bring Which shows the frailness of each earthly thing The Reign of Henry the Second King of England c. HEnry Plantaginet commonly called Fitz Empress was three times Crowned first by Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterbury at Westminster then at Lincoln and lastly at Worcester and being setled in the Realm he demolished sundry Castles that had given too much incouragement to the falling off of such as at any time grew discontented some that had Honours unduly conferr'd on them he divested and reduced to a private State purged the Land of Forreign Soldiers and chiefly of the Flemings that had come over with King Stephen choosing his Council out of the most Worthy and Learned Men restraining the Incroachments and Oppressions of the greatest Persons without respect of their greatness which made the Lord Hugh Mortimer fall off and take up Arms against whom King Henry went in person and had been slain at the Siege of Bridgnorth had not Hubert d' St. Clare one of his Courtiers stepped between as the Arrow was coming and lost his own Life to save his Masters but this Lord soon reduced and the face of calmness appearing at home he passed into France to do Homage to King Lewis for his Provinces of Normandy Acquitain Anjou Main and Lorain which he claimed as his right 〈◊〉 in himself and partly in Eleanor his Queen and there he adjusted differences between himself and his Brother Geofry and after being highly Caressed and Entertained he returned to England where as much as in him lay intending to live peaceably he contracted an Alliance with Malcolme King of Scots restoring him the 〈◊〉 of Huntingdon The Welsh about this time making Inroads and greatly indamaging the English the King marched against them and joyned Battle but in the heat of the Fight his Standard was cowardly abandoned and his person in danger to be slain or taken Prisoner for which Henry d' Essex Standard bearer being accused by Robert d' Montford as the main cause of the dissertion the Combat as usual upon such Accusations was allowed them at Reading and Essex being overcome the King was notwithstanding contented to spare his life upon condition he became a Monk which accordingly he did and was immediately shorn but in conclusion the Welsh were subdued and the King returning in Triumph was Crowned together with Eleanor his Queen at Worcester where they both at the Offertory laid their Crowns on the high Altar vowing never to wear them after and this was the last of the three Crownings and his Brother Geofry now dead he seized upon sundry Citys and strong places in Normandy and setling his Affairs in that Province he returned to England where Becket Arch-bishop of Canterbury influenced by the Pope began to trouble the Kingdom not only at the Council Tours privately surrendring those Honours the King had heaped upon him to the Pope and from him receiving them again thereby to cast off the acknowledgements he had to the King or his Prerogative but countenanced all manner of violence in the Clergy even to murther so that the complaints of above a hundred Murthers done by the Clergy coming to the King's car and he not finding them punished by Church Censure brought some of them under the Civil Power commanding Justice to be administred without partiality as well to the Clergy as Laity to that end appointing Ministers of Justice in all parts of the Land whose charge it was to enquire into crimes of that or the like nature But this was opposed by Becket with a high hand challenging the King with invading the Rights of the Church demanding at the same time the Castle of Rochester and sundry other places as belonging to the See of Canterbury This made the King assemble all the Bishops in Convocation at Westminster Becket excepted where it was agreed That no Appeals should be made to Rome without the Kings Licence That no Arch-bishop or Bishops upon the Popes Summons should go out of the Land without the like leave That no Bishop should excommunicate any person holding of the King in chief or put any of his Officers under interdiction without the like Licence That Clerks criminals should if the King thought fit be tried before Secular Judges But although the King urged Becket to agree to them yet he absolutely refused it sending thereupon complaints to the Pope who for his profit and interest not desirous to break with England commanded Becket to yield to the King without any Salvo's or exception which not without much stomaching the matter he at last consented to on the word of a Priest and swore that he would observe the Laws which the King called Avitae as being made in the Reign of his Grandfather yet he refused afterwards to set his Seal saying What he had done was rather in some measure to pleasure the King than out of conscience For which and his continuing obstinate he was condemned to the confiscation of his Goods and the Bishop of Chichester in the name of the other Bishops disclaimed and for the afronting the King in his Palace with his Cross he was adjudged as a Traytor and perjured person and that he should as such be taken and imprisond which made him flee into Flanders where Pope Alexander and Lewis the French King openly declared for him which so far incensed King Henry that he banished his Kindred commanding his Sheriffs and other Officers to seize such as appealed to Rome as likewise the Kindred of those Clergy that were with Becket excluding him from being prayed for as Arch-bishop Becket being by this time in France excommunicated the Bishop of London and proceeded in the like nature with others so that there were scarce any found in the Kings Chappel to perform the Service This made him send to the Pope for Legates to absolve his Subjects and settle a peace in the Kingdom and although accordingly they were sent yet Becket standing off with much obstinacy nothing was effected wherefore as some Historians will have it to spite the Arch-bishop the more and the more firmly to establish the Kingdom he caused Roger Arch-bishop of York to Crown his Eldest Son Henry and at the Coronation Feast the King carried up and served at the Table the first Dish of Meat whereat the Arch-bishop whispering the young King said Rejoyce my fair Son for there is no Prince in the World that hath such a Servitor attending at his Table as you have this day To which the early raised Stripling replied Why wonder you at that my Lord seeing my Father knows he doth nothing that is unbeseeming him for as much as he is Royally born on one side but as for our self we are Royally born on both as having a King to our Father and a Queen to our Mother Upon which proud speech the old King told the Arch-bishop That he repented the too early advancement of the Boy And now by the mediation of Friends the old King and Becket were reconciled and all
about sundry Articles of Treason in the compass of which the Lords that stood out might fall he got them subscribed at Nottingham by Robert Trisilian Chief Justiciar Robert Belknap Chief Justice of the Common Pleas John Holt Roger Fulthrop and William Burgh Justiciars as likewise by John Lecton Serjeant at Law whereupon he proclaimed them Traitors and both sides armed but the King finding the Lords too powerfull for him and that they had discovered the Snares he had laid to entrap them thought it no time to oppose his small number against forty thousand men but shut himself up with such Forces as he had in the Tower of London where he had laid up Stores for his Subsistence if things came to farther Extremity The King withdrawn the Lords came to Westminster and there assembling to consult what was to be done they resolved to dispatch a Messenger to let the King know that if he left not the Tower and came quickly to them that things might be better settled and ordered they would proceed to chuse a King that should and would hearken to and the Judgment and Counsel of his Peers This though much against his will constrained him to meet them at Westminster and after some debate consented to remove from his Person Alexander Nevil Archbishop of York the Bishops of Durham and Chichester the Lords Zouch and Beaumont and many others with certain chargeable Court-Ladies who were maintained as Spies upon the Actions of the Nobility and the better to make up the breach a Parliament was summoned in which the Judges were called to an Account for the subscribing of the Articles and other matters and most of them being arrested as they sate in Judgment were sent Prisoners to the Tower but Trisilian