700 Marks And Aaron another Jew protested the K since his last being in France had taken from him at several times 30000 Marks of Silven beside 200 Marks of Gold given to the Queen At another time this King Henry squeez'd a sum out of the Jews and then let them out to farm to his brother Richard for a considerable sum which he payd him and he was to make what more of them he could He likewise built a Church for Converted Jews in London It happened about this time that a Jew fell into an House of Office upon Saturday and would not be taken out that day because it was the Jews Sabbath Whereupon the Earl of Gloucester said He should not then be taken out on the Sunday because it was the Christian Sabbath So that when Monday came he was taken out dead In the 7. of Edward the First the Jews at Northampton crucified a Christian Boy upon Good-fryday but did not throughly kill him for which fact many Jews at London were after Easter drawn at the horse tails and hanged The same year King Edward called in all the old money and coined new because it had been much clipped and defaced by the Jews for which 297 were at one time executed in London And in the eighteenth year of his Reign all the Jews were banished out of London and England there being at that time above fifteen thousand in the kingdom who had all their Goods seized and confiscate to the Kings use and onely so much money left them as would bear their charges out of the kingdom But before this he ordained that the Jews should wear a Mark or Cognizance upon their upper Garments whereby to be known and restrained their excessive taking of Usury In the Year 1656. several Proposals were made to Oliver Cromwel by Manasseh Ben Israel a Jewish Merchant in behalf of the Hebrew Nation for their free admission to trade and exercise their Religion in England and a Conference was held about it several days at Whitehall by divers Members of the Council and certain Ministers of the most eminent then in esteem and many arguments were urged some for and others against their admission but those that were against it so far prevailed that the Proposals took no effect And so much concerning the Jews To return now to the series of the Story King William Rufus was taxed with great Prodigality because when his Chamberlain brought him a new pair of Hose he asked what they cost and was told three shillings Away base Fellow quoth he are these beseeming a King Bring me a pair of a Mark. His Chamberlain went and bringing him another pair not so good as the former and telling him they cost a Mark I marry saith the King these are something like and was better satisfied with hearing what they cost than with seeing what they were worth and yet this was no disrepute to his wisdom for to say truth it is no defect of wisdom in a King not to know what his clothes are worth And though the Monks that writ in those times charge this King with covetousness yet by the following instance it doth not appear For when two Monks came to Court and offered large gifts to out-vie each other in obtaining an Abbots place lately dead a third Monk who was very sober and mean in attire came with them and stood by whom the King asked what he would give to be Abbot Nothing said the Monk for I entered my Profession to be poor and have hitherto little esteemed the Pomp and Riches of the World Then thou art the man replied the King and art more worthy to he their Abbot for thy Poverty than they for their Presents and conferring the place upon him checked the others But however there arose a great difference between him and Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury because he required the Bishop to give him a Thousand Marks for preferring him to that See which Anselm refused to give as judging it no less Simony to give after the preferment than before but yet afterward offering five hundred pound the King refused to accept it as being worth he said five times as much Whereupon Anselm told him Your Grace may have me and all that is mine to serve your turn in a friendly manner but in the way of servitude and bondage you shall neither have me nor mine Which-words so angred the King that they could never after be reconciled And Anselm often threatning to go to Rome the King told him plainly He would not thrust him out of the Realm but if he would go without his leave he would keep him out during his pleasure and besides he should carry nothing out of the Kingdom with him Yet Anselm ventured it and the King performed it for William Walwerst was sent to rifle him of all he had in his passage to Sea neither was he suffered to return as long as the King lived during all which time the King took the Profits of his Bishoprick to his own use This King enlarged the Tower of London and compassed it with new Walls he also built the great Hall at Westminster being 270 foot in length and 74 in breadth but thinking it too little he intended to have built another Hall which should have reached from the Thames to Kingstreet In the fourth Year of his Reign on St. Lukes day so great a Tempest of Wind happened that above six hundred Houses in London were thrown down therewith and the Roof of S. Mary le Bow Church in Cheapside was blown off which with the Beams were carried into the Air a great height and in the fall six of the Beams being 27 foot long were driven so deep into the Ground the streets not being then paved with stone that not above four foot remained in sight and yet stood in such rank and order as the Workman had placed them on the Church In the ninth Year of his Reign a blazing Star appeared with two Bushes or Tails and other Stars seemed to shoot darts at each other The last of his Reign the Sea breaking over its Banks destroyed a multitude of People and overwhelmed the lands sometime of Earl Goodwin in Kent which are yet called Goodwins Sands There was likewise a Well that cast out bloud instead of water for 15 days together and great flames of fire were seen at divers times and places All which Prodigies seemed to foretel the Kings death approaching for having kept his Christmas at Gloucester his Easter at Winchester and his Whitsuntide at Westminster notwithstanding he was forewarned by many signs of some great disaster as his own dream the night before wherein it seemed to him that the Veins of his arms were burst and abundance of blood streaming on the floor And of a certain Monk who dreamed that he saw the King gnaw the Image of a Crucifix with his Teeth and that as he was about to bite away the Legs of it the Crucifix with his feet spurn'd him
King John went with a full Resolution having now got a very great Army together to give present Battle to Lewis but as he was passing the Washes of Lincolnshire which are always dangerous all his Carriages Treasure and Provision were irrecoverably lost in the the Sands himself and his Army hardly escaping The kingdom was now made the Stage of all manner of Rapine and Cruelty having two Armies in it at once each of them seeking to prey upon the other and both of them upon the Country Which the Lords seriously reflecting upon and finding likewise their faithful Services to Lewis little regarded since he bestowed all places that were conquered upon French men onely they began to consider how they might free themselves from these Calamities But that which startled them most was that a Noble French man called Viscount de Melun whâ— was very much in esteem with Lewis being upon his death-bed in London desired to have somâ— private conference with those English Lords and Londoners to whom Lewis had committed the Custody of that City to whom he discovered That lamentable desolation and secret and unsuspected ruine and destruction hung over their heads since Lewis with sixteen others of his chief Earls and Lords of whom himself was one had taken an Oath that if ever the Crown of England were setled on his head they would condemn to perpetual banishment all such as now adhered to him against King John as being Traitors to their own Sovereign and that all their Kindred and Relations should be utterly rooted out of the Land This he affirmed to be true as he hoped for the salvation of his now departing soul and thereupon counselling them timely to prevent their approaching miseries and in the mean while to lock up his words under the Seal of Secresie he soon after departed this life These dreadful Tidings strangely amazed the Auditors and though many of the Lords doubted whether if they returned to their Allegiance toward King John he would ever accept of their Repentance since they had so highly provoked him Yet forty of them immediately sent submissive Letters to the King therein expressing their sorrow and hoping that true Royal Bloud would be ever ready to yield mercy to such as were ready to yield themselves prostrate to intreat for it But these solicitors for mercy came too late for King John through vexation of mind for the loss of his Carriages fell into a high Fever whereof within few days he died Though the manner of his death is otherwise reported by other Authors one of whom saith he was poisoned at Swinshead Abby by a Monk of that Covent upon the following account The King being told that Corn was very cheap said That it should