any thing The King of Denmark to whom the King had sent born Men and Monies for the recovery of the Polatinate was routed by Tilly the Emperour's General and without a present Supply the Sound was in danger to be lost and the English East-land Trade and Staple at Hamburgh almost given up for gone And now what wonder if the King 's extraordinary Wants put him upon extraordinary Courses He borrows 120000 l. of the City of London for which they had Lands of 21000 l. yearly value assur'd to them and 30000 l. of the East-India Company And for the rest made use of Privy-Seals Loans as such other ways as might enforce a less necessitated Prince to However that a last Extremity might not run him beyond his Natural Inclination he calls a Parliament which open'd March 17. 1627. where he so pathetically laid before them the cause of their meeting which was The Common Danger a Supply proportionable to it The Exigence of Time the just Desence of Friends and Allies And lastly clos'd all with his Hopes of their following that Advice of maintaining the Unity of the Spirit in the Band of Peace that the Commons unanimously voted him Five Subsidies On which the King by his Secretary let them know He would deny them nothing of their Liberties which any of his Predecessors had granted But while the Bill for these Subsidies was preparing the old Leven fermented anew Loans Privy Seals Billeting of Soldiers even in cases of Necessity and Martial Law for keeping them in order was question'd as contrary to Magna Charta which terminated in this That the King gave his Royal Assent to that so-much-talk'd of Petition of Right wherein yet he granted no New Liberties but confirmed the Old with this Declaration concerning the true Intent thereof That the Profession of both Houses in the hammering of the Petition was no ways to entrench upon his Prerogative saying They had neither Intention nor Power to hurt it Of which Intent and Meaning of his in granting the said Petition he commanded all to take notice Especially said the King you my Lords the Judges for to you only under Me belongs the Interpretation of the Laws For none of the Houses of Parlement joint or separate whatever New Doctrine may be rais'd have any Power to make or declare a Law without My Consent And yet this did not so quiet some turbulent Heads of the Commons who would be satisfed with nothing but the Kingdom also bet that they yet remonstrated against several late Miscarriages in Government and concluded with the Duke of Buckingham as the Common Grievance of the Kingdom and tack'd it to the Bill of Subsidies which the King took notice of and withal hearing they were preparing another against Tonnage and Poundage prorogu'd them from June 26. to Octob. 20. 1628. Between which and the said next Meeting the Duke was slain at Portsmouth in the Thirty sixth Year of his Age as he was fetting fail for the Relief of Rochel by one John Felton a discontented Officer of the last Year's Army and the Parliament put of to the 20th of January At what time the Debates running so high against the pretended encrease of Popery and Arminianism and the levying Tonnage and Poundage not yet granted by Parliament The King by Warrant of the Privy-Council sent for several of the Principal Authors of those Disorders Four of which appearing and refusing to answer out of Parliament what they had said and done in Parliament they were committed to the Tower the Parliament dissolv'd March to and such as had not appear'd were apprehended and committed to several other Priâ—â—ns and an Information preferr'd against â—hem in the Star-Chamber to which they deâ—urr'd And in Michaelmas 1629. brought their Habeas Corpus's in the King's Bench and â—â—ov'd to be Bail'd which the Judges allow'd with this That they ought to find Sureties for â—â—e Good Behaviour in that it is a prevention of Damages to the Commonwealth and an Act of Government and Jurisdiction not â—f Law Which being refus'd by them they were remanded And the King waving his Proceedings in the Star-Chamber an Information was exhibited in the King's Bench against Three of them for Words spoken by them in â—he foregoing Parliament falsly maliciously â—nd seditiously as well against the King the Peers of the Realm c. as to raise a Tumult and Sedition subvert the Government and to the intent all the King 's Loving Subjects â—hould withdraw their Affections from Him To this the Defendants pleaded That forasmuch as the Offences are supposed to have been done in Parliament they ought not to be punish'd in any other Court but in Parliament and demurr'd to the Jurisdiction of the Court Which after full Argument on both sides was over-rul'd by the Court and a Day given them to plead further which they not doing Judgment was given against them upon a Nihil dicit That they should be imprison'd during the King's Pleasure not to be deâ—iver'd 'till Security given in Court for the Good-Behaviour and acknowledgment of the Offence and each of them respectively final according to his Condition it being further said by the Judges That Plowden in Queen Mary's time was fined for Words spoken in Parliament against the Dignity of the Queen And it was the Opinion of the Justices iâ— 8. Eliz. That Offences committed in Parliament are punishable out of Parliament The Scots during this time were not idle at home but blew those Coals of Discontent among the People which afterwards fired the three Kingdoms nor wanted there an opportunity at present The Lands of Cathedrals and Religious Houses with the Superiorities and Tithes belonging to them had been by Act of Parliament setled on the Crown but by the Contrivance of Murray and other Regents during the Minority of King James parcell'd among the Lords and Great Men of the Kingdom thereby to make a Party to themseves And King Charles coming to the Crown engag'd in a War and having no Aid from them took a legal course to resume them On which those Occupants that well knew they had no other Title than the Usurpation of their Ancestors combine together to oppose the King in every thing that should be offer'd in Parliament relating to Church-Affairs and because Religion was the best Bait to hook in the People and conceal themselves they centre on that and only wait the Occasion which fell thus King James from his first coming to the Crown of England though he fail'd in his Design of making the English and them into one People had proceeded so far 〈◊〉 bringing the Kirk of Scotland to an Uniformity to the Church of England that he not only setled Episcopacy among them but in the General Assembly of Aberdeen 1616. procured â—n Act for composing a Liturgy or Common-Prayer to be first presented to the King and after his Approbation universally receiv'd through the Kingdom And a Book of Canons which also was further improv'd by that other
the Earl of Strafford who had been the late General against the Scots Novemb. 12. On which he was forthwith taken into Custody and committed to the Tower Novemb. 22. brought to his Trial March 22. which lasted 'till April 13. And lastly attainted by Act of Parliament and thereupon beheaded May 12 following And the same 10th of May that the King gave his Royal Assent to that Bill of Attainder he gave the like to another That this Parliament should not be Dissolv'd or Prorogu'd but by Act of Parliament And now having gotten this firmer footing to what they had begun before in enlarging such as had been fined and imprisoned by the Star-Chamber for Libelling voting Ship-Money unlawful and the Lord Keeper a Traitor impeaching the Archbishop of Canterbury whom after a Four Years imprisonment they beheaded by an Ordinance of Lords and Commons at which Seven Lords only were present They proceed to Acts of Parliament for vacating Ship-Money taking off the several Courts of Star-Chamber High-Commission the Presidencies of Wales and the North the Bishops outed the House of Peers And having singled out the King as it were by Himself they pray a Guard out of the City of London to be Commanded by the Earl of Essex Which the King refusing he is so harass'd with Tumults that he is fore'd to remove from London And which fell fortunately to their Game a Rebellion in Ireland having broke out the 23d of October before the King had given his Assent to two Bills the one for the borrowing 400000 l. for the necessary Defence of England and Ireland the other which brought in little less for the Encouragement of Adventurers for the reducing of Ireland And so having gotten such a Fund they not long after further petition That the Tower of London all other Forts and the whole Militia of the Kingdom might be put into such hands as should be recommended to him by both Houses But being refus'd by the King they publish a Declaration That whatsoever They declare to be Law ought not to be question'd by the King That They without the King are Judges of the Publick Good That the Soveraign Power resides in both Houses and that the King ought to have no Negative Voice That Treason cannot be committed against his Person otherwise than as he is intrusted with the Kingdom and discharges that Trust of which they are Judges And thereupon raise an Army and make the Earl of Essex General thereof and the Earl of Warwick Admiral at Sea notwithstanding the King had appointed another On which many of the House of Commons and most of the Peers repair to the King at York the King proclaims Essex and his Adherents Traitors and sets up his Standard at Nottingham Aug. 20. 1642. In return of which they in 1643. voted the Queen a Traiter for helping her Husband with Ammunition and some English Forces out of Holland And actually brought in an Army of Scots to fight against the King when yet they had made it an Article of High-Treason against the Earl of Strafford for that he should have said at Council-Board If his Majesty pleas'd to employ Forces he had some in Ireland which might serve to reduce the Kingdom The Question also at that time being touching Scotland However the King without other Supplies than the voluntary Assistance of his Loyal Nobility and Gentry made a shift to bring the West the North and several other parts of the Kingdom under his Obedience 'till at last oppress'd by those inexhaustible Banks as the Weekly Assessments which for the Year came to above 1700000 l. the Plate ready Monies and Jewels borrow'd upon the Publick Faith which in London and Middlesex came to upwards of Ten Millions besides the Profits of their new Excise Sequestrations of King's Queen's Prince's Bishops and Delinquents Lands Tonnage Poundage and whatsoever was in any wise due to the King which contrary to the known Laws they had raked to themselves and not being able to recover that fatal Battel of Naseby June 14. 1645. He sunk by degrees and at last threw himself upon his Country-men the Scots who Delivered him up to the Parliament for 200000 l. and they kept Him under a Guard at Holmby The Parliament now in possession of the King came to be divided into two Parties Presbyterian and Independant and the Army which was every of them a Sect by it self thinking they had as much Right to Him as the others seize Him and bring Him to Hampton Court about the middle of August 1647. from whence without bettering His Condition He escapes into the Isle of Wight and by Letter to the Parliament desires a Personal Treaty at London They on the other hand vote Him 5000 l. for His present Accommodation and send Him Four Preliminary Bills to sign but those so Unreasonable that the King refusing them they amongst other things vote no more Addresses should be made to Him and the Army declares to stand by them in those Votes and what shall be further necessary for the prosecution thereof On this several Parties in London Wales Essex Kent c. rise for the King a part of the Navy go off to the Prince and the Scots under Duke Hamilton enter England To suppress these the Army is sent abroad and Cromwel makes against Hamilton takes him Prisoner and pursues the rest to Edinburgh During this absence of his the Parliament revoke their Votes of Non Addresses and appoint Five Lords and Ten Commoners to treat with the King at Newport in the Isle of Wight with Honour Freedom and Safety But alas they dodg'd so long about Trisles that upon Cromwel's return before any thing was concluded the Army remonstrate and require That the King be brought to Justice as the Capital Cause of the Civil War And thereupon having garbled the Commons of Forty odd Members and required that Ninety more and all others that by their Votes Decemb. 5. before had approved the King's Concessions for a Peace at the Isle of Wight should be excluded the House 'till they had enter'd their Dissents to those Votes that Fagg-end of them that was left restor'd the Votes of Non-Addresses voted a Charge of High-Treason against the King and drew up an Ordinance for his Trial Which being rejected by the Lords they made it an Act of their own and on Saturday Jan. 20. 1648. brought Him before a Mock-High-Court of Iustice consisting of one Bradshew their President Cromwel his Son-in-Law Ireton and Seventy two others that appear'd and sate and with ignominious Expressions charg'd Him That as a Publick Enemy of the Common-wealth he had traiterously and maliciously levied War against the present Parliament and the People therein represented And after four Days not allowing Him to be heard unless he first acknowledg'd the Authority of their Court He was as Infamously sentenc'd to have his Head sever'd from his Body which was accordingly executed in the open Street before his Royal Palace of Whitehal Jan. 30.
