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 King HENRY the Second, commonly called Henry Fitz-Empress.

AT the time when King Stephen Dyed, Henry was in Normandy, Besieging a strong Castle the French had a little before taken by Surprize; and being ad∣vised by some Nobles about him, to pass over for Eng∣land, and leave the Siege, least another in his Absence might step into the Throne, as before had happened; he made a Reply full of Discretion and true Valour, to this effect: The Kingdom of England shall henceforth be at my Command, in despight of those that dare to cross me most; and so shall these Intruding Frenchmen, ere I raise the Siege.

This resolution redoubled his honour among his Friends, and brought fear on the Enemy; for when they knew it, they surrendered the Castle, and sub∣mitted themselves to his Mercy; and so having settled Affairs in that Dukedom, with a Noble Train of Lords and Gentlemen he came for England, where he was Crowned three times, viz. By Theobald, Arch Bishop of Canterbury, at Westminster; Then at Lincoln, and lastly at Worcester: He chose his Council of the Gravest, Wisest, and most Learned Peers, and made Thomas of Becket Chancelour, and appointed such Judges and Learned Men in the Laws, by Industry and Labour, to Refine them; That the Common Laws were greatly Mended and Improved, being rendred more tolerable and profitable to the People; and after this, he divided the Kingdom into six Circuits; and for the better ad∣ministration of Justice, and Trying of Causes between Subject and Subject, he appointed his Judges to go those Circuits twice a Year; which Order yet continues. He Banished the greatest part of Strangers, who in those days by multitudes flocked hither; and by their extraordinary Sparing, and painful Industry, procured much Wealth, and Begger'd the Natives.

He Exiled many of the Nobles, who contrary to their Duties had adhered to King Stephen; and differ∣ing much from the Opinion of his Predecessor, he af∣firmed that strong Castles and Forts, maintained in the heart of the Kingdom, did rather Animate Great Men, upon any displeasure to Revolt, than Fear them into Obedience; whereupon he caused most of them to be Razed to the Ground, and Seized such Mannors, Lord∣ships, Possessions, as his Predecessors had either Sold or Given from the Crown, holding it to be the Duty of every Subject to refuse the Gift or Purchace of such things as do immediately concern the Honour and

Maintenance of a King. And the like he did in the Northern Parts, where many Great Men Commanding as they list, had wrought themselves and their Poste∣rity into many Honours, Castles, Mannors, which pro∣perly appertained to the Crown. He likewise took into his hands the Provinces of Cumberland, Northum∣berland, and the Earldom of Huntingdon, which David King of Scots, and Henry his Son, had received as a Gift from King Stephen, to favour his Wars against the Empress. However the King entered into Amity with Malcolm King of Scots, upon the same Conditions as were Agreed on in Henry the Firsts time; and in Token of his Subjection, the Scot Offered his Bonnet and Saddle upon St. Peter's Altar at York: And about this time, Theobald Dying, Becket was made Arch Bishop of Canterbury.

This King, even in time of Peace, had generally an Army on foot, and rarely kept them Idle; but would often Transport them to Normandy, and there having Exercised them, would bring them back again, so that on all occasions they were found ready and expert Souldiers. And now an advantage opened a way to the English for the Conquest of Ireland: For the Eastern part along the Sea being possessed by Dormat-Mac-Mahur King of Leinster, his Cruelties had highly in∣censed his Subjects against him, especially upon taking away the Queen of Morice, King of Meath; so that the Injured King Confederating with Roderick O Conor King of Connought, they beat him out of his Country; so that he fled for England, and craved Aid of King Henry to Restore him; which upon taking an Oath of Fidelity and Subjection, was harkened to; when the better to encourage the design, the King for a Sum of Money obtained leave of Pope Adrian, an Englishman, then advanced to St. Peter's Chair, that

he might Conquer Ireland; promising moreover throughly to Establish the Christian Religion therein, and bring it to an acknowledgment of the See of Rome; but whilst he was preparing for this Expedition; new Troubles arose in Normandy which required his Pre∣sence to pacifie; but he granted his Letters Patents, by which he gave leave, with Encouragement, to his Nobles and such others as were willing, to go for Ire∣land.

