Lords that raised these stirs were Thomas Duke of Glocester the Earls of Warwick Derby Nottingham and Arundel yet upon the mediation of some Prelates the matter was so ordered that the Lords were content to present themselves to the King sitting in State at Westminster but so far from trusting his Royal word that they came strongly guarded and coming into his presence fell on their Knees yet after the former strain repeated their former demands throwing down their Gloves protesting to prove them Traitours by Combate whom they had so named yet the King in a sharp reply made them sensible how little he feared their Braves but in the end referred the further determination of matters to the next Parliament which shortly after held at Westminster And in the mean while bid them be content and mindful of their Allegiance yet they refused to separate themselves but withdrawing into the West near Burford set upon a party of Cheshire and Welshmen Commanded by Sir Thomas Molenaux and others and by the Kings special Order raised to conduct safe to Court the Duke of Ireland whom the King had secretly recalled from Banishment and after a hot dispute slew Sir Thomas and most of his Men the Duke hardly escaping then increasing their number they marched towards London whose approach caused the King to betake himself to the Tower and the Citizens through fear to open their Gates so that the Lords and the greatest part of their Host entered as it were in triumph and after some Messengers had passed between the King and them they found means to come to his presence and there boldly taxed him of secretly practising to fly with the Duke of Ireland into France and to deliver up Calais and other places in Normandy to the French King with many other unbeseeming expressions which either through real grief or a Noble disdain to be so used by his Subjects caused the King to shed Tears even in their sight and at last it was agreed that the King should the next day come to Westminster but the next day the King deferring his repair longer than the time appointed the Lords contrary to their Allegiance sent him word that if he came not speedily according to appointment they would chuse them another King who both would and should obey the Council of his Peers they having him present whom they intended to have Invested with the Diadem viz. Henry Earl of Derby Son to the Duke of Lancaster who afterward Dethroned him as shall be related The King having received this threatning message though much against his Inclination went to Westminster where the Lords were Assembled where they forced him not only to disclaim the Duke of Ireland divest the Lord Chancellour but likewise turn out of favour Alexander Nevil Arch-bishop of York the Bishops of Durham and Chichester the Lord Souches and Beaumont with many more of smaller account so that having stripped him of his friends they thought the easier to rule him and afterward committed as many of them as they could lay hands on Prisoners to the Tower to answer such Accusations as should be objected against them in the next Parliament which beginning the Candlemas following The first day of the Sessions most of the Judges were Arrested as they were sitting upon the Bench and committed to the Tower the Crime alleadged against them was that at Nottingham they having given Council to the Lords which they assured them was according to Law had afterwards assured the King that it was not according to Law but only they had been obliged to give such Opinions for their own security But Trisillian escaped for a while by flight being taken in the Morning was brought before the Parliament and having no longer respite than till the afternoon was carried to Tyburn and there according to Sentence had his Throat cut an unmanly death to be inflicted on a Lord Chief Justice There were likewise Executed almost all the Judges and about five Knights and Esquires most of the Kings especial favorites nor could the King stay this Execution but e're this mischief spread further 't was allayed by the arrival of the Duke of Lancaster who had obtained a great Sum of Money and a yearly Revenue of the King of Spain to quit his claim to the Crown of Castile and Leon and that the Lord Henry his Son Marrying the Lady Catharine that Kings Daughter should have the Title of Prince of Austria with several other advantageous matters and upon his arrival King Richard whether again to buy his absence is uncertain bestowed upon him the Dutchy of Aquitain confirming it in Parliament and putting into his Possession the Cap of Maintenance and Ducal Rod at which time his Son Henry Earl of Derby went for Prussia and there ingaged himself in the War against the Lithuanian where he Atchieved many noble deeds in Chivalry but soon after died the Dutchess of Lancaster Dutchess of York Dutchess of Derby and what was more grievous to the King his Queen whom he intirely loved all dying almost in a years space whereupon the Duke of Lancaster went over to take possession of his Dutchy and then upon complaint of the Out-cries committed by the Wild Irish passed into Ireland with an Army to suppress them and upon his return into France he was Married to the Lady Isabel that Kings Daughter and thereupon a peace concluded between the two Nations for the space of thirty years And now the Duke of Ireland being dead the discontents of the Lords seemed somewhat abated yet not long for the restless Duke of Glocester still contriving to secure his steerage at Helme by over-awing the King put so many affronts upon him that he often complained thereof to his Uncles the Dukes of Lancaster and York who perswaded the King of his good intent though his words might seem harsh but within a while after a Combination of the said Duke with the Earls of Arundel and Warwick the Lords Cobham and Chevy being discovered by Thomas Mobray Earl of Nottingham wherein they had conspired to Imprison the King and his Uncles Lancaster and York as likewise to put to death many of his Councellours upon which they were Arrested and the Duke sent Prisoner to Calais where afterward he was smothered with a Pillow and here only the Earl of Arundel Beheaded These Executions wrought some alteration in the minds of the People whose Darling the Duke of Glocester was so that they greatly maligned his Prosecutors and some vowed secretly to revenge but to salve up these discontents especially amongst the great ones the King in the next Parliament took upon himself the Title of Prince of Chester created his Cousin Henry Earl of Derby Duke of Hereford the Earl of Nottingham Duke of Norfolk the Earl of Rutland Duke of Amaurle the Earl of Kent Duke of Surry the Earl of Huntington Duke of Exceter the Earl of Sommerset Marquess of Dorset the Lord Spencer Duke of Glocester c. and added to his
