first Christian King in the World After 500 years that the Romans had Romans Departure sway'd in Britain they took their final farewel of it A. D. 446. In this year the Saxons were call'd in under 450. the Conduct of Hengist and Horsa they came 9000. with their Wives and Children to assist the Britains against the Scots which succeeded Hengist afterwards inviting Vortigern a British King to a Feast marry'd his fair Daughter Rowenna to him Upon which Hengist aspired to make this Island his Inheritance sending for greater Forces over hither but by the Britains are defeated in three set Battels in the last whereof the Saxons were forced to flee England However by the Practices of Rowenna and relying on his Son Vortigern's Love Hengist once more comes over to England but pretends only to fetch away his Daughter and on pretence of friendly Conference appoints a Meeting on Salisbury-Plain The well-meaning Britains came unarmed according to Agreement but the fraudulent Saxons with Skeans under their Cassocks with which they set upon the Britains at a Watch-word killing 3 or as some say 500 of the Nobility taking the King Prisoner â—â—relius Ambrosius a Roman born but Aurelius Ambrosius well affected to the Britains arrives to their Relief To him succeeded Uter his Brother or Uter as others say a Britain sirnamed Pendragon from his Banner on which was a golden Dragon's Head which to this day in our English Camps is the imperial Standard To him succeeded his valiant Son Arthur King Arthur Amongst other famous Acts he instituted the Order of the Knights of the round Table to prevent Disputes of Precedence To him succeeded Constantine and then Constantine Aurelius Conanus Nephew to Arthur then Caractecus and then Cadwallar in whose Caractecus Cadwallar time the Doctrine of Mahomet was broached in the East a Famine happening that drove Cadwallar over to France to his Cousin Saxon Invasion Alan The Saxons taking advantage thereof came over in great swarms and possessed themselves of the whole Island The first Kingdom of the Saxons begun First by Hengist in the year 455 containing all Kent and continued 372 years during the Reign of 17 Kings The second Kingdom of the Heptarchy Heptarchy Second was of the South-Saxons begun by Ella in the year 488 containing ail Sufsex and continued 435 years under five Kings Reigns successive The third Kingdom of the Heptarchy Third was of the West-Saxons begun by Credric in the year 519. containing Cornwal Devonshire Somersetshire Wiltshire Hampshire Barkshire and continued 561 years during the Reigns of 19 Kings The fourth Kingdom of the Heptarchy Fourth was of the East-Saxons began by Erchenwyn in the year 527. containing Essex and Middlesex and continued 281 years during the Reigns of 14 Kings The fifth Kingdom was of Northumberland Fifth so called because it lay North of the River Humber began by Ella and Ina in the year 547. containing Yorkshire Durham Lancashire Westmorland Cumberland and Northumberland continued 370 years during the Reigns of 23 Kings The sixth Kingdom was of Mercia and Sixth began in Crida in the year 522. containing Huntington Rutland Lincoln Nottingham Warwickshire Leicestershire Northampton Derby Oxfordshire Cheshire Shropshire Gloucestershire Staffordshire Buckinghamshire Bedfordshire Hartfordshire and continued 222 years during the Reigns of 20 Kings The seventh Kingdom was of the East-Angles Seventh and began by Uffa in the year 575. containing Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgshire and the Isle of Ely continued 353 years under the Reigns of 15 Kings The Saxon Kings striving with each other for Soveraignty gained upon each other till at last in the year 818. Ecbert King of the West-Saxons reduced them all under subjection causing all the South of This Isle first call'd England and why the Island to be call'd England according to the Angles from whom himself came after whom they were no longer properly call'd Saxon Kings but Kings of England Then ensued the Race of Saxon Kings who reigned sole Kings of this Island The first Danes first invade England whereof was Egbert the second Ethelwolph the third Ethelbald the fourth Ethelbert in whose time the Danes first invaded England Ethelbald marry'd Judith incestuously the Widow of his Father from this Judith afterwards marry'd to the Earl of Flanders after divers Descents came Maud the Wife of William the Conqueror from whom are descended all our English Kings ever since Oswald's-tree in Shropshire was so called Oswald's-tree whence named from Oswald a very godly Christian King who reigned the fifth over the Deira A. D. 633. and was there slain by Penda King of Mercia who tore his Body piece-meal This Oswald being at Dinner upon Easter-day His Charity to the Poor hearing of a great company of Poor in the Street that asked Alms of him he commanded the Meat prepared for his own Table to be carried to them and brake a silver Platter to pieces and sent it amongst them An. Dom. 