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
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
served with the same sauce he intended to serve another verifying therein the ancient Proverb He that for others digs a pit Doth oft himself fall into it Having escaped this eminent danger he makes Licinius Governour of Sclavonia Co-partner with him in the Empire and to assure him to his side gives him his sister Constantia to wife and then with an Army of 90000. Foot and 8000 Horse hasteth towards Rome against Maxentius his enemy Constantine at the time of his setting forth of Brittain was as appeareth by Authours unsettled in his Religion for though he observed the adoration of the Gods of the Gentiles to be altogether frivolous and deceitful yet was he not confirmed in the Christian Faith but was then rather of no Religion then truly of any the cause of his conversion Eusebius and other Authours write was that being in his march against Maxentius aforesaid being then piously affected to worship and to invocate the true God he cast his eyes towards the East part of the Heavens and had presented unto him the sign of a Cross wherein were stars as letters so placed that visibly might be read this sentence IN HOC VINCE this sign being seconded by the voice of Angels confirmed him in that whereof before he was doubtful so that changing the Imperial Standard to the form of this vision as one armed from Heaven he marched against his hellish Adversary Who thinking to over-reach Constantine by a stratagem framed a false bridge over the River of Tybur but the trap he set for another he fell into himself for joyning battel with Constantine and being by him overcome either for haste or forgetfulness took over the same himself which falling under him as he passed he with many more were drowned escaping thereby a more cruel and ignominious death Maximinus who then governed the East part of the Empire hearing of the prosperous proceedings of Constantine purposed the destruction of him and all his partakers but man proposeth and God disposeth for he who dreamt of nothing less then a glorious victory was himself overcome by Licinius at Tarsus where he shortly after died being eaten up with lice Licinius hereupon growing insolent his prosperous proceedings making him ambitiously mad was in conceit no less then Emperour of the whole world so that now he began to unvizard himself and to show he was not what he pretended for though before he had outwardly suffered the Christian profession yet now he raised a bloody persecution against them in the East Constantine according to his Fathers commandment which was to wipe away all tears from the Christians eyes prepared his forces against this bloody persecutor with whom he encountred in the Countrey of Hungary his success being answerable to the justness of his cause Licinius and his Army being overthrown but he afterwards recruting in a battel at Byzantium was again overthrown and taken prisoner yet by the mediation of his wife Constantia had his life spared and confined within the City of Nicomedia but he afterwards endeavouring to recover his former dignity was for his treasons afterwards put to death so that then as Mr. Speed writes the peace of Gods Saints manifestly appeared and the progress of the Gospel passed uncontrolled Maxentius Maximinus and Licinius being vanquished Constantine remained sole Emperour under whom the Christians enjoyed Halcyon dayes returning from the deserts where before they were hidden Churches were reedified Temples founded and Festival Dayes celebrated in every place And that this foundation might have as glorious a building he congregated 318 Christian Bishops in the City of Nice where divers things were decreed for the godly government of the Church in that primitive Age. His next care was to demolish and pull down idolatrous Temples and Images as the Grove and Temple of Venus in Phenicia which was a School of wickedness to those which were addicted to lust where men and women frequently committed adulteries and fornications Constantine thinking it unfit that the sun should behold such villany sent a band of Souldiers to suppress it as also the Temple of Aesculapius with the Image of Venus at Heliopolis and many such like in other places Nor was his zeal more shown in suppressing Pagan Temples then in erecting structures for the advancing of Christianity building a most magnificent Temple in the very place where our Saviours Sepulchre was though some report it to have been built by his Mother Hellena but we will not herein set the Mother and Son at odds it may be she built it at his cost or that it was built by him and dedicated by her as also those other two the one on the Mountain where our Saviour Ascended the other over the Cave where he was Born The Kingdome of Christ beginning to appear thus visibly resplendent the Devil envying the prosperity thereof raised a new sedition in Antioch the whole City being divided into two factions about the choice of a Bishop Constantine well knowing that the War of the Church was the Infidels Peace wrote perswasive letters to them to maintain peace