoeth what Subize had done forceth him from his strength reprizeth many of his ships and so impetuously chaseth him as he with much difficulty escaped to the Isle of Oleron King Charles discontented for the misimployment of his ships sent an expostulatory message to his Brother demanding the cause of this violation of his Royal Parole and withal requiring the restitution of his ships Lewis returneth answer That the Rochellers had first temerated and slighted their faith with him and that necessity enforced him to use all means to impede the progress of so great disloyalty which he could not well do without the aid of the English Ships his own Fleet being upon other service And for the restitution of those ships he replyed That his Subjects by whom they were mann'd held them contrary to his minde and therefore wisht him to come by them as he could This answer nothing pleased King Charles other discontents also arising and Rochel being close beleagured by the Duke of Guise a Navy was made ready whereof the Duke was made Admiral as you have heard June the 27. the year of our Lord 1627. he set sail from Portsmouth with about 6000. Horse and Foot their design was intended against Fort Lewis upon the Continent near Rochel but upon a false information that the Duke D' Angoulesm was there with fifteen thousand men whereas indeed he had but three thousand Foot and two hundred Horse they altered their determination and instantly directed their course towards the Isle of Rhee July the 30. early in the morning they shewed themselves upon the Islands of Oleron to the number of about twenty Sail being at first supposed to be Dunkerks waiting the motion of the Hollanders then in the road but upon their nearer approaches toward the Isle of Rhee and that the Hollanders took no Alarm they were then suspected to be English At a certain Fort called De la Pree they landed to the number of 1200. whom to oppose Sieur de Toiras Governour of the Cittadel of Saint Martins with the like number encountred the Fight continued fierce and doubtful On the English side were slain Sir William Heyden and Sieur de Blancard a French-man Agent from the Duke of Rohan and the Protestants Of the French the Governours Brother and the Barron of Chuntal of common Souldiers on both sides about nine hundred whereof the French bare the greater share and now having tryed a taste of each others valour the French retire to their Garrison and the English to their Ships Three dayes together both sides lay quiet as if they had spent their whole stock of valour at once or sworn a truce on both sides at length the Duke went on shore again intrenching himself until he had debarqued all his Horse and receiving a recruit from Rochel of 500. Foot marcheth directly towards St. Martins Fort. Upon his approach the Islanders abandoned the Town and fled into the Castle so that the Duke being now possessed of the one thought it would not be long ere the other was his but those who reckon without their host we say must reckon twice two moneths together the Duke encamped before this Fort during which time Toiras the Governour had hired a French man to have stabbed the Duke who being taken by the English confessed his intentions But what detriment the French could not do the English by treachery they performed otherwise that gallant Gentleman Sir John Burroughs being slain with a Musquet shot from the Castle as he was viewing the English Works whose body was after honourably enterred at Westminster At length the Castle was reduced to a condition of yielding when in the very nick of necessity Mounsier Balin at an high flood in the dead of night conveyed in twelve Pinnaces laden with Provision which so cheared their drooping spirits that they resolved to stand it out resolutely which accordingly they did till at last they were relieved by the Marshal of Schomberg who with four thousand Foot and two hundred Horse landed at Fort de la Pree and undiscovered marched up to the view of the Fort and of the English The Duke alarm'd at this sudden apparition fearing to be charged front and rear resolved to rise and be gone the French upon their retreat came up to the very tail of their rear hallowing to them in a Bravado whereupon the English were drawn up in Battalia but the
humanity and charitable inclinations will afford me your devout prayers For my Saviours sweet mercy good people pray for me even for my eternal Saviours sake into whose bosom I render my woful and afflicted soul sweet Jesu my redeemer the redeemer even of me a woful and dejected sinner receive into thy arms my Spirit At the time appointed he marched to the Scaffold more like a General in the head of an Army to breath victory then like a condemned man to undergo the sentence of death The Lieutenant of the Tower desired him to take Coach for fear the people should rush in upon him and tear him in pieces No said he Master Lieutenant I dare look death in the face and I hope the people too have you a care that I do not escape and I care not how I dye whether by the hand of the Executioner or the madness and fury of the People if that may give them better content it is all one to me Having mounted the Scaffold and seeing his Brother Sir George Wentworth weeping Brother said he What do you see in me that deserves these tears doth my fear betray my guiltiness or my too much boldness any Atheism think now that you do accompany me to my marriage bed Nor did I ever throw off my cloathes with such freedom and content as in this my preparation to my Grave that stock pointing to the Block appointed for his Execution must be my Pillow here must I rest and rest from all my labours no thoughts of envy no dreams of treason jealousies of foes cares for the King the State or my self shall interrupt this nap therefore Brother with me pitty mine enemies who beside their intention have made me blessed rejoyce in my innocency rejoyce in my happiness Kneeling down upon the Scaffold he made this Protestation I hope Gentlemen you do think that neither fear of loss or love of reputation will cause me to belie God and my Conscience for now I am in the door going out and my next step must be from time to eternity either of peace or pain To clear my self to you all I do solemnly protest before God I am not guilty so far as I can understand of that great crime laid now to my charge nor have had the least inclination or intention to damnifie or prejudice the King the State the Laws or Religion of this Kingdom but with my best endeavours to serve all and support all concluding with these words as God might be merciful to his soul Addressing himself to my Lord Primate of Ireland he said It is my very great comfort that I have your Lordship by me this day in regard I have been known to you these many years and I do thank God and your Lordship for it that you are here I should be very glad to obtain so much silence as to be heard a few words but I doubt I shall not the noise is so great My Lords I am come hither by the good will and pleasure of Almighty God to pay that last debt I owe to sin which is death and by the blessing of that God to rise again through the merits of Jesus Christ to righteousness and life eternal Here he was much interrupted My Lords I am come hither to submit to that judgement which hath passed against me I do it with a very quiet and contented minde I thank God I do freely forgive all the world a forgiveness that is not spoken from the teeth outwards as they say but from the very heart I speak it in the presence of Almighty God before whom I stand that there is not a displeasing thought arising in me towards any man living I thank God I can say it and truly too my conscience bearing me witness that in all my employment since I had the honour to serve his Majesty I never had any thing in the purpose of my heart but what tended to the joynt and individual prosperity of the King and People although it hath been my ill fortune to be misconstrued I am not the first that hath suffered in this kinde it is the common portion of us all while we are in this life to erre righteous judgement we must wait for in another place for here we are very subject to be misjudged one of another There is one thing that I desire to free my self of and I am very confident speaking it now with so much chearfulness that I shall obtain your Christian Charity in the belief of it I was so far from being against Parliaments that I did alwayes think the Parliaments of England were the most happy Constitutions that any Kingdom or Nation lived under and the best means under God to make the King and People happy For my death I here acquit all the world and beseech the God of heaven heartily to forgive them that contrived it though in the intentions and purposes of my heart I am not guilty of what I die for And my Lord Primate it is a great comfort for me that his Majesty conceives me not meriting so severe and heavy a punishment as is the utmost execution of this sentence I do infinitely rejoyce in this mercy of his and I beseech God return it into his own bosome that he may finde mercy when he stands in need of it I wish this Kingdom all the prosperity and happiness in the world I did it living and now dying it is my wish I do most humbly recommend this to every one that hears me and desire they would lay their hands upon their hearts and consider seriously whether the beginning of the happinesse and Reformation of a Kingdom should be written in Letters of blood consider this when you are at your homes and let me be never so unhappy as that the least drop of my blood should rise up in judgement against any one of you but I fear you are in a wrong way My Lords I have but one word more and with that I shall end I profess that I dye a true and obedient son to the Church of England wherein I was born and in which I was bred peace and prosperity be ever to it It hath been objected if it were an objection worth the answering that I have been inclined to Popery but I say truly from my heart that from the time that I was one and twenty years of age to this present going now upon forty nine I never had in my heart to doubt of this Religion of the Church of England nor ever had any man the boldness to suggest any such thing to me to the best of my remembrance and so being reconciled by the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour into whose bosom I hope I shall shortly be gathered to those eternal happinesses which shall never have end I desire heartily the forgivenesse of every man for any rash or unadvised words or any thing done amiss and so my Lords and Gentlemen farewel Farewel all the things of this world
curious Map to build upon whose foundations he held it too injurious so I must with all submission acknowledge that a Gentleman of most accomplisht parts hath made a progress at large in this reverend Prelates History for me to have went about to build when he alone had laid such a firme foundation as shall out-live all other Historians I could not but count it too ambitious and am so far from thinking my self worthy to attend his noble purposes that if I had not thought it a crime of necessity though in the Epitome to place him amongst these eternized Heroes with Mr. Speed I should rather have left out a whole Countrey then in these few pages have committed the sin of presumption against his admirable endeavours The Life of ROBERT DEVEREUX Earl of Essex General of the Parliaments Forces THis Earl was borne in London Anno Dom. 1592. beginning his morning in the evening of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth His Father was that Robert Devereux Earl of Essex whose unfortunate life we have already discoursed of his Mother was the widdow of Sir Philip Sidney one whose Pen and Sword have rendered him famous to all posterity His education in his youth was at the University of Cambridge afterwards committed to the tuition of Bishop Whitgift a reverend Divine King James restoring him to his Fathers Titles and Estate forfeited by his fathers treasons to Queen Elizabeth That a perfect reconcilement might be made in all things a Marriage was contracted betwixt him and the Lady Frances Howard Daughter to the Earl of Suffolk a Lady of a transcendent beauty but she full of fire and the Earl of ice upon complaint made they were separated by a most just sentence of nullity executed by Commission under the great Seal of England after they had enjoyed the Society of one bed for three years together Some report that indirect and unjustifiable practices were used in the scrutiny of her Virginity but I averre according to the truth of allegations and proofs as the Jury of Midwives declared she was an untouched Virgin so did the Earl himself confess that though he had often attempted it he never could and believed never should unty her Virgin zone whereupon the Commissioners pronounced a divorce betwixt them Some Authors write that she did not much affect the Earl being of a lustful appetite Some on the other side imputed it to his travels others to her looseness in the time of his absence suffering her body to be abused Others bring Viscount Car on the stage that she placed her affections on him Others write that Mrs. Turner and Doctor Forman were employed to bewitch the Earl and to procure frigidity quo ad hanc so much do our Historians differ in their relations of this unfortunate marriage The Earl perceiving how little he was beholding to Venus is now resolved to address himself to the Court of Mars and to this purpose he bestows himself in the Netherlands which at that time was the School of Honour for the Nobility of England in their exercise of Arms where having continued for certain years and gained renown by his experience and perfection in the feates of Arms he advanced from thence into the Palatinate to which place went also the Earl of Southampton the Lord Willoughby the Earl of Oxford and Sir John Borlans with their Regiments but these not seconded as they expected and being invaded by so potent an Enemy as was then the Emperour and seconded by so puissant a Potentate as the King of Spain having in vain endeavoured with such weak forces to resist so great power they returned into England King James dying in the beginning of his Sons Reign a design went on for a sudden expedition into Cadiz in Spain which was committed to the mangement of Viscount Wimbleton and the Earl of Essex who putting forth to Sea were much dammaged with a furious storm but meeting together in the height of the Southern Cape they sailed to Cadiz where having taken Puntal Castle and in likelihood to fire the Ships in the Harbour the field men in the interim being directed to Land for their recreation and to take in fresh water having discovered the Cellers plentifully stockt with wine they carrowsed thereof so liberally in despite of more sober commands to the contrary as put them to the hazard of a dismal reckoning Whereupon the Admiral finding the Souldiers thus insufferably disordered fearing the Spaniard upon this advantage might make a lamentable butchery amongst them was forced to put to Sea again and having staid some time in expectation of setting upon the Plate Fleet in their returning home the Pestilence so reigned in their Navy that they had scarce men enow to handle their Sails which enforced them to ply home with all the speed they could The Earl of Essex soon after his return made a voyage into Holland not loving to lie idle when any action of Honour was on foot where he behaved himself with such gallant resolution as got him high repute in the mouthes of all men Having given these undeniable testimonies of his valour he was ambitious to give some further proofs of his virility and having been a while in England he solicites the affection of Mrs. Elizabeth Paulet daughter of Sir William Paulet of Wiltshire extracted from the noble line of the Marquess of Winchester with whom he consumated his Nuptials at Netley the Earl of Hartfords house by her he had a Son who was Christned Robert after his Fathers name he dyed in the year 1636. and lies buried at Drayton in the County of Warwick With this Lady he did agree and cohabit but it was but a short time becoming soon unhappy in his second as he was in his first choice for he could as little digest her overmuch familiarity with Mr. Vdal as his former Ladies with the Earl of Somerset upon which distaste this Earl did ever after abandon all uxorious thoughts and for a while lived a retired life Soon after began the long Parliament in which such Differences arose betwixt them and the King that for the deciding thereof each part had their recourse to Arms. The Parliament very wisely chose Essex for their General there being no person in the Kingdom so fit to take the people and credit their designs who having an Army raised marches with them against the King The King on the other side proclaims Essex and his adherents Traytors and confident in the justness of his cause gives him Battel on a place called Edge-hill which was fought with much eagerness and in a manner with equality for though the King kept the field and therein had the honour of the day yet lost he many brave Commanders who there dyed in the bed of Honour Amongst others the Lord Aubigney Sir Edward Vaerney who carried the Kings Standard Collonel Monroe and others Soon after was an overture for Peace but whilest it was in agitation a second Battel was fought at Brainford Essex
Religion then the Ceremonies of it did publickly refuse it From hence proceeded Tragedies Tumults War and Invasion for upon the first reading thereof the people were so violent against it that the Dean and Bishop of Edenburgh hardly escaped with life nor were they onely the rascal multitude that thus opposed it but many of the Noblemen Barons and Gentlemen amongst whom the chief were the Earl of Hume and the Lord Lindsey To appease these disorders the King sent down the Marquess Hamilton in the quality of an high Commissioner impowring him with a Commission to use the utmost of his interest and power for the settling of peace but whether as some write he dealt deceitfully in aspiring to the Crown himself or no I judge uncertain but most certain it is that after his coming the differences encreased far greater then before and no question but it had become far better for the King had this Marquess been either a more close friend or an opener enemy The King being at home in no good condition used all means he could to pacifie his enemies abroad not onely winking at many of the foul disorders of the Scots but also yielded unto them in their desires for many things which nevertheless allayed not their spirits but rather encouraged them to proceed as they had begun For as Cleaveland hath it Nor Gold nor Acts of Grace 't is steel must tame The stubborn Scot a Prince that would reclaim Rebels by yielding doth like him or worse Who saddled his own back to save his horse Hamilton being returned into England the Scots began might and main to levy Souldiers to impose Taxes to raise Fortifications to block up some and seize others of the Kings Castles and to prepare for War The King not to be behinde hand with the Scots it being no good policy in War to strain courtesie who should begin first raised a considerable power to the maintenance whereof many of the Nobility contributed largely especially the Bishops it being for the preservation of their own Hierarchy March 27. the Army began to march the Earl of Arundel commanding in Chief but all the preparation both of one side and the other proved onely an interview of two Armies nothing being acted considerable in the way of engagement for after a few dayes attendance upon each other a Pacification was concluded upon distributed into these Articles On the Kings Part. 1. His Majesty to confirme what his Commissioner promised in his name 2. That a general Assembly be indicted to be kept at Edenburgh August 6. 3. That command be given for a Parliament to be holden at Edenburgh August the 20. 4. That he recal all his Forces by Land or Sea and restore all Ships and Goods arrested and detained since the pretended Assembly at Glasgow upon the Covenanters disarming and disbanding of their Forces dissolving their Tables and restoring to the King all his Castles Forts and Ammunition and releasing all the Persons Lands and Goods then under restraint or detained since the pretended Assembly of Glasgow This his Majesty to do by Declaration On the Scots Part. 1. The Forces of Scotland to be disbanded within eight and forty hours after publication of the Kings Declaration 2. They to render up after the said publication all Castles Forts Ammunition of all sorts so soon as the King shall send to receive them 3. They to hold no meetings treatings nor consultations but such as are warranted by act of Parliament 4. They to desist from all fortifications and those to be remitted to the Kings pleasure 5. They to restore to all the Kings Subjects their Liberties Lands Houses Goods and Means taken or detained from them since the first of February last This Pacification being solemnly ratified on both sides the King well hoped a general peace would ensue but what ever the Scots pretended the sequel shewed they intended nothing less for they still kept their Officers in constant Pay they did not slight their fortification at Leith they still continued their Meetings and Consultations they still disquieted molested and frighted all of different inclinations and which was worst of all they dispersed a scandalous Libel entituled Some conditions of his Majesties Treaty with his Subjects of Scotland before the English Nobility are set down here for remembrance Which Book tending to the defamation of his Majesty and disavowed by the Commissioners then present at the Treaty was by the command of the Council burnt by the common Hangman The King who intended to stay till the General Assembly was met seeing matters remain in this doubtful posture returned into England leaving the Earl of Traquair his Commissioner August the 6 the Assembly met at Edenburgh wherein Episcopacy the five Articles of Perth the High Commission the Liturgy and Book of Canons were abolished the Earl of Traquiar assenting thereunto The Assembly being ended the Parliament began who instead of reforming Abuses fell upon new moddelling the Government forming an Act Recissory whereby former Acts concerning the Judicatory of the Exchequer concerning Proxies and concerning confirmation of Ward Lands should be nulled Which being signified to the King he by his Commissioner the Earl of Traquair prorogued the Parliament until the 2. of June next These actings of the Scots warping altogether towards War were much forwarded by an accident November 19. it happened a great part of the walls of the Castle of Edenburgh with the Cannons mounted fell to the ground this being the Anniversary night of the Kings Birth-day was construed in the Grammar of Superstition an ominous presage of the ruine of the Kings design The King appointed the Lord Estrich Colonel Ruthen and the Governour of the Castle to take order for the re-edification of what was lapsed but the Scots would not suffer any materials to be carried in for reparation This Indignity the King concludeth intollerable and thereupon resolveth to relieve himself by force to this end a private Juncto is selected for the close carrying on of the design wherein it was agreed his Majesty should call a Parliament to assemble April the 13. next The King approved well of their Councel but withal said My Lords the Parliament cannot suddenly convene and the subsidies they grant will be so long in levying as in the interim I may be ruin'd therefore some speedy course must be thought upon for supplies The Lords willing to forward the business told him they would engage their own credits and the Lord Deputy of Ireland giving the onset subscribed for twenty thousand pound the other Lords writing after his Copy subscribed conformable to their Estates the Judges also contributed largely as also the Recusants who are ever sure to undergo the lash yielded according to their abilities From which Loyalty of theirs to his Majesty the more envious and schismatical sort of people gave out that the King was in his heart a Papist I have thought it my duty to insert in Latin and in English his Majesties Declaration
universal grievance of your people 7. The great grief of your Subjects by long intermission of Parliaments and the late and former dissolution of such as have been called without the happy effects which otherwise they might have produced For remedy whereof and prevention of the dangers that may arise to your Royal Person and to the whole State they do in all humility and faithfulness beseech your most excellent Majesty that you would be pleased to summon a Parliament within some convenient time whereby the causes of these and other great Grievances which your people lye under may be taken away and the Authours and Councellors of them may be brought to such legal trial and condign punishment as the nature of their several offences shall require And that the present War may be composed by your Majesties wisdom without blood in such manner as may conduce to the honour and safety of your Majesties person the comfort of your people and the uniting of both your Realms against the common enemy of the reformed Religion And your Majesties Petitioners shall ever pray c. Concluded the 28. of August 1640. Francis Bedford Robert Essex Mulgrave Say Seal Edward Howard William Hartford Warwick Bullingbrooke Mandevile Brooke Pagett This Petition being seconded by another from the Scots to the same effect the King the twenty fourth day of the same moneth assembled the Lords together at York where it was concluded that a Parliament should be summoned to convene November the third next ensuing in the mean time a cessation of Arms was concluded between both Nations whereupon the King and Lords posted to London Tuesday November the third according to pre-appointment the Parliament assembled no sooner were they set but Petitions came thronging in from all Counties of the Kingdom craving redress of the late general exorbitancies both in Church and State many who were in prison were ordered to be set at liberty as Pryn Bastwick and Burton and the Bishop of Lincolne and many who were at liberty were ordered to be sent to prison as Sir William Beecher the Earl of Strafford and the Archbishop of Canterbury Secretary Windebank and the Lord Keeper Finch who was forced to flye the Land Ship-money was voted down the late Cannons damn'd Peace is concluded with Scotland and three hundred thousand pound allowed them for reparations This was summarily the first actings of the Parliament which gave much content to many people especially the Londoners who to the number of 15000. Petition for the abolishing of Episcopacy it self Indeed some few of the Cleargy at this time as at all others were corrupt in their lives many of them being vicious even to scandal yea many of those who pretended much purity in their conversations were most covetous and deceitful in their dealings besides their pride was intollerable insomuch that a great one amongst them was heard to say He hoped to live to see the day when a Minister should be as good a man as any upstart Jack Gentleman in England Well therefore might it it be said of the Priests of our times what Gildas sirnamed the wise wrote of the Priests of his time Sacerdotes habet Britannia sed insipientes quam plurimos Ministros sed impudentes clericos sed raptores subdeles c. Great Brittain hath Priests indeed but silly ones Ministers of Gods word very many but impudent a Cleargy but given up to greedy rapine c. Yet let none mistake me I write not thus to perswade any to an ill opinion of the Ministry for though our Church had cause to grieve for the blemishes of many yet might she glory in the ornaments of more so that Episcopacy received not at this time the fatal blow but was onely mutilated in her former glory the House of Commons voting that no Bishop shall have any vote in Parliament nor any Judicial power in the Star Chamber nor bear any sway in Temporal Affairs and that no Cleargy-man shall be in Commission of the Peace The Parliament having thus set bounds to the exorbitant power of the Cleargy they next fell upon the Tryal of the Deputy of Ireland who as you heard not long before was committed prisoner to the Tower this man at first was a great stickler against the Prerogative until allured by Court preferment he turned Royalist Westminster Hall was the place assigned for his Tryal the Earl of Arundel being Lord High Steward and the Earl of Lindsey Lord High Constable the Articles charged against him being very many are too long to recite I having more at large in their place inserted them in his Life The sum of them were for ruling Ireland and the North of England in an arbitrary way against the Laws for retaining the Kings revenue without account for encreasing and encouraging Popery for maliciously striving to stir up and continue enmity betwixt England and Scotland and for labouring to subvert Parliaments and incense the King against them yet notwithstanding this high charge the Earl by his answers so cleared himself that the King told the Lords he was not satisfied in Conscience to Condemn him of high Treason but acknowledged his misdemeanours to be very great at last wearied with the clamours of the people the Earl also by a letter desiring the same he granted a Commission to four Lords to Sign the Bill for his Execution which Execution was accordingly performed on Tower-hill May 10. 1641. Thus dyed this unhappy Earl a sacrifice to the Scots revenge cut off as it was thought not so much for what he had done as for fear of what he afterwards might do a man of the rarest parts and deepest judgement of any English man of our late times The same day fatal to the King he Signed the Bill for the Deputy of Irelands death he also Signed the Bill for a trienial or perpetual Parliament which should not be dissolved without consent of both Houses some say Duke Hamilton counselled him to it others say it was the Queen whoever it was it was his ruine for the Parliament now fearless of a dissolution began to act in an higher way then before being fortified with a strong guard of Souldiers whereof the Earl of Essex was Captain they without the Kings leave or knowledge appoint an extraordinary Assembly in the City that should mannage all weighty and great occurrences and to weaken his Majesty the more or rather to satisfie the insolence of the people they cast twelve Bishops into Prison because they went about to maintain their priviledge by the publick Charter The King moved with this accused five of the lower House and one of the upper House of high Treason their names were the Lord Viscount Mandevil Mr. Pym Mr. Hampden Sir Arthur Haslerig Mr. Hollis and Mr. Strowd This action of the Kings was by the Parliament adjudged a great breach of their Priviledges certainly it much encreased the differences between them and left scarce any possibility of reconcilement This small river of
Discord being now grown a Sea of Dissention the King and Queen poste to Hampton Court yet before he went that he might clearly demonstrate his real intentions to compose all differences he consented to the Petition of the Parliament to exclude the Bishops out of the House an act very prejudicial to himself for by this means the scale of Votes in the upper House which oft had turned to his advantage did by this diminution encline most commonly the other way Having staid about a moneth at Hampton Court the Queen went into Holland to accompany her Daughter Mary who was lately married to the young Prince of Orange The King the Prince the Palsgrave the Duke of Richmond and some other of the Nobility went down into the North intending to seize on the Magazine at Hull but the Parliament had before sent down one of their own Members Sir John Hotham who from the Walls denyed his Majesty entrance the King complaineth hereof to the Parliament but they justifie his Act yet what grains of affection towards his Majesty were wanting in Hull were found superabundant in the City of York who with the Counties adjacent declare unanimously for his Majesty Encouraged here with August 22. 1642. he sets up his Standard at Nottingham The Parliament in the mean time raised a considerable Army whereof the Earl of Essex commanded in chief And now were the gates of Janus unlocked and stern Mars released out of prison the seldom heard Drum rattled in every corner and the scarce known Trumpet sounded in every street now Factions banded Nick-names were invented Oaths framed and amongst the rest the Covenant obtruded against which his Majesty publisht this following Proclamation His Majesties Proclamation forbidding the tendring or taking of the late Covenant called A Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation c. Whereas there is a printed Paper entituled A Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and defence of Religion the honour and happiness of the King and the peace and safety of the three Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland pretended to be ordered by the Commons in Parliament on the one and twentieth day of September last to be printed and published which Covenant though it seems to make specious expressions of Piety and Religion is in truth nothing else but a trayterous and seditious Combination against us and against the established Religion and Laws of this Kingdom in pursuance of a trayterous design and endeavour to bring in Forreign Forces to invade this Kingdom We do therefore straitly charge and command all our loving Subjects of what degree or quality soever upon their Allegiance that they presume not to take the said seditious and trayterous Covenant And we do likewise hereby forbid and inhibit all our Subjects to impose administer or tender the said Covenant as they and every of them will answer the contrary at their utmost and extreamest perils Given at our Court at Oxon the 9. day of October in the nineteenth year of our Reign Hitherto have we beheld England like a curious Garden flourishing with all the choicest flowers both for scent and colour that ever Flora watred with pearly drops or Titans radiant beams gave birth unto whose flourishing branches adorn'd with Turtles twinn'd in chaste embraces as if they simpathized of each others peaceful and fruitful vertues that Nature her self was enamour'd to walk into the twined Meanders of her curious Mazes here might you see the Princely Rose the King of Flowers so full of fragrancy that for its smell and colour it was the envy of all the world there might you see the Lilly Queen of Flowers there might you see the Olive Plants the Royal Progeny placed round about a table where Kings and Queens had used to feast the Nobility and Gentry emulating each other to excell in sweetness But now alas with our late discords the Scene is so altered that this curious Garden hath been over-run with Weeds I mean the miseries which followed upon these dissentions For as one writes the War went on with horrid rage in many places at one time and the fire once kindled cast forth through every corner of the Land not onely sparks but devouring flames insomuch as the Kindom of England was divided into more Battles then Counties nor had she more Fields then Skirmishes nor Cities then Sieges almost all her Palaces of Lords and great Houses being turned every where into Garrisons they fought at once by Sea and Land and through all England who could but lament the miseries of his Countrey sad spectacles were of plundering and firing Villages and the Fields otherwise waste and desolate rich onely and terribly glorious in Camps and Armies The Kings side at first prospered exceedingly the Earl of New Castle his General in the North overthrowing the Lord Fairfax and driving him into Hull in the West Sir William Waller a Parliament Chieftain was utterly defeated by the Lord Wilmot who came from Oxford with an Army of the Kings and having lost all his Army made haste to London and such as the fortune of the Field was was the condition of Towns and Garrisons for immediately after Wallers defeat the two greatest Cities of all the West were yielded up Bristol to Prince Rupert and Excester to Prince Maurice So that now the King was master of all the West save onely Glocester which he besieged with a Royal Army Essex himself the great General at the same time his Army decreasing suddenly some dying of sickness others for want forsaking their Colours was constrained to leave the Field and return to London quartering the sick and weak remnant of his Army at Kingston and other adjacent places until a recruit could be made for him so that it was judged by wise men if the King leaving Glocester had marched directly with his victorious Army to London which was then not at all fortified and miserably distracted with Factions within it or besides if the Earl of New Castle letting alone the besieging of Hull which likewise proved fruitless had poured out his numerous Forces upon the Eastern associated Counties he had been more successful then he was But Fata viam invenient Destiny will finde wayes that never were thought of makes way where it findes none and that which is decreed in Heaven shall be effected by means of which earth can take no notice of The King to no purpose thus spending his time at Glocester Essex the whiles recruiteth his Army with which marching from London eighty miles he raiseth the Siege and having relieved the Town in his retreat from thence encountered and vanquished the Kings Army near to the Town of Newbery Both sides excepting onely the inexhaustible riches and strength of the City of London by this overthrow seemed of equal strength yet each of them endeavours to make themselves stronger the Parliament calling in to their assistance the Scots the King the Irish The Earl of Leven was General of the Scots to whom joyned the Earl
approaching both sides prepare themselves for action a great party of the Royalists was trouted by Cromwel at Islip-Bridge divers of the Commanders taken prisoners the remainder of the party flying to Bletchtington House were there besieged and taken with the same success at Bampton-bush he took Vaughan and Littleton and defeated their forces The King in the mean time marched Northward with his Army and took the strong and considerable Town of Leicester Soon after was that dismal Battel at Naseby where the fate of England was to be determined the number of both sides were not much unequal nor the ordering of their Battalia's much unlike the Kings Front was filled with brave Troops of Horse the Foot stood in the second body the right Wing was commanded by the Princes Rupert and Maurice the left by Sir Jacob Ashley other Commanders of great quality sustaining their parts The Parliamentarian Foot made a firm body in the midst the wings were guarded by the Horse the right wing was commanded by Cromwel the left wing by Ireton the Foot being divided into two bodies was commanded by Major General Skippon fortune at the first favoured the Royalists The Parliaments left wing being routed by Prince Rupert the commander Ireton wounded and taken Prisoner but betwixt the two other Wings the case was different Cromwel coming on with so great force that he routed and overthrew the Kings left Wing the Battel seemed in an equal ballance the Wings on both sides being scattered but after some sharp dispute the Royalists were routed their Horse disserting the Foot fled to Leicester the cumbersome plunder of which place being reputed the occasion of that defeat The Kings Standard and one hundred other Colours were taken all the Ordnance the Kings Coach Cabbinet Letters a rich booty of Jewels a great quantity of Gold and Silver and almost five thousand prisoners which may seem the more strange since on both sides there were not five hundred slain To proceed the loss of that day lost the King his Crown for presently after this Leicester Bath Sherburn yea and Bristol it self were yielded up the Town of Taunton long besieged by Goring was relieved by General Fairfax who soon after took Tiverton and Dartmouth and then marching into Cornwal at a place called Torrington gave the Lord Hopton a great overthrow Cromwel in the mean time took Basin and Winchester the Devizes and Barcklay were taken by other Commanders Wodstock by Rainsborough and Carlile by the Scots who marching from thence to besiege Newark were called back to the relief of their own Countrey then almost subdued by the Marquess of Montross of whom I shall insert the less having particularized it in his Life This Marquess at first sided with the Covenanters participated of their counsels and was the first man when the Scots invaded England Anno 1639. that set footing on English Ground but afterwards detesting their doings he became the most bitter enemy to them that ever they had About the beginning of the year 1644. when the Scottish Covenanters came into England to assist the Parliament Montross went to Oxford to the King to offer his service against the Covenanters in Scotland The King to fit him for-that purpose created him a Marquess and gave him his Commission to be Lord Governour of Scotland and General of all his Forces Scotland being then wholly under the Covenanters it was agreed that the Earl of Antrim should by the beginning of April send over into Argile where the passage is short into Ireland ten thousand Irish as a stock to begin withal this promise at the appointed time Antrim performed in part but was very deficient in the number of Souldiers for instead of ten thousand he sent scarce twelve hundred under the conduct of Macdonald Montross notwithstanding with these men and the addition of his Atholians patcht up an Army with which he afterwards performed such exploits as would pose Antiquity amongst all the Camps of their famed Heroes to finde a parallel to this Army The first Summer after his arrival in Scotland he gave the Earl of Argile a great overthrow fiteen hundred of his men being slain and taken afterwards at a place called Kilsithe having scarce 4000. Highlanders and Irish he encountered and overthrew the States great Army slew above five thousand of them and dispersed the rest hereupon is their Army sent for all Scotland being almost at his devotion Sir David Lesley returned with the Horse and at Selkirk gave Montross a defeat The King in the mean time was routed at Routen Heath by Pointz a Commander of the Parliaments Army the Lord Digby the next moneth was beaten at Sherburn in Yorkshire and afterwards utterly defeated at Carlisle Chester long defended by Biron was yielded up and Ashley himself the Kings General vanquished by Morgan and taken prisoner with one thousand six hundred of his men The King had now no Garrisons left but Oxford Newark Banbury Wallingford Worcester Ragland and Pendennis Newark was straitly besieged by Leven Pointz and Rossiter Oxford wherein the King was himself began to be blocked up by Ireton and Fleetwood and every day the coming of Fairfax himself and a straiter Siege of that City was expected the King resolved therefore to go out of Oxford before this should happen and communicating his mind to some secret and faithful Councellours above all other places he pitched upon the Scottish Camp to the Scots therefore as they lay before Newark the King sent Montruel the French Ambassadour and himself soon after as Ashburnhams man with a Cloak-bag behinde him escaped unknown out of Oxford and came to Newark to the Scots hoping to be received with great humanity by such good Subjects as they boasted themselves to be But now both Fortune and Fidelity failed the distressed King the Scots they first betray him and then Pontius Pilate like washed their hands to declare their Innocency They delivered the King to the English upon Conditions as they pretended that no violence should be offered to his Person the English now having their King a Prisoner carry him first to Holnbey Castle then to Roiston thence to Hatfield not long after to Causam then to the Earl of Bedfords House near Ouborn soon after to Hampton Court the most stateliest of all his Palaces but with what content to his dejected minde let others judge to see his Palace turned into a Prison and himself to be a Captive must needs be a sorrow fitter for out amazement then expression for certainly as joy is most sweet to them who have tasted the miseries of sorrow so sorrow is most bitter to them who have alwayes lived in bliss as one of our modern Poets sings The very thought renews the memory Of my precedent lives felicity Whereby I know my sorrow is the more Who hapless now liv'd happy heretofore To hurry him out of his right minde he did not long stay at Hampton Court but by a crafty excuse he was juggled into the
and successful an enemy as followed them at the heels June 12 1648. they settled themselves a Garrison the Parliament Horse coming up and quartering within Canon shot of the Town Touching these proceedings I have further inlarged my self in the Life of Sir Charles Lucas But the greatest of all dangers which threatned the Parliament was from the North from the Kingdom of Scotland Duke Hamilton with an Army of five and twenty thousand entered England for the King with whom joyned Sir Marmaduke Langdale divers of the chief Ships of the Royal Fleet likewise much about the same time revolted from the Parliament and set their Vice-Admiral Rainsborow ashore affirming they were for the King and would serve Prince Charles sailing towards Holland where the Prince the was and with him his Brother the Duke of York who not long before fled privately out of London The Earl of Holland also with they young Duke of Buckingham having five hundred Horse appeared in Arms for the King by Kingston so that all things considered we may conclude that the Kings party since the beginning of the Wars was not in a likelier condition at least more formidible then at this present but God had otherwise decreed and all these fair hopes in a few dayes vanished into nothing as the following ill successes will declare The Earl of Holland soon after his rising was put to flight by Sir Michael Levesey and others The Lord Francis Villers Brother to the Duke of Bucking ham was slain and Sir Kenelm Digby's eldest Son who as he was fighting with four at once was cowardly thrust through his Back Holland flying with the remainder of his Horse was within few dayes after at the Town of Saint Needs by Collonel Scroop whom the General Fairfax had sent from Colchester for that purpose altogether subdued Holland himself taken and by the Parliament committed prisoner to Warwick Castle Langhorn and Powel were totally routed between the two Towns of Fagans and Peterstone and having lost all their Army escaped by flight to Colonel Poyer into Pembroke Castle which after a strait Siege was surrendred to Cromwell the three Collonels rendring themselves Prisoners at mercy Poyer onely suffered death who in hopes of a Reprieve dissembled a reluctancy when he was ready to dye Cromwel from thence marched against the Scots who were now come as far as Preston in Lancashire and with the addition of Lamberts strength gave Battel to Hamilton pursuing them as far as Warington about twenty miles and killing many in the Chase took Lieutenant General Bailey Prisoner with a great part of the Scottish Army granting them onely quarter for their lives In this Battle were slain three thousand Scots and taken Prisoners about nine thousand Duke Hamilton himself within few dayes after having fled with a good party of Horse to Vttoxeter was there taken prisoner by the Lord Gray and Collonel Wait. With Hamilton were taken about three thousand Horse Langdale also not long after was taken prisoner in a little Village by Widmerpole a Parliament Captain this was the success of Hamiltons invading England The Trophies of this Victory were placed in Westminster Hall Soon after was the strong Town of Colchester surrendred to General Fairfax which for three moneths together with much Resolution and Gallantry was defended by Sir Charles Lucas Norwich Capel c. until all hopes they had of relief were utterly blasted and all their provisions quite spent not so much as a Dog or a Cat left them to satisfie the necessity of Nature Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisel were shot to death the same day the Town was surrendred the Earl of Norwich Lord Capel and Master Hasting Brother to the Earl of Huntington were sent Prisoners to London The Lord Capel some few weeks after together with Duke Hamilton and the Earl of Holland were all three beheaded The Parliament during these Broils to give some seeming satisfaction to the Kingdom annulled their former votes of making no further addresses to the King and restored again to their seats eleven of their Members who had formerly been impeached by the Army a Treaty was voted to be with the King in the Isle of Wight the Earl of Middlesex with two of the House of Commons were sent to the King who made answer that he was very ready to treat of peace and named Newport in that Island to be the place Five of the House of Peers and ten of the House of Commons were appointed Commissioners and the Treaty went on with a great deal of seeming satisfaction on both sides But whiles they were intent upon the business a Petition was exhibited to the Parliament wherein they desired that the King might be tried by the Laws and brought to justice and all further Treaties with him to be laid aside which when the Parliament denied the Army not being satisfied they march some of them towards Newport others to the King who was now a Prisoner as large In the mean time the General sends his Letters to Collonel Hammond to render up his Command to Collonel Ewers who is to take the charge of the King but the Parliament vote him hereupon to stay there of which the General having notice 27. November The Army fast and pray and receive according to the still continued fashion Petitions from several Counties in order to what they intend to resolve and therefore Hammond submits and delivers up the King to Ewers and comes towards the Army The Parliament are angry and vote a Letter to the General that his orders and instructions for securing of the Kings person are contrary to their resolutions and instructions to Collonel Hammond and that it is the pleasure of the House that his Excellency recal his orders and that Colonel Hammond be free to take his charge to the Isle of Wight the Treaty being ended but instead of obedience hereto he salutes them with a sharp Letter for money to pay Arrears for the Army hereupon the Army marches to London and the King had his removes by Ewers till he came to the Block After that the House had past their Vote for no address to the King he being in a sad condition by his stricter condition in Hurst Castle hearing of these Votes prepares his soliloquies for his assured comfort in death as we finde his meditations in those golden Leaves of his Book As I have leasure sayes he so I have cause more then enough to meditate on and prepare for my death for I know that there are but a few steps betwixt the Prisons and the Graves of Princes Now the Ax was laid to the root of the Tree the House of Commons vote that by the Fundamental Laws of the Realm it is Treason for the time to come to Levy War against the Parliament and Kingdom the Ordinance for the Kings Trial was refused by the Lords January 2. After this a Proclamation was from the House of Commons for any one to accuse the King the Ordinance of
thy ever active fame Shall build a world unto thy pregnant name And every letter of thy stem shall raise A spacious Kingdom where thy ample praise Shall be recorded every listening ear Shall prove ambitious be intranc't to hear 'T will be a glory when the world shall say 'T was bravely done his Soveraign led the way And he as valiant Souldiers ought to do March't boldly after and was alwayes true To sacred Majesty his Heroe'd breath Disdained the fear of a so courted death Death added life unto his thoughts for he Contemn'd a death he bought with Victory The very Birds shall learn to prate and sing How Capel suffer'd for his Royal King The Life of JAMES Marquess of Montross Earl of Kincardine c. IT may seem strange in such a scarcity of Scotch Worthies there also being already so many of our own that I should go about to borrow one from that Countrey where if Diogenes were alive again the Cinique as I have heard one merrily express with his Lanthorn would make no long inquest after such an impossibility but infallibly conclude that there is not such another to be found in Scotland This renowned Marquess was extracted from the Ancient and famous Family of the Grahams in Scotland whose valiant and loyal Actions have eternized their Names to all posterity His Grandfather and Father were advanced by King James and King Charles unto places of the greatest honour in that Kingdom which they most happily discharged with the love and good affection both of King and People This Honourable Person whose Life we now relate persisting in his Predecessours steps may give us cause to think that Valour and Loyalty were entailed on that Family Yet at first he sided with the Covenanters against the Royal Party they pretending to nothing then less then the preservation of Religion the Honour and Dignity of the King the Laws of the Land and the Freedom of the Nation But having found that those fair tales were onely pretensions and onely coyned of purpose to draw people to their side he like a wise man finding their hearts alienated the King he mediated a disengagement but finding the work difficult he a while dissembled his intent seeming as active as he was before that when time served he might dissert them to better purpose having also many of his friends amongst them whom he hoped to draw off by which means he should be able to gather no small power which would conduce much both to the Kings safety and his own Whilest he was upon these determinations the Covenanters had raised a strong Army and in a solemn convention at Duns they determine to invade England Montross seeing he could not hinder those actions would not seem to disapprove of them and having the command of two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse to seem the more active was the first man that set foot on English ground and had his friends fulfilled their promises he had not onely broken to pieces the Covenanters designs but in all probability had brought the whole Army along with him to the King But the Scots marching over the Tine otherwise then he expected he was much disappointed of that opportunity he so longingly attended yet he kept the same loyal Inclinations towards the King which taking advantage of the Treaty that ensued betwixt them that he found means to acquaint his Majesty by Letters wherein he protested his faith and ready obedience to him but these Letters being stoln out of the Kings pockets by his Bed-chamber men the supposed instruments of Hamilton and by them coppied out were sent to the Covenanters at New Castle which place by the treachery of some English Commanders was yielded unto them who concealing their Information did not withal conceal their malignity against the Earl but laboured all they could to render him odious to the people and thereby unserviceable to his Majesty Nor wanted they fit instruments for this purpose for having obliged to themselves most of the Preachers throughout the Kingdom they made use of their mercenary tongues to rail against the King and his faithful Subjects as the enemies of Christ being themselves the while the very shame and scandal of Christianity Yet still Montross goes on in his Loyal intentions and joyns to his side many of the prime men for Nobility and Power though some of them afterwards for fear betrayed their designs unto the Covenanters so that on a sudden when he suspected nothing he with Napier Lord of Marchiston and Sir Sterling Keer were committed Prisoners to the Castle in Edenburgh But a Pacification being made betwixt both Kingdoms he with his friends were set again at liberty Not long after in England happened those fatal discords betwixt the King and Parliament which growing so high that they came to be determined by the Sword the Covenanters not to be wanting in the aid of their Confederates resolved to raise a puissant Army and to oblige Montross to their side proffered him freely the Office of Lieutenant General of the Army and what ever else he could desire and they bestow But he not more careless of their proffers then careful to inform the King of the danger that hereby hung over his head to which purpose he poasts into England taking onely the Lord Ogleby into his counsel and company At York he informs the Queen of the covenanters intentions and of the danger that would ensue thereof which doubtless had taken good effect at that time had not the coming of Duke Hamilton out of Scotland upon pretence of kissing the Queens hand but with intent to overthrow Montross his councels hindered the same who perswaded the Queen there was no fear of any Army nor that the King should need despair of amity and reconciliation with them protesting he himself would be active for the King with his person and estate But the Covenanters proceeding on in their designs and Montross having better knowledge of their intentions then before he goes to Glocester and delares the same to the King himself but the King was so soothed up with Letters of the contrary from Hamilton and some such other Courtiers also buzzing in his ears Montrosses youth his rashness his ambition the envy and hatred he bare unto the Hamiltons and on the other side the Hamiltons fidelity their honesty their discretion their power so that Montross nothing prevailed In the mean time the Covenanters were not idle but having raised an Army of eighteen thousand Foot and two thousand Horse march for England and now the King when it was too late seeing himself thus grossy abused sends for Montross and asks his advice what was best to be done Montross having declared the desperate estate Scotland was in at that present and how abominably his Majesty had been betrayed by them with whom he had entrusted his secrets resolved nevertheless if the King would lay his Commands upon him nothing distrusting Gods assistance in a righteous cause he would
