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HENRY the Eighth, being Eighteen Years old, be∣gan his Reign the 22d of April, Anno Dom. 1509. and was Crowned at Westminster by William Warham, Arch-Bishop of Canterbury. His first Policy was to wind himself into the Affections of his Subjects; and soon found out a way to do it by issuing out Proclama∣tions That such as had been Injured by Extortions and Oppressions of evil Persons in his Fathers Reign, should
be favourably heard, and receive Satisfaction for the wrongs done them: Whereupon great Numbers came with grievous Complaints; those that had received the least Injury, being the most clamorous; and having recompenced many, to please the rest, Empson and Dudley the two corrupt Judges, were Convicted of High Treason, and Beheaded on Tower-Hill; and di∣vers imployed under them were Disgraced by Pillories, Stocks, and Whipping-Posts, tho' these Catterpillars had exceedingly Enriched the Kings Treasury, as well as their own Coffers. For his Father left behind him the greatest Mass of Money that any King of England before him had done.
Things being a little settled, Ferdinand the King's Father-in-Law, craved Aid of him against the Moors, who infested his Kingdom, which he obtained, and drove them by that means out of Spain; but the War ceasing, he sent home the English poor and ill rewarded for their Service, which much offended the King; and Wars arrising between Pope Julius the Second, and Lewis the French King, in Italy, where the latter seized on the strong Towns of Bologna and La Gasse, and be∣came very Formidable, King Henry became a friendly Mediator between them. But the French King refu∣sing to yeild to Proposals of Peace, pursuing his Con∣quests, he required him by his Ambassadors to restore him the Peaceable possession of Guyan and Normandy, with his Antient Inheritance of Mayne and Anjou, un∣justly detained from his Ancestors and himself; which being refused, he Proclaimed War; and for this, and Writing a Book in defence of the Roman Pontificate, a∣gainst Martin Luther, the Pope (on whose account this Quarrel was espoused) stiled him Defender of the Faith; which Title has ever since been retained by the Kings and Queens of England.
The King was not slow in raising an Army, and King Ferdinand of Spain having notice of his prepara∣tions, sent to offer his Service if he would Land his Forces in Biscay, a part of his Country, and from thence March into Guyan, which was agreed to, and done un∣der the Leading of Thomas Crey Marquess of Dorset: But the crafty Spaniard intending nothing but his own advantage by this, after the English had suffered many hardships in his Country, he joyned them, and fell un∣expectedly on the Kingdom of Navarre, which he seized in a short time; the Natives being so amazed at the suddainness of the Invasion, that they made little or no resistance. But after this success, he afforded them no subsistance, or any part of the spoil; which made the Soldiers Disband of their own accord, and come straglingly into England, Poor and almost Naked: But Sir Edward Howard, Youngest Son to the Earl of Surry, being Lord Admiral of England, many times Landed in the French Territories, and greatly endama∣ged them, and at Sea overthrew their Navy; in which Fight Sir John Carew of Devonshire, in the Regent, grap∣ling with a great Carrick of Brest, both Ships in the contest fell on Fire, and in them (on both sides) about 800 Men perished. This distress on his Coast, made the French King augment his Fleet, and Fortify his Har∣bours: However the Admiral entered that of Brest with Boats and armed Barges, and assailed three great Galleys of Rhodes, brought to the assistance of the French King, by Prior John, these they soon Boarded; but the Boats and Barges then returning, and leaving them well Manned, to be brought off at high Tide; by this oversight the French regained them; and in the contest, the Admiral was born overboard by a Pike, and Drow∣ned. But in few days his Elder Brother was made Admiral, and two Land Armies prepared, one under
the Leading of George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury, and the other by Charles Somerset Lord Herbert, Chamberlain to the King: These had not long been Landed but the King leaving the publick mannagement of Affaires to the Queen, and directing the Earl of Surry to Guard the North against the Scots Incursion, he Sailed to Callice and caused his Army to March to Terwyn, which he Besieged; and upon the overthrow of the French Army that came to its Relief, had it put into his possession, which he rased, and consumed by Fire, except the Ca∣thedral and Bishops Palace. During this Siege, Maxi∣milian the Emperour, with 30 Nobles and Gentlemen, repared to King Henry's Camp; where, to the Honour of England, they Enrolled themselves in the King's Pay, and were Nobly entertained.
