the vnderstanding of the case and still they assayed if they coulde by any meanes procure the Queene to call backe hir Appeale whiche she vtterly refused to doe The king mystrusteth the legates of seking delayes The King woulde gladly haue had an ende in the matter but when the Legates droue tyme and determined vpon no certaine point be conceyued a suspition that this was done of purpose that their doings might draw to none effect or conclusion Whylest these thinges were thus in hande the Cardinall of Yorke was aduised that the King had set his affection vpon a yong Gentlewoman named Anne the daughter of Syr Thomas Bulleyn vicount Rochfort whiche did wayt vpon the Queene This was a great grief vnto the Cardinal as he that perceyued aforehande that the king woulde marie the sayd Gentlewoman if the diuorce tooke place wherefore he began wyth all diligence to disappoynt that matche which by reason of the myslyking that he had to the woman he iudged ought to be adâ—…eyded more than present death Whylest the matter stoode in this state and that the cause of the Queene was to be hearde and iudged at Rome The secrete vvorking and dissimulation of Cardinal VVosley by reason of the appeale which by hir was put in the Cardinall required the Pope by letters and secrete messengers that in any wise he shuld deferre the iudgemeÌ„t of the diuorce till hee might frame the Kinges minde to his purpose but he went aboute nothing so secretly The king conceyuet a displeasure against the Cardinall but that the same came to the kings knowledge who toke so highe displeasure with suche his cloaked dissimulation that he determined to abase his degree sith as an vnthankfull person he forgotte himselfe and his dutie towardes him that had so highly aduanced him to all honor and dignitie Hall When the nobles of the realme perceyued the Cardinall to bee in displeasure they began to accuse him of suche offences as they knewe myght be proued against him Articles exhibited againste the Cardinall and therof they made a booke conteyning certayne articles to whyche diuers of the kings counsell set their handes The king vnderstanding more playnly by those articles the great pride presumption and couetousnesse of the Cardinall 〈◊〉 â—…ued against him but yet kepte his purpose secrete for a whyle and first permitted Cardinal Campeius to departe backe agayne to Rome not vnrewarded Shortly after a Parliament was called to beginne at Westminster the third of Nouember next ensuyng In the meane tyme the King being infourmed that all those thyngs that the Cardinall had done by his power Legantine within thâ—… realme were in the case of the Prâ—…ite and prouision caused his atturney Christofer Hales The Cardinall fued in a Preâ—…nire to sue out a â—…te of Premuâ—…re againste hym in the whiche he licenced him to make his attourney And further the .xvij. of NoueÌ„ber the King sent the two Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke to the Cardinalles place at Westminster The great seale taken from the Cardinall to fetche away the greate Seale of Englande Sir William Fitz William knighte of the Garter and Treasorer of his house and doctor Stephen Gardiner newely made Secretarie were also sent to see that no goodes shoulde be conueyed out of his house The Cardinall him selfe was appointed to remoue vnto Ashere besyde Kingston there to tary the kings pleasure and had things necessarie deliuered vnto hym for his vse After this in the Kings benche his matter for the Premunice beyng called vpon Iohn Sents K. Edmâ—…nd â—…eâ—… two atturneys whiche he had authorised by hys warrant signed with his owne hande The Cardinall condemned in 2 Premunire confessed the action and so had iudgement to forfeit all hys landes tenementes goodes and cattelles and to be out of the Kings protection but the king of hys clemencie sente to hym a sufficient protection and lefte to hym the Byshoprickes of Yorke and Winchester wyth place and stuffe conuenient for his degree The Bishoppricke of Duresme was gyuen to Doctor Tunstall Bishoppe of London and the Abbey of Sainct Albons to the Priour of Norwiche Also the Bishopricke of London being nowe voyde was bestowed on Doctor Sâ—…okesley then Ambassadoure to the Vniuersities beyonde the Sea for the Kyngs marryage The Ladye Margaret duchesse of Sauoye aunte to the Emperour and the Ladye Loyse Duchesse of Angolesme mother to the French Kyng mette at Cambreye in the beginnyng of the Moneth of Iune to treate of a peace where were presente Doctour Tunstall Bishoppe of London and Sir Thomas Moore then Chancellour of the Duchie of Lancaster coÌ„missioners for the K. of EnglaÌ„d At length through diligence of the sayde Ladies a peace was coÌ„cluded betwixt the Emperour the Pope the Kings of Englande and France This was called y e womans peace proclaimed by Heralts with sound of trumpets in y e City of London to y e great reioycing of the Merchauntes who during the warres had susteyned much hinderance The frenche King was bound by one article among other to acquite the Emperour of fourescore and ten thousand crownes which he ought to the King of England The four and twentith of Nouember was Sir Thomas More made Lorde Chancellor and the nexte day led into the Chancerie by the Dukes of Norffolke Suffolke ther sworne The Parliament beginâ—… At the day appointed the Parliament began and Tho. Audeley Esquier attorney of the Duchie of Lancaster was chosen speaker for the coÌ„mons of the lower house In this Parliament the commons of the nether house beganne to common of their greefes wherwith the spiritualtie had sore oppressed theÌ„ and namely sixe great causes wer shewed wherin the Cleargie greatly abused the temporaltie The first in the excessiue fines The commoÌ„s of the lower 〈◊〉 compayne against the Cleargie whiche the ordinaries tooke for probate of Testamentes The second in the extreame exactions vsed for takyng of corps presentes or mortuaries The thyrde that Priests contrary to their order vsed the occupying of Fermes graunges and pastures for grasing of Catell c. The fourth that Abbots Priors and other of the Cleâ—…gie kepte tanne houses and bought and solde wolle cloth and other merchandises as other common merchants of the temporaltie did The fifth cause was the lacke of residence whereby both the poore wanted necessary refreshing for sustenance of their bodyes and all the parishoners true instructions needefull to the health of their soules The sixth was the pluralitie of benefices and the insufficiencie of the incumbents where diuers well learned schollers in the Vniuersities had neyther benefice nor exhibition Herewith were three hilles deuised for a reformation to be had in such cases of great enormities as firste one bill for the probate of testaments also an other for mortuaries and the third for none residence pluralities and taking of Fermes by spirituall men There was sore hold about these billes before they might passe the vpper house
in secular causes they were nowe forbidden so to doe Many other things were for meane of reformation artycled both for spirituall causes and also concerning ciuill ordinaunces as dissenabling children to be heyres to the parentes whiche by them were not begotte in lawfull matrimonie but on coÌ„cubines Nunnes concubines whether they were Nunnes or secular women Also of paymeÌ„t of tithes performing of vowes auoyding of vndecent apparell and abolishing of all maner of Ethnish vsages and customes that sounded contrarie to the order of Christianitie Curtayling horses as curtayling Horses and eating of Horses flesh These things with many other expressed in .xx. principal articles as we haue sayd were first concluded to be receyued by the Church of the Northumbers in a Councell holden there subscribed by Alfwold king of the NorthuÌ„bers by Delberke Bishop of Hexham by Eaubalde Archbishop of Yorke Hygwalde Byshop of Lyndisferne Edelbert Bishop of Whiterne Aldulfe Byshoppe of Myeth Ethelwyne also an other Byshop by his deputies with a number of other of the Clergie and Lordes also of the temporaltie as Duke Alrike Duke Segwulfe Abbot Aldberiâ—…ke and Abbot Erhard After this confirmation had of the Northumbers there was also a counsell holden in Mercia at Cealtide in the which these persons subscribed Iambert or Lambert Archbishop of Canterburie Offa King of Mercia Hughbright Bishop of Lichfield Edeulfe Bishoppe of Faron with Vnwone Bishop of Ligor and nine other Bishops beside Abbots and three Dukes as Brorda Farwalde and Bercoald with Earle Othbalde But nowe to returne backe to speake of other doings as in other parties of this lande they fell out 764 Aboute the yeare of our Lorde .764 the Sea of Canterburie beeing voyde one Iambert or Lambert was elected Archbishop there and in the yeare .766 the Archbishop of Yorke Egbert departed this lyfe Simon Dun. hath .780 in whose place one Adelbert succeeded The same tyme one Aswalde or Alfewolde raigned ouer the Northumbers beeing admitted King after that Ethelbert was expulsed and when the same Alfwolde had raigned tenne or as other haue .xj. yeares he was trayterously He begin his raigne Anno 779 as hath Simon Dunel and raigned but ten yeares and without all guilt made away and murthered by his owne people The chiefe conspiratour was named Siga and his bodie was buried at Hexam The same Alfwolde was a iust Prince and worthilye gouerned the Northumbers to hys highe prayse and commendation He was murthered as before yee haue hearde the .xxiij. of September in the yeare of our Lorde .788 788 Mat. VVest Simon Dun. 792 In the yeare .792 Charles king of Fraunce sent into Brytaine a booke which had beene sent vnto him from Constantinople conteyning certaine articles agreed vpon in a Synode wherein were present aboue the number of three hundred Bishops quite contrarie and disagreeing from the true fayth namely in thys that Images ought to be worshipped which the Church of god vtterly abhorreth Agaynst this booke Albinus that famous Clearke wrote a treatise confirmed with places taken out of holy Scripture whiche treatise with the booke in name of all the Bishops and Princes of Brytayne he presented vnto the king of Fraunce In the yeare .800 on Christmasse euen chanced a marueylous tempest of winde Simon Dun. 800 which ouerthrew whole Cities and townes in diuers places and trees in greate number beside other harmes which it did as by death of Cattell c. In the yeare following a great part of the Citie of London was consumed by fire Brightrichus This Brightrike was procreate of the â—â—ue of Cerdicius the first king of West Saxons and xvj in number from him He was a man of nature quiet and temperate more desirous of peace than of warre and therefore he stoode in doubt of y e noble valiancie of one Egbert which after succeeded him in the kingdome The linage of Cerdicius was in that season so coÌ„fouÌ„ded and mingled that euerie one as he grew to greatest power stroue to be king and supreme gouernor But specially Egbertus was knowne to be one that coueted the place as hee that was of the blouâ—… royall and a man of greate power and lustiâ—… courage King Brightrike therefore to liue in more suretie banished him the lâ—…nde Egbert banished and appoynted him to goe into Fraunce Egbert vnderstanding for certaine that this his departure into a forraine Countrey shoulde turne to his aduauncement in time to come obeyed the kings pleasure About the thirde yeare of Brightrykes raigne there fell vpon mens garmentes as they walked abrode A straunge wonder Crosses of bloudie colour and bloud fell from heauen as drops of raigne Mat. VVest VVil. Malm. Hen. Hunt Danes Some tooke this wonder for a signification of the persecution that followed by the Danes for shortly after in the yeare ensuing there arryued three Danish shippes vpon the English coastes against whome the Lieutenant of the parties adioyning made forth to apprehend those that were come a lande howbeeit aduenturing himselfe ouer rashly amongest them he was slaine but afterwardes when the Danes perceyued that the people of the Countreyes aboute beganne to assemble and were comming agaynst them they fled to theyr shippes and left their pray and spoile behinde them for that time These were the fyrst Danes that arryued here in this lande beeing onely sente as was perceyued after to viewe the Countrey and coastes of the same to vnderstande howe with a greater power they myght bee able to inuade it as shortly after they did and warred so wyth the Englishe men that they got a greate partâ—… of the lande and helde it in theyr owne possession In the tenth yeare of King Brightrykes raigne there were seene in the ayre fyrie Dragons flying whiche betokened as was thought two grieuous plagues that followed Fyrst a greate dearth and famine and secondly the cruell warre of Danes Famine and warre signified which shortly followed as yee shall heare Finally after that Brightrike had raigned the space of .xvj. yeares he departed this life and was buried at Warham Some wryte that hee was poysoned by hys wife Ethelburga Ran. Cestren li. 5. cap. 25. Brightrike departed this life whom he maryed in the fourth yeare of his raigne Shee was daughter vnto Offa King of Mercia as before yee haue heard Shee is noted by wryters to haue beene a verye euill woman proude and high mynded as Lucifer Ethelburga hir conditions and wicked nature and therewyth disdaynfull Shee bare hir the more stately by reason of hir fathers greate fame and magnificence whome shee hated shee woulde accuse to hir husbande and so put them in daunger of theyr lyues And if she might not so wreake hir rancour shee woulde not sticke to poyson them And so it happened one daye as shee ment to haue poysoned a yong Gentleman agaynste whome shee hadde a quarell the King chaunced to taste of that Cuppe and dyed therof as before ye haue heard Hir
the Purification of our Ladie next ensuing by the handes of Walter the Archbishop of Canterburie ◅ers ◅ted And bycause he was but .xiiij. yeres of age so that to gouerne of himselfe he was not sufficient it was decreed that .xij. of the greatest lordes within the realme shoulde haue the rule and gouernment till he came to more perfite yeares The names of which lords were as followeth The Archbishop of Cāterburie the Archbishop of Yorke the Bishops of Winchester of Hereford Henrie Erle of Lancaster Thomas Brotherton Erle Marshal Edmond of Woodstocke Erle of Kent Iohn Erle of Warren the Lord Thomas Wake the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Oliuer de Ingham and the Lorde Iohn Ros. These were sworne of the kings counsaile and charged with the gouernment as they woulde make answer But this ordinance continued not long for the Queene the Lorde Roger Mortimer tooke the whole rule so into their handes that both the king and his sayde Counsaylours were gouerned only by them in all matters both high and lowe He confirmed the liberties and franchises of the citie of London and graunted that the Maior of the same Citie for the time being might sit in all places of iudgement within the liberties therof for chief Iustice aboue all other The franchises of the Citie of London confirmed the kings person only excepted and that euery Alderman that had bin Maior shoulde be Iustice of peace through all the Citie of London and countie of Middlesex and euery Alderman that had not bene Maior should be Iustice of peace within his owne warde He graunted also to the Citizens that they shoulde not be constrayned to go forth of the Citie to any warres in defence of the lande and that the franchises of the Citie should not be seased frō thenceforth into the kings hands for any cause but only for treason and rebellion shewed by the whole Citie Also Southwarke was appoynted to bee vnder the rule of the Citie and the Maior of Lōdon to bee Baylife of Southwarke and to ordaine such a substitute in the same Borough as pleased him In the first yeare of this kings raigne Recordes of Burie wee finde in the Recordes belonging to the Abbey of S. Edmondsburie in Suffolke that the Inhabitants of that towne raysed a sore commotion agaynst the Abbot and Monkes of the same Abbey and that at seuerall tymes as first on the Wednesday next after the feast of the conuersion of Saint Paule in the sayde first yeare of thys Kings raigne one Robert Forton Rycharde Drayton and a great number of other assembling themselues togither in warlike order and array assaulted the sayd Abbey brake downe the Gates Wyndowes and Doores entered the house by force and assayling certain Monks and seruaunts that belonged to the Abbot did beate wounde and euill entreate them brake open a number of Chests Coffers and forcers tooke out Chalices of golde and siluer bookes Vestments and other ornaments of the church beside a great quantitie of riche plate and other furniture of housebolde apparel armour and other things beside fiue hundred pounds in readie coyne and also three thousand Florens of gold All which things they tooke and caried away togither with diuerse Charters wrytings and miniments as three Charters of Knute somtyme king of Englande foure Charters of king Hardiknute one Charter of king Edwarde the Confessour two Charters of king Henrie the first other two Charters of king Henrie the thirde which Charters concerned as wel the foundation of the same Abbey as the grauntes and confirmations of the possessions and liberties belonging thereto Also they tooke away certaine writings obligatorie in the whiche diuerse persons were bounde for the payment of great summes of money and deliuerie of certaine wines vnto the hands of the sayd Abbot Moreouer they tooke away with them ten seueral bulles conteyning certaine exemptions immunities graunted to the Abbots and Monkes of Burie by sundrie Bishops of Rome And not herewith contented they tooke Peter Clopton Prior of the said Abbey and other Monkes forth of the house and leading them vnto a place called the Leaden hall there imprisoned them till the Thursday next before the feast of the Purificatiō of our Ladie and that day bringing them backe againe into the chapter house deteyned them still as prisoners till they had sealed a writing cōteyning that the Abbot and conuent were bound in ten M. pound to be payd to Oliuer Kemp and others by them named And further they were cōstreyned to seale a letter of release for all actions quarels debts transgressions suites demaūds which the Abbot might in any wise clayme or prosecute against the sayd Oliuer Kempe and others in the same letters named For these wrōgs and other as for that they would not permit the Abbots Baylifes and officers to kepe their ordinarie courtes as they were accustomed to doe as well three dayes in the weeke for the Market to wit Monday Wednesday and Fryday as the Portman mote euery Tuesday three weekes and further prohibit them from gathering such tolles customes and yearely rentes as were due to the Abbot for certain tenements in the towne which were let to ferme the Abbot brought his action against the said Foxton Drayton others hauing it tried by an inquest on the Friday next after the feast of S. Lucie the virgin in a Sessions holden at Burie by Iohn Stonore Walter Friskney Robert Maberihorp and Iohn Bousser by vertue of the kings writ of Oyer and Determiner to them directed the offenders were cōdemned in .40000 pounds so that the sayde Richard Drayton and others there present in the Court were committed to prison in custodie of the Sherife Robert Walkefare who was commaunded also to apprehende the other that were not yet arested if within his Bayliwike they might be founde and to haue their bodies before the sayd Iustices at Burie aforesayd on Thursday in Whitsonweeke next ensuing Beside this there was an other inditement and action of trespasse founde there the same day agaynst the sayde Richard Drayton and others for a lyke disorder and ryot by them committed The seconde ryot on the Thursday next after the feast of the Purification of our Ladie in the same first yeare of this king at what time they did not onely breake into the Abbey and beate the Abbottes menne but also tooke the Abbot hymselfe beeyng then at home wyth certayne of hys Monkes keeping both him and them as prisoners til the next day that they were constreyned to seale certayne wrytings And amongest other a Charter in which it was conteyned that the Abbot and his Conuent did graunt vnto the Inhabitaunts of the towne of Burie to be a corporation of themselues and to haue a common seale wyth a gylde of Marchants and Aldermen also they were cōpelled to seale another Charter wherein was cōteyned a graunt to the sayde Inhabitaunts that they should haue the custodie of the towne gates and likewise the
scisme and withall putting the Pope in remembrance what mischief and destruction of people hadde chaunced by the same scisme so as if hee woulde well consider the miserable state of things he would surely followe the example of the true mother that contending before Salomō for hir child with the counterfeyt mother chose rather to giue place than to see hir childe cut in peeces These and the lyke matters to vtter what desire he had to haue an vnitie in the Church he declared frankly in his letters directed to the Pope so as it might appeare to the worlde how soberly and modestly hee sought to enduce the Pope to procure a peace and concorde in the Church but what his perswasions profited it appeareth in the hystorie of Italie Wicklife doc◅ maynteyned by the lear◅d This yeare certaine learned men in Oxforde and other places publikely in theyr Sermons mainteyned and set forth the opinions and conclusions of Wicklife This troubled the Bishops and other of the Clergie sore insomuch that in their Conuocation house the .xxvj. of Iune by a speciall mandate of the Lorde Chauncellor in presence of the procurators regents and other as Richard Courtney Richarde Talbot Nicholas Souche Walter Midforde and suche like in greate multitude sentence was pronounced by Iohn Welles doctor of the Canon law agaynst the bookes of Iohn Wicklife doctor of diuinitie intituled Sentence pronounced against Wiclif◅◅kes De Sermone in monte Triologorum de Simonia de perfectione statum de ordine Christiano de gradibus Cleri Ecclesia and to these was added the third treatise which he compiled of L◅gious of Sophistrie These bookes and the conclusions in the same conteyned the Chancellour of the Vniuersitie of Oxford by common consent and assent of the regents and not regentes of the same Vniuersitie reproued disanulled and condemned inhibiting on paine of the greate euesse and deprination of all degrees scholasticall that none from thenceforth shoulde affyrme ◅eache or preache by anye maner of meanes or wayes the same heritecall bookes as they tearmed them conteyning anye the lyke opinions as he taught and set forth in the same bookes This yeare aboute Mydsommer Fabian Iustes in Smith field wer royall Iustes holden at London in Smithfield betwixt the Seneshall of Heynault and certaine Herewyers chalengers and the Erle of Sommerset certaine Englishmen defendants The Welch Rebell Owen Glendouer made an ende of his wretched life Owen Glendouer endeth his life in great misery in this tenth yeare of K. Henries reigne being driuen now in his latter time as we find recorded to such miserie that in maner dispayring of all comfort hee fledde into desart places and solitarie Caues where beeyng destitute of all reliefe and succour dreading to shewe his face to any creature and finally lacking meate to sustayne nature for pure hunger and lacke of foode miserably pyned away and dyed This yeare Thomas Beaufort Erle of Surrey was made Chancellour An. reg 1◅ Officers made and Henry Scrope Lord Treasorer A Parliament began this yere in the quindene of S. Hillarie 1410 A Parliament in whiche the Commons of the lower house exhibited a byll to the King Lords of the vpper house conteyning in effect as followeth To the most excellent Lorde our King Tho. VVals Fabian A supplication to the king and to all the Nobles in this present Parliament assembled your faythfull commons do humbly signifie that our soueraigne Lorde the king myght haue of the temporall possessions landes and reuennes which are lewdly spent consumed and wasted by the Bishops Abbottes and Priors within this Realme so much in value as woulde suffice to finde and sustaine 150. Earles .1500 knightes 6200. esquiers and one hundred Hospitals more than now be The King as some write vpon aduised consideration hereof had mislyked of the motion Tho. VVals and therevpon cōmaunded that from thenceforth they should not presume to studie about any such matters An other thing the cōmons sued to haue graunted vnto them but could not obtein which was that Clerks conuicted should not frō thenceforth be deliuered to the Bishops prison Moreouer they demaunded to haue the statute either reuoked or qualified which had beene established by authoritie of Parliament in the second yeare of this kings raigne against such as were reputed to be Here◅kes or Lollards by force whereof it was prouided that wheresoeuer suche maner of persons shoulde be founde and knowne ◅o preach or teach their erronious doctrine they should be attached with the kings writ brought to the next gaole but the king seemed so highly to fauour the Cleargie King Henry a fauorer of the Clergy that the Commons were answered plainly they should not come by their purpose but rather that the sayde statute shoulde be made more rigorous and sharpe for the punishment of such persons Iohn Badby brent Tho. VVals During this Parliament one Iohn Badby a Taylor or as some write a Smith being cōuict of heresie was brought into Smithfield and there in a tonne or pipe burnt to death The prince being present at the executiō offreth hym pardon in pitiful maner the kings eldest sonne the Lord Henrie Prince of Wales beeing present offred him his pardon first before the fire was kindled if he woulde haue recanted his opinions and after when the fire was kindled hearing him make a roaring noyse very pitifully the Prince caused the fyre to be plucked backe and exhorted him being sore amaskered to remember himselfe and renounce his opinions promysing hym not onelye lyfe but also three pens a day so long as hee lyued to be payde out of the Kings Coffers but hee hauing recouered his spirites againe Notable constancy of Badby refused the Princes offer choosing eftsoones to taste the fyre and so to die than to forsake his opinions Wherevpon the Prince commaunded that hee shoulde bee put into the Tonne againe from thenceforth not to haue any fauour or pardon at all and so it was done and the fyre put to hym againe and hee consumed to ashes The King demaunded in thys Parliament that it myght be graunted to him The kings demaund in the parliament to haue euerye yeare in whiche he helde not Parliament a tenth of the Cleargie and a fiftenth of the Laitie but the estates woulde not agree therevnto by reason whereof the Parliament continued tyll almost the myddle of May. A long Parliament A xv granted At length they graunted to gyue hym a fyftenth not without greate murmuring and grudgyng of the Communaltie Erle of Surrie deceaseth Aboute this season dyed the Lorde Thomas Beauford Erle of Surrey The .xj. of Aprill or thereaboutes the towne of Saint Omers was burnt by casuall fire togither with the Abbey in whiche towne was suche straunge and maruellous prouision of Engines Preparation made to win Calais and all maner of furniture and preparation for the winning of Calais as the like had neuer bene seene
1577. THE Firste volume of the Chronicles of England Scotlande and Irelande CONTEYNING The description and Chronicles of England from the first inhabiting vpon the conquest The description and Chronicles of Scotland from the first origiâ—… of 〈◊〉 〈…〉 tes 〈◊〉 till the yeare of our Lorde 1571. The descriptâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—nicles of Yrelande likewise from the firâ—◠〈…〉 of that Nation vntill the yeare 1547. Faithfully gathered and set forth by Raphaell Holinshed AT LONDON Imprinted for Iohn Hunne God saue the Queene ⧠TO THE RIGHT Honorable and his singular good Lorde Sir VVilliam Cecill Baron of Burghleygh Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Lord high Treasourer of England Maister of the Courtes of Wardes and Lyueries and one of the Queenes Maiesties priuie Counsell COnsidering with my selfe right Honorable and my singular good Lorde how ready no doubt many wil be to accuse me of vayne presumptioÌ„ for enterprising to deale in this so weighty a worke and so farre aboue my reache to accomplish I haue thought good to aduertise your Honour by what occasion I was first induced to vndertake the same although the cause that moued mee thereto hath in parte ere this bene signified vnto your good Lordshippe Where as therfore that worthie Citizen Reginald VVolfe late Printer to the Queenes Maiestie a man well knowen and beholden to your Honour meant in his life time to publish an vniuersall Cosmographie of the whole worlde and therewith also certaine perticular Histories of euery knowen nation amongst other whome he purposed to vse for performance of his entent in that behalfe he procured me to take in hande the collection of those Histories and hauing proceeded so far in the same as little wanted to the accomplishment of that long promised worke it pleased God to call him to his mercie after .xxv. yeares trauell spent therein so that by his vntimely deceasse no hope remayned to see that performed whiche we had so long trauayled aboute those yet whome be left in trust to dispose his things after his departure hence wishing to the benefite of others that some fruite might follow of that whereabout he had imployed so long time willed me to continue mine endeuour for their furtherance in the same whiche although I was ready to do so farre as mine abilitie would reach and the rather to answere that trust which the deceassed reposed in me to see it brought to some perfection yet when the volume grewe so great as they that were to defray the charges for the Impression were not willing to go through with the whole they resolued first to publishe the Histories of Englande Scotlande and Irelande with their descriptions whiche descriptions bycause they were not in such readinesse as those of forreyn countreys William Harison and Richard Staâ—…yburst they were enforced to vse the helpe of other better able to do it than I. Moreouer the Chartes wherein Maister VVolfe spent a greate parte of his time were not founde so complete as wee wished and againe vnderstanding of the great charges and notable enterprice of that worthie Gentleman maister Thomas Sackeforde in procuring the Chartes of the seuerall prouinces of this Realme to be sette forth wee are in hope that in tyme he will deliniate this whole lande so perfectly as shal be comparable or beyonde any deliniation heretofore made of any other region and therefore leaue that to his well deserued prayse If any well willer will imitate him in so prayse worthie a worke for the two other regions we will be gladde to further his endeuour with all the helpes we may The Histories I haue gathered according to my skill and conferred the greatest parte with Maister VVolfe in his life time to his liking who procured me so many helpes to the furtherance thereof that I was lothe to omit any thing that might encreace the Readers knowledge whiche causeth the booke to grow so great But receyuing them by partes and at seuerall times as I might get them it may be that hauing had more regard to the mater than to the apt penning J haue not so orderly disposed them as otherwise I ought choosing rather to want order than to defraude the Reader of that whiche for his further vnderstanding might seeme to satisfie his expectation I therefore moste humbly beseeche your Honour to accept these Chronicles of Englande vnder your protection and according to your wisedome and accustomed benignitie to beare with my faultes the rather bicause you were euer so especiall good Lord to Maister VVolfe to whome I was singularly beholden and in whose name I humbly presente this rude worke vnto you beseeching God that as he hath made you an instrument to aduaunce his truth so it may please him to increace his good giftes in you to his glorie the furtheraunce of the Queenes Maiesties seruice and comforte of all hir faithfull and louing subiectes Your honours most humble to commaunde RAPHAEL HOLINSHED THE PREFACE to the Reader IT is dangerous geÌ„tle Reader to range in so large a fielde as I haue here vndertaken vvhile so many sundry men in diuers things may be able to controll mee and many excellent vvittes of our countrey as vvell or better occupied I hope are able herein to surpasse me but seing the beste able do seeme to neglect it let me though least able craue pardon to put theÌ„ in minde not to forget their natiue couÌ„treis praise vvhich is theyr dutie the encouragement of theyr vvorthie countrie men by elders aduauncements and the dauntyng of the vicious by foure penall examples to vvhiche ende I take Chronicles and Histories ought chiefly to be vvritten My labour may shevv mine vttermost good vvill of the more learned I require their further enlargement and of faultfinders dispensatioÌ„ till they be more fully enfourmed It is too commoÌ„ that the least able are readiest to finde fault in maters of least vveight and therfore I esteeme the lesse of their carping but humbly beseech the skilfull to supplie my vvant and to haue care of their dutie and eyther to amend that vvherin I haue fayled or be content vvith this mine endeuour For it may please them to consider that no one can be eye vvitnesse to all that is vvritten vvithin our time much lesse to those things vvhiche happened in former times and therefore must be content vvith reportes of others Therein I haue bene so careful that I haue spared no paynes or helpe of frendes to search out either vvritten or printed auncient Authours or to enquire of moderne eye vvitnesses for the true setting dovvne of that vvhiche I haue here deliuered but I finde such vvant in vvriters for the necessary knovvledge of things done in times past and lacke of meane to obtayne sufficient instructions by reporters of the time present and herevvith the vvorthie exploytes of our countrey men so many that it greeueth me I coulde not leaue the same to posteritie as I vvished to their vvel deserued praise But I haue here
