The history of England giving a true and impartial account of the most considerable transactions in church and state, in peace and war, during the reigns of all the kings and queens, from the coming of Julius Cæsar into Britain : with an account of all plots, conspiracies, insurrections, and rebellions ... : likewise, a relation of the wonderful prodigies ... to the year 1696 ... : together with a particular description of the rarities in the several counties of England and Wales, with exact maps of each county / by John Seller ...

The Reign of Queen ELIZABETH.

ELIZABETH Youngest Daughter to Henry the Eighth, after her many Sufferings in close Confine∣ment,

and attempts made to take away her Life, hap∣pily Succeeded to the Throne, and put a stop to the cruel Persecutions her Sister had raised, on the 17th of November 1558.

And the first publick Testimony she gave of her Princly Discretion, and Knowledge in the weighty Affairs of State, was to chuse a Wise and Learned Council, causing new Commissions and Instructions to be sent to the several Ambassadors in Forreign Courts; and desired by Sir Edward Hern, her Agent, who had resided in Queen Mary's Time at the Court of Rome, That mutual Good Offices might pass between her and the Pope in matters that concerned Publick Affairs, seeing she had happily Succeeded her Sister on the Throne: But the haughty Old Man would not Answer but in his usual Dialect, viz. That the Kingdom of England was held in Fee of the See Apostolick; That she could not Succeed, being Illegitimate; That he could not contradict the Declarations of Clement the Seventh, and Paul the Third; That it was a great presumption to assume the Name of Queen, and Go∣vernment, without his consent; yet, being desirous to shew a Fatherly Affection, if she would renounce her pretentions to the Crown, and refer herself wholly to his free disposition, he would do whatever might be done with the Honour of the Apostolick See.

The Queen, who was well assured of her Title to the Crown by her Right, and by the Estates in Parlia∣ment, little expecting such an Answer, was very much displeased, called home her Agent; and from that time resolved never more to hold any Correspondency with the See of Rome. But having refused the King of Spain's offers of Marriage with her, counting the Dis∣pensation he promised to procure at the Popes hands Unlawful and Wicked, she set her mind to contrive the most easie and inofensive ways how to restore the

Protestant Religion, consulting with those of the greatest understanding in Affairs of Church and State: and coming to some result, she placed in the Courts of Judicature, and Offices of greatest Trust, such Persons as were of that Profession, or well enclined to it: And having wisely weighed all circumstances, she made pro∣vision against the encouragement and growth of Po∣pery, by restraining the Nobles and others from sen∣ding their Children to be Educated beyond the Seas; and caused many Ceremonies in Divine Worship, used in the former Reign, to be laid aside. And so, after the Funeral of her Sister, prepared for her Coronation; and was in order to it, conducted (with extraordinary Pomp and Triumph) from the Tower, through the City, to Westminster, where she was Invested with the Regal Ornaments; and was Crowned by the Bishop of Carlile, the other Bishops refusing to perform that Office, as fearing the Popes displeasure, or rather the fall of the Romish Religion in this Kingdom, to which Alteration if they consented not, they foresaw they must lose their Bishopricks.

And now People differing much in Points of Reli∣gion, it was ordered by Proclamation, That none should unreverently speak of the Sacrament; and it was alowed to be received in both kinds; yet a Confer∣rence was appointed to be held at Westminster between the Papists and the Protestants, upon these Considera∣tions, viz.

1. Concerning Prayer, and the Administration of the Sacrament, in the Vulgar-Tongue.

2. Concerning the Authority of the Church, in Consti∣tuting and Abrogating Ceremonies to Edification.

3. Concerning the Sacrifice of the Mass.

But the Papists in this would come to nothing with∣out the Popes License; and some of the Bishops threat∣ning

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the Queen and her Nobles with Excommunication if they proceeded to make alterations; for their male-pertness some of them were committed to Prison. The Queen appointed a Form of Common Prayer in English, and settled the Reformed Religion, entirely throwing off the Roman Yoak, and began to apply herself to other weighty Affairs, sending to demand the Restitution of Callice, Lost in the preceding Reign; and after many Debates it was agreed, That the French King should Enjoy it for the Term of Eight Years, and that then it should be restored to the Queen of England, or in re∣fusal be Paid 500000 Crowns; and hereupon a Peace was Agreed and Proclaimed between the two Nations, as also between the Dauphin and the Queen of Scots his Wife; whereby Scotland was Included.