set Battle but Baily answers he would not receive order to fight from an Enemy Yet at last through the rashness of the Lord Balcarise a Collonel of Horse who precipitated himself and the Horse under his command into danger he was forced thereunto whereupon a bloody Fight ensued wherein Baily was overthrown with the loss of the greatest part of his Army This Battel was fought at Alford on the 2. of July 1645. Montross having obtained this Victory marches into Angus where he met his Couzen Patrick Graham with his Athol men ready to live and dye under his command and Mac-donel with a great power of Highlanders so that being reinforced with such an Army he resolves to make his way into the very heart of the Kingdom and passing over the Tay at Dunkeldon encamped in Methfyn Forrest the Covenanters at that time held a Parliament at Saint Johns Town but hearing of Montrosses approach they secured themselves by flight he to encrease their terrour drew nearer to the Town but finding it not safe for him to descend into the Champion Countrey having such want of Horse he retreated to little Dunkeldon But that want was soon supplied by a Party from the North under the Earl of Aboine and Collonel Nathaniel Gordon the Earl of Airley and Sir David his son so that being now thus recruited he thought it not good to lose any time but marched straight towards the Enemy And having in vain several times proffered them Battle at last it came to a pitcht Field in a place called Kilsythe where the Covenanters though they overmatcht him in number yet came so far behinde him in valour that he obtained over them an absolute Victory having the killing of them for fourteen miles so that of all their Foot it is thought there did not an hundred come off nor did their horse escape very well of whom some were killed some taken the rest disperst Their Ordnance their Arms their Spoils came clearly to the Conquerours who lost onely six of their men on the other side were slain six thousand a great disproportion in number and did not the effects which followed this Victory make it the more credible it might seem to some a falshood if not an impossibility For presently afterwards was a great alteration all the Kingdom over the chief of the Nobility who sided with the Covenanters some fled to Barwick some to Carlile some to New Castle others into Ireland the Marquess of Douglass the Earls of Limmuck Annandale and Hertfield the Lord Barrons of Seton Drummond Fleming Maderly Carnegy and Jonston with many others of great quality submitted themselves such as before onely privately wisht well unto the King now expressed it openly The Cities and Countreys that were furthest off began to dispatch their Commissioners to profess in their names their Allegiance to their King their duty and service to his Vicegerent and freely to offer him Men Arms Provision and other necessaries of War The City of Edenburgh to ingratiate themselves with the Conquerours they released their Prisoners of whom the chiefest were the Earl of Crawford and James Lord Ogleby son to the Earl of Airly whom with their Delegates they sent to Montross to entreat for peace proffering submission and promising obedience for the time to come yea the whole Kingdom every where sounded nothing but Montrosses praise But what thing on earth is permanent many of his Souldiers being loaden with spoil ran privily away from their Colours and returned home Presently after their very Commanders desired Furloghs for a little while pretending that the Enemy had no Army within the borders of the Kingdom and therefore their service for the present might very well be spared the Earl of Aboine whether the Lord Governour would or no carried away with him not onely his own men but all the rest of the Northern Forces yea Alexander Macdonel who had hitherto continued so faithful departed into the Highlanders with more then three thousand stout men and sixscore of the best Irish promising with a solemn oath their sudden return yet he never saw Montross after Montross seeing it would be no better with his small Army passing by Edenburgh into which he would not enter by reason the plague then raged in the City led them through Lothainshire and in Strathgale joyned with some Forces raised by the Marquess of Douglass afterwards he marches to Niddisdale and Annandale and the Countrey of Ayre that he might there raise what Horse he could and coming to Selkirk he quartered his Horse in a Village and his Foot in a Wood close by His Army consisting of onely five hundred Foot and those Irish and a very weak party of new rais'd Horse Lesley understanding of his weak condition having been newly sent for out of England to help the Covenanters in their exigency with six thousand Horse made such speed that before he was discryed by Montrosses Scouts he was not above half a mile off Montross at that present was very busie in dispatching Letters to the King but upon news of Lesley's coming he mounts the first horse he could light on and gallops into the Field appointed for the Rendezvouz where he findes a great deal of noise but no order The Cavalry being little acquainted with duty and lying already dispersed in their quarters where they dreamt more of baiting their horses then maintaining their lives and honours yet there were a few and those were for the most part Noblemen and Knights who made all speed thither and gallantly undertook to make good the right Wing but they being not above sixscore in all and being assailed by so potent an Enemy multitude overcoming valour having twice repulsed their Enemy with loss at last they betook themselves to flight the Foot fighting a good while stoutly and resolutely were forced to yield but found little mercy from the Conquerour putting them all to the Sword Montross seeing his men routed which he never saw before rallying about thirty Horse whom he had gathered up in that confusion he desperately chargeth thorow the Enemy who hotly pursuing him to make his flight the more honourable he chargeth his pursuers routs them and carries away one Bruce a Captain of Horse and two Cornets with their Standards Prisoners And now being safe from danger he makes what haste he could into Athole to recruit his Army Aboine bringing him fifteen hundred Foot and three hundred Horse with some addition of the Athol men he crosseth the Forth and came into Leven which he destroyed without any resistance but his Forces too weak to resist so powerful an Army as the Enemy had then in the Field he returneth back into the Countrey of Athole and goeth himself in person to Bogie Castle upon the mouth of Spey to speak with Huntley having by messengers often fruitlesly sollicited him to joyn with him as soon as they met Montross invited him in smooth and gentle language to associate with him him in the War for the
commanding wise deportment that at his pleasure he governed and swayed the House as he had most times the leading voice Those who finde no such wonders in his speeches may finde it in the effect of them most of the people he was concerned in being as they term it enemies to book learning and whosoever should endeavour with an eloquent oration or otherwise go about to reconcile them make them friends should make them enemies such great adorers are they of the Scripture phrase though but little practisers such as our late times have brought forth Indeed he usurpt his holy oyl quotations very frequently which was so advantageous to his designs that Cicero and Demosthenes with all their Tropes and Figures could never have so perswaded and moved the people as he with one Text of Scripture aptly applyed the Dove and the Serpent of Scripture and some small parcel of policy to what he intended slily intermixed But his side standing in more need of action then eloquence he quitted the House and betook him to the Field to manifest his courage as well as his eloquence maintain by his deeds what his words had introduced Having raised a Troop of Horse at his own costs and charges he marched against the Muses to Cambride whereof he was Burgess seizing on a very considerable sum of money and plate which the Colledges had raised and were sending away unto Oxford which as it was very advantageous to his own side money being the very life and sinews of War so d d it much weaken the adverse party who had alwayes great want of it The Parliament having on their side the rich City of London that inexhaustible bank of treasure By this means he strengthened himself with sufficient aids to oppose the Lord Capel who was to have been seconded by Prince Rupert and should have seized on Cambridge thereby to have impeded the association of the adjoyning Counties for the Parliament He being advanced from a Captain to a Collonel having compleated a Regiment of Horse to the full number of a thousand men in the Spring of the year he marches to Lowerstoft in Suffolk where he suddenly surprized Sir Thomas Barker Sir John Pettas his Brother with above twenty other persons of note who were entring into an association for the King several persons of quality and divers Noblemen hourly flocking to that rendezvouz this other service was very seasonably rendered to the Parliament the Kings Party both in Suffolk and Norfolk being much discouraged by this success Having by new raised aids inforced his Army to a very considerable strength he marched into Lilcolnshire with a resolution to assist those Forces which lay about Newark a very strong and stout Garrison of the Kings where by their daily excursions they kept all the Countrey thereabouts in awe which he not onely blocked up but also defeated part of the Earl of Newcastles Army which came to relieve them I shall not need to particularize all his actions his other intervening Atchievements are more at large related in the Life of King Charles To look forwards onely to mention the Battel of Marston Moor where by his valour he turned the scales of Victory which at the first enclined to the Kings side as also at that fatal Fight at Naseby where the Kings Foot were all cut in pieces or taken Prisoners His memorable discomfiture of the Kings Forces at Preston in Lancashire over Duke Hamilton and Sir Marmaduke Langdale the last of them as valiantly faithful to the King as the other was disloyal their united Forces amounting to twenty five thousand his not above ten thousand at most although indeed he found little opposition save onely of those few Forces of Sir Marmaduke Langdales who fought it out courageously to the last man Should I thus continue to signalize his Trophies I might tire out the Reader with his strange Successes let it suffice then that his actions with such fame arrived at the House that in recompence they first bestowed on him the Generalship of the Horse and afterwards the Lieutenant Generalship of all the whole Army Certainly if his ambition had terminated here and his wonderful successes had not raised his thoughts higher if he could not for his Martial merits have been beloved he had power enough to have rendred himself-safe and for his valiant Atchievements fear'd honour'd and admir'd Raised to this degree of Command he was more careful of hazarding his person then before well knowing the loss of a General is the most irreparable of all losses for him to expose his person to trivial hazards in the breath of whose nostrils the victorious Atchievements of the Souldiers remains is too impertinently adventerous as if 't were more glorious to fight then command whereas that is more especially the vertue of a common Soldier this other of a Leader whose principal talent lies more in direction then execution more in the brain then hand thus that ever to be deplored Laureat of our times the Gentleman of the long Robe the Oracle of the Kings Councels the Lord Faukland was as unfortunately lost as unnecessarily engaged in the Field But to proceed he grew so subtilly careful as to maintain a fair correspondency there was no place taken no Battle won but he was the first that brought or sent word to the House by which he insinuated himself into the affections both of the Parliament and People expressing his own actions in such terms as whilest he seemingly attributed much to others he drew the whole commendation thereof to himself One thing that made his Brigade so invincible was his arming them so well as whilest they assured themselves they could not be overcome it assured them to overcome their enemies He himself as they called him Ironside needed not to be ashamed of a Nick-name that so often saved his life These were his acts whilest Lieutenant General by which he got so great a name in War as Essex Waller and those other great names before him excepting onely Sir Thomas Fairfax's Laurels which were interwoven with his the rest were swallowed up in his most inimitable successes even as great Rivers are swallowed up by the Ocean For the rest of his actions whilest he was General Itis conquering Ireland his subduing Scotland the many other Battles he fought till his finishing the War in England To treat also largely of these his Trophies would weary the pen of a serious though industrious Writer that sadly considers the incivility of those late Civil Wars howsoever they were strange successes and so many that as a Modern Poet agrees with what I have expressed It were a work so great Would make Olympus bearing Atlas sweat I shall therefore summarily relate the most notable Occurrences then happening leaving the less Affairs to be related by more voluminous Authors No sooner were the Civil Wars of England terminated by the discomfiture of all the Kings Armies the taking of his own person and putting him to death but the
Parliament by a solemn Vote and Ordinance changed the Monarchical Government into a Commonwealth The Kingdom of Ireland discontented at this change uniting themselves wned the late Kings eldest Son and solemnly proclaimed him King no place considerable standing out for the Parliament saving onely Dublyn and London Derry the first whereof was immediately besieged by an Army of two and twenty thousand men commanded by the Marquess of Ormond and the other by a considerable party of the Natives of the Countrey To the reducing of this Kingdom was Oliver Cromwel nominated Governour of Ireland by the Commonwealth who with a well appointed Army set sail for Dublyn where although he found things in an indifferent good posture the Marquesse of Ormond having been beaten off by the valour of Michael Jones the Governour yet he met with work enough for his Army for Droghedah one of the best and considerablest places in all Ireland held out stiffly against them and having a strong party bid defiance to his Army yet notwithstanding after many assaults and much valour shown on both sides he at last took it putting therein to death three thousand Irish who though enemies yet for their valour and undaunted resolution might have been lookt on with a more merciful eye as they were men and more especially Christians Soon after followed the surrender of Trim Dundalke Nury Wexford Rove Bandonbridge and Kingsale yet notwithstanding the reducing of these Towns many of the Irish retreating to their Bogs and inaccessible places held out for a long time in despite of the English To proceed not onely the Irish shewed their dislike of this change of Government but also the Collonies in Virginia and the Carybde Islands to the reducing of whom the Parliament sent Sir George Askue with a Fleet of ships who brought them again into obedience In the mean time the Scots were very busie they had commenced a Treaty with Prince Charles at Breda which at last was concluded on he assenting to their Presbyterian Government and they to install and reestablish him in that Kingdom and in the other accordingly as they questioned not but Fortune would answer their blinde zealous Covenant expectations The Prince puts forth to sea and in despite of foul weather and the English King fishers that lay there to intercept him he landed safely at the Spey in the North of Scotland now though the Scots had a King yet as if they had none every one did that which was right in his own eyes and as if they intended him onely the Title being now in their power they forced him to follow the dictates of their haughty Cleargy in all their fanatick humours and imperious decrees First then they bereaved him of all his old Friends Councellours and Confederates whether of the Cleargy or Layety as those who adhered to Episcopal Government and so not pure enough for so reformed a people Thus they hamstringed him not as what was formerly in the sign-post onely of printed papers Next they make him take the Solemn League and Covenant that strange fire which the Scotch believe descended from Heaven and by which they at their pleasures kindle those Wars wherewith they infest England then these Horse Farriers of the Conscience gave him another drench he is taught to renounce the sins of his Fathers house and of his own the Idolatry of his Mother by a constant adhering to the cause of God according to the Covenant in the firm establishment of Church Government as it is laid down in the Directory for publick Worship Confession of Faith and Catechisme These with divers others of the like nature they wrought so on his necessity they obtruded or rather rammed into his conscience although with much reluctancy he signed to making many strange faces at these bitter pills he swallowed yet it bettered not his condition which was like that of a childe under Tutours and Governours for there was not an Officer in that Kirk or Commonwealth how vile and abject soever in place or person but enjoyed more freedom both in body and minde then he Guarded indeed he was but no otherwise then he was surrounded with the ignis fatuus of their zealous suspitions of him so that move he must not but in the Sphere of the Kirk their primum mobile whereby its apparent that the Government of that Nation might be almost questioned whether it ever were truly Monarchicall though they had Kings To proceeed the Parliament having notice of all their proceedings recalled General Cromwell out of Ireland making him Generalissimo of the Commonwealths Armies in the Lord Fairfax his stead who at the same time laid down his Commission he with a choice Army marches into Scotland and after many petty defeats gives them a great overthrow at Dunbar September 3. 1650. and prosecuting his victory takes Leith a very considerable and advantageous place as also Edenburgh the Metropolitan City of all Scotland Thus he set firm there his sword hewing his way for him to conquer that Countrey which the King lost by his pen. Now were the Scots truly miserable for besides a raging enemy in the very heart of their Kingdom they were miserably divided amongst themselves even to the killing and slaying of one another one party in the North was for the King without the Kirk another party in the West was for the Kirk without the King a third party was for King and Kirk yet notwithstanding these losses and divisions they assumed new courage levyed more men and Crowned their King with the greatest magnificence as the indigency and necessity of their Affairs would permit The English on the other side being resolved to terminate this War with Scotland passed over into Fife and having defeated four thousand Scots they soon became Masters of Inchigravy Brunt-Island and St. Johns Town mean while the Scots Army consisting of 16000. abandoned their own Territories and by the way of Carlisle entred England General Cromwel advertised hereof leaves Collonel Monk with 7000. men in Scotland to perfect the conquest of that kingdom and with the rest of the Army pursues the Scots who wheresoever they came proclaimed their King to be King of Great Brittain France and Ireland c. But few stirred unto their aid amongst others the unfortunate Earl of Darby who having assembled 1200 men in Lancashire was defeated by Collonel Lilburne and to save himself was constrained to flee to Worcester where the Scots after a long and tedious march had pitched their Camp whither General Cromwel soon pursued them and having the aid of the Train Bands of several Counties gave them Battel which proved fatal unto the Scots their whole Army being overthrown The King in a disguise escaped into France not without much difficulty and danger the Parliament having promised five hundred pounds to any one that could discover his person Such a list of prisoners as were then taken we shall seldome meet with in any Battle but Cromwels The Earl of Darby the Earl
of his years taken from further opportunities of doing good either to himself his friends the Common-wealth or more especially as to my continued services to my Creatour Truly if my general known course of life were but enquired into I may modestly say there is such a moral honesty upon it as some may be so sawcy as to expostulate why this great judgement is fallen upon me but know I am able to give them and my self an answer and out of this breast am able to give a better accompt of my Judgement and Execution then my Judgers themselves or you are able to give It is Gods wrath upon me for sins long unrepented of many judgements withstood and mercies slighted therefore God hath whipped me by his severe Rod of Correction that he might not lose me I pray joyn with me in prayer that it may not be a fruicless Rod that when by this Rod I have laid down my life by his staff I may be comforted and received into Glory I am very confident by what I have heard since my sentence there is more exceptions made against proceedings against me then I ever made My Triers had a Law and the value of that Law is indisputable and for me to make a question of it I should shame my self and my discretion In the strictness of that Law something is done by me that is applicable to some clause therein by which I stand condemnable The means whereby I was brought under that interpretation of that which was not in my self intended malitiously there being testimony given by persons whom I pitty so false yet so positive that I cannot condemn my Judges for passing sentence against me according to Legal Justice though Equity lieth in the higher breasts As for my Accusers or rather Betrayers I pitty and am sorry for them they have committed Judas crime but I wish and pray for them with Peters tears that by Peters repentance they may escape Judas his punishment and I wish other people so happy they may be taken up betimes before they have drunk more blood of Christian men possibly less deserving then my self It is true there have been several addresses made for mercy and I will put the obstruction of it upon nothing more then upon my own sin and seeing God sees it fit having not glorified him in my life I might do it in my death which I am contented to do I profess in the fear of God particular malice to any one of State or Parliament to do them a bodily injury I had none For the cause in which I had long waded I must needs say my engagement or continuance in it hath laid no scruple upon my Conscience it was on Principles of Law the knowledge whereof I profess and on principles of Religion my Judgement satisfied and Conscience rectified that I have pursued those wayes which I bless God I finde no blackness upon my conscience nor have I put it into the Bead-roll of my sins I will not presume to decide controversies I desire God to honour himself in prospering that side that hath right with it and that you may enjoy peace and plenty beyond all you possess here In my Conversation in the world I do not know where I have an enemy with cause or that there is such a person whom I have to regret but if there be any whom I cannot recollect under the notion of Christian men I pardon them as freely as if I had named them by name I freely forgive them being in free peace with all the world as I desire God for Christs sake to be at peace with me For the business of death it is a sad sentence in it self if men consult with flesh and blood But truly without boosting I say it or if I do boast I boast in the Lord I have not to this minute had one consultation with the flesh about the blow of the Axe or one thought of the Axe more then as my passport to Glory I take it for an honour and I owe thankfulness to those under whose power I am that they sent me hither to a place however of punishment yet of some honor to dye a death somewhat worthy of my blood answerable to my birth and qualification and this courtesie of theirs hath much helped towards the pacification of my minde I shall desire God that those Gentlemen in that sad Bead-roll to be tryed by the High Court of Justice that they may find that really there that is nominal in the Act an High Court of Justice a Court of High Justice high in its Righteousness though not in its severity Father forgive them and forgive me as I forgive them I desire you now that you would pray for me and not give over praying till the hour of my death not till the moment of my death for the hour is come already the instant of time approaches that as I have a great load of sins so I may have the wings of your prayers to help those Angels that are to convey my soul to Heaven and I doubt not but I shall see my Saviour and my gallant Master the King of England and another Master whom I much honoured my Lord Capel hoping this day to see my Christ in the presence of the Father the King in the presence of him my Lord Capel in the presence of them all and my self there to rejoyce with all other Saints and Angels for evermore After the uttering of these and many the like words declaring his faith and confidence in God with as much undaunted yet Christian courage as possibly could be in man he exposed his neck to the fatal Axe commending his soul into the hands of a faithful and merciful Creatour through the meritorious Passion of a gracious Redeemer and having said Lord Jesus receive me the Executioner with one blow severed his head from his body For such a collateral design not long after one Master Benson was executed at Tyburne one that had some relations to Sir John Gell who was tried for the same Conspiracy with his man Sir Johns former services to the Parliament being his best and most assured intercessours for his life and at that time were more then ordinary advantages to him And now being entered into this Tragical Scene of blood I shall in the next place give you an account of the beheading of Sir Henry Hide He was by the Scots King commissionated as Ambassadour to the Grand Signior at Constantinople and stood in competition with Sir Thomas Bendish then Ambassadour for the English for his place whereupon they had a hearing before the Vizier Bassa the result whereof was that Sir Thomas Bendish should dispose of the said Sir Henry Hide as he thought good who was to the same purpose sent to Smyrna thence into England and there condemned and executed before the Royal Exchange in London March 4. 1650. I have inserted his Speech which reflects on his Transactions this unfortunate Gentlemans end
place in less then four hours time he destroyed them all to their inestimable detriment not sixty of his own men being lost But to return into England June the 20. 1657. the Protector with great pomp and magnificence was installed at Westminster the Parliament then sitting to which purpose at the upper end of Westminster Hall a rich Cloath of State was set up and under it a Chair of State placed upon an ascent of two degrees covered with Carpets and before it a Table with a Chair appointed for the Speaker of the Parliament and on each side of the Hall upon the said structure were Seats raised one above another and decently covered for the Members of Parliament and below them Seats on one side for the Judges of the Land and on the other side for the Aldermen of the City of London About two of the Clock in the afternoon the Protector met the Parliament in the Painted Chamber and passed such Bills as were presented to him after which they went in order to the place appointed in Westminster Hall the Protector standing under the Cloath of Estate the Lord Widdrington Speaker of the Parliament addrest himself to him in this Speech May it please your Highness You are now upon a great Theatre in a large Chore of people you have the Parliament of England Scotland and Ireland before you on your right hand my Lords the Judges and on your left hand the Lord Major Aldermen and Sheriffs of London the most noble and populous City of England The Parliament with the interposition of your sufferage makes Laws and the Judges and Governours of London are the great dispensers of those Laws to the people The occasion of this great convention and intercourse is to give an investiture to your Highness in that eminent place of Lord Protector a name you had before but it is now settled by the full and unanimous consent of the people of these three Nations assembled in Parliament you have no new name but a new date added to the old name the 16. of December is now changed to the 26. of June I am commanded by the Parliament to make oblation to your Highness of four things in order to this Inauguration The first is a Robe of Purple an Embleme of Magistracy and imports righteousness and justice when you have put on the vestment I may say and I hope without offence that you are a Gown man This Robe is of a mixt colour to shew the mixture of justice and mercy which are then most excellent when they are well tempered together Justice without Mercy is wormwood and bitterness and Mercy without Justice is of a too soft a temper for government for a Magistrate must have two hands Plectentem Amplectentem The next thing is a Bible a Book that contains the holy Scripture in which you have the honor and happiness to be well versed This is the Book of life consisting of two Testaments the old and new In the first we have Christum velatum Christ in Types Shadows and Figers in the latter we have Christum revelatum Christ revealed This Book carries in it the grounds of the true Christian Protestant Religion it s a Book of Books it contains in it both precepts and examples for good government Alexander so highly valued the Books of his Master Aristotle and other great Princes other books that they have laid them every night under their Pillows These are all but Legends and Romances to this one Book a Book to be had alwayes in remembrance I finde it said in a part of this Book which I shall desire to read and it is this Deut. 17. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom that he shall write a copy of this Law in a Book out of that wich is before the Priests and the Levites And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the dayes of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord God and to keep all the words of his Law and those Statutes to do them That his heart be not lifted up above his Brethren and that he turn not aside from the Commandment to the right hand or to the left to the end he may prolong his dayes in his Kingdom he and his Children in the midst of Israel The next thing that I am to offer to your Higness is a Scepter not unlike a staff for you are to be a staff to the weak and poor it 's of ancient use in this kinde it 's said in Scripture in reference to Judah the Royal Tribe That the Scepter shall not depart from Judah It was of like use in other kingdoms and governments Homer the Prince of the Greek Poets calls Kings and Princes Scepter-bearers The last thing is a Sword not a Military but a Civil Sword a Sword rather for defence then offence not to defend your self onely but others also the Sword is an Embleme of Justice The noble Lord Talbot in Henry the Sixths time wrote upon his Sword Ego sum Talboti propter occidendum inimicos meos This Gallant Lord was a better Souldier then a Critick If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword it should be this Ego sum Domini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum I say this Sword is an Embleme of Justice and is to be used as King Solomon used his for the discovery of truth in the points of Justice I may say of this Sword as King David said of Goliah's Sword There is none like this Justice is the proper vertue of the Imperial Throne and by Justice the Thrones of Kings and Princes are established Justice is a Royal vertue which as one saith of it doth employ the other three Cardinal Vertues in her service 1. Wisdom to discern the nocent from the innocent 2. Fortitude to prosecute and execute 3. Temperance so to carry Justice that passion be no ingredient and that it be without confusion or precipitation You have given ample testimony in all these particulars so that this Sword in your hand will be a right Sword of Justice attended with Wisdom Fortitude and Temperance When you have all these together what a comely and glorious sight is it to behold A Lord Protector in a purple Robe with a Scepter in his hand a Sword of Justice girt about him and his eyes fixt upon the Bible Long may you prosperously enjoy them all to your own comfort and the comfort of the people of these three Nations The Speech being ended Master Speaker came from his Chair took the Robe and therewith vested the Protector being assisted therein by the Earl of Warwick the Lord Whitlock and others Which done the Bible was delivered him after that the Sword girt about him and last of all he had the Scepter delivered him These things being performed Master Speaker returned unto his Chair and admimistred him his Oath in haec verba I do in the presence and by the
Sleidan Speed Stow Sozomenus Sabellicus Stapleton Suetonius Spenser Sir Philip Sidney Serres Selden T Theodoritus Tibullus Tacitus Trussel Nicholas Trivet Tertullian V Victor Verstigan Virgil W Will. of Newberry Will. of Malmsbury Walsingham Weever Waller X Xenophon Z Zosimus The Reader is desired to correct these Errata's with his Pen the most material being in Sir Walter Raleigh's Life his Letter to the Duke of Buckingham should have been placed after his Voyage to Guyana PAge 17. line 30. read falne p. 24. l. 25. for Danes read English l. 32. r. depart p. 44 l. 17. r. Denmark p. 80. l. 1. r. his l. 11. r. sky p. 92. l. 6. for himself r. him p. 101. l 6. r. progress p. 129. l. 18. after enterprize r. which they refused p. 186. l. 8. r. the. p. 207. l. 12. r. they p. 228. l 27. r. bait p. 251. in the title r. Sir Walter Raleigh p. 253. l. 17. r. Rams l. 29. r. unfortunately p. 255. l. 16. r. intercessor p. 279. l. 18. r. Pallas p. 329. l. 2. r. Strafford p. 333. l. 19. r. Strafford p. 405. l. 3. r. Louden p. 477. l. 29. r. fit p. 520. l. last r. Ship p. 562. l. 33. r. tail The Names of those whose Lives are written in this Book 1 COnstantine the Great Folio 1 2 King Arthur Folio 8 3 Dunstan Folio 16 4 Edmond Ironside Folio 22 5 Edward the Confessor Folio 29 6 William the Conqueror Folio 38 7 Thomas Becket Folio 49 8 Richard the First Folio 55 9 Edward the Third Folio 66 10 Edw. the Black Prince Folio 79 11 Sir John Hawkwood Folio 88 12 Geoffery Chaucer Folio 91 13 Henry the Fifth Folio 98 14 John D. of Bedford Folio 115 15 Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick Folio 125 16 Richard the Third Folio 140 17 Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey Folio 145 18 Cardinal Wolsey Folio 151 19 Sir Thomas Moor Folio 155 20 Thomas Cromwel Earl of Essex Folio 170 21 Sir Philip Sidney Folio 179 22 Robert E. of Leicester Folio 186 23 The Lord Burleigh Folio 195 24 Sir Francis Drake Folio 205 25 Sir Francis Walsingham Folio 215 26 Sir Nicholas Bacon Folio 219 27 Robert Devereux Earl of Essex Folio 221 28 Sir Robert Cecil Folio 238 29 Sir Tho. Overbury Folio 241 30 Sir Walter Rawleigh Folio 250 31 Mr. Wil. Cambden Folio 261 32 Mr. Tho. Sutton Folio 268 33 Sir Francis Bacon Folio 273 34 Lancelot Andrews Bishop of Winchester Folio 289 35 Doctor Donne Folio 298 36 George Villiers Duke of Buckingham Folio 308 37 Sir Henry Wotton Folio 319 38 Tho. Wentworth Earle of Strafford Folio 329 39 William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury Folio 343 40 Robert Devereux Earl of Essex General of the Parliaments Forces Folio 350 41 Sir Charles Lucas Folio 356 42 King Charles Folio 363 43 The Lord Capel Folio 433 44 James Marquesse of Montross Folio 446 45 Bishop Usher Folio 469 46 John Lilburne Folio 479 47 Oliver Cromwel Folio 525 Englands Worthies Select Lives of the most Eminent PERSONS of the Three Nations from Constantine the Great to the Death of the late Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell COnstantine for his many Victories sirnamed the Great was Son to Constantius Emperour of Rome his Mother was named Hellena being Daughter unto Caelus a Brittish Prince though some Jews and Gentiles out of hatred to her Religion have reported her to be an Inholder or Hoastess he was born in England as all Writers affirm two petty Greek Authors only dissenting who deserve to be arraigned of felony for robbing our Country of its honor Colchester was the place where he first beheld the light as the Ancient Poet Necham sung From Colchester there rose a Star The Rayes whereof gave glorious light Throughout the world in Climates far Great Constantine Romes Emperour bright At such time as he was Caesar under Constantius his Father he was left at Rome as Hostage with Galerius the Emperour but perceiving his death to be by him attempted he posted to Brittain in all haste to his father who was newly returned to the City of York from an expedition he had made against the Picts and Caledonians Constantius at the time of his sons arrival was sick of the Plague whereof he died immediately afterwards the sight of his son at the present so revived his spirits that raising himself upon his bed he set the Crown Imperial upon his head and in the presence of his Privy Councellours spake to this effect Now is my death to me more welcome and my departure hence more pleasant seeing I shall leave my unaccomplished actions to be performed by thee my Son in whose person I question not but that my memorial shall be retained as in a monument of eternal fame What I had intended but by death prevented see thou accomplish let thine Empire be governed uprightly by Justice protecting the innocents from the tyranny of oppressours wiping away all tears from the eyes of Christians for therein above all things have I esteemed my self happy to thee therefore I commend my Diadem and their defence taking my Faults along with me to my grave but leaving my Vertues to revive and live in thee With the conclusion of which words he concluded his life leaving his Subjects sorrowful for his departure but the grief they received by the death of the Father was mittigated in the hopes they conceived of his Son who so resembled his Father in all vertuous conditions that though the Emperour was changed yet his good government remained For as one writes Sol occubuit nox nulla secuta est The sun was gone but night was none Another writes thus of him Great Constantine preserv'd by Heavens decree Of mighty Rome the Emperour to be Constantine thus chosen Emperour in Brittain was confirmed Emperour by the Senate of Rome who like the Persians adored the rising Sun giving approbation to what they could not remedy his first expedition was against the Picts and Caledonians which War his Father had begun but death prevented him to finish it leaving the prosecution thereof to his son Constantine that the Fabrick of so many victories by him atchieved might have the foundation thereof laid in Brittain nor was his success contrary to his expectation subduing the inhabitants that were most remote witnesses saith one of the suns set or going down Whilest Constantine was thus busied in Brittain Maxentius by the tumultuous souldiers was proclaimed Emperour at Rome whose sister Fausta Constantine had married but his tyrannical usurpation grew so odious to the Senate that they sent to Constantine for his aid who willingly hearkening to what they so earnestly desired prepared his forces against the new elected Emperour Maximianus the Father of the Tyrant faining to abhor the outragiousness of his son but seeking indeed to uphold him in his tyranny repaired to his Son in law Constantine with an intent to murther him but revealing his intentions to his Daughter Fausta was by her detected and being taken was
might enjoy her as his Wife for these and other notorious offences being boldly reprehended by Dunstan he banished him the Realm at whose departure the devil is said to rejoyce and to laugh aloud at the West end of the Church to whom Dunstan as it were by way of Prophecy said Well thou adversary do not so greatly rejoyce at the matter for thou doest not now so much rejoyce at my departure but by Gods grace thou shalt be as sorrowful for my return All the time of King Edwy's reign which was but short for Tyrants seldome are long lived he remained at the Monastery of Gaunt in Flanders where he received much friendship from the Governour of that Countrey but Edwy dying his brother Edgar succeeded in the Kingdome who unraveling the web his brother had weaved recalled Dunstan out of banishment making him first Bishop of Worcester after of London and last of all bestowed the Archbishoprick of Canterbury upon him This Edgar had Dunstan in high estimation by whose advice the English being given to excessive quaffing he put down many Ale-houses and would suffer but one to be in a Town and the more to deterr them from this swinish vice he ordained certain cups with pins or nails and made a law that whosoever drunk past that mark at one draught should undergo a certain penalty No doubt this was an act acceptable unto God and great need hath these times of another Edgar or Dunstan to deterr people from this beastly sin and to put down the multiplicity of Alehouses which now abound in every corner of which one of our modern Poets as followeth The way to Churches is o'regrown with grass But to the Alehouse fair and plain to pass And what is it think you doth cause it so But more to th' Alehouse then to Church do go Then what may we expect of this same evil Some may to God but most will to the devil Edgar dying great troubles ensued about the election of one of his sons to succeed him most of the Nobles combining for young Ethelred Dunstan and the Monks standing as stiffly for Prince Edward at last a Council being assembled to argue the matter the Archbishop came in with his Banner and Cross and not staying for further debating presented Prince Edward for their lawful King and the assembly consisting most of Clergy-men drew the approbation of the rest and so he was Crowned King at Kingstone by Archbishop Dunstan the year of our Lord 975. These troubles thus quieted about the Crown far greater arose concerning the Church for Alferus Duke of Mercia favouring married Priests would suffer no Monks to live in his Province on the other side Edelwyn Duke of East-Anglia and Brightnoth Earl of Essex favouring the Monks expulsed the married Priests out of their jurisdictions These sparks at last increast to such a flame that it was deemed nought but the blood of one side would quench the same but upon better advice they laid arms aside and referred the matter to be debated in a Council at Winchester where the Monks cause as being worsted had undoubtedly had the foyl had they not referred the matter to be decided by the Rood where the Council sate to this Oracle Saint Dunstan desired them to pray and to give diligent ear to what it should speak for the juggling Monks had placed a Man behinde a Wall who through a trunck delivered these words to the beguiled Priests God forbid it should be so God forbid it should be so you judged well once but ye may not change well again But this deceit of the Monks being discerned by the Priests another assembly was held at Cleve in Wiltshire where whilst they were arguing with bitter invectives against each other the joysts of the loft wherein they sat suddenly brake and down fell the floar with the people thereon many were mained and some slain onely Archbishop Dunstan remained unhurt for the posts whereon his chair was set as it were by miracle remained untouched By this fall of the Floar fell the cause of the Priests and Dunstan deemed a demy God To this wooden miracle of his popish writers add another of the same nature namely how a huge beam of a house being sunk out of the frame and like to ruinate the whole building with onely making the sign of the Cross thereon with his fingers he made it return to his former place All the time of King Edwards reign was Dunstan had in high esteem but he being too good a Prince to live in so bad an age was bereft of his life by the cruelty of his step-mother that her own son might succeed in the kingdome Dunstan disallowing this act of the Queens refused to Crown her son King at length against his will he was compelled to solemnize his rights at Kingston on Thames the 14. of Aprill 979. This Ethelred favoured not greatly the Monks and therefore he was as little respected of them in their writings who report him to be sloathful person neither forward in action nor fortunate in proceedings at the time of his Baptism he is said to defile the Fount with his ordure whereupon Dunstan being troubled in his minde By the Lord saith he and his blessed Mother this childe shall prove to be a slothful person But the greatest matter laid to his charge was his making War upon the Bishop of Rochester whose peace being it would not be procured without the payment of a hundred pound in Gold Dunstan sent him word that since he made more account of Gold then of God more of money then of Saint Andrew Patron of the Church of Rochester and more of covetousness then of him being the Archbishop the mischiefs which the Lord had threatned should shortly come to pass but the same should not chance whilst he was alive he is likewise said to have foreseen the invasions of the Danes and to have foretold the miseries that soon after fell upon the English Nation as that they should not be free from Blood and the Sword till there came a people of an unknown tongue that should bring them to thraldome which predictions of his soon after his death came to passe as appears in the following Life of King Edmund this Clergy-man now waxing old the thread of his life being spun out to the last he was forced to yield to that from which none are exempted to the tyranny of death having tasted liberally in his time of the favours of Fortune which notwithstanding could not keep him from dying so true is that of the ancient Poet. Each living Corps must yield at last to death And every life must lose his vital breath The soul of man that onely lives on high And is an image of eternity He dyed on a Saturday the 25. of May the Year of our Lord 989. Happy in this that he lived not to see the miseries of his Countrey which happened presently after his death The Life of EDMUND IRONSIDE THe learned
we have inserted as followeth Emma tantum nomina Regina filiis Edwardo Alfrido materna impertit salutamina c. Emma in name onely Queen to Edward and Alfred her sons sendeth motherly greetings whilst we severally bewail the death of our Soveraign my Lord and your Father and your selves dear sons still more and more dispossessed from the Kingdom your lawful inheritance I greatly marvel what you determine to do sith you know that the delay of attempts gives the Usurper more leasure to lay his foundation and more safety to set thereon his intended buildings never ceasing to post from Town to Town and from City to City to make the Lords and Rulers of them his friends by threats prayers or rewards but notwithstanding his policy they privately signifie that they had rather have one of you their Natives should reign over them then this Danish usurper Wherefore my advice is that either of you with all speed repair unto me that we may advise together what is best to be done in this so great an enterprise fail not therefore but send me word by this messenger what you intend to do herein and so fare ye well Your affectionate Mother Emma The bait thus laid to catch these two Princes was greedily swallowed by Alfred the youngest who though the last born had not the least hopes to wear the English Diadem and making Baldwine Earl of Flanders his and some few Bullogners increasing his Fleet he took the Seas for England where for his welcome he was betrayed by Earl Goodwin under the notion of friendship and by the command of King Harold inhumanely murthered but Edward whether mistrusting the plot or rather liking a private life with safety then a publick with danger tarried behinde and so escaped those miseries that Alfred encountred But as it is commonly seen that a sinful life is rewarded with a sudden death so King Harolds sweet beginning had a sowre end dying miserably after he had raigned four years and some few moneths his speedy death cutting off the infamy of a longer life in whose room succeeded his brother in law Hardi-Canute the son of Queen Emma by Canutus her last husband who though little differing from the other in conditions yet is better reported of by Writers of that age because he lovingly entertained his half brother Edward and made Earl Goodwin purge himself for the death of Prince Alfred so that we may in part wonder at former writers that they should conclude Earl Goodwin to be guilty of that murther and yet report he cleared himself of the same to Hardi-Canute but his oath say some was the lighter urged and the easier believed by reason he had not long before presented to the king most bountiful gifts namely a ship whose sterne was of Gold with fourscore Soldiers therein placed all uniformly and richly suited on each of their arms were two bracelets of Gold with gilt Burgonets on their heads and on their bodies a triple gilt Habergion a Sword with gilt Hilts guirded to their wastes a Battel Ax on their left shoulders a Target with gilt Bosses borne in their left hands and a Dart in the right The King now wholly following his pleasures or rather to say more truly his vices delighting in nothing but swilling and Epicurisme he soon received the reward of his intemperance for being at Lambeth at the celebration of a Marriage revelling and carousing in the midst of his Cups he suddenly fell down dead with the Pot in his hand after he had reigned two years and was buried at Winchester His death was so welcome unto his Subjects that they annually celebrated the day of his death with open pastimes in the streets which custom continued even to these our times being called Hoctide or Huckstide signifying a time of scorning or contempt The Danish Line now clean extinguished for Hardi-Canute left no issue behinde him the glory of the Saxons which had long lay buried in their own ashes began again to revive and flourish for the English Lords weary of the insulting Tyranny of the Danes and willing one of their own Natives should rule with a general consent chose Prince Edward for their King who being at that present with Duke William in Normandy they sent Ambassadors unto him to signifie his Election and that he might be ascertained their intentions were real they delivered him Pledges for his more assurance Edward accepting as indeed who would deny so honourable an offer with some few Normans repaired into Englad where he was entertained of the people with such acclamations of joy as might well gain credence of their hearty affections towards him The first thing he did after his Coronation was his remitting the yearly Tribute of forty thousand pounds gathered by the name of Danegilt imposed by his Father and for forty years together paid out of all mens Lands except onely the Clergies who were exempted from the same Because the Kings reposed more confidence in the Prayers of the Holy Church then in the power of Armies It is reported the Kings clemency was moved to this compassion on this following occasion When the Collectors of this money had gotten a great quantity of the same together they brought it into his chamber and laid it all on one heap the King being called to see this great heap of Treasure was at the first sight thereof much afraid protesting he saw the Devil dancing upon the same with exceeding great joy whereupon he commanded it should be restored again to the former owners and released his Subjects of that Tribute for ever Many such like stories are of this King related and perhaps more then with safety of truth may be either believed or delivered which we shall the rather overpass because that in stories of this nature they are less to be blamed for omitting two verities then relating one falshood Divers Laws being then used in several parts of the Kingdom viz. the Mercians West Saxons Danes and Northumbrians their multiplicity causing much confusion he extracted from them all the chiefest and best and made of them one universal and common Law throughout the Land being in a manner the fountain of those which at this day we tearm the Common Laws though the forms of pleading and process therein were afterwards brought in by King William the Conquerour His Wife was named Editha the vertuous Daughter of an infamous Father Earl Godwin a Lady incomparable for Beauty and Vertue in whose Breast was a School of all Liberal Sciences saith William of Malmesbury Her honourable qualifications might have expiated to her Husband King Edward her Fathers former treachery to his Brother Vnto to this Edward as that ancient Writer hath it in these following words was given to Wife the Daughter of Earl Godwin a most beautiful Damosel named Editha of excellent learning and for behaviour a Virgin most chaste and for humility most holy no way savouring of her Father or Brethrens barbarousness but milde and modest
