unequall than that was The Parliament in the mean time when they found nothing done by the Commissioners they had sent to the King resolve to execute their former commands they command the Lieutenants of Counties to perform what they formerly had enjoyned them and presently to raise such an Army who willingly went about it hoping from troubles to finde occasion to do their business yet some looking deeper into it refused to raise Arms without the Kings Order Also the Houses purposed to remove Pennington that was come back again because they found him more enclined to the King than to the Parliament but he denied to yield to them unless the King should force him to it The King trusting to his fidelity refused to discharge him and to receive Warwick whom they would substitute But the Lower House the Upper House being against it who held it unfit to proceed without the Kings consent pressed the business and confirmed the first Election and being exasperated by the Kings inclination resolved seriously for to make a Warre of it All the provision of Hull or other Garrisons they commanded to be brought to London fearing least the King should at some time possess himself of the Town and Ammunition But they to whose trust these things were committed would not deliver them without command from the King They valued not all their threats and commands to have the Governour of the Town delivered up unto them In the mean time the Sommersetshire men detesting the obstinacy of the Parliament by example of the Men of Kent presented an humble Petition to the Parliament but they offended with their boldness command it to be burned by the Hangman to deterre the Sommersetshire men from profering any more such Petitions who were charged to come in no greater multitudes than was requisite The King also desired to sail into Ireland with a sufficient Army to tame the Rebels But the Houses fearing least he should allure the Rebels to joyn with him and being strengthened with their Forces should return for England denied him his request and preferred their own fears before the relief of so many miserable men He in the mean time deposed the Earl of Essex from being Chamberlain and Leicester from being Deputy of Ireland and the Earl of Holland for their disobedience But the Houses on the contrary forbid all of them to do any such thing without their prohibition on penalty of their lives also they confirmed Warwicks Authority And that they might fortifie the mindes of all men the more and exasperate them against the King they spread a report that there was a great provision made by him for Warre against the Commonwealth and the Laws saying that all the subjects were therefore freed from their Oaths The King holds forth the contrary in his Declarations And when some Lincolnshire men came to him in Troops and offered to defend the Kings Cause he forbad them stifly and to manifest to all his love of Peace he commanded them all to go home again upon the condition that they should return to assist him when they were called He detained only 500 Foot and 50 Horse for his Life-Guard Many of the Nobility were drawn by this lenity of the King to revolt to him The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal that had done him so many injuries asking pardon of the King was friendly received by him This was the cause that many others fell away so that in the Upper House there remained not above fifteen and they the most bitter against him These with new representations concerning the Education of his Children the Offices of the Kingdom and such like questions wearied the Kings minde But they prevailed nothing for those Captains and Souldiers that were mustered against the Rebels in Ireland leaving their Colours freely fled to the King at York Whereupon the King augmented his Life-Guard to 1200 Foot and 200 Horse all descended of Noble Families and for the greater Honour to them he made the Prince of Wales their Captain These being required to manifest their fidelity did all swear unanimously to defend the Kings Cause but all the Nobility offered willingly to rais◠severally 200 Foot in Arms if occas 〈…〉 By which constancy of the subject and by a small summe of money he received out of Holland the King began to be cheered with new hopes Then he appointed the Yorkshire men to meet him at a certain place on the 13th day of June not farre from York who accordingly came with about 60000. The King with his Sonne some Lords 600 Horse and a considerable party of Foot met them there and with a premeditated Speech he declared his good intention toward Religion the Parliament and to defend his own Rights and Kingly Dignity Also he made an Apology for the good of his Souldiers that were present then he shewed unto them the Acts of Parliament Lastly he promised good pay if any man would assist him because he desired to use the help of his subjects rather than strangers This Speech was received by some with great applause others made their humble Petition that the King would hold a good correspondency with his Parliament and desired that he would send those Lords back to the Parliament who had revolted from them But the Earl of Lindsey the Kings Chamberlane and Lovel foreseeing the dissention might rise from this Petition suppressed this faction at the beginning Where 〈…〉 they were displeased and divers men went away from the King But the King accompanied with twenty thousand men came to York and commanded them all to return to their houses The Parliament was not ignorant of this business they accuse the said Lords of Treason because they had hindred the subjects from Petitioning freely for relief of their grievances not remembring what example they had given by refusing the Petitions of the Men of Kent and Sommersetshire and not only so but had severely punished them for offering their Petitions Then they raised an Army of 10000 Foot and 2000 Horse and send them towards York hoping they would increase by others coming to them And they borrowed a sufficient summe of Money from the Londoners who strove who should bring most of their silver and guilt Plate and whatsoever pretious things they had hoping of great advantage they should receive by it But the Kings misfortune began when 20000 pounds were detain'd by the Exchange being published at London which the Queen had borrowed with the Crown Jewels laid to pawn this was a mighty stop to the Kings proceedings The Houses increased the more who some in vain being angry at it endeavoured to raise a great Army The King also who had with advice made delaies and spun out the time could no longer wink at these preparations for Warre but by Letters by Policy by open Warre he did press the business uncessantly and with great impatience And he politiquely attempts to take Hull having obtain'd the consent of some of the Garrison But Hotham who
small Summe of money from the Londoners by threats and violence And then turning to the Nobility he asked a Subsidy of them in vain and he found his Church-men as backward with whom he could do little or nothing Then enterprizing an Expedition to the holy Land to free the King of France he called an Assembly of his Bishops and Peers from whom when he could not obtain one mite of money being like a mad man he drove them all out of the Chamber The Bishop of Ely for that injury was excepted against by him At last some help was afforded him whereupon he was forced to confirm solemnly Magna Charta but that money which he had appointed for the holy Warre was quickly wasted partly by gifts partly by banquetting and other frauds invented for his own destruction Also he had upon a vain hope redeemed the Kingdomes of Sicily for his son Edmund paying a great summe of money to the Pope In the interim the Welsh vexed with great injuries fall away from the Prince and to suppresse these and reduce them to obedience he stood in need of a new supply of money which at last by neat devices and inventions he wrung from them In the mean while Richard Earl of Cornwall the Kings brother at the suit of the Princes of Germany is chosen King of the Romans but shortly when he grew insolent with importunate oppressions and revenges he was put out of the place and returned for England a poor Emperour who went out a rich Earl But Henry that he might make up that money which the Pope had wiped him of by a vain boast of the Kingdom of Sicily he asks once more a Subsidy from his Nobles who refusing stifly and the King pressing for it they fall to odds afterwards calling a new Parliament which the Lords had procured for the safety of the Kingdom he was compelled by Oath and his Son also to confirm it At which time it was Enacted that the Kings Brother with the men of Poictiers that remained in England should presently depart the Kingdom But a contagious pestilence arising either naturally or by some venom these strangers scattered when they departed Many of the Nobility died whereupon many were put to death out of bare suspicion some are cast into prison and some are banished Nor did less evils for this afflict the English for they that had the charge of correcting the errors of others did with all cruelty weed up the miserable English that now so many Lords as there were so many Tyrants there were and the servants were grown like their Masters And that they might stirre up the envy of the subjects against the King they cast all the fault upon him which he endeavoured to free himself from by his publick Writ but all in vain when he was compelled in a solemn Parliament to give that power he had given to twenty four chosen men before to the Earls Montfort and of Glocester and to Spencer taking an Oath to confirm it unto them In the mean while Richard King of the Romans being landed in England Henry growing bolder by the return of his Brother though he were poor first demands a discharge of his Oath from the Pope then he opposed himself against the insolency of the Nobility He flies to help from the French King who is chosen Umpire between Henry and his Nobles to end the controversie but when he did nothing they break forth on all sides into open Warre The Count of Leicester drives forth the Earl of Glocester and storms his Castle and laid a great fine upon the Citizens Then he took the Fort at Worcester and afterwards the Isle of Ely and the Castle of Windsor But the King fearing least he should come so farre as London thought it concerned him to make peace with him They agreed at last on these conditions That all the Castles should be delivered up to the Lords and all strangers at a day appointed should forthwith depart the Kingdom only those excepted who had a Licence given them to stay But the King calling a new Parliament he drew some of the Nobility especially his own sonnes to his party to whom John Comminus Bayly Robert Bruse and others from Scotland joyn'd themselves with these being not a little confirmed he denounceth Warre against the Earls of Leicester and Glocester who did not at all excuse themselves who seeing the King daily increase in Forces levying a sudden but farre less Army oppose the King and here fraud supplied the parts of vertue for setting their Banners behinde without Souldiers they made a shew of a greater Army than they had And fortune helped a good cause for the Kings Forces being dispersed the greatest part of them was oppressed and slain the rest saved themselves by flight But the King the Prince and Earl of Cornwall and his Sonne Henry and all the Scotch Nobility fell into the enemies hands There had been an end of the King and his fortune least a contention arising between the Earls of Leicester and Glocester had given cause to a hot contest and afterwards to a sharp Warre where Leicester being too weak yet fell valiantly with wonderfull glory By the same fortune Simon and Guide Montforts the Sonnes of the Earl of Leicester were banished one into Italy the other into France where afterwards they gave their name to most illustrious families Also their Mother a gallant woman being gone a little before into France ended her life in a Nunnery A new contention being risen amongst the Nobles they sound the Trumpet to Battell again also the Welsh who had helped Earl Monifort are remanded to be slain But peace being confirmed on all sides this trouble abated without blood Rest now obtained at home Edward Prince of Wales at the request of the French King goes forth toward the Warre in Palestina but Richard once King of the Romans died in the mean time whom Henry himself followed shortly after whilst he studied to repair the losses he sustained by Warre EDWARD the first King of England Anno 1272. WHen Henry died Edward staied in Palestina being intent about the holy Warre where he underwent a grievous danger having received three wounds from his adversary with a poisoned weapon But he was cured by the wonderfull piety of his wife who with her mouth in time sucked out the venom from the wounds In his way being made more certain of his Fathers death he came at last over-land into his Country and was inaugurated King At the beginning of his Reign he used the Nobility well but he to abate the insolence of the Clergy commanded their wealth to be brought into his Exchequer and he afflicted them by other means and so drew upon him their envy The Welsh whose custom it was on all occasions to make new Commotions now afresh under their Leader Lionel rise up against Edward and rage with wonderfull pride but this tempest soon vanished for Eleoner the Daughter of Simon Monifort
from Heaven For hiring a Cellar under the Parliament-House be laid in a vast deal of Gun-pouder which he purposed to set fire to and so to blow up at once all the Parliament-House together with the King the Prince and all the Nobility but the matter was discovered by the importunate care of the Conspirators who gave warning of the danger to the Lord Mounteagle Sonne to the Lord Morlay a Member of the Parliament and one that they loved very well In this Vault there were found terrible Instruments of this damned wickedness that a man would wonder at which were presently taken away Then the Conspirators were executed Catesbey with his companions John and Christopher Wright and Thomas Pierce flying to his Arms was killed with a shot others were taken and executed Amongst whom was Everard Digbey who was unwillingly drawn into this Conspiracy for otherwise he was a man of excellent parts And thus that hainous wickedness that had troubled the devils themselves was purged away In Northampton and Warwickshire new tumults arose first by Fines then by John Reignold that led them but this faction was soon allayed and the Authors were punished In the mean time Frederick Count Elector Palatine came to London to marry Elizabeth King James his Daughter The Marriage was solemnized with wonderfull pomp but all these joyes were over-shadowed with clouds of sorrow for on the sixth day of November 1612 Prince Henry departed this life Various reports were spread abroad by the vulgar as if indirect means had been used but his Physicians gave it under their hands that he died of a violent malignant Feaver Charles the Kings second Son succeeds him in the Principality of Wales About this time that Gallant and Noble Spirit Sr Walter Rawlrigh after fourteen yeares imprisonment made addresses to the King to get leave to visit the New-found-World in America to which he gave him liberty and a Commission under the great Seal to set forth Ships and Men for that Service his Reputation and Merit caused many Gentlemen of quality to venture their Estates and Persons on the Design Many considerable adventures were performed though with great difficulty but more especially that of the taking and burning St Thomes Information being sent to Gendimer who was Embassadour here in England never rested assaulting the King with importunity for reparation Rawleigh no sooner comes a shore at Plimouth but he had secret information and did endeavour to get from thence in a Bark for Rotchell but being apprehended by Sr Lewis Stukly he is brought to London and committed to the Tower Gondimer that looked upon him as a man that had not only high abilities but animosity to do his Master mischief being one of those scourges that Queen Elizabeth had made use of to afflict the Spaniards Having now gotten him in the Trap he laid his Bâ—its about the King In October he was brought to the Kings Bench-barre at Westminster before the Lord Chief-Justice where the Records of his arraignment at Winchester were opened and he demanded why the judgement should not be put in execution Ralwrigh replied that Judgement was void by the Kingâ— Commission for his late expedition The Lord Chief-Justice replied the opinion of the Court was to the contrary He required time to prepare for death but it was answered the appointed time was the next morning Accordingly on the morrow he lost his Head on a Scafford in the Palace-yard The Earl of Buckingham as great in Title as favour was now grown a Marquess and lying in the Kings bosom every man paid tribute to his smile Worcester and Nottingham are taken off for him to be Master of the Horse and Admirall of England Queen Anne about that time fell sick and died She was a Queen to be had in everlasting memory for her Noble Vertues The King also fell sick but by Gods affistance he recovered The Palsegrave in the mean time who had married Elizabeth by the prompting forward of some of the German Princes was chosen King of Bohemia The Emperour was wonderfully enraged at this Election and proclaimed Warre against him driving him first out of Bohemia and afterwards out of all Germany who in Holland the common refuge for all wretched people found a bountifull and safe entertainment But James that he might help his Sonne in Law made a motion for a Marriage of his Son Charles and the Spaniards Daughter Charles is sent into Spain through France by Land where he saw upon his journey Mary Daughter to Henry the fourth He was received in Spain in outward appearance magnificently but a dissention arising between the Duke of Buckingham and Count Olivares the principall Don of the Spanish Court the Treaty for the Marriage was drawn out at langth but Charles being impatient of delays was called home again by his Father and arrived safe in England and afterwards he married Mary whom he had affectionately beheld in France What remains to be spoken of King James is either scarce worth recording or not so consonant to the truth He died at last of a disease of the Spleen though there were false reports spread abroad that he was poysoned when he had reigned twenty two years and was fifty nine years of age in the year 1625. He was a true Platonick Prince a Husband worthy of his Wife an honest Father to his Children a good King to his Subjects because he was a Prince he was the Most Learned and he was the Best Prince by reason of his Learning When this King reigned the English Plantations were setled in the Indies as in Virginy which Country Sr Walter Rawleigh first discovered and in the Barmudoes whither an infinite multitude of inhabitants presently resorted building publick and private houses and made a Commonwealth The same was done by others in New-England to the great comfort of such as were distressed and fled thither CHARLES the first King of Great-Brittany France and Ireland Anno 1625. CHARLES the first succeeded his Father being twenty five yeares of age The first design he had was to marry Henrietta Mary Daughter to Henry the fourth King of France as he purposed before who landed in England the 22 day of April and was received magnificently Then a Navy was prepared against the Spaniard for all friendship was grown stale between these two Kings by reason of the breach of the Marriage and the business of the Palatinate he joyned with the Ships of Holland and sent away toward Spain and first assaulting Cades and not prevailing they set up sail to Sea and spoyling all the Spanish Vessels they met they return for England Now a Covenant was made between the English and the United Provinces and they resolved with joynt Forces to tire out the Spaxiard but Charles whose Exchequer was empted by reason of his great Expence of his Spanish Voyage and setting forth of his Navy was forced to call a Parliament but Buckingham the Kings chief Minister of State and most dear unto him had