Redol a ryuer nothing inferiour vnto Ystwith it selfe with whome it maketh his confluence aboue Badarne and in a large botome goeth soone after into the sea Hence we went vnto the Wy whos 's heade commeth from the south part of Snowdony by Mowdheuy Mathan laith Wy and in this his course moreouer he séemeth to parte Northe Wales and South Wales in sunder It is called in latine Deuus in Welshe Dyfy but how it came to be called Wy in good soothe it is not found It receyueth also the Alen which coÌ„meth from the vpper part of Cormerystwith in Cardigonshyre out of the blaine and taketh also with it the Clardwyn a brooke yssuing about a myle from Cragnawlin and as it holdeth on the course it receyueth the Clardwy which springeth vp halfe a myle from the Clardue head another gullet likewise falling from y e Rocky hilles into Clardwy and so goyng together foure miles farder they fall into the Allen. Finally after all these haue as it were played together in one or moe bottomes among the pleasant Meadowes and lower groundes by the space of sixe myles vnder y e name of Alen they beate at the last vpon the Wy and accompany him directly vnto the Ocean After this we passed by Aberho so named of the Riuer Ho that falleth therein to the sea and commeth thether from y e Alpes or hilles of Snowdony From hence we sayled by Abermawr or mouth of Mawr Mawr which commeth in like sorte from Snowdony and taketh diuers Ryuers with him whose names I doe not know â—…rtro Then vnto y e Artro a brooke descending from those hilles also and falling into the sea a myle aboue the Harleche Next of al we behold the Glesse Linne that parteth Caernaruon from Merioâ—…nneth shyre and so came vnto Traith Vehan betwixte which two and Traith Mawr ruÌ„neth a litle brooke thorowe the wharfe of Traith Mawr at the low water as I read These 2 Traiths are y e mouthes of two faire streames wherof the most Southerly is called Mawy Mawy Ferles the other Ferles eche of them I saye deriuing his originall water from Snowdony as diuers other brookes haue done already before them Of these also y e first passeth by diuers lakes although I doe not well knowe the names of anye one of them From Traith mawr to Chrychet are three myles Crichet where also is a little rill serued with sundrye waters Then come we vnto the Erke Erke a pretye brooke discending froÌ„ Madrijn hilles Then casting about toward the south as the coast lyeth we sawe the Abersoch or mouth of the Soch ryuer vppon our right handes Soch in the mouthe whereof lye two Islandes of which the more Northerly is called Tudfall and the other Penrijn as Leland did obserue After this goyng about by the point we come to Daron Ryuer Daron wherevppon standeth Aberdaron a quarter of a mile froÌ„ the shore betwixt AberdaroÌ„ and Vortigernes vale where the compasse of the sea gathereth in a heade and entreth at both endes â—…euenni TheÌ„ come we to Venni brooke which runneth by Treuenni and is about 12. myles of from Aberdaron Then iij. miles of to Egluis Epistle whether commeth a little brooke or rill from Gwortheren Rocke which some call Vortigernes Vale. From hence also 3. myles further we come to Lhanhelerion and then foure myles to Cluniock and finally to Clunioâ—…k Vaur Aruon where is a little rillet a myle or more farder is another that goeth to the mayne sea Here in following Lelande as I doe for the most part in all this Treatize where he kéepeth any order at all for his notes are so dispersed in his ComeÌ„taries y e one of them is sometimes is 6.8 or 20. leaues from another and many of them penned after a contrarye sort I finde these wordes There is a brooke beyonde Aberleuenni goyng by it selfe into the sea there be also two brookes betwéene Gurnwy or Gwyrfay and Skeuerneck as Golaid and Semare Poole Golaide Semerpoole Sother Menley Sowther créeke also is the verye pointe of Abermenley by which notes as I finde not what he saith so the remembraunce of them may helpe better against the next publication of this booke to procéede therefore in such order as I may Leuenni is a great brooke rysing 4. mile aboue the place where it falleth into the sea Leuen Leuen brooke coÌ„meth into the sea two miles aboue Skeuernocke Skeuernocke Skeuernocke a little brooke sixe myles aboue Abersaint AuoÌ„ Gurnay commeth thorowe pontnewith bridge and after into Meney at South Crock two myles of Cladwant brooke Cladwant and rysing thrée myles from thence it commeth thorow the towne bridge of Carnaruon and goeth by it selfe into Meney arme so that Carnaruon standeth betwéene two riuers Botes also do come to Cadwan The name of Abermeney is not passing a myle aboue Carnaruon and yet some cal it Meney til you come to Poultell Then come we to Cair Arfon or Cairnaruon Gwiniwith mirith or horse brooke two myles from Moylethon and it ryseth at a well so called full a myle from thence Moylethon is a bowe shotte from Aberpowle froÌ„ whence ferry botes go to the Termone or Anglesy Aberpowle runneth three myles into the lande Coute and hath his head foure myles beyonde Bangor in Meney shore and here is a little comming in for botes bending into the Meney Gegyne Aber Gegeyne commeth out of a mountaine a myle aboue Torronnen Ogwine and Bangar thorow which a rillet called TorronneÌ„ hath his course almost a myle aboue it Aber Ogwine is two miles aboue y t. It ryseth at Tale linne Ogwine poole fiue myles aboue Bangor in the east side of Withow Auon Aber Auon is two myles aboue Aâ—…erogwene and it ryseth in a Poole called Lin man Auon thrée myles of Auon Lan var Vehan ryseth in a mountaine thereby Lanuar Vehan Duegeuelth and goeth into the sea 2. miles aboue Duegeuelth Auon Duegeuelth is thre myles aboue Conwey which rysing in the mountaines a myle of goeth by it selfe into Meney salt arme On the saide shore also lyeth Penmaine and this brooke doth runne betwixte Penmaine Maur and Penmaine Vehan It ryseth about 3. myles from Penmaâ—…lon hilles which lye aboute 60. myles from Conwey abbaie nowe dissolued On the Northe and West of this ryuer standeth the towne of Conwey which taketh his name therof This riuer receaueth y e Lhigwy a prety streame that commeth from by west ioineth with al a little aboue the Rist but on the West bancke Lighwy The Lighwy also taketh another with him that commeth from by south After this we come to the Gele whereon Abergele standeth Gele and it runneth thorowe the Canges then vnto the Rose or Ros and next of all to the mouth of a great hauen wherinto the Clude which coÌ„meth from the south Cluda Elwy and the Elwy that descendeth from y e West doe
Anthonies it deuydeth it selfe into twoo armes wherof one goeth toward Colchester the other toward Maldon Into the Colne or Colunus whereof Lelande thinketh Colchester to take hys name and not a Colonia Romanorum doe run many salt créekes beneth Fingering ho whose names sith I doe not knowe nor whether they be serued with any backwaters or not I gyue ouer to intreat any farther of theyr positions Into that of Malden runneth many faire waters wherof I will say so much as I knowe to be true by experience There is a prety water that beginneth nere vnto Gwinbache or Wimbech church in Essex the very limits of Dunmow Deanery which runneth directly froÌ„ thence vnto Radwinter a parcell of your Lorships possessyons in those parts and within thrée quarters of a mile of the aforesaid church By the way also it is increased with sundry prety springs wherof Pantwell is the chiefe and to say the truth hath manye a leasing fathered on the same there is likewise another in a pasture belonging to the graunge now belongyng to Henry Browne Esquier soiournyng therevpon The third commeth out of the yarde of one of your Lordships Manour there called Radwinter hall The fourth froÌ„ Iohn Cockswettes house named the Rotherwell which running vnder Rothers bridge méeteth with y e Gwin on the northwest ende of Ferraunts meade southeast of Radwinter church wherof I haue the charge by your honors fauorable prefermeÌ„t Froshwell The next is named Froshwel and of this Spring doth the whole Hundred beare the name and also the Ryuer it selfe whereinto it falleth from by north so far as I remember Certes all these sauing y e first and second are within your Lordships towne aforesayd The streame therfore running froÌ„ hence and now called Froshwell of Froshe which signifieth a frog hasteth immediately vnto olde Sandford then thorow new Sandforde parke and afterward with full streame to Shalford Bocking Stisted Paswijc and so to blackwater where the name of Froshwel ceaseth the water being from henceforth as I here called Blackwater vntyll it come to Maldon From Blackwater therefore it goeth to Coxall Easterforde Braxsted and Wickham Barus where it méeteth wyth the Barus and so goyng togyther descende to Heybridge and finally into the saltwater aforesayde As for the Barus it ryseth in a stately parke of Essex called Bardfeld belonging to the crowne from whence it goeth to olde Salyng Brainctrée receyuing a ryllet by waye comming from Raine blacke Notley white Notley Falkeburne Wittham and falleth into the blacke water beneath Braxsted on the south Beside thys the sayde ryuer receyueth also the Chelme or Chelmer Chelmer which aryseth in Wymbeche aforesayde where it hath two heads wherof the one is not farre from Brodockes where Thomas Wiseman Esquier dwelleth the other nigh vnto a farme called Highams and ioyning ere long in one Chanell they hye them toward Thaxsted meting in the way also with a Ryll commyng from Boyton ende Beyng past Thaxsted it goeth by Tiltey and soone after receyueth one Ril which ryseth on the north side of Lindsell Lindis and falleth into y e Chelmer by north east at Tiltey aforesayde and another comming from southwest and rysing southeast from Lindseâ—… at moche Eiston From thence then holding on styll wyth the course it goeth to Moche Dunmowe little Dunmow Felsted Lies both Waltams Springfield so to Chelmeresforde Here vppon the south side I finde the issue of a water that riseth 5. miles or thereaboutes south and by west of the sayde towne from whence it goeth to Munasing Buttesbury there receiuyng a Rill from by west to Ingat stone Marget Inge Wilforde bridge Writtle bridge and so to Chelmeresforde crossing also y e second water that descendeth from Roxforde southwest of Writtle by the way wherof let this suffice 〈◊〉 From hence the Chelmer goeth directly towarde Mauldon by Badow Owting Woodhamwater Byly and so to Blackwater northwest of Maldon receyuing neuerthelesse ere it come fullye thither a becke also that goeth froÌ„ Lée parke to little Lées great Lées Hatfield Peueryll Lée Owting and so into Blackwater whereof I spake before as Maldon waters doth a ryll from by south ouer against S. Osithes and also another by Bradwell The Burne ryseth somewhere about Ronwell and thence goeth to Hull bridge 〈◊〉 south Fambridge Kirkeshot fery and so to Foulnesse as this is the short course of that ryuer so it brauncheth and the south arme therof receiueth a water comming from Haukewell to great Stanbridge and beneth Pakesham doth méete by South wyth the sayde arme and so finishe vp his course as we doe our voyage also about the coast of Englande Thus haue I finished the description of such ryuers and streames as fall into the Ocean according to my purpose although not in so precise an order and maner of handling as I might if information promysed had bene accordingly performed howbeit thys wyll I say of that which is already done that from the hauen of Southampton by south vnto the Twede that parteth England and scotland by north if you go backward contrary to the course of my description you shall finde it so exacte as beside a fewe bye ryuers to be touched hereafter you shall not néede to vse any further aduise for the finding and falles of y e aforesayd streames For such hath béene my helpe and conference wyth other men about these that I dare pronounce them to be perfite and exact In the reast I followed Leland in maner worde for worde what he hath sayd therefore of them that haue I examplyfied published herein Such was his dealing â—â—so in hys bookes that he sought not to be câ—…rious and precise in those descriptions that hée made but thought it sufficient to say somewhat and more of thinges then any maÌ„ had done before hym In the next booke therfore I will in thrée chapiters run ouer these matters agayne and as I haue already borowed somewhat of the same in settyng downe such braunches as fâ—…l into the mayne streames at large so will I there agayne remember such great riuers as I haue here eyther omitted or not so orderly handled as their dignities do require In reading therefore of the one refuse not I beséeche your honor withall to haue conference with the other for what this wanteth that other shall supply and y t which is briefly touched in this shal there be opened at large the onely occasion of this deuision growyng vpon hope of instruction to come in tyme whereof when I had most néede and the lefe vnder the presse I was left destitute and without hope of all reliefe It is possible that some curious head may finde carpyng worke inough in y e courses of these streames but if such a one wyll enterprise the lyke and try what one man can doe by reading onely for I sayled about my country within the compasse of my study therunto remember how many wais through many mens iudge
the north side from Standishe and another by south from Hollond then goeth on towarde Rufford chappell taking the Taude with all that discendeth from aboue Skelmersdale towne 〈…〉 and goeth thorow Lathan Parke belonging as I here vnto the Earle of Daxby It méeteth also on the same side 〈◊〉 with Merton méere water in which méere is an Islande called Netholme and when it is past the hanging bridge it is not long ere it fall into the Yarrowe The Yarowe ryseth of two heades Yarâ—… Bagâ—â— wherof the second is called Bagen brooke making a confluence beneath Helby woode it goeth on to Burghe Egleston Crofton and then ioyneth next of all with the Dugglesse after which confluence the maine streame goeth forth to Bankehall Charleton How Hesket and so into the sea Lelande wryting of y e Yarow saith thus of the same so farre as I now remember Into the Duglesse also runneth the Yarrow which commeth wythin a myle or thereabout of Chorleton towne that parteth Leland shire froÌ„ Darby shire vnder the foote of Chorle also I finde a ryll named Ceorle and about a myle and an half froÌ„ thence a notable quarrey of stones wherof the inhatants doe make a great bost and price and hetherto Leland â—…ll The Rybell as concerning his heade is sufficieÌ„tly touched already in my first booke Beyng therefore come to Gisborne it goeth to Sawley or Salley Chatburne Clitherow castell beneath Mitton méeteth with the Odder â—…e which ryseth not farre from the crosse of grete and going thence to Shilburne Newton Radholme parke Stony hirst it falleth ere long into the Ribble water From hence the Ribble hath not gone farre â—â—â—der but it méeteth with the Calder Thys brooke ryseth aboue Holme church goeth by Towley and Burneley where it receiueth a trifeling rill thence to Higham and ere long crossing one water that commeth from Wicoler by Colne and another by and by named Pidle brooke that runneth by Newe church â—…le in the Piddle it méeteth with y e Calder which passeth forth to Paniam thence receyuing a becke on the other side it runneth on to Altham and so to Martholme where the Henburne brooke doth ioyne with all â—â—â—burne that goeth by AkingtoÌ„ chappell Church Dunkinhalghe Rishton and so into y e Chalder as I haue sayde before The Chalder therefore being thus inlarged runneth forth to Reade where M. Nowell dwelleth to Whalley and soone after into Ribell that goeth from this confluence to Salisbury hal Ribchester Osbaston Sambury Keuerden Law Ribles bridge and then taketh in the Darwent â—â—rwent before it goeth by Pontwarth into the sea The Darwent deuideth Lelande shire from Andernesse and it ryseth by east aboue Darwent chappel â—…ckeâ—â—â—ne â—…lesâ—…th â—â—nnocke and soone after vniting it selfe with the Blackeburne Rodlesworth water it goeth thorowe Howghton Parke by Howghton towne to Walton hall and so into the Ribell As for the Sannocke brooke it ryseth somewhat aboue Longridge chappell goeth to Broughton towne Cotham Lée hall and so into Ribell and here is all that I haue to say of this ryuer â—â—re The Wire ryseth eight or ten miles from Garstan out of an hill in Wiresdale from whence it runneth by Shireshed chappell then going by Wadland Garstan Kyrkelande hall â—â—lder .2 it first receyueth the seconde Calder that commeth down by Edmersey chappell then another chanel increased with sundrie waters which I will here describe before I procéede with the Wire I suppose that the first water is called Plympton brooke â—â—â—mpton It riseth south of Gosner and coÌ„meth by Cawforde hall â—â—rton and eare long receyuing the Barton becke â—â—ooke it procéedeth forward till it ioyneth with the Brooke rill that coÌ„meth by Claughton hall where M. Broke hales doth lie and so thorow Mersco forrest After this conflueÌ„ce the Plime or Plimton water méeteth with the Calder and then with the Wire which passeth forth to Mighel church and the Raw cliffes Skipton and aboue Thorneton crosseth the Skipton that goeth by Potton then into the Wire rode and finally into the sea according to his nature Beyng past the fall of the Wire wée coasted vppe by the salt cotes to Coker mouth Cokar whose shortnesse of course deserueth no discriptioÌ„ The next is Cowdar Cowdar which coÌ„ming out of Wire dale as I take it is not increased with any other waters more then Coker and therefore I wyll rydde my handes thereof so much the sooner But beyng past these twoo I came to a notable ryuer called the Lune Lune whose course doth reast to be described as followeth whereof I haue two descriptions the first being set down by Leland as M. More of Catherine hall in Cambridge deliuered it vnto him the next I exhabite as it was giuen vnto me by one that hath taken paynes as he sayth to searche out and view the same but very lately to speake of The Lune saith M. More riseth at Crossehoe in Dentdale in the edge of Richmonde shire out of thrée heades North also from Dentdale is Garsdale and thereby runneth a water which afterward commeth to Sebbar vale where likewise is a brooke méeting with Garsdale water so that a little lower they go as one into Dentdale becke which is the ryuer that afterwarde is called Lune or Lane as I haue verye often noted it Beside these waters also before mencioned it receyueth at the foote of Sebbar vale a great brooke which coÌ„meth out of y e Worth betwéene Westmerlande and Richmonde shires which taking with him the aforesaide chanelles doth runne seauen myles ere it come to Dentdale foote From hence it entereth into Lansdale corruptlye so called peraduenture for Lunesdale and runneth therin eyght or nyne myles southwarde and in this dale is Kyrby Hetherto M. More as Leland hath exemplified that percell of his letters but mine other note wryteth hereof in thys maner Burbecke water ryseth at Wustall heade by west Burbecke and going by Wustall foote to Skaleg Breder it admitteth the Breder that descendeth thither from Breder dale From hence our Burbecke goeth to Breder dale foote and so to Tybary where it méeteth with foure rylles in one bottome of which one commeth from besides Orton another from betwéene Rasebecke and Sunbiggin the thirde and fourth from eche side of Langdale and after the generall conflueÌ„ce made goeth towarde Roundswathe aboue which it vniteth it selfe with the Barow Barrow Thence it runneth to Howgill Delaker Firrebanke and KillingtoÌ„ beneth which it méeteth with a water comming from the Moruill hilles and afterwarde crossing the Dent brooke that runneth thither from Dent towne beneath Sebbor Dent. they continue their course as one into the Burbecke from whence it is called Lune From hence it goeth to Burborne chappell where it taketh in an other rill comming from by east then to Kyrby Lansdale and aboue Whittenton crosseth a brooke comming from the
He tooke vp moreâ—…uer sundrye curious pottes Iugges and cruses of stone woode most artificially wrought and carued that in such quantitye besides infinite store of fine housholde stuffe as if the whole furniture of the city had béene brought thither of purpose to be hidden in those vaultes In procéeding further he tooke vp diuers pots of golde syluer brasse glasse wherof some were fylled with the ashes and bones of the Gentyles not a fewe with the coynes of the olde Brytons and Romaine Emperours All which vessels the sayde Abbot brake into péeces and melting the mettalle he reserued it in lyke sorte for the garnyshing of hys church he founde lykewyse in a stone wall two olde bookes wherof one conteined the rytes of the gentiles about the sacrifices of their gods the other as they now say y e Martyrdome of S. Albane â—…S souÌ„â—â— lyke a 〈◊〉 both of theÌ„ written in old brittish letters which eyther bycause no man then lyuing could read them or for that they were not woorth the kéeping were both consumed to ashes sauing that a fewe notes were first taken out of this later concerning the death of their Albane Thus much haue I thought good to note of the former beautie of Verolamium whereof infinite other tokens haue béene found since that tyme and diuers within the memory of man of passing workmanship the lyke wherof hath no where else béene séene in anye ruynes wythin the compasse of the Isle eyther for cost or quantitye of stuffe Furthermore where as dyuers are not a frayde to saye that the Thames came sometimes by thys citie in déede it is nothing so but that the Verlume afterwarde called Vere and the Mure did or doth so whatsoeeuer Gildas talketh herof whose bookes may be corrupted in that behalfe there is yet euident proofe to be confirmed by experience But thus standeth the case As those aforesayd workemen digged in those ruines they happened oftentimes vpon Lempet shelles péeces of rusty ancres and Keles of great vesselles wherevpon some by by gathered that either the Thames or some arme of the Sea did beate vpon that towne not vnderstandyng that these thinges might aswell happen in great lakes and meres whereof there was one adioyning to the north side of the citie which lay theÌ„ vnwalled This mere at the first belonged to the king and thereby Offa in hys time did reape no small commoditie It continued also vntill the time of Alfâ—…ijc the seauenth Abbot of that house who bought it out ryght of the king then liuing by excessiue charges dreined it so narrowly that within a whyle he left it â—…e bycause there was alwaies contention betwéene the monkes the kings seruaunts which fished on that water In these dayes there remayneth no maner mencion of this poole but onelye in one streate which yet is called fishpoole streate whereof this may suffise for the resolution of such men as séeke rather to yeeld to an inconuenience then that their Gildas shoulde séeme to mistake thys ryuer Hauing thus digressed to giue some remeÌ„braunce of the olde estate of Verolamium it is now time to returne againe vnto my former purpose Certes I woulde gladlye set downe with the names and number of the cities all the townes villages in england and wales â–ª but as yet I cannot come by theÌ„ in such order as I woulde howbeit the tale of our cities is soone founde by the Byshoprijckes sith euery Sie hath such prerogatiue giuen vnto it as to beare the name of a citie As London Yorke Cauntorbury VVinchester Cairleil Durham Ely Norwiche Lincolne VVorcester Glocester Hereforde Salisbury Excester Bathe Lichefielde Bristow Rochester Chester Chichester Oxforde Peterborow Landaffe S. Dauids Bangor S. Asaph Whose particular plots models with their descriptioÌ„s shal insue if it may be brought to passe that y e cutters can make dispach of theÌ„ before this hystory be published Of townes and villages likewise thus much will I say that there were greater store in olde tyme then at this present thys I note out of dyuers recordes charters donations made in times past vnto sundry religious houses as Glessenburye Abbandon Ramsey Ely and such like that there were many townes and villages whereof at this present I fynde not so much as the ruines Lelande in sundrye places complayneth likewise of the decaie of paryshes in great cities and townes missing in some sixe or eyght or twelue churchs of all which he giueth particuler notice For albeit y t the SaxoÌ„s builded many townes villages and the Normans well mo yet since the first hundred yeares after the latter conquest they haue gone againe so fast againe to decaye that the auncyent number of them is very much abated Ranulphe the Monke of Chester telleth of a generall suruey made in the fourth of the reignâ—… of William Conquerour surnamed the Bastarde wherein it was founde that nowithstanding y e Danes had ouerthrowne a great many there were to the number of 52000. townes 45002. parish churches and 75000. Knightes fées whereof the clergy helde 28015. He addeth moreouer that there were dyuers other buylded since that tyme wythin the space of an hundred yeares after the comming of the Bastarde as it were in lieu or recompence of those that William Rufus pulled downe for the erection of his newe Forrest Howbeit if the assertions of such as wryte in our tyme concerning this matter eyther is or ought to be of any credite in this behalfe you shall not finde aboue 17000. townes and villages in the whole which is little more then a fourth part of the aforesayd number yf it be thorowly scanned But to leaue this lamentable discourse of so notable an inconuenieÌ„ce growing by incroching ioyning of house to house and lande to lande whereby the inhabitaunts of any country are deuoured and eateÌ„ vp It is so that our soyle being deuided into Champaigne ground woodlande the houses of the first lye vniformely buylded in euery towne togither with stréetes lanes whereas in the woodlande countries except here and there in great market townes they stande scattered abroad eache one dwelling in the midst of his owne occupying And as in euery one of the first there are comonly thrée hundred or foure hundred families or mansion houses and two thousande communicantes or peraduenture moe so in the other we finde not often aboue fourtie or fiftie housholdes two hundred communicantes whereof the greatest part neuerthelesse are very poore folkes oftentymes without all maner of occupying sith the grounde of the parishe is often gotten vp into a fewe mens handes yea sometimes into the tennure of two or three wherby the reast are compelled eyther to be hyred seruaunts vnto the other or else to begge their bread in misery from doore to doore A great number complayne of thincrease of pouertie but few men do sée the verye roote from whence it doeth procéede yet the Romaines founde it out when they florished and therefore
liue licenciously and the captayne suretie to liue without daunger to be murthered But after that the Emperour Vespasianus had subdued his aduersaries and atteyned the Imperiall gouernment as well ouer Brytaine as ouer other partes of the worlde Cor. 〈◊〉 there were sent hither right noble Captaynes with diuerse notable bandes of Souldiers and Petilius Cerialis being appoynted Lieutenant put the Britaynes in greate feare by inuading the Brygantes the mightyest Nation of all the whose Ilande and fighting many battayles and some right bloudy with those people he subdued a great part of the countrey at the last Thus may you perceyue in what state this I le stoode in the time that Aruiragus raigned in the same as is supposed by the Hystoryes of the olde Brytaynes so that it may be thought that he gouerned rather a part of this lande than the whole and bare the name of a king the Romains not hauing so reduced the country into the forme of a prouince but that the Brytaynes bare rule in dyuerse partes thereof and that by the permission of the Romaines whiche neuerthelesse had theyr Lieutenauntes and Procuratours here that bare the greatest rule vnder the aforesayde Emperours Marius otherwise Meurig or Maue In the time of this mans raigne the people called Picts inuaded this lande They are iudged to be descended of the Nation of the Scithians neare kinsmen to the Gothes both by Countrey and maners a cruell kind of men and much giuen to the warres They are thought to haue taken theyr name bycause they vsed to paint their selues with a certain blewish colour or for that they were marked with printes in theyr visages so that the more honourable he was amongst them the deâ—…pelyer was he marked the more base he was the lesse his marks appeared Some thinke that these were the same that were called Agathirsies and named Picts bicause they painted their faces limmes so that by no menes y e painting could be washed off but howsoeuer they came by y e name â—â—bian â—…l Mon. â—…at VVest it is euident inough that they were of the Scithian nation This people therfore with their leader Roderike or as some name him Londorike entring the Ocean sea after the maner of â—…ouers arriued on y e coasts of Ireland where they required of y e Scots new seates to inhabite in for the Scots wheâ—… as some think were also discâ—…ded of y e Scithians did as theÌ„ inhabit in Ireland but doubting y t it shuld not be for their profit to 〈◊〉 so warlike a nation into that I le feyning as it were a friendship and excusing the matter by y e â—…wnesse of the couÌ„try declared vnto the Picts that the I le of Brytain was not farre froÌ„ thence being a large country a plentiful and not greaaly inhabited wherfore they counselled them to go thither promising vnto them all the ayde that might be The Picts more desirous of spoyle than of rule or gouernmeÌ„t without delay â—…tsed to the sea and sailed towards Britain where being 〈◊〉 they first inuaded the north pâ—…s thereof â—… finding there but few inhabiters they begin to wasâ—… and forray the country 〈…〉 Marius was aduertised with al speed he assembled his people made towards his enimies giuing to theÌ„ 〈◊〉 Roderike king of Pictes slaine obteyned the victorie so that Roderike was shâ—… slain in the field his people vanquished Vnto those that escaped with life Marius graunted licence that they might inhabite in the north part of Scotlande called Catnesse beeing as then a Countrey in maner desolate wythoute habitation wherevpon they wythdrewe thither and setled themselues in those partyes And bycause the Brytaynes disdeyned to graunt vnto them theyr daughters in maryage they sent vnto the Scots into Irelande requyring to haue wiues of theyr nation The Scottes agreed to their request with this condition that where there wanted lawfull issue of the kings lynage to succeede in the Kingdome of the Pictes then shoulde they name one of the womans syde to bee theyr king whiche ordinaunce was receyued and obserued euer after amongest the Pictes so long as their kingdome endured And thus the Pictes next after the Romains were the first of any straungers that came into this lande to inhabite as most wryters affyrme although the Scottishe Chronicles auouche the Picts to be inhabiters here before the incarnation of our sauiour But the victorie which Marius obteyned agaynst their king Roderike Polidor Math. VVest chaunced in the yeare after the incarnation .87 In remembraunce of which victorie Marius caused a stone to bee erected in the same place where the battayle was fought in whiche stone was grauen these woordes Marq Victoria The Englishe Chronicle sayeth that this stone was sette vppe on Stanesmoore and that the whole Countrey thereaboute taking name of this Marius as Westmaria nowe cleped Westmerlande King Marius hauing thus subdued his enimies and escaped the daunger of their dreadfull inuasion he gaue his minde to the good gouernment of his people and the aduauncement of the common wealth of the realme continuing the residue of his life in great tranquillitie and finally departed this life after he had raigned after most writers lij or .liij. yeares Mat. VVest Howbeit there be that wryte that hee dyed in the yeare of our Lorde 78. and so raigned not past fiue or sixe yeares at the most He was buryed at Cairleil leauing a sonne behinde him called Coyll Thus finde we in the Brytishe and English Hystories touching this Marius Humfrey Llhuyd seemeth to take this maÌ„ and his father Aruiragus to be all one person whether mooued therto by some Catologe of kings which he sawe or otherwise I cannot affyrme but speaking of the time when the Pictes and Scots should first come to settle themselues in this land he hath these words Neither was there any writers of name that made mention either of Scots or Picts before Vespasianus time about the yere of the incarnation .72 At what time Meurig or Maw or Aruiragus raigned in Brytaine In which time our annales do report that a certaine kind of people liuing by piracie and rouing on the sea came forth of Sueden or Norway vnder the guiding of one Rhythercus who landed in Albania â–ª wasting all the Countrey with robbing and spoyling so farre as Cairleil where he was vanquished in battaile and slaine by Murigus with a great part of his people The residue that escaped by flight fledde to their shippes and so conueyed themselues into the Iles of Orkney and Scotlande where they quietly abode a greate while after Thus farre haue I thought good to shew forth of the foresayde Llhuyds booke for that it seemeth to carie a great likelihoode of truth with it for the hystorie of the Picts which vndoubtedly I think were not as yet inhabiting in Brytaine but rather first placing themselues in the Iles of Orkney made inuasion into the maine I le of Britain afterwards as occasion