636. Honorius Archbishop of England divided into Parishes Canterbury first divided England into Parishes A. D. 866. the Danes made the first great The Danes invade England Invasion of England under the Command of those cruel Captains Inguar and Habba who burnt down the City of York and at last kill'd King Ethelred in a pitcht Battel who was then King of England It is said that King Elfred of England 872. The University of Oxford founded A. D. 872. founded the University of Oxford and therein University-Colledge Baliol Colledge was founded by John Baliol King of the Scots A. D. 1263. Merton Colledge by Walter de Merton Bishop of Rochester 1274. Exeter Colledge by Stapleton Bishop of Exeter 1316. Oriel Colledge by King Edward the II. 1327. Queens Colledge by Eglesfield Chaplain to Queen Philip Wife to Edward the III. 1340. New Colledge by William of Wickam Bishop of Winchester 1379. Lincoln Colledge by Rich. Flemming Bishop of Lincoln 1420. All-souls by H. Chichely Archbishop of Canterbury 1437. Magdalen by W. Winiflet Bishop of Winchester 1459. Brazen-nose Colledge by W. Smith Bishop of Lincoln 1513. but finished by R. Sutton Corpus Christi by R. Fox Bishop of Winchester 1516. Christ-Church begun by Cardinal Wolsey 1546. and by King Henry the Eighth ordained the Cathedral Church of the See of Oxford Trinity by T. Hatfield Bishop of Durham 1518. St. John's by H. Chichely Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 1437. Jesus College by Dr. Hugh Price 1562. Wadham by Nich. Wadham 1613. Some report that Cambridge was built by Cambridge Founded Cantabar a Spaniard 375 years before Christ. But as some contend Cambridge began not to be an University till Hugh Balsham Bishop of Ely founded the College of Peter-House in A. D. 1256. Clare-Hall by Eliz. de Bourgo Countess of Clare 1347. Pembroke-Hall by Mary Widow to the Earl of Pembroke 1347. Corpus Christi College by the Aldermen 1351. Trinity College by Dr W. Bateman 1353. Gonvil
Expedition into France Army into France and first of all took Harflew Sept. 22. 1414. Then went to Agencourt on Octob. 24. where the French had pitched with six some say ten times the number of the English whereupon the King offered to part and surrender what he had won but the French would not yield making sure account of Victory had prepared a Chariot for the Captive King and all other things for that purpose The Battel beginning King Henry encouraged his Souldiers and with their small company the English won the day having every man his Prisoner Of the English A wonderful Victory were slain the Duke of York Earl of Suffolk two Knights one Squire and 28 private Souldiers Of the French were slain 4000 Princes Nobles Knights and Esquires and 10000 common Souldiers and more than these taken After which he came home and in a short time returned there with another Army where at last he was Proclaimed Regent of France and had He is Proclaimed Regent of France His Marriage Homage sworn to him and his Marriage with the Lady Catharine was with all Solemnity celebrated at Troyes After which he hastes into England with his Queen and in a short time after he went into France again where he had not been long before His Death Burial and Issue he fell sick of a burning Fever and Flux whereof he died Aug. 31. 1422. and was buried at Westminster His Issue was only Henry of Windsor HENRY the Sixth of Windsor was A. D. 1422. Crowned about the eighth Month of his Age. The Government of England was committed to Humphrey Duke of Glâ—â—ucester and the Regency of France to John Duke of Bedford under whom things succeeded very prosperously In his time was that Famous French Shepherdess Joan of Lorrain Joan de Lorrain who put on Mans Apparel and opposed the English with great success but was at last taken and was burnt for Sorcery A. D. 1435. that Famous Patriot and General John Duke of Bedford died at Paris after which the English began to change their Affairs there for the worse and lost most of their strong Holds At last there was a Peace concluded between the two Kings A. D. 1444. was King Henry married His Marriage with Margaret Daughter to the Duke of Anjou and Lorrain after which the Kings Fortune declined both in England and France The Queen ruling all contrived the death of Duke Humphrey who was the only man that had hitherto kept things in His Troubles order by his Prudence By this time were all the English Fortunes in France lost The Duke of York raising many Rebellions in England and at last in a great Battel at St. Albans the Kings greatest Friends were most slain and himself taken After which York created himself Protector of England and by degrees works out the Kings ancient Counsellors yet many stood up for the King and many great Battels were fought Fortune favouring sometimes one and then another at last the Duke himself was slain by the Queens Forces near Wakefield And now his Son Edward Earl of March maintains his Quarrel The Queens Forces recover the King again howbeit the