and concord among themselves which like lenitive Physick allay'd and cool'd the hot distempers of their rage who else had certainly killed and masacred one another Hitherto is Constantine's reign commended of most but the latter part of his life applauded of few In the first beginning of his reign saith Stow he was worthy to have been compared with the chiefest Princes of the Romans but for the end thereof to be resembled to such as were of the meaner sort Eutropius and Victor tax him of cruelty for putting to death his wife Fausta and Crispus his son though he be thereof excused by Paulus Orosius and Zosimus who affirme the causes of there deaths were just However he is taxed by other writers to have more prejudiced the Roman Empire then any of his predecessours first in removing the Imperiall seat from Rome to Bizantium adorning the same with magnificent buildings and commanding all the Princes of the Empire to raise therein some memorable edifices Likewise for transporting from Rome more curious statues and other costly monuments then any twenty of his predecessours had brought thither as the Image of the Goddess Pallas supposed to be the same that Aeneas brought from Troy the Image of Apollo of an unmeasurable higness with the statues of Juno Venus and Minerva where he also built a famous Library wherein were an hundred and twenty thousand Books changing the name to Constantinople which it still retaineth unto this day Another errour of this famous Prince was his dividing the Empire between his Children for though saith our learned Dr. Heylin it was quickly again reunited yet by his example others learned the same lesson renting the Empire into many pieces which finally occasioned the loss of the whole Another defect was his translating the Legions from Brittain France and Germany unto the Eastern Countrey for a Bulwark against the Persians thereby opening a gap for the barbarous
Philosopher Plutarch reports that Marcus Tullius that eloquent Orator obtained the name of Cicero by reason he had a thing upon the tip of his nose as it had beeen a riche pease whereupon they sirnamed him Cicero because Cicer in English signifieth a riche pease So likewise we read of Ovid that darling of the Muses that he got the name of Nasonis from the greatness of his Nose and in the perusual of our English Histories we shall meet with many of the like examples as of William the Second sirnamed Rufus from his red face Richard the First got the name of Cordelion from his inexpugnable and Lion like heart even so this famous Prince whose life we now relate was sirnamed Ironside from his notable courage and strength of body to endure all such pains as is requisite for a Souldier not so called as some would have it for that he used to go alwayes in armour He was third son to Ethelred commonly called the unready the eldest living at his Fathers death his two Brothers dying in defence of their Countrey made way for him to succeed in the Kingdome which notwithstanding was with much opposition as well of Forreigners as his natural Subjects so that he inherited his Fathers troubles as well as his Crown and might be said to be a King without a Kingdome The most part of the Clergy and many of the Nobility out of hatred to the Father rejected the Son and at Southampton chose Canutus for their King this Canutus was King of the Danes who for six and thirty years together had miserably oppressed the English Nation turning all into ruine wheresoever he came Churches and Monasteries were made subject to his desolations and Church-men and Monks felt his cruel and merciless doings Wife Daughter and Maid these cruel Danes abused at their pleasures yea they forced the chaste Nuns to their filthy pollutions insomuch that some of them to save their chastities destroyed their beauties deforming their bodies to keep their souls pure To redresse these enormities Edmund like another Maccabeus stood up for his Countrey and being Crowned at Kingstone by Levingus Archbishop of Canterbury he hasted to London being then besieged by Canutus where he soon forced the Danes to raise their siege and winter themselves in the Isle of Sheepie But the Spring come they suddainly assailed the West of England and were as suddainly themselves encountred by Edmund who with great courage though with a small Army gave them Battel at Penham in Dorcetshire where many of these destroyers were themselves destroyed the rest for fafety flying towards Salisbury Edmund having recruited and refreshed his Army hasted after them and at Sheorstan in Worcestershire a second Battel was fought where Edmund behaved himself most gallantly executing the office both of a hardy Souldier and valiant Commander and undoubtedly the Danes had received a great overthrow had not Duke Edrick who for his many treasons was sirnamed the Traytor cut off the head of a Souldier resembling Edmond and holding it aloft thus cryed to the English Fly ye wretches fly and get away for your King is slain behold here is his Head but Edmond hearing of this treacherous stratagem hasted to show himself to his Souldiers whose sight so revived their drooping spirits