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 HENRY the First, Sir∣named, for his great Learning, Beau-Clark, or Fine Schollar.

WHen King William the Second was unfortunately Slain, Robert his Eldest Brother, Fortunate in all his proceedings, save only in his Succession to the Crown of England, was Victoriously Warring in the Holy Land against the Turks and Sarazens; but hear∣ing of his Brothers Death, he declined the Kingdom of Jerusalem, to which the Christian Princes had Elected him, and hasted home; yet left most of his Troops behind him.

But by means of his Absence, Henry, his Youngest Brother, so cunningly dealt with the English and Nor∣mans, that he got much into their Favour; and the more, because he was Born in England after his Father was Crowned King, and for as much as he was of a mild disposition, many Princely Virtues making it apparent that his Government would be accompanied with many Honourable Atchievements, Gratful, Safe and Profitable to the Church and Commonweal; so that all things working to his Advancement,

He was Crowned at Westminster by Maurice Bishop of London (Anselm Arch Bishop of Canterbury being Absent) on Sunday the 5th of August, Anno Dom. 1100; but before his Coronation, the Nobles constrained him

to Swear he would Ease the People of the oppressing Taxes and other Grievances, and Restore to the English the use of Lights and Fire in their Houses, which they had been denied, for the most part, after the Ringing the Evening Bell, for the space of 33 Years.

After his Coronation, to make him more Easie in the Throne, he caused the Great Seal to pass on several wholsom Laws, Subscribing them with his Name, and commanded divers of the Lords Spiritual and Tem∣poral to do the like; and caused Copies of them to be sent into every County, to be kept in the County Courts. The Heads of the Laws were in these Branch••s.

• 1. That the Church should be free from Oppressions, and Reservation of their Possessions upon vacancy.
• 2. That the Heirs of the Nobility should Possess the Lands of their Fathers without Redemption from the King; which Favour likewise should be Granted by the Nobles to their Tennants.
• 3. That the Gentry might give in Marriage their Daughters and Kinswomen, without the Kings License, so it were not to the Kings Enemies.
• 4. That the Widow should have the Jointure, and not against her Consent be compelled to a second Marriage.
• 5. That the Mother, or the next of Kin, should be Guardian of the Lands of their Children.
• 6. That Coiners of False and Counterfeit Money should be Capitally Punished, and a Measure, to the Length of the Kings Arm, should be a Standard of Commerce among the People. And
• 7. That all Debts to the Crown, before his coming to it, should be forgiven, and all Murthers before the day of his Coronation to be Pardoned.

With other such like Indulgences: He also at this time Confirmed King Edward the Confessor's Laws.

Now, tho' this went a great way with the People, who found themselves easie in these Concessions, he yet used other Policies, as expecting a storm from the Nor∣man Coast, as soon as Duke Robert should Arrive, whom he had notice by his Espialls, was on his way; for having Seized on the plentiful heaps of the last Kings Treasure, he Liberally disposed of it among such of his Subjects as he knew would stand him in the greatest stead, if things should come to Extremity. Then he placed the more Popular Nobles in the chief Offices of State, and satisfied the Leading Gentry with Titles of Honour, and Places of a lower station, abso∣lutely acquitting the People forever from the Tax of Dane Gelt (it having been much lessened in the former Reign) and from all other Demands and unjust Pay∣ments Imposed on them by the two former Kings, giving leave to the Nobles and Gentlemen, for their Recreation, to Inclose Parks for their Deer, and free Warrens for their Conies, Hares, and such like Game. And, as Traytors to his Virtues, State, and Kingly Govern∣ment, he Exiled from his Presence and Court Syco∣phants, Parasites, Flatterers, Niceness in Behaviour, Las∣civious Conversation, Sumptuousness in Apparel, Superflu∣ity in Diet, &c. He made it Death for any to Robb on the Highways, and with Indefatigable Endeavours he Corrected and Reformed the Monstrous Pride, Intol∣lerable Covetousness, Secure Negligence and Sloath of the Clergy. Yet the better to please them, he Recalled Ans•••• from Banishment, and Restored him to his Arch Bishoprick of Canterbury, giving him full Power to Assemble Convocations and Synods at his pleasure; and for the amendment of such Irregularities as were insufferable in the Church, he left it wholly to the Pope, as also to Invest Bishops, by giving them the Ring, Cross, and Pastoral Staff. All such Ecclesestical Promotions and

Dignities as by the Lewd Advice and Councel of Rey∣nulph Bishop of Durham, his Predecessor had Seized in his hands, and converted to his use, he voluntarily re∣stored and conferred on honest and grave learned Men, and Committed the Bishop of Durham a Prisoner to the Tower of London, from whence he Escaped; and going for Normandy, earnestly Incited Duke Robert by many moving Orations to Invade England; who prone enough of himself, so harkened to him, and relying on the Aids he had promised him here on his Landing, raised a great Army; of which Henry having timely notice, thought fit yet to strengthen himself more by Marriage, and in order to it he took to Wife Maud, Sister to Edgar King of Scots, who was Daughter to Malcolm by Margaret Sister to Edgar Etheling, and Daughter to King Edward the Son of Edmund Ironside, the Victorious Saxon King.

