to fight, or defend the land: and likewise that after that day, the charter and franchises of the city should not be seized into the King's hands, but only for treason and rebellion done by the whole city. Likewise that Southwark should be under the government of the city, and the Lord Mayor to chuse a bailiff there as he pleased. He also granted to the citizens of London, that the officers of the mayor and sheriffs should from that day forward use maces of silver parcel gilt.

In the twenty-second year of his reign, a contagious pestilence arose in the east and south parts of the world, and coming at last to England, it so wasted the people, that scarce the tenth person of all sorts were left alive. There died in London (some say in Norwich) between the first of January, and the first of July, 57,374 persons. This plague lasted nine years. In the thirty-fifth year of his reign, another plague happened, which was called the second pestilence; in which died many lords and bishops. In this King's time a frost lasted from the middle of September to the month of April. In the fourth year of his reign a solemn just, or turnament, was held in Cheapside, London, between the Great Cross and the Great Conduit. In the cleventh year of his reign was so great plenty, that a quarter of wheat was sold at London for two shillings, a fat ox for a noble, a fat goose for two-pence, a pig for a penny, and other things after that rate. But in his twentyseventh year there was a great scarcity, by reason there fell little or no rain from the end of March to the end of July, and was therefore called the dry summer. John Barns, Mayor of London, gave a chest with three locks and a thousand marks to be lent to young men upon security, and for the use of it, if learned, they were to say the psalm De Profundis, &c. for the soul of John Barns; if otherwise, to say a Pater Noster: but however the money is lent, the chest stood long after in the chamber of London, without money or security. In the time of the prince's sickness, the King calls a parliament at Westminster, and demands supplies; upon which they demand redress of the grie vances of the subject, and among the rest, that John, Duke of Lancaster, and Alice Perice the King's concubine, with others, might be removed from the Court; this woman presuming so much upon the King's favour, that she grew very insolent, and intermedled with courts of justice, and other offices, where she would sit to countenance And this was so vehemently urged by the speaker of the House of Commons, that the King rather than want supplies, gave way to it, and so they were all presently put from court. But the Prince dying soon after, they were all recalled to court again, and restored to their former places: and Sir Peter de la More, the speaker, was at

her causes.

the suit of Alice Perice, confined to perpetual imprisonment, though by making great friends he got his liberty in two years.

About this time

John Wickliff new doctrine, inthe abuses

of

veneration to this people.

died in the sixty

age, and the reign, and his

fiftieth of his JOHN WICKLIFF. Richard the IId

grand-child

succeeded; of whose unfortunate reign and deposition, you have heard before; we shall therefore only add a few particulars more. In his thirteenth year, a royal just or turnament, was proclaimed to be holden in Smithfield, London, and at the day appointed, about three of the clock in the afternoon, there issued out of the Tower threescore fine horses apparelled for the justs, and upon every one an esquire of honor riding a soft pace; after them came thirty-four ladies of honor, mounted on palfreys, and every lady led a knight with a gold chain. These knights being on the King's side, had their armour and apparel garnished with white harts, and crowns of gold upon their heads, and so they came riding through the streets of London, to Smithfield. This just lasted twenty-four days, all which time the King and Queen lay at the bishop's palace by St. Paul's Church, and kept open house to all comers.

In the year 1389, whilst the King was at Sheen, near London, there swarmed in his court such a multitude of flies and gnats skirmishing

one with another, that they were swept away with brooms by heaps, and bushels were filled with them. In the twenty-first year of his reign, King Richard caused the great hall at Westminster to be repaired both with walls, windows, and roofs. In his twelfth year in March, there were terrible winds, and afterward a great mortality and dearth. A dolphin was likewise taken at London Bridge, being ten foot long and very big.

Also in parliament time an image made by Necromancy in wax, as it is said, at an hour appointed, uttered these words, "The head shall be cut off, the head shall be lifted up aloft, the feet shall be lifted up above the head." This happened in that, called the " Marvellous Parliament," not long before that called the "Parliament that wrought wonders."