Whilst these things were transacting, the Parliament Advised the Queen to Marry, leaving her entirely therein to her own Choice that Children might be Born to Succeed her. To which the Queen made this reply, That she was already Wedded, which was, to her Kingdom and People; and having promised to take a Husband, if so the good of the State should require it, she dismissed those that were sent to her by both Houses, on this Message: And soon after came an Ambassador from the King of Sweden, to propose a Marriage between her and Prince Ericus the Kings Eldest Son; but after he had been sumptuously Treated, he was dismissed with a modest Denial; and tho' the Duke of Anjou, the Arch Duke of Austria, and others, sued for her Favour, she only gave them her Esteem, instead of her Love; and put them off with fair words. In the mean∣time the Scots destroyed in most parts of that Kingdom, the Religious Houses, Altars, Images, &c. declaring for a Reformation, which was against their Queens mind: Whereupon the French, on her Husbands and

her part, raised Forces to oppose them, which made them send their Complaints to Queen Elizabeth, and implore her assistance for the speedy driving out the Frenchmen, whom they said (through their Queens fa∣vour) had engrossed all the Places of Trust, Honour, and Profit, into their Hands. This Queen Elizabeth communicating to her Council, after many Debates, to prevent the French getting an inlet into England by the way of Scotland, it was agreed Assistance should be given to the Reformers: And the Duke of Norfolk was appointed Lieutenant General of the North, to secure the Borders; and on certain Articles agreed, an Army was sent into Scotland under the Command of the Lord Grey, and Ships to Edenborough Frith, who dislodged the French Men of War that lay there. This made the French King sue for Peace to the Queen; but his suit was rejected on many weighty Considerations, tho' he promised at this time to deliver up Callice in lieu there∣of. However a Treaty was held at Edenborough; but it came to little, upon the French King's declining to Sign the Articles agreed on. And now the Pope a Second time laboured to perswade the Queen to own his Supremacy, and not separate England from the Body of the Roman Catholick Church, but the Queen refusing to harken to the Popes Letters, resolved firm∣ly to adhere to the Protestant Religion.

And now the Queen of Scots returning into that Kingdom, her Husband being Dead, sent a Letter to Queen Elizabeth, full of kind expressions, to desire that a sincere Friendship might be maintained between them; and the Envoy that brought it, had Commission to deal with the Queen to declare her Heir Apparent to the Kingdom; which was insinuated as the safest way to continue Peace between the two Crowns. But the Queen Answered, She would do nothing to the pre∣judice

of her Title, but as to this matter, she would refer it to the Personal Conferrence that was to be held shortly at York. But that Interview was broken off by the Pa∣pists contrivance, least it might be a means towards creating the Queen of Scots an inclination to the Re∣formed Religion; whereupon the Queen, the better to strengthen her Hands, built several Sail of stout Ships, cast a great many Ordnance, and the Art of Gun-pow∣der-making in England, was first by her Encourage∣ment found out; so that having a great Fleet always at Sea, she was by Forreigners stiled The Queen of the North Seas, causing the Militia readily to be provided with Arms, and frequently Exercised. And the Guisean Faction labouring to destroy the Hugonots, or Protestant Party in France, constrained them for the safety of their Lives to fall into a Civil War. The Queen assisted the latter, and had Haverdegrace and New Haven put into her Hands as Cautionary Towns for the reimbursment of her Charges, when things should be settled; and to keep them firm to her Interest, so that they should not make a Peace without her consent; and hereupon she sent them 6000 Men under the Command of the Lord Ambrose Dudley, and kept the Seas with a considerable Navy.