took an opportunity to escape yet being apprehended he was in the morning sentenced in Parliament and in the Afternoon pursuant to that Sentence as one that had wheedled in the rest to a compliance he was conveyed to Tyburn and there had his Throat cut by Hand of the common Executioner and many others were put to death as evil Counselours and Betrayers of the People The Estates of the King 's chief Favourites were likewise confiscated but the Scots at the same time invading the Northern Parts the Proceedings were not carried on to the highth as was otherways intended and not long after the Scale turned for another Parliament being called at London the Sanctuary of former Laws and all partscular Charters of Pardon were disannulled and taken away from Thomas Duke Gloucester the Earl of Arundel and others for their Treasonable Practices and Enterprizes and all the Justiciars who stood for the King were cleared from the Danger and Scandal they lay under and the Articles they had signed were ratified and such as had offended against them proclaimed Traitors and Richard Earl of Arundâ—l was beheaded on Tower-Hill as guilty of the breach of them The Earl of Warwick upon the like cause was banished and the Duke of Gloucester arrested and carried to Calais where he was privately made away and the King created himself Earl of Chester and to his Escutcheon Royal added the Armories of Edward the Confessour creating his Cosin Henry Duke of Hereford who was not long after accused by Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk for speaking dangerous words of the King and Mowbray constantly affirming what Hereford denied the Combat was granted them and all things in order to it prepared but when they were entred the Lists and at the point of defying each other to death the King threw down his Warder by that means staying the Combat changed the manner of the Order and banished them the Kingdom the Duke of Norfolk for ever and the Duke of Hereford first for ten Years then for six only constraining them upon pain of death immediately to depart and soon after the Duke of Lancaster Father to the latter and Uncle to the King dying he seized on all his Wealth which was extremely considerable he being looked upon one of the richest uncrowned Heads in Europe Long had not these Things passed before the Irish fell into Rebellion when to quiet them King Richard raised a great Army to supply which he grievously oppressed his Subjects by a heavy Tax which begot no small Hatred amongst the People so that some of the Nobles who favoured Hereford now become Duke of Lancaster sent to him to advertize him of the Discontents letting him know that this was his time to make his Fortune and he not delaying the opportunity with an Army of about 2000 English and Foreigners landed whilst King Richard was busie in Ireland and was immediately joined by the Earl of Northumberland and his Son and declaring as a specious pretence he came for no more than his Dutchy of Lancaster the People in compassion of his wrong flocked about him from all parts so that the Duke of York whom King Richard had left Governour of the Kingdom till his Return from his Irish Expedition not being able to oppose the Torrent was obliged to acquiess and suffer him to take Bristol where Bushy and Green two of the King 's Privy Counselours being made Prisoners they lost their Heads to please the multitude This allarmed King Richard in Ireland and obliged him to hasten for England gathering some Troups in Wales which he joined to those he brought over but few of the Nobles coming to his Assistence and finding himself too weak to oppose the Torrent he suffered them to disband and betook himself with a few of his Followers to Conwoth Castle and from thence sent to demand Honourable Conditions and amongst the rest That if himself and eight more whom he should name might have Allowance becoming their Qualities and an assurance of a quiet Private Life he would be content to resign the Crown to his Cosin the Duke of Lancaster and being promised what what was demanded he put himself into the hands of the Earl of Northumberland and was conveyed to the Tower of London whereupon a Parliament was called in his Name to sit at Westminster who concluding upon his Resignation sent an Instrument to him in order to his subscribing which being accordingly done as likewise seal'd he put his Signet Ring upon the Duke's Finger and after this a definitive Sentence passed in Parliament at which time the Duke of Lancaster rising from his Seat made his Claim and Challenge to the Crown in the following words viz. In the Name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claim the Realm of England and the Crown with all the Apurtenances as coming of the Bloud Royal from King Henry the Third and that Justice which God of his Grace doth send me by the help of my Friends for the Recovery of the said Realm which was in point of Perdition through default of Government and breach of Laws After this Claim Henry was acknowledged by all the Estates for King and seated in the Royal Throne which is accounted the end of Richard's
the Sea-Port Towns the King sent to grant them their reasonable Demands yet though several Messages passed nothing came to a conclusion and many of the King's Friends left the upper and lower House as dreading the fatal Consequence so that at last there not being above 80 Members in the lower House and 16 in the upper The Queen left England with her illustrious Daughter the Princess of Orange and the King with divers Nobles went to York whither he Summoned the Knights of the Garter and those that held of the Crown to repair And now People fearing things would come to extremity the County of Kent petitioned for an Accommodation but their Petition was rejected and the bringer and receiver imprisoned by the Parliament yet upon the King's Summons about 60000 Men of Yorkshire appeared on Howard Moor near York and after a view were ordered to repair to their respective Habitations but at this time the Parliament borowed a great Summe of Money of the Londoners on the publick Faith and raised an Army of 10000 Foot and 2000 Horse making the Earl of Essex their General and proclaimed War The King being denied entrance into Hull and having vainly assaulted it fortified Newark and Barwick and advancing to Nottingham set up his Standard so that Hostilities began and a piteous War ensued wherein many brave Men lost their Lives Victory declaring sometimes for one Party and sometimes for another insomuch that the Fields â—n about fifty Battles and Skirmishes were fatted with Bloud and made in many places white with the Bones of the slain no Wounds as it is observed by Lucan piercing so deep as those of Civil War but the King being extremely weakened by a fatal Overthrow at the Battel of Nasâ—by fought on June the 14th 1645 where most of his Officers Soldiers and voluntire Gentlemen were â—lain or taken Prisoners his Baggage Cannon Ammunition or what not seized he after the Defeat for want of Money was never in a Condition to make any considerable Head though some Towns and Parties stood out for him but going to Oxford and finding the Storm gather from all Parts distrusting the strength of the Place he privately withdrew and by the Advice of some about him cast himself for protection on the Scotch Army then in England whose Commanders promised him all manner of safety but being in Arrear they for the Summe of 200000 l delivered up this good Prince into the hands of his merciless Enemies who carried him for a while from place to place flattering him with Treaties and Commissioners were sent to him demanding Consessions and Agreements to Articles but when all good people were in hopes of an Accommodation and right understanding that the Land after so much bloudshed might have rest the Scale suddenly turned and a High Court of Justice was erected of which Serjeant Bradshaw was President and although the King denied their Jurisdiction yet they proceeded to try him viz. for that he had caused the cruel bloudshed in England and Ireland and born Arms against the Parliament That he had given Commissions to his Son and others to wage War c. and although he answered not to the Charge yet on the 27th of January 1648. they pronounced Sentence against him that he should loose his Head and accordingly on the 30th of January he was beheaded on a Scaffold before White-Hall-gate where he made a Speech professing his Innocency and desiring God to bless these Kingdoms