The Life of HENRY the Second: King of England.  
showing what troubles befell in his reign, concerning the warres between him and his Subjects, and also the manner how he set up his standard near Rudland, Henry of Essex being general, and the manner how he left his crown; necessary to be observed in these dangerous and distracted times of ours.  
Printed at London for H. B. 1642.   

THE Life of HENRY the Second King of England, showing what troubles befell in his reign concerning the Warres between him and his Subjects, and also the manner how he set up his standard near Rudland, &c.  
IN the year of our Lord 1154. Henry the second was crwoned, he was a man of a low stature, and fat of body, of a fresh colour, a valiant soldier, a good scholar, and of good expression in his speech; very wise, and much delighted with peace.  
In the second year of his reign a counsel was held at Wallingford, where the Nobles were sworn to the King and his Issue, by an oath of Allegiance composed by the King and his counsel for that purpose, after which geoffrey the Kings Brother rose in Rebellion, & did much hurt, but was afterwards overcome by the King, and all was yielded into the Kings hands.  
In the third year of his reign the welshmen rose against him, and the King raised an Army, and made Henry of Essex his chief general of the Army; and when the King was come into Wales, Henry of Essex by the Commandement of the King raised the standard, and open warres was proclaimed, and many from their own habibations( as also out of divers prisons) came to assist the King, and there was a great battle fought near to Rudland, where there was many men slain on both sides, but the King recovered the Castle, and marched towards the Castle of Basingwirk, where there was a great slaughter on the Kings Army, by reason whereof the Army was much discouraged, and Henry of Essex, and those under him who had the trust of the bearing of the standard, did at that time let the standard fall down to the ground in the battle, which did so exceedingly encourage the welsh men, that they pursued with great eagerness; the King himself was exceedingly dismayed hereat, and fled to save his life, but the two Armies fought daily, for by the help of the earl of clear it was raised up again.  
Now the King had appointed a Navy of Ships also to go forth against them and Madoc ap Merideth was admiral of the seas, who had spoyled divers Churches, and done much hurt in the Isle of Man, and Anglesey, but after much bloodshed they began on both sides to be weary of War, and there was an agreement and peace concluded, and on the next Christmas day after King Henry being at Worcester went to Church, and going to prayers with the Congregation took his crown off his Head, and laid it on the Communion Table, and would never wear it after.  
In the seventh year of his reign there being great troubles in Ireland about the Rudiments of Faith, and ecclesiastical Rights, the King called a counsel, and Nicholas of Willingford, and William Fitz-Adelme were sent over into Ireland by the authority and consent of the King and counsel, at which time was this Confession, or Creed published, viz.  
I believe in God Fadir Almichty spipper of Heaven and Earth, and in Ihesus Christ his oneleihi Son ure Loverd, that is ivange Thurch, the holy Ghost bore of Mary maiden, Tholede pine under Ponce Pilat, picht on road three, dead and is butted, licht into hell, the tridde day from death arose, steich into heaven, sit on his Fadir richt hand God Almichty, then is comminde to deme the quickke and the dede, I believe in the holy Ghost, all holy church, mone of alle hallwen, forgivenis of sine, Fleiss uprising, life without end. Amen.  
The King also caused an Oath of fidelity to be drawn, for his Subjects to swear to his Son Prince Henry, concerning his Inheritance under their fidelity to the King, in case the King should die before his Son, which Protestation was taken through the whole kingdom.  
In the 8th. year of his reign there was a Sect sprung up called Publicans, the chief Leader of them was one Gerard a good scholar, but his fellowes were most of them silly and ignorant people.  
They denied 

The Rights and Ceremonies of the Church.  
Matrimony.  
baptism.  
The Supper of the Lord, &c.    
These were so stiff, and stood so stoutly in their opinions, that they would not be convinced of any error in their tenants, and when Gerard the chief of them was brought to Oxford, he would not recant from any of his tenants, wherefore judgement was denounced against them.  