Ministers of the Barbarians Pansanius and Cunaus to procure a supply out of the Popes Treasury yet it is supposed that the King knew nothing of it promising if she prevailed that the Catholicks in Ireland should have greater liberty in their Religion But Rosset denied that any such assistance could be granted to any unless to a Catholick Prince as they term it but if the King would abjure the Reformed Religion and cleave to the Church of Rome he promised all assistance but he hating such a sacriledge nothing was done Rosset for this business was in great danger for the English who after they had renounced the Roman Religion hated his name more than the Plague or death it self when they saw that his followers had more freedom and were not ignorant of Rosset who was the Author of it they make a tumultuous head against him that they might tear in pieces this hurtfull instrument of so hatefull superstition but he hardly escaping in disguised apparell hid himself amongst the friends of the Queen Mother Mary de Medicis who at that time was in England and afterwards he escaped all danger by the assistance of John Justinian the Venetian Embassadour and Embarking himself he sailed into Flanders but when he came to Rome Pope Vrban the eighth rewarded his good service with a Cardinals Cap. The Irish in the interim were broke forth into a new Rebellion and the Parliament used all means to finde a remedy for such a mischief And the King being not at quiet caused the Liturgy to be new printed which he imposed upon all the Churches in England and forbad all Ceremonies to be used otherwise than they were in Queen Elizabeths daies In the mean while that no new cause of divisions might be wanting seven Romish Priests are cast into prison and are condemned by the Parliament to suffer death but the French Embassadour pitied their miserable condition and sued to the King for their pardon the King answered he could grant nothing in that business without consent from his Parliament Then it was motioned to the Parliament who presently yielded to it The King when he knew this thought by an importunate anticipation to gain the thanks of that business to himself and of his own accord commands the Priests to be freed from the prison The Parliament was angry at the Kings over-forwardness and changed their former Decree of freedom into a Sentence of condemnation The King he began to urge their discharge and to stand upon it resolving never to leave the business untill the Parliament were met in a full number and should give their finall determination They of their own accord cause one or two of these Monks to be put to death It is wonderfull how great good will of the people they procured to themselves by this deed especially when by their publick Writings they began to infringe the Kings Authority using such sweet words to the people that might win their good liking of it The King in the House of Peers complains of the insolence of the Lower House and by a sharp Speech inveighed against their stubborness saying that he neither could nor would wink at so great affronts Others again complain against the Kings too great Power and desire remedies The King in the mean time strove to put out some from their places of publick employment and to put in others amongst the rest he put out Montjoy from his Lieutenants place of the Tower and put in another that stood fast to his part The Lower House interprets this business as if the King strove to draw all the power of Government to himself and accused this new Lieutenant before the Upper House for a factious person and who was before condemned by the Judges to dye and therefore a man unfit for so weighty an imployment They added farther that this matter could not be without danger for he having the command of the Tower might destroy all the City of London The Upper House answered That unless they would put their sickle into another mans Corn it were wickedness in them to hinder the King in that matter for it was an ancient and received prerogative of the Kings openly refusing their consent Nor was it long ere a multitude of Servants which they call Apprentices and a rabble of other people came to the Hall door crying out and thundring that unless they would remove out of that place the Lieutenant of the Tower who was a Papist a factious a wicked and unworthy man they would turn all upside down and they prevailed by this means so far that both the King and the Lords were forced to consent Nor was this furious multitude of the people content with this but they made a fresh onset to abolish the Government of Bishops and would have them all to be forwarnd the Parliament House for that they were addicted as they pretended to the Church of Rome and to force them to it they runne like furies into Westminster Abbey that was venerable for it's Antiquity and they fall in their rage upon the sacred Garments Organs Sepulchres and spoil all that was either comely for its Ancientness pretious for cost or to be valued for curious Workmanship they hardly spared the Bones and Ashes of the dead their impure purity had hurried them so farre Then they runne to the Kings Court crying urging and thundring out the same things The King had them all go about their business threatning them with severe punishment that refused and least the next day they should terrifie him with greater multitudes he fortified himself with a stronger Guard The Parliament either fearing themselves or because they would not be inferiour to the King require a strong Guard of Souldiers to defend them the Earl of Essex might be the Captain of it The King neither granted nor denied it Then they attempted a new business and that was not usual appointing an extraordinary Assembly in the City that should manage all weighty and great occurrences and this they did without the Kings leave or knowledge And to weaken his Majesty the more or rather to satisfie the insolence of the people they cast twelve Bishops into prison because they went about to maintain their priviledge by the publick Charter That business much troubled the King and all those that loved the publick quiet above all things but they that hoped to finde some good for themselves out of these tossings and tumults did laugh in their sleeves fomenting the troubles and turning every stone untill such time as the Earl of Bristol and his sonne were involved in the same danger Strafford the year before lost his Head to satisfie the people who was a man of a commendable and most approved understanding William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of England followed him But now they touched his bowels for they began to accuse the Queens Majesty as if she had privately caused the troubles in Ireland and had secretly moved that people that are
anothers Land The union and rest of the Kingdome being thus established for a time suddenly there arose a new faction of the Conspirators It was known to all what the intention was but what hopes they had was unknown to none because it was fortified but with small forces and was unprosperously suppressed those being punished that refused to submit At last all care is converted to the recovering of those Provinces in France that belonged to the English large Tributes and Imposts being granted to the King For though the French had promised restitution of them yet he would not yeeld them up but by force of arms yet it was deferred untill the King being of riper years should stand upon his own Right and should governe the whole matter himself In the mean while those fields that were fenced in for Parks by his Ancestors he laid them open and restored them for husbandry and to the common good But when he was grown up he recalled again those grants and what he gratified the people with in his minority he revoked turning those fields for his pleasure into Parks again And not content with this injury he alienated the hearts of his Subjects from him by many more unlawfull acts He abolished the old Seal and made a new one and so extorted a great summe of money from his Subjects Also he greatly drained them under a pretence of a warre with France and managing the matter slothfully he returned without a victory bringing with him out of France many of Poictou that what reward they had not desired in France he might pay them in England whereby the best men were discharged of their Offices and these vagabonds and strangers were possessed of them The King being now of ripe years took to wife Eleonor the daughter of Raymound Earl of Province whereby there grew no profit to his affairs but rather by reason of a thredbare and beggarly Family and her Kindred coming from all parts as Crows to the prey he suffered great detriment which yet were highly esteemed by him the people much murmuring at it But whilst the King thus goes about to overthrow his Subjects Rights which they labour to preserve all the Nobility being offended at the promotion of strangers they enter into a conspiracy The Ringleader whereof was Richard Marshall who durst freely tell the King of his injustice and required satisfaction But the King to punish their arrogancy muster'd a great Army of strangers and withall cals a Parliament which is an Assembly of several Orders The Nobility refuse to be present unlesse he would command the Bishop of Winchester Peter de Rupibus of Poictou and all his gang to forsake the Court threatning withall that unlesse satisfaction were made unto them they would depose the King and all strangers that were his Adherents and would choose another King the King therefore commands all that were upon Knights service and the Nobility to be present to fight for him which they all refuse to do whereupon he confiscated all their goods and distributed them amongst those of Poictou and their persons to be banished wheresoever they could be found By which threats they being frighted or corrupted by rewards the chief of them fall off whereby the rest were weakned and flie into Wales to the Prince of that Countrey Lionel drawn to hold part with them to whom Hugh Burgies came escaping out of a Castle where he was unjustly imprisoned The King follows those fugitives into Wales but came back with disgrace doing nothing But Richard Marshall when he would not return into the Kings favour being drawn cunningly into Ireland to look to his Estate and there being accused of Treason was killed though the King strove to remove the envy of that deed from himself A Parliament being called some men that had care of the Commonwealth were those that perswaded the King to leave off war and to make Peace with his Nobility the King hearkned to their councel and recalling the Nobles out of Wales he treats with them whereby they are restored to their former dignities and strangers that possessed their places were removed from all places and a great penalty laid upon them yet some of them as Fortune is inconstant were re-admitted into the Kings favour The King then feigning that all favour was for his own Subjects extorted a great Summe of money from them which yet he distributed amongst the poor kindred of the Queen and her Father a poor Prince And having promised before to exclude all strangers from favour and alwayes to take counsell of his Subjects he began now to esteem them more with which indignity the Nobility offended enter upon a new conspiracy to which as the Leader and Chief Richard the Kings brother had given his Name who being so bold as to tell the King of his faults to his teeth doth forcibly dehort him from such fallacies The King was much incensed with this and seeing the inclination of the Londoners toward the Conspiratours calling a Parliament and publishing the Conditions he treats with them for Peace But before it was come so far the Earl of Cornwall the Kings brother was drawn off to the contrary part whereby the Nobility urged their matters more faintly and so the Treaty could come to no conclusion The King now free from all impediments tyrannizeth more over the Nobles the chief of the Conspiratours were banished or turned out of their places Nor did he lesse oppresse the Clergy putting strangers into Church-Offices at the Popes request dispossessing the Nations and laying heavy Taxes upon them so that all hated him Henry purposing to make a new expedition for France asks Subsidies from his Parliament which being denied he was forced to borrow otherwhere Nor yet did he spend it successefully after a years delay and having done nothing well concluding a disgracefull peace with the French But returning for England he tyrannized over the Jews and wrested a great Summe of money from them which he yet consumed with unseasonable gifts very indiscreetly And so his Exchequer being consumed and Subsidies denied him from the Parliament gave him occasion of new oppressions and so drawing the means of the Church to himself was a cause of great differences between him and the Pope But the King being inconstant laid down the Bucklers and yeelded to the Pope who recovering his goods in England did againe pole the poor people of the Kingdome with continual sucking To this may be added that there was a daily conflux out of France and other parts into England of this new Family having some relation to the King this or that way whose wants must be magnificently supplied to the great detriment of the Commonwealth The King grew still poorer by it and so applied himself to rapines and extortions and sold such furniture as belonged to the Crowne wresting all the moneys he could to pay those he stood indebted to Then when he could no longer do it by such inconvenient wayes he obtained a