that had not the approaching night prevented them they had obtained that day a most glorious victory Duke Edricks life had paid for his treason had he not presently fled to the enemy who afterwards excusing the fact as being mistaken in the countenance of the man as he was willing to save the lives of the English he was afterwards received into favour again There were slain on both sides by the report of writers no fewer then 20000 Souldiers which may very well be true considering the Battel lasted two whole dayes and that of Canutus side were many English who fought with a most furious and desperate hatred to the Danes so true is that expression of the Poets The highest fury raigns in civil War And Countrey men in fight most cruel are The Danes by stealth breaking up their camp in the night time hasted towards London which City they earnestly desired to conquer and where their ships lay in manner of a siege but Edmonds coming forced them to discamne who entred the City in a triumphant manner and two dayes after gave them Battel at Brentford where notwithstanding in passing the Thamesis he lost many of his men yet obtained he the victory and forced them to their ships But as if the fable of Hydra had been turned to a verity though they were suppressed in one place yet with double strength they encreased in another and though Edmond in person obtained many a Victory yet by his Subjects disloyalty and Duke Edricks treachery what he got in one place he lost in another so that sometimes he and sometimes Canutus were reputed as alternate Kings as the fate of War was either with or against them as a Poet writes of the successes of those times Now one side wins anon doth lose again This week doth Edmond next Canutus reign The Danes altogether minding mischief and to make havock of all wheresoever they came whilst Edmond was retired into the West with great booties and spoils returned to their ships and sailing up the river of Medway pitched their tent near Oteford in Kent Edmond as willing to save as they to destroy hasted after and pitched not far from his enemies Camp where he exhorted his Souldiers to remember their former victories and not to droop at the fight of them whom so often they had vanquished that the onely way to victory was to fight valiantly whilst cowards were causers of their own overthrow that those whom they dealt with were their ancient enemies accustomed to robberies enriched with rapines fatned with man-slaughters and tainted with perjuries their cause being thus just he desired them to fight valiantly and God would crown their endeavours with good success the edge of their valours whetted sharp by this oration with a general shout presaging victory they fell upon the Danes whom they discomfitted and slew of them to the number of four thousand five hundred and lost of their own onely six hundred This Victory might have put a Period to the Wars had not Duke Edrick disswaded Edmond from pursuing after them alledging the danger of ambush and the overwearied bodies of his Souldiers so that Canute thereby had leasure in safety to pass over into Essex Where beginning again to rob and spoil the Countrey many of the English for fear submitted themselves unto him but the restles Ironside hasted after them and at Ashdone three miles from Saffron Walden another Battel was fought where the Danes being at the point to have lost the day the traiterous Edrick revolted to their side by which treachery the English were overthrown In this bloody Battel the flower of the English Nobility lost their lives as Duke Alfred Duke Goodwyn Duke Athelward Duke
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
faithfull and honest enemy or hurtful to none insomuch that this verse was rightly applied unto her Sicut spind Rosam Genuit Godwinus Egitham From prickled stalk as sweetest Rose So Egith fair from Godwin grows This Lady though accomplished with these endowments of minde and body the King notwithstanding refrained her bed committing thereby the offence forbidden by the Apostle 1 Cor. 7.5 Or if at any time he admitted her his bed it was no otherwise then David with Abishag for so much he himself on his death-bed did declare saying That openly she was his Wife but in secret embracings as his own Sister But whether it were for his debellity of body or love to Virginity I determine not certain it is he was content to hear her accused of incontinency whereof if she were guilty he could not be innocent nor can this his chastity though applauded by many be accounted otherwise then an injury and too tyrannical a trial of his Wives Vertues The King having no issue of his own and desirous to establish the Crown in the English blood sent into Hungary for his Nephew Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside who by reason of his long absence out of England was commonly called by the name of the Out-law who coming over brought with him his Wife Agatha and Edgar Margret and Christian his Children in hope of the Kingdom but his hopes with himself soon dissolved into dust for he lived but a while after so that Edward thereby was disappointed of his intentions