be dearer ere long for he would make a penny loaf to be sold for a shilling At which Speech the Monk was so offended that he put the poison of a Toad into a Cup of Wine and brought it to the King telling him There was such a cup of Wine as he had never drank in all his life and therewithal drank first of it himself which made the King drink more boldly of it but finding himself very ill upon 〈◊〉 he asked for the Monk and when it was told him that he was fallen down dead Then saith the King God have mercy upon me I doubted as much Others say Poison was given him in a dish of Pears and add that this was judged such a meritorious act that the Monk had a Mass appointed to be said for his soul for ever after by his Fellow-Monks This King is charged with Irreligion by the Monks of those times who did not love him and therefore we know not how far they are to be believed And among other Speeches That having been a little before reconciled to the Pope and afterward receiving a great overthrow from the French he in great anger cried out That nothing had prospered with him since he was reconciled to God and the Pope And that at another time being a hunting â—e merrily said at the opening of a fat Buck See how this Deer hath prospered and how fat he is and yet I dare swear he never heard Mâ—ss He is likewise charged that being in some distress he sent Thomas Hardington and Ralph Fitz-Nichols Knights Ambassadors to Miramâ—malim King of Africa and Morocco with offer of his kingdom to him if he would assist him and that if he prevailed he himself would become a Turk and renounce the Christian Religion To this time the City of London had been governed by two Bailiffs but the King in his tenth Year taking displeasure against them for denying his Purveyors Wheat he imprisoned them till 35 of the chief Citizens repaired to him and acquainted him with what small store the City had and how the Commons were ready to make an Insurrection about it he was then satisfied and likewise at their suit he by a New Charter granted â—o the Citizens to elect a new Mayor and 2 Sheriffs to be chosen yearly nine days before Michaelmas which Order hath continued to this day though with some alteration as to time In this Kings time likewise five and thirty of the most substantial Citizens were chosen out and called the Common Council of the City In this Kings time there fell Hail as big as Goose eggs with great Thunder and Lightning so that many Men Women and Cattle were destroyed Houses overthrown and burned and Corn in the Fields beaten down In 1202. and the 4. of King John there began a Frost the 14. of January which continued to the 22. of March that the Ground could not be tilled so that in the Summer following a Quarter of Wheat was sold for a Mark which in the days of Henry the second was sold for twelve pence and a Quarter of Beans or Oats for a Groat and why the disproportion in the prices is now so great since the price of Silver is much less altered for an ounce of Silver was then valued at twenty pence which is now valued at five shillings must be left to Philosophers to give the reason for since scarcity makes things dear why should not plenty make them cheap About this time Fishes of strange shape were taken armed with Helmets and Shields like armed men onely they were much bigger A certain Monster was likewise found stricken with Lightning not far from London which had an head like an Ass a belly like a Man and all other parts far differing from any other Creature And in another place a Fish was taken alive in the form of a Man and was kept six Months upon Land with raw flesh and fish and then because they could not make it speak they cast it into the Sea again In the ninth of King John the Arches and Stone bridge over the Thames at London was quite finished by Serle Mercer and William Alman then Procurators and Masters of the Bridge-house and soon after a great Fire happened there of which
may say upon the Confines of his Destiny His Gracing of undeserving Men and Disgracing of Men deserving if they were not the Causes were at least the occasions of his own Disgracing He was now come to be of full Age to do all himself which was indeed to be of full Age to undo himself for the Errors of his younger years might be excused by inexperience but the faults of the Age he was now of admit of no Apology nor defence And to hasten his destiny the sooner the Evil Counsel which was formerly but whispered in his Ear they now had the Confidence to give him aloud For it was told him That he was under Tuition no longer and therefore not to be controlled as formerly he had been That to be crost of his will by his Subjects was to be their Subject That he is no Soveraign if he be not Absolute By the instigation of such Counsellors as these the King in a Parliament then Assembled fell to expostulate with the Lords asking them What years they thought him to be of who answering That he was somewhat more than one and Twenty Well then said he I am out of your Wardship and expect to enjoy my Kingdom as freely as you your selves at the like years enjoy your Patrimonies But saith our Author his flattering Favourites should have remembred that though the King may not be controlled where he can command yet he may be opposed where he can but demand as now indeed he was For when he demanded a Subsidy toward his Wars He was answered That he needed no Subsidy from his Subjects if he would but call in the debts that the Chancellor owed him and if he were so tender that he could not do that work himself they would do it for him And thereupon charged him with such Crimes that all his Goods were Confiscate and himself adjudged to dye if the King pleased Though others write his Sentence was only to pay twenty Thousand Marks as a Fine and a Thousand pound besides yearly This Chancellor was Michael de la Pool a Merchants Son who was lately made Earl of Suffolk and Lord Chancellor of England who with Robert Vere Earl of Oxford and Marquess of Dublin and some others were King Richards bosom Favourites And upon this Provocation given them they presently study Revenge And thereupon contrive that the Duke of Glocester the Kings Uncle as Principal and other Lords who crossed the Kings Courses should be invited to a supper in London and be there Murdered In the Execution of which Plot the late Lord Mayor Sir Nicholas Brember was deeply concerned but the present Lord Mayor Richard Exton though moved thereto by the King himself utterly refused to do it and thereupon this Design miscarried But notwithstanding these heats and many more which passed in this Parliament yet a Subsidy was at last granted to the King of half a Tenth and half a Fifteenth but with this express Condition that it should not be paid out but by order from the Lords and the Earl of Arundel was to receive it But before this time it was absolutely agreed between both Houses of Parliament That unless the Chancellor were removed they would proceed no further The King having notice hereof sent a Message to the House of Commons that they should send to Eltham where he then lay Forty of their House to declare their Minds to him But upon a Conference between both Houses it was agreed That the Duke of Glocester and Thomas Arundel Bishop of Ely should in the name of the Parliament go to him who coming to the King declared That by an old Statute the King once a year might lawfully summon his Court of Parliament for Reformation of all Enormities and Corruptions within the Realm and further declared That by an Old Ordinance it was likewise Enacted That if the King should absent himself Forty days not being sick the Houses might lawfully break up and return home At which it is reported the King should say Well we perceive our People go about to rise against us and therefore we think we cannot do better then to ask aid of our Cousen the King of France and rather submit our selves to him than to our own Subjects To which the Lords answered They wondred at his Majesties Opinion since the French King was the Ancient Enemy of the Kingdom and he might remember what mischiefs were brought upon the Realm in King Johns time by such Courses By these and the like perswasions the King was induced to come to his Parliament wherein John Fordham Bishop of Durham is discharged of his Office of Treasurer and Michael de la Pool of being Chancellor and others by consent of Parliament put in their places Likewise by Order of Parliament thirteen Lords were appointed under the King to have oversight of the whole Government of the Realm that is the Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellor Bishop of Hereford Lord Treasurer the Abbot of Waltham Lord Privy Seal the Archbishops of Canterbury and York the Dukes of York and Glocester with others but this division of the Government was soon found inconvenient This Parliament also granted to Robert de Vere lately created Duke of Ireland thirty Thousand Marks which the Frenchmen were to give to the heirs of Charles de Bloys upon Condition that before Easter following he should go over into Ireland So desirous were the Lords and Commons to have him removed from the Kings presence But though the King gave way to this Torrent of the Parliament at present