Fifty eighth Year of his Age and of his Reign of England the Twenty second and of Scotland the Fifty sixth He had but one Wife viz. Queen Anne of whom before and by her 1. Henry Friderick Stuart Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwal and Rothsey and Earl of Chester born in Scotland Feb. 19. 1593. died Nov. 6. 1612. 2. Robert Stuart born and died very young in Scotland 3. Elizabeth Stuart Queen of Bohemia and Princess Palatine of the Rhine born Aug. 19. 1596. in Scotland died Feb. 13. 1661. 4. Margaret Stuart born in Scotland Decemb 24. 1598. died young 5. Charles Stuart Duke of York and Albany born Novemb. 19. 1600. succeeded his Father 6. Mary Stuart born in England March-1605 died two Years after And 7. Sophia Stuart born in England June 21. 1606. died two days after XXV To his Father his elder Brother being dead succeeded Charles the First of that Name about the Age of Twenty five Years and was proclaim'd King the same Day his Father died The Solemnity of whose Funerals being over the first thing he did was to hasten the coming over of the Queen to whom he was married by Proxy at Paris May 1. and consummated at Canterbury June 13. following Of this Prince it may be truly said He was a Man of Sorrows And yet if there be any thing in History to be named before him it is not that He was less able but their Times better Therefore for the truer understanding of both it is the least Justice we can do His MEMORY to consider under what ill Circumstances He came to the Crown There had follow'd his Father out of Scotland Two Sorts of People the One purely for the Loaves the Other to double the Interest of that Doctrine that had forc'd his Mother out of Her Kingdom who kept himself so long in Pupillage and to which England was not so altogether a Stranger but that they found the Lump leven'd to their hand Some like them calling also themselves the Lord's Ambassadours and pretending a Right from God to Govern every one his Parish and their Assembly the whole Nation Others and those different in Opinions among themselves that would have all Congregations free and independent upon one another Others That held Christ's Personal Reign was at this time to begin upon Earth and therefore would have no other King but King Jesus Besides several others from the first Litter yet every of them desending its Sect by Scripture according to the narrow scantling of their own Interpretations These again meeting with a Purse-proud City a poor Crown and a Gentry that no less affected a Popular Government in the State than themselves did in the Church Both cry up Liberty and inveigh against Tyranny that is whatever they were not themselves And so what wonder of those Consequents that embroil'd the King's Reign The ill Effects of which too many have seen and may perhaps be felt the next Century However the King having summon'd his Parliament to meet at Westminster June 18. aforesaid he told them That at their earnest Entreaty in March 1623. his Father had taken Arms for the recovery of the Palatinate which with the Crown was now devolv'd upon Himself That the Supplies already given held no proportion with the Charge of the Enterprize That the Eyes of all Europe were upon him and a Failure in this his first Attempt would be a Blemish to his futare Honour And therefore desired them if not for His for their Own Reputation to deliver him fairly out of that War wherewith themselves had incumbred him by an expeditious Supply On which the Commons gave Two Subsidies and the Clergy Three and the Parliament by reason of the Plague was adjourn'd to Oxford to be held there Aug. 1. following where the King briefly acquaints them with his Wants in order to the design 's Expedition They on the other hand petition against Popish Recusants and receive from him a satisfactory Answer but instead of a Supply debate a Remonstrance of Grievances to be first redress'd before a Supply given So that not agreeing who should be first trusted the King or Themselves the Parliament was dissolv'd and another summon'd to meet at Westminster the next 6th of February The Candlemas Day before which the King was solemnly Crown'd But here also the King met no better success than he had in his first For the Commons began where they left at Oxford with Religion and Grievances And to add to it it fell unfortunately that the Earl of Bristal being under restraint the King had sent him no Writ of Summons to the Parliament whereupon he petitions the Peers That being a Peer of the Realm he had not receiv'd a Writ of Summons and therefore pray'd the Benefit of his Peerage and that if any Charge were against him he might be Tried in Parliament Upon which and the Request of the Peers his Writ was sent him with a Letter from the Lord Keeper That though his Majesty had awarded him the Writ yet 〈◊〉 was his Pleasure that his Personal Attendance should be forborn This Letter the Earl sent to the Lords with a second Petition beseeching to be heard both as to his wrongful Restraint and what he had to say Against the Duke of Buckingham This alarm'd the Duke whom the Commons already beheld with no good Eye and therefore to begin with him first the Duke prevails with the King to command the Attorney-General to Common him to the Lord's Barr as a Delinquent where he appear'd May 1. and was by Mr. Attorney charg'd with Eleven Articles of High-Treason But before they were read the Earl said My Lords I am a Free-man and a Peer of the Realm unattainted I have somewhat of high Consequence to his Majesty's Service and beseech your Lordships to give me leave to speak The Lords bade him go on Then said he I accuse that Man the Duke of Buckingham of High-Treason And immediately presented Twelve Articles against him After which the Articles against the Earl being read and himself committed to the Black-Rod the House order'd That the King's Charge against the Earl should be first proceeded on before that of the Earl against the Duke And now the Ice thus broken the Common by eight of their own Members sent up Thirteen Articles of high Offences and Misdemeanours against the Duke which he answer'd with so much modesty that it much abated the Heat that many had against him And in regard the matters charged had been transcted in King James's time he claim'd the Benefit of the Pardon of the Twenty first of King James and the present King's Coronation Pardon On which the Commons thus dâ—â—appointed having prepared a Declaration of the same nature with their Impeachment the Parliament was dissolv'd by Commission June 14. 1626. and no Supply given By which means the Relief then setting forth for Rochel staid so late in the Year that they were dispers'd with ill Weather and forc'd to return without doing
Provence by whom he had two Daughters and six Sons His Daughters 1. Margaret married to Alexander III. King of Scots 2. Beatrice to John I. Duke of Bretain Of his Sons two only surviv'd him 1. Edward I. who succeeded his Father 2. Edmond surnamed Crouch back Earl of Lancaster Father of Thomas who had Issue Henry Earl of Lancaster whose Daughter Blanche was married to John of Gaune fourth Son of King Edward III. of whom more hereafter IX § V. Edward I. born 1240. surnamed Longshanks had under taken the Cross and was in the Holy Land when his Father died However he is proclaim'd King and Fealty sworn to him tho' it were not known whether he were living or dead Upon his return he was Crown'd Aug. 15. 1274. He had found by Experience the Ecclesiastical Power too strong for the Soveraignty whenever they combin'd with the Lay-Nobility and therefore retrench'd them of their Privileges whilst he was in the Opinion and Estimation of the World and in 1275. got the Statute of Mortmain to be enacted whereby to hinder the encrease of their Temporal Possessions and not long after clipp'd the Jurisdiction of Ecclesiastical Judges He slew Leoline the last of the Welsh Princes in Battel and united Wales to the Crown of England 1283. He banish'd the Jews and vacated all their Sureties 1293. He was made Umpire between John Baliol and Robert Bruce for the Crown of Scotland and determined for Baliol who did him Homage 1294. which he afterwards renounc'd but upon the King's entry into Scotland submits and is sent Prisoner into England However the Scots being gotten together under Wallace their Head the King pursued his Enterprize gave them a total Rout at a place call'd Fenkirk and having abolish'd their ancient Laws return'd and brought all their Records and other Evidences of Antiquity with him 1299. On this Robert Bruce Son of Robert the Competitor gets into Scotland where he is received and Crown'd 1306. Is defeated by the Earl of Pembroke 1307. Bruce recovers new Forces the King re-enters Scotland and dies of a Flux July 7. the same Year being the Sixty eighth of his Age and Thirty fifth of his Reign His first Wife was Eleanor Daughter of Ferdinand III. King of Castile by whom he had nine Daughters 1. Eleanor married to John Earl of Bar. 2. Joan to Gilbert Earl of Gloucester 3. Margaret to John Duke of Brabant 4. Mary a Nun of Amsbury 5. Elizabeth to John Earl of Holland and after him to Humphrey Bohun Earl of Hereford The rest died young Of his Four Sons Only Edward surviv'd him and was the first Prince of Wales His second Wife was Margaret eldest Daughter of Philip the Bold King of France by whom he had two Sons 1. Thomas of Brotherton Lord Marshal of England and Earl of Norfolk 2. Edmond Earl of Kent beheaded 1328. for endeavouring the Restauration of his deposed Brother King Edward II. X. Edward II. born at Carnarvan 1285. created Prince of Wales March 15. 1304. Crowned Feb. 24. 1307. In 1308. he caused all the Knights Templars throughout England and Ireland to be apprehended and their Order to be dissolv'd as afterwards were the Knights of Rhodes by King Henry VIII 1540. and theiâ— Lands and Possessions seiz'd He seems to have come in with much Expectation but soon lost it by means of a Favourite of his Pierce Gaveston banish'd by his Father but re call'd by him and made Earl of Cornwal Lord of Man and High Chamberlain which so incensed the Nobility that the King is forc'd to banish him more than once but as often re-calling him They take Arms under Thomas Earl of Lancaster their Leader Son of Edmond second Son of King Henry III. whom the Mobb call'd King Arthur and having taken him at Scarborough Castle strike off his Head 1312. During this Disorder at home Bruce was become powerful in Scotland the King enters upon him with a vast Army and is totally routed by him at a place call'd Bannock-Bourn 1314. This and his making Hugh Spencer Earl of Gloucester Son of Hugh Spencer Earl of Winchester Successor in the Office and Favour of the said Gaveston so heightned the former Discontent which was in a manner allay'd that both sides arm anew But the King gets the better takes the Earl of Lancaster and beheads him before his own Castle of Pomfret 1322. Yet this lasted not long for having sent the Queen and his Son the Prince into France instead of accommodating Matters she contracts her Son to Philippa Daughter of William III. Earl of Hainault by whose and the Earl of Holland's assistance she returns with an Army and with her the Prince and Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore lately escaped out of the Tower of London but afterwards made Earl of the Marches of Wales by King Edward III. And having taken Bristol with Hugh Spencer the Father in it she caused him to be hanged and quartered without Trial 1326. The King Spencer the Son and others had put to Sea for Ireland but were beaten upon the Coast of Wales where they lay hid for a while in the Abbey of Neth but being discovered Spencer had the same fate with his Father The King was imprison'd and a Parliament call'd to meet at London where upon several Articles exhibited against him it is agreed to depose him as unfit to Govern and elect the Prince his Son Upon which he voluntarily resign'd his Crown to him 1327. in the Nineteenth Year of his Reign About eight Months after which he was most barbarously murdered in Berkley Castle in the â—â—â—â—ty third Year of his Age. His Wife was 〈◊〉 Laughter of Philip the Fair by whom â—he had 1. Joan married to David Prince of Scotland 2. Eleanor to the Dake of Gelders And two Sons 1. Edward born at Windsor 1313. set up to the Crown his Father yet living 2. John of Eltham created Earl of Cornwal 1315. and died in the flower of his Youth in Scotland XI Upon the Resignation of Edward II. his Son Edward III. of the Age of Fourteen Years began his Reign Jan. 20. 1327 and was Crown'd the 25th following The Queen seems heavy at it but being pacified by aâ— Augmentation of Joynture the management of Assairs is committed to five Bishops and seven Temporal Lords 'till the King were or Years to Govern but the Queen and Mortimer act all The Scots enter England and are suffer'd to escape and in 1328. a dishonest rable Peace is made with them To confirm which Joan the King's Sister is married to David Pruce Prince of Scotland and amongst other things the Ragman Roll and Black-Crosâ— of Scotland are given back to them and the King by the working of the Queen and Mâ—â—timer surrenders his Title to the Soveraignty of Scotland and all Evidences relating thereunto For which Mortimer is impeach'd is Parliament and hang'd at Tyburn Nor laster the Peace long for Edward Baliol Son of the aforesaid John Baliol sets up for that Crown and by
