whereby the English were provoked to conspire together and so in one night they killed all the Danes through the whole Island and quencht so great a fire with the blood of the Authors of it Swain King of Denmark being urged with this great slaughter of his subjects invades England with a mighty Army He puts Ethelrede to flight and brought the whole Land under his obedience and by his death he passed it over to his Sonne Canatus who fought with Ethelrede who came back again with his Son Edmundus upon a changeable fortune and left his two Sons to succeed him Harald his bastard and Canutus the Bold but when they were dead the Kingdom returned again unto the English who shook off the Danish Yoke and Edward Sonne to Ethelred was made King Now it was that England began to take breath but as it commonly fals out idleness became the ruine of many The lazy Priests for the most part being at ease took care of all things but their Office The people being more dissolute with Luxury grew contemptible by sluggish dulness Learning decaied the Commonwealth wasted with divers Vices Pride and Negligence had made a ready path for their Ruine Of the first Norman King WILLIAM the Conquerour Anno 1067. EDward the Confessor last dead whilst he lived in Normandy had promised after his decease the Kingdom of England to William Duke of Normandy as he was his Kinsman and near of Blood yet that William was a bastard Sonne of Robert King of Normandy begot on a Countrey Maid But Harold the Sonne of Godwin Earl of Kent a bold man and a good Souldier possessed himself by force of the Kingdom during the Interregnum not waiting for the consent of the Nobility though his Brother Tosto strove against him all he could and made Warre with him but at York he lost his life in a pitched Battell In the mean while William Duke of Normandy depending on his right raising an Army came for England to the South Saxons Harold hearing of his arrivall though his Souldiers were tired with a late fight sets up his Standard against his new guest William Not farre from Hastings they fought a sore Battel but fortune turning against the English Harold driven forward with a Warlike fury riding into the midst of the Enemies and fighting valiantly was slain and a great number of his men were slain with him William the Conquerour presently brings his Conquering Banners to London and is proclaimed King by the people that remained having got a Kingdom by a lawfull Victory which as he said was given him by God This King which is the use for Conquerours to do abolishing forthwith all the Customs of the English Nation and the greatest part of their Laws brought in immediatly his own Countrey fashions and commanded that all Causes whatsoever should be pleaded in French And excluding all the English that had born Arms against him out of their Patrimonies he disposed of all their Demeans Lands Fields and the rest of their Goods amongst his Souldiers for a reward of their Victory but reserving to himself the direct Principality and Homage held to Himself and his Heirs as a tenure from the Crown so that none but the King should be the right and true Lord of any thing Also he caused a seal to be made for himself wherein was engraved By this acknowledge William of Normandy to be your Patron but on the other side was engraven By this seal you must know that the same is King of England Having thus subdued the power of the Laity he turns himself to the Clergy and made an Edict that no English Monk should be capable of any secular Dignity disdaining the facilness of Canutus who was formerly King who had continued the honours entire to the people whom he had subdued by which lenity the inhabitants growing bold after his death easily expelled forreigners and recovered their former Liberty Then he appeased the approaching Warre of the Danes by giving them money that he might enjoy it peaceably upon any rate And hence it was that the English were in no fear at all of the Danes that formerly so much infested them yet they were not so free from troubles but that here or there there were some tumults amongst the people that were hardly suppressed and overcome but the windy faction was soon dispersed The greatest matter was the Rebellion of his Sonne Robert in Normandy because it was most against Nature This Sonne at the instigation of Philip King of France demanded this Dukedome of his Father as his proper right and without more words enters upon Normandy by force of Arms. It is true his Father had promised him this Territory but the Son was weary of delay nor would he longer forbear from the Government he hoped for The King hearing of his Sons Enterprize suddenly goes against him with a gallant Army They meet in Battel the Son unhorses his Father and wounds him in the Arm. But when he knew his Fathers voice alighting from his own horse he raised his Father from the ground and kneeling down before him craved pardon for his boldness which he obtained presently his Father embracing him in his Arms. However he seemed thus to have appeased his Fathers wrath yet God never suffering such faults to go unpunished he had no good luck ever after William by such clemency was miraculously eminent in other cases raising not a few of his adversaries a rare example to the greatest Dignities as if he endeavoured by his gentleness to mitigate their fierce spirits and to calm their rebellious mindes that they might be eminent in their duty to their Benefactor as he was in bestowing benefits on his enemies and should blush to deny obedience unto him whom they had offended without danger Having conquered therefore the Rebels partly by good turns partly by the Sword he at length endeavours to enlarge his Kingdom bringing Walâ—s under his command and causing Malcom King of Scots to do him Homage and so adding new Countries he rewarded England for the Crown they granted to him Yet least the frowardness of his newly conquered subjects should grow insolent he laid upon them Taxes and Tributes that were not very light and for the honour of his own Country he made the Laws to be debated in the French tongue and be bridled the haughtiness of the Monks Only the men of Kent held their old Customs For the King upon a certain time journying toward Dover was handsomly circumvented by the Inhabitants of Kent carrying boughs cut down from the trees and they would not let him depart untill he had granted them the enjoyment of their Antient Customs Also he was indulgent to the Londoners to let them enjoy the priviledges they had in the time of Edward the Confessor but he forbad the Nobility from hunting of Deer reserving those sports for himself only He disposed no less of Church affairs composing a difference between the Archbishops of Canterbury and York for