Lâ—â—ndoners Proclaimed the Earl Earl of March Proclaimed King His Issue of March King of England King Henry's Issue was only Edward He was a Prince free from Pride very devout chaste and modest He built Eaton College and Kings College in Cambridge The Art of Printing was found out in Printing first in England Germany by John Guttenburg and brought into England by Will. Caxton a Mercer of London who first practised the same in the Abby at Westminster A. D. 1471. EDWARD the IV. eldest Son to Richard A. D. 1461. Duke of York began to reign in the 20th year of his Age at which time Henry had many Friends who sought to re-settle him on his Throne On June the 28th was His Coronation Edward crowned and soon after King Henry and his Son Edward dis-inherited of their Claim to the Crown by Act of Parliament He takes to Wife the Lady Elizabeth Marriage Grey the Relict of his mortal Enemy Sir John Grey slain at the Battel of St. Albans who was crowned at Westminster May 26. 1465. But this his Marriage below himself was much to his disadvantage by making the Earl of Warwick formerly his very good Friend a strong Rebel against him who took the King Prisoner but the King made his Escape again But afterwards the Earl of Warwick drove him out of the Land and made Henry again King After which King Edward returns and in a Battel upon Gladmore the Great Warwick fighting couragiously was slain Death of the Earl of Warwick and King Henry again put into the Tower Afterwards Queen Margaret was defeated and King Henry's Son Edward taken and brought before the King where he speaking boldly was knock'd down and murdered Soon after Queen Margaret was taken and not long after the crook-back'd Duke Death of King Henry of Gloucester stabb'd harmless King Henry to the heart whose Body was buried at Chertsey in Surrey A. D. 1483. King Edward fell into a His Death and Burial dangerous and deadly Sickness whereof April the 9th he died and was buried at Windsor in the new-Chappel whose Foundation himself had laid 'T is said of him that he was just and merciful in Peace fierce in War and very familiar with his Subjects His Issue were Edward Richard His Issue George Elizabeth Cicely Ann Briget Mary Margaret and Catharine EDWARD the V. the eldest Son of King A. D. 1483. Edward the IV. being but 12 years of Age when his Father died was committed to the government of his Uncle Sir Anthony Woodville a worthy Person which much troubled Richard Duke of Gloucester his Enemy who sought his Life that thereby he might come to the Crown By evil Suggestions he wrought upon the greatest Men to take his part against the old Queen and as the King was coming to London to be crowned with a small Company he seiz'd those about him and imprisoned Sir Anthony Woodville amongst the rest Then brought the King to London pretending to be his Friend and there was made his Protector after which he got the Duke of York the King's Brother out of Sanctuary from the Queen and caused many of the chief Nobles to be barbarously massacred and instead of King Edward caused himself to be crowned King RICHARD the III. Son of Richard Duke A. D. 1683. of York was born with all his Teeth and Hair to his Shoulders which foreshew'd his monstrous Proceedings July the 6th he was crowned King at Westminster soon after which he caused the young King and Edward the V. and Brother murdered his Brother to be most inhumanely massacred But King Richard lived most miserably ever after being without the least quiet of Conscience and soon after the Duke of Buckingham his greatest Favourite proved his greatest Enemy
than a Cart with six Horses could draw the Oyl being boyled out of his Head was Parmacittee In her 22d year a strange Apparition A strange Apparition hapned in Somersetshire 60 Personages all cloathed in black a Furlong distance from those that beheld them then another like Number and Company appeared these encountred one another and then vanished away and again they appeared all in bright Armour and encountred one another and so vanished away This was examined before Sir George Norton and sworn by four honest Men that saw it to be true In her six and twentieth year being Another Earthquake the year 1588 in Dorsetshire a Field of three Acres in Blackmore with the Trees and Fences moved from its Place and passed over another Field travelling in the High-way that goeth to Herne and there stayed In her five and thirtieth year many A great Drought Cattel died for want of Water and the River of Thames did so fail that a Horse-man might ride over at London-Bridge EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS In the Reign of King JAMES AS King James coming first to London A. D. 1603. King James presented with 70 Teams of Horses at Godmanchester near Huntington the Bailiffs of the Town presented him with 70 Team of Horse all traced to tail new Plows At which the King wondring they said It was the ancient Custom so to do when any King of England passed through the Town and by