and forgive his Enemies Thus fell this unfortunate Prince when he had Reigned 23 years 10 Months and 3 Days in the 49 Year of his Age and his Body was Buried at Windsor He was second Son to King James by Anne his Queen and had Issue by Henrietta Maria his Queen Charles James Henrietta Mary Elizabeth Catharine and Henrietta Thus did the much lamented Monarch fall And left behind the slighted earthly Ball Too scanty was Earth's Glory and Renown For him that had in view a heavenly Crown The Reign of Charles the II. King of Great Britain c. AT the Time of the cruel Execution Charles the Second was in Holland whither he had withdrawn himself to prevent the Designs of his Enemies and there with inexpressible Sorrow received the heavy News of his Father's Death and although from the 30th of January 1648 his Reign is dated as being rightfull King of these Realms yet that part of a Parliament then sitting upon penalty of Treason forbid all Persons to proclaim him or be aiding in his Restauration and then the Commons House the better to assure it Voted the Lords useless and dangerous however the Marquess of Ormond since Duke of Ormond Proclaimed the King in Ireland and the Scots did the like in Scotland however in England the King's Arms were pulled down and the Harp and Cross called the Arms of the Common-wealth set up The Processes in Law were altered and Money Coined with the States Arms And now the Lord Fairfax disliking these proceedings and having laid down his Commission of General of the Army Oliver Cromwell took it up and so laboured to please his Masters that with armed Force he brought Scotland and Ireland to a Compliance whilst the King was soliciting the Princes abroad for Aides to recover his Right when the more to disturb that King's Party in England not onely the Crown Lands were set to sail but even the Palaces and those of Bishops Deans and Chapters run the same risk and many worthy persons were expelled places of Benifice or Trust in Church or State and the Parliament for their greater security caused many Castles to be demolished The Marquess of Montross declared for the King's interest in Scotland performing wonders even with 〈◊〉 handfull of men against the Arms of the Countrie but in conclusion after he had done all that â—ould be expected from heroick Valour and Conâ—uct his men being scattered and he obliged to â—hift was taken and at Edenburg hanged and quarâ—ered During the Treaty the Scots had on Foot with the King to bring him into that Kingdom â—owever the urgency of the King's Affairs made â—im dissemble his resentments and upon the Treaty concluded landed at Spey and was conducted 〈◊〉 Edenburg and afterward solemnly Crowned 〈◊〉 Schon viz. January 1. 1650. setting up his Stanard at Abberdeen and causing the Forces reduced â—nder his Command to march against the English â—orces that had entred that Kingdom but without â—mming to any considerable Encounter the King 〈◊〉 July 1651. passed the Tweed and entred England â—ot onely to draw the Enemy out of Scotland but 〈◊〉 join his friends that had promised him Succours and without much difficulty marching through the Country to Worcester many Gentlemen and others came in to him but being followed in a manner at the heels by Cromwell and the Militia of the Counties every where raised and the Earl of Derby whom he had sent to raise Forces in Leicestershire defeated by Lilburn he resolved to fortifie that City and abide the
and other places the better to secure his new acquired greatness and was the first that admitted the Jews to Inhabit England and finding some stirs in Normandy he re-passed the Seas and fought his Son Robert who dismounted him but knowing his voice remounted him and begged his pardon and by that means they were made Friends and the War ceased However finding Odo Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent secretly Conspiring against him he Confiscated his Estate and Banished him his Dominions and being about to War against the French who during the Contest with his Son had offered some Indignities to his Dominions in Normandy he fell sick of a great pain and disorder in his Bowels whereat the French King in a scofing manner said Our Cousin William is now in Childbed therefore it behoves us to consider what number of Candles we must offer when he is Churched for no doubt they must be very many This being told to King William he in a rage swore by the Resurrection and brightness of God That his Cousin of France should be at no such cost or trouble but that at his Churching himself would light a thousand Candles in France and he failed not in his promise for entering that Kingdom with Fire and Sword he burnt the City of Mentz or Metz and many other places yet being too eager in pursuit of the French and of a Corpulent Body his Horse with a surious bound broke the Inner Rim or Film of his Belly of which when he had quieted the Disturbances abroad and at home and an extream Surfeit he got by overheating himself in action he died after a considerable sickness at Roan in Normandy Anno 1087. and there forsaken of his Sons and Courtiers who hasted to secure their respective Interests his Body was left unburied till one Harulims a poor Country Knight at his proper charge conveyed it to Cane where upon the attempting to bury him in St. Stephen's Chappel it was denied by one Ascelinus Fitz Arthur who in the Name of God forbad it saying It was the very place of his Father's House Floar which the Duke in his Life-time had wrongfully taken from him and upon his Inheritance founded the Church Therefore continued he I challenge the Ground and on God's behalf forbid that the Body of any Oppressor or Dispoiler be buried in my Earth neither shall it be Interred in the Precincts of my right But in conclusion Henry the Conqueror's younger Son hearing of the refusal compounded for 100 pound weight of silver and the Body was accordingly Interred with little or no Pomp for during the Contest his Belly burst in sunder and the Contageon thereby occasioned was so great that few could indure it he died on the 9th day of September 1087. in the 56th year of his Dukedom of Normandy and the 21st of his Reign over England in the 64th year of his Age his Wife was Maud Daughter to Baldwin the first Earl of Flanders his Issue was Robert sirnamed Curthois or Short-boots William sirnamed Miser who died Anno 1028. Richard who after his Father had gained the English Diadem came to a violent Death being gored in the New Forrest by a Stag or as others have it died by the stroke of a Bough William Rufus who succeeded him in the Kingdom of England though he nominated no Successor but left it to God's disposal much bewailing on his Death-Bed the Rigour and Oppressions he had used towards the English Henry born at Selby in York-shire Anno 1070. Cicely a veiled Nun Constance Married to Allain Earl of Britain in France Alice Married to Stephen Earl of Bloys by whom she had Stephen Earl of Mortain and Boleine afterward King of England Gundred Married to William d' Warren a Noble Norman and first Earl of Surry Ela who in her Child-hood was contracted to Duke Harrold afterward King of England Margaret who in her Childhood was given to Alphons King of Gallicia in Spain and William Preverel his Natural Son who was Created Earl of Nottingham His last Will and Testament was That all his Goods should be distributed to Churches Ministers and Poor limiting their respective Portions and to the Church and Monks of St. Stevens in Normandy where he above all â—oveted to be Buried he gave several Mannors as likewise his Crown which was afterward Redeemed by his Son Henry To Robert he left the Dutchey of Normandy but left as we said England free only wishing that his Son William might succeed him in it and presageing that Henry should in Conclusion possess all his Dominions he gave him 5000 Pounds the remainder of his Treasure He Deposed and Imprisoned Stigand Arch-bishop of Canterbury who died in Prison However he built many fair Churches and Abbies endowing them with Revenues and large Priviledges specially Battle-Abby where he slew King Harrold so that any Theâ—f or Murtherer flying thither had safe Protection and if the Abbot came by where any Execution was in hand he might if he pleased save the Malefactor he allowed a certain Pention to the Monks to â—ray for the Soul of King Harrold and those that were â—lain in the Battle In this King's time who was the 20th sole Monarch of England happened a dreadful Earthquake strange Burning