Whilst matters went thus Abroad, Designs were carrying on against the Queen at Home; whereupon divers of Note, especially those descended of the Blood Royal by the two Daughters of Henry the Seventh, were Imprisoned. And she calling a Parliament, an Act passed for Assurance of the Queens Royal Power and Authority over all Estates and Subjects within her Dominions: And further Enacted, That the Oath of Supremacy should be administered to all Persons, for the better discovery of such as sided with the Pope a∣gainst her; which much startled the Papists, and made

them quiet for a time. In the mean while the Prince of Conde, one of the chief Leaders of the French Prote∣stants, being Overthrown at the Battel of Derux, was taken Prisoner; as likewise Sir Nicholas Trockmorton, who paying his Ransom was set at Liberty. But the Admiral Chastillion took so many Places, as startled the Guises, insomuch that they consented to an Edict of Pacification; whereby the Princes were to be restored to the French Kings Favour. Conde, alured with the hopes of the Lieutenancy of France, and a Marriage with the Queen of Scots, the Hugonets to enjoy the freedom of their Religion, &c. The Agreement was suddainly made, and the English not only treacherously Abandoned, but they Joyned with the Papists to drive them out of the places they held, and straightly Besieg∣ed New Haven, which by reason of the Plague raged grievously in it, they had Surrendered to them.

But the Spanish Greatness threatning England, and the French offering reasonable Terms, a Peace was con∣cluded between the two Crowns, and Ratified upon their delivering Hostages to pay the Queen at a set time a large Sum of Money; upon which the French King was Invested with the Order of the Garter: Hereupon the Spaniard in a fret prohibited all Com∣merce between the English and his Subjects, which made the Queen remove the Wooll-Mart from Antwerp to Ems in Frizland, but the Low Countries being much Impoverished thereby, the Edict was Repealed; and now the Queen made her great Favourite Sir Robert Dudley Lord Denbigh, Earl of Leicester, Knight of the Garter, Chancellor of Oxford, and Master of the Horse, and this she seemed to do the better to qualify him for a Husband for the Queen of Scots; but it swelled him to that Ambition that he soon aspired to make preten∣tions to herself; and the Queen of Scots soon after

Married the Lord Darnly Son to the Duke of Lenox of the Royal Blood, and of this Marriage was born James the Sixth of Scotland, and first of England. This not only displeased Queen Elizabeth, but the greater part of the Scots Nobility, because he was scarce 20 Years of Age, and easie to be sway'd any way. However he was sollemnly Crowned King, but by the contrivance of Murray the Queen of Scots Bastard Brother, and others, he some time after was Blown-up in his Lodging, and his mangled Body thrown by the force of the Pouder into the Garden.

The Parliament of England meeting again, humbly besought the Queen to Marry, but she still declined it. Shortly after the Queen of Scots falling into a Languish∣ing condition, Recommended her Son to the Prote∣ction of Queen Elizabeth; yet Recovering, Earl Both∣well, suspected to be one with Murray in destroying Darnley, was forced to fly the Kingdom, and Murray raised a Party against the Queen to Depose her; when after some contesting, being over-powered, she fled in∣to England, and craved Queen Elizabeth's Protection; but by the Advice of some Counselours bribed by Murray's Faction, in stead of allowing her (tho' near in Blood) that favour, she was committed a Prisoner in the custody of the Earl of Shrewsbury, and after 20 Years Confinement, lost her Head, for holding Cor∣respondencies with the Papists, to take away the Life of the Queen.