without opposition and took the Tower wherein the King was and were designed to murther him had not providence prevented it by his condescending to what they demanded though never so unreasonable and granting a pardon to all for what offences soever had been committed upon which a great part acknowledged the Kings Concessions satisfactory and so returned home yet their grand Captains keep their Armies on foot and still drew up unreasonable Petitions such as they knew the King could not with honour grant and hereupon they took a pretence of doing more mischief intending to have divided the Kingdom amongst Mechanicks every County to have had a King of the Commons as they termed it But e're they could bring their rebellious purpose to perfection it it was prevented for Sir William Walworth then Lord Mayor of London being with the King at a Treaty with Wat Tyler and hearing the Traitor speak irreverently of his Soveraign and offering to murther one of the Kings Knights for not shewing him such respect as he required he with his drawn Sword Arrested him as a Traitor in West-Smithfield and he refusing to yield some Lords coming in he was killed and had his head cut off and carried on a Spear out of the mouth of which he had before impiously protested that all the Laws of England should proceed At the fall of their grand Captain the Rebels were much grieved and being near twenty thousand strong resolved upon revenge but the young King spurring forward told them that he was and would be their Captain and that whatsoever they desired if it were lawful they should have which appeased and caused many of them to throw down their Arms and in the mean space the Lord Mayor having raised 1000 Citizens and brought them to confront the Rebels under his own Conduct that of Sir Robert Knowles and others whereupon the Rebels totally submitted to the King upon promise of pardon Whereupon the King sent to all his loving Subjects throughout England who were able to provide Horse and Arms to attend him on Black-Heath where they were mustered to the number of 40000 all on Horseback and well appointed and now the Rebels in Kent Essex and other Counties beginning again to raise tumults were dispersed by force and many of the principal Incendiaries put to death so that the Nation was reduced to its former obedience and quiet so that the King began to think of Marriage which Anno 1382. In the Month of January he effected with the Lady Anne Daughter to the Emperour Charles the Fourth and Sister to Winceslaus King of Bohemia and she Crown'd by William Courtney Son to the Earl of Devonshire and Bishop of Canterbury Upon which through the Negotiation of the Duke of Lancaster a Truce was concluded between the French and English from Christmas till Midsummer and the said Duke upon his return dispatched with an Army to revenge the injuries the Scots had put upon the English during the intestine broils but returned without effecting any thing memorable and upon his return he was accused by a Carmelite Friar and by Birth an Irish-man to have conspired the Kings Death to the truth of which the Friar Swore upon the Sacrament but the Dukes Interest in the King and his Council so overpowered the testimony of the Friar that it was not believed but on the contrary the Evidencer delivered over to the Lord John Holland who caused him cruelly to be put to death without Trial or Form of Law and afterwards dragged through the streets when at the same time the Lord Thomas of Woodstock afterwards made Duke of Glocester rushed into the presence Chamber swearing that he would kill any man alive the King not excepted that durst lay Treason to his Brothers charge which rash words were afterwards excused upon pretence of his Zeal to his Brothers honour though at the same time his duty to his Soveraign ought to have overballanced the other but the Duke of Lancaster's credit growing great with the Court Lords the King was forced to oblige him not knowing how to help it and therefore seeing him grow obstinate he the rather wished to be rid of him which he thought he could no better do than by furnishing him a Navy and an Army to Invade Castile which Kingdom he claimed in the Right of his Wife Constance Daughter to the late King where arriving he obtained several places of strength worsting the Spaniards every where When in the mean while the French under their young King resolving to revenge old injuries prepared an Army of 100000. Men to Invade England supposing it weakned by the remoteness of the Duke of Lancaster's Army but such was Gods providence that although they were imbarqued and several times attempted to put to Sea yet were they still driven back and detained by contrary winds even at such a time when the discontents amongst the Nobility made way for their Conquest for the King supposing himself rid at least for a time of his Uncle the turbulent Duke of Lancaster found his second Uncle Thomas Duke of Glocester no less troublesome who with the Lords of his Faction continually opposed the Kings proceedings even to the weakning the Kingdom denying in Parliament to grant him either Men or Money even when the French Army was daily expected to Land upon pretence that he had undeservedly created Michael Delâ— Pole Lord Chancellour Duke of Suffolk and Robert D' Vere Duke of Dublin in Ireland not being willing any should be advanced but of his own Faction which caused a Poet both learnedly and fellingly to Sing or rather Weep his Countries misery in the doleful strains I Sing the Civil Wars tumultuous Broils And Bloody Factions of a mighty Land Whose People haughty proud with foreign spoils Upon themselves now turn their Conquering Hand Whilst Kin their Kin Brother his Brother foils Like Ensigns all against like Ensigns band Bows against Bows a Crown against a Crown Whilst all pretending Right all Right threw down The Nation which had been formerly troubled with the Insurrection of the Plebeans was again troubled by the Faction of the Peers who stuck not to demand the removal and banishment of all such as were near and dear unto the King under pretence of evil Councillours When indeed their distast for the most part was founded upon private Animosities which when they perceived they could not effect by fair means they retired into the several Counties where their Lands were and where they were most popular and there raised such forces as they could get which in a short time in conjunction made an Army of Forty thousand men though in time of eminent danger they pretended no Forces considerable could be levyed With these forces they march towards London with an intent to force the King to accord to what they should propose although at that time Dela Pole the Duke of Ireland and Archbishop of York the Persons against whom they chiefly objected were banished the Kings presence The