which was to have made him his Successour in the Crown whereupon without delay he pronounced Edgar the Out-laws Son and his great Nephew Heir to the Crown and gave him to sirname Adeling a name appropriated to Princes of the blood which were born in hope and possibility of the Kingdom Whilest Edward was thus busied about settling a Successour Eustace Earl of Bulloigne who had married his Sister Goda came over into England to visit him and returning homeward at Canterbury his Harbinger dealing roughly with a Burgess for Lodgings caused his own death whereupon he in revenge killed the said Burgess with eighteen other Citizens the Canterburians herewith incensed in a great rage armed themselves killed twenty of his retinue and forc'd the Earl himself to flight who returning back again to the King exhibited grievous complaints against the Townsmen whereupon Earl Godwin was commanded to see execution done upon the offenders but he not greatly affecting the Earl was not overhasty to execute his commission but advised the King to examine the matter further before he proceeded against his true Subjects at the instigation of Strangers this Counsel though it gained him the love of the Commons procured the hatred of most of the Nobility who so incensed the King with his refusal that a day of meeting was appointed at Gloucester wherein Earl Godwin should answer his contempt The day come and the estates assembled Earl Godwin was sent for but refused to appear alledging his present service against the Welsh then ready to enter into Rebellion but they by Ambassadours clearing themselves the suspicions encreased and great preparation for War was made on both sides To the aid of the King came Leofrick Earl of Chester Siward Earl of Northumberland and Rodulf Earl of Hereford with competent forces to Godwin repaired his people of Kent and Surrey his two sons Harold and Swain bringing with them the men of Essex Norfolk Suffolk Cambridge Huntington Somerset Oxford Hereford Gloucester and Barkshires so that his Army exceeding the Kings made him so much exceed in pride as to demand Eustace Earl of Bulloign with all his French and Normans to be delivered unto him which being as good reason was denyed each side prepared themselves to battel but through the advice of some then present the matter was ended without blood-shed and referred to a Parliament to be holden at London so that now both sides seemed to be indifferently well pacified but under these ashes of dissimulation lay hidden burning coals of fire and revenge burst out into a flame for Edward with a strong guard entred London and Earl Goodwin with his sons in warlike manner came into Southwark to his own house where his great army soon dissolyed into nothing his Souldiers for the most part returning home again which when Edward understood he presently pronounced sentence of banishment upon him and his five sons without further proceeding by way of Parliament And that his wife who was daughter to Earl Godwin should have her sad share in the afflictions of her Parents brethren who were banished the realm he committed her Prisoner to the Monastery of Wilton attended onely with one maid an unjust act unbefitting a King to punish the Child for the Fathers offences contrary to the prescript Rule of God Ezek. 18.20 The soul that sinneth it shall dye the Son shall not bear the iniquity of the Father neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son Yea it was the observation of a Heathen man It is meer injustice if the father be a Rebell that the son should therefore be accounted a Traytour Yet as the Poet hath it Yet notwithstanding we see oftentimes Children are punish'd for their fathers crimes But as things violent are not long permanent so this storm of dissention betwixt King Edward and Earl Goodwin was soon blown over for the Nobles interceding for him unto the King a reconciliation was made and Earl Goodwin restored to his former Dignities but though the King forgave him his Treasons the King of kings forgot not his Perjury for he falsely swearing himself to be clear of Prince Alfreds death and wishing if he were guilty he might never swallow down one morsel of bread God himself manifested the truth and according to his wish though not his desire it happened unto him A fearful example to all foresworn wretches of Gods heavy judgements on their perjury Another Act of this Kings was touching his Mother which proclaimed him if not undutiful yet very unnatural he was troubled with an infirmity his ears were alwayes opened to the complaints of strangers and their mouths alwayes full with complaints against the English Robert Archbishop of Canterbury a Norman by birth accused Queen Emma that under colour of private devotions she had over familiarly accompanied with Alwine Bishop of Winchester The King crediting the Archbishops words forced her to wipe off this imputation to pass the triall of fire Ordeal which was by passing bare-footed and blinde-folded over nine Plow-shares glowing red hot and laid at unequal distance which she did without any hurt to the great astonishment of all the beholders in memory whereof she gave nine Mannors to the Minster of Winchester according to the number of the Plow-shares she had passed in her trial And Edward repenting the wrong he had done her bestowed on the same place the Island of Portland in Dorsetshire being about seven miles in compass for so the chance in those