himself so manfully against the enimies that he constrayned the said Guanius and Melga to flee out of the land and to withdraw into Irelande In this meane while Maximus hauing slain the Emperour Gratian at Lyon in France and after entring into Italy was slain himself at Aquileia after he had gouerned the Britons eight yeares by the Emperour Theodosius whyche came in ayde of Valentinian brother to the said Emperor Gratian as in the Abridgement of the histories of Italy ye may fynde recorded But heere yet before wee make an ende with this Maximus or Maximianus I haue thoughte good to set downe the wordes whiche wee fynde in Gildas where he writeth of the same Maximus Consobrinus Helenae imperatricis Gildas vndoubtedly a Briton born nephew to the empresse Helena and begot by a Romain At length sayth Gildas the spring of Tyrants budding vp and nowe increasing into an huge woodde the Isle being called after the name of Rome but holding neyther maners nor lawes according to that name but rather castyng the same from it sendeth foorthe a braunche of hir most bitter planting to witte Maximus accompanied with a great number of warriors to gard him and apparelled in the imperiall robes which he neuer ware as became him nor put them on in lawful wise but after the custome of tyrants was put into them by the mutening souldiours whiche Maximus at the first by a craftie policie rather than by true manhood winding in as nets of his periurie and false suggestion vnto his wicked gouernement the countreys and prouinces next adioyning gainste the Imperiall state of Rome stretching one of his wings into Spayn the other into Italy placed the throne of his moste vniust empire at Trier and shewed suche rage in his woodde dealing agaynst his soueraine lordes that the one of the lawfull Emperors he expulsed foorth of Rome and the other hee berefte of his moste religious and godly lyfe And without long tariance compassed aboute with suche a furious and bolde garde as he hadde got together at the Citie of Aquileia hee loseth his wicked head whiche had cast downe the moste honourable heades of all the worlde from theyr kingdome and Empire From thencefoorth Britayne bring depriued of all hir warlyke souldiours and armies of hir gouernours also though cruell and of an huge number of hir youthe the whiche following the steppes of the foresayde tyraunt neuer retourned home agayne suche as remayned beyng vtterly vnskilfull in feates of warre were trodden downe by two nations of beyonde the seas 〈…〉 the Scots from the Weast and the Pictes from the North. And as men thus quite dismayed lamente their myserable case not knowing what else to doe for the space of manye yeares togyther By reason of whose greeuous inuasion and cruell oppression wherewith she was miserably disquieted she sendeth hir Ambassadours vnto Rome makyng lamentable sute euen with teares to haue some power of men of warre sent to defend hir against the enimies promising to be true subiects with all faithfulnesse of mynd if the enimie might be kept off and remoued Thus farre Gildas and more as in place hereafter ye shall fynde recited But nowe where the Britishe histories and suche of our Englishe writers as followe them â–ª make mention of one Gratianus a Romayne sente ouer with three Legions of souldiours by Maximus as before ye haue hearde We may suppose that it was Gratianus the Briton that afterwardes vsurped the imperial dignitie here in Britayn in the days of the emperor Honorius for it standeth neyther with the concurrence of tyme nor yet with reason of the historie Sextus Aâ—…relius that it should be Gratianus surnamed Funarius father to Valentinian and grandfather to the Emperour Gratianus agaynst whome Maximus rebelled And yet I remember not that any of the Romayn writers maketh mention of any other Gratianus beeyng a straunger that should be sent hither as lieutenant to gouerne the Romain armie except of the foresayd Gratianus Funarius Lib. 30. who as appeareth by Am. Marcellinus was general of y e Romain army here in this yle and at lengthe being discharged returned home into Hungarie were he was borne with honour and there remayning in rest was at length spoyled of his goodes by the Emperoure Constantius as confiscate for that in tyme of the ciuill warres he had receyued Magnentius as he past through his countrey But lette vs graunte that eyther Gratianus the Briton or some other of that name was sente ouer into Britayne as before is sayd by Maximus least otherwyse some errour maye bee doubted in the writers of the British histories as hauyng haply mystaken the tyme and matter bringing Eratianus Funarius to serue vnder Maximus where peraduenture that whiche they haue redde or hearde of hym chaunced long before that tyme by them supposed And so thorough mystaking the thyng haue made a wrong reporte where neuerthelesse it standeth with greate lykelyhoode of trouthe that some not able seruice of Chyualrie was atchieued by the same Gratianus Funarius whilest he remayned heere in this Isle if y e troth might be knoweÌ„ of that whiche hathe bin written by authors and happily by the same Am. Marcellinus if his first thirteene Bookes might once come to lighte and be extaÌ„t But now to end with Maximus William of Malmesburie as yee haue hearde writeth that not Maximus but rather Constantine the Great firste peopled Armorica but yet hee agreeth that both Maximus and also Constantinus the vsurper of whome after yee shall heare ledde with them a great number of the Britaine 's out of this lande the which Maximus or Maximianus and Constantinus afterwardes beeyng slayne the one by Theodosius and the other by Honorius the Britaynes that followed them to the warres parte of them were killed and the residue escaping by flighte withdrewe vnto the other Britaynes whiche Constantine the Greate had first placed in Armorica And so when the Tyrantes had left none in the countrey but rude people nor any in the Townes but such as were giuen to slouth and glutony Britayne beeyng voyde of all ayde of hir valiant youth became a pray to hir next neyghbors the Scottes Pictes Here is yet to bee considered in what price the Souldiers of the Brittish nation were hadde in those dayes with whose onely puissance Maximus durst take vpon him to goe against all other the forces of the whole Romayne Empire and how he prospered in that daungerous aduenture it is expressed sufficiently in the Romayne Histories by whose report it appeareth that hee dyd not only conquere all the hither partes of France and Germany namely on this side the Rhine but also founde meanes to entrappe the Emperoure Gratian by this kind of policie William Harâ—â—son out of Paulus Diaco â—…ib 12. aliis He had a faithfull friend called Andragatius who was Admirall of the Seas perteyning to the Empire It was therefore agreed betwixte them that this Andragatius with a chosen company of the army
required to haue one Ciuilis by name sent to hym to haue the rule of the prouinces in Britayne in steede of the other gouernours Theodos◅ required to haue Ciuilis sent to him a man of sharpe witte and an earnest maynteyner of iustice Hee likewise required that one Dulcitius a Captayne renoumed in knowledge of warlike affayres Dulcitius mighte bee sente ouer to him for his better assistance These things were done in Britayne Agayne in hys eyght and twentie booke the same Marcellinus reciting further what the same Theodosius dyd atchieue in Britaine hath in effect these wordes Theodosius verily a Captayne of worthy fame taking a valiant courage to hym and departing from Augusta London cal◅ Augusta whyche men of olde tyme called London with Souldiers assembled by greate diligence did succoure and releeue greatly the decayed and troubled state of the Britaynes preuenting euery conuenient place where the barbarous people myghte lye in wayte to doe mischiefe and nothing hee commanded the mean Souldiers to doe but that which he with a cheerefull mind would firste take in hand to shew them an example By this meanes accomplishing the roomth of a valiant Souldier and fulfilling the charge of a noble Captayne hee discomfyted and putte to flight sundry nations whome presumption nourished by securitie emboldned to inuade the Romayne prouinces And so the Cities and Castels that had bin sore endomaged by manyfolde losses and displeasures were restored to their former state of welth y e foundation of rest and quietnesse being layde for a long season after to ensue But as these things were a doing a wicked practise was in hande lyke to haue burst forth to the grieuous daunger of setting things in broyle if it had not beene stayed euen in the beginning of the first attempt Valentinus Valeria now ◅tiermarke There was one Valentinus borne in the parties of Valeria adioyning to Pannonia now called Stiermarke a man of a prowde and loftie stomacke brother to the wyfe of Maximinus which Valentinus for some notable offence had beene banished into Brytayne where the naughtie man that coulde not rest in quiet deuised how by some commotion hee might destroy Theodosius who as he sawe was onely able to resist his wicked purposes And going about many things both priuily and apertly the force of his vnmeasurable desire to mischief stil encreasing he sought to procure aswell other that were in semblable wise banished men and inclined to mischiefe lyke to him selfe as also diuerse of the souldiers alluring them as the time serued with large promises of great wealth if they would ioyne with hym in that enterpryse But euen now in the verie nicke when they should haue gone in hande with their vngracious exployt Theodosius warned of theyr intent boldly aduaunced himselfe to see due punishmēt executed of the offenders that were forthwith taken and knowne to be guiltie in that conspiracie Dulcitius is ◅ppointed to ◅ut Valentinus to death Theodosius committed Valentine with a few other of his trustie complices vnto the Captaine Dulcitius commaunding him to see them put to death but coniecturing by his warlike skill wherin he passed all other in those dayes what might follow he woulde not in any wise haue any further enquirie made of the other conspirators least through feare that might be spread abrode in many the troubles of the Prouinces now well quieted should be againe reuiued After this Theodosius disposing himselfe to redresse many things as neede requyred all danger was quite remoued so that it was moste apparant that fortune fauoured him in suche wise that she left him not destitute of hir furtheraunce in any one of all his attempts he therefore restored the Cities and Castels that were appoynted to be kept with garisons and the borders he caused to be defended and garded with sufficient nūbers to keepe watch and warde in places necessarie And hauing recouered the Prouince whiche the enimies had gotten into their possession hee so restored it to the former state that vpon his motion to haue it so a lawfull gouernour was assigned to rule it and the name was chaunged so A part of Brytayne called Valentia as from thenceforth it should be called Valentia for the Princes pleasure The Areani a kinde of men ordeyned in tymes past by our elders of whom somwhat we haue spoken in the actes of the Emperour Constance being now by little little fallen into vices he remoued from theyr places of abyding being openly conuicted that allured wyth brybes and fayre promyses they had oftentymes bewrayed vnto the barbarous Nations what was done among the Romaines for this was theyr charge to runne vp and downe by long iourneys and to giue warning to oure Captaines what sturre the people of the next confines were about to make Theodosius therfore hauing ordred these and other like things most worthily to his high fame The prayse of Theodosius was called home to the Emperours Court who leauing the Prouinces in most triumphant state was highly renowmed for his often and moste profitable victories as if he had bene an other Camillus or Cursor Papyrius and with the fauor and loue of all men was conueyed vnto the Sea side and passing ouer with a gentle winde came to the Court where he was receyued wyth great gladnesse and commendation being immediately appoynted to succeed in rowmth of Valence Iouinus that was master of the horses Finally he was called by the Emperor Gratianus to be associate with him in the Imperiall estate after the death of Valence in the yeare after the incarnation of our sauiour .379 and raigned Emperor surnamed Theodosius the great about xvj yeares and two dayes VVil. Har. But now to our former matter Hereto also may that be applyed which the foresayd Marcellinus wryteth after in the same booke touching the inuasion of the Saxons VVolf Lazi the which as Wolf Lazius taketh it entred then first into great Britaine but were repulsed of the Emperour Valentinianus the fyrst by the conduct of Seuerus Seuerus The same yeare sayth he that the Emperours were the thirde tyme Consuls there brake forth a multitude of Saxons and passing the seas entred strongly into the Romain confines a natiō fed oftentimes with y e slaughter of our people the brunt of whose first inuasion Nonneus Comes Erle Nanneus susteyned y e which was appointed to defend those partyes an approued captain with continuall trauaile in warres verie expert but then encountring with desperate and forlorne people when he perceyued some of his souldiers to be ouerthrowne and beaten downe and himself woūded not able to abyde the often assaults of his enimies he obteyned this by enforming the Emperour what was necessarie and ought to be done Seuerus Coronell of the footemen insomuch that Seuerus maister or as I may cal him Coronell of the footemen was sent to helpe and relieue things that stoode in daunger the which bringing a sufficient power with him for
out of his kingdome by the brother nephew of Hengist of whome in the firste booke we haue made mention firste requiting his banishemente with greate detrimente and losse to those his enimies wherein he was partaker by iust deserte of his vncles worthy praise for that he stayed for a great many yeres the destruction of his countrey which was now running hedlong into vtter ruine and decay But Arthurs graue no wâ—…ere appeareth but the others tombe as I haue sayde was founde in the dayes of William the Conqueror king of England vpon the seaside and conteyned in length fourtene foote where he was as some say wounded by his enimies and cast vp by shipwrack But other write that he was slayne at a publike feaste or banket by his owne countreymen Thus hathe William Malmesburye But here you muste consider that the sayde Malmesburie departed this lyfe about the beginnyng of the reigne of kyng Henry the seconde certayne yeres before the boanes of Arthur were found as before ye haue hearde But now to speak somwhat of queene â—â—hera or Gâ—â—vee Io. Leland so â—…he iudge that 〈◊〉 â—…he name of hir excellent beautie by 〈…〉 or Gâ—…nâ—… in the Welch toâ—…ng 〈…〉 Quene Guryhere so that she was named 〈◊〉 or rather â—â—â—â—…lean euen as you 〈◊〉 say the faire or beautyfull Leonore or Helene She was brought vpon the house of Cador Earle of Cornewall 〈◊〉 Arthur maryed hiâ—… and as it appeareth by writers she was â—…aill reported 〈…〉 and breache of land to hiâ—… husbande in sorte as for the more paiâ—…e women of excellente beautie hardly escape the venimous blast of will to 〈◊〉 and the sharpe assaultes of the followeâ—… of â—…enus The Brâ—… historie affirmeth that should not onely 〈…〉 paâ—…yâ—…ng wyth â—…ordred 〈◊〉 that 〈…〉 thâ—â— absence she consented to take him to husbande It is lykewyse founde recorded by an olde wâ—…yter that Arthure besieged on a tyme theÌ„ marishes neere to Glastenburye for displeasurâ—… that he bare vnto a certayne Lorde that hyghte Melâ—… whiche hadde rauished Gumnere and ledde hâ—â— into those Marshes and there dyddâ—… keepe hir Hir corps notwithstandyng as before is recited was enterred togyther wyth Arthurs so that it is thought she liued not long after his deceasse Arthur had two wynes as Giralouâ—… Cambrensis affirmeth of whiche the latter sayth hee was buryed wyth hyde and hiâ—… boanes founde with his mone Sepulchre so deuided yet that two partes of the Tombe towardes the heade were appoynted to receyue the bones of the man and the thyrde parte towardes the feete conteyned the womans boanes a parte by them selues Here is to bee remembred that Hector Boetius wryteth otherwyse of the death of Arthure than before in thys booke is mencioned and also that Guenâ—…ere beeyng taken prysonâ—… by the Pictes was conueyed into Scotlande where fynally shee dyed and was there buryed in Aâ—…gus as in the Scottishe Chronicle further appeareth And thys may be true if he hadde three sundrye wyues eche of them bearing the name of Guenhere as sir Iohn Price doth auouche that hee had Bycause of the contrarieâ—…ie in wryters touchyng the greate actes atchieued by this Arthur and also for that some difference there is amongest them aboute the tyme in whyche he should reigne many haue doubted of the truthe of the whole historie whyche of hym is written as before ye haue hearde The Britishe histories and also the Scottishe Chronicles doe agree that he lyued in the days of the Emperour Iustinian about the fifteenth yeare of whose reigne hee dyed whiche was in the yeare of our Lorde 542. 542. as Harrison also confirmeth Howbeit some write farther from all lykely 〈◊〉 that he was aboute the tyme of the Emperor â—…eno who began his reign about the yeare of our Lord. 47â—… The 〈◊〉 of the booke 〈◊〉 Aurea historia affirmeth Aurea historia Leland that in the 〈…〉 of Cerdicus king of Weast Saxons Arthur the warriour râ—…fe amongest the Brytâ—…ns Also Diâ—â—neuâ—… writeth that 〈◊〉 fyghtyng oftentymes with Arthur if he were ouercome in one 〈◊〉 he â—…ose 〈◊〉 an other 〈◊〉 more tâ—â—rce had 〈◊〉 to giue battayle that before At lengthe Arthure 〈…〉 VVestsexon after the â—…elfth yeare 〈…〉 〈◊〉 gaue vnto 〈…〉 his homâ—… 〈◊〉 and â—â—aplâ—◠〈◊〉 the shyres of 〈…〉 and Somerset the whiche 〈…〉 â—…erdiems named West 〈◊〉 This Ceâ—…icius or 〈◊〉 came into Britayne aboute the yeare of our Lorde 491. and 〈◊〉 yere after his 〈◊〉 hither that is to witte about the yeare of our Lorde â—… he beganne gaâ—â— his raigne 〈◊〉 the West Saxons and gouerâ—â—â— the 〈◊〉 kyng by the space of the yeares as before ye haue heard But to followe the course of oure Chronicles accordingly as we haue begunne we muste allowe of their accompte herein as in other places and so proceede Constantine After the death of Arthur his cousin CoÌ„stantine the son of CadoÌ„r duke or earle of Cornwall beganne his reigne ouer the Brytayns in yeare of our Lorde .542 whiche was aboute the .xv. yeare of the Emperour Iustinianus almost ended the .29 of Childebert K. of Fraunce 54â—… and the first yeare welnere complete of the reigne of Totiles kyng of the Gothes in Italy Arthur when he perceyued that he should dye Galfriâ—… Mat. VVâ—… ordeyned this Constantine to succeede him and so by the consent of the more parte of the Brytons he was crowned kyng but the sonnes of Mordred sore repined thereat as they that claymed the rule of the land by iuste title and clayme of inheritaunce to them from theyr father descended Ciuill warre Herevpon followed ciuill warre so that dyners batayles were stricken betwene them and in the ende the two brethren were constrayned to withdrawe for refuge the one to London and the other to Winchester but Constantine parsriving them firste came to Wynchester and by force entred the Citie and slewe the one brother that was fledde thyther within the churche of Saincte Amphibalus And after commyng to London entred that Citie also and findyng the other brother within a Churche there slewe hym in lyke maner as he had done the other And so hauing dispatched his aduersaries he thoughte to haue purchased to himselfe safetie but shortly after Aurelius Conanus his own kinsman one Aurelius Conanus arreared warre agaynst him who ioyning with him in battaile Constantine slayne slew him in the field after he had reigned foure yeares His body was conueyed to Stonehenge and there duryed besyde his auncestour Vter Pendragon Of this Constantine that seemeth to be ment whiche Gildas writeth in his booke entitled De excidio Brytannia Gildas where inueying agaynste the rulers of the Brytons in his tyme hee writeth thus Britayn hath kings but the same be tyrants Iudges it hath but they be wicked oftentymes pilling and harmyng the innocent people reuenging and defending but whome suche as bee giltie persons and robbers Hauing many wyues but yet breakyng wedlocke Oftentymes swearyng and yet forswearing
that about the .14 yeare of the Britayn king Conanus his reigne whiche was aboute the end of the yeare of Christe .559 Kenrike kyng of the Weastsaxons departed this lyfe 559. after he hadde reigned â—â— yeares complete This Kenrike was a victorious Prince and fought diuers battailes against the Britons In the .xviij. H. Hunt yeare of his reigne which was the .551 of Christ we fynd that he fought against them beeing come at that tyme vnto Salisburie and after greate slaughter made on bothe partes at length the victorie remayned with the Saxons and the Britons were chased Agayne in the two and twentie yere of his reigne and .555 yere of Christ the same Kenrik and his son Chevling fought with a greate power of Britons at Beranbury The Britons were diuided into .ix. coÌ„panies iij. in the foreward .iij. in the battayle â—…iij â–ª in the rereward with their horsmen archers after the maner of the Romans The Saxons being ranged in one entier bataile valiantly assailed them and notwithstanding the shot of the Britons yet they brought the matter to the triall of handblowes til at length by the coÌ„ming on of the night the victorie remained doubtfull and no maruell is to be made therof sayeth Henry Archedeacon of Huntington sith the Saxons were menne of suche huge statute greate force and valyaâ—…t courage The same yeare that Kenrike deceassed Ida the king of Northumberlande also died he was as ye haue heard a right valiaÌ„t prince enlarged the dominion of the Saxons greately Henner came in battaile Loth king of the Pictes and Gorrane or rather Conrane king of Scots Also about the yeare of Christ .560 Conanus as yet gouerning the Britons Irmenrike king of Kente departed this lyfe 560 â–ª of whome ye haue heard before and Ethelberte his sonne succeeded him .52 yeres H. Hunt Then after that the forsaid three princes were dead as before ye haue heard they had that succeded theÌ„ in their estates as here followeth After Kenrike his sonne Ceaulinus or Chevlyng succeeded in gouernment of the Westsaxons and after Ida one Ella or Alla reigned in Northumberland After Irmenrike followed his sonne Ethelberte in rule ouer the Kentishe Saxons This Ethelberte in processe of tyme grewe to be a mightie prince but yet in the beginnyng of his reign he had but sory successe against some of his enimies H. Hunt â—…lias VViâ—…â—…asdâ—… for hauing to do with the forsaid Chevlyng king of Westsaxons he was of hym ouercome in battaile at Wilbasdowne where he lost two of his dukes or chiefe Captaines beside other people This was the first battail that was foughten betwixte the Saxons one againste an other within this land after their first comming into the same And this chaunced in the yeare of of our Lorde .567 being the seconde yeare of the Emperour Iustinus ABoute the yeare .570 Cutha the brother of king Chevlyng foughte with the Brytons at Bedforde and ouercame them 570. Cutha â–ª Alesbuyâ—… â–ª 581. and tooke from them foure townes Liganbrough Eglesbroughe or Aylesburye Besington and Euessham Also about the yeare of our Lorde .581 the foresayde King Cheuling encountred with the Britaynes at a place called Dyorth and obteyning the vpper hand tooke from them the Cities of Bathe Gloucester and Cirenâ—…eester At this battayle fought at Dyorth were presente three kyngs of the Britons whose names were these Coinmagill Candidan and Farimnagill the whiche were slayne there through the permission of almightie God as then refusing his people the which through their heynous sinnes and great wickednesse had most greuously offended his hygh and diuine Maiestie as by Gildas it may euidently appeare for they hadde declined from the lawes of the Lorde and were become abhominable in his sight euen from the Prince to the poore man from the Priest to the Leuite so that not one estate amongst them walked vprightley but contrarie to duetie was gone astraye by reason whereof the rightuous God had giuen them ouer as a pray to their enimyes Also in the latter ende of Malgos dayes or about the first beginning of the reigne of his successour Careticus His brother as Math. VVest â—â—th Chevling and his sonne Cutwyne fought with the Brytons at a place called Fechanley or Fedanley or as some bookes haue Frithenlye H. Hunt where Cutwyn was slayne and the Englishemen chased but yet Chevling repairing his armie wan the victorie and chased the Britons Mat. VVest and tooke from them many countreys and wan great riches by the spoyle â–ª But Math. Westm sayth that the victorie aboade with the Britons and that the Saxons were chased quite out of the fielde The Scottishe writers recorde that their king Aydan was there in ayde of the Brytons and Brudeus kyng of the Pictes in ayde of the Saxons but the same writers name the place Deglaston where this battayle was foughte The beginning of the kingdome of Mercia Crida ABoute the same time also and .585 of Christ Hen. Hunt This kingdom began in the yeare 585. as Math. VVest hath the kingdome of Mercie began vnder one Crida that was desceÌ„ded from â—…en and the tenth from him by lineall extraction Ran. Cest The boundes of this kingdom were of great distance hauing on the east the sea vnto Humber and so on the North the sayde riuer of Humber and after the ryuer of Mercie whiche falleth into the weast sea at the corner of Wyrhall and so comming aboute to the ryuer of Dee that passeth by Chester the same ryuer bounded it on the Weast from Wales and likewyse Seuerne vp to Bristow on the south is had the ryuer of Thames til it came almost to London And in this sort it conteyned Lincolneshire Notinghamshire Derbyshire Cheâ—…shyre Shropshire Worcetershire Gloucetershire Oxfordshire Buckinghamshire Hertefordshire Bedfordshire Huntingtonshire Northamptonshire Leycestershire and Warwikeshire Thus haue ye heard how the Saxons in â—…roces of tyme remouing the Britons out of their seates daylye wanne grounde of them till at length they got possession of the best part of this Isle and erected within the same seuen kingdomes whiche were gouerned by seauen seuerall kings which continued vntill at length the kinges of WestsaxoÌ„ brought them al into one Monarchie as after shal appere Mat. Westm reckneth .viij. kingdomes as thus The kingdome of Kent the kingdome of Sussex the kingdome of Essex the kingdom of Eastangle the kingdome of Mercia the kyngdome of Weastsex and the kyngdome of Northumberlande whyche was diuided into two kyngdomes that is to wit into Deira and into Beâ—… wherevnto Harison addeth the nynth in the first part of his chronologie and calleth it Wales Careticus or Caretius K. of Britaâ—…n AFter that Malgo or Maglocune was departed this lyfe Careticus one Careticus or as some write hym Caretius was made Kyng of the Britons and began his Reigne in the yeare of our Lorde .586 whiche was in the thyrde yeare of the Emperoure Mauritius and thirteenth of
the dayes of Beda not one of the Scottish kings durst presume to enter into Brytaine againe to giue battaile against the English Nation as Beda himselfe wryteth But the Scottish writers make other report of this matter VVil. Malmâ—… See in Scotlandâ—… as in the Hystorie of Scotland ye may finde recorded The Brytaynes that dwelt aboute Chester through their stoutnesse prouoked the aforesayde Ethelferd king of the Northumbers vnto warre wherevpon the same Ethelferd to tame theyr loftie stomackes assembled an armie and came forwarde to besiege the Citie of Chester Chester as yeâ—… in possession of the Brytayns then called of the Brytaynes Carleon ardour deué The Citizens coueting rather to suffer all things than a siege and hauing a trust in their great multitude of people Iohn Leyland VVil. Malm. came forth to giue battaile abrode in the fieldes whom he compassing about with ambushes got them within his daunger and easily discomfited them Beda It chaunced that he had espied before the battaile ioyned as Bede hath where a great number of the Brytish Priests were got aside into a place somewhat out of daunger that they might there make their intercession to God for the good speede of theyr people being then readie to giue battaile to the Northumbers The number of Monkes in the Monastery of Bangor Many of them were of that famous Monasterie of Bangor in the which it is said that there was such a number of Monkes that where they were deuided into seuen seuerall partes with their seuerall gouernours appoynted to haue rule ouer them euery of those partes conteyned at the least three hundred persons the which liued altogither by the labour of theyr handes Many therefore of those Monkes hauing kept a solemne feast for three dayes togither were come to the armie with other to make prayer hauing for their defender one Brocmale or Broâ—…maâ—…l Earle or Consull as some call him of Chester Brocmalâ—… which shoulde preserue them being giuen to prayer from the edge of the enimies sworde King Edelferd hauing as is sayde espyed these men asked what they were and what their intent was and beeing informed of the whole circumstance and cause of their beeing there hee sayde Then if they call to theyr God for his assistaÌ„ce against vs surely though they beare no armour yet do they fight against vs being busied in prayer for our destruction Wherevpon hee commaunded the first onset to be giuen on them The Brytaines discomfited and slaine and after slue downe the residue of the Brytish armie not without great losse of his owne people Of those Monkes and Priestes which came to pray as before is mencioned there died at that battaile about the number of .xij. hundred so that fiftie of them onely escaped by flight Brocmale or Broemael at the first approche of the enimies turning his backe with his companie left them whom he should haue defended to be murthered through the enmies sworde And thus was the prophecie of Augustine fulfilled though he was long before departed this life as Beda hath Henric. HuÌ„t But if this battaile was fought in the seuenth yeare of Ciovulf king of Westsaxons as some haue written and that Augustin liued .xij. yeares after his entrance into the gouernment of the sea of Canterburie as some write it is euident that he liued foure yeares after this slaughter made of the Brytishe Priestes and Monkes by Ethelferd as before is recited For Ciovulf beganne his raigne as before is mentioned about the yeare of our Lorde .596 and in the seuenth yeare of hys raigne the battail was fought at Degsastaâ—…e betwixt Englishmen and Scottes which chaunced in the yeare of our Lorde .604 as Bede himselfe recordeth Hitherto out of our olde writers Of which battaile also William Harison telleth another maner of tale whose wordes though he liue in our time and his Chronologie bee not yet extant are not to be omitted which be these Athelbright or Edilfride king of the NorthuÌ„bers and Ethelbert of Kent hauing Augustine in their coÌ„panie in the .8 yeare after his arriuall doe make warre vpon suche Brytaynes as refuse to obserue the Canons of the late Councell mentioned .603 and kill 1200. Monkes of the Monasterie of Bangor which laboured earnestly and in the sweate of their browes thereby to get theyr liuings c. Thus farre maister Harison Verily Galf. Mon wryteth that Ethelbert king of Kent after he sawe the Brytaynes to disdaine and denie their subiection vnto Augustine by whom he was conuerted to the christian faith stirred vp Ethelfred king of the Northumbers to warre against the Brytains But hereof maister Foxe doubteth and therfore sayth Acts and Monuments Pag. 160. that of vncertaine things hee hath nothing certainly to say much lesse to iudge But now to the matter where we left After that King Edelferd had made slaughter of the Brytaines as before is rehearsed hee entred the Citie of Chester and from thence marched towardes Bangor Gal. Mon. On the part of the Brytaynes the foresayde Bledrike which was chiefe captaine of the fielde in that battaile chaunced to be slaine Thus hath Gal. Mon. but the auncient writers of the English kings as Bede Wil. â—…alm and Henrie Hunt make no mention of this last battaile and victorie obteyned by the Brytaynes in maner as aboue is expressed in Galfrids booke But contrarily we finde that Ethelferd hauing such good successe in his businesse abroade as hee coulde wishe Edwin the sonne of king Alla 〈◊〉 vpon purpose to auoyde daunger at home banished Edwin the sonne of Alla or Elle a yong Gentleman of great towardnesse lately come to the kingdom of the Northumbers by the death of his father But this Edwine in time of his exile beeing long tossed from place to place and finding no stedfast friendship now in time of his aduersitie at length came to Redwalde that was king at that time of the East Angles the thirde from Vffa as successor to Titullus which Titullus did succeede next after the sayde Vffa 592 the first king of East Angles as before is mentioned Edelferd This Redwalde did verie honourably intertaine Edwine insomuch that Edelferd being informed thereof he was highly displeased and sent Ambassadors vnto Redwalde to requyre him either to deliuer Edwine into his handes or else if he refused so to do to declare and denounce vnto him open warres Redwalde encouraged by his wife that counselled him in no wise to betray his friende to whoÌ„ he had giuen his fayth for the menaces of his enimie assembled forthwith an armie 617 and vpon the sodaine comming vpon Ethelferd set vppon him ere he coulde haue time to assemble his people togither But yet the sayd Ethelfred H. Hunt though he was entrapped and brought in daunger at vnwares he dyed not vnreuenged for putting himselfe in defence with such power as he coulde then get togyther he boldely encountred the enimies and gyuing battaile slue Remerius the