of the Spring truce being made with the French for three years the King took Margaret the Dukes sister to Wife for Leoner died in the former expedition against the Scot and the Daughter of Philip being betrothed to King Edwards Son he retreated for England Lastly making his incursion into Scotland when he held his Winter Quarters at Carlile where being taken with a dysentery in the way and the disease increasing he died at Burgh upon sands when he had reigned thirty four years He was taller then all the rest of a sorrowfull countenance for chastity like to his Father but in fortitude farre before him he was excellent for Judgement and Continence EDWARD the second King of England Anno 1308. EDward sirnamed Carnarvan by succession came to the Throne when his Father was dead But he at the very beginning shewed what his future Tyranny would be especially in turning upside down what his Father had left in command by his Will and calling Gavestone from banishment a young man of a most base life who for his insolency was exiled by his Fathers order and in his last words forbad him not to recall him who afterwards gave cause of great dissentions for when the King bestowed immoderate gifts upon him he made the Nobility envious against him and himself poor But his Father being yet not interred he endeavoured to conclude the Matrimony with King Philip's Daughter that was contracted when King Edward lived which is performed with great preparation of the Nobles and especially of Gavestone four Kings being present and three Queens except the Bride The Dowry was the Dukedom of Aquitan which the French King had possessed himself of But he being returned into England the Nobles were offended by reason of the too great power of Gavestone they deny the solemnity of the Coronation unless he would banish this insolent odious man from his Court and Kingdom The King seemed to hearken to it and so is inaugurated with his Queen in the Kingdom by the consent of all But whenas he should banish Gavestone he highly promoted him the Nobility not a little murmuring at it In the mean while the chief power was in Gavestone the Nobles had no authority and that he might precede the rest in glory a Tilting was appointed where he obtained the greatest praise His valour was worthy of reward but that the insolent man turned all to the contempt of the Nobility In the mean while a Parliament was called wherein amongst the rest it was Enacted That the Decrees of Magna Charta should be observed Strangers should be put out of their Offices and that all things should be done in a solemn sitting of the Senate nor should the King go out of the Land the Parliament being ignorant of it or against it nor should make Warre against any and that Gavestone should be banished Whereupon he is sent away for Ireland not as a banished man but as President of the Island where also behaving himself well he had deserved commendation and reward But the King by preposterous counsell a contract being made for him with the sister of the Earl of Glocister being impatient of his absence called him back from his banishment and presently settled him in his former grace and favour But he to give the King thanks by cunning flattery sucked the King of all he had that he left him scarce sufficient for his necessity The Nobles in the mean while hating his insolency threaten a generall revolt from the King unless he would send away his proud subject But Gaveston when he had wandred some time in France and Flanders returns privately into England being generally hated being the more confident by reason of the Kings and his Father in Law the Earl of Glecesters favour The King received him most friendly and that his arrivall might be concealed from the Nobles the King takes a journey with him toward York The Nobility that had knowledge of it enter a Conspiracy to which all subscribed but the Earl of Glocester And they make Thomas Earl of Lancaster the head of the faction and so they laid a necessity on the King either to deliver up Gaveston into the hands of the Lords or else to send him out of the Land But Edward being blinde with foolish favour would not hearken to the Lords but shut him up in a strong Castle that so he might escape the envy of the Nobility But they being sworn together besiege the place and compell him to surrender miserably and having taken him they cut off his head Three things were left in charge to Edward by his dying Father and were commanded in his Will namely That he should carry his Fathers bones along with him till he had conquered Scotland That he should expend 30000lb upon the holy Warre And that he should not recall Gaveston He obeyed not the two later for that money decreed for the Holy Warre he bestowed on Gaveston when he was come back for the third we shall see what he did The King of Scots Brusius who had long since intelligence of King Edwards slothfulness would not pass over such an opportunity of well managing his business levying an Army presently reduced all Scotland into his power And not therewith content he enters the borders of England and destroys all by fire and sword Edward to repulse force by force raised an Army of an hundred thousand Souldiers better fitted with furniture than valour which was easily vanquished by the Scotch that were scarce 30000 joyning craft and valour together The chief of the Nobility in this fight were either slain or taken Captives The Earl of Glocester himself when he had given sufficient tokens of his fortitude fighting valiantly in the head of the Army was killed the rest saved themselves by flight This made the hearts of the English to fail and a great part of the Nobles and Commons revolted to the Conquerours by a fearfull example of perjury punished Bruse following his Victories enters upon Ireland with an Army a great part of it he over-runne and depopulated it very farre Also he was saluted King of the same Island the inhabitants falling to him abundantly And he ruled three years untill the Primate of Armath and Berningam the chief Judge in Ireland raising a great Army set upon the Conquerour and take him with a great slaughter of his men and cut off his Head The Scots almost mad with the death of their King waste the Borders of England so farre as York with sword and fire To moderate their Insolence a great Army was raised of the English who marched toward York But discord growing between the Commanders before they saw the Enemy they either slipt away or returned home Then Barwick by the Treason of Peter Spalding was delivered up to the Enemies hands which Edward presently laid siege to But the Earl of Lancaster falling away with his men by reason of a quarrel the Scotch in the mean time making havock of all and
conquering divers Cities and Castles he was forward to retreat To this it fell out that the Yorkshire men raising a great power of the common people and setting upon the Scots were unhappily beaten and killed by them The King removing his siege from Barwick following the Scots that were laden with the prey and the spoil but he was frustrated of his end they having marched another way The next year entring Scotland because the Enemy had wasted all before his coming by reason of hunger and want was compelled to return back again But the Scotch following him and coming suddenly upon him he suffered a great losse and hardly escaped himself and so finding himself too weak for the Enemy he begged a Truce for two years But he was vexed with farre greater troubles than these at home For Gaveston being dead the younger Spencer succeeded in the Kings Grace and Favour who after he had obtained the Government of the Commonwealth in as high a manner as Gaveston had he could not choose but fall under the same malice of the Nobility But the cover of this envy was too unjust that it could be hid by a publick contest some other occasion must be sought for They all with one consent ask of the King that he would keep entire the Conditions formerly granted threatning him with a revolt and so they raise great Forces for War but the Prelates interposing they made Peace on both parts But shortly after a Parliament being called the King complains openly of the wrong they had done him and of Gavestons death But the Nobility say they had committed no sinne in so doing but growing remorse by the admonitions of the Queen and the Earl of Glocester they ask pardon of the King upon their knees They easily obtain'd it which was granted to them under the Kings Broad-Seal Now all the dissention seemed to be laid asleep but as fire raked up in ashes is kindled by any little winde sometimes into a great flame so there needed but a small blast to produce the former troubles The first occasion of defection was given because the wife of the Earl of Leicester with which he had a long time lived quietly was taken from him with the Counties of Lincoln and Salisbury by Richard Sanmartin a very deformed man who said he had conjugal custom with her before which thing she openly confessed when she was demanded concerning it Another occasion was given when at Whitsontide a certain woman riding ridiculously on horsback in fools habit did go into the Court and upbraid the King with his ingratitude toward his faithfull Ministers A third when a certain Knight that had a packet of the Kings was intercepted wherein was written a desire to the King of Scots to cut off the Earl of Lancaster whereupon not a few fell from the King to that Earl A fourth when a certain mad man John Poudras counterfeiting himself to be King Edward and feared not to say that Edward they mistook for their King was falsly supposed to be so which madnesse he paid dearly for by the torture he was put to But the greatest of all was that a certain Baron William Brevisius who had spent the greatest part of his Estate in riot and whoring would needs sell the rest by Port-sale which Humphrey Bobun gaping after asking leave of the King did transact with William for them Also both the Roger Mortimers being ignorant of other Competitours cheapned the Bargain and Spencer had obtained immediate leave from the King to buy them and was preferred before any other It is a wonder what hatred he drew upon himself by this matter Now all the Nobility came together and entred a conspiracy crying out that the Spencers both Father and Sonne were Traitors Corrupters of the King and Plagues to the Commonwealth and at last they fell to their Arms. They come in haste to London with their Army and with leave granted they enter the City and make their complaints to the King which he yeelded to by the Intercession of many Lastly The Spencers were banished but shortly after when the Archbishop of Canterbury contended in a Common-Councel of a London Senate that that banishment was unjust the Spencers are called home again the King being no wayes unwilling to it This drove the Nobility on but another mischief moved the King For the Queen taking her Progresse toward Canterbury whenas she would have diverted towards the Lord of Baldesmire she was dishonourably shut out and was forced to turn away to some other place Of which matter she complained to the King and it made him extream angry who now doth think of nothing but revenge for that injury collecting suddenly a Band of Souldiers he assaulted that Castle which when he had overcome the Governour of it Thomas Culpeper was hanged and Baldesmire with his wife and children was cast into Prison and all his goods Confiscate And the Kings Blood being now hot he proceeded farther and resolved to make Warre upon the Nobles but they finding that his Army increased part returned to their Obedience and part fell to their Arms But their Army being either slipt away or vanquished some were killed in the fight the rest were taken amongst whom was the Earl of Lancaster who was beheaded before his own Castle the rest were either hanged or beheaded that England was never more sorrowfully wet with Noble Blood Now the last and worst mischief of all hanged over his head for the King of France for the Possessions that Edward had in France required Homage from him for them but Edward refusing he enter'd his Provinces with an Army At length Queen Isabella Edwards wife was sent to intreat him not to waste his Countrey she went willingly partly to performe the Kings Commands partly to complain to her Brother For Edward by the Instigation of Spencer was no little estranged from her and had offended her with great contempt Roger Mortimer went with her with whom the Queen held unlawfull Familiarity which when the King understood he sent to the French King some that should desire him to send home the Queen with the Prince her Sonne But she not returning is banished out of all the Kings Dominions and Garisons made to drive her off if she came against the Kings Will. But she flying to the Earl of Hannonia Matrimony being contracted between Prince Edward and the Earls Sonne she procured a good Army from him John the Earls Brother being Generall Setting sail they land about Harwich to whom immediately Henry Earl of Lancaster and other Nobles joyned themselves The King receiving news of it was wonderfully frighted he left London without stay the City being addicted to the Queen and purposing to flie into Lundy Island by a Tempest he was driven into Wales In the mean while the Londoners that they might shew their loves to the Queen cut off the Heads of Gualter Stapleton Treasurer of England most cruelly because he was addicted to the King and some
Part of them got into the Wine-cellar who being half oppressed with the House falling down lived seven dayes after the great downfall imploring no succour to help them After this manner plundering up and down they runne madding to every place At last they hasten to the Kings Court and to the Tower of London and they quickly overcome the Tower the King not daring to make opposition against them where the Queen-mother suffering an affront by a certain insolent fellow that offered her a bone fell down half dead Simon Bishop of Canterbury being haled out of the Tower had his Head cut off at Tower-hill by them Robert Hallius endured the same death and so did many others They neither regarded Churches nor publick places they destroy all in their fury like mad men The King thinking what remedy he should use to suppresse these tumults granting a Pardon for what they had done endeavours to pacific the Rabble The Inhabitants of the County of Essex are obedient and return home But the Kentish men persist in their stubbornnesse Tyler being their Leader To whom in the Kings Name John Newton was sent that he might by intreaty reduce these insolent people to their Duty or else should enquire what they would have He coming riding on Horsback was commanded by Tylor to alight and to deliver his Message on foot so much Authority did he arrogate to himself in this fury the Knight refused to come from his Horse whereupon Tyler comes at him with his Sword The King loath to have the Knight endanger'd intreats him to alight the Knight refusing it and Tyler urging him at last came William Walworth the Maior of the City and with the staff he had in his hand he gave Tyler a grievous wound on the Head and according to his Office bid him submit to the King Whilst he stood reeling with this blow he was killed by the Kings followers with innumerable wounds The Captain being flain the maimed faction seemed to prepare for to be revenged But the King though he were yet under fifteen years of age passed on to them with a ready minde promising that he would be their Commander and bad them follow him and all should be as they desired In the mean while Walworth had gathered together about a thousand Citizens the Captain whereof was Robert Conolus and coming upon them as they were in a Tumult he put them in such a fright that they cast away their Arms and were glad to submit The Citizens had fallen upon the Rebels but the King would not suffer them least they should kill the Innocent with the offendours That the tumult might be wholly ended he gave each man leave to return home to his habitation But elsewhere the same quiet was not procured For in Suffolk they ran madding up and down unmeasurably and pulled down some Judges houses and so at Cambridge and in other places killing cutting off the Heads and otherwayes miserably massacring the Nobility Their Captain was John Littester a Diar who was grown so lofty that he behaved himself like a King But he with all his followers was suppressed by Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich an industrious and valiant man who took him prisoner and brought him to Execution At London also and elsewhere they proceeded against the guilty where John Straw and others are put to death and so all this Tumult was ended Lancaster in the mean while was sent against the Scotch that he might perpetually observe them if they should attempt any thing upon the occasion of these disorders But he so wisely managed the matter that before they had any rumour of his March thitherward there was a Cessation granted for two or three years In the interim Anna the Sister of Wenceslaus the Emperour came to London to be married to the King where the Marriage was solemnized with a wonderfull pomp Henry Spencer about that time had obtained an Army from the King which he led against the French and chiefly for Pope Vrban against Clement the Anti-pope And first coming into Flanders he besieged Iper but by a greater force marching out of France he was constrained to raise the Siege and when they came beside Graveling he writ to the King that there was now a fit occasion to defeat the Enemy but Lancaster who had the command making delayes it fell to nothing so Spencer having done no business returns home again and shortly after Truce was made between the French and the English In the mean while the Scotch entring the Borders of England consumed many Towns and Castles with fire and sword But Lancaster with Buckingham going against them when they could not force the Scots to fight for revenge of the wrong they had done set fire to some of their Cities and Villages and so retreat for England But Richard to suppress their Insolence to whom also the French had sent aid he with his Army marched into Scotland and finding Edenburgh without a Garison he set that on fire The Scots to divert the English Forces fall into Cumberland and lay siege to Carlile but hearing of Richards approach they giving warning to their fellows return for Scotland Lancaster at that time with a choice number of Souldiers makes a Voyage into Spain King Richard bestowing on him the Title of the King of Spain where he did conquer some Towns and married his Daughter to the King of Portugall but the English being impatient of that Countrey and the heat of the Ayre fell into all kinde of diseases and so made a Truce which a Peace followed shortly after On the Coasts of France the Earls of Arundel and Nottingham being the Leaders an hundred French Vessels laden with wine were overcome and Brest freed from a siege But a grievous Controversie grew at this time in England between the King and the Nobility the Duke of Glocester the Earl of Arundel and others the Duke of Ireland the Earl of Suffolk and many other malicious men setting them on They fell to their Arms but by the milder counsel of others they grew friends again The Duke of Ireland leaving the Court of his own accord fell amongst the Forces of the Earl of Darby and not daring to fight swimming the River with his horse he landed at Bauvais where like a banished man he lived some years at Lovane And the rest who were Authours of the Warre against the King at a famous sitting in Parliament were commanded to forsake the Court and Kingdom and some were put to extream tortures In the 15th year of Richards Government the Londoners fell to Mutiny for a very light cause and the King being wonderfully offended at them for a small summe of Money they had refused him he punished them with the loss of their chief Priviledges and with the payment of a great sum of money This is the effect of offending Kings After this in a solemn meeting of the Kings peace was ratified between England and France Isabella the Daughter of the
