others also Nor did the Queen do lesse at Bristol killing Hugh Father to Spencer who was ninety years old causing him to be dragged to Execution pulling his heart out alive Then she sent part of her Army to finde out the King Henry Earl of Lancaster being the chief and Rice Paulinus a Welshman who because he knew every passage of the Countrey exactly he lead the Earl to the Monastery of Neth where the King hid himself where presently both he with Spencer Robert Baldoch and Simon Redyng is delivered into the hands of his Enemies and is left to the Custody of the Earl of Leicester who entertained him with all respect as it was fit a captive King should be But Edmund Earl of Arundel John Daniel and Thomas Micheldem are beheaded at the request of Mortimer But Spencer who was now Earl of Glocester is now with Simon Redyng drawn to Execution and being first hanged they were afterwards beheaded and quartered and their Heads set up on London Bridge the quarters were sent to the chief Cities but Baldoch was famished to death in prison Then a Parliament is called wherein they consulted to depose the King and to Crown the Prince his Sonne Edward But he being farre more Religious than his Mother would not accept the Crown unlesse his Father would resign it willingly Some are sent to perswade this miserable King and the unhappy man did yeeld easily to it A day is set for the delivering up his Title and Edward cloathed in black comes into the Chamber where they were gathered together that should receive his Abdication but he scarce saw the provision made for his renunciation but he sunk down half dead in a swound and with much ado being refreshed by the Earl of Leicester and the Bishop of Winchester he came to himself But when he heard the cause of the Assembly he answered That as it was displeasing to him that his Subjects were so much offended at him so he was well pleased that they had made his Son Edward King in his stead and so the Solemnities being rightly performed the business was at last accomplished Then an allowance being granted to Edward he remained in the Custody of the Earl of Leicester and was well used Also so great a stipend was granted to the Queen-Mother that there was scarce any thing left for the King and Queen Nor was the furious woman yet pleased but went about to infringe the Liberty her Husband enjoyed with the Earl of Leicester and by the counsel of Adam Torleton Bishop of Hereford power is granted to two Knights Thomas Gorney and John Matrevers to carry the King to some other place They hewed him filthily cutting his hair most ridiculously and his heard also that he might not be known at last they brought him to Barclay-Castle After he had lost his Kingdom they consult concerning his Life First They thought by unwholsome food to destroy him then by filthy stinks of carcases and lastly by poyson but neither prevailed Then the Letters of the Bishop of Hereford the most wicked Counsellour were sent to his Keepers by which he checks them heavily for dealing so well with him that was not fit to be so kindly used adding in the end Doe not fear to kill Edward 't is good which was interpreted by them as they pleased who thereupon fell upon the miserable King in his Bed and strive with the Blankets to strangle him Nor were they content with this but they thrust a hot Iron into his Fundament and so burned his Bowels a most hideous Example of Cruelty and destroyed him in a dolefull manner But these Parricides when they looked for a Reward for their Villany they received a just Reward of it For being called in question for their Lives they were banished Afterwards Gorney lost his Head Matrevers after a long banishment at last died miserably This King was of an excellent Stature of Body wonderfull strong but too much given to drunkenness and so not secret of his Counsels he was immoderate toward those he loved For Love if it be with Moderation is a most noble affection of the soul and if that be wanting it is the worst passion of all the rest He was more unhappy than unfortunate He exceeded all in Chastity for he left no Bastards behinde him In Moderation for he used no unjust wayes to pole his Subjects of their Moneys As his Subjects hated him in his life time so his memory was dear unto them after his Death EDWARD the third King of England and France Anno 1328. HIs Father being deposed Edward was saluted King sirnamed Windsor not yet having passed his fifteenth year and therefore he had Governours that should Rule the Kingdome in his Name But the chief Power remain'd in the Queen and Mortimer either the Nobility winking at it or allowing it The first care was to fall upon the Scotch for Robert Bruise despising the young King entred the Borders of England with his Army whereupon an Army is raised joyning those of the hanse Towns which the Queen brought with her But when divers people hardly could be held together in respect of the diversity of their Manners there grew in a short time a great discord between both Nations so nothing succeeding well they came back again and afterwards the English consented to base Conditions of Peace A Marriage being contracted between David Prince of Scotland and Joan Sister to Edward Also Edward Married his Wife that was promised him Philippa the Earl of Hannonia's Daughter being yet in their Nonage Then the Souldiers of Hannonia who caused the Discord are sent home And Edmund Earl of Kent accused of Treason because he had endeavoured to restore the Kingdom to his Brother Edward was condemned and lost his Head But the great Revenues of the Queen which she had drawn to her self by a Grant of Parliament were restrained to a thousand per annum and she was imprisoned in a Castle and Mortimer being convicted of Adultery with her and being taken in the act was presently hanged In the mean while Philip the Fair King of France died and the Kingdom was devolved to his Sonnes Henry Lewis and Charls the Fair who all reigned in their turns but Charls dying without an Heir-male lawfull Succession failed in him Edward who was of kinne by the Sister of Charles who was the Daughter to Philip the Fair supposing that the Kingdom fell by descent to him found Philip Valesius Brother to Philip the Fair to be his enemy for women by the common rule of France are excluded by the Salique Law Wherefore Philip was prefer'd before Edward and the King of England was forced to do him Homage for the Lands he possessed in France But these things gave cause afterwards for a grievous Warre and a sharp Contention In the mean time Edward Baily Son to John affecting the Kingdom of Scotland descending from his Ancestors Robert Bruse being now dead made Warre upon the Scots and by a
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
Warre especially by Sea and in the West-Indies and Portugal the English did mischief to the Spaniard and received the like The Queen when those Clouds of a Tempest at hand were dispersed caused a publick Thanksgiving to be made unto God who had delivered her and in Triumphant manner she rid through London She was not for all this free from Troubles but by the Queens Wisdome and Masculine Valour they were even strangled in the birth and England was made the receptacle of persecuted and afflicted men who fled by companies out of France and Holland by reason of the Wars there In the mean while Sir Francis Drake was sent toward Hispaniola who made the Spaniard work enough in those parts taking Cape Verde wasting Hispaniela and he skirmished in divers small fights with the Spanish Forces But when there was no occasion for a fight on the continent he returned home with the spoil and honour The next year also the said Sir Francis Drake burnt and took six and thirty Spanish Ships laden with great riches that lay in the Haven at Callis and brought them for England With the same Success almost the Earl of Essex with a vast Fleet of English and Dutch wasted the Coasts of Spain and landing his men wan Gades and plundering the City and burning thirty Ships that rode in the Harbour he came back for England laden with the spoil After that the English Fleet watching the Spanish Navy that came fraught with rich Merchandize that came from the West-Indies was disappointed by their flying into the Isle Tercera France being involv'd in troubles the Queen was pleased to assist the King of France with men and money The King of France having reduced his Subjects to their Obedience endeavours to mediate a Peace betwixt the Spaniards and the Queen the Queen to satisfie the French Kings desires sent an Embassadour into France to consult about it But the States of Holland sent Embassadours to Queen Elizabeth to dehort her from the Peace In the year 1598. Philip King of Spain