West Saxons By his diligence that Abbay was greatly aduaunced The Abbey of â—…almesburie beeing afore that tyme founded by one Medulfe a Scottish man but of so small reuenues afore Aldhelmes tyme that the Monkes were vneth able to lyue thereon Also the same Aldhelme was a greate furtherer vnto king Inas in the buylding of Glastenburie Ethelard In the first yeare of Ethelardes raigne hee was disquieted with ciuill warre which one Oswalde a Noble manne discended of the royall bloud of the West Saxon Kings procured agaynst him but in the ende when he perceyued that the kings power was too strong for him hee fledde oute of the Countrey leauing it thereby in rest In the yeare .729 in the Moneth of Ianuarie there appeared two Comets or blasing Starres Mat. VVest 729 Blasing starres right terrible to beholde the one rising in the morning before the rising of the Sunne the other after the setting thereof so that the one came before the breake of the day and the other before the closing of the night stretching forth theyr â—…erie brandes towardes the North and they appeared thâ—…s euerie morning and 〈◊〉 the space of a fourtnight togither â—…enacing 〈◊〉 it were some great destruction or common mishap to follow The Saâ—…aâ—…ins shortly after entred Fraunce and were ouerthrowne Finally when king Ethelard had raigned the tearme of fourtene yeares â—…urrent hee departed this life In the yeare of our Lorde .731 731 Beâ—â—walde Archbyshoppe of Canterburie departed this lyfe the fifth Ides of Ianuarie after he had gouerned that Sea by the space of .xxxvij. yeares .vj. Monethes and fourteene dayes in whose place the same yeare one Tacâ—…ine was ordeyned Archebyshoppe that before was a Priest in the Monasterie of Bruydon wythin the Prouince of Mercia Bishops what prouinces they gouerned Hee was consecrated in the Citie of Canterburie by the reuerende Fathers Daniell Byshoppe of Wynchester Ingwalde Byshoppe of London Aldwine Byshop of Lichefielde and Aldwulfe Bishop of Rochester the .x. day of Iune being Sunday And thus in that season the Prouince of Canterburie was gouerned touching the Ecclesiasticall state by the Archbyshoppe Tacwine and Byshoppe Aldvulfe â–ª 〈◊〉 Prouince of the East Saxons by Bishop Ingwald the prouince of East Angles by Bishop Eadbertus and Hadulacus the one keeping his Sea at Elsham and the other at Dunwich The Prouince of the West Saxons was gouerned by the foresayd Daniel and by Forthere which succeeded next after Aldhelme in the Sea of Shereburne This Forthere in the yeare of our Lorde .738 left his Bishoprike Mat. VVest and went to Rome in companie of the Queene of the West Saxons Many as well Kings as Bishops noble and vnnoble Priestes and laymen togither with women vsed to make such iourneyes thither in those dayes The Prouince of Mercia was ruled by the foresayde Aldwine Byshop of Lichfielde and one Bishop Walstod holding hys Sea at Herforde gouerned those people that inhabited beyond the riuer of Seuerne toward the West The Prouince of the Wiccies that is to meane of Worcester one Wilfride gouerned The South Saxons and the I le of Wight were vnder the Bishop of Winchester In the Prouince of the Northumbers were foure Bishops that is to say Wilfride Archbyshop of Yorke Edilwalde Bishop of Lindisferne Acca Bishop of Hexham and Pecthelmus Byshoppe of Whiterne otherwise called Candida Casa hee was the fyrst that gouerned that Church after the same was made a Bishops Sea And thus stood the state of the Englishe Churche for Ecclesiasticall gouernours in that season Ethelbald K. of Mercia of what puâ—â—â—ance he was And as touching temporall gouernment king Ceolvulf had the soueraigne Dominion ouer all the Northumbers but all the Prouinces on the south side of Humber with theyr kings and rulers were subiect vnto Edilbalde or Ethelbald king of Mercia The nation of the Picts were in league with the English men and gladly became partaker of the Catholike peace and veritie of the vniuersall Church Those Scots which inhabited Brytaine contenting themselues with theyr owne boundes went not about to practise any deceytfull traynes nor fraudulent deuises agaynst the Englishmen The Brytaynes otherwise called Welchmen though for the more part of a peculiar hatred they did impugne the English Nation and the obseruaunce of the feast of Easter appoynted by the whole Catholike Churche yet both deuine and humaine force vtterly resisting them they were not able in neyther behalfe to atteyne to theyr wyshed intentions as they whiche though they were partly free yet in some poynt remayned styll as thrall and mancipate to the subiection of the English men whiche Englishe men sayth Bede now in acceptable peace and quietnesse of time manye amongest them of Northumberlande laying armour and weapon asideâ—… applie themselues to the reading of holy Scriptures more desyrous to be professed in Religious houses then to exercise feares of warre but what wyll come thereof sayth he the age that followeth shall see and beholde With these wordes doth Bede ende his Hystorie continued tyll the yeare of our Lorde .731 whiche was from the comming of the Englishe men into thys lande aboute â—…85 yeares according to his accounte In the yeare following that is to wit 7â—…2 7â—…2 in place of Wilfride the seconde Egbert was ordeyned Bishop of Yorke This Egbert was brother vnto an other Egbert VVil. 〈◊〉 the which as then was King of Northumberlande by whose helpe hee greatly aduaunced the Sea of Yorke and recouered the Pall so that where all the other Bishoppes that helde the same Sea before him sithe Paulines dayes wanted the Pall and so were accounted simply but particuler Bishoppes nowe was hee entituled by the name of Archbishop He also gotte togyther a great number of good bookes which he bestowed in a librarie at Yorke In the yeare .733 on the .xviij. 733 Kalendes of September the Sunne suffered a great Eclipse aboute three of the Clocke in the after Noone in so muche that the Earth seemed to bee couered wyth a blacke and horrible Pentise In the yeare .735 that reuerende and profounde learned manne Beda departed this lyfe 735 Beda departed this life beeing .lxxij. yeares of age vpon Ascention day which was the .vij. Kalendes of Iune and .xxvj. of May as Mat. West hath diligently obserued Harison addeth hereto that it is to bee read in an olde Epystle of Cutbert Monke of the same house vnto Cuthwyne that the sayd Beda lying in hys death bed translated the Gospell of Saint Iohn into Englishe and commaunded his brethren to bee diligent in the reading and contemplation of the bookes and not to exercise themselues wyth fables and friuolous matters Finally he was buryed in the Albey of Eâ—â—uie distaunt fiue myles from Wyremouth are Abbay also in the North partes not farre from Newcastell as is before remembred Hee was brought vp in those two Abbays and was scholer to Iohn of Beuerlay Howe throughly hee was seene in all kyndes of good
Bath VVinbornâ—… and maried a Nunne there which he had defloured and attempted many things against his brother WhervpoÌ„ the king came to Bath though Adelwold shewed a countenance as if he would haue abyd the chaunce of warre within Wynborne yet he stale awaye in the night H. Hunt Adelvvolde fleeth to the Danes fled into NorthuÌ„berland wher of the Danes he was ioyfully receiued The king toke his wife being lefte behind restored hir to y e house from whence she was taken Some haue written VV. Malm. that this Adelwolde or Ethelwolde was not brother vnto king Edwarde but his vncles sonne After this king Edwarde prouiding for the suretie of his subiectes against the forrays which the Danes vsed to make fortifyed diuers cities and townes and stuffed them with great garrisons of souldiors to defend the inhabitants and to repulse the enimies And surely the englishmen were so invred with warres in those dayes The Englishe nation practised in vvarres goe commonly avvay vvith the victorie that the people being aduertised of the inuasion of the enimies in any part of their countrey would assemble oftentymes without knowledge of king or capitayne and setting vpon the enimies went commonly awaye with victorie by reason that they ouermatched them bothe in number practise So were the enimies despised of the englishe souldiours and laughed to scorn of the king for their foolishe attempts H. Hunt Yet in the third yeare of king Edwards reigne Ethelwolde his brother came with a Nauie of the Danes into the parties of the eastangles Essex yelded to Athelvvold and euen at the first the Essex men yelded themselues vnto him In the yere folowing he inuaded the countrey of Mercia with a mightie armie wasting and spoyling the same vnto Cryâ—â—de Ran. Higâ—â— and there passing ouer the Thames rodâ—… foorth til he came to Basingstoke or as some bookes haue Briâ—…tenden 〈◊〉 harying the countrey on eche syde and so returned back into East angles with great ioy triumph The yere next ensuing the Danes with a great armie entred into Mercia to rob spoile y e countrey against whom king Edward sent a mightie host assembled togither of the Westsaxons and them of Mercia the which set vpon the Danes as they were returning homeward slew of theÌ„ an huge multitude together with their chief capitaines and leaders as king Halden and kyng Eolwils erle Vther erle Scurfa diuers other In the yeare .912 or as Simon Dunel hath 908. the Duke of Mercia Edrid or Etheldred H. Hunt departed this life and then king Edward seysed into his handes the Cities of London and Oxford and all that part of Mercia which he helde But afterwards he suffered his sister Elflede to enioy the most part therof except the sayde cities of London and Oxford whiche he still retayned in his owne hande This Elfleda was wyfe to the sayd duke Edrid or Etheldred as before you haue hearde Of whose worthy actes more shall be sayde hereafter In the nynthe yeare of his reigne kyng Edwarde buylt a castell at Hartforde and likewise he buylded a towne in Essex at Wightham VVitham and lay himself in the meane time at Maldon otherwise Meauldun bringing a great part of y e countrey vnder his subiection which before was subiect to y e Danes In the yere folowing the armie of the Danes departed froÌ„ NorthaÌ„pton Chester in breach of the former truce Chester or rather Leycester as I thinke slew a greate number of men at HocehneretoÌ„ in Oxfordshire And shortly after their return home an other coÌ„panie of them weÌ„t foorth and came to Leighton where the people of the countrey beeing assembled togither Ligetâ—…ne fought with them and put them to flight taking froÌ„ them all the spoyle whiche they had got and also their horses In the .xj. yere of king Edw. a fleet of Danes compassed aboute the West partes and came to the mouth of Seuerne so toke prayes in Wales They also tooke prisoner a Welche bishop named Camelgaret Irchenfielde at Irchenfield whome they led to their ships but king Edward redemed him out of their hands paying to them .xl. lb for his raunsom After that the armie of Danes went foorth to spoyle the countrey about Irchingfield but the people of Chester Hereforde and other townes and countreys therabout assembled togither and giuing battayl to the enimies put them to flight and slewe one of their noble men called Earle Rehald Danes discomfited and Geolcil the brother of Earle Vter with a great part of their armie and draue the residue into a Castell whiche they besieged till the Danes within it gaue hostages and couenanted to depart out of the kings lande The king caused the coasts about Seuerne to be watched that they should not breake into his countrey But yet they stale twice into the borders neuertheles they wer chased slain so many as coulde not swim and so get to their ships Then they remayned in the I le of Stepen in great miserie for lacke of victuals The yle of Stepen Deâ—…omedun Danes sayle into Irelande bycause they coulde not go abroade to get any At length they departed into Northwales from theÌ„ce sayled into Ireland The same yeare king Edward came to Buckingham with an armie and ther taried a whole moneth building two castels the one vpon the one side of the water of Ouse and the other vpon the other side of the same riuer He also subdued Turketyllus an Erle of the Danes that dwelte in that countrey Turketellus an earle with all the residue of the noble men and barons of the shires of Bedforde and Northampton In the .xij. yere of K. Edwards reigne y e Kentishmen Danes fought togither at Holme but whether partie had the victorie writers haue not declared Si. Dunelm Simon Dunelm speaketh of a batayle which the citizens of Canterbury fought ageinst a number of Danish rouers at Holme wher the Danes were put to flight but that should be as he noteth an .8 yeres before this supposed time as in the yere .904 whiche was aboute the thirde yere of king Edw. reigne After this other of the Danes assembled theÌ„selues togither An. 912. Sim. Dun. in Staffordshire at a place called TotteÌ„hal fought with the Englishmen after great slaughter made on bothe parties the Danes were ouercome and so likewise were they shortly after at Woodfield or Wodenfield And thus K. Edw. put the Danes to the worse in eche place commonly where hee came and hearing that those in NorthumberlaÌ„d ment to breake the peace he inuaded the countrey and so afflicted the same that the Danes whiche were inhabitants there gladly continued in rest and peace But in this meane tyme Polidore Erick king of Eastangles Ericke the king of those Danes which helde the countrey of eastangle was about to procure new warre and to allure other of the Danes
the feast of Saincte Andrewe nexte ensuyng the late mencioned agreement Fabian And this shoulde seeme true for wheras these Authours whiche reporte Ran. Higd. that Earle Edryke was the procurer of his death they also write that when he knewe the acte to be done hee hasted vnto Cnute H. Hunt and declared vnto hym what he had brought to passe for his aduauncement to the gouernement of the whole realme Whervppon Cnute abhorryng suche a detestable facte sayde vnto hym Bycause thou haste for my sake made awaye the worthyest bodye of the world I shall rayse thy head aboue all the Lordes of Englande and so caused him to be put to death Thus haue some bookes Howbeit this reporte agreeth not with other writers whiche declare howe Cnute aduaunced Edryke in the beginning of his reigne vnto high honour and made hym gouernour of Mercia Some thinke that he vvas Dâ—…e of Mercia before and novv had Essex adioyned therto and vsed his counsell in manye things after the death of king Edmund as in banishing Edwin the brother of kyng Edmunde with his sonnes also Edmunde and Edward His body was buryed at Glastenbury neere his vncle king Edgar With thys Edmunde surnamed Ironsyde fell the glorious Maiestie of the English kingdome The whiche afterwarde as it had beene an aged bodye beyng sore decayed and weakened by the Danes that nowe got possession of the whole yet somewhat recouered after the space of .xxvj. yeres vnder kyng Edward surnamed the Confessor and shortely thervpon as it had bin falne into a resiluation came to extreme ruine by the inuasion and conquest of the Normans as after by gods good helpe and fauorable assistance it shall appeare Canute or Cnute Canute shortely after the death of king Edmunde assembled a Councell at London in the whiche he caused all the nobles of the realme to do vnto him homage in receiuing an othe of loyall obeysance Hee deuided the realme into foure parts assigning Northumberlande vnto the rule of Irke or Iricius Mercia vnto Edrike Eastangle vnto Turkyl reseruing the west part to his own gouernance He banished as before is sayd Edwyn the brother of king Edmunde but such as was suspected to bee culpable of Edmundes death he caused to be put to execution wherof it should appeare that Edrick was not then in any wyse detected or once thought to bee giltie VV. Malm. The foresayd Edwyn afterwards returned and was then reconciled to the Kings fauour as some do write and was shortly after trayterously slaine by his owne seruants Ran. Higd. He was called the king of Churles King of Churles VVil. Mal. Other write that he came secretely into the realme after he had bin banished and keeping himselfe closely out of sighte at length ended his lyfe and was buried at Tauestocke Moreouer Edwyn and Edwarde the sonnes of king Edmund were banished the lande and sent first vnto Sweno king of Norway to haue bin made awaye Ran. Higd. but Sweno vppon remorse of conscience sent them into Hungarie where they founde great fauour at the handes of king Salomon in so muche that Edmunde married the daughter of the same Salomon but had no issue by hir Edward was aduaunced to marry with Agatha the daughter of the Emperour Henrye and by hir had issue two sonnes Edmunde and Edgar surnamed Adelyng as many daughters Margarete and Christine of the whiche in place conuenient more shall be sayd When Kyng Cnute hadde established thynges as hee thoughte stoode moste to his suretie he called to remembrance that he had no issue but two bastarde sonnes Harrolde and Sweno Polidore K. Cnute marieth Queene Emme the vvidovv of Egelred in Iuly anno 1017. begotten of his concubine Alwyne Wherfore he sent ouer vnto Richarde Duke of Normandie requiring that he mighte haue Queene Emme the widow of king Egelred in mariage so obteyned hir not a little to the wonder of manye which thought a great ouersight both in the woman and in hir brother that woulde satisfye the requeste of Cnute herein considering hee hadde bin such a mortall enimie to hir former husbauÌ„d But Duke Richarde did not only consent Polidore that hys sayd sister should be maryed vnto Cnute but also he hymselfe tooke to wyfe the Lady Hestâ—â—tha syster to the sayd Cnute Heere ye haue to vnderstande that this mariage was not made without greate consideration and large couenants granted on the part of king Cnute for before he could obtain queene Emme to his wife it was fully condiscended and agreed that after Cnutes deceasse the crowne of Englande should remaine vnto the issue borne of this mariage betwixte hir and Cnute The couenant made at the mariage betvvixt Cnute and Emme whiche couenant although it was not perfourmed immediatly after the deceasse of kyng Cnute yet in the ende it tooke place so as the right seemed to bee deferred and not to be taken awaye nor abolished for immediatly vpon Haroldes death that had vsurped Hardicnute succeeded as right heire to the crown by force of the agreement made at the tyme of the mariage solemnised betwixt his father and mother and being once established in the Kingdome hee ordeyned his brother Edwarde to succede hym whereby the Danes were vtterly excluded from all ryghte that they hadde to pretende vnto the Crowne of this land and the Englishe bloud restored thereto The Englishe bloud restored The praise of Quene Emme for hir vvisedome chiefly by that gracious conclusion of this mariage betwixt king Cnute and Queene Emme for the which no small prayse was thoughte to bee due vnto the sayd Queene sith by hir politike gouernement in making hir matche so beneficiall to hir selfe and hir lyne the Crowne was thus recouered out of the handes of the Danes and restored againe in time to the right heire as by an auncient treatise whiche some haue intitled Encomium Emmae Encomium Emmae and was written in those dayes it doth and may appere Whiche booke although there bee but fewe Copies thereof abroade gyueth vndoubtedly greate light to the historie of that tyme. But nowe to our purpose Cnute the same yeare in whiche he was thus maryed Mat. VVest thorought perswasion of his wyfe Queene Emme sent away the Danishe nauie armie home into Denmark giuing to them fourscore and two thousande poundes of siluer whiche was leuied thoroughout this lande for their wages In the yeare a thousande and eighteene VVil. Mal. Edrycke de Streona Erle of Mercia was ouerthrowen in his owne turne for being called afore the King into his priuie chamber and there in reasoning the matter about some quarell that was piked to him hee beganne very presumptuously to vpbrayde the king of suche pleasures as he had before tyme done vnto him I did sayde he for the loue which I bare towardes you forsake my soueraigne Lorde king Edmunde and at length for your sake slewe him At whiche wordes Cnute beganne to change
Chester so that the same Leofryke bare great rule in ordering of things touching the state of the Cōmon wealth vnder hym as one of his chief counsellours Diuers laws and statutes he made for the gouernment of the cōmon wealth King Cnutes lavves partly agreeable with the lawes of king Edgar and other the kinges that were his predecessors and partely tempered according to his owne liking and as was thought to him most expediēt among the which there b. diuers that concerne causes as wel ecclesiasticall as temporall Wherby as M. For hath noted it may be gathered ◅hat the gouernement of spirituall matters dyd depend then not vpon y e Bishop of Rome but rather appertayned vnto the laufull authoritie of the temporall Prince no lesse than matters and causes temporall But of these lawes and statutes enacted by king Cnute ye maye reade more as ye finde them sette foorth in the before remembred booke of Master William Lambert whiche for briefnesse we heere omitte Harolde the base sonne of Cnute Harold Mat. VVest VVil. Mal. AFter that Cnute was departed this lyfe ther arose great variance amongst the peeres and great Lordes of the realme about the succession The Danes and Lōdoners which through continuall familiaritie had with the Danes were become lyke vnto them elected Harrolde the base sonne of king Cnute Controuersie for the crovvn to succeede in his fathers roome hauing Earle Leofrike and diuers other of the noble menne of the Northe partes on theyr side But other of the Englishmē and namely Erle Goodwyn Erle of Kent with the chiefest lordes of the weast partes coueted rather to haue one of K. Egelreds sons which were in Normandie or else Hardiknought the sonne of kyng Cnute by his wife Quene Emme Simon Dun. The realm deuided betvvixt Harold and Hadiknought which remained in Denmarke aduaunced to the place Thys controuersie helde in suche wyse that the Realme was deuided as some write by lotte betwixte the two brethren Harolde and Hardicnute The north parte as Mercia and Northumberlande fell to Harrolde and the south part vnto Hardicnute but at length the whole remained vnto Harrolde bycause his brother Hardicnute refused to come out of Denmarke to take the gouernment vpon him But yet the authoritie of Earle Goodwyn who had the queene and the treasure of the realm in his keeping stayed the matter a certayn time The authoritie of Erle Goodvvyn H. Hunt hee professing hymselfe as it were Gardian to the yong men the sonnes of the Queene tyll at length he was constrayned to gyue ouer hys holde and conforme hym selfe to the stronger parte and greater number And so at Oxforde where the assemble was holden aboute the election Harrolde was proclaymed kyng and sacred accordyng to the manner as some write But it shoulde appeare by other that the Archbishoppe of Canterburye Elnothus a manne endued with all vertue and wysedome refused to crowne hym The refusall of the Archb. Elnothus to sacre kyng Harolde For when kyng Harolde beeing elected of the nobles and peeres requyred the sayde Archebishoppe that he myght be of him sacred and receyue at hys handes the Regall Scepter wyth the Crowne whyche the Archebishoppe hadde in hys custodie and to whome it onely did appertayne to investe hym therewyth the Archebishop flatly refused and wyth an othe protested that he woulde not sacre any other for Kynge so long as the Queenes chyldren liued For sayth he Cnute committed them to my truste and assuraunce and to them will I keepe my sayth and loyall obedience The scepter and crowne I heere laye downe vpon the aulter and neyther doe I deuye nor deliuer them vnto you but I forbid by the Apostolyke authoritie all the Bishoppes that none of them presume to take the same away and delyuer them to you or facte you for kyng As for your selfe if you dare you maye vsurpe that whyche I haue committed vnto God and hys table But whether afterwardes the Kyng by one meane or other caused the Archebyshoppe to crowne hym Kyng or that he was sacred of some other he was admitted for kyng of al the Englishe people beginning hys reygne in the yeare of our Lorde a thousande thirtie and sixe 1036. in the fouretenth yeare of the Emperour Concade the seconde in the sixte yeare of Henrye the firste kyng of Fraunce and aboute the seuen and twentie yere of Malcolme the second king of Scotlande Thus Harold for his grear swyftnesse Harold vvhy he is surnamed Harefoote was surnamed Harefoot of whom little is written touchyng hys doyngs sauyng that he is noted to haue ben an oppressour of his people and spotted wyth manye notable vices It was spoken of dyuers in those dayes Harolde euill spoken of that thys Harrolde was not the sonne of Cnute but of a shoemaker and y t his supposed mother Elgiua king Cnutes concubine Ran. Higd ex Marione to bring the king further in loue with hir fayned that she was with chyld and about the time that she shuld be brought to bed as she made hir accompt caused the sayd Shoemakers son to be secretly brought into hir chamber and then vntruly caused it to be reported that she was deliuered and the chylde so reputed to bee the kings sonne Mat. VVest Immediatly vpon aduertisement had of Cnutes death Alfred the sonne of king Egelred with fifty saile landed at Sandwich meaning to chalenge the crowne to obteyn it by lawful claym with quietnes if he might if not then to vse force by ayde of his frends and to assay that way forth to winne it if he mighte not otherwyse obteyne it From Sandwiche he came to Canterbury and shortly after Earle Goodwyn feygnyng to receyue hym as a friend came to meet hym and at Gilford in the night season appoinied a number of armed men to fall vpon the Normans as they were a sleepe and so tooke them together with Alvred slewe the Normans by the poll in suche wise that .ix. were slaine and the .x. reserued But yet when those that were reserued seemed to him a greater number than he wished to escape he fell to and againe tithed them as before Alvred had his eyes put out and was conueyed to the I le of Elye where shortely after he died Ra. Higd. How Alvred should clayme the crowne to himselfe I see not for verily I can not be perswaded that he was elder brother although diuers authors haue so written sith that Gemeticensis and the authour of the booke called Encomium Emma plainly affirme that Edward was the elder but it might bee that Alvred beeing a man of a stouter stomacke than his brother Edward made this attempt eyther for himself or in the behalfe of his brother Edward being as then absent See M. Foxe Acts Mon. Eag 11◅ Si. Dunelm and gone into Hungarie as some write but other saye that as well Edwarde as Alvred came ouer at this tyme with a number of
DESCRIPTION OF Scotlande written at the first by Hector Boethus in Latin and afterwarde translated into the Scottish speech by Iohn Bellendon Archdeacon of Murrey and now finally into English for the benefite of such as are studious in the Histories by W.H. The Contents of the Chapters conteyned in this Booke 1 OF the boundes of Albion with the sundrie commodities thereof and of the great infirmities that fall vnto the people there for their intemperancie and finally of the religion vsed there in olde tyme. 2 The description of the East VVest and middle borders of Scotlande with the most notable townes and floudes thereof 3 The description of Galloway Kile Carricke and Cunningham with the notable townes lakes and riuers in the same 4 The situation of Renfrew Cliddesdale Lennox Lowmund Argile Louchquaber Lorne and Kentire with all the notable things conteyned in the same 5 Of Ros Stranauerne and Murray lande with such Lakes and Riuers as are to be touched there 6 Of Boene Anze Buquhane Mar Mernes Fiffe and Angus with the Lakes Flouddes Abbeyes Townes and other notable commodities there to be seene and founde 7 Of Louthian Striuelin Menteith Calidon wood Bowgewall Gareoth with the notable Cities Castels and Flouds thereof 8 Of the greate plentie of Hares Hartes and other wilde beastes in Scotland also of the straunge nature of sundrie Scottish dogges and of the nature of Salmon 9 Of the sundrie kindes of Muskels and Cockles in Scotlande and Perles gotten in the same Of vncouth and strange fishe there to be seene and of the nature of the herbe Citisus commonly called Hadder 10 Of the Iles of Scotlande and such notable things as are to be found in them 11 Of the nature of their Claike Geese and diuerse maner of their procreation and of the Isle of Thule 12 The description of Orkenay and Shetlande with sundrie other small Isles and of the maners and conditions of the people dwelling in the same 13 Of the maners of the Scottes in these dayes and their comparison with the behauiour of the olde and such as liued long since within this Ilande 14 The description of an auncient Pict and such as dwelled beyond the wall of Hadrian 15 Of Bishoprikes Vniuersities and Counties in Scotland TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVL Maister Thomas Secford Esquier and Maister of the Requestes William Harison vvisheth all knovvledge of God with dayly increase of his giftes at this present and in the worlde to come life euerlasting HAuing by your singular curtesie receyued great helpe in my description of the riuers and streames of Britain and by conference of my trauaile vvith the platformes of those fevv shires of England vvhich are by your infinite charges alreadie finished as the rest shall be in time by Gods helpe for the inestimable benefite of suche as inhabite this Ilande not a little pullished those rough courses of diuerse vvaters not exactly before time described by Leland our Countreyman or any auncient vvriter I coulde not deuise anye thing more agreable vvith mine abilitie your good nature vvhich greatly fauoureth anye thing that is done for a commoditie vnto many than to shevv some token of my thankefulnesse for these your manifold kindnesses by the dedication of my simple translation of the description of Scotland at this tyme vnto your vvorship In deede the trauaile taken herein is not great bycause I tie not my translation vnto his letter neither the treatise of it selfe such as taketh vp any huge rovvme in the volume of this Chronicle But such as it is vvhat soeuer it is I yeeld it vvholy vnto you as a testimonie of my good vvill vvhich detesteth vtterly to receyue any benefit though it be neuer so smal and not to be thankfull for it Certes my vocation is such as calleth me to a farre other kind of studie so that I exercise these things onely for recreation sake and to say the truth it is muche vnsitting for him that professeth Diuinitie to applie his time any other vvise vnto contemplation of ciuill Histories And this is the cause vvherfore I haue chosen rather onely vvith the losse of three or foure dayes to translate Hector out of the Scottish a tongue verie like vnto ours than vvith more expence of time to diuise a nevve or follovv the Latin copie vvhich is farre more large and copious Hovv excellently if you consider the arte Boethus hath penned it and the rest of his Historie in the Latin the skilfull are not ignorant but hovv profitably and compendiously Iohn Bellendon Archdeacon of Murrey his interpretour hath turned him from the Latin into the Scottish tongue there are verie fevve English men that knovv bycause vve want the bookes VVherefore sith the learned reade him in his ovvne stile and his Countreymen in their naturall language vvhy should not vve borovv his description and read the same in English likevvise sith the knovvledge thereof may redounde to the great benefit of so many as heare or read the same Accept therefore right vvorshipfull this my simple offer and although I assure my selfe your naturall inclination to be such as that it vvill take nothing in ill part that is vvell meant tovvard you hovve rudely soeuer it bee handled in the doing yet I vvill not let to craue pardon for my presumption in that I dare be so bold as to offer such a trifle vnto you whom more vveightie affayres doe dayly call from things of so small importaunce Almightie God keepe your vvorship from time to time in his feare and blesse you and my good Ladie your vvife vvith such increase of his benefites as may most redounde to his glorie and your ovvne aduauntage ¶ The boundes of Albion with the sundry commodities thereof and of the great infirmities that fall vnto the people there for their intemperancy and finally of the Religion vsed there in old tyme. Chap. 1. THe I le of Albion contayneth in the whole circuÌ„ference two thousande myles hauing in length 700. and in breadth 300. as appeareth well by the coast therof that lieth ouer agaynst Fraunce where it is broadest and from whence it gathereth narrower and narrower till it come to the vtter Marches last boundes of England and Scotland For betwixte the Mâ—…le of Galloway that is on the west side ouer against the Irish seas and Saint Ebbes head that lieth vpon the Germaine Ocean towarde the east are scarcely 130. myles and thenceforth it groweth smaller and smaller till it touch vpoÌ„ the North seas where it is not aboue 30. miles as I noted before in the descriptioÌ„ of Brytaine This I le is replenished with people horses and all other kindes of cattell and corne in moste aboundant maner except it be in suche places where as God of his singular goodnesse 〈◊〉 otherwise indued the soyle with ritche mynes of Gold Siluer Tinne Brasse Copper quicksiluer whiche for the most parte are so plentiful that they suffise not onely for the necessaries of the whole Iland but also
