general Pardon was now granted for A strange sort of general Pardon all Offences to all the King's Subjects but only 50 whose Names he would not express but reserved them to his own knowledge that when any of the Nobility offended him he might at his pleasure name him to be one of the number excepted and so keep them still within his danger In his 11th year King Richard created Barons first made by Letters Patents John Beauchamp of Holt Baron of Kiderminster by his Letters Patents the first that was so made for before this Time Barons were always made by calling them to Parliaments by the King 's Writ In a Parliament in this King's Time An Image made to speak there was a certain Image of Wax made by Necromancy which at an hour appointed spoke these words The Head shall be cut off the Head shall be lift up aloft the Feet shall be lift up above the Head About the year 1280 the making of Guns first invented and used Guns was found by a German who having beaten Brimstone in a Mortar to powder and covering it with a Stone it hapned that as he struck Fire a spark chanced to fall into the Powder which caused a Flame of such force that it raised the Stone a great height which after he perceived he made a Pipe of Iron and tempered the Powder with some other Ingredients and fo finished that deadly Engine The first that used it were the Venetians against the Inhabitants of Genoa NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King HENRY the IV. THis King Henry fighting against the A. D. 1399. This King's Valour Nobles that rebelled slew 36 with his own hands Prince Henry this King's Son being very Prince Henry made a Prisoner disorderly and keeping ill Company one of his Companions being arraigned for Felony before the Lord Chief Justice he went to the King's Bench-Bar and offered to take the Prisoner away by force but being withstood by the Lord Chief Justice he stept to him and struck him over the Face whereat the Judge nothing abashed rose up and told him That he did not this Astrint to him but to the King his Father in whose Place he sate and therefore to make him know his Fault he commanded him to be committed to the Fleet The Prince quietly submitted to the Sentence and suffered himself to be led to Prison In this King's days Burning and Execution Burning Atheists when first by Fire for Controversies in Religion was first put in practice In the 3d. year of this King at Danbury An Appearance of the Devil in Essex the Devil appeared in likeness of a grey Friar who entring the Church put the People in great fear and the same hour with a Tempest of Whirlwind and Thunder the top of the Steeple was broken down and half the Chancel scattered abroad NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King HENRY the Fifth THE first Parliament in this King's A. D. 1412. A Subsidy granted without asking Time grant him a Subsidy without asking for it the like of which was never known before nor since the Kings being in capacity to ask At the Siege of Seyns in France King First Garter-King at Arms. Henry created an Officer of Arms to be King of Heralds over the Englishmen and entitled him Garter This King having notice of his Son's The King 's Prophetical Saying Birth and Christning Prophetically said Good Lord I Henry of Monmouth shall small time reign and much get and Henry born at Windsor shall long time reign and lose all but God's Will be done In his 9th year in a Parliament holden Gold paid by weight at Westminster it was ordained That no man should offer Gold in payment unless it were weight and thereupon were appointed Balances and Weights In a Synod at Rochester in this King's The Scriptures ordered to be in Latin for which a just Judgment falls on the Bishop of Canterbury Time Sir John Oldcastle was pronounced to be an Heretick by the Archbishop of Canterbury who then enacted a Decree That the holy Scriptures ought not to be translated into the English Tongue But mark the Judgment that fell upon his Tongue whose Roots and Blade soon after grew so big in his Mouth and Throat that he could neither speak nor swallow down Meat but in horrour lay languishing till at last starved by Famine he died This King was perhaps the greatest that King Henry the V. his Character ever reigned in England 'T is said he was so temperate in his Diet and so free from Vain-glory that 't was truely said he had something in him of Caesar that Alexander the Great had not that he would not be drunk and something of Alexander that Caesar had not viz. that he would not be flattered NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King HENRY the Sixth IN King Henry the Sixth's Time the A. D. 1422. 