which as being the King's Tenants they held their Land King James having now Ambassadors The first Master of the Ceremonies sent to congratulate his coming to the Crown from all Parts first erected the Place of Master of the Ceremonies allowing 200 l. a year Fee and the first that had the Place was Sir Lewis Lewkenor a Gentleman who besides other good Parts was very skilful in the neighbouring Languages In the year 1612 King James began Knights-Baronets first created the Order of Knights called Baronets because they take place next to Barons younger Sons and he appointed certain Laws to make them capable that should be admitted First That they should maintain the number of 30 Foot-Souldiers in Ireland for three years then that they should be Gentlemen of Blood of three Descents and lastly should have Land of Inheritance in poâ—â—ession or immediate reversion to the value of a 1000 l. per annum And to keep the number from swarming he confined it to 200 and as the Issue should fail the Order to cease In this King's Time Mr. Hugh Middleton Water brought to London a Goldsmith of London brought Water to the City from the two great Sâ—â—rings of Chadwel and Amwel in Hertfordshire having cut a Channel from thence to a Place neaâ—â— Islington whither he conveyed it to a large Pond and from thence in Pipes of young Elms to all Places of the City In the 17th of this King Bernard Calvert A wonderful Journey of Andover rode from St. Georges-Church in Southwark to Dâ—â—ver from thence passed by Barge to Callice in France and from thence returned back to St. Georges-Church the same day setting out about Three in the morning and returned about Eight at night frâ—â—sh and lusty This King set forth a Proclamation restraining Penalties for Deer-killers all Persons under great Penalties for killing of Deer or any kind of Fowl used for Hawking In a Parliament holden the third year The Oath of Allegiance of his Reign the Oath of Allegiance was devised and ordained and soon after ministred to all sorts of People By this King 's Appointment a strict Duels restrained Decree passed in the Star-Chamber against Duels or single Combats and a strict Law against Stabbing This King added one Judge to every Five Judges in every Court Court which made them five and increased the number of Gentlemen-Pensioners to 200. In his first year in London there died in A Plague one Week 3090 Persons In the year 1613 on the 17th of April A monstrous Child in the Parish of Standish in Lancashire a Maiden Child was born having four Legs four Arms two Bellies joyned to one Back one Head with two Faces the one before the other behind like the Picture of Janus This year also in the Parish of Christs-Church A Man and Child burnt to death by Lightning in Hampshire John Hitton lying in Bed with his Wife and a young Child by them was himself and Child burnt to death with Lightning no Fire appearing on them though they continued burning three days till they were consumed to ashes EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS In the Reign of King CHARLES the I. THE first year of King Charles's Reign A. D. 1625. A Term at Reading the Term because of the Plague in London was kept at Reading and special Instructions were given to the Judges to put the Laws in execution against Recusants About the Month of July 1629 there A Fray in Fleerstreet hapned a great Fray in Fleetstreet upon the rescue of Captain Bellingam which was attempted by some Students of the Temple wherein some were hurt and carried to Prison This drew together about 500 Gentlemen who beat the Sheriffs Officers and released their Friends then the Lord Mayor and Trained-Bands coming the Trained-Bands fired only with Powder at this the Gentlemen having Pistols engaged very fiercely in earnest and killed five of the Trained-Bands but were by number at last overcome and Ashurst and Stamford two of their Captains taken who were afterwards for the Murther executed at Tyburn Leighton a Scotch-man for writing a seditious A strange Punishment Book called Ziâ—â—ns Plea was sentenced in the Star-Chamber to be whipt and stigmatized to have his Ears cropt and Nose slit which Sentence was soon after inflicted upon him About the year 1630 Sir Giles Allington Sir Giles Allington marries his Neece married his Neece for which in a Court consisting of eight Bishops and four other Commissioners he was sentenced to be fined to the King 12000 l. to stand obliged in the Penalty of 20000 l. never to co-habit or come near his Neece more and to be committed to Prison or put in sufficient Bail till both he and his Neece shall have done Penance at Pauls-Cross and at Great St. Mariâ—â—s at Cambridge at a day appointed by the Court The Judges offering to proceed in this Business received a Check from the King In the 7th year of this King May the A Star seen at Noon at the Birth of King Charles the II. 29th a Star appeared visibly at Noon the Sun shining clear at which Time the King rode to St. Pauls Church to give thanks for the Queens safe delivery of her 2d Son Prince Charles In his 16th year the Earl of Haddington A sad Accident in Scotland having recovered some Pieces of Ordnance which the Garrison of Berwick had seized at Dunce returned back to Dowglass where sitting merry at Dinner with about 20 Knights and Gentlemen on a sudden