King Edward's Assistance recovers it and does him Homage and swears Fealty for it 1333. And now there happening some disgust between him and Philip de Valois King of France he bethinks himself of his Title to thâ— Crown in right of Isabel his Mother 〈◊〉 which the Banishment of Robert de Artois by King Philip his Brother who fled for safety to him gave him a fair Opportunity Nor was he wanting to it for he not only receiv'd him joyâ—ully but made him Earl of Richmend and of his Council 1336. which he liv'd not long to enjoy for after six years serving him in France he was wounded at the Siege of Vanner and brought to England where he died 1342. The Year following he instituted the Order of the Garter and created his eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales In July 1346. he enters Normandy with a mighty Army and takes the Prince with him who not full Sixteen fought the Battel of Cressy in Picardy on St. Bartholomew's Day the same Year and obtain'd so great a Victory that Callice was forthwith besieg'd and surrender'd Aug. 3. 1347. On which the King took the Title and Arms of France and return'd for England where the Prince Electors signifie to him That they had chosen him King of the Romans which he refused In the Year 1356. the Prince goes over again fights the Battel of Poictiers in Poictou and takes John the French King Prisoner Septemb 19. the same Year Returns for England brings the said King with him whence he was not deliver'd 'till 1360. at what time an Accord had been made on his behalf at Britigny near Chartres During this Cessation with France the Prince of Wales accompanied with his Brother John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster relieves Peter King of Castile and Leon expuls'd by his Bastard-Brother Henry and restor'd him 1367. But little of the Accord with France being perform'd the King upon his return sends the Prince into Acquitain and in a short time the said Duke John and his younger Brother Edmond Earl of Cambridge to aid him to whom his Health failing him he left the profecution of the War and return'd himself 1371. Nor did his Brother John much after him save that coming for England he by reason of the Prince's sickness wholly manag'd his aged Father which being taken notice of by some of the Prince's Friends he is banâ—â—â—'d the Court Not long after which the Prince died 1375 being the Forty ninth of his Father's Reign and Forty sixth of his Age. His Wise was Joan Daughter of Edmond Earl of Kent his Father's Brother by whom he had 1. Edward born at Angoulesm and died young 2. Richard born at Bourdeaux who succeeded his Grandfather As also two Natural Sons 1. Sir John Sounder 2. Sir Reger Clarendon put to death by Henry IV. for endeavouring the Restauration of his said Brother Richard 1402. And now after the Prince's death the Duke of Lancaster came in play again and openly favour'd John Wickliffe to the great disturbance of the State and therefore lest he might do by Richard of Bâ—urdeaux as Earl John had done by his Nephew Arthur the King providently setled the Succession in Parliament upon the said Richard creating him first Earl of Cheste and Câ—rnwal and then Prince of Wales and died June 21. 1377. in the Sixty fourth Year of his Age and Fiftieth of his Reign He had to Wise Philippa of Haynault who bore him Have Daughters 1. Isabel married to Ingelram Lord of Coueâ— Earl of Sâ—â—â—â—â—ns and Bedford afterwards Archduke of Austria 2. Joan to Alphonso II. of Castile by Proxy but die before it was consummated 3. Mary to John Menserd Duke of Bretagne 4. Margaret to John Hastings Earl of Pembrâ—â—â— but died without Issae 5. Also another Daughter Blanch who died young And seven Sons 1. Edward surnamed The Black Prince of whom before 2. William surnamed Of Hatfield the Place of his Birth He died young 3. Lionel born at Antwerp 1338. made Earl of Ulster in Ireland in right of his Wise Elizabeth Daughter of William Burgh Earl of Ulster with whom also he had the Honour of Clare in the County of Thoumond in that Kingdom and thence created Dake of Clarence She brought him one Daughter only Philippa married to Edmond Mortimer Eail of March Mother of Reger Earl of March Father of Anne Countess of Cambridge Grandmother of King Edward IV. 4 John surnamed Of Gaunt where he was hom 1342. Created Duke of Lancaster 1352. He had three Wives 1. Blanch Daughter and Heir of Henry Earl of Lancaster Son of Edmond Crouch back youngest Son of King Henry III. as before by whom he had Henry of Bullenbrook Earl of Derby who usurp'd upon Richard II. and was the first of the Lancastrian Kings His second Wise was Constance eldest Daughter of Peter King of Castile and Leon in whose Right he bore the same Title and had by her Catharine whose Posterity became Kings of Spain in her Right His third Wife was Catharine Widow of Sir Hugh Swinford an English Knight eldest Daughter and Co heir of Pain Red Guien King at Arms her younger Sifter married Sir Jeoffry Chaucer the English Laureat He had by her before Marriage several Children surnamed De Beaufort from a Castle of his in France of that Name where they were born In regard of which they gave a Portcullis for their Cognisance and were all of them legitimated in Parliament 1397. with this Clause nevertheless Excepting the Reg Dignity As 1. John first Knighted and afterwards created Earl of Somerset 1398. 2. Henry afterwards Bishop of Winchester Cardinal of St. Eusebius and Chancellor of England 3. Thomas first created Earl of Dorset 1398. and afterwards Duke of Exeter 1414. 4. And one Daughter Joan first married to Ralph Nevil Baron of Wemm created afterwards the first Earl of West mâ—rland And after him to Robert Ferrers Lord of Owseley 5. Edmond of Langley born 1342. created Earl of Cambridge 1362. Duke of York 1386. He was the first that gave the White Rose and died 1402. His Wife was Isabella youngest Daughter of the said Peter King of Castile by whom he had Richard Plantagenet Earl of Cambridge married to Anne Mortimer Daughter of Roger Earl of March by whom he had Richard Duke of York slain at the Battel of Wakefield 1460. Father of 1. Edward Duke of York who recover'd the Crown from King Henry VI. 2. George Duke of Clarence 3. Richard Duke of Gloucester afterwards King 6. William of Windsor who died young 7. Thomas of Woodstock a Man valiant and wise He was created Earl of Buckingham 1376. then Duke of Gloucester by Richard II. and at last treacherously made away some say strangled at Callice 1397. XII Richard II. born at Bourdeaux 1367. succeeded his Grandfather and was Crown'd July 16. 1377. in the 11th Year of his Age. The Care of him was first committed to certain Bishops and Earls and lastly to Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick 1379. In the Year 1382.
John Ball a Priest and Disciple of Wickliffe with one Watt Tyler a Taylor and others work the Common People into a Rebellion murder Simon de Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury and several of the Nobility and with a numerous Rabble come at last to Smithfield by Landon where Sir VVilliam VVallwâ—rth then Lord Mayor upon some rude Language given the King by the said Tyler stabb'd him dead and therewith dispers'd the Rabble In memory of which the King gave the City the Augmentation of a Bloody Dagger to their Coâ—â—n the Year 1366. Henry 〈◊〉 of Derby Son of John of Gaunt was created Duke of Hereferd and being accus'd by 〈◊〉 Mâ—ubrey Duke of Norfolk of some dangerous Words by him 〈◊〉 demanded a Trial by Battel which was accepted and both being in the Lists ready in combat Hereford was banâ—th'd for ten Years of which the King struck oft four and went 〈◊〉 France And the Year following Johne Gaunt died In 1399 the King went into Ireland and in his absence Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury and others contrive to depose him and set up Henry now Duke of Lancaster who upon their Invitation return'd and met the King in VVales from whence he was convey'd to the Tower of London where a Parliament being in the mean time call'd in King Richard's Name the King resign'd his Crown to the said Henry and made the Bishops of York and Hereford his Procurators to declare his Resignation to the Parliament which was accepted And to colour the matter Articles were preserâ—ed against him on which he was deposed Septemb. 9. 1399. and afterwards trait 〈◊〉 murdered in Pomfret Castle 1401. by Sir Pierce Exten and eight others as he was at Dâ—â—â—er of whom yet he slew four in the Thirty third Year of his Age and Twenty secâ—nd of his Reign His first Wife was Anne Daughter of Charles IV. Emperour His second Isabel Daughter of Charles VI. King of France but had no Issue by either of them XIII § VI. Upon this Deposition Henry â—â—â—ke of Lancaster eldest Son of John of Gaunt tourth Son of Edward III. Born 1368. was Crown'd King Octch. 13. 1399. by the Name of King Henry IV. albeit Edmond Mortimer Earl of March Son of Roger Mortimer Earl of March Son and Heir of Philippa Daughter and Heir of â—iond third Son of King Edward III. was then living and the said Earl Râ—ger his Father upon King Richard's going into Ireland in the Year 1385. had been declared in Parliament Heir Apparent to the Crown if the said Richard died without Issue This occasioned those bloody Wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster in which there were Twelve pitch'd Battels fought between them in the compass of Thirty six Years The beginning of his Reign was sull of Troubles for Thomas Merks Bishop of Carlisle made a Speech in Parliament in favour of Richard the deposed King for which albeit he was imprison'd yet it so stuck with the Nobility that six of the Chief of them combine to seize King Henry and restore King Richard and to that purpose undertook a solemn Justing to he held at Oxford in the Chrismas 1401. and invited the King to it which he accepted but the Plot being accidentally discovered by one of the Conspirators it was seasonably prevented and crush'd Nor was it long are Owen Glendour rose in VVales 1400. and declared for Edmond Mortimer The like did the Earls of Northumberland and Worcester in the North who before they could join Forces were beaten by the exemplary Courage of Prince Henry his Son 1403. The King at last having wrought through every thing that oppos'd him died of an Apoplexy March 20. 1413. in the Forty sixth Year of his Age and Fourteenth of his Reign His first Wife was Mary one of the Daughters and Co-heirs of Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton she died before he came to the Crown 1394. but left him four Sons 1. Henry V. who succeeded him 2. Thomas Duke of Clarence slain at Beaufort in France but left no Issue 3. John Duke of Bedford and Regent of France Died Septemb. 14. 1435. but had no Issue 4. Humphrey surnamed The Good created Duke of Gloucester by his Brother Henry V. Protector to his Nephew Henry VI. and at last imprison'd and strangled by the device of Queen Margaret Wife of the said Henry VI. 1447. His second Wife was Joan Daughter of Charles I. King of Navarre Widow of John de Menthâ—â—â— Duke of Bretagne by whom he had no Issue She surviv'd her Husband and died 1437. XIV To him succeeded his eldest Son Henry V. born at Monmouth 1385. Crown'd April 9. 1412. His Youth had been somewhat extravagant but he soon recover'd it and supplied his defect of Title by worthy Actions The Parliament at this time look'd with a sharp eye upon the Church-Lands and to divert the Humour Henry Chichely Archbishop of Canterbury put the King in the head of his Title to France and withal assur'd him That he had consulted the Clergy and that they had resolv'd to advance such a Summ towards it as never Spiritual Persons had given to any King before Upon this the King treated with the Parliament touching the matter which they so approv'd that an Army is forthwith rais'd in the head of which he lands in France and in a sew days besieg'd Harflue and took it 1415. and having pass'd the River Soame came up with the French then lying at Agincourt where with an Army not exceeding 15000 Men he cut off the others of 60000 Octob. 25. the same Year and return'd for England 1416. and made the Duke of Bedford Regent of France 1417. whither he follow'd himself the same Summer Took Caen 1417. Chierburgh Dampfront 1418. Rohan Vernon Mante Pontoise the Castle of St. Germane Meulane 1419. And after another Victory near the City of Mens it was amongst other things concluded That King Henry should marry the Lady Catharine the King of France's Daughter and after his death become Heir of the said Realm and in the mean time have the whole Government of the same as Regent thereof According to which they were married June 3. 1420. and the King solemnly proclaim'd Heir and Regent of France and the Duke of Burgundy and most of the Nobility swore Fealty to him As also did the Three Estates of the Realm assembled at Paris each Person severally for himself 1421. And in April following carried his Queen into England Yet notwithstanding this Charks the Dauphin retires to Berry and gets Forces together Nor was the Duke of Bedford less industrious to pursue him 'till the King coming over again and in his march to relieve Cosny then besieg'd by the Dauphin was taken with a Pleurisie of which he died at Blot St. Vincent Aug. 31. 1422. in the Thirty eighth Year of his Age and Tenth of his Reign and left by the said Catharine de Valois Daughter of the said King of France XV. Henry VI. born at Windsor Decem.