intended to adjudge him a perjured person and also a traytor for not yielding temporal Allegiance to his temporal Sovereign as himself had sworn to do and accordingly the Prelates themselves by joynt consent adjudged him of perjury and by the mouth of the Bishop of Chichester disclaimed thence forward all obedience unto him as their Archbishop But Becket herewith nothing daunted caused to be sung before him the next day at the Altar that Psalm Principes fedent The Princes sit and speak against me and the ungodly persecute me c. and forthwith taking his Silver Crosier in his own hands enters armed therewith into the Kings Prefence who more and more enraged at Beckets insolency commandeth his Peers to sit in judgement on him as on a traytor and the Courtiers like Ecchoes answering the King the whole Court sounded nothing but Treason so that Becket afraid of being slain hasteth home and changing his costly Robes into course Rags passeth over into Flanders calling himself by the name of Dereman The Archbishop gone the King banishes all his Kindred out of his Dominions and he on the other side excommunicates all such as had to do against him at length the King of France with intreaty and the Pope with the terrour of the Churches censures made a full atonement and reconciliation between them the Archbishop in great triumph returned to England having been absent from his native Countrey for the space of seven years All controversies seemed now fully to be ended though the sequel thereof proved far otherwise for some excommunicated Bishops and other men of great account desiring to be absolved he refused to do it unless with this caution that they should stand to the judgement of the Church in those things for which they were excommunicated but they disdaining the pride of the Archbishop poste over into Normandy where the King was then informing him that Thomas was now grown more haughty then before that he went up and down with great Troops of men both Horse and Foot that attended on him as upon the Kings own Royal Person that to be a King indeed he wanted but the name and setting the Crown upon his head The King herewith highly incensed in a great rage said And is it possible that I cannot peaceably enjoy neither Kingdom Dignity nor Life and all this for one onely priest Cursed be all such as eat my bread since none will revenge me of this fellow These words being over-heard by four Knights Sir Morvil Sir William Tracy Sir Hugh Brito Sir Richard Fitz-urse they thinking to do the King a pleasure though as the sequel of his reign proved they could not have done him a greater injury hasted into England and in his own Church of Canterbury most barbarously murthered him being then about 48. years of age not long after he was Canonized by Pope Alexander and the day of his death being the 29. of December kept annually holy Many miracles are reported to have been done by him and his Shrine so inriched by Pilgrims which from all places came thither in devotion that at the defacing thereof in the time of King Henry the Eighth the spoil thereof in Gold and Precious Stones filled two great Chests such as six or eight strong men could do no more then convey one of them at once out of the Church Thus the Images of many men were richly clothed when many poor Christians Gods Image went almost naked so full of charity were those empty times of knowledge a shame to us who know more but practice less Draiton in his Polyolbion hath these verses on him Concerning whom the world since then hath spent much breath And many questions made both of his life and death If he were truly just he hath his right if no Those times were much to blame that have him reckoned so Stapleton a Jesuite put forth a book entituled Tres Thomas Saint Thomas the Apostle Thomas of Becket and of Sir Thomas Moor he Canonizes the two last of either of which he writes six times as much as of St. Thomas the Apostle The Life of RICHARD the First THis reign as it in part epitomizes the History of the holy War without being guilty of an omission of the most admired part of Chronical History I could not but insert Richard the first who for his inexpugnable and Lion-like heart obtained the sirname of Coeur de Lion he was a most valiant and magnanimous Prince accustomed to Wars he died in the fields of Mars of whom as a Prince we shall say nothing having so much to relate of him after he came to be King This martial Prince born in a martial age was third son to King Henry the Second and succeeded him in the Crown after his Decease his elder Brothers dying before their Father At his Coronation he commanded no Jews should be present but they desirous to see the solemnities hasted thither in great numbers but the price of their lives paid for the pleasure of their eyes the common people falling upon them and slaying a great number so