Dormat, impatient of Exile, laid hold of this first Advantage, and Solicited the Nobles, but above all, he promised Richard the Kings Son, a Young Prince of a Warlike Spirit, his Daughter, a very Beautiful Young Lady, and all his Countries after his Decease to be made over to them; he likewise incited one Fitz Stephens, who with a Band of Valiant Welshmen was the first that Landed, and maintained his Ground with much Cou∣rage, till the Prince and divers Nobles came over; and with little trouble they seized the Town of Wexford, which was given to Fitz Stephens, for his part of the Charge of the War; and soon after many of the petty Irish Kings being Overthrown, Dormat was Restored, and Dublin the chief City, Submitting to him, he put to Death, by many Cruelties, such of his Capital Enemies as he found there.

However the Prince went Conquering on, and Sub∣dued all before him; of which King Henry had no sooner Notice, but fearing this might flush Ambition, and make him practice with his own Subjects for the Crown, he speedily returned to England, and sent Man∣dates Commanding all the English under great Penal∣ties to return; rallying the Nobility, for suffering the Prince in his Absence to go over; he was in this so far Obeyed, that the Prince was left in Dublin with a small Train; the Irish was not slow in taking the ad∣vantage

of this Retreat, and therefore Besieged him in that prime City with an Army of 30000 Men; upon which he Sally'd with about 1500, and utterly Routed them, taking great Spoils; and so in obedience to the Kings commands, returned for England, where he sur∣rendered into his Fathers hands all the Forts and Cities he had taken.

Anno 1172 the King Landed in Ireland with a Royal Army, and found Dormar to be Dead; however he brought such a Terror on the Country, That Rode∣rick, and most of the other Princes submitted to him, intreating him to take the Government on him, as their Supream Lord; which he Accepted, with their Oaths of Fealty, and at Christmas he made a Royal Feast in the City of Dublin to the Petty Kings, and most of the Nobility of the Kingdom; and having settled the Civil and Ecclesiastical matters, reforming Barbarities and Abuses, he brought those that held out in Ʋlster, under Subjection; and so returned in Tri∣umph to London.

Thus was Ireland made subject to the Crown of England, and has so continued ever since, being a very spacious Country, viz. in Length 303 Miles, in Breadth 112, in Circumference 948. And such was the over-fondness of this King to his Eldest Son, Henry, that he caused him and his Wife Margaret, Daughter to Lewis the French King, to be twice sollemnly Crowned in the presence of his People, himself (the second time, for that day) leaving the Title of King, and serving as a Servitor at his Son's Table; whereat the Bishop of Winchester whispering the Young Henry in the Ear, said, Never any King of England had such a Sewer at his Table: Nay, replied the Upstart, my Father need not think it any dishonour to him, as being but Royal Born on one side, when I had both a King to my Father, and a

Queen to my Mother; upon this the old King shook his Head, and whispered the Bishop, I find, my Lord, I have raised the Young Man too soon, and too late repent of it: And from that time he laboured to suppress the Pride of his Sons, which made them often Rebel and Conspire with his Enemies, drawing away the Hearts of many of his Subjects: And altho' at one time Lewis the French King, Henry, Geoffry and John, three of his Sons, joyned with Robert Earl of Leicester, Hugh Earl of Chester, and William King of Scots, against him; yet by plain Valour he Routed them, and made his Sons, and others that were his Subjects, submit to his Pardon; and soon after his Son Henry Dyed, in the flower of his Age.

But these were not all the Kings Troubles, for he was grievously pestered with the stubbornness of Becket, Arch Bishop of Canterbury: For upon his first admit∣tance to that See, he refused to take the Oath for ob∣servation of the Articles administred to the Clergy, which the rest of the Bishops had done, because it was clearly against the Popes Authority; and perceiving the King much displeased at his refusal, he resolved to set the Pope on his Back; and therefore privately with∣drawing himself, went to Rome, where he made grie∣vous complaints against the King and Clergy of Eng∣land, to Innocent the Second; upon which the Pope gave him the Pall, and appointed him Legate; so upon his return, he delivered up his Chancelorship and Great Seal, not giving the King, or any other, an account why he did so.