1421. and being not above nine Months old at the death of his Father was proclaimed King of England and France Aug. 30. 1422. and committed to the Custody of Thomas Duke of Exeter and Henry de Beaufort Bishop of Winchester his Uncles John Duke of Bâ—dford and Humphrey Duke of Gloucester having been appointed the former Regent of France the other Protector of England And now Charles VI. of France being also dead the Dauphin his Son cansed himself to be proclaim'd King by the Name of Charles VII On which many of the French Nohility revoked to him Nor was the Regent idle during this time but took several Places of Strength from him gave him a defeat at Cravant in Buâ—goigne 1423 recover'd Campeigne and Crâ—tâ—te beat him a second time at the Battel of Vernoile 1424. and follow'd it with success 'till Montacute Earl of Salisbury being slain by a Great-shot in the Castle of Orleans 1428. the Fortune of the English began to be at a stand For at this Siege it was that the Maid of Orleans or Jean d'Arcque was brought to the said Charles as a Person inspired by God for the delivery of her Country and that Miracles might be expected from her Conduct However it were it so wrought on the Superstition of the People that she may be said to have turn'd again the Fate of France And Charles VII took that heart upon it that he forthwith came before Rheims which was yielded to him and himself Crown'd there 1428. The Year following King Henry went over in Person and was Crown'd in Paris Decemb. 17. 1431. and after a Year's stay there return'd for England Not long after viz Septemb. 14. 1435. the Duke of Bedford died and Richard Duke of York was made Regent but remov'd 1439. and the Earl of Warwick substituted in his room Upon whose death the Duke of York was again made Regent 1441. And upon a Treaty of Peace between the two Kings 1444. William de la Pâ—â—l Earl of Suffolk and others are appointed Commissioners for the King of England But finding nothing like to come of it he proposes a Match between the King and Margaret Daughter of Reiner Duke of Anjou Titular King of Sicily Naples and Jerusalem which however opposed by the Duke of Gloucester Protector of the Realm took that effect that they were married May 18. 1445. And the Duke of York again removed and the Queen and Suffâ—lk by this time made Duke prevail upon the King's Mildness and govern all things at their pleasure This and the like so disgusted the Duke of York that he began to tamper about his Title to the Crown to which the death of the Cardinal of VVinchester 1448. the Exorbitances of Suffolk and the Duke of Gloucester's the main Prop of the House of Lancaster having been discharg'd from the Protectorship imprison'd and sound dead in his Bed the Year before gave no small encouragement All which being turn'd upon Suffolk he is erclaim'd at by the Commons impeach'd by the Lords and thereupon fled for France but taken in his way had his Head struck off against the side of a Cock boat 1450. To him succeeded in equal Favour of the Queen and Hatred of the People Edmond Duke of Somerset And therefore York having gotten to his Party the two Nevils Father and Son the one Earl of Salisbury the other of VVarwick he rais'd Forces under pretext of removing divers Counsellors from about the King and after several Transactions forward and backward worsted the King at the Battel of St. Albany May 23. 1455. where the Duke of Somerset was slain the King taken Prisoner a Parliament call'd the Duke of York declar'd Protector of the Realm and the Earl of VVarwick Captain of Callice All which was again overturn'd by the Queen and her Party the Year following and the Duke of York and his Friends having gotten into Ireland were attainted in Parliament 1459. Notwithstanding which they return again and being headed by Edward Earl of March fight the King at Northampton and take him Prisoner July 9. 1460. On this the Duke of York Father of the said Edward enter'd the House of Lords the Parliament then sitting seated himself in the Throne To whom said he it of right belongeth The Parliament on this openly declar'd for his Title but in regard Henry had been taken as King for Thirty eight Years it was condescended That he should hold the Title and Name of King and have the Possession of the Realm during his natural Life but if he either died resign'd or forfeited the same by breaking or going against any Point of that Accord that then the said Crown and Regal Authority should be immediately devolved and come to the Duke of York if he were then living Or in case he died to the next Heir of his Lineage And that the Duke of York should from thenceforth be Protector and Regent of the Land All which being sworn to by both Parties and enacted in Parliament Novemb. 1. 1461. Richard Duke of York on the Saturday next ensuing was proclaimed Heir Apparent to the Crown and Protector of the Realm During this time the Queen a Lady of a Courage beyond her Sex had rais'd an Army to rescue the King met the Protector at VVakefield the Christmas following where he was routed and slain and King Henry gotten into her hands again The Earl of March on the other hand now Duke of York by the death of his Father lay with Forces in Gloucestershire and upon hearing of this Defeat made to the Queen and worsted her first at Mortimer's Cross near Hereford the Candlemas-day after and on the 17th of the same Month gave her a total defeat near St. Alban's In which yet the most remarkable Man slain was Sir John Gray On which King Henry with the Queen and Prince Edward their Son got into the North and the Duke of York was proclaim'd King in the head of the Army After which King Henry liv'd somewhat more than Ten Years but generally unfortunate as shall be shown in the next Paragraph and at last died in the Tower some say of Grief or as others murder'd by Richard Duke of Gloucester May 23. 1471. in the Fifty second Year of his Age having reigned of that Thirty eight Years His Wife was Margaret Daughter of Reiner Duke of Anjou c. of whom before by whom he had Edward Prince of Wales born at Westminster Octob. 13. 1453. taken at the Battel of Teuxbury of which in the next Paragraph May 4. 1471. and the same day kill'd in cold Blood by George Duke of Clarence and the said Duke of Gloucester XVI And now Edward IV. having taken upon him the Covernment he was as well by Right of Inheritance as the Accord before mentioned proclaimâ—d King throughout London March 4. 1401. Nor was he searce warm in his Seat ere the comoved King Henry return'd out of the North with a mighty Force but was overthrown by King Edward at Tow ton Field
attendance on the Earl their Lord. By which means and several of King Richard's Party falling in with him his Army grew stronger daily and the Lord Stanly who had married the Countess of Richmond Mother to Henry lay hovering with an Army of five thousand Men but durst not declare for him for fear of the Lord Strange his Son whom King Richard kept as an Hostage for his Father 's not acting against him Yet was not Richard so amaz'd at it but that he met his Enemy with a powerful Army at Bosworth near Leicester where in the heat of the Battel the Lord Stanly joyn'd Earl Henry with his fresh Forces as also did Sir William Stanly his Brother with three thousand more and slew King Richard Aug. 22. 1485. whose Crown found among the Spoil he forthwith put on the Head of the said Earl on which he was proclaim'd King by the Army Thus fell that Usurper Richard in the Thirty seventh Year of his Age and Third of his Reign His Wife was Anne youngest Daughter of Richard Earl of Warwick by whom he had Edward Prince of Wales Earl of Chester and Salisbury born in his Uncle King Edward IV.'s Reign An. 1473. of whom before As also a Natural Daughter viz. Catharine Plantagenet But neither of them surviv'd him XIX § VII King Henry VII Son of Edmond Teuther Earl of Richmond by the Lady Margaret Daughter and Heir of John Duke of Somerset lineally descended from John de Beaufort before-mentioned having thus gotten the Victory at Bosworth the first thing he did was to secure Edward Plantagenet Earl of Warwick about Fifteen Years of Age Son of George Duke of Clarence of whom also before kept Prisoner in Yorkshire by King Richard III. together with the Lady Elizabeth the former of which he sent to the Tower the other to her Mother in London whither he follow'd by slow Journies and was Crown'd Octob. 30. the same Year And having call'd a Parliament in which the Inheritance of the Crown of this Realm and France was entail'd on him and the Heirs of his Body he married the said Lady Elizabeth Jan. 18. following In 1486. he call'd another Parliament in which it was enacted That the Queen Dowager Elizabeth should forfeit all her Lands and Possessions because she had voluntarily submitted her sell and her Daughters to Richard III. contrary to her Promise to the Lords c. On which she retir'd to a Nunnery at Bermondsey where she died not many Years after And now such as favour'd the House of York set a Project on foot to lay by King Henry and advance the aforesaid Edward Earl of Warwick to the Crown To which purpose one Richard Simond a crafty Priest of Oxford having a sharp Pupil call'd Lambert Simnell and not unlike the said Earl either for Stature or Years He is pitch'd upon to personate him and take his Name who as was given out had got out of the Tower Nor was it long ere he was so well instructed in the Mien of a Prince and the Lineage he was to pretend to that they adventur'd for Ireland where he was receiv'd as the undoubted Heir of the House of York which the Irish rather favour'd than that of Lancaster Upon advice of this the Earl of Lincoln Son of John de la Pool Duke of Suffolk by Elizabeth Sister to King Edward IV. and others his Friends not thinking it meet to neglect so fair an Opportunity got over into Flanders to the Lady Margaret Dutchess Dowager of Burgundy one other Sister of the said King Edward where they met the Lord Lovel who had escap'd from Bosworth and at last concluded among them That Lincoln and Lovel should go into Ireland and there attend upon Lambert and honour him as King and taking with him two thousand Men should with the Power of the Irish Men bring him into England in which if they succeeded Lambert should be laid by and the true Earl of Warwick be deliver'd out of Prison and Crown'd King King Henry on the other hand made no more of it than to expose the Earl of Warwick to a publick view through the City 'till hearing that the Earl of Lincoln was arriv'd in Ireland and had Crown'd Lambert at Dublin with a resolution of coming for England he gather'd a great Army against him who by that time was landed near Lancaster and came forward to Stoke where the King's Forces met him and after a hard-fought Battel and total Overthrow to Lambert he and his Tutor were taken Prisoners June 16. 1487. and being brought to London Lambert was made a Turn-spit in the King's Kitchen and the other as being a Priest committed to perpetual Imprisonment There were also other Insurrections the same Year which the King dispers'd by his Proclamation of Pardon ere it came to the Sword And having made a Truce with Scotland for seven Years Crown'd his Queen Novemb. 25. following About this time the King of France making War upon the Duke of Bretagne King Henry mediates between them But to no effect for upon the death of the said Duke 1488. the King of France over-ran the Dutchy incorporated it to the Crown of France and in 1489. married the Dutchess King Henry lik'd not this new Accession and therefore since nothing else could prevail made War upon France 1490. The Dutchess of Burgundy laid hold of the Occasion and brings upon the Stage one Peter or Perkin Warbeck to take on him the Name and Person of Richard Duke of York second Son of King Edward IV. her Brother not murder'd in the Tower as she gave it abroad but escap'd into Ireland whither she had underhand sent him In which he acted his Part so well that he was taken for what he personated 1491. The French King being advertis'd thereof sent for him out of Ireland to the intent to arm him against King Henry who was then invading France gave him a Royal Reception and assign'd him a Guard On which several of the English got over to him But it so happening that the two Kings were made Friends Perkin was dismiss'd and with his Followers went to the Dutchess of Burgundy who joyfully welcom'd him yet seeming as if she had never seen him solemnly examin'd him Of his escape from being murder'd In what Countries he had wandred By what means he had found Friends and What Chance of Fortune had brought him to her Court. To all which he made such direct Answers that she assign'd him a Princely Guard and call'd him The White Rose of England 1492. And to the end the truth of the matter might be the better known Sir Robert Clifford and one William Barely are by the common Consent of such as favour'd the House of York sent over to the Dutchess to declare their Intentions concerning him Which when she had heard she brought them to Perkin who so well humour'd the thing that Sir Robert wrote back to them and to put them out of doubt affirm'd That he knew him to be