likewise Martirnes Beuers Foxes Weselles whose skinnes and cases are solde vnto straungers at huge and excessiue prices In Murray land also is not all-only great plenty of wheate Barley Otes and such like grayne beside Nuttes and Apples but likewise of all kindes of fishe and especially of Salmon The people thereof in like sort do vse a strange maner of fishing for they make a loÌ„g Wee le of wicker narrow necked wide mouthed with such cunning that wheÌ„ the tide commeth the fishe shoote themselues into the same foorthwith are so inclosed that whilest the tide lasteth he cannot get out nor after the water is gone escape the hands of the fishers In this region moreouer is a lake named Spiney wherein is exceeding plenty of Swannes The cause of their increase in this place is ascribed to a certaine hearbe which groweth there in great abundaÌ„ce and whose seede is very pleasant vnto the sayde foule in the eating wherfore they call it Swan Gyrs herevnto such is the nature of y e same that where it is once sowen or plaÌ„ted it wil neuer be destroyed as may be proued by experience For albeit that this lake be fiue myles in length was sometime within the remembrance of man very well stored with Salmon and other great fishe yet after that this 〈◊〉 began to multiply vpon the same it became â—…o shallow that one may now wade thorow the greatest parte thereof by meane whereof all the great fishe there is vtterly consumed In the portion furthermore is the Churche of Peâ—â— where the bones of litle Iohn remayneth great admiration Certes this catcase hath bene 24. foote long his members well proportioned according to his stature This was no Foâ—… 〈…〉 into 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Scotland and not fully sixe yeares before this booke was written by Boethus hee sawe his hanche bone whithe seemed so great as the whole thighe of a man and he did thrust his aâ—…me into the hollownesse thereof whereby it appereth what mighty people grew vp in 〈◊〉 region before they were ouercome with gluttony and excesse In this quarter finally is the towne called Elgyn not farre from the mouth of Spaye and therin is a Cathedral church furnished with Chanons there are thereto sundry riche and very wealthy Abbayes in Murray as Kyllâ—…s of the order of the Cisteaux and Pluscardy of the Cluniackes Of Boene Anze Buchquhaue Mar Meruis Fiffe and Angus with the lakes floudes Abbeyes townes and other notable things conteyned in the same Chap. 6. NExt vnto the Murray lieth Boene and Anze two fertile and plentifull regions whiche extend their boundes euen vnto the 〈◊〉 They are both very notably indued with baâ—â—ble pastures and by reason thereof are very full of cattell they yeelde moreouer excellent corne by meanes of theyr large woodes and forests not without great store of wilde beastâ—…s of sundry kindes and natures Neare also vnto the Douerne water which is a riuer marueylously stored with fish staÌ„deth a towne named Bâ—â—â— and vnder these two regions aforesayde lieth Buchquhane a very barable soyle for all kindes of cattell but especially of sheepe whose wooll exceedeth that of the like beast of all other countries there aboutes for whitenesse and 〈◊〉 The riuers that are in this countrey do in lyke maner abound with Salmons so that there is no one of them voyde of this commoditie except the Rattra onely wherein it is not hearde that any hath ben seene herein also standeth the castell of Slanis in which the high constable of ScotlaÌ„d dwelleth and neare vnto the same is a marueylous caue for the water that droppeth into the same in a short processe of time becommeth an harde white stone and except they had bene oft remoued heretofore the caue it self had bene filled vp with the same many yeres agone This region is voide of rattes such is the nature therof that if any be brought thither from other places they are found to die immediatly finally it is most marueylous of all y t as Otes do growe there in many places of themselues without culture tillage so if a man come thither of set purpose to mow downe the same he shal find nothing els but empty hulles straw but if he chaunce vpon the sodaine and without premeditatioÌ„ of the thing to cut downe any a matter impossible in my minde he shall finde them so good ful as any are elswhere to be gathered ledde home Certes it appeareth hereby that this is nothing els but an illusion wherewith the wicked fends do captiuate blinde the senses of the superstitious sort for that it should be so by nature it is a thing altogither impossible Nexte vnto this lieth the greate region of Mar whiche is very plentifull of cattell and extendeth 60. miles in length froÌ„ the Almaigne seas to Badzenoch In this is the Citie of Aberdene wherein is a Bishops sea and noble Vniuersitie sometime founded by William Elphinston Bishop there This citie lieth betwixt two riche riuers the Done the Dee wherin is the greatest store of Salmons that is to be founde againe within the compasse of Albion and likewise the greatest longest if you respect their quantitie Next vnto Marre we haue Mernis toward y e sea a very fatte soyle ful of pasture abundantly replenished with euery sort of cattell In this portion standeth Dunnother the Marshall of Scotlands house likewise the towne of Fordon in whiche the bones of Palladius do rest who is taken generally for the Apostle of our nation The water of Eske is bound vnto this region whiche is otherwise called Northeske a very daungerous chanell wherin many haue perished for default of a bridge as they haue attempted to passe repasse ouer the same Angus bordereth vpon the Mernis it was sometime part of Horrestia now watered with three notable riuers as the Northeske already mentioned marueylously replenished with SalmoÌ„s likewise the Southeske finally the Tay the noblest water in all Scotland and remembred by the Romayne writers vnder the name of Tau In Angus also is an highe Mountayne or Promontory called the redde Brayes whiche lieth out farre off into the Almayne seas The Tay also riseth farre beyond the Mountaynes of Granzeben out of Loch Tay whiche is a poole of 24. miles of length and 10. of breadth wherein are not onely diuerse Islandes with Castels in them but the water of the lake it self beyng moste fine and subtile is notably replenished with great store of fish and therfore very commodious for such as dwell about it It falleth into the Almayne sea beside Dundee a towne called in olde tyme Alectum wherein I was borne and in whiche the people trauayle very painefully about weauing and making of cloth There are in Angus also many other cities riche Abbayes as Mountros Brechin Forfayr beside so many Castelles as lieth not in me to number This likewise is not to be passed ouer with
bubble of water without al massy sadnesse bycause that as yet it is not sufficiently hardned by the working of the Element Somtimes y e Seatangle is found enuironed also w tal Alga bicause it is driueÌ„ hither thither by the working of y e waues so loÌ„g as it fleetes to fro in this maner so long is it apte to cleaue to any thing that it toucheth Twoo yeeres before I wrote this booke there came a great lompe of Amber into Buchquhane in quantity so bigge as any horse which the heardmeÌ„ that kept their cattell neare hand caught vp not knowing in deede what it was they caried it home threw a portion thereof into the fire finally perceiuing a sweete delectable sauour to proceede froÌ„ the same they ran by by to the Priest of y e towne where they dwelled telling him how they had found a peece of stuffe whiche would serue very well in steede of FraÌ„kensence wherwith to perfume his sainctes or rather Idols in the church These meÌ„ supposed that sir Iohn had ben more cunning than themselues but contrary to that expectation it fell out that he was no lesse vnskilful voyde of knowledge than they therefore refusing the whole lumpe he tooke but â—… small portion therof and returned the rest vnto theÌ„ whereby it came to litle proofe lesse gaâ—â— among the common sorte who suffred it to perish by reason of theyr vnskilfulnesse 〈◊〉 when they brake it in peeces it resembled in colour vnto the purest golde shined as if it had bene the laie or flame of a caÌ„dle Herein also the Prouerb was proued true that the Sow reckâ—… not of Balme But so sone as I vnderstoode of the matter I vsed such diligence that one poâ—…tioÌ„ therof was brought to me at Aberden And thus much of the Hebrides Orchades Schetland Iles subiect vnto the Scottish regiment I might no doubt haue made rehersall of diuers other things worthy the noting in this behalfe But I haue made choise onely of the most rare excellent and so would finish this descriptioÌ„ were it not that one thing hath stayed me right pleasant to be remembred as an vncouth and strange incident whereof master Iames Ogilby Ambassadour from Iames our King among other vnto the King of Fraunce hath certified me whereof he had experience of lâ—…e at such time as he was constrayned by tempest of weather to get to land in Norway Thâ—â— standeth the case being driuen as I sayde vpon the shore of Norway he and his company saw a kinde of people raungyng vp downe in the mountaynes there much like vnto those which diuers pictures giue forth for wilde men â—…eâ—…ry and vgly to behold In the end being aduertized that they were sauage wilde beastes yet neuerthelesse deadly enimies to maÌ„kind they vnderstood thervnto that although in the day time they abhorred feared the sight of man yet in the night they would by great companies inuade the small villages countrey townes killing sleying so many as they found or where no dogges were kept to put by their rage fury Certes such is their nature that they stande in great feare of dogges at whose barking sight they flie and runne away with no small haâ—â—e terrour wherefore the inhabitants are inforced to cherish great numbers of the said beasts therby to keepe off those wilde men that otherwise would annoy them they are moreouer of suche strength that somtimes they pull vp yong tâ—…ees by the rootes to fight withall amoÌ„g themselues The Ambassadors â—…eyng these vncouth creatures were not a litle astonnied therfore to be sure froÌ„ all inuasion they procured a stroÌ„g gard to watch al night about theÌ„ with great fâ—…res to giue light ouer all that quarter till on the morrow that they tooke the sea so departed thence Finally the NorwegiaÌ„s shewed theÌ„ that there was another people not far of whiche liued all the SoÌ„mer time in the sea like fish fed of such as they did catch but in y e Winter half bicause the water is cold they prayed vpon such wilde beasts as fedde on the mountaynes whiche coÌ„ming downe from the snowy hilles to grase in the valeys they killed with dartes weapons carried vnto their caues In this exercise also they tie certaine litle boordes to their feete which beare them vp from sinking into the snow so with a staffe in their handes they make the better shifte to clime vp and come downe from the cragges and mountaines wherof in that region there is very great plenty and aboundance Of the maners of the Scottes in these dayes and their comparison with the behauiour of the old and such as liued long since within this Iland Chap. 13. FOrasmuch as diuers noble men haue desired me to shew apart the old maners of the Scots touched in my history to the end it may be knowen how far our nation in these present dayes are different in their maners behauiour froÌ„ those of our forefathers herevnto although I assure my self already y t the reuealing of these things will procure vnto me the hatred of sundry worthy or renowmed personages of which few wil yeelde to heare their doings touched or their errours reproued yet bicause I owâ—… such duetie seruice vnto those that haue made this request vnto me least I should seeme ingrate not to herken vnto theÌ„ in this behalf I haue coÌ„descended to the performaunce of their desires somuch the rather for y t they alledge how it wil be very profitable vnto al readers but especially such as are not immoderately giuen ouer into their owne affections nor so wholly drowned in their owne sensuality pleasures but vpon consideration of wholsome admonition will be very willing to leaue what soeuer offendeth in them First of al therfore I will declare what vsages haue ben among our elders both in â—…me of warre peace and by what wisedome industrie they haue preuailed so long time against such so many mighty aduersaries as first the Brytons then y e Saxons next of al the Danes whiche haue entred into this Iland with huge armies to spoyle and suâ—…due the same Furthermore I wil set downe with somuch breuily as I can how the falling by litle litle froÌ„ the frugalitie and customes of their Forefathers their vertue force also began in like order to decay And finally how in these daies either by the clemeÌ„cy of our neighbours or by their delicate negligence rather than by our owne prowes wee liue in security thereby as it were ouerwhelmed wrapped vp in al 〈◊〉 excesse wherinto our want of exercise and martiall prowesse doth marueylously impest vs. Certes I beleue that by this meanes such â—â— are of y e more couragious sort yet reteyning a sauour of the teÌ„perantie of theyr elders will eâ—…ioyce to heaâ—…e their manhoode and great prowes coÌ„mended in this wise
Aurelius eueÌ„ sicke as he was caused himself to be â—…aryed forth in a litter with whose presence his people were so encouraged that encountering with the Saxons they wanne the victorie although with such losse on theâ—… side that Aurelius was glad to take truce for the space of foure monethes and therewith breaking vp his campe went vnto Wynchester and sent Ambassadors vnto the Scottish and Pictish kings for ayde agaynst the time when the truce should expyre which was grauÌ„ted and so hee prouided for all things readie for the warres agaynst the appoynted time of theyr assemble Occa also sent his brother Pascentius into Germanie for more ayd but as some write heâ—… was driuen by contrarie windes into Irelande and getting a greate power of men togyther there he came backe to his brother with the same But whether he had those men out of Ireland or Germanie sure it is that the power of the Saxons was greatly encreased therewith In the meane time died Aurelius Ambrose Aurelius Ambrose departeth this life who was poysoned by a mischieuous Monke a Saxon borne named Eopa or Copa as some bookes haue that tooke vpon him to be skilfull in phisick and a Monke by profession his death was sore lamented of the Brytaynes but contrarywise the Saxons reioyced greatly thereof so that immediatly after Occa with his power inuadeth the Brytons vsing greate crueltie in all places wheresoeuer he came In the meane time the Scottish and Pictish armies were come forwarde towardes Aurelius according to promise made vnto his Ambassadors but wheÌ„ his death was certainly knowne amongest them The Scottish armie returns home againe the Captaynes and leaders of both those armyes resolued to returne home againe and so they did for that they doubted in what state and order things shoulde stande amongst the Brytaynes now after the deceasse of their late king After the death of Aurelius Ambrose hys brother Vter was made king of Brytaine and falling in loue with the wife of Gothlois Duke of Cornwall hee did not onely force hir to lye with him but also to the ende hee might enioye hir the more freely he ceassed not to pursue hir husbande to ridde him out of the way whome at length he tooke within a Castle into the which he was fledde and foorthwyth caused him to bee executed â—…urmysing matter agaynst him for that he had forsaken one of his Captaines cleped Nathaliod in battaile agaynst the Saxons By the wife of this Gothlois Vter begat Arthure Vter had issue the greate Arthure and because he had no legitimate sonne he appoynted that Arthure shoulde succeede him in gouernment of the realme Herewith Loth the Pictish king was not a little moued disdeyning that Arthure beeing a bastarde and begot of another mans wife in adulterie shoulde be preferred before his sonnes the rightfull heyres of the Brytishe kingdome and therefore by Ambassadours he did what he could to disswade Vter from making any such ordinance But when he sawe that he coulde not remoue him from his opinion he thought best to content himselfe with silence till the time serued better for his purpose At length when the warres were agayne renued betwixt Vter and Occa the Saxon king Loth in reuenge of the iniurie done to him and his children ioyned himself with the Saxons and was with them at the battaile in which the Brytaynes got the victorie by the presence of Saint Germaine that holy Bishop of Auxer as the Scottish writers make mention Whiche battail as the same is set foorth by Hector Boetius bycause it toucheth the state of the Pictes we haue thought good here to expresse It was therefore about the feast of Easter when the armies came into the fielde the Saxons with the Picts on the one side and the Brytaynes on the other of whome no small number being eyther grown to be Idolaters through conuersation with the Saxons either else infected with the Heresie of the Pelagians euen there in campe S. Germain preacheth vnto the campe by hearing such godly Sermons as Saint Germain preached amongst them were conuerted to the true beliefe receyuing at the same tyme the Sacrament of the Lordes bodie togyther in companie with other of the faythfull Christians Finally when both parties were readie to giue battaile S. Germaine leadeth the forewarde Saint Germain tooke vpon him to haue the leading of the forewarde wherein he had all the Priestes and ecclesiasticall Ministers giuing commaundement Theâ—… crie was Alleluya that when he should crie Alleluya they should all answere him with one â—â—tier voyce Thus proceede they forth towardes the battaile Saint Germain beareth the kings staÌ„dard Saint Germain bearing the kings Standarde in the forefront and vpon the approche to the enimies he with the Priestes crying with a lowde voyce thrice togither Alleluya was answered by all the whole host vttering and crying the same crie so wholly togither that the verie sounde thereof caused such an eccho on eche syde by reason of the hollow mountaynes and cliâ—…es hard by them The Saxons miraculously discoâ—â—ed that the Saxons amazed at thys doubled noyse and doubting not onely another power of their enimies to be hiddeÌ„ priuily among the hilles which they sawe on eche side of them but also least the verie rockes and mountaynes would haue fallen downe vpon theyr heades togither with the frame of the Element readie as it seemed to them to breake in sunder they tooke them to their feete in suche dreadfull haste that their breath was not able to suffice halfe the desire they had to continue theyr course Many of them made such haste that running to the next ryuer in hope to passe the same were drowned therein To conclude all of them generally threw awaye both weapon and armure the more lightly to make away Thus through the pollicie of that blessed man Saint Germaine the victorie remayned wyth King Vter and his Brytaynes wythout any bloudshed Saint Bede making mention of this battayle Bede dissenteth from Hector Boetius his authour Veremond assigneth the tyme to be at the first comming of Saint Germain into this lande where Hector Boetius following Veremond supposeth it to be at the seconde time of his comming hither which was in the dayes of king Vter But at what time soeuer this victorie thus chaunced certaine it is the Brytaynes waxing prowde thereof nothing regarded the power of the Saxons nor tooke any heede for prouision of further defence The Brytayns giue themselues vnto all kindes of vice and abhominations but after that those holy Bishops Germain and Seuerus were returned into theyr Countrey they fell to all kyndes of gluttonie and excesse in following onely their sensual lusts and fleshly concupiscence which abuses the Bishops and other godly men lamenting The threatning of vengeance to succeede vicious liuing ceassed not most earnestly to reproue menacing destruction vnto the whole Countrey if the people leauing their wicked liuing and most heynous offences
right commodious possessions Moreouer he translated the Bishops Sea of Murthlake vnto Aberden for sundrie aduised considerations augmenting it with certaine reuenues as he thought expedient There goeth a fond forged tale A tale that this king Dauid being in the Castel of Edenburgh on the holy Rood day in Haruest otherwise called the Exaltation of the crosse it chauÌ„ced that through excyting of certaine yong Lordes and Gentlemen after he had beene at Churche hee tooke his Horse and rode foorth into the next wooddes to hunt the Harte for in those dayes all that countrey was full of Woods and wast grounds replenished with Deare and wilde beastes The Countrey about Edenburgh in olde time full of Wood. small tyllage as then beeing vsed in any part of the Realme for all the people in maner were giuen to breeding of Castell more than to any other trade of liuing This was in the same place where nowe springs a fountaine called the Rood Well There is no man that could tell of what matter this Crosse was made whether of mettall stone or of tree A dreame He was admonished also as the report goeth in his slepe the next night after that he should buylde an Abbay in the same place where thys chaunce happened Holy Rood house builded Wherupon he sent for workmen into Fraunce and Flaunders and set them in hande to buyld this Abbey of Chanons reguler as he was admonished dedicating it in the honor of the Crosse The foresayde Crosse remayned in this Abbey til the dayes of king Dauid Bruce who lost it to the English men at Durram field where he was takeÌ„ prisoner But inough of these MoÌ„kish deuises Many prudent men blame greatly the vnmeasurable liberalitie of king Dauid the which he vsed towardes the Churche Liberalitie in king Dauid toward the Church reproued in diminishing so hugely the reuenues of the Crowne beeing the cause that manye noble Princes his successours haue come to their final endes for that they haue beene constrayned through want of treasure to mainteyne their royall estates to procure the fall of sundrie great houses to possesse theyr landes and liuings Also to rayse paymentes and exactions of the common people to the vtter impouerishment of the realme And sometime haue they bene constrayned to inuade Englande by warres as desperate men not caring what came of their liues Otherwhiles haue they beene inforced to stampe naughtie money to the great preiudice of the common wealth All which mischiefes haue followed sithe the time that the Church hath beene thus enryched The Churche enriched and the crowne enpouerished The saying of king Iames the first A soer Saint and the crowne empouerished Therfore king Iames the first when he came to king Dauid his Sepulture at Dunfirmling he sayd that he was a soer Saint for the crown meaning that he left the Church ouer riche and the Crowne too poore For he tooke from the crowne as Iohn Maior wryteth in his Chronicles lx thousand pouÌ„d Scottish of yearely reuenues Io. Maior Lx. M. pounds in lands giuen to the church which he endowed those Abbayes with But if king Dauid had considered the maner how to nourish true religion he had neyther endowed Churches with such riches nor buylt them with such royall magnificence Superfluous possessions of the Church for the superfluous possessions of the Church as they are now vsed are not only occasion to euill Prelates to liue in moste insolent pompe and corruption of life but also an assured net to drawe all maner of gold and siluer out of the realme howbeit lesse domage would follow if the Abbays were at the prouision of their ordinaries without any dispensation from theyr habite and religion and the ordinaries to be placed and admitted by their prymate without exemption and the prymate by the councel prouincial For within these .lxx. yeares sayth the translator of Hector Boetius his Chronacles meaning from the time that he wrote 〈◊〉 whiche was aboute the yeare of our redemption .1530 no benefices at all were fetched from Rome â—…fices fetched from Rome saue onely Bishoprickes Sithe whiche time it is knowen wel inough sayth he what golde and siluer hath gone foorth of the realme for the purchasing of spirituall promotions And therfore it is as he also saith to be doubted least the realme shal be brought to irrecouerable pouertie by continuall promotion of Prelates within these fewe yeares Promotion of prelates so as it shal be an easie pray to the enimies sithe it may not sustayne so great charges nowe by reason hereof in time of warres as it hath done in the dayes of our elders Thus muche haue I taken foorth of the saide translators wordes and of Iohn Maior his booke touching the abuse of spirituall meÌ„s possessions the which both of them do earnestly lament with many moe woordes in the place before alledged where they make mencion of king Dauid his great munificeÌ„ce towards the church But nowe to returne where I left touching the historie ye shall note that as I sayde before king Dauid had by his wife Mauld inheritour to parte of Northumberland Cumberland and Huntington a sonne named Henry who maried the Erle of Warrannes daughter Earle of Waranne a lady of high parentage as discended of most noble bloud both French and English The issue of Henry On whom he begat three sonnes Malcolme William and Dauid also three daughters Adhama Margaret Maulde But now in the meane time whilest the astate of the common wealth in Scotland stood in high felicitie vnder the prosperous gouernmeÌ„t of king Dauid Queene Mauld deceasseâ— there happened to him an heauie losse for the Queene his wife the foresayd Mauld deceassed in hyr flourishing age a woman of passing beautie and chastitie whiche two poynts as is thought commende a woman aboue all the rest King Dauid therefore tooke suche griefe for hyr death that he woulde neuer after giue his minde to marie any other but passed the residue of his life without companie of all women She was buried in Scone in the yeare of our lorde God .1132 1132. Whilest these things came thus to passe in Scotland Henry Beauclerke king of England caused all the nobles of his realme to take theyr othes that after his deceasse they should receyue his daughter Mauld the Empresse for their soueraine Ladie and Queene Mauld the Empresse She was as then returned into England for hyr husbande the Emperoure was lately before deceassed King Dauid also tooke this othe King Stephan and therefore when king Stephan who vsurped the crowne of England after king Henries deceasse against the saide Empresse sent vnto king Dauid to come and to do his homage for the Erledomes of Northumberlande Homage is required Cumberlande and Huntington according as by his tenure he was bounde to do with intimation that if he refused king Stephan woulde inuade him with open warre King Dauid answeared that he
easie composition of money which she payed for hir mariage restored vnto hir againe all hir landes liuings suffring hir to enioy hir husbande without any more trouble or vexation Robert Bruce that was after king of Scotland is borne In the thirde yeare after the sayd Ladie was deliuered of the afore remembred Robert Bruce that was after king of Scotland And the same yeare which was the yeare after the byrth of our Sauiour 1274 1274. Dauid the seconde sonne of king Alexander deceassed and the thirde yeare after the brethren of Edward king of England came into Scotland to visite the Queene their sister and their brother in lawe the King K. Alexander with his wife the Queene came to London and after did attend them both in theyr iourney to London whither they went to be present at the coronation of the foresayde Edwarde as then returned forth of Affrike after the deceasse of his father King Henrie to take vpon him the gouernment of the Kingdome descended vnto him by right of inheritance He was crowned the same yeare on the day of the assumption of our Ladie in August wyth great solemnitie and tryumph The same time there was a Norman in king Edwardes Court A Norman of passing streÌ„gth of suche passing strength of bodye that he ouerthrewe all men with whome hee wrastled Ferquhard a Scottish man ouerthrew the sayd Norman tyll at length was Ferquhard a Scottish man borne of the Countrey of 〈◊〉 descended of noble 〈…〉 his great prayse and gouernment 〈…〉 King Alexander in guerdâ—…n of so 〈…〉 there done in the presence of so 〈…〉 â—…imble gaue vnto him the Earledome of â—…osse foreuermore 〈…〉 Ferquhard succeeded 〈◊〉 Earles 〈◊〉 of his surname The Earldom of Rosse giue William Rosse alias Leslie but the sixt Earle was named William Rosse otherwise Lesly in whose sonne the seuenth Earle fayled the dignitie of that house for fault of succession At the sometime prince Alexander king Alexanders sonne did homage vnto king Edward for the Earledome of Huntington as the Scottish writers do testifie Shortly after that king Alexander was returned forth of Englande at that time into Scotlande The death of Queene Margaret his wife Queene Margaret deceassed and was buried in Dunfermling She bare by him two sonnes Alexander and Dauid and one daughter named Margaret the which according to the assurance before made was maried about three yeares after hir mothers deceasse vnto Hanigo The mariage of Margaret K. Alexanders daughter or rather Aquine king of Norway and deceassed in the seconde yeare after the solemnization of the maryage leauing behinde hir a daughter named also Margaret But before this happe fell so oute euen immediately after the death of Queene Margaret the mother hir yonger sonne Dauid deceassed The death of Dauid sonne to king Alexander By reason whereof King Alexander being carefull for his succession procured a maryage for his elder sonne Prince Alexander The mariage of Alexander prince of Scotlande wyth the Earle of Flaunders his daughter the whiche beeing brought into Scotlande was maryed vnto the sayd Prince at Iedworth on the Sunday after the feast of Saint Martyn in Winter in the yeare 1279. 1279. The feast of this maryage was holden with great tryumph and solemnitie continually the space of .xv. dayes togither This yeare a number of the Scottish nobilitie which had attended the Ladie Margaret into Norway were lost by shipwracke as they would haue returned back againe into Scotland after the consummation of hir maryage there with king Hanigo or Aquine Shortly after by force of deathes dreadfull dint two grieuous losses chaunced vnto King AlexaÌ„der the one following in y e neck of another The death of Alexander prince of Scotlande For first his eldest sonne Prince Alexander being not past .xx. yeres of age departed out of this worlde without leauing any issue behinde him and not long after his daughter Margaret Queene of Norway deceassed also The death of Margaret Queene of Norway leauing behinde hir one onely daughter as before is mentioned being as yet but an infant A Councell at Lions In the same yeare was a generall counsell holden at Lions the Pope and a great multitude of the Prelates of Christendome being there assembled To this counsell were summoned to appeare all the Prouincials Wardens and ministers of the begging Friers And for y e there were so many sundry orders of theÌ„ ech man deuising of hys owne brayne some newe alteration all those orders were reduced into the foure orders which after by the church of Rome were approued and alowed The foure orders of Friers A general coÌ„mandement was also giuen A commaundement giuen against deuising new orders of Friers that no man should go about to begin any newe forme of such vaine superstitious orders whiche appoynt themselues to eschue labour to the ende they may liue in pleasure lust and ydlenesse vpoÌ„ the trauaile of other mens browes In this meane time after that the Christian army was retained home out of 〈◊〉 by reason of a truce contended with the Soldane The Soldane contrary to the truce inuadeth the Christians the same Soldan that truce notwithstanding ceassed not to make great slaughters and 〈◊〉 vpon those christen men that remayned behinde The christian Princes sore moued herewith made their apprests for a new expedition into the holy land The Scottes contribution for a iourney into the holy lande The Scots gaue the tenth priuie of all their landes or rather as some bookes haue the tenth part of all tythes belonging to churches to the furtherance of this iourney notwithstanding through such enuie and contentions as rose amongest the sayde Princes that iourney brake to the great domage and preiudice of the Christian fayth King Alexander hauing lost his wife and children in maner as is before expressed not only he himself but also all Scotland was in great pensiuenesse and sorrow eche man by a certaine soreiudgement and misgiuing in minde doubting the mishap that might therof ensue K. Alexander maryed the daughter of the Earle not of Champaign but of Dreux sayth Southw But yet did king Alexander by aduice of his Nobles in hope of new issue marrie the daughter of the Erle of Champainge in Fraunce named Iolant The mariage was celebrate at Iedburgh with greate feasting and triumph but that ioye and gladsome blythnesse endured not long after Ri. Southwel varieth somewhat from the Scottish writers in report of K. Alexanders death See in Englande For the same yeare on the .xviij. day of Aprill as he was galloping vpon a fierce horse at Kingorn forcing him in his race somwhat rashly he was throwne ouer the west clife towards the Sea by a wonderfull misfortune so rudely that hee brake his necke and so therewyth immediately dyed in the .xlij. 35. H.B. yeare of hys raigne He was buryed at Dunfermling in the yeare after the Incarnation