The Murther of Edward the Fifth and his Brother Richard Duke of York by the means of their Vncle the Duke of Glocester his Vsurpation and Death with various Examples of Gods vengeance upon those that were his Assistants in the Regicide Edward the Fourth having though for the most part reigned twenty two years one Moneth and five days deceased leaving his Nobility at variance though at his death they were seemingly reconciled and his two Sons both young and Glocester Protector of the Realm during Edward the Elders Minority but he having before Plotted the Acquirement of the Soveraignty resolved to work the destruction of his Nephews to his way to the Throne and therefore confederating with the Duke of Buckingham and other Lords of his Faction which with gifts and large promises he won to his Lure Whereupon his first attempt was to accuse the Lords of the Queens Blood with many things thereby to render them odious in the Eyes of the People and therewith a strong Guard went to meet the young King who at his Fathers death was at Ludlow under pretence of bringing him up to London to his Coronation when indeed he never intended he should wear the Diadem they having politickly perswaded the Queen from setting any guard about her Son that so they might the easier work their purposes and coming to Northampton where the Lord Rivers the Queens Brother and the Lord Richard her Son by Sir John Grey lay they with all seeming kindness received and imbraced them and seemed to study nothing more than the advancement of the King but Glocester Buckingham and others of the Faction having held a close Consult most part of the Night the next Morning they locked up the Inn setting a guard of their Servants whom they had privately sent for to secure it and others to secure the way from Northampton to Stony Stratford where the King lay that none should pass to bear the news of what had happened under a pretence only that they designed to be the first that would wait upon the King from that Town but Earl Rivers perceiving himself as it were a Prisoner and mistrusting some design against his Person went boldly to the Dukes who were in the same Inn and demanded the reason of such their proceedings upon which they began to pick a quarrel with him saying that he endeavoured to sow discord between the King and them to their utter confusion should it take effect but as he was about to excuse the false Accusation they committed him to Ward and taking Horse Rode to Stony Stratford where in the presence of the young King they after a feigned salutation and submission picked a quarrel with the Lord Grey the Kings other Brother by the Mothers side saying that he the Lord Rivers and Lord Marquess had Conspired their ruin and that the Marquess had taken the Kings Treasure out of the Tower and fitted out Ships to Sea which though they alledged as a crime against him yet themselves knew it was done for the good of the Nation and with the consent of the Council These Accusations the King excused saying as for his Uncle and his Brother present he durst ingage they had done nor meant no ill though the Marquess being absent he could not as yet tell what he might have done but this availed not for in the Kings presence they Arrested the Lord Richard Sir Thomas Vaughan and Sir Richard Hawit and brought the King and all his Train back to Northampton which unexpected news coming to the Queens Ear she immediately with her second Son the Duke of York took Sanctuary in Westminster and there in great heaviness attended the sequel and there had the great Seal delivered to her by the Arch-bishop of York which he afterward repenting sent privately for it again In the mean while Gloucester used many Arguments to perswade the King and those about him that all should be well and sent a dish of meat from his own Table to Earl Rivers with comfortable though dissembling words but in the end the Lord Rivers the Lord Richard Sir Thomas Vaughan were sent to divers Prisons and in conclusion all Beheaded at Pomfret by the command of Gloucester without Process of Law The next thing was to scandalize the Queen and to insinuate with the people that the Lord aforesaid intended to kill all of the Blood Royal to which purpose they shewed several pieces of Armour found in their Carriages saying it was designed for their destruction which many of the more easie sort believed though wise men knew that if they had so intended they would have had it on their backs but at last the King was brought to London and joyfully received by the Lord Mayor Aldermen Sheriffs and chief Citizens and thereupon a Council was called to consult of his Coronation in which Gloucester so cunningly dissembled his Intentions thâ—t he was made Protector of the Kings Person and Realm and so the Lamb was committed to the keeping of the Woolf and thus having got the King safe in the Tower nothing remained but possessing himself of the young Duke of York who was with the Queen in Sanctuary the which though much contrary to the will of the Queen he at last obtained and upon first sight took him in his Armes and gave him a Judas kiss Thus having secured himself of the Male Line of the House of York he began to pull off the Vizard that he so long had worn and began to place and displace the Kings attendants as he thought most advantagious for the carrying on of his design to all which Buckingham was privy and it was resolved between them that the Protector should be King and Buckingham upon these following considerations to assist him to grasp the Crown to his utmost power viz. That Gloucesters only Son should Marry his Daughter and that when he had attained his desire he should have quiet possession of the Earldome of Hereford with other Immunities and the better to carry on the designe two Counsels were appointed one in the Tower and the other in Bishopsgate-street the latter of which was composed of the Protectors own Creatures amongst whom was one Catesby a Lawyer in whom the Lord Hastings Lord Chamberlaine put such câ—nfidence that he doubted not but from him to have frequent Intelligence of all that passed but he deceived his expectation and instead of standing by him gave Council against his Life by incensing the Protector that whilst he lived he could not accomplish his design which so netled the Protector that though he loved the Lord Chamberlain yet rather than to be baulked in his purpose he resolved and the next day in Counsel he found occasion to pick a Quarrel with him upon pretence that the Queen and Shores Wife the late Kings Concubine had bewitched him the latter of which the Lord Chamberlaine for the great Love he bore her seeming to excuse as indeed she was no ways Guilty the Protector with a Sign given