ominous to the enemies of Christ was the first day of this Kings reign presaging saith one his following successes in the Jewish Countreys For intending a journey to Jerusalem not as a Pilgrim to see the City but as a Souldier to conquer the Countrey he raises an Army of thirty thousand Foot and five thousand Horse his next care was for money the sinews of War and notwithstanding his Father had left him eleven hundred thousand pound a vast sum for that age yet was it no thought sufficient for so great a journey Therefore to the end he might be able to go thorow with his work he sells the Castles of Berwick and Roxborough to the Scottish King for ten thousand pounds the Priory of Coventry to Hugh Bishop of Chester for 300. marks and the County of Northumberland to Hugh Bishop of Duresme for his Life jeasting he had made a new Earl of an old Bishop then feigning he had lost his old Seal he made a new one proclaiming that whosoever would safely enjoy those things which before time they had enrolled should come to the new Seal by which princely skill not to say cheat he squeezed much money out of his Subjects purses Having proceeded thus far towards his journey his next care was for securing the Kingdom of England in his absence On his Brother John whom he knew to be of an ambitious spirit and apt to take fire on the least occasion on him he heaped both riches and honour that by his liberality he might win him to loyalty but the chief Government of the Land he committed to William Longchamp Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellour of England chusing him for his Viceroy rather then any lay-Earl because a Coronet perchance may swell into a Crown but never a Mitre with him was joyned in Commission Hugh Bishop of Durham for the parts of England beyond Humber Yet as Suetonius reports of the
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
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
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
and so they are of more value The message sent you from Rochell of some dangerous intent upon Ireland from Spain hath more appearance for that we also hear it from Spain confirmed and it is the same that before I advertsed you concerning Stukelie I also smell some purpose of the Count Lodowicks coming with Ships towards the Low Countries to accompany the design for his brother the Prince of Orange whereof I would look for some better success if I had not understanding thereof so many wayes for the force of that enterprise should consist in suddenness and secresie which are not like to take place Thus much for your first Letter Now to the second brought by Wigmore The Queens Majesty liketh well of your proceedings with the Spanish Ambassador there and marvelleth that he should be so coy with you considering the reports of his former courtesies but by likelihood some other accident moved it which by your next speech will be better discovered The cause why that Ambassadour could not be answered sooner of the matter whereof he advertised her Majesty from the Duke of Alva was for that her Majesty could not sooner hear thereof from the Duke If you shall finde it convenient to impart matters to the said Ambassador you may let him know of these things following one Monsieur Senegew a Low Countreyman is coming to end the treaty for restitution on both sides of the Merchants goods There are lately come into the Ports of the West certain Hulks laden from Spain and Portugal driven by tempest and because they should be well used the Ambassador here for the King though in other things he be not used hath been dealt withall to name certain strangers Merchants to resort to the Ports and they have special Authority from us to put the same in all good safety and that no dealing shall be by any to the impairing of the said goods and this special favour is shewed because the time of restitution is at hand And therefore we mean not to give any cause of quarreling There were also certain other Ships of War that came from Spain being of the company which conducted the Queen of Spain into Spain which being furnished with Souldiers were favourably entertained and permitted to depart at their pleasure of these things you may give him knowledge to make him have a better taste in his mouth he may perchance contrariwise complain of spoil of his Masters Subjects by pyrats haunting the Narrow Seas and especially about the Isle of Weight and I cannot deny the spoils but surely they are committed by one Lubrest and others belonging to the Prince of Orange which we cannot remedy and yet Mr. Horsey is presently dispatched with Authority to set forth certain Ships either to take them or drive them from our Coast I confess to you privately they are too much favoured Lucri Causa but you may know truly that the Queens Majesty doth in no wise favour them Thus much to the second Letter Now to some credit given by Mr. Beal concerning a few words shall suffice it I cannot judge any thing in a 2 3 4 6 8. the matter is much liked and all furtherers thereof allowed and all disswaders not liked I am commanded thus to write that if any mention should