be found there to passe for able souldiers But either kings are not of abilitie to finde so greate a multitude with vitayles and sufficient prouision or else they will not straine themselues thereto Neuerthelesse the whole number of all likelyhoode was great for manye aswell straungers as Englishmen brought their wiues their children and whole householde meinie with them in hope after the Countrey were subdued to haue dwelling places appoynted them in the same King Edwards promise there to inhabite For so had king Edward promised them By reason whereof the disorder was such that no warlike discipline might be obserued amongst them for men women and children were all myxt togither with suche clamour and noyse through the huge number of people and diuersitie of languages that it was a thing right straunge to beholde a campe so confusedly ordered The confused order King Edward himselfe most proude and insolent of such incredible number tooke no heed at all to the gouerning of them supposing victorie to be alreadie in his handes insomuch that at his comming to the borders he tooke aduise with his counsell to what kinde of torment and death hee might put king Robert Fishing before the net for he put no doubtes of catching him at all Hee also brought with him a religious man somewhat learned belike of the order of the Carmelites to descriue the whole maner of his conquest and victorie ouer the Scottes King Edwarde thinketh himselfe sure of victorie so sure hee thought himselfe that all things woulde come to passe as he could wishe or deuise This Carmelite as maye appeare in Iohn Bales booke intytled a summarie of the writers of great Brytaine was named Robert Baston Robert Baston ◅ Carmelite and had the gouernaunce of an house in Scarbourgh of the Carmelites order he being as before is sayde of that cote himselfe On the contrarie part king Robert ordred al his doings by good and prudent aduice Iohn Maior hath in his booke .xxxv. thousande and with xxx thousande men right hardie and throughlye exercised in warres came forth agaynst his enimies shewing no token of feare in the world King Robert his comming towardes the battaile but boldly pitched downe his tents in good order and warlike array vpon a plaine a little aboue Bannocks borne Whether he did this for the great confidence he had in the hardinesse of his people or for that he woulde shewe howe little he doubted the puissance of his enimies least they should haue him in contempt it is vncertaine The opinion of expert warriours of king Robert In deede there were diuerse expert warriours amongst the English men that sayde when they heard howe the Scottes were thus assembled to fight that the victorie would not be had except it were dearely bought the wisedome and manhood of king Robert was knowen so wel amōgst them that they were assured he woulde not ieoparde himselfe in such a case but that he knew he had such fellowes about him as woulde sticke to their tackle Trenches made by Scots to ouerthrow the Englishe men Moreouer the Scottes by appoyntment of their king to the furtherance of his hardie enterprise had caste deepe pyttes and dytches in the place where it was iudged the battayles shoulde ioyne and pitched sharpe stakes within the same and after couered them ouer slightly with greene turfes or soddes in such wise that a few footemen might passe ouer well ynough but if any great number shoulde come preassing togither or that any horsemen came therevpon the soddes would shrinke and fall to the bottome of the trenches with extreeme perill of the men and horses that were sure to fall vpon the stakes set there for that purpose or else to be so enclosed that they should not be well able to get out of those pitfalles By the place where king Robert was thus encamped there runneth a greate Brooke or water called Bannockesborne Bannocksborne so named of Ote cakes called Bannockes which were vsed to be made commonly at the Mylnes standing on the banks of the same water It falleth into the Forth right famous afterwardes by reason of this battaile foughten neare to the same When both the armies were approched within a myle togither King Edwarde sent an eight hundred horsemen by a secret way vnto the Castell of Striueling to giue notice to sir Philip Mowbray the Captain that he was come with his armie to succour him King Robert beeing aduertised of their gate beholding them whiche way they tooke The fight of Thomas Randall with fiue hundred Scottish men in his companie agaynst .viii. hundred Englishe men he sent Thomas Randall with fiue hundred Scottish horsmen to saue the countrey from spoyle who with singular manhoode encountering with those English men in sight of both y e armies there ensued a cruel fight betwixt them for so small a number continuing a long space with vncertaine victorie In the meane time sir Iames Dowglasse dreading that his speciall friende the sayde Thomas Randall shoulde be ouerset with multitude of the Englishe men came to king Robert and falling on his knees before him requyred licence to go forth to the support of them that were thus fighting with their enimies whiche bycause the king would not graūt at the first he rushed forth of the campe without licence hauing in his cōpanie a small bande of men but yet chosen out for the purpose that if it were but by shewing him-himselfe he myght put the enimies in some feare Notwithstanding when he was come neare to the place where they fought and sawe how the Scottes had got the victorie with great murther of the English men he stayed and went no further least he should by his comming seeme to bereue them the glorie of y e victorie which had woon it with so great prowes and singular valiancie All those in the Scottish campe were relieued in good hope of greater successe to followe in the whole enterprise by so happie a beginning The English men passed little thereof The English men determin to giue battaile but yet for that the Scots shoulde not waxe proude and take ouermuch courage thereby they determined to giue them battaile the next morow King Robert with great diligence caused his people to prepare themselues readie to receyue the enimies King Robert prepareth to receyue the enemies by battaile though he was nothing able to watche them in number deuising which way hee might traine them into the ditches before prepared He commaunded through the armie that euery man should on the next morow receyue the Sacrament of the Lordes bodie throughe the which they might haue the better hope of victorie against the vniust inuaders of theyr Realme and Countrey On the other side the English men trusted that al things would prosper with them euen as they could best deuise for by one small dayes labour they hoped to be Lordes of all Scotlande and to dispose of the
retyre for his safetie in anye tyme of neede The Barons which vnderstoode the kings diligence herein and confecturing thereof his whole intent made readie also their power appoynting for theyr generall one Robert Fitz Walter Robert Fitz Walter a man both excellent in councell and valiant in warre And herewith they come to the Archbishop of Canterbury presenting vnto him a booke wherein was conteyned a note of all the Articles of their petitions and require him to vnderstande the Kings minde touching the same The Archbi of Canterbury moueth the K. to satisfie the requests of the Baron The Archbishop coueting to extinguish the sedition wherof he himself had beene no small kyndler and which was lyke to growe if the Nobilitie were not pacifyed the sooner talked with the king and exhorted hys grace verie instantly to satisfie the requestes of his Barons and herewith doth shew the booke of the Articles which they had delyuered vnto him The king when he saw what they demaunded whiche in effect was a newe order in things touching the whole state of the coÌ„mon wealth sware in a great furie The king refuâ—…eth to graÌ„t their petitions that he would neuer condiscende vnto those petitions Wherof when the Barons had knowledge they gat them streyght vnto armour Math. Paris making their assemble at Stamforde in the Easter weeke whether they had drawne vnto them almost the whole Nobilitie and gathered an exceding great army For the Commons flocked vnto them from euerie part bycause the King was generally hated of the more parte of his subiects It was esteemed that there was in that armie the number of two thousande knightes besyde yeomen on Horsebacke or Demilaunces as I may call them and footemen apparelled in dyuerse sortes of Armor The names of the Lords that banded themselues against the king The chiefe ringleaders of this power were these whose names ensue Robert Fitz Water Eustace Vesey Richarde Percie Robert Roos Peter de Breuse Nicholas de Stouteuile Saer Earle of Winchester Robert Earle of Clare Henrie Earle of Clare Richarde Earle Bygot William de Mombray William de Cressey Raufe Fitz Robert Robert de Vere Foulk Fitz warren William Mallet William de Montacute William de Beauchampe SimoÌ„ de Kime W. Marshal the yonger Wil. Mauduyt Rob. de Montibigonis Iohn Fitz Roberte Iohn Fitz Alane G. Lauale O. Fitz Alain W. de Hobrug O. de Vales G. de Gaunt Maurice de Gaunte Robert de Brakesley Robert de MouÌ„fichet W. de Lanvalley G. de Maundeuile Erle of Essex W. his brother W. de HuÌ„tinfield R. de Greffey G. Conestable of Menton Alexander de PaÌ„ron P. Fitz Iohn Alexander de Sutton Osbeâ—… de Body Iohn conestable of Chester Thomas de Muleton Conane Fitz Hely many other they had also of counsel with them as chief the Archb. of Canterburie 〈…〉 The king as then was at Oxford and hearing of the assemble which the Barons made that they were come to Brakesley Mat. 〈◊〉 on the Monday next after the octaues of Easter he sent vnto theÌ„ the Archb. of Canterbury The â—…deth 〈◊〉 Lâ—… in whoÌ„ he reposed great confidence William Marshall Earle of Pembrooke to vnderstande what they ment by that their assembling thus togither Whervpon they deliuered to the same messengers a roll conteyning the auncient liberties priuiledges and customes of the realme signifying that if the K. would not confirme the same they would not cease to make him warre til he shoulde satisfie their requests in that behalfe Whilest they remayne here a certaine time to fortifie furnish the castell with necessarie prouision there came letters to theÌ„ from London gyuing them to vnderstande that if they woulde sende a conuenient crew of Souldiers to defende the Citie the same shoulde be receyued therinto at some meete and conuenient tyme in the nyght season by the Citizens who woulde ioyne wyth them in that quarell against the king to the vttermost of theyr powers The Lordes were glad of these newes to haue the chiefe Citie of the realme to take part with them And therfore they sent foure handes of souldiers streyght way thyther the which were brought into the Citie in the night season according to order aforehande taken But as Mathew Paris hath they were receyued into the citie by Algate the .xxiiij. of May being sunday whilest the citizens were at Masse The next day they made open rebellion toke such as they knewe fauoured the king brake into the houses of the Iewes and spoyled them of that they had 〈◊〉 Par. The Barons hauing thus gotten possession of the Citie of London wrote letters vnto all those Lordes which as yet had not ioyned with them in this confederacie â—…arons â—…o other â—…nobility â—…e with against â—…og threatning that if they refused to ayde them nowe in this necessitie they would destroy their Castels Manours Parkes and other possessions making open warre vpon them as the enimies of God and rebelles to the Church These were the names of those Lordes which yet had not sworne to mainteyne the foresayd liberties William Marshall Erle of Pembrooke Reynulfe Earle of Chester N. Earle of Salesburie W. Earle Warren W. Erle of Albemarle H. Earle of Cornewall W. de Albeny Robert de Veyount Peter Fitz Herbert Brian de Lisley G. de Lucy G. de Furniuall Thomas Basset H. de Braybroke I. de Bassingborne W. de Cantlow H. de Cornewall Iohn Fitz Hugh Hugh de Neuill Philip de Albeny Iohn Marshall and William Brewer All these vppon the receipt of the Barons letters or the more part of them came to London and ioyned themselues with the Barone vtterly renouncing to ayde king Iohn Finally when the king measuring his owne strength with the Barons perceyued that he was not able to resist them he consented to subscribe and seale suche articles concerning the libertyes demaunded in forme for the most part as is coÌ„teyned in the two Charters Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta Magna Carea and Carta de Foresta beginning Iohannes dei gratia c. And he did not onely graunt vnto theÌ„ their petitions touching the foresayde liberties but also to winne him further credite was contented that they shoulde choose foorth certaine graue and honourable personages which shoulde haue authoritie and power to see those things perfourmed which he then graunted vnto them There were .xxv. of those that were so elected by name these The Earles of Clare Albemarle Gloucester Winchester and Hereforde also Earle Roger Earle Robert the Erle Marshall the yonger Robert Fitz Water the yonger Gilbert de Clare Enstace de Vescy Hugh Bygot William de Moumbray the Maior of London Gilbert de la Vale Robert de Roos Iohn Conestable of Chester Richard de Percey Iohn Fitz Robert William Mallet Geffrey de Saye Roger de Mounbray William de Huntingfield RichardeÌ„ de Mounteâ—…cher and William de Albeney These .xxv. were sworne to see the liberties graunted and confirmed by
parte of his army wyth Horses and Carriages so that it was iudged to bee a punishmente appoynted by God that the spoyle whyche hadde bene gotten and taken out of Churches Abbeys and other Religious houses shoulde perishe and be lost by suche meanes togither with the spoylers Yet the Kyng hymselfe â—…t Paris â—…t VVest and a fewe other escaped the violence of the waters by following a good guide But as some haue written hee tooke suche griefe for the losse susteyned at thys passage that immediately therevppon hee fell into an agewe â—…g Iohn â—…eth ficke of â—…gewe Mat. Paris the force and heate whereof togither with his immoderately feeding of rawe Peaches and drinking of newe Syder so increased his sicknesse that he was not able to ryde but was fayne to be carried in a litter presently made of twigges with a couche of Strawe vnder him without anye bedde or pillow thynking to haue gone to Lincolne but the disease still so raged and grew vpon him that hee was inforced to stay one nyght at the Castell of Laford â—…ord â—…th VVest â—…t Paris and on the next day with great payne he caused hymselfe to bee carried vnto Newarke where in the Castell through anguishe of mynd rather than through force of sicknesse â—…g Iohn â—…arted thys 〈◊〉 he departed thys lyfe the nyghte before the nineteenth day of October in the yeare of his age fiftie and one and after hee had raigned seauen yeares sixe monethes and seuen and twentie dayes There be whiche haue written that after hee had lost hys army hee shoulde come vnto the Abbey of Swyneshead in Lincolneshire and there vnderstanding the cheapenesse and plentie of corne shewed hymselfe greatly displeased therewith as he that for the hatred whiche he bare to the Englishe people that had so trayterously reuolted from hym vnto his aduersarie Lewes wished all miserie to lighte vppon them and therevpon sayde in hys anger that hee woulde cause all manner grayne to be at a farre higher price ere many dayes shoulde passe Wherevppon a Monke that heard hym speake suche wordes being moued with zeale for the oppression of hys Countrey â—…ns Cro. gaue the Kyng poyson in a cuppe of Ale whereof hee fyrste tooke the assaye to cause the Kyng not to suspect the matter and so they both dyed in manner at one time â—…n There are that write howe one of hys owne seruauntes dyd conspire with a conuert of that Abbey and that they prepared a dishe of peares whyche they poysoned three if the whole number excepted whyche dishe 〈◊〉 sayde conuerte presented vnto hym and then the Kyng suspected them to be poysons indeede by reason that such precious stones as he hadde about cast soorth a certayne sweate as it were bewraying the poison hee compelled the sayde conuerte to fast and eate some of them who â—…nowing the three peares whych were not poysond tooke and eate those three whych when the Kyng had seene he coulde no longer absteyne buâ—…â—…ell too and eate greedily of the rest and so â—…d the same nyghte neyther any hurte chaunced â—…o the conuert who thorough helpe of suche as â—…e no good will to the Kyng founde shift to escape and conueyed himselfe away from daunger of receâ—…ing due punishmente for so wicked a deede But verily touching the manner of his deaâ—… there is great diuersitie among Writers The variable reâ—…ortes of wâ—…ers concerning the death of King Iohn For besyde these reportes whyche ye haue hearde there are other that write howe hee dyed of surfeting in the nyghte as Raufe Niger some of a bloudy flixe as one hathe that writeth an addition vnto Roger Houeden And Raufe Cogheshall sayeth that comming to Lynne where he appoynted Sauary de Mauleon to be Captayne and to take order for y e fortifying of that towne hee tooke a surfet there of immoderate dyet and withall fell into a laske and after hys laske had left hym at hys commyng to Laford in Linsey hee was let bloud and to increase hys other griefes and sorrowes for the losse of his carriage iewels men in passing ouer the washes whych troubled hym sore there came vnto him messengers from Hubert de Burgh and Gerard de Sotegam Captaynes of Douer Castell aduertising him that they were not able to resist the forcible assaultes and engines of the enimies if speedy succoures came not to them in tyme. Hereof his greefe of mynde beyng doubled so as hee myghte seeme euen oppressed with sorrow the same increassed hys disease so vehemently that within a small tyme it made an ende of hys lyfe as before yee haue hearde The menne of warre that serued vnder hys ensignes beeyng for the more parte hyred Souldiers and straungers came togyther and marching foorthe with his body eache man with hys armour on hys backe in warlike order conueyed it vnto Worcetor where hee pompously was buryed in the Cathedrall Churche before the hygh Aulter not for that hee had so appointed as some write Bernewell but bycause it was thought to be a place of most suretie for the Lordes and other of hys friendes there to assemble and to take order in their businesse nowe after hys deceasse Bycause he was somewhat fatte and corpulente his bowels vere taken foorth of his body and buried at Crâ—…ton Abbey a house of MoÌ„ks of the order called Premonstratensis in Staffordshire The Abbot of which house was his Phisition He had issue by his wife Queene Isabell two sonnes Henry who succeeded him in the Kyngdome and Richard with three daughters Ioane married to Alexander Kyng of Scotlande Isabell coupled in matrimony with the Emperoure Fredericke the seconde and Eleanor whome William Earle of Glowcester had to wife Hee had also another daughter as some haue lefte in writing called also Eleanor Hee was comely of stature but of lookes and countenaunce displeasant and angry somewhat cruell of nature as by the writers of hys time he is noted and not so hardy as doubtfull in time of perill and daunger But this seemeth to be an enuious report vttered by those that were giuen to speake no good of hym whome they inwardly hated But yet there be that giue this witnesse of him as the author of the booke of Bernewell Abbey and other that he was a great and mighty Prince but yet not very fortunate not vnlike altogither to Marius the noble Romayne tasting of fortune both wayes bountifull and liberall vnto Strangers but of his owne people for their dayly treasons practised towardes hym he was a great oppressour so that hee trusted more to forreyners than to them and therefore in the ende he was of them vtterly forsaken Verely who soeuer shall consider the course of the history written of thys Prince hee shall fynde that he hath bin little beholden to y e Writers of that time in which he liued for vnneth caÌ„ they aford him a good word except wheÌ„ y e trueth enforceth them to come out with it as it were
threatning euery mans vndoyng Thus by reason of couetous greedinesse to get money for the furnishing of y e Popes warres against Manfred King of Sicill both the Pope and the King of England ranne in slaunder and hatred of the English nation namely of the spiritualty 〈◊〉 Paris so that such as recorded the actes and doings of that time spared not to make manifest to the worlde by their writings howe iniuriously they were handled blaming the practises of the Courte of Rome in playne tearmes and affirming that the Pope hathe power in those thyngs whiche worke to edification and not to destruction 〈◊〉 Lorde 〈◊〉 forsaâ—… the â—…rte Aboute this season Iohn Lorde Grey beeing one of the chiefe Counsellors to the king a right honorable Knighte and for his good demeanor and high valiancy greatly commended ouer all withdrew himselfe from the Court either by reason of age that desireth rest or rather as was thoughte for that hee doubted to beare blame for such errors as were dayly committed by theÌ„ that bare rule about the King whiche coulde not but bring the authors into greate infamie at length and therefore was hee loth to bee partaker with them of suche slaunder as might haue redounded to him also if hee hadde still continued amongst them â—…es accused â—…crucifying â—…ilde at â—…colne naâ—… Hugh Also vpon the two and twentith of Nouember were brought vnto Westminster 102. Iewes from Lincolne that were accused for the crucifying of a childe the last Sommer in despite of Christes Religion They were vpon theyr examination sent to the Tower The childe whyche they had so crucified was named Hugh about an eyght yeares of age They kept him tenne dayes after they had got him into their hands sendyng in the meane time vnto diuers other places of the Realme for other of their nation to bee presente at the crucifying of hym The murther came out by the diligent search made by the mother of the child who found his body in a wel on y e backe side of the Iewes house where he was crucified for shee hadde learned that hir sonne was lastly seene playing with certayne Iewes children of like age to him before the dore of the same Iewe. The Iewe that was owner of the house was apprehended and being brought before Sir Iohn de Lexinton vpon promise of pardon confessed the whole matter For they vsed yerely if they could come by their praye to crucifie one Christian childe or other 1â—…56 When the feast of Saint Hillarie was come the Cleargie met againe at London and fell to entreate of their former businesse at what tyme one master Leonard alias Reginald that was chosen prolocutor for all the Prelates amongst other aunsweres made to the Legate Ruscande 〈◊〉 proloâ—…â—… aunswere 〈◊〉 Popes â—…is when the same Ruscand alledged that al Churches were the Popes troth it is sayd Leonard to defende and not to vse and appropriate them to serue his owne turne as wee saye that all is the Princes meaning that all is his to defende and not to spoyle and such was the intent of the fouÌ„ders Ruscand sore offended herewith sayde hee would that euery man should speake afterwards for himselfe that as well the Pope as the Kyng might vnderstand what euery man sayd in theyr businesse and matters The Prelates were strikeÌ„ dompe herewith for they perceyued now how the matter wente The Prelates appeale they appealed yet againste the demaundes that were made by Ruscande who would not chaunge a word of that he had written in whiche was conteyned that the Prelates had knowledged themselues to haue borowed of the marchaunt straungers no small summes of money and the same to bee conuerted to the vse of their Churches which was most vntrue as all men well vnderstoode wherevpon the Prelates affirmed and not without reasonable cause that there was a greater occasioÌ„ in this cause of martirdome Marke the cause of Martirdome thaÌ„ in that of Thomas sometime Archbyshop of Caunterbury Ruscand at length perceyuing their manner became somewhat more milde and promised that hee woulde talke with the Pope of this matter The Deane of Saint Paule sent to Rome on the behalfe of the Prelates But fyrste there was sent to Rome y e Deane of Saint Paule in London and certayne other as Attorneys or Agents for the whole Cleargie of Englande These spedde so in their sute that the Pope tooke order that if the Prelates payde the money by force of the contriued writings whereby they stoode bound for them their houses and Churches then to ease their burthen they might reteyne in their hands such percel of teÌ„thes as they ought to pay to the Kyng for furnishing of hys warres against the Sarazens amounting to the summe whyche they should be constreyned to pay for the bondes made to the Marchauntes by the Byshoppe of Hereforde as before is recited Mens deuotion towards the Pope waxeth colde In this season the deuotion whiche many had conceiued of the Pope and the Church of Rome began to waxe colde reputing the vertue whyche he shewed at his entring into the Papacy to bee rather a coulourable ypocrisie than otherwise sith his proceedings aunswered not to his good beginnings for as it was manifest where sutors broughte their compleyntes into the Courte of Rome such spedde best as gaue most in bribes and the two Priors of Winchester the one expulsed and the other got in by intrusion coulde well witnesse the same This yeare The Biâ—… Salisâ—…â—…pâ—…teth 〈◊〉 life Sure of Câ—… when it wâ—… first receyâ—… for a live dyed William of Yorke Byshop of Salisbury which hadde bin brought vp in the Court euen from his youth This Bishop firste caused that custome to bee receyued for a lawe whereby the tenauntes of euery Lordshippe are bound to owe their sute to the Lordes Courte of whome they holde their tenements In the feast of Easter this yeare the Kyng adorned Magnus Kyng of Man Mat. Pâ—… Magnâ—… 〈◊〉 of Man with the order of Knighthoode and bestowed vppon him greate giftes and honors The Countesse of Warren Anesia or Aetesia as some bookes haue sister to y e King by his mother departed this life in hir flourishing youth to the great griefe of hir brother but specially of hir husbande Iohn Earle of Waren that loued hir entierly Aboute midde May the Iewes that were in the Tower and in other prisons for the murther of the childe at Lincolne and had bin indited by an inquest vpon the confession of him that suffered at Lincolne were nowe dismissed and sette at libertie to the number of foure and thirtie of them The Kyng caused a proclamation to bee set Knigâ—… foorth y t all such as might dispend fifteene pound in lands should receyue the order of Knighthood and those that would not or coulde not shoulde pay theyr fynes This yeare a three dayes after the feast of S. Ciricus â—…e temâ—… winde â—…ayne a maruellous sore
there seemed a confusion of so many orders as the same Math. Paris recordeth bycause they were apparelled in Sackcloth they were called sacked Friers About the middest of Lent there was a greate Parliament holden to the whiche A Parliament the masters of the Vniuersitie of Oxford were summoned that peace might be concluded betwixt them and the Byshoppe of Lincolne whiche had them â—…n sute about theyr liberties There came to the same Parliamente the Earle of Gloucester and Sir Iohn Mancell lately returned out of Almaigne where they had bin on Ambassade from Richard the elect Kyng of Almaigne Thither came also the same elect King of Almaigne and almost all the Nobilitie of the Realme so that â—…neth myghte the Citie of London receyue the number that repaired to that ParliameÌ„t Mat. Paris The Kyng of Almaigne meant to take his leaue at that time of the Lordes and peeres of the Realme purposing shorthy after to take his iourney towardes Almaigne and to ordeyne the Byshoppe of London gouernour of all his lands and possessions within Englande In this Parliament The Lord Edmunde the kings sonne the Lord Edmond the Kyngs yonger sonne was shewed as King of Naples and Sicile for the obteyning of the possession of whiche Kingdomes his father King Henry demaunded no small subsedie and ayde of money A subsedie demaunded both of the temporaltie and also of the spiritualtie but namely he required to haue the tenthes of spirituall mens liuings for the tearme of fyue yeares according to the new taxations without any deductions to be allowed excepte necessary expenses Also the frutes for one yeare of benefices that chaunced to fall voyde within the sayde tearme of fiue yere Moreouer sundry other dueties he required to haue of the spirituall men sore to their greeuaunce and specially bycause they knew that such tirannie first tooke beginning froÌ„ the Pope In the ende though loth they were to consent yet conditionally that the Kyng would confirme the liberties conteyned in the greate Charter and obserue the same throughly nowe after it had bin so many times brought out and redeemed The offer of the spiritualty they offered to giue hym towardes his instant necessity two fifty M. marks so the irrecouerable danger of empouerishing the Church And yet as it is sayd the Kyng refused the gift as that which he thought not sufficient Truely it shoulde seeme that there was a greate vntowardly disposition in the subiectes of that time for the helping of their K. with necessary ayde of money towards such great charges as he hadde bin diuers wayes occasioned to be at sith his first comming to y e Crowne but by cause it was perceyued that he bestowed no small quantitie of his treasure to the aduauncing of his kinsfolke and aliances namely straungers and agayne defreid great summes in vayne hope to obteyne y e kingdomes of both the Sicils whiche the Pope offred to him freely ynough in words as before yee haue hearde the English subiectes conceyued a greate misliking of the whole gouernement and namely for that hee seemed to be led and ruled by the aduice and counsell of those strangers who being not throughly acquainted with the nature of the Englishe people nor fully instructed in the lawes and customes of the Realme caused him to doe many things that procured both to him and theÌ„ muche euil will as well of the high estates as of commons whiche as occasion serued they were ready ynough to discouer and therfore they were very inquisitiue both to learne what he receiued also in what sorte he bestowed y t which he dyd receiue It was therefore knowen y t sith he firste began to wast his treasure his charges amouÌ„ted vnto y e summe of 950000. markes as the bookes of accoÌ„ptes remaining in y e hands of y e Clearkes of his closet plainly witnessed and yet of al those vaine expenses no great aduantage was groweÌ„ therby to the K. or realme but rather disâ—… tâ—…ge as y e most part of meÌ„ theÌ„ tooke it vnto maruell for there was such hath buâ—…ng amoÌ„gst the nobilitie one enuying an others aduancemeÌ„t so repining at each others doings Yâ—… was not possible to bring any good drift forward amoÌ„gst meÌ„ so far at oddes togither But to let this passe as a thing manifest ynough to them y t shall wel coÌ„sider y e course of y e time we will returne agayne to y e ParliameÌ„t before y e end wherof the Archbishop of Colen with a Duke The â—…shop of 〈◊〉 and oâ—… bastâ—… Almâ—… and an other B. came ouer out of Almaigne vnto their elect K. Richard to whom they did fealty and homage as to their soueraigne liege Lord gouernour which thing once done he gaue to y e said Archb. fiue C. marks to beare his charges with a riche miter sette with stones and furnished with plates of beateÌ„ golde which miter wheÌ„ y e Archb. had set it on his head he hath saith he giuen a riche gift to are 〈◊〉 to my Church and verely eueÌ„ as I haue put this â—…iter on my head so wil I set on his head the 〈◊〉 owne of y e kingdome of Almaigne he hath mitres me I shal crowne him The other lords of Almaine which at y e the same time did homage vnto Erle Richard were also presented with great and rich giftes Heere is further to be noted She â—…shope pâ—… at Londâ—… time of 〈◊〉 Parliameâ—… y t there where present at this ParliameÌ„t sixe Archbishops CaÌ„terbury Yorke Publin Messina Tarento and Colen The Archb. of Messne was come to the K. to set him on dotage for the businesse about y e coÌ„quest of Naples Sicile At the feast of Esset next following the Archb. of Colen returned into his Countrey the third day after Easter the elect K. of Almaine tooke his leaue The deâ—… of Alâ—… taketh 〈◊〉 leaue of 〈◊〉 his beâ—… departed toward Yermouth where he purposed to take y e sea to sayle ouer into Almaine but by reason of contrary windes hee was driuen to remaine there a long time to his greate griefe and inestimable charges before hee coulde passe ouer yet finally about the latter ende of Aprill He laâ—… Dorâ—… he got forth to the Sea and landed at Dordreigh the first of May next ensuing â—…t Paris Moreouer in this yeare King Henry caused the walles of the Citie of London whiche were sore decayed and destitute of turrets to be repayred in more seemely wise than before they hadde bin at the common charges of the Citie â—…ree made â—…e Pope There was an ordinance made at Rome by the Pope and his Cardinals whiche righte diligently foresawe to aduaunce their temporall coÌ„modities not muche passing for other mens aduauntages that euery one which should be chosen an exempt Abbot shoulde come to the Court of Rome to bee there confirmed and receyue the Popes blessing by whiche haynous ordinaunce Religion was layde open