by famine he forced the obstinate Citizens to submit which Town being the chief was an example for the rest to follow so that shortly he wan all Normandy which was lost by the carelesness of his Predecessors The Duke of Burgundy finding all the English desired to succeed thought it concerned him to procure peace between both Kings and at last he obtained a meeting between Henry and the French Queen for the King was fallen into his usuall doting yet there was nothing enacted The Queen had brought her most beautifull Daughter Katharine that she might ensnare the Kings minde with her allurements nor was it in vain for Henry when he saw her was wonderfully taken with her and when they departed doing nothing the King laid a charge on the Duke of Burgundy that unless all he asked together with the Kings Daughter were granted him he would by force take from the Duke his Dukedom and from the King his Kingdom They were so frighted with these threats that they fell to a new Parly But the Dolphin by reason of this newly conceived hatred and burning with former envy commanded the Duke of Burgundy to be killed basely not long after though he begged his life from him on his knees and so the slaughter of the Duke of Orleance committed before by Burgundy was expiated Nor is peace yet concluded untill the French were forced to it by a further loss A meeting was appointed at Trecas and there was Katherine betrothed to Henry and the right of succession was confirmed to him after the death of Charles whereupon all the Nobility of France swear to be Loyall to him and so the Salique Law in France was broken The Dolphin who had not consented to these conditions is made Warre against by the Kings of France and England and divers Towns that took part with him are conquered and when as he came not upon his citation to appear at Paris before the Marble Table as they call it upon the day appointed he was banished Henry also using his Authority commanded Money to be coyned with the Arms of France and England which he called the Soveraign Then leaving the Duke of Clarence Governour of France and Normandy he returned for England But Clarence making an expedition against Aniou and spoyling them as he came back laden with the prey he was betraied in his passage by one Andrew Fogosus and though he fought valiantly yet was he slain by the Duke of Alenson with the chief Nobility and 2000 English men The Earls of Sommerset and of Suffolk and other Lords were taken prisoners The King to revenge his Brothers death lands in France with a mighty Army and freed Chartres from a siege of the Dolphin for when he heard of the Kings approach he retreated to Towrs whilst the Scotch King with the Duke of Glocester conquer Drocas Henry pursues the Dolphin from place to place yet could not overtake him though he took all Towns in his way so that he joyned in a short time all the Island of France to the rest In the interim the Queen was delivered of a Sonne at Windsor who was Christned Henry of whom King Henry spake as a Prophet Good God saith he I Henry of Monmouth shall have but a short Reign and shall prevail much but Henry of Windsor shall Reign long and shall lose all but the will of God be done About that time the Dolphin had besieged those of Narbon Henry marches quickly thither to free them and making too much haste he took a Feaver by over-heating himself wherefore he was forced to stay but the Duke of Bedford was dispatcht who not only freed them of Narbon but also drove the Dolphin towards Aquitan who from thence in mockery was called King of Aquitan But a flux of the belly coming upon Henries disease which increased every day he was carried to Boy de Vincennois where within a few daies he died Christianly Anno 1421. first giving to his Brother the Duke of Bedford the Title of Regent of Normandy and France and his other Brother the Duke of Glocester he made Governour of England He was not yet over 36 years old and so he died in the top and flower of his age and honour having reigned nine years and five moneths The most famous Conquerour of all the Kings and best beloved of his subjects that he was so lamented of them which is not usuall that they could not forbear to weep for him The Doctrine of Wytcliff was eminent in this Kings reign for which John Huss and Hierom of Prague were at Casars command afterwards burnt alive HENRY the sixth King of England and of France Anno 1422. HEnry of Windsor the sole Heir of Henry the fifth obtained the Kingdom after his Fathers death being nine moneths old who when he came to years was not like to his Father either for Vertue or Fortune He was proclaimed King at Paris by the Authority of the Duke of Bedford all the Lords of the Kingdom swearing fidelity to him But King Charles the sixth dying a little after Henry his Sonne Charlis the seventh hoped to regain by Valour and Industry what the French had lost by cowardise First he wan the Pont Malanus which City by Montacute his vertue was again won from him Then they fought with a doubtfull success at Crepan where about 2000 French were slain amongst whom were many Nobles and the Town was taken But Charles overcame many of the English driving a great Herd of Cattell toward Normandy and took the prey from them and freed the Temple of St Michel from a siege Then the chance of Warre being altered he is again put to the worst at Vernols But the fidelity of the men of Orleans was notable who levelling their Suburbs with the ground held play with the Earl of Salisbury a most valiant Commander who had beleaguerd them and when they were almost famished and were ready to yield themselves to the Duke of Burgundy Salisbury disdaining the honour should be taken from him refused the conditions but he whilst he was not wary enough in viewing the sciâ—uation of the City was slain with a bullet from the Walls In the interim the Duke of Glocester did not a little stain his Honour marrying Jacoba the Countess of Holland which had formerly married to John Duke of Brabant but she being surprized by craft was brought back to her Husband but again disguising her self in mans apparell she escaped into Holland and there she waged Warre against her Husband and when she was too weak for him and the Pope would not grant her a Divorce the Duke of Glocester rejected her and she afterwards married to Francus Borsely a Dutch Knight but he being cast into prison by the Duke of Burgundy she afterwards led a miserable life In the mean time the English were often fortunate in Battell against the French and recovered divers Towns but those of Orleans having help as it were from God brought to them did not
