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 EDWARD the First (since the Norman Conquest.)

KING Edward had News of his Fathers Death when he was Warring in the Holy Land, which made ••im settle the Affairs of the Eastern Christians on such Terms as could be so suddainly obtained, very advan∣••agious for them; and so returned home to take care ••f his more near concerns, his Queen in this Voyage ••eing brought to bed of a Daughter.

Upon his Arrival, he was Received by the Nobles ••nd Commons with many demonstrations of Joy, and ••n a few Days he and his Queen were Crowned by

Robert Killwarby Arch Bishop of Canterbury, and having disposed of divers Trusts and places of Honour, giving some Largesses to ingratiate himself with the Higher and Lower Degrees, he called a Parliament at Westminster, and thither Llewellin Prince of Wales was Summoned to do Homage for the Principality he held. But he taking disgust, because Elianor Daughter to the deceased Earl of Leicester was taken by the English on the Seas, as she was coming from France in order to Marry him, not only refused to come, but because the Lady was detained from him, raised a considerable Army of Welshmen, and Borderers, and fell into Re∣bellion, entering England and doing great Mischief. But the King resolving to make his first Expedition Terrible to that Languishing Nation, raised such a Power as Llewellin found himself in no capacity to op∣pose; wherefore leaving his Men, he came privately to the King, and prostrating himself begged Pardon; protesting that his Love was so exceeding great to the Captive Lady, that nothing but the hopes of Redeem∣ing her, and entering on those Nuptials that had been Agreed on at the Court of France, could have made him draw his Sword; so that if she might be given to his Arms, he would from thenceforth live in Peace and Obedience, be always ready to use his Sword at the Service of King Edward against the French King, or any other, when he should Command it.

King Edward upon this, considering his Government not to be very well settled, and that the French King much relied on the Disturbances the Welsh could give when he designed any thing against England, freely consented to what he demanded; and upon Llewellin's Swearing Fealty, the Lady was put into his possession with many Rich Presents bestowed on her at her de¦parture by the Queen and Court-Ladies; and the Nup¦tials

were Solemnized to their mutual Satisfaction. Soon after this King Edward, in Monumental Honour to his Queen, for the great Love she had shewed in Sucking his Envenomed Wound, and accompanying him in the Holy Land, where she endured many hard∣ships, raised Crosses in the most Remarkable Cross∣ways in England, with the Arms of Spain Quartered with those of England, and the Queens Statue in Mar∣ble on the most Remarkable of them; and remember∣ing the Treacherous Practices of the Jews against him Abroad, and their always taking part with the Infidels against the Christians, he Banished them out of England, to the Number of 15009 Persons, Confiscating their Goods; by which means, and Fining corrupt Judges and Officers, he replenished his Treasury with 236000 Marks. And about this time Dr. Scotus, called Subtilis, Preached against the Popes laying claim to St. Peter's Keys, his abusing the Episcopal Authority, as also that Transubstantiation (which wild Notion had been In∣troduced not long before) was contradictory to Scrip∣ture and common Reason; but the Popish Clergy soon Persecuted him into silence.

Long had not the Peace continued between England and Wales, ere Llewelling by the rash Perswasions and Incitement of his Brother David (a Man more conten∣tious than Provident, and less Valiant than Mutinous, and yet one whom the King did extraordinarily love and favour) fell into Rebellion again, forgetting his Oath, which made him little prosper in his Enter∣prize to enlarge his Borders; for after many sharp Encounters with Sr. Roger Mortimer, the Kings Lieu∣tenant on the Western Marches, he and his Brother were taken, their Heads struck off, and placed on the Tower of London: Yet their followers gave not over, but kept in Parties, Ravaging and Spoiling by Incur∣sions

within the English Pale, and then with their Booty retired again to their Woods and Fastnesses, where they had Builded Huts, as if they conceived this Trade would be of a long continuance, without shifting: But the King, not longer able to bear the Cries and Complaints of his suffering Subjects, Marched a suf∣ficient Army thither, but not finding the Enemy in the Field, to Ferret them out he caused the Woods to be cut down and consumed with Fire; whereupon some submitted, others dyed of Cold and Hunger in their Retreatments, and many of the Ringleaders were put to Death by sundry manner of Executions; by which means they were reduced to a more sociable kind of life, and began to practice divers commendable Occu∣pations, Arts and Sciences, and took some pleasure from thenceforth to live like Honest Men.