Richard Duke of York King Edward's Son by his Face Gesture and other Lineaments of his Body King Henry during this time was not â—sleep but sent over several Spies under the â—otion of Fugitives by which means he got into Perkin's Councils and came to the knowledge of his Confederates of whom some took sanctuary others were put to death 1493 and amongst them the said Sir William Stanly whom he had made Lord High Chamberlain and that only for saying If he knew the Young-man was the Son of King Edward IV. he would not draw his Sword against him Of which being convicted he was beheaded Feb. 16. 1494. However Perkin deeming he had Force enough yet left put to Sea and attempted to land in Kent but being repuls'd made back to Flanders and thence into Ireland which answering not his Expectation he sail'd for Scotland where he made his Tale so well that James IV. at that time King not only own'd him as Duke of York but married him to the Lady Catharine Gourdon Daughter of Alexander Earl of Huntley his near Kinsman 1495. and the Year following invaded England with Fire and Sword and in a manner wasted Northumberland On which Perkin beseeching him to spare his Subjects the King disgustingly bade him first see if they were his Subjects or not and finding few or none come in to him return'd for Scotland King Henry on this resolving a Revenge on Scotland the Parliament granted him a Subsidy of 120000 l. against the Payment of which Cornwal rebells and under the Conduct of one Flammock a Lawyer came into Somersetshire where they were headed by the Lord Audley 1496. The King of Scots lays hold on the Occasion and invading England again besieges Norham Castle which Fox Bishop of Durham Lord thereof had fortified But being not able to take it suddenly and hearing the Earl of Surrey was on his march near him return'd for Scotland and was follow'd by the Earl when by the Mediation of the Ambassadour of Spain Commissioners whereof the said Bishop was one are appointed to treat between both Kings at Jedard in Sctoland which ended in a Truce With this Condition nevertheless That though the King of Scots could not be persuaded to deliver up Perkin that yet he should discharge him his Protection and Dominions which was accorded and accordingly done 1497. The Cornish men in this time had gotten within four Miles of London where after a great Slaughter their Leaders were taken and executed Yet were not the Rabble so absolutely cut off but that upon their coming home hearing Perkin was gotten into Ireland they sent to him to come and head them which he slack'd not to do and being proclaim'd King by the Name of Richard IV. laid siege to Exeter but hearing the King was marching against him sent his Wife to the Mount in Cornwal whence she was taken and deliver'd to the King and flying away by night himself took sanctuary at Beaudly in Hampshire but finding no possibility of escaping and withal tempted with the promise of pardon he voluntarily submitted himself to 〈◊〉 King's Pleasure who set him in the Stocks upon a Scaffold in the most publick Places of London and Westminster where he confess'd the Impostor and having after that attempted an escape he was arraign'd and convicted Novemb 16. 1499. and on the 23d of the same Month drawn and hang'd at Tyburn And the said Earl of Warwick upon his Arraignment before his Peers as consenting to the same having confess'd the Indictment and throwing himself upon the King's Mercy had Judgment thereupon and was beheaded on Tower-Hill the 28th following And so after fifteen Years imprisonment ended this poor Earl and with him the Name of Plantagenet While matters went thus at home the King of Scots writes to the Bishop That because he had several things touching the Peace of both Crowns which he would communicate with himself only he desir'd him to come into Scotland which with King Henry's approbation he accordingly did and from one thing to another so wrought it that a Match was concluded between the said King of Scots and the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter of King Henry 1501. contracted Jan. 25. 1502. and took effect 1503. the Queen her Mother having died Feb. 11. before Nor had this Match been sooner concluded than the King married his eldest Son Arthur Prince of Wales to the Lady Catharine Daughter of Ferdinand King of Spain Novemb. 14. 1501. After which the Prince not living above five Months his younger Brother Henry afterwards King Henry VIII was created Prince of Wales Feb. 18. 1503. After which besides filling his Coffers the King did little saving the getting into his hands Edmond de la Pool Son of John de la Pool Duke of Suffolk by Elizabeth Sister of King Edward IV. who as pretending to the Crown had not long before fled into Flanders upon the King's Promise nevertheless That he would not put him to death which he observ'd but left it to his Son and died April 22. 1509. in the Fifty second Year of his Age and Twenty third of his Reign A wise politick Prince who having the Three Titles of Lancaster Conquest and his Wife Elizabeth eldest Daughter of King Edward IV. could never be brought to declare by which of them he claim'd He had Issue by her 1. Margaret Tudor born Nov. 29. 1489. of whom before Grandmother of Mary Queen of Scots the Mother of James VI. King of Scots in whom the Kingdoms of England and Scotland were united 2. Elizabeth Tudor born July 2. 1492. died Sept. 14 1495. 3. Mary Tudor born 1498. promised to Charles Prince of Castile afterwards Emperour but upon the death of her Father married to Lewis XII King of France 4. Catharine Tudor born Feb. 2. 1503. but died young His Sons 1. Arthur Tudor Prince of Wales born Septemb 20. 1487. died in his Father's life-time April 2. 1502. 2. Henry Tudor Duke of York born June 22. 1492. and succeeded his Father 3. Edmond Tudor born Feb. 21. 1498. and died the Year following XX. Upon the death of King Henry VII his only surviving Son Henry was the day following proclaim'd King by the Name of King Henry VIII His Father's Funerals and his own Marriage with the Princess Catharine Widow of his Brother Arthur by the Dispensation of Pope Julius II. being over his next business was their Coronation which was perform'd June 24. 1509. and quieting the Clamours of the People touching the matter of Sir Richard Empsom and Edmond Dudley Esq Persons employ'd by Henry VII for compounding the Forfeitures upon Penal Statutes which they had manag'd so ill that being thereof severally convicted they were attainted in Parliament of High Treason and thereupon beheaded Aug. 18. 1510. Howbeit John Dudley Son and Heir of the said Edmond was restor'd in Blood by the same Parliament and towards the latter end of the King made Viscount Lisle and Lord High Admiral of England The New-years day following the
Queen was brought to bed of a Prince named Henry who died Feb. 22. following And now the Magnificence of the Court being somewhat allay'd the King resolv'd of a Royal Expedition into France to which the Parliament gave largely but not thinking it safe to leave the before-mention'd Edmond de la Pool behind him he took off his Head April 30. 1512. and having created Sir Charles Brandon Son of Sir William Brandon Standard-Bearer to Henry VII at Bosworth-Field and there slain Viscount Liste he landed at Callice June 30. 1513. and taking the Field laid siege to Terwin where the Emperour Maximilian taking pay under him wore the Cross of St. George as the King's Soldier To relieve this Place came the French with a powerful Army Aug. 16. but were so put to flight that in memory thereof it was call'd The Battel of Spurrs and the Town surrendred in two days after From thence he advanced to the City of Tournay took it and return'd for England Septemb. 24. To divert the King from this pursuit in France James IV. of Scotland had invaded England and besieged Norham Castle but was encounter'd by the Lord Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey Lieutenant of the North in the King's absence at Flodden Field where the said King lost his Army and Life together Septemb. 9. the same Year On which the King created the said Earl Duke of Norfolk with an augmentation to his Coat of a Demi-Lion shot in the Mouth within a Countre Treasure Flowrie three Parts of the Arms of Scotland Sir Charles Brandon Viscount Lisle Duke of Suffolk Feb. 2. 1514. and Thomas Woolsey his Almoner Bishop of Lincoln the March after Lewis XII King of France now stricken in Years began to be weary of War and finding that the design'd Marriage between the Prince of Castile and the Lady Mary Sister of K. Henry was broken sent over Ambassadors to treat of a Peace and amongst other things of a Match in particular between this Lady and himself with Offers of a large Dowry and Security for the same which by the management of Woolsey was so contriv'd that both took effect with this Condition That if the French King died then the Lady if it stood with her Pleasure might return into England again with all her Dowry and Riches Which being consented to a Peace was proclaim'd Aug. 7. the Marriage consummated Octob. 9. the Queen Crown'd Novemb. 5 1515. and came to Paris the next day where after several solemn Justs the English left her and the King her Husband died Jan. 1. following Not long after which Cardinal Benbrike Archbishop of York King Henry's Ambassadour at Rome dying Woolsey is made Archbishop thereof and upon the Archbishop of Canterbury Warham's giving up the Seal the next Year Lord Chancellor and Cardinal Upon the death of King Lewis Francis I. succeeded him to whom and the Queen his Sister King Henry having made the usual Compliments and being advertis'd of her Inclination to return into England he sent the Duke of Suffolk to receive her which was honourably condescended to and the Queen deliver'd to him who pleas'd her so well that she married him at Callice and return'd with him for England 1516. The King seems offended at it but is quickly reconcil'd However the Cardinal now Legate à Latere disobliges him and not him only but the Prime Nobility of England particularly Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham the last hereditary High Constable of England whose Head also he brought to the Block May 17. 1521. and with that and his other Exorbitances the general Hatred of the Commons upon himself But what hasten'd his Ruine may seem to be this Charles V. Emperour and King of Spain had refused him the Archbishoprick of Toledo to be reveng'd of this he procured a Friendship between King Henry and the King of France to the end That if probably a Divorce could be made between the King and Queen Aunt to the said Emperour that the King might have married the Dutchess of Alençon the French King's Sister However it were the King after a Twenty Years Marriage makes it a Scruple of Conscience Whether she could be his lawful Wife as having been the Widow of his elder Brother Prince Arthur and endeavours a Divorce from which the Queen appeal'd to the Pope The Cardinal on the other hand finding the King had an eye on the Lady Anne Bullen Daughter of Sir Thomas Bulen Treasurer of his Houshold whom he had created Viscount Rochfort June 18. 1525. and Earl of Wilis Decemb. 1529. and notwithstanding his Endeavours to the contrary would marry her if the Divorce to which the Pope was utterly averse took place so shuffled the matter between the Pope and the King that he fell into the King's displeasure which wanting no aggravation of his Enemies for Friends he had few or none the Great Seal was taken from him Nov. 17. 1529. and Sir Thomas Moore Speaker of the House of Commons made Lord Chancellor the 24th of the same Month and a Writ of Praemunire issued against him in which upon his Confession he had Judgment to forfeit all his Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels c of which he made a large Inventory and sending it to the King by Sir William Gascoigne his Treasurer retired into the Country Howbeit the Bishopricks of York and Winchester were not taken from him nor Plate and Houshold-stuff sufficient for his Degree His Power thus clipp'd one would have thought it sufficient but alas he had a Head yet left and who knew but the King might not have quite forgotten him therefore to make sure Work and him a terrible Example for those are the Words there were Forty three Articles signed by the said Chancellor and by Fourteen Lords of the Privy-Council and the Two Chief Justices exhibited to the King against him Decemb. 1. 1530. which being brought down from the Lords to the Commons Thomas Cromwel his Secretary a Member of the House made so honest a Defence of his Master that the King took him into his Service After which the Lord Chancellor Mocre as little fond of having the King marry the Lady Bullen as had been the Cardinal foreseeing the Cloud that was gathering against him after long suit made to be discharged of his Office gave up the Seal May 7. 1532. and was beheaded for denying the King's Supremacy July 6. 1535. or rather because that he had not put on his Wedding-Garment for the Lady Bullen whom he made Marchioness of Pembroke Septemb. 1. married her Jan. 25. following in the presence of Cranmer his late Ambassadour at Rome whom not long after he made Archbishop of Canterbury Whereupon it was enacted That Queen Catharine should no more be called Queen but Princess Dowager And the Archbishop not to be wanting on his part divorc'd her from the King and by a Publick Sentence declar'd the Marriage to be void and of none effect May 23. 1533. On which Queen Anne was Crown'd June 1. delivered of a
Daughter Elizabeth who afterwards was Queen Septemb 10. following And lastly after a like Divorce beheaded with a Sword May 19. 1536. Three days after whose death some say sooner he married the Lady Jane Seimour Daughter of Sir John Seimour who brought him a Son Prince Edward who succeeded him October the 12th 1537. and died two days after During this â—ime the Cardinal with the King's leave was on his Journey for York but arrested of High-Treason by the way and died at Leicester Abbey Nov. 30. 1530. ere he could reach London To him succeeded in Favour and Power his Servant Cromwell the occasion thus The Cardinal had by the Pope's License suppress'd some small Religious Houses for the Endowment of his Colleges of Christ's Church in Oxford and Ipswich which the King made use of as a Wimble to let in the greater Augre and Cromwell his Instrument for suppressing the rest If they voluntarily surrender'd they went off with Pensions if otherwise and that they defended their Possessions they ran Whiting the Abbot of Glastenbury's Fate to be hang'd for taking Arms against the King From which Beginnings there were first and last dissolved Monasteries 645. whereof 26 had Place and Voice among the Peers Colleges 90. Chauntries and Free-Chappels 2374. Hospitals 110. Nor was the King wanting to give him a Figure suitable to the Undertaking for in the compass of three Years he made him Master of the Jewel-House a Privy Councellor Secretary Master of the Rolls Lord Privy-Seal and Baron Cromwell July 10. 1536. Vicegerent in Spiritualibus the 18th of the same Month Knight of the Garter April 23. 1538. Earl of Essex and Lord High Chamberlain of England April 18. 1540. And his Son Gregory Baron of Okeham which Title remain'd in his Family 'till by the death of Vere Cromwell late Earl of Ardglas in Ireland without Issue Male it was extinct 1686. The King had now been a Widower two Years when Cromwell thinking to rivet himself in the King's Favour by a Queen of his making negotiated a Match for him with Anne Sister of William Duke of Cleve c. who was married to him Jan 6. 1540. But the King not liking her they were divorc'd by Act of Parliament upon her own Consent she renouncing the Title of Queen for that of the King 's adopted Sister And with this Match fell Cromwell for it brought him into the King's disfavour Nor wanted he Enemies to load him by whose procurement he was committed to the Tower July 9. 1540. and the King having No More need of him attainted in Parliament of High Treason and Heresie without so much as being call'd to answer and thereupon beheaded the 19th of the same Month. His FIFTH Wife was the Lady Catharine Howard Daughter of Edmond third Son of Thomas first Duke of Norfolk whom also he attainted in Parliament and beheaded Feb. 13. 