Londoners were pardoned of theyr trespasse for receyuing the Earle though they were constrayned to paye a thousande Markes to the K. of Romans in recompence of the hurts done to him in burning of his house at Thistleworth â—…ers Dunst â—…deresch Whylest the Erle of Glocester kept the citie of London against the K. one Henry de Guderesch steward to the sayd Erle departing from LoÌ„don cam to y e manor house of Geffrey Saint Leger at Offeld whiche he brent and tourning from thence came to Brickhill The Lord Reynolde Gray that held of the kings parte The Lorde Grey aduertised hereof folowed hym with his retinue of men of warre and comming vpon his enimie at vnwares tooke the sayd Henry and flewe .xxx. of the chiefest of his companie some he tooke howbeit many escaped But nowe to our purpose By this agreemente concluded betwixte the Kyng and the Earle of Gloucester hee also accepted into his grace the Lorde Iohn Cyueleye the Lorde Nicholas de Segraue the Lorde Willyam Marmyon the Lorde Richarde de Grey the lorde Iohn Fitz Iohn and the Lorde Gilbert de Lucy with others so that all parts of the realme were quieted sauing that those in the Isle of Elye would not fulfill themselues yet at length by mediation of Prince Edward they were reconciled to the king and all the fortresses and defences within that yâ—…t by theÌ„ maâ—…e were plucked downe and destroyed But it appeereth by other writers Euersden that immediatly after the agreement concluded betwixt the Erle of Gloucester Prince Edward the kinges sonne by setting workmen in hand to make a caussey through the Fennes with boordes and hurdels entred vpon them that kepte the Isle of Elye so that many of them got out and fledde to London vnto the sayde Earle of Gloucester and other their complices The residue submitted themselues as the Lorde Wake Symon Mountfort the yonger the Pechees and other vpon condition to be pardoned of life and member And further that Prince Edwarde should be a meane to his father to receyue them into fauour But by other it maye rather seeme that some of them kept and defeÌ„ded themselues within that Isle till after the agreemente made betwixt the King and the Earle of Gloucester By order of whiche agrement there were foure Bishops and right Lordes chosen foorth which had bin firste nominated at Couentrie to order and prescribe betwixt the king and the disenherited menne a forme of peace and redemption of their landes And so in the feast of all Saincts An. reg 52. proclamation was made of a full accord and agreement and what euery man should pay for his raunsom for redeeming his offence agaynst the Kyng In the Octaues of Saint Martine the king helde a Parliament at Marleborough A parliament at Marleburghe where the liberties conteyned in the Booke called Magna Charta were confirmed and also dyuers other good and wholsome ordinances concernyng the state of the coÌ„mon wealth were established and enacted In the moneth of Aprill there chaunced greate thunder tempestuous rayne and floudes occasyoned by the fame ryghte sore and horrible continewyng for the space of fifteene dayes togyther The Legate Othobone 1268. after he had in the Synods holden at Northamton and London deuised and made many orders and rules for Churchmen and leuied amongst them greate summes of moneye The Legate Othobone returneth to Rome Othobon chosen Pope fynallye in the moneth of Iuly he tooke leaue of the King and retourned to Rome where after the deceasse of Innocent the fifth about the yere of our Lord 1276. hee was chosen Pope and named Adryan the fifth liuing not past fifty days after Abyndon He went so neere hande to search out things at his going away that he had enrolled the true value of all the churches and benefices in England and took the note with him to Rome Prince Edward the kings sonne and diuers other great lordes of England before this legates departure out of the realm Prince Edvv. receyueth the Crosse receiued the crosse at his handes in Northampton on Midsommer day meaning shortly after accordyng to theyr prontise there made to goe into the holy land to warre against Gods enimies Fabian A fray in London betvvixte the Goldsmiths and Taylours This yeare there fell variance betwene the fellowshippes of the Goldsmythes and Taylours within the Citie of London so that one euening there were assembled to the number of fiue hundred in the streetes in armor and running togyther made a foule fray so that many were wouÌ„ded and some slayne But the sheriffes hearing therof came and parted them with assistaunce of other craftes and sente diuers of them beyng taken vnto prison Of the which there were arraigned to the number of thirtie and .xiij. of them condemned and hanged An. reg 53 Thames frozen In the fiftieth and three yeare of Kyng Henries reygne there was suche an excedyng great froste begynning at Saincte Andrewes tyde and continuyng tyll it was neere Candelmasse that the Thames from the Bridge vpwardes was to harde frozen 1269. that menne and beastes passed ouer on foote from Lambhythe to Westmynster and so Weastwarde in dyuers places vp to Kyngston Also Merchandyze was broughte from Sandwyche and other places vnto London by lande For the Shippes by reason of the Ice coulde not enter the Thames And about the feast of Saint Vedast whiche falleth on the vj. of Februarie fel so great abundaunce of rayne that the Thames rose so high as it hadde not doone at anye tyme before to rememberaunce of man then lyuing so that the cellours vaultes in London by the water side were drowned and much merchandise marred and loste Abyngdon A paâ—…liamente holden at London About Sainct Georges day there was a parliament holden at London for the appeasing of a controuersie depending betwixte Prince Edward the kings sonne and the Earle of Gloucester At the whiche Parliamente were present almost all the Prelates and peeres of the realme At length they put the â—…tter in 〈…〉 into the handes of the Kyng of Almayne vndertakyng â—…o be ordred by hym hygh and low touchyng all controuersies and lykewyse for the iourney to be made into the holy lande 〈◊〉 the king of Almayne did little in the matter to any great effecte In the beginning of Lente the King gaue to his sonne Prince Edwarde the rule of the Citie of London wyth all the 〈…〉 fytes therto belongyng After whiche guifte the sayd Prynce made syr Hugh Fitz Othon Constable of the Tower and Custos of the Citie of London Vpon the nynth day of Apryll Edmund the â—…yngs sonne surnamed Crouchebacke maryed at Westmynster Auelina the daughter of the Earle of Aumacle Prince Edwarde commanded the Citiâ—… of London to present vnto him sixe Citizenâ—… 〈◊〉 the which number he might nominate two sheriffes 〈…〉 and so appoynted William de Hadâ—… and Ankeryll de Aluerne which were sworne to be accomptants as their
aswell in diuinitie as philosophie and humanitie bothe in verse and prose Also Steephen Langton that for his singuler knowledge was made high chancelor of the Vniuersitie of Paris and at length was admitted archebishop of Canterbury againste the will of Kyng Iohn in whiche quarell so greate trouble ensued as before ye haue partly heard Ralfe Coggeshall also liued in kyng Henryes dayes that wrote the appendix vnto the chronicle of Raufe Niger he was abbot of Coggeshall abbey in Essex wherof he tooke his surname William Lanthonie Peter of saint Sauiour a Chanon of the house called S. Sauior or of the trinitie by London Alexander Hales a frier of the order of the minors who wrote many treatises in diuinitie Richard surnamed Medicus a moste lerned phisition and no lesse expâ—… Philosophie the Maâ—…tals Ther is also remembred by maâ—…ter Bâ—…e the Earle of Chester Randulf the thâ—… and laste of that name who hauing greate knowledge and vnderstanding in the lawes of this lande compiled a booke of the same lawes as a witnesse of his greate skill therin Alexander Wendock Bishop of Chester Iohn Bâ—…e Edmund Riche Robert Riche â–ª Henry Bratton that is excellent lawyer who wrote the booke commonly called Bracton after his name entituled de consuâ—… inibus Anglicanis Richard surnamed Theologus Walter de Euesham Raufe Fresborne Laurence Somerâ—…oâ—… brother as is thought to Roberte Somerâ—…oâ—… at that time a cardinall of the Romaine Churche Nicholas Fernham a phisition Robert Bacon a notable diuine Simon Langton brother to the Archebishoppe of Canterbury Stephen Langton Richarde Fisaker Simon Stokes Iohn of Kent or Kantianus William Shirwoode Michaell Blaunpaine Iohn Godarde Vincent of Couentrye Albeâ—…e Vâ—…er Richarde Wiche Iohn Basing alias de Basing Stoke Roger Waltham Wylliam Seningham Robert Grosted that lerned byshop of Lincolne whose memorie amongst the lerned will remayn whilest the world lasteth Edward the fyrste 1272. An. reg 1. EDVVARDE the firste of that name after the Conquest beganne hys reigne ouer the Realme of of Englande â—…Vil Harison 〈◊〉 his chronoâ—…gie the xvj daye of NoueÌ„ber in the yere of the world 5239. of our Lorde .1272 of the Saxons â—…4 after the conquest 206. the vacation of the Empire after the deceasse of Frederike the the seconde as yet enduring though shortly after in the yere next following Radulf of Habspurge was elected Emperor in the third yeare of Philippe the third as then reigning in Fraunce and Alexander the thirde as yet lyuyng in gouernemente of the Scottishe Kyngdome Thys Edwarde the first when his father dyed beyng aboute the age of .xxxv. yeares olde was as then in the holy lande or rather in his iourney homewards but wheresoeuer he was at that present the nobles of the â—…aÌ„d after his father was departed this life 〈◊〉 VVest â—…vve Seale â—…de assembled at the new TeÌ„ple in London and causing a new scale to be made they ordeyned faithfull ministers and officers which shuld haue the treasure in keeping and the administration of iustice for the mayntenaunce of peace and tranquilitie wythin the lande and on the .xxij. daye of Nouember hee was proclaymed Kyng 〈◊〉 Dunst who after he had remained a time in the holy laÌ„d and perceyued himselfe destitute of suche ayde as hee looked for at the handes bothe of the Christians and Tartarians â—…at VVâ—… he left in the Citie of Acon certayn stipendarie souldiers and taking the sea sailed homewards 1273. arriuing first in Sicill where of Charles Kyng of that lande hee was honorably receiued and conueyed til he came vnto Caâ—…ta Vecchia in Italy where Pope Gregorye as then laye with his Courte of whome as of his olde friende that had bene wyth hym in the holy land he obteined that Erle Aldebrandino Roffo and Guy of Mountfort that had murthered the Lord Henry eldest sonne to Richarde Kyng of Almain might be sent for Earle Aldebrandino purged hymselfe â—…y de Montâ—… excoâ—…e but Guye de Mountfort was excommunicate as a violatour of the churche a murderer and a Traytour so as he was disenherited turn vnto the fourth generation til he had reconciled hymselfe to the church After this it is wonderfull to remember with what great honor kyng Edward was receyued of the Cities as he passed throughe the countreys of Tuskayne and Luâ—…ldy At his comming ouer the mountains at Ehâ—…n in Burgundy he was at a Iustes and tourny which then was there holden by the french men against the Englishmen the honor wherof remained with the Englishmen In this Torney the fight of the footmen was greate for the Englishemenne beeyng sore prouoked slewe manye of the Frenche footemenne but bycause they were but raskalles no greate accompte was made of them for they were vnarmed gaping for the spoyle of them that were ouerthrowen King Edward passing foorth came to the Frenche court where of his cousin germayn king Phillippe he was ioyfully receyued Here King Edwarde doing homage to the Frenche Kyng for the landes whiche he ought to holde of hym in Fraunce passed into Guyenne An. Reg. 2. Mat. VVest A disme graunted to the king and his brother A Tenthe of of the Clergye was graunted this yeare to the Kyng and to his brother Edmund Erle of Leycester and Lancaster by the Popes appointment for two yeares a chaplein of the Pope a Eascoin borne named Reymond being sent into EnglaÌ„d for that purpose who gaue parte vnto them and parte thereof he kept to himselfe 1274 towardes hys charges but the moste parte was reserued to the Popes disposing Whilest the Kyng remained in Gascoigne he had somewhat to doe againste certaine rebelles as Gaston de Bierne and other that were reuolted from hym The Castelles belongyng to the saide Gaston he subdued but his person he coulde not meete with Finally after he had set order in things aswell in Guyenne as in other places in the partes of beyonde the seas he hasted homewards Nic. Triuet K. Edvvard his returne home and came to London the seconde daye of August where he was receyued wyth all ioye that might be deuised The streetes were hanged wyth riche cloths of silke arras and tapestrie Mat. VVest the Aldermen and Burgesses of the citie threwe out of theyr wyndows handfulles of golde and siluer to signifye the greate gladnesse which they had conceyued of his safe returne the Cundits ran plentifully wyth white wine red that eche treature myght drink his fill Vpon the xix day of Auguste in this seconde yeare of hys raygne he was crowned at Westminster togyther with his wife Quene Elianor by the hands of Robert Kilwarby Archbishop of Canterbury At this coronation were present Alexander Kyng of Scottes and Iohn Earle of Britayn with their wiues that were sisters to Kyng Edward The Kyng of Scots did homage vnto Kyng Edward for the Realme of Scotlande in like maner as other the kyngs of Scotlande before hym had done to other Kyngs of England auncetours to this Kyng
was found giltie of treason There were dyuers in trouble about the same matter for the Erle vpon his open confession before sundrie lordes of the realme declared that not only by coÌ„maundement from the Pope but also by the setting on of dyuers nobles of this land whom he named he was persuaded to endeuor himself by all ways and meanes possible how to deliuer his brother king Edward the seconde out of prison and to restore him to the Crowne whome one Thomas Dunhed Tho. Duâ—… a Fryer a Frier of the order of Preachers in London assigned for certain to be aliue hauing as he himself â—…id called vp a spirite to vnderstande the truthe therof and so what by counsell of the sayd Frier and of three other Friers of the same order Tho. VVâ—… he hadde purposed to woorke some meane howe to delyuer hym and to restore hym agayne to the kingdome Among the letters that were found about him disclosing a greate part of his practise some there were whiche he had written and directed vnto his brother the sayd king Edwarde as by some writers it shoulde appeare His death in deede was the lesse lamented bycause of the presumptuous gouernement of hys seruantes and retinue Naughtye seruantes bryng â—…he maister into â—…noâ—…r whiche he kept about him for that they riding abrode woulde take vp thinges at their pleasure not paying nor agreeyng with the partie to whome suche things belonged The yong Queene Philippe was brought to bedde at Woodstocke the .xv. The blacke â—…ince borne day of Iune of hir firste sonne the whyche at the Fourstone was named Edwarde and in processe of tyme came to greate proofe of famous chieualrye as in this booke shall more playnely appeare He was commonly named when hee came to rype yeares Prynce Edwarde and also surnamed the blacke Prince The sixteenth day of Iuly chaunced a great Eclipse of the Sunne Croxden An Eclipse and for the space of two Moneths before and three monethes after there fell exceding greate rayne so that thorough the greate intemperancie of wether corne could not rypen by reason whereof in many places they beganne not haruest tyll Michaelmasse A late haruest and in some place they inned not their wheate tyll Alhallonfyde nor their pease tyl S. Andrews tyde On Christmasse euen aboute the breake of dy a meruaylous sore and terrible wynd came A mightye vvinde foorthe of the weste whyche ouerthrewe houses and buyldings ouertourned trees by the rootes and did muche hurte in diuers places This yeare shortely after Easter the Kyng wyth the Bishoppe of Winchester and the lord Willyam Montacute hauing not paste fifteene horses in their company passed the sea apparelled in 〈…〉 to marchantes he lefte his brother the Earle of Cornewall his deputie and gardian of the realme till his retourne Moreouer he caused it to bee proclaymed in London that he went ouer on pilgrimage and for 〈◊〉 other purpose He retourned before the 〈◊〉 ende of Aprill and then was there holden a Tourney at Dertforf The Queene with many Ladies beeing presente at the same fell besyde a stage but yet as good happe would they had no hurte by that fall to the reioycing of many that saw them in suche danger yet so luckily to escape without harme Also in a Parliament holden at Notingham aboute Saincte Lukes tyde Syr Roger Mortymer the Earle of Marche was apprehended the seuententh daye of October within the Castell of Notyngham where the Kyng with the two Queenes his mother and his wife and diuers other were as then lodged and thoughe the keyes of the Castell were dayly and nightly in the custodie of the sayd Earle of March and that his power was suche as it was doubted howe he myght be arrested Additions to Triuet for he hadde as some writers affirme at that presente in retinue nyne score knights besyde Esquires Gentlemen and yeomen yet at lengthe by the kings healpe the Lorde William Montacute the Lorde Humfreye de Bohun and his brother sir William the Lorde Raufe Stafforde the Lorde Robert Vfforde the Lorde William Clinton the Lorde Iohn Neuill of Hornbie and diuers other whiche had accused the sayd Earle of March for the murder of Kyng Edwarde the seconde founde meanes by intelligence had with sir William de Elande Counestable of the Castell of Notingham to take the sayd Earle of March wyth his sonne the Lorde Roger or Geffreye Mortimer and sir Simon Bereforde with other Sir Hugh Trumpington or Turrington as some Copies haue that was one of his chiefest frendes with certayne other were slayn as they were aboute to resist agaynst the Lorde Montacute and his companie in taking of the sayd erle The maner of his taking I passe ouer bicause of the diuersitie in report thereof by sundry writers From Notingham he was sent vp to London with his sonne the Lorde Roger or Geffrey de Mortimer sir Symon Bereforde and the other prysoners where they were committed to prison in the Tower Shortly after was a parliameÌ„t called at Westminster chiefly as was thought for reformation of things disordered through the misgouernance of the Earle of Marche But who soeuer was glad or sory for the trouble of the sayd Earle surely the Queene mother tooke it moste heauyly aboue all other as she that loued him more as the fame wente than stoode well with hir honour For as some write Mâ—… Fâ—… she was founde to be with chylde by him They kepte as it were house togither for the Earle to haue hys prouision the better Cheape layde hys penye with hirs so that hir takers serued him as well as they did hir bothe of victualles and cariages But nowe in this Parliamente holden at Westminster hee was attainted of highe treason expressed in fiue articles as in effecte followeth The Earle of Marâ—… aâ—…yned First he was charged that he hadde procured Edwarde of Carneruan the kings father to bee murthered in most haynous and tyrannous maner within the castel of Berkley Secondly that the Scottes at Stanhope Parke throughe his meanes escaped Thirdy that he receiued at the hands of the lord Iames Douglas at that time generall of the Scottes great summes of money to execute that treason and further to conclude the peace vppon suche dishonorable couenantes as was accorded with the Scottes at the parliament of Northampton Fourthely that hee had gotte into his handes a greate parte of the Kyngs treasure and wasted it Fyfthly that hee hadde impropried vnto hym dyuers wardes that belonged vnto the Kyng and had bin more priuie wyth Queene Isabell the Kynges mother than stood eyther with Gods law or the kynges pleasure Syr Symon Bereford executed Syr Symon de Bereford knyghte that had bene one of the kings Iustices was drawne also and hanged at London vpon S. Lucies day In this parliament holden at Westminster the Kyng tooke into his hande by aâ—…uâ—…ce of the estates there assembled all the possessions lands and reuenues that belonged
they were mured in so that oute they coulde not gette They lay there showting and crying seuen dayes togyther and were hearde of manye but none came to helpe them and so finally they perished Now after that these wicked people had thus destroyed the duke of Lancasters house and done what they coulde deuise to his reproch The lawiers lodgings in the temple â—…nt by the rebels they went to the Temple and burnt the men of lawes lodgings with their bookes writings and all that they might lay hande vpon Also the house of S. Iohns by Smithfielde they set on fire so that it burned for the space of seuen dayes togither On Friday a great number of them esteemed to .xx. thousande went to the Manour of Heyburie that belonged also to the Lorde of Saint Iohns and setting fire on it sought vtterly to destroy all the whole buildings about it They were nowe deuided into three partes one vnder the leading of Iacke Strawe tooke in hande to ruinate that house and an other number of them lay on Mile ende greene and the thirde companie kept vpon the Tower hill and woulde not suffer anye vittayles to be conueyed into the Tower where the king at that tyme was lodged and was put in suche feare by those rude people that hee suffered them to enter into the Tower where they soughte so narrowly for the Lorde Chauncellour The L. Chanâ—…elor and the L. Treasurer â—…wne out of â—…eÌ„ Tower 〈◊〉 to death â—…y the rebels that fynding him in the Chapell they drewe him forth togyther with the Lorde Treasorer and on the Tower hill without reuerence of theyr estates and degrees with greate noyse and fell cryes they stroke off theyr heades There were also beheaded the same tyme by those rude people one of the kings seruaunts that was a Sergeant at armes called Iohn Legge who had vsed himselfe somewhat extreemely in gathering vp of the pole money as by one writer it appeareth â—…h VVals Also to make vp the messe they beheaded a Franciscan Frier whom thee had taken there the same time for malice of the Duke of Lancaster bycause he was verie familiar with him Some write that this Frier was Confessor and other say that he was Phisition to the King but whatsoeuer he was the Commons chopped off his head to beare the other companie not sparing for any respect that might be alledged in any of their behalfes The same day also they beheaded manye others as well English men as Flemings for no cause in the worlde but onely to satisfie the crueltie of the Commons that then were in theyr kingdome for it was a sport to them when they gat any one amongst them that was not sworne to them and seemed to myslike of their doings The raging rebels make a pastime to kil meÌ„ or if they bare but neuer so little hatred to him streyghtwayes to plucke off his Hoode with such a yelling noyse as they tooke vp amongst them and immediatelye to come thronging into the streetes and stryke off hys heade Neither had they any regarde to sacred places for breaking into the Churche of the Augustine Friers they drew forth thirtene Flemings No respect of place with the rebels and beheaded them in the open streetes and out of the parishe Churches in the Citie they tooke forth .xvij. and lykewyse stroke of theyr heades wythout reuerence eyther of the Churche or feare of God But they continuing in theyr mischieuous purpose shewed their malice specially against straungers so that entring into euery streete lane and place where they might finde them they brake vp their houses murthered them whiche they founde wythin and spoyled theyr goodes in most outragious maner Likewise they entred into Churches as before yee haue heard into Abbeyes Monasteries The outragious dealings of the rebels and other houses namely of men of law whiche in semblable sorte they ransacked They also brake vp the prisons of Newgate and of both the Counters destroyed the bookes and set prisoners at libertie and likewise the Sanctuarie men of Saint Martyne le grand And so likewise dyd they at Westminster where they brake open the Eschequer and destroyed the ancient bookes and other Recordes there They that entred the Tower vsed themselues most presumptuously and no lesse vnreuerently agaynst the princesse of Wales mother to the K. for thrusting into hir ChaÌ„ber they offred to kisse hir and swasht themselues downe vpon hir bed putting hir into suche feare that shee fell into a sowne and being taken vp and recouered was had to the water side and put into a Barge and coÌ„ueyed to the place called the Queenes Wardrobe or the tower Ryall where she remayned all that day and night following as a woman halfe deade till the King came to recomfort hir It was straunge to consider in what feare the Lordes knightes and gentlemen stoode of the cruell proceedings of those rude base people For where there were six huÌ„dred armed men and as many archers in the tower aâ—… that present there was not one that durst gainsay theyr doings Finally when they hadde cased theyr stomackes wyth the spoyling burning and defacing of sundrye places they became more quiet and the king by the aduice of such as were theÌ„ about him The K. offreth the rebels pardoÌ„ vpon good deliberation of counsaile offred to theÌ„ pardon and his peace with condition that they should cease from burning and ruinating of houses from killing and murthering of men and depart euerie man to his home without more adoe and there to tarrie for the kings Charters confirmatorie of the same pardon The Essex men were content with this offer as they that were desirous to see their wiues and children being waxen wearie of continuall trauaile and paynes which they were constrayned to take Froissart The king went forth vnto Mile ende and there declared vnto the coÌ„mons that they shoulde haue charters made to them of his grauÌ„t to make them all free And further that euery shire towne lordship and libertie should haue banners of his armes deliuered vnto them for a confirmation of his graunt Herevpon they seemed well appeased and the king rode to the Queenes Wardrobe otherwise called the Tower ryall to visit his mother and so did comfort hir so well as he coulde and taried with hir there all night The Essex men satisfied with the kings promises immediately departed homewarde They appoynted yet certaine of their companie to remayne still and tarie for the kings Charters The Kentish men also remayned and were as busie in maner the next day being Saterday in all kinde of mischieuous dealings as they had bene before to wit in murthering of men ouerthrowing and burning of houses The king therfore sent vnto them such as declared in what sort their fellowes were gone home well satisfied and from thenceforth to liue in quiet and the same forme of peace he was contented to graunt vnto them if it lyked them to accept the
bootie of beasts and cattaile he returned The Emperor of Constantinople comming into England to sue for aide against y e Turkes The Emperor of Constantinople câ—… into England was met by the K. on blacke heath vpon y e feast day of S. Thomas the Apostle broughte vnto London with great honor The K. bare all hys charges presenting him with giftes at his departure meete for such an estate After y e feast of the Epiphanie 1401 a Parliamente was holdeÌ„ in which an Acte was made A parliament agaynst those y t held opinions in religion contrary to the receiued doctrine of the Church of Rome ordeyning y t wheresoeuer any of theÌ„ were found and proued to set forth such doctrine they shoulde bee appreheÌ„ded deliuered to y e B. their dyocefane if they stood stiffely in their opinioÌ„s and would not be reformed they should be deliuered to y e secular power to be brent to ashes The first y t tasted the smart of this Statute was one Wilâ—… Hawtree or Sawtree a priest One brench Smithfield y e being appreheÌ„ded was breÌ„t in Smithfield in time of this Parliament About the same time K. Henry according to promise made as ye haue heard Additionâ—… the châ—… of Flaâ—… vnto the French Ambassadors sente ouer into the Countrey of Guisnes Edward Earle of Rutland otherwise in king Richards dayes entituled Duke of Aumarle sonne to Edmond Duke of Yorke There waâ—… also the Eâ—… Deuâ—… Froiâ—… Elieâ—…ck Froâ—… HeÌ„ry Earle of Northumberlande and his sonne the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Yuan Fitzwaren the Bishops of Winchester and Lincolne where the Duke of Burbon the Lordes Charles d Albert Charles de Hangest CoÌ„missioners 〈…〉 treate 〈◊〉 peace Iohn de Chastelmorant the Patriarke of Ierusalem and the Byshops of Paris and Beauuois were ready there to commune with them and so they assemblyng togither at sundry tymes and places the French men required to haue Queene Isabell to them restored but the Englishmen seemed loth to departe with hir requiring to haue hir married to Henry Prince of Wales one in bloud and age in all things to hir equall but the French â—…e woulde in no wise condiscende thereto wiâ—…te their Kings consente The frenche â—…ng â—…abled 〈◊〉 â—…ensâ—… who at that presente was not in case to vtter his mind being troubled with his wonted disease The commissioners then began to treate of peace and at length renewed the truce to endure for sixe and twentie yeares yet to come â—…or 25. â—…res wherevnto the foure yeares passed beeyng added made vp the number of thirtie yeares according to the conclusion agreed vpon in the life time of King Richard Eâ—… Some Authors affirme that ther was a new league concluded to continue during the lyues of both the Princes The frenchemen demauÌ„de 〈◊〉 for Queene Isabel The Frenchmenne dyuers times required to haue some dower assigned forth for Queene Isabell but that was at all times vtterly denyed for that the marriage betwixte hir and King Richard was neuer consummate by reason whereof she was not dowable Neuerthelesse shee was shortly after sente home vnder the conduct of the Earle of Worcester associate with dyuers other noble and honorable personages both men and women hauing with hir all the iewels ornameÌ„ts and plate which she brought into England with a great surphisage besides Additions of the Chro. of â—…rs â—…he is deliueâ—…â—…me giuen to hir by the King She was delyuered betwixte Bulloigne and Calais vnto Valeran Earle of S. Pol the French Kings Lieutenant in Picardie who being accompanyed with the Byshop of Chartres the Lord de Hugueuile the Lady of Monpensier sister to the Earle of Marche the Lady of Lucenburgh sister to the saide Earle of S. Pol and diuers other Ladyes and Gentlewomenne whiche receyued hir with greate ioy and gladnesse and taking leaue of the Englishe Lordes and Ladies they conueyed hir vnto the Dukes of Burgoigne and Burhunne that attended for hir not far off vpon a hill with a great number of people They first conueyed hir to Bulleigne and after to Abuile froÌ„ whence the Duke of Orleyaunce conueyed hir to Paris She is conueied to Paris vnto the presence of the K. hir father Hir seconde marriage and the Q. hir mother She was after giuen in marriage vnto Charles son to Lewis Duke of Orleaunce About the same time An. reg 3. Owen Glendower The daunger of the king to haue bene destroyed Owen Gleindouer and his Welchmen did much hurt to the Kings subiects One night as the King was going to bed he was in danger to haue bin destroyed for some naughtie traiterous persons hadde conueyed into his bed a certaine iron made with smithes crafte like a Caltroppe with three long prickes sharpe and small standing vpright in sort that when he had laid him downe and that the weighte of hys body should come vpon the bed he shuld haue bin thrust in with those prickes and peraduenture slayne but as God would the K. not thinking of any such thing chanced yet to feele and perceyue the instrument before he layde him downe and so escaped the daunger About Whâ—…tfontide a conspiracie was deuised by certayne persons that wished the Kings deathe A brute was spred abrode that K. Rich. was liuing mainteyning and bruting abroade that King Richarde was aliue and therefore exhorted men to stand with him for shortly he would come to light and reward such as tooke hys part with iust recopence herewith there was a priest takeÌ„ at Ware A priest taken or as some bookes haue at Warwike who had a Kalender or rolle in whyche a great number of names were written moe than were in any wise giltie to the fact as afterwards appeared by the same priests confession for being examined whether he knew such persons as hee had so enrolled were there present before him he sayd he neuer knewe them at all and beeyng demaunded wherefore hee had then so recorded their names he aunswered bycause hee thoughte they would gladly doe what mischief they could against King Henry vpon any occasion offered in reuenge of the iniuries done to King Richarde by whome they had bin aduaunced and princely preferred When therefore there appeared no more credite in the man he was condemned He is executed drawen hanged and quartered and dyuers that had bin appreheÌ„ded about that matter were releassed The Priour of Launde apprehended and set at libertie Shortly after y e Prior of Launde who for his euill gouernemement had bin depriued of his state and dignitie was likewise executed not for attempting any thing of himselfe but only for that he confessed that he knew euill counsaile and concealed it His name was Walter Baldocke a Chanon sometyme in Dunstable and by King Richarde promoted to the Priorship of Laund Grey Friers apprehended Also the same time certayne grey Friers were apprehended for treason which they had deuised to