he were removed from Land to Sea and from Sea again to Land yet the Mice still followed him and at last devoured him In William the Conqueror's Time a private A brave Souldier Norwegian Souldier alone upon a Bridge resisted the whole Army of the English slew 40 and maintained the Place for several hours till one getting under the Bridge found means to thrust up a Spear into his Body and killed him Till the Time of Malcolme King of Scots A Scots Custom who was Co-temporary with William the 2d of England it was the custom among the Scots that when any Man married his Lord should lye the first night with his Wife This Law was abrogated by Margaret then Queen and was altered to a payment in Money Westminster-Hall was built by King William Westminster-Hall built the II. being 270 Foot long and 74 broad The High Court of Parliament was first First Parliament instituted by Henry the I. And in his Time the Order of the Templers Order of Templers began In this King's Time the Archbishop of A worthy Bishop York being desperate sick was told that nothing would cure him but to lye with a Woman but he answered That the Remedy was worse than the Disease and so died a Virgin In the Time of Henry the I. the River Thames almost dry Thames was so low that between the Tower and the Bridge men walked over on foot for the space of two days At this time in Lombardy there was an A strange Earthquake Earthquake that continued 40 days and removed Towns and Houses far from their former residence Raynerus a wicked Minister in the Reign of King Stephen going over Sea with his Wife the Ship in the midst of the Sea stood still and could not be moved till he was cast out of it In this King's Time lived Johannes de An old Man Temporibus of whom it is recorded that he lived 361 years Ireland first submitted it self to Henry the First Lord of Ireland II. who was first Lord thereof In this King's days in the Territory of Hell Kettles Derlington in the Bishoprick of Durham the Earth lifted up her self in the manner of a high Tower and so continued all day being Christmas-day and at night fell with a most horrible noise and the Earth swallowed it up that the Holes are to be seen at this day and are called by the Name of Hell Kettles At this time near Orford in Suffolk was taken a Fish that had the shape of a Man in all parts King Henry the II. caused his Son Henry King Henry causes his Son to be Crowned to be Crowned in his Time and carried the first Dish to the Table whereupon the Archbishop Roger said merrily to the new King What a wonderful Honour is this to have so noble a Waiter Why saith he what great Honour is it for him that is but the Son of a Duke to do service to me that am the Son of a King and Queen King Lewis now of France did the like by his Son Henry the II. was so troubled for the loss King Henry's Blasphemy of Mentz that he said He should never hereafter love God any more that had suffered a City so dear unto him to be taken from him It is memorable and worth observing A wonderful Accident of Thunder That when Philip King of France and King Henry had a Meeting between Turwyn and Arras for reconciling of Differences there suddenly hapned a Thunderbolt to light just between them with so terrible a crack that it forced them for that time to break off their Conference And afterward at another Meeting the like Accident of Thunder hapned again which so amazed King Henry that he had fallen off his Horse if he had not been supported by those about him Robert Fitz-Stephen was the first of all Ireland first entred by the English Englishmen after the Conquest that entred Ireland the first day of May in the year 1170 with 390 men and there took Wexford in the behalf of Derâ—â—tius Son of Merclerdach called Mac Murg King of Leymster In September following Richard Earl of Chepstow sirnamed Strongbow sailed into Ireland with 1200 men where he took Waterford and Dublin and married Eve the Daughter of Dernutius as he was promised From these beginnings King Henry being The Irish submit to King Henry then at rest from all hostile Arms both at home and abroad takes into his consideration the Kingdom of Ireland as a Kingdom which oftentimes afforded assistance to France and therefore purposing with himself by all means to subdue it he provides a mighty Army but to little purpose for without any Action the Irish soon submitted to him all but Roderick King of Connaght who then stood out But after some time he also submitted and all the Irish together with the Popes have agreed that King Henry and his Heirs shall be their King This King left behind him in his Coffers Henry the II. his Riches 900000 l. besides