The next Place that opposed him in his intended Conquest, was Tournay, which despairing of succour, after many fierce Assaults, yielded; and on condition of their paying 10000l. the Citizens were received into Henry's Protection, and Wolsey his Almoner, took an Oath of Allegiance of them, to be True to him, as his own Subjects. However, in his Absence the Scots In∣vaded England with 8000 Men, under the Command of the Lord Humes, and did great mischief; but as they were returning with their Plunder, Sir William Bulmer who lay in wait with 1000 Archers, put them to the Rout in a sharp Fight, slew 500, and took 400 Priso∣ners, and recovered all the Booty; so that those who had the luck to Escape returned Poor and Beggarly in∣to Scotland. But King James the Fourth, to revenge this disgrace, raised the Power of his Kingdom, and come before the Castle of Norham, (some Historians say with 100000 Fighting Men) which he Took, by reason the Captain being prodigal of his Powder, too soon spent it. But the Earl of Surry Marching against the
Scots with 26000 Fighting Men, Anno 1513 the fatal Battel of Floden Field was Fought, September 9, in which the Victory fell to the English; the Scots King, 2 Bi∣shops, 12 Earls, 14 Lords, and 12000 others of lesser note, being slain. For this good Service the Earl of Surry was Created Duke of Norfolk, Charles Brandon Viscount Lysle, Duke of Suffolk, and Woolsey was made Bishop of Lincoln, and after some Bickerings with the French on the Coast of Normandy, King Lewis, stricken much in Years, sued for Peace; and the better to con∣firm it, Married the Lady Mary, Second Sister to King Henry, a Young and very Beautiful Lady, at whose Wedding and Coronation many brave feats of Chival∣ry were performed by the English Nobility and Gen∣try, who waited on her: But Lewis the 12th Dying three Months after this Marriage, she returned again for England, and with the King's private consent was Married to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk, who had a long time been her Lover.
Woolsey, who was a Butchers Son at Ipswich, now be∣gan to rise a pace; for Doctor Bambridge dying, he was made Arch-Bishop, (and after, by the Pope, Cardi∣nal) of York, which puffed him up with so much Pride, that he undertook to Rule the King and Kingdom, doing for a time, without controul, what he listed, placing and displacing Officers, and meddling in all Affairs where there was Advantage or Homage to be gained: Especially when made Lord Chancelour, and Counsellour of State; demanding Accounts of the Treasurers, Captains, and other Officers that had been in the Wars; by which he got much Money out of some that were Rich; and those that could not furnish him, he Punished and Imprisoned; Erecting Courts of his own head, and by subtilty got himself to be made the Popes Legat; and to Build two Colledges, by the
Popes permission, suppressed and seized on the Lands & Effects of many Religious Houses, which gave an inlet to King Henry's suppressing the rest some time after; who concluded if it were not Sacriledge in the Pope, but he could alow of it at pleasure, it would be none in him. However, this Cardinal was sent on several Honourable Embassies, wherein he behaved himself so Proudly, Naming the King but in the Second place, as Ego et Rex meus, I and my King; That Forreigners admired how such Arrogancy could be suffered by any Prince in his Subject; but his Fall was swifter than his Rise; so that what he chiefly aimed at, (viz. to be Elected Pope, in making Interest for which promotion at Rome, and in other Courts, it had cost England vast sums of Money) he never attained to.
For King Henry growing into a dislike of the Mar∣riage between him and the Lady Catharine, of Spain, because she had been his Brother Arthur's Wife, tho' indeed (as it after appeared) rather by a Divorce to make way for a fresh Beauty, the Cardinals delays and crossing the Kings haste in this purpose, made him fall into disgrace, which brought him to his End; as will by and by be manifested.
The King by Riotous Living at home, and Expences in Forreign Courts, where Ambassadors (especially Woolsey) were attended with such State that they rather seemed the King himself, than his Representatives; had now pretty well emptied his Coffers, which put him into some discontent: But Woolsey, both to Enrich the King and himself, laid hold of his Melancholy and Wants, as a favourable opportunity, of his own Au∣thotity granted out Commissions under the Great Seal for Levying a Tax all over England and Wales, accor∣ding to the true value of every Mans Estate, viz. Of every Fifty Pound value, and upwards, Four Shillings
in the Pound; and for every Pound above Twenty, and under Fifty, two Shillings; and all under Twenty, Twelve Pence in the Pound; and in London he ap∣pointed himself chief Commissioner: And by another Commission the Clergy, without exception, were Tax∣ed Four Shillings in the Pound for their Livings.