40000 French frighted with the Name of Salisbury Earl of Salisbury got so great a Name in France that only naming of him was enough to fright 20000 French as appeared when the French Constable with 40000 Men besieged the Town of St. James de Benuron and having made a breach fit for Assault whilst his Captains stood straining of courtesie which of them should first enter Sir Nicholas Burdet with all his Forces sallied forth crying aloud A Salisbury A Salisbury which Name-struck such a Consternation in the Besiegers that they all stood like men amazed of whom 600 were slain 200 drowned in the Ditches 50 taken Prisoners with 18 Standards and the Constable was glad to quit the Place and desert the Siege 'T is said that Roger Bullingbrook a Necromancer A Necromantick Art and Margery Jordan the Witch of Eye in Suffolk devised a Picture of Wax in proportion of the King by Sorcery that had such effect on the King's Body that as the Wax consumed so the King's Body consumed for which they were both condemned Soon after the good Duke of Gloucester Five Men hanged at Tyburn yet lived after was secretly murthered five of his menial Servants viz. Sir Roger Chamberlain Kt. Middleton Herber Artzis Esq and John Needham Gent. were condemned to be hanged drawn and quartered and hanged they were at Tyburn let down quick stript naked marked with a Knife to be quartered and then the Marquess of Suffolk brought their Pardon and delivered it at the Place of Execution and so their Lives were saved It was observed of this King that no His Misfortune in War Enterprize of War ever prospered when he was present In the 32d year of this King the Lord Lord Mayor goes by Water to take his Oath Mayor of London first began to go by Water to Westminster to take his Oath where before they used to go by Land In this King's Time the Art of Printing Printing first in England was found out at Mogunce in Germany by a Knight called John
the Hemorrhoids A. D. 1154. and was buried at Feversham in Kent He had Issue Baldwin Eustace William Issue Maud Mary HENRY the Second Plantaginet the A. D. 1154. Son of Maud and Earl Geoffrey of Anjou was Crowned at Westminster This King went in Person against Lord Hugh de Mortimer and other Rebels where in the Siege of Bridgenorth he had been shot with an Arrow had not Hubert de St. An Example of true Loyalty Clare interposed and took the Arrow in his own bosom Tho. Becket Arch-Bishop of Canterbury made great disturbances in this Kings Reign he was at last murdered in the Cathedral at Canterbury and this was his Epitaph Quis moritur Praesul Cur Pro grege Qualiter Ense Quando Natali Quis locus Ara Dei. This King effected the Conquest of Ireland Ireland conquered and reformed the Irish Church This Kings Queen Eleanor and his Sons rose in Rebellions against him and were assisted by the French and Scotch Kings but he overcame them all He died in the Church at Chinon A. D. His Death 1189. and was buried at Font Everard His Issue were William Henry Richard Issue Jeoffrey Philip John Maud and Eleanor He had to his Concubine fair Rosamond Rosamond who was poisoned by the Queen in her Labyrinth at Woodstock which the King had built for her She had this Epitaph upon her Tomb Hic jacet in Tumba Rosamundi non rosa munda Non redolet sed olet quae redolere solet King Henry divided England into Circuits England divided into Circuits appointing that two of his Judges should twice in a year in each Circuit administer Justice In the beginning of his Reign one Nicholas An English man elected Pope Breakspear an English-man was elected Pope by the name of Adrian the IV. RICHARD from his exceeding Valour A. D. 1189. sirnamed Coeur de Lion was Crowned at Westminster He spent great time in the Wars at the Holy Land where he did many noble exploits and as he was going conquered Cyprus where he solemnly took to Wife his beloved Lady Berengaria He died of the wound of an Arrow received His Death at the Siege of the Castle of Chaluz belonging to the Viscount of Limoges April 6th 1199. and was buried at Charron In the first year of his Reign he appointed First Lord Mayor Henry Fitz-Alwin to be the first Lord Mayor of London being formerly governed by Portgraves Now lived Robin Hood and Little John JOHN by the assistance of his Mother A. D. 1199. Eleanor was by the great Council of the Realm admitted King and was Crowned at Westminster His Reign throughout was attended with great Troubles either with the King of France Scotland or by Rebellion of his own Subjects He was at last poisoned at Swinshed Abbey His Death by an envenomed Cup presented to him by a Monk tasting first thereof himself so becoming the wicked Instrument of his own and Sovereign's death Octob. 19. 