These Jars between the King and the Arch Bishop, imboldened the Inferiour Clergy to commit many Irregularities, for which they received but small pun∣ishment; for if they committed Murthers, Manslaugh∣ters, Fellonies or Robberie, being Censured by Men of

their own Profession, they came off as they could wish; so that the Common Wealth being sorely oppressed, to Redress these Grievances, the King found himself con∣strained to call a Parliament: In which that Law made in King Stephens Reign, which exempted the Authority of Temporal Judges from meddling with Ecclesiastical Affaires, was Repealed; and the Laws held in the Reign of Henry the First, and other the Kings Pre∣decessors, Established and Inforced, being commonly called Avitae Legis; but he was stoutly opposed in his Proceedings by Becket and some other Bishops, who unadvisedly made themselves partakers of his Faction; but after many Conferences, Disputes and Consulta∣tions, all (except Becket) Ratified and Subscribed those newly revived Laws; but he by no means would do it, unless he might enter this Clause, [Salvo Ordine suo] which words clearly Annihilated the Life and Sub∣stance of those Laws; but the Bishops fearing the Kings Anger might turn to their great disadvantage, at last prevailed with Becket to Swear to the said Laws; but upon another Pet taken, he recanted his Oath, and was Absolved by the Pope: Yet it nothing daunted the King, but rather Irritated him to Seiz into his own hands all such Temporalities as he had formerly given to the Arch Bishop, requiring him to render an Ac∣count of 30000 Marks he had Imbezilled during his being Chancellor. But the Prelate in Answer to this, boldly affirmed the King had freely given it to him as a free Gift, and ought not in Honour or Conscience to demand it back. Whereupon all the Moveables that appertained to him, were Seized by the Kings express command. At which Becket being disgusted, he went to Rome, without the Kings License; and the King perceiving his drift was to incense the Pope against him, sent his Ambassadors to represent his perversness, and

evil carriage, and how reasonable things were, he had imposed on him; entreating the Pope to divest him of his Dignity, and he would provide for him and his in another station. But Becket had made such interest in the Court of Rome, That the Pope not only refused it, but with many Threatnings sent two Legates To Curse the King and all his People, unless on their demands Becket were immediatly restored to his Dignity, also to his Lands and Moveables that were Confiscated; and in the mean while he commended him to the Abbot of Pontynack, where he was kindly received, and for a time entertained. But upon the Kings Threats, that unless he was Expelled the House, that he would leave no Monk of that Order in France, he was dismissed; the King Commanding, That without his License no Cardinal nor Legate should presume to set Footing in England, and hereupon he Banished all Beckets Relati∣ons, which much grieved him, yet under-hand he was encouraged, by Lewis the French King, resolutely to persist in his Obstinacy; whereupon King Henry, to put an end to this difference that much disturbed the Kingdom, Sailed to France, and in the French Kings presence, Conferred with the Arch Bishop, making him an Offer, That if he would take the Oath again, and subscribe the Instrument Triparte, as himself and the Arch Bishop of York had done, he should be restor∣ed to his Favour, and enjoy all that was formerly ap∣pertaining to him, and his Friends recalled from Ba∣nishment; but then he started another obstacle, con∣senting to do it, if it might be with an exception of [salvo honore Dei.] This more angered the King than the former, for by it he seemed to Object the Laws made tended to the dishonour of God; and if so, con∣sequently were void in themselves, bringing a scandal upon those that first Instituted them, and also upon

himself and the Parliament that had Revived them. Whereupon Becket plainly told him, That he feared none but God; and since his Laws were derogatory to the Anti∣ent Customs and Priviledges of the Church, and Robbed God of his Honour, the King, in seeking to Establish them, should not have his will whilst he lived. And upon this Disagreement, the Pope sent two Legates to Interdict the Kingdom, till Becket should be restored to his Dig∣nity. This so far transported the King with Anger, (being then in Normandy) That he let some words fall in his Passion, which being taken hold on by some of his Courtiers, who mis-construed the Kings meaning, it proved the destruction of Becket: For soon after having leave to return, and beginning new Troubles in Church Matters, four of them Slew him at the High Altar in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury, and with him two or three Monks that endeavoured his Rescue. Thus fell this troublesom Prelate, who rising from a low degree, his Father being a Londoner, and his Mo∣ther a Sarazen, in his Pride contended many Years with a Potent King, and brought many miseries on the Kingdom. Afterward he was Sainted, and many Superstitious People went on Pilgrimage to his Tomb.