Feavors proving very Mortal Murrains causing great Dearth of Cattle extraordinary Rains and Inundations which softned the Hills to that degree that some of them sunk to a flatness and overwhelmed the Neighbouring Villages most of the chief Cities suffered by Fire and London had her Houses and Churches burnt as the fire carried it from the West Gate to the East Gate Thus Lived and sell the Potent Conqueror Death's sorce subdued what ne'er was foil'd in War The Reign of William II. Sirnamed Rufus King of England c. VVIlliam Rufus so named from the redness of his Face although his Elder Brother Robert was alive immediately passing to London he by the assistance of Lanfrank Arch-bishop of Canterbury and VVolstane so far wrought upon the Council that he procured himself to be Crowned Anno 1087. at VVestminster but Odo his Uncle returning from his Banishment stirred up Robert his Brother against him instigating the Nobles to take part with him but Robert wanting Money was obliged for the better carrying on the Expedition to Pawn the Province of Constantine to his Brother Henry but whilst these preparations were in hand VVilliam to ingratiate himself with the English made large Promises to take off the hard Taxes and restore the Laws his Father had abolished upon which the people siding with him he wrested many of the strong Holds out of the hands of thosâ— that had seized them for his Brother Robert proceeding to besiege his Uncle Odo in Richester putting forth his Proclamation by which he ordered all people to repair thither in Arms and whoever refused he should be accounted a Niding which word at that time was so distastful and hated by the English as signifying a Coward or mean-spirited Fellow
to be the greatest Malediction that could befal them so that the Priests to strengthen their Masters Power and make him more dreadful to the World lay idle for the space of six years and fourteen Weeks in which time there was neither publick preaching nor praying no Administration of the Sacrament Burial or Christning by which we may plainly see whatever the Papists pretend as to the Sanctity of their infalible Father how much he prefered his private revenge before the Service of God and this he denyed not to Hereticks but to Papists so that the people being greatly discouraged many parts of the Kingdom lay untilled and became as it were desolate when the King on the other hand prescribed the disloyal Clergy confiscated their Temporalities as also their Bishopricks Abbies and Priories puting them into the hands of Lay-men suffering the Clergy to be oppressed without taking notice of it or righting them by civil Justice declaring they had by obliging the Pope put themselves out of hiâ— protection yet some of the more prudent as the Bishop of Durham and his Successor the Bishops of Winchester and Norwich incouraged the King not to regard the Papal Curse as being weak and insignificant like wise the Abbots of Cistercian Order took no notice oâ— it but went on as before till such time as the Popâ— suspended them for that contempt and the more tâ— shew his spleen Anathamatized the King by name whereupon some as well Nobles as Plebeans diserte his service for which in a stout resolution he bâ—nished and fined them but wearied out with thâ— practices of the Clergy against him and the Rebellioâ— of his Nobles he concluded it was better to give waâ— to the humour of a petish Pope than to live in diâ—quiet and daily hazard his Kingdom whereupon Langton was offered to be confirmed the other Bishops and Clergy restored and that the Churches should have its Franchises as in the time of Edward the Confessor but not being willing as indeed he was not at that time in a condition to restore the Monies received for Ecclesiastical confiscations the Legate sent by the Pope would not come to a conclusion This being the state of Affairs and the Pope desirous to humble the King discharged his Subjects from their fealty and Allegiance to him which some taking as a good warrant utterly disowned him for their King and the Welsh thereupon took up Arms which so inraged the King that he caused the 28 Hostages which they had given for the security of their good behaviour to be hanged up at Notingham but by this time the Barons had invited Lewis Dauphin of France to invade the Kingdom promising to set the Crown upon his Head when in the mean time while Stephen Langton and other Bishops implored the Popes assistance to settle the Church which must otherways fall into ruine whereupon he decreed that King John must be deposed ere it could be settled sending to Philip the French King to take upon him the Crown and Kingdom offering him a pardon for all his sins in case he effected it King John upon notice of the spightful proceedings prepared to oppose the French or any other Invader by Sea or Land but in the mean time Pandulph the Pope's Legate came into England and so wrought with the King that he suffered himself to prevent the storm conditionally to be deposed and at the Knight Templers house at Dover he surrendred his Crown into the hands of the Legate some say whilst he kneeled the proud Priest kicked it off with his foot for the use of the Pope and to be disposed as he thought fit laying his Scepter Sword and Ring at the Legates feet and subscribed a Charter whereby he resigned his Kingdom to the Pope professing but how sincerely I suffer the Reader to judge he did it not through fear or force but of his own voluntary accord as having no other way to make satisfaction to God and the Church for his offence and from that time forward he would hold his Crown and Kingdom in fee of the See of Rome at the Aâ—â—al pension of 1000 Marks for England and Ireland a very hard case but necessity it seems has no Law so that the Legate having gained his ends more favourable than he could reasonably expect passed over for France to put a stop to King Philip's preparations but he declared that seeing the Pope had been the main Instrument in seting him on and that the charge was already very great he would not desist though the Pope should Excommunicate him and calling a Council of Peers all but Ferdinand Earl of Flanders approved his intentions and the Barons denied to aid him till he was Assailed of the Excommunication and that all their Laws and Liberties granted by Henry the First were restored which obliged the King to send divers rich Presents to Rome thereby to allure the Pope who upon the Receipt sent the Bishop of Tusculum who would have perswaded him to have made over the Kingdom of England but not only the Arch-bishop but all the Peers of the Kingdom opposed it so that in Parliament it was Enacted That since the King could not without the consent of Parliament bring his Kingdom and People to such a Thraldom therefore if the Pope should in the future attempt any such thing they with their Lives and Fortunes were ready to oppose it So that the Pope finding there was no good to be done this way sent his Authentick Letters for the repealing the Edict yet not without the restitution of 1300 Marks to the Clergy most of which came to his Coffers so that the King passed into his Transmarine Territories but before he could quiet the disturbances news came that the English Barons had bound themselves at the high Altar of St. Edmundsbury by Oath to pursue the King with Arms till he had granted them their Charter of Liberties granted in the Reign of Henry the First whereupon he found himself necessitated to return and finding they had not only seized London but were otherways very formidable a Council to reconcile differences was held in Runing Marsh between Stains and Windsor since called Council Mead and there he granted them Magna Charta and Charta Forestae and consented that 25 select Peers should command the rest who were bound by Oath to be obedient but the King long dijested not this abating of his Power but withdrawing himself he sent to complain of it to the Pope as likewise to his Friends abroad for Aid and was in both successful for at Rome by a definitive Sentence the Barons Charters were made void and both they and the King accursed if either of them observed the conclusion of the Treaty in Council Mead he likewise had considerable Forces sent him from Gascoin Brabant and Flanders so that he again took the Field dividing his Army in two parts when himself marching Northward and the Earl of Salisbury Southward they brought all into subjection and