This seemed so grievous to all sorts of People, so great a Tax never having been laid on them before, and this done without Authority of Parliament, that the Meaner sort grievously Cursed the Author and Con∣triver of their Miseries; and those more discreet, la∣boured for these Reasons to have the Commission Re∣voked.
1. Because the Commissions were not established or groun∣ded on the Laws of the Kingdom.
2. Because the Execution of them would be a dangerous President against the Liberty and Freedom of the People of England in time to come,
3. Because Mens Credits many times exceeded their Estates, and to bring them upon Oath, or other ways to dis∣cover that, it would prove their Ruin.
And Lastly, That not one in ten had the value deman∣ded in Plate or Ready Money; and if they parted with so much, Trade must cease for want of Coin to Trade with.
But these and many more Reasons prevailed not, till the King perceived the Peoples discontents every where so great, that he feared a general Insurrection; and then he sent his Letters to countermand the Com∣mission, dissembling that he knew any thing of those Commissions that had been given out to Levy the Tax; and the Cardinal seeing his Project frustrated, and fawningly to excuse himself to the People, he certified in all Counties by his Letters, viz. That because he saw those Taxes were too grievous for them to bear, he had in compassion to them, kneeled to the King,
and prevailed with him to Revoke the Commissions: Yet few believed him, for the greater part were satis∣fied that it was done against his mind, and that he in∣wardly fretted at the disappointment, it being the first rub that had checked his Arbitrary Will. When to spend his Gaul on some body, and ease his Anger, he after he had given the King Hampton Court, and all his fine Buildings there, in exchange for his Palace of Rich∣mond, prevailed to have the ordering the King's Hou∣should; which was no sooner granted, but he turned out all worthy deserving Persons, and Sold their Places and Offices to such as would be more obedient to him.
About this time the French King requested the Lady Mary, King Henry's Daughter, to be given in Marriage to the Dauphin his Son; but whilst this Match was so∣licited, and by some liked, and by others disapproved, a Scruple was cast in the way (as most thought upon the secret intimation of Woolsey, in despight to the Em∣perour, because by Strength he had not made him Pope, when by his Money and Policy he had failed to obtain it) by the President of Paris, who Questioned Whether the Lady was Legitimate, as Born in Lawful Matrimony, seeing she was Begotten on the Body of the Lady Catharine, who had been his Brother Arthur's Wife. This made the Lawfulness of the King's Marriage be called in Que∣stian, and himself so averse to it, that (by the Counsel of Doctor Longland his Confessor, who told him he had Lived Incestuously almost twenty Years) he forsook the Queen's Bed, to her great grief and discontent: And however, tho' upon this pretence the Match was broken off, yet Woolsey was sent over, who concluded a Peace with the French King.
The Legality of the King's Marriage, after this, coming hotly to be Disputed, to determine which, the Pope sent Campeius with a power Legantine, which he
also granted to Woolsey; and so the two Legates reparing to the Queen, to Inform her of their Power and Autho∣rity, which she took very uneasy, sharply telling Woolsey, He was the first causer of this scruple, to be Revenged on her Nephew, because he had not made him Pope; and on her, because she had secretly in a loving and gentle manner, often times Admonished him of his Coveteousness and Ty∣rany, his Extortions and Oppressions, his Pride and Lechery. But with protestations he laboured to excuse it, as if he had been altogether Ignorant of the matter, and pro∣ceeded to erect a stately Court for himself and his Bro∣ther Cardinal, in the Black Fryars in London, where the King and Queen were Cited and Appeared: The King protested, That nothing but his trouble of Conscience could make him part with so Tender and Loving a Wife; and if with the removal of that scruple he could Cohabit with her, he should be exceeding Joyful. But those that knew what little Scruples this King made in other weighty mat∣ters, did not lean greatly on the truth of what he said; however the Queen, advised by her Councel, appealed to the Court of Rome. But her Appeal was not allowed; and tho' the King desired a quick dispatch, the business was delayed: Yet they proceeded to sit Weekly, and hear Learned Disputes on the matter.