Trussel one of the Judges who found out a Law Quirk to colour the detestable Treason as followeth I William Trussel In the name of all Men of the Land of England and of all the Parliament Procurator resign to thee Edward the Homage that was made to thee some time and from this time forward I defie thee and deprive thee of all Royal Dignity and I shall never be Tendant to thee as for King hereafter This Ceremony or rather compact of Treason being utter'd Sir Thomas Blunt Steward of the Houshold broke his Staff and Proclaimed the Kings Houshold discharged from any further Service and then leaving the King divested of Regal Authority and under strong confinement they posted to London to tell the news which was joyfully received especially by Roger Lord Mortimer of Wigmore though the Queen the better to colour the Treason seemed much disturbed at the relation of the Kings deposing Now the next business was to set the Crown upon young Edwards Head whom by reason of his Minority they thought to Rule as themselves thought fit who notwithstanding his being but fifteen years of Age utterly refused to admit of the Ceremony till he was assured it was with his Fathers free consent But at last submitting to the perswasions of the Queen and Mortimer he was Crowned and Proclamation put out in his name to satisfie the minds of people touching the free Concession of his Father Things being at this pass the Queen began to think of securing her self a Dowry which she did so large that it amounted to two parts of the Revenues of the Crown which she delivered to the disposal of Mortimer at whose command she solely was even as Fame reported both at Bed and Board but their security being interrupted by the pitty many seemed to have for the miseries of the Deposed King they well knowing if he were again restored to his Dignity it would prove their confusion therefore laying aside all remorse they entered into a conspiracy to make sure of him for ever by Murther Whereupon removing him from Kenelworth and out of the Custody of the Earl of Lancaster who they thought too much favored him he was delivered into the Custody of Sir Thomas De Gournay and Sir John Mattravers two bloody Sycophants who conveyed him to Corfe Castle from thence to Bristol and then to Berkly Castle where after many barbarous and vile usages they Murthered him the manner according to Holinshead thus The Kings Death being resolved on Mortimer procured Adam De Forleton to write this doubtful but most wicked Sophism and to be Sealed with the Queens Seal Edvardum occidere nolite timere Bonum est To shed King Edward's Blood Refuse to fear I count it good Where the Comma being put after Nolite bids them not to make him away but placed after Timere expresly commands it in performing which execrable Villany these Monsters were not slow and the better to colour the Regicide lest any outward appearance of violence should be observed they by force bind the good King and O barbarous inhumanity putting a Horn into his Fundament to keep the outward part from seering they thrust a hot Iron through it and therewith twisted his Bowels to pieces not once only but often repeated the cruel torture the which how painful may be guessed by the pittiful out-cries the King made whilst they were putting him to death which cries were heard by many but none durst venture to relieve him After this foul and barbarous Murther committed it was blazed abroad that he died of grief and thereupon they publickly exposed his Body to the Prelates and others for several days but in a short time the Murther which is seldom hid came to light and the Actors known though the Queen and Mortimer deeply dissembled the matter and to outward appearance seemed greatly afflicted Upon the discovery Gorney and Mattravers fled the former of which was taken at Massels in France where he produced the Queen and Mortimers Seals for what he had done whereupon secret Orders were sent for Beheading him on Ship-board in his way for England lest had he come to a Trial he should have made a full discovery of the chief Conspirator as for the latter he wandered about miserably in forreign Countries and at last died miserably in Italy being eat up with Ulcers And Gods vengeance found out these Monsters of men nor was it slow in punishing most deservedly Roger Lord Mortimer the chief Contriver of the wicked Parricide who having attained to the height of his ambition for he together with the Queen being at his Castle of Nottingham one Evening upon a bruite that his Mother was with Child by Mortimer the King with a well affected Company having entered a Vault that went into the Castle passed on till he came into the Chamber where the Queen was in Bed and Mortimer undressing himself to go to her and so secure they were that they had left open the Chamber door whereupon the King caused him to be seized which was not so easily done but two or three were killed in the attempt for Mortimer had at that time a Retinue of fourscore Knights and Gentlemen attending him but in spite of resistance he was carried off And within a while after condemned in Parliament for being accessary to the Murther of the late King betraying the Nation and wasting the Coin as also for committing adultery with the Queen Whereupon he was soon after drawn to Tiburn then called the Elms and there hanged where by the commandment of the King he continued hanging for two days being pittied of none nor did he fall alone for with him were Executed Sir Simon De Bedford and John Deverel Esq both concerned in King Edwards Murther and thus Heavens vengeance aim'd sure and overwhelmed in the height of their pride and security these Monsters of men that durst by cruel tortures shed the Blood of their Anointed Soveraign CHAP. III. The Birth remarkable passages deposing and murthering of Richard the Second King of England France and Lord of Ireland the fiftieth Monarch of England with the manner of the Conspiracies against and Vengeance that overtook many of the Regicides RIchard the Second was Son to the black Prince and Grandson to King Edward the Third being Crowned in the Eleventh year of his Age at the first entry upon his Kingdom all things promised him a peaceable and prosperous Reign but it continued not long so for by reason of the ill conduct of affairs in his Minority John Duke of Lancaster ruling all who was in hatred with the Commons great numbers of the Rabble rose in many Counties under the Conduct of their factious Leaders upon pretence of Redressing grievances the common Cloak of Rebellion the principal Commanders being Wat Tyler and Jack Straw two Mechanicks who committed many outrages as burning plundering and murthering in most places where they came and were so far sided with by the City of London that they entered it