and Yorkshire were revolted from him at the Report of what was past and for fear of them his counsel was troubled But the Parliament which the King in his straights was not ignorant of thought fit to proceed and did prescribe Conditions to the King namely That the English should be governed the same way as the Scotch were and to that they might call a Parliament as often as they pleased and assign Offices to whom they thought fit That the Bishops should be ejected out of the Parliament whom they found more addicted to the Kings side and many such like Propositions In the mean time the Houses take into their Power the Towns of greatest concernment amongst which Hull was one The King had sent the Earl of New-castle thither before to demand it for himself but the Townsmen who had first received order from the Parliament being doubtfull what to do were between hope and fear but then being confirmed with a farther order from the Parliament they excluded the King Wherefore being defrauded of his hope he resolves upon more milde counsels and sent Letters to the two Houses desiring them not to proceed so harshly to leave off their violence protesting his Innocence and sincere intention before God and man But the Parliament little moved by these words take care in the mean time for the business of Ireland giving Licence to Martin Tromp the Admiral of Holland to search all Dunkirk ships even in they very English Havens Also Digby and Lunsford that were addicted to the King are accused of High Treason the one was taken the other escaped into Holland Then they send Messengers to the King and gave him thanks for his Letters desiring his Majesty to return to London The King though he were pleased with their gratitude yet refused to come to the Parliament least the people by their Insolence should again put him in danger The Parliament was much displeased with this refusall of the King because the traffique did not proceed well and because they could not press their designs as they would Whereupon the Lower House drew up an Humble Remonstrance Whereby they desired Power to bestow all Places of Government both by Sea and Land upon whom they thought fit and to fortifie Towns with Ammunition and Provision necessary as they pleased And proceeding yet farther They asked that the old Servants of the Queen both English and French and such as were her Priests might be banished and the Bishops and Lords addicted to the Popish Religion might be excluded from the Parliament-House That a Synod of fifty Ministers might be called That the Princes and Lords should be forbidden to go out of the Land or to make any Covenant with forrain Princes or Commonwealths without the Parliaments consent Lastly They desired that the King should take an Oath to hold no counsel with the Queen in Church or State affairs The Lords of the Upper House were not well pleased with these Propositions for that the Kings Authority was palpably infringed by them The Lower House was angry at that and fell to their former Artifice and threatned to raise the people and incite them against the Nobility as Enemies to the Commonwealth and addicted to the Kings side The Lords regarded not their threats untill they saw the Commons uniting themselves by counsel from the Lower House and which is to be admired they found the Commissioners of Scotland to joyn with them against the profit of their own Countrey At last they were terrified with these things and fore-seeing greater dangers they consent though it were against their wils Twenty chosen men therefore are sent to the King with these Conditions which when the King beheld he undertook to ask Counsell thereupon and to deliver his minde in writing But when he was pressed with straights on all sides he yielded to these Conditions namely That the Parliament should store the Cities of the Kingdom with provision upon this ground that the King should first be made acquainted what provision they would make and to bestow the Offices so that of three men chosen the King might choose one As for the Bishops and the rest as being matters of great moment he would advise farther The Kings Consent was received by the Parliament with great applause though they could have desired the terms of his Grant had been larger for by this Authority they increased in power as much as the King decreased They brought the business so farre that the power should be in their hands so long as the Parliament sate which they meant for ever For the King by a dangerous Indulgence had granted them leave before to sit so long as they pleased they being not to be dissolved without their own Consent And that this power granted to them might not prove unfruitfull they presently put out some Governours and put in others Nor are they content with this but being higher by the Kings Grants they petition that the six Members should be cleared from all guilt and to be freed from attainder the King was resolved to yield to all and did grant what they asked The Kings courage was so farre weakned that he lifted up the Power of his Adversaries and pulled down the hopes of his friends who trusting but little to his over great lenity thought it best to avoid the strokes or misfortune now hanging over their heads Part of them forsaking the Parliament went home to their houses Part of them preferring voluntary banishment before continual fear went out of the Land for they had now got the power of all into their hands and did what they pleased no man daring to whisper against it And now that plenty of Parliament-members was so diminished that in the Upper House there were left not above five and twenty in the Lower House scarce fourscore the Kings friends still falling off that at last there were hardly sixteen in the House of Lords In the mean time they raged fiercely against those that were addicted to the Romish Religion and they provide a Fleet with the Kings Treasure to defend the Mediterranean Sea upon all occasions whereby his Power was diminished and his Authority broken The Queen also was so tired out with so many calumnies and aspersions that she resolved to sail into Holland and to accompany her Daughter to her Husband the Prince of Orange to whom she was espoused And the Parliament to leave the King naked of that succour easily yielded to it The King that he might clearly demonstrate that he by his presence had been no cause of any of those evils before his departure had consented to the Petition of the Parliament to exclude the Bishops out of the House which was not the least of his failings And to discover his minde plainly toward the Reformed Religion he caused a severe Statute to be published against the Papists and banished all their Priests out of the Kingdom 'T is marvellous with how great joy the people accepted that Bonfires were made in