died in the seventieth year of his age He aimed at great matters but was unfortunate in most of them whereupon it came to passe that the three Keys of the Spanish Empire which his Father so called and willed him above all things to keep diligently to wit 1. Gulet in Africa Flushing in Holland and Cadez in Spain were neglected The first taken in by the Turkes the second by the Confederates of the United Provinces the third much impaired in its strength and impoverished by the English which his Father fore-seeing in his life time admonished to make Peace with the English and the United Provinces Anno 1599. died that Reverend and famous Divine Mr Richard Hooker a man moderate temperate meek and virtuous even to the best imitation and left behinde him a living monument of his real worth his Book entituled Ecclesiastical Polity Then Peace was confirmed between the Spaniard and the French but the English and the United Provinces refused to be comprehended in it because they held it disadvantagious to their business but making a Covenant with joynt Forces they invade Spain The Spaniard stirs up the Earl of Tyrone who made a great rebellion in Ireland Essex was sent thither to subdue the Rebels and to make them conformable but he scurvily neglected an opportunity of conquering the Enemy and beyond his Commassion treats with the Rebels concerning Peace He was therefore called home and commanded to answer for his fault by his submission he found the Queens favour Afterward prompted on either by shame or his ambition of the Kingdom he raised an Army and entred London and when he purposed to have forced the Queen his Forces ran away from him and he was taken prisoner accused of High-Treason and lost his Head for it Charles Blunt was sent in his place who in divers fights wonderfully subdued the Forces of the Rebels though the Spaniard had sent many supplies to relieve them In a set Battle he overthrew Tyrone and the Auxiliary Spaniards and then made Conditions driving them out of Ireland Tyrone afterwards when he tried all wayes submitted and humbly intreated the Queens Pardon In the mean time Richard Levison and William Monson with eight great Ships and some small ones went and spoiled the Spanish Coasts and meeting the Spaniards Fleet coming from America with abundance of wealth he set upon them but was too weak for them for he was disappointed After that he mastered a very great rich Ship riding at Anchor in Portugal and burning some lesser Ships he returned for England with her At that time the Seminaries of the Church of Rome and chiefly the Jesuites were banished out of England because they caused croubles and could not live quietly At last the Queen being feeble with age and hot disease she died in the year 1602. and she departed a very good Christian having named King James of Scotland Sonne to Mary Stuart to be her Successour when she had raigned fourty four years and four Moneths A Queen that was most endowed with all the Benefits of Nature a comely Person for her Body but more comely in her Soul she was an excellent Scholar to be commended for her Goodnesse and Justice She was a Mother to her Subjects and a Subject to the Laws JAMES King of Great-Brittany France and Ireland Anno 1602. THe loss that England sustained by the death of Elizabeth was abundantly recompensed by her Successour King James and the union of the two Kingdoms England and Scotland He was inferiour to her neither for Religion nor any thing else and by new rejoycings he extinguished that grief the Subjects had conceived He was a King the more happy because he obtain'd a Kingdom by lawfull succession that was no wayes embroyled with Warres and Tumults but setled in exceeding great Peace But as in the calmest weather ofttimes clouds rise suddenly and it fals to thundering and lightning so the affairs of Brittany though most peaceably were endangered by the malice and conspiracy of some The Ring-leaders were Henry Cobham and George his Brother Thomas Gray of Wiltshire Walter Raleigh and others Their purpose was to kill the King but newly crowned to change Religion to raise Tumults to let in Forrainers A terrible design But this flame vanished into smoke the principall being either put to death or condemned to perpetual imprisonment or having their pardons granted to them But least Peace should be disturbed by new Warres he made Peace with the King of Spain who was a sworn Enemy to the English Nation it was solemnly confirmed on both sides Though Peace were settled abroad yet there was occasion for new Troubles at home For when the King had called a Parliament a very horrible Conspiracy was detected the chief Authour of it was one Catesby a Roman Catholick He having hamper'd some other men in the same business endeavoured at one stroke to root out all the English Nation as it were by Lightning
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
that this was subject to that and ever after the Archbishop of York was called Primate of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England Also he made the Churches of Scotland to be under the Primate of York as the Churches of England were under Canterbury Though he seemed to curb the insolency of the Clergy he had them yet in great esteem For Aldred Archbishop of York being angry because he could not obtain what he asked and offering to go away in a fury the King not enduring the hatred of that Prelate fell down at his knees and humbly asked forgiveness of him The Bishop being admonished to raise up the King answered No but said He shall feel what it is to offend St Peter By the largeness of his Benefits he shewed forth the love he bare unto Church men building innumerable Churches for the service of God with Monasteries and other sacred Houses About the end of his life and Kingdom he placed his two Sons Robert and Henry almost in equal power over Normandy There arose on a day a quarrel between Henry and Lewis the Dolphin of France playing at Tables which was the cause of a great contention between the French and the Normans The Dolphin drawing Robert on his side enters Normandy with an Army William forthwith having his Navy ready sails into Normandy and with no difficulty reducing his Son Robert to his former obedience he marched to Roan that he might finde the French men work when he was weary with toyling being very fat he made an halt a while The French derided William because he was sick and by reason of his fat belly speaking scoffingly That he was with childe and ready to be delivered When this jeer was told to William he answered If please God that I ever recover of this child-birth I will burn a thousand lights to God in token of my thankfulness Nor was it long before he entred the Territories of France and wasted all with fire and sword Yet shortly after falling into a relapse of the same weakness he died at Roan His followers not only forsook him being dead but spoiled him of what he had And his Body unfortunately being thrice forsaken at last was let down into his own Monument but not entire WILLIAM the second King of England Anno 1088. WIlliam whose sirname was Rufus the third Son succeeded the Conquerour The beginning of his Reign was unquiet and troublesom his Brother Robert being offended with him for taking the succession from him the Nobility being divided and conspiring his destruction But he freed himself of all this danger partly by force partly by rewards and partly by Armes so that he pacified them all But the greater Tempest was threatned from Scotland now ready to arise for Malcom King of the Scots though he ought homage to the English conjecturing amongst so many troubles that he had now a fit opportunity to be prosperous in his business with great force entred Northumberland and with fire and sword he consumed all he met with and loaded with spoils he returned into his Countrey But William having provided an Army invaded Scotland and subduing Malcom brought him at last to his obedience and made him give Hostages for security Robert the Kings Brother once more proclaims Warre against him because he paid him not the money they were agreed upon and the King of France taking his part he took some Towns by force from his Brother which of right belonged to him But William bribed the French King and so depriving his Brother of all help easily compelled him to crave pardon for his Retractayners But that all things might take their turns Malcom taking occasion of raising Arms from the contempt of the English provoked William by a new injury spoyling his Countrey But when being loaden with the spoil he thought to return home by chance being intercepted by Ambush he lost both his life and the Prize he had got But yet this put not an end