After this, Alexander King of Scots, by a fall from his Horse off a Cliff by the Seaside (whither, upon some suddain Fright, he carried him furiously) breaking his Neck, and leaving no Male or Female Issue, his three Sisters, (the Eldest of which was Married to John Baliol Earl of Galloway, the Second to Robert Le Bruce, Lord of Valley Androw, and the Third to John Hastings, Lord of Abergavennie, an English Peer) laid claim to the Crown by their most powerful Friends; many Dis∣putes passed, and Reasonings about it; but these little availing, it came at last to the Sword, which for many Years made miserable Havock in that Kingdom, each of the Competitors laying claim to the Crown in Right of their Wives, refering the Decision of their Cause to King Edward, under whose Ward they agreed to put the Government till matters could be determined; whereupon he passed into Scotland, attended with a considerable Army, there as Soveraign Lord to deter∣mine the Strife, and put the state of Affairs in good

order. But such was their mutual desires to Reign, that no perswasions prevailed to make any one of them recede from his coveted Soveraignty; yet they all agreed by a publick Writing under their Hands and Seals to refer themselves and their Titles to the Cen∣sure and Judgment of King Edward; and by the same Instrument surrendered the Crown and Administra∣tion of Affaires to him. To the end that thereby he might enable himself absolutely to possess such a one of them of the Kingdom, as in his Judgment ought to have the Regal Dignity conferred on him; and with the Writing he received their several Demands and Claims fairly drawn up, with the Proofs and Argu∣ments to maintain them: Whereupon he Summoned a Council of Twenty English, and as many Scotch No∣blemen, Prelates, and Lawyers, to consider and advise what was most proper to be done in this great Affair; and when he had duly informed himself of the matter, and was well satisfied in his Conscience about it, he gave the Definitive Sentence in favour of John Bailiol who had Married the Eldest of the Three Sisters, and he (upon doing Homage to King Edward) received from him the Crown and Government of Scotland.

Whilst these things were doing, the French sup∣posing the King over-busied in so weighty a matter, and not altogether at leasure to mind his own concerns, entered into Guyan, Gascoyne, and other his Territo∣ries beyond the Seas, taking some Towns, and com∣mitting many Outrages on his Subjects, and their Possessions. The King roused upon notice of this in∣••ury done him, summoned his wonted Courage, and gave speedy orders for Levying a potent Army; but upon computing the Charge, Money was found in a great measure wanting; so that by the Advice of William Marcbyan his Treasurer he exacted it of the

Clergy, who for the most part having been exempted from the charge of former Wars, were grown very Rich; he demanded of them half the profit of their Ecclesiastical Revenues, seizing into his hands the useless or superfluous Plate, Jewels, and Treasure of the Chur∣ches, Abbies, Monasteries, and other Religious Houses and Places. This made them exceedingly murmur a∣gainst him, and labour to Alienate the Hearts of his Subjects from him; tho' in some sort he was not wan∣ting to give them satisfaction, by promising restitution when his Treasure should by encreased; and tho' they little relied on such a Promise, as thinking the King would at no time empty his own Coffers to replenish theirs, finding they should be stript of their Treasure without remedy, they found out another way, as they supposed, to make themselves amends in time, though no great matter presently could be expected from it.

There had been a Statute Enacted in the Fourth Year of his Reign, strictly Prohibiting the giving and conveying Lands or Tenements to any Corporation whatsoever, called, The Statute against Mortmain, unless with the Kings consent; and this stood in the way, especially to hinder Persons in their Wills, to bequeath any thing of that kind to the Church or Religious Houses: This they prayed might be Revoked, But he Replyed, As of himself he could make no Laws, so with∣out the Consent of Parliament much less could he Annihilate them; (for he was honester than to pretend to a Dis∣pensing Power) and tho' this vexed them inwardly to be frustrated of all that could be expected to their ad∣vantage, yet such was the power he had gained ove•• them, that they durst not express any outward dislike of his Proceedings.