A Passage having been discovered by the English to Russia, and great Privileges granted to the Merchants, The Czar or Emperour of Moscovy and Russia sent his Ambassadors to Queen Elizabeth, with Rich presents of Furrs, and such other Commodities as his Country yielded; and with them one Anthony Jenkinson, an Eng∣lishman, who had first Sailed the Caspian Sea; his de∣mands

was to make a League Offensive and Defensive with her; but by reason of the distance of the place, the Queen agreed not to the former, but left the latter indifferent; and so the Ambassadors having been high∣ly Treated, were dismissed with a return of Presents.

In Ireland, Shan O Neal fell into Rebellion, but be∣ing defeated by the English, and throwing himself on the Hebridians, he was by them Slain after a seeming kind reception, and the Earl of Desmond was seized and sent Prisoner to England, and Sir John Hawkins be∣ing in America with some Ships, and contrary to the Capitulation, set-upon by the Spaniard, his Goods ri∣fled, and some of his Men slain, the English Nation was so exasperated with the Treachery, that they deman∣ded a War with Spain, which however at that time was not granted, for the Queen having taken the French Protestants who were cruelly Persecuted under Charles the Ninth, was employed to support them with Money and Ammunition; and in providing for such a fled hither, tho' they had basely abandoned her at New Haven. But the Duke of Alva, the King of Spains General, making fierce War in the Low Countries, he brought in the Inquisition to Extirpate the Protestant Religion. There, there happened an Accident that opened a Breach between England and Spain, viz. Vast Sums of Money being sent in a Spanish Ship by Italian Merchants, to be Imployed in the Bank in the Low Countries for the ruin of the Protestants there, those Vessells were Chased upon the English Coast by some French Men of War, and the Money being brought on Shoar, the Queen was Advised by her Privy Council to stay it, and give the Merchants Owners Security for the Repaiment of it: Whereupon the Duke of Alva caused all the Goods and Effects of the English in the Low Countries to be seized, and the Queen caused the

same to be done by the Dutch Merchants in England, which were of greater Value; and Commerce being Prohibited, the English removed the Staple to Ham∣b rough; and the Privatie••s set out so greatly Endama∣ged the Spaniard, that the Queen was forced to restrain them; yet the Duke of Alva secretly practised to raise Rebellion in England and Ireland; and the Earls of Northumberland, Westmorland, and others, did make an Insurrection in the North, being Instigated to it by Morton a Popish Priest, and by their Declaration In∣vited all the Roman Catholicks to joyn them; and at Durham To••e in pieces all the English Bibles and Com∣mon Prayer Books they could find in the Churches; but being Procl••imed Traytors, upon the approach of the Queens Forces, they Fled with a small company into Scotland, from whence the Earl of Westmoreland fled in∣to the Low Countries, and there Lived in a poor condi∣tion till he Dyed; and divers being taken were Exe∣cuted. Soon after this, a Rebellion broke forth in Cumberland, but the Rebells were routed and dispersed by the Lord Huns••on; and another in Ireland, but qui∣eted by the Lord Deputy. And one Felton by the Popes Command f••stned in the Night time a Bull Declara∣tory to the Bishop of Londons Palace Gate, wherein he Absolved all the Queens Subjects from their Oath of Allegiance; but Felton being taken, Confessing & Justi∣fying the Fact, he was Condemned and Executed near the place where he fixed the Bull, it being at that time hung about his Neck. And the Duke of Norfolk ha∣ving been Imprisoned for designing a Marriage with the Que n of Scots, and endeavouring her Escape, upon his humble Submission, and a Writing ••igned, wherein he promised never to think of the Marriage, or any thing derogatory to Queen Elizabeth's Authority, he was discharged. And a great many of the English for