to the Troubles for the Welsh setting upon the King already incumbred depopulated his Territories in the way whom at last William overcame in a successfull Battel In the mean while Robert Mowbray by whose valour Malcom was subdued supposing himself to be despised or not so much honoured as he deserved procuring some other Noble men to joyn with him riseth up against his Sovereign but the King suddenly falling upon the small number of the Conspirators easily put an end to this tumultuous Warre taking Mowbray prisoner Yet least the Welsh should rise again afresh however their stubborness was beaten down and should occasion greater danger William now endeavours wholly to Conquer them invading their Kingdom and building of Bulwarks but when this Warre proved to be tedious the business being recommended to Hugh Earl of Shropshire and to the Earl of Chester the King left them They cruelly handled the Wolsh cutting off their nostrils and their ears untill such time as the Earl of Shropshire being slain Hugh Count of Chester killing the King of Wales obtain'd a full Victory over them Whilst Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury lived he was ruled as with a bridle but after he was dead being as it were freed from all bands the state of the Church being oppressed he began to rage with immoderate Tributes and hard Laws Now was the first time that all Ecclesiasticall preferments were set to sale and any thing was lawfull for money Yet the Tyranny of this King was not wholly void of doing good for he gave freely to a poor Monk a Benefice for which two others contended violently beating the bargain with great summes of money However all these vices were made good by his great Magnanimity for hearing of the siege of the Town of Mantium breaking through a Wall that he might the sooner enter none following him but such as were couragious like himself and despising the danger of the turbulent Sea he came unexpected and freed the place putting the enemy to flight and taking their Captain prisoner who was Helias Earl of Flescia That Earl when he saw himself captivated imputed this his misfortune to the unlooked for arrivall of the King threatning great matters against the King if he were once at liberty whereupon he was set free to do what he could Also he shewed a wonderfull example of notable courage at a Fort call'd St Michaels Mount for he was suddenly set upon by three Cavaliers and although he was already unhorsed he defended himself valiantly with his Saddle for a Target and his drawn Sword untill such time as he was rescued by his followers When as those that accompanied him found fault with his too great care for his Saddle Yes saith he I would rather have lost my life than have left that to the scorn of the Enemy He was faithfull in his promise betwixt both in continence he neither despised nor yet adored Religion but he was extream covetous This was the first King of England that would
came flocking to him every way and being fortified with new helps he laies siege to Malmesbury but the King coming upon him with more forces overcame the sewer forces of the Enemy Here is a thing to be rightly wonder'd at amongst drawn swords Peace began to shew her self Stephen procured rest by granting which he could not obtain by Victories and Henry obtained that Kingdom peaceably which he sought for by Warre For whilst here and there with equal endeavours they wage Warre Eustachius suddenly died and Stephen being deprived of an Heir to succeed him being overcome with mourning he willingly entred conditions of Peace with Henry and Mathilde whereby he assigned his Enemy to be his Successour and adopted him for his Sonne being he had none nearer of blood unto him so little faith or constancy is there in humane affairs they that but now fought with all their might do now embrace one the other and Stephen recovers his lost Sonne by adopting his Enemy So Henry seeking so great a Kingdom by Warre found both the Kingdom and a Father in Peace The affairs of England were too troublesom for Stephen to exact Tribute from his subjects yet he abundantly recompensed this loss by storing the Exchequer with the goods of the Rebels He made no Laws when as by reason of a continuall Warre he seemed more ready to receive than to give Yet he had no greater Victory than over the Clergy whose obstinacy and pride he regulated and made them good subjects He that had lived in Warre and contention ought not to die without trouble and neglect for he had scarce made Peace with Henry but he was afresh seized on by his old disease of the Emrods and the Cholick having not been free from Warre one year he died at Dover HENRY the second King of England Anno 1155. STephen being now dead Henry Duke of Aniou succeeded him in the Throne as he and King Stephen had agreed He behaved himself wisely when he began to Reign choosing the wisest men for his Counsellours expelling strangers that came in hopes of rapine especially those of Flanders demolishing the Casties that the Nobility had built at the connivance of King Stephen which they had often abused to sedition The Laws also that were faulty during the time of Warre he reduced to their former integrity and he banished some of the Nobility for perjury The Demeans which were bestowed upon those that were unworthy of them by Licence from King Stephen he took to himself and so he spared his subjects from Tributes thinking it safer to offend a few than many He had yet no Competitors and so was safer from Incursions and Rebellions The Welsh made some rude commotion who were no sooner up but he subdued them He made offensive Warre against Malcom King of Scots and drove him out by force from Northumberland the City of Carlile and New-castle which King Stephen had granted him He left him Huntington to do him homage for it for David King of Scots sake who was dead He took by force from his Brother Jeffrey after his Fathers death the Dukedom of Anion which his Father had granted him upon intreaty having the Popes indulgence to break his Oath Then he attempts to take to himself from Raymundus Earl of a place consecrated to Saint Aegidius the Dukedom of Tholouse which of right belonged unto him and when Lewis the King of France would help Raymund he wages Warre with them both Now the Armies were ready for battel but at the mediation of friends peace is at last concluded and the County of Tholouse is granted to Raymund for a time a Marriage being made between Henry King of Englands Son and Margaret Daughter to King Lewis If he managed all things wisely hitherto now he doth order his matters as foolishly taking his Son Henry into the Government with him For Lewis scorning the pusillanimity of his Son in Law that he would permit his Father to be equal with him in the Kingdom and would himself be a titular King only he easily inflamed his youthfull minde that was ready to take fire with unlawfull desires This envy had now broke forth into open hate and the Son began to cavil at all the Father either did or said Nor was the Sonnes ingratitude unknown to the Father wherefore messengers being sent to Lewis he endeavoured to oppress and extinguish those beginnings of discord But Lewis laught at the words of the Embassadours asking scornfully why they call'd him their Master who had freely delivered up his right to his Sonne and so dismissed them without any other answer To this there was joined the malice of Queen Eleoner that she bare him by reason that he loved whores whereby she instigated her other two Sons Richard and Jeffrey that they should assist the Son against the Father They fled to Henry into Normandy and conspire jointly against their Father Also William King of Scotland Hugh Earl of Chester Roger Mowbray Hugh Bigot and others fell from him Henry with this augmentation grew more bold and now provides open Warre against his Father Fortune was changeable in divers Battels both courage and fraud being employed in the Warres But Richard who had fallen off from his Father repenting of his errour came to him and craved pardon which he easily obtain'd at last some of the Rebels being taken and the Scotch vanquished Peace is confirmed between the Father and the Sonne at the Mediation of Richard Adela the Daughter of Lewis being married to Richard And so Henry returned into England with his Sons where Henry his eldest Sonne died and his Relict is sent home again into France to her Father and afterwards she was married to the King of Hungary But Richard taking it ill that his Marriage was so long deferred for the Father by his unlawfull lust was supposed to keep Adela for himself continually putting off the Matrimony fell again into the same Rebellion which he had renounced by Oath And being confederate with his Brother John and with Philip then King of France he makes Warre with his Father and at Ments he besieged the old King who slipt away in the night and thought though in vain to raise the siege at last the Town is delivered into the enemies hands to his greater loss because King Henry was born in that Town Wherefore either by reason of his power broken or by the loss of his native City his Majesty being eclipsed he that had hitherto given Laws was now forced to take Laws from the enemy And these are the Wars that he waged This King subdued Ireland without spilling blood Pope Hadrian an English man commanding it and he built a magnificent Palace at Dublin for the use of his Posterity He augmented his Treasure more by Confiscations and Parsimony than by Tributes and Imposts Because he was too sparing toward his children it is supposed that gave them occasion to revolt but he left an infinite Treasure when he died and recompensed