ready to receive him and joyn their Forces with his These Matters were not carried so privately but the King got notice of them and sent a very kind Message to the Duke of Buckingham to invite him to Court but he excusing it by reason of pretended Indisposition an Express was sent to command him to come or he would fetch him dead or alive by this he knew it was time to stand upon his own defence and returned answer that he would not come to his Mortal Enemy and thereupon sending for Thomas Marquess of Dorset out of a Sanctuary and gathering such power as he could in the North whilst Sir Edward Courtney and his Brother the Bishop of Exeter raised another in Devonshire and Cornwall as likewise did Sir Richard Guilford and other Gentlemen in Kent they resolved to joyn their Forces but before it could be effected the King marched directly against the Duke with a great power whereupon his little Army mostly consisting of Welshmen disbanded and left him to shift for himself so that he was forced to hide him in a poor disguise putting himself into the hands of one Humphrey Bannister that had been his Servant and raised by him to what Estate he had and with him he lived for some time as his Gardener but the treacherous man upon the Kings putting out a Proclamation promising a reward of 1000 pounds to those that could decover him deliver'd him up for the lucre of the Money to the Sheriff of Shrewsbury who siezed this Duke diging in a poor habit and being carried to the King at Salisbury he there without Tryall or Process was beheaded upon which all the Accomplices dispersed and fled many of them beyond the Seas and to this Treachery many attributed the Judgments that soon over-took Bannister and his Family for most of his Children dyed distressed or unnatural deaths his Substance decreased and he dyed in extreme Poverty The measures of the Confederacy thus broken many were imprisoned and put to death and the King fearing an Invasion caused the Sea Coasts to be guarded and fortified and then assembled a Parliament at Westminster wherein the Earl of Richmond and all his Adherents that had fled the Land were attainted and proclaimed Enemies of the Country their Goods and Possessions were confiscated nor did Richard delay to use the same Practices his Brother had done sending his Agents to the Duke of Bretaigne in whose Court the Earl resided with store of Gold and many Presents to persuade that Duke either to send Richmond Prisoner into England or if he refused that to keep him a Prisoner there and missed but a little of succeeding for the Duke lying sick and Peter Landois his Treasurer overcome with the Presents had delivered him into the hands of such as were appointed to receive him had not the Earl had notice of the design and made his Escape but the Duke highly blamed this Action of his Treasurer and discharged him his Office King Richard knowing whilst his Brother's Daughters were alive that his Title was but ill grounded and therefore to strengthen it he proposed though Queen Ann his Wife was living to marry Elizabeth his Niece by that means to cross Richmond's Pretensions and to try in this case how the people stood affected it was given out that his Queen was dead and soon after it proved so that virtuous Lady dying as many conjectured an untimely death The Earl of Richmond having notice of what was intended by the Money he received from England and other Assistence gathered what Forces he could and landed at Milford-Haven with 2000 Men on the 15th of August 1586. and from thence marched to Shrewsbury being joined by the way with a considerable Force under the Leading of Sir Rice Ap Thomas and so marched to Newport where Sir Gilbert Talbot met him sent by the Earl of Shrewsbury with 2000 men and passing from thence he came to Lichfield where he was joyfully received but whilst Richmond's Army gathered King Richard was not idle for raising such Forces as could be got in such a pressing Condition he marched to oppose his Invader and near Market-Bosworth in Leicestershire both Armies met and being encouraged by their Generals with moving Speeches the forward Soldiers rushed on to the Battel and for some time it continued both bloudy and doubtfull nor did Fortune in the first Shock fail to favour King Richard but the Lord Standley who had been intrusted by Richard with a Squadron of Horse revolting in the heat of the Fight and charging upon the allmost tired Soldiers bore down all before him and turned the scale of Victory which King Richard perceiving and resolving not to out-â—ive the loss charged furiously into Richmond's Battallion and with a Courage hightened by despair beat down all before him till over-powered by number and weary with fighting he fell amongst 〈◊〉 thousand Swords and with him fell the Duke of Norfolk the Lord Ferrers Sir Richard Radcliff Sir Robert Berkenburg and about 4000 others of lesser â—ote and Sir William Cateshy with two others of his â—rivado's being taken were two days after beheaded for evil Counsel and other Practices against the Good and Wellfare of the Kingdom and Thomas Howard Earl of Surry and Son to the Duke of Norfolk being made Prisoner and demanded by Henry how he durst bear Arms on the behalf of a Tyrant and Uusurper courageously answered He was my Crowned King and if the Parliamentary Authority of England set the Crown upon a stock I will fight for that stock and as I fought then for him I will fight for you when you are established by the like Authority After this fatal Battel wherein the number of the slain on either side did not greatly differ the Crown that King Richard brought into the Field was found by the Lord Stanley or those that attended him in an Haw-thorn-Bush and by that Lord set upon the Head of the Earl of Richmond in the Field at the sight of which the Soldiers cryed Long live King Henry The Body of Richard being found amongst the heaps of the slain was stripped and spoiled by the Pillagers and laid naked on a Horse behind St. Leiger Pursuvant at Arms and in that contemptible manner carried to Leicester where it was buried in the Grey-Friars Church in a stone Coffin which was afterward made a Trough for Horses to drink in in a common Inn and thus fell the greatness of the Usurper setting in bloud who had so often unjustly shed the bloud of others His Wife was Ann Daughter to Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick and Salisbury called the Make King of those times by her he had Issue Edward Earl oâ— Salisbury created Prince of Wales 1463. and the Crown entailed upon him by Parliament but he dyed by an unfortunate Fall before his Father This Richard stands accounted among the Kings of England c. he was third Son to Richard Duke of York and began his Reign the twenty second day of June
1483. reigning two years and two months and waâ— the 38th sole Monarch of England Many good Laws were made in his time and he built and endowed several places to charitable uses he caused William Collingbourn to be executed as a Traitor on Tower-hill for writing this distich The Cat the Rat and Lovel our Dog Rules all England under a Hog Descanting thereby on the Names of Catesby Ratcliff and Lovell three of his chief Favourites and as to the Hog upon Richard himself as having the White Boar for his Cognizance Thus the Vsurper who through Seas of Bloud Had swum to Empire and there tottering stood Till Fates just hand removed him at a blow He fell unpittied who 'd no pitty show The Life Reign and Actions of Henry VII King of England c. HEnry Earl of Richmond upon the Success of Bosworth Field hasted to London and a Parliament being called at Westminster on the 30th of October anno 1485. he was crowned and owned King of England and to prevent future Stirs or Insurrections he imprisoned Edward Plantagenet Earl of Warwick Son to the Duke of Clarence in the Tower and King Richard was attainted in Parliament as an Usurper and Traitor against the Government and the Crown entailed upon King Henry and his Heirs for ever and for the better security of his Person he appointed a band of Archers under a Captain in the nature of Yeomen of the Guard and a free Pardon was given to all that should submit themselves within a set time unless such of Richard's Friends as were excluded by name and all former Acts contrary to Henry and his Friends were repealed Anno 1496. on the 19th of January the King married the Princess Elizabeth eldest daughter to Edward the Fourth and true Heiress to the Crown as had been before agreed on by which means the Houses of York and Lancaster after having overflowed the Land with