At length the King being informed, That after the Last day of July the Legates would sit no more till the Fourth of October; in a great passion he sent the Dukes of Norfolk, Suffolk, and other Lords, to demand a dis∣patch to the Judicial Sentence, one way or the other. Campeius Answered, It could not be done so soon, for by the Yearly Custom of the Court of Rome, they were bound to Adjourn; and if any Sentence in the interim was given, it was utterly void in Law. At this the Duke of Suffolk, in a Rage struck his Fist on the Table, saying, That never Cardinal nor Legate did any good in England; and
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whilst the King was expecting a final Determination, Campeius seeing a Storm likely to arise, thought fit to be packing for Rome, pretending the Pope had sent for him: Upon notice of this, the King was much perplex∣ed, as knowing they designed to fix it in the Court of Rome, to tire him out with vast Expences and Delays; so that from that time Cardinal Woolsey began to fall from his favour: For having secretly promised a Di∣vorce, yet fearing to displease the Court of Rome, he had now refused it. And the next Term the King caused his Attourney General to prefer an Indictment against him, on the Statute of Premunire, on several Articles, which being found by the Grand Jury, he Confessed all the material points by his Attourney: And all his Promotions, except the Arch-Bishoprick of York and the Bishoprick of Winchester, were taken from him; and Sir Thomas Moor was made Lord Chan∣cellour. The King likewise seized his Mass of Plate, and Rich Furniture, and confined him to his House at Asher near Kingstone.
A Parliament being Assembled, the Commons made great complaints against the Clergy, exhibiting divers Articles relating to their Pride, Luxurious way of Living, Trading as Husbandmen, and Merchants, to the Injury of those brought up to it, &c.
This was strongly opposed by Dr. Fisher Bishop of Rochester, who Reflecting on the Commons (by saying, Now with our Commons is nothing but Down with the Church; and all this is for lack of Faith only) they com∣plained of it to the King, by Sir Thomas Audley their Speaker, and others; but the Bishop excusing himself by putting another Interpretation on the meaning of his Words, they were contented with the King's sharp∣ly reprehending him; and then they proceeded to Ar∣ticle against Woolsey under several Heads, Charging him
with Misleading and Abusing the King, wasting and pur∣loining the Treasure; That in his Letters he had Written I and my King, as if the King had been his Inferiour, and at his Command. To be brief, they loaded him with Pride, Cruelty, Oppression, Lechery, Evil Counsel, &c. However the King, by reason of his former Favour, permitted him to retire to the Arch-Bishoprick of York, and there continue privately till further orders. But he tampering with the Pope, and being encouraged by his Letters to oppose the King, and force him if he would not otherways comply, to restore him to Fa∣vour, or else by virtue of a Bull to Curse him, and take the power of the Clergy Government into his own hands, as the Popes Vice Roy; whilst he was in his way to York, and preparing for his Installment, he was Arrested by the Earl of Northumberland: whereupon he shewed the Meanness of his Spirit and Birth, as all Cruel, Proud Upstarts usually do, when they fall into any affliction, though in their prosperity they are re∣gardless of others Calamities, but rather labour to promote than decrease them: For however upon his first being seized, thinking to terrify the Earl, who never bore any good-will towards him, he told him He was a Member of the Colledge of Cardinals at Rome, and that neither the King, nor any other Temporal Prince, could or ought to Intermeddle with him for any Cause or Matter whatsoever. But this nothing availing, he fell into Tremblings and Frights, and when the Kings Letter was produced to give him some beams of Com∣fort, that he might not altogether despair of Mercy and Favour, with a sordid Meanness of Spirit, he fell on his knees in a dirty place, and kissed it, shedding Tears for Joy; when in the height of his State and Pride, he had accounted the King as his Pupil, more than his Soveraign: For indeed his first Station in the World
was an ordinary Pedagogue, or Schoolmaster. But at the sight of Sir William Kingstone, Constable of the Tower, with a Guard of Yeomen, to convey him Prisoner thi∣ther, his fears so encreased, that he fell Sick at Leicester Abby, and taking a strong Confection, which some suppose he did purposely to Poison himself, he breathed his last; saying a little before he Dyed, If he had Ser∣ved his God so faithfully as he had done his King, he would not at that time have cast him off. And thus fell that Pageant of suddain Greatness, unpitied by all, Inrich∣ing some by his Death, tho' in his Life-time he had Ruined many more. He Built White-Hall, a stately Colledge at Oxford, another at Ipswich, and many other stately Buildings; leaving much Money, Plate, and Rich Furniture, which was seized to the Kings use, who distributed part of it, and his Lands, among such as had well deserved.