dayes was set that whosoever lost the Monks ever won Several superstitious Writers render this King in his life to be of that holiness that he received power from heaven to cure many diseases amongst others the swelling of the throat commonly called the Kings-Evil a prerogative that continued hereditary to his Successours Kings of England which as they affirm was first derived from him Alluridus Rivallensis writing the life and death of this King reporteth him to be a man void of pride a lover of peace a contemner of covetousness abhorring wars and blood-shed insomuch as when he lived as a banished man in Normandy he would oftentimes say That he had rather live a private life for ever then to attain the Kingdom by the death of any man Indeed he was more fitting to be ruled then to rule being too much subject to his Subjects his familiarity causing their contempt accounting his humility to be meer simplicity though otherwise adjudged by the Poet. He 's soly wise who is not selfly wise But humble in the judgement of his eyes His innocent and harmless Government continued his Reign in length twenty three years six moneths and odd dayes he died and was buried in the Church at Westminster which he formerly had builded being after his death canonized for a Saint The Life of VVILLIAM the Conquerour WIlliam the First sirnamed the Conquerour was base son to Robert the first of that name the sixth Duke of Normandy begotten on Arlet a Skinners Daughter from whence our English word Harlot is thought to be derived when he was about seven years old his Father intending a Pilgrimage to Jerusalem assembled all his Nobles together and caused them to swear fealty to this his son William committing him to the governance of two of his Brothers and the defence of that Government to Henry the French King a strange confidence in the Duke to commit the tuition of his son that was base born to pretenders that were legitimate and a potent Monarch who desired to reannex that Dukedom to his Crown but the proximity of blood in his brothers and his former services to the French King made him so confident that in the eighth year of his Dukedom he sets forward on his voyage where entring Jewry and not able to travel he was born in a Litter on Saracens shoulders and near unto the City meeting a returning Pilgrim desired him to report in his Countrey that he was carried to heaven upon the devils back but so far he went that he never returned leaving his son a ball to be tost about in Fortunes Tennis-Court First one Roger de Tresny sought to toss him out of his Dukedom pretending the illegitimation of William which fair pretence got him many complices but the Divine Providence raised him up friends particularly Roger de Beamont by whose valour this Roger de Tresny was defeated and slain These troubles were scarce ended but far greater arose for William de Arques his base Uncle assisted by the King of France layes claim to the Dutchy but William so begirt his Castle with a strait siege that the Earl was almost famished was forced to yield and the French with disgrace returned home yet could not their ill success deter others from attempting the like but Guy Earl of Burgoyn Grand childe to Richard the Second would needs likewise try his chance in Fortunes Lottery which proved quite contrary to his expectation for he seeking to be made head of the Dukedom was for his treason made shorter by the head Duke William having thus vanquished his enemies and now grown more potent then he was before for every rebellion when it is suppressed makes the Prince stronger and the Subjects weaker comes over into England to visit his Cousen King Edward the Confessor to whom it is said Edward with the consents of Stigandus Archbishop of Canterbury the Earls Goodwin and Syward and of Harold son to Earl Goodwin promised if he dyed without issue to leave the Crown which promise was afterward ratified by the corporall oath of Harold who being at his mannor of Boseham in Suffolk one day for his recreation in a fishers boat launched forth to the Sea but by a contrary winde was driven upon the Coasts of Ponthieu in France where being taken by Earl Guido was presented to Duke William to whom he solemnly swore to assist him for obtaining the Kingdom but Edward dying the splendour of his Crown so dazeled the eyes of Harold that forgetting his former promise and oath he set the same upon his own head Duke William whose hopes were that England should be his now seeing his hopes frustrated by Harold prepares his forces against the perjured King with whom joyned many of the French Nobility and to make their endeavours the more successfull Pope Alexander the second sent him a consecrated Banner an Agnus Dei and one of the hairs of Saint Peter the Apostle Thus furnished on all sides with a Navy of 896. Ships he cuts the briney face of Neptune and arrives at Pemsey near Hasteings in Sussex from whence he sent a Monk on Ambassage to Harold who was newly returned from the slaughter of the Norwegians offering him three conditions the first was that he should resigne up the Crown or hold it as a Tributary Prince under him or else in sight of both armies to defend his Title in Person against the Duke if not to stand to the arbitrement of the Pope but Harold instead of granting his requests threatens his ruine except he forthwith returns into Normandy Both sides thus enraged the one seeking to get the other to keep that which by right belonged to another seven miles from Hasteings a bloody battel was fought wherein was slain of the English if I may credit my Author 66654. King Harold himself manfully fighting was likewise slain a Prince had he attained the Crown by right worthy to have injoyed it a longer time but his pride and ambition caused his destruction so true is that which one observes Much have I seen yet seldome seen I have Ambition go gray headed to the Grave William having thus obtained the victory of an old Duke was made a yong King being Crowned at Westminster by Aldred Archbishop of York the Year of our Salvation 1066. And now the better to secure himself in his new state he endeavours to get into his possession the strongest forts in the Kingdom and to this end takes his journey towards Dover the Lock and Key of the Kingdome as Matthew Paris calls it that by the command of so strong a place he might the more easily keep under the Natives and keep out strangers if any excited by his example should dare to attempt what he had done But the Kentish-men having notice of his intentions assembled together and at Swanscombe two miles from Gravesend met him in the forme of a moving Wood for seeing no way lay open save onely a front they agreed to carry in their hands great
Branches of Trees which not onely kept them from being discovered but induced him to think all the Woods thereabout of the like nature so that he willingly consented to what they desired which was the continuance of their former Laws and Pledges being given on both parts for performance Kent yieldeth up her Earldome and Castle of Dover to King William Now what the Kentish-men attained by arms the Citizens of London obtained by art for having to their Bishop one William a Norman they so wrought with him and he with the King that he granted them their first Charter written in the Saxon Tongue and sealed with green wax the coppy whereof followeth William Cyng greit William Biscop Godfreges Portgerefan ealle tha Burhwaren the on Lunden beon c. William King greeteth William Bishop and Godfrey Portreeve and all the Burgesses that in London be French and English friendly And I do you to wit that I will that you enjoy all the Law which you did in the dayes of Edward King And I will that each Childe be his Fathers Inheritour after his Fathers dayes And I will not suffer that any man you any wrong offer God you keep The Lord Major and Aldermen to honour his memory upon the Solemn Dayes of their resort to Pauls do still use to walk to his Grave-stone being in the midst of the great West Isle and on the same have affixed this Epitaph following Gulielmo viro sapientia vita sanctitate claro qui primùm divo Edwardo regi Confessori familiaris ruper in Episcopum Londinensem erectus nec multo post apud invictissimum principem Gulielmum Angliae Regem ejus nominis primum ob prudentiam fidemque singularem in consilium adhibitus amplissima huic urbi celeberrima privilegia ab eodem impetravit Senatus populusque Londinensis bene merenti posuit Sedic Episcopus Annos 20. Decessit anno à Christo nato 1070. Haec tibi clare pater posuêrunt marmora cives Praemia non meritis aequiparanda tuis Namque sibi populus te Londoniensis amicum Sensit huic urbi non bene praesidium Reddita libertas duce te donataque multis Te duce res fuerat publica muneribus Divitias genus formam brevis opprimat hora Haec tua sed pietas benfacta manent Thus turned into English by one of our modern Historians To William a man famous in wisdom and holiness of life who first with St. Edward the King and Confessour being familiar of late preferred to be Bishop of London and not long after for his prudency and sincere fidelity admitted to be of counsel with the most victorious Prince William King of England of that name the first who obtained of the same great and large Priviledges to this famous City The Senate and Citizens of London to him having well deserved have made this He continued Bishop twenty years and died in the year after Christ his Nativity 1070. These Marble Monuments to thee thy Citizens assign Rewards O Father far unfit to those deserts of thine Thee unto them a faithful friend thy London people found And to this Town of no small weight a stay both sure and found Their Liberties restor'd to them by means of thee have been Their Publick Weal by means of thee large gifts have felt and seen Thy riches stock and beauty brave one hour hath them supprest Yet these thy vertues and good deeds with us for ever rest The memories of this man Sir William Walworth Sir Thomas Gresham and such others deserve to be honoured with statues advanced in the most conspicuous places of the City lest otherwise she be reputed ingrateful to them from whom she derives so honourable a splendour But to leave the City and return unto the Court new troubles in Normandy arising in King Williams absence he was forced suddenly to raise an Army to suppress them carrying along with him those whom he most suspected might take the advantage of his troubles abroad so as to raise any new broils at home pretending their aid against his Rebells in Normandy but indeed fearing in his absence they should raise a new rebellion in England dealing therein as the politique Captain Sextorius did with the Spaniards whose children he kept under pretence of learning them the Latine Tongue but indeed as Hostages for their Fathers loyalties And because the common people are to be feared for their number as well as the Nobility for their greatnesse he disarmed them that so being left naked they might be uncapable of Insurrections yet notwithstanding his policy no sooner was he gone but Edrick Sylvaticus a man of great spirit and power aided by the Welsh-men made great spoils in Herefordshire wasting all to the mouth of Wye These troubles made the Englishmen so distasteful to King William that returning out of Normandy he laid such heavy Taxes and Impositions upon them that many of them preferring penurious liberty before fetters of gold left their habitations and lived as Outlaws in the woods and deserts The chiefest of these Male-contents were Edwyn and Morcar the two stout Earls of Yorkshire and Chester Hereward Gospatria and Syward with many other Lords to whom joyned Stigand and Aldred Archbishops with many of the Clergy who having Edgar Atheling amongst them endeavoured to recover that which for want of taking time by the foretop they had improvidently lost But their Forces being dissipated by Williams conquering sword every one sought how to save himself by flight some fled into Denmtrk others into Hungary most into Scotland whilest William with triumph returned to London from whence he sent Ambassadours to Malcolme Canmore then King of Scotland for the delivery of Edgar with the rest of his enemies which if he refused he would denounce open War against Scotland But King Malcolme not onely denied his request but also took to Wife the Lady Margret sister unto Edgar which occasioned bloody Wars on both sides and four several Armies were sent against the Scots The first under the conduct of one Roger a Norman who entering hastily into Northumberland was by the Scots discomfited and himself by his own Souldiers treacherously slain to second whose beginnings another Army was sent under the Command of Richard Earl of Glocester whose fortunes being not answerable to Williams expectations A third Army was sent led by Odo Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent but he being more used to the Church then the Camp and fitter to handle a pen then a sword encountering with the Scots upon the first onset was quite defeated but King William nothing discouraged with these overthrows sent his son Robert with a far greater power then he sent before which notwithstanding did no far greater service then the fortifying of Newcastle at length a Peace was concluded betwixt them which though prejudicial to King Williams side yet as affairs then stood he could not well have acted otherwise which was that King Malcolme should enjoy that part
Consulship of Caesar and Bibulus that nothing was reported of Bibulus but all of Caesar so Longchamps Sun ecclipsed Durhams Candle his great Bell making such a sound that the other Tantony could not be heard Having thus settled his affairs in England he crosseth the Sea to Philip King of France who according to appointment was to go along with him in this journey which after some stay occasioned by the death of the French Queen they agreed on these Christian and friendly terms 1. That each of them preserve the others honour and bear faith to him for life and member and earthly dignity 2. That neither of them shall fail the other in their Affairs but that the King of France shall help the King of England to defend his Land even as he would defend the City of Paris if it were besieged and Richard King of England shall help the King of France to defend his Land even as he would defend his City Roan if it were besieged These Articles agreed on and sworn to on both sides these two great Monarchs of the West Richard the first King of England and Philip the second King of France set forwards on their journey in the description of which give me leave to light my Candle at Mr. Fullers fire and to borrow some of his expressions to inrich my stile who in his History of the holy War hath so eloquently described it nor let me be accused for a fellon or a counterfeit in mixing his Gold amongst my Alchymy since it may well pass for pay which is stamped with so currant language There attended King Richard in this journey Baldwine Archbishop of Canterbury Hubert Bishop of Salisbury Robert Earl of Leicester Ralph de Glanvile late Chief Justice of England Richard de Clare Walter de Kime c. At Tours he took his Pilgrims Scrip and Staff from the Archbishop his Staff at the same time casually brake in pieces which some construed a token of ill success Likewise when he and the French King with their trains passed over the Bridge at Lyons which brake by reason of the throng of people on the fall of the Bride this conceit was built that there would be a falling out betwixt these two Kings which accordingly happened their intercourse and familiarity breeding hatred and discontent betwixt them At Lyons these two Kings parted company Philip passing over the Alps in Italy and Richard to the Sea-side to Marseillis to meet with his Navy which being by tempest driven to other parts after six weeks stay he hireth shipping for himself and his company and passing forwards upon occasion anchored in the Mouth of the River Tyber within fifteen miles of the City of Rome yet notwithstanding he was so hot on his journey his devotion was so cold towards his Holiness that he would not vouchsafe to give him a visit but plainly told Octavian Bishop of Ostia the Popes Confessor that having better objects to bestow his eyes upon he would not stir a step to see the Pope laying to his charge many shamefull matters touching the Romish Simony and Covetousness with many other reproaches alledging that they took 700. marks for consecration of the Bishop of Mains 1500. marks for the Legative power of William Bishop of Ely and of the Archbishop of Burdeaux an infinite sum of money whereupon he refused to see Rome Yet notwithstanding this his disobedience to his spiritual Father he arived safe as Messana where he met with the French King his most Christian brother and although he lost the Popes yet found he the Almighties Blessing his Navy within few dayes after ariving safe in Cicily Tankred at this time was King of the Island a Bastard born and no wonder if climing up to the throne the wrong way he shaked when he sat down besides he was a tyrant both detaining the Dowry and imprisoning the Person of Joan Wife to William late King of Cicily and Sister to King Richard And therefore though he shewed him a fair countenance his heart was full of poysonous rancour but King Richard perceived his hypocrisie notwithstanding his vizard as dissembling goeth not long invisible before a judicious eye and being offered some abuses by the Citizens of Messana he assaults and takes the City demanding satisfaction for all wrongs done to him and his Sister Tankred seeing how the case stood thought it his best thrift to be prodigal and bestows on King Richard many thousand ounces of Gold purchasing that with his purse which by using justice he might have had for nothing King Phillip seemed nothing pleased at these dissentions yet wisely covered the fire of his anger with the ashes of discretion till such time he might show it with more advantage and thinking to forestall the market of Honour and take up all for himself he hasted presently to Ptolemais which the Christians had long besieged and with them he joyns while King Richard taking his Sister Joan and Berengaria daughter to Sanctius King of Navarr in 190. Ships and 50. Gallies puts to Sea for the holy Land but is by tempest cast upon the Coast of Cyprus where the Islanders under Cursac or Isakius their King seek to impeach his landing But King Richard speedily over-ran the Island and having taken Cursac honours him with the magnificent Captivity of silver Fetters having given him his word not to put him in bonds of Iron This Island from all antiquity was celebrated for the seat of Venus according to the Poet Venus feasts hallowed thorow all Cyprus came And Venus fair was present at the same And that it so might prove to King Richard in the joyous moneth of May he solemnly takes to Wife his beloved lady Berengaria and pawning the Island to the Templers for ready money he passeth on to Ptolemais Long time had this City been besieged by the Christians and many were the miseries that were underwent by both sides the Famine raging within and the Pestilence reigning without so that now upon King Richard arival the Turks despairing of succour and their victualls wholly spent they yielded up the City on condition to be guarded out of it safely To take possession for the French there was sent in Drogou de Merlou and an 100. men at arms and for the English Hugo de Gurnay with the like number who equally parted the City Goods and People between them Here the English cast down the Ensigns of Leopoldus Duke of Austria which he had advanced in a principal place of the Wall and threw them into the Jakes for which injury King Richard paid dearly afterwards so dangerous it is to exasperate any though far inferiour for as the fable acquaints us the Beetle may anoy the Eagle and the Mouse befriend the Lion Eighteen dayes after the taking of Ptolemais the French King returned home leaving Odo Duke of Burgundy to manage the Army in his absence pretending the air of the Countrey did not agree with his body but more likely that the air
of King Richards too great honour could not down with his too great minde Hoveden reports he was bribed by Saladine which if true let him for ever forfeit the sirname of Augustus and the stile of the most Christian Prince King Richard goes on notwithstanding the French Kings departure and fortifies the Town of Joppa where going one day a hawking to recreate himself being weary laid himself down upon the ground to fleep when suddenly certain Turks came upon him to take him but he awakened with their noise riseth up gets a horseback and drawing out his sword assaults the Turks who feigning to fly drew the King into an ambush where many Turks lay who had certainly taken him if they had known his person but one of the Kings Servants called William de Patrellis crying out in the Saracen Tongue that he was the King they presently lay hold upon him and let the King escape At this time Guy of Lusignan was possest of the City of Tyre and with it of the right of the Kingdom of Jerusalem King Richard more greedy of honour then profit exchangeth his Island of Cyprus with this hungry Prince for his Kingdome of Jerusalem and upon this title the Kings of England were stiled Kings of Jerusalem a long time after And now did King Richard long to be possest of his merchandise whereupon it was determined then should presently march towards the holy City Richard led the vantguard of his English Duke Odo commanded in the main battel over his French James of Avergne brought on the Flemings and Brabanters in the rear Saladine Serpent-like biting the heal assaulted the rear not far from Bethlehem when the French and English wheeling about charged the Turks most furiously emulation formerly poyson was here a cordial each Christian nation striving not onely to conqer their enemies but to overcome their friends in the honour of the Conquest King Richard seeking to put his courage out of doubt brought his judgement into question being more prodigal of his person then beseemed a General A great Victory they obtained of the Turks with little loss to themselves save onely of James of Avergne who here died in the Bed of Honour And now they marched up within sight of Jerusalem where King Richard intercepted the Caravan of the Saladine laden with many rich Eastern wares containing much in a little and guarded with ten thousand men whom King Richard valiantly encountring with 5000. selected Souldiers put most of them to the Sword and took three thousand Camels and four thousand Horses and Mules besides all their rich treasure and yet of all this and all that he gained in Cicily and Cyprus he brought home nothing but one Gold Ring all the rest of his wealth melting away in this hot service And now King Richard being advertised of the King of France his invading Normandy contrary to his oath at his departure inforced him though much to his grief to conclude a peace with Saladine and that upon conditions not very honourable for the Christians which was to demolish all places they had walled since the taking of Ptolemais which was in effect to undo what with much charge they had done but such was the tyranny of King Richards occasions forcing him to return that he was glad to embrace those conditions he hated at his heart and so sending his Wife Berengaria and his Sister Joan with a great part of his Army into Cicily and from thence into England he passeth himself with some few of his company by the way of Thrace and on the Coasts of Istria suffered shipwrack wherefore he intended to pierce thorow Germany by land the next way home The better to pass undiscovered he disguises himself to be one Hugo a Merchant whose onely merchandise was himself but in his journey near to Vienna was unhappily discovered by the profuseness of his expences so that the very policy of an Hoastess finding his Purse so far above his Cloaths did detect him Leopoldus Duke of Austria hearing hereof as being Lord of the Soyl seized on this royal Hero meaning now to ge his pennyworths out of him for the affront done unto him in Palestine But this booty being too great for a Duke the Emperour got him into his Custody meaning to coyn much Gold and Silver out of his most unjust affliction by sharp imprisonment Yet all the weight of their cruelty did not bow him beneath a Princely carriage Fifteen moneths imprisonment did he endure at last he was ransomed for an hundred and forty thousand marks Collen weight and delivered to his Mother Queen Elianor by the Archbishops of Mentz and Collen which last named Archbishop for joy of his deliverance did celebrate divine service after this manner Deus missit angelum Now I know that God hath sent his Angel and hath delivered thee out of the hand of Herod and from the expectation of the people c. We must not here forget how Gods judgements overtook this Duke punishing his Dominions with Fire Water Barrenness Worms and Pestilence The Fire causually burning his Towns the River of Danubius drowning then thousand of his Subjects in an overflow the Earth waxing dry and sear the Worms destroying such Fruit and Grain as grew and the stroak of Pestilence killing the principal Nobles and Gentlemen of his Dominions The Duke himself in a tilting for solemnity of his Birth-day fell off his horse and broke his leg which turning to a Gangreen he cut off with his own hands and died thereof King Richard after his return into England at the Abby of Saint Edmunds offered up the rich Imperial Standard of Cursac Emperour of Cyprus which he took among the spoils of the Griffons Camp and then marched to reduce such Castles as the servants of his Brother John held against him who ambitiously and ungratefully during his Brothers absence sought to wrest the helme of Government into his own hands fortifying the Castles of Marleborough Lancaster St. Michaels Mount Nottingham and Tichil Henry de Pumeray Captain of St. Michaels Mount hearing for certain that King Richard was come died for very fear and the rest of the Castles were reduced with some small resistance And now to show that he was an absolute King again he caused himself to be again Crowned at Winchester the King of Scotland honouring the solemnity with his presence who bare a Sword before King Richard between which two Princes there followed great amity and tenderness of love all their dayes Not long after this the King being at dinner at Westminster received advertisement that the French had laid Siege to Vernoul a strong Town of his in Normandy with which he was so moved that he swore a great oath he would never turn his head till he had confronted the French For the performance of which oath he caused the wall-right before him to be presently beaten down that so he might pass forward without turning his face never resting till with an hundred great
Ships he had crost the Seas from Portsmouth into Normandy But King Richard made not so much haste to succour but the French King made as much haste to be gone here Earl John submits himself to his Brother who upon his submission restores his possessions unto him saying onely I wish you may as well remember your fault as I shall forget it King Richard following the French King overtakes him at Vendome who affrighted at his approach the second time flies without striking a stroak leaving behinde him all his bag and baggage Munition Tents and Treasure to a marvellous value together with the Indentures of such as had left King Richard to serve King Philip. Much about that time one Philip Bishop of Bevois a Martial man and who much annoyed the English borders was fortunately taken in a Skirmish by King Richards side who put him in prison the Bishop hereupon complained to the Pope who wrote in the behalf of his son as an ecclesiastical person and a Shepherd of the Lords The King sent unto the Pope the Armour he was taken in and engraved thereon the words which Jacobs sons used when they sold their Brother Joseph and presented their Father with his Coat Vide utrum filii tui tunica sit vel non See whether it be thy Sons Coat or no. Whereupon the Pope replyed That he was neither his Son nor the Son of the Church and therefore should be ransomed at the Kings will because he was rather judged to be a Servitor of Mars then a Souldier of Christ I am now come to the last act of this Kings Life which drew the black cloud of death over this triumphal and bright shining star of Chevalry one Widomare Vicount of Limoges having found a great hord of Gold and Silver sent part thereof to King Richard as chief Lord but he over covetous would not be contented without all pretending that treasure was wholly his by vertue of his Prerogative Royal. Thereupon marches with a great power to a Castle of the Vicounts called Chaluz where he supposed the riches were the Garrison of which place offered to yield the same and all therein if onely their lives and limbs might be saved but he would not accept of any conditions bidding them defend themselves as they could for he would enter by the Sword and hang them all but in the assault he was slain by a shot from an Arbalist the use of which warlike engine he first shewed unto the French Whereupon a French Poet made these verses in the person of Atropos Hoc volo non aliâ Richardum morte perire Vt qui Francigenis Balista primitùs usum Tradidit ipse sui rem primitùs experiatur Quamque aliis docuit in se vim sentiat artis It is decreed thus must great Richard dye As he that first did teach the French to dart An Arbalist 't is just he first should try The strength and taste the fruits of his own art The man which shot him was named Bertram de Gurdon who being brought before the King who neglecting his wound gave not over the assault till he had mastered the place boldly justified his action as done in defence of his Countrey and to revenge the death of his Father and Brother whom this King had slain with his own hand Which said the King caused him to be set at liberty and gave him an hundred shillings sterling but after the King was dead one Markadey a Captain of Rutters took him flead him quick and hanged him up Concerning his issue some report him to have none at all others two but illegitimate a Priest in Normandy is reported to have told him he had three daughters which he wished to bestow in marriage or else Gods wrath would attend him the King denying he had any daughter Yes said the Priest you have three Pride Covetousness and Leachery The King apprehensive of the Priests meaning called his Lords there attending and said My Lords this Hypocrite hath found that I have three daughters viz. Pride Covetousness and Leachery which he would have me bestow in marriage and therefore if any such I have I have found out most fit husbands for them all My Pride I bequeath to to thee haughty Templers and Hospitallers who are as proud as Lucifer himself My Covetousness I give to the white Monks of the Cisteaux Order for they covet the Devil and all But for my Leachery I can bestow it no where better then on the Priests and Prelates of our times for therein have they their most felicity Doubtless saith Speed these marriages proved so fruitful that their issue hath now overflowed all Kingdoms of the earth In this Kings dayes lived that famous Out-law Robin Hood accompanied with one called little John and a hundred stout fellows more who as Sir Richard Baker saith molested all Passengers upon the High way of whom it is reported that he was of Noble Blood at least made Noble no less then an Earl for some deserving services but having wasted his Estate in Riotous courses very penury forced him to take this course in which yet it may be said he was honestly dishonest for he seldome hurt any man never any woman spared the poor and onely made prey of the rich till the King setting forth a Proclamation to have him apprehened it happened he fell sick at a certain Nunnery called Brickleys in York shire and desiring there to be let blood was betrayed and made bleed to death Of all Thieves saith Major this same was the Prince and the most gentle Thief The Life of King EDWARD the Third HAving already as it were in a Land-scape discovered some part of the holy War I shall now with a careful brevity pass through the transactions of our Wars with France as they were managed with victorious success in the Reigns of Edward the Third and Henry the Fifth to which to compleat the History I have added the Life of John Earl of Bedford with whose Life the Honour of our English Gallantry in France expired Edward the Third sirnamed of Windsor his Birth-place was eldest son to King Edward the Second who for some misgovernments during the time of his Reign was by the factious Nobility deposed from the Crown and not long after deprived of his life by the procurement as it is said of his Wife Queen Isabel Lord Mortimer and some others and young Edward Crowned King Anno. 1327. Who though he thus rise by Fathers ruine yet may in some sort be excused of the same First in regard of his adolescency for though he were then married yet had he not attained to 15. years of age nor could he be induced to accept of the Crown until he was certified by some of his Lords that his Father had voluntary resigned it unto him besides the exemplary punishment he took on the Lord Mortimer a chief actor in his Fathers Tragedy may in part assure as of his Innocency therein In the mean time to divert
having ascended their full height began to decline for notwithstanding he sent over great forces under the Duke of Lancaster and Earl of Hereford no great matter thereof ensued And now each day brings news of some Towns revolt or Commanders death the Earl of Warwick receives his death by a pestilential Dart Sir John Chandoys an expert Commander is unfortunately slain Sir William Molineux who had long served in the Wars of France deceaseth in England the Earl of Pembroke is taken prisoner by the Spaniards and the Noble Prince Edward dieth at Canterbury with whom saith Walshingham died all the hopes of the English during whose life they feared no invasion of the enemy abroad nor any division at home for he assailed no nation which he overcome not he besieged no City which he took not whose death lay so heavy on his heart that King Edward himself lived not long after A King saith Speed whose name among the surviving splendors of his actions is justly transmitted with honour to all posterity He died at his Mannor of Sheene near Richmond the 21. of July 1377. having lived 65. years and reigned 56. years 4. moneths and odde dayes his body was solemnly interred at Westminster Church where he hath his monument with this Epitaph engraven thereon made by Geffery Chaucer the Poet. Hic decus Anglorum flos regum praeteritorum Forma futurorum Rex clemens pax populorum Tertius Edwardus regni complens Jubilaeum Invictus Pardus pollens bellis Machabaeum Here Englands Grace the flower of Princes past Pattern of future Edward the third is plac't Milde Monarch Subjects peace Wars Machabee Victorious Pard his reign a Jubilee In the eleventh year of this Kings reign my Author writes was so great plenty that a quarter of Wheat was sold at London for two shillings a fat Ox for a noble a fat sheep for six pence and six Pigeons for a penny a fat Goose for two pence and a Pigg for a penny and other things after that the same cheap rate The Life of EDWARD the Black Prince IT may seem superfluous having writ the Reign of the Father in whose time he died to publish the life of this Prince but as an eminent Author writes as heroick persons purchase their own honours so they ought to inherit their own praises to wear their own laurels This may apologize for my enterprize more especially as I have endeavoured to avoid whatsoever hath been already written and to set down onely his more particular Transactions Edward the Black Prince so named of this dreaded acts and not from his complexion was the eldest son of King Edward the Third a Prince of an undaunted spirit so full of vertues that he left no room for any nnworthy vice who had he lived in the heroick times might well have been numbred amongst the nine Worthies At 15. years of age his father takes him over with him into France to initiate him as it were in the School of War as one of our modern Poets hath it In this fair heaven of magnanimity The Prince the star of honour decks the fly Fixt here so soon by 's Fathers band who meant He there should fall or gild that firmament I will for the more brevity treat onely of three special passages in this Princes life his Battel at Crescy his Victory at Poityers and his restoring Don Pedro to his Crown of Castile in the Battel at Crescy the French exceeded the English nigh four for one and by reason of their numbers being confident of Victory would needs hasten the Fates to their own destruciton and enforcd the English to make their passage through as they then determined the red Sea of their own blood nor could the terrible peals of Thunder from heaven nor shoals of Ravens and ravenous birds which came flying over their Hoast foreshewing the harvest of carcasses at hand hinder their proceedings but as if ascertained of victory they did erect their banner called Oliflame as a signe of taking none to mercy no more then fire is extinguisht by Oyl against which the English advance their Banner of the red Dragon to signifie no mercy to them that would shew none Both Armies divided into three Battalions the sign of Battel being given by King Philip the horrour of War began to show its self the grass was soon changed from green to red and their glistering faucheons to a purple colour Drums and Trumpets sounded the knells of death horrour and destruction appeared every where Amongst other Nations that assisted the French in this sad War were twelve thousand Genowayes being all of them Gross-bow men these were to open a way for the French horse with their shot but at the very instant fell such a showr of rain which for the present wet the Archers strings and made them less serviceable The French King hereupon commanded Count Alanson who commanded the Van to beat them from the point and to charge the English this was no sooner commanded then performed and the poor Genowayes trodden down by the horse who now turn their fury against the French seeking to destroy whom they came to help The English enemies unto either having reinforced their Archery liberally bestow their arrows amongst them endeavouring the destruction of them both who ever saw a Matachin dance imitate fighting might here see a fight imitate the Matachin dance The French way thus paved with Genoan bodies half out of breath with headlong haste never stay till they came up to the English Battel with whom encounters the noble Prince of Wales who commanded the English Voward that day the fight grew fierce and cruel each side striving to exceed the other in valour Who had seen the Prince of Wales at that present would have believed Pythagoras doctrine of Transmigration that the soul of great Hector had been infused into him what Poets have feigned of ancient Heroes fell short of the truth of what he performed that day The King of Bohemia whom age might have taught to have expected death in his Chamber and not to have sought him in the Fields of Mars seals his love to the French side with his dearest blood his troop of faithful followers with their slaughtered bodies covering him even in death whose plume of Ostrige feathers won then by valiant Edward hath every since been the Cognisance of the Princes of Wales Another trophey of the English Chevalry was the King of Majorca who in aid of the French was there likewise slain as a renowned Poet in his description of that victory One King 's too much but there two Kings must dye Leave two uncrown'd to Crown one victory It was now high time for King Philip to bring up the main Battel whose numbers threatned the destruction of the English this onset threatning so much danger King Edward is sent for to come up with his power to aid the Prince whose answer was Let them send no more to me for any adventure that may befall whilest my
son is alive but let him either vanquish or bravely dye because the honour of this brave day shall be his if God suffer him to survive This answer would have wrought despair in cowards but to these valiant Heroes brought increase of courage who now bestir themselves more then before sending such numbers to grisly Charon that his leaking boat was ready to sink under the pressure of their numerous weight Twice was King Philip beat off his horse and twice by the Lord Beaumont mounted again but being wounded in the Neck and Thigh was forced to retire himself out of the fight upon whose departure the French gave way and staid not long but betook them to flight The French King with a small company flies to Bray and being questioned by the guard who he was answered The Fortune of France whereupon being known he was received into the Town with the tears and lamentations of the people The number of the slain are reported to be 30000. the same number which King Edward brought to the Battel the chief whereof were the two Kings of Bohemia and Majorca Charles Earl of Alanson John Duke of Bourbon Ralph Earl of Lorrain Lewis Earl of Flanders the Dolphin of Viennois the Earls of Sancerr Harecourt Aumarl Nevers c. Thus under the conduct of this valiant Prince the English obtained a glorious victory whom King Edward the Father thus congratulates Son God send you good perseverance to so prosperous beginnings you have nobly acquit your self and are well worthy to have the governance of a Kingdom entrusted unto you for your valour Wars greatest tempest now blown over some little mists remained behinde like to the gleanings after harvest certain troops of French under the command of the Archbishop of Roan and the Prior of France ignorant of what had happened were coming from Abbevile Roan and some other Towns thereabouts to the aid of King Philip and to enrich themselves by the spoil of the English but that they might be sensible of the ill fortune of a bad market they found King Philip discomfitted before they came and they themselves must become the English spoil From his victory at Crescy I shall proceed to his conquest at Poytiers as I have already intimated in the Life of Edward the Third Philip King of France dying his son John succeeds him who invests his Son Charles with the Dutchy of Aquitain King Edward bestows the same on the Prince of Wales commanding him to defend that right with his Sword hence grows the quarrel and a small matter will cause a great difference where both parties wait for an occasion The Prince with an Army lands is Aquitain conquering all where ever he comes unto whom Pope Clement the sixth sends a messenger with an overture to intercede for a Peace the Prince returns answer that the message must be sent to the King his Father for he could not meddle without command from him Mean while he takes Cities and Towns at his pleasure and without impeachment returneth to Burdeaux where for that year he takes leave of Martial Atchievements The prince could not continue long without action for no sooner had the Son rid through his Winters stage but with an uncontrouled march he advances through Bruges Perigort and Limosin intending to return to Burdeaux through the Countries of Turain Paictou and Saintcin But John King of France hasting to go beyond his Father in misfortunes seeks to intercept his passage and with a mighty Army follows after whom he overtakes about the City of Poytiers Both Armies preparing themselves for fight two Cardinals from Pope Clement labour to take up the quarrel but King John whom the Destinies drave headlong to destruction would accept of no conditions but that the Prince should deliver him four Hostages and as vanquished render himself and his Army to his discretion but this being with just indignation rejected it came to a most bloody and fearful tryal The French Army exceeded the English six to one by reason the Prince had not long before sent a great part thereof to defend Aquitain wherefore that he might be able to deal with the French numbers he takes all the advantage he could of the ground and providently got the benefit of Vines Shrubs and Bushes with iron Spikes with other incumbrances on that part he was like to be assailed to impester and intangle the French horse which he saw were to come furiously upon him then dividing his Army into three Battalions he committeth the vaward to the Earls of Warwick and Oxford the middle-ward was guided by himself and the Reer-ward led by the Earls of Salisbury and Suffolk The Army thus marshalled the noble Prince standing conveniently to be heard encouraged his Souldiers with this following speech as I received it from an ancient Manuscript Your manhood most noble companions in Arms hath been so often experimented under my Father and me that it proves you are not degenerate from true Sons of English men but to be descended from those whose lively couragiousness hath heretofore tamed the French the Cyprians the Siracusians the Calabrians and the Palastines brought under the stiff-necked Scots unruly Irish and stubborn Welch unto whom no labour was painfull no place invincible no ground unpassable no Hill were it never so high inaccessable no Tower unscaleable no Army impenetrable no armed Souldier or whole Hoasts formidable At this time gallant Countreymen the honour love of our Countrey and the rich spoil of the French call upon us to be valiant let not their numerous Army affright you since they are the same men who not long ago were vanquisht by a handfull of us at the Battel of Crescy Remember withall that I am Edward your Leader who will participate with you either in weale or in woe either sharing with you in the honor of their overthrow or dying with you if overthrown Scarcely could the Prince make an end of his Speech when the French like an impetuous torrent slighting the petty numbers of the English came furiously on as to an assured victory but upon their first assault were so wrapt in molested and encombred amongst the Vines that the Archers galled and anoyed them at their pleasure for the French King to give the honour of the day to his Cavallery imployed them onely without his Infantry so as they being disordered and put to rout his whole Army was soon utterly defeated as Drayton describes this Victory Here a hand sever'd there an ear was cropt Here a chap falne and there an eye put out Here was an arm lopt off there a nose dropt Here half a man and there a less piece fought Like to dismembred statues they did stand Which had been mangled by times iron hand Few such lists of prisoners do we meet withall in any story as here were taken at this Battel viz. John King of France Philip his Son the Archbishop of Sens James of Burbon Earl of Ponthieu John of Artoyer Earl of Eu Charles his
regaining the Dutchy of York wrongfully conferred on his Brother Clarence by the last Parliament Hereupon many of note joyned themselves with him so that whom they refused to serve as King which had been an act of loyalty they condescend to aid as Duke of York which was absolute rebellion it being high treason in a Subject though never so apparently injured to seek his remedy by Arms. Having thus increast his Army he marches towards London and although the Marquess Mountague Warwicks Brother with a far superiour power lay then at Pomfret to impeach his journey yet let he him quietly pass not permitting any act of hostillity to be shewed or advantage taken by which gross oversight he ruined himself and Warwick too for no sooner was Edward past this danger but many of the Nobility with mighty Forces repaired to him Whereupon forgetting his oath he takes upon him the title of King and marcht directly to Coventry fierce in his desire to give Warwick battel who lay there encampt and now his Brother Clarence with all his Forces forsakes his Father-in-law the Earl of Warwick and joynes with his Brother Hereupon uniting their Forces they march up to London which after some show of resistance submitted its self Warwick having now joyned with his Brother Mountague follows after him whom to oppose King Edward having settled the Town to his obedience led forth his Army at St. Albans they both met where betwixt them was fought a most bloody battel in which the Earl of Warwick and his Brother Mountague valiantly fighting were both slain and their whole Army totally routed To this violent end came the Earl of Warwick and indeed how was it possible such a stormy life could expect a calmer death he was questionless valiant for a Coward durst not have thought those dangers into which he entred upon the slightest quarrels His soul was never quiet distasted still with the present and his pride like a foolish builder so delighted to pull down and set up that at length part of the frame that himself had raised fell upon him and crusht him to death His varying so in approving contrary Titles shewed either a strange levity in judgement or else that ambition not conscience ruled his actions In sum that greatness he so violently laboured to confirme in his posterity came all to nothing Almighty God ruining their designs who think by pollicy though contrary to Religion to perpetuate their posterity The Life of King RICHARD the Third FRom the pen of so credible an Author as Sir Tho. Moor was to other Historians chiefly derived the History of this King they so admiring and trusting to what he delivered that without any alteration of his words an unusual respect we have hitherto except two or three other Modern differing Writers received all from the Knights Tradition He was a person indeed of unquestioned integrity but how carefully and honestly his Works by others might be publisht after his death is not yet well determined Sir Simon D'ewes Mr. Selden and other eminent Antiquaries of our times being in their learned discourses often too sensible of some abuses offered to the Chronicle of this Richard The truth is if as in respect of our own times we have known the best of men so traduce certainly where there hath been some more then ordinary failings envious persons will think they cannot render him odious or ugly enough Richard the Third vulgarly known by the name of Crook-Backt and so delivered by some Historians and Poets with what truth I know not since his Picture drawn in his life and as it is said to be to the life still preserved and suffered by his great enemy Henry the Seventh in the Long Gallery in White-Hall denotes the contrary and shews him him to be of a sweet and gracious aspect And John Stow who alwayes took great pains in his inquiry of the relations of the persons of Princes sayes That he had spoken with some ancient men who from their own sight and knowledge affirm that he was of body and shape comely Neither did John Rouce who knew him and wrote much in his description observes any otherwise But whether crooked or no if his actions were straight posterity hath the less to censure him He was the youngest Son of Richard Plantagenet the fourth Duke of York of that Royal Family born at the Castle of Fotheringham or as some write the Castle of Berkhamsteed about the year of our Lord 1450. a dutiful Son to his Father and a Loyal Subject to his Brother who stood alwayes firm to his side in that great defection of the Duke of Clarence and Earl of VVarwick as we have declared in the preceding life At the death of his Brother King Edward he was chosen Lord Protector and afterwards by the importunity of the people knowing his Abilities forced to take upon him the Regal Power and confirmed by Act of Parliament Therefore their cavils are vain and discover an extream malice and envy unto him that report him to have obtained the Sovereignty by indirect means As for his abillities for government hear Reverend Cambden an Author without exception Fuit dignissimus regno c non inter malos sed bonos Principes commemorandus That he was most worthy to Reign and to be numbered amongst the good not bad Princes And indeed those many and good Laws enacted in his time demonstrate him a good King though some have reported him to be a bad Man He was Crowned at Westminster with great solemnity most of the Peers of the Land being present soon after his Coronation he sent to the French King for his Tribute formerly paid to his Brother Edward in leiu of the Dutchy and Countries of Aquitain Normandy Poictou and Maine c. and now detained by the French King and doubtless King Richard had still compelled him to continue it had not eruptions of State and tumultary practices fatally diverted his Sword Soon after was a Parliament called wherein was attainted of High Treason Henry Earl of Richmond John Earl of Oxford Thomas Marques of Dorset Jasper Earl of Pembroke Lionel Bishop of Salisbury Pierce Bishop of Exeter the Lady Margaret Countess of Richmond Thomas Morton Bishop of Ely with many others King Edwards Children for whom the world so much censures him were adjudged uncapable of Government and the Crown by a Parliament in those dayes confirmed to King Richard in these words It is declared pronounced decreed confirmed and established by the authority of this present assembly of Parliament that King Richard the Third is the true and undoubted King of this Realm as well by right of Consanguinity and Heritage as by lawful Election and Coronation c. So that here to tax so general an assent were to say there were not one honest nor just man in that High Court and what greater scandall to the whole Kingdom and to those that have since succeeded them But as Honour is alwayes attended on by Envy so