Plate and Jewels In his 21st year he divided England into Beginning of the Law Cirâ—â—uits Circuits and appointed Judges three for every Circuit to go twice a year to hear and determine Causes between Man and Man 'T is for certain said That some Persons Children born with Horses Tails cutting off the Horses Tails of Becket Archbishop of Canterbury their Children for several Generations were born with Horses Tails In this King's Time there was contention Superiority in the Archbishopricks for Superiority in the two Archbishopricks and the Pope gave it to Canterbury In this King's Reign there were two Two Popes at once Popes at once who continued for almost 20 years In this Time a Bond-man of Langley in A Bond-man came to be Pope Hertfordshire came to be Pope by the Name of Adrian the IV. This King began the Foundation of the London-Bridg Stone-Bridge over Thames In the 11th year of this King's Reign A greatEarthquake there was so great an Earthquake in Ely and Norfolk and Suffolk that it overthrew those that stood on their feet and made the Bells to ring in the Steeples In the 23d year a showr of Blood reigned A showr of Blood in the Isle of Wight for two hours together Morgan base Son to this King rather An Honour to be a King's Bastard than disown his Father and be a true Son accounted of a Knight refused the Bishoprick of Durham As King Henry was carried to be buried his Son Richard coming near the Corps it fell a bleeding at the Nose afresh There was a Princess in the Family of A wonderful Sorceress Anjou Ancestors to this King who being desired to take the blessed Eucharist she suddenly flew out at the Church-window and was never seen after NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King RICHARD the First 'T IS thought that the Order of the Garter A. D.
1189. Order of the Garter whence began from blue Ribbons that King Richard the I. gave to his Noblemen with an Oath to be true to him when he was going his Expedition into the holy Land When King Richard was in the holy A City that was built before theFlood Land he took particular care of Joppa and put a Colony in it of Christians for that it is a City of Palestine that was built before the Flood and hath belonging to it a Haven of great convenience After this Expedition of King Richard's Whence the Title of Kings of Jerusalem into the holy Land the Kings of England for a long time were styled Kings of Jerusalem A worthy Servant Once when the King was hawking in the holy Land he was set upon by several Turks and had not escaped but that one of his Servants named William de Batrellis cryed out in the Saracen Tongue That himself was King and so to save his King let himself be taken King Richard sitting once at Dinner in His strange haste to relieve Vernoil his little Hall was advertised that King Philip had besieged Vernoil He was so moved at it that he presently caused 〈◊〉 Wallbefore him to be beat down and swore a great Oath that he would not turn his face until he were revenged Thus in haste he goes to Vernoil whither he was no sooner come but the King of France made as much haste to be gone not without some loss and more disgrace In this Time there was a Trouble at Robin Hood and little John home though not to the King yet to the Kingdom For Robin Hood accompanied with one little John and a 100 stout Fellows more molested all Passengers upon the High-way of some it is said that he was of noble Blood at least made noble no less than an Earl for some deserving Services but having wasted his Estate in riotous Courses very Penury forced him to take this course in which yet it may be said that he was honestly dishonest for he seldom hurt any Man never any Woman spared the Poor and only made prey of the Rich till the King setting forth a Proclamation to have him apprehended it hapned he fell sick at a certain Nunnery in Yorkshire called Berkleys and desiring there to be let Blood was betrayed and bled to death This King granted the City of London to Mayor and Sheriffs first of London be governed by two Sheriffs and a Mayor as now it is and to give the first of these Magistrates the Honour to be remembred The Names of the Sheriffs were Henry Cornhill and Roger Reyner and the Name of the first Lord Mayor was Henry Fitz-Alwin who continued Mayor during his Life which was 24 years Fabian only says these were Bayliffs and that there was no Mayor or Sheriffs of London till the 10th year of King John A certain Priest told King Richard that King Richard's Daughters how disposed he had three Daughters viz. Pride Covetousness and Leachery which the King taking merrily called the Company about him and said I am told by a Priest here that I have three Daughters and I desire you to be witness how I would have them bestowed My Daughter Pride upon the Templers and Hospitalers my Daughter Covetousness upon the Monks of the Cistercian Order and my Daughter Leachery upon the Clergy NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King JOHN ABout