1541. The Year following the Title of Lord of Ireland was by the respective Parliaments of both Kingdoms alter'd into that of King of Ireland And to encourage such of the Irish Nobility as came in to him he created O Brian Earl of Thoumond June 3. 1543. And Mac-William a-Burgh Earl of Clanricart July 1. following and 12th of the same Month married the Lady Catharine Parr Widow of the Lord Latimer who had the luck to survive him and was afterwards married to the Lord Admiral Seimour Nor had he after that Year the opportunity of doing much saving that he landed an Army in Scotland under the Conduct of the Lord Admiral Dudley who burnt Lieth to the ground forc'd Edinburgh and having fir'd it as also Thirty other Towns and Villages came back for England by Berwick 1544. And to close the last Scene of his Life he made a Royal Voyage into France and besieg'd Boloigne which by the Personal Courage and Conduct of the said Lord Admiral was surrender'd and the King rode triumphantly into it Sept. 8. the same Year and made him Governour thereof For the recovery of this the French made several attempts but all unsuccessful Whereupon it was at last concluded between the two Kings That if the King of France paid the King of England 800000 Crowns in eight Years he should have Boloigne restor'd to him and that in the mean time it should remain in the King of England's hands as a Security for the Money June 7. 1547. After which falling into a Dropsie he died Jan. 28. following being the Fifty fifth Year of his Age and Thirty seventh of his Reign He had the Soul of a Prince Magnificent and Liberal and whatever may be said of King-Craft understood what it was to be a King Nor were the Popes Julius II. and Leo X. less sensible of it which made them so forward to have engag'd him to their Interest For the former having by a Decree of the Council of Lateran depriv'd the King of France of the Title of Christianissimus transferr'd it to him but died before the Bull was sent over 1514. and the latter granted to him Poster is suis the Title of Defensor Fidei 1521. His Wives as hath been said were SIX but he had Issue only by the Three first viz. By Queen Catharine 1. Henry Tudor born Jan. 1. 1509. and died Feb. 22. following 2. Another not Named born 1514. but liv'd not long 3. Mary Tudor born Feb. 18. 1518. and afterwards came to be Queen of England By Queen Anne Bullen 1. Elizabeth Tudor born Septemb. 10. 1533. who succeeded her Half Sister Mary in the Crown 2. A Male-Child still-born Feb. 29. 1535. By Queen Jane Edward born as before made Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwal and Earl of Chester Octob. 18. 1537. His Natural Issue Henry surnam'd Fitz Roy begotten on the Lady Elizabeth Talbois Daughter of Sir John Blount Kt. and Widow of Sir Gilbert Talbois created Earl of Nottingham June 18. 1525. and the same day Duke of Richmond and Somerset Died without Issue his Father living 1536. XXI To his Father succeeded his only Son Prince Edward VI. a Protestant to whom being yet but Nine Years of Age his Mother's Brother Sir Edward Seimour created Viscount Beauchamp 1536. Earl of Hertford 1538. was appointed Governour proclaimed Lord Protector Feb. 1. 1547. and made Duke of Somerset the 17th of the same Month At which time also his younger Brother Sir Thomas Seimour was made Lord Sudley and High Admiral of England the late Lord Admiral Dudley Earl of Warwick the Lord Chancellor Wriothsley Earl of Southampton and the King Crown'd the 25th following Whereupon the REFORMATION began but the Lord Chancellor seeming averse to it was remov'd from the Privy-Council discharg'd of all his Offices and Sir William Pawlett Lord St. John made Chancellor in his room In which Year the Parliament having given the King Free-Chappels c. he set out the Free-Chappel of St. Stephen founded by King Stephen for a place of Sitting for the House of Commons which before that time had been in the Chapter House of the
Abbot of Westminster And now Commissioners being appointed for matter of Religion not yet disannull'd by Parliament it came into the Protector 's and Council's mind of a Match that upon the death of King James V. King of Scotland had been treated and concluded by the Parliament of that Kingdom with King Henry VIII for the Prince his Son now King with the Lady Mary their young Queen sole Daughter and Heir of the said James and which by the Contrivance of Cardinal Beaton Archbishop of St. Andrew's was now obstructed to the intent of marrying her to Francis Dauphin of France as it afterwards took effect April 24. 1558. To have prevented this an Army is rais'd and Scotland invaded by Sea and Land where after several Skirmishes the Protector engag'd them at Fauxside and Musleborough whence after a great Slaughter and having secur'd a Footing in the Country he return'd for England the September following But as to the young Queen did so little good that it was doubted Whether this Army and that too for a great part Foreigners was rather rais'd to force a Princess out of her own Country to the Marriage of a Prince not yet ripe for her than to secure himself at home During this and his Brother the Lord Admiral 's absence in Scotland whether it were that the Protector 's Wife could not brook the Queen Dowager Parr her Husband 's the Admiral 's younger Brother's Wife to take place of her or that the Admiral kept not thorough-pace with him there grew such a feud between the Brothers that cost them both their Heads For within a Year and half after their return the Admiral was sent to the Tower and without Trial attainted in Parliament and thereupon beheaded March 20. 1549. Nor had he recover'd this false Step before he made another in slipping an Opportunity that play'd into his hand for the Commissioners having thrown all Images and what thereunto appertain'd out of the Churches and the Parliament abolish'd the Missal and enjoyn'd a New Book of Common-Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments in its room the Cornish Men first and after them Oxfordshire Bucking hamshire Norfolk York and others ran into Rebellion which he fortunately suppress'd and thereby became Master of an Army which he might have wrought to any thing at least crush'd his disguis'd Friend but secret Enemy the Earl of Warwick who had stola the Lords of the Council from him and now jointly impeach'd him as the occasion of the late Tumults and at the same time pray the City and the Commons to aid them to take him from the King Whereupon he is committed to the Tower Octob. 14 following and having not Interest enough to hinder the said Earl from being made Lord High-Chamberlain he tamely submitted to a Marriage between the Earl's eldest Son and his eldest Daughter and got his Liberty for that time But this patch'd Friendship lasted not above two Years for the Earl of Warwick being made Duke of Northumberland and the Lord Henry Gray Marquess of Dorset his Consident Duke of Suffolk Octob. 11. 1551. and now Governing all the late Protector was within five days after again committed to the Tower and convicted of Felony upon a Statute of his own making viz. For purposing and attempting the Lives of the said Northumberland and Suffolk two of the King's Privy-Council which by that Statute was made Felony On which he was beheaded Jan. 22. following And the King left so unguarded by any but themselves and their Creatures that it seem'd no difficulty to bring the Crown into their own Families To this purpose a Marriage is contriv'd between the Lord Guilford Dudley Fourth Son of the said Duke of Northumberland and the Lady Jane Gray eldest Daughter of the said Duke of Suffolk by Frances Daughter of Mary Sister of King Henry VIII of whom before and that so cover'd under the specious Pretence of securing the Protestant Religion against the Lady Mary the King's Sister a Catholick that the King not only further'd it but being in a sickly condition did by his last Will and Testament declare the said Lady Jane Gray to be Rightful Heir in Succession to the Crown of England To which also besides the Lords of the Council all the Judges subscrib'd their Names excepting only Sir James Hales one of the Justices of the Common-Pleas who would neither by Word nor Writing give his Assent to the disherison of Queen Mary Not long after which the King died to wit July 6. 1553. in the Seventeenth Year of his Age and Seventh of his Reign but unmarried and Childless and might perhaps have liv'd longer if he had not been a King Three days after the Lady Jane Gray was proclaimed Queen and the same day the Lady Mary Sister of the last King Edward and eldest Daughter of King Henry VIII sent a Letter to the Lords of the Council thereby claiming the Crown by Right of Succession and requiring them upon their Allegiance to have her proclaim'd Queen Which being sleighted by them she withdrew to her Castle of Fremingham whither several of the Nobility and Gentry repair to her The Council on the other hand dispatch the Duke of Northumberland after her but the Men of Suffolk first and after them those of Oxfordshire Northampton and Norfolk came in so thick to her and six Ships of War declaring for her the Council at London proclaim her Queen the 19th of the same Month left the Duke of Northumberland to shift for himself and secur'd the Lady Jane and her Husband in the Tower XXII Queen Mary a Catholick being thus proclaim'd the Duke of Northumberland was arrested at Cambridge and brought to the Tower and together with the Marquess of Northampton and the Earl of Warwick Son and Heir of the said Duke arraign'd of High-Treason before Thomas Duke of Norfolk Lord High-Steward of England where praying the Opinion of the Court Whether a Man doing an Act by Authority of the Prince's Council and by Warrant of the Great Seal of England and doing nothing without the same may be charg'd with Treason for any thing done by virtue of the same And being answer'd That the Great Seal which he laid for his Warrant was not the Seal of the Lawful Queen of the Realm but the Seal of an Usurper and therefore no Warrant to him he confess'd the Indictment as also did the other two and had Judgment as in Cases of High-Treason Aug. 18. the same Year On which the said Duke was beheaded the 22d and Queen Mary Crown'd Octob. 1. following At which time also she publish'd a General Pardon in which notwithstanding were excepted by Name the Archbishops of Canterbury and York the Bishop of London and others of the Clergy and the two Chief Justices Sir Edward Montacute and Sir Roger Cholmley with other Men of the Law for counselling or at least consenting to the Deprivation of Queen Mary and aiding the aforesaid Duke of Northumberland in the pretended Right of
Conspiracy to kill the King raise a Rebellion alter Religion subvert the State and procure an Invasion of which Sir Walter Raleigh a mortal Enemy to Spain and no Friend of the Scots was one and after a Fourteen Years reprieval by the means of the Spanish Lieger Gundomar had his Head taken off upon the former Judgment though there wanted not those that thought it was Jure Injuria And now came on the Business of Spain As King of Scotland the King was in Amity with Spain as King of England at War with it And therefore finding himself under that double Circumstance he first call'd in all Letters of Mart against the Spaniard and not long after concluded a Peace with them to the Confirmation of which Albertus and Isabella Archdukes of Austria were sworn And thus in Peace with all Christendom the King created his Second Son Charles Duke of Albany then Four Years old Duke of York Jan. 2. 1604. with the yearly Fee of 40 l. payable by the Sheriff of York out of the Issues c. of that County The Year following was discover'd the Gun-Powder Treason Plot which ended in the Attainder and Death of the Conspirators and was particularly congratulated by the King of Spain and Archdukes of Austria In the Year 1610. the King having had an Aid of his Subjects to make his Son a Knight created Prince Henry now Seventeen Years of Age Prince of Wales but he liv'd not long to enjoy it for during the Treaty of a Marriage between Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhine with the Lady Elizabeth the King 's only Daughter he sell sick and died Novemb. 6. 1612. However the Marriage took effect and was consummated on St. Valentine's Day following And Prince Charles created Prince of Wales 1615. But hear the time the King had created his Son Henry Prince of Wales he created a new Patent-Honour of descendible Knighthood by the Name of Knights Baronets The occasion thus In the beginning of the King's Reign Charles Lord Montjoy Lord Deputy of Ireland return'd for England and brought over with him Hugh O Neal Earl of Tyrone who Queen Elizabeth yet living had submitted himself to the Queen's Mercy and whom the King pardon'd and made proclamation That he should be treated with Respect and Honour And yet in 1609. he goes off into Ireland and with Tyrconnel and others gets beyond-Sea and sollicites a new Assistance from foreign Princes but having left several forfeited Lands behind them in the Counties of Colerain Tyrone and Donegal the King comes to Articles with the City of London for the planting and building the same Which being accepted the King by his Charter 1611. erects the Ville of Derry into a City and the Town of Colerain into a Mayor-Town and together with the said forfeited Lands consolidates the whole into one County by the Name of the County of London-Derry And having by the same Charter created a Body Politick of Twenty four Persons Twelve of them to be annually elected out of the Twelve First Companies of London for the Government of the same by the Name of The Society of the Governour and Assistants London of the New Plantation of Ulster in the Realm of Ireland grants the said City Town County and forfeited Lands to the said Society and their Successors in perpetuity under the yearly Rent of 205 l. And now to give Countenance to it and put 200000 l. in his Pocket without being beholden to his Subjects he erected this new Honour and for him his Heirs and Successors covenanted with each of them respectively That they and the Heirs Males of their Body should take Place next the youngest Sons of Barons That by way of augmentation to their own Arms they should bear a part of O Neal's Arms viz. in a Canton or Escutcheon Argent a hand Dextre couped Gules And lastly stinted their Number to Two hundred Persons whose Issue as they chanc'd to fail should not be supplied with new Persons but the Order to run out In which last Clause yet the King covenanted for himself only and left out his Heirs and Successors tho' if the printed Lists be true Himself made Two hundred and One. In consideration of which each of them was to maintain Thirty Foot-Soldiers in Ireland for Three Years after the rate of Eight-pence a Day and for the payment of the Monies strike a Tally in the Exchequer for 1000 l. The King also some time after erected a like Order of Baronets of Nova Scotia who instead of the said Hand dextre couped should wear an Orange-colour'd Ribbon athwart their Shoulders as Knights of the Bath their Red Ribbon with a Medal on which the Arms of Scotland were enamell'd and a Pear-Pearl at the end of it with this Motto Faxment is honestae Gloria But whether besides the advantage of another Plantation he got as much by the one as he did by the other does not appear Though this may be said of both All Parties were well satisfied Nor happen'd there during this time any thing much remarkable saving the breaking one Favourites Neck to make way for another the placing and displacing of Great Officers the frequent Creations of Nobility which though it added to their Number may perhaps be thought to have taken from their Grandeur and the Death of Queen Anne which happen'd March 2. 