After this he imposed a Subsidy upon every Sack o•• Wooll, also upon all Flesh, and Hides that were to b••

Transported out of the Kingdom; and further to main∣tain his Wars, required the tenth part of every Mans Substance, or moveable Goods, compelling the Clergy over and above to bring into his Treasury all such Sums of Money as they had promised to remit to Rome for the Popes use, towards the maintenance of the War against the Turks and other Infidels in the Holy Land, and so having sufficient, he Transported his Armies, sending with them, besides other Necessaries, 100000 Quarters of Wheat for their Subsistance; where many Battels were Fought between the English and French in Guyan, Gascoyne, and other Provinces; the former be∣ing mostly Victorious, recovering many places, and driving the Enemy for the most part out of his Terri∣tories there. But whilst the King was intent to go over and finish what had been so well begun and car∣ried on; the French King, as much as in him lay, to cross his proceedings, had made a Faction in Scotland against the new King, who compelled him to renounce his Allegiance to King Edward, and send Defiance to him; nor was this all, but with an Army hastily ga∣thered, he entered and wasted the Northern parts of England, Slaying, Burning and Plundering without Pity or Remorse: Whereupon King Edward, recoun∣ting his manifold Favours, and the great love he had to the Revolted King of Scots; this base Ingratitude so stirred his Anger, That he resolved a bloody cha∣stisement should be the punishment of his unthankfull∣ness: Whereupon recalling some of his Forces, and raising more, he Marched to the succour of his Subjects; and such was his good Fortune, that in a little time he met with and fought the Scotch Army, slaying 25000 of them, winning the strong Castles of Berwick and Dunbar, and soon after the City of Edenburough, with many o∣ther places of note; which made King John too late

see his Errors, and to what distress his rashness had driven him: However, thinking to find Favour by an humble submission, or at least prevent the further Ruin and Desolation of his Country, he came and cast him∣self at King Edwards Feet, wholle submitting, with him∣self the Crown and Kingdom of Scotland, to be at his dispose, in expectation to have been Restored; but King Edward, resenting very heinously his ungrateful proceedings, sent him under a strong Guard to the Tower of London; yet ordered him allowance of Li∣berty, Diet, and Attendance, as became his state; when Marching from Sea to Sea, without any farther resist∣ance, he settled the Affaires of Scotland, committing the Government of the Kingdom to John Warren Earl of Surry, as his Lieutenant; Constituting Hugh Cressing∣ham Lord Treasurer, and William Barnsley his Chief Justice; confining some of the Rebellious Scots within the Marches of England, that they might be disabled from giving any Disturbance in his Absence; and so returned in Triumph, with great Honours, and high applause of his Subjects.

The King being now at leasure to remember the In∣juries the French had done him, and resolving to Re∣venge them, Leagued with Guy Earl of Flanders, and Transported an Army thither, and Fought with Robert Earl of Arthois, whome he Routed, taking many Towns and Fortresses on the Frontiers; which made the French King play over the game again of stirring up the Scots to Rebellion, hoping by that means to constrain him to return; but on the contrary, he appointed Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland, his General for that War; who mannaged it with that Prudence, that af∣ter some Marching, Training them into the open Field, he gave them Battel with incredible Slaughter, so that many Miles of Ground were in a manner covered with

their dead Bodies, by which great Overthrow they found themselves constrained to return to their former Obedience; so that the French King perceiving his Project took not on that side, seemed very desirous to try his Strength with King Edward in the Field; but his Courage failing, he reposing more confidence in his Policy than Valour, he proceeded to tamper about pro∣posals of Love and Amity, that might settle a lasting Peace; and King Edward being now a Widower, he earnestly solicited him to take his Sister to Wife, to make the Alliance stronger; which by the cunning subtilty of some Courtiers, Bribed by the French King, was brought about; and Peace ensued after a tedious War that had caused much Bloodshead. So the King with his Queen returned home, and soon after he made Prince Edward his Son, who had been Born at Carnar∣van in Wales, the better to ingratiate himself with those People, Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester; and to gain the Hearts of the Londoners, he restored them those Liberties his Father had deprived them of, and without which they had continued the space of Twelve Years; during which time a Governour was set over them by the King, and their Magistrates chosen by his order. But whilst things were well ordering at home, the Scots again fell into Rebellion: Whereupon the King sent to demand their Ring-leaders, who had drawn them into this danger, (which principally was one Wallis, a Gentleman of an inveterate Spirit against the English Nation) with a promise of Pardon to all the rest, upon their laying down their Arms; or else threatned to waste the Country with Fire and Sword from Sea to Sea, and spare none of that Nation he should find in his way. But driven on by their hard Fate, they were Deaf to these Proposals, making yet greater preparations to weather (as they thought) the Storm