French King a Maid of eight years old being betrothed to King Richard For Anna his former Wife was deceased The Duke of Glocester by an importune word blaming the Kings negligence fell into his displeasure and fearing some ill issue of it with his Brothers forsook the Court and entring into a Conspiracy with some friends he attempted to change the state of the Kingdom But the King under-feeling it with his Brother the Earl of Huntington took a progress to the Castle of the Duke of Glocester his Fathers Brother when he came there at night he found the Duke rising out of his Bed and presently going to meet him he was taken by the Earl Marshall and carried Prisoner to Callis and there was hanged miserably Also the Earl of Arundel the chief Conspiratour and some principall Noblemen are east into Prison And he afterwards in a Parliament being questioned for his life had his head cut off the rest being condemned either to be banished or to perpetual Imprisonment And thus Richard by the bloud of the Nobility thought to make good his Kingdom The Dukes of Norfolk and Hereford without any other witness appeaching one the other of Treason are admitted to fight a Duell but when they were both ready to fight they were commanded to forbear and so to spare blood they were both sent away to divers places into Banishment Norfolk went first for Germany then to Venice where he died of meer sorrow and grief But Hereford who had sail'd into France and there being instigated by the Counsel of the Archbishop of Canterbury who was banished for the same Conspiracy returned privately home under a pretence of his Patrimony to be redeemed which the King had brought into the Exchequer after his Fathers death against all Right and Equity but indeed that joyning with the Nobility he might order the Kings Insolence He was scarce landed but the Nobility came from all parts to him and he waxed very strong And having now a sufficient Army he took some Cities and beheaded the Kings chiefest Counsellours Richard in the interim was in Ireland and did his best to subdue the Irish When a Messenger came to him of the Commotions in England he was troubled at it yet made no haste according as the danger required At length the Earl of Salisbury was sent into England before him that he might levy what Forces he could the King promising in six dayes to be with him As soon as the Earl set foot in England he raised with ease a mighty Army of Welsh but the King not appearing a rumour was given that he was dead so part of his Forces went one way some another but a few stood to their Colours The King at last so soon as contrary windes would let him came to them But when he found so much of the Countrey to be fallen to Hereford and the Duke of Lancaster also by the death of his Father he quite fainted in his minde and bad all those men that came to help him to go whither they pleased yet they continuing their fidelity he with the Earl of Exeter and some others fled to the Castle of Conve where he found the Earl of Salisbury Here the Duke of Worcester who was Governour of the Kings House breaking his white Staff a sign of his Office and so renouncing his fidelity fell off from the King to the Lords Conspiratours Then the Earl of Northumberland is sent to the King who from that Castle conveyed him to another place saying also that he came to treat with the King for Conditions of Peace which the King did not refuse But in the way the Earl of Rutland coming upon him he is forced to go to Flint-Castle whether shortly after Henry the Duke of Lancaster came who was guilty and friendly received by the King and then he related the cause of his coming which was that he might receive his Rights and Goods The King granted and ratified all so they went to drink together and afterwards mounting on Horsback they ride towards London in a continued voyage in so great haste that the King had no leisure given him to change his cloaths Then was the King put into the Tower the Castle for the Nobility and was diligently watched there And a Parliament was called by the Command of Lancaster though it were falsly given out in the Kings Name wherein Richard was accused of divers crimes Namely That he had wasted the goods of the Kingdom That he had borrowed a vast summe of Money and not yet repay'd it That he had made all the Laws Arbitrary as he pleased That he had changed the Members of Parliament when he would That he had Tyrannically taken Power to himself over the Subjects Estates That he had corrupted the Judges That he had caused his Vncle Earl of Glocester to be barbarously murdered at Callis That he had imprisoned the Members of Parliament That beyond Right and Equity he had put the Earl of Arundel to extream Terture That be had depopulated his own Kingdome That be had pawned the Ornaments of the Kingdome and Kings out of the Kingdom and so forward For which faults they thought fit to deprive him of all his Honours and Title of King But he that he might seem to desire what he would have avoided willingly resigned all his Right to the Kingdom and freely gave it to Henry of Lancaster whom he nominated to succeed him which was ratified and confirmed by the Great Seal Then Richard being brought to Pomfret-Castle was discharged of his Crown Henry having thus got the Kingdome and not enduring any Competitour one day lamenting was heard to cry out Is there any man will free me from that hatefull man And presently one Peter Exton a Knight that he might winne the Kings favour with such a wickednesse went with eight more unto Richard whom he set upon to kill him being at Dinner but Richard rising hastily wresting the Ax out of the hands of one of his Executioners killed four of them and at last by this Peter Exton he was knocked down dead himself by an unhappy blow on the Head which the Parricides lamented when it was too late Thus the unhappiest and most well-favoured of the Kings of England ended his life and Kingdom HENRY the fourth King of England and France Anno 1399. HENRY of Lancaster who was nominated to succeed was crowned King but that he might not be thought to usurp that Kingdom which he had by Election he endeavoured to be established in his own Right vaunting that he was the next Heir being directly descended from Henry the third but that was false and counterfeit for Roger Mortimer Earl of Marsh deriving his Pedigree from the eldest Sonne of Henry the third had a better Title To this he added his Right of Force whereby he made good the Succession he could not have done by Inheritance Be it what it will be he maintain'd it by his Sword He gave good example when his
little strengthen the French proceedings for Joan a Country Maid which had spent her youth in keeping Sheep desiring to free the Kingdom of their enemies the English was brought to the King who admired the Maids courage when he saw that she was a Maid indeed She putting on mens Armour brought provision into Orleance with the Forces she had received from the King and with many assaults at length she raised the siege Then she wonderfully weakned the English with many though less Battels three thousand English were slain in Belsia Nor was Charles wanting to his own affairs but the Maid being Leader he went to Rhemes and recovered the Ensigns of the Kingdom Then he marched to Paris whilst Bedford was carefull enough and suffered no occasion to slip to manage his business as he ought The Maid at the siege of Compienna thinking to relieve the place received a wound in the leg and so was fain to retreat Yet this Warlike Maid broke into the City and sallying forth again upon the Enemy she was taken prisoner and being convicted as they report of Art Magick she was burnt alive Yet Compienna was freed from the siege and Melun Corvolium and other places were recovered But the English to gain honour to their side calling King Henry to Paris now but twelve years old they Crown him King of France the Lords of that Kingdom who were present swearing fealty unto him In the mean while Charles by the craft of a certain Carter giving fish to the watch recovers Lyons and so he followed the success he had But the Kingdom all this time was wonderfully ruinated there was nothing left in the field and a miserable lamentation was made every where At last both the Leaders of the Warre having their full began to Treat of Agreement at Artoys they meet the English being baited with the sweetness of the Kingdom of France could not be pacified but Burgundy Matiscan the Temple of Gingon Altissidore and other Towns being yielded to him they were content Then the English took high indignation deeply resenting that the Duke of Burgundy their faithfull companion in the Warre was fallen away from them Their anger thus incensed would have been the ruine of the Frenck but being laid down it was their safety for in a short time they shook off that heavy yoke For the Parisians suddenly took courage and drove out the English from Paris and on the other side Burgundy with the same earnestness he helped the English before now assists the French To this there hapned the death of the Duke of Bedford the Governour of France which did a little damnifie the English Then other places taking example by Paris fell off to Charles and the Normans scarce continued their fidelity but by the slaughter of five thousand of them they were either frighted or pacified The English affairs thus declining in France they did not assault Cities and fenced places as formerly but Castles and poor Forts Also Burgundy waged offensive Warre with the Duke of York who succeeded Bedford and besieged Callis but he retreated in time for the Duke of Glocester arrived the next day with a great Army who finding the enemy gone ruined all with fire and sword In the interim the Scotch laid siege to the Castle of Rapesburg but being certified of the return of the Duke of York and the coming of the Earl of Northumberland he quickly raised his siege In the mean while Harflet was delivered up to the French at a price the Garrison souldiers being corrupted with money But the Duke of Sommerset and Talbot besieging the City afresh by Sea and Land regained it once more the Duke of Orleans with his Army being come only to look on In the mean time James King of Scotland after he had been prisoner ten years in England was restored to his liberty placed with a rich Matron but being at length ingratefull he was treacherously slain in his chamber the authours of the fact were severally executed All this while the business went diversly in France on both sides and what by Valour what by Policy many Towns were won and recovered again In England a contest fell out between the Duke of Glocester and a Cardinal his Uncle the Wife of the Duke of Glocester was accused by the Cardinal for Witchcraft as if by Magick Arts she went about to take away the Kings life She was forced publikely to satisfie for that wickedness she had not attempted though others that were guilty in their very sufferings excused the Dutchess of it Now by the intercession of Christian Princes they began to treat of Peace between the French and the English Peace was not ratified but a cessation was granted for eighteen moneths In the mean time the Earl of Suffolk by his own Authority contracted a Marriage between King Henry and Margaret the Daughter of the Duke of Angiers boasting much of the Maids Beauty and Doury at last he perswaded the King though passed his word to the Daughter of the Earl of Brittain This Matrimony Contracted gave but small help to the English affairs when for commutation great part of Normandy was yielded to the French Also the Duke of Britain revenging the wrong done to his Daughter drove all the English out of Aquitan Now the hatred that had long grown between the Duke of Sommerset and York began to bud again He by fraud and injustice deposed this York from his Authority of Viceroy though he had behaved himself gallantly in France and made himself Viceroy in his place York being not a little offended at it For the King did nothing less than taking care of his Kingdom all the Authority was between Queen Margaret and the Marquess of Suffolk Also by the contriving of his adversaries the Duke of Glocester who was so well esteemed of by all the people that they pointed at him by the name of the good Duke was put out of his place and unknown to the King a Parliament being called privately they question him for his life he was cast into Prison where the next day how it is not known he was miserably murdered By a stratagem the City of Fulger was taken by the English and the Town Larcha by the French so they break out into Warre again The French despising Sommerset for his negligence who as we said had now all the power wan many Towns and in Guyan divers willingly fell off to the French amongst which was Roan following the example of the rest and more mischief befell the English Also the Cities of Harflet and Caer though they were valiantly defended yet by the carelesnesse of Sommerset the Governour were delivered up to the French who so almost with no pains wan all Normandy and made good all France for themselves except Callis The Duke of York who should now help the English in France was fain to go to still the Irish that were up he quickly pacified them whereby he wan the peoples hearts very much and
much augmented his own affairs But when all things went not as they should do in France and Sommerset was held to be the cause of all and after him Suffolk Many complaints by consent of the Lower-House of Parliament were alleadged against him whereof he was found guilty and cast into Prison but he is suddenly set at liberty But a new sitting being summoned at the instance of the Lower-House he was banished for five years but whilst he sailed into France he was intercepted by the English and his Head cut off leaving his Body disgracefully on the shore and so the death of the Duke of Glocester was paid for Richard Duke of York in the mean time having won the Irish hearts gave the first step to end the differences between the White Rose and the Red and for a beginning of his own Right to the Crown for he descended from Lyonel Duke of Clarence the third Son to the third Edward Nor was it difficult to change the state of the Kingdom when so many abuses and errours that were so well known to the common people were crept in And King Henry wholly unfit for the Government as the people would say by whose foolish negligence France and Normandy were lost The men of Kent by the perswasion of York gave their Votes to John Mortimer and with a great and well-appointed Army they march toward London Mortimer himself commanding them The Army made a stay between Eltham and Greenwich and then they sent up their Complaints to the King and Parliament concerning the present state of the Kingdom and amongst the rest they petition That the Dukes of York Buckingham and Exceter may be restored to their places and former favour there was no answer given but a crying out to their Arms. But the men of Kent when they were come to the Battel killing both the Staffords who commanded the Army they put the Kings Forces to flight whereupon the greatest part of the Kings men fell off for they came running by companies to Mortimer whose Forces thus increased wonderfully wherefore the King fled to Killingworth Castle in the County of Warwick expecting the issue By his departure Mortimer grew more bold and came to the Suburbs of London and then possessing himself of the Bridge he came into London doing no wrong to any man for his Army was very well disciplined to keep down the violence of the Souldiers whereby he won the affections of many but afterwards the Men of Kent being sharpned with hope of the prey fell upon some of the richer Citizens which was very ill resented by all Mortimer was now Master of London and he cut off the Heads of some of those that were the Ministers of those Errours as John Say Chief-Treasurer of England and his Sonne in Laws and some others But the Londoners detesting his haughtiness arm themselves and craving help from Scales the Lord Lieutenant of the Tower with such Forces as they had collected Matthew Gogthus being their Captain in the night they fall upon Mortimers Army that were in the Suburbs of St Georges on the other side of the Thames But the Kentish men repulse them with such violence that the Londoners were forced to give ground and to leave the Bridge to the Conquerours who hereupon being enraged fell to cast in fire to burn the Houses upon the Bridge and so put a great fright upon the City and made a great slaughter At last their heat began to remit and these men of Kent began to detest the wickednesse Mortimer had done and desired to return home again which when the King understood he sent his Seal for their Pardon and for all his men being gone from him Mortimer was left without a Guard who thinking to escape by flight was taken and slain This Tumult was appeased but a far greater arose shortly after for York depending upon his Right comes to London under pretence of Complaints against his Adversaries and especially against Sommerset who had lost France and was now come home but the truth was to make a Party he obtained the help of Norfolk and the Earls of Sarisbury and Devorshire to assist him and so marching into Wales he quickly raised an Army The King hearing this prepares his Forces also and collecting Forces he made haste thither with the Duke of Sommerset Both the Armies meet at last and the King sending messengers asked York What should be the cause of so great a Tumult Who cast all the fault on the Kings evil Counsellours and chiefly upon Sommerset promising that if he were cast into Prison untill such time as he might be tried that then he would disband all his Army Hereupon Sommerset is cast into Prison under a colour and York gave his Passe-port which being done the King went toward London with York But Sommerset who before was cast into prison being now set at liberty accompanied the King and in his stead York was brought like a Prisoner before the King At last they come to London and there grew a hot dispute between these two Dukes before the Kings Councel the one accusing the other of Treason the matter came at last to this head That York should take a solemn Oath to be true to the King and should go toward his Castle Wigmore for the report was that Edward Earl of Marsh Sonne and Heir to York was now drawing up with an Army And in the mean time a Messenger came from Burdeaux craving help against the French John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury is sent thither who after he had behaved himself gallantly was slain with a Gun The French by his death recover all they had lost except Burdeaux In the mean while the Duke of York did his best to allure the mindes of the Subjects and then gaining the Nobility to his side who were all offended with Sommerset and joyning the Earls of Sarisbury and Warwick with him he prevailed so farre that Sommerset in the Kings absence was sent to the Tower But Henry when he heard that though he were sick and returning to London he not only sets him at Liberty he makes him Governour of Callis and of all the other places in France which thing so provoked York that he and his Assistants March to London with a great Army The King with Sommerset Buckingham and his Sonne Humphrey the Earl of Northumberland and a sufficient Army goes against them At St Albans the Armies came in sight one of the other York sent Letters in the Morning to the King requiring Sommerset to be delivered up to him that he might be tried the King refusing this he makes the first On-set Sommerset and with him the Earl of Northumberland and Humphrey Earl of Stafford fell in the Battel and five thousand men with them Many were wounded and taken The King himself who had fled into a Countrey-mans house for fear of the weapons was taken by the Conspiratours This Battel fell on May the 23th and the 13th year of his Raign But