sundry crimes being fled into Scotland, upon refusal of delivering them up, the Earl of Sussex and the Lord Scroop entered that Kingdom with an Army, and com∣pelled the Scots of the Queens party to abstain from Hostility, and utterly forsake the English Rebells. And a Rebellion being raised in Ireland by the Earl of Thumond and his adherents, the Earl fled into France, for fear of being delivered to the Lord Deputy by his Friends, but upon his humble submission was restored to his Estate and Dignity; and the Duke of Norfolk being again Imprisoned was brought to his Tryal for High Treason; and was thereupon Condemned and lost his Head; and soon after Dr. John Storey a great Per∣secutor in Queen Mary's Reign, who was decoyed on Board an English Ship under pretence of seazing Pro∣hibited Goods, as being made the Duke of Alva's chief Searcher, being Tryed for Treason, was found Guilty, and Executed at Tyburn. And Matthew Stewart Earl of Lenox the Young King of Scotland's Grand-Father, and Regent of Scotland, being surprized by the con∣trary Faction, was Murthered, and the Earl of Marr chosen Regent, who Dyed within 13 Months after. And divers about this time suffered for conspiring the Queens Death. And a League was concluded with France; and soon after at the celebration of the Mar∣riage between the King of Navar and the Lady Mar∣garet, the French Kings Sister, happened the cruel Massacre at Paris, and by the French King's command the Protestants were Massacred in all the Provinces of that Kingdom to the Number of 300000; among them fell the Admiral Chastillion, and divers other Nobles; yet God delay'd not to Revenge their Innocent Blood; for the King Dyed a while after with Blood issuing from all his Vents: The Duke of Guise, who had contrived at one blow to cut off all the Protestants in

France, was Murthered in his Palace by the Succeeding King's command, and most of the rest that had con∣trived this Tragedy came to untimely Ends.

The Earl of Northumberland, who since his Rebellion had sheltered in Scotland, was by the Earl of Morton delivered to the Lord Hunsdon for a Sum of Money, and soon after Beheaded at York. And Walter Devereux Earl of Essex, whom the Queen held in high favour, being sent with Forces into Ireland to depress the Re∣bellion, and being envied by some Great Men at Court, in his Absence they made Parties against him. Char∣ging many Miscarriages in his Conduct, so that the Queen was constrained to call him home with a com∣mand to resign up his Authority in Ʋlster; but the Earl of Leicester being Jealous of his presence at Court, as imagining he was not indifferent to the Queen, soon procured him to be sent back again with the empty Title of Marshal of Ireland, which he took so much to Heart, that in a short time he Dyed.

The Prince of Orange Heading the Flemings, and they supplicating the Queen for Aid, after mature delibera∣tion with her Council, and the States of the Low Coun∣tries putting Cautionary Towns into her Hands for Security, she sent over Forces and permitted as many Voluntiers as would to go, and Casimire Son to the Elector Palatine, at the Queens charge brought in a considerable Number of Horse and Foot. These Forces were unexpectedly Attacked by Don John of Austria and the Prince of Parma with a Numerous Army of the Spaniards best Forces, but so fiercely Encountered, that after an obstinate Fight they were forced to re∣treat, leaving some Thousands Slain; which Victory was attributed to the Valour of the English and Scots.

The Duke of Alanzon, the French Kings Younger Brother, now made earnest Suit to the Queen, and tho'

by the means of one Simier a French Courtier, he so far insinuated into the Queens favour as to be admitted to come over Incognito, and hold a private Conference with her, yet by reason of his Youth, and some other Obstacles, this Treaty of Marriage (as well as the rest had done) came to nothing; yet the Earl of Leicester, for enveighing against it, so far as to reflect on the Queen, was for a time confined to Greenwich-Castle, and the Queen being on the Thames in her Barge, a young Fellow fired a Piece which Shot one of the Row∣ers through the Arm; for which being Sentenced to be Hanged, the Queen then understanding it was done Accidentally, and not out of any Design against her, Pardoned him. And the Queen having procured of the Grand Signior a liberty of free Trade in all his Dominions, a Company of Turkey Merchants was first set up. The Pope having bestowed Ireland on the King of Spain, a Rebellion was raised there, but the Lord Grey being made Deputy, the Irish, Spanish and Itallians were totally routed and put to the Sword.