bloud were united to the ceasing of future Jars on that occasion however some that found themselves out of Favour began to disturb the Tranquillity of Henry for the Lord Lovell and Sir Humphrey Stafford his Brother took up arms and drew after them a considerable force but upon the approach of the King's Army they dispersed and Sir Humphrey being taken out of Sanctuary whither he had fled for shelter was carried to Tyburn and there executed Yet this was but light to what followed for Margaret Duchess Dowager of Burgundy Sister to Edward the Fourth mortally hating the Line of Lancaster by her contrivance with some discontented English one Lambert Simnell was set up for the Earl of Warwick who was then in the Tower and passing to Ireland with one Simon a Priest who had been his Tutour and Manager he was crowned King at Dublin and assisted by the Dowager of Burgundy with 2000 men under the Leading of Collonel Swart and getting an Army of Irish English Scots he returned and proclaimed himself to be the true Son of the Duke of Clarence still encreasing his number but at Stoke a little Village near Newark the King's Army opposed them and a bloudy Fight ensued wherein after three hours hot dispute the Impostor's Forces were routed and put to flight and the Earl of Lincoln the Lord Lovel Sir Thomas Broughton Collonel Swart and Maurice Fitz-Thomas were slain with about 4000 Soldiers and Simnel and his Tutour being taken the former upon his Ingenious Confession how the whole Cotrivance had been imposed on him was made the King's Falconer after he had drudged a while in the Kitchin but the latter condemned to perpetual Imprisonment Yet Henry gained not this Battel but with considerable loss on his side for the Strangers knowing their Lives were at stake if they lost the day fought like men indespair and sold their Lives very dear King Henry finding those that opposed him took generally refuge in Scotland sent his Ambassadours to James the Third to conclude a Peace with him by which means he was the better at leisure to prosecute his Wars with France in Favour of his Allies but to this end raising a large Subsidie the Commons in Yorkshire refused to pay it and took up Arms but upon the approach of the Earl of Surry and his taking John Chamber their Ring-leader the rest dispersed and Chambers and the rest of the Ring-leaders were executed at York and the King sailed over into France being furnished with Money from the Citizens of London but assoon as he set down before Bulloign the French King offering him 186250 pounds to retire and the Emperour his Confederate not being prepared to take the Field the offer was accepted and the Money paid in the time limited and he no sooner returned but he found employment at home for the Duchess Dowager of Burgundy with other discontented English had set up a second Impostor viz. one Perkin or Peterkin Walbeck who passed with many for Richard Duke of York younger Son to Edward the Fourth and although the King sent his Agents abroad to discover how the Designs were carried on as well as make the Impostor known to those to whom he applied himself for aid he received great countenance in the Court of France and with considerable Forces passed into Ireland and from thence to Scotland where he was very kindly received by King James the Fourth and setting off the deceit with a very plausible Speech in a princely Port that King not only believed him to be the Duke of York but gave him the Lady Katharine Gourdon his Niece in marriage nor failed he to aid him But whilst these preparations were making the Lord Fitz-walter Sir Simon Montfort and the Lord Standly who at his coming in at Bosworth Field had given King Henry the Victory and with it the Crown were beheaded on pretence of holding Correspondence with Walbeck and the King proceeded to strengthen the Sea-Ports and all places of Advantage raising Forces and using much diligence that he might be able to weather the Storm he foresaw breaking in upon him when calling a Parliament he had a Tax of 80000 l granted him which caused the Cornish Men to rise under the leading of one Flammock a Lawyer and Joseph a Black-Smith and were joined at Wells by the Lord Audley and so marched to Black Heath in Kent where they were fought with and routed by the King's Forces the Lord Audley taken and beheaded on Tower-hill and the other two Ring-leaders hanged and quartered the Smith comforted himself by the way that his Name by this Action should be immortal And now the King in requital of the Invasions the Scots had made during these Revolutions sent the Earl of Surry to fall upon their Frontiers with Fire and Sword who prosecuted it so rigorously that they were obliged to sue for Peace which upon the Mediation of the King of Spain was concluded and Perkin by one clause of it excluded Scotland whereupon he went for Ireland and from thence was invited by the Cornish Men to
Earl of Shaftsbury and others were Imprisoned in the Tower one Stephen Colledge a Joyner was Tryed at Oxford found guilty of High Treason and Executed And in the year 1683. Captain Walcot William Hone and John Rouse were executed at Tyburn and the Lord Russell and Algernoon Sidney lost their heads And not long after Sir Thomas Armestrong being brought from Holland and James Holloway from Nevis were sentenced at the King's Bench Bar upon their Outlawries and executed at Tyburn And two Informations for Perjury were preferred against Titus Oates the principal Evidence in the Plot But before he came to Tryal the King dyed for falling ill on Monday the 2d of February 1684. With a violent fit of the Appoplexy which at that time bereaved him of his Senses he continued in a languishing Condition till Friday the 6th of February and then dyed in the 55th year of his Age when he had Reigned 36 years and seven days And was buried in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel being the 46th Sole Monarch of England Thus Charles the Great his Glory laid aside A Prince that Fortune in all Shapes had try'd In War and Councils equally approv'd Feard of his foes but of his friends belov'd Remarkable Transactions from the Time of King JAMES the II. coming to the Crown till his Leaving the Kingdom c. KING Charles leaving no Issue by Queen Katharine his onely Brother succeded him and was Proclaimed by the style of James the Second King of England c. at the Pallace Gate and in London with the usual Solemnity and Ceremony Causing the Lords and others present that were before to be Sworn of His Majesty's Privy Council signifying by Proclamation it was his Pleasure that all who at the decease of King Charles were in Office of Government should so continue till his pleasure was further signified And upon his first sitting in Council he made a Speech in which amongst other Expressions are these viz. I shall make it my endeavour to preserve this Government both in Church and State as it is now by Law Established I know the Principles of the Church of England are for Monarchy and the Members of it have shewed themselves good and loyal Subjects Therefore I shall always take care to Defend and Support it I know too that the Laws of England are sufficient to make the King as a great a Monarch as I can wish and as I shall never depart from the Just Rights and Prerogatives of the Crown so I shall never Invade any Man's Property I have often heretofore ventured my Life in Defence of this Nation and I shall still go as far as any man in preservation of it in all its Just Rights and Liberties Nor was it long before a Proclamation was Issued forth to give notice the King intended to call a Parliament inculcating therein the settlement of the Revenue for the support of the Crown and Government that there was a necessity for the maintenance of the Navy for the Kingdoms defence and the advantage of Trade in order to which he desired that the settlement of the Customs due in the Reign of King Charles the Second might continue declaring it was his will and pleasure that the Duties should be Collected accordingly and that he did not doubt of the ready complyance of his Subjects therein This being given forth the Merchants did not dispute the payment And the next thing taken in hand was the preparation for the funeral of the deceased King all persons belonging to or having business at the Court being commanded by an Order of the Earl Marshal to put themselves into decent Mourning and indeed the loss of a Prince that ruled so much in the hearts of his Subjects found a ready complyance