York when his Adversary was dead commands his Followers to abstain from fighting and goes with the King to London Then a Parliament was called and he is freed from all fault and made Protector of the King and Kingdome The Earl of Sarisbury was made Chancellour and Warwick Governour of Callis For procuring which places every one was very watchfull But the Queen not enduring the Authority of York she never left urging Buckingham with the Death of his Son and young Sommerset with the Death of his Father and when she had sufficiently incensed them she goes to Greenwich and there she holds a Councel commanding York and his Confederates to renounce their Places But they refused to do it Then with subtilty mingled with flattery she intercepts them and did all the mischief she could but all in vain yet they least they might give cause of greater troubles retire themselves some to one place some to another But sending Messengers one to another they came all to London with their Forces provided and by the Mediation of the Archbishop of Canterbury and others there was an Act of Oblivion granted for all that had been done and Peace was concluded on both sides and all is confirmed with a solemn Shew of Religion Yet they held not long for occasion being taken from a quarrel that happened between one of the Kings and of the Earl of Warwicks Servants they endeavoured to lay hold on Warwick but he fore-seeing the danger with Post-horse makes haste to York to the Duke and to his Father Earl of Sarisbury whom he acquainted with the business but he going on board the Navy that was ready by the shoar for he was Admiral of the Sea made haste to Callis In the mean time Sarisbbury goes to the King with 5000 souldiers that he might acquaint him with the injury done to his Sonne and of the inveterate hatred of the Queen which was now apparent But Audley who at the command of the Queen and of the Duke of Buckingham had raised an Army of 10000 men went against him and was beaten 2400 were slain the rest fled to save themselves York supposing it was in vain to dally any longer raising an Army with the Earls of Sarisbury and of Warwick he provides for Warre but a Treaty being had between both sides and a pardon granted by the King for all faults many forsook the Dukes and all the Counsels of the Conspirators were detected with which York was brought to desparation and fled with his younger Sonne Earl of Rutland first into Wales then into Ireland When the private souldiers had procured pardon the Earls of Marsh Sarisbury and Warwick took their voyage for Callis but some of the principall were put to death and a Parliament being called they were all convinced and condemned for Treason Also Sommerset at the Queens intercession was made Governour of Callis but when he thought to enter upon his Government he was shot at from the Town and was forced to betake himself to some other place The Queen hearing this began to rage and commanded all the Ships that were in Sandwich-Haven to be fitted for Callis But John Dynham for the Earl of Marsh his sake took them all and with Riverius their Admiral brought them to Callis The Earl of Warwick also sail'd into Ireland to York and consulting with him returned safe for Callis Simon Montfort was Warden of the Cinque-ports and guarded all the Inrodes that Warwick might not come into England but he being admonished of it by the Spies he had fastning upon his Navy not yet ready he plundered Sandwich and brought Simon with a great booty to Callis And when he understood that the Kentish men desired his presence he came the second time to Sandwich where the Lord Cobham with a great multitude of the Nobility joyned with him Wherefore being appointed with an Army of 25000 Men be marched presently to London and possessed himself of the Tower whereby he afterwards did the Londoners a great deal of mischief But hearing that his Father the Earl of Sarisbury was coming on he passed over the Thames and joyned with him The King with the Dukes of Buckingham and Sommerset and a well appointed Army marches against them at Northampton he came in sight of the Enemy The Battel began on both sides and they fought vehemently Humphrey Duke of Buckingham with John Talbot the Earl of Shrewsbury Thomas Lord Egremont John Bellomont and others were slain and on one and the other side ten thousand men This was in the year 1460. The Queen escaped with the Duke of Sommerset and his Sonne but the King more mindfull of his prayers than of the Battel was taken and brought prisoner to London Warwick presently got possession of the Tower and Scales the Lieutenant whilest he thought to get away crossing the Thames in a disguise was discovered taken and beheaded The Duke of York receiving Message of this Success leaving Ireland came Post for London where at a solemn meeting he layes open his Right to the Crown of England deriving his Pedigree from Lyonel the third Son of Edward the third the elder brother of John of Gaunt the Father of Henry the fourth the Usurper But he desired not the Kingdom unless his Right were made clear to all men Wherefore a Councel being held the Title of a King is granted to King Henry so long as he lived and York is named to succeed him The Queen all this while mustering an Army in Scotland invades England daily York with his younger Sonne of Rutland and with the Earl of Sarisbury went against her leaving for a Guard to King Henry the Earls of Warwick and Norfolk but he being circumvented by treachery was slain and 3000 of his Souldiers with him nor did she spare the Earl of Rutland a childe of twelve years old though he begged for his life with tears Sarisbury who was taken alive and as many as were taken with him were by the fury of a Woman all beheaded This was the end of Richard Plantaganet Duke of York The Earl of Marsh hearing of his Fathers death managed his business with more vehemency now than before raising an Army of 23000 Men he overcame the Earls of Pembroke and Ormont alive he took Owen Tewdor alive who had married Katharine Mother to Henry the sixth and chopped off his Head But the Queen insulting at the death of the Duke of York marched toward London with her Forces and was met by the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Warwick who durst have given her Battel but by the treachery of their followers that forsook them they were forced to flie for to save themselves King Henry by that Victory came again into the Queens Power But in the mean time Edward Earl of Marsh by the general Vote of all Orders was crowned King according as it was enacted in Parliament and gathering a great Army at Tanton he met the King and the Queen and joyning Battel with them he
overcame their Forces the most valiant fell in the fight the rest fled to save their lives The King and Queen escaped into Scotland leaving the Kingdom to Edward the fourth of that Name EDWARD the fourth King of England and France Anno 1461. EDWARD having got the Crown at last could not peaceably enjoy it For Henry that had fled into Scotland by the assistance of the Scots makes a new Warre upon him Edward meets him with equal Forces and fought him at Exham putting Henry and his Souldiers to their heels thirty thousand men were slain on both sides Edward giving the Command to spare none The Duke of Sommerset who formerly had fallen from Henry to Edward despairing of the success presently changed his minde at the report of so great an Army and revolted to Henry was taken and beheaded Henry again retires for Scotland waiting for another opportunity for his busines But afterwards returning for England in a disguise he was taken by the English and delivered up to Edward and by him that the state of the Kingdom might be the more quiet he was cast into prison In the mean time Edward took care of his houshold affairs and he married his Sister Margaret to Philip Duke of Burgundies Sonne Charles the Earl of Warwick being not a little mad at it who hated Burgundy worse than the plague whence and from other causes a grievous quarrel rose between them For Warwick hating the King drew to his faction his Brothers the Archbishop of York and the Marquess Montacute by a set speech and after that George Duke of Clarence the Kings Brother marrying his Sister to him and with the Duke he takes his voyage toward Callis for he was yet Governour of the City giving order to his Brothers in his absence to raise Tumults in Yorkshire They carefully observed what they had in charge and quickly causing a Tumult the common people as it usually happens in a blinde rage though they be raised against the innocent march to London armed that there they might seek for remedy of mischiefs they knew not what Edward hearing of this sedition sends William Herbert Earl of Pembroke hoping to subdue the people who was no sooner come but they put him to flight In the mean while Warwick upon this rumour with the Duke of Clarence arrived in England from Callis and so with joynt Forces they provide for another Battel Edward no way dismayed with the first loss sends Pembroke again with a new Army to fight them But when they fought his Army was beaten and he was taken prisoner and he was beheaded at Warwick with the other Nobility that fell into their hands Then there was a Treaty of Peace and Messengers being sent on both parts the King being animated with hopes of Agreement dealt the more securely which Warwick was not ignorant of and therefore falling upon the Kings Tents at night killing the Guard he takes the King prisoner who never dreamt of it and sends him first to Warwick then into Yorkshire to Middleham Castle to be secured But the King flattering the Keepers and bribing them with money by their connivance shortly came to York where the Citizens received him lovingly and so raising an Army by the assistance of Hastings he came safe to London Then there began a Treaty at London for Peace whither Warwick and the Duke of Clarence were come but this had no effect For they being stomackfull and very furious the matter could not come so farre as Peace wherefore all being left undone they depart and Warwick musters new Forces of which he makes Robert Wells sonne to Richard Commander in Chief But the King when he found he must engage again in Battel besides his expectation sent for Roberts Father Richard and his Kinsman Thomas Dimoke Knight to come to him who came upon the Kings promise of free Conduct The King commanded them to call off Robert from taking Arms and mustering Forces suddenly he goes against them with Thomas and Richard and when they were come to the Enemy and found that Robert would not hearken to his Fathers admonitions but held up his Arms still he contrary to his promise a most wicked example causeth both the Father and Kinsman to lose their Heads They fell to fighting and Roberts Forces were discomfited he himself was taken alive and immediately was beheaded Warwick at the news hereof with the Duke not knowing what course to steerâ— presently sailed into France to King Lewis who entertained him magnificently Queen Margaret Wife to Henry came also presently with Prince Edward who took counsel together and made a Covenant between the King the Earl and the Queen Edward in vain dehorting from it and Warwicks Daughter was betrothed to Edward and promise made on both sides that they would never cease untill the Kingdom should be restored either to Henry or to Edward his Sonne A mighty Army is raised and a vast Fleet rode at Anchor in the mouth of the Sienna Warwick invited by Letters from his friends with part of his Army and a Navy prepared with the Earls of Oxford and Pembroke came safe to Dartmouth The Queen who was not yet ready was to follow when she heard good news though the Duke of Burgundy observed his motion So soon as he was landed and it was published that he was arrived 't is wonderfull what multitudes of people ran to him with which being fortified he presently moves toward London But Edward not expecting an Enemy and leaving the care of raising Forces till another time with his Brother Richard Duke of Glocester took shipping at Lyn a Sea Town and sailed into Flanders to Charles of Burgundy to his own great disadvantage Queen Elizaboth being near to her travell fled to Westminster and made that her Asylum where she was deliverd of her Sonne Edward Warwick in the interim without any opposition came to London and marching to the Tower set King Henry at liberty and clothing him in his Kingly Ornaments attending him through the midst of London to St Pauls Church after thanks given to God he sets him in his Throne Then a Parliament was called and all King Henry had Enacted was ratified and the Acts of King Edward were maid void Edward with his followers was banished as an enemy of the Kingdom Edward in the mean time nothing dismay'd at this change raising an Army by the help of Charles of 12000 Men and with 18 Ships landed in Yorkshire His Army was so small that he durst attempt nothing only sent to perswade the people there but all in vain for they either by fear or for respect to Warwick would not falsifie their promise but when he gave out that he was come not for the Kingdom but to recover his Patrimony the Dukedom of York many running to him he grew somewhat stronger and so goes to York But the Towns men being warned by Letters from Warwick would not let Edward come in He spake fairly to the Citizens and desired