Captain Francis Drake, a Native of Plymouth in De∣vonshire, adventuring to America with a few Ships, Discovered divers Coasts before unknown, and is re∣puted to Sail about the World, because he shot the Gulf of Magelan, returning brought home great Riches; and after being Knighted, he made several advantagi∣ous Voyages with greater Force, and became such a Terror to the Spaniards, in those parts, that they star∣ted to hear him Named. Also Hawkins, Forbusher and others, pursuing that Voyage, not only greatly endam∣aged the Spaniard, but greatly enriched England with Gold and Silver; so that the Queen having called in the bad Money, the Land soon abounded with plenty of her own Coin.

The Earl of Desmond being routed in Ireland, was after

a great Search made for him, found, and slain by a com∣mon Soldier, which gave much quiet to that King∣dom: And now the Papists using secret Practices a∣gainst the Queen, among other Expedients to prevent the threatned mischief, a number of Persons Headed by the Earl of Leicester, of all Ranks, bound themselves mutually to each other, by their Oaths and Subscripti∣ons, to pursue all those to Death and final Destruction that should attempt any thing against the Queens Life, and this Combining was called the Association. And one Parry a Member of the House of Commons, was Accused by Edward Nevel for having held Secret Con∣sultations about taking away the Queens Life; which he confessing, was condemned and executed; and the Earls of Aurundel and Northumberland were committed to the Tower on suspicion of the like Practice; and in a little time the Latter was found Shot in his Head with three Bullets, which was concluded to be done by him∣self, because the Chamber Door was barred on the in∣side, and so the Corroners Inquest found it.

And now the States of Holland being brought very Low, sued to the Queen to take them into Protection, yielding the Soveraignty of the Provinces into her Hands; whereupon taking Sluice as a Cautionary Town, she sent the Earl of Leicester with 5000 Foot and 1000 Horse, to whom, for the Queens use, the absolute Au∣thority over the Provinces was committed, by an In∣strument in Writing, and he Invested with the Title of Governour and Captain General of Holland, Zealand, the United and Confederate Provinces, which he Ac∣cepted, as also the Stile of Excellency; which much offended the Queen, tho' he appeased her Anger with Submissive Letters: But he Governing with a high Hand, and Imposing unusual Customs on the Merchants, they soon grew weary of him; However to create in

those people a better oppinion of his Actions, he un∣dertook to Relieve the Greve, a Town in Brabant, Be∣sieged by the Prince of Parma; but the Cowardice of the Governour prevented it, by too suddain a Surren∣der; for which he was Executed. Yet several small places were taken in by the Valour of the English, and Princes of the House of Nassaw; but in a Rencounter before Zutphen, Sir Philip Sidney received a Mortal Wound of which he Dyed, being for Learning and Valour the Honour of his Time; but the Earl not able to win this place, left it Block'd up, and came to the Hague; where he was entertained with complaints of his Conduct, and the ill circomstances it had brought their State into, which so Angered him, that he took away the Jurisdiction of the States Council and Presi∣dents of Provinces, and thereupon came for England to excuse his proceedings to the Queen.

The Spaniard having received much damage from Drake, Hawkins, Cavendish, Forbusher, and other Eng∣lish Adventurers in the West Indies, was now studying how to revenge it, and although there was a seeming Treaty carried on, he was making all imaginable pre∣parations in the Netherlands, and in his own Ports, of which the French King gave the Queen Secret notice; whereupon with all dilligence a Fleet was set out, some by the Queen, others by Private Persons, tho' much inferiour in Number and Bigness to the Invaders: For besides the Popes Blessing and promise of Success, for their Fleet, called the Invincible Armado, which con∣sisted of 130 Sail, wherein were 19209 Land Soldiers, 8050 Marriners, 2080 Galley-Slaves, and 2630 pieces of Canon, with small Arms and proportionable Stores; besides they were to be Joyned by Forces the Prince of Parma was providing in Flanders.