1216. He was buried at Worcester His Issue were Henry Richard Joan Issue Eleanor and Isabel. Now lived one Simon Thurvey who for Example his Pride in Learning especially for his Blasphemies against Moses and Christ became so utterly ignorant that he could hardly read a letter in a Book HENRY the Third at about ten years A. D. 1216. of Age was Crowned King the ninth day after his Father King John's decease The Noble Earl of Pembroke being by common consent of Peers and Prelates constituted Guardian of him during his Non-age This King was almost always at dissension His Troubles with his Barons He lost all his Rights beyond the Seas to His Losses the French King There were now at Oxford 15000 Students The number of S tudents now at Oxford whose names were in the Metriculation Book After he had gone through very many troubles he fell grievously sick at the Abbey of St. Edmund in Suffolk and there died His De ath and Issue A. D. 1272. whose Issue was Edward Edmund Richard John William Henry Margaret Beatrice and Catharine Richard Beor then Bishop of Sarum The bu ilding of Salisbury Châ—â—rch built that stately Church at Salisbury which hath in it as many Windows as are days in the year as many Marble Pillars as hours as many Doors as Months Magna Charta containing the sum of Magna charâ—â— first instituted all the written Laws of England was ordained in the ninth year of his Reign EDWARD the First sirnamed Longshanks A. D. 1272. at his Fathers Death was employed in the Holy Wars where he behaved himself very valiantly He grieved much at his Fathers death At his arrival into England he was most joyfully welcomed and with his dearest Eleanor was Crowned at Westminster The first of this Kings exploits was the Wales subdued subduing of Wales and made his Son Edward born at Caernarvan Prince thereof He was mighty indeâ—â—tigable and successful in all his exploits He brought Scotland Scotland subjected wholly in subjection and was ever very well beloved of his Subjects This Heroick King died of a Dysentery His. Death at Burgh upon Sands A. D. 1307. and was buried at Westminster His Issue were John Henry Alphonso Issue who died before him Edward Thomas Edmund and ten Daughters EDWARD called Caernarvan so soon A. D. 1307. as his Father was dead repealed Pierce Gaveston who in his Fathers time for abusing the Prince's years with wicked vanities by common Decree was banished He sailed into France where at Bolein he was married to young Isabella Daughter to Philip the Fair. This Gaveston forementioned caused many His Dissensions with the Death of Gaveston dissensions being a very debauched man and the King wholly ruled by him He was thrice banished by Parliament the King still re-calling him but at last was Beheaded at Warwick Castle by Guy Earl of Warwick as an open Traytor to the Kingdom which caused a lasting hatred between the King and Nobles This opportunity Bruce King of Scotland took to set his Kingdom at liberty and at Bannoxburn gave King Edward the greatest overthrow that ever they gave the English and gained great spoils the English The English beaten by the Scots coming as for a Triumph having adorned themselves with all sorts of riches whereon the Scots made these Rhymes Long Beards heartless painted Hoods witless Gay Coats graceless make England thriftless Then in Pierce Gaveston's place the King advanced the Spencers Father and Son The Spencers advanced whose intolerable insolences seemed to exceed the others and caused more Civil Dissensions and Civil Wars in which One Earl and fourteen Lords suffered death After which the Spencers behaved themselves so exceeding Lordly that the Queen and discontented Nobles resolve to clear the World of them and the King found but few Friends because of the Mortal hatred that the People generally did bear to the Spencers so that his
Religion The proposal of her Marriage with Philip of Spain caused great Insurrections and great Troubles and Sir Thomas Wiat one of the chief was beheaded These caused great suspicions of the Lady Elizabeth's having a hand in it whereupon she was committed to the Tower and then removed to Woodstock where Stephen Garner thinking to ensnare her Life askt her the meaning of those words of Christ Hoc est Corpus meum to which the Princess answered Christ was the Word that spake it He took the Bread and brake it And what the Word did make it That I believe and take it A. D. 1555. Several Bishops were burnt Bishops burnt at Oxford for the testimony of the Truth A. D. 1554. July 25th was the Marriage Her Marriage solemnized with Philip of Spain King Philip proved a great Friend to the Lady Elizabeth 'T was thought that the Queen was with Child and her delivery expected but it proved otherwise The English now lost their strong Holds in France The Queen died of a burning Fever HerDeath and Burial Novemb. 17. 