John and sets him a day of hearing to appear before him as one that ought him Homage But John refusing he entred his Territories by Arms and in short time he subdued all Normandy as it were in the face of John who staied sluggishly at Roan and afterwards doing nothing he returned into England the Nobility gnashing their teeth at it in vain To this may be added the second and third loss for Eleconer the Kings Mother died who did the Kingdom as much good by her vertues as the King did mischief by his vices Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury followed her who was another Ornament of the Kingdom And now John seemed to be in possibility to recover his loss so his subjects would bring Subsidies to help him to wage Warre which they strove who should do it most So he marcheth toward Portsmouth and suddenly set sail not waiting for the Noblemen that came after him but he had no sooner left the shore but he presently returned and upbraiding the Nobility because they followed him not with sluggishness and disobedience he fined them with a vast summe of money and so being the richer by his double Usury neglecting the War he returned home Philip in the mean while that he might expell all the English out of his Kingdom takes Chinon by force and he had quickly put an end to the Warre unless Guido the Husband of Constance falling off from Philip had joyned with John by whose help he levied a new Army whereby he took Mountalbans a Town otherwise impregnable with wonderfull celerity in fifteen daies and after that storming Aniou he gave the Plunder to his Souldiers rasing the Wals of the Town but he repented it afterwards and perchance because he was born in that City he built it again more firm and beautifull than it was And now Philip and John were in Arms now on this side now on that the Army expected the word to fall on and nothing but blood and slaughter was to be expected but at the Intercession of friends a Cessation was granted for two years John therefore returns for England but upon his return he enters the borders of the Scotch and kils multitudes of them and brought King Alexander to his obedience and those Irish that he found to have revolted he sailed with his Fleet thither and easily brought them under So he made the Rebel Welsh upon his return become Subjects taking eight and twenty Noble-mens children for pledges which when the Welsh rose again he commanded to kill them all So much prevails unadvised desire of wrong though sometimes it may oppose good examples to unsatisfied cruelty and so John was more cruel and valiant against none than toward his own Subjects He returned afterward into France that as we said he might repair the wals of Aniou when those of Poictou revolted to him But Lewis the sonne of Philip mustering an Army presently not only mastered and punished the Rebels but also put all Johns Army to flight and destroyed them taking the chief Nobility by which losse he was brought to desperation yet making peace he returned for England to vex his Subjects and to pour forth all his malice on the innocent In the mean time the Nobility of England because they could obtain from the King no release of their burdens conspiring together wage warre against him The King when he was too weak for them attempted to proceed by subtilty and calling the Nobility together granted them their requests But afterwards being discharged by the Pope from his promises he takes up armes against them and spoiling almost all England he threw down the Castles and Forts of all the Conspirators every where There was a Bull sent from the Pope against all the Nobility that disobeyed his Commands The Nobility being too weak for the King in Arms they commit an unjust and hainous wickednesse calling in the sonne of the French King to their assistance and promising obedience to him as to their King He stayed not but sailed for England with a Navy of six hundred ships The conspired Nobility joyn'd with him and so joyning their forces they came for London where Lewis with a fair speech wone the Citizens to his side Also the Scotch entred England with a mighty Army destroying all things in the way whereby Lewis as also by the other Forces being strengthned overruns all England with ease John in the mean time least he should seem to do nothing gathering together a great many vagabonds spoils miserably the Lands of his Subjects at last in the passing of some Rivers not a few of his followers being drown'd and being overweakned for want of help falling thereby into grief of minde and so into a Feaver he died within a few dayes Great controversies arose between the King and the Pope during his Raign in Church-matters about the choice of some Bishops The Pope got the upper-hand and made the King do him homage after that the businesse of the Church had stood still six years and three moneths He was immoderate in blasphemies and execrations Also he is thought to have sought aid from Mirammula King of Africa whilest he was in his troubles promising to him the Kingdom of England if he conquer'd and to renounce the Christian Faith He was sad and dark of countenance he was tall and fat sluggish and idle of Nature he seldome conquered the enemy but by force being inconstant in adverse fortune he was easily dejected He was false in his promises burdensom to his Subjects troublesom to his neighbours and hated of all HENRY the third King of England Anno 1517. AFter Johns decease his first born sonne Henry not yet passed nine years old obtain'd the Kingdom not without some controversie of the Nobles Some of the Nobility falling off to him who a little before had made a defection and swear to King Lewis yet Lewis with those that followed him from London with an Army of twenty thousand men wone many Towns till at last he came to the Castle at Lincoln which a certain noble woman did manly defend and caused him to stop and an Army of the English coming on in the mean time he was repulsed and conquered Many of the English Nobility being taken that stood with him besides the Count of Perch who preferred an honourable death before a dishonourable life yet he did not despair but sent for new forces out of France which were all almost destroyed in a fight at Sea By these misfortunes he was forced to take Conditions whereby there were granted to King Lewis in respect of his charge he had been at a hundred and five thousand franks he renouncing all Right to the Kingdom of England and promising faithfully to prevail with his Father to restore all the Provinces in France that belonged to the English But the King restored to the Rebel Nobility all the Lands that belonged unto them and so Lewis leaving England set sail at Dover for France having waged war unhappily in