yet as soon as they were Dissolved he dissolved likewise all they had done against his Favourites and received them into more Favour than before A while after the Duke of Ireland puts away his lawful Wife who was neer a Kin to the Duke of Glocester and married one of the Queens Maids a Vintners Daughter at which the Duke of Glocester was very much offended which the Duke of Ireland understanding studied how by any means he might dispatch the Duke of Glocester and Easter being now past which was the time appointed for the Duke to go into Ireland the King pretending to go with him to the Seaside went with him unto Wales being attended likewise with Michael de la Pool Robert Tresillian a prime Favourite who was Lord Chief Justice and divers others where they consulted how to dispatch the Duke of Glocester the Earls of Arundel Warwick Darby Nottingham with divers others of that Party The King having remained some time in those Parts had quite forgotten the Voyage of the Duke of Ireland and so brought him back with him again to Nottingham Castle About the same time Robert Tresillian Lord Chief Justice came to Coventry and there Indicted two Thousand Persons The King then called all the High Sheriffs of the Counties before him and demanded what strength they could make for him against the Lords if there should be occasion To which they returned answer That the Common People did so favour
of the English upon which false Pretence he was taken into favour again Three days after both Armies prepared again for Battle yet stood still without skirmishing only refreshing their tired Bodies and burying those that were slain in the two days before The night following nutus brake up his Camp and marched toward London he having great displeasure against the Citizens and desiring to conquer that place which was already besieged by the Danish Ships Next morning the Centinels gave notice to King Edmâ—nd who was preparing to Battle that his Enemies were marched away Who followed them with all speed to London where with little difficulty he raised the Siege and entred the City triumphantly The Danes being thus discomfited Edmund taking advantage of their fear routed them two days after at Brainford though in passing the Thames many of his Men were drowned Upon this Ioss the Traytor Edrick fearing the Ruine of the Danes persuaded his Brother in Law King Edmund to come to a Truce with Canutus who kept it but till he had increased his Forces and then another Battle was fought wherein it is reported Canutus lost 4500 Men and King Edmund only 600. But Canutus a while after recruiting his Army Edmund marched toward him who lay at Ashdown 3 Miles from Saffron Walden in Essex where at first the Victory seemed doubtful till the Danes began to retreat which the ever traiterous Edrick perceiving he with all his Forces revolted to the Danes whereby they got the day and the poor betrayed English were utterly overthrown There were slain of Edmund's Nobility Duke Alfred Duke Godwin Duke Athelward Duke Athelwin and Earl Vrchil with Cadnoth Bishop of Lincoln and Wolsey Abbot of Ramsey and several other of the Clergy who came thither to pray for the good success of King Edmâ—nd and his Army There are some signs of this Battle in that Field to this very day divers small hills still â—emaining there from whence have been digged the Bones of Men Armour and he chains of Horses Bridles King Edmund being thus treacherbusly forced to quit the Field went on Foot to Glocester with a very small Army leaving Canutus flushed with Victory who marched to London and forced the City to submit to him with many other great Towns After which he followed Edmund into the West who had again raised a considerable Army resolving at once to try the utmost of his fortune The Armies met with a full Resolution to establish the Title of the one by the ruine of the other But a Captain in King Edmund's Army proposed that for preventing Bloodshed the two Kings only should fight in single Combat it chiefly concerning them or else divide the Kingdom between them This was agreed to and the two Kings in sight of both Armies went into a small Island called Alney near Glocester encompassed with the River Severn being compleatly armed they first assaulted each other very stoutly on Horseback ' and afterward on foot But Edmund was strong and fought for a Kingdomâ— Canutus for Honour And the Combat seemed equal till Canutus having received a dangerous Wound and finding himself over matched desired to treat and spake thus to Edmund What necessity is there most valiant Prince that we for obtaining a Title should thus endanger our Lives it were better to lay Malice and our Armour aside and condescend to a loving Agreement let us therefore become sworn Brothers and divide the Kingdom between us and keep such Amity that we may both use the others share as his own so shall this Land be peaceably governed and we jointly assist each other in necessity Upon this Speech they both cast down their Swords and embraced as Friends to the great joy of both Armies who stood wâ—vering before betwixt hope and fear expecting their own fortunes according to the success of their Champions Thus was the Kingdom divided betwixt these two Princes Edmund enjoying the West part toward the Coast of France and Canutus the rest And thus was the Saxon Monarchy come to its â—â—st Period and the tottering Crown was soon Severn and being compleatly armed they first assaulted each other very stoutly on Horse-back and afterward on Foot But Edmund was strong and fought for a Kingdom Canutus for Honour and the Combat seemed indifferent equal till Canutus having received a dangerous wound and finding himself overmatched in strength desired to treat and spake thus to Edmund What necessity is there most valiant Prince that we for obtaining a title should thus endanger our lives It were better to lay Malice and our Armour aside and condescend to a loving Agreement let us now therefore become Sworn Brothers and divide the Kingdom between us and keep such amity that we may both use the others share as if it were his own so shall this Land be peaceably governed and we jointly assist each others necessity Upon this Speech they both cast down their Swords and embraced as Friends to the great joy and rejoycing of both Armies who stood doubtfully wavering before betwixt hope fear as expecting their own fortunes according to the success of their Champions Thus was the kingdom divided between these two Princes Edmund enjoying the West part toward the Coast of France and Canutus the rest And thus was the Saxon Monarchy come to its last period and the tottering Crown was soon after torn from Edmunds head For Duke Edrick a Traitor in grain being much in favour with both Kings yet to oblige Canutus contrived the death of renowned Edmund who going into a place of casement was suddenly thrust from under the Vault into the body with a sharp Spear which being done the Villain Edrick cut off his Sovereigns head and presented it to Canutus with this flattering salutation All hail thou now sole Monarch of England for here behold the head of thy Copartner which for thy sake I have adventured to cut off Canutus though ambitious enough of Sovereignty yet being of a Princely temper he was much astonished at this base and treacherous Act and vowed That in reward of that Service the Bringers own head should be advanced above all the Peers of his Kingdom Which high honour while this prodigious wretch greedily expected and indeed for some time saith our Author he had some shew of favour from the King he suddenly by the Kings command had his head struck off and placed upon the highest Gate of London to overlook that great City Canutus being possessed of half the Kingdom by composition with Edmund now after his death seized the whole and that all things as was pretended might proceed with Justice and Concord he called a Council of the English Nobility at London wherein it was demanded whether in the Agreement between Edmund and him any Claim or Title to the Crown had been reserved for King Edmunds Brethren or his Sons The English who had paid dear for resisting the Dane hitherto and being afraid to provoke him absolutely answered No. And knowing that Princes