The Fleet being ready to put to Sea, the Queen appoin∣ted

the Lord Howard of Effingham Admiral, Sir Francis Drake Vice Admiral, and the Lord Seymour, with an English and Dutch Squadron, to lie on the Flemish Coast, and hinder Parma's sending the intended Succours, and by Land having made the Earl of Leicester, who had re∣signed his Authority in the Low Countries, General; he ordered an Encampment at Tilbury of 1000 Horse, and 22000 Foot, and raised another Army for the Guard of her Person; but the Spaniards were so handled at Sea by the Admiral, That after several Days Fighting, they were utterly Defeated; so that what were Taken, Sunk, Stranded, and Perished in their return, they lost the greater part of their Fleet with about 13500 Men; and scarce a Noble Family in Spain, but lost in this Expedition one Relation or other; which blow Spain has not Recovered to this day: For which Success, the Queen caused publick Thanks to be given; and after∣ward greatly molested the Spaniard, by Warring in Por∣tugal, and sending Adventurers to the West Indies; in one of which Expeditions the famous Sir Francis Drake Dyed. But Sir Walter Rawleigh took a great Carrick, the Prize being valued at 150000l, and others did very famous Exploits.

Whilst these things were doing, Lopez a Jew, and Physitian to the Queen, was hired to Poison her; as also one Patrick Cullen, an Irishman, to Stab her; but these Designs being timely discovered, divers Conspi∣rators were Condemned and Executed. This being found to be a Spanish Intreague, so incensed the Queen, that she sent the Earl of Essex, Sir Walter Rawleigh, and other brave Commanders, to Anoy his Coast Towns, who putting in at Cales, Took and Sacked that Rich Town, and Burnt a Fleet of Merchants and Men of War, Valued at Twenty Millions of Duckets. And now the Earl of Essex, who had done many great

and brave things in Ireland, the Low Countries, Spain, Portugal, and France, and had all along stood high in favour with the Queen, was much Disgusted at the Advancement of some Upstarts, which made them his Enemies, and labour all they could for his De∣struction; so that being sent into Ireland against the Earl of Tirowen who was in Rebellion, they procured him to be Recalled, and laid divers Miscarriages to his charge; so that he was brought to a private Tryal; but upon his Submission, Acquitted by the Queens fa∣vour, and set at Liberty. However, being a Man of a high Spirit, he so resented the Affront, That he concluded to remove his Enemies from the Queen by force; whereupon, being Assisted by the Earl of Southampton, and others, he Fortified his House, Im∣prisoned her Counsellours sent to him to Advise him to submit, and going into London thought to have made an Insurrection in favour of him; but though he was very Popular, they at this time failed him; and at last Surrendering himself, he with the Earl of Southampton and others was found Guilty of High Treason, and the Queen (over-perswaded) Signed the Warrant for his Death, and he was Beheaded, but Southampton Reprieved; Sir Charles Dorves, Sir Christo∣pher Blunt, one Cuff, and Merrick, likewise suffered Death, on this account. But the Earls Death so grieved the Queen, that she laid a bitter Curse on those that advised her to consent to it; and growing Me∣lancholy, she soon after retired to Richmond, where on the 24th of March 1602, she died; when she had Reigned 44 Years, 4 Months, and 7 Days, in the 67th Year of her Age, and was buried at Westminster, being the last of the Name of the Teudors of the Royal Race.

In this Queens Reign a Mare brought forth a Foal with two Heads, and a long Tail growing between

them. A Sow furrowed Piggs with Arms and Hands, fingered as a Child, instead of Legs. And many o∣ther Creatures produced Monstrous Births. A Plague likewise happened, whereof Dyed in 8 Months 23660. The Thames was so hard Frozen that Waines and Carts passed it, Markets and divers sorts of Exercises were kept and used on it. Great Floods and Tempests happened, spoiling much Corn, and demolishing many Buildings. In Yorkshire a Tempest over-threw a Church called Patrick Burton, and laid many Villages in Ruins. And many fearful Sights appeared in the Air.