Germany who were promiscuously called by that Name These with Hengist and Horsus their Leaders made hast into England with an Army of 9000 men by whose Valour the Scotch and Picts were overcome in a pitched Battell From hence arose so great an opinion of the Saxons that they were held for Angels as it were sent from heaven and they were received into society by granting part of this Island unto them Also Vortigernus being taken with the beauty of Rovena the Daughter of Hengist easily obtained her for his Wife Hengist not a little elevated by this success forgetting his own Countrey supposed himself to be King of Britany calling therefore not a few of his Countreymen out of Saxony he attempted to gain the Land by force But the Nobility of the Land foreseeing these undertakings they thrust Vortigernus an Uxorious King from his Throne and they create his sonne Vortimer King He suddenly picking up what Souldiers he could went against the Enemy near Alesfort where in a single fight on one side Caligarnus Brother of Vortimer on the other side Horsus Brother to Hengist were slain The Saxons were compelled to forsake all Britany or else a Territory was granted to them in Tennet where they found no quiet Vortimer to whom Britany now was indebted for her liberty having reigned four years was poysoned by Rovena the Wife of Vortigernus and the Nobility are perswaded by a crafty woman to recall their former King Vortigernus This being done Hengist growing more bold by the favour of his Son in Law levies a new Army and again attempts to invade Britany cunningly pretending that he came not to wage Warre with the Britans but to fetch Rovena and to make a continual League with them The false Name of League displeased not the Britans came unarmed to the place appointed but the Saxons came armed with short skeens under their garments by this fraud these unprepared people were overcome without great contest 300 of the Nobility were slain the King himself was taken and obtained his liberty by the Provinces of Kent Suffolk Sussex and Norfolk but he himself fled into Wales In the mean while an infinite number of Saxons arrived in Britany and they over flow the whole Island like a sudden Deluge untill such time as Aurelius Ambrosius a Roman born yet very affectionate to the Britans landed in Britany with a great multitude of people and at first he sets upon King Vortigernus suddenly who was doubtless the cause of all these troubles and besieging him in a certain Castle he put fire to it and consumed him with the Fort. After this he holds the Saxons play enough not in one Battell alone but at length he is miserably destroyed by a Saxon that was suborned to give him poyson to drink when he had been Ruler over the Affairs of Britany 32 years Vter succeeded him in the Kingdom or as some will have it Pendragon the Britan so called because he was wont to wear the Dragons Head of Gold in his Banner which is at this day an Ensign of honour to the English He also overthrew the pride of the Saxons in divers Battels untill the eighteenth year of his Reign poyson being cast into a Well the water whereof he daily drank of he was killed also Arthur succeeded him who was born of a fair and Noble Woman which was Wife to the Duke of Cornwall This Arthur being of wonderfull force killed 800 Saxons with his own hand and did many other admirable things he also set up the order of the round Table but afterwards being wounded in Battell he died in the twenty sixth year of his Reign Constantirus succeeded him and Aurelius Conanus Nephew to Arthur followed him Vortiporus followed Conanus then Malgo Conanus afterward Carelicus Cadvanus succeeded Carelicus and after him Cadwallus and Cadâ—alladar who was the last of the British Kings for leaving his Grandfathers Kingdom of his own accord he sailed into Britany in France by whose absence the courage of the Saxons grew so great that coming in with great multitudes they vanquished the Britans that were now without a King and they easily brought the whole Island under their Jurisdiction Cadwalladar striving to stand against their violence was admonished as it is supposed from heaven to go to Rome and to betake himself to a spiritual life where he died a Monk The Saxons being now Masters of all divide this vast Island into seven Kingdoms and as many Kings yet he that was most powerfull was called King of England so that it is apparent enough that in this Heptarchy there was a Monarchy And now the Christian Religion had taken no small root the clouds of Heathenish Errours being dispersed by Dr Austin the English Apostle as they called him And this light was received by the English men with so great zeal that they strove to enter their Names built Churches and performed Divine duties The Saxon Government flourished exceedingly under this Heptarchy for a long time untill that intestine Warre rose amongst them and brought all things under the power of the West Saxons For Egbert King of the West Saxons when he had by Arms subdued four Kingdoms and was in hope to overcome the other two in memory of his Country after the Name of Britans and Saxons he commanded that all the Inhabitants should be called English men and the Countrey England Now the affairs of the English seemed to be at the height when they were next to their ruine so false is the appearance of all humane things that when they glitter most they may be supposed to be in the declining For the Danes playing the Pirats about the English Coasts for a long time at last by force they enter the Land Angarus and Hubo being their Captains and they wasted the Countrey miserably sparing neither sacred nor common which is apparent by a most famous example of the holy Virgins of Coldingham who to preserve their purity dismembred their bodies For foreseeing the violence of the mad souldiers every where they cut off their own nostrils and their upper lips that being like to Monsters they might mitigate the dishonest lasciviousness of an unbeleeving Nation The Kings of the Mercians and Eastern English were killed by them and their Kingdoms were possessed with no small part of Northumberland at last to repress the insolency of these Danes a great Tribute was laid upon the people which was commonly called Dan or Dans gelt At length they were valiantly repulsed by Alfred King of the West Saxons and are driven out of all Mercia Upon his Victories Edward his Sonne succeeding subdued the East part of England driving out the Danes But Adelstan this Kings Bastard Sonne cast such a fear upon them that they yielded not only Northumberland but also all England unto him and some of them became his subjects willingly But Ethelrede a weak and sluggish King reigning taking heart again they once more invade the Land spoil and wast it miserably