Escutcheons the Armories of St. Edward the Confessor sometime King of England These proceedings for a time made fair weather but not long for a Feud arising between Henry Duke of Hereford and Thomas Duke of Glocester the latter accused the former of speaking several words to the dishonour of the King that King Richard held the Peers of England in no esteem but as much as in him lay sought to destroy them by banishing some and putting others to death That he never troubled his mind with considering how his Dominions were diminished through his carelesness and lastly that all things went to wrack as well in Peace as War Upon this it was ordered that the Accuser and the Accused should try the matter by Combate the latter stoutly denying he ever said any such words as were objected against him so that gages being delivered on both sides they entered the Lists but e're they encountered the King threw down his Warder and upon further consideration banished Norfolk for his Life and Hereford at first for ten years which after he reduced to six which some alleadged was a just Judgment on the former for being instrumental in putting the Duke of Glocester to death he being then Captain of Calais But now ruin and desolation being at hand Portents forerun it all the Bay-trees in England suddenly withered and within a while sprung out again fresh near Bedford the River between the Villages of Harleswood and Swelston where it is deepest drove back on either hand and for three Miles left its Channel dry with sundry other remarkable presages of what after happened To give way to which the King upon notice of his Cousin the Lord Mortimer's being slain by the Irish of Leinster who were up in Arms under their Leader Obrian he resolved to pass over in person to revenge his death and therefore to furnish his expedition he raised many of all hands and at the same time his Uncle the Duke of Lancaster dying he seized on his Inheritance without regard to his Son the Duke of Hereford who remained in Exile which the said Duke hearing was so throughly netled that not resolving to wait the expiration of his Banishment he taking the advantage of King Richard's absence resolves for England having upon notice of his Fathers decease taken upon him the Title of Duke of Lancaster and only accompanied with the banished Bishop of Canterbury and about twenty others when having taken Ship he for some time lay hovering on the Coast to understand how the People stood affected to him and the better to give his agents on shore time to work them to his purpose but upon notice that his Faction was strong he Landed only under pretence of recovering his Rightful Inheritance when as there repaired to him the Earl of Northumberland and his Son the Lord Henry his Son the Lord Nevil Earl of Westmorland and others as likewise a great number of the Country People offering him their Service so that within a short time he had formed a Puissant Army the news of which soon alarumed Edmund Duke of York the Kings Uncle who calling to his assistance Edmund Stafford Bishop of Chichester Lord Chancellour Lord Treasurer Earl of Wiltshire Bushy Bagot Green Russel and other Knights of the Kings Council to consult about raising forces to impeach the Dukes passage but their consultation came to nothing the Dukes Faction having so dealt with the common people that they every where refused to take up Arms against him Whereupon Sir John Bushy Lord Treasurer and Sir Henry Green betake themselves to Bristol Castle but it being stormed by the Lancastrians their Heads became a Sacrifice to popular fury but Bagot taking ship Sailed over to Ireland to acquaint the King with what had happened who thereupon making such peace as he could with the Irish he hastens over but before his arrival the Dukes Faction was swelled to such a torrent that there was no opposing it Whereupon the King having Cashiered his Army or they for the most part deserting him he retired to the Castle of Conway in North-Wales whither upon notice of his being there resorted to him the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Earl of Northumberland where after a long Parly the King perceiving no other conditions could be gained required that he and eight more whom he would name might have honourable allowance with the assurance of a quiet private Life that he in consideration thereof would make a resignation of his Crown which demand Northumberland swore should be observed and thereupon the King accompanied them to the Castle of Flint whither the Duke was come with a part of his Army and from thence after a short conference they removed to Chester where the King in consideration of many fair promises never performed put himself into the Dukes hands who conveyed him to London and there made sure of him in the Tower whither several of the Lancastrian Faction daily resorted to him to parly about the surrender of his Crown which at last he consented to do seeing no other Remedy to his Cousin the Duke of Lancaster and at the same time taking off his Signet he put it on the Dukes Finger and at the same time there being a Parliament called in King Richard's name the Arch-bishop of York and Bishop of Hereford were appointed his Procurators to declare what he had done nor was this sufficient for to make him odious to the People they exhibited thirty two Articles against him very scandalous and reproachful Whereupon Commissioners were nominated by the consent of the Houses to pronounce the Sentence of Deposition who were the Bishop of Asaph the Abbot of Glastenbury the Duke of Glocester the Lord Berkly and William Thyrring Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas the Form thus In the Name of God We John Bishop of St. Asaph John Abbot of Glastenbury c. Commissioners specially chosen by the Lords Spiritual of the Realm of England and Commons of the said Realm representing all the states of the said Realm sitting in place of Judgment do renounce all fealty to Richard of Burdeaux and him Depose from all Kingly Dignity c. Upon which the Duke of Lancaster rising from his Seat Crossed himself and then layed claim to the Crown in these words In the Name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claim the Realm of England and Crown with all the appurtenances as coming by the Blood Royal from King Henry and by that Justice which God of his Grace hath sent me by the help of my Kinsfolks and Friends for the Recovery of the said Realm which was in point of perdition through default of Government and breach of Laws This said he was conducted by the Arch-bishops of Canterbury and York to the Royal Throne and there Seated and from thenceforth all Writs and Process Issued out in his Name Richard In the mean space remaining a Prisoner in the Tower and every day in danger of his Life which was often aimed at the more