high treason by the Earl of Northumberland for words importing a desire of revenge saith Sleidan from thence he was conveyed towards London by the Lieutenant of the Tower in which journey at Leicester Abbey he ended his life breathing out his soul with speeches to his effect Had I been as carefull to serve the God of Heaven as I have been to comply to the will of my earthly King God would not have left me in my old age as the other hath done Some have imagined he poysoned himself as not willing to survive his great glory and some have thought he was poysoned by others that with his feathers they might build themselves nests Surely the fall of this stately oak caused the growth of much underwood many rising by his ruine raising themselves great estates out of the fragments of his fall He left behinde him these glorious monuments of fame the buildings of Christ-Church White-Hall Hampton-Court Windsor His Master King Henry lived in the two first his Tomb being erected in the last Some Historians write that his body swelled after his death as his minde when he was living with his Ego et Rex meus On which ambition of the Cardinal one wrote these verses Dicere Gramatices ratio permittit Ego Rex Ethica te jubet ars dicere Rex Ego Haec est nimirum vivendi ars illa loquendi Principis haec Aulae serviat illa Scholae The Life of Sir THOMAS MOOR Hic est ille Thomas plebis de pulvere magnus Qui tulit incanum Principis ira caput SIr Thomas Moor one of the greatest Ornaments of his time was a man of those high employments and of so great parts to go thorow them that he is deservedly placed amongst our English Worthies He was the Son of Sir John Moor Knight and one of the Justices of the Kings Bench a man singular for his many rare perfections His Birth place was at Milk-street in London the year of our Lord 1480. Having attained some skill in the Latine Tongue Cardinal Moorton Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord High Chancellour of England took him into his house where his wit and admirable deportment appeared to be such that the Cardinall would often say of him to the Nobles that severall times dined with him This Childe here waiting at the Table whosoever shall live to see it will prove the miracle of men For his better proficiency in learning the Cardinal placed him in Canterbury Colledge in Oxford now called Christ-Church where when he was both in the Greek and Latine Tongue sufficiently instructed he was then for the study of the Law put into one of the Innes of Chancery called New Inne where for his time he highly improved from thence he removed to Lincolns-Inne where he was made an Utter-Barrister where for some time he read a Publick Lecture of St. Austine de Civitate Dei in the Church of St. Laurence in the Old Jury Afterwards he was made Reader of Furnivalls-Inne where he continued for the space of above three years after which time he gave himself up to his devotions in the Charter-House of London living religiously there for the space of four years Soon after he married the Daughter of Mr. John Colt of New Hall in Essex by whom he had one Son and three Daughters whom from their youth he brought up in vertue and learning About this time his rare endowments began to be looked upon with a publick eye which caused him to be called to the Bench and soon after chosen a Burgess of Parliament which happenned in the latter end of King Henry the Sevenths Reign who demanding one Subsidy and three fifteens for the Marriage of his eldest Daughter the Lady Margret unto the King of the Scots Sir Thomas making a grave Speech argued so strongly why these exactions were not to be granted that thereby the Kings demands were frustrated and his request denyed by which occasion he fell so deeply into the Kings displeasure that for his own safeguard he was determined to have gone over Sea had not the King soon after dyed which somewhat mittigated his fear and altered his resolution After this he was made one of the under Sheriffs of London by which office and his practice in Law he gained an estate of four hundred pounds per annum Now his learning wisdom knowledge and experience was grown into such note behaving himself so admirably that he gained a general applause from all men and fell into such an estimation with King Henry the Eighth that he made him master of the Requests soon after Knight and one of his Privy Councel and so from time to time advanced him continuing still in his singular favour and trusty service twenty years and above his pleasant disposition and readiness of wit so gaining him into King Henry's favour that upon the death of Mr. Weston Treasurer of the Exchequer the King bestowed on him the office of Treasurer and not long after made him Chancellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster To render his History the more pleasant take these few tastes of the sharpness of his Wit Cambden reports of him that he used to compare the great number of women to be chosen for Wives unto a bag full of Snakes having amongst them but one Eel now if a man puts his hand into this bag he may chance to light on the Eel but 't is a hundred to one if he be not stung with a Snake Being in company where the master of the house commended his Beer for the well relish of the Hop Sir Thomas replyed but had it hopped a little further it had hopped into the Thames A supposed bribe being put upon Sir Thomas a great gilt Cup presented to him he being called before the Kings Council to answer this accusation Sir Thomas acknowledged that he did receive the Cup for a New-years-gift after some importunities he received it but immediately he caused his Butler to fill it with Wine and therein drank to the Gentlewoman that presented it and when that she had pledged him he as freely gave it her again for a New-years gift for her Husband This great Mountain of his accusation being brought scarcely to a little Mosehill When he was Justice of Peace he used to go to the Sessions at New Gate where one of the Ancientest Justice of Peace of the Bench was used to chide persons when their Purses had been cut for not being more carefull telling them that their negligence was the cause that so many Cut-purses were brought thirther Sir Thomas obs rving him to repeat this caution so often sent for one of the chiefest Cut-purses that was in prison and promised him to save him harmless if he would but cut the said Justices Purse the next day as he sat on the Bench and when he had done to make a sign of it to him The day after when they sat again the Thief was called one of the first who being accused of the fact
old Doctors and at his next coming to the Court discoursing to his Majesty his opinion of the foresaid matter he said To be plain with your Grace neither my Lord of Durham nor my Lord of Bathe though I know them both to be wise vertuous learned and honourable Prelates nor my self with the rest of your Councel being all of us your Majesties own Servants so much bound unto your Highness for your great favours daily bestowed upon us be in my judgement meet Counsellours for your Grace herein but if your Highness please to understand the very truth you may have such Counsellours elected as neither for respect of their own worldly profit nor for fear of your Princely displeasure will be inclined to partiality He then quoted Saint Hierome Saint Austine and divers other Fathers and Holy Doctours both Greek and Latine shewing what authority he had gathered out of them for what he said which although it was against the grain not so pleasant to the King as not agreeing to his desires yet Sir Thomas Moor had in all his communication with the King in this business so discreetly demeaned himself that at that present the King did not distaste what he said and often afterwards had conference with him about the same case of Conscience For the further tryal and examination of this Matrimony scruple a Commission was sent from Rome in which Cardinal Campeius and Cardinall Wolsey were joyned Commissioners who for the determination thereof sate at Black Fryers in London the King and Queen being cited to appear before them In the prosecution of which busisiness the King took such distaste at Wolsey that he displaced him of his office of Lord Chancellour and bestowed the same on Sir Thomas Moor the better to draw him to his side but he valuing more the quiet of his Conscience then any Princes honour in the world fell down on his knees desiring his Majesties favour to employ him in any Affair in which with integrity of his Conscience he might truly serve God and him to which the King curteously answered that if he could not therein with his Conscients serve he was content to accept of his service otherwise and take the advice of other his learned Council whose consciences would well enough dispense with it yet that he would nevertheless continue his wonted favour towards him and no more molest or trouble his minde with that business Upon Sir Thomas Moors entrance into this last honourable preferment every one might perceive a very strange alteration for whereas the precedent Chancellour Wolsey would scarce look or speak to any into whose onely presence none could be admitted unless his fingers were tipp'd with Gold on the contrary this Chancellour the poorer and meaner the Suppliant was the more affable he was to him and the more attentively he would hearken to his cause and with speedy tryal dispatch him for which purpose he used commonly every afternoon to fit in his Hall that if any person whatsoever had any suit unto him they might the more boldly come to his presence and open their complaints before him and find sudden redress It is reported of him that whereas our pick pocket Lawyers with long-winded Chancery Demurrs to the undoing of thousands keep off business his practice was if it were to be done with conveniency to dispatch a Cause at the first hearing for which reason a Writer wittily calls him Sir Thomas Plus because before he rose off from the Bench he alwayes used to ask if there were any more Causes Thus the greatness of honour the change of his place altered him not Sir Themas remained still the same good man that he was his humility was the same It being observed of him that every day as he passed through the Hall to his place in the Chancery by the Court of the Kings Bench where his Father was one of the Judges that he would go into the Court and there reverently kneeling down in the fight of them all duly ask his Father Blessing I shall onely add one story more concerning his humility in the height of his honour the Duke of Norfolk coming on a time to Chelsey to dine with him happened to find him in the Church singing in the Quire with a surplice on his back to whom after Service as they went homeward hand in hand together the Duke said Gods Body my Lord Chancellor what a Parish Clerk a Parish Clerk you dishonour the King and his Office nay said Sir Thomas smiling upon the Duke Your Grace may not think your master and mine will be offended with me for serving of God his Master of thereby count his office dishonoured To proceed King Henry determining to marry the Lady Anne Cleve for his better proceeding in this affair called a Parliament where he with the Bishops and Nobles of the upper House were commanded by the King to go down to the Commons to shew unto them both what the Universities as well of other parts beyond the Seas as at Oxford and Cambridge had done therein their Seals also testifying the same all which at the Kings request not shewing of what judgement himself was therein he declared unto the lower House yet doubting least further attempts should after follow which contrary to his Conscience by reason of his office he was likely to be put unto he made suit unto the Duke of Norfolk his singular dear friend to be a means to the King that he might with his Majesties favour be discharged of that chargeable office of Chancellourship wherein for certain infirmities of his body he pretended himself unable any longer to serve To which purpose the Duke solliciting the King obtained of him a clear discharge from the same with thanks and praise for his worthy service herein And not underservedly his integrity nobleness and charity being so great that notwithstanding he had gone thorow so many offices for almost twenty years he was not able to purchase more then one hundred pounds a year Touching his troubles they began first by occasion of a certain Nun dwelling in Canterbury who affirmed that she had revelations from God to give the King warning of his wicked life and of the abuse of the Sword and Authority committed to him This Nun conferring with Bishop Fisher and Sir Thomas Moor about the same they advised her to go to the King her self and to let him understand the whole circumstance thereof whereupon at the Parliament following there was a Bill put into the lower House to attache the Nun with divers other Religious persons of High Treason and the Bishop of Rochester Sir Thowas Moor and some others of misprision of Treason Divers other accusations came thick and threefold upon him and doubtless had he not been one of a singular integrity and free from all corruption of wrong doing or bribes taking these accusations had overwhelmed him but they all falling short of the mischievous design that was on foot against him a trick was found
not to take him off which those that contrived it were certain could not but take as they knew that he was of so tender a conscience as that they could not fail of their project he was cited to appear at Lambeth before the Bishop of Canterbury the Lord Chancellour and Secretary Cromwell to take the oath of Supremacy and Succession which he refusing he was committed to the custody of the Abbot of Westminster for four dayes and afterwards by the importunity of Queen Anne to the Tower Whereat his landing Mr. Lieutenant was ready to receive him the Porter of the Tower demanded of him his upper Garment Mr. Porter said he here it is and took off his Cap and gave it him saying I am sorry it is no better for thee no Sir said the Porter I must have your Gown which he gave him This his pleasantness certainly argued a confidence he had in the justness of his cause After many endeavours during his abode in the Tower to get his consent to the taking of the Oath all which proving fruitless after a years imprisonment he was called to his arraignment at the Kings Bench Bar where his Indictment being read he pleaded not guilty and to the admiration of the hearers so quitted himself that he put the Bench to a stand untill at the last one Mr. Rich the Kings Solliciter deposited against him that he should say The Parliament could make the King no more Supreme Head of Church then they could make a Law that God should not be God To which Sir Thomas answered If I were a man my Lords that did not regard an oath I need not at this time in this place as it is well known to you all stand as an accused person And if this oath Mr. Rich which you have taken be true then I pray that I may never see God in the Face which I would not say were it otherwise to gain the whole world Yet notwithstanding his oath and the exceptions he took against the witness the Lord Chancellour proceeded to sentence That he should be brought back to the Tower of London by the help of William Bringston Sheriff and from thence drawn on a Hurdle through the City of London to Tyburne there to be hanged till he be half dead after that cut down yet alive his Privy Parts cut off his Belly ripped his Bowels burnt and his four quarters set up over four Gates of the City and his head upon London Bridge This Sentence was by the Kings pardon changed afterwards into onely beheading because he had borne the highest Office in the Kingdom Of which mercy of the Kings word being brought to Sir Thomas he answered merrily God forbid the King should use any more such mercies to any of my posterity or friends During the time he remained in the Tower after Sentence passed on him one of the Court came to visit him whose whole discourse was nothing else but urging Sir Thomas to change his minde who at last being wearied with his importunity answered him That he had changed it Whreupon presently he went and told the King and being by him commanded to know wherein his minde was changed Sir Thomas rebuked him for his inconsiderate rashness that he should tell the King those words that he spoke in jeast onely to be rid of his impertinency meaning a while after this merry expression came from him that whereas he intended to be shaved for which he was said so much to resembled Erasmus that he might appear to the people as before he now resolved that his beard should undergo the same tribulation he did which made the Courtier blank and the King very angry The day appointed for his execution being come about nine of the Clock he was brought out of the Tower ascending the Scaffold it seemed so weak that it was ready to fall whereupon he said merrily to the Lieutenant I pray you Mr. Lieutenant see me safe up and for my coming down let me shift for my self Then desired he all the people to pray for him and to bear witness with him that he should then suffer death in and for the Faith of the Holy Catholique Church a faithfull servant both of God and the King Which done he kneeled down and after his prayers ended he turned to the Executioner and with a chearful countenance said Pluck up thy spirits man and be not afraid to do thine Office my neck is very short take heed therefore thou strike not awry for saving thine honesty then laying his head upon the Block he bad the Executioner stay untill he had removed aside his Beard saying That that had never committed any Treason So with much chearfulness he received the Fatall blow of the Ax which at once severed his head from his body This jeast at his death the Catholiques so much distasted that at so serious a time he should be so airy and light that he had almost been scratched out of their Canonization for a Saint He was executed the sixth day of July following the decollation of Bishop Fisher who was for the same Cause beheaded on Tower-Hill The Life of this Bishop is extant incomparable well done by Doctor Bailie Thus died Sir Thomas Moor a man admirable in all kinde of learning Latine Greek Prophane Divine his Vtopia is admired over the world his Richard the Third till of late years of so much credit with Historians that they have placed it in their Works without the alteration of a word He was of such excellency of Wit and Wisdom that he was able to make his fortune good in what place soever he lived who wanted no skill either for the mannaging of private or publick businesses being experienced both in Countrey and City Affairs in giving solid and sound counsel in doubtful cases none more prudent to tell the truth without fear none more free as from all flatteries he was open and pleasant full of grace in delivering his judgement And to conclude one whose integrity made him a miracle of nature whist he was living and whose Books have made him an everlasting Monument now he is dead He was behead in the year 1535. his Monument is in Chelsey Church where it is reported Bishop Fisher lies buried with him in the same Grave that as they suffered for one Opinion it was thought fit they should not be parted Epitaphium Thomae Mori quod paulo post abdicatum munus Cancellarii ipse sibi composuit Sepulchro suo affixit Thomas Morus Vrbe Londinensi familia non celebri sed honesta natus in literis utcunque versatus quum ut causas aliquot juvenis egisset in foro in urbe suo pro Shyrevo jus dixisset ab invictissimo Rege Henrico Octavo cui uni regum omnium gloria prius inaudita contigit fidei defensor qualem gladio se calamo verè praestitit merito vocaretur aà scitus in aulam est delectusque in concilium creatus eques
and attended his coming at Noon-tide walking in his Court-yard No sooner was the Lord Thomas Cromwell entred the same attended by several persons of Quality and Officers of the Crown but speedily alighting from his Horse he embraced his Friend Frescobald in the same manner he had done in the morning and perceiving that the Lords which accompanied him were amazed at such a disproportioned familiarity he told them that he was more obliged to Frescobald then to all the men in the world owing unto him the making of his Fortune and so proceeded to relate unto them the whole story which had befallen him at Florence So great a delight do generous mindes take to recount their foregoing Misfortunes when their Grandor hath elevated them to such a pitch as that they triumph over shame and are incapable of Ingratitude Frescobald was treated at Dinner with all the tenderness he could expect from so great a Personage and so great a Friend after which being carried up by the Lord Thomas Cromwell into his Closet he was there presented with four Bags of Gold each containing four hundred Duccats in return of his former Civilities which Frescobald being of a gallant spirit at first refused but after severall contestations was constrained to accept as an acknowledgement from the Lord Cromwell who moreover enquiring of him concerning his coming over and Affairs in England and understanding his Losses and that there were Moneys due to him caused him to write down his Debters names and by his Secretary summoned the severall Merchants which were indebted to Frescobald upon pain of his displeasure to clear their Accounts with him and to pay him within the space of fifteen dayes which was accordingly performed onely Frescobald freely forgave them the use Over and above all which the Lord Thomas Cromwell endeavoured to perswade his Friend Frescobald to have remained in England the rest of his dayes proferring to lend him a Stock of 60000. Duccats to trade withall But Frescobald being over-charged with all those grand Obligations which the Lord Cromwell had conferred on him having by his Lordships Generosity acquired enough to keep him from being necessitated all his life time and deeming that the trading in good Works was incomparably more sure and gainful then in the richest Wares and Merchandizes being resolved to quit Trading and to end the rest of his dayes peaceably and quietly he obtained leave of the Lord Thomas Cromwell to depart to his own Countrey freighted with so great obligations as caused in him a generous shame He afterwards arrived safe in his own Country where with great reputation he dyed in a good old age Having done him this honour to eternize the noble deportments of his life I shall now end with a short account of what he said at his death When he came upon the Scaffold on Tower-Hill he delivered his minde to the people I am come hither to die and not to purge my self as some perhaps may expect that I should and will for if I should so do I were a very wretch I am by the Law condemned to die and I thank my Lord God that hath appointed me this death for mine offence for I have alwayes lived a sinner and offended my Lord God for which I ask him hearty forgiveness It s not unknown to many of you that I was a great Traveller and being but of mean Parentage was called to high honours 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 c. Then kneeling down on his knees he made a long and pithy prayer which being ended after a godly exhortation to those on the Scaffold he commended his Spirit into the hands of his Maker his head being dissevered from his body July 28 1540. The King not long after his death clapping his hands on his breast repented this haste wishing that he had his Cromwell alive again With him was beheaded the Lord Hungerford of Heitesbury who suffered death a just death for buggery Without question Cromwell was a person of singular qualifications unfortunate in nothing more then that he lived in the dayes of Henry the Eighth of whom if it could be possible one writes that for the time he Reigned he was guilty of more Tyranny then any of the Roman Emperours This great Statesman was condemned to death and yet never came to his answer by an act as it is said which he himself caused to be made of which Mr. Michael Drayton thus writes Those Laws I made alone my self to please To give me power more freely to my will Even to my equals hurtfull severall wayes Forced to things that most do essay were ill Vpon me now as violently seize By which I lastly perisht by my skill On mine own neck returning as my due That heavy yoke wherein by me they drew Thus whilest we strive too suddenly to rise By flattering Princes with a servile Tongue And being soothers to their tyrannies Work our much woes by what doth many wrong And unto others tending injuries Vnto our selves producing our own wrong In our own snares unluckily thus caught Whilst our attempts fall instantly to naught Questionless he was a man of an active and forward ripeness of nature ready and pregnant of wit discreet and well advised in judgement eloquent of tongue faithfull and diligent in service of an incomparable memory of a reaching pollitick head and of a most undaunted spirit The Life of the great King Henry the Eighth with the other Reigns of his Posterity I have omitted because they are so excellently penned by several Historians and so Vulgarly known to the people The Life of Sir PHILIP SIDNEY Carmen Apollo dedit belli Mars contulit artes Sed Juveni vitam Mors rapit ante diem AMongst the rest of our Worthies there is none of more precious memory then that famous and Heroick Knight Sir Philip Sidney in whom the Graces and Muses had their domesticall habitations whose Life as it was admirable so his Lines have not been excelled though the French of late in imitation have endeavoured to address them He was born of honourable parentage his Father Sir Henry Sidney was thrice Lord Deputy of Ireland a place of great honour and trust having power of themselves to call Parliaments and enact Laws nor cometh there any Vice-gerent in Europe more near the Majesty and prerogative of a King His Mother was Daughter to Sir John Dudley Duke of Northumberland and Sister to the Earls of Warwick and Leicester so that his descent was apparently noble of both sides Verstigan sayes the Sidney's are of a French extraction that they came over into England in Henry the Thirds dayes In his very childe-hood there appeared in him such excellent parts and endowments of nature as shewed him born for high enterprises having been educated in the principles of learning at home he was sent to the University of Oxford Cambridge
being nevertheless so happy to have a Colledge of his name where he so profited in the Arts and Sciences that after an incredible proficiency in all the species of Learning he left the Accademical life for that of the Court whither he came by the invitation of his Uncle the Earl of Leicester of whose faction he was a great favourite of Queen Elizabeth he was of a comely presence framed by a naturall propension to arms and Warlike atchievements so that he soon attracted the good opinion of all men especially of the Queen fame having already blazed abroad his admirable parts she thought him fit for the greatest employments sent him upon an Embassy to the Emperour of Germany at Vienna which he discharged to his own honour and her approbation Yea his fame was so renowned throughout all Christendom that he was in election for the Kingdom of Poland and elective Kingdom but the Queen refused to further his advancement not out of emulation but for the loss of his company at Court He married Sir Francis Walsingams Daughter who impoverished himself to enrich the State from whom he expected no more then what was above all portions a Beautifull Wife and a Vertuous Daughter During his abode at the Court at his spare hours he composed that incomparable Romance entituled The Arcadia which he ded icated to his Sister the Countess of Pembroke A Book which considering his so Youthfull Years and Martial Employments it was a wonder that he had leasure for to write such a Volumn which as Dr. Heylin the Learned Ornament of our Nation in his exquisite Cosmography writes thus of Sir Philip Sidney of whom sayes he I cannot make too honourable a mention and of his Arcadia a Book which besides its excellent Language rare Contrivance and delectable Stories hath in it all the strains of Poesie comprehendeth the whole Art of Speaking and to them who can descern and will observe affordeth notable Rules of Demeanour both private and publick One writes that Sir Philip Sidney in the extream agony of his wounds so terrible the sense of Death is that he requested the dearest Friend he had living to burn his Arcadia On which one Epigrammatist writes thus Ipse tuam moriens sede conjuge teste jubebas Arcadiùm faevis ignibus esse cibum Sic meruit mortem quia flammam accendit amoris Mergi non uri debuit iste liber In librum quaecunque cadat sententia nulla Debuit ingenium morte perire tuum In serious thoughts of death 't was thy desire This sportful Book should be condemn'd with fire If so because it doth intend Love matters It rather should be quencht then drown'd i' th waters Which were it damn'd the Book the Memory Of thy immortal name shall never dye To make amends to such precise persons that think all that is not Divinity to be vain and lascivious he translated part of that excellent Treatise of Philip Morney de Plessis of the truth of Religion To pass by the follies of such supercillious Enthusiasts he wrote also severall other Works namely a defence of Poesie a Book entituled Astrophel and Stella with divers Songs and Sonnets in praise of his Lady whom he celebrated under that bright name so excellently and elegantly penned that as it is in a Poem 'T would make one think so sweet of Love he sings His Pens were Quills pluckt off from Cupids Wings So great were the Lamentations of his Funerals that a face might be sooner found without eyes then without tears no Persons of Honour at that time but thought it a dishonour not to mourn for him To recite the Commendations given him by several Authours would of its self require a Volumn to rehearse some few not unpleasing to the Reader Heylin in his Cosmography calleth him that gallant Gentleman of whom he cannot but make honourable mention Another in his Annals a most valiant and towardly Gentleman Speed in his Chronicle that worthy Gentleman in whom were compleat all vertues and valours that could be expected to reside in man Sir Richard Baker gives him this Character A man of so many excellent Parts of Art and Nature of Valour and Learning of Wit and Magnanimity that as he had equalled all those of former Ages so the future will hardly be able to equal him Nor was this Poet forgotten by the Poets who offered whole Hecatombs of Verses in his praise First hear the Brittish Epigrammatist Thou writ'st things worthy reading and didst do Things worthy writing too Thy Acts thy Valour show And by thy Works we do thy Learning know Divine Du Bartas speaking of the most Learned of the English Nation reckoneth him as one of the Chief in these words And world mourn'd Sidney warbling to the Thames His Swan-like tunes so courts her coy proud streams That all with childe with fame his fame they bear To Thetis Lap and Thetis every were The Renowned Poet Spenser in his Ruines of Time thus writes of him Yet will I sing but who can better sing Then thou thy self thine own self's valiance That whilest thou livedst thou mad'st the Forests ring And Fields resoun'd and Flocks to leap and dance And Shepheards leave their Lambs unto mischance To run thy shrill Arcadian Pipe to hear O happy were those dayes thrice happy were Sir John Harrington in his Epigrams thus If that be true the latter Proverb sayes Laudari à laudatis is most praise Sidney thy Works in Fames Books are enroll'd By Princes Pens that have thy Works extol'd Whereby thy Name shall dure to endless dayes Joyning with the rest that Kingly Poet King James the First late Monarch of Great Brittain amongst others writeth thus When Venus saw the noble Sidney dying She thought it her beloved Mars had been And with the thought thereat she fell a crying And cast away her Rings and Carknets clean He that in death a Goddess mockt and grieved What had he done trow you if he had lived These Commendations given him by so Learned a Prince made Mr. Alexander Nevil thus to write Harps others praise a Scepter his doth sing Of Crowned Poets and of Laureat King To conclude the Lord Burleigh the Nestor of those Times though otherwise an enemy to the Leicestrian Party both loved and admired him Yet was he not altogether addicted to Arts but given as much to the Exercise of Arms being a follower of Mars as well as a Friend to the Muses and although he himself used to say That Ease was the Nurse of Poesie yet his Life made it manifest that the Muses inhabited the Fields of Mars as well as the flowery Lawns of Arcadia that Sonnets were sung in the Tents of War as well as in the Courts of Peace the Muses Layes being warbled forth by a Warlike Sidney in as high a tune as ever they were sung by a peaceable Spenser And although the lamp of his life was extinguisht too soon yet left he a sufficient testimony to the world
have litttle new matter worth the writing saving now we are much troubled with the Scottish Cause the Commissioners of both Parties are now here and to write unto you that the end will be certainly as yet I cannot We finde both Parties very stiffe and hitherto the Kings Party very resolute for the maintenance of his Authority her Majesties scrupulosity touching his Title and Government we partly know the unworthinesse of their Queen to rule she granteth but the Instances of their Cause to depose her from her Dignity she can hardly be perswaded in so yet she remaineth much perplexed On the one side she is loth to set her up or to restore her to her estate again On the other side she is loth to defend that which she is not well perswaded to have justice with it between these her Councel chiefly seek for these two things that her self may be preserved in safety and the true Religion maintained Assuredly for as the state of the world standeth and upon through examination of this Cause it appears that both the wayes be dangerous touching the Queen of Scots for there is danger in delivering her to Government so is there danger in retaining her in prison her friends begin to speak proudly for her We were wont alwayes to have a friend on our side if need were but as far as I can see there is none of that side of the Sea to be found that be Princes absolute Well our case is the harder and we must say Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos Touching this matter as soon as it shall grow to any likelihood either of the one side or of the other I will advertise you and withal send you the reasons of the Advice In the mean time whatsoever you may hear believe me there is no man in England can tell you which way it will go Yet in respect of the King there and his continual dealing for the said Queen her Majesty rather giveth in words more favourable that way then the other Mr. Norris is arrived here yesterday being Shrove-Sunday after Mr. Secretary was created Baronet Burleigh and I think ere it be long he shall have the Office of the Privy Seal but as yet remaineth Secretary still and within a day or two Sir Thomas Smith is like to be called to assist him The Parliament is to begin the second of April next The Queens Majesty thanks be to God is in good health and all your Friends as you lest them save Sir Nicholas Throgmorton our good Friend Your Wise was here lately to take her leave of her Majesty who used her very well and graciously I pray you let us hear as often as you can conveniently I would gladly understand of some good for the poor Cardinal Castillian I desire and also long to hear of the Queens Majesties Present how it is liked Thus with my hearty Commendations I bid you heartily farewell Your assured Friend R. Leicester The 26 of March 1570 To my very Friend Sir Francis Walsingham Ambassador for the Queens Majesty in France I have upon the Receipt of your Letter written by Sir E. Gilbert dealt with her Majesty touching your chargeable dwelling there I trust her Majesty will have due consideration thereof Your shall perceive by her Majesties Letters her further pleasure touching Monsieur whose cause hath been broken to her by my Lord of Buck. from the Queens Mother We perceive they deal very daintily and doubt much her Majesties Intention to Marriage at least that she had rather hear of it then perform it But assuredly I do verily believe her Majesties minde herein is otherwise then it hath been and more resolutely determined then ever yet at any time before yet do they mean to deal so secretly on that side as though they will not yet believe it and accordingly her Majesty mindeth not to deal but as privately as may be devised that if that should not take effect the less reproach to either party Her Majesty hath broken this matter with my Lord of Burleigh and me and I think will not use any more till some appearance fall out what is like to become of the matter The person of Monsieur is very well liked of his conversation is harder to know I see her Majesty misliketh not of his estate for she is o minde to marry with the Gretest and he is left almost above the greatest to be had the conditions will be all wherein I am right glad and we are bound to thank God to see her Majesty so well to stand to the maintenance of the cause of Religion for their will be no great difficulty in respect of his person and estate to cause a Marriage between them So yet I perceive with the impeachment any way of the true Religion here now established she will for no cause deal with him as you may perceive by her Majesties own Letters to you albeit she doth not mean in respect of his policy to drive him in open shew in the mean time to renounce his own profession but conditionally if they should match then wholly to maintain this as well privately as publiquely God send her Majesty alwayes during her life so to stand to the defence of so just a cause and withal his blessings upon her for us all that we may live and see her bring forth of her own body as may hereafter succeed her as well in that happinesse as in the enjoying of her Kingdom So not doubting but we shall shortyly hear from you I commit you to God Your assured Friend R. Leicester The 23. of March 1571. These two Letters sufficiently evidence that he dived to the bottom of the State Affairs of those times Hitherto I have touched him in his Courtship I conclude him in his Lance. He was sent Governour by the Queen to the united States of Holland where we read not of his wonders for they say that he had more of Mercury then of Mars and that his device might have been without prejudice to the great Caesar Veni vidi redii Having remained there two yeats and made a peace with the Provinces he died in his way to Kenelworth Castle his body lieth enterred in the Temple of the Blessed Virgin in Warwick shire with this Inscription Spe certa resurgendi in Christo Hic situs est Illustrissimus Robertus Dudleius Joannis Ducis Northumbriae Comitis Warwici Vicecomitis Insulae c. filius quintus Comes Lecestriae Baro Denbighiae Ordinis tam sancti Georgii quam sancti Michaelis Eques auratus Reginae Elizabethae apud quam singulari gratia florebat Hippocomus Regiae aulae subinde Seneschallus ab intimis Consiliis Forestarum Chacearum Parcorum c. citra Trentum Summus Justiciarius Exercitus Angliae à dicta Regina Elizabetha missus in Belgio ab anno 1585. ad annum 1587. Locum-tenens Capitaneus Generalis Provinciarum Confoederatarum ibidem Gubernator Generalis Praefectus Regnique Angliae Locum-tenens
thus victory sometimes slips thorow their fingers who have caught it in their hands Yet notwithstanding this disaster enough to have daunted a coward from prosecuting his design any further he resolveth not to give over the project but whilest he was determining what to do a golden opportunity courted him with success certain Negroes called Symerons advertised him of many Mules laden with Gold and Silver which was to be brought from Panama over the Mountains Drake who had plowed long Furrows in the Ocean expecting to have a Golden Harvest leaves competent numbers to man his Ships and with the rest of his men goes on Land intercepts the prize being weakly guarded and carries away an infinite mass of Gold hiding the Silver under ground as not portable over so high hills Then burnt he a great place of Traffique called the Cross and in it two hundred thousand pounds worth of Spanish Merchandize which done he returned with great Honour and Riches into England This his so lucky beginning gave him more hopes of prosperous proceeding wherefore in Anno 1577. he again sets forth from Plimouth with a Fleet of five Ships and sixteen hundred and four men in them and within twenty five dayes came to Canline a Cape in Barbery in his passage he took Nuno-da-Silva a Spanish Pilate whose directions he afterwards much used Hence he took their course to the Island of Brava being much troubled with tempestuous winds which in one hour vary all the points of the Compass nor was their rain less strange poured not as in other places as it were out of sieves but as out of spots so that a Butt of water falls down in a place which notwithstanding was but a frendly in jury helping them to fresh water which otherwise in that hot Climate far from Land is not so easily come by Then cutting the Line he let every one in his ships bloud there saw they that face of Heaven which the Earth hideth from our sight but therein onely three stars of the first magnitude the rest few and small compared to our Hemisphere as if God saith Mr. Fuller had on purpurpose set up the best and biggest Candles in that room wherein his civillest Guests are entertained The 16. of April he entred the River Plate in which place John Doughty the next to Drake in Authority was questioned for raising sedition in the Navy who being found guilty was beheaded Some report Leicester had given Drake in charge to make him away for words be had said against him touching the Earl of Essex The twentieth of August he passed the Magellan Straits with three ships having cast off the other two as Impediments and then entring the Pacifique Sea his ships by tempests were dispersed from each one the one whereof was never more seen the other returned home through the Straits Drake himself held on his course to Chily Coquimbo Cinnano Palma Lima upon the West of America passing the Line the first of March till he came to the Latitude 47. intending to have come by those North Seas but unseasonable weather made him alter his determination and bend his Course South-West from thence coming to Anchor 38. degrees from the Line where the King of that Countrey presented unto him his Net-work Crown of many coloured feathers and resigned therewith his Scepter of Government unto his Devotion his people so admiring our men that they sacrificed unto them as to their gods This place for the glory of England he named Nova Albion and at his departure erected a Structure as a Monument to witness what there had been done From thence the fourteenth of November he fell with Ternate one of the Isles of Molucco the King whereof entertained him curteously telling them they and he were all of one Religion in this respect that they believed not in Gods of stocks and stones as did the Portugals Here he took in certain tun of Cloves with some necessaries which they wanted But in relating the honour we must not omit the riches he got in this journey his Prizes being many and of great value which by Sir Richard Baker are thus summarily delivered Loosing from the Isle Moucha he lighted upon a fellow fishing in a little Boat who shewed him where a Spanish ship laden with Treasure lay Drake making towards it the Spaniards thought him to be their own Countrey-man and thereupon invited him to come on but he getting aboard presently shut the Spaniards being not above eight under hatches and took the ship in which was four hundred pound weight of Gold At Taurapasa going again on shore he found a Spaniard sleeping by the sea side who had lying by him twenty bars of massy silver to the value of four thousand Duccats which he bid his followers take amongst them the Spaniard still sleeping After this going into the Port of Africa he found there three Vessels without any Marriners in them wherein besides other wares were seven and fifty silver Bricks each of which weighed twenty pound Tiding it to Lime he found twelve ships in one road and in them great store of silks and a chest full of money coined but not so much as a ship-boy abroad such security there was in that Coast Then putting to sea with those ships he followed the rich ship called Cacofaga and by the way met with a small ship without Ordnance or other Arms out of which he took fourscore pound weight of Gold a golden Crucifix and some Emralds of a fingers length And overtaking the Cacofaga set upon her and took her and in her besides Jewels fourscore pound weight of Gold thirteen Chests of Silver and as one writes as much silver as would ballast a ship And now having fraughted his ship with so much wealth that a Miser would not desire any more he resolveth to return home and having a large winde and a smooth sea ran aground on a dangerous shole where his ship stuck twenty hours having ground too much and yet too little to land on and water too much and yet too little to sail in Expecting now no other then death they betook themselves to prayer the best lever at such a dead lift afterwards they received the Communion dining on Christs in the Sacrament expecting no other then to sup with him in Heaven Driven to this strait they were forced to cast out of their ship six great Peeces of Ordnance threw over-board as much wealth as would break the heart of a Miser to think on with much sugar and packs of spices making a caudle of the sea round about At last it pleased God that the winde formerly their mortal enemy became their friend which changing from the Starboard to the Larboard of the ship and rising by degrees cleared them off to the sea again for which they returned unfeigned thanks unto Almighty God Having escaped this eminent danger they bent their Course South-West to the Cape of Bone Speranco and by the West of Africa returned safe into
disposition as she knew right well that if she did deal any thing hardly with the Queen of Scots it rather proceeded from some of her Ministers then from her Majesties self I replyed that I was glad to understand that she conceived so well of the Queen my Mistris's good disposition so was I sorry that she should think she would be by any of her Ministers or Councellors drawn to any thing either towards her or any other that might not stand with her honour for that her skill and years was now to direct and not to be directed I desired her therefore in her Majesties name that she would evermore reserve an ear for her A thing that would not in equity be denied to the meanest person in France who in all her actions hitherto towards the Queen of Scots had dealt with that regard to her honour as she was right able to justifie her self both towards the King her good brother as also towards all other Princes Then she made great protestations of her indifferency and that she is no lesse affected in good will towards her Majesty whom it pleaseth saith she to do me the honour as to call me by the name of a Mother then to the Queen of Scots her daughter-in-law and therefore in wishing her liberty I do it saith she as much as for the Queen your Mistriss quietness sake as for any other respect which without her liberty can hardly grow unto her This Sir in effect was the whole course of the Speech that passed from her in that behalf which she had then with me apart The King being then in talk with my Lord Ambassadour then she caused the King to deal with me in that behalf to whom I shewed the state of her cause according to the contents of my instructions wherewith he seemed to be satisfied He told me that he wished that the Queen his good Sister according to the inclination would have some compassion of her cause and grow to some speedy conclusion in that behalf I told him that I doubted not but that her Majesty would for his sake do that which should be to his contentation so far forth as might stand with her honour and safety Then he professed that otherwise he would not desire it Thus having imparted to your honour the effect of my negotiation to the end you may advertise her Majesty I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 29. of August 1570. Your Honours to command F. Walsingham To conclude he was sent twice Ambassadour into France once into Scotland once into the Low Countreys so that he was most intimately acquainted with the deepest counsels and secrets of Princes that he rightly understood how to preserve his Countrey and how to mannage affairs either for Peace or War He died the sixth day of April in the year of our Lord 1590. He lies entombed in St. Pauls being in respect of the debts he had contracted for his faithful service to the Crown forced to be buried privately in that Cathedral One bestowed this Latine Epitaph on his Memory Sic reticenda domi fido secreta recondis Pectore sic discis discutienda foris Vt tua sitnè fides dubitem an prudentia major Virtute indubio hac magnus utraque vir es The Life of Sir NICHOLAS BACON Ingenio Bacon magnus custosque sigilli firmavit justas posteritis opes SIR Nicholas Bacon a person inferiour to none of his predecessours as arch a piece of wit and wisdom as any of them all He was a Gentleman and a man of Law of great knowledge therein whereby together with his other parts of Learning and dexterity he was promoted to be Keeper of the great Seal and being of kin to the Treasurer Burleigh had also the help of his hand to bring him into the Queens favour for he was abundantly factious which took much with Queen Elizabeth when it was suited with the season as he was well able to judge of his times He had a very quaint saying and he used it often to good purpose that he loved the jeast well but not the loss of his friend He would say that though he knew unusquisque suae fortunae faber was a true and good principle yet the most in number were those that marred themselves But I will never forgive that man that loseth himself to be rid of his jeast He was Father to that refined Wit which afterwards acted a disasterous part on the publique Stage and afterwards sate in his Fathers room as Lord Chancellour Those that lived in his age and from whence I have taken this little Modle of him give him a lively Character and they decypher him for another Solon and the Synon of those times such a one as Oedipus was in dissolving of Riddles Doubtless he was as able an instrument and it was his commendation that his head was the mawl for it was a great one and therein he kept the wedge that entred the knotty pieces that came to his table He was of the prudent Family of the Bacons of Norfolk and Suffolk he died in the year of our Lord 1578. the threescore and seventh year of his age and lieth entombed in the Cathedral Church of St. Pauls with this Latine Epitaph inscribed on him Hic Nicclaum ne Baconem conditum Existima illum tam diu Britannici Regni secundum Columen exitium Malis Bonis asylum caeca quem non extulit Ad hunc honorem sors sed Aequitas Fides Doctrina Pietas unica Prudentia Neu morte raptum crede qui unica brevi Vita perennes emerit duas agit Vitam secundam coelites inter animus Fama implet orbem vita quae illi tertia est Hac positum in Arâ est corpus olim animi domus Ara dicata sempiternae memoriae His Motto was Mediocria firma He left behinde him as a Monument of his incomparable worth in continuance of his Name Sir Francis Bacon our English Plato the inimitable Writer of this Age. The Life of ROBERT DEVEREUX Earl of ESSEX Infelix virtus ventis vela secundis Extrema Comitem tandem oppressere ruina RObert Devereux Earl of Essex was born Anno 1566. He had scarcely attained to ten years of age when his Father Walter Devereux Earl of Essex and Earl Marshal of Ireland deceased at Dublin premonishing his Son to have alwayes before his eyes the six and thirtieth year of his age as the utmost term of his life which neither himself nor his Father before him out-lived and the son did not attain to it At his Fathers death he was by the Lord Burleigh his Guardian sent to the University of Cambridge under the tuition of Doctour Whitguift then Master of Trinity-Hall a man of the primitive temper when the Church by lowliness of spirit did flourish in highest examples of Piety and Learning At sixteen years of age he took the formality of Master of Arts and kept his publick Acts yet notwithstanding his good erudition it