of the Battell brought fresh Forces and joyned with Henry whereby he was not a little animated for otherwise he was farre inferiour to Richard in men and so takes heart again The King himself at last entred the fight who after he had given wonderfull tokens of his Valour had killed Henries Standard-bearer put Henry himself in danger he was surrounded by multitudes of souldiers and fighting valiantly was slain Henry got the Victory by Richards death for the Earl of Northumberland who brought up the tear of Richards Army as he came against his will so he refused to fight any longer Not above 1000 were slain of the Kings side and of Henries side hardly 100. The Nobility that yielded were pardoned and Henry had forthwith the Crown set on his Head which they had taken from Richards Head and he is saluted â—ing by all with a generall acclamation Richards body was found amongst the dead and was buried with no Honour at Leicester HENRY the seventh King of England and France Anno 1486. HENRY came to the Kingdom both by Right and Valour and was Crowned at Westminster Anno 1486 the day before the Calends of November Then calling a Parliament he is discharged of the Treason Richard laid to him and he gave Rewards and Honours to some that were grieved He married Elizabeth the Daughter to Edward the fourth and by that Marriage the old quarrell between the White Rose and the Red was ended At his first entrance he kept a strong Guard about him either for his power or Majesty which custom is continued to our daies The English Sweat was rife about this time a disease never known before it destroyed abundance of men but the sharper the disease was the shorter time it lasted Then new troubles arose in the North of England which were easily vanquished by Lovels flight and Staffords death But a new tumult that grew from meer opinion and perswasion gave cause for new cares for one Simon a Priest reports falsly that a Scholar of his who was very like which made the Priest the bolder to give it out was the Sonne to Edward Duke of Clarence which was cast into prison a little before by Henry and he said with him into Ireland and prevailed so much amongst the Peers there that the youth was saluted King at Dublin Then obtaining help from Margaret wife to Burgundy he comes inâ—o England to whom those Lords that favoured the cause of Plantagenet joyned themselves though they knew the fraud yet they hoped to bring on the design But Henry went against them in time and after a most eager fight he slew the Earl of Lincoln and other of the chief men that followed him But he spared Lambert this counterfeit Earl by reason of his youth and innocency and he was made the Kings servant Simondus escaped because he was a Priest Then sending Embassadours into Scotland he treated for peace but when he could not procure it in regard of the malice of the subjects a Truce was made for seven years But a difference rifing between Charles King of France and Francis Duke of Brittany Henry that he might displease neither side being engaged to both made himself Umpire to end the quarrel between them but when he could do nothing by his Embassadours they fell to Arms. Edward Lord Vdevill the Queens Uncle without the knowledge of the King assisted the Duke of Brittany with 400 choice men but the French afterwards getting the Victory the Duke and they were all slain The Duke being dead the contest ended In the mean time in Yorkshire troubles arose because of Tribute required one John Chambers was the Authour of them Henry Earl of Northumberland Governour of that Country was basely slain by one of the factions multitude then they came on by Troops John Egrimont Knight being their Leader But the King fell on them presently and easily dissipated the tumultuous rabble punishing severely the Authors of it But Egrimont fled to Margaret into Burgundy which was the common place of refuge for the Rebels yet there was nothing abated of the Tribute to be paid A great Tumult about that time fell in Scotland the subects rising against James King of Scotland and they forced his Sonne James to take part with them Henry King of England Charles King of France and the Pope could not reconcile this quarrel and when the subjects gave a harsh answer the Battell began at Strevelin where the subjects got the Victory and the King himself though his Sonne was against it was cruelly slain in a Mill. Then a jarring arose between Frederick the Emperour and some Cities in Flanders the French came to assist the Emperour But Henry not enduring the French so near to Callis sent the Lord Morley with a supply of a thousand men who with two thousand of his souldiers vanquished eight thousand of the enemies but he himself was slain The French to revenge this loss had almost won Newport but being frighted at the coming of the English they lost the Victory Maximilian the Emperour when he endeavoured to marry Anne Daughter to Francis Duke of Brittany which he had betrothed by Embassadours he is hindred by the French King to whom he had espoused his Daughter Margaret for he divorcing Margaret gaping after the Dukedom of Brittany by force got Anne into his power and solemnly made her his Wife Henry was wonderfully offended at this fraud and asked Subsidies from his Parliament taking counsell to make a Warre upon the French King At length he landed at Callis with a small Army and besieged Bononia but finding Maximilian unprepared for whose sake he had undertaken this Warre he easily yielded to make Peace obtaining from the French a great summe of money and a yearly revenue and so returned for England Margaret Wife to the Duke of Burgundy alwaies studied mischief against the English for she bred up for some moneths in her Court a tertain young man who was called Peterkin or Perkin Warbech and obtruded him upon the English Nation for Richard the Sonne of Edward the fourth who was said to have been stifled Many of the Nobility of England either deceived by the appearance or because they desired innovation joyn with that supposed Richard amongst whom was William Stanley who helped Peter with money Stanley was taken convicted and lost his Head though he were the principall cause whereby Henry came to the Crown Peter in the mean time having got a tumultuous number of men landed in Kent where there were taken of his men 160 amongst whom were five Captains who first landed they were hanged at London and other places Peter when he little prevailed there sails into Ireland where he was magnificently entertained by the Inhabitants who much honoured the name of the Plantagenets But when he could expect little help thence from a poor weak people he makes haste into Scotland The Scot had him in high esteem and being deceived by his presence or courtly Carriage which Margaret
in the first place and next to him Mary Katharines Daughter and last of all Elizabeth which he begat of Anne of Boloyn Young Edward was Crowned at nine years of age in the year 1547. Because he was young he had sixteen Overseers appointed for him the chief was the Duke of Sommerset Brother to Jane Seymere a man of great integrity The death of Henry being heard of by Francis King of France did exceedingly grieve the old man who being about the same age did presage his own death to be near He kept a Funerall solemnity for him as the manner is for Kings and not long after that he followed him that was gone before him Henry at his death had commanded his Councill before all things that they should press a Marriage for his Sonne Edward with the Queen of Scotland Messengers are therefore sent to treat of conditions and to obtain their consent but when the faction of the Papists prevailed for the Dolphin a great Army was presently raised and sent into Scotland under the conduct of the Viceroy Sommerset The Scots also came to meet him with a powerfull hand they joyned Battell at Muskelburg but they were beaten down and put to flight the chief of their Nobility being slain or taken prisoners After this Victory many Cities yielded and the Nobles fell off from them in greater numbers But that there might be an end made of this Warre and difference they send the Maiden Queen by advice of the Peers to be Educated and Espoused in France In the mean time there was a great change of the old customs in the Churches of England Images were cast out of the Churches by the Authority of Sommerset who was addicted to the Reformed Religion The Sacrament was exhibited under both kindes and the other old Ceremonies were abolished all that made opposition were either cast into prison or lost their places Upon this ground a wonderfull sedition arose in divers Countries of England though the Rebels had several intentions some came to pillage others under pretence of Religion set forward other designes the smallest number made it any matter of conscience There was a Proclamation made whereby all were pardoned if they would lay down their Arms but the more mildly they were dealt withall the more did this mad rabble increase They besieged Exceter but the Citizens did resist them with wonderfull Valour enduring great famine and scarcity At length Gray coming with an Army after some small Bickerings raised the siege The Rebels recollecting their Forces began a new fight but they were put to flight or taken presently and hanged When this sedition was quelled another as great rose in Norfolk for Robert Ket a base fellow had drawn twenty thousand men to his party who guarded him that he might deliver up some complaints to the King The King though he disdained to treat with Rebels answered them that their Petitions should be granted at the next Parliament They were not content with this but they laid siege to the City of Norwich and wan it The Earl of Northampton went against them with a small Army and was worsted by the factious rabble and the Lord Sheffeld and others were killed But being strengthned with new forces he went once more against them and holding forth to them the Kings pardon they threw away their Arms and left their Colours returning every man to his place Ket and the rest of the Ring-leaders suffered for it Another tumult rose about the same time which fell of it self only the Ring-leaders were executed The French in the mean while breaking their League proclaimed Warre with England and providing a Fleet when they had assaulted Garnsey Jersey and Bononia in vain with an Army they left off of their own accord In the mean time the Viceroy of England being deceived beheaded the Admirall his Brother being circumvented by the femine fraud of his Wife and condemned him for nothing that was laid to his charge upon which occasion both he and his Authority committed an egregious fault For they that favoured the Admirall were offended with the Viceroy and they that did honour him would trust him but a little so they all fell from him at once though upon divers ends Also the Viceroy was taken up with building a stately Palace which is to this day called Sommerset House And he had demolished divers Temples Towers and sacred places by which injury he had alienated from him not a little the mindes of all men Warwick who was of his own inclination the Viceroy his greatest enemy made use of this occasion and procured some Lords to stand with him and they conspired together against the Viceroy and sending messengers to the King who sojourned at Windsor to certifie him of the good intention of the Lords they desired his consent to cast the Viceroy into Prison But the Viceroy when he would not or could not answer the crimes objected against him he submitted himself to the Kings will and pleasure by which humility he obtained pardon and was received into grace Also the Dukes Daughter to make the friendship lasting by Marriage was betrothed to Warwicks Sonne and Warwick was made Admirall of the Sea Then Peace being ratified between the English and the French Bononia was delivered up to the French King 400000 Crowns being paid to the English The Emperour in the mean time because the profession of the Romish Religion was not allowed to his sister denounced Warre against England but he was pacified by such an Answer as was seasonable to that time Also there was a Treaty for a Marriage between Elizabeth the Kings sister and the King of Denmarks Sonne but Elizabeth could not be perswaded to be married to any man A speech there was further concerning a Marriage between Edward and the French Kings Daughter which was ratified and the Dowry agreed upon In the mean time the Earl of Northumberland that he might bring to pass what he intended endeavours by all means to root out the Duke of Sommerset But he to prevent his snares came one day into his Chamber armed and found him naked in his Bed and whether he were pacified by his false or friendly shew of Love and Humanity he spared him and departed doing nothing to him But afterwards Sommerset was accused by him for high Treason and lost his Head for it being a forerunner of the Accusers destiny Northumberland when as thus farre all things had succeeded as he desired was resolved to follow the success and perswaded the King at length that if he would have the Reformed Religion that was then generally received in England to be confirmed he should pass over his sister Mary who was so strongly addicted to the Church of Râ—me and should nominate Joan Gray for his successour Wife to his Sonne Gilford Dudley who was next of blood after his Sisters The King who was resolved by all means to preserve the Reformed Religion easily yielded to this some others in vain opposing it
Warre especially by Sea and in the West-Indies and Portugal the English did mischief to the Spaniard and received the like The Queen when those Clouds of a Tempest at hand were dispersed caused a publick Thanksgiving to be made unto God who had delivered her and in Triumphant manner she rid through London She was not for all this free from Troubles but by the Queens Wisdome and Masculine Valour they were even strangled in the birth and England was made the receptacle of persecuted and afflicted men who fled by companies out of France and Holland by reason of the Wars there In the mean while Sir Francis Drake was sent toward Hispaniola who made the Spaniard work enough in those parts taking Cape Verde wasting Hispaniela and he skirmished in divers small fights with the Spanish Forces But when there was no occasion for a fight on the continent he returned home with the spoil and honour The next year also the said Sir Francis Drake burnt and took six and thirty Spanish Ships laden with great riches that lay in the Haven at Callis and brought them for England With the same Success almost the Earl of Essex with a vast Fleet of English and Dutch wasted the Coasts of Spain and landing his men wan Gades and plundering the City and burning thirty Ships that rode in the Harbour he came back for England laden with the spoil After that the English Fleet watching the Spanish Navy that came fraught with rich Merchandize that came from the West-Indies was disappointed by their flying into the Isle Tercera France being involv'd in troubles the Queen was pleased to assist the King of France with men and money The King of France having reduced his Subjects to their Obedience endeavours to mediate a Peace betwixt the Spaniards and the Queen the Queen to satisfie the French Kings desires sent an Embassadour into France to consult about it But the States of Holland sent Embassadours to Queen Elizabeth to dehort her from the Peace In the year 1598. Philip King of Spain died in the seventieth year of his age He aimed at great matters but was unfortunate in most of them whereupon it came to passe that the three Keys of the Spanish Empire which his Father so called and willed him above all things to keep diligently to wit 1. Gulet in Africa Flushing in Holland and Cadez in Spain were neglected The first taken in by the Turkes the second by the Confederates of the United Provinces the third much impaired in its strength and impoverished by the English which his Father fore-seeing in his life time admonished to make Peace with the English and the United Provinces Anno 1599. died that Reverend and famous Divine Mr Richard Hooker a man moderate temperate meek and virtuous even to the best imitation and left behinde him a living monument of his real worth his Book entituled Ecclesiastical Polity Then Peace was confirmed between the Spaniard and the French but the English and the United Provinces refused to be comprehended in it because they held it disadvantagious to their business but making a Covenant with joynt Forces they invade Spain The Spaniard stirs up the Earl of Tyrone who made a great rebellion in Ireland Essex was sent thither to subdue the Rebels and to make them conformable but he scurvily neglected an opportunity of conquering the Enemy and beyond his Commassion treats with the Rebels concerning Peace He was therefore called home and commanded to answer for his fault by his submission he found the Queens favour Afterward prompted on either by shame or his ambition of the Kingdom he raised an Army and entred London and when he purposed to have forced the Queen his Forces ran away from him and he was taken prisoner accused of High-Treason and lost his Head for it Charles Blunt was sent in his place who in divers fights wonderfully subdued the Forces of the Rebels though the Spaniard had sent many supplies to relieve them In a set Battle he overthrew Tyrone and the Auxiliary Spaniards and then made Conditions driving them out of Ireland Tyrone afterwards when he tried all wayes submitted and humbly intreated the Queens Pardon In the mean time Richard Levison and William Monson with eight great Ships and some small ones went and spoiled the Spanish Coasts and meeting the Spaniards Fleet coming from America with abundance of wealth he set upon them but was too weak for them for he was disappointed After that he mastered a very great rich Ship riding at Anchor in Portugal and burning some lesser Ships he returned for England with her At that time the Seminaries of the Church of Rome and chiefly the Jesuites were banished out of England because they caused croubles and could not live quietly At last the Queen being feeble with age and hot disease she died in the year 1602. and she departed a very good Christian having named King James of Scotland Sonne to Mary Stuart to be her Successour when she had raigned fourty four years and four Moneths A Queen that was most endowed with all the Benefits of Nature a comely Person for her Body but more comely in her Soul she was an excellent Scholar to be commended for her Goodnesse and Justice She was a Mother to her Subjects and a Subject to the Laws JAMES King of Great-Brittany France and Ireland Anno 1602. THe loss that England sustained by the death of Elizabeth was abundantly recompensed by her Successour King James and the union of the two Kingdoms England and Scotland He was inferiour to her neither for Religion nor any thing else and by new rejoycings he extinguished that grief the Subjects had conceived He was a King the more happy because he obtain'd a Kingdom by lawfull succession that was no wayes embroyled with Warres and Tumults but setled in exceeding great Peace But as in the calmest weather ofttimes clouds rise suddenly and it fals to thundering and lightning so the affairs of Brittany though most peaceably were endangered by the malice and conspiracy of some The Ring-leaders were Henry Cobham and George his Brother Thomas Gray of Wiltshire Walter Raleigh and others Their purpose was to kill the King but newly crowned to change Religion to raise Tumults to let in Forrainers A terrible design But this flame vanished into smoke the principall being either put to death or condemned to perpetual imprisonment or having their pardons granted to them But least Peace should be disturbed by new Warres he made Peace with the King of Spain who was a sworn Enemy to the English Nation it was solemnly confirmed on both sides Though Peace were settled abroad yet there was occasion for new Troubles at home For when the King had called a Parliament a very horrible Conspiracy was detected the chief Authour of it was one Catesby a Roman Catholick He having hamper'd some other men in the same business endeavoured at one stroke to root out all the English Nation as it were by Lightning