this Time William King of Scots A. D. 1199. came to London to visit King John William King of Scots did Homage to King John and there did Homage to him for his Kingdom of Scotland though some say but only for the Counties of Northumberland and Cumberland King John divorced his Wife Avis for King John divorceth his Wife being akin to him in the 3d. degree and marries another This King being at variance with his Nobles they sent to Lewis the French King's Son to head them who came over and was kindly received at London This King made very hard Taxations of Barbarous Cruelty all Persons especially of the Jews amongst whom there was one that would not be ransomed till the King caused every day one of his great Teeth to be pulled out by the space of seven days and then he was content to give the King 10000 Marks of Silver not to pull the other out having but one left King John was the first that caused Sterling Sterling Money Money to be coyned In his Time the English Laws were first Laws first in Ireland planted in Ireland and he enlarged the Royal Style with the Title of Lord of Ireland This King surrendred his Crown to Pandulphus King John surrendred his Crown to the Pope the Pope's Legate to be disposed of as the Pope should think fit Pandulphus kept the Crown several days before he restored it and did not then but upon condition that he and his Successors should hold the Kingdom of the See of Rome at the annual Tribute of a 1000 Marks About this Time the Kingdom was interdicted The Kingdom interdicted by the Pope for six years in which Time there was no publick Exercise of Religion no Churches open nor no Sacrament administred The Later an Council was now held under Auricular Confession and Transubstantiation Pope Innocent the III. in which was established the Pope's Power over Princes and in Matters of Faith Auricular Confession and Transubstantiation In this King's Time the Stone-Bridge of London-Bridge finished London was finished by the Merchants By this King 35 of the most substantial Common-Council-men first in London Citizens of London were chosen out for the Common-Council of the City In this King's Time were great Thunders and Lightnings and Showers with Hail-stones as big as Eggs Fishes taken armed with Helmets and Shields like Knights but much greater in proportion In Suffolk a Fish was taken that was like a Man Simon Turvey a wonderful Scholar both A learned Man becamâ—â— an Ideot for Parts and Reading became so dull that he could scarce read it was thought a Judgment upon him for his Pride in Learning NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King HENRY the Third KIng Henry the III confirmed the Charters A. D. 1216. Charters confirmed of Magna Charta and Charta de Forestis granted by King John This King keeping his Christmas at York A bountiful Feast the Marriage was solemnized between Alexander King of Scots and Margaret his Daughter to the Feast of which Solemnity it is said the Archbishop gave 600 fat Oxen which were all spent at one Meal and besides the Feast cost him 4000 Marks This King's Son Edward marrying Eleanor Prince of Wales whence first the King of Spain's eldest Daughter was invested by his Father with the Dukedom of Aquitain Ireland Wales Bristow Stamford and Grantham and from hencesorward the King 's eldest Son was immediately upon his Birth Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester This King
at the Siege of Guns first used Callice first made use of Guns About this Time Philip King of France First Daulphin of France died leaving his Son John to succeed him in the beginning of whose Reign Humbert Prince of Daulphin dying without Issue made him his Heir and thereupon Charles King John's Son was made first Daulphin of France Sir John Midsterworth Knight about this Defrauding Souldiers punished Time was hanged drawn and quartered at Tyburn for Treason by him committed in defrauding Souldiers of their Wages There was an Offer made to King Edward The Value of Callice to leave him 1400 Towns and 3000 Fortresses in Aquitain upon condition he would render Callice and what he held in Picardy In the 45th year of this King in a Parliament The Clergy grant a Tax at Westminster the Clergy granted him 50000 l. to be paid the same year and the Laity as much which was levied by setting a certain rate of 5 l. 15 s. upon every Parish which were found in the 37 Shires to be eight thousand six hundred Some say this King instituted the Order Knight of the Garter first of Knight of the Garter This King caused all Pleas in Law Law first pleaded in English which were before in French now to be made in English that the Subject might understand the course of the Law In this Time at the instance of the Londoners Apparel for Whores an Act was made That no common Whore should wear any Hood except striped with divers colours nor Furs but Garments reversed the wrong side outwards This King also was the first that created Dukes first created Dukes of whom Henry of