1619. The Palsgrave Frederick thus strengthen'd with the Alliance of England was in the Year 1621. elected King of Bohemia Nor was he sooner invested in the Crown than the Imperial Bann issued against him which was so seconded with a longer Sword that having lost the Battel of Prague and with it his New Crown and his own Patrimony of the Upper and Lower Palatinate he was forc ' to retire into Holland On this King James though he never could be brought to own his Son-in-Law as a King had that care of his Daughter that he sent an Embassie to the Emperour to sollicite the Restitution of the Palatinate which returning without success he consults Gundomar what to do in the matter who advises him to make a Marriage with the Prince his Son and the Infanta of Spain Which said he would be easily effected if the Prince might have leave to make a Journey into Spain Which was accordingly done and the Prince receiv'd with all the Kindness and Magnificence imaginable Where having been spun out for eight Months together to no purpose contrary to the Expectation of most Men he return'd safe into England Whereupon the King taking new measures it was first resolv'd to recover the Palatinate by Arms in which the Parliament promised him a liberal Assistance and next to provide the Prince a Wife elsewhere For which purpose an Embassie was sent into France to treat of a Marriage with Henrietta Maria younger Daughter of King Henry IV. and Sister of Lewis XIII King of France which took effect but was not consummated 'till after the Death of King James which happen'd March 27. 1625. in the
of Perth 1618. and both ratified by an Act of Parliament of that Kingdom But what by reason of the Palatinate War and his own Death it went no further in his time And King Charles was so taken up at home that he was forc'd to deferr the finishing it 'till he came into Scotland where he was Crown'd May 18. 1632. And in a Parliament which fate soon after he caus'd an Act of Ratification of all that had been done by his Father to be propos'd which not without strong opposition was carried by the far greater Number And after his return for England he order'd the Dean of his Chapel-Royal at Edinburgh That the English Liturgy with its usual Ceremonies should be used in his said Chapel On this the Presbyterian Scots insinuate to the People That this was a Design to subject the pure Kirk of Scotland to the Superstitions of the Church of England And the Lords and Gentry who fear'd nothing more than that they should be forc'd to surrender possess'd them That Scotland was to be reduc'd into a Province and Govern'd by a Lord Lieutenant as was Ireland And thâ—doz'd into a Belief that their All was at stake what was there on which their Drivers might not run a heedless Multitude And now the Dutch seeing the King's handâ— full not only encroach'd upon the Britâ—â—â— Seas by their frequent Fishings but began 〈◊〉 dispute the Right of the Dominion in 1634 which the King being resolv'd to maintain and having several Precedents for Ievying a Naval Aid upon the Subjects by the sole Anthority of the King by a Writ under the Great Seal when the Good and Safety of the Kingdom is in danger the King by Letter under his Signet Feb. 12. 1636. consults the Judges in it who all of them Twelve in number return'd their Opinions under their Hands That theKing might do it and in case of refusal compel the doing it by Law And that the King is sole Judge both of the Danger and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided However Two of them Hutton and Crook afterwards retracted what they had so formally given under their Hands which was the cause of no little Trouble in the Kingdom the Sound of which was not long ere it reach'd Scotland albeit upon the solemn Arguments of all the Judges in the Exchequer-Chamber touching this matter Judgment was given for the King The King as has been said had order'd â—he English Liturgy to be us'd in his Chapel-Royal at Edinburgh which at the Request of â—he Scots Bishops having been amended to their â—wn Model was agreed to by the King and â—ent back into Scotland and by the Bishops â—nd Lords of the Council of that Kingdom â—rder'd to be read in the Great Church July 23. 1637. Upon the very opening of which there â—rose such a Tumult of Stools and Cudgels thrown at the Dean the Reader 's Head that â—he Provost and Bailiffs of the City had much â—do to suppress Nor fared it better in several other Churches where by the like Command it was also read and from one thing to another ran to that heighth that Protestations being grown too strong for Proclamations they enter into a Confederacy and bind it with a Covenant for Maintenance of the King's Person and Authority but how in Defence of the Gospel of Christ and Liberties of the Kingdom of which themselves were Judges and the mutual Defence of each other against all Persons whatsoever Whereupon the Marquiss Hamilton is fent thither to compose the Differences but with no effect For notwithstanding all the King's Condescentions they could neither be brought to acknowledge they had parted from their Obedience nor renounce their Covenant than the least Tittle of which they declar'd they would fooner renounce their Baptism And thereupon took upon them a Power of convoking a General Assembly in which they first depriv'd all the Bishops and soon after abolish'd the Order it self seiz'd the King's Castles and ran into Arms but finding the King upon the Borders with a powerful Army and themselves better prepar'd for a Treaty than a Battel a Pacification is made July 17. 1639. And upon promise of future Loyalty the King pardons them But alas the Core was not got out and the Ulcer rather skinn'd over than heal'd for the King had scarce come to London ere they broke all their Articles and apply to the King of France to favour their Proceedings and give them his Assistance On which the King calls another Parliament which open'd April 13. 1640. and instead of taking the King's Business in hand or the least notice of this Insolence of the Scots ran to that heighth against Ship-Money Knighthoods and the Actions of divers Ministers of State though done by the King's Warrant that they were dissolv'd May 5. following And now the Scots who had form'd an Intelligence with some of the English Nobility and Gentry and consequently assur'd of being favour'd by them when it came to a Point take Arms again and publish a Declaration Not to lay them down 'till Religion was setled in both Nations and the Causers and Abettors of their present Troubles the Prelates and their Adherents but more particularly the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Earl of Strafford were brought to publick Justice in Parliament which also they desire may be call'd And thereupon march into England where notwithstanding their giving out That they would take nothing without ready Money they charge those adjacent Parts with Eight hundred and fifty Pounds a Day Nor had the King been so negligent all this while but that by the help of his better-affected Subjects he met them with an Army sufficient to have reduc'd them had it come to a Battel or had he not been over-persuaded out of it into a Treaty at Rippon he had probably prevented those ill Consequences that follow'd the slipping that Opportunity However it ended in a patch'd Agreement for the present and gave the King the advantage of being assur'd of the Earl of Montross's Fidelity to him and readiness to serve him On which the King calls a Parliament which met at Westminster Novemb. 3. the same Year And hitherto was but the beginning of Sorrows The Parliament thus met the King declar'd his earnest Desires for the Welfare of the Kingdom desired them as he promis'd he would to lay by all Prejudice and he would freely put himself upon the Love of his Subjects Will'd them to consider of the best way for the Safety and Security of England First in chasing out those Rebels who had invaded it and next for satisfaction of Just Grievances And as freely leaving it to them where to begin clos'd with this That it should not be 〈◊〉 Fault if this were not a good and happy Parliament And truly great might have been the Hopes concerning this Parliament had they not begun a Note too high to make any Confort For first an Impeachment was sent up from the Commons against
1648. in the Forty eighth Year of his Age and Twenty fourth of his Reign And thus fell this oppress'd King than whom many have worn a Crown longer no one left it with so much Resolution His Queen and Relict was Henrietta Maria as hath been before said by whom he had Four Sons and as many Daughters 1. Charles Stuart born Christen'd and died the same Day March 18. 1628. 2. Charles Stuart Prince of Wales born May 29. 1630. who after a Twelve Years subversion of the Government was restor'd 1660. 3. James Stuart Duke of York born Octob. 14. 1633. who his Brother dying without Issue succeeded him in the Crown 4. Henry Stuart Duke of Gloucester born July 8. 1640. died after the Restauration Septemb. 13. 1660. His Daughters 1. Mary Stuart born Novemb. 4. 1631. married to William of Nassau Prince of Orange May 2. 1641. by whom she had one Son Henry William born nine Days after the Death of his Father Crown'd King of England April 11. 1689. She died Decemb 24. 1660. 2. Elizabeth Stuart born Decemb. 28. 1635. died Septemb. 8. 1650. 3. Anne Stuart born March 17. 1636. died Decemb. 8. 1640. 4. Henrietta Maria Stuart born June 16. 1644 at Exeter from whence she was convey'd into France and married to Philip Duke of Orleans Brother to Lewis XIV the present King of France She died 1670. King Charles I. being thus dead and that whatever it were of a Parliament according to the known Laws of England thereby dissolv'd they that had kill'd the Father knew they could not be secure 'till they had done as much by the Son and therefore immediately abolish the Monarchy and turn the Name Style Title and Test of the King into that of The Keepers of the Liberty of England by Authority of Parliament and make it High-Treason to proclaim or any ways to promote Charles Stuart commonly call'd Prince of Wales or any other Person to be King c. Yet this hindred not but that several printed Declarations in the Name of the Nobility Judges Gentry and other the Freemen of England were scattered about London thereby recognizing the Prince's Hereditary Birth-right to the Crown c. and their Resolutions of defending it to the last Man Dated Feb. 1. in the First Year of the Reign of King Charles II. XXVI The House of Lords was yet sitting and sent to the Commons for a Conference touching these matters who instead of vouchsafing them an Answer by their Votes Feb. 6. declare the Kingly Office to be unnecessary and burthensome and the Lords House dangerous and useless and therefore to be laid aside Against these Proceedings the Lords protest and the Army set a Guard upon their House to prevent their assembling And the Commons wholly took it away and their Privilege of Peerage with it unless being duly Qualified they shall be elected to sit in Parliament And thereupon enacted themselves The Supreme Authority of the Nation A Commonwealth and Free State without any King or House of Lords And committed the Executive Part of the Government to A Council of State erected by them of whom Forty were principal Officers in the Army And having obliterated the very Prints of Monarchy they proceeded to the Sale of King's Queen's Prince's Bishops Dean and Chapters and Delinquents Lands of which themselves were for the most part Purchasers and that at easie Rates During this time the Parliament of Scotland that they might at least seem not wanting to their Duty recognize the King's undoubted Right of Succession to the Crowns of these Kingdoms But with this Clause in it That he be not admitted to the Exercise of it 'till he had given Satisfaction to the Kingdom touching the Security of Religion and the Unity betwixt the Kingdoms according to the National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant Middleton on the other hand and several of the Scots Nobility that were for having the King admitted without previous Conditions take Arms in the Highlands but were dispers'd before the Marquess of Montross who with Men and Arms was just landed in the Isles of Orkney could come up to join them However this nothing daunted his Magnanimity but that with the Assistance of some few that came in to him he successfully made good the King's Interest against the Covenanters as he had formerly done his Royal Father's in 1645. And now they at home finding no great danger to be yet fear'd from Scotland cast an eye upon Ireland where the Irish had generally submitted to the King's Authority and with the Assistance of several of the English that had serv'd his Father had in a manner reduc'd the whole Kingdom excepting Dublin and the more remote parts of Ulster And having laid a new Tax of 90000 l. a Month for the maintenance of the Army they order Seven Regiments of Foot Four of Horse and One of Dragoons to be sent thither and appoint Cromwel General and his Son Ireton Lieutenant-General for the Expedition who with all the haste that could be transported their Forces and landed in Dublin Aug. 5. 1649. whence after a little refreshment Cromwel marches them for Drogedah and after several repulses takes it by storm puts all to the sword with out respecting either Age Sex or Condition and in less than a Year subdues the most part of the Kingdom to the Power of the New Commonwealth and returns for England leaving Iretan to finish the rest which he liv'd not to effect but died of the Plague at Limerick and was succeeded by Ludiour While things went thus in Ireland the Estates of Scotland had spun out a lingering Treaty with the King at Breda during which the Kirk-Party having surpriz'd Mentrosa defeated his Forces and gotten himself betray'd into their hands they bring him to Edinburgh hang him on a Gallows Thirty Foot high and quarter him May 21. 1650. at what time yet his Resolution was so great and his Deportment so winning that he won more from them by his manner of Dying than he could have vanquish'd in the Field by Arms. However the Treaty took effect at last and the King lands in Scotland and was proclaim'd at Edinburgh July 15. And now the Men at Westminster better known by the Name of The Rump think it high time to look about them and form an Army to be sent thither Fairfax should have commanded it but whether it were that the Covenant had bewitch'd him or Cromwel out-witted him he declin'd the Charge and Cromwel is made Generalissimo and with 16000 effective Men enters Scotland and has a Fleet on the Coasts to attend his motions Nor was it long ere he engag'd the Scots Army and gave them 6000 Horse and Dragoons and 15000 Foot a Defeat at Musleburgh and a total Rout at Dunbar Septemb. 3. the same Year On which they quit Edinburgh and retiring to St. Johnsteun for new Recruits Crown the King at Scoon Jan. 1. following Nor was Cromwel idle all this time but having Edinburgh-Castle surrender'd