yet given no answer to his Charge whereupon they denied to supply the King with Subsidies wherefore he was forced to finde out some other waies to raise monies wherewith he provided a mighty Fleet once more wherewith assisted by the Flemish Ships he spoiled all the Spanish Ships they met either coming from Spain or sailing thither and did wonderfully annoy the very Spanish Coasts but when the French were not spared a stop was made in France of some English Vessels and the Merchants Goods were Confiscate The Ministers of the Church of Rome had heightned the indignation those that came into England with the Queen and these did what they could privately to trouble the English affairs They were commanded to leave the Land but they were sent away with good gifts and rewards The French offended at this as an injury sent Monsier Bassempeir Extraordinary Embassadour into England who prevailed so farre that some were recall'd The French was not satisfied with this but forbad all Commerce with the English subjects and Charles did the like Envy increasing Lewis oppressed the Rochellers Charles sent relief to the besieged though he prevailed but little some mens hearts flagging who returned for England and for their sluggishness they were cast into prison But chiefly sharp complaints were charged by the Parlament against Buckingham who was the Commander of this Expedition That he had delivered some Sea Towns to the Custody of some Souldiers that received no pay from the English and had made strangers Commanders of them in Chief That to the great detriment and hazard of the Kingdom he had brought German Souldiers into England That by his perswasion one Parliament was called after another and nothing done That he had put many worthy Noble man from their places undeservedly and put men less deserving into their places That Warlick Expeditions undertaken imprudently had alwaies an ill end as was fresh in memory by the Rochell business That Merchandise failed by this means That he had turned another way such preparations as were made for Warre and had destroyed a multitude of Shipping by his ill managing of business c. Charles to stop all farther proceedings against Buckingham presently dissolved the Parliament and being overcome with the continuall prayers of the besieged he raised new Forces to send to assist the Rochellers under the command of the Duke of Buckingham but when he was ready to Embarque himself he was stabbed with a Knife by Felton an English man who by this act did sacrifice himself for his Country but he was taken when he had done it and was hanged for his pains Then a new Parliament was summoned the King complained that Tunnage was denied him the answer was made that such supplies were never granted to the Kings but upon urgent necessity and therefore it were better that he should look to prevent the wrongs that were every where crept in whereupon the Parliament was once more Dissolved Then there was a supersedeas to all business for if any man did not pay that Custom he Incurred the Kings displeasure and if any did pay then he incurred the displeasure of the Parliament and hereupon grew cause enough for following mischiefs The King offended at the mallepartness of the Parliament cast Sr John Eliot and some other Members of Parliament into prison and appointed Judges to take cognizance of their Fact they supposing themselves chosen besides the custom deferred to meddle with the business being doubtfull what to do the King pressed them on one hand and the people on the other The Kings Officers sent messengers to the Merchants whom they call usually Adventurers exhorting them that they would set their Merchandise to sale as they were wont saying the King would take care of all only let them pay their Custom which thing they refused to do without consent of Parliament The other Merchants did the same for it was fresh in their memories that about an hundred years before the Merchants had a penalty set upon them who paid their Custom the Parliament being against it in memoriall whereof that posterity might not plead ignorance a Chappel was built which at this day is called Alderman-Bury and a stranger Merchant who paying the Custom had set his Merchandize to sale was excluded from all Commerce And for this reason there was cause given for both sides to be displeased In the interim Peace was ratified with France and the Queen was brought a Bed of her first-born Charles The Spaniard also was hampred with divers Warres and want of moneys and therefore he thought it better to make Peace with Charles than to be brought to a finall desparation yet the King and his subjects were never the better agreed New and greater causes of dissention arose The King had taken care that the Book of Common-prayer should bâ— re-printed that such as had not the same gift of minde might have something for their imitation and by a set form should be stirred up to more attentiveness This form was read in Churches and Houses at that time through all England But the Scotch a scrupulous people in their opinion who are more afraid of the name of yielding than resisting and would sooner offend against Religion than the Ceremonies of it did publickly refuse it but they especially who held forth affected purity were called Puritans Charles to regulate the obstinate presently musters an Army to invade Scotland James Hamilton was the cause of it who was sent into Scotland to allay the peoples mindes before it should come to a Warre but he dealt deceitfully for having a desire to the Crown of Scotland he endeavoured to raise dissentions and hoped to fish best in troubled waters The Scotch on the other part that they might not idly wait for their own destruction meet the King with their Forces but their Banners and Ensignes were not displaied and in token of humility they laid their Arms down before him on the ground But when both Armies stood now ready the English that they might not strive with their Brethren refused to fight wherefore he was forced to make peace with the Scots upon no good conditions which being ratified he came back to London He was scarce returned but some factious fellows and such as by troubles and Warre hoped to make their own advantage speak against the Kings sluggishness and stirred him up who was already prone enough to make a new Warre against the Scots whereupon he goes once more with an Army into Scotland and by the same contumacy of his souldiers as before he was frustrate of his intentions The Scotch also made a nearer agreement amongst themselves against the King which they called their Covenant The King therefore when he was distressed for want cals a Parliament and asks Subsidies of them but it was in vain wherefore he was forced to fly to other Artifices The Queen that was pressed with the same care the King was dealt with the Earl Charles Rosset and with other
of themselves inconstant enough to rebell The King moved with this accused five of the Lower House and one of the Upper House of High Treason Their Names were the Lord Viscount Mandevill Mr Pym Mr Hambden Sir Arthur Haselrig Mr Hollis and Mr Strowd clearly demonstrating that they were the men that had given occasion for these Tumults and Dissentions The Articles of their accusation were these That they endeavoured to overthrow the Fundamental Laws and the Kings Authority That they strove to alienate the hearts of the Subject from him That by the same Artifice they had sollicited the Kings souldiers to revolt That they had procured strangers to help them to possesse the Kingdom That they attempted to cast down the Parliament and the Priviledges of it That they contrived to bring both Houses to themselves and to their Opinions and therefore they caused that concourse and commotion of the People Lastly That they had blown up this fire of War against Maâ—esty These Articles being read to the Lower-House the King required that some should be sent to seize presently on their Writings but some were sent to the King to disswade him from it and in the name of the Parliament they would be Surety for the fidelity of the Members accused But the King answered That he required Obedience from his Subjects without enquiring into his Reasons Others again urged That the King by this Act had overthrown the Priviledges of Parliament and noted this Accusation to be a famous Libel The King was resolved to oppose Force against Force he requires assistance from the Souldiery and hasteneth to the Hall with five hundred armed men after him and commanding them all to wait at the door he only entered into the House with an angry Countenance and when he saw none of those that were accused he seriously relates his good Intentions to the Parliament and to the Laws and Priviledges thereof requiring that those Memcers he accused might be delivered up to him and so he went back to his Palace the same way as he came and sent a Herauld once more to finde out those he had charged Then he goes again himself to the House where the rest of the Members late and did renew his discourse whereby he expressed his good Inclination and laboured to remove the envy from himself that lay upon him saying That he would change nothing nor do otherwise than what was done in Queen Elizabeths dayes Then he went to Dinner to one of the Sheriffs houses and was in some danger by reason of the enraged multitude But the Lower-House taking Counsell with the Upper resolved by all means to revenge this rigour of the King that he had used against their Priviledges they presently put the City in Arms caused them to shut up their Shops and the sitting was adjourned for five dayes Also the Parliament for bad the Citizens that no man should help the King to finde out those that were accused rendring the King as hatefull to the People as they could and shaking his Authority The King when he might have made use of this Division between the two Houses to overthrow the attempts of the People breaks forth into violent anger sets a. Guard upon the Tower of London and once more declares the accused to be guilty of High Treason forbidding all men either to conceal them or to convey them away promising their Estates to any that should discover them either alive or dead But men were so farre from obeying the King that the accused Members guarded with a multitude of Citizens took their places again as before in Parliament yet this was not sufficient for the Parliament published through the City That the King intended to ruine the Citizens That his Forces were now ready to do it which did not a little exasperate the mindes of the Citizens But the Aldermen of the City took a better course and humbly certified the King That the Communalty were too much incensed already and therefore he should let pass bitter counsel and finde out some way to compose the matter The King answered them with the greatest moderation greatly complaining that his Authority was violated But the Parliament when they had brought the business so farre thought not fit to give it over but on the 16th day of January in the Year 1642. raised a vast multitude of Citizens and others as it was pretended to defend the Houses that they might assemble freely and Latters were forthwith sent to other neighbouring Counties whereby they were commanded to draw up in Arms all the Forces they could under colour to defend the Laws and Liberties Upon this occasion there came together a mighty Army so that at least 20000 were ready at a beck The King having timely notice of it leaving the City makes haste to Hampton Court commanding his Counsellours to follow him especially the Earls of Essex and Holland but they refused wherefore the King with a small company took his journey like one that fled so that for haste being he had no Purveyors to provide room for him sufficiently He his Wife and Children the first night were constrained to tumble all in one Bed He being now escaped from out of their hands by Proclamations endeavoured to maintain his own Cause before the whole world but he wanted help It was otherwise with the Parliament for all London now stood against the King ready in Arms. The Streets and crosse-wayes were stopped with Chains and Barres and Cannon mounted Also the Parliaments Forces were augmented by an addition of four thousand Horse Souldiers that came to them The Boats and Barks were fitted for the Warre and most of the Citizens servants and Apprentices were at a call to joyn with the Parliament and being armed what with Clubs what with Sticks what with Swords and other Weapons they came and guarded the Parliament-House at Halberd-men And from that time the meeting was not at Westminster as before but in the City that they might the better win the minds of the Citizens to themselves and be nearer to their businesse Though the King being asked his opinion thereof by Essex did flatly deny it wherefore they are resolved to set upon the Kings stubborn minde as they said They commanded the Governours of Sea-Towns not to obey the Kings Orders unless they were confirmed by the Authority and Seal of the Parliament at one blow almost cutting off all the Kings Authority This might have been prevented had he by good counsell taken possession of those Towns and put in Souldiers to keep them for him The King when he saw they provided Force and that he was not safe at Hampton Court rides presently to Windsor thither came the French Embassadour to him who offered to be Umpire between the King and his Subjects but when neither King nor Queen would give any great credit to his words he did prevail but little But now the King first saw that he was deceived of his hopes when he imagined that Wales
and Yorkshire were revolted from him at the Report of what was past and for fear of them his counsel was troubled But the Parliament which the King in his straights was not ignorant of thought fit to proceed and did prescribe Conditions to the King namely That the English should be governed the same way as the Scotch were and to that they might call a Parliament as often as they pleased and assign Offices to whom they thought fit That the Bishops should be ejected out of the Parliament whom they found more addicted to the Kings side and many such like Propositions In the mean time the Houses take into their Power the Towns of greatest concernment amongst which Hull was one The King had sent the Earl of New-castle thither before to demand it for himself but the Townsmen who had first received order from the Parliament being doubtfull what to do were between hope and fear but then being confirmed with a farther order from the Parliament they excluded the King Wherefore being defrauded of his hope he resolves upon more milde counsels and sent Letters to the two Houses desiring them not to proceed so harshly to leave off their violence protesting his Innocence and sincere intention before God and man But the Parliament little moved by these words take care in the mean time for the business of Ireland giving Licence to Martin Tromp the Admiral of Holland to search all Dunkirk ships even in they very English Havens Also Digby and Lunsford that were addicted to the King are accused of High Treason the one was taken the other escaped into Holland Then they send Messengers to the King and gave him thanks for his Letters desiring his Majesty to return to London The King though he were pleased with their gratitude yet refused to come to the Parliament least the people by their Insolence should again put him in danger The Parliament was much displeased with this refusall of the King because the traffique did not proceed well and because they could not press their designs as they would Whereupon the Lower House drew up an Humble Remonstrance Whereby they desired Power to bestow all Places of Government both by Sea and Land upon whom they thought fit and to fortifie Towns with Ammunition and Provision necessary as they pleased And proceeding yet farther They asked that the old Servants of the Queen both English and French and such as were her Priests might be banished and the Bishops and Lords addicted to the Popish Religion might be excluded from the Parliament-House That a Synod of fifty Ministers might be called That the Princes and Lords should be forbidden to go out of the Land or to make any Covenant with forrain Princes or Commonwealths without the Parliaments consent Lastly They desired that the King should take an Oath to hold no counsel with the Queen in Church or State affairs The Lords of the Upper House were not well pleased with these Propositions for that the Kings Authority was palpably infringed by them The Lower House was angry at that and fell to their former Artifice and threatned to raise the people and incite them against the Nobility as Enemies to the Commonwealth and addicted to the Kings side The Lords regarded not their threats untill they saw the Commons uniting themselves by counsel from the Lower House and which is to be admired they found the Commissioners of Scotland to joyn with them against the profit of their own Countrey At last they were terrified with these things and fore-seeing greater dangers they consent though it were against their wils Twenty chosen men therefore are sent to the King with these Conditions which when the King beheld he undertook to ask Counsell thereupon and to deliver his minde in writing But when he was pressed with straights on all sides he yielded to these Conditions namely That the Parliament should store the Cities of the Kingdom with provision upon this ground that the King should first be made acquainted what provision they would make and to bestow the Offices so that of three men chosen the King might choose one As for the Bishops and the rest as being matters of great moment he would advise farther The Kings Consent was received by the Parliament with great applause though they could have desired the terms of his Grant had been larger for by this Authority they increased in power as much as the King decreased They brought the business so farre that the power should be in their hands so long as the Parliament sate which they meant for ever For the King by a dangerous Indulgence had granted them leave before to sit so long as they pleased they being not to be dissolved without their own Consent And that this power granted to them might not prove unfruitfull they presently put out some Governours and put in others Nor are they content with this but being higher by the Kings Grants they petition that the six Members should be cleared from all guilt and to be freed from attainder the King was resolved to yield to all and did grant what they asked The Kings courage was so farre weakned that he lifted up the Power of his Adversaries and pulled down the hopes of his friends who trusting but little to his over great lenity thought it best to avoid the strokes or misfortune now hanging over their heads Part of them forsaking the Parliament went home to their houses Part of them preferring voluntary banishment before continual fear went out of the Land for they had now got the power of all into their hands and did what they pleased no man daring to whisper against it And now that plenty of Parliament-members was so diminished that in the Upper House there were left not above five and twenty in the Lower House scarce fourscore the Kings friends still falling off that at last there were hardly sixteen in the House of Lords In the mean time they raged fiercely against those that were addicted to the Romish Religion and they provide a Fleet with the Kings Treasure to defend the Mediterranean Sea upon all occasions whereby his Power was diminished and his Authority broken The Queen also was so tired out with so many calumnies and aspersions that she resolved to sail into Holland and to accompany her Daughter to her Husband the Prince of Orange to whom she was espoused And the Parliament to leave the King naked of that succour easily yielded to it The King that he might clearly demonstrate that he by his presence had been no cause of any of those evils before his departure had consented to the Petition of the Parliament to exclude the Bishops out of the House which was not the least of his failings And to discover his minde plainly toward the Reformed Religion he caused a severe Statute to be published against the Papists and banished all their Priests out of the Kingdom 'T is marvellous with how great joy the people accepted that Bonfires were made in