of the Spring truce being made with the French for three years the King took Margaret the Dukes sister to Wife for Leoner died in the former expedition against the Scot and the Daughter of Philip being betrothed to King Edwards Son he retreated for England Lastly making his incursion into Scotland when he held his Winter Quarters at Carlile where being taken with a dysentery in the way and the disease increasing he died at Burgh upon sands when he had reigned thirty four years He was taller then all the rest of a sorrowfull countenance for chastity like to his Father but in fortitude farre before him he was excellent for Judgement and Continence EDWARD the second King of England Anno 1308. EDward sirnamed Carnarvan by succession came to the Throne when his Father was dead But he at the very beginning shewed what his future Tyranny would be especially in turning upside down what his Father had left in command by his Will and calling Gavestone from banishment a young man of a most base life who for his insolency was exiled by his Fathers order and in his last words forbad him not to recall him who afterwards gave cause of great dissentions for when the King bestowed immoderate gifts upon him he made the Nobility envious against him and himself poor But his Father being yet not interred he endeavoured to conclude the Matrimony with King Philip's Daughter that was contracted when King Edward lived which is performed with great preparation of the Nobles and especially of Gavestone four Kings being present and three Queens except the Bride The Dowry was the Dukedom of Aquitan which the French King had possessed himself of But he being returned into England the Nobles were offended by reason of the too great power of Gavestone they deny the solemnity of the Coronation unless he would banish this insolent odious man from his Court and Kingdom The King seemed to hearken to it and so is inaugurated with his Queen in the Kingdom by the consent of all But whenas he should banish Gavestone he highly promoted him the Nobility not a little murmuring at it In the mean while the chief power was in Gavestone the Nobles had no authority and that he might precede the rest in glory a Tilting was appointed where he obtained the greatest praise His valour was worthy of reward but that the insolent man turned all to the contempt of the Nobility In the mean while a Parliament was called wherein amongst the rest it was Enacted That the Decrees of Magna Charta should be observed Strangers should be put out of their Offices and that all things should be done in a solemn sitting of the Senate nor should the King go out of the Land the Parliament being ignorant of it or against it nor should make Warre against any and that Gavestone should be banished Whereupon he is sent away for Ireland not as a banished man but as President of the Island where also behaving himself well he had deserved commendation and reward But the King by preposterous counsell a contract being made for him with the sister of the Earl of Glocister being impatient of his absence called him back from his banishment and presently settled him in his former grace and favour But he to give the King thanks by cunning flattery sucked the King of all he had that he left him scarce sufficient for his necessity The Nobles in the mean while hating his insolency threaten a generall revolt from the King unless he would send away his proud subject But Gaveston when he had wandred some time in France and Flanders returns privately into England being generally hated being the more confident by reason of the Kings and his Father in Law the Earl of Glecesters favour The King received him most friendly and that his arrivall might be concealed from the Nobles the King takes a journey with him toward York The Nobility that had knowledge of it enter a Conspiracy to which all subscribed but the Earl of Glocester And they make Thomas Earl of Lancaster the head of the faction and so they laid a necessity on the King either to deliver up Gaveston into the hands of the Lords or else to send him out of the Land But Edward being blinde with foolish favour would not hearken to the Lords but shut him up in a strong Castle that so he might escape the envy of the Nobility But they being sworn together besiege the place and compell him to surrender miserably and having taken him they cut off his head Three things were left in charge to Edward by his dying Father and were commanded in his Will namely That he should carry his Fathers bones along with him till he had conquered Scotland That he should expend 30000lb upon the holy Warre And that he should not recall Gaveston He obeyed not the two later for that money decreed for the Holy Warre he bestowed on Gaveston when he was come back for the third we shall see what he did The King of Scots Brusius who had long since intelligence of King Edwards slothfulness would not pass over such an opportunity of well managing his business levying an Army presently reduced all Scotland into his power And not therewith content he enters the borders of England and destroys all by fire and sword Edward to repulse force by force raised an Army of an hundred thousand Souldiers better fitted with furniture than valour which was easily vanquished by the Scotch that were scarce 30000 joyning craft and valour together The chief of the Nobility in this fight were either slain or taken Captives The Earl of Glocester himself when he had given sufficient tokens of his fortitude fighting valiantly in the head of the Army was killed the rest saved themselves by flight This made the hearts of the English to fail and a great part of the Nobles and Commons revolted to the Conquerours by a fearfull example of perjury punished Bruse following his Victories enters upon Ireland with an Army a great part of it he over-runne and depopulated it very farre Also he was saluted King of the same Island the inhabitants falling to him abundantly And he ruled three years untill the Primate of Armath and Berningam the chief Judge in Ireland raising a great Army set upon the Conquerour and take him with a great slaughter of his men and cut off his Head The Scots almost mad with the death of their King waste the Borders of England so farre as York with sword and fire To moderate their Insolence a great Army was raised of the English who marched toward York But discord growing between the Commanders before they saw the Enemy they either slipt away or returned home Then Barwick by the Treason of Peter Spalding was delivered up to the Enemies hands which Edward presently laid siege to But the Earl of Lancaster falling away with his men by reason of a quarrel the Scotch in the mean time making havock of all and