These Nuptials were no sooner consummated, and a firm League made with Scotland, but Duke Robert Landed his Army at Portsmouth, which put the English into apprehensions of being involved in a doubtful War; but this threatening storm was soon blown o∣ver, by the discreet mediation and counsel of Friends on both sides; so that a friendly Peace ensued between the two Brothers, upon such like Conditions as had been Agreed on in William Rufus's Days; whereat the Norman Lords were much displeased, and returned discontented with the Duke; so that the King fearing he would not long rest contented with the Agreement, resolved to be beforehand with him; and therefore raising a gallant Army he Sailed to Normandy, and was joyned by many of the discontented Nobles, giving the Duke two great Overthrows: After which, he be∣ing in a manner forsaken, shifted from place to place; when in the mean while the King pressing his good

Fortune, won the strong Cities of Roan, Caen, Valois, and others; and putting them in trusty hands, returned for England; where he was received in Triumph.

The Duke perceiving his Fortune grew worse and worse, those that he most Trusted growing Treacher∣ous, and betraying his Councils to the King, as being Bribed so to do, by which means he was almost strip∣ped of his Dutchy of Normandy, he Resolved to make an adventurous Experiment, and in order to it came privately into England, and humbly submitted himself to his Brother, leaving it in his discretion to dispose of him and his Dutchy as he pleased; but the King desirous to Annex Normandy to his own Do∣minions, turned from him in a slighting manner, and commanded him out of his presence; which great In∣dignity roused the Dukes Courage, so that in a great Rage he flung out of the Court, and returned to Nor∣mandy; resolving rather to dye by the Sword, valiant∣ly fighting in the Field, than again to be guilty of such Meanness.

The King, who was not unacquainted with his hu∣mour, rightly guessed at what was intended, and there∣fore followed him with an Army, and much Treasure; and after many Battels overpowering his small number, he was taken, brought Prisoner to England, and close∣ly confined; when endeavouring to make his Escape, the King (to whome in William Rufus his Reign he had done many good offices) ungratfully caused his Eyes to be put out with Burning Glasses; yet in this Captivity he lived about the space of 20 Years; and then, as is said, the King sending him a Suit of his Old Cloaths, he took the Indignity so impatiently, that resolving to live no longer in that Misery and Disgrace, some Historians have it that he voluntarily Starved himself; others, that he Beat out his Braines against the Stones of

the Prison-Wall; however, certain it is that in his con∣finement Dyed the Valliant, well Accomplished, and much Lamented Robert, Eighth Duke of Normandy, a Prince in whom all Heroick Virtues shined.

The King seeming now to be rid of all his Fears, be∣gan to consider, the Clergy by his concessions were grown exceeding Rich, and Ingrossed many Tempo∣ralities; so that resolving to come in with them for a share of what they had Accumulated by his Bounty, he laid Taxes on some, and reassumed his power of Cre∣ating Bishops; which so highly disgusted Arch Bishop Anselm, That he not only bitterly inveighed against his Proceedings, contrary to his former Promises, but absolutely refused to Consecrate such Bishops as the King Appointed. However, to curry favour with the King, Gerald Arch Bishop of York, performed that Ceremony; and Anselm, soon after being Banished, fled to Rome, and made grievous complaints to Pope Paschal the Second, of the wrongs, as he pretended, that had been done him; and upon the Popes Intercession, about two Years after he had License to return; and at a Synod of the Clergy holden in London by the Popes Au∣thority, it was Enacted, That from thence forth no Tem∣poral Person should give Investiture to any Bishop by the Cross and Ring; yet three Years after, Arch Bishop Anselm Dying, The Temporalities of the See of Canterbury were Seized into the Kings hands, who converted them to his use for the space of five Years, the See be∣ing so long kept vacant; he aledging to the Bishops that sued to him, to Nominate an Arch Bishop; That he only kept it for a worthy Person that might justly deserve it.

Anno Dom. 1108 The King erected the Bishoprick of Ely, appointing the Diocess to extend through the County of Cambridge and Isle of Ely, and Endowed it

with some of his own Lands in those parts; by which means he made fair weather with the Pope, because by this addition he had strengthened his Interest the more in England, and the Clergy seemed satisfied in part for their Damages sustained.