is reported of him that like certain Vegetables he did bud and open slowly Nature sometime delighting to play an after-game as well as Fortune which had both their tides and turns in his course His first advancement to Court was by means of the Earl of Leicester yet not so much out of love to him as it was thought as out of envy to Sir Walter Raleigh whose splendour at Court he meant to allay with this young Earl His first appearance in the Fields of Mars was at Tilbury Camp Anno 1588. where he was by the Queen made in the Field Commander of the Cavalry as he was before in Court being much graced by her openly in the view of the Souldiery and people even above my Lord of Leicester himself But scarcely was he thus warmed in the Queens favour when without her consent or knowledge he thrust himself into the Portugal Voyage hazarding thereby his future fortunes besides the danger of incurring the Queens displeasure and laying himself open to the practice of the Court notwithstanding a noble report coming home before him as indeed his actions deserved no less at his return all those clouds were dispersed and this his excursion afterwards accounted but a sally of Youth Nay he grew every day taller in her Majesties grace and favour insomuch that the King of France imploring her assistance against the Prince of Parma who in hostile manner had invaded his Dominions the charge of that enterprize was committed unto him who full of valour though young in years being furnished with four thousand Foot and two hundred Horse besides many Pyoners and other Volanteers whose Heroick Aspects determined the courage of their hearts landed in Normandy and laid siege to the strong City of Roan in assaulting whereof his Brother Walter Devereux a Diamond of the time both of an hardy and delicate mixture was slain with a small shot to the excessive grief of the Earl who after a tedious Winters Siege challenged Mounsieur Villerse the Governour to a single combate who not desirous to purchase his honour with the effusion of his blood refufed it with contempt of his refusal the Earl returned into England The Queen having now experience of his valour soon found an occasion for him to show it the King of Spain threatning to invade her borders she thought it the best policy to invade his first to perfect so great a design a mighty Navy is made ready consisting of an hundred and fifty ships wherein were above 14000. souldiers and sailers Our intended brevity will not permit us to recount the several Officers in this expedition The Earl of Essex and Charles Howard Lord Admiral of England were commanders in chief The first of June they set forth from Plimouth and on the 18. of the same moneth came to Cabo St. Vincent where they lighted upon an Irish Bark who certified them that at Cales from whence they came were store of Gallies Ships of War and Merchant Ships laden with Munition Coyn Oyl Wine Wax Silk Cloth of Gold and Quicksilver news most acceeptable unto the Generalls The twentieth of June they cast Anchor on the West side of the Island where a fair Dove a fortunate presager of their success lighted upon the main yard of the Lord Admiralls ship and sat there quietly the space of three hours every man gazing but no man suffered to remove her The next day a Council being called it was determined the fight should be begun with the lesser ships because the road was too shallow for the greater the Lord Thomas Howard Sir Walter Rawleigh Sir Francis Vere Sir George Carew and Sir Robert Southwell with some Londoners and a squadron of Low Countrey ships undertook the same which they valiantly attempted manfully maintained and bravely continued nor were the Spaniards backward in performance of their duties but resolutely fought in defence of their lives each side striving to acquit themselves bravely which made the fight continue fierce and doubtful The valiant Essex though by a Council of War appointed to keep the main Battel upon the sudden from Port Saint Maries side thrust himself foremost in this Sea fight which the other General perceiving desirous to participate of the danger as well as of the honour of victory forsook his great ship too unweldy for those narrow waters took into his Pinnace that he might not be over-acted in point of Honour The scales of War which before were even now turned to the English side the Spanish Admiral a ship of fifteen hundred tun was by their own souldiers set on fire whose ruine was accompanied with two other ships that lay next her the rest of their fleet ran themselves on ground in the Bay of Port Real The Earl of Essex in pursuit of his design landed his men at Puntal a League from Cales to oppose his Forces half a mile from the Town appeared many horse and foot but they finding the English numbers exceed their expectation they presently gave back the English perceiving their stratagem to out-wit them counterfeiting a fear made a retreat by which means having enticed forth their enemies they returned with such violence that they forced them back into the Town but there they having an advantage from the higher ascent played so fore upon the English that their foremost ranks began to give back which valiant Essex perceiving to engage his souldiers resolutions caught his own Colours and cast them over the Wall into the Town the undaunted English ashamed to lose their Ensign forgot all danger ascending the wall with shot and sword make way through the thickest press of the enemy in the interim Sir Francis Vere broak the the Gate and rushed in and the rest with him divers were wounded with stones from the tops of houses and Sir John Wingfield slain in the Market-place with a shot from the Castle The Town thus surprized the Castle was summoned which the next day yielded the Citizens compounding with the Lords Generalls to pay an hundred and twenty thousand Duccats for their ransom were suffered to depart for the assurance of which payment forty of the chiefest Citizens were brought pledges into England Far worse sped the ships that had run themselves on ground who being assaulted by Sir Walter Rawleigh profferred two millions and a half of Duccats for their redemption but he telling them he was sent to destroy ships not to dismiss them upon composition they were by the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonian Admirall of Spain set altogether on fire it was judged by the wiser sort of people that the Spaniard was damnified by this expedition no less then twenty millions of Duccats The fortunacy of this enterprize gave occasion to one of the Wits then living to frame this excellent Annagram on the Earl of Essex name Deureux Vere Dux Which he afterwards englisht in this Distich Vere Dux Deureux verior hercule Gades Nam semel hic vidit vicit at ille simul Alcides yields
to Deureux he did see Thy beauties Cales but Deureux conquer'd thee The whole Navy returning home safe crowned with victory and laden with spoils yet seemed the revenge far less then the injury offered by the Spaniard wherefore the next year a third voyage was undertaken whereof the Earl of Essex was made commander in chief Their design was to intercept the Indian Fleet in their return into Spain many of the Nobility and principal Gentlemen accompanied the Earl in this expedition The ninth of July 1597. they set sail from Plimouth directing their course to Feral and the Groyne but God as a worthy Author interprets was so displeased at these nations enmities that they had not sailed forty leagues but they were encountred with such a terrible tempest that the Marriners themselves were at their wits end and the Fleet had much adoe to recover Plimouth And attempting to set out the second time the winde fell so cross that for a whole moneths time they could not get out of the Haven The 17 of August they again hoise sail but before they came in view of Spain they were disperst by another horrible tempest in which they lost two of their ships The 15 of September they fell into the Isles of Flores Evernes Fyal and Pike all which submitted themselves to the Earls devotion afterwards they sailed to Gratiosa whose inhabitants submit and finde mercy here would the Earl have tarried in expectation of the Indian Fleet had he not been most unluckily disswaded by Graves his Pilot for no sooner was he gone but the American Fleet came by wherein were forty ships and seven of them laden with Treasure these fearful sheep hearing the English wolves were abroad loath to lose their golden fleece sailed with all speed they could to Tezcera where they gained the Haven all but three ships which the English took the rest securing themselves in the Port which being impregnable The English sail from thence to Sain Michaels where they took Villa Franca a fair Town well stored with Merchandize wine wood and corn here they tarried six dayes during which space a Caraque coming out of the East-Indies and perceiving the English were there ran her self ashore unloaded her Merchandize and then fired her self October the ninth they hoist sail for England but in their passage were assailed by such a tempest that quite lost them the sight of the Spanish Fleet who likewise suffered much by the same tempest for one of their ships was cast upon Dartmouth the Souldiers and Marriners half starved in her who upon examination confessed that the Spanish Fleets intention was to seize upon some Haven in Cornwall which being nigh the mouth of the Chancel might be convenient to receive Forces from Spain but man proposeth and God disposeth for the divine providence frustrated the designs both of the Spaniard and the English The Earl of Essex upon his return was created Earl Marshal of England Hitherto have we beheld our Earl ascending the zenith of Honour but favourites of great Princes are seldom without parasites who wanting true worth in themselves make a ladder of mischief to climbe up to promotion these buz into the Earls head strange fancies and chymaera's that his deserts were far greater then his rewards that during his absence Sir Robert Cicill was made Chancellour of the Dutchy of Lancaster and Charles Lord Howard created Earl of Nottingham with relation in his pattent to the Victory in eighty eight and his good service at Cales that he was descended of the blood royal of Scotland and England and had better right to the Crown then any other of the compettitors This puts the Earl upon indirect courses and though he cannot attain to be King of England he seeks to be made a petty King of Ireland the state of which Countrey ordained to be the Sepulchre of his Father and the gulf of his own fortunes was at that present in a dangerous condition by reason Tir Oen a notorious rebell had lately atchieved such a victory with so great loss to the English as they had never felt the like since they first set footing in Ireland Whereupon a serious consultation was held on whom to send to quell the rebels Essex though he seemed not to desire the employment yet still was ready with his exceptions if any other were nominated at length it was concluded that he should be the man and an Army of twenty thousand foot and thirteen hundred horse alotted unto him with these and a great retinue besides of the Nobility he passeth into Ireland His first action after his arrival was against the Petty Rebels in the Province of Mounster contrary to his Commission which was to go immediately against Tir Oen himself but men who prefer their private fancies before publique Instructions seldom attain to their wished desires For notwithstanding he took the Castle of Cahir and drove the Rebels into the Woods and Groves adjoyning his Forces by this means were so impaired that the gain did not countervail the loss wherefore sending for fresh supplies out of England in the mean time he sendeth directions to Sir Coniers Clifford President of Connaught to set upon the Rebels in one place thereby to sever their Forces while he assaulted them in another This counsel though good yet found ill success Clifford with fifteen hundred Souldiers marching towards Belike set upon the Rebels but the Fight continuing long and the English wanting Powder were put to flight Clifford himself and many of the old Soldiers being slain In the mean time Essex receiveth fresh Forces out of England and withall a check for neglecting the Queens Command wherefore at length he setteth forth towards the borders of Vlster with thirteen hundred Foot and five hundred Horse Tir Oen not able to match him in power yet seeketh to over-match him in policy and by his Messenger desireth a parley Essex mistrusting not the poyson in the bate condescended appointing the shallow of Balla Clinch for their meeting place thither came Essex alone with whom Tir Oen had private conference a full hour and not long after by their Delegates concluded a Truce from six weeks to six weeks till May Day This Transaction more incensed the Queen who dispatcheth very sharp Letters unto him blaming his delay and letting slip every fair opportunity with which Letters he likewise receiveth advertisement that Sir Robert Cecil was made Master of the Wards a place which he expected himself This Sir Robert Cecil was a man of lame feet but of a sound head one who bare great sway in the Court and a special stickler against the Earl which exasperated him the more not that he lost the place himself but that his Adversary had attained unto it This State proceeding entred so deep into his thoughts that he studies revenge and held private consultations of returning into England with part of his Forces to surprize his Adversaries But from this dangerous course the Earl of Southamptom
that horrid Garb of yellow Ruffs and Cuffs and in which Garb she was after hanged she having acquaintance with one James Franklin a man skilled for their purpose agreed with him to provide that which should not kill presently but cause one to languish away by degrees a little and a little Sir Jervas Velvis Lieutenant of the Tower being drawn into the conspiracy admits of one Weston Mrs. Turners man who under pretence of waiting upon Sir Thomas was to act that horrid tragedy The Plot thus contrived Franklin buyes certain poysons viz. Rosater White Arsenick Mercury Sublimate Cantharides red Mercury with three or four more deadly ingredients which he delivered to Weston with instructions how to use them Weston an apt scloller in the Devils school tempers them in his broath and meat increasing or diminishing their strength according as he saw him affected besides these poysoned tarts and jellies are sent him by the Viscount At last his salt his sauce his meat his drink and whatsoever he eats is mingled with poyson till his hair fell from his head and he was strangely forced to part with the excrements of his nails so that had he not been a very strong man he could have never stood it out so long Besides these villanies was added this affliction that none of his friends were permitted to see him or so much as to speak with him but at a window so that all things considered we may conclude him as to his outward condition truly miserable In the mean time the Viscount flourishes the marriage is consumated betwixt him and the Countess and more honours conferred on him being created Earl of Somerset Sir Thomas Overbury hearing of this marriage makes great lamentation foreseeing thereby his own death yet having some weak hopes of the Earl he sends this letter to him to minde him of his former promise Right noble and worthy Sir your former accustomed favours and absolute promise concerning my present deliverance hath caused me at this time to sollicite your Lordship and to put you in remembrance of the same not doubting that your Honour is at all forgetful of me but onely by reason of my imprisonment being possest of divers diseases would for my bodies health and safety taste the felicity of the open Air in which cause if your Lordship please to commiserate my present necessities and procure me my speedy deliverance I shall not onely stand so much the more obliged to you but also acknowledge you to be the preserver of my life The Earl having received the Letter returns him answer that presently he could not accomplish his desires but willed him not to doubt for shortly he should have a deliverance which indeed proved true thought not as Overbury intended for the conspirators now hearing some inkling of Sir Thomas's releasement resolve upon his quick dispatch to this end Weston agrees with an Apothecary for twenty pound to administer an empoysoned glister unto him Sir Thomas perswaded that it would be much for his health takes it by the infusion whereof he falls into a languishing disease with a griping in his guts the next day after which extremity of pain he died and because there was some blisters and ugly botches on his body the conspirators gave it out that he died of the French Pox. This past currant and the mischief lay concealed a long time but God who will never suffer such mischiefs to pass unpunished revealed the same Somersets conscience begins now to accuse him that former love that he bore to him till the eyes of his Lady had enchanted him returned his wonted mirth forsakes him he is cast down he takes not that felicity in company he was wont but still something troubles him And hearing of the peoples mutterings concerning Overburies death finding the King in a good humour he makes his address to this effect That whereas it had pleased his Majesty to commit many things unto his charge and some of them proving something too weighty for him to undergo it was so that ignorantly he had run himself into a Premunire whereby he had forfeited to him both his lands goods and liberty unless it pleased him of his wonted favour to grant him pardon for that and many other offences that he had ignorantly committed The King still bearing a good affection towards him bids him draw his pardon and he would sign it Which accordingly he did but it comming to the Lord Chancellours hands he refused to let it pass the Seal and acquainted the King with the danger that might accrew thereby And now suspicion growing higher of Sir Thomas Overburies death Weston is examined by the Lord Cook who at the first stiffly denied the same but being perswaded by the Bishop of London he tells all How Mistress Turner and the Countess came acquainted what relation she had to Witches Sorcerers and Conjurers that Northampton Somerset Franklin the Monsons and Yelvis had all their hands in it whereupon they were all apprehended some sent to the Tower others to New-gate Having thus confessed being convicted according to course of Law he was hanged at Tyburn after him Mistress Turner after her Franklin then Sir Jervas Yelvis upon their severall Arraignments of the fact were found guilty and executed some of them died very penitent and sorrowful for what they had done against such an incomparable person The Earl and his Countess were both condemned but through the Kings gracious pardon had their lives saved but were never admitted to the favour of the Court. This Ingenuous Knight whose death was so generally lamented was the other Sidney of this Nation One of our Modern Writers observes that he was too honest which with the Machiavelians is interpreted to be too open breasted as they retain this principle that one that waits on great persons ought to keep a secret till his breath stinks Whereas without question he did enlarge himself too much also in his discourse to others which besides his down-right Integrity to the Viscount being as sharp Wits are too much addicted to an unfortunate way of jeering and jeasting must of necessity prove fatal to him the revenge of a woman being alwayes in pursuit His Poem of a Wife is to the life his Characters to this day not outwitted by any To give a taste of the respects those times tendred him I have affixed these following Verses To the Memory of the generally bewailed Gentleman Sir THOMAS OVERBURY BVt that w' are bound in Christian piety To wish Gods will be done and destiny In all that haps to men or good or ill Suffer'd or sent by that implored will Methinks t' observe how Vertue draws faint breath Subject to slanders hate and violent death Wise men kept low others advanc'd to State Right checkt by wrong and ill men fortunate These mov'd Effects from an unmoved Cause Might shake the firmest faith Heavens fixed laws Might casual seem and each irregular sense Spurn at just Order blame Gods Providence But what
into England lies on this Heroick Knight but as in the Life of Sir Francis Drake I have cleared him that his Marriners first brought it in So for that report that when he went to his Trial he took three Pipes in the Coach I rather look on him as he was too guilty of occasioning the mode of this vanity rather then that it was any Institution of his own The day appointed for his Execution being come a Scaffold was erected for him before the Parliament House upon which being brought with a chearful countenance and undaunted look he spake as followeth My Honourable Lords and the rest of my good Friends that are come to see me die know that I much rejoyce that it hath pleased God to bring me from darkness to light and in freeing me from the Tower wherein I might have died in disgrace by letting me live to come to this place where though I lose my life yet I shall clear some false accusations unjustly laid to my charge and leave behinde me a testimony of a true heart both to my King and Countrey Two things there are which have exceedingly possest and provoked his Majesties indignation against me viz. A confederacy or combination with France and disloyal and disobedient words of my Prince For the first his Majesty had some cause though grounded upon a weak foundation to suspect mine inclination to the French Faction for not long before my departure from England the French Agent took occasion passing by my house to visit me we had some conference during the time of his abode onely concerning my Voyage and nothing else I take God to witness Another suspicion is had of me because I did labour to make an escape from Plimouth to France I cannot deny but that willingly when I heard a rumour that there was no hope of my life upon my return to London I would have escaped for the safeguard of my life and not for any ill intent or conspiracy against the State The like reason of suspicion arose in that I perswaded Sir Lewis Stenkly my Guardian to flee with me from London to France but my answer to this is as to the other that onely for my safeguard and nought else was my intent as I shall answer before the Almighty It is alledged that I feigned my self sick and by art made my body full of blisters when I was at Salisbury True it is I did so the reason was because I hop'd thereby to defer my coming before the King and Councel and so by delaying might have gained time to have got my pardon I have an example out of Scripture for my warrant that in case of necessity and for the safeguard of my life David feigned himself foolish and mad yet it was not imputed to him for sin Concerning the second imputation laid to my charge that I should speak scandalous and reproachful words of my Prince there is no witness against me but onely one and he a Chymical Frenchman whom I entertained rather for his Jeasts then Judgement This man to incroach himself into the favor of the Lords and gaping after some great reward hath falsely accused me of seditious speeches against his Majesty against whom if I did either speak or think a thought hurtful or prejudicial Lord blot me out of the Book of Life It is not a time to flatter or fear Princes for I am a Subject to none but deatb therefore have a charitable conceit of me that I know to swear is an offence to swear falsely at any time is a great sin but to swear falsely before the presence of Almighty God before whom I am forthwith to appear were an offence unpardonable therefore think me not now rashly or untruly to confirm or protest any thing As for other Objections in that I was brought perforce into England that I carried sixteen thousand pounds in Money out of England with me more then I made known that I should receive Letters from the French King and such like with many protestations he utterly denied Having ended his Speech he saluted the Company and after he had made his addresses to heaven submitted his neck to the stroak of the Axe Thus ended this worthy Knight a man of such admirable parts that he is more to be admired then sufficiently praised Leaving him to his repose till the last great day I shall onely set down this following Epitaph made by himself Even such is time which takes in trust Our youth and joyes and all we have And payes us but with age and dust Within the dark and silent grave When we have wandred all our wayes Shuts up the story of our dayes From the which earth death grave and dust The Lord shall raise me up I trust The Life of Mr. William Cambden THis learned Antiquary who so diligently preserved the memories of many noble Families of this Nation and whose laborious Works have been a great light to Histories already extent and such as future Ages shall produce is deservedly placed amongst our Heroes that he whose pen made so many others live in his never dying Brittania may likewise live here in this present Work amongst the rest of our English Worthies He was Son to Master Sampson Cambden descended of an ancient family in Staffordshire his Mother was extracted from the worshipful family of the Curwens in Cumberland as he himself witnesseth in his Britannia He was born in the Old-Baily in the City of London Anno. 1550. That he was well educated his learned Works make manifest being put to School first in Christ-Church then at Pauls At fifteen years of age so soon was he ripened for the University he went to Magdalen Colledge in Oxford where having much profited he removed from thence to Broadgates Hall where he gave some proofs of his learning in those short Latin graces the Servitors still use From thence he went to Christ-Church where he attained to such eminency as his abilities preferred him to be Master of Westminster School There is as a learned Gentleman observes scarce any profession in the Common-wealth more necessary which is so slightly performed The reasons whereof he takes to be these First young Schollars make this calling their refuge yea perchance before they have taken any degree in the Vniversity commence Schoolmasters in the Countrey as if nothing else were required to set up this profession but onely a Rod and a Ferula Secondly others who are able use it onely as a passage to better preferment to patch the rents in their present fortune till they can provide a new one and betake themselves to some more gainful calling Thirdly they are disheartned from doing their best with the miserable reward which in some places they receive being Masters to the Children and slaves to their Parents Lastly being grown rich they grow negligent and scorn to touch the School but by the proxie of an Vsher But our Schoolmaster was of another temper studying his Schollars natures as carefully as
whom he was very intimate walking with him in his Summer-Parlour thought to please him with a motion of putting out a summe of his money to interest on good security Master Sutton shewing a dislike told him that he had other purposes and for the lawfulness of Usury he was not so fully convinced of it but that he did believe that the most confident Usurer that ever lived would give the best bag he had on his death-bed to be cleared of that case of conscience He being asked by his friend what he would then do with his money he answered that he was onely as treasurer and disposer for poor and wanting persons which words of his agreed with his mind as the end of his Life declared For as he determined with himself so he afterwards built an Hospital having first got a Grant from K. James confirmed by Act of Parliament To this purpose having bargained with Tho. Earl of Suffolk for a House then called the Seat of the Carthusians now the Charter-House which was much out of repair this with many thousands of pounds he bought of the Earl though some asperse him and report that he got it into his hands first by fraud the Deeds being intrusted to him that he kept them by which subtilty he had the advantage to make his own market I cannot believe this but if it were true he had great need if it could stand him in any stead to fly to that Scripture which the Romanists make so much use of Charity covers a maltitude of sins But to passe by this diversion this House questionlesse he bought lawfully of the Earl which he turned into an Hospital When he was very old and considering how soon his crazinesse and weaknesse might set a period to his life and not knowing what injuries the present or future Ages might act against his Charity he took such care to confirm his will by the Royal power and the Laws of the Land that except it hath been abused by the corruption of some particular covetous persons it hath not been otherwise violated The particulars of his Testament are too large to be inserted here I refer the Reader to the printed Copy I shall onely out of it instance a few particulars He bestowed upon his Kindred Friends and Servants vaste summes of money besides six thousand pounds a year to the Hospital For the performance whereof he chose honest wise and experienced Executours His Will being thus perfected he fell deadly sick at his House at Hackney near London in the year of our Lord 1611. he died Not long after his death the House began to be turned into an Hospital though after his decease this good work with several quirks and pretences of Law was oposed as to the very foundation of it the Kings ears being abused At last such was the faithful zeal of those that were intrusted God assisting them in so honourable actions that the Institution came to perfection by a quiet possession to the use appointed with a Library as a gift worthy of such an Hospital In this House fourscore old men are maintained which should be decayed Gentlemen and Souldiers according to the Doners intent who are to have an allowance both for their bodies and souls There is also a School for thirty children of poor parents though I am credibly informed rich persons of late years that make the greatest friends soonest get their children in an abuse of the Will of the deceased and a crying oppression of the poor These Children have their constant diet and clothing There are several other stipends for the Governour Overseers Physicians nad Chyrurgeons of the Hospital together with an annual allowance and an ample stipend assigned to a learned Minister who in the Chappel on the Lords Day is to preach to the Hospitallers with prayers twice every day in the week An honourable gift to the end of the world bestowed on the distressed members of our Saviours body Master Sutton was first buried in Christs-Church in London but afterwards removed and interred in the Chappel of his Hospital the Charter-House where a costly Monument was erected for him by his Executours The Papists that glory so much of their good works cannot shew a nobler foundation for a particular person of his quality To conclude though our actions of Charity are never so great foolishly thought by them meritorious yet if not the effects of a true saving faith they are lost and a man may for all his Charity go to the Devil And though the Catholiques would plead from the form of the last judgement Matthew 25. that God accepts men to Life for their deeds of Charity feeding clothing relieving c. yet the Scripture fully testifies that God neither accepts these nor our selves for them no further then they are the effects of a true faith our persons being first justified by faith in Christ then God will crown our works This according to the holy Writ we acknowledge that Charity for the perpetuity of it excells all other Graces when we have possession of those pleasures that we believed and hoped what longer use is there of faith and hope but our Love shall not end with our lives we shall everlastingly love our Maker Saviour Sanctifier Angels and Saints where no discontent shall breed any jar in our Halelujahs To conclude as the use of Mr. Suttons Love and Charity was a comfort and delight to him on earth what can we think it will be to him in heaven The Life of the most Noble Sir FRANCIS BACON Viscount of Saint ALBANES AFter I had bestowed much pains and strictly enquired the transactions of the life of this incomparable Knight having finisht it with all the ingenuity care and impartiality of a studious minde I at last had the happiness to meet with it in Latine exactly and admirably done by Doctour Raleigh his Chaplain who as he discharged his faithful trust in publishing of some of his Works I thought my self obliged to do him the right of the alone setting forth of his Life more especially as no person better knew him then this Reverend Doctour I have onely translated what he did word for word neither adding nor detracting Sir Francis Bacon the Honour of his age and Countrey the credit and ornament of Learning was born at York-House in the Strand a noted Street adjoyning to the City of London on the 22. day of January in the year of mans salvation MDLX His Father was that famous Councellour to Queen Elizabeth and while he liv'd one of the chief Props and Pillars of her Kingdom Sir Nicholas Bacon Knight Keeper of the great Seal of England a Heroe of approved wisdom judgement moderation and integrity His Mother was Anne a Daughter of Sir Edward Cook who had the education of Edward the Sixth King of England a Lady both of singular Piety and Vertue and eminently learned having no mean skill especially considering her Sex in the Greek and Latine Tongues sprung from such
himself to him with a very high Complement as that his Lordship had alwayes been to him like the Angels of whom he had heard and read many things but that it had never been in his power to see them From the time of which meeting such amity was contracted between them and so great a veneration the Marquess had for him that besides frequent visitations they held a constant correspondence in Letters saluting one another by the name and title of Father and Son Not to mention here those innumerable Commendations sent him in Epistles from the most eminent men of Forreign Nations addicted to the study of Wisdom and good Arts it being a thing common to him with others of note and fame But now that I discourse of his Fame I would to be understood as if I writ in a stile not exclusive but comparative for his Fame ever among the English was not faint or drooping but lively and vigorous especially among those that were conspicuous for their acute and sublime parts of which I shall insert two testimonies and no more The first is this When his History of Henry the Seventh was just ready for the Press it was sent by King James to Fulk Lord Brook to peruse who when he had read it all over sent it back to the Author with this commendation Present my respects to his Lordship and entreat him from me to have a special care of buying good Paper and Ink for this Work of his is excellent above any thing that I have seen in this kinde The other is the testimony of Doctour Samuel Collins late Professour of Divinity in the famous Vniversity of Cambridge and Master of Kings Colledge a man of no vulgar wit who whether pleasantly or seriously affirmed to me That after he had read his Book of the Advancement of Learning he thought himself driven to that pass that he must be forc't to renew the whole course of his studies from the very beginning and that all this while he had but lost his labour It was earnestly desir'd by some that I would insert some things concerning his Diet and the government of his Health in regard that because of his universal knowledge in natural things his example might be a guide to others As to his Diet therefore he us'd rather a full and liberal way of feeding according as he found his stomach able to bear then thin and sparing which way he hath also commended in some places of his History of Life and Death In his younger years he fed chiefly upon the more delicate and light sort of meats as the flesh of Fowls and the like but afterwards having learned more experience he rather approved of stronger meat such as is sold in the shambles as that which would supply the body with more firm and substantial juyce and that I may use his own words less dissipable upon which alone he himself would often feed although his Table were furnished with variety of all sorts of dishes you may well think that he did not in the least manner neglect that which you shall finde him to have so often cry'd up in his writings namely the often use of Nitre whereof he took every day in the morning about three grains in a mess of thin warm Broth and this course he continued for thrity years at least before his death As for his use of Physick it is true that he lived medicinably but not miserably for once in six or seven dayes he continually took a dram and a half of Rubarb and no more infus'd and macerated for the space of half an hour in a draught of Ale and White-wine mixt together and that a little before meat either dinner or supper to keep his body from drying up since as he affirm'd it would carry away the excrementitious humours of the body and not cause the spirits to exhale as frequent sweating useth to do Now certainly to take so little Physick as this could not be miserable but for any other medicaments whatsoever hath been vulgarly reported he would not at all accustom himself to them The remedy against the Gout which he himself discovered and which he found by experience would asswage the pain in two hours space is extant at the end of his Natural History It is likely that at his Nativity the Moon held some principal place as in the Horoscope or Mid-heaven for as oft as the Moon was in the wane or suffered an Eclipse he was taken with a sudden faintness or depression of spirit and this would happen though he had had no knowledge beforehand of the Moons defect but as soon as the Moon had begun to recover her former light he presently grew well again He died on the 9th day of April MDCXXVI very early in the morning being the day before the feast of the Resurrection of our Lord commonly called Easter Eve in the sixty sixth year of his age at the Earl of Arundels House at High-gate a Village near London to which place he came about eight dayes before not with an intent to make any abode there but onely for his pleasure and recreations sake but God so ordained it that in this place he should end his dayes It was of a lingering Ague that he died together with a strong Catarrh which caused so violent a defluction of humours to his brest that by a sudden suffocation the passage of his life was intercepted He was buried in St. Michaels Church near St. Albans a place destin'd for his Sepulchre upon some grand considerations as both because the body of his Mother lay buried in the same Church as because that Church is the onely place remaining at this day out of the ruines of old Verulam Here a famous Monument of white Marble was built to his memory by the care and gratitude of Sir Thomas Mutes administrator of his last Will and Testament heretofore Secretary to his Lordship and afterwards Clerk to the Privy Council under two Kings having upon it his Effigies in a posture sitting in a chair and intent upon his study together with an Epitaph which that most elegant and polite person Sir Henry Wootton composed out of the reverence and admiration which he bare to his memory But though his Body which he put off and laid aside were mortal yet his Books and Fame will doubtless be everlasting and as soon will the frame of the Earth be dissolv'd as they stoop to fate mov'd with the consideration of which it seem'd good to me to collect according to my slender capacity these memories such as they are that I also might be serviceable to the propagating of his name to posterity There are some light passages and pleasant Apothegms which I have often Beard discoursed of the life of this ever to be honoured Worthy which as this reverend Doctor thought too low for the Grandeur of Sir Francis to have recorded I submit to his better determination and have thought fit to silence my Pen. The
Life of LANCELOT ANDREWS Bishop of Winchester IT is poetized of the Thracian Orpheus that his Oratotary was so powerful that with it he drew the senseless stones after him towards the building of Thebes which some moralize that his eloquence was such as attracted the senseless and stony multitude from Barbarism to frame themselves to a civil and well ordered life What was storied of Orpheus may fitly be applied to this learned Bishop who with his heavenly Oratory drew many stony senseless hearts out of the Captivity of Satan unto the glorious freedom of the Gospel of Jesus Christ For his person we can add nothing to him to name him is enough to all that knew him and to read him will be enough to them that knew him not his piety being such as was esteemed comparable to that which was found in the primitive Church This right reverend father in God Bishop of Winchester Prelate of the Garter was born in the City of London descended from the ancient Family of the Andrews in Suffolk his Father a Merchant of good repute and according to the Religion of those ancient times very devout being one of the Society and Masters of the Holy Trinity commonly called Trinity-House He in his tender years shewed great aptness to learning which he so improved under his two School-masters Mr. Ward Master of the Coopers Free School in Radcliffe and Mr. Mulchaster Master of the Merchant-Taylors Free School in London that he promised a golden Harvest from so hopeful a seed-time So that from his youth he declared an extraordinary worth that he was made up of learning and vertue in both of them so eminent that it was hard to judge which had the precedency and greater interest though it was truly asserted from his contemporaries that there was not any kinde of Learning that he was a stranger to but in his profession admirable which was as well if not better known abroad then admired at home Having under these two gained an excellent knowledge in the Greek and Hebrew Languages he was sent to Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge where he was by Doctor Wats Archdeacon of Middlesex a Benefactor to that house placed in one of the Greek Schollarships soon after he was made Bachellour of Arts and a Fellowship being void he and Thomas Dove afterwards Bishop of Peterburgh for the obtaining thereof were put to a trial of some Schollastical exercises upon performance whereof they chose him into the fellowship yet so well did they approve of his opponent that they made him some allowance for his present maintenance under the title of a Tanquam Socius Thus this great miracle of worth that arrived to such a fulness of material learning had yet room enough left him in the temper of his brain for almost all Languages to seat themselves so that his learning had all the helps that Language could afford and his language learning enough for the best of them to express so that it might be said of him as it was of Claudius Drusus that he was a man of great parts as mortal nature could receive or industry make perfect In process of time his endowments made him so eminent that he was invited unto Jesus Colledge in Oxford by Mr. Hugh Price who built the same whose decerning spirit presaging of his future abilities nominated him in his foundation to be one of his first Fellows there and having taken the degree of Master of Art he applied himself wholly to the study of Divinity Soon after was he chosen Catechist in the Colledge which he performed so well that not onely the University became his common auditors but many out of the Countrey resorted thither greatly admiring at his profound learning Henry Earl of Huntington hearing of his worth sent for him to accompany him into the North whereof he was President where by his painful preaching he converted many Recusants to the Protestant Religion And now his abilities being still better known to the world Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary of State to Queen Elizaheth took special notice of him and by his means he was preferred to be Vicar of Saint Giles without Cripple-Gate London then Prebend and Residentiary of St. Pauls and afterwards Prebend of the Collegiate Church of Southwell soon after upon the death of Doctor Fulk he was elected into the Mastership of Pembroke-hall in Cambridge Afterwards he was made Chaplain in ordinary to Queen Elizabeth who took such delight in his preaching that she resolved upon his higher preferment but having made him first Prebend and not long after Dean of Westminster death prevented her of her intentions But what was wanting in her was performed by her learned successour King James who admiring him for his transcendent abilities soon after his coming to this Crown made him Bishop of Chichester and Lord Almoner and withal added the parsonage of Cheyham in Surrey to his Commendam He now as he excelled most of his Brethren in dignity he thought it not enough unless he did more then imitate them in sanctity of life and knowing no better rule for his direction herein then what Saint Paul had prescribed to Timothy he resolved to make those precepts his rules of practice In these addresses of his to Heaven first he led his life as in respect to men blameless his vertues admired by all but imitated of few his life being like a candle set on a candlestick which gave light to the whole House drawing many souls to God as well by his holy conversation as pious preaching It is a true saying A mans pious carriage makes his speech perswasive Secondly his charity was most transcendent to pass over many vast sums he bestowed upon poor Parishes Prisons and Prisoners his private Alms in his last six years besides those publique amounted to the sum of 1300. pounds and upwards Notwithstanding by what hath been said he might seem in his life time to be his own Almoner yet extended he his works of compassion most abundantly at his death leaving four thousand pounds to purchase two hundred pounds land per annum for ever to be distributed by fifty pounds quarterly thus to aged poor men fifty pounds to poor widdows the wives of one husband fifty pounds to the binding of poor Orphans Apprentices fifty pounds and to the relief of poor prisoners fifty pounds Also he gave two hundred pounds to poor Maid-servants of honest report who had served one Master or Mistress seven years to be distributed presently after his decease Many other acts of Charity did this good Bishop do a fair coppy for new succeeding rich Cleargy-men who are all for the mountain word of Faith but have nothing to do with good Works to write after He had alwayes a special care of promoting sufficient and able men to Livings a great mans letter will do but little good with him if he saw not piety as well as personage in the party His enquiry was constantly to know what hopeful young men were in the
have heard it often discoursed that he writ on the window with the point of his Diamond reflecting on the then present affliction of his Marriage these words John Donne done and undone But long were they not there but Mr. Donne got himself enlarged and soon after his two Friends and long it was not ere the edge of his Father-in-laws passion was taken off by the advice of some Friends who approved his Daughters choice and although at present he refused to contribute any means that might conduce to their livelihood yet did he bestow upon them his Paternal Blessing and secretly laboured his sons restauration into that place of which his own rashness had bereft him although it found no success The Lord Chancellour replying That though he was sorry for what he had done yet it stood not with his credit to discharge and re-admit Servants at the request of passionate Petitioners And now Mr. Donne by means of his Father-in-law being brought out of employment the greatest part of his portion by many and chargeable travels wasted the rest disburst in some few Books and dear bought experience was surrounded with many and sad thoughts And indeed no apprehension of discourtesie strikes so deep into a man as to receive it from those where we expect the greatest courtesies certainly he who hurts his Son-in-law cannot chuse but harm his own Daughter Neither is it enough for him to say he repenteth him of what he hath done unless withal he endeavor for him a new employment and allow him maintenace so long as he is out of it As did this good Knight Sir George More who repenting of his errour gave Master Donne a Bond to pay him eight hundred pound at a certain day as a portion with his Wife and to pay him for their maintenance twenty pound quarterly as the Interest of it until the said portion were paid Master Donne during the time of his Father-in-laws displeasure was curteously entertained by their noble Kinsman Sir Francis Wally of Pirford where he remained many years who as their charge encreased for she had yearly a childe so did he encrease his love and bounty Sir Francis dying he for a while kept house at Micham near Croyden in Surrey but being importuned by his friends he left Micham and had a convenient house assigned him by that honourable Gentleman Sir Robert Drury next his own in Drury-Lane who not onely gave him his dwelling rent free but was also a daily cherisher of his studies And now was he frequently visited by men of greatest learning and judgement in this kingdom his company desired by the Nobility and extreamly affected by the Gentry his friendship was sought for of most forreign Ambassadours and his acquaintance entreated by many other strangers whose learning or employment occasioned their stay in this kingdom Divers of the Nobility interceeded for his preferment at Court and great hopes was given him of some State employment his Majesty having formerly known and much valued him was much pleased to hear his learned disputes frequently used as they sat at meals About this time was that great dispute in England concerning the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance in which the King had ingaged himself who talking occasionly with Mr. Donne concerning some arguments urged by the Romanists received such satisfactory answers that he commanded him to state the points and bring his reasons to him in writing which within six weeks he performed with such contentment to the King that he perswaded him to enter into the Ministery to which Mr. Donne seemed to be modestly unwilling his modesty apprehending it too weighty for his abilities his friends also knowing how his education had apted him mediated with his Majesty to prefer him to some civil employment but the King having a descerning spirit replyed I know Mr. Donne is a learned man will prove an excellent Divine and a powerful Preacher Which caused this learned King again to sollicit him to enter into Sacred Orders which yet he deferred for the space of three years applying himself in the mean time to an incessant study of Textual Divinity and attained to an admirable perfection in the Greek and Hebrew Tongues Soon after his entring into this holy profession the King made him his Chaplain in ordinary he attending his Majesty in his progress to Cambridge the University knowing his worth with a universal consent made him Doctor in Divinity Immediately after his return home his Wife dyed leaving him the careful Father of seven Children living having buried five to her he promised never to bring them under the subjection of a step-mother and although his age being but forty two years might promise the contrary yet kept he his word faithfully burying with his most dear and deserving Wife all his sublunary joyes in this world and living a retired life applyed himself wholly to the exercise of Divinity And now his preaching and godly conversation was grown so eminent that fourteen Advowsions of several Benefices were offered unto him in the Countrey but he having a natural inclination to London his Birth-place refused them and accepted of a Lecture at Lincolns-Inne being glad to renew his intermitted friendship with them where he continued for the space of three years constantly and faithfully dispensing the word of God and they as freely requiting him with a liberal maintenance About which time the Palsgrave usurping the Crown of Bohemia much trouble arose in those kingdoms for the composing whereof the King sent the Earl of Carlile then Viscount Doncaster his Ambassador to those unsettled Princes and by a special command from his Majesty Doctor Donne was appointed to go along with him which accordingly he did to the great comfort of that vertuous Lady the Queen of Bohemia who very gladly received him as the Ambassadour of Christ and during his abode there being a constant hearer of his most excellent and powerful preaching Within fourteen moneths he returned home and about a year after his return the Deanry of Saint Pauls being vacant by the removal of Doctor Cary to the Bishoprick of Exeter the King bestowed the same upon him at his entrance into the Deanry he repaired the Chappel belonging to his house Suffering as the Psalmist hath it his eyes and temples to take no rest untill he had first beautified the house of God Soon after the Vicarage of Saint Dunstans in London fell to him by the death of Doctor White with another Ecclesiastical endowment about the same time Thus God blessed him that he was enabled to be Charitable to the Poor His Father-in-law Sir George More coming to pay him the conditioned sum of twenty pound he refused it saying as good Jacob said when he heard his Son Joseph lived It is enough you have been kinde to me and careful of my Children and I thank my God I am provided for therefore I will receive it no longer and not long after freely gave up his Bond of eight hundred pounds But