the Earl of Salisbury was taken Prisoner and Beheaded and his head with the Dukes fixed upon York Gates upon this the Queen and her Army came to London and released the King by the overthrow of Warwick at St. Albans restoring him to his Power and Majesty but rested not long e're the Earl of March Eldest Son to the Duke of York advanced with a Puissant Army and the Earl of Warwick having escaped the fight joyned with him which news made the King and Queen retire into the North to provide against the threatning storm whereupon Edward Earl of Mâ—rch without any controul advanced and entered London fearful of a Sack and there by threats and perswasions prevailed with the unstable multitude to give their Assents for his being Crowned King which Ceremony ended though against all Law and Right he drew forth his Army and advanced against the King who had gathered great forces which were in chief by the Duke of Somerset Earl of Northumberland and Lord Clifford both Armies consisting of 112000. the greatest Army of English that ever England saw who upon the charge being sounded began the Fight with great fury near Ferry-Bridge which continued ten hours and was lost on the Kings side by the overhastiness of the Northern Archers who spent all their Arrows at a distance as not being able to discern the Enemy by reason the Snow that then fell was driven full in their Eyes The Nobility that died on the Kings side were the Lords Scales Willowby Beaumont Wells Grey Dacres Fitz Hugh Buckingham and Clifford the two Bastards of Exceter of Knights and Esquires a great number and in all on both parts the slain were computed 35091. a slaughter the like not known in England since the Conquest Upon this fatal overthrow King Henry hs Son the Prince and several great Lords escaped into Scotland where they were kindly received and a Marriage proposed between the young Prince and the Lady Margaret the Scotch King's Daughter upon which Queen Margaret passed into France to negotiate her Husbands affairs with the French King for new supplies In the mean while Edward is Crowned at Westminster and a Parliament called wherein King Henry and Prince Edward his Son are disinherited of the Crown and all Regal Authority upon news of which Queen Margaret returns to Scotland having obtained a considerable supply of men from her Father Duke Reynold Duke of Anjoy King of Naples Jerusalem and Sicily having suffered much by storm from Scotland she passed into England together with her Husband and such Scotch forces as that King assisted her with and took several Castles in Northumberland several Loyal English daily resorting to the Royal Standard which proceeding greatly alarumed Edward so that constituting the Lord Montacute his Lieutenant General he furnished him with an Army with which he gave Battel to King Henry's forces near unto Hexham where the Yorkists prevailed and King Henry is obliged again to fly into Scotland from whence some time after coming into England in disguise he was taken Prisoner by Thomas Talbot in Cletherworth in Lancashire and from thence brought to London with his Legs bound under the Horses Belly so little respect had those Varlets into whose hands he fell to afflicted Majesty and upon his arrival committed Prisoner to the Tower Edward having King Henry in safe custody began to give himself over to sports and Daliances and above all to bethink himself of a Wife upon which several were proposed as the Lady Margaret Sister to King James of Scotland the Lady Elizabeth Sister and Heir Apparent to Henry King of Castile the Lady Bona Daughter to the Duke of Savoy and Sister to the French Queen of which the latter being thought the fittest Match the Earl of Warwick was sent over to negotiate the affair and proceeded so well that he procured a free consent of the French King Queen and the Lady her self when in the mean while Edward had cast his Eyes upon Elizabeth Grey Widdow to Sir John Grey slain in the Quarrel of King Henry at St. Albans and notwithstanding all the perswasions of the Dutchess of York his Mother Married her and made her Queen which Warwick taking as a grievous affront put upon him from that moment Alienated his Affections from Edward and consulted how to restore King Henry to his Crown and Dignity in order to which he first consults his two Brothers George Nevil Arch-bishop of York and John Nevil Marquess of Montacute the former of which soon consented but the latter proposed many delays whereupon the politick Earl the better to bring his designs about resolves to bring to his Lurd George Duke of Clarence Edwards Second Brother whom he knew to be discontented with his Brothers Rule and so effectually wrought with Soliciting that he soon found him pliable and ready to espouse his Interest whereupon the more to secure him he proposed to him his Eldest Daughter in Marriage with the one half of his Wives Inheritance which was afterwards consummated at Calais and in the mean while by the countenance of the Earl many Commotions were raised in England to countenance which and to dispossess Edward of his Usurped Crown to say no worse the Duke and Earl prepared for England having first espoused his second Daughter to Prince Edward Son to King Henry and then arriving a great conflux of People hasted to his Banner so well known and dreaded in England being the White Bear and Ragged Staff to oppose which torrent e're it grew greater Edward hastened and at Woolvy four Miles from Warwick where the Duke and the Earls Host lay pitched his Tents and bid the Earl Battel who undaunted Spirit brooked no such Bravado advance and both Armies stood Imbattled expecting the dreadful blast but it so happened that the Fight was delayed and both Armies retire as if a Peace would undoubtedly insue but crafty Warwick had other designs on foot for within a while after he surprized Edward in the midst of his Army and took him Prisoner committing him to the custody of the Archbishop of York from whom he soon after escaped which greatly perplexed the Earl yet he so ordered the matter as not to seem in the least to regard it Edward upon his escape fled to London and the Duke and Earl continuing in their station levied great forces but upon the Mediation of the Nobility it was so ordered that the Duke and Earl came to Edward upon his Letters of safe conduct but Edward taxing them with Disloyalty and they him with ingratitude nothing was done but both departed Edward to Canterbury and the other returned to Warwick and from thence sent their Agents into Lincolnshire where they dealt with the Commons to take up Arms under the Leading of Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells but he in revenge of his Fathers Death whom Edward had basely Beheaded contrary to his promise rashly ingaged Edwards power before Warwick could come to his Aid and by that means lost