But now a Storm threatned in Normandy, for the King having gotten quiet Possession after his Brothers Death, Lewis Le Gross, King of France, fearing a fur∣ther Incroachment on his Territories, if the King of England (wanting Interuption) had liberty to grow Powerful, he procured Foulk Earl of Anjou, on a weak pretence, to seiz on the Country of Mayne, and then animated Baldwin Earl of Flanders, to Proclaim War for the King of England's with-houlding a Yearly Pension of 300 Marks, which the Conquerer had settled on Baldwin fifth Earl of Flanders, and had been pay'd by William Rufus to his Son and Nephew, because the Earl had assisted the Conquerer with considerable Forces upon his Invading Elngand: All these made strong preparations to Invade Normandy; But the News soon roused the King from his Bed of Ease, and filled him with Princely Resolutions; whereupon he passed the Seas with an Army of Nobles, Gentry and common Souldiers; when losing no time, he set upon the Earl of Anjou and his Associates, giving him an entire Over∣throw, so that he was enforced to save himself by shameful Flight, leaving the Prime Nobility and Gen∣try of his Army dead on the Plaines, or Prisoners of War, with 4000 of lesser note: And near unto the Town of Nice, which was Surprized and holden by the King of France, he Encountered the other Confederates, so that a very cruel Fight beginning between them, it continued Nine Hours, and was on both sides fought with such Eagerness and Heroick Resolution, that tho' the King won the Victory, and kept the Field, whilst

his Parties sent after them had a long chace of the fly∣ing Enemy; he truly confessed, He Fought not then for Victory, but for his Life.

Not long after these Victories, Overtures of Peace were made, and the King fearing some practices against him in England might raise a Rebellion, if he should be long entangled in War Abroad, he th•• more readily harkened to them, and a Peace was concluded, upon a Marriage between William the Kings Eldest Son, and the Daughter of the Duke of Anjou; but in their re∣turn for England staying somewhat behind the King, and to make Merry, and take leave of their Friends, in their Riotous Treatments, the Marriners got such plenty of Wine, that being for the most part made Drunk, coming with full Sail, in hopes to overtake the King, they run upon the Shallows, where the Ship beating along by the violence of the Wind and Waves, Foundered; yet the Prince with his fair Bride, and many others, got into the Long-Boat, and put off; but Mary Countess of Perch, his Sister, crying from the Sinking Deck pitiously to him To take her in, and not let her Perish in the Waters, he Rowed back again, thinking to do it; but then many Lives being at the point to be lost, and in that great Extremity ••very one valuing his own Life equal with his Princes, neither Words nor Swords could keep so many from leap∣ing in, as sunk the Boat, so that they, together with Richard the Kings Younger Son, Lucia his Neice, and her Husband the Earle of Chester, were swallowed up by the merciless Waves; only three or four Sailors escaping on Planks to Shoar, as sad Relators of the Tragical News, which filled the Court with Mourning, and the whole Nation with an Universal heaviness. However, the King bore it with Prudence, and much Princely Fortitude, knowing his Grief could not Re∣trieve

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his great loss; nor had he any long time after his Landing to weigh the mishap, ere Wars loud Alarms summoned him to the Field; for in his absence, the Welsh, impatient of the English Yoak, had strengthen∣ed themselves in Confedracy with some Irish Adven∣turers, and now broke into open Rebellion; not as formerly abiding in the Mountains and Fastnesses, but relying on a foolish Prophecy, That in that Year they should recover their Antient Territories, and have a King of their Nation Reign over the whole Island, they boldly ad∣vanced, and unadvisedly gave him Battel in the Plains, where they were Overthrown, and most of them Slain or taken Prisoners; the King inciting the Sword to rage in their destruction, and consumed with Fire all the places in his March, making such a desolation as had not been known in that Country for many hundred Years; and by so mighty a Terror having Quieted these People, he returned with great Spoil, and was joyfully received at London: Where Assembling the Nobles, he desired a Supply to enable him to Marry his Daughter Maud, to the Emperour Henry, who had demanded her in Marriage; which they granted, and it was Leavied in the nature of a Tax on Lands, being called Aid pur file Marrier; and the same custom for the Marriage of the Eldest Daughters of the Kings of this Realm, was a long time continued, and may yet be practised on the like Emergency.