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
from Heaven For hiring a Cellar under the Parliament-House be laid in a vast deal of Gun-pouder which he purposed to set fire to and so to blow up at once all the Parliament-House together with the King the Prince and all the Nobility but the matter was discovered by the importunate care of the Conspirators who gave warning of the danger to the Lord Mounteagle Sonne to the Lord Morlay a Member of the Parliament and one that they loved very well In this Vault there were found terrible Instruments of this damned wickedness that a man would wonder at which were presently taken away Then the Conspirators were executed Catesbey with his companions John and Christopher Wright and Thomas Pierce flying to his Arms was killed with a shot others were taken and executed Amongst whom was Everard Digbey who was unwillingly drawn into this Conspiracy for otherwise he was a man of excellent parts And thus that hainous wickedness that had troubled the devils themselves was purged away In Northampton and Warwickshire new tumults arose first by Fines then by John Reignold that led them but this faction was soon allayed and the Authors were punished In the mean time Frederick Count Elector Palatine came to London to marry Elizabeth King James his Daughter The Marriage was solemnized with wonderfull pomp but all these joyes were over-shadowed with clouds of sorrow for on the sixth day of November 1612 Prince Henry departed this life Various reports were spread abroad by the vulgar as if indirect means had been used but his Physicians gave it under their hands that he died of a violent malignant Feaver Charles the Kings second Son succeeds him in the Principality of Wales About this time that Gallant and Noble Spirit Sr Walter Rawlrigh after fourteen yeares imprisonment made addresses to the King to get leave to visit the New-found-World in America to which he gave him liberty and a Commission under the great Seal to set forth Ships and Men for that Service his Reputation and Merit caused many Gentlemen of quality to venture their Estates and Persons on the Design Many considerable adventures were performed though with great difficulty but more especially that of the taking and burning St Thomes Information being sent to Gendimer who was Embassadour here in England never rested assaulting the King with importunity for reparation Rawleigh no sooner comes a shore at Plimouth but he had secret information and did endeavour to get from thence in a Bark for Rotchell but being apprehended by Sr Lewis Stukly he is brought to London and committed to the Tower Gondimer that looked upon him as a man that had not only high abilities but animosity to do his Master mischief being one of those scourges that Queen Elizabeth had made use of to afflict the Spaniards Having now gotten him in the Trap he laid his Bâ—its about the King In October he was brought to the Kings Bench-barre at Westminster before the Lord Chief-Justice where the Records of his arraignment at Winchester were opened and he demanded why the judgement should not be put in execution Ralwrigh replied that Judgement was void by the Kingâ— Commission for his late expedition The Lord Chief-Justice replied the opinion of the Court was to the contrary He required time to prepare for death but it was answered the appointed time was the next morning Accordingly on the morrow he lost his Head on a Scafford in the Palace-yard The Earl of Buckingham as great in Title as favour was now grown a Marquess and lying in the Kings bosom every man paid tribute to his smile Worcester and Nottingham are taken off for him to be Master of the Horse and Admirall of England Queen Anne about that time fell sick and died She was a Queen to be had in everlasting memory for her Noble Vertues The King also fell sick but by Gods affistance he recovered The Palsegrave in the mean time who had married Elizabeth by the prompting forward of some of the German Princes was chosen King of Bohemia The Emperour was wonderfully enraged at this Election and proclaimed Warre against him driving him first out of Bohemia and afterwards out of all Germany who in Holland the common refuge for all wretched people found a bountifull and safe entertainment But James that he might help his Sonne in Law made a motion for a Marriage of his Son Charles and the Spaniards Daughter Charles is sent into Spain through France by Land where he saw upon his journey Mary Daughter to Henry the fourth He was received in Spain in outward appearance magnificently but a dissention arising between the Duke of Buckingham and Count Olivares the principall Don of the Spanish Court the Treaty for the Marriage was drawn out at langth but Charles being impatient of delays was called home again by his Father and arrived safe in England and afterwards he married Mary whom he had affectionately beheld in France What remains to be spoken of King James is either scarce worth recording or not so consonant to the truth He died at last of a disease of the Spleen though there were false reports spread abroad that he was poysoned when he had reigned twenty two years and was fifty nine years of age in the year 1625. He was a true Platonick Prince a Husband worthy of his Wife an honest Father to his Children a good King to his Subjects because he was a Prince he was the Most Learned and he was the Best Prince by reason of his Learning When this King reigned the English Plantations were setled in the Indies as in Virginy which Country Sr Walter Rawleigh first discovered and in the Barmudoes whither an infinite multitude of inhabitants presently resorted building publick and private houses and made a Commonwealth The same was done by others in New-England to the great comfort of such as were distressed and fled thither CHARLES the first King of Great-Brittany France and Ireland Anno 1625. CHARLES the first succeeded his Father being twenty five yeares of age The first design he had was to marry Henrietta Mary Daughter to Henry the fourth King of France as he purposed before who landed in England the 22 day of April and was received magnificently Then a Navy was prepared against the Spaniard for all friendship was grown stale between these two Kings by reason of the breach of the Marriage and the business of the Palatinate he joyned with the Ships of Holland and sent away toward Spain and first assaulting Cades and not prevailing they set up sail to Sea and spoyling all the Spanish Vessels they met they return for England Now a Covenant was made between the English and the United Provinces and they resolved with joynt Forces to tire out the Spaxiard but Charles whose Exchequer was empted by reason of his great Expence of his Spanish Voyage and setting forth of his Navy was forced to call a Parliament but Buckingham the Kings chief Minister of State and most dear unto him had