be made to you thereof you should show your self willing to advertise and so you shall do well The retardation used herein by H. is not liked by A. and the good will of L. in the furtherance is allowed by this you may perceive how to order your self and surely this principle I hold that no one thing shall warrant more surety and quietness to the Queens Majesty the 3 5 7 in but the manner and circumstance are of the substance of my principals and not accidents herein I deal boldly with you I finde nothing in your writing or doing but allowable if otherwise I did I would advertise you for friendship to your self and for good will to the Office you bear Although I cannot advertise you certainly as I would of the Grant of your Leases yet I am in the forwardness as I trust by next writing to send you knowledge thereof You must hereby be acquainted with the delayes of the Court. From Greenwich the third of May 1570 Sir Thomas Smith I trust shall be admitted to the Councel to morrow and shortly after to be Secretary I pray you Sir commend me to Mr. Cavalcant Yours assuredly William Burleigh I have the rather word for word inserted the familiar passages of these two Letters that the vigilancy of this great Statesman might be the more clearly and plainly discovered To proceed he had not to do with the Sword more then as the great Pay-master and Contriver of War which shortly followed wherein he acomplished much thorow his theoricall knowledge at home and intelligence abroad by unlocking the Counsels of the Queens enemies he being withall so careful a Steward of her Treasure that her Exchequer had money or credit when the King of Spain wanted both In that great Faction betwixt Leicester and Sussex he meddled not openly with though it is easie to tell whom he wished best too the Earl of Leicester gave him several rubs and he some neat State trips but still in the dark they would not take notice of what one acted against another We must now take and that of truth into observation that until the tenth year of her Reigh her times were calm and serene though sometimes a little overcast as the most glorious sun-risings are subject to shaddowings and droppings for the clouds of Spain and vapors of the Holy League began then to disperse and threaten her Serenity moreover she was then to provide against some intestine storms which began to gather in the very heart of her Kingdom all which had a relation and correspondency each with other to dethrone her and disturb the publique tranquility and therewithal as a principal work the established Religion for the name of Recusant began then and first to be known to the world and till then the Catholiques were no more then Church Papists but were commanded by the Popes expresse Letters to appear and forbear Church-going as they tender their Holy Father and the Holy Catholique Church their Mother So that it seems the Pope had then his aim to take a true muster of his Children but the Queen had the greater advantage for she likewise took tale of her Apostate Subjects their strength and how many they were that had given up their names He then by the hands of some of his Proselytes fixed his Bulls on the gates of Pauls which discharged her Subjects of all fidelity and laid siege to the received Faith and so under the vail of the next Successour to replant the Catholique Religion so that then the Queen had a new task and work in hand that might well awake her best providence and required a Muster of Men and Arms as well as Courtships and Councels for
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
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
Whose ready Sails with every Winde can flie And make a covenant with th' unconstant Skie Our Oaks secure as if they there took root We tread on Billows with a steady foot Mean while the Spaniards in America Near to the Line the Sun approaching saw And hop'd their European Coasts to finde Clear'd from our ships by the Autumnal Winde Their huge capacious Gallions stuft with Plate The labouring windes drives slowly towards their fate Before Saint Lucar they their Guns discharge To tell their Joy or to invite a Barge This heard some Ships of ours though out of view As swift as Eagles to the Quarry flew So heedless Lambs which for their mothers bleat Wake hungry Lions and become their meat Arriv'd they soon begin that Tragick play And with their smoaky Cannon banish day Night horrour slaughter with confusion meets And in their sable Arms embrace the Fleets Through yielding Planks the angry Bullets fly And of one Wound hundreds together dye Born under different Stars one Fate they have The Ship their Coffin and the Sea their Grave Bold were the men which on the Ocean first Spread their new Sails whilest shipwrack was the worst More danger now from men alone we finde Then from the Rocks the Billows or the Winde They that had sail'd from near th' Antartick Pole Their Treasure safe and all their Vessels whole In sight of their dear Countrey ruin'd be Without the guilt of either Rock or Sea What they would spare our fiercer Art destroyes Excelling storms in terror and in noise Once Jove from Hyda