condescending for the sake of Peace that his concessions were by the Rebels themselves Voted satisfactory which the Arch-Traytor Cromwell perceiving and finding that such a conclusion would hinder him from aspiring he Plotted with the Factious Army Officers to marr the whole proceedings by new modelling the Parliament and turning out such as were Inclinable to accord with his Majesty whereupon placing Guards about the Parliament-House after some conference with the Speaker Pride and Hewson sent in a Paper to the House of Commons Requiring the Impeached Members and Major-General Brown as Guilty of calling in Hammilton a Forged pretence to pick a Quarrel might be secured and brought to Justice and that the ninety and odd Members that refused to Vote against the Scotch Ingagement and all that Voted for recalling the four Votes of non Addresses to his Majesty and for a Personal Treaty and acquiescing Votes in his Majesties answer should be immediately suspended the House and that those that had done no such things should draw up their Protestations in Writing c. a brave way of making and unmaking Parliaments but the Paper being thrown out of the House with detestation whereupon all the Guards advanced and a strong Guard set at the House Door where Sir Hardress Waller and the Collonels Pride and Hewson lying purdue violently seized upon several Knights and Burgesses as they came out others they decoyed out under Sleeveless pretences and in the end seized upon debarred of Entrance and caused to decline coming no less then 200 forty one all which number were secured and kept Prisoners Hugh Peters being their Keeper who protesting against this force and Insolency done upon and against the Houses and priviledges of Parliament were released all except Major-General Brown who was kept Prisoner at St. James's Ireton bidding them at their departure look to it and see they Acted nothing against the present Parliament or Army Thus all things being brought and fitted to their purpose the King is taken from the Isle of Wight and carried to Hurst Castle a place very incommodious both for health and necessaries it standing in the Sea and no fresh water being to be had within three Miles from whence Harrison conveyed him to Winchester and so by several Journies to St. James's that insolent Traytor riding in the Coach with him and giving order to his Souldiers to beat such as pressed near either to see him or compassionate his Sufferings And now these Monsters resolving the Kings Death to make way for their greatness the offalls or fragments of a Parliament make an Ordinance whereby they took away and disanulled the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance and at the same time the Council of War forbid any State to be used towards his Majesty whose attendants were for the most part discharged and to compleat their Villanies and to appear in their proper colours an Ordinance was brought into the Commons House by Scot for the Tryal of the King so monsterous and wicked a proposal that no Age e're parallel'd which after some debate was approved of and sent to the Lords House who cast it out with detestation which so metled them that they presently passed a Vote asserting the Supream power to lie in the Commons and that whatsoever is Enacted or declared for Law by the House of Commons in Parliament hath the force of Law which passed without a Negative Voice so that it plainly appeared at whose beck they were And upon these Votes they made the Nest wherein they hatched the Monster called An Act for the Tryal the King c. which the 9 th of January 1648 was Proclaimed in Westminster-Hall by Serjeant Danby by the Beat of Drum and sound of Trumpet and notice given that the Commissioners of the pretended High-Court of Justice were to sit the next day and that all those that had any thing to say against Charles Stuart King of England might be heard The like was done in Cheapside and at the Royal-Exchange And thus they Proclaimed their Wickedness aloud the which however Masqued with specious pretences and was then heard by most with Horror and amazement The Bloody Villains that durst sit to Judge their Lawful King were as followeth whose Name and Memory are hateful to all Mankind Oliver Cromwell that Monster in Nature Henry Ireton John Bradshaw President and scandal to the Long-Robe who a little before had taken the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy but such Monsters no Oaths can bind Thomas Harrison a Butchers Son at New-Castle Underline in Stafford-shire John Carew John Cook Solicitor to the Court Hugh Peters that Scandal to the Clergy and Factious Bell-weather Thomas Scot a Brewers Clark Gregory Clement a broken Merchant Adrian Scroop the Stain of his Family John Jones a Serving-man Frances Hacker Daniel Axtil a mean Shop-Keeper in Bedford-shire Collonel Okey once a Stoaker in a Brew-House Miles Corbet John Bark stoad a sorry Goldsmith in the Strand Thomâ—s Pride sometimes a Dray-man Isaac Ewer Thomas Lord Gray of Grooby O Scandal and Shame of his Family Sir John Danvers Brother to the Loyal Earl of Danby Sir Thomas Maleverrer Sir John Bourcher a troublesome Independant Collonel Purefoy Governour of Coventry John Black stone a Shopkeeper in Newcastle Sir William Constable Governour of Gloucester Richard Dean General at Sea Francis Allen a Broken Goldsmith Peregrine Pelham Governour of Hull John Moor John Allured not long before a private Souldier but to fit him for this Villany made a Collonel Humphry Edwards a Member of the long Parliament Sir Gregory Norton a Pensioner to the King but now bought off to make one in the Execrable Villany John Ven a broaken Silk-man Thomas Andrews a Linnen-Draper Anthony Stapely Governour of Chichester Thomas Horton of mean and obscure Birth John Fry a Country Farmer and an Arian Heretick Thomas Hammond Prince Henry's Physitians Son Isaac Pennington twice Lord-Mayor of London twice Broke and a lasting Dishonour to the City Simon Meyen a recruit to the Long Parliament Sir Hardress Waller a poor Knight though after Inriched by the Spoils of his Maiesty William Heveningham Henry Martin a Lude and vicious Person and consequently the fitter for so wicked a purpose Owen Rowe a Silkman Augustine Garland a petty Fogger Henry Smith one of the Six Clarks in Chancery Robert Tichbourn a Linnen-Draper also Lord-Mayor of London George Fleetwood James Temple Thomas Wait of obscure Birth Peter Temple a Linnen-Draper Robert Lilburn Brother to John Lilburn the troubler of Israel Gilbert Millington Chairman to the Committee for Plundering the Clergy Vincent Potter of obscure Birth John Downs Thomas Wogan John Lisby William Say Valentine Walton Brother in Law to Cromwell Edward Whaly a Woollen-Draper Edmund Ludlow Son of a Traytor Sir Michael Livesey a poor Knight of Kent John Hewson first a Cobler then a Shoomaker William Goff a Salters Apprentice who run away from his Master and betook him to the Army Cornelius Holland a Serving-man Thomas Challenor by some Reputed