1. That they should be stigmatized in their foreheads, 2. That they should be whipped. 3. That they should be turned out of the City, 4. That they should not be received into any town. 5. That none should give them any relief. 6. That none should afford them any succour.  
These men nevertheless suffered joyfully, singing as they went, Blessed are ye when men hate you, blessed are ye when men hate you, and so wandered in the fields till with the could & hunger, they all dyed for no man durst relieve them.  
In the 9. year of his reign, Henry of Essex was accused of high Treason before the Nobility, and these Articles were exhibited against him.  
1. That the said Henry of Essex did in the expedition into Wales in narrow, and hard passage( at Colleshell) most fraudulently throw away the Kings standard.  
2. That he did with a loud voice pronounce the King to be dead.  
3. That he turned back those that came to relive the Ks. Army against the welshmen.  
These Articles he denied, and after great debate therof before the King and his counsel the matter was judged to be tried by combat, and Henry of Essex supposed to be slain was carried away, but he revived, and spent the rest of his dayes in great humility in Redding.  
In the 12th year of his Reign the King appointed a collection to be made through all his Countreys, in this manner, viz.  
1. For every pound in movable goods being so valued for the first year, 2d.  
2. For four years after for every pound so valued. 1d.  
3. For Arable lands, and for vines, the charge and cost of ●●em not rekoned, for every pound thereof after the same ●●●ner also.  
4. He that hath an house valued to be worth 1. pound, to pay one penny.  
5. He that hath some office agent, one penny.  
After the payment whereof, the King caused his son Henry to be crwoned, by the persuasions of Robert Archbishop of york, thinking it would prove to the great quietness of himself, and his realm, but it proved otherwise, for the young King received the fealties of the earls and Barons.  
Henry the younger rebelled against his Father, and many earls and Barons fled over to him, and many great and bloody battels were fought between them, but at the last the old King subdued this Rebellion, and finding that the Scots had joined against him, gave to many of the young nobility, whom he had found to bee loyal unto him, the most part of the land in Scotland, & imprisoned and fined many of the English for this Rebellion.  
In the 21. year of his Reign, a brother of the earl of Ferres was slain in the City of London; whereat the King was much displeased, and vowed revenge against the city; And there were great troubles between the Court & the City, insomuch that the city was distracted and disquie●ed within itself, for in the end there were many unruly Citizens who did give themselves to the pillaging and robbing of rich mens houses, of whom one Andrew Buckequint and John old were chief, but the grave wisdom of the King soon suppressed them, and there was peace between the young King and the old, and the Father and the son did eat and drink at one table, and all was ended in peace, and shortly after the disobedient son was cut off, and the old King Reigned quietly alone.  
Then the King called a Convocation of the Clergy at London, and the Popes legate sate in the char, and next to him the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury on his right hand as Primate of England; but when the Arch-Bishop of york saw that he must sit on the left hand of the Popes legate he disdained the place, and did strive to crowd his arse between them, but because the legate was not to remove, nor the Arch-bishop would not remove, therefore the most unmannerly swopt him down on the Archbishop of Canterburies lap, for which he was throw down to the ground, and after his complaint made to the King; of whom be thought to have found relief but was deceived, he was well laughed at for his remedy.  
In the 25 year of his Reign, there was again a rebellion after great taxes laid upon the Subjects for the voyage to jerusalem, whereat the Kings majesty was so perplexed and troubled, that he cursed the day wherein he was born, and none about him, neither Clergy nor Nobles could comfort him, through the extremity whereof he was brought to a grievous sickness, after he had reigned 34 yeares, being above 60. years of age, and leaving in his treasury above 100000 marks he died.  
When this royal King was carried forth to be butted, he was first aparralled in his Princely robes, & his crown upon his head, and rich gloves on his hands, and bootes on his legs, wrought with gold spurs on his heels, a ring of gold on his finget, a sceptre in his hand, and a sword by his side, and lying thus like a Prince in State, though a dead corpes, he was uncovered, and looking upon him, under his robes, he looked with a most sweet and pleasant countenance, as if he had only slept, who was again covered, & as he deserved most honourably butted.  
FINIS.