of themselves inconstant enough to rebell The King moved with this accused five of the Lower House and one of the Upper House of High Treason Their Names were the Lord Viscount Mandevill Mr Pym Mr Hambden Sir Arthur Haselrig Mr Hollis and Mr Strowd clearly demonstrating that they were the men that had given occasion for these Tumults and Dissentions The Articles of their accusation were these That they endeavoured to overthrow the Fundamental Laws and the Kings Authority That they strove to alienate the hearts of the Subject from him That by the same Artifice they had sollicited the Kings souldiers to revolt That they had procured strangers to help them to possesse the Kingdom That they attempted to cast down the Parliament and the Priviledges of it That they contrived to bring both Houses to themselves and to their Opinions and therefore they caused that concourse and commotion of the People Lastly That they had blown up this fire of War against Maâ—esty These Articles being read to the Lower-House the King required that some should be sent to seize presently on their Writings but some were sent to the King to disswade him from it and in the name of the Parliament they would be Surety for the fidelity of the Members accused But the King answered That he required Obedience from his Subjects without enquiring into his Reasons Others again urged That the King by this Act had overthrown the Priviledges of Parliament and noted this Accusation to be a famous Libel The King was resolved to oppose Force against Force he requires assistance from the Souldiery and hasteneth to the Hall with five hundred armed men after him and commanding them all to wait at the door he only entered into the House with an angry Countenance and when he saw none of those that were accused he seriously relates his good Intentions to the Parliament and to the Laws and Priviledges thereof requiring that those Memcers he accused might be delivered up to him and so he went back to his Palace the same way as he came and sent a Herauld once more to finde out those he had charged Then he goes again himself to the House where the rest of the Members late and did renew his discourse whereby he expressed his good Inclination and laboured to remove the envy from himself that lay upon him saying That he would change nothing nor do otherwise than what was done in Queen Elizabeths dayes Then he went to Dinner to one of the Sheriffs houses and was in some danger by reason of the enraged multitude But the Lower-House taking Counsell with the Upper resolved by all means to revenge this rigour of the King that he had used against their Priviledges they presently put the City in Arms caused them to shut up their Shops and the sitting was adjourned for five dayes Also the Parliament for bad the Citizens that no man should help the King to finde out those that were accused rendring the King as hatefull to the People as they could and shaking his Authority The King when he might have made use of this Division between the two Houses to overthrow the attempts of the People breaks forth into violent anger sets a. Guard upon the Tower of London and once more declares the accused to be guilty of High Treason forbidding all men either to conceal them or to convey them away promising their Estates to any that should discover them either alive or dead But men were so farre from obeying the King that the accused Members guarded with a multitude of Citizens took their places again as before in Parliament yet this was not sufficient for the Parliament published through the City That the King intended to ruine the Citizens That his Forces were now ready to do it which did not a little exasperate the mindes of the Citizens But the Aldermen of the City took a better course and humbly certified the King That the Communalty were too much incensed already and therefore he should let pass bitter counsel and finde out some way to compose the matter The King answered them with the greatest moderation greatly complaining that his Authority was violated But the Parliament when they had brought the business so farre thought not fit to give it over but on the 16th day of January in the Year 1642. raised a vast multitude of Citizens and others as it was pretended to defend the Houses that they might assemble freely and Latters were forthwith sent to other neighbouring Counties whereby they were commanded to draw up in Arms all the Forces they could under colour to defend the Laws and Liberties Upon this occasion there came together a mighty Army so that at least 20000 were ready at a beck The King having timely notice of it leaving the City makes haste to Hampton Court commanding his Counsellours to follow him especially the Earls of Essex and Holland but they refused wherefore the King with a small company took his journey like one that fled so that for haste being he had no Purveyors to provide room for him sufficiently He his Wife and Children the first night were constrained to tumble all in one Bed He being now escaped from out of their hands by Proclamations endeavoured to maintain his own Cause before the whole world but he wanted help It was otherwise with the Parliament for all London now stood against the King ready in Arms. The Streets and crosse-wayes were stopped with Chains and Barres and Cannon mounted Also the Parliaments Forces were augmented by an addition of four thousand Horse Souldiers that came to them The Boats and Barks were fitted for the Warre and most of the Citizens servants and Apprentices were at a call to joyn with the Parliament and being armed what with Clubs what with Sticks what with Swords and other Weapons they came and guarded the Parliament-House at Halberd-men And from that time the meeting was not at Westminster as before but in the City that they might the better win the minds of the Citizens to themselves and be nearer to their businesse Though the King being asked his opinion thereof by Essex did flatly deny it wherefore they are resolved to set upon the Kings stubborn minde as they said They commanded the Governours of Sea-Towns not to obey the Kings Orders unless they were confirmed by the Authority and Seal of the Parliament at one blow almost cutting off all the Kings Authority This might have been prevented had he by good counsell taken possession of those Towns and put in Souldiers to keep them for him The King when he saw they provided Force and that he was not safe at Hampton Court rides presently to Windsor thither came the French Embassadour to him who offered to be Umpire between the King and his Subjects but when neither King nor Queen would give any great credit to his words he did prevail but little But now the King first saw that he was deceived of his hopes when he imagined that Wales
triumph at London and in other places it may be it was done because the Kings Power was now ended The Queen in the mean time imbarqued at Dover and with true tears took her last farewell fore-seeing that this departure of hers was an omen of a most sad Divorce The Parliament in the interim asked the Kings consent upon some Governours of the Kingdom they had chosen But the King who was now sensible of his errours began to draw back and to delay the business They impatient of all delayes send Commissioners to him to let him understand That the Parliament must flie to their Arms and defend their Authority by force unlesse the King would presently grant their just Petitions as they said And when the King resolved to remove farther from London they entreated him not to do it but rather if he would not he should let his Sonne live at London The King not wondring a little at this Petition answered That he was by these Propositions much amazed but what to answer he knew not He would have them lay their hands on their hearts and would search whether of the two gave the cause now of mischiefs that would arise from a Civil Warre As for his Sonne he would as a Father provide for him and that neither of them would go from London unless they were afraid of the Insolency of some people there And that he desired to procure Peace by all means not caring who took up Arms for he would rest on Gods providence So their Messengers were dismissed But the Parliament supposing they were not now to demur command all the Lieutenants of the Counties by their Edicts to flie to their Arms and to compell all their Subjects that were fit to bear Arms to repair to their Colours And forthwith they unpoured all those Officers the King had made and made new ones by their own Authority The most excellent and the wisest men were of opinion that all that provision of the Parliament would dissolve into smoke The London Counsel also thought themselves wronged by this unusual and unheard of boldness in the Parliament for by this means they were stript of all their Authority They complain of it to the King but what should he do whose hands were already bound and he did not strive to unbinde them Then they put up their humble Petitions to the Parliament to which the principal Citizens of London subscribed their hands But when they waited for an Answer as it was requisite the principal of the Subscribers were punished So all things grew worse and worse The King in the mean time who was not ignorant of the Parliament Attempts called all his Nobility to him that he might put a stop to the Parliament proceedings The Parliament to lull the King asleep with fair words used all devices and when this would not do they over-weigh him with complaints and crimes As that he had hearkned to a change in Religion and