tuition of his Mother he was sent to Winchester School a place of strict Discipline and Order that so he might in his youth be moulded into a method of living by rule Where having much profited he was removed from thence to New Colledge in Oxford where he remained till about the eighteenth year of his age from thence transplanted into Queens Colledge where to shew the world some part of his abilities he writ a Play of the Tragedy of Tancredo which though some sowre dispositions may condemn yet considering his youth and those weighty sentences contained in the same it may be thought neither uncomely nor unprofitable During Sir Henry's abode at Oxford his Father being then in Kent dreamed that the University Treasury was robbed by five Townsmen and poor Schollars and being that day to write to his son Henry thought it worth so much pains as by a Postscript in his Letter to make a slight enquiry of it which coming to his hands the very morning after the night in which the robbery was committed was by him shown and by means thereof the five guilty persons discovered and apprehended The next year he proceeded Master of Arts at what time he read an Optick Lecture with great applause of the University especially of those two great Wits Albericus Gentilis a Learned Italian and Doctour Donne sometimes Dean of Pauls of whose worth none that but pretends to Learning can be ignorant With these two he entered into a bosome friendship which continued during the term of their lives Attaining now to the age of two and twenty he left Oxford and betook himself to travel to purchase the rich treasure of forreign knowledge Almost nine years was he absent from England the most of which time he remained in Germany and Italy acquainting himself with the most learned of either Nations At his return Robert Earl of Essex then one of the Darlings of Fortune who hearing of his abilities took him to be one of his Secretaries at the fall of the Earl with whom fell Master Cuffe his other Secretary he privately posted out of England and went to Florence in Italy where he met with his old Friend Siegnior Vietta then Secretary to the great Duke of Tuscany having stayed some short time there the Duke intercepted certain Letters that discovered a design to take away the life of the then King of Scots The Duke abhorring the fact and resolving to endeavour a prevention of it advised with his Secretary Vietta by what means a caution might be given to that King and after consideration it was resolved to be done by Sir Henry Wotton who gladly undertaking the same to avoid the light of English Intelligence posted into Scotland by the way of Norway under the name of Octavio Baldi being admitted private audience with the King he was not onely discovered wherefore he came but also who he was and having stayed there three moneths with great contentment he returned to Florence with a fair and grateful account to the Duke of his employment Queen Elizabeth dying no sooner was King James entred upon the English Government but he advances him being returned from Florence to the Order of Knighthood and having had experience of his Abilities sends him Ambassadour to the State of Venice where he remained almost twenty years during which time he studied the dispositions of those Dukes and the Consultors of State well knowing that he who negotiates a continued business and neglects the study of dispositions usually fails in his proposed ends And although through some misunderstanding he fell one time into King Jame's displeasure yet did he by an Apology so clear himself that as broken bones well set become the stronger so Sir Henry Wotton did not onely recover but was much more confirmed in his Majesties estimation and favour then formerly he had been Thrice was he sent Ambassador to the Republick of Venice once to the Emperour Ferdinando the second as also to several German Princes to incline them to equitable conditions for the restauration of the Queen of Bohemia and her descendents to there patrimonial inheritance of the Palatinate And although success had made the Emperour inexorable that his Embassage obtained not the wished effect yet so nobly deported he himself in that journey that the Emperour adjudged him a person of much honour and merit and at his departure presented him with a Jewel of Diamonds of more value then a thousand pounds which Sir Henry acepted but the next morning at his departing from Vienna at his taking leave of the Countess of Sabrina where he lodged thanking her for her honourable entertainment he prevailed with her to accept of that Jewel as a testimony of his gratitude with which action the Emperour being displeased Sir Henry Wotton was heard to say That though he received it with thankfulness yet he found in himself an indisposition to retain it it being a gift that came from an enemy to his Royal Mistress he so usually called the Queen of Bohemia Here it would not be amiss for the Readers diversion to discourse touching the Affairs of the Embassy of an Ambassador to give some short hints as to their Original Priviledges Wisdom Valour quick Wits and Behaviours they are the Legates Deputies Messengers of Princes and Orators of Kings for all these terms do include one function exercised in different manners And because there are sundry sorts of them somewhat different from the custom of our age I will not onely treat of them as they were in times past amongst the Romans as they were in the times of their most magnificent glories but as near as I can briefly digest the usage and duty of them as they are now put in office by Emperours Kings and Princes The Jews were a people most ancient from whom all Government Learning Morality Philosophy and other notable things have been derived Amongst them in honour to the antiquity of Religion Phineas the Priest the Son of Eleazer with ten Princes of the Tribes was sent Ambassador to the Israelites beyond Jordon The Greeks sent Vlysses that Eloquent Orator and with him Menelaus to reconcile the differences betwixt them and the Trojans There might be infinite instances of other Nations The person that should be thus employed ought to be nobly born free of good credit honest loyal valiant circumspect learned eloquent adorned with the languages liberal with other necessary vertues and qualifications For the order how Ambassadors have been received and used by Princes Alexander ab Alexandro thus expresses Alex ab Alex. Lib. 5. Cap. 3. Apud Graecos nisi praeconibus adhibitis Legatos minime hostium fines ingredi docebat neque Legationis munere fungi quenquam nisi prius infusae aqua ab eisdem manus abluissent Jovique coronatis poculis propinassent hi tamen Legati qui cum patriis sacris Olympiam aut Pytheam missi erant sacris qui vero foedera percutiebant quasi pacis arbitri interpretis dicti sunt
in his Fourth Book and the 21. Chap. speaking of the time when they should be received neque illud praetereundum c. Neither is it to be over passed that it is remembred that to Legates and Forreign Nations admitted into the Senate the Roman Consuls were not accustomed to give any answers but onely in Latin who being admitted after the manner of the Fathers the Senate gave them power of that they would have but the Greeks by their Deputies appointed did declare their mindes if any body required any thing And the Arrebates and Belonaces did assemble their Councels by the sound of Trumpets but if they would speak any thing in their own Language to such being admitted in the Senate were interpreters given by whom they did propound what was needful and receive the agreement and answers of the Senate Many have been the priviledges immunities and advantages they have derived to their own honour and the happiness of those that have employed them Francis Dandalus the Venetian Orator being sent Ambassador into France to pacifie the French King and the great Clergy-man for that he was displeased with the States of Venice for the receiving of Feraria when he had divers times used his best arguments yet could not remove the anger of the Bishop of Rome falling on his hands and knees no compulsive but a free way of introducing the subtilty of his design being raised by the Pope he powred forth such a flood of Rhetorick that he so wrought on him that he reconciled him and the Venetians When Clement the Seventh Bishop of Rome and Charles the Fifth the Emperour had met at Bononia about divers affairs Francis Alvarez the Legate of Denide commonly called Presto John was King of the Abyssine Ethyopians which do possess the middle part of Africa being come to Benonia by the conduct of the Ambassadors of John King of Portugal did in the Senate in the name of the King promise Faith and Obedience to Clement Bishop of Rome in the year of our Lord 1533. For which wise dispatch of his Embassy after ages took notice of him I shall forbear to inlarge my self and onely insert a few of their Apothegms Policartidas an Orator being sent with others to certain Dukes when it was demanded of them whether his coming was publick or private they answered that if they had obtained the effect of their message they came publickly if not privately which subtil answer did admirably manifest their good intentions to their Countrey for if the legation succeeded to their mindes they would give the glory to their Countrey if otherwise they would have the reproach and repulse to appertain to the Common-wealth The Lacedemonians sending but one Legate to King Demetrius he highly resented it for an indignity asking if one man were enough to come to him To which the Ambassador answered Yes Sir we deemed it sufficient to send but one to one man Such another answer did Agis the Son of Archidamus use being sent to Philip King of Macedon When certain Lacons a people of Greece inhabiting Sparta went Ambassador to the tyrant Ligdanus who often deferred conference with them excusing himself that he was somewhat sickly they desired the messengers to return him this answer That they came to talk not to wrestle with the King The Romans dispatcht their Ambassadors to Bithnia to asswage a domestical breach betwixt Drusus the Father and Nicomodes the Son which Legates were such as one of them had many scars of wounds in his head and face another was diseased in his feet and the third but of a slender Wit of whom M. Cato was wont to jeast that the same Embassie lacked both head feet and heart Two Legates saith Poggius being sent from the Councel of Constance to Petrus de Luna the false Pope did amongst other bitter chidings and hard speeches which they used together upon the Title of the Pontificiality after that the Pope had said of himself This is the ark of Noah meaning that all the power of the Pontifical Sea remained in him they answered there were many beasts in the Ark of Noah expressing thereby that there were many vices in the Pope and many wicked men in the Church These with infinite more might be collected out of our English Authors but to knit up this discourse wherein I have epitomized the office management gravity magnanimity policy witty and wise answers of Ambassadors to conclude these messengers of Princes to Princes had as we may allude their first institution and original from the order of Archangels who have been the Ambassadors of God to such persons as God hath honoured in great matters either of revelation or successes of kingdoms as Gabrel was to Daniel or of opening some strange things as he was also to the Virgin of the conception of the Saviour of souls But enough of and perchance too much to some cavelling heads that there hath been so large a digression which I have onely enterprised to illustrate the perfection of our Knight in this illustrious employment he having observed all the laws of Ambassadors and so mannaged the Affairs of his Prince that he was the wonder of those times he lived in and an admirable example for ours Sir Henry Wotton returning home in the latter year of King James his Reign his estate much wasted with his continued Embassies very desirous to enjoy the quiet of a retired life he obtained to be made Provost of Eaton Colledge which how well it suited to his fancy this speech of his to a friend will sufficiently testifie I thank God and the King by whose goodness I am now in this condition a condition which that Emperour Charles the Fifth seem'd to approve who after so many remarkable victories when his glory was great in the eyes of all men freely gave his Crown and the Cares that attended it to Philip his Son making a holy retreat to a Cloystral life where he might by devout meditations consult with God which the rich or busie men seldome do and have leisure both to examine the errours of his life past and prepare for that great day wherein all flesh must give an account of their actions And after a kinde of tempestuous life I now have the like advantage from him that makes the out-goings of the morning to praise him even from my God whom I daily magnifie for this particular mercy of an exemption from business a quiet minde and a sufficient maintenance even in this part of my life when my age and infirmities seem to sound me a retreat from the pleasures of this world and invite me to a contemplation in which I have ever taken the greatest felicity This contemplative life he continued to his end so that this place seemed to be the beginning of his happiness the Colledge being to his minde as a quiet Harbour to a Sea-faring-man after a tempestuous Voyage where by the bounty of the pious Founder his very food and raiment were plentifully
that some conclude his death was for necessity and rather for the satisfaction of rancourous apprehensions then for any guiltiness in the cause The lower House perceiving by the Lieutenants insinuating and witty defences a great encrease of his friends in the Lords House they resolved of no more hearing of him in publique but to draw up a Bill of Attainder and present the same to the Lords whereby first the matter of Fact should be declared to have been sufficiently proved and then in the matter of Law that he had incurred the censure of Treason for intending to subvert the Fundamentall Laws of the Kingdom And they were confident the Lords would ratifie and approve of this Bill of theirs and give judgement accordingly But the Lords fearing such Proceedings as a beaten path troden out to the ruine of their own lives and estates told the House of Commons that they themselves as competent Judges would by themselves onely give sentence in the Cause nor was there course suitable to the practise and State of the Kingdom the safety of the Nobility or to Equity or common Justice It was replied by them of the Lower House that they were resolved to go on with their Bill and if the same should be rejected by the Lords they feared a rupture and division might follow to the utter ruine and desolation of the whole Kingdom That no content would be given to the Subject unless the man who had so much intruded upon their right and discontented the people might be punished as a Traytour and dealt withal according to his demerits But the Lords were resolute in their first determinations and resolved to give him a fair hearing in the matter of Law whereupon his Councel were called to the Bar Master Lane the Princes Attorney Master Gardiner Recorder of London Master Loe and Master Lightfoot who spake both much and to the purpose Yet would this nothing satisfie the House of Commons no though the King in person in a set Speech declared unto them That there never was such a project nor had the Lord Strafford ever offered such advice for the transporting of an Irish Army into England neither had advised him to establish an Arbitrary Government that he would never in heart nor hand concur with them to punish him as a Traytour and desir'd therefore that they would think of some other way how the business might be composed Nor should it ever be less dear to him though with the loss of his dearest blood to protect the innocent then to punish the guilty But this made the House of Commons a great deal the more pressing fearing by the Kings peremptory answer that there was some plot underhand But the House of Commons were not so much inflamed by the Kings Speech as the common people who to the number of five or six thousand having Weapons and Battoons in their hands came to VVestminster and at the entering at every Coach cryed out for speedy justice and execution with a wonderful and strange noise After this they drew up the names of those either in the House of Commons or the House of Lords whom they imagined to favour the Lieutenant and gave them the Title of Straffordians with this close That all those and all other enemies to the Common-wealth should perish with him and did post up the names of fifty five at the Corner of Sir William Brunkards house in the old Pallace-yard in Westminster writing underneath This and more shall be done to the Enemies of Justice afore-written The House of Commons in the mean time were not idle but brought forth a Protestation or band of Association as they termed it much like the Covenant taken not long before in Scotland which without further process or delay was subscribed by the whole House except the Lord Digby and an Uncle or Friend of his Not long after the Bill against the Lord Stafford past the Lords there were forty five present of which nineteen voyced for him and twenty six against him the greatest part of his friends absented themselves upon pretence whether true or suppositious that they feared the multitude otherwise his suffrages had more then counterpoised the voters for his death Nothing wanted now but the Kings assent to this Bill which the same afternoon was desired of him the King desired respite for two dayes consulting in the mean time with some Bishops and Judges what to do in this case who as the sequel shows advised him thereunto so that we may herein admire at the wonderful Providence of God to suffer not onely the King and the Country but the Church too to be involved in his blood who had stood so stiffly in the Churches maintenance But nothing gained his Majesties assent thereunto so much as a Letter from the Lieutenant himself wherein he desired his Majesty that for the preventing of such mischiefs as might happen by his refusal to pass the Bill intimating his consent therein as this following Letter of his testifies May it please your sacred Majesty It hath been my greatest grief in all these troubles to be taken as a person which should endeavour to represent and set things amiss between your Majesty and your people and to give Counsels tending to the disquiet of the three Kingdoms Most true it is that this mine own private condition considered it hath been a great madness since through your gracious favour I was so provided as not to expect in any kinde to mend my fortune or please my minde more then by resting where your bounteous hands had placed me Nay it is most mightily mistaken for unto your Majesty it is well known my poor and humble advises concluded still in this That your Majesty and your people could never be happy till there were a right understanding betwixt you and them no other means to effect and settle this happiness but by the Councel and assent of the Parliament or to prevent the growing evils upon this State but by intirely putting your self in the last resort upon the loyalty and good affections of your English Subjects Yet such is my misfortune this truth findeth little credit the contrary seemeth generally to be believed and my self reputed as something of separation between you and your people under a heavier censure then which I am perswaded no Gentleman can suffer Now I understand the mindes of men are more incensed against me notwithstanding your Majesty hath declared that in your Princely opinion I am not guilty of treason nor are you satisfied in your conscience to pass the Bill This bringeth me into a very great strait there is before me the ruine of my Children and Family hitherto untouched in all the branches of it with any foul crimes Here is before me the many ills which may befal your sacred Person and the whole Kingdom should your self and Parliament part less satisfied one with the other then is necessary for the preservation both of King and people Here are before me
murther the King and the Archbishop may appear the Copy of the Archbishops Letter and his Majesties Notes thereupon for vindication of his Integrity I have here inserted The Archbishops Letter to the King upon the first overture of this Discovery May it please your Majesty As great as the secret is that comes herewith yet I chuse rather to send it in this silent covert way and I hope safe then to come thither and bring it my self First because I am no way able to make haste enough with it Secondly because should I come at this time and antedate the meeting September 24. there would be more jealousie of the business and more enquiry after it especially if I being once there should return again before that day as I must if this be followed as is most fit The danger it seems is eminent and laid by God knows whom but to be executed by them which are very near about you For the great honour I have to be in danger with you or for you I pass not so your sacred Person and the State may be safe Now may it please your Majesty this information is either true or there is some mistake in it A. If it be true the persons which make the discovery will deserve thanks and reward if there should be any mistake in it your Majesty can lose nothing but a little silence The business if it be true is extream foul The Discovery thus by Gods Providence offered I do hereby humbly beg it upon my knees of your Majesty that you will conceal B this business from every creature and his name that sends this to me And I send his Letters to me to your Majesty that you may see his sense both of the business and the Secrecy And such instructions as you think fit to give him I beseech you let them be in your own hand for his warrant without imparting them to any and if your Majesty leave it to his discretion to follow it there in the best way he can that in your own hand will be instruction and warrant enough for him And if you please to return it herewith presently to me I will send an express away with it presently In the mean time I have by this express returned him this answer C That I think he shall do well to hold on the Treaty with these men with all care and Secrecy and drive on to the discovery so soon as the business is ripe for it that he may assure himself and them they shall not want reward if they do the service That for my part he shall be sure of secrecy and that I am most confident that your Majesty will not impart it to any that he have a special eye to the eighth or the ninth Proposition Sir for Gods sake and your own safety secrecy in this business and I beseech you send me back D this letter and all that comes with it speedily and scretly and trust not your own pockets with them I shall not eat or sleep in quiet till I receive them And so soon as I have them again and your Majesties warrant to proceed no diligence shall be wanting in me to help on this discovery This is the greatest business that ever was put to me and if I have herein proposed or done any thing amiss I most humbly crave your Majesties pardon but I am willing to hope I have not herein erred in judgement E and in fidelity I never will These Letters came to me on Thursday September 10. at night and I sent these away according to the date hereof being extreamly wearied with writing this Letter copying out these other which come with this and dispatching my Letters back to him that sent these all in my own hand Once again secrecy for Gods sake and your own To his most blessed protection I commend your Majesty and all your Affairs and am Your Majesties most humble faithful Servant W. Cant. Lambeth Septemb. 11. 1640. His Majesties Notes and Apprehensions on this Letter A It is an unanswerable dilemma B I concur totally with you in opinion assuring that no body doth or shall know of this business and to shew my care to conceal it I received this but this Afternoon and now I make this dispatch before I sleep Herewith I send his warrant as you advise which indeed I judge to be the better way C I like your Answer extream well and promise not to deceive your confidence nor break your word D I have sent all back I think these Apostils will be warrant enough for you to proceed especially when I expresly command you to do so E In this I am as far from condemning your judgement as suspecting your fidelity York 13. C. R. This Letter I have inserted the rather because some men sharp-witted only in speaking evil have reported him to be a man of little Learning c. To wipe off such aspersions vulgarly cast on him that he was addicted to the Romish perswasion to which purpose they nick-name his honour Superstitious which wise and moderate men name a zeal to Gods house to his perpetual honour The North Door of Saint Pauls was repaired at his own charges the Workmen themselves not knowing from whence their money came Thus have you seen this Archbishop mounted on the top of Fortunes wheel but what estate on earth is so permanent that it remains unmoveable for Honor is like a mountain which seems to those who are at the foot of it with his towering head to touch the skies but to those that are at the top it seems with its Basis to reach the Abyss Anno 1641. he was by the House of Commons accused of fourteen Articles of High Treason and for four years together continued a Prisoner in the Tower Yet like his Master and King he enjoyed not so much as the quiet of a prison for oftentimes about fourscore several dayes he was carried from the Tower to Westminster and there arraigned in the House of Lords At last he was adjudged to be hang'd drawn and quartered but upon his Petition to the Lords that sentence was changed to beheading which was sadly performed on Tower Hill January 10. 1644. On the Scaffold he made a Sermon unto the people taking his Text out of Hebrews 12. and the 2. verse and having concluded his Sermon he made a short prayer upon the conclusion whereof the Executioner a sign given him cut off his head at the first stroak He in his prosperity furnished Oxford with many excellent Volumes and rare Manuscripts many other endeavours had he for the propagation of Learning but his untimely death hath prevented us of so great benefits as notworthy of so much happiness I have not enlarged my self in the writing of this Reverend Fathers Life like as I have done in others I must apologize as Mr. Speed in one of his Descriptions writes that such a Gentleman had begun who afterwards went through the greatest difficulties of a most
at that time was sitting in the Parliament House but alarum'd with the noise of the great guns he speedeth down his coming putting a stand to the Kings Forces who then were upon point of Victory There were slain on the Parliaments side Serjeant Major Quarles a man of eminent parts who left behinde him one onely Daughter named Esther since married to Master William Holgate of Saffron Walden a deserving Gentleman whose love to learning and learned men hath made his name famous to all posterity Captain Lilburne with some others were taken prisoners the winter then drawing on apace both Armies retired to their Winer quarters The next Spring Essex sets forth with his Army layes Siege to Reading to relieve which the King Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice advanced with a great Army but being worsted at Causham-Bridge the Town was surrendered to the Earl of Essex Presently after the taking of Reading the Parliament side began to decline on a sudden a contageous sickness seized on the Earl of Essex Souldiers the Marquess of New Castle was grown very powerful in the North and Sir William Waller defeated in the West Bristol being delivered up to the King so that had he with his Army come up the next way to London it was thought he would have found but little opposition Glocester onely held out against him The King unwilling to leave any Town behinde him layes Siege thereunto to the raising whereof the Army being not in a capacity of themselves the Train Bands of London assented to this expedition who raised the Siege and not long after gave the Kings Forces Battel at Newbery this was a long and bloody fight nor had either of the parties much cause to boast On the Kings side were slain the Earl of Carnarvan the Earl of Sunderland the Lord Faulkland Collonel Morgan Lieutenant Colonel Fielding Mr. Strode and other eminent persons On the Parliament side was slain Colonel Tucker Captain George Massey Captain Hunt and others The Earl of Essex with the Trained Bands returned to London where he had solemn thanks given him by the Parliament And now the Winter coming on he had the leisure for a while to refresh himself and to make new provisions for War against the ensuing Spring which being come he marches with his Army from London Sir William Waller at some distance marching with him after a while he sits down before Oxford where the King then was who fearing a Siege about midnight did take Horse attended with certain Troops who carried some Foot mounted behinde them and came to Witney five miles from Burford whither also Essex followed him Prince Maurice who had long laid Siege to Lyme upon his approach towards those parts he raises it The strong Town of Weymouth it surrendered unto him yea all the Countries round about came in unto him and the Garrisons opened their Gates at the first sound of his Trumpet At Chard within the compass of twelve miles came four thousand men unto him protesting to live and to dye in the cause of the Parliament as their friends at Dorchester did before them Barnstable revolteth to him Sir Richard Grenvile is beaten and Taunton Castle taken by his forces soon after he possesses himself of Mount Stanford Plimpton Salt-Ash and divers other small Garrisons from thence he advanceth towards Tavestock where he took Sir Richard Grenviles house and in it two pieces of Canon eight hundred Arms a great quantity of rich Furniture and three thousand pound in Money and Plate He marches into Cornwal forcing his passage over at Newbridge with the loss of a hundred and fifty of his enemies about Listethel he encountred Sir Richard Grenvile whom he overthrew immediately upon this Bodmin Tadcaster and Foy stoop unto him But the King who all this while was not idle understanding of his advance into Cornwal resolved to march after him for he found that his Army did daily encrease The presence of a Prince by a secret attraction for the most part prevailing upon the affections of the people Essex hereupon sends to the Parliament for Recruits but before he could receive any supply the King had so cooped up his Army that his Horse had no room for forrage in this strait he calleth a Councel of War wherein it was concluded that three thousand Horse under the command of Sir William Belfore should attempt to break through the main body of the Kings forces which accordingly was put in execution necessity whetting their valours so that with some loss they got through and came safely to Plymouth But the Foot having not that swift means of escape were forced to yield themselves The Earl made his escape by Sea attended with the Lord Roberts and taking shipping at Foy landed at Plymouth sick both in body and minde Thus on a sudden was all undone which he with much pains and hazard had been long a doing so uncertain is the chance of War that he who now rideth triumphantly in the Chariot of Victory may ere long become the Object of his enemies mercy Soon after followed the new moddeling of the Army wherein all those Commanders who were Members of either House of Parliament were called home Essex hereupon surrendered up his Commission Sir Thomas Fairfax being made General in his stead after which time he continually sate in the House of Peers until the time of his death which was on the 14. of September 1646. and 56. year of his age His Funeral was solemnized with great state a Monument being erected for him in Westminster Abbey which a mad villain most uncivilly defaced The Life of Sir CHARLES LUCAS SO much pitty is owing from posterity to the unfortunate Loyalist Sir Charles Lucas that should I omit to render him his due honours I might be taxed of partiality at least to have fallen short of what the Title of this Volume promises he being one whose Learning and Valour hath made him amongst others eminent of the English Nation I shall not need to spend much time in setting forth the stem from whence this illustrious Ciens sprung he who hath not heard of the Family of the Lucas's knows nothing of Gentility yet had no honour accrew'd to him from his famous Progenitors it were honour enough to him to be Brother to that nobly accomplished and deservingly honoured the Plato of this age the Lord Lucas a Gentleman singularly gifted in all suitable elements of worth as also to Sir Gervas Lucas a valiant Commander sometimes Governour of Belvoir Castle For his Education it was generous having his youth sufficiently seasoned in principles of knowledge both Humane and Divine to which joyning his Manhood and Discipline in the Field he had scarce his equal He was a person accompanied with a resolute spirit of an active disposition and a suitable discretion to mannage it strict in his commands without a supercillious severity free in his rewards to persons of desert and quality in his society he was affable and pleasant in
To that purpose we have commanded to make continually most humble Prayers to the Father of Lights that he would be pleased to put you as a fair Flower of Christendom and the onely hope of Great Brittain in possession of that most noble Heritage that your Ancestors have purchased for you to defend the authority of the Sovereign High Priest and to fight against the Monsters of Heresie Remember the dayes of old enquire of your Fathers and they will tell you the way that leads to Heaven and that way the Temporal Princes have taken to attain to the everlasting Kingdom Behold the Gates of Heaven opened the most holy Kings of England who came from England to Rome accompanied with Angels did come to honour and do homage to the Lord of lords and to the Prince of the Apostles in the Apostolical Chair their actions and their examples being as so many voices of God speaking and exhorting you to follow the course of the lives of those to whose Empire you shall one day attain Is it possible that you can suffer that the Heretiques should hold them for impious and condemn those that the Faith of the Church testifies to reign in the Heavens with Jesus Christ and have comand and authorisy over all Principalities and Empires of the Earth Behold how they tender you the hand of this truly happy Inheritance to conduct you safe and sound to the Court of the Catholique King and who desire to bring you back again into the lap of the Roman Church beseeching with unspeakable sighs and groans the God of all mercy for your salvation and do stretch out to you the Arms of the Apostolical Charity to imbrace you with all Christian affection you that are her desired Son in shewing you the happy hope of the Kingdom of Heaven And indeed you cannot give a greater consolation to all the people of the Christian Estates than to put the Prince of the Apostles in possession of your most noble Island whose Authority hath been held so long in the Kingdom of Brittain for the defence of Kingdoms and for a Divine Oracle which will easily arrive and that without difficulty if you open your heart to the Lord that knocks upon which depends all the happiness of that Kingdom It is of our great charity that we cherish the praises of the Royal name and that which makes us desire that you and your Royal Father might be stiled with the names of Deliverers and Restorers of the ancient and paternal Religion of Great Brittain which we hope for trusting in the goodness of God in whose hands are the hearts of Kings and who causeth the people of the earth to receive healing to whom we will alwayes labour with all our power to render you gracious and favourable in the interim take notice by these Letters of the care of our Charity which is none other than to procure your happiness and it will never grieve us to have written them if the reading of them stir but the least spark of the Catholique Faith in the heart of so great a Prince whom we wish to be filled with long continuance of joy and flourishing in the glory of all vertues Given at Rome in the Palace of St. Peter the 20th of April 1623. in the third year of our Popedom The Answer of Prince Charles to the Popes Letter Most Holy Father I received the dispatch from your Holiness with great content and with that respect which the piety and care wherewith your Holiness writes doth require It was an unspeakable pleasure to me to read the generous exploits of the Kings my Predecessors in whose memory posterity hath not given those Praises and Elogies of Honour as were due to them I do believe that your Holiness hath set their example before my eyes to the end that I might imitate them in all my Actions for in truth they have often exposed their Estates and Lives for the exaltation of the holy Chair and the courage with which they have assaulted the enemies of the Cross of Jesus Christ hath not been less than the thought and care which I have to the end that the peace and intelligence which hath hitherto been wanting in Christendom might be bound with a true and strong concord For as the common enemy of the peace watcheth alwayes to put hatred and dissention amongst Christian Princes so I believe that the glory of God requires that we should endeavour to unite them and I do not esteem it a greater honour to be descended from so great Princes than to imitate them in the zeal of their piety In which it helps me very much to have known the minde and will of our thrice honoured Lord and Father and the holy intentions of his Catholique Majesty to give a happy concurrence to so laudable a design for it grieves him extreamly to see the great evils that grow from the division of Christian Princes which the wisdom of your Holiness foresaw when it judged the marriage which you pleased to design between the Infanta of Spain and my self to be necessary to procure so great a good for 't is very certain that I shall never be so extreamly affectionate to any thing in the world as to endeavour Alliance with a Prince who hath the same apprehension of the true Religion with my self Therefore I intreat your Holiness to believe that I have been alwayes very far from encouraging or to be a partizan of any Faction against the Catholique Apostolick Roman Religion but on the contrary I have sought all occasions to take away the suspicion that might rest upon me and that I will employ my self for the time to come to have but one Religion and one Faith seeing we all believe in one Jesus Christ having resolved in my self to spare nothing that I have in the world and to suffer all manner of discommodities even to the hazzarding of my estate and life for a thing so pleasing unto God It rests onely that I thank your Holiness for the permission you have been pleased to afford me and I pray God to give you a blessed health and his glory after so much pains which your Holiness takes in his Church Signed Charles Stuart In his Journey to Spain he passed through Paris where by the benefit of false hair he attained to a sight of that incomparable Lady Henretta Maria Daughter to that Martial King of France Henry the Fourth whom afterwards he received into his Bed Which Marriage concluded on by King James was with great solemnity commenced at Westminster June 18. 1625. And in the first year of his Reign he assembled a Parliament where speedy supplyes were desired for the setting forth a Fleet against the Spaniard friendship growing stale betwixt these two Kings by reason of the breach of Marriage and the detention of the Palatinate But the King was not so quick but the Parliament were as slow for notwithstanding the streams of King James his bounty had so drained
the Exchequer that he left his Son onely an empty Purse to encounter with a full bagg'd Monarch yet could not the Parliament be perswaded to come off roundly with their Subsidies some were very prompt to give without delay others would give but in convenient time not then but the most part agreed not to give and to make an humble Remonstrance declaring the causes wherefore Most of the Voters of this Remonstrance flew high against the Duke some would divest him of his Offices the Admirality especially others of his Revenue by resuming what he possest of the Crown Demesnes others demanded an account of what Publique moneys he had been intrusted with This being signified to the King occasioned this Speech of his Majesty His Majesties Speech at the same time concerning the Duke of Buckingham and Cook I must withal put you in minde of times past you may remember my Father moved by your Councel and won by your perswasions brake the Treaties in these perswasions I was your instrument towards him and I was glad to be instrumental in any thing which might please the whole body of the Realm Nor was there any then in greater favour with you then this man whom you now so traduce And now when you finde me so sure intangled in War as I have no honourable and safe retreat you make my necessity your priviledge and set what rate you please upon your Supplies a practice not very obliging towards Kings Mr. Cook told you It was better to dye by a Forreign Enemy then be destroyed at home Indeed I think it is more honourable for a King to be invaded and almost destroyed by a Forreign Enemy then to be despised at home The King expecting no conclusion from those for his assistance who were so divided in their opinions soon dissolved the Parliament Yet notwithstanding the backwardness of the Parliament the King so forwarded the business that in the beginning of October a Navy way was sent to sea under the Command of Vicount Whimbleton as also some ships of the Netherlanders with whom the King had entered an Offensive and Defensive League against the King of Spain and Emperour of Germany these landing at Cades had the Fort of Puntal surrendred unto them and in it fifteen barrels of powder and eight Peeces of Ordnance with store of Wine whereof the Souldiers drank so immoderately notwithstanding more sober commands to the contrary that had the Spaniard known his advantge he might have made a lamentable butchery amongst them The Admiral seeing this disorder of the Souldiers thought it bootless to stay any longer on Land and thereupon put to Sea again intending to stay twenty dayes in expectation of the Plate Fleet then in return from the West Indies but the Plague of Pestilence so raging amongst them that every day hundreds were thrown over-board he was forced to make all the speed he could back into England yet was not his haste such but that the News of his ill success was there before him So true is that of the Poet. Ill News hath wings it very fast doth go Comfort 's a Cripple and comes alwayes slow February the second next ensuing was the King crowned and four dayes after a Parliament assembled the Spring approaching a time fit for Martial employments supplies were desired to which the Commons by way of Remonstrance reply'd That if addition may be made of other things importing his service then in consultation amongst them they were resolved so to supply him as might evidence the truth of their intentions might make him safe at home and formidable abroad And now again fall they on a vigorous proceeding against the Duke of Buckingham accusing him with thirteen Articles of High Treason the Prologue whereof we have declared in his Life to which the Duke returned so modest and humble an answer that it abated the edge of some of their Indignations against him yet were they resolved to give a reply to his answer but whiles they were intentive upon it the King sent them a Letter demanding without further delay the speedy producing of their Bill of Subsidy to be passed which accordingly they did but first drew up a Declaration of the same make and minde with their former impeachment which so incensed his Majesty as on the very next day being June 15. he dissolved the Assembly Presently after the dissolution of the Parliament the King being informed of several misdemeanors committed by the Queens Servants commanded them all to leave the Land and depart into France the French King herewith incensed sent Mounsieur Bossompier extraordinary Embassadour into England to demand their restitution to their former places But returning without a satisfactory answer Lewis resolveth upon open hostility and seizeth upon the English ships at Burdeaux This indignity King Charles stomacht with such vehemency of spirit that he resolveth the sword should end the controversie to which purpose he publisht a Manifest as followeth A Manifest of the Reasons which moved his Majesty to take up Arms against the French published by the Duke of Buckingham in the Isle of Rhe July 21. 1627. What part the Kings of Great Brittain have alwayes taken in the affairs of the Reformed Churches of this Kingdom and with what care and zeal they have laboured for the good of them is manifest to all and the examples thereof are as ordinary as the occasions have been His now Majesty of Great Brittain comes nothing short of his Predecessours therein if his good and laudable designs for their good had not been perverted to their ruine by those who had most interest for their due accomplishment What advantages hath he refused What parties hath he not sought unto that by his Alliance with France he might work more profitably and powerfully the restitution of those Churches to their ancient liberty and splendour And what could be less hoped for by so strict an Alliance and from so many reiteratad promises by the mouth of a great Prince but effects truly Royal and sorting with his greatness But failings have been such that his Majesty by so many promises and so streight an obligation of friendship hath not onely been disappointed of means to obtain liberty and surety for the said Churches and to restore peace to France by the reconciliation of those whose breath utters nothing else but all manner of obedience to their King under the liberty of their Edicts that contrariwise they have prevailed by the interest which he had in those of the Religion to deceive them and by this means not onely to untye him from them but also to make him if not odious unto them at least suspected in perverting the means which he had ordained for their good to a quite contrary end witness the English Ships designed for the extirpation of them of the Religion but to the contrary express promise which was made that they should not be used against them in the last Sea-fight What then may be expected from so
molested or disquieted concerning the same or for refusal thereof 2. And that no free-man be taken and imprisoned or be disseised of his free-hold or liberty or his free customs or be out-lawed or exiled but by the lawful judgement of his Peers or by the Law of the Land 3. And that your Majesty would be pleased to remove the Souldiers and Marriners now billetted in divers Counties and that your people may not be so burthened in time to come 4. That the late Commissions for proceeding by Marshal Law may be revoked and annulled and that hereafter no Commission of like nature may issue forth to any person or persons whatsoever to be executed lest by colour of them any of your Majesties Subjects be destroyed and put to death contrary to Law and the Franchises of the Land All which they most humbly pray of your most excellent Majesty as their Rights and Liberties according to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm and that your Majesty would also vouchsafe to declare that all awards doings or proceedings to the prejudice of your People shall not be drawn hereafter into consequence and example Never writes a late Author of the History of the Reign of King Charles did arbritary power since Monarcy first founded so submittere faces so vail its Scepter never did the Prerogative descend so much from perch to popular lure as by this concession a concession able to give satisfaction ever so supererogation for what was amiss in all the Kings by-past government Much hoped it was that this Parliament would have had a happy conclusion but what Gregory Nazienzen complained of Councels That he never saw any one end well King Charles might with as much verity have pronounced as to his content of Parliaments not any one he summoned having had any termination other then disgustful to him for no sooner was the Petition of Right granted but the Parliament resolved upon a large Remonstrance to the King wherein they ripped up many grievances of the Kingdom accusing the Duke of Buckingham his excessive power and abuse of that power the principal cause of all those evils and dangers to which the King returned a smart answer wherewith the Commons being displeased fell down right upon another Remonstrance against Tonnage and Poundage Whereupon the King unwilling to hear of any more Remonstrances of that nature prorogued the Parliament unto October 20. During this Session the Earl of Denbigh with fifty Sail of Ships attempted the relief of Rochel but prevailing nothing a third Fleet was prepared ready whereof the Duke of Buckingham was to have the Command but being ready to embarque he was stabbed with a knife by Felton a discontented person of which as also of his unfortunate proceedings at the Isle of Rhe I refer my Reader to his foregoing Life The Duke being dead the charge of the Fleet was committed to the Earl of Lindsey a Gentleman of a gallant resolution but before his coming the Town was so blocked up by Land and barred up by Sea that it was almost unapproachable yet many gallant attempts were made by the Earl bringing up his Ships to the very mouth of the Bar but being ready to enter the pass the winde whisked about into an opposite Point which drove them dangerously foul one upon another whereupon the Rochellers hopeless of relief opened their Gates submitting themselves to the Kings mercy which was granted them The Famine and War having made such havock amongst them that of twenty two thousand souls but four thousand were left October the 20. being come the Parliament was prorogued to January the 20. following at which time they met who begun where they last left with Tonnage and Poundage for complaints came in thick and three-fold against the Customers for taking and distraining Merchants goods Great stickling was betwixt the King and Parliament concerning this business the King claiming it as a Prerogative belonging to the Crown they denying it as an infringement of the Petition of Right After much debating and high words on both sides the dissolution of the Parliament put a period to the contest Not long after by mediation of the Seignory of Venice a Peace was concluded between France and England Spain also hampred with wars and want of money made overtures of a Peace which at last was concluded and published with more then ordinary Solemnity These Wars with France and Spain had so emptied the Exchequer that the King was forced to make use of his Prerogative for a supply which was by summoning all persons who had Estates of forty pounds per annum to receive the Order of Knighthood formerly practised by several Kings though now a long disuse had made it a novelty Many of the Countrey Hobs who had gotten an estate liable to a Fine took it first as a jeast and thereupon made no appearance but their purses afterwards paid for it in good earnest This project alone bringing in to the Exchequer no less then a hundred thousand pound May the 29. 1630. the Queen was delivered of a Son who was baptized by the name of Charles having two years before miscarried of a son of the same name who lived not above an hour which occasioned Randolphs Muse thus to express her self Thy first birth Mary was unto a Tomb And sad Lucina did not aid thy womb To Heaven thou then wert fruitful now to earth Thou canst give Saints as well as Kings a birth It was now seven years and better since Charles was crowned King of England Scotland his Native Countrey had a Crown also to bestow upon him and the King adjudged it worth the going for for though saith one it conferreth no one dram of solid and real grandure to the Throne yet ceremoniated as it is with such formalities it representeth it self a serious vanity There attended him this journey the Earls of Northumberland Arundel Pembroke Southampton Salisbury Carlile Holland Monmouth and New Castle the Bishop of London Lord Treasurer Secretary Cook Vice Chamberlain with many other Gentlemen of quality June 18. 1633. he was crowned with great Solemnity at Edinburgh and having visited Ealkland Sterling and some other eminent places he returned back again into England Thus he was crowned by a Nation that afterwards snatcht it from his Royal Temples The King at his return found his Exchequer near empty whereupon he consults with his Attorney Noy for a way how to supply it he searching old Records being a man very studious that way findes an ancient precedent of raising a Tax for setting forth a Navy in case of danger to which purpose a Writ was issued out to the seveaal Counties in England for the raising of money sufficient for the setting forth of forty seven ships at which the Commons grumbled as an illegal Tax contrary unto the Petition of Right The King for his better satisfaction demands the opinion of the Judges who all of them under their hands confirmed the Legality thereof yet were not the
Commons so satisfied therewith but that some of them stood it out even unto imprisonment Much debate was afterward about it and the King got not so much money as ill will of the Subjects thereby At this time the King received a Letter from Sidan King of Morocco the Contents follow A Letter from Sidan King of Morocco to Charles King of ENGLAND When these our Letters shall be so happy as to come to your Majesties sight I wish the Spirit of the righteous God may so direct your minde that you may joyfully embrace the Message I send presenting to you the means of exalting the Majesty of God and your own reward amongst men The Regal Power allotted to us makes us common servants to our Creatour then of those people whom we govern so that observing the duties which we owe to God we deliver blessings to the world in providing for the publick good of our State we magnifie the Honour of God like the Celestial Bodies which though they have much veneration yet serve onely to the benefit of the world It is the excellency of our Office to be Instruments whereby happiness is delivered to the Nations Pardon me Sir This is not to instruct for I know I speak to one of a more clear and quick sight then my self but I speak this because it hath pleased God to give me a happy victory over some part of those rebellious Pyrates that have so long molested the peaceable trade of Europe and hath presented further occasion to rout out the generation of those who have been so pernicious to the good of our Nations I mean since it hath pleased God to be so auspicious to our beginnings in the Conquest of Salla that we might joyn and proceed in hope of like success in the War against Tunis Algier and other places Dens and Receptacles for the inhumane villanies of those who abhor Rule and Government Herein whilest we interrupt the corruption of malignant spirits of the world we shall glorifie the great God and perform a Duty that will shine as glorious as the Sun and Moon which all the earth may see and reverence a work that shall ascend as sweet as the perfume of the most precious odours in the Nostrils of the Lord a work grateful and happy to men a work whose memory shall be reverenced so long as there shall be any that delight to hear the Actions of Heroick and magnanimous spirits that shall last as long as there be any remaining among men that love and honour the piety and vertue of noble mindes This action I here willingly present to you whose piety and vertues equal the greatness of your power that we who are servants to the great and mighty God may hand in hand triumph in the glory which this action presents unto us Now because the Islands which you govern have been ever famous for the unconquered strength of their shipping I have sent this my trusty Servant and Ambassadour to know whether in your Princely wisdom you shall think fit to assist me with such Forces by Sea as shall be answerable to those I provide by Land which if you please to grant I doubt not but the Lord of Hosts will protect and assist those who fight in so glorious a cause Nor ought you to think this strange that I who much reverence the peace and accord of Nations should exhort to a War Your great Prophet CHRIST JESVS was the Lion of the Tribe of Judah as well as the Lord and Giver of peace which may signifie unto you that he who is a Lover and Maintainer of peace must alwayes appear with the terrour of the Sword and wading through Seas of Blood must arrive to Tranquillity This made James your Father of glorious memory so happily renown'd admongst all Nations It was the noble fame of your Princely vertues which resounds to the utmost corners of the earth that perswaded me to invite you to partake of that blessing wherein I boast my self most happy I wish God may heap the riches of his blessings on you encrease your happiness with your dayes and hereafter perpetuate the greatness of your name to all Ages The occasion of writing this Letter was as followeth a rabble of Pyrats rest themselves in Salla a Port Town of the Realm of Fess and belonging to the King of Morocca creating thence great mischief to him both by Sea and Land and not to them onely but to all the Merchants of other Countries whose business led them towards the Seas Vnable to suppress them for want of shipping he craved aid of King Charles of England by whose assistance he became Master of the Port destroyed the Pyrats and sent three hundred Christian Captives for a present to his sacred Majesty An. 1634. Nor staid he here but aiming at the general good of Trade and mankinde he sent this Letter to his Majesty by one of the chief Eunuchs of his Chamber handsomly attended in the Port and quality of an Ambassadour desiring the like aid against those of Tunis and Algiers who did as much infest the Mediterranean as the Pyrats of Salla did the Ocean In order whereunto his Majesty began immediately to strengthen and increase his Royal Navy and to that end required the wonted naval Aid lately best known by the name of Ship-money from all his Subjects and possible enough might have pursued this design for suppressing the Pyrats of Algiers and Tunis if he had not been unhappily hindered by the insurrection of the Scots and those continued troubles which ensued upon it I have the rather inserted this Letter considering how seriously our learned Doctor Heilin in his Cosmography reflected on it so as to blame Mr. Le-strange for omission of it the truth is the Letter carries some weight with it and savours of more piety then could be expected from a Mahometan His Ambassador was entertained with great honour with a magnificent Masque and a costly Antick Show through the Streets at the vast expences of the Inns of Court Gentlemen To proceed far greater troubles arose in Scotland concerning the Book of Common Prayer The King at his last being there observing that God Almighty was very negligently and as he thought undecently worshipt took the Reformation thereof into his Princely care to which end he gave directions to the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Ely and to divers other Bishops to Revise Correct Alter and Change as they pleased the Liturgy compiled in his Fathers time which accordingly they did and having shewed it to the King he approved thereof in regard that coming nearer to the first Liturgy of King Edward the Sixth in the Administration of the Lords Supper it might be a means to gain the Papists to the Church who liked far better of the first then second Liturgy But the Scotch a scrupulous Nation in their opinion who as one saith of them are more affraid of the name of yielding then resisting and would sooner offend against