are generally appeased with flattery they offered their Swords against any such Claims and took themselves the Oath of Allegiance to Canutus who being a very wise and Politick Prince had never the better opinion of them for their fawning rightfully judging that those who were false to their natural Prince would never be true to him nor his posterity who were Foreigners Canutus being thus freed from all his Opposites was Crowned King of England at London in 1017. by Elstane Archbishop of Canterbury being the second King of Denmark of that name and the first of England and the 34. Monarch of this Land King Canutus dying left the Kingdom of Norway to his eldest Son Swain and England to his youngest called Hardyknute who being at that time in Denmark Harold his elder Brother by a former wife taking advantage of his absence laid claim to the Crown and enjoyed it four years having neither wife nor child After his death the English as well as Danes who had been for Harold thought best to send for Hardyknute and offer him the Crown who soon after came to London in great state and was there proclaimed King of England and crowned He spent his Reign in doing nothing but doing ill For no sooner had he power to command but he ordered the body of his Brother the deceased King Harold to be taken out of his Grave and disgracefully thrown into the River Thames where it remained till a Fisherman found it and buried it in the Churchyard of S. Clement commonly called St. Clement Danes because say some it was the burying-place for that Nation This Hardyknute altogether neglected his Government delighting in nothing but eating and drinking to excess having his Tables spread with fresh Victuals four times every day which caused all manner of Debauchery to reign among his Subjects by his evil example since it is natural for people to imitate the Vices of their Sovereign He died suddenly at the celebration of a Marriage at Lambeth near London for while he was revelling and carousing in the midst of his Cups he suddenly fell down without speech or breath whose loss was little lamented by reason of his Riot and Excess and the severe Taxes he laid upon the People for maintaining his extravagancies yea so far were any from bewailing him that in remembrance of their Freedom from the Danish yoke he being the last King of the Danes the common people for a long time after celebrated the day of his death which was the eighth of June with open Pastimes in the Streets as the Romans formerly kept their Fugalia for chasing out their Kings which time is called Hocktide or Heuxtide signifying a time of Scorning and Contempt which fell upon the Danes by his death Edward the third of that name before the Conquest half-brother to the deceased Hardy-Canute and Son to King Ethelred by Queen Emma his wife succeeded him and was called Edward the Confessor between whom and Godwin Earl of Kent there happened such differences that they raised Forces against each other and fitted out divers Ships King Edward appointed sixty Ships for a Guard to the Thames mouth but Godwin being a man of very great Authority sollicited the People of Kent Sussex and Surrey to his aid and entering the Thames with his Ships invited the Londoners to join with him which they accordingly did though King Edward were in the City so that without resistance his Navy came up with the Tide to the South end of London-bridge and a very great Army attended to aid him on Southwark side The Nobility observing the People to be divided into Parties and one English man ready to destroy another they so prevailed with King Edward and Godwin that they made a Reconciliation between them and Pledges were delivered for the true performance of the Agreement About this time that is in 1047. there fell a very great Snow in January which covered the ground to the middle of March so that most of the Cattle and Fowl perished and the Year following a strange and terrible Earthquake happened which seemed to rend the earth asunder and such Lightnings withall as burnt up the Corn â—rowing in the Fields whereby an extraordinary Dearth and Faâ—ine followed In the Year 1066. William the Conquerour landed at Pemsey in Sussex and immediately sent a Messenger to King Harold at London whereby he claimed no less than the Crown of England upon pretence of a Donation from King Edward deceased and required that Harold should be a Vassal to him The Messenger urged the same with so much confidence that Harold in his fury could hardly forbear though against the Law of Arms to lay violent hands on the Ambassadour And thereupon he returns a threatning Message to William to depart immediately back into Normandy at his utmost peril He then proceeds to muster his Forces which were not so many as he expected though divers Noblemen Gentlemen and others who were inflamed with the love of the Rights and Liberties of their Native Country joined with him to keep out this dangerous Foreigner However King Harold with an undaunted courage led his men into Sussex against the earnest intreaty of his Mother who endeavoured to hinder him and pitching his Tents in a large fair Plain not above seven miles from the Enemy he sent forth his Spies for discovery who being taken by Duke William he ordered that they should view all his Tents and then sent them safely back to Harold They commended Williams clemency and his great strength but told Harold that they thought all his Army were Priests for their Beards were all shaved whereas the use of the English was then to reserve the hair of the upper lip without cutting King Harold replied they were no Priests but men of great courage and valour to his knowledgeâ— he having been formerly in that Country Harold was thereupon persuaded not to venture himself in the Battle but to go on to levy more Souldiers And his Brother told him that William charged him that he had taken an Oath to settle him in the Throne and said he Thou knowest what Oath thine own mouth hath made unto William if it were lawful and thou tookest it willingly withdraw thy self out of the Field lest for thy great sin the whole Army be destroyed for there is no power that can resist God But Harold reproved his Brother for his freedom and disdainfully undervalued the strength of the Normans and seemed to conceive that nothing which he did being a private man could now bind him when he was a Prince Duke William being now come into the Field and both Armies facing each other as ready for Battle to spare the effusion of Christian bloud he sent a Monk as a Mediator for Peace offering Harold either to resign the Kingdom to himself and acknowledge him his Sovereign or to trie the quarrel in single Battle in the sight of both Armies or lastly to stand to the Arbitrement of the Pope who should
wear the English Crown But Harold being destinated to destruction would neither accept the counsels of his Friends nor the offers of his Enemies but referred the decision to Heaven saying That it should be tried the next day with more Swords than one Next day was the 14 of October which upon a credulous Errour he always held to be fortunate to him it being his Birth-day and therefore he greatly desired to engage in fight His Souldiers likewise dreaming of nothing but Spoil and Victory and that their heads should be crowned with Lawrel spent the preceding night in all manner of Jollity Banquetting Revelling and Noise whereas on the contrary the Normans wisely and seriously considering the great importance of the work they were to engage in applied themselves to their Prayers and Vows for the safety of their Army and its victorious sucâ—ess And in the morning as soon as it was light they were all in Battle Aray and ready prepared to fight Harold likewise with all expedition marshalled his Souldiers placing the Kentish men in the Van according to an ancient custom with their heavy Axes and Halberts the Londoners and the Middlesex men were in that Squadron which he himself and his Brother led The Normans advancing forward discharged a fierce Volley of Arrows like a Tempestuous Hail which was a kind of Weapon the English never understood and therefore thought their Enemies had been in the midst of them already Soon after the Battle began in earnest King Harold like an expert General had placed his men in so firm a Body that no force of the Normans could disorder their Ranks till Duke William used a stratagem commanding his men to sound a Retreat and counterfeit flight though he still kept them in good order The English supposing the Normans to have been fled and themselves Masters of the Field carelesly broke their ranks when suddenly the Normans came on again and fell upon them before they could put themselves in a posture of defence whereby multitudes of them were slain on every side not being able to make head again Yet did not the English leave the Field but resolved rather to maintain their honour in Arms and casting themselves into a Round they preferred dying for their Country rather than to forsake the Standard of their King and thereupon encouraging one another they made resistance for a long time but showers of Arrows like a mighty storm falling among them one of them most fatally and unhappily for the English Nation wounded King Harold into the Brains through the left Eye so that falling from his Horse he was slain under his own Standard and an Ambush of Horsemen cut many others to pieces Duke William fought so valiantly that he had this day three Horses slain under him and King Harold shewed no less courage in killing many Normans with his own hands The Mother of Harold named Thyra offered a great sum of mony for the Kings body which falling among such a multitude it being reckoned that there died about threescore thousand men that day it could by no means be found for it was despoiled of all its Royal Ornaments by the plundering Souldiers so that King Harold lying stript wounded bemangled and gored in his bloud could not be known from another man till a Lady named Editha was sent for who for her extraordinary beauty was called Swans Neck she having been very familiar with him before he was King knew some secret mark in his body by which she discovered him After which the Duke freely delivered it to his Mother and it was buried in Waltham Abby This Battle was fought October 14. 