The King by this time having gotten it under the Seals of most of the Universities in Christendom, That his Marriage was Unlawful, procured a Divorce with∣out the Popes Dispensation; and soon after he Marri∣ed Anna Bullen, whom he had Created Marchioness of Pembrook, a Protestant Lady, Daughter to the Lord Rochford, afterwards Earl of Wiltshire.
Elizabeth Barton, stiled the Holy Maid of Kent, for Prophecying That if King Henry proceeded to the Di∣vorce, and Married another, he should not be King of England one Month after, was Hanged, together with Seven of her Desciples, at Tyburn for Treason.
A Parliament being called, the Clergy therein totally submitted themselves to the King touching their Spi∣ritual and Ecclesiastical Affaires, and the Pope was by Parliament utterly deprived of all Annates and First Fruits of Bishopricks, and other Spiritual Promotions: The Marriage with Queen Catharine was Annulled, and
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that with Queen Anna Confirmed; and by the same Act the Crown was entailed to the King and the Heirs of his Body (out of which the Lady Mary was Excluded) and to this all the Lords and Burgess pre∣sent in Parliament were Sworn, except Doctor Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moor, who refused to do it: Wherefore they were marked out by the King for Destruction as a Terror to others; for not only Refusing to Swear, but Contesting and Protesting against the proceedings of the Parliament, they were sent to the Tower, where upon denying the Kings Su∣premacy, Ordained by another Act, and atributing it to the Pope, they were Accused, Tryed, Convicted, and Beheaded: And by this Act the King was Ac∣knowledged to be Supream Head of the Church in all Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Things and Causes, and the Popes Bulls, Pardons, Indulgences, and other Instru∣ments of the like Nature, made void: For Grief of which, and her own hard Usage, Queen Catharine who was stiled Dowager, and Lived with a small Attendance, Sickened and Dyed; nor did her Successor long sur∣vive her.
For some time after Queen Ann had been safely de∣livered of the Princess Elizabeth, (who was afterwards Queen of England) a Conspiracy was laid to take away her Life, supposedly on the account of her Religion; for some of the Romish party were not without sup∣position she swayed much in those Alterations; and therefore being Accused of Incest by some of her Sub∣borned Bedchamber-Women, as if she had Layn with the Lord Rochford, her own Brother; the furious King gave her up to be Tryed by her Enemies; who found her Guilty of High Treason, for that being a Queen, she had defiled her Marriage-Bed; and being Condemned, she was Beheaded on Tower-Hill, protest∣ing
her Innocency to the last, which most people be∣lieved. The Lord Rochford was likewise Executed, and some of her Bedchamber Attendants; but the Kings hasty Marriage, makes Historians apt to conclude he grew weary of her, and doated on a fresh Beauty; for within Twenty Days he Wedded the Lady Jane Seymor, a Beautiful Young Gentlewoman, who Dyed in Child-Bed of Prince Edward, afterward King Edward the Sixth; and about this time the Lord Howard lost his Head for Marrying Margaret, Daughter to Margaret Sister to the King, and Archibald Dowglas Earl of Angus, who Married the Queen Dowager of Scotland; and their Issue being so of the Royal Blood, it was held Treason in the Lord Howard, for Marrying her with∣out King Henry's consent, to whom he was a Subject; and indeed, so Absolute was this King over his Judges and Ministers of State, that they rarely denied him any Head he required, for fear he should Quarel with them for theirs. And now a Book of Six Articles, called the Bloody Articles, from the much Blood shed on that occasion, being made publick, the People rose in Arms Tumultuously; but upon the King's and his Generals Approach in Lincolnshire, and the North, they were Dispersed, and many of the Ringleaders Taken, and Executed. The Articles were these:
1. That after the speaking the Words of Consecration by the Priest, The Real Natural Body and Blood of Christ, as he was Conceived and Crucified, was in the Sacrament, and no other Substance.
2. That the Communion in both kinds, is not necessary to Salvation.
3. That Priests may not Marry.
4. That Vows of Chastity ought to be observed by the Laws of God.
5. That private Mass ought to be continued. And
6. That Auricular Confession is Expedient to be retain∣ed in the Church.
And upon the denyal of these, many good Christians suffered the Flames; and several Papests were Execu∣ted for denying the King's Supremacy, it being made Treason.