a Jesuit William Cawley a Brewer Nicholas Love Son to Doctor Love of Winchester John Dixwel a Recruit to the Long Parliament Daniel Blagrave Daniel Broughton Edward Denby John Hutchison Francis Lossely Lord Munson James Challenor Sir Henry Mildmay Robert Wallop James Harrington and John Philips These were the pack of Hellhounds that were thought most fit to hunt after Royal-Blood as Indeed they were for such Monsters never Breathed before on Brittish-Soil Matters being brought to this pass on the 20 of January 1648. Bradshaw the President with about 70 of the aforesaid pack Guarded by Partizans came into Westminster-Hall and sate down in the Court whither the King was brought by Collonel Thomlinson and placed at the Bar by the Serjeant at Arms where a Crimson-Chair was set in which he sate down without moving his Hat or Regarding the Monsters yet the President stood up and declared why he was brought thither laying many Notorious Falsities to his charge and was seconded by Solicitor Cook but the King not to Impair his Kingly Character absolutely denyed the Jurisdiction of the Court and so Learnedly opposed the Illiterate Rout with Stupendious Arguments that they were beaten from all Defences and nothing to say but that they were well satisfied in their Power and that it was not for him to dispute their Jurisdiction as indeed it availed not for past doubt they Right or wrong had before-hand determined his Destruction and yet they convened his Majesty before them the day following and the next day as also on the 23 and still pressed him to answer the charge and own the Jurisdiction of the Court without permitting him though he earnestly desired it to give his reasons why he refused it nor to plead for the Liberty of his Subjects which most of all he insisted on but Adjourned the Court to the 27 when notwithstanding the Kings Learned Arguments and perswasions which they impatiently heard they passed Judgment upon him which after a long repetition of what had passed during the Tryal concluded in the words For all which Treasons and Crimes this Court doth adjudge that he meaning the King as a Tyrant Traytor Murtherer and Publick-Enemy shall be put to Death by severing his Head from his Body after which Bradshaw declared It was the Act and Resolution of the whole Court And thus they layed to his charge things that he knew not nor could be possible Guilty of for Kings are accountable to none but God nor can any man of Sence Imagine that Treason can be committed against a Subject by his Prince no Law allowing that it can descend but it must ever ascend Yet to the amazement of all Nations having carryed on their Villany to this height they proceeded further for on the 29 of January a Warrant was directed under the Hands of John Bradshaw Thomas Lord Gray of Grooby and Oliver Cromwell to Francis Hacker Collonel Hunks and Lieutenant Collonel Phray for the Execution of their wicked Sentence the place appointed for the Tragedy being before VVhitehall and the next day between the hours of ten in the Morning and five in the Afternoon to compleat the great wickedness But to amuse the People that every where detested against their Diabollical proceedings and to prevent any attempt that might be made to rescue his Majesty they caused it to be Rumoured that they would respite the Execution yet on the Fatal 30 of January in the Year aforesaid the Commissioners met and ordered four or five of their Canting Tub-Preachers to attend upon his Majesty at St. James's but he refused to have any conference with those Varlets In the Morning before his Majesty was brought thence Dr. Juxon Bishop of London officiated and read Divine Service when as the Second Lesson appointed to be Read for that day by the Church Calender happened to be the 27 Chap. of St. Matthew being the History of our Saviours passion which caused his Majesty to Thank the Doctor for chusing so fit a place of Scripture but being given to understand that it fell in course he was highly Animated then his Majesty received the Sacrament after which and some other Devotions ended he was conveyed to Whitehall through the Park by a Regiment of Foot but about his Person were a private Guard of Partizans the Bishop on the one hand and Collonel Thomlinson on the other when with a chearful voice he bid the Guard march faster saying That now he went before them to strive for a Heavenly Crown with less Solicitude then he had often Incouraged his Souldiers to Fight for an Earthly Diadem Being come to the Stairs of the long Gallery he passed through and coming in to an appartment appointed for him continued in fervent Prayer wondering at the delay but the reason was because the Scaffold was not Finished here he received a Letter from the Prince brought by Mr. Seymour and Dinner time came he refused to Dine only Eat a bit of Bread and Drank a Glass of Clarret About one of the Clock Collonel Hacker came with his Guard of Officers and brought his Majesty accompanyed with the Bishop and Collonel Thomlinson through the Banqueting-House and from thence upon the Scaffold a Bridge being made from one of the Windows to it round about which stood a Guard of 7 Regiments of Horse and Foot there placed to keep off his weeping Subjects from approaching to commiserate their dying Soveraign the Scaffold was hung with mourning and so Villanously were they bent on their wicked purpose that fearing his Majesty would not willingly submit to the Axe they had driven in Iron staples to force him to the Block with Cords O monstrous Barbarity of these Inhumane monsters His Majesty looking upon the Blcok and having asked Hacker whither there were none higher turned to Thomlinson and began his Speech wherein he declared His Innocence the unjust Incroachments of the Parliament upon his Perogative Royal and their begining the unnatural War against him yet Prays to God to forgive them all and all that had a hand in his Death advises them to restore the Church and Liberties of the People and the Crown to his Successor laying down the particular means and methods that would unavoidably conduce to the Nations happiness declaring till they were effectually observed the Nation would be miserable and Lastly that his Blood was causelesly shed and that he Dyed the Martyr of the People and then at the motion of Dr. Juxon declared his Religion saying That he Dyed a good Christian according to the Profession of the Church of England as he found it left to him by his Father of which this good man can bear me witness meaning Dr. Juxon then turning to the Officers said Sirs Excuse me for I have a good Cause and I have a Gracious God then turning to Hacker he said Take care they do not put me to pain after which he said to the Executioner I shall say but very short Prayers and when I thrust out my Hands