1066. a doleful day of destruction to the English when the Royal bloud of the Saxons perished who first divided this Land into seven Kingdoms and afterwards made of them one glorious Monarchy not inferiour to any in Europe and whose Kings for Valour and Magnanimity were ranked with the greatest in the World But the over-ruling providence of Heaven which sets up and pulls down at pleasure was pleased at this time for the sins of the English or some other cause unknown to us to put the Scepter into the hands of another Family and another Nation Morcar and Edwin Brethren to the unfortunate Queen escaped by night out of the Râ—â—le and came to London where consulting with the rest of the Lords they began to revive their hopes and posted Messengers from thence to raise new Forces And because the English were struck into a dreadful astonishment at the news of this great â—oss they to keep them from despair sent them Word That the chance of War was uncertain the number of the English yet many and there were Commanders enough left to try another Battle Alfred Archbishop of York being President of the Assembly very couragiously and prudently advised â—hat they should immediately proclaim and crown Edgar Atheling the true Heir for their King to which the Londoners and divers Sea Captains agreed But the Queens brethren and likewise the Earls of Yorkshire and Cheshire being themselves â—mbitious of the Crown though their Country was in such a deplorable condition hindered this wise and noble design In the twentieth Year of William the Conqueâ—our there happened so great a Fire in London â—hat from the West Gate to the East it consumed Houses and Churches all the way and among the â—est St. Pauls as much as was combustible was â—urnt to ashes and most of the principal Cities in England were much damaged by Fire Other great calamities likewise happened as Burning Fevers Murrains upon Cattle abundance of Rain and Water-flouds insomuch that the Hills seemed to â—e softned to the very foundation and with their â—all overwhelmed many Villages there was likewise such a dearth in London and England that â—en eat Horses Cats Dogs and mans flesh In 1077. upon Palm Sunday about Noon a blaâ—ing Star appeared nigh the Sun yea which is â—â—range tame Fowls such as Hens Geese Peaâ—cks and the like fled into Forests and Woods becaâ—â—â— wild There was likewise a great Forst which lasted from the middle of November to the midst of March There was also a greaâ— Wind on Christmas day accompanied with a terrible Earthquake This King William seized all the Lands between Barnee and London-stone which belonged to the Abby of St. Albans and also all the Treasure Chalices and Shrines of all the Abbies and Monasteries in England He likewise laid great Taxes upon the Land and caused an exact Survey to be taken of the whole Kingdom so that he knew the value of all the Rents and Profits of the Lands and likewise of all Cities Towns Villages Hamlets Monasteries and Religious Houses causing all the People in England to be numbred and their names taken with an account what every one could spend in the Year After which be exacted fix shillings upon every hide of Land which amounted to a vast sum of money The Book which contained this Actual Survey was called by the English
his hands as far as the Borders of Scotland and then he divides his Army committing one part to his Brother William Earl of Salisbury who was ordered to fall upon London and with the other he himself goes into Yorkshire where most of the Lords had Estates which he miserably destroys with Fire and Sword The Lords being distressed on every side resolved upon a course neither honourable nor safe yet such as Necessity made appear to be both For they send to Philip K. of France requiring him 〈◊〉 send over his Son Lewis to their aid and promisâ— they would submit themselves to be governed 〈◊〉 him and to take him for their Sovereign 〈◊〉 this mention of the Lords King Philip was as forward as themselves which King John understanding sends again to the Pope requiring him to use 〈◊〉 Authority to stay the King of France from coming Who accordingly sent Cardinal Wallo his Legate who threatned the Great Curse in the Council on all who should join with those Excommunicate persons against King John or should enter upon St. Peters Patrimony But King Philip replied That England was no part of St. Peters Patrimony no King having power of himself to alienate his Kingdom and John especially who being never lawful King had no power to dispose thereof and that it was an Errour and a pernicious Example in the Pope and an itching lust and desire after a new and lawless Dominion His Peers likewise swore by Christs death That they would lose their lives rather than suffer a King of himself or with the consent of a few base Flatterers to give away his Crown and enslave his Nobles especially to the Pope who ought to follow St. Peters steps to win souls and not to meddle with Wars and murthering of mens bodies Now the reason of the Popes claiming England as St. Peters Patrimony was upon the account of the Resignation of King John And though the Pope seemed now so zealous for the Interest of King John yet not above five years before he was as much his Enemy For the King being incensed against the Clergy and endeavouring to rectifie some miscarriages about electing Bishops c. the Pope fearing he would intrench upon his Priviledges used his utmost power against him forbidding Mass to be said for some years Excomâ—â—unicating and Cursing him and giving his King 〈…〉 to the French King and stirring up his â—wn Nobility against him freeing them and all the People from their Allegiance to him So that King John being encompassed with Troubles on every side was compelled to submit to whatever the Pope would command him Nay he was forâ—ed to take off his Crown and kneeling on his knees in the midst of his Barons he surrendred it into the hands of Pandulphus the Legate for the Popes use saying Here I resign up the Crown of the Realm of England to the hands of Pope Innocent the Third and lay myself wholly at his mercy and appointment At whose feet he also laid his Scepter Robes Sword Ring and all the Ensigns of Royalty Pandulphus took the Crown from King John and kept it five days and the King giving then all his Kingdoms to the Pope to be held in Farm from him and his Heirs for evermore the Crown was restored King John engaging to pay 700 Marks a year for England and 300 for Ireland half of it at Easter and half at Whitsuntide as Rent for the said kingdoms But this being done out of force and necessity King Philip it seems no more than his own People did not think it of any value Yea Prince Lewis himself beseeched his Father not to hinder him from that which was none of his gift and for which he was now resolved to spend his bloud and would chuse rather to be excommunicated by the Pope than falsifie his promise to the English Barons For upon their sending their Letters of Allegiance confirmed with the Hands and Seals of all the Lords to implore King Philips favour and to send his Son and desiring his Son to accept of the Crown they received a present supply of French Souldiers upon their delivering up fifty English Gentlemen as Hostages for the true performance of the Contract King Philip therefore having received his Holiâ—â— Message with such scorn and contempt so aâ—â—righted the Legate with his stern countenance that he made all possible haste to be gone as fearing some mischief should be done him And Lewâ— as speedily set forth for England with his Fleeâ— of six hundred Ships and fourscore Boats whereâ— with arriving first in the Isle of Thanet and afterward going to Sandwich the Barons came thither to him and joined with him King Johns great Navy wherewith he intended to oppose him was driven Southward by a sudden Tempest and his Souldiers were generally Mercenaries and more inclined as it appeared afterward to Lewis a Foreign Prince than to him whereupon King John thought fit for the present to forbear Battle and went toward Winchester In the mean time Lewis had liberty to take all places thereabout except Dover Castle which John had committed to the valiant Hubert de Burg. Yet Lewis marcheth forward to London where entering with a solemn Procession and with the incredible applause of all he went into St. Pauls Church and there the Citizens of London took their Oaths of Allegiance to him From whence he passed to Westminister and there the Lords and Barons likewise swore to be true to him he himself likewise swearing to restore to all men their Rights and to recover to the Crown whatsoever had been lost by King John Then he chose Simon Langton who had been lately disgraced by the Pope for his Lord Chancello by whose preaching the Citizens of London and the Lords though they were excommunicated and under the Popes curse did yet celebrate Divine Service and drew on Prince Lewis to do the like Whereupon Wallo the Popes Legate who was now with King John denounced heavy and solemn Curses throughout the kingdome against the Londoners and especially against Lewis and his Chancellour by name But Lewis went from London and passeth over 〈◊〉 the Country without resistance but not withâ—ut infinite outrages committed by his Souldiers which was not in his power to hinder In the â—ean time King John finding his Enemies imployed in the Siege of Dover Castle and likewise â—t Odiam Castle wherein 13 English men onely braved Lewis and his whole Army for 15 days together nay sallied out upon them and taking every man a Prisoner to the great admiration of the French they returned safely back again and afterward delivered up the place upon honourable conditions King John thereupon gathers a Rabble of Rascally people about him with which he over-runs all the Country to the ruining of the Barons Castles and Estates in all places And then marching from Lyn in Norfolk on which place he bestowed his own Sword a gilt Bole and divers large Priviledges in testification of their Loyalty to him