Henry IV. his uncle, succeeded King Richard, against whom several rebellions were raised; especially one Henry Piercy, called Hotspur, and others who were overthrown, King Henry himself killing thirtysix with his own hands; the Earl of Worcester among the rest, was taken and beheaded; with many others, whose heads were set on London Bridge. In this time a parliament was called at Westminster, in which the commons presented a petition to the King and the House of Peers, desiring that the King might have the temporal possessions of the bishops and clergy: affirming that they would maintain 150 earls, 1500 knights, 6200 esquires, and 100 hospitals for maimed soldiers. They desired likewise that clerks convict should not be delivered into the bishop's prison, and that the statute in the second year of his reign, against Lollards, or the followers of John Wickliff might be repealed. But the King denied their petition, and in person commanded them from thenceforth, not to trouble their brains about any such business, since he was resolved to leave the church in as good state as he found it.

In

In the third year of this King, a blazing star appeared, first at the east, and then sent out fiery streams toward the north, foreshewing perhaps the effusion of blood that followed after in those parts. the same year the Devil appeared (saith our author) in the likeness of a grey friar, who entering the church, put the people in great fear; and the same hour the top of the steeple was broken down, and half the chancel scattered abroad by a tempest of whirlwind and thunder. In his eighth year, Richard Whittington, Lord Mayor of London, erected Whittington College, with lodgings and weekly allowance for several poor people. He also built Newgate, half of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, in Smithfield, and a bountiful library in Christ Church,

sixth year having peace home and abroad, and being too active to be idle, King Henry resolved to go to the Holy Land, and great provision was made for his journey to the Jerusalem; but he needed no such preparations: for being at prayers at St. Edward's Shrine in Westminster Abbey, he was suddenly taken with an apoplexy, and thereupon removed to the Abbot of Westminster's house, when recovering himself, he asked where he was, and being told that it was the Abbot's house, in a chamber called Jerusalem, well then (said he)" The Lord have mercy upon me, for

this is the Jerusalem where an astrologer told me I should die." And here he died, March 20, 1413, aged 46 years; of which he reigned

thirteen.

It is worth remembering that all the time of his sickness, he would have his crown set upon his bolster by him, and one of his fits being so strong upon him, that all men thought him to be directly dead; the Prince his son coming in, took away the crown; when the King suddenly recovering his senses, missed it, and asking for it, was told the prince had taken it; whereupon the prince being called, came back with the crown, and kneeling down said, "Sir, to all our judgments and to all our griefs, you seemed directly dead, and therefore I took the crown as being my right; but seeing to all our comforts you live, I here deliver it much more joyfully than I took it, and I pray God you may long live to wear it yourself." Well (said the King sighing) "What right I had to it God knoweth ;" but (saith the Prince)" If you die, my sword shall maintain it to be my right against all opposers." Well (saith the King)" I refer all to God; but I charge thee on my blessing, that thou administer the laws justly and equally, avoid flatterers, defer not to do justice, neither be sparing of mercy. And then turning about said, "God bless thee, and have mercy upon thee:" and with these words gave up the ghost. In this King's reign there died of the pestilence in London, above thirty thousand in a short time and a frost lasted fifteen weeks.

Henry the Vth. succeeded his father, and proved a very wise and valiant King, though the people much doubted of it, because when he was prince he followed such disorderly courses. For getting into company with some lewd fellows, it is said, he lay in wait for the receivers of his father's rents, and in the person of a thief, set upon them and robbed them. Another time when one of his companions was arrainged for felony before the Lord Chief Justice in Westminster Hall, he went to the King's Bench Bar, and offered to take the prisoner away by force, but being withstood by the Lord Chief Justice, he stepped to him and struck him over his face; whereat the judge nothing disturbed, rose up and told him, "That he did not this affront to him, but to the King his father, in whose place he sat; and therefore to make him sensible of his fault, he committed him prisoner to the Fleet."

It was wonderful how calm the prince was in his own cause, who had been so violent in his companions: for he patiently obeyed the judge's sentence, and suffered himself quietly to be led to prison. This passage was very pleasing to the King, his father, to think he had a