The Lord Cromwell, a Blacksmiths Son of Putney in Surry, who had a long time Served Wolsey and by the King raised upon the fall of that Favourite, was made Vicar General of Ecclesastical Affairs, and soon after created Earl of Essex; and to please the King by En∣riching him, for complaining of the Lewd Lives of the Monks, Fryars, Nuns, and their Superiours, who Lived in Luxury and Ease, on the spoil and labour of others, he was soon incited to harken to his Advice; so that laying before him the great Sums that would accrue to his Treasury by the suppression of those Houses, he considering what Wolsey had done by the Popes Approbation and Authority, resolved to make havock of the rest; and accordingly calling a Parlia∣ment at Westminster, he procured them to be suppressed; and tho' most of the Religious Houses were Demolished, yet at a Rate no doubt half the value, the Account given in to the King was 183707l. 13s. per Annum. And intending Posterity should not be enabled to Re∣store them again to their former Uses, he liberally ex∣changed the Abby-Lands, &c. with the Gentry, for Lands of a less value; so that at this day most of the principal Estate, or great part of them, consist of pos∣sessions of that nature.
This was followed with a very bloody Execution, for the King being Jealous that many dealt with Car∣dinal Pool, who was beyond Seas, to prevail with the Pope and King of France, by Force to restore the Rights of the Roman Catholick Church, it was improved so far
by such Evidence as were produced, that the Marquess of Exceter, Henry Pool, Lord Montacute, and Sir Nicho∣las Cary, Knight of the Garter, and Master of the King's Horse, were Beheaded; and on the same account, with∣in a few Months after, the Lady Margaret Countess of Salisbury, Mother to Cardinal Pool, and Daughter to the Duke of Clarence, Brother to Edward the Fourth; also Gartrude Widow to the Marquess of Exceter, Sir Adrian Fortescue, and divers others, were Executed, insomuch that the Hangman of those times is said to have com∣plained, That he was weary of shedding Blood.
Soon after this, the Irish Rebelled under O Ne••i, O Donel, and others, but were soon suppressed by the Lord Grey Deputy of Ireland. And now the Lord Cromwell, being high in favour with the King, Enter∣prized a business that not only tumbled him from the ticklish Pinacle of Honour where he stood, but also cost him his Life. The King by the Death of the Lady Jane Seymour was a Widower; and that he might not lye pensive alone, Cromwell undertook to provide him a Wife, and proposed the Lady Ann of Cleve, Alluring him with flattering Pictures, and unmerited immode∣rate Commendations of her Beauty and Parts; but in∣deed, tho' she was very Religious, and replenished with many Virtues, in Person and Countenance she was nei∣ther well Composed, Fair, nor Lovely; yet on Crom∣well's Commendations, the Match was concluded; and the Lady brought over in great State: But when the King met her on Black-Heath, at the first sight he took a dislike; insomuch that although he was Married to her four Years, he in all that time had not (as he pro∣tested) any Carnal knowledge of her, nor ever could have any desires that way when in private with her; whereupon in a Convocation of the Clergy, by an Au∣thentick Instrument under the Seals of the two Arch-Bishops,
the Marriage was declared void, and that the Lady might take another Husband when she pleased; and it was made Treason for any to Write or Say the contrary; and the King being in haste, Married the Lady Catharine Howard, Daughter to the Lord Edmund Howard, Brother to the Duke of Norfolk.
The Wedding was no sooner over, but the King gave way to the Enemies of the Lord Cromwell, who Exhibited a Bill against him in Parliament for Treason, Misprison of Treason, and Heresie; and so far they prevailed, by the King's altogether withdrawing his Favour and Protection from him, that he with the Lord Hungerford lost his Head on Tower-Hill. And soon after the new Queen Catharine was Accused for having been Familliar before her Marriage with one Francis Dorham, and after with one Thomas Culpeper; but whe∣ther it be True or False, the two Gentlemen lost their Lives, as did the Queen and Lady Rochford, who was accused of Introducing Culpeper, at a time he stay'd five Hours privately with the Queen, on her Progress, and returned Gifted with a Chain and Rich Cap. And in this Parliament the King was Proclaimed King of Ireland, which Title his Predecessors never had, be∣ing only stiled Lords of Ireland.