1558. and was buried at Westminster Queen ELIZABETH the Restorer and A. D. 1558. Defender of the publick profession of the Apostolical Religion in England begun her Reign Novemb. 17. 1558. Jan. 15. she was crowned she soon put all things in the order as King Edward had left them There were several Rebellions in the Land but were all suppressed several likewise attempted to murther the Queen but were all taken and suffered death A. D. 1577. Novemb. 15. Captain Drake Captain Drake set Sayl from Plimouth and in three years wanting twelve days he encompassed the Earth A. D. 1588. the invincible Armado of the Spanish Armado Spaniards came against England but the English played their parts so well that they wearied out the Spaniards at Sea so that they were forced to return home with great loss and the English received a blessed deliverance Octogesimus octavus mirabilis annus Clade Papistarum faustus ubique piis The Queen now sent Forces against Spain which had very great success and annoyed them exceedingly And now again there were several attempts to Murther the Queen by Poison and otherwise but all being discovered they received their deserts There were likewise great Troubles in Ireland which continued a long time On the 24th of March 1602. died this Her Death and Burial most renowned Queen and was buried in Henry the Seventh's Chappel at Westminster 'T is said she was Spain's Rod Rome's ruin Netherland's relief Earth's joy England's Gem World's wonder Nature's chief King JAMES his Title to the Crown A. D. 1602. of England sprung from Henry the Seventh whose Male Issue failing in Queen Elizabeth the Off-spring of Margaret his eldest Daughter married to James the Fourth King of Scotland by him had Issue James the Fifth whose only Daughter and Child Queen Mary was Mother to James the Sixth King of Scotland who hearing of Queen Elizabeth's death came into England and was received with great joy and His Coâ—â—onation July 21. 1603. King James and Queen Ann were Crowned at Westminster by John Whitguift Arch-Bishop of Canterbury There were some now that plotted against the Kings Person but were taken and Executed He then caused himself to be stiled by Proclamation King of Great Britain A. D. 1604. Nov. 5. was that horrid Gun-powder Plot. Popish Plot of blowing up the Parliament House A. D. 1612. Nov. 6. Prince Henry died of a Fever who was very much lamented being a very hopeful Prince A. D. 1625. March 27. this Politick and His Death and Burial Peaceable Monarch died of an Ague at Theobalds and was buried at Westminster His Issue were Henry Charles Elizabeth His Issue and Mary and Sophia who both dyed young CHARLES the First was born at Dunferling A. D. 1625. in Scotland Nov. 19. 1600. No sooner had he celebrated his Father's Funerals but he hastened the coming over of his dearest Consort the Princess Henrietta Maria Daughter to Henry the Fourth King of France He was Crowned at Westminster His Coronation Feb. 2. 1626. A. D. 1630. May 29. was Prince Charles Prince Charles born born The sad accidents in this Kings Reign have been the Thesis of so many Pens that I think the inserting of it in this place to be needless only some short notes The first Blood that was spilt in this unhappy The beginning of the Civil Wars War was near Hull between the Kings Forces and Sir J. Hotham Aug. 24. 1642. The first remarkable Battel at Edge-hill in Warwick-shire where His Majesties Forces had something the better of the day A. D. 1648. Jan. 30. was this most Christian His Death and Burial and right worthy King beheaded and Feb. 9. was buried at Windsor by some of his Servants His Issue were Charles-James His Issue who died almost as soon as born Charles the Second James the Second whom God preserve Henry Mary Elizabeth Ann Katharine Henrietta Maria. 1635. Tho. Parr died aged 152 years Tho. Parr CHARLES the Second was then in Holland 1648. when his Father was murthered and the then Parliament instead of Proclaiming him King resolved to assume the Government unto themselves nevertheless he was Proclaimed in Scotland and Ireland This Parliament that made such a stir were not above fifty Persons Jan. 1. King Charles the Second was Crowned in Scotland Crowned at Scoon in Scotland The English Parliament had very great success in all their attempts They beat the Marquess of Ormond in Ireland and overcame the Scots beat the Dutch by Sea In all which time Oliver Cromwel was General of the Land-Forces And A. D. 1653. April the 20. Oliver put a period to those long-winded Members at Westminster and constituted a Oliver's height Council of State of those he liked best and takes the Supream Power to himself A. D. 1658. June 25th the Town of Dunkirk was rendred by the Spaniards to the French and from them to the English Septemb. 