you have already an account After the death of King John his eldest Son Henry being not above ten years old succeeded him and was therefore very unfit to govern in such a distracted time when a great part of the kingdom had sworn Allegiance to Prince Lewis However upon October 8. 1216. he was crowned at Glocester by the name of Henry the Third where besides the usual Oath taken by all Kings he did Homage also to the Church of Rome and to Pope Innocent for the kingdoms of England and Ireland and promised the true payment of the Thousand Marks a year which his Father had granted to the Church of Rome And then William Marshal Earl of Pembroke was by general consent made Protector of the Realm during the Kings Minority In the mean time Lewis who thought himself sure of the kingdom by the death of King John now hearing of the solemn Crowning of the young King with such unanimous consent he begins to grow jealous of the English Lords who indeed had some conflicts in their minds whom they should obey they thought it great ingratitude to forsake Prince Lewis whom they themselves had invited to come and yet it seemed extream disloyalty to stand in opposition to Henry their innocent natural Soveraign but the discovery of Viscount Melun that Lewis intended to extirpate all the English Nobility and the curse of Wallo the Popes Legate against all who should join with Lewis with divers other reasons caused the principal of them to shrink from Lewis and join with King Henry as thinking no obligation so great as Allegiance many others staid with Lewis as thinking none greater than an Oath And now Prince Lewis fearing that his enemies having gotten an head should likewise gather a head and draw more Forces together staying himself in London sent his Lieutenant with an Army of Twenty thousand to take in what Towns he could get some of which they took with small resistance but William Earl of Pembroke the Protector coming against them with an Army utterly routed Lewis and took most of the Lords that adhered to him Prisoners and though his Father Philip sent him more Forces yet they were defeated at Sea so that Lewis upon payment of some monies and other conditions returned into France and King Henry took an Oath and for him the Popes Legate Wallo and the Protector That he would restore to the Barons of the Realm and other his Subjects all their Rights and Priviledges for which the discord began between the late King and his People And afterward he confirmed the two Charters of Magna Charta and Charta Forestae granted by his Father King John In the Tenth year of King Henries Reign and the nineteenth of his Age he claimed to take the Government upon himself and no longer to be under a Protector after which there presently appeared the difference between a Prince that is ruled by good counsel and one that will do all of his own will and take no Advice For thirteen years he was ruled by a Protector and then all passed as it were in a calm without noise or clamour but as soon as he took upon him the Government storms and tumults presently arose neither was there any quietness with the Subject nor himself nothing but Grievances all the long time of his Reign For as soon as he was crowned again he presently cancels and annuls the Charter of the Forests as granted in his Nonage and therefore not bound to observe it and then makes a new Seal forcing all that had Grants by the former to renew them whereby he got abundance of money After which he goes over into France to recover his Rights there to which purpose he raises great sums of money from the Londoners for Redemption of their Liberties About which time Constantine Fitz-Arnulf a Citizen of London upon a tumult which arose in the City at a Wrestling which he purposely appointed endeavoured to set up Lewis again and in the heat of the disturbance he traiterously cried out Mountjoy Mountjoy God for us and our Lord Lewis And though the Lord Mayor who was a very discreet person earnestly persuaded them to be quiet yet Constantine by his seditious Orations had made the people incapable of good counsel so that there was little hope of appeasing them The Lord Chief Justice having notice hereof presently raised Forces and entered the Tower of London and sent for the principal men of the City to come before him who all disclaimed their being concerned therein and charged Fitz Arnulph to be the chief Author thereof But he resolutely answered That he had not done so much therein as he ought Whereupon he was condemned to die together with the Crier who published the Proclamation and his Nephew and was accordingly executed though when he saw the Halter about his neck he offered Fifteen thousand Marks for the saving of his life This Execution being done without noise or the knowledge of the Londoners the Lord Chief Justice comes into the City and apprehending several who where guilty of this Tumult he causeth their hands and feet to be cut off for a terrour to the rest and then set them at liberty The King likewise deposed several of the Magistrates but afterwards finding that the baser sort of People onely were concerned in the Disorder he thereupon was reconciled to the City About this time an Execrable Impostor was brought before the Archbishop of Canterbury who observing how easily the People were deluded in those times of Darkness and Superstition he impudently caused himself to be wounded in his hands feet and sides that by the resemblance of these bloudy Impressions he might be acknowledged for their very Saviour who was thereupon deservedly immured up between four Walls and with him a wretched Woman who pretended to be Mary the Mother of this Christ and some say another who called her self Mary Magdalene this punishment being thought fittest for such Miscreants as Monsters too impious and unworthy to die by Humane hands though it is very remarkable that this man should have such a severe judgment at Oxford and yet St. Francis who was guilty of the same Imposture as to the wounds of Christ though not the name should soon after be canonized at Rome for the chief of Saints and perhaps if this Monster had been at Rome he had been likewise Sainted and if Saint Francis had been at Oxford he had been immured King Henry returning from France brought over many French men with him which he puts in places of Trust and Profit and removes and fines his old Officers The Lords could no longer endure so many indignities to see themselves slighted and Strangers advanced their Persons likewise exposed to danger and their Estates to ruine for which they could find no remedy but the Kings confirming their Charter of Liberties wherein it is strange to see upon what different grounds the King and the Lords went It seems the King thought that to
and odious to the Lords and the People as the other was for they inclined the King to a lewd and wanton course of life among Whores and Concubines and to forsake the company of his modest and vertuous Queen which made him a Scorn to Foreign Princes and hateful in the sight of all honest men yet the King in despight of his Lords supported the Spencers in whatever they did Whereupon the Lords rise in Arms and the King likewise raiseth Forces where a great Battle was fought and the Barons were overthrown and after the Fight two and twenty of the Lords were beheaded which increased the pride and insolence of the Spencers Yet the Queen who fled to Germany soon after returned accompanied with 300 Knights and select men at Arms with whom the Lords and the Londoners joined and seizing upon the Spencers the Father who was fourscore and ten years old was cruelly executed having his heart pulled out and his body left hanging on the Gallows while he was alive and the Son with the King himself were imprisoned and soon after young Spencer was drawn hanged and quartered his Head set upon London Bridge and his four Quarters bestowed in several Cities Then was a Parliament called wherein it was agreed to depose the King and set up his Son which he because they threatned to exclude both him and his Son and set up a King of another Race consented to And thereupon the Bishop of Hereford and other Commissioners came and sate at a place appointed to take his Resignation and the King coming forth in mourning Robes upon a sudden fell down in a swound and could hardly be recovered