At the same time he devised and ordered the man∣ner and fashion of a High Court of Parliament, appoin∣ting it to consist of the Three Estates, of which him∣self was the Head; so that the Laws being made by the consent of all, were highly pleasing to the People. This happy beginning of a Good Constitution of Govern∣ment, was First Established at Salisbury, in April Anno Dom. 1114; some Authors have it 1116. However

it has proved, by the continuance and great Improve∣ment of Parliaments, happy for England to this day; seeing to those August Assemblies we owe the well foun∣ding of the best constituted Government it the World.

Soon after this, the King hoping in some measure to repair the loss of his Children Drowned, as has been recited, Married Adilicia Daughter to Godfrey, first Duke of Lovain: And Pope Calixtus the Second came to him in Normandy, in hopes to perswade him not to meddle in matters belonging to Ecclesiastical Affairs, but neither Flattery, Threats, or Perswasion, could work the King to a compliance with his desires; and at this meeting two Youths, Sons to the Earl of Mellent, and Servants to the King, Disputing with two of the Popes Cardinals, with Logical Sylogisms, so Nonplus'd them, that they were compelled to own their Ignorance.

About Three Years after, Pope Honorius the Second sent Cardinal Cremensis to certifie the abuses of the Married Clergy, and to that purpose he made a long Oration in a large Assembly of Priests and others; in praise of Chastity, and dispraise of Ʋnlawful Lust; (for so he termed that of the Married Priests with their Wives) but being narrowly watched by some of them, he was by a Publick Officer taken in Bed the same Night with a common Strumpet; and so loaden with Shame, compelled to return to his Master without Suc∣cess. Yet the King preferring Thurston, one of his Chaplains, to the Arch Bishoprick of York, the Proud Priest refused to Swear Obedience to the See of Can∣terbury, which his Predecessors had both Sworn and performed; and Appealing to Rome, the King permit∣ed the Pope to dispense with his Obedience to that See; but he proceeding further, to give him the Investure of Arch Bishop, by delivering him the Pall, Ring, and Cross, the King was so much displeased that he pro∣hibited

his return; but in the end the Popes Threat∣nings, Menacing nothing but Curses, Excomunications, and Suspensions, he had leave to Enjoy the Dignity of the Archiepiscopal See; least evil affected Persons, ta∣king advantage of the Difference, might raise Com∣motions to disturb the Quiet of the Kingdom. And soon after one Arnold, in a Divinity Lecture at Oxford, for Preaching against the Pride of the Prelates, and Dissolute and Wicked Lives of the Priests, was Assassinated, and found Dead, with near a Hundred Wounds in his Head, Face, and other Parts.

In the 27th Year of this Kings Reign, Dyed the Emperour Henry the Fifth of Germany, not leaving any Issue by Maud his Empress; whereupon the King, to strengthen his Interest against France, Married her to Geoffrey Plantagenet, Son and Heir Apparent to Foulk then Earl of Anjou, by whom she had Issue Henry, afterward King of England, Geoffery and William. This fair Ofspring enriched the King with the truest en∣dowment of Content, for that as he conceived he saw in them the long continuance of his Line, in possessing the Crown of this Realm; and to make it the more certain and sure to them, he took three sollemn Oaths in the space of five Years of all the Nobility and chief Men of the Kingdom, That with their best Advice, and with the hazzard of their Goods, Lands, Lives and Fortunes, they should Support and Maintain the Succession of his Daughter and her Heirs. And so growing in Years, he went over to Normandy to do the like there, and settle his Affaires; but Eating Lamprys at the Town of St. Dennis he Surfeited on them, and after a short Sickness Dyed.

This King was accounted Wise, Learned, Mild and Just, beyond most of his Predecessors; more enclined to Peace than War; extending his Bounty to such as

merited it by Publick Service, confining his Gifts with∣in the limits of Thrift and Measure: He was a gen∣tle Friend, but a stuborn Enemy. He had several Children by his Concubins, which he promoted to Ho∣nours and Places of Trust. He Erected the two Bishopricks Ely and Carlis••le, and Founded the Mona∣stries of Shirbourn, Circester, the Priory at Dunstable, and the Abby of Reading in Barkshire, where he was Intered in a stately Tomb.

He began his Reign Wednesday the First of August, Anno Dom. 1100, and Reigned 35 Years, 4 Months, and 1 Day; and was the 33d Sole Monarch of England.

In the 16th Year of his Reign great Thunders, Ligh∣tenings, and Hail happened in December, doing much harm; and the Moon for two Nights appeared of the Colour of Blood; in October, the same Year, the Thames was so Dry, that the People passed at the Tower, and almost as far as the Bridge, to the other side on Foot. In the 33d Year of his Reign happened so great an Eclips of the Sun, that at Noon-day the Stars plainly appeared, and about two days after there was a terri∣ble Earthquake; and the same Year happened a dread∣ful Fire in London, which consumed it from the West End of Cheapside to Aldgate; and the nex Year Worce∣ster and Rochester were Accidentally Burnt; and a little before his Death, a Blazing Star with a Bushy Tail of the colour of Blood, appeared at South West Twelve Nights successively.