Bullingbrook Earl of Lancaster created Duke of Lancaster in the 27th year of his Reign was the first but afterward he erected Cornwal into a Dutchy and conferred it upon the Prince after which Time the King 's eldest Son used always to be Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwal and Earl of Chester In the 22d year of his Reign a contagious A wonderful Pestilence Pestilence arose in the East and South Parts of the World and spread it self all over Christendom and coming at last into England it so wasted the People that scarce the 10th Person of all sorts were left alive There died in London some say in Norwich between the 1st of January and the 1st of July 57374 Persons In Yarmouth in one year 7052 Men and Women before which Time the Parsonage there was worth 700 Marks a year and afterwards was scarce worth 40 l. a year This Plague began in London about Alhollantide in the year 1348 and continued till the year 1357 where it was observed that those who were born after the beginning Decrease of Teeth in men of this Mortality had but twenty eight Teeth whereas before they had two and thirty In this King's Time a Frost lasted from A great 〈◊〉 the midst of September to the Month of April In the 11th year of his Reign there was Plenty of all things so great Plenty that a quarter of Wheat was sold at London for two Shillings a fat Ox for a Noble a fat Sheep for Six-pence five Pidgeons for a penny a fat Goose for Two-pence a Pig for a penny and other things after that rate In this King's Time lived the so much Chaucer famed Sir Geoffry Chaucer the famous English Poet. NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King RICHARD the II. IN the beginning of this King's Reign A. D. 1377. A noble Act of a Citizen of London one Mercer a Scottish Pirat committing many Outrages upon the Seas against the English Merchants a Citizen of London one John Philpot at his own Charges set forth a Fleet and in his own Person encountring Mercer took him and all his Ships About this Time one Sir John Annesley A Combat between Katrington and Annesley Knight accused Thomas Katrington Esq for betraying the Fortress of St. Saviour to the French which Katrington denying at the suit of Annesley a solemn Combat is permitted to be between them at which Combat the King and all the great Lords were present The Esq Katrington was a man of a mighty stature the Knight Annesley a little man yet through the justness of his Cause after a long Fight the Knight prevailed and Katrington the day after the Combat died After the Rebellion of Wat Tyler and 〈◊〉 executed for Treason Jack Straw in this King's Time Sir Robert Tresilian Lord Chief Justice being appointed to sit in Judgment against the Offenders 1500 being found guilty were all executed The manner of Knighting in these days Manner of Knighting thus They caused him to put a Basenet upon his Head and then the King with a Sword in both his Hands struck him strongly upon the Neck This King added the Dagger to the Arms of London This King for a considerable time kept the Great Seal in his own hands The French in this King's Time designing The French prepare a Navy of 1287 Ships to invade England presuming no less than to make a Conquest of it prepared 1287 Ships but the Attempt as it was impertinent signified nothing A Parliament in this King's Time declared The King obliged to attend the Parliament to the King That by an old Ordinance it was enacted that if the King should absent himself 40 days not being sick from his Parliament the Houses might lawfully break up and return home This King being at dissention with his Lords could procure none to fight against them 'T is almost wonderful what is related of A strange Accident in a Family the Family of the Hastings Earls of Pembroke that for many Generations the Sons never saw the Fathers the Fathers being always dead before the Sons were born In this King 's 13th year a Royal Just A noble Justing was proclaimed to be holden within Smithfield in London which being published many Strangers came hither of the most noble Families of Europe At the day appointed there issued out of the Tower about three a Clock in the afternoon 60 Coursers apparelled for the Justs and upon every one an Esquire of Honour riding a soft pace after them came forth almost 40 Ladies of Honour mounted on Palfreys and every Lady led a Knight with a Chain ofGold and so they came riding through the Streets of London to Smithfield where the Just held 24 days At this Time in a Parliament the Duke A Bastard legitimated by Parliament of Lancaster caused to be legitimated the Issue he had by Catharine Swinford before he married her of whom Thomas Beaufort was created Earl of Somerset In a Parliament about this Time the What Articles first to be handled in Parliament Judges gave their opinions that when Articles are propounded by the King to be handled in Parliament if other Articles be handled before those are determined that it is Treason in them that do it A