After which the Bishop of Hereford declared the cause of their coming To which the King answered That as he much grieved his People should be so hardened against him as utterly to reject him so iâ— was some comfort to him that they would yet receive his Son to be their Sovereign Whereupon Sir William Trussel Speaker of the Parliament in the name of the whole kingdom renounced Homage to the King in these words I William Trussel in the name of all the Men of the Land of England and of all the Parliament Procurator do resign to thee Edward the Homage that was made to thee sometimes and from this time forward now following I defie thee and deprive thee of all Royal Power and I shall never be tendant to thee as for King after this time Not long after this King was murthered by Sir John Matravers and Thomas Gourney by thrusting an hot Spit up his Fundament into his Bowels after he had reigned nineteen Years and 6 months 1327. In the eighth year of his reign was so great a Dearth that Horses and Dogs were eaten and Thieves in Prison pulled in pieces those that were newly brought in amongst them and eat them half alive Which continuing three years in the end brought such a Pestilence that the living scarce sufficed to bury the dead In this Kings time digging the Foundation of a Work about St. Pauls were found above an hundred Heads of Oxen and Kine which confirmed the opinions that of old time it had been the Temple of Jupiter and that there was the Sacrifice of Beasts Edward of Windsor eldest Son of King Edward the second by the order of Parliament upon his Fathers Resignation was proclaimed King of England Jan. 25. 1327. and soon after a Parliament was called wherein Edmund Earl of Kent the Kings Uncle is accused for intending to restore his Brother upon which he was condemned and brought to the Scaffold but was so generally beloved of the People that he stood there from one of the Clock till five in the Afternoon before any Executioner could be found to do the Office till at last a silly Wretch in the Marshalsey was gotten to cut off his head But the authors of his death escaped not long themselves for in the third year of the Kings Reign another Parliament is holden wherein the Queen hath all her great Jointure taken from her and is put to her Pension of a thousand pound a Year and her self confined to a Castle where she remained the rest of her days no fewer than thirty years Time long enough to convince her that her being the daughter of a King the wife of a King and the mother of a King were glorious Titles but all not worth the Liberty of a mean Estate And Roger Mortimer her great Minion and Favourite lately created Earl of the Marches of Wales was seized on this manner The King taking others with him went secretly one night by Torch-light through a private way under ground till they came to the Queens chamber where leaving the King without some of them went in and found the Queen with Mortimer ready to go to bed and laying hands on him they brought him out after whom the Queen followed crying Good Son good Son take pity upon the gentle Mortimer suspecting her Son had been amongst them This way was taken to apprehend him to prevent Tumult he having no less than ninescore Knights and Gentlemen besides other meaner Servants about him continually Being thus seized he is committed to the Tower and accused of divers crimes and amongst the rest that he had been too familiar with the Queen by whom she was thought to be with child Of which Articles he was found guilty and condemned and thereupon is drawn and hanged at the common Gallows at the Elms now called Tyburn where his body remained two days an opprobrious spectacle to all beholders This King Edward the third was a victorious Prince and with the assistance of his Son Edward called the Black Prince won many considerable Victories against the French and Scetch taking both their Kings prisoners who were committed to the Tower of London This King instituted the Order of the Garter upon what cause is uncertain the common opinion is that a Garter of his own Queen or as some say of the Countess of Salisbury slipping off in a dance King Edward stooped and took it up whereat some of his Lords that were present smiling as at an amorous action he seriously said It should not be long ere sovereign honour were done to that Garter Whereupon he added that French Motto Honi soit qui maly pense Evil to him that evil thinks therein checking his Lords sinister suspicion In the fourth year of his Reign the Sea Banks were overflown through all England but especially in the River Thames so that all the Cattle and Beasts near thereunto were drowned There was likewise found a Serpent having two heads and two faces like a Woman one face drest after the new fashion and another like the old with Wings like a Bat and men and women perished in divers places by Lightning and Thunder Fiends Devils and Apparitions were likewise seen by men and spoke to them as they travelled At this time upon the Petition of the Londoners an Act was made that no common Whore
and Country who had been quiet for 22 years before so all these calamities were imputed to the Misgovernment of this unhappy Prince The Danes perceiving the Hearts of the Subjects to be drawn from their Sovereign landed in Kerâ— with seven Ships spoiling the Country for eleven years together till at last the King by advice of his Lords paid them ten thousand Pounds to depart the Realm This served for the present but they returned year after year and still obliged the King to give them more Money till at last it came to forty thousand Pound a year which emptied the Land of all the Coin and the English were forced to plough and sow while the Danes sate idle and eat the fruit of their Labours abusing also their Wives and Daughters whereupon they were called Lord Danes now Lurdains signifying a Lazy Lubber In this distressed State the King thought of this expedient to be rid of them He sent out Commissions into every City in his Dominions that at an appointed time they should Massacre all the Danes that were amongst them The Day was Novem. 13 1002 his Command was accordingly performed and that with such Rigour that in Oxford the fearful Danes for refuge took into the Church of St. Frideswide as a Sanctuary of venerable Antiquity but they in their fury regarding neither Place nor Person set the Church on fire wherein many Danes were burnt with divers rich Ornaments and the Library utterly defaced At which time it is said King Etheldred himself was in Oxford and had summoned a Parliament both of English and Danes to meet there and afterwards repaired the Ruins the fire had made In this Masfacre the Lady Gunhild Sister to the King of Denmark and a continual Friend to the English with her Husband and Son were slain Upon the News of this Massacre King Swain with a great Navy of Danes lands in several parts in England and carries all before him and other Danes with 94 ships sailed up the River of Thames and besieged London but the Citizens made such valiant Resistance that they forced them to retire however they fell severely upon Essex Kent Sussex and Hampshire These Calamities were seconded with others as fearful for about this time the City was destroyed by Fire whose beauty then chiefly extended from Ludgate Westward for that within the Walls where the heart of the City now is was then neither beautiful nor orderly built To add to these Miserie 's a dreadful Sickness raged in London and most parts of England hitherto anknown in this Kingdom being a burning Fever and the bloody Flux there was also great scarcity by reason of the Murrain and Death of all sorts of Cattel All these Judgments were imputed to the King and his Abettors Dunstan prophecying further woes to the Land after his death though the King made great lamentation for the Murther of his Brother K. Edward for which his Mother beat him so violently with a wax Taper which stood before her that he could never after well endure the sight of a Taper In 1013 K. Swain came again from Denmark landing a great number of Men in the River Humber and conquered all before him till he came to London and presently besieged King Etheldred within it Swain doubted not of carrying the City but the Citizens considering they had their King with them and that London was the Eye of the Land grew very couragious beating the Danes from the Walls and then sallying out slew them on heaps so that King Swain himself was in great danger had he not desperately ran through the midst of his Enemies Swords and by flight escaped marching day and night in great fear till he had got to Bath where Ethelmere Earl of Devonshire and his people submitted to him but this last overthrow and want of Victuals caused him after he had received a sum of Money to hasten into Denmark but returning with greater Strength he met with the English again and utterly defeated them by reason of the treachery of some English who revolted to the Danes So that the whole Kingdom yea Loudon it self was forced to comply with the calamity of the Times wherewith Etheldred being utterly dejected he sent his VVife Emma and his two Sons to his Brother Richard Duke of Normandy and went himself in one of his Ships