Isle of Wight for a certain Letter was left on the Table whereby the King was advertised the there were some that laid wait for his life whereupon being frighted he privily fled from Hampton Court leaving a Letter behinde him written with his own hand to the Commissioners to be by them communicated to both Houses of Parliament in which Letter after he had discoursed somewhat about Captivity and the sweetness of Liberty he ended in these following words Now as I cannot deny but that my personal security is the urgent cause of this my retirement so I take God to witness that the publick Peace is no less before mine eyes And I can sinde no better way to express this my profession I know not what a wiser man may do then by desiring and urging that all chief interests may be heard to the end each may have just satisfaction as for example the Army for the rest though necessary yet I suppose are not difficult to consent ought in my judgement to enjoy the liberty of their consciences and have an act of Oblivion or Indempnity which should extend to the rest of all my Subjects and that all their Arrears should be speedily and duly paid which I will undertake to do so I may be heard and that I be not hindered from using such lawful and honest means as I shall chuse To conclude let me be heard with freedom honour and safety and I shall instantly break through this cloud of retirement and shew my self ready to be Pater Patriae Charles Rex The King had not been long in the Isle of Wight but he sends a Letter of great length to the Parliament in which he delivered his sense and opinion concerning the abolition of Episcopacy he disputed out of the dictates of his conscience much and gave touches also of other matters of all which he hoped that he should satisfie the Parliament with his reasons if he might personally treat with them therefore he earnestly desired to be admitted with honour freedom and safety to treat personally at London the Commissioners of Scotland with great vehemence also pressed that this desire of the King might be granted But the Parliament pretending tumults and innovations that might arise by the Kings coming to London which as they said was then full of Malignants sent down four Propositions to him to Sign which being done he should be admitted to a personal Treaty The four were these 1. That a Bill be passed into an act by his Majesty for settling of the Militia of the Kingdom 2. That a Bil be passed for his Majesties calling in of all Declarations Oaths and Proclamations against the Parliament and those who have adhered to them 3. For passing an Act that those Lords who were made after the great Seal was carried to Oxford may be made uncapable of sitting in the House of Peers ever after 4. That power may be given to the two Houses of Parliament to adjorn as the two Houses of Parliament should think fit The Commissioners of Scotland would seem in no wise to give their consent that these four Bills should be sent to the King before he treated at London therefore in a very long Declaration they protested against it the King likewise denyed to Sign them when they were sent unto him Upon which denyal a Declaration and Votes passed both Houses of Parliament in this manner The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament after many addresses to his Majesty for the preventing and ending this unnatural War raised by him against the Parliament and Kingdom having lately sent four Bills to his Majesty which did contain onely matter of safety and security to the Parliament and Kingdom referring the composure of other differences to a personal Treaty with his Majesty and having received an absolute negative do hold themselves obliged to use their utmost endeavours speedily to settle the present Government in such a way as may bring the greatest security to this Kingdom in the enjoyment of the Laws and Liberties thereof and in order thereunto and that the Houses may receive no delay nor interruptions in so great and necessary a work they have taken their resolutions and passed these Votes following viz. Resolved c. by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament that no application or address to be made to the King by any person whatsoever without leave of both Houses Resolved c. by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament that the person or persons that shall make breach of this order shall incur the penalty of High Treason Resolved c. That the Lords and Commons do declare that they will receive no more any message from the King and do enjoyn that no person whatsoever do presume to receive or bring any message from the King to both or either of the Houses of Parliament or any other person To these Votes of Parliament the Army declared their consent and approbation and that they would live and dye in defence of the House of Commons but the people though before they were enraged against the King now seeing their errours resolved to plead his Cause Petitions upon Petitions are presented for a personal Treaty with the King for the disbanding of the Army and for the removal of all other grievances Langhorn Powel and Poyer three eminent Commanders who had done many and great services for the Parliament now declare themselves for the King and with an Army of 8000. men fortifie Pembroke and Chepstow Castles Sir Thomas Glemham in the North seizes upon Carlisle and Sir Marmaduke Langdale upon Barwick and fortified it the strong Castle also of Pomfret was then taken by the Royalists and the Governour stain Against these Sir Thomas Fairfax was marching Northwards but far greater dangers detained him in the South for the Kentish men not far from Gravesend were gotten together into an Army with whom were above twenty Knights Esquires and Gentlemen of the Countrey and amongst them divers Commanders formerly of the Kings Armies upon the approach of the Parliaments Army some two thousand of them march to Maidstone which they resolved to make good against the Army Fairfax after the dispute of some passages breaks up to them and assaults the Town with a great deal of boldness they on the other side defend themselves with unspeakable courage at last the Kentish men are overcome 200. being slain and about 1400. taken prisoners But the Earl of Norwich with about 3500. with much ado kept together and got over the River Thames into Essex whereupon Sir Charles Lucas raises what strength he could possible in that County to whom joyned the Lord Capel the Lord Loughborough Sir George Lisle Sir Bernard Gascoigne Sir William Compton with many more Gentlemen and Souldiers and having first taken the Committee-men at Chelmesford they marched to Colchester a Town of great Antiquity but the people heretofore accounted no great friends to Monarchy nor the Town of that strength to withstand so enraged
the Trial was January 6. engrossed and read and the manner referred to the Commissioners who were to try him in the Painted Chamber Munday the 8. of January a Proclamation resolved to be made in Westminster Hall the Commissioners to sit the next day to which intent Mr. Denby the younger a Serjeant at Arms to the Commissioners rid into the Hall the Drums of the Guard beating without the Palace and in like manner at the Old Exchange and in Cheapside Jan. 9. The Commons Vote the Title in Writs of Caroli dei gratia c. to be altered that great Seal be broken and ordered a new one with the Arms of England and the Harp for Ireland with this word The great Seal of England and on the reverse the Picture of the House of Commons with these words In the first year of Freedom by Gods Blessing 1648. Now there was a new Tribunal erected there being appointed 150 Judges or Tryers that so in number they might represent the people who are improved to covenant hear Judge and Execute Charles Stuart King of England of these there were of several sorts of persons six Earls of the upper House the Judges of the Kingdom Commanders of the Army Members of the Commons Lawyers men of several Trades and Professions The Presbyterian Ministers now too late disclaim against the prosecutions and the English Nobility offer themselves pledges on the the Kings behalf but all too late and now the penitent Scots with their predecessor repent themselves of their Silver and in a Declaration express their dislike The High Court of Justice was framed in the upper end of Westminster Hall betwixt the then Kings Bench and the Chancery Saturday Jan. 20. the King was brought from St. James through the Park in a Sedan to White Hall thence by Water with guards to Sir John Cottons House at the back end of Westminster Hall The Judges met in the Painted Chamber attending the President Bradshaw in his Scarlet Robe the Sword born before him by Collonel Humphry the Mace by Serjeant Denby the younger and twenty men for his guard with Partizans himself sits down in a Crimson Velvet Chair of State fixed in the midst of the Court with a Desk before him and thereon a Cushion of Crimson Velvet the seats of each side benches covered with Scarlet Cloath the Partizans divided themselves on each side O yes and silence made the great Gate of the Hall was opened for any one to enter Collonel Tomson brought forth the Prisoner the Serjeant with his Mace received him to the Bar where was placed a red Velvet Chair the King looks sternly on the Court where he spyes one person who had received signal favours from him at the sight of whom as I received it from one in the Court he laid his hand on his breast and pronounced to himself scarce audibly Caesars words Et tu Brute after which he sat down not shewing the least regard to the Court but presently rises and looks downwards on the guards and multitudes of the spectators The Act of parliament for the Tryal of Charles Stuart King of England was read over by the Clerk one Phelps who sat on the right side of the Table covered with a Turky Carpet placed at the feet of the President upon which lay the Sword and Mace The several names of the Rolls of Tryers were called over and eighty answered to their names in the charge the King is accused in the name of the People of England of Treason Tyranny and of all the Murthers and Rapines that had happened in the War they imposed all the weight of the accusation on this that he raised War against the Parliament A great many people looking on with groans and sights deploring the condition of their King The President stood up and said Sir you have heard your Charge containing such matters as appear by it and in the close it is prayed that you answer to your Charge which this Court expects The King whilest he heard this Charge with a majestick countenance and a smile in answer to the President asks the new judges by what Auhority they did bring to Tryal a King their most lawful Sovereign against the Publick Faith so lately given him when he commenced a Treaty with the Members of both Houses By what saith he emphatically lawful Authority for saith he I am not ignorant that there are on foot every where every mans unlawful powers as of Thieves and Robbers in the High Way he bids them onely declare by what authority they had arrogated this whatsoever power to themselves and he would willingly answer to the things objected which if they could not he advised them to avert the grievous crimes from their own heads and the kingdom whatsoever they did he resolved not to betray the charge committed to him by God and confirmed by ancient descent The President rejoynes that he was called to an account by authority of the people of England by whose election he was admitted King The king replyed the Kingdom descended to him in no wise elective but hereditary above a thousand years that he stood more apparently for the Liberties of the People of England by refusing as unlawful and arbitrary authority then the Judges or any other asserting it That the authority and power of the people was shewed in Parliamentary Assemblies but that here appeared none of the Lords who to the constituting of a Parliament ought to be there and which is more some King ought to be present but that neither the one nor the other nor both the Parliament Houses nor any other judicature on earth had any authority to call the King of England to an account much less some certain Judges chosen onely by his Accusers masked with the authority of the Lower House and the same proculated Howbeit he willed them again that they would at least produce this their Authority and he would not be wanting to his defence forasmuch is was the same offence with him to acknowledge a Tyrannical Power as to resist a lawful one The president often interrupting the Kings Speech told him that they were satisfied with theâ—r authority as it is upon on Gods authority and the kingdom in doing justice in this their present work The Munday after the Court met in the Painted Chamber where it was resolved that the king should not be suffered to argue the Courts Jurisdiction but that the President should tell him that the Commons in Parliament had constituted that Court whose power was not to be disputed that if he refuse to answer it shall be accounted a contumacy to the Court that if he answer with a Salvo his pretended Prerogative above the Court he shall be required to answer positively yea or no that he shall have a copy of his Charge till he own the Court and delare his intentions to answer on his second Tryal Sollicitor Cook moves that the Prisoner may make a positive answer or that the Charge may
be taken pro Confesso and the Court ot proceed to Justice The President repeats in brief the passages of the last day and commands the King to answer to the Articles of the Charge unless he had rather hear the Capital Sentence against him The king persists to interrogate concerning the Cause and sayes That he less regards his life then his Honour his Conscience the Laws the Liberties of the people all which that they should not perish together there were weighty reasons why he should not prosecute his defence before the Judges and acknowledge a new form of Judicature for what power had ever Judges to erect a Judicature against the King or by what Law was it granted sure not by Gods Law which on the contrary commands obedience to Princes nor by Mans Laws the Laws of our Land sith the Laws of England enjoyn all Accusations to be read in the Kings Name nor do they indulge any power of judging the most abject Subject to the Lower or Commons House neither lastly their Power flow from any Authority which might be pretended extraordinary delegated from the people seeing ye have not askt so much as every tenth man in this matter The President interrupting his Speech rebukes the Kings and bids him be mindeful of his doom affirming once more that the Court was abundantly satisfied of their Authority nor was the Court to hear any reasons that should detract from their power But what sayes the King or where in all the world is that Court in which no place is left for reason Yes answered the President you shall finde Sir that this very Court is such a one But the King presses that they would at least permit him to exhibit his reasons in writing which if they could satisfactorily answer he would yield himself to their Jurisdiction Here the President not content to deny grew into anger demanding the Prisoner to be taken away The King replied no more to these things then Remember sayes he this is your King from whom you turn away your ear in vain certainly will my Subjects expect Justice from you who stop your ears to your King who is ready to plead his Cause The Saturday after the 27. of January before they assembled sixty eight of the Tryers answered to their names The President in a Scarlet Robe and as the King Came the Souldiers cryed out for Execution of Justice The King speaks first and desires to be heard a word or two but short and yet wherein he hopes not to give just occasion wherein to be interrupted and goes on A sudden Judgement sayes the King is not so soon recall'd But he is sharply reproved of contumacy The President profusely praises the patience of the Court and commands him now at length to submit otherwise he shall hear the sentence of of death resolved upon by the Court against him The King still refuses to plead his Cause before them but that he had some things conducible to the good of his people and the peace of the Kingdom which he desires liberty to deliver before the Members of both Houses But the President would not vouchsafe him so much as this favour least it should tend he said to the delay and retardation of Justice To which the King replies It were better to sustain a little delay of a day or two then to precipitate a Sentence which will bring perpetual Tragedies upon the Kingdom and miseries to Children unborn If sayes he I sought occasion of delay I would have made a more elabourate contestation of the Cause which might have served to protract the time and evade at least the while a most ugly sentence but I will shew my self a defender of the Laws and of the Right of my Country as to chuse rather to dye for them the Martyr of my People then by prostituting of them to an arbitrary power go about to acquire any manner of liberty for my self but I therefore request this short liberty of speaking before a cruel Sentence be given for that I well know 't is harder to be recall'd then prevented and therefore I desire that I may withdraw and you consider They all withdraw the King into Cottons House and the Tryers into the Court of Wards and in half an hour return The President as he had begun so he proceeds into a premeditated Speech to hasten Sentence which the King offers reason to forbear whilest he might be heard before his Parliament and this he requires as they will answer it at the dreadful day of Judgement and to consider it once again But not prevailing the President goes on wherein he aggravates the Contumacy of the King and the hatefulness of the cimes he asserts Parliamentary Authority producing Examples both Domestick and Forreign c. his Treasons he stiles a breach of Trust to the Kingdom as his Superiour and is therefore called to an account minimus majorum in Judicium vocat his murthers are many all those that have been committed in all the War betwixt him and his people are laid to his charge all the innocent blood which cannot be cleansed but by the blood of him that shed the blood So then for Tyranny Treason Murther and many other crimes he wishes the King to have God before his eyes and that the Court calls God to witness that mearly their Conscience of Duty brings them to that place of this employment and calls for Gods assistance in his Execution The King offered to speak to these great Imputations in the Charge but he was told that his time was past the Sentence was coming on which the President commanded to be read under this form Whereas the Commons of England have appointed them an High Court of Justice for the Trial of Charles Stuart King of England before whom he hath been three times convented and at the first time a Charge of High Treason and other Crimes and Misdemeanours were read in the behalf of the Kingdom of England c. To which Charge he the said Charles Stuart was required to give his answer and so exprest several passages at his Tryal in refusing to answer for all which Treasons and Crimes the Court doth adjudge that the said Charles Stuart as a Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and Publique Enemy shall be put to death by the severing his Head from his Body This Sentence sayes the President now read and publisht is the Act Sentence Judgement and Resolution of the whole Court to which the Members of the Court stood up and assented to what he said by holding up their hands The King offered to speak but he was instantly commanded to be taken away and the Court brake up After the Sentence the King was hurried away mockt and reviled by the Souldiers they puft their Tobacco in his face no smell being more offensive to his father and him such as saluted him they bastinadoed one that did but sigh God have mercy they cane'd they intrude almost into his Closet hardly permitting him
Secondly for his dear Wife and Children with some passion but for her especially with most ardent affections recommending them to the Divine Providence with great confidence and assurance and desiring for them rather the blessings of a better life then of this Thirdly for the King Church and State And lastly for his enemies with almost the same ardour and affection After this sending for my Lord of Norwich and Sir John Owen I read the whole Office of the Church for Good Friday and then after a short Homily I used for the present occasion we received the Sacrament in which action he behaved himself with great Humility Zeal and Devotion And being demanded after we had done how he found himself he replyed very much better stronger and chearfuller for that Heavenly repast and that he doubted not to walk like a Christian through the vale of death in the strength of it But he was to have an Agony before his Passion and that was the parting with his Wife eldest Son Son-in-law two of his Vncles and Sir T. C. especially the parting with his most dear Lady which indeed was the saddest spectacle that ever I beheld In which occasion he could not chuse but confess a little of humane frailty yet even then he did not forget both to comfort and counsel her and the rest of his friends particularly in blessing the young Lord he commanded him never to revenge his death though it should be in his power the like he said unto his Lady He told his Son he would leave him a Legacy out of Davids Psalms and that was this Lord lead me in a plain path For Boy saith he I would have you a plain honest man and hate dissimulation After this with much ado I perswaded his Wife and the rest to be gone and then being all alone with me he said Doctor The hardest part of my work in this world is now past meaning the parting with his Wife Then he desired me to pray preparatively to his death that in the last action he might so behave himself as might be most for Gods glory for the endearing of his dead Masters memory his present Masters service and that he might avoid the doing or saying of any thing which might savour either of ambition or vanity This being done they were all carried to Sir Robert Cotton's house where I was with him till he was called unto the Scaffold and would have gone up with him but the Guard of Souldiers would not suffer me The same day he suffered he writ this following Letter to his Wife My dearest life My eternal life is in Christ Jesus my worldly considerations in the highest degree thou hast deserved let me live long here in thy dear memory to the comfort of my Family our dear Children whom God out of mercy in Christ hath bestowed upon us I beseech thee take care of thy health sorrow not afflict not thy self too much God will be unto thee better then an Husband and to my Children better then a Father I am sure he is able to be so I am confident he is graciously pleased to be so God be with thee my most vertuous Wife God multiply many comforts to thee and my Children is the fervent prayer of Thy c. March the 9. 1648. was the day appointed for his beheading as also of Duke Hamilton and the Earl of Holland A Scaffold being erected in the new Palace-yard at Westminster over against the great Hall Gate The first that mounted the same was Duke Hamilton attended with Doctor Sibbald who after much delay and many impertinent discourses hoping as it was thought for a politick Reprieve but none coming he submitted his neck to the Ax upon whom an unlucky Wit writing his Epitaph thus descants A politition yet a fool A teacher and yet went to School A Hempen cord of silken twist A Papist yet a Calvanist A meer OGYGES yet a stranger To prudence that foresees a danger Here lies hee 's but to Scotland gone No worser Hell 't is Hamilton The next that entered the lists of death was the Earl of Holland one whose oft changing from side to side had made him less acceptable in the eyes of the people though the disposition of affairs altering their postures so often may in part plead his excuse no doubt he was real in his last undertaking He came to the Scaffold attended on by Mr. Bolton having made a long speech to the people of his honest intentions for the good of the Kingdom and desiring of God that it would please him the people might look upon the posterity of the King and that they might be called in again after many fervent prayers he had his head severed from his body upon whom our forementioned Poet thus Satyrically goes on By Venus self beneath this stone Lies Holland that spruce Earle His carcase here his head is gone To Bridget his brave Girle Who makes it her memento mori While she lies close to Captain Pory Last of all our honoured Heroe mounted the Scaffold to court grim death with an undaunted brow he came not as the two-former attended with a Minister having before prepared his way for death Coming to the front of the Scaffold he said as followeth The conclusion that I made with those that sent me hither and are the cause of this violent death of mine shall be the beginning of what I shall say to you when I made an address to them which was the last I told them with much sincerity that I would pray to the God of all mercies that they might be partakers of his inestimable and boundless mercies in Jesus Christ and truly I still pray that prayer and I beseech the God of Heaven forgive any injury they have done to me from my soul I wish it and truly this I tell you as a Christian to let you see I am a Christian but it is necessary that I should tell you somewhat more That I am a Protestant and truly I am a Protestant and very much in love with the profession of it after the manner as it was established in England by the thirty nine Articles a blessed way of profession and such a one as truly I never knew none so good I am so far from being a Papist which some have very unworthily charged me withal that truly I profess to you that though I love good works and commend good works yet I hold they have nothing at all to do in the matter of Salvation my Anchor hold is this That Christ loved me and gave himself for me that is that I rest upon And truly something I shall say to you as a Citizen of the whole world and in that consideration I am here condemned to dye contrary to the Law that governs all the world that is the Law of the Sword I had the protection of that for my life and the honour of it but I will not trouble you much with this discourse because in
command to desist from his purpose because the Treaty betwixt the Prince and the Scottish Commissioners was now very near a conclusion made him precipitate himself and those that were with him into most inevitable ruine for considering his small preparation it was a desperate action to attempt so mighty a business but the matter being fatal he must needs contribute his own endeavours towards that destruction which his cruel fortune had provided for him Nor could the loss of two Ships with all the men and arms therein whom he had sent before to prepare his way alter his resolution but with the rest of his company passes over to Orkney and having raised what force he could there embarcks himself and in a short space lands upon the point of Cathnes which is the farthest land to the Northwest of Scotland as knowing the world was much astonisht at this invasion now whilest the King was upon a Treaty he published a Declaration wherein he laboured to clear himself of any aspersion of sinister ends that his intention was onely against some particular persons who had against the Laws of the Kingdom raised and maintained a War against the Kings Father and did now by their subtil practices endeavour to destroy the Son also but the Countrey for several causes did not come to second him as he expected so that being encountred by the Earl of Sunderland and Collonel Staughorn his Army was overthrown two hundred killed and twelve hundred taken In this skirmish was taken the Standard which he had caused to be made of purpose to move the affections of the people with this Motto Judge and revenge my cause O Lord and the Portraict of the late King beheaded exactly well done The Standard-bearer a very gallant young Gentleman was killed after he had several times refused quarter there was Collonel Hurry taken the Lord Frenderick Sir Francis Hay of Dalgety Collonel Hay of Naughton Colonel Grya and most of the Officers and two Ministers Montross himself after he saw the day was absolutely lost having with his Sword hewn out his way through the midst of his enemies hoping fortune might afterward be more favourable to him he endeavours by policy to save his life and forsaking his Horse throws away his Cloak and Sword then exchanging apparrel with a Highlander in that habit keeps himself undiscovered in the Fields for three or four dayes together but such narrow search being made for him that he could not long escape he freely discovers himself to the Lord of Astron who had been one of his followers before thinking to finde friendship at his hands but he greedy of the reward which was promised to his apprehender by the Council of State money having a deeper impression in his heart then amity seized on him and with a strong guard conveyed him to David Lesley He being now in the custody of his mortal enemies from whom he could not expect the least favour he yet exprest a singular constancy and in a manner a carelesness of his own condition And now joyful of their prey they conduct him to Edenburgh where by the way lodging one night at the Town of Dundee notwithstanding they had suffered more by his Army then any Town else within that Kingdom yet were they so far from insulting over him that they testified a great deal of sorrow for his woful condition and furnished him with cloathes suitable to his birth and person The Parliament of Scotland being otherwise affected who was then informed of his taking thought fit to give out this Sentence against him before he came to Edenburgh That so soon as he should come to Town he should be met at the Gate by the Magistrates and Hangman that he should be tyed with cords upon a Cart bare-headed and the Hangman to ride upon the Horse that drew the Cart covered before him amd so to be brought though the Town that he should be hanged on a Gibbet at the Cross of Edenburgh until he dyed his History and Declaration hanging about his neck and so hang three hours in publick view of all the people after wich he should be beheaded and quartered His head to be fixt upon the prison-house of Edenburgh and his Legs and Arms over the Gates of the Cities of Sterling Glascow St. Johns Town and Aberdeen All which was executed upon him with a great deal of insultation especially of the Ministery who having him now at their mercy could never be satisfied with his calamities they reviled him with all possible spite objected frequently to him his former condition and his present misery and pronounced heavy judgements against him and being asked why they could not otherwise be satisfied but by so ignominious handling of him they replyed They knew no other way to humble him and bring him home to God The fatal day being come design'd to put a period to all his troubles there was erected in the middle of the market-place a large Scaffold brest high in the midst of which was planted a Gibbet of extraordinary height to this place was he conducted by the Baliffs he was cloathed in a Scarlet Cloak richly laced with Gold lace as he came along the Streets in great State there appeared in his countenance so much Beauty Majesty and Gravity as amazed the beholders John Taylors honest Verses will serve for this dishonourable Scotch expedtion In a good cause to dye it is no shame Although a Halter do procure the same Being come thither he was much detained with a great many frivolous questions of which partly the Ministers partly those whom the States suffered to be about him desired to be satisfied He made a short Speech in which he was often interrupted the tenour of which was That be was satisfied in his conscience for what he had done for his Royal Master the King as in relation to War That for his own particular sins which were infinite he bad beg'd pardon earnestly of God and had an inward hope to obtain it he freely forgave all those who had sought his overthrow and intreated the charity of all the people to pray both for him and themselves The Ministers because he was under the Sentence of excommunication refused to pray for him and even on the very Scaffold were very bitter against him After he had about a quarter of an hour prayed with his Hat before his eyes he was ready to go to his suffering when his Book and Declaration and all other printed Papers which he had published in his life being tyed in a string together were hanged a bout his neck he was very earnest that he might have the liberty to keep on his hat it was denyed he requested he might have the priviledge to keep his Cloak about him neither would that be granted in despite of all their affronts uncivil and barbarous usage with a most undaunted courage he went up to the top of that prodigious Gibbet where having freely pardoned the Execuoner he gave him three
whom you now embrace shall be your ruine and you shall bear this iniquity Now this passage of the Prophet doth by consent of Interpreters signifie the time of forty years to the destruction of Jerusalem and that Nation for their Idolatry and this Sermon being Preached in Anno 1601. just forty years before that horrid Rebellion brake forth in Ireland Anno 1641. made it appear that it had something in it of a prophetick spirit His first Church preferment was to the Chancellourship of St. Patrick in Dublin in which Mr. Cambden found him An. 1607. at what time he was composing his most excellent Brittania of whom he gives this Character in his observations concerning Dublin Most of which I acknowledge to owe to the diligence and labour of James Usher Chancellour of the Church of Saint Patrick who in various learning and judgement far exceeds his years Soon after Mr. Cambdens departure be commenc'd Batchellor of Divinity and immediately upon it was chosen Professor of Divinity in that University of Dublin which he held about thirteen or fourteen years during which time the Provostship of the Colledge falling void he was unanimously elected by the Fellows but by reason of some trouble belonging to it notwithstanding it it had a large annual allowance he refused it a thing to be taken notice of because rare amongst the Cleargy men of this latter age Soon after he proceeded Doctor of Divinity and now his eminency gained him enemies who scandalized him to King James under the notion of a Puritan but what was intended for his downfal proved for his preferment for the King entring into a free discourse with him received from him such abundant satisfaction of the soundness of his Judgement and Piety that notwithstanding the opposition of great ones without his seeking made him Bishop of Meath in Ireland just then falling void whilest he was in England upon his entering into his dignity a Wit of those times made this excellent Annagram upon him James Meath Anagrama I am the same Which he made good ever after in the whole course of his life neither being puffed up with the the windy titles of ambition nor slacking his former constancy of preaching engraving this Motto on his Episcopal Seal Vae mihi si non Evangeliza vero which he continued in the Seal of his Primacy also It is credibly reported of him that he was person of so excellent a memory that when he hath bin distant from his Library many miles without the aid of any Catalogue he hath directed his man by the figures of them imprinted in his minde to go directly to the several places where they stood to bring him such Books as he wanted During the time he was Bishop of Meath he answered that Challenge of the Jesuite Malone and coming over into England to have it Printed during his abode here Primate Hampton dying he was made Primate of Ireland An. 1624. And now though he was promoted to the highest step his profession was capable of in his native Countrey yet having some occasion of stay still in England he continued his laborious preaching in a little Village called Wicken in Essex where upon the request of some Ministers of that County to preach on the Week dayes because they could not come to hear him on the Sundayes preaching too often beyond his strength he fell into a Quartane Ague which held him three quarters of a year Scarcely had he recovered his sickness when it pleased God to make him the instrument of the conversion of an honourable person to the Protestant Religion the occasion thus the Lord Mordant afterwards Earl of Peterborough being a Papist and his Lady a Protestant both of them being desirous to draw each other to their own Religion agreed that there should be a meeting of two prime men of each to dispute what might be in controversie between them hereupon the Lord chose for his Champion one Rookwood a Jesuite Brother to Ambross Rookwood one of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Treason who went disguised under the name of Beaumont the Lady made choice of this Archbishop Drayton in Northamptonshire was appointed for their meeting place the Points proposed were concerning Transubstantiation Invocation of Saints Images visibility of the Church Three dayes were spent in disputations wherein the Archbishop was opponent and the Jesuite respondent The fourth day according to agreement the Jesuite was to have been opponent but that morning he excused himself to the Lord Mordant saying That all the Arguments he used he had framed within his own head and thought he had them as perfect as his Pater Noster but he had strangely forgotten and could not recover them again which caused him to say That he believed it was the just judgement of God upon him thus to desert him in the defence of his cause for the undertaking of himself to dispute with a man of that eminency and learning without the licence of his Superiour This excuse gave so little satisfaction to the Lord Mordant that upon some further conference with the Archbishop he became a Protestant and so continued to his dying day After this Victory over the Jesuit with the Canon bullets of his controversial Pen he disperst whole Armie of the Irish Catholicks so that they were never able to rally their Forces again After some time of tarrying in England he returned into Ireland where he was received with great acclamations of joy where he continued faithfully discharging his Office until the year before the Rebellion brake forth there in which he returned into England not long after was the great business of the Earl of Strafford in agitation I have heard it reported by men not over credulous to believe flying news that the day before the King signed the Bill for that Earls death that when the King for the satisfying of his conscience desired the opinion of him as also of the Bishops of London Durham Lincoln and Carlisle that those other four for the satisfying of the people who were then grown extraordinary insolent wished him to sign the Bill But that this Bishop advised the King not to wound his Conscience in seeking to heal State sores the truth of this I will not assert for it is confidently believed by many that Doctor Juxon Bishop of London was not assenting thereto but this is certain that when a person of honour had in the Kings presence spoken words in effect that this Bishop should advise him to the signing of that Bill that he in very great passion laying his hand upon his breast protested his innocency therein It is generally reported how true I know not that when the King heard that an honourable Lady had extended her nobleness to the Bishop that he should say That that charity of hers would cover a multitude of her sins Many endeavours not like the fire-drakes of our late Pulpits did this reverend Bishop use to draw the King and Parliament to a Reconciliation and
in one shew you the wonder of our times such a Proteus as few ages can produce such another he having like Ishmael every mans hand against him and his against all Who more violent against the Hierarchy of the Bishops then he none more against King and Kingly Government then he how violent was he aganst the House of Lords and they being down and another Government established without King and Lords he sets himself against that too such an opposite and Antagonist to all forms of Government whatsoever that he might fitly be compared unto the Rainbow which is never on that side of the world that the Sun is but wheresoever it appears it is in opposition against the Sun But to come to his Life he was Son to Richard Lilburne of the County of Durham during his miniority an Apprentice in London near London-stone to one Mr. Hewson a a dealer in Cloath whom he served about five years his Master declining his trade he moved him that he might have his liberty to provide for himself to which purpose he went into the Countrey to have the consent of his friends and afterwards made a voyage into Holland Before this his transportation he had made his ends having been of such an insinuating spirit that he won the love of some silly Schismaticks who for his strange though empty expressions deemed him as they have done others one inspired So that by that time he came out of his time and had served his Apprentiship who but Lilburne of note amongst the Sectaries his approbation desired and his counsels followed in all tumultuous and factious transactions It happened during the imprisonment of Doctor Bastwick censured for libelling by the Archbishop of Canterbury divers persons affecting the said Doctor out of their love resorting to him amongst the rest one of them took John Lilburne with him as his associate after plenty of chear Doctor Bastwick to solace his guests read to them his Lettany which he had written against the Prelates which Book was highly pleasing to them all Lilburne also hearing the said Lettany read and knowing that whatsoever was written in defiance of that power then generally hated would be very acceptable he desired of Doctor Bastwick to have a copy of one of them with which he would travel beyond Sea and cause it to be printed not doubting to be enriched by it the winde of this fancy transported him over Sea accompanied with a fellow whose fidelity he doubted not there he printed many Books and by them got much money selling them even at what rates he pleased afterwards coming into England bringing with him his printed trinkets hoping to have a new Mart the fellow that accompanied him was his betrayer who gave information to the Archbishop of Canterbury both where Lilburne and his Libels were who immediately dispatched a Pursivant with plenary authority who attached Lilburne and seized on his Books which were all afterwards burnt Lilburne himself was committed to the Fleet and refusing to take his Oath in the Star-Chamber was by them fined five hundred pound and censured to be whipt from the Fleet to Westminster and afterwards to stand in the Pillory which accordingly was executed and because he fell into a long speech against the Bishops and their Hierarchy they caused him to be gagged wherein he continued an hour and a half But the times altering the Bishops being Voted down by Parliament and a War ensuing betwixt them and the King these his sufferings caused him to be looked upon by the Parliament who preferred him to the Office of Lieutenant Collonel in their Army wherein he behaved himself most gallantly particularly at Brainford where he with about 700. men withstood the Kings whole Army about five hours together and fought it out to the very Swords point and to the Butt end of the Musket and thereby hindred the King from his then possessing the Parliaments Train of Artillery and by consequence the City of London in which act he was taken prisoner without Articles or capitulation and was by the King and his Party then lookt upon as one of the most active men in the whole company and should have been therefore Tryed for his life had not he by his wit avoyded the same by sending to the Parliament who thereupon sent a Letter to Oxford threatning them with lex talionis they having at the same time many of their great eminent men prisoners in the Tower Warwick Castle and other places which put a period to all further proceedings against him and freed him by an exchange Returning to London he begins to set abroach his factious opinions writing a Pamphlet wherein he termed the Laws Norman innovations with other unparallel'd speeches all which he sent to Judge Reeve who himself or some other for him made a complaint unto the Lords who immediately summoned him to appear before them which accordingly he did where being commanded to kneel at the Bar he refused saying That he had learned both better Religion and manners then to kneel to any humane or mortal power how great soever with many other aggravating and ambitious speeches which committed him close prisoner first to Newgate and afterwards to the Tower where he continued above twelve moneths together but this not a whit calmed his spirit but was rather like Oyl cast on the fire finding occasion from these his troubles and imprisonments to enveigh more bitterly against the Government and Governours then in being terming the Parliament to use his own words in his scurrulous pamphlets A pack of dissembling juggling knaves a company of tyrants the most perfidious false faith and trust-breakers that ever lived in the world and ought by all rational men to be most detested of all men that breathe treacherous self-seeking usurpers of the name and power of a Parliament most treacherously to do what they list Saying That Corah Dathan and Abiram were never more against Authority as the General viz. the Lord Fairfax and his Councel nor the Anabaptists at Munster with John of Leidon and Knipperdolling were never more contemners of Authority nor Jack Straw and Wat Tyler nor all those famous men mentioned with a black pen in our Histories These with infinite other railing tearms his pamphlets are stuffed and farced withal not fit to be bestowed on the most inveterate enemies can be encountred in this Life the young Gentleman was very prodigal of such Rabshekah expressions as his impudence was most conducing to his desperate designs c. For these and many other single rapired expressions of the nature contained in several Books which he wrote he was committed to the Tower and by a special Commission of Oyer and Terminer tryed upon a Charge of High Treason at the Guild Hall in London October 24 25. 26. 1649. Many were the Commissioners that sat upon his Tryal and multitudes of Spectators that came to behold it I have inserted his Tryal thus at large not onely as in respect of the
eminency of it but as many passages in it from his own lips give further illustrations of his Life The first Tryal of Lieutenant Collonel John Lilburne was at the Guild Hall in London the 24. of October 1649. being Wednesday The Commissioners Names of the extraordinary Commission of Oyer and Terminer for the Tryal of Lieutenant Collonel John Lilburn were these Thomas Andrews Lord Mayor Richard Keble Lord Commissioner Philip Jermyn Judge of the upper Bench Thomas Gates Baron John Pulestone Justice of the Common Pleas. Francis Thorp Barron and Member Robert Nicolas Member Richard Aske Justices of the Upper Bench. Peter Warburton Justice of the Common Pleas. Alexander Rigby Baron but absent Sir Thomas Fowler Sir Henry Holcroft Sir William Row Sir Richard Saltonstall Sir Richard Sprignall Sir John Woolistone Sir William Roberts John Green John Clarke John Parker Serjeants at Law William Steel Recorder John Fowke Thomas Foote John Kendrick Thomas Cullum Simon Edmonds Samuel Avery John Dethick Robert Tichburn John Hayes Aldermen Henry Proby Common Sergeant Thomas Brigandine Nathaniel Snape Edward Rich Owen Roe Tobias Lisle Austin Wingfield Richard Downton Daniel Taylor William Wibend Silvanus Taylor The Court was called O yes made All persons that were adjourned to the Court required to make their appearance The Lieutenant of the Tower of London Collonel Francis West was called to bring forth his Prisoner according to the precept Whereupon Collonel West Lieutenant of the Tower brought up the Prisoner out of the Irish Chamber where he had been some time before the sitting of the Court and was guarded by the said Lieutenant and a special Guard of Souldiers besides And being brought to the Bar the Sheriffs of London were directed to take the Prisoner into their custody Silence commanded the Crier said John Lilburne hold up thy hand Lieutenant Collonel Lilburne directed himself to Master Keble one of the Keepers of the great Seal as the President of the Court and said to this purpose Sir will it please you to hear me and if so by your favour thus All the priviledge for my part that I shall crave this day at your hands is no more but that which is properly and singly the Liberty of every Free-born English-man viz. the benefit of the Laws and Liberties thereof which by my Birth-right and Inheritance is due unto me the which I have fought for as well as others have done with a single and upright heart and if I cannot have and enjoy this I shall leave this Testimony behinde me that I died for the Laws and Liberties of this Nation and upon this score I stand and if I perish I perish And if the Fact that I have done cannot be justified by the Law of England let me perish I mention none of this for the gaining of mercy or by way of merit no I scorn it for mercy I crave from none but from the hands of my God alone with whom I hope and am assured one day to rest whom I have set before my eyes and so walked as believing I am alwayes in his presence in whose power my confidence is fixed whom I take and own to be my stay my staff my strength and support and in whom I rest as the life of my life and whom I hope to meet with joy when this fading and uncertain life shall have an end to live with him in glory and blessedness for evermore And because I would not willingly trouble you with many words to cause you to spend your time impertinently therefore Sir in reference to the Court I shall crave but so much liberty from you as was given to Paul when he pleaded for his life before the Heathen Roman Judges which was free liberty of speech to speak for himself the which I now humbly crave as my right not onely by the Law of God and Man but also by the law and light of Nature And I shall do it with that respect reason and judgement that doth become a man that knows what it is to plead for his life I hope Gode hath given me ability to be master of my own passion and endowed me with that reason that will dictate unto me what is for my own good and benefit I have several times been arraigned for my life already I was once arraigned before the House of Peers for sticking close to the Liberties and Priviledges of this Nation and those that stood for them being one of those two or three me that first drew their swords in Westminster Hall against Collonel Lunsford and some scores of his associates At that time it was supposed they intended to cut the throats of the chiefest men then sitting in the House of Commons I say for this and other things of the like nature I was arraigned by the Kings special Command and Order the first of May 1641. I mention it to this end that when I came before the House of Peers where was about three or fourscore Lords then sitting at the beginning of the parliament who then were supposed the most arbitrary of any power in England yet I had from them free liberty of speech to speak for my life at their Bar without check or controll in the best manner that all those abilities God had given me would enable me and when I was at Oxford I was again arraigned as a Traytor before the Lord Chief Justice Heath for levying War at the Command of the then Parliament against the person of the King and when I came before him in the Guild Hall of Oxford he told me there being present with him as his fellow Judge Master Gardiner sometimes Recorder of the City of London now Sir Thomas Gardiner and others that sate by a special Commission of Oyer and Terminer from the King the which Commission I did not so well then understand as I hope I do now And my Lord Chief Justice Heath stood up and in the face of all the Court and in the face of all the Countrey present there told me Captain Lilburne you are brought here before us for High Treason for leavying War in Oxfordshire against your Sovereign Lord and King and though you be now in a Garrison and were taken in Arms in open hostility against the King yea Sir and I must now tell you in such hostility that we were but about seven hundred men at Brandford that withstood the Kings whole Army in the field about five hours together and fought it out to the very swords point and to the butt end of the Musket and thereby hindered the King from his then possessing the Parliaments Train of Artillery and by consequence the City of London in which very act I was taken a Prisoner without Articles or Capitulation and was by the King and his Party then lookt upon as one of the activest men against them in the whole company yet said Judge Heath we will not take advantage of that to try you by the rules of Arbitrary Marshal Law or any other