The Pope no sooner knew his Champion was fallen, but he Threatned, Cursed and Fulminated, yet with little Terrour. However, to make himself Easie, the King admitted two Cardinals to take his Purgation, who allotted his Penance, when he had denied his con∣senting to the Murther upon Oath, to War three Years in the Holy Land; (which he Redeemed, by Erecting three Religious Houses) That he should go from London to Canterbury bare Footed to visit Beckets Shrine, which he performed, and suffered himself to be Scourged by the Monks with Rods on his Naked Back; after which, upon his sending Presents to the Pope, he was Absolved.

During the Kings being thus Abroad his Queen had caused Rosamond his fair Concubine to be Poisoned; which so inraged him, that he cast her into Prison, and would be prevailed on by no Intreaty nor Sub∣mission to release her during his Life, tho' she endured many Miseries and Hardships in her confinement; till at length she was set at Liberty by her Son Richard's comming to the Crown, as will more at large appear in his Reign.

Doctor Gilbert Folliott of Oxford, however hardly the Pope had used the King, nevertheless perswaded him to regulate abuses in the Clergy, and curb their Pride; shewing him a warrant for it from the Word of God, and the Writings of Eminent Fathers of the Church, and other Good and Learned Men, That for as much as Kings are stiled The Nursing Fathers of the Church: It is their Duty to God to see it well Ordered and Governed, and like a careful Husbandman sup∣press and keep under those rank Weeds of Error that would over-top and choak the Corn of Truth: He used many other Reasons and Arguments, so that the King began to assume his Power and look more nar∣rowly into their Covetousness, Pride, and the Op∣pressions they laid on such as their Jurisdiction exten∣ded over in Temporalities; wherein he abridged and cut them short, which made them greivously complain that the King hearkened to Persons evilly affected to the Church; and the Pope having notice, who had advised the King, sent many Threats and Menaces of what Mischief he would do in England, if he did not put him out of his Protection; which he had no sooner done, but the Clergy, like so many Harpies, grievously Persecuted him, till they made him Abjure the Land; but this being contrary to the Kings pleasure, he was afterward recalled, and had leave to live a private

Life. However the King neglected to pay the Tribute called Peter-Pence to Rome, and Garrisoned his Towns in Normandy very strongly, beating out the encroach∣ing French, and Enlarging his Borders, tho' his Sons proved still troublesom to him, in under-hand siding with the French, and some discontented Normans and English; However he surmounted all Difficulties, till in Normandy he fell Sick, of a Feaver and Dyed at Chi∣non, on the Sixth of July, Anno Dom. 1189, when he had Reigned 34 Years, 8 Months, and 11 Days. He was Eldest Son to Geoffery Plantagenet, Earl of Anjou, Son to Foulk King of Jerusalem, by Maud the Empress, Eldest Daughter to Henry the First. He began his Reign October 25, Anno 1154; and Dying (as is said) was Buried at Font-Everard in Normandy.

He is accounted a Wise, Just, Learned and Valliant Prince; and tho' he little burthened his Subjects with Taxes, considering the Wars he had, yet he left in his Treasury 900000 Pounds in Coin and Plate, besides Jewels and other things of great value, which furnished out his Son Richard for the Holy War. As for his fair Concubine, whom he entirely doted on, he caused her to be Buried at Godstow, near Oxford, and on her stately Monument placed this Epitaph.

Hic Jacet in Tumba Rosamundi non Rosa Munda, Non Redolet, sed olet, que Redolere Solet.

And may be Englished thus

Within this Tomb lies the World's chiefest Rose; She who was Sweet will now offend your Nose.

In the Fifth Year of this Kings Reign, 30 Persecuted Waldenses flying their Country came into England, and

found here no better Entertainment, for being Pro∣nounced Heriticks by a Convocation of Bishops at Ox∣ford, the King strictly Prohibited his Subjects to relieve them, so that wandering up and down, they Dyed with Hunger. And near this time, certain Jews Cru∣cified a Child at Glocester, for which 20 of them were Hanged, and many Banished.