for not onely the Courtiers were in Mourning but all the responsible persons of the Kingdom and his Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark on the tenth of February took his place at the Council Board as a Privy Councellour of this Kingdom All things being prepared for the Funeral Solemnities of King Charles the Second with decency and order as the occasion required the Royal Corpse was on the 14th day of February Interred in King Henry the Sevenths Chappel at Westminster The Prince of Denmark whose Train was born up by the Lord Cornbury being chief Mourner and aâ— curious Figure of Wax representing the King was set up amongst the rest of the Kings of England his Predecessours and an Order was published for altering the Prayer in the Liturgy or Common Prayer relating to the Royal Family by way of exchanging Names in the repetition viz. JAMES for CHARLES and further viz. our Gracious Queen MARY CATHERINE the Queen Dowager Their Royal Highnesses MARY Princess of Orange the Princess ANNE of Denmark and all the Royal Family And Money being wanting in the Exchequer it was taken up upon the Excise by way of Farming and the Earl of Rochester was constituted Lord High Treasurer of England and the Marquess of Halifax Lord President of the Privy Council the Earl of Clarendon Lord Privy Seal and the Duke of Beaufort Lord President of Wales These Great Officers thus put in Trust gave us prospect of the tranquility of Affairs and the King was Proclaimed in all the Citys and Burrough Towns of the Kingdom and in the like order in Scotland and Ireland and the Earl Marshal issued out the orders of Summons in order to the preparation of the Coronation which was appointed to be on the 23d of April being Saint George's day requiring all persons who in regard of their Tenures Customs and Usage are bound to do and performe Services on that day to appear before the Commissioners and make out their Claims and give their attendance at the Solemnity and a Proclamation was sent into Scotland in order to the calling of a Parliament in that Kingdom with a Proclamation of Indemnity to divers of the Scottish Nation Then he proceeded to put out a Proclamation to Summons a Parliament to sit at Westminster on the 19th day of May 1685. And accordingly the Citys Burroughs and Shires proceeded to Election and sundry Embassadours residing in England or such as came by Expresses made their Complement of Condolence and Congratulation and the 23d of April being come great preparations were made for the Coronation the Nobles and others met in their Robes and Formalities the Ceremony was performed with much Magnificence and the Parliament according to appointment met when the King in his Robes went to the House and being seated on the Throne made a Speech in which amongst other things He informed them that the Earl of Argyle was Landed in Scotland with the men he brought with him from Holland c and soon We had notice that that Earl had levyed considerable Forces in Argyleshire and other places which obliged the Militia to rise in Arms and several Troops were sent from England and more had gone had not the Duke of Monmouth landed at Lyme in
Dorcetshire with about fourscore men and a considerable quantity of Arms and Amunition declaring his intention to deliver the Kingdom from the danger it was likely to be brought into by the prevailing power of the Papists under the influence of a King who had professed himself openly to be of the Roman Communion c. and divers of his Declarations were printed and scattered abroad for printing which one Mr. Desney a Councellour was seized and Tryed at the Marshalsea upon an Indictment of High Treason and being by the Jury found guilty he was sentenced and executed his head being afterward placed on London Bridge The Duke of Monmouth encreasing his Forces in the West and causing himself to be Proclaimed King not onely the standing Guards but a great number of New-raised forces were sent against him as likewise the Scotch Regiment sent from Holland when after sundry skirmishes in which divers were killed on both sides On the sixth of July the Duke in the dead of the night by a silent March endeavoured to surprize the King's Forces encamped on Sedgmore near Bridgwater commanding the Foot in person and ordering the Lord Grey with the Horse to take a compass and fall in the Rear but the design being discovered by an early Alarum after many brisk firings between the Foot and the Dukes Horse not coming timely up the King's Horse entred the Ranks and in spite of the opposition that was made broke and disordered them so that about daylight they fled in great confusion and a piteous slaughter ensued so that two thousand are held to be slain The Duke with most of the Commanders escaped the Field but having been Attainted in Parliament and a premium of 5000 l set upon his head he was upon the information of an old Woman searched for in the Inclosures near Holt Lodge and after divers attempts to escape was taken and by easie Marches brought to White-Hall and by the Council committed to the Tower and the third day after brought to the Scaffold on Tower-Hill where after he had made a very Christian-like and Heroick Speech he had his Head severed from his Body at five stroaks so barbarous was his execution the Body of this unfortunate and much lamented Nobleman in whose Veins flowed by the Father's side the Royal Bloud was put into a Hearse in order to its Interment but this execution allayed not the fury of some persons for the Lord Chief Justice Jeffries and others being sent into the West to try such as escaped Military execution caused about 300 to be executed in divers places amongst whom the Lady Lile was beheaded at Winchester for harbouring some persons who had escaped the Battel and soon after a Woman was burnt at Tyburn upon the like occasion During these proceedings the Earl of Argyle was Routed in Scotland taken in a pond and beheaded at Edenburg Rumbold the Malster was hanged and quartered and his quarters sent to England and set upon the Gates of London Colonel Ayloffe and Mr. Nelthorp were sent prisoners and executed one before the Temple and the other before Gray's-Inn And the Parliament meeting again after its prorogation the King told them that in consideration of sundry good Services several Roman Catholick Officers had done him he was willing they should continue in their places notwithstanding the Parliament was very earnest to have them removed and pardon granted them for what had passed in Acting contrary to Law as not being Qualified for places of Trust without taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy however they were continued and the Parliament soon after Dissolved An Embassadour was sent to Rome and the Pope's Nuncio came to England being kindly received by the King and now it began to be rumour'd that Father Petre a Jesuit was got to the Helm of Affairs and soon after he was declared a Privy Councellour And divers persons were Tryed upon the Account of what had been done in the Reign of King Charles the Second for which Alderman Cornish suffered in Cheapside and Charles Bateman a Chirurgeon at Tyburn And the Dissenters were severely prosecuted though at the same time the Popish Priests began to build them Chapels in Limestreet Bucklers-Bury St. John's and Southwark promising themselves no less than the re-establishment of that Religion and some people were punished for opposing their proceedings the City Trained Bands being ordered on Sundays c. to guard those houses from the violence of the Multitude and most of the Judges having declared a Dispensing Power in the King Papists throughout the Nation were put into places of Trust and Offices without taking the Oaths Especially after the Tryal of the Case of Sir Edward Haleâ— at the Court of King's-Bench where the Verdict went for him c but the Members of the Church oâ— England seeming not well pleased there followed an unexpected closing with the Dissenters and a Declaration was published for Toleration or Liberty of Conscience and a promise to Establish it by Law The Church of England-men we almost every where displaced and Papists and Dissenters placed in their stead most of the Fellows of Magdalen College in Oxford turned out and a President imposed on it A High Commission Court was â—erected to censure the Clergy the Bishop of London was suspended and most of the Corporations had their Charters taken into the King's hands some of them being shortly after restored with