was borne first a Carmelite Frier professed in Norwiche and after going to Cambridge hee there proceeded Doctor hee was also confessor to the Duke of Lancaster and to his wife the Duches Constance a greate setter forthe of Pope Vrbanes cause againste the other Popes that were by him and those of his faction named the Antipapes Thomas Maldon so called of y e towne of that name in Essex where hee was borne Iohn Edoe discended out of Wales by lignage and borne in Herefordshire a Franciscane Frier Nicholas Fakinham borne in Northfolke a grey Frier proceeded Doctor in Oxford a great Diuine and an excellent Philosopher prouinciall of his order here in Englande Laurence Holbecke a Monke of Ramsey well seene in the Hebrewe tong and wrote thereof a Dictionarie Iohn Colton Archbyshop of Ardmach Iohn Marrey so called of a village in Yorkeshire where he was borne a Carmelite of Doucaster Richarde Chefer borne in Northfolke a diuine and an Augustine Frier in Norwiche Iohn Lathburie a Franciscane Frier of Reading Nicholas Poutz Richard Scrope brother to William Scrope Lord Treasorer of England studyed in Cambridge and proceeded there Doctor of both the lawes became an aduocate in the Court of Rome and afterwardes was aduanced to the gouernemente of the Sea of Couentrie and Litchfield and at length was remoued from thence and made Archbyshoppe of Yorke he wrote an inuectiue againste Kyng Henry and at length lost his head as before yee haue heard Iohn Wrotham a Carmelite Frier of London and after made Warden of an house of his order in Calays Iohn Colby a Carmelite Frier of Norwich William Thorp a Northerne man borne and studente in Oxford an excellent diuine and an earnest follower of that famous Clearke Iohn Wicklife a notable preacher of the word Actes and monuments page 631. c. and expressing his doctrine no lesse in trade of life than in speeche he was at length apprehended by commaundement of the Archbyshop of Caunterburie Thomas Arundell and committed to prison in Saltwood Castell where at length hee dyed Stephen Patrington borne in Yorkeshire a Frier Carmelite prouinciall of his order thorough England of whiche broode there were at that season .1500 within this land he was Byshop of Sainte Dauids and confessor to Kyng Henry the fifth about the fifth yeare of whose raigne he deceassed Robert Mascall a Carmelite Frier of Ludlowe confessor also to the sayde King who made him Byshop of Hereford Reginald Langham a Frier Minor of Norwiche Actonus Dominicanus Thomas Palmer warden of the blacke Friers within the Citie of London Boston of Burie a Monke of the Abbey of Burie in Suffolke wrote a Cataloge of all the writers of the Churche and other treatises Thomas Peuerell a Frier Carmelite borne in Suffolke hee was aduanced to the Sea of Ossorie in Irelande by Richarde the seconde and after by Pope Boniface the ninth remoued to Landaue in Wales and from thence called by Henrye the fourth with consente of Pope Gregorie the twelfth to gouerne the Sea of Worcester and so continued Byshoppe of that Citie till hee ended his life in the yeare of oure Lord .1418 whiche was about the sixth yeare of the reigne of King Henry the fifth Iohn Puruey an excellente Diuine proceeded master of arte in Oxforde hee was apprehended for suche doctrine as hee taught contrarie to the ordinaunces of the Churche of Rome See master Foâ—…e in his booke of 〈◊〉 and moâ—…rmeÌ„ is 〈◊〉 and was at length compelled by Thomas Arundell Archbyshoppe of Caunterburie to recante at Poules Crosse seauen speciall articles hee wrote diuers treatises and was the second time committed to prison in Henry y e fifth his dayes by Henry Chichley that succeeded Arundell in gouernement of the Church of Canterburie William Holme a grey Frier and a good Phisition for curing diseases of the body whatsoeuer his phisick was for the soule he liued til HeÌ„ry the fifth his daies and deceassed about y e fourth yeare of his raigne Nicholas Bayard a blacke Frier a Doctor of Diuinitie professed at Oxforde Thomas Rudburne Archdeacon of Sudburie and Byshop of Saint Dauids in Wales succeding after Stephen Patrington hee wrote a Chronicle and certaine Epistles as Iohn Bale noteth Nicholas Riston who being sore greeued in mind as diuers other in those dayes to consider what inconuenience redounded to the Church by reason of the strife and brawling among the Prelates for the acknowledging of a lawfull Pope two or three still contending for that dignitie wrote a booke entituled de tollende Sersmate Iohn Walter an excellent mathemeticien being fyrste broughte vp of a Scholer in the Colledge of Winchester and after studyed at Oxford Thomas of Newmarket taking that surname of the Towne in Cambridgeshire where hee was borne hee for his worthinesse as was thoughte was made Byshoppe of Careleill well seene both in other sciences and also in diuinitie William Anger a Franciscane Frier of an house of that order in Brigewater Peter Russell a grey Frier and of his order the prouinciall heere in England Iohn Langton a Carmelite Roberte Wantham a Monke of Cerneley in Dorsetshire wrote a Booke in verse of the originall and signification of wordes William Norton a Franciscane Fâ—… of Couentrie Hugh Sueth a blacke Frier and a great preacher Richard Folsham a Monke of Norwiche Robert Wimbeldon a singular diuine and an excellent Preacher as appeareth by the Sermon whiche hee made vpon this texte Actes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 page 653. Redde rationem villicationis tua King Henrie the fifth An. reg 1. Henry the .5 HENRY Prince of Wales son and heire to Kyng Henrye the fourth borne at Monmouth in wales on the ryuer of Wye after his father was departed this life tooke vpon him the regimente of thys Realme of Englande the twentith of Marche being proclaymed King by the name of Henry the fifth in the yeare of the worlde .5375 after the birth of one sauior 1413. the third or theraboutes 1413 of the Emperor Sigismond the three and thirtie of Charles the sixt king of Fraunce and about the fifth of Iames the first K. of Scotland Suche greate hope and good expectation was hadde of thys mans fortunate successe to followe that within three dayes after hys fathers deceasse diuers noble men and honourable personages did to him homage Homage done to king Henry before his coronation and swâ—…re to him due obedieÌ„ce which had not bin sene done to any of his predecessors kings of this Realm till they hadde bin possessed of the Crowne and receyued their oth well and truely to gouerne He was Crowned the ninth of Aprill The day of K. Henryes coronation a very tempestuous daye beeyng Passion Sonday which was a sore ruggie and vntemperate daye with wind snow and fleete that men greatly maruelled thereat making diuers interpretations what the same mighte signifie But what so euer mens fancies hereof might coniecture this King was the man that according to the olde prouerbe
of them to stande which sore troubled the legges of the Northerne menne when the battell ioyned The Earle of Northumberlande and Andrew Trollop The Earle of Northumberlande which were chiefe Captaynes of Kyng Henries vawwarde seeyng theyr shotte not to preuaile hasted forwarde to ioyne with theyr enimies and the other part slacked not to accomplish their desire This battell was sore foughten for hope of life was set aside on eyther parte and takyng of prisoners proclaymed a great offence The obstinamyndes of both partes by reason euery man determined to conquere or to dye in the field This deadly battell and bloudy conflict continued tenne houres in doubtfull victorie the one parte sometime flowing and sometime ebbing but in conclusion King Edwarde so couragiously comforted his men that the other part was discomfited and ouercome Kyng Henries parte discomfited like to men amazed fled towarde Tadcaster bridge to saue them selues but in the meane way there is a little booke called Cocke not very broade Cock or riuer but of a greate deepenesse in whiche what for hast to escape and what for feare of followers a greate number 〈◊〉 meâ—…ht and â—…ned It was reported that men aliue passed the riuer vpon dead carcasses and that the greate riuer of Wharfe whiche is the great sewer of that brooke and of all the water comming froÌ„ Towton was couloured with bloud The chase continued all night and the most parte of the nexte daye and euer the Northerne men as they sawe anye aduantage returned againe and fought with their enimies to y e greate losse of both partes The number slayne in battayle of Saxton otherwise called Palme sunday fielde For in these two dayes were slaine as they that knew it wrote on both parts sixe and thirtie thousand seauen hundred threescore and sixteene persons all Englishmen and of one nation whereof the chiefe were the Erles of NorthumberlaÌ„d and Westmerland and the Lord Dakers the Lord Welles Sir Iohn Neuill Andrew Trolop Robert Horne and many other Knightes and Esquiers and the Earle of Deuenshire was taken prisoner but the Dukes of Somerset and Excester fledde from the field and saued themselues After this great victorie King Edward rode to Yorke where hee was with all solemnitie receiued and first he caused the heads of his father the Earle of Salisburie and other his friends to bee taken from the gates and to be buried with their bodies and there hee caused the Earle of Deuonshire and three other to be beheaded and set their heads in the same place King HeÌ„ry after he heard of the irrecouerable losse of his armye King Henrye withdraweth to Berwike from theÌ„ce into Scotland departed incontinently with his wife and sonne to the Towne of Berwike and leauing the Duke of Somerset there wente into Scotlande and comming to the King of Scottes required of him and his counsell ayde succour reliefe and comfort The yong King of Scottes lamenting the miserable state of King Henry comfortedly 〈◊〉 with faire words and friendly promises and assigned to him a competente pencion to liue on during his abode in Scotland Kyng Henry in recompence of this 〈◊〉 and frendship shewed to him by the K. of Scottes deliuered to the sayd king the towne of Berwike After that the Scottishe king had giue possession of this towne hee faythefully supported the parte of king Henrye and concluded a mariage betwixt his sister and the yong Prince of Waâ—…es but yet the same mariage was 〈◊〉 consummate as after ye shall heare When king Henry was somewhat settled in the realme of Scotlande Queene Margaret with his sonne goeth into France he sente his wyfe and his sonne into France to K. Reigner hir father trusting by hys ayde and succour to assemble 〈◊〉 armie and once agayne to possesse his Realme and former dignitie and hee in the meane tyme determined to make his aboade in Scotlande to see what waye his friendes in Englande would studie for his restitution The Queene beyng in Fraunce did obteyne of the young Frenche king then Lewes the .xj. that all hir husbandes friendes and those of the Lancastriall band might safely and surely haue reforte into any parte of the Realme of France prohibityng all other of the contrarie faction any accesse or repaire into that countrey Thus yee haue hearde how King Henry the sixth after he had raigned eight and thirtie yeres and odde monethes was expulsed and driuen out of this Realme and now leauing him with the Princes of his faction consulting togither in Scotlande and Queene Margaret his wife gathering of menne in Fraunce I will returne where I left to proceede with the doings of king Edwarde This yong Prince hauing with prosperous successe obteyned so glorious a victorie in the mortall battell at Towton and chased all hys aduersaries out of the Realme or at the least wayes put them to silence returned after y e maner and fashion of a triumphant conqueror with great pomp vnto London where according to the olde custome of the Realme he called a great assemblie of persons of all degrees and the nyne and twentith daye of Iune was at Westminster with al solemnitie crowned anoynted K. In the which yeare this King Edwarde called his high courte of Parliament at Westminster in the whiche the state of the Realme was greatly reformed and all the Statutes made in Henry the sixt his time whiche touched eyther his title or profite were reuoked In the same Paliament the Erle of Oxford farre striken in age and his sonne and heire the Lord Aworey Veer eyther through malice of theyr enimies or for that they had offended the King were both with diuers of theyr counsellors atteinted and put to execution which caused Iohn Earle of Oxforde euer after to rebell There were also beheaded the same time Sir Thomas Tudenham Knyghte William Tirell and Iohn Mongomerie Esquiers and after them diuers others Also after this hee created his two yonger breethren Dukes that is to saye Lorde George Duke of Clarence Lorde Richarde Duke of Gloucester and the Lord Iohn Neuill brother to Richarde Earle of Warwike hee firste made Lord Montacute and afterwardes created hym Marques Montacute Beside this Henrye Bourchier brother to Thomas Archbyshoppe of Caunterburie was created Earle of Essex and William Lorde Fawconbridge was made Earle of Kent To this Henrye Lorde Bourchier a man highly renowmed in martiall feates Richarde Duke of Yorke long before this time had gyuen his sister Elizabeth in marriage of whome hee begate foure sonnes William Thomas Iohn and Henrye the whiche William beeing a man of great industrie witte and prouidence in graue and weightie matters married the Lady Anne Wooduile discended of high parentage whose mother Iaquet was daughter to Peter of Lâ—…renburgh Earle of Sainte Paule by the whyche Anne hee had Lord Henry Earle of Essex one Daughter named Cicile maried to Water Lord Ferrers of Chartley and an other called Isabell which dyed vnmaried â—…int The
the towne 〈◊〉 of the gray Friers The .xxi. of September Doctor Taylor maister of the Rolles was discharged of that office and Thomas Cromwell 〈◊〉 in hys place the .ix. of October Moreouer the thirde of Nouember The Parliament againe beginneth the Parliament began againe in the which was concluded the Act of Supremacie which authorized the kings highnesse to be supreme head of the church of England and the authoritie of the Pope chalished out of the realme In the same Parliament also was gyuen to the king the first fruites and tenthes of all spirituall dignities and promotions This yeare came the great Admiral of France into EnglaÌ„d Ambassador from the French king The Admirall of France coÌ„meth in Ambassade into England 1535. and was honorably receyued In this â—…medyed the Earle of Kildare prisoner in the Tower and his son Thomas Fitz-Garet begon to rebell and tooke all the kings ordinance and sent to the Emperor requiring him to take his part Also he fiue the bishop of Dublyn and robbed all suche as woulde not obey him In the beginning of this yeare An. reg 27. the Duke of Norffolke and the Bishop of Elie went to Calays and thither came the Admirall of Fraunce The .xxij. of Aprill the Prior of the Chartereux at London the Prior of Beuall Stow. the Prior of Exham Reynalds a brother of Sion Iohn Vicar of Thisleworth were arraigned and condemned of treason and thervpon drawne hanged and quartered at Tiburne the fourth of May. Their heades quarters were set ouer the bridge and gates of the citie one quarter excepted which was set vp at the Chartereux at London The eight of May the king commaunded that all belonging to the Court should poll theyr heades and to giue ensample caused his owne heade to be polled and his heard from thenceforth was cut round but not shauen The .xix. of Iune were three Monkes of the Charterhouse hanged drawne Monkes of the Charterhouse executed and quartered at Tyburne and their heades and quarters set vp about London for denying the king to bee supreme heade of the Church Their names were Exmew Middlemoore and Nudigate Also the .xxj. of the same Moneth The Bishop of Rochester beheaded and for the same cause doctor Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester was beheaded and his heade set vppon London bridge This Bishop was of many sore lamented for hee was reported to bee a man of great learning and of a verie good life The Pope had elected him a Cardinall and sent hys hatte as farre as Calais but his head was off before his flat could come Sir Thomas Moore beheaded The sixt of Iuly was sir Thomas Moore beheaded for the like crime that is to wit for denying the king to be supreme head This man was both learned and wise but giues much to a certaine pleasure in merye tauntes and leâ—…sting in moste of his communication whiche manner hee forgatte not at the verye houre of hys death This yeare in the tyme that the king went his progresse to Gloucester and to other places Westwarde The king of Scots knight of the garter the king of Scottes was installed knight of the Garter at Windsore by his procurator the Lorde Erskyn and in October following The Bishop of Winchester Ambassador into France Stephen Gardiner whiche after the Cardinalles death was made Byshoppe of Wynchester was sente Ambassadoure into Fraunce where hee remayned three yeares after Stow. In August the Lorde Thomas Fitzgerarde sonne to the Erle of Kyldare was taken in Ireland and sent to the tower of London In the Moneth of October Doctor Lee and other were sent to visite the Abbayes Priories and Nunries in Englande who set all those religious persons at liberty that would forsake their habite and all that were vnder the age of .xxiiij. yeres and the residue were closed vp that would remaine Further they tooke order that no men shoulde haue accesse to the houses of women nor women to the houses of men except it should bee to heare theyr seruice The Abbot or Prior of the house where any of the brethren was willing to depart was appoynted to giue to euerie of them a priestes gowne for his habit xl.ss in mony the Nunnes to haue such apparell as secular women ware and to go whither them liked best The .xj. of Nouember was a great Procession at London for ioy of the French kings recouerie of health from a daungerous sicknesse In December a suruey was taken of al ChaÌ„teryes and the names of them that had the gyft of them 1536 The Lady Katherin dowager deceaseth The Princes Dowager lying at Kimbalton fell into hir last sicknesse whereof the King being aduertised appoynted the Emperours Ambassadour that was leger here with him named Eustachius Caputius to go to visite hir and to doe his commendations to hir and will hir to bee of good comfort The Ambassadour with all diligence doth his dutie therein comforting hir the best hee myght but shee within sixe dayes after perceyuing hir selfe to waxe verie weake and feeble and to feele death approching at hande caused one of hir Gentlewomen to write a letter to the King commending to him hir daughter and his beseeching him to stande good father vnto hir and further desired him to haue some consideration of hir Gentlewomen that had serued hir and to see them bestowed in maryage Further that it woulde please him to appoynted that hir serâ—… might 〈◊〉 their â—…e wages and a yeares wages beside This in effect was all that shee requestâ—… and so immediately herevpon shee departed thys life the .viij. of Ianuarie at Kimbaltors aforesaid and was buried at Peterborow The fourth of Februarie the Parliamente beganne Religious houses giâ—… to the king in the whiche amongst other things inacted all Religious houses of the value of three hundred Markes and vnder were gyuen to the King with all the landes and goodes to them belonging The nuÌ„ber of these houses were .376 the value of their laÌ„ds yerely aboue 32000..ss their mouable goodes one hundred thousand Stâ—…w The religious persons put out of the same houses amounted to the number of aboue ten thousand This yeare was William Tindall burned at a towne betwixt Bruyssels and Maclyn called Villefort William Tindall burne This Tyndal otherwise called Hichyus was borne in the Marches of Wales and hauing a desire to translate and publishe to his Countrey dyuerse bookes of the Byble in English doubting to come in trouble for the same if he shoulde remaine here in Englande got him ouer into the parties of beyond the sea where he translated not onely the newe Testament into the Englishe tongue but also the fiue bookes of Moses Iosua Iudicum Ruth the bookes of the kings Paralipâ—…menon Nehemias or the first of Esdras the Prophet Ionas Beside these translations he made certain treatises and published the same which were brought ouer into Englande read with great
gayâ—â—d built 〈◊〉 voyage and then tooke order for the Fortest that sir Andrew Dudley Captayne of Broughtie â—…ragge had befe with him two hâ—…ndred Souldiours of Harbutters and other and a sufficient number of Pioners for his worâ—…es Sir Edwarde Dudley Captaine of Hume Castell three score Harduttâ—â—s fortye horsemenne and a hundred Pioners Sir Raufe Bulmer Captain of Rockesbourgh three hundred souldiours of Hacbutters and other and two hundred Pioners As things were thus concluded and warning giuen 〈◊〉 night on this Wednesday being Michadmasse euen on the nexte morrowe being Michadmasse day euery 〈◊〉 fell to paeking apace â—…y reâ—â—â—â—…omeâ—â— and gotte them homewardes passing ouer the Twede there with some trouble and daunger also by reason of â—…yne that lately fell before â—… daunger â—…e souldiâ—â— pasâ—…ing â—…er of 〈◊〉 and had â—…aysed the streaâ—…e whiche beeing swyâ—â—â—t of it selfe and the Chaâ—…tell vneueri in the bottâ—â— wyth great sicâ—â—es made the passage combersome so that many as well horsemen as footemen were in no small perill as they passed throught and one or two drowned and many caryageâ—… ouerthrowne and in great hazarde of lossing The Duke of Somerset roade streight to Newcastell and thence homewardes 〈◊〉 Earle of Warwike my Loâ—â—â— Gray and Sir Raufe Sadler with diuerse other roade to Berwike to abide the comming of the Scottish commissioners In the meane tyme of theyr carying there the Erle of Warwike made sixe knightes â—â—ke made Sir Thomas Neuill the Lorde Neuels brother Sir Andrew Corbet Sir Anthonie Strelley Sir Anhurt Manering Sir Richard Verney Sir Iohn Berttuille After that the Earle of Warwike had taryed for the comming of the Scottes the full tearme of the appoyntment which was vntil the fourth of October and perceyued they came not the next day he departed homewardes Here ye haue to vnderstande and that in part of the meane time whilest the Duke of Somerset was in doing of these exploytes in Scotlande as ye haue hearde rehearsed The Earle of Lenox and the Lorde Wharton warden of the West Marches with an armie of fiue thousande men An inuasion made into Scotlande entred Scotlande on that side and first passing two myles after a daye and a nyghtes defence they wanne the Church of Annan Annan church wonne tooke teuentie and two prisoners keepers of the same dâ—…ient the spoyle for cumber of cariage and caused the Churche to bee blowne vp with powder passing thence a .xvj. myles within the lande they wanne the Castell of Mylke the whiche they left furnished wyth munition and â—â—nne The Castell of Milke wonne and so returned But of this ye shall â—…nde â—…ore in the Hystorie of Scotlande by the suffernesse of God where we entreate of the â—â—ings there in this yeare Thus much haue I collected oute of master Patens booke or rather exempliâ—…ted the same not much digressing from his owne wordes except where I haue beene forced to 〈◊〉 his worke in places wishing to haue inserted the whole if the purpose of this volume would haue so permitted as well for the full vnderstanding of euerie particular poynt by hym remembred as also for his pâ—…esant and apt maner of penning the same Whilest the Lorde Protectour out was abroade thus in wereck agaynst the Scottes the Lords of the Counsayle that remayned at home chiefly by the good and diligent caâ—â—ing on and further â—…ner of the the bishoppe of Canterburie and other of the Cleargie tooke order for the aduancement of Religion The Homelles Paraphrase of Erasmus â—â—ing the bookes of Homilyes and the Paraphrase of Erasmus to be set foorth and had in Churches At the comming backe of the Lorde Protectour from his iourney into Scotlande the Citizens of London determined to haue receyued him with great tryumphe but he healing thereof forbid them in any wyse so to doe for sayde hee if any thing hath beene done to the honour of the Realme it was Gods doyng and therefore willed them to giue him the prayse Neuerthelesse the Maior and Aldermen with certayne of the Commoners in theyr Liuereys with theyr Hoodes hearing of his approch to the Citie the eight day of October meete him in Fylnâ—â—â—arie fielde The Lord Protectors retuen where betwixt eche of them by the hande and handed them for theyr good willes The Lord Maior did 〈◊〉 with him till they came to the pounde in Smithfielde where hys grace left them and roade to his house of Sheue that night the next day to the king to Hampton Court The fourth day of Nouember began a Parliament called and holden at Westmynster which continued till the .xxiiij. of December next following and then proroged In thys Parliament all Calleges Chaunteries and free Chapels were gyuen to the king and the Statute of the sixe Articles were repealed wyth dyuerse other tending to the lyke ende Moreouer during this Parliament visiters beeing appoynted to visite in London the sixtenth of Nouember beganne to take downe the Images in Paules Church and shortly after all the Images in euery Churche not onelye through London but also throughoute the whole Realme were pulled downe and defaced 1547 An. reg 2. The Lorde Protector and other of the counsaile considering nowe in what sort they had got footeholde in Scotlande by reason of such Peeces as they had taken and fortified within the realme did deuise for the more suretie of those places which they had alreadie gotte and the better to bring the rest of the Countrey vnto reason to haue some holdes also more within the land and therefore first they caused a fort to be buylded at Lowder Lowdes fortified Sir Hugh Willoughby where sir Hugh Willoughbie was appoynted Captayne with a conuenient garnison of souldiours to keepe it Besyde this it was thought expedient to fortifie the Towne of Hadington wherevpon the Lord Gray Lieutenant of the North partes with sir Thomas Palmer and sir Thomas Holeâ—…oft were appoynted to got thyther wyth a conuenient number of men of warre and Pioners to see that towne fenced with Trenches Rampires and Bulwarkes as shoulde seeme to his Lordshippe necessarie and behouefull who therefore entring into Scotlande the eightenth of Aprill Hadington fortified by the lord Gray passed forth to Hadington where hee beganne to fortifie and there remayned to see the worke brought to some perfection During his abode there diuerse exploytes were bothe valiauntly attempted and luckilye atchieued by hys martiall conduct and politique direction as occasions offered mighte moue him the whiche I woulde gladlye haue sette downe at large if I coulde haue come to y t true vnderstanding thereof but sithe I cannot gette the same in suche full manner as I haue wished that yet whiche I haue learned by true report as I take it I haue thought good to impart to the reader The .xxviij. of May his Lordship wanne the Castell of Yester Yester Castell wonne after he had beaten if right sore with terrible batterie of Canon shotte for the
request was graunted hee therefore demaunded of them if they knew him or euer had any conuersation with him and they all said no. Then the letter being shewed and redde he declared the very trueth of the matter and vpon what occasion he tolde Greeke of blacke Wil neuerthelesse hee was condemned and suffered These coÌ„demned persons were diuersly executed in sundry places for Michaell maister Ardens man was hanged in chaynes at Feuersham and one of the maides was brent there pitifully bewarling hir case and cryed out on hir mistres that had brought hir to this ende for the whiche she would neuer forgiue hir Mosby and his sister were haÌ„ged in Smithfielde at London mistres Arden was burned at Caunterbury the .14 of Marche Greene came againe certayne yeares after was apprehended condenmed and hanged in cheynes in the hygh way betwixt Ospring and Boughton agaynste Feuersham black Wil was brent on a scaffolde at Flishing in Zeland Adam Foule that dwelte at the floure de lice in Feuersham was broughte into trouble about this matter and caried vp to London with his legges bound vnder the horse belly and committed to prison in the Marshalsey for that Mosby was heard to say had it not bin for Adam Foule I hadde not come to thys trouble meaning that the bringing of the siluer dice for a token to him from mistres Arden as ye haue heard occasioned him to renue familiaritie with hir againe but when the matter was throughly ripped vp and that Mosby had clered him protesting that he was neuer of knowledge in any behalfe to the murther the mans innocencie preserued him This one thing seemeth verye straunge and notable touching master Arden that in the place where he was layd being dead all the proportion of his body might be seene two yeares after and more so playne as could be for the grasse did not growe where his body hadde touched but betweene his legges betweene hys armes and about the holownes of his necke and rouÌ„d about his body where his legges armes head or any parte of his body hadde touched no grasse growed at all of all that time so that many strangers came in that meane time beside the Townesmen to see the print of his body there on the ground in that field which field he hadde as some haue reported cruelly taken from a woman y t had bin a widow to one Cooke and after maried to one Richarde Read a mariner to the great hinderance of hir and hir husband the sayd Read for they had loÌ„g enioyed it by a leasse whiche they had of it for many yeares not then expired neuerthelesse he got it from them for the which y e saide Reades wife not only exclaymed against him in sheading many a salte teare but also cursed him most bitterly euen to his face wishing many a vengeance to light vpon him and that all the worlde might wonder on hym which was thought then to come to passe when hee was thus murthered and lay in that fielde from midnight till the morning and so all that day being the fayre day till night all the whyche daye there were many hundreds of people came wondering aboute hym And thus farre touching this horrible and haynous murther of master Arden To returne then where we lefte About this tyme A Parliament â–ª the Kyngs maiestie calling hys hygh Couer of Parliamente helde the same at Westminster the three and twentith daye of Ianuary in thys fifth yeare of hys raigne and there continued it vntill the fiftenth daye of Aprill in the sixth yeare of his sayd raigne In this Parliamente the Booke of common prayer which in some part had bin corrected and amended was newly confirmed and established And in the ende of thys Parliamente The sweatâ—… sicknesse there chanced a great and contagious sicknesse to happen in the Realme whych was called the sweating sicknesse whereof a great number of people dyed in a small time namelye in the Citie of London And it seemed that God hadde appoynted the sayde sicknes onely for the plague of Englishmenne for the most that dyed thereof were men and not women nor children And so it folowed the Englishmen that suche Merchants of England as were in Flaunders and Spayne and other Countreys beyonde the Sea were visited therewithall and none other nation infected therewith And it began first in Aprill in y e North parts and so came through the Realme and continued vntill September nexte following The disease was suddayne and greeuous so that some beeyng in perfect health in one houre were gone and dead within foure houres nexte following And the same being hote and terrible inforced the people greately to call vppon God and to doe manye deedes of charitie but as the disease ceased so the deuotion quickly decayed At this time also the Kinges maiestie The embasiâ—… of the coyne with the aduice of hys priuie Counsaile and hauyng also great conference with merchants and other perceyuing that by suche coynes and copper moneys as hadde bin coyned in the time of the King his father and now wâ—â—â— commonly cuâ—…râ—â—t in 〈◊〉 Realme and in diedâ—… a great walâ—…r of them not 〈◊〉 thy halfe the valbeâ—… thâ—…t they were 〈◊〉 at to the greate dishonour of the Kings mâ—…dist 〈◊〉 and the Realme and to the deceit and aâ—…dinâ—… 〈◊〉 hindetaure of all the Kynges maiesties 〈◊〉 of subiectes did nowe purpose not onely the aâ—…sirâ—… of the saâ—…â—…pper moneys but also meant whâ—…lly to 〈◊〉 oâ—… them into Bâ—…llyoÌ„ to the intent deliuer fine and good moneys for them And therfore in the monetâ—… of Iuly by his graces Proclamation he abased the peece of .xij. peâ—…ce commonly called a teston vnto nine pees and the peece of four pence vnto three prince And in Augusturâ—…t following the peece of nine pence was abased to sixe pence and the pâ—…ece of three pence vnto hys pence and the pennie to an halâ—… pennie The eleuenth daye of October there was it greate creation of Dukes and Earles as the L. Marques Dorset was created D. of Suffolke the Earle of Warwike made Duke of Northumberlande and the Earle of Wilshire made Marques of Winchester and sir William Harbert maister of y e horse was made Erle of Pembroke diuers Gentlemen were made Knights â—…e Duke of â—…arter aâ—… appreâ—… and committed to â—…e Tower The sixtenth day of the saide moneth beeing Friday the D. of Sâ—â—erset was agayne apprehended and his wife also and committed to the Tower and with hâ—â— also were committed sir Michaell Stanhope sir Thomas Arundell Sir Rauf Auane sir Miles Partridge and other for suspition of treason and â—…elonie whereof they all were shortly afterindicted and so standing endicted the seconde day of December next following the said Duke was brought out of y e Tower of London with the axe of the Tower borne before him with a greate nuÌ„ber of villes gleiues howards and pollaxes attending vpon him and so came into Westminster Hall where was made in
which seconde session were confirmed and made diuerse and sundrie Statutes concerning religion whereof some were restored and other repealed At this time many were in trouble for religion and among other Sir Iames Hales Knight Sir Iames Hales in trouble for religion one of the Iustices of the Common place whiche Iustice being called among other by the Counsayle of King Edwarde to subscribe to a deuise made for the disinheriting of Queene Marie and the Ladie Elizabeth hir sister woulde in no wise assent to the same though most of the other did yet that notwithstanding for that he at a quarter Sessions holden in Kent gaue charge vpon the Statutes of King Henry the eyght and King Edwarde the sixth in derogation of the Primacie of the Church of Rome abolished by King Henrie the eight he was first committed prisoner to the Kings bench then to the Counter and last to the Fleete where whether it were through extreeme feare or else by reason of such talke as the warden of the Fleete vsed vnto him of more trouble like to insue if he persisted in his opinion or for what other cause God knoweth he was so moued troubled vexed that he sought to ryd himselfe out of this life whiche thing he first attempted in the Fleete by wounding himselfe with a Penknife well neare to death Neuerthelesse afterwarde being recouered of that hurt he seemed to be verye comformable to all the Queenes proceedings and was therevpon deliuered of his imprisonment and brought to the Queenes presence who gaue him words of great comfort neuerthelesse his mynde was not quiet as afterwarde well appeared for in the end he drowned himself in a riuer not half a mile from his dwelling house in Kent He drowneth himselfe the riuer being so shalow that he was faine to lye groueling before he coulde dispatche himselfe whose death was much lamented For beside that he was a man wise vertuous and learned in the lawes of the Realme he was also a good and true minister of Iustice