Matters of great note and consequence 1 divers questions upon His Majesties last answer concerning the militia resolved upon by both Houses of Parliament to be of dangerous consequence : 2 a true relation of the strange and unitmely deathes which hath successively befalen all the nobility and others which have beene the possessors of Shirborne Castle in Dorset-shire since that it was unlawfully usurped and taken from the church by King Stephen in Anno Dom. 1100 : which castle is now in the possession of George Lord Digby : and how the case stands with him I leave to the courteous reader to censure : whereunto is added certaine articles of high treason against the said Lord Digby.

A True relation of the un∣fortunate and untimely deaths of all the Nobillity and others, which ever since King Stephens time have possessed Shirborne Castle.

OSmond Earle of Dorset, a Norman by birth, and a great favourite of the Conquerours, had Sherborne given him by the conquerour, a∣mongst divers other advancements afterwards, upon the Vacancie of the See of Salisbury, Osmund, forsaking the temporall authority, and being in great grace with the King, became Bishop of that See, and got the Castle of Sherborne to be annexed to that Bishopprick, setting a curse upon them that did goe about to pluck the same from that godly and pious use, it being really given to the Church. This Bishop was a man of that great integrity and holinesse, that he was canonized at Rome, and set downe in our Almanack for a Saint. This Castle, with the land thereunto apper••aining, conti∣nued in the Bishops untill the time of King Stephen; at which time one Roger being Bishop of Salisbury (who reedisied both the Castle of Sherborne, and the Castle of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, commonly called the Vize) being well knowne to be a Bishop of great wealth; the said King

wanting Money for many purposes, but especially for the compassing of a Mariage betweene Eustace his one∣ly Sonne, and Constantia the French Kings sister, seized upon the wealth of the said Bishop in the Castle of the Devices, and tooke away the Castle of Sherborne from the Bishopprick, and kept it in his owne hands. Not long after, the right heire to the Crowne, Maude the Empresse, and Henry fift Empresse her sonne invaded England with such power, as that King Stephen was dri∣ven by composition to make Henry fift Empresse heire apparent to the Crowne, and d••sinherit Eustace his owne naturall Sonne as appeares by the records after that time, while the said Castle continued in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Crowne, great and many troubles arose to the King; sometimes the Father was divided against the Sonne; sometimes the Sonne against the Father; the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of this king∣dome against the King, and the King against the Bar∣rons: from the King this Castle was granted to some of the Noble race of the Mountaculs, and while 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had it, two of them lost their heads successively one after the other, as appeares by the records, and in the time of King Edward the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 one Robert Wynill being Bishop of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, brought a writ of right against William Munta∣cule Earle of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the said Castle, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hee proceeded so farre, as that their Champions were en∣tred 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 to try the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for it. But the King tooke up the matter, and ordered the Bishop to give a summe of Money to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which was done accor∣dingly, and the Castle restored to the Bishopprick.

The said 〈◊〉〈◊〉 continued 〈◊〉〈◊〉, untill the time of King 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sixth, all which time the Duke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 So∣merset got 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 lease thereof, who granted the same

〈◊〉〈◊〉 Sir Iohn Horsey, the best of his ability that ever was of that name in those parts; after which, within halfe a yeare the Duke of Somerset lost his head, as appeares by the records, and Sir Iohn 〈◊〉〈◊〉 declined in his estate untill he became so extreordinary poore that he was outlawed for ten pounds. King Edward dying, and Ni∣colas Heath Archbishop of Yorke being Lord Chancel∣lour of England, Capon Bishop of Sarum exhibited a Bill in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 against the said Sir Iohn Horsey, shewing that the lease which he had made to the Duke was by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and threats, and for feare of his life; upon which Bill the Lord Chancellour releived him, and de∣creed the Castle for the Bishop. After that it continu∣ed in the Bishopprick, untill about the thirry three of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Elizabeth. At which time Sir Walter 〈◊〉〈◊〉 got it into his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, wh ch also lost his head, as ap∣peares by the records, and by reason of his attainder it came again to the Crowne, and so from the Kings most 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Majesty unto the most noble and hopefull Prince Henry, who held it not full a yeare, and so retur∣ned to the Crowne, and thence shortly after it came to the Earle of 〈◊〉〈◊〉; with whom how the case then stood, let them to whom it appertaineth judge. Since his attainder it was granted to Sir Iohn Digby Vice∣Chamberlaine to the King, now Earle of Bristoll a man of great merit, and the said Earle of Bristoll after the said castle was a short space in his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 setled the same on his eldest sonne, the now Lord George Digby in whose possession the same now really is, and in what case he now standeth, I leave to determine of the curtious rea∣der 〈◊〉〈◊〉 these severall Articles following.

All which may be a warning unto those sacrilegions

persons who thinke all things well 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which they can get from the Church, but let them take 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of these things least that worse then they doe not fall up∣on them.