to him deseated a strong Party under the Command of Sir John Browne and from one step to another at last takes St. Johnstoun He was now about laying a Siege to Sterlin-Castle when the King taking the Opportuity march'd his Army into England by the way of Carliste Aug. 6. 1651. where he was forthwith proclaim'd King and met no opposition 'till he came to Warrington Bridge where Lambert got up with his Reer and was worsted But the King 's wearied Army being not able to reach London he came to Worcester Aug. 22. 1651. where probably he might have expected Supplies though few came in to him saving Sir Cecil Howel Son of the Lord Howard of Escrick who met him by the way with about 60 Horse of his own raising and the Earl of Darby with 250 Foot and about 70 Horse at Worcester from whence going into Lancashire with a considerable number of Officers that had serv'd King Charles I. he form'd a reasonable Army but ere he could get back to the King was intercepted and with the slaughter of most of them taken Prisoner himself and not long after beheaded notwithstanding the Quarter that had been given him On this Cromwel surrounds Worcester where whether it were by Fate or Treachery he gave the King a total Rout the said Septemb. 3. was a Year with the slaughter of 2000 and 8000 taken Prisoners besides 76 Cornets of Horse and 99 Colours of Foot with the King's Standard However the King leaving Colonel Carlosse in his Reer got off in the dark to a House of the Earl of Darby's about Twenty five Miles from Worcester where by the Diligence of the said Colonel and the Fidelity of the Pendrils Men of an ordinary Condition he was first preserv'd in an Oak and from one Disguise to another at last safely landed in France by a small Cole-Bark of which one Tettershal was Master Octob. 22. following And now Cromwel returns triumphantly thro' London with his Trophies and Prisoners driven before him the former of which he hung up in Westminster-Hall and so dieted the latter in Tuttle-Fields that there being scarce 500 of them left alive he sold them Slaves to the Barbadoes But ere he came out of Scotland he had left the Chief Command of the English Forces there to General Monck a Gentleman of an ancient Family in Devon bred a Soldier in the Low-Country Wars and who had honourably serv'd King Charles I. both in England and Ireland but being taken Prisoner by the Parliament and under some straits in the Tower Cromwel who could not engage him to draw his Sword for them in England prevails yet with him to go with him into Scotland against the Covenanters Where having left him Sterlin-Castle was in a short time deliver'd to him Dundee taken by storm and the rest of the Kingdom generally subdu'd or submitted to the New Lords at Westminster On which they enacted the Union of the two Nations and the Abolition of Monarchy in Scotland And yet ere matters came to this heighth there fell an occasion of Quarrel between the Dutch and them Dorislaus who drew the Charge against King Charles I. had been sent by them Ambassadour to the Hague where about a dozen Cavaliers headed by one Whitford enter'd his Chamber as he was at Supper with some of the States kill'd him and got away As not long after ran the same fate Ascham their Envoy at Madrid However this Infant-State thought it not fit to make a downright Quarrel 'till they could go by themselves but sent other Ambassadours St. Johns and Strickland to offer a League with the United Provinces which was entertain'd with so little forwardness that within a Month after the Battel of Worcester they passed an Act against the importing of Merchandize in other than English Bottoms disturb'd their Fishing on the English Coast search'd their Ships as carrying Provisions to France and made some of them Prize And now the Dutch send their Ambassadours to desire that Friendship they before slighted and the Rump on the other hand so stood on Terms never likely to be granted that it came to Blows and the Dutch wisely made the Flag the state of the Quarrel Whereupon ensued several Naval Engagements The first of these was May 17. 1652. where with 23 Ships against 42 of the Dutch of which one was taken another sunk and no one of the English so much as disabled Blake first asserted the Dominion and carried it for that time and the States excus'd it as a rash Action done by Trump without their Privity or Consent But the Men at Westminster requiring Satisfaction for their Charge and Damages before they would hear further It came to a second between Sir George Askew and De Ruyter Aug. 16. and may be call'd a Drawn-Battel though the Dutch out-number'd him by Ten Ships During this time Blake had spoil'd and dispers'd their Herring-Fishing and taken Twelve Men of War that guarded them On which follow'd a third Engagement Octob. 28. between Blake Monck and Deane joint Admirals for the English and Witt Wittens and De Ruyter for the Dutch in which the Reer-Admiral of the Dutch was boarded and taken Two others sunk and One blown up besides Five of their West India Ships and Six Streights-Men which Blake had taken in his coming up to it The fourth was Novemb. 29. with 80 Dutch Ships against 40 English then riding in the Downs not expecting an Engagement in which Blake lost the Garland taken the Bonadventure burnt and three others sunk and by the favour of the Night got off with the rest On which Trump stuck a Broom in his Main-top The fifth was Feb. 8. off of Portland which lasted three Days and in which the English lost one Ship The Sampson and Blake receiv'd a desperate Wound on his Hip the Lameness of which he never recover'd but took Eleven of their Ships of War besides Thirty Merchant-Men On which the Rump laid a Tax of 120000 l. a Month for the maintaining the War The sixth was June 2. 1653. at what time Trump coming upon our Coasts with 104 Ships of War 12 Galleots and 9 Fire-ships was encountred by Monck and Deane with 100 of all sorts The Fight was desperate and lasted two Days during which without any one Ship lost or disabled and saving his Colleagne Deane who was taken off by the Waste by a Great-shot but one Captain kill'd Monck sunk six of their best Ships saw two others blown up and took eleven of which three were Flag-ships when at last Blake coming in with 18 fresh Ships the Dutch got off upon their Flatts The seventh and last Engagement was July 29. when Trump coming up with 95 Ships was met by Monck who by reason of Blake's Indisposition now commanded singly with 106 Ships and fought it 'till Night parted them But by the next Morning Trump being re-enforc'd with 25 Ships by Wittens and Monck having given Orders through his Fleet neither to give nor take Quarter
'till the point were decided it came to a more bloody Trial in which besides their Admiral Van Trump slain they lost Vice-Admiral Evertson and Thirty two others sunk himself and four Captains and twelve hundred common Men taken up after the Fight and made what sail they could for the Texel Nor did Monck think it fit to pursue them as having bought the Victory with the loss of eight Captains and about five hundred common Men slain five other Captains and seven thousand private Men wounded and one Ship The Oak sunk While matters were thus at Sea the Army as well as the Nation were become so sick of our New Commonwealth on Shoar that they urge them to dissolve themselves which they not daring to refuse nor yet willing to yield determine it to Nov. 5. 1654. but trifled so much time about Qualifications for their Successors that Cromwel not meaning to stay so long and the Army declaring against them as a Party of Carnal Men and not to be trusted with the Choice of their Representatives turn'd them out of the House and set a Guard upon it April 23. 1653. This done Cromwel and his Officers constitute A Council of State made up of themselves and their Confederates of the late House and place the Supreme Authority in them 'till a Representative could be chosen which not long after was patch'd together of an hundred forty two known Persons as the Cant was Men fearing God and of approv'd Integrity but so ridiculous as to Man that it was thought Cromwel got them together to no other end than to bring Parliaments into contempt However they met July 4. and having declar'd themselves a Parliament the Council of State resign their Supremacy to them and they appoint a New Council of State consisting of Cromwel and his Officers with Power to transact all Publick Affairs treat with Ambassadours c. But in that five Months time that they sate they had so unhing'd every thing and done nothing but to the worse that even their Masters who brought them together were asham'd of them and most of themselves so sensible of it that their Speaker Rous with the Mace before him and a major part of them following him came to Whitehall and surrender'd to Cromwel the Instrument he had deliver'd to them at their first sitting and in four Days after the Officers of the Army having form'd a New Instrument of Government they entreat him to accept it under the Name of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland which at first he seemingly refus'd 'till at last persuaded into what he had so long design'd he submits to the Exigence of Time and Affairs and was the same Afternoon viz. Decemb. 16. 1653. accordingly inaugurated in Westminster-Hall The Dutch by this time had made a truer Estimate of the English Force than they did when they began the War and having underhand tamper'd with Cromwel for a Peace and finding they might have easier Terms from him than the Rump would even hear of they sent over Ambassadours to him Nor was he so well setled as to refuse a fair Proffer and Money to boot whereupon a Peace was concluded between them and proclaim'd April 5. 1654. in which the King of Denmark was included And near the same time he made another with Queen Christina of Sweden Spain also France and Portugal seek his Friendship but Spain could not obtain it And so this first jobb being over he return'd Monck back into Scotland though with all his Art he could never get him back again and sent his second Son Henry Lord Deputy into Ireland and call'd a Parliament which met Septemb. 3. 1654. Nor had they searce taken their Seats ere they fell to disputing the Power by which they were call'd whereupon a Recognition of the Government as it was then setled in a single Person was sent them to subscribe with an Inhibition to any one of their entring the House 'till he had done it In which though most of them complied the whole was dissolv'd within the first five Months which was contrary to the said New Instrument In 1655. he made an attempt upon Hispaniola but miscarried in it and took Jamaica with little or no opposition And to cover at least secure against the Slurr at home he decimated all the Royalists i. e. took a Tenth part of their Estates and set up Eleven Major-Generals to Tax it and keep them in awe The Year following he call'd another Parliament which met Septemb. 3. and they perhaps guessing what he would be at present him an Humble Petition and Advice to take the Title of KING which he refus'd twice but being press'd to a more positive Answer he had the very Morning that he made the Third Denial resolv'd to accept it But whatever it was that made him change his Mind does not appear though if his Secretary Thurloe may be believ'd it was not that he fear'd the General Officers for there were New Commissions actually drawn for others who had accepted their Commands Where upon the Word King in the said Petition and Advice was expung'd and he in a more solemn manner invested with all the Regal Ornaments the Crown only excepted June 26. 1657. and proclaim'd by the Name of Oliver Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland After which the Parliament being adjourn'd to Jan. 20. he in the mean time in Imitation of the old Constitution created a New House of Lords by the Name of The Other House Of which the Commons taking no more notice than to ridicule it and then falling to dispute the Government he thought it high time to put an end to their sitting and dissolv'd them Not long after which having escap'd several Attempts of as well Commonwealths Men Fifth-Monarchy-Men as Royalists he at last to the wonder of Mankind died in his Bed on his twice-Auspicious Third of September 1658. having according to the Power given him by the said Humble Petition and Advice first declar'd his eldest Son Richard his Successor who contrary to the expectation of Fleetwood and Lambert whom Cromwel had severally cajol'd with the Promise of the Succession was the next Morning solemnly proclaim'd Lord Protector c. But he lasted not above three Quarters of a Year and in him ended the Protectorship And yet before we come to the Restauration it may not be amiss to remark the several Turns of Government that from the 30th of January 1648. befel the Nation 'till that happen'd For 1. The Monarchy was subverted and turn'd to a Republick under the Name of The Keepers of the Liberty of England by Authority of Parliament or for brevity sake The Rump and they lasted 'till April 1653. 2. Cromwel turn'd them out and plac'd the Supreme Power in A Council of State constituted by himself and they held it 'till July the same Year 3. From them he turn'd it into the hands of his Men of Integrity and made them a Parliament