alive he writ Letters to the Lieutenant of the Tower Robert Brakenbury that so soon as he could by any means he should destroy the young King Edward and his Brother in the Tower when he refused and delayed he gave that charge to James Tyrel who coming to London in great poverty he stifled the young children cafting pillars upon them The childrens death was divulged Richard not being against it it is wonderfull how great amazement seized on the minds of all men every one lamented the unhappiness of the children and pitied them and they began to speak what hopes they had of him who spared not his own near kindred but shed their blood to say nothing of the Mother and her Daughters Certainly immortall God who will not suffer great sins to go unpunished revenged on the innocent Children the perjury of their Father committed at York and the death of the Duke of Clarence whom he wickedly murdered But the Duke of Buckingham who had taken such pains for Richard began now to detest his horrid wickedness and sell away from him took counsell with the Bishop of Ely who was committed to his custody how to restore Henry Earl of Richmond to whom the Kingdom of right belonged next unto for that he descended from John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster his great Grandfather and to root out Richard a monster of men These therefore disclosed their business to others they presently send away Hugh Conway and Thomas Ranmey into Brittany who should acquaint the Earl of the combination and he should impart it to the Duke of Brittany The Duke though he were much importuned by Richards Letters to keep Henry in prison promised assistance Richard in the mean time who had notice of the consultations of Buckingham sent for him again and again to come unto him but when he refused to come they fall to their Arms on both sides The Duke mustering presently some Welsh forces and others came to Glocester over the River to meet Richard that had a mighty Army with him But the souldiers which he had procured voluntarily rather than for their pay were not very firm but ran from him before he came in sight of the enemy The Duke was now almost left all alone only his Lacky remained with him who was forced to fly to shift for himself and went to Humphrey Baunisters he unmindfull of all former favours delivered him afterwards to Richard who cut off his Head When this was commonly reported all the Conspiratours ran one one way and another another way some to places of refuge some to the Duke of Brittany to the Earl Richard had heard in the mean time that the Duke did not only not hurt the Earl but had resolved to assist him wherefore he presently provides a Fleet that if perhaps the Earl should come he might repulse him every where from the English coasts Henry in the mean time with 40 Ships and 5000 Brittains sailed for England but a tempest arose and scattered his Ships and he almost was quit of all his Forces and was driven to Cornwall where coming on Land when he saw a great Army he retreated to his Shipping again weighed Anchor and saild to Sea And being very pensive when he heard of Buckinghams death void of all counsell he returned again to Brittany in France But by the coming of the Nobility he took heart once more and promised before the Altar to marry Elizabeth Edwards Daughter if the business should succeed to his minde and so afresh an Oath of fidelity was taken by them all Richard in the mean time did rage fiercely against all those that followed the Earl wheresoever he could lay hold on them Thomas Earl of Dorset who had fled to him was banished both by Sea and Land Also he made a Covenant with the Scotch King and confirmed it giving his Sister Anne to the Scotch Kings Sonne Richard in the interim laies new traps for Earl Henry by corrupting the Dukes Treasurer with money But he escaped them the matter being detected by Bishop Morton When the fraud was known to the Duke himself he was so enraged against the Treasurer that he caused this wicked man for that and other wicked deeds to be hanged The Earl Henry was now come into France where the Earl of Oxford escaped from his imprisonment came and joyned with him and promised his faithfull endeavour in all affairs To whom some Noble men that studied at Paris came to assist willingly offering their aid amongst whom was Richard Fox the famousest Scholar in those daies whom the Earl took to be of his Privy-Counsell and when he had gaind the Kingdom afterwards he made him Bâ—shop of Winchester But Richard to hinder Earl Henry's Marriage with Elizabeth partly by flattery partly by fear partly by promises he prevailed so farre with Queen Elizabeth that she should entrust her Daughters with him and should write her Letters to her Sonne the Marquess of Dorset who was near to Earl Henry whereby she should command him to return home without delay leaving the Earls society That all things were now pacified and that her family was received into the Kings favour Richard all this while having gotten the Queens Daughters that he might totally destroy the intention of Henry he thought himself to marry Elizabeth his Brothers Daughter his former Wife also was yet alive But she also when other projects would not suit was taken privately away by poyson In the mean while he tries all means to win Elizabeth to affect him and if he could not obtain her he was resolved to joyn violence to his prayers But he was so much urged with care and forraign fear that he had no time for lust to shew it self In the interim Stanley had a command to Muster an Army but he must not go forth before he had given unto Richard for a pawn and pledge of his fidelity his eldest Sonne the Lord Strange A fame was also spread on purpose that Henry had implored help from the French in vain and that there was no fear of his coming Richard dealt something carelesly and unwisely discharging the Navy he had sent to scour the English Coasts Henry was advertised how things stood and arrived in England with but 2000 souldiers in pay Presently Rice Thomas and John Savage two the most Potent men in Wales having collected some Forces came to joyn with Henry Pembroke with some others did the like Stanley though he wished well yet fearing least his Sonne should be miserably tortured by the King delayed his intention untill some other opportunity Richard all this time was wonderfull sluggish and careless but when he heard of the revolt of his subjects he raised what men he could scrape up and went against Henry He pitched his Tent at Bosworth field when he saw the enemy intended to fight he also made ready his men At last they fall on and fought a sharp Battell on both sides But Stanlâ—y who came later in the heat