did both Hoasts survey And when he pleas'd to thunder part the Fray Here Heaven in vain that kinde Retreat should sound The louder Cannon had the thunder drown'd Some we made Prize while others burnt and rent With their rich Lading to the bottom went Down sinks at once so fortune with us sports The Pay of Armies and the Pride of Courts Vain man whose rage buries as low that store as Avarice had digg'd for it before What Earth in her dark bowels could not keep From greedy hands lies safer in the deep Where Thetis kindely doth from Mortals hide Those seeds of Luxury Debate and Pride And now into her lap the richest Prize Fell with the noblest of our Enemies The Marquis glad to see the fire destroy Wealth that prevailing Foes were to enjoy Out from his flaming Ship his Children sent To perish in a milder Element Then laid him by his burning Ladies side And since he could not save her with her dy'd Spices and Gums about them melting fry And Phenix-like in that rich nest they dye Death bitter is for what we leave behinde But taking with us all we love is kinde What could he more then hold for term of life His Indian Treasure and his more priz'd Wife Alive in flames of equal love they burn'd And now together are to ashes turn'd Ashes more worth then all their Funerals cost Then the huge Treasure which was with them lost These dying Lovers and their floating Sons Suspend the Fight and silence all our Guns Beauty and Youth about to perish findes Such noble pitty in brave English mindes That the rich Spoil neglecting and the Prize All labour now to save their Enemies How frail our passion's how soon changed are Our wrath and fury to a friendly care They that but now to gain the Spanish Plate Made the Sea blush with Blood forget their hate And their young Foes while sinking they retrive With greater danger then they fought they dive With these returns Victorious Mountague With Laurel in his hands and half Perue Let the brave General divide that Bough Our great Protector hath such Wreaths enough His conquering Head hath no more room for Bayes Then let it be as the whole Nation prayes Let the rich Oare forthwith be melted down And the State fixt by making him a Crown With Ermins clad and Purple let him hold A Royal Scepter made of Spanish Gold That these Poetical Addresses may not seem too full of flattery it will not be amiss to insert what I have found under one of his Pictures engraven beyond the Seas Cernimus hic omni caput admirabile mundo Regibus hic Frater Populis Pater Host is multum Nullius ille timet quam summi Numinis Arma. Quis dubitat sacro hoc si pergat Flamine Victor Quod Reges Populi Barbariesque stupent Barbariem vera Religione domat Non timet at Pacem cuillibet esse parat Quin subito Meretrix de Babylone cadet These were the then glosses of several persons he came nearest the mark that said He was a Prince in his time I shall wave these Hyperbole's even to the Antipathy of what Vir quintae Monarchiae sets down That as he was Protectour he had a more unlimited power then any King before him About this time Christina Queen of Sweden made a resignation of the Crown a president seldom heard of putting her self into the condition of a Lady Errant to which purpose she made these propositions to the Prince her successor 1. She will retain the best part of the Kingdom and the Custom to her self 2. She would not be subject but free of her self without controul 3. That she would travel whither she pleased To which the Prince returned this answer 1. That he would not be a King without a Kingdom 2. He would have no more Rival then she a Supericur 3. He would not hazard himself about her designs abroad How these different Proposals were composed I know not but in a short time she resigned up all leaving her self only the bare title of the Queen of Sweden travelling up and down according as her wilde fancy led her and for the total finishing of this Comick Scene she at length also resigned up her Religion and was received into the bosome of the Church of Rome This Christina being first undermined with money which she wanted having lived at a great heighth Carolus Gustavus having a Regal aim so supplied her occasions as to the engaging of her Heroick Person to look more directly upon those respects which though she was the Daughter of Great Gustavus of a Masculine spirit yet in respect of the constitution of the Nation which could not admit of a Feminine conduct she was as it were forc'd to surrender he was suddenly afterwards proclaimed King the Queen having first formally resign'd all to him The Swede being now in his full power the Protectour honouring of his Martial spirit comparing their somewhat resembling rises ballancing in his minde the Swedes monstrous successes none in Europe being so like his own either for the Discipline of the Sword or to the future interests of Princes as to their consternation and fear more especially as he had poized in his discretion the Danish Affairs he sends the Pick-lock of the Law a Gentleman of admirable parts and inimitable Civilities the Lord Whitlock who as his Ambassadour perfected an Offensive and Defensive League with