given cause for the uprears in Ireland especially they that were most powerfull with him secretly bespotting the Queen They added That the Instruments of the Pope of the Kings of Spain and France were resolved to restore the King to his former Authority and other things that served to justifie their own proceedings and to make the King faulty The King published his Declarations labouring to remove these aspersions from him and to decline the hatred of them yet prevailed nothing for the Parliament by a new Declararation did both support and augmented the former Articles complaining that the greatest injury was done to themselves by the Kings forsaking them The King in the mean time takes his journey for York together with the Prince the Palsgrave the Duke of Richmond and some other of the Nobility being resolved to be deluded no farther but to oppose Force against Force and the Right he could not maintain by yielding to maintain by Arms. The Parliament did not sit still but fortified the chief Towns with Ammunition and Souldiers especially Hull a City of greatest concernment Also the Earl of Warwick was sent with thirty men of Warre to guard the English Coasts and they call Vice-Admiral Pennington back again by speedy Messengers who had transported the Queen into Holland and under pretence of subduing Rebellion they gather a mighty mass of money Charles in the mean time to overthrow their Commands prohibits what they would have by Edicts to the contrary but they disobeying the King did their work by frighting him with threats which was a great grief to moderate men The King when he was come to York was received with the highest affection of his Subjects and before them all he removeth all that envy of Popery that was charged upon him But the Parliament who were not well pleased with the Yorkshire men for this sent Letters to the King inserting fair speeches to pacifie his anger They write a counterfeit Letter in the name of Elizabeth Countess Palatine as written by her wherein they did foully defame the States of Holland for her ill entertainment amongst them To avoid the hatred of this business Joachimus the States Embassadour complained to the Parliament of the falsity of that report because his Masters Honours were much shadowed by it whose splendor and benevolence toward strangers was sufficiently known to all the world and he prevailed so farre that these counterfeit Letters were publickly burnt A Rumour also as false as the former was scattered abroad that a great Fleet was made ready for King Charles in the Denmark Havens and thus each on both sides strive to draw reputation and authority to their party They had long enough banded in words they must now come to blows Ere long they break forth into open Warre The King cals all the Knights of the Garter and all others that by the band of Nobility held from the Crown to come to him to York The Parliament contrarily made it death for any of them to go to the King yet of the Lower House twenty Members revolt to the King making more reckoning of the Kings commands than of the Parliaments In the mean time there followed an humble Petition of the men of Kent to the Parliament wherein they humbly desired That nothing should be done without the Kings consent That the Liturgy might not be altered That the Bishops might be restored That they would not suffer the Fundamentall Laws of the Land to be antiquated without the Kings permission nor Arms to be raised without his command That some good means might be found out to make an agreement c. But the Parliament not only denied to answer them but they severely punish him that brought the Petition and the Earl of Bristol that received it casting both of them into Prison to cut off for the future all way for such requests their fellows not a little raging at it and saying openly that that liberty was unjustly taken away whenas they had listned to other Petitions that were farre more
unequall than that was The Parliament in the mean time when they found nothing done by the Commissioners they had sent to the King resolve to execute their former commands they command the Lieutenants of Counties to perform what they formerly had enjoyned them and presently to raise such an Army who willingly went about it hoping from troubles to finde occasion to do their business yet some looking deeper into it refused to raise Arms without the Kings Order Also the Houses purposed to remove Pennington that was come back again because they found him more enclined to the King than to the Parliament but he denied to yield to them unless the King should force him to it The King trusting to his fidelity refused to discharge him and to receive Warwick whom they would substitute But the Lower House the Upper House being against it who held it unfit to proceed without the Kings consent pressed the business and confirmed the first Election and being exasperated by the Kings inclination resolved seriously for to make a Warre of it All the provision of Hull or other Garrisons they commanded to be brought to London fearing least the King should at some time possess himself of the Town and Ammunition But they to whose trust these things were committed would not deliver them without command from the King They valued not all their threats and commands to have the Governour of the Town delivered up unto them In the mean time the Sommersetshire men detesting the obstinacy of the Parliament by example of the Men of Kent presented an humble Petition to the Parliament but they offended with their boldness command it to be burned by the Hangman to deterre the Sommersetshire men from profering any more such Petitions who were charged to come in no greater multitudes than was requisite The King also desired to sail into Ireland with a sufficient Army to tame the Rebels But the Houses fearing least he should allure the Rebels to joyn with him and being strengthened with their Forces should return for England denied him his request and preferred their own fears before the relief of so many miserable men He in the mean time deposed the Earl of Essex from being Chamberlain and Leicester from being Deputy of Ireland and the Earl of Holland for their disobedience But the Houses on the contrary forbid all of them to do any such thing without their prohibition on penalty of their lives also they confirmed Warwicks Authority And that they might fortifie the mindes of all men the more and exasperate them against the King they spread a report that there was a great provision made by him for Warre against the Commonwealth and the Laws saying that all the subjects were therefore freed from their Oaths The King holds forth the contrary in his Declarations And when some Lincolnshire men came to him in Troops and offered to defend the Kings Cause he forbad them stifly and to manifest to all his love of Peace he commanded them all to go home again upon the condition that they should return to assist him when they were called He detained only 500 Foot and 50 Horse for his Life-Guard Many of the Nobility were drawn by this lenity of the King to revolt to him The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal that had done him so many injuries asking pardon of the King was friendly received by him This was the cause that many others fell away so that in the Upper House there remained not above fifteen and they the most bitter against him These with new representations concerning the Education of his Children the Offices of the Kingdom and such like questions wearied the Kings minde But they prevailed nothing for those Captains and Souldiers that were mustered against the Rebels in Ireland leaving their Colours freely fled to the King at York Whereupon the King augmented his Life-Guard to 1200 Foot and 200 Horse all descended of Noble Families and for the greater Honour to them he made the Prince of Wales their Captain These being required to manifest their fidelity did all swear unanimously to defend the Kings Cause but all the Nobility offered willingly to rais◠severally 200 Foot in Arms if occas 〈…〉 By which constancy of the subject and by a small summe of money he received out of Holland the King began to be cheered with new hopes Then he appointed the Yorkshire men to meet him at a certain place on the 13th day of June not farre from York who accordingly came with about 60000. The King with his Sonne some Lords 600 Horse and a considerable party of Foot met them there and with a premeditated Speech he declared his good intention toward Religion the Parliament and to defend his own Rights and Kingly Dignity Also he made an Apology for the good of his Souldiers that were present then he shewed unto them the Acts of Parliament Lastly he