alterations The standing Forces were increased Campaigns were held on Hounslow Heath to exercise the Souldiers and the King designing to call a Parliament the people were questioned in many parts of the Kingdom whether they would themselves if chosen or give their Voices for such as should be willing to take away the Penal Laws and Tests And the Archbishop of Canterbury with Six other Bishops were sent prisoners to the Tower â—nd afterwards Tryed at the King's-Bench Bar but â—cquitted for petitioning the King to revoke his Order of Reading his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience in Churches in time of Divine Service And during their Imprisonment we had news that â—he Queen was brought to Bed of a Son for which 〈◊〉 Thanksgiving day was appointed and the Conâ—uits in London ran with Wine as likewise in many other places and the Embassadours in foreign Courts made great Rejoycing But whilst this â—oy lasted at Court and things were making ready or the calling a Parliament news came that great â—reparations were making in Holland with a design â—o pass an Army into England which changed the â—ace of Affairs for those that had been turned out â—f places of Trust were restored the Bishops were received into savour the Charter of London and other Charters were restored Depositions were taken relating to the Birth of the Infant and enrolled in Chancery and the King was willing no Papist should be a Member in Parliament with many other concessions and great Levys were made for Sea and Land however the Dutch Fleet without much interruption came to Torbay in
they passed to Wood-street end in Cheapside and there Proclaimed a Third time and the like was done before the Royal Exchange in Cornhill and immediately the great Guns made it known to remote parts the Evening being concluded with the Ringing of Bells Bonfires and other demonstrations of Joy Nor was it less upon the like Proclamation of their Majestys in the principal Burroughs and Towns of England and Wales And two days following his Majesty was pleased to give the two Houses a further Assurance of his Care and Protection for the preservation of their Religion Laws and Liberties and that he was desirous to concur with them in any thing that should be for the good of the Kingdom and do what in him lay to advance the Glory and Welfare of the Nation And thereupon published his Royal Declaration to restrain disorderly persons who took the liberty to kill the Deer and cut down the Timber in divers Chaces and Forests causing the Ports in the West facing Ireland to be stopped to prevent disaffected persons from passing over to Tyrconnel And the City of London by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and divers of the Commons Congratulated their Majestys upon their happy Accession to the Throne and on the 18th of February the King went to the House of Lords Royally attended and too his Place on the Throne when the Gentleman â—sher of the Black Rod had order to Summon up the Commons and they accordingly attending at the Bar of the Lords House his Majesty let them know how sensible he was of their kindness and how much he esteemed and valued the confidence they had Reposed in him giving them Assurance that at no time he would do any thing that might lessen their good opinion of him recommending to them the Care of the Allies abroad and the dangerous state of Ireland c. And soon after his Majesty being waited on by the Bishop of London and about 100. of the London Clergy with an humble Tender of their duty and fidelity he was pleased to express his Gracious promise of Protection and Encouragement And the two Houses resolved into a free Parliament his Majesty gave the Royal Assent to an Act intituled an Act for the removing and preventing all questions and disputes about the Assembling and Sitting of this present Parliament putting out his Royal Declaration for bringing in and restoring Arms imbezled during the disbandings and disorder in the late King's Army During these prosperous proceedings we had frequent news from Ireland that the Earl of Tyrconnel laboured to increase his Army and to draw away those that yet remained unshaken to prevent which his Majesty was pleased to Issue out his Proclamation offering a pardon of Indemnity to all those that would lay down their Arms and retire to their respective habitations and there quietly and peaceably behave themselves and that according to Law they should enjoy their Estates and Possessions likewise those of the Roman persuasion to have all the liberty of private Exercise of Religion that the Law allows with a promise of calling a Parliament in that Kingdom But if any refused they were proclaimed Rebels and Traytors and their Lands forfeited to be distributed to those that should be aiding and assisting to the reducing the Kingdom But on the other hand Tyrconnel as much as lay in him to hinder this Gratious offer prevented its being dispersed in many parts of that Kingdom and published a Declaration of his own wherein he promised them wonders if they would persevere and laid before them the danger if they laid down their Arms whch animated them to great Outrages however the English Protestants defended Sligo and other places making strong opposition especially in the North expecting Succours from England where extraordinary Levys were making and the King the better to encourage his Subjects consented to the taking away the Act of Harth Money which had been a long time very grievous to the poorer sort of the Nation for which he received an Address of Thanks from both Houses and an other wherein they resolved to stand by him with their Lives and Fortunes in supporting his Allies abroad in reducing Ireland and to secure the Protestant Religion in that Kingdom which was very Graciously Received and his Majesty declared his Opinion as to what was requisite for the support of the Nations Glory abroad and at home And the two Houses for declaring to stand by his Majesty c. had two humble Addresses of Thanks from the City of London and they likewise tendred their Address of Thanks to his Majesty upon his Condescending to have the Harth Money taken away which was shortly after taken away by an Act for ever onely a Clause reserving to be collected what was due to the 25th of March before the publication of the said Act. During these proceedings the King had an Express that a considerable number of Soldiers of the Regiment once commanded by the Lord Dumbarton and some Companies of Fuziliers had had mutined near Ipswich and marched away with the Money sent to pay them and four Field Pieces in their way proclaiming King James when to prevent the disorder upon the Address of the Parliament they were proclaimed Rebels and a considerable force of Horse and Dragoons sent to suppress them and accordingly upon their inclosing those mutinous Soldiers they after some shew of resistence threw down their Arms and surrendred them yielding upon discretion when being disarmed they and their Officers were disposed of in divers prisons and an Act passed the Royal Assent impowering his Majesty to apprehend such persons as he should find just cause to suspect were conspiring against the Government and an other to take off the Attaindure of William Russell Esq commonly called William Lord Russell and many other Acts conducing to the good and settlement of the Kingdom were soon after passed Upon the death of Sir John Chapman Lord Mayor of London Thomas Pilkinton Esq since Sir Thomas Pilkinton was Elected at the Guild-Hall and presented to the Commissioners of the Great Seal and Sworn at the Hustings and after that by the Lieutenant of the Tower by reason at that time there was no Court held at Westminster Scotland at this time was not wanting for the Convention pursuant to the King 's Circular Letters meeting March 14th and chusing Duke Hamilton their Chairman they earnestly laboured for the settlement of that Kingdom which was fallen into some disorder upon the Grand Revolution Summoning the Duke of Gourdon to surrender the Castle of Edenburg and upon his refusal Proclaimed him and his adherents Traytors on great penalties prohibiting any to have intercourse with him securing divers suspected persons and raising Forces to secure the Kingdom with many other things too many here to be incerted And now the Coronation Solemnity of their Majestys being appointed on the 11th of April and a Proclamation issued out to the Peers and for all that could make Claims by right of Service or Tenure