The King, unwilling yet to Lye alone, took to Wife the Lady Catharine Par, Widow to the Lord Lattimer; who in the end of his Reign was in a fair possibility to have lost her Head, if her Vertue, Modesty, and the King's Death, had not reserved her to a better Fortune. However, the Lord Grey, Deputy of Ireland, lost his Head, for winking (as it was alledged against him) at the Irish entering within the English Pale, and not timely Repelling them.
Sir Edmund Knevet of Norfolk, having been Arraigned before the Green Cloth, for Striking one Mr. Clear of
Norfolk within the Tennis Court of the King's House, and being found Guilty, he had Judgment to lose his Right Hand, and to forfeit all his Lands and Goods, and all things being prepared for the Execution of this Sentence, and Sir Edmund brought in, the Chief Justice declared his Offence, which he Confessed, and humbly submitted himself to the King's Mercy, only he desired the King would spare his Right Hand, and take his Left; For, said he, if my Right Hand be spared, I may Live to do the King good Services▪ Of which Submission and Saying when the King was informed, he ordered he should lose neither of his Hands, and Pardoned him also as to his Lands and Goods.
The Scots had lain still a long while; but now be∣gan under James the Fifth, their Young King, to make great Disturbances; but after some Bickerings, and much Spoil in either Country, they were Overthrown; and the Earls of Cassels and Glencarn, the Lords Max∣well, Fleming, Sommervel, Oliphant, Gray and Car, were made Prisoners, and many Slain. The News of this Overthrow so perplexed King James, That falling in∣to a deep Grief and Melancholly, he Dyed a week after, leaving only a Daughter to Succeed him, who was then but newly Born, and Christened Mary. Upon notice of whose Birth, when he lay Sick, he burst out in this Prophetical Saying, It came with a Lass, (meaning the Crown) and it will go with a Lass.
Soon after the King of Scots Death, the Lords that were Prisoners in England, to curry favour, for their Liberty, proposed a Match between Prince Edward, Henry's Son, and their Young Queen; which was kind∣ly accepted. The Match being proposed to the Parli∣ament of Scotland, they seemed highly to approve it, ratifying a Writing under the Hands and Seals of the Nobility, as also with their Oaths, yet the French Fa∣ction
so prevailed, that it came to nothing. But King Henry enraged to be thus abused, sent a powerful Army into Scotland, which spoiled the Country, taking several Towns and great Plunder; nor was the King flow to pass over to France, where laying Siege to Bullen, he had it yielded to him, and having Fortified it, returned into England to raise Money for a Supply of the War which (tho' the Emperour without his consent had made a Peace with France) he resolved vigorously to prosecute; and because Richard Read, an Alderman, refused Sir Thomas Wryothsltey the Chancellor, the Sup∣ply he demanded of him, he was compelled in Person to Serve the King in his Wars against the Scots, by whom he was taken Prisoner, and paid a large Ransom. And soon after the French were worsted by Sea, and Land, and the Scots Routed, who Invaded England, and followed into their Country: Whereupon Peace en∣sued between England and France. Soon after the King cavelling with the Duke of Norfolk and his Son the Earl of Surry, for bearing in their Escutchion certain Arms appropriated to the King and Prince only, tho' they had been born by his Ancestors time out of mind unquestioned; being Indicted for High Treason, they were both Condemned: The Son was Beheaded, and the Father escaped by the King's Death, which soon ensued, viz. on Tuesday the 28th of January Anno Dom. 1546, in the 56th Year of his Age, when he had Reigned 37 Years, 9 Months, and 6 Days. He was Buryed with much pomp and Funeral solemnity in the Chappel at Windsor.
In this King's time happened a great Famin, viz. 1527, upon the falling of a violent Raine, November, December and January; and from the 12th of April every day till the 3d of June.
Anno 1545, William Foxley Potmaker to the Mint,
Slept in the Tower of London, not being by any mean•• to be Waked, 14 Days and 15 Nights; and when he waked it seemed to him but as one Night.
The Number of Religious Houses Suppressed were Monasteries 313, Priories 290, Friaries 122, Nunne∣ries 142, Colledges 152, Hospitals 129, and their In∣habitants turned out to wander in the Fields, after long Ease and Luxury.