promised good pay if any man would assist him because he desired to use the help of his subjects rather than strangers This Speech was received by some with great applause others made their humble Petition that the King would hold a good correspondency with his Parliament and desired that he would send those Lords back to the Parliament who had revolted from them But the Earl of Lindsey the Kings Chamberlane and Lovel foreseeing the dissention might rise from this Petition suppressed this faction at the beginning Where 〈…〉 they were displeased and divers men went away from the King But the King accompanied with twenty thousand men came to York and commanded them all to return to their houses The Parliament was not ignorant of this business they accuse the said Lords of Treason because they had hindred the subjects from Petitioning freely for relief of their grievances not remembring what example they had given by refusing the Petitions of the Men of Kent and Sommersetshire and not only so but had severely punished them for offering their Petitions Then they raised an Army of 10000 Foot and 2000 Horse and send them towards York hoping they would increase by others coming to them And they borrowed a sufficient summe of Money from the Londoners who strove who should bring most of their silver and guilt Plate and whatsoever pretious things they had hoping of great advantage they should receive by it But the Kings misfortune began when 20000 pounds were detain'd by the Exchange being published at London which the Queen had borrowed with the Crown Jewels laid to pawn this was a mighty stop to the Kings proceedings The Houses increased the more who some in vain being angry at it endeavoured to raise a great Army The King also who had with advice made delaies and spun out the time could no longer wink at these preparations for Warre but by Letters by Policy by open Warre he did press the business uncessantly and with great impatience And he politiquely attempts to take Hull having obtain'd the consent of some of the Garrison But Hotham who
commanded the Garrison refusing to let him in though many Souldiers ran away yet by a fresh supply of the Scots he was disappointed Because this succeeded not he turns about to make conditions for Peace and he offered the Houses to come presently to them and to punish severely the Authors of disagreement so they would leave London that seditious City and chose some other place as Oxford Winchester Cambridge York Bristol Nottingham for to assmble at But the Houses would name no other place least the City of London should be displeased at it for they had more need of the Londoners than of any others The King when that would not take proclaims all men guilty of Treason who should assist the Houses with Money or any other supplies and he threatens the Londoners that if they did it they should lose all their priviledges as they have very great ones The Houses on the other side set as good a gloss upon their Cause as they were able to do Mens mindes and inclinations were distracted by these means The people who are easily led by blinde errour and outward appearances stuck fast to the Parliaments cause Others who were of a higher rank by reason of their Families paid Tribute freely least the Houses should send men to strain on their Shops under a colour of necessity All the Nobles almost held with the King The King in the mean while fortifies Newcastle and Barwick with Garrisons of English wherein doubtless he hurt himself and alienated the hearts of the Scots from him For it was agreed upon before to have them kept by the Scotch souldiers and not by the English But when help came from other parts and the Scots were undervalued they studied to advantage themselves only and though by holding forth Peace he had won many mens hearts yet being driven by despair he attempts by force to gain Hull which he could not do by Policy First he possessed himself of their Fals of Waters and then of their publick Waies that the Towns men might want necessaries but by their Courage and Valour he lost his labour The Houses now Proclaimed openly Warres and they made the Earl of Essex Generall of the Foot Bedford of the Horse The King makes the Earl of Cumberland a very Noble man and faithfull to his Soveraign Generall of his Horse and in the mean time set forth his Declarations to the world and requiring Hull to be delivered up to him that he might punish the insolence of the Governour but nothing prevailed But that Warre Proclaimed might not want its solemnities the King set up his Standard first at Nottingham But when he saw a smaller concourse of men than he believed would have been he again turns about to make conditions He sent Messengers to the Houses to excuse the fact and to desire Articles of Peace But the Houses who knew that this proceeded more from his necessity than love made use of all advantages causing the Kings Commissioners to be brought as Delinquents before the Parliament overthrowing by this means the Law of Nations Then they send to the King that unless he came speedily to London and sent away those Nobles to the Parliament that were fled from them that they might be tried for their Lives and their Estates might be confiscate to maintain their Army they would never lay down their Arms. A very hard condition and no waies to be answered but by the sword Some there were that counselled the King to yield to this but he had yet courage remaining After so many great preambles at length Warre is denounced But we shall pull in our sails unfolding the causes of these dissentions briefly and succinctly as we resolved at first and so hasten to a conclusion least entring afresh into a large field we should tire both our selves and the Reader Pardon therefore this long digression and I shall proceed It was now come to open Warre and the Victory was doubtfull sometimes falling on this side sometimes on that with no small loss of blood on both sides All the particulars are set down at large in Books written to this purpose whither I remit the Reader that desires further knowledge of it Essex was Generall of the Parliament Forces Fairfax he succeeded in his place Divers Battels were fought here and there many Towns vanquished For the greatest part the King had the worst of it who was afterwards also besieged at Oxford by Fairfax and was constrained to fly away in a disguised habit and he came to the Scots that were at Newarke hoping to be received with great humanity by such good subjects as they boasted themselves to be But when both Fortune and Fidelity failed and there was no care taken for him in his affliction They when they could not be good would not be bad and to keep their hands clear they delivered the King to the English under those conditions as they say that no violence should be offered to his Majesty The English being now Masters of their desires carry the King to Holnbey Castle from thence to Hampton Court whither he had fled before for Refuge now a Prison Which place seeming not safe enough for him he went away to the Isle of Wight to be guarded by the Waters and Colonel Hammon using a crafty excuse for a certain Letter was left on the Table whereby the King was advertised that there were some that laid wait for his life whereby he was frighted and fled to a safe place in the Isle of Wight The people though before they were enraged against the King now pitying his case and seeing their errors resolved to plead his Cause They offer their humble Petitions to the Houses that they would not refuse to condescend to make peace with the King and they prevailed so farre that at last the business came to a Treaty with a great deal of seeming satisfaction on both sides with great applause both of the King the Houses and the People but afterward there was an humble Petition exhibited to the Parliament wherein they desired that the King might be tried by the Laws and Justice and all further Treaties with him to be laid aside to which they denied to give an Answer The Army and some of the Parliament not being satisfied they march partly toward Newport to the King who now was a Prisoner at large and conveyed him into Hurst Castle Then marching toward London again they possessed themselves of the City and cast some of the Houses into Prison whilst the rest who foresaw this Tempest saved themselves by flight Here we may see an example of Gods judgement for they that before had ill treated their Master are now compelled to suffer All that consented to the non-addresses are restored to their Honours and Places Then the King in the year 1648. was taken as a Prisoner of Warre and carried to Windsor The remainder of the Parliament with others erect a new and unheard of