3d. died that aspiring Usurper Oliver's death and great Politician Oliver of an Ague at Whitehall He was courted or feared by most of the Princes of Europe In Oliver's stead Richard his eldest Son was proclaimed Protector But he wanting the Politick Head of his Father the Army did what they pleased and called a Parliament of their own choosing to which Richard soon submitted And now the Parliament rules all again There were several Insurrections for the King but supprest General Lambert disliking the Parliament goes with his Army and displaces it and for a while he rules all and makes a Committee of Safety as he stiled them Committee of Safety And now there were more discontented men than ever being murmuring in all places and George Monk a General in Scotland comes into England with his Army where he was received very graciously being caressed by the Gentry all along his Journey and Lambert's Fortune
changed apace most of his Friends forsaking him and General Monk coming to London was received with much joy and every one had great hopes of a peaceable Government Then he ordered a free Parliament to be chose who A. D. 1660. April 20. assembled at Westminster on May 1. voted Votes for the Kings return That according to the Ancient and Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom Charles the Second is the Lawful King of these Nations which caused a general rejoycing over all England And His Majesty from his Court at Breda wrote very graciously to the General and Parliament who then sent him 50000 l. for a Present and the City to shew their gratitude sent him 10000 l. And May the 8th by Order of Parliament Charles the Second was at London Proclaimed at London with very great Solemnity Proclaimed King of England Scotland c. May 22. General Monk set forth of London to meet His Majesty who landed at Dover whom the King for his excellent Service was pleased to dignifie with the Honour of Knight of the Garter Master of his Horse Duke of Albemarle Earl of Torrington Baron Monk of Botheridge c. chief General of all his Land-Forces in the three Kingdoms and one of his Privy Council And now was the general Joy so great that it cannot be expressed The Regicides and chief Offenders punished and Loyalty truly recompensed A. D. 1661. on St. George's day was the His Coronation Magnificent Coronation of Charles the Second at Westminster by Dr. Juxton Arch-Bishop of Canterbury And now was the Book of Common-Prayer restored again to the Church May 14. Katharine the Infanta of Portugal arrived at Portsmouth His Marriage where she was married to Charles the Second King of England A. D. 1664. the War began with the Dutch And 1665. in May began the Great Plague in London Plague whereof died near 100000 Persons Upon the second of September began that dreadful Fire Fire in London the total Loss sustained by these devouring Flames was valued to be 9900000 l. Sterling In Feb. 1674. after many great Conflicts Peace with Holland between the Dutch and England was there a Peace concluded A. D. 1677. was the Marriage between the Lady Mary and His Highness the Prince of Orange celebrated at St. James's by the Bishop of London Anno Dom. 1679. began the sham-discovery Popish Plot. of the Popish Plot for which so many Persons suffered and which plainly appeared to be afterwards a contrivance of the Non-conformists from whom our gracious Monarch was wonderfully preserved by a Fire at New-market which occasioned him to leave that place sooner than he designed and by that means escaped the designed Ambuscado that was to have destroyed him at Hodsdon The extraordinary occurrences of his Reign about these times are printed by themselves and therefore here omitted Feb. 6. 1684. At Whitehall died our most His Death gracious King Charles the Good and Just which not only almost deluged England with Tears for so great a loss but he was generally lamented through all the Christian World He had no Legitimate Issue Feb. 14. He was Interred in Henry the His Funeral Seventh's Chappel at Westminster JAMES the Second the only Royal A. D. 1684. Brother to King Charles the Second and his undoubted Heir was on the sixth of February Proclaimed at London to the unexpressible joy and satisfaction of all Loyal Proclamation Subjects having the same day been graciously pleased to declare in Council That he would maintain the Protestant Religion as by Law established And truly we can attribute it to no less than the Divine Goodness and Mercy of Almighty God to these Kingdoms that notwithstanding the late strange and unreasonable Animosities against our now gracious Sovereign yet his coming to the Crown was received by his Subjects in all his Dominions with the greatest expressions of content and satisfaction imaginable April 23d being St. George's day he was His Coronation