THis is the largest Shire in England, and not inferiour to some of the biggest Provinces in France. It is divided into three Parts or Ridings, viz. The North, East, and West Ridings. It pro∣duces store of Horses, large Cattle, Sheep, and in many places very good Corn and Pastures, great quantities of Woollen Cloth; and very Subtil People. It is Bounded with the Bishoprick of Du••ham, the German Ocian, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, and Westmore∣land: It contains 26 Hundreds, 563 Parishes, 57 Marker Towns, 36 Rivers of which the Humber is the chief, 1 City, which is an Archiepiscopal See, viz. York, 14 Castles, 62 Bridges, 4 Chases, •• Forrests, and 72 Parks. It sends Members to Parliament 30, viz. Alborough 2, Beverly 2, Borrough-Bridge 2, Hildon 2, Hull 2, Knarse∣borough 2, Malton 2, North-Alerton 2, Pomfret 2, Richmond 2, Rippon 2, Scarborough 2, Thrisk 2, York City 2, and 2 Knights of the Shire.
York is the Second City of England: Severus the Roman Empe∣rour kept his Court and Dyed in it; also Constantius Chlorus, Father to Constantine the Great,, here the Learned Alcum, Tutor to the Emperour Charles the Great was Born; it was made an Archiepis∣copal See Anno 625, and is situate on the River Ouse, which Waters a great part of the Shire. At Leeds, Oswey King of Northumberland Overthrew Oswald, Ethelbert, and Penda, three Saxan Princes, slay∣ing the two latter; Selby gave Birth to King Henry the First; Wake∣field is famed for its Cloth Work, and the memorable Battel sought between the Houses of York and Lancaster; and that in the Late Civil Wars between the Earl of Newcastle and Sir Thomas Fairfax. Pomfret Castle was Builded by Hildebert Lacy a Norman; at Rotheram was Born Thomas of Rotheram Arch-Bishop of York. Stanford Bridge, in the East Riding, from a Battel fought against the Danes, is called Battel Bridge. Dryfield is noted for the Tomb of Alfrid, King of Northumberland. Beverly as the Birthplace of John D' Beverly, Arch-Bishop
Bishop of York, Anno 721 Newborough Abby is famed for the Name it gives to our old English Historian William of Newborough; Kingston upon Hull, was Founded by King Edward the First.
This Shire affoards store of Iron, Pit-Coal, and Sea-Coal; at Whitby are Stones of a Serpentine figure; near Burrough Bridge are 4 Piramidal Stones, supposed some Roman Monument; on Rose∣mary Topping are Stones found like Sea Wincles and Cockles; at Giglesworth are 3 Springs, one of which constantly Ebbs and Flows four times an Hour; in the North are Ting-tong Wells, said to be three Miles in the Earth; and near Knarsborough the Well Dripa, whose Water distills from a Rock that hangs over it. The Castles of note are those of Sheffield, Coningsborough, Tickil, Sandal, Harwood, Knasborough, Cawood, Scarborough, Kilton, Skelton, &c. On Wakefield Bridge stands a Chappel Founded by Edward the Fourth, in memo∣ry of the Battel fought there; near Flamborough-Head are Waters called Vipsies, which flow out of the Springs every other Year, and fall violently into the Sea.
The Seats of the Nobility are Sheffeild-Mannor, belonging to the Duke of Norfolk; Bishops-Hill and Hemsey Castle, to the late Duke of Buckingham; Slingsby Castle, to the Honourable Family of New-castle; Snap, to the Earl of Exceter; Markin-field, to the Earl of Bridgwater; Mulgrave Castle, to the Earl of Mulgrave; Shipton Castle, to the Earl of Thanet; Nawort Castle, to the Earl of Carlisle; Wharl∣ton Castle and Javoux Abby, to the Earl of Ailesbury; Lounsborough, Bolton, and Braden Tower, to the Earl of Burlington; Hall and Wim∣bledon, to the Duke of Leeds; Thorn-Hill, to the Earl of Macclesfield; Hackforth, Anderly Le Miers, to the Earl of Holderness; Newborough Abby, Coxwold Hall, Oulston Hall, Aldwark and Murton, to the Lord Faulconberg; Wressel Castle, to the Duke of Richmond; Easby Hall, to the Lord Eure, Baron of Witton; Wheldrake, to the Lord Howard of Escrick; Holm in Spadingmore, and Dalton, to the Lord Lexinton; Wilton Castle, to the Lord Cornwallis; Bishopsthorp, to the Arch-Bishop of the Province.