Tribunal to take cognizance of the Kings case Judges were chosen whose Names are generally known This was done in the year 1649. in January The King was brought before the High-Court of Justice and was accused of these Crimes That he gave the cause of the cruell bloodshed in England and Ireland That he had born Armes against the Parliament That he had given Commissions to his Sonne and others to wage Warre that he might exalt his own Authority with the high detriment of the Commonwealth whence they concluded that he was guilty of Treason and so he was a Traitor a Tyrant and an Enemy to the Common-wealth The King smiled at all these things and gave no answer being further urged he refused to give any answer Whereupon they proceed to Sentence That he was fallen from all his Dignities was guilty of High-Treason and therefore was to lose his Head for being a Tyrant a Robber and an Enemy to the Commonwealth Some making a great shout The Sentence given they proceed to execution though the Holland Embassadours Adrian Paw and Albertus Joachimus with the Scots did their best to hinder the proceedings He obtained leave for Dr Juxton Bishop of London and two of his Children to be with him these for his bodies him for the comfort of his soul At length he sent away his Children with Gifts and Tears only he kept the Minister by him to the last moment of his life The Prince Palatine and the Duke of Richmond came to bid the King their last farewell but the King refused it least they should interrupt the present joys of his soul with new lamenting At last the 30 day of January was appointed for his execution And the King ascended the Scaffold erected before his Banqueting-house from whence he made his last Speech to the People there present and when as now he had sufficiently professed his Innocency he then prepared himself for death and laying his neck on the Block his Head was cut off by a disguised Executioner and he changed a troublesome life for a quiet death In the Year 1649. FINIS
successfull fight or else helped by the Forces of Edward brought almost the whole Nation under him whilst David a young King trifled the time away in France and so doing Homage to the King of England he held it as from him in Chief In the said time the Isle of Man is Conquered by William Montacute Earl of Salisbury who therefore was honoured with the Title of King of Man Edward now come to age by the Instigation of Robert Atrebas who was fled out of France into England intends a Warre with France making a Confederacy with the Dukes and Earls of Gelderland Gulic Cleave and the Hanse Towns and of Brabant The French also foreseeing this Tempest made friendship with the Bishop of Leige John King of Bobemia the Earl of Lutzenburg the Palatine Albertus Otho of the House of Austrich and Amesius Earl of Genoa Wherefore Edward sail'd into Flanders bearing the Title of the King of France those of Flanders being the cause of it and then he entred the Borders of France Philip also invaded Aquitan and though the Armies of both Kings were in sight one of the other and ready to fall on yet they both departed without fighting Edward in the mean while to see to his business at home returned for England leaving William Montacute and the Earl of Suffolk to take care of the Warre both of them behaved themselves valiantly yet were taken and brought to Paris But Edward supposing it was in vain to stay at the report of this news provided for his return for France and finding a strong Navy of King Philips in the Haven of Sluse he collecting a great Fleet set upon the French and utterly destroyed their Navy killing then 30000 French with those that were drowned and came to their ends other waies Then he laid siege to Tourney which Town was so well defended by the Duke of Burgundy and the Earl of Armeniac that his whole Army being dispersed he lost about 4000 men Edward was much enraged with this loss and challenged Philip to fight a Duel with him but the business came not so farre because it was taken up Yet the befieging of Turney was no whit neglected and Philip did what he could to free the City but Robert King of Sicily interceding and especially Joan Valois Philips sister there is a cessation made for two years In the interim the Scots that were enemies to Bayly's Government calling their King David out of France they make Warre upon Edward and invading Northumberland with a strong Army they miserably destroy all by fire and sword sparing no sex nor condition But at the sudden approach of William Montaente they are afflicted with some loss and being frighted at the coming of Edward sounding a retreat they returned for Scotland but Edward following their Armies overtook them and wearying them with some light skirmishes he forced them to a cessation for two years John Earl Montfort whilst he strives to make good his Title to Britany is taken by King Philip but his Wife seeking help from King Edward easily procured it Mary the Kings Daughter being espoused to the Earls Son the care of that expedition was first committed to Gualter Mani a valiant Gentleman and then to Robert Atrebas In the mean time Baily being driven out of his Kingdom of Scotland and by Edward made Governour of Barwick tels Edward that the Scots had not kept their Covenants whereupon Edward moves suddenly with an Army against the Scots but there was nothing done but the cessation of Arms renewed In the interim Robert Atrebas with Gualter Mani and some other Nobles after a great tempest and Sea-fight arrived at a Town of Britain which is commonly called Vannes and going on Land set on the City that was a Garrison in a Hostile manner and suddenly became Masters of it but by the desperate violence of some of the Nobility the French wan it again and wounded Robert whereof he died shortly after in England But Edward himself moving into Britany laid a new siege to the Vannes and John Duke of Normandy coming suddenly they both make themselves ready for Battell but by the intercession of Pope Clement the sixt Truce was made for some few moneths yet it lasted not who was the cause of it is uncertain they again prepare for their Arms by which means Henry of Lancaster subdued many Towns in Guyan and in other Provinces and then he removed to Burdeaux for his Winter Quarters Philip that he might not lose his Countrey by sloth levying a great Army regained Miremontium a Franc Town and Engolesm But when Lancaster was too weak for the great Army of Philip Edward came to his assistance with more Forces bringing with him his Sonne Prince of Wales that was yet in his Nonage for he was scarce 15 years old that he might be trained up in the Warres who presently took many Towns and then he marched toward Picardy and Pontium and he either vanquished or destroyed all places in the way Then he passed over Somes a wonderfull example of his Valour the enemy looking on and he discomfited Gondemar more by fear than force In the mean time Philip stay'd with his Army at the Temple of St Germans and being enraged with so great a loss of his men sets Edward a day to sight with him in Battell he had pitched his Camp at Cressen expecting with his Ensignes Philip his enemy The Armies both meet and the Trumpets sound to Battell wherein appeared the wonderfull courage of Edwards both Father and Sonne that day the English got the Victory and the French were routed and ruined the King hardly escaped himself and there were found slain about 30000 men the chief whereof were John King of Bohemia Charles Alencon and other chief Nobles 1500. Another loss fell after this Victory upon the Archbishop of Roan who lost about 7000 Souldiers Nor was this the end of their Victories for it went successively in England against the Scots in the Kings absence their King David with the greatest Noble men were taken prisoners and 15000 Souldiers were slain in the fight and the rest were dispersed Nor did the General Thomas Dagovort fight with less good fortune in Britanie for the Countess of Montfort the principal of the French Nobility being taken and killed Edward being more high by so many and great Victories neglecting Amiens and the Town of Abbas he laid siege to Calais that was of great moment and most convenient for the English affairs whilst Lancaster over-ran all Guyan vanquished those of Xanton and Poictiers and being loaded with the spoil he returned to Burdeaux In the mean while Philip going about to relieve those of Calais drew near with his Forces and when he had in vain provoked Edward to Battell having done nothing he returns toward Paris So they of Calais being out of hopes of relief began to treat for Conditions and it was agreed upon on both sides that six of the principall Citizens should come with