with very great State and Magnificence Crowned at Westminster with his dearest Consort Mary by Dr. Sancroft and Dr. Dolben the two Arch-Bishops and Dr. Turner Bishop of Ely Preached the Coronation-Sermon May the 16th Titus Oates the chief Titus Oates his Sentence for Perjury Evidence to the Popish Plot being convicted upon two Informations of Perjury received Sentence That he should pay a Fine of one thousand Marks for each Perjury should stand in the Pillory at Westminster-Hall Gate and at the Royal-Exchange be whipped twice viz. from Aldgate to Newgate and from Newgate to Tyburn all this was to be done in that week But besides for an Annual commemoration of his admirable faculty of Swearing it was ordered that four times every year upon the days on which he fathered his horrid falsities so long as he lived he should stand in the Pillory and the places to be The Royal-Exchange Temple-Gate Charing-Cross and Tyburn May the 19th the Parliament met and Parliament met unanimously chose Sir John Trevor Speaker who was also approved of by His Maiesty June the 11th the Duke of Monmouth The Duke of Monmouth his Landing at Lyme having Caballed with the Earl of Argyle to put their rebellious Designs in practice in England and Scotland at the same time landed at Lyme in Dorset-shire with about 150 Men after an Hostile manner where many of the like rebellious Principles flocked to him so that in few days he left Lyme and took the Field and marched with his Forces to Taunton and Bridgewater His first Repulse and from thence near Bristol to Canisham-Bridge where they were repulsed by a party of 100 of His Maiesties Horse Commanded by Collonel Oglethorp who there cut off two of Monmouth's best Troops of Horse From thence the Rebels marched near to Bath but His Majesties Forces being joyned there they marched in much fear and confusion backwards towards Frome and from thence to Philipsnorton where the Duke of Grafton encountred them very smartly in which Engagement Mr. May a Voluntier was killed with many common Souldiers From thence they went to Shepton-Mallet from thence to Wells and so to Bridge-water His Maiesties Forces commanded by the Earl of Feversham all the while pursuing them on â—â—uly the 5th came to Weston within three â—â—iles of the Rebels where they placed â—â—hemselves in a very advantageous Post â—â—ronting a spacious Plain having a Ditch before them in which posture next Mornâ—â—ng the late Duke of Monmouth resolved to attack them and to that end had with all possible silence in the Night drawn his Forces out of Bridge-water to the number of about 6000 Foot and 1200 Horse and towards Morning formed them in Battel and marched so with design to surprize the Earl of Feversham but he having advice of it by his Scouts was prepared to receive them though the number of his Souldiers was but small in comparison of the Rebels having but 2000 Foot and 700 Horse but here God
in his Journey to France spent Vast Expences in France 2700000 l. which was more then than ten times so much now In the 25th year of this King Aldermen Aldermen first in London were first chosen within the City of London who then had the rule of the City and of the Wards of the same and were then yearly changed as now the Sheriffs are The City of London was now allowed to present their Mayor to the Barons of the Exchequer to be sworn which before was to be presented to the King where-ever he were In this King's Time a Proclamation was Who obliged to be Knighted set forth That all such as might dispend 15 l. a year in Land should receive the Order of Knighthood and those that would not or could not should pay their Fines There was a Man now that took upon A false Christ. him to be Christ and had five Wounds made in his Body in resemblance of our Saviour's and continuing obstinate in this humour he was taken and immured between two Walls A certain Jew chancing to fall in a Privy A devout Jew on a Saturday would not that day be taken out because it was the Sabbath the Earl of Gloucester would not suffer him to be taken out the next day because it was the Christian Sabbath and on the third day he was taken out dead In this King's Reign there was sent by An Elephant first in England the King of France the first Elephant that was ever seen in England Matthew Paris relates of a Maid now in A Miracle of Nature Leicestershire that being exactly watched was found in seven years together neither to eat nor drink but only that on Sundays she received the Communion and yet continued fat and in good liking Also in this Time a Child born in the A Dwarf Isle of Wight at 18 years of Age was but three Foot high who being brought to the Queen she kept him for a Monster of Nature Richard de Clare Earl of Gloucester in a A valiant