they could not but expect; and so upon the Kings entering the Marches of Scotland, they bid him Battel; where, before the Armies joyned, he made them the same Offers, which they seemed to reject with scorn; so the Bloody Blast being sounded by the order of the Incensed King, who resolved now to Scourge them in earnest, the English fell on with such fury and vi∣olence, that they broke, like a Tempest, into the Scots Battel, carrying all before them, so that a miserable slaughter ensued, and the King pressing too furiously upon those that Fled, in the eagerness of the Pursuit, fell from his Horse, and broke two of his Ribs; yet he lightly remounting, and not regarding his Hurt, drove them out of the Field with the slaughter of 32000 of them; he not now (as at other times) restraining the Swords of his Soldiers, but gave scope and encourage∣ment to their thirst of Revenge, and in this Battel fell the flower of the Scots Nobility and Gentry; but on our side very few were slain; some Historians make mention but of 28 of all Degrees, tho' that seemes too Partial. But in comparison of the Scots, they were certainly very inconsiderable.

The Prisoners that were taken were not many, by reason few were spared in the Fight, or in the pursuit that were overtaken; so that the small remainder of the Nobles came and Humbled themselves before the King, charging the fault on such as they said had justly received their Deserts by being slain in the Battel; and this Submission, upon their taking a new Oath of Fealty and Homage, was accepted; and returning home, upon the earnest request of Pope Boniface the Eighth, he Released John the Deposed King of Scots out of the Tower, who went to Normandy to live quietly there on Lands alotted him, called Bayliolls Lordship or Lands; where falling Blind, and being much in Years,

he Dyed, leaving his Estate to his Son Edward. How∣ever his Death put not an end to the Scots Troubles; for they had not long enjoyed Peace, but forgetting their Oaths, or at least despising all conditions with the English, they again Revolted, and again felt the same Scourge of War, the King taking by force and surrender all the strong Castles and Fortresses into his hands, and Oath of the Justices, Mayors, and Officers of the several Towns and Forts; and having disposed all things to the best advantage, and settled the Go∣vernment in trusty hands, he brought away the Crown, Robes of State, and Marble Chair from Scone, in which the Scots Kings had always been Crowned; and placed the latter in the Kings Chappel at Westminster; and on it there is said to be a Prophetick Latin Distick; in English to this Effect:

Where e'er this Stone is Plac'd, the Scot shall find; And there shall Rule, for there his Reign's Assign'd:

This may indeed seem to be verified in the Union of the two Kingdoms under King James the First, of the Scotish Line. But to proceed.

As soon as King Edward was returned from his Journey, he caused an Enquiry (which was termed Troli Baston) to be made in all his Dominions of the Misdemeanors and Oppressions of his Officers and o∣thers; so that the Number of the Transgressors were so many, that heavy Fines being laid on them, and they like so many full Spunges Squeezed of their Unjust Gains into the Kings Coffers, they were plentifully replenished thereby; not only to Pay off old Debts, but to Recompence such as had at their own Expence faithfully Served him in his Wars; and among other Complaints, Dr. Langton Bishop of Chester Exhibited one to the King against Prince Edward, whom he said at the Instigation of Pierce Gaveston, his Loose and

Evil Counsellor, had forcibly broken into his Parks, wounded his Servants, and destroyed his Game: Whereupon the Prince was committed to Prison du∣ring the Kings pleasure, and Gaveston Banished upon pain of Death, never to return into the Land; and Edward Earl of Cornwal, Son to Richard King of the Romans Dying without Issue, he gave that Earldom to Prince Edward; which Title, with that of Chester, have been since inseparable from the Princes of Wales.