triumph at London and in other places it may be it was done because the Kings Power was now ended The Queen in the mean time imbarqued at Dover and with true tears took her last farewell fore-seeing that this departure of hers was an omen of a most sad Divorce The Parliament in the interim asked the Kings consent upon some Governours of the Kingdom they had chosen But the King who was now sensible of his errours began to draw back and to delay the business They impatient of all delayes send Commissioners to him to let him understand That the Parliament must flie to their Arms and defend their Authority by force unlesse the King would presently grant their just Petitions as they said And when the King resolved to remove farther from London they entreated him not to do it but rather if he would not he should let his Sonne live at London The King not wondring a little at this Petition answered That he was by these Propositions much amazed but what to answer he knew not He would have them lay their hands on their hearts and would search whether of the two gave the cause now of mischiefs that would arise from a Civil Warre As for his Sonne he would as a Father provide for him and that neither of them would go from London unless they were afraid of the Insolency of some people there And that he desired to procure Peace by all means not caring who took up Arms for he would rest on Gods providence So their Messengers were dismissed But the Parliament supposing they were not now to demur command all the Lieutenants of the Counties by their Edicts to flie to their Arms and to compell all their Subjects that were fit to bear Arms to repair to their Colours And forthwith they unpoured all those Officers the King had made and made new ones by their own Authority The most excellent and the wisest men were of opinion that all that provision of the Parliament would dissolve into smoke The London Counsel also thought themselves wronged by this unusual and unheard of boldness in the Parliament for by this means they were stript of all their Authority They complain of it to the King but what should he do whose hands were already bound and he did not strive to unbinde them Then they put up their humble Petitions to the Parliament to which the principal Citizens of London subscribed their hands But when they waited for an Answer as it was requisite the principal of the Subscribers were punished So all things grew worse and worse The King in the mean time who was not ignorant of the Parliament Attempts called all his Nobility to him that he might put a stop to the Parliament proceedings The Parliament to lull the King asleep with fair words used all devices and when this would not do they over-weigh him with complaints and crimes As that he had hearkned to a change in Religion and given cause for the uprears in Ireland especially they that were most powerfull with him secretly bespotting the Queen They added That the Instruments of the Pope of the Kings of Spain and France were resolved to restore the King to his former Authority and other things that served to justifie their own proceedings and to make the King faulty The King published his Declarations labouring to remove these aspersions from him and to decline the hatred of them yet prevailed nothing for the Parliament by a new Declararation did both support and augmented the former Articles complaining that the greatest injury was done to themselves by the Kings forsaking them The King in the mean time takes his journey for York together with the Prince the Palsgrave the Duke of Richmond and some other of the Nobility being resolved to be deluded no farther but to oppose Force against Force and the Right he could not maintain by yielding to maintain by Arms. The Parliament did not sit still but fortified the chief Towns with Ammunition and Souldiers especially Hull a City of greatest concernment Also the Earl of Warwick was sent with thirty men of Warre to guard the English Coasts and they call Vice-Admiral Pennington back again by speedy Messengers who had transported the Queen into Holland and under pretence of subduing Rebellion they gather a mighty mass of money Charles in the mean time to overthrow their Commands prohibits what they would have by Edicts to the contrary but they disobeying the King did their work by frighting him with threats which was a great grief to moderate men The King when he was come to York was received with the highest affection of his Subjects and before them all he removeth all that envy of Popery that was charged upon him But the Parliament who were not well pleased with the Yorkshire men for this sent Letters to the King inserting fair speeches to pacifie his anger They write a counterfeit Letter in the name of Elizabeth Countess Palatine as written by her wherein they did foully defame the States of Holland for her ill entertainment amongst them To avoid the hatred of this business Joachimus the States Embassadour complained to the Parliament of the falsity of that report because his Masters Honours were much shadowed by it whose splendor and benevolence toward strangers was sufficiently known to all the world and he prevailed so farre that these counterfeit Letters were publickly burnt A Rumour also as false as the former was scattered abroad that a great Fleet was made ready for King Charles in the Denmark Havens and thus each on both sides strive to draw reputation and authority to their party They had long enough banded in words they must now come to blows Ere long they break forth into open Warre The King cals all the Knights of the Garter and all others that by the band of Nobility held from the Crown to come to him to York The Parliament contrarily made it death for any of them to go to the King yet of the Lower House twenty Members revolt to the King making more reckoning of the Kings commands than of the Parliaments In the mean time there followed an humble Petition of the men of Kent to the Parliament wherein they humbly desired That nothing should be done without the Kings consent That the Liturgy might not be altered That the Bishops might be restored That they would not suffer the Fundamentall Laws of the Land to be antiquated without the Kings permission nor Arms to be raised without his command That some good means might be found out to make an agreement c. But the Parliament not only denied to answer them but they severely punish him that brought the Petition and the Earl of Bristol that received it casting both of them into Prison to cut off for the future all way for such requests their fellows not a little raging at it and saying openly that that liberty was unjustly taken away whenas they had listned to other Petitions that were farre more
commanded the Garrison refusing to let him in though many Souldiers ran away yet by a fresh supply of the Scots he was disappointed Because this succeeded not he turns about to make conditions for Peace and he offered the Houses to come presently to them and to punish severely the Authors of disagreement so they would leave London that seditious City and chose some other place as Oxford Winchester Cambridge York Bristol Nottingham for to assmble at But the Houses would name no other place least the City of London should be displeased at it for they had more need of the Londoners than of any others The King when that would not take proclaims all men guilty of Treason who should assist the Houses with Money or any other supplies and he threatens the Londoners that if they did it they should lose all their priviledges as they have very great ones The Houses on the other side set as good a gloss upon their Cause as they were able to do Mens mindes and inclinations were distracted by these means The people who are easily led by blinde errour and outward appearances stuck fast to the Parliaments cause Others who were of a higher rank by reason of their Families paid Tribute freely least the Houses should send men to strain on their Shops under a colour of necessity All the Nobles almost held with the King The King in the mean while fortifies Newcastle and Barwick with Garrisons of English wherein doubtless he hurt himself and alienated the hearts of the Scots from him For it was agreed upon before to have them kept by the Scotch souldiers and not by the English But when help came from other parts and the Scots were undervalued they studied to advantage themselves only and though by holding forth Peace he had won many mens hearts yet being driven by despair he attempts by force to gain Hull which he could not do by Policy First he possessed himself of their Fals of Waters and then of their publick Waies that the Towns men might want necessaries but by their Courage and Valour he lost his labour The Houses now Proclaimed openly Warres and they made the Earl of Essex Generall of the Foot Bedford of the Horse The King makes the Earl of Cumberland a very Noble man and faithfull to his Soveraign Generall of his Horse and in the mean time set forth his Declarations to the world and requiring Hull to be delivered up to him that he might punish the insolence of the Governour but nothing prevailed But that Warre Proclaimed might not want its solemnities the King set up his Standard first at Nottingham But when he saw a smaller concourse of men than he believed would have been he again turns about to make conditions He sent Messengers to the Houses to excuse the fact and to desire Articles of Peace But the Houses who knew that this proceeded more from his necessity than love made use of all advantages causing the Kings Commissioners to be brought as Delinquents before the Parliament overthrowing by this means the Law of Nations Then they send to the King that unless he came speedily to London and sent away those Nobles to the Parliament that were fled from them that they might be tried for their Lives and their Estates might be confiscate to maintain their Army they would never lay down their Arms. A very hard condition and no waies to be answered but by the sword Some there were that counselled the King to yield to this but he had yet courage remaining After so many great preambles at length Warre is denounced But we shall pull in our sails unfolding the causes of these dissentions briefly and succinctly as we resolved at first and so hasten to a conclusion least entring afresh into a large field we should tire both our selves and the Reader Pardon therefore this long digression and I shall proceed It was now come to open Warre and the Victory was doubtfull sometimes falling on this side sometimes on that with no small loss of blood on both sides All the particulars are set down at large in Books written to this purpose whither I remit the Reader that desires further knowledge of it Essex was Generall of the Parliament Forces Fairfax he succeeded in his place Divers Battels were fought here and there many Towns vanquished For the greatest part the King had the worst of it who was afterwards also besieged at Oxford by Fairfax and was constrained to fly away in a disguised habit and he came to the Scots that were at Newarke hoping to be received with great humanity by such good subjects as they boasted themselves to be But when both Fortune and Fidelity failed and there was no care taken for him in his affliction They when they could not be good would not be bad and to keep their hands clear they delivered the King to the English under those conditions as they say that no violence should be offered to his Majesty The English being now Masters of their desires carry the King to Holnbey Castle from thence to Hampton Court whither he had fled before for Refuge now a Prison Which place seeming not safe enough for him he went away to the Isle of Wight to be guarded by the Waters and Colonel Hammon using a crafty excuse for a certain Letter was left on the Table whereby the King was advertised that there were some that laid wait for his life whereby he was frighted and fled to a safe place in the Isle of Wight The people though before they were enraged against the King now pitying his case and seeing their errors resolved to plead his Cause They offer their humble Petitions to the Houses that they would not refuse to condescend to make peace with the King and they prevailed so farre that at last the business came to a Treaty with a great deal of seeming satisfaction on both sides with great applause both of the King the Houses and the People but afterward there was an humble Petition exhibited to the Parliament wherein they desired that the King might be tried by the Laws and Justice and all further Treaties with him to be laid aside to which they denied to give an Answer The Army and some of the Parliament not being satisfied they march partly toward Newport to the King who now was a Prisoner at large and conveyed him into Hurst Castle Then marching toward London again they possessed themselves of the City and cast some of the Houses into Prison whilst the rest who foresaw this Tempest saved themselves by flight Here we may see an example of Gods judgement for they that before had ill treated their Master are now compelled to suffer All that consented to the non-addresses are restored to their Honours and Places Then the King in the year 1648. was taken as a Prisoner of Warre and carried to Windsor The remainder of the Parliament with others erect a new and unheard of Tribunal to take cognizance of the Kings case Judges were chosen whose Names are generally known This was done in the year 1649. in January The King was brought before the High-Court of Justice and was accused of these Crimes That he gave the cause of the cruell bloodshed in England and Ireland That he had born Armes against the Parliament That he had given Commissions to his Sonne and others to wage Warre that he might exalt his own Authority with the high detriment of the Commonwealth whence they concluded that he was guilty of Treason and so he was a Traitor a Tyrant and an Enemy to the Common-wealth The King smiled at all these things and gave no answer being further urged he refused to give any answer Whereupon they proceed to Sentence That he was fallen from all his Dignities was guilty of High-Treason and therefore was to lose his Head for being a Tyrant a Robber and an Enemy to the Commonwealth Some making a great shout The Sentence given they proceed to execution though the Holland Embassadours Adrian Paw and Albertus Joachimus with the Scots did their best to hinder the proceedings He obtained leave for Dr Juxton Bishop of London and two of his Children to be with him these for his bodies him for the comfort of his soul At length he sent away his Children with Gifts and Tears only he kept the Minister by him to the last moment of his life The Prince Palatine and the Duke of Richmond came to bid the King their last farewell but the King refused it least they should interrupt the present joys of his soul with new lamenting At last the 30 day of January was appointed for his execution And the King ascended the Scaffold erected before his Banqueting-house from whence he made his last Speech to the People there present and when as now he had sufficiently professed his Innocency he then prepared himself for death and laying his neck on the Block his Head was cut off by a disguised Executioner and he changed a troublesome life for a quiet death In the Year 1649. FINIS