Prisoner at the Bar presented before the Court here take your Jury of Life and Death if therefore Master Lilburne you will challenge them or any of them you must challege them before that they go to be sworn Cryer Every man that can inform my Lords the Justices and the Atturney General of the Commonwealth against Master John Lilburn Prisoner at the Bar of any Treason or Fellony committed by him let them come forth and they shall be heard for the Prisoner stands upon his deliverance and all others bound to give their attendance are upon pain of forfeiture of their Recognizance to come in Master Lilburne desired to be heard a few words the Judge told him he must talk in his legal time and take legal exceptions and then he should be heard till midnight Master Lilburne desired to be heard he said he did not know the faces of two men that were read to him therefore he desired that he might have time to consider of them Judge Keeble told him that he ought not to have it Master Lilburne desired the Judge that he would at least vouchsafe him to have some friends by him that are Citizens of London that knew them to give him information of their quality and conditions without which he said they might as well hang him without a Tryal Mr. Sprat or Master Robert Lilburn challenged one of the Jury which the Judge excepted against and commanded the Fellow in the white cap should come out there pull him out Master Lilburne replied that they did not deal civilly according to their own Law and now there was a full noise the whole cry was to pull down the Stag of the Petition of Right The Jury being called he excepted against several persons of the Jury six lived about Smithfield one in Gosling-Street two in Cheapside two in Broad-street one in Friday-street After his particular exception Master Broughton proceeds and reads his Indictment Hold up thy hand John Lilburne Thou standest here indicted of High Treason by the name of John Lilburn late of London Gentleman for that thou as a false Traytour not having the fear of God before thine eyes but being stirred and moved up by the instigation of the Devil didst endeavour not onely to disturb the peace and tranquility of this Nation but also the government thereof to subvert now established without King or House of Lords in the way of a Commonwealth and a free State and happily established and the Commons in Parliament assembled being the supream Authority of this Nation of England to disgrace and into a hatred base esteem infamy and scandal with all the good true and honest persons of England to bring into hatred that is to say that thou the said John Lilburne on the first day of October in the year of our Lord 1649. and on divers other dayes and times both before and after in the Parish of Mary the Archess in the Ward of Cheap London aforesaid of thy wicked and devillish minde and imagination falsely malitiously advisedly and trayterously as a false Traytor by writing and imprinting and openly declaring that is to say by a certain scandalous poysonous and trayterous writing in paper entituled A salva libertate and by another scandalous poysonous and trayterous Book entituled An Impeachment of High Treason against Oliver Cromwel and his son-in-law Henry Ireton Esquires late Members of the late forcibly dissolved House of Commons presented to publick view by Lieutenant Collonel John Lilburn close Prisoner in the Tower of London for his real true and zealous affection to the liberties of this Nation and by another scandalous poysonous and trayterous Book imprinted and entituled An Out-cry of the yong men and Apprentices of London or an inquisition after the lost fundamental Laws and Liberties of England directed August 29. 1649. in an Epistle to the private Souldiers of the Army especially all those that signed the solemn Engagement at New-Market Heath the fifth of June 1647. but more especially the private Souldiers of the Generals Regiment of Horse that helped to plunder and destroy the honest and true hearted Englishmen trayterously defeated at Burford the fifteenth of May 1649. And also by another scandalous poysonous and traiterous Book intituled The legal fundamental liberties of the people of England revised asserted and vindicated didst publish that the Government aforesaid is tyranical usurped and unlawful and that the Commmons Assembled in Parliament are not the Supreme Authority of this Nation and further that thou the said John Lilburne as a false Traitor God before thine eyes not having but being moved and led by the instigation of the Devil endeavouring and maliciously intending the Government aforesaid as is aforesaid well and happily established thou the said John Lilburne afterwards that is to say the aforesaid first day of October in the year of our Lord 1649. aforesaid and divers other dayes and times as well before as after at London aforesaid that is to say in the Parish and Ward aforesaid London aforesaid maliciously advisedly and traiterously didst plot contrive and endeavour to stir up and to raise force against the aforesaid Government and for the subverting and alteration of the said Government and to do those wicked malicious and traiterous advisement to put in execution c. and thou the said John Lilburne afterwards that is to say the aforesaid first day of October in the year of our Lord 1649. aforesaid and divers dayes and times as well before as after at London aforesaid that is to say in the Parish and Ward aforesaid of thy depraved minde and most wicked imagination in and by the aforesaid scandalous poysonous and trayterous book Intituled An impeachment of high Treason against Oliver Cromwel and his son-in-law Henry Ireton Esquires late Members of the late forcible dissolved House of Commons presented to publick view by Lieutenant Collonel John Lilburne close prisoner in the Tower of London for his real true and zealous affection to the Liberties of his native Countrey falsly maliciously advisedly and traiterously didst publickly declare amongst other things in the said Book those false scandalous malicious and traiterous words following but my true friends meaning the friends of the said John Lilburne I meaning the foresaid John Lilburne shall here take upon me the boldness considering the great distractions of the present times to give a little further advice to our friends aforesaid from whose company or society or from some of them hath been begun and issued out the most transcendent clear rational and just things for the peoples liberties and freedoms That the foresaid John Lilburne hath seen or read in this Nation as your notable and excellent Petition of May the 20th 1647. burnt by the hand of the common-hangman recorded in my book called Rash Oaths Unwarrantable page 29 30 31 32 33 34 35. with divers Petitions of that nature and the Petition of the 19th of January 1648. recorded in the following discourse page 45 46 47 48. and the
the River of Trent purposely to let in the Waters the which course they continued till they had drowned 8000. Acres of Corn and Rape then growing and the Corn stacks generally half way with the greatest part of mens houses and habitations by the space of ten weeks Now fearing they should be punished for these insolencies and desirous to keep what they had thus gotten they drew to their assistance Mr. Lilburne J. W. and one Noddel a Solicitour who notwithstanding the Court of Exchequer made a decree for establishing the possession again with those from whom they had wrested it and that this decree was published upon the place in presence of divers of the inhabitants they openly declared That they would not give any obedience thereunto nor to any order of the Exchequer or Parliament and said they could make as good a Parliament themselves some said It was a Parliament of Clouts and that if they sent Forces they would raise Forces to resist them moreover from words they proceeded to action so that within ten dayes time they totally demolished the whole Town of Stantoft and other houses thereabouts to the number of eighty two habitations defaced the Church burnt Stables and Out-houses broke in pieces a Wind-mill destroyed all the Corn and Rape on the ground no less then 3400. Acres so as the dammage at that time was estimated to be 80000. pounds or more Moreover Lilburne with his associates agrees with several men of Epworth that in consideration of 2000 Acres of Land for him and J. W. and 200. Acres to Noddel they would defend them in all those riots and insurrections and maintain them in possession of the rest of the Land this bargain being made Lilburne with Noddel and others came to Stantoft Church on the Lords day and forced the Congregation from thence employing the same to the use of a Stable Cow-house Slaughter-house and to lay his Hay and Straw therein For these tumultuous practices as also for joyning with one Mr. Primate in seeking to defraud the Common-wealth of the Collory of Harraton in the County of Durham the sequestered estate of Thomas Wray Esquire which Mr. Primate pretended a right unto though upon examination it proved otherwise this following Act for his Fine and Banishment was publisht against him Whereas upon the fifteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty one A Judgement was given in Parliament against the said Lieutenant Collonel John Lilburne for high Crimes and Misdemeanours by him committed relating to a false malicious and scandalous Petition heretofore presented to the Parliament by one Josiah Primate of London Leather-seller as by the due proceedings had upon the said Petition and the Judgement thereupon given at large appeareth Be it therefore enacted by this present Parliament and by the Authority of the same that the fine of three thousand pounds imposed upon the said John Lilburne to the use of the Common-wealth by the Judgement aforesaid shall be forthwith levied by due process of Law to the use of the Common-wealth accordingly And be it further enacted that the sum of two thousand pounds imposed by the said Judgement upon the said John Lilburne to be paid to Sir Arthur Hesilrige for damages and the sum of two thousand pounds likewise imposed by the said Judgement upon the said John Lilburne to be paid to James Russel Edward Winslow William Molins and Arthus Squib in the said Judgement named that is to say to each of them five hundred pounds for their damages shall be forthwith paid accordingly And that the said Sir Arthur Hesilrige James Russel Edward Winslow William Molins and Arthur Squib their Executors and Administrators shall have the like remedy and proceedings at Law respectively against the said John Lilburne his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns for the recovery of the respective sums so given to them by the said Judgement as if the said respective sums had been due by several Recognizances in the nature of a Statute Staple acknowledged unto them severally by the said John Lilburne upon the said fifteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty one And be it likewise enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the said John Lilburne shall within twenty dayes to be accompted from the said fifteenth day of January one thousand six hundred fifty one depart out of England Scotland Ireland and the Islands Territories and Dominions thereof And in case the said John Lilburne at any time after the expiration of the said twenty dayes to be accompted as aforesaid shall be found or shall be remaining within England Scotland Ireland or within any of the Islands Territories or Dominions thereof the said John Lilburne shall be and is hereby adjudged a Fellon and shall be executed as a Fellon without benefit of Cleargy And it is lastly enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all and every person and persons who shall after the expiration of the said twenty dayes wittingly relieve harbor or conceal the said John Lilburne he being in England Scotland or Ireland or any the Territories Islands or Dominions thereof shall be hereby adjudged accessary of Fellony after the Fact And all Judges Justices Majors Bayliffs Sheriffs and all other Officers as well Military as Civil in their respective places are hereby required to be aiding and assisting in apprehending the said John Lilburne and in putting this Act in due execution Lilburne hereupon sets Sail for Holland with a resolution as he set forth in print Never to see England so long as Cromwels hateful and beastly tyranny lasted unless it were in a way to pursue him as the grandest Tyrant and Traytor that ever England bred some report that during his abode there he negotiated with the Lord Hopton Collonel Charles Lloyd and others of the Royal Party that for the sum of ten thousand pounds he would destroy the Lord General Cromwel the Parliament and Councel of State that then sat at Westminster and settle Charles Stuart in his Throne in England or else he would have a piece of him nailed upon every post in Bruges But for the truth of this besides his own denyal I cannot conceive he should have any thought that Party would trust him especially with such a sum of money having before declared himself so great an enemy to the late King But what ever were the motives that induced him resolved he was to come into England again to which purpose he sent Cromwel this introducing Letter For his Excellency the Lord General Cromwel These present My Lord At my discourse with you in your Gallery about four or five moneths ago I had thought I had given your Lordwip so full satisfaction in every thing that might remove all jealousies from you of my disserving you in any kinde that of all men in the Parliament I little imagined to have found your honour to be the principal man to banish me into a strange Countrey where
were just or unjust have wished me any manner of evil for I take him to be the happy instrument of bringing me to heaven I am tedious but I have an inward comfort I bless Almighty God pray Gentlemen give leave speaking to some that prest upon him I should never do it but to give satisfaction to all charitable hearts I have been troublesome Here he made a pause as discontented at the disturbance of those on the Scaffold when the Sheriff said to him Sir you have your liberty to speak more if you please at length he proceeded But as to that part Mr. Sheriff that did concern the denyal as it was affirmed by Master Atturney General of my Masters employment truly landing at White Hall I told that Councel there was warrantable Commissions to an old Officer which by the blessing of God I have by me and I have other acceptable things that God hath blessed me withal we that are Merchants abroad we allow our selves any sufferance that may induce to our own safety inlargement of trade or preservation of what is ours Why I had by the favour of my gracious Master a confirmation of my old Commission of Consulage in Greece but as to the Embassy no more then my credential Letters did speak nor no more then that I attempted an Internuncio they call it in those places which is a messenger between the one and the other King they both unhappily dyed of several deaths and both violent too and it is a custom not unknown to you Master Sheriff and other Gentlemen that practise in the world that Princes of course for the continuation of amity do send messengers where there is peace that the transaction of those publick expressions of reciprocal affections may be performed but for Embassy God forbid I should own it I never had it however they have used it as the happy means to bring me to God this day whom I in the Bowels of my Saviour beseech to forgive those people that have done it I owe them no harme God return better things into their bosoms with all the good of this and an everlasting life As for my part I have been long absent I have meddled with no affairs in England sufficient to me is Gods grace to the salvation of my soul I have been alwayes fearful of offending Almighty God according to the grace he hath given me but to learn a new Religion or new wayes that I must say Mr. Sheriff to you and all others that hear me I could never dispense with my conscience to give offence to Almighty God I am now if it may be with your Commission Master Sheriff to pour out my soul to Almighty God in two or three words the place is straitned if I knew wherein to give any satisfaction to any person whatsoever that imagines I have offended him or he me I am here in the fear of God to do it I forgive them with all my soul and my forgiveness is clear as I am now going to receive happiness at the hand of my Saviour if I thought it were satisfaction to Sir Thomas Bendish and all the company or any who think they have offended me I am come Master Sheriff to pay that debt I owe to nature to pay it upon the score of a Loyal Subject my conscience within me informing me that for the intentions of serving my Prince I could not deserve such a death though ten thousand times more other wayes Having expressed himself to this effect with much meekness he submitted his neck to the Axe having first said Lord Jesus receive my soul the Executioner at one blow severed his head from his body Not long after Brown Bushel was beheaded under the Scaffold on Tower Hill one who had formerly done great service to the Royal Party both by Sea and Land crimes of such a nature as brought him into compass of Piracy and then of high Treason These Funerals were still accompanied with more mourners Soon after ensuing the deaths of Mr. Love and Mr. Gibbons who were beheaded on Tower-hill the 22. of August 1651. their Crimes objected were for combining with the Scots to reestablish Charles Stuart Mr. Loves Tryal with his Speech and manner of his death are in a large printed volume to which I refer my Reader all that I shall insert will be no more then what hath been by another already observed in print that there was a monstrous storm about the time of Mr. Loves suffering another about the time of the Protectors death that Mr. Love though with a late assent to Regal power suffered as a Presbyterian Divine Doctor Hewit as one alwayes establisht and confirmed as a Primitive after whose Execution within a short time after great Cromwel expired many others were apprehended upon the same account but these two onely suffered Passing over these Golgotha's the reader may be pleased to understand that all these persons here mentioned save onely the Earl of Darby suffered death before that memorable Battel at Worcester though in our History we have related them after as not willing to discontinue the series of our affairs with Scotland by such diversions I shall onely insert without any reflection what I have read of a person remarkable for his cruelties that he being told of a Comet Leiger Star of heaven that one said portended his death answered That he was very glad that the heavens were so merry as to make Bonefires for his triumph before he dyed This miscreant entertaining this for a Maxime that he that had put out so many eyes if he stood in need should scarcely finde a friend to close up his own But to return to matters of more publick concernment the Isles of Jersey Jernsy and Man who had hitherto held for the King submitted themselves so that now all seemed quiet when suddenly a War brake forth with Holland begun onely at first upon points of Honour at Sea Van Trump the Dutch Admiral refusing to vail his Flag a Ceremonial Honour which the English appropriate to themselves as being Lords of these narrow Seas whereupon a sharp Fight ensued betwixt them wherein the Dutch were discomfited one of their ships sunk and another of thirty Guns taken with the Captains of both and about a hundred and fifty Prisoners This Skirmish produced open War betwixt the two Nations notwithstanding Overtures of Peace made by the Hollander so that now both sides prepare to offend each other General Blake the English Admiral surprizes twelve Dutch men of War towards the Isles of Orkney Sir George Ascue in the Road betwixt Dover and Calice sets upon their Fleet being thirty in number of which ten were taken and burnt the rest hardly escaping Soon after near Plimouth he gave them another fight wherein the Dutch went again by the worst These successes were seconded by others very remarkable General Blake steering Northwards took six Holland ships of a great value about the Downes Captain Penne also took six more
Gold and upon the Cushion which lay thereon was placed an Imperial Crown set with precious stones The Body of the Effigies lay upon a Bed of State covered with a large Pall of black Velvet under which there was spread a fine Holland Sheet upon six stools of tissued Cloth of Gold on the sides of the Bed of State was placed a rich suit of Compleat Armour and at the feet thereof stood his Crest The Bed of State whereupon the Effigies did thus lye was ascended unto by two steps covered with the aforesaid Pall of Velvet at each corner whereof there was placed an upright Pillar covered with Velvet upon the tops whereof were the four Supporters of the Imperial Arms bearing Banners or Streamers crowned The Pillars were adorned with Trophies of Military Honour carved and gilt the Pedestels of the Pillars had Shields and Crowns gilt which compleated the whole work Within the Rails and Ballasters which compassed the whole work and were covered with Velvet stood eight great silver Candlesticks or Standerts almost five foot high with Virgin-wax Tapers of a yard long next unto the Candlesticks there were set upright in Sockets the four great Standards of his Arms the Guydons great Banners and Banrolls of War being all of Taffety very richly gilt and painted The Cloth of State which covered the Bed and the Effigies had a Majestick Scutcheon and the whole Room adorned with Taffety Scutcheons several of his servants attending bare-headed to set out the Ceremony with the greater lustre After this to shew there is no intermission of this vanity his Effigies was several dayes shown in another Room standing upon an ascent under a rich Cloath of State vested in Royal Robes having a Scepter in one hand and a Globe in the other a Crown on his head his Armour lying by him at a distance and the Banners Banrolls and Standards being placed round about him together with the other Ensigns of Honour the whole Room being adorned in a Majesticall manner and his servants standing by bare-headed as before November the 23. was the day appointed for the Solemnization of the Funerals multitudes were the Spectators which from all places came to behold it so much are we taken with Novelty that we think no cost too much for the beholding a two or three hours vanity The Effigies being a while placed in the middle of a Room was carried on the Hearse by ten Gentlemen into the Court-yard where a very rich Canopy of State was borne over it by six other Gentlemen till it was brought and placed in a Chariot at each end whereof was a seat wherein sat two of his late Highness Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber the Pall which was made of Velvet and the White Linnen was very large extending on each side of the Carriage and was borne up by several persons of honour The Charriot wherein the Effigies was conveyed was covered with black Velvet adorned with Plumes and Scutcheons and was drawn by six Horses covered with black Velvet and each of them adorned with Plumes of black Feathers From Somerset-House to Westminster the streets were railed in and strewed with sand the Souldiers being placed on each side of the streets without the Rails and their Ensigns wrapped up in a Cypress mourning Veil The manner of the proceeding to the interrment was briefly thus First a Knight Martial advanced on Horseback with his black Truncheon tipt at both ends with Gold attended by his Deputy and thirteen men on Horseback to clear the way After him followed the poor men of Westminster in mourning Gowns and Hoods marching two and two Next unto them followed the servants of the several persons of all qualities which attended the Funeral These were followed by all his own servants as well inferiour as superiour both within and without the Houshold as alfo all his Bargemen at Watermen Next unto these followed the Servants and Officers belonging to the Lord Major and Sheriffs of the City of London Then came several Gentlemen and Attendants on the respective Ambassadours and the other publick Ministers After these came the poor Knights of Windsor in Gowns and Hoods Then followed the Clerks Secretaries and other Officers belonging to the Army the Admiralty the Treasury the Navy and Exchequer After these came the Officers in Command in the Fleet as also the Officers of the Army Next followed the Comissioners for Excise those of the Army and the Committee of the Navy Then follwed the Commissioners for the approbation of Preachers Then came the Officers Messengers and Clerks belonging to the Privy Councel and the Clerks of both Houses of Parliament Next followed his late Highness Physicians The Head Officers of the Army The chief Officers and Aldermen of the City of London The Masters of the Chancery with his Highness learned Councel at Law The Judges of the Admiralty the Masters of Request with the Judges in Wales The Barrons of the Exchequer the Judges of both Benches and the Lord Major of London Next to these the persons allied in Bloud to the late Protector and the Members of the Lords House After them the publick Ministers of Forreign States and Princes Then the Holland Ambassadour alone whose Train was born up by four Gentlemen Next to him the Portugal Ambassadour alone whose Train was held up by four Knights of the Order of Christ And thirdly the French Ambassadour whose Train was also held up by four persons of quality Then followed the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury The Lords of the late Protectors Privy Councel After whom followed the Chief Mourner and those persons of quality which were his Assistants and bare up his Train All the Nobles were in close mourning the rest were but in ordinary being disposed in their passage into several divisions being distinguished by Drums and Trumpets and by a Standard or Banner born by a person of Honour and his Assistant and a Horse of State covered with black Velvet and led by a person of Honour followed by two Grooms Of which Horses there were eleven in all four covered with black Cloth and seven with Velvet These being all passed in order at length the Chariot followed with the Effigies on each side of which were born six Banner Rolls twelve in all by as many persons of honor The several pieces of his Armour were born by eight Officers of the Army attended by a Herald and a Gentleman on each side Next followed Gartar principal King of Arms attended with a Gentleman on each side bare-headed Then came the chief Mourner together with those Lords and other Personages that were Supporters and Assistants to the chief Mourner Then followed the Horse of Honour in very rich Trappings embroidered upon Crimson Velvet and adorned with white red and yellow Plumes and was led by the Master of the Horse Finally in the close of all followed those of his late Guard and the Warders of the Tower At the West Gate of
Evidences of the work of Grace by J. Collins of Norwich 18. Jacobs Seed or the excellency of seeking God by prayer by Jer. Burroughs 14. The sum of practical Divinity or the Grounds of Religion in a Catechistical way by Master Christopher Love late Minister of the Gospel a useful Piece 20. Heaven and Earth shaken a Treatise shewing how Kings and Princes and all other Governments are turned and changed by J. Davis Minister in Dover admirably useful and seriously to be considered in these times 21. The Treasure of the Soul wherein we are taught by dying to sin to attain to the perfect love of God 22. A Treatise of Contentation fit for these sad and troublesome times by J. Hall Bishop of Norwich 23. Select thoughts or choice helps for a pious spirit beholding the excellency of her Lord Jesus by J. Hall Bishop of Norwich 24. The Holy Order or Fraternity of Mourners in Zion to which is added songs in the night or chearfulness under afflictions by J. Hall Bishop of Norwich 25. The Celestial Lamp enlightening every distressed soul from the depth of everlasting darkness by T. Fetisplace Admirable and Learned Treatises of Occult Sciences in Philosophy Magick Astrology Geomancy Chymistry Phisiognomy and Chyromancy 26. Magick and Astrology vindicated by H. Warren 27. Lux veritatis Judicial Astrology vindicated and Demonology confuted by W. Ramsey Gent. 28. An Introduction to the Teutonick Philosophy being a determination of the Original of the soul by C. Hotham Fellow of Peter House in Cambridge 29. Cornelius Agrippa his fourth Book of Occult Philosophy or Geomancy Magical Elements of Peter de Abona the nature of spirits made English by R. Turner 30. Paracelsus Occult Philosophy of the Mysteries of Nature and his secret Alchimy 31. An Astrological Discourse with Mathematical Demonstrations proving the influence of the Planets and fixed Stars upon Elementary Bodies by Sir Christ Heyden Knight 32. Merlinus Anglicus Junior the English Merlin revived or a Prediction upon the Affairs of Christendom for the year 1644. by W. Lilly 33. Englands Prophetical Merlin foretelling to all Nations of Europe till 1663. the actions depending upon the Influences of the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter 1642. by W. Lilly 34. The Starry Messenger or an Interpretation of that strange Apparition of three Suns seen in London the 19 of November 1644. being the Birth-day of King Charles by W. Lilly 35. The Worlds Catastrophe or Europes many Mutations until 1666. by W. Lilly 36. An Astrological Prediction of the Occurrences in England part of the Years 1648 1649 1650. by W. Lilly 37. Monarchy or no Monarchy in England the Prophesie of the White King Grebner his Prophesie concerning Charles Son of Charles his Greatness illustrated with several Hieroglyphicks by W. Lilly 38. Annus Tenebrosus or the Dark Year or Astrological Judgements upon two Lunary Eclipses and one admirable Eclipse of the Sun in England 1652. by W. Lilly 39. An easie and familiar way whereby to judge the effects depending on Eclipses by W. Lilly 40. Supernatural Sights and Apparitions seen in London June 30. 1644. by W. Lilly as also all his Works in one Volume 41. Catastrophe Magnatum an Ephemerides for the Year 1652. by N. Culpeper 42. Teratologia or a discovery of Gods Wonders manifested by bloody Rain and Waters by J. S. 43. Chyromancy or the Art of divining by the Lines engraven in the hand of man by dame Nature in 198. Genitures with a learned Discourse of the soul of the World by G. Wharton Esq 44. The admired Piece of Physiognomy and Chyromancy Metoposcopy the Symmetrical Proportions and signal Moles of the Body the Interpretation of Dreams to which is added the Art of Memory illustrated with Figures by R. Sanders folio 45. The no less exquisite then admirable Work Theatrum Chymicum Britannicum containing several Poetical Pieces of our famous English Philosophers who have written the Hermitick Mysteries in their own ancient Language faithfully collected into one Volume with Annotations thereon by the Indefatigable Industry of Elias Ashmole Esq illustrated with Figures Excellent Treatises in the Mathematicks Geometry of Arithmetick Surveying and other Arts or Mechanicks 46. The incomparable Treatise of Tactometria seu Tetagmenometria or the Geometry of Regulars practically proposed after a new and most expeditious manner together with the Naural or Vulgar by way of Mensural comparison and in the Solids not onely in respect of Magnitude or Demension but also of Gravity or Ponderosity according to any Metal assigned together with useful experiments of Measures and Weights observations on gauging useful for those that are practiced in the Art Metricald by T. Wybard 47. Tectonicon shewing the exact measuring of all manner of Land Squares Timber Stones Steeples Pillars Globes as also the making and use of the Carpenters Rule c. fit to be known by all Surveyors Land-meters Joyners Carpenters and Masons by L. Diggs 48. The unparalel'd Work for ease and expedition entituled The Exact Surveyor or the whole Art of Surveying of Land shewing how to plot all manner of Grounds whether small Inclosures Champian Plain Wood-lands or Mountains by the plain Table as also how to finde the Area or Content of any Land to Protect Reduce or Divide the same as also to take the Plot or Chart to make a Map of any Mannor whether according to Rathburne or any other eminent Surveyors Method a Book excellently useful for those that sell purchase or are otherwise employed about Buildings by J. Eyre 49. The Golden Treatise of Arithmetick Natural and Artificial or Decimals the Theory and Practice united in a simpathetical Proportion betwixt Lines and Numbers in their Quantities and Qualities as in respect of Form Figure Magnitude and Affection demonstrated by Geometry illustrated by Calculations and confirmed with variety of Examples in every Species made compendious and easie for Merchants Citizens Seamen Accomptants c. by Th. Wilsford Corrrector of the last Edition of Record 50. Semigraphy or the Art of Short-writing as it hath been proved by many hundreds in the City of London and other places by them practised and acknowledged to be the easiest exactest and swiftest Method the meanest capacity by the help of this Book with a few hours practice may attain to a perfection in this Art by J. Rich Authour and Teacher thereof dwelling in Swithins-Lane in London 51. Milk for Children a plain and easie Method teaching to read and write useful for Schols and Families by J. Thomas D. D. 52. The Painting of the Ancients the History of the beginning progress and consummating of the practice of that noble Art of Painting by F. Junius Excellent and approved Treatises in Physick Chyrurgery and other more familiar Experiments in Cookery Preserving c. 53. Culpeper's Semiatica Vranica his Astrological Judgement of Diseases from the decumbiture of the sick much enlarged the way and manner of finding out the cause change and end of the Disease also whether the sick be likely to
of Manchester and the Lord Fairfax and with joynt Forces besieged York to raise the Siege Prince Rupert came with a great Army out of the South the three Generals left their Siege to fight the Prince under him also New Castle having drawn his Forces out of York served who on a great Plain called Marston Moor gave Battle to the three Generals The Victory at first enclined to the Royalists but by the valour of Cromwel who fought under Manchester their whole Army was utterly defeated Prince Rupert his Ordnance his Carriages and Baggage being all taken This was the greatest Battel of the whole Civil War and might have proved a great Remora to the Kings proceedings had he not soon after worsted Essex in Cornwall who having lost all his Artillery returned to London The Parliament soon after new modelled their Army Sir Thom as Fairfax was chosen General in the room of Essex and now the Idol of a Treaty was set up at Vxbridge in which to shew the clearness of his Majesties intentions I have included some of his most material proceedings conducible to an Agreement betwixt him and the Parliament His Majesties particular Prayer for a Blessing on the Treaty O most merciful Father Lord God of Peace and Truth we a people sorely afflicted by the scourge of an unnatural War do earnestly beseech thee to command a Blessing from Heaven on this Treaty brought about by thy Providence the onely visible remedy left for the establishment of a happy Peace soften the most obdurate hearts with a true Christian desire of saving those mens bloud for whom Christ himself hath shed his O Lord let not the guilt of our sins cause this Treaty to break off but let the truth of thy Spirit so clearly shine in our mindes that all private ends laid aside we may every one of us heartily and sincerely pursue the Publick good and that the people may be no longer so blindely miserable as not see at least in this their day the things that belong to their peace Grant this gracious God for his sake who is our peace it self even Jesus our Lord Amen His Majesties Message to the Houses of Parliament which drew on the following Treaty at Uxbridge December 13. 1644. His Majesty hath seriously considered your Propositions and findes it very dffiicult in respect they import so great an alteration in Government both in Church and State to return a particular and positive Answer before a full debate wherein those Propositions and all the necessary explanations and reasons for assenting dissenting or qualifying and all inconveniences and mischiefs which may ensue and cannot otherwise be so well foreseen may be discussed and weighed his Majesty therefore proposeth and desireth as the best expedient for peace that you will appoint such number of persons as you shall think fit to treat with the like number of persons to be appointed by his Majesty upon the said Propositions and such other things as shall be proposed by his Majesty for the preservation and defence of the Protestant Religion with due regard to the ease of tender Consciences as his Majesty hath often offered the Rights of the Crown the Liberty and Propriety of the Subjects and the Priviledges of Parliament And upon the whole matter to conclude a happy and blessed Peace Sent by the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Southampton December 13. 1644 His Majesties Commission to certain Lords and Gentlemen to treat at Vxbridge with the Commissioners of the Lords and Commons assembled at Westminster c. Charles Rex Whereas after several Messages sent by us to the Lords and Commons of Parliament at Westminster expressing our desires of Peace certain Propositions were sent by them to us at Oxon in November last by the Earl of Denbigh and others and upon our Answers Messages and Propositions to them and their Returns to us it is now agreeed That there shall be a Treaty for a well-grounded Peace to begin at Uxbridge on Thursday the thirtieth day of this instant January as by the said Propositions Answers Messages and Returns in writing may more fully appear We do therefore hereby appoint assign and codnstitute James Duke of Richmond and Lennox William Marquess of Hertford Thomas Earl of Southampton Henry Earl of Kingston Francis Earl of Chichester Francis Lord Seymor Arthur Lord Capel Christopher Lord Hatton John Lord Culpeper Sir Edward Nicholas Knight one of cur principal Secretaries of State Sir Edward Hide Knight Chancellour and Vnder-Treasurer of our Exchequer Sir Richard Lane Chief Baron of our said Exchequer Sir Thomas Gardiner Sir Orlando Bridgeman Master John Asburnham and Master Jeffery Palmer together with Dr. Richard Steward upon the Propositions concerning Religion to be our Commissioners touching the Premises and do hereby give unto them or to any ten or more of them full power and authority to meet and on our part to treat with Algernon Earl of Northumberland Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery William Earl of Salisbury Basil Earl of Denbigh Thomas Lord Viscount Wentworth Denzil Hollis William Pierpoint Esquires Sir Henry Vane the younger Knight Oliver St. John Bulstrade Whitlock John Crew and Edmond Prideaux Esquires for the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster and John Earl of London Lord Chancellour of Scotland Archibald Marquess of Arguile John Lord Maytland John Lord Balmerino Sir Archibald Johnson Sir Charles Asking George Douglas Sir John Smith Sir Hough Kennedy and Master Robert Carly for the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland together with Master Alexander Henderson upon the Propositions concerning Religion or with any ten or more of them upon and touching the matters contained in the said Propositions Answers and Messages or any other according to the manner and agreement therein specified or otherwise as they or any ten or more of them shall think fit and to take all the Premises into their serious considerations and to compose conclude and end all Differences arising thereupon or otherwise as they or any ten or more of them in their wisdoms shall think fit and upon the whole matter to conclude a safe and well-grounded Peace if they can and whatsoever they or any then or more of them shall do in the Premises we do by these presents ratifie and confirm the same Given at our Court at Oxon the 28. day of January one thousand six hundred forty and four in the 20. year of our Reign His Majesties Instructions to the Commissioners at Uxbridge Concerning the Militia and Ireland First concerning Religion In this the Government of the Church as is set forth Sect. 3. Numb 14. Next concerning the Militia After Conscience this is certainly the fittest Subject for a Kings quarrel for without it the Kingly Power is but a shadow and therefore upon no means to be quitted but maintained according to the known Laws of the Land yet to attain to this so much wished peace of all good men it is in a manner necessary
that any one alive could suspect it of which himself at all times throughont the whole space of his life had given manifest testimonies Whereupon sayes the King that he deposited the testimony of his faith which this holy man meaning the Bishop or else expected defence in this behalf of all men who well knew his life and profession namely that I dye said he in the Christion Faith according to the profession of the Church of England as the same was left me by my Father of blessed memory Then looking about upon the Officers having sayes he a most gracious God and a most just cause that I shall by and by change this corruptible Crown for an immortal one I both trust and rejoyce that I shall depart hence into another Kingdom altogether exempt from all manner of disturbance Then preparing towards the Circumstances the Bishop putting on his Night cap and uncloathed him to his Sky-colour Sattin Wastecoat he said I have a good cause and a gracious God and gave his George Order to the Bishop bidding him to give it to the Prince There is but one stage more sayes the Bishop this is turbulent and troublesome and but a short one but it will soon dismiss into a way further even from Earth to Heaven there you are assured of joy and comfort I go sayes the King from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown where no disturbance can be but peace and joy for evermore Then lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven mildly praying to himself he stoopt down to the Block as to a prayer-desk and most humbly bowed down his generous Neck to God to be cut off by the vizarded Executioner which was suddenly done at one blow Thus fell Charles and thus all Regal Power with him His Body was buried at Windsor for to render him the more odious in the Vault with Henry the Eighth His Effigies at the Old Exchange being pulled down with this Inscription placed there Sic exit ultimus Tyrannus His own and his Fathers Statue being not long before thrown down from the West end of Pauls A late worthy Historian writes that though there were many excellent ones written on him yet the King himself was his own best Epitaph as his Reign and death makes as full and as perfect a story of goodness and glory as earth could suffer so his Christian vertues deserve as faithful a Register as earth can keep I shall conclude with one of our Modern Poets Crowns have their compass length of dayes their dates But time puts periods both to Crowns and States This Epitaph came to my hands which I have here inserted Within this sacred Vault doth lie The Quintessence of Majesty Which being set more glorious shines The best of Kings best of Divines Britains shame and Britains Glory Mirrour of Princes compleat Story Of Royalty one so exact That th' Elixirs of praise detract These are fair shadows but t' endure He 's drawn to th' life in 's Portraiture If such another Piece you 'ld see Angels must limn it out or he Master Lilly in his Monarchy or no Monarchy sayes that some affirm that severall Prodigies appeared before his death all he observed for a long time before was that there appeared almost every year several Mock-suns sometimes two sometimes three so also Mock-moons or Paracelenes which were the greatest he ever observed or feared The Life of the Lord CAPEL THis honourable Person though he was not like some of our other Worthies crowned with the Successes and Laurels of War yet is he no less to be eternized for his endeavours his animosity constancy and perseverance to the parting first with his vaste Estate sequestred for his Loyalty and aterwards with his Life so that he might rightly be termed The Flower of English Fidelity his name ever to be honourably mentioned according to that of the Psalmist Psal 112.6 The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance He was Son and Heir to Sir Arthur Capel of Hadham-hall in Hertfordshire a Gentleman of a great estate one who followed the old Mode of our Nation kept a bountiful house and shewed forth his faith by his works extending his Charity in such abundant manner to the poor that he was bread to the hungry drink to the thirsty eyes to the blinde and legs to the lame and might justly be stiled Great Almoner to the King of Kings Concerning the Humility of this worthy Knight though it be too sudden a diversion I shall presume to insert a story which I have heard delivered by some well acquainted with his worship That be being set at his gate all alone in a plain but decent habit a Serving-man who had plumed himself with his Masters cast feathers came riding to him and asked him if Sir Arthur Capel were within Sir replied the Knight he was there not long ago and if you please to walk in you may hear further of his servants Old Father said the Serving-man here take my Horse and first money he ever received in that kinde Sir Arthur agreed to the motion and with a smile received from him a single penny took his Horse and walkt him whilest the finical spruce Serving-man strutted with convenient boldness into the house but being informed by the Servants that their Master was at the Gate he replying to the contrary one of them to justifie their words went with him to the Gate to see where they found Sir Arthur very industrious in his employment the Serving-man very much ashamed of his mistake craved pardon and with humble obeisance with his Hat in his hand with many cringes would have received the Horse from the Knight Nay stay sayes Sir Arthur you paid me my hire get up as soon as you will I am resolved to see you on Horseback The old Knight putting his hand into his purse gave him half a peece which he said was for his taking so much care of his Masters Horse being purposely thus liberal to encourage his own Servants to imitate his careful example But to return to his Son he was very well educated attained to some perfection in learning he had a good expression and elegant stile as his own Letters hest delineate His Father dying as he inherited his Estate so did he his vertues his pious bounty appearing so conspicuous that some envious persons who hate good works in others because they will do none themselves have maliciously aspersed him for an inclination to Popery But as such aspersions amongst persons of understanding speak nothing but the speakers malice so wrought it in others a deserved commendation of this of our late Noble inimitable Lord more especially that in these last times when Charity lies bed-rid and faith onely so much talkt on whereas he made his Faith publickly known by his Works From the degree of Knight he was by King Charls advanced to be Baron of Hadham As it may be computed about that time the Earl of Strafford received his Tryal this unfortunate
Lord amongst others being one that gave his fatal Vote for the passing that Bill In those great differences betwixt the King and Parliament he constantly and faithfully adhered to his Majesty contributing very much to his aid both in purse and person and at such time as the King was secured in the Isle of Wight some hopes being given of his restauration to his former dignity by the coming in of Duke Hamilton with a potent Army as also of Langhorns Powels and Poyers declaring themselves for his Majesty together with the rising of the Countries in several places to the same unhappy purpose he with a selected number of his friends associates and servants joyned himself with the Lord Goring Sir Charles Lucas and others who with a great Party were up in Arms in Essex and having valiantly defended Colchester for the space of three moneths against a potent enemy sated with success were at length as I have already discoursed in the Life of Sir Charles Lucas for want of provision forced to yield both it and themselves the superior Officers to mercy the common Souldiers with the loss of their flying Garments the Townsmen to pay the mulct of fourteen thousand pounds which was above a thousand pounds a moneth for the time that they held out the Siege And for the Articles of agreement which the Cavaliers had made with General Fairfax they could not but imagine that they had ascertained their lives yet notwithstanding upon their surrender as hath been mentioned Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle were shot to death which to all discerning men must needs seem strange and unusual though the General in his Letter to the Parliament calls it Military Execution upon which the House debated and sent to the General to explain his Letter of the 29. of September His head Quarters were then at Saint Albanes from whence they had this answer That the General doth not take upon him to conclude but waving the business leaves them to the Civil Power and so in effect to Tryal for life The Lord Capel and divers others were committed to the Tower where whilest he remained he endeavoured an escape and had effected it had he not been betrayed by a second Banister a Water-man whom the Noble Lord intrusted himself with who ignominiously for the lucre of a little money discovered him not long after this his misfortune this honourable Lord together with the Earl of Holland Duke Hamilton the Earl of Norwich and Sir John Owen was brought to a Tryal before a High Court of Justice in Westminster Hall where for the brevity to omit the particulars after a formal Tryal they were all condemned the Earl of Norwich and the undaunted Welchman Sir John Owen whom they made march on Foot to his Tryal were reprieved It hath been reported that the Earl of Norwich who was ever pleasantly conceited was sent to by a dear friend of his the day after his Reprieve to know what he conceived as concerning the danger of his condition who returned this answer That he thought in all haste to have put off his Doublet but now he had leisure to unhook his Breeches But to return to our enterprise to furnish this Landskip rather then History of this honourable person concerning his deportment before and after the time of his condemnation when he was to encounter and look grim death in the face by way of introduction to a larger discovery of his Christian fortitude I shall set down the Copy of a Letter written by a reverend Doctor who knew the passages thereof as may be clearly perceived by the tenour of it SIR I hope this paper will finde you upon recovery you have my daily and hearty prayers for it not so much for your own sake for I doubt not but it would be much better for you in regard of your self to be dissolved and to be with Christ but in the behalf of the Church your Friends and poor Family to which notwithstanding be assured God will be merciful howsoever he disposeth of you either for this life or for a better But if you live as I pray and hope you will you shall do very well to write the Life and Death of that noble Lord and blessed Martyr who professed at his death That he dyed for the fifth Commandment and to dye in the defence and for the Testimony of any Divine truth is truly and properly to be a Martyr That which I can contribute towards this work is to communicate some few observations I made of him and from him before and after his condemnation I was several times with him and alwayes found him in a very chearful and well composed temper of minde proceeding from true Christiun grounds and not from a Roman resolution onely as his enemies are pleased to speak of him he told me often it was the good God he served and the good Cause he had served for that made him not to fear heath adding he had never had the temptation of so much as a thought to check him for his engagement in this quarrel for he took it for his Crown and Glory and wished he had a greater ability and better fortune to engage in it After his condemnation and the afternoon before his suffering we were a great while in private together when bewailing with that sense which became a true and not despairing penitent the sins of his life past the greatest he could remember was his voting my Lord of Straffords death which though as he said he did without any malice at all yet he confessed it to be a very great sin and that he had done it out of a base fear they were his own words of a prevailing party adding that he had very often and very heartily repented of it and was confident of Gods pardon for it Then he told me he had a great desire to receive the Blessed Sacrament so he called it before he dyed the next morning asking what Divine of the Kings party I would recommend to him I replyed that though many were more worthy yet none would be more willing to do that service then my self which he accepting very kindly told me he durst not desire it for fear it might be some danger to me After this and some conference in order to his preparation both for his viaticum and his voyage the Sacrament and his death he desired me to pray with him which after I had performed and promised to be with him by seven the next morning I left him for that time to his own devotions The next day I was there at the time assigned and after some short conference in order to the present occasion he desired me to hear him pray which he did for half an hour in an excellent method very apt expressions and most strong hearty and passionate affections First confessing and bewailing his sins with strong cries and tears then humbly and most earnestly desiring Gods mercy through the merits of Christ onely