Earl Battel against Baldwin de Gisnes a valiant Flemming employed by King Henry himself alone encountred 12 of his Enemies and having his Horse slain under him he pitched one of them by the Leg out of the Saddle and leapt into it himself and continued the Fight without giving ground till his Army came to rescue him Simon Montford was a Man of so audacious The strange Audacity of Montford a Spirit that he gave King Henry the Lye to his face and in presence of all his Lords the King feared him strangely for being frighted off the Thames by Thunder and meeting Montford who bid the King not fear for the danger was past the King said No Montford I fear not the Thunder so much as thee NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the First IN King Edward the First 's Time Leolin A. D. 1274. Leolin the last Welsh Prince being the last Prince of Welsh Blood for Rebellion was slain and his Head set upon the Tower of London This King by the Statute of Rutland in Wales and England united the 12th year of his Reign united the Government of Wales to England At this time there were ten Competitors Baliol Scots King does Fealty to K. Edward for the Scotch Crown at last King Edward determined the Business and Baliol was chosen who did Homage and swore Fealty and Allegiance to King Edward as his liege Lord. King Edward caused the fatal Chair The Coronation-Chair brought into England wherein the Kings of Scotland used to be inaugurated to be brought into England and put in Westminster-Abbey amongst the Monuments where it still remains All the Scots swore Allegiance to this The Scots swear Allegiance to King Edward King except William Walleys who of a private Gentleman came to be their Guardian Angel In his Time three Men for rescuing of a Prisoner had their right Hands cut off at their Wrists In this King's Time the Title of Baron Barons was confined to such only as were called by Writ to serve in Parliament In this King's Time there was a Rot of A Rot of Sheep Sheep which continued for 25 years together which 't was thought began by a Ship of incredible greatness brought out of Spain In his 16th year it chanced in Gascoin A wonderful Preservation that as the King and Queen sate in their Chamber upon a Bed talking together a Thunderbolt coming in at the Window behind them passed betwixt them and slew two of their Gentlemen that stood before them NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the II. THis King going towards Scotland to A. D. 1307. King Edward beaten by the Scots raise the Siege of Striveling with an 100000 Men was defeated by the Scots who had but 30000 Men. This King being always at dissention First noble Blood shed since the Conquest with his Barons and they rebelling against him there was many of them taken and executed being the first that suffered in this manner in England since William the Conqueror This King was perswaded in his own Edward the II deposed Life-time to surrender his Crown to his Son and all Persons renounced Allegiance to him In this King's Time an Ordinance was Knights-Templers imprisoned made against Knights-Templers accused of Heresie and other Crimes and they were all apprehended and committed to divers Prisons The Bishop of Hereford being by this A Bishop rescued from the King by force King arrested for high-Treason the other Bishops came and rescued him by force In this King 's 8th year was so great a A greatDearth Dearth that Horses and Dogs were eaten and Thieves in Prison pluckt in pieces those that were newly brought in amongst them and eat them half alive which continuing three years brought in the end such a Pestilence that the living scarce sufficed to bury the dead In this King's Time lived John Mandevile Sir John Mandevile the great Traveller a Doctor of Physick and a Knight NOTABLE EVENTS In the Reign of King EDWARD the III. AT the Coronation of Edward the III. A. D. 1327. The first Coronation-Pardon a general Pardon was proclaimed which was the president and foundation of the Custom since used by all Kings that at their first coming to the Crown a general Pardon is always granted This King surrendred all his Title to Title to Scotland surrendred Scotland which his Grandfather had obtained there Edmond Earl of Kent this King's Uncle Edmond Earl of Kent beheaded being condemned for high-Treason was so generally beloved that he stood on the Scaffold from one a Clock till five before any one could be found to execute him In this King's Time the Isle of Man was Man-Island conquered conquered by William Mâ—â—ntacute Earl of Salisbury for which Service King Edward gave him the Title of King of Man 'T is said that this King
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
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