Anno 1163, one Peter, Priest of Cole-Church, was at the Charge of Building London-Bridge a New, with Timber. In the 20th Year of this Kings Reign Leice∣ster was Burnt by his command, the Walls and Castle Razed, and the Inhabitants dispersed, for adhering to his Enemies. The same Year Christ-Church in Canter∣bury was burned, and six Years after the City of York was Burned; and 1185, the Abby of Glasenbury was consumed by Lightening; and the next Year a ter∣rible Earthquake happening threw down many Build∣ings, and rent in pieces the Cathederal Church of Lincoln, Chichester was also Burnt.

Near Orford in Suffolk, a Monstrous Fish was taken, having the shape of a Man upwards, and was kept a long time by the Governour in the Castle, Eating Raw Flesh and Fish greedily; but at last it got away by the breaking of a Sluce, and was carried to the Sea again; and People were perswaded if it could have been made to Speak, it might have told many wonderful things.

Remarks on Notinghamshire, &c.

NOtinghamshire is advantagiously Situate, and stored with plenty of Cattle, Corn, Wooll, Fruits, Plants, &c. It is partly Hilly, and partly Champaine, and pleasant In∣closures: It produces Cheese, Butter, Leather and Tallow good store; and Good Fellows praise it much for the Ex∣cellent

[illustration] map of Nottinghamshire

NOTTINGHAM SHIRE.

strong Ale Brewed in it. It is Bounded on the South with Leicestershire, on the West with Derbyshire and part of Yorkshire, on the North with part of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and on the East with another part of Lincolnshire.

It contains 8 Hundreds, divided into 168 Parishes, as also 8 Market Towns; and is Watered with 21 great and small Rivers. It sends Members to Parliament 8, viz. East Retford 2, Newark 2, Notingham 2, and 2 Knights of the Shire.

Newark, in this County, is pleasantly seated on the River Trent, thence called Newark upon Trent, to distinguish it: At Swinstead Abby in this place, King John was Poisoned by a Monk, and over the River there is a very fine Bridge.

Notingham is pleasantly seated on a branch of the same River, incompassed with pleasant Fields and Groves. Its Castle was kept by the Danes against Burthred King of Mercia, also against Ethelred and Alfred, two other Saxon Kings.

At Stoke near Newark, Lambert Symnel in the Reign of Henry the Seventh was utterly Defeated, and his up∣holders, John D' La Pool Earl of Lincoln, Thomas Ga∣radine Chancelour of Ireland, Francis Lord Lovel, and others, were Slain, with 4000 Common Soldiers, and Sym∣nel taken Prisoner, June 16, Anno Dom. 1487.

At Mansfield was Born the first Earl Mansfield in Germany, now a famous Family in the Empire, said to be one of King Arthurs Round Table Knights: Blythe is a pleasant Town situate on the River Idle. Besides these of Note and Antiquity are Hoverham, Retford, Worksop, and Southwell. In this County is the much noted Forrest of Shirwood, where Robin Hood held his chief Residence, and in it are bred a great many of those Hares called the Laner. In this County they digg a soft Stone, which Burnt

makes a Plaister for Flooring their upper-Rooms, which dry'd is harder than Plaister of Paris. About Worksop grows store of Liquorice. The County contains many Parks full of Deer; The Rivers, Meers, and Ponds are stored with Fish, and at the Season there is plenty of Wild-Fowl.

The Seats of the Nobility are Worksop, belonging to the Duke of Norfolk; Welbeck Abby and Notingham Castle, to the late Earl of Newcastle; Holm Pierepont, to the Duke of Northumberland; Rufford, to the Mar∣ques of Hallifax; Houghton and Chare-House, to the Earl of Clare; Shelford, to the Earl of Chesterfield; Bestwood, to the Earl of Burford; Newsted Abby, Bulvel Park, and Linby, to the Lord Rochdale; Aver∣ham and Killham, to the Lord Lexington, besides divers pleasant Seats of the Gentry, &c.