yet given no answer to his Charge whereupon they denied to supply the King with Subsidies wherefore he was forced to finde out some other waies to raise monies wherewith he provided a mighty Fleet once more wherewith assisted by the Flemish Ships he spoiled all the Spanish Ships they met either coming from Spain or sailing thither and did wonderfully annoy the very Spanish Coasts but when the French were not spared a stop was made in France of some English Vessels and the Merchants Goods were Confiscate The Ministers of the Church of Rome had heightned the indignation those that came into England with the Queen and these did what they could privately to trouble the English affairs They were commanded to leave the Land but they were sent away with good gifts and rewards The French offended at this as an injury sent Monsier Bassempeir Extraordinary Embassadour into England who prevailed so farre that some were recall'd The French was not satisfied with this but forbad all Commerce with the English subjects and Charles did the like Envy increasing Lewis oppressed the Rochellers Charles sent relief to the besieged though he prevailed but little some mens hearts flagging who returned for England and for their sluggishness they were cast into prison But chiefly sharp complaints were charged by the Parlament against Buckingham who was the Commander of this Expedition That he had delivered some Sea Towns to the Custody of some Souldiers that received no pay from the English and had made strangers Commanders of them in Chief That to the great detriment and hazard of the Kingdom he had brought German Souldiers into England That by his perswasion one Parliament was called after another and nothing done That he had put many worthy Noble man from their places undeservedly and put men less deserving into their places That Warlick Expeditions undertaken imprudently had alwaies an ill end as was fresh in memory by the Rochell business That Merchandise failed by this means That he had turned another way such preparations as were made for Warre and had destroyed a multitude of Shipping by his ill managing of business c. Charles to stop all farther proceedings against Buckingham presently dissolved the Parliament and being overcome with the continuall prayers of the besieged he raised new Forces to send to assist the Rochellers under the command of the Duke of Buckingham but when he was ready to Embarque himself he was stabbed with a Knife by Felton an English man who by this act did sacrifice himself for his Country but he was taken when he had done it and was hanged for his pains Then a new Parliament was summoned the King complained that Tunnage was denied him the answer was made that such supplies were never granted to the Kings but upon urgent necessity and therefore it were better that he should look to prevent the wrongs that were every where crept in whereupon the Parliament was once more Dissolved Then there was a supersedeas to all business for if any man did not pay that Custom he Incurred the Kings displeasure and if any did pay then he incurred the displeasure of the Parliament and hereupon grew cause enough for following mischiefs The King offended at the mallepartness of the Parliament cast Sr John Eliot and some other Members of Parliament into prison and appointed Judges to take cognizance of their Fact they supposing themselves chosen besides the custom deferred to meddle with the business being doubtfull what to do the King pressed them on one hand and the people on the other The Kings Officers sent messengers to the Merchants whom they call usually Adventurers exhorting them that they would set their Merchandise to sale as they were wont saying the King would take care of all only let them pay their Custom which thing they refused to do without consent of Parliament The other Merchants did the same for it was fresh in their memories that about an hundred years before the Merchants had a penalty set upon them who paid their Custom the Parliament being against it in memoriall whereof that posterity might not plead ignorance a Chappel was built which at this day is called Alderman-Bury and a stranger Merchant who paying the Custom had set his Merchandize to sale was excluded from all Commerce And for this reason there was cause given for both sides to be displeased In the interim Peace was ratified with France and the Queen was brought a Bed of her first-born Charles The Spaniard also was hampred with divers Warres and want of moneys and therefore he thought it better to make Peace with Charles than to be brought to a finall desparation yet the King and his subjects were never the better agreed New and greater causes of dissention arose The King had taken care that the Book of Common-prayer should bâ— re-printed that such as had not the same gift of minde might have something for their imitation and by a set form should be stirred up to more attentiveness This form was read in Churches and Houses at that time through all England But the Scotch a scrupulous people in their opinion who are more afraid of the name of yielding than resisting and would sooner offend against Religion than the Ceremonies of it did publickly refuse it but they especially who held forth affected purity were called Puritans Charles to regulate the obstinate presently musters an Army to invade Scotland James Hamilton was the cause of it who was sent into Scotland to allay the peoples mindes before it should come to a Warre but he dealt deceitfully for having a desire to the Crown of Scotland he endeavoured to raise dissentions and hoped to fish best in troubled waters The Scotch on the other part that they might not idly wait for their own destruction meet the King with their Forces but their Banners and Ensignes were not displaied and in token of humility they laid their Arms down before him on the ground But when both Armies stood now ready the English that they might not strive with their Brethren refused to fight wherefore he was forced to make peace with the Scots upon no good conditions which being ratified he came back to London He was scarce returned but some factious fellows and such as by troubles and Warre hoped to make their own advantage speak against the Kings sluggishness and stirred him up who was already prone enough to make a new Warre against the Scots whereupon he goes once more with an Army into Scotland and by the same contumacy of his souldiers as before he was frustrate of his intentions The Scotch also made a nearer agreement amongst themselves against the King which they called their Covenant The King therefore when he was distressed for want cals a Parliament and asks Subsidies of them but it was in vain wherefore he was forced to fly to other Artifices The Queen that was pressed with the same care the King was dealt with the Earl Charles Rosset and with other