to the Isle of Wight and afterwards to Normandy to his Brother leaving the Danes sole Lords and Masters of the Realm A while after King Swain coming to St. Edmundbury in Suffolk threatned to burn down the Church unless they would give him a sum of Money having done the like in several other Places which the Iuhabitants refusing to pay he went to disturb the Bones of St. Edmund so called which while he was doing he suddenly cried out saith the Historian that He was struck by St. Edmund with a Sword being then in the midst of his Nobles and no man seeing from whose hand it came and so with great Horror he died three days after and the Danes advanced Ganutus his Son to the Throne Soon after King Etheldred died also and his third Son called Edmund Ironside of his enduring Labour succeeded A great part of the English both feared and favoured Canutus especially the Clergy who at Southampton swore fealty to him But the Londoners stood firm to Prince Edmund and elected him King In revenge whereof Canutus who had besieged the City before the death of King Etheldred caused his Ships to be towed up the Thames to the East side of the Bridge and from the River with a deep Trench encompassed the City shutting up all the Passages in or out of it But the coming of their new King Edmund to their assistance did much encourage them and disheartned the Danes so that they brake up the Seige King Edmnnd having sent a Challenge to Canutus to fight him in single Combat which he neither accepted nor staid at London but sailed down the Thames to the Isle of Shâ—ppey where he wintred with his Navy and in the Spring assailed the West of England where the Danes were routed After this at a place called Sherostan in Worcestershire another Battle was fought where the Danes were like again to have been discomfited which Edrick an English Man perceiving he cut off the Head of a Soldier whose name was Osmearus who was like King Edmund both in Hair and Countenance and shaking his bloody Sword with the gasping Head cried out to the English Army Fly wrethes fly and get away for your King is slain behold here is his Head therefore seek now to save your own Lives Edmund having notice of this treacherous Stratagem hastned to shew himself whose sight so encouraged his Men that they had got a total Victory if night had not prevented them The Soldiers bent their Bows against Dake Edrick and had shot him to death had he not excused the Fact as being mistaken in the Countenance of the Man and desirous to save the blood
confirm their Charter was to make himself less than a King and the Lords thought as long as that was denied they were no better than Slaves and as the King could endure no Diminution so the Lords could endure no Slavery But the King might keep his own with sitting still the Lords could not recover their own but by motion And hereupon they confederated together the chief among them being Richard the Brother of William late Protector and now Earl Marshal who repair to the King and boldly tell him of his faults and require satisfaction Whereupon the King presently sends for whole Legions of French men over and withal summons a Parliament at Oxford whither the Lords refuse to come After this a Parliament is called at Westminster whither they likewise refuse to come unless the King would remove the Bishop of Winchester and the French from the Court and more than this they send him word that unless he did this they would expel both himself and his evil Counsellors out of the Land and create a new King Upon this threatning Pledges are required of the Nobility for securing their Allegiance and Writs are sent out to all who held by Knights Service to repair to the King by a certain day which the Earl Marshal and his Associates refusing the King without the Judgment of the Couâ—â— and his Peers causeth them to be proclaimed Outlaws and seizeth upon all their Lands which he gives to the French men and directs out Writs to attach their Bodies where-ever found Upon which some of the Confederate Lords went over to the King and the Earl Marshal is persuaded to do the same which he refusing a design is laid to draw him over into Ireland to defend his Estate there which was seized upon by the King where being circumvented by Treachery he lost his life Yet the King disavows being concerned therein and lays the fault upon his Officers An easie way saith the Historian for Princes never to be found in any fault After this the Lords went into Wales and joined with Prince Lewellin whither also came Hubeâ—t de Burg Earl of Kent Hereupon the King is advised to go himself thither who complained That he was not able in regard of his wants saying that his Treasurers told him all the Rents of his Exchequer would scarce maintain him in Clothes Victuals and Alms. Whereupon some of his Lords answered That he might thank himself if he were poor since he gave so much of his Revenue to his Favourites and had so far alienated his Lands that he was onely a King in name rather than for his Estate though his Ancestors were magnificent Princes who abounded in all worldly glory and wealth and had heaped up vast Treasures onely by the Rents and Profits of the Kingdom The King being stung with this just Reprehension began by their advice to call his Sheriffs Bailiffs and other Officers to a strict account and squeezed great sums of money out of them forcing Ralph Briton his Lord Treasurer to pay him a thousand pound and others very considerable sums whereby he at this time filled his Coffers After two years affliction a Parliament is called at Westminster wherein the Bishops admonish the King by his Fathers Example to be at peace and unity with his People and remove from him Strangers and to govern the Kingdom by Natives of the Realm and by the Laws otherwise they would proceed by Ecclesiastical Censure both against himself and his Counsellors The King â—â—ing no way to subsist but by temporizing removes all Strangers from about him calls his new Officers to account and restores the Lords to their places and possessions Soon after another Parliament is called which the King would have to sit in the Tower whither the Lords refusing to come a place of more freedom is appointed in which Parliament the Sheriffs are removed for corruption and the King would have taken the Great Seal from the Bishop of Chichester who refused to deliver it as having received it from the Common Council of the kingdom In the 21 Year of this Kings Reign another Parliament is called at London where the King requires a great sum of money which being directly opposed the King promiseth by Oath never more to injure the Nobility so they would but relieve him at present and that he would use onely the Counsel of his Natural Subjects and freely grant the inviolable observation of their Liberties Whereupon a Subsidy was granted him but with this condition that four Knights in every County be appointed to receive and pay in the same either to some Abby or or Castle where it may be safely kept that if the King fail of performing his Oaths and Promises it may be restored to the Country from whence it was collected About this time the King to please the Lords ordered Peter de Rivalis and some other of his French Favourites to appear in Westminster Hall as Delinquents and he him self coming thither sate in person upon the Bench among his Judges And Peter de Rivalis being first called the King looking sternly upon him spake thus to him O thou Traitor by thy wicked advice I was drawn to set my Seal to those treacherous Letters for the destruction of the Earl Marshal in Ireland the Câ—tents whereof were to me unknown And by thine and such like wicked counsel I banished my natural Subjects and turned their minds and hearts from me By the bad counsel of thee and thy Accomplices I was stirred up to make War upon them to my exceeding loss and the dishonour of my Realm for thereby I wasted my Treasure and lost many worthy persons together with much of my former honour and respect I therefore require of thee an exact account as well of my Treasure as the Custody of the Wards together with many other Perquisites and Profits belonging to the Crown To whom Rivalis denying nothing whereof he was charged but falling to the ground thus answered My Sovereign Lord and King I have been raised up and enriched with worldly goods onely by you confound not therefore your own Creature but please to grant me some time to make my defence against what I am charged with Thou shalt said the King be carried to the Tower of London there to deliberate of it till I am satisfied And he was sent accordingly But Stephen de Seagrave Lord Chief Justice whom the King likewise called most wicked Traitor had time till Michaelmas to make up his accounts and so had others But afterward by Mediation and paying very great Fines to the King they obtained their Liberty and were a while after again taken into grace and favour In the midst of these distractions and troubles it pleased God to inflict upon this City and the Kingdom the Plague of Famine as well as the Sword whereby the Poor miserably perished for want of Bread The Authors of those Times relate this Story very credibly to shew how displeasing Unmercifulness and want of