Remarks on Northamptonshire, &c.

NOrthamptonshire is a pleasant Inland County, held to be Situate in the Middle of the Kingdom, being mostly Inclosure, affording store of Corn, Pease, Fruits, good Pa∣sturs, and larg Cattle, Sheep and Foul in abundance; divers Parks stored with Deer, and much Fish.

It contains in it one City, viz. Peterborough; which is a Bishops See, tho' Northampton is the Shire Town: It is divided into 20 Hundreds, and in them 326 Parishes, 13 Market Towns and 5 Rivers. It is Bounded with Cam∣bridgshire, Huntingtonshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxford∣shire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire; sends Members to Parliament 9, viz. 2 Knights of the Shire, Peterborough 2, Northampton 2, Brackley 2, Higham Ferries 1.

Northampton is a Town pleasantly seated on the Banks of the River Nen, where it meets with two Rivers, one North and the other South. This Town is memorable in past Years for its Sufferings; Anno 1106, in the contest of the Conquerers three Sons, viz. Robert, William, and Henry; and being held by the Barrons against King Henry the Third, Anno 1263, it was taken by Surprize, and the Walls Demolished; Anno 1459 King Henry the Sixth was here taken Prisoner after a Bloody Fight, in which was Slain Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, John Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury, the Lords Egremont and Beaumont: It suffered much when it was Stormed in the late Civil Wars: The greatest Misery that befel it was Anno 1675, when by an Accidental Fire it was almost all laid in Ruins; but is since Rebuilt, and appears in greater Splendour than ever, being so Ʋniform and Beautiful, that at this day it yields to few Cities in England. Here the Earl Rivers, Father-in-Law to Edward the Fourth, and

[illustration] map of Northamtonshire

NORTHAMTON SHIRE.

the Lord John his Son, were Beheaded by Robin of Ris∣dale and his Rout of Clowns.

Oundle, or Houndhill, is famous for a Well, wherein at certain times the beating of a Drum is heard, and People say it is usually the Alarm or Forerunner of Wars, or Chan∣ges of Government, and indeed before the late Revolution it was for many days together heard very plain: It has a very fine Church, a Free-Sohool, and an Almes-House.

Peterborough is famed for its Building, and the curi∣ous Work of its Cathedral; It is seated, as Northampton and Oundle are, on the River Nen.

At Higham Ferries was Born Henry Chichely, Cardi∣nal and Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, in the Reign of Henry the Sixth, who Founded All Souls Colledge in Oxford.

Edgcot on Danes Moor, near this place a Bloody Battle was Fought Anno 1469, between Robin of Risdale, and Sr. John Coniers, against William Herbert Earl of Pem∣brook, the Lord Rivers and others.

At Fotheringay Castle Mary Queen of Scots was kept a long time Prisoner, and at last Beheaded in it. The other Towns of Note are Towcester, Daventree, Welling∣borough, Kettering, Brabrook, situate mostly on pleasant Streams that branch in all parts of this County: At Wel∣lingborough are Medicinal Waters, upon the account of which Queen Mary the First Lay there for several Weeks. In the midest of the River Nen South of Peterborough, is a deep Gulf, so Cold in the Summer, no Swimmer is able to endure it, yet never Frozen in the Winter. The whole County is pleasantly sprinkled with Woods, and Tufted Groves, wherein great store of Hares shelter.

The Seats of the Nobility are Grafton Regis, a seat of the late Duke of Grafton; Burghly, Worthorp and Wakerly, belonging to the Earl of Exeter; Apethorp and Sewlhay Lodg, to the Earl of Westmerland; Brayton, Luswick, alias Lowick. Thrapston and Sudborow, to

the Earl of Peterborough; Althorp to the Earl of Sun∣derland; Dean, to the Earl of Cardigan; Winwick, to the Earl of Craven; Holdenby, to the Earl of Fever∣sham; Kerby, to the Lord Viscount Hatton, Baron of Kerby &c. Astwell, to the Lord Ferrers; Easton Mauit, to the Lord Grey; Boughton and Barnwell Castle, to the Lord Montague; Rockingham Castle, Warmington and Stoke Albony, to the Lord Watson; Stean, to the Lord Crew; Peterborough-Pallace and Castle to the Lord Bishop of the Diocess: Besides these, there are many stately Houses of the Gentry that give a curious Prospect to most Roads in the County.