A Peace being now had in Scotland, things remained quiet for a time; during which space, Robert Bruce, one of the Competitors, came with divers Nobles to the English Court, and was highly Entertained; which they did only for a shew, whilst they were dealing un∣derhand with the Pope to favour their Cause; nor was he slow in it, but sent an Instrument in Writing by which he pretended to lay claim to the Kingdom of Scotland, as holden of the See of Rome; wherein King Edward was peremptorily required to surcease from all Demands of Tenure and Soveraignty over it. But he stoutly Answered by his Ambassadors, That it did be∣long to the Kings of England, and not unto the See of Rome, or to any other; requiring him to revoke his unjust Claim, for that both he and his Nobles were re∣solved to maintain his Right therein at the hazard of their Lives and Estates; and the Ambassador shewing the Hands and Seals of the Nobles, and most of the Prelates of England, that had Sworn to this Resolution; the old Blade with the Leaden Sword drew in his Horns; whereupon Bruce secretly withdrew and raised Tumults in Scotland: Yet the King forced him to fly into Norway, where he remained; till in Edward the Seconds Reign he returned to broach new Troubles. But the King, upon his Marching through Scotland, Dyed; commanding in his Last Will, That his Son should

[illustration]

[illustration] map of Shropshire

SHROP SHIRE By John Seller

carry his Bones with him, till he had utterly Subdued the Rebells; and that Gaveston should not be Recalled from Banishment; also that his Heart should be carried to the Holy Land, and there Buried: He began his Reign November 16, Anno Dom. 1272, and Reigned 34 Years, 7 Months and 21 Days; being the 29th Sole Monarch of England. He Dyed of a Dyssentery at Burg upon Sands, July 7, Anno Dom. 1307, in the 69th Year of his Age, and was Buried at Westminster.

In the Third Year of this Kings Reign, on St. Ni∣cholas Day, very terrible Thunders, Earthquakes and Lightenings happened; also a great Fiery Dragon in the Air and a Blazing Star, which much amazed the People. In the Year 1288 the Summer was so Scorch∣ing, that many Dyed of extream Heat; yet Wheat was Sold at 2s. 8d. the Quarter, and all Corn at a pro∣portionable rate; but the Year following, by reason of the great Rains that fell, Wheat was raised to 20s. a Quarter, and so continued near Forty Years, which was in those times accounted a great Dearth. Anno Dom. 1299 the Kings Palace at Westminster with the Buildings of the Monastery, were consumed with Fire; and a great Whale coming up the River, was struck and taken over-against Erif, being 40 Foot Long, and proportionable in Bulk, &c.

Remarks on Shropshire, &c.

SHropshire is commodiously situated, intermixed with Hills, Plains, Woods, Forrests, Chaces, &c. and produ∣ces Corn, Rich Pastures, Cattle, and many other things, to the advantage of the Inhabitants. It is Bounded with Cheshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Radnorshire, Mongomeryshire, and Denbyshire: It contains 15 Hundreds, divided into 170 Parishes, and ha••

in it 14 Market Towns, and 18 great and small Rivers, branching mostly from the Severn; which plentifully Waters this Shire and others. It sends Members to Parliament 12, viz. Bishops-Castle 2, Bridgnorth 2, Ludlow 2, Shrewsbury 2, Wenlock 2, and 2 Knights of the Shire.

In Shropshire, besides Shrewsbury, the County Town, a noted Mart for Cloath and Frizes brought from Wales, and thence dispersed into divers parts of England, There are Remarkable Ruins of some Antient Places, which were cer∣tainly Towns or Cities of great splendor; as Workcester Uriconium the antient Usoconia, of which Okenyat is a small remainder; Oswalstree retaines its Name from Oswald the 11th King of Northumberland, who was here Slain in Battel by Penda King of the Mercians; The other Towns of Note are Wellynton, Newport, Brayn∣ton, &c. At Shrewsbury, and other places on the Severn, is taken a Fish called a Mort, in Taste like a Salmon; at Pitchford is a Well whose Water casts up a Scum of Liquid Bitumen, and near Oswaldstree is a Vestigia of a Roman Camp.

The Seats of the Nobility are Pepperhill, belonging to the Earl of Shrewsbury; Highercal and Eyton, to the Lord Viscount Newport; Cherbury, to the Lord Herbert Baron of Cherbury; It has also in it 13 Bridges, 13 Castles, 7 Forrests, and 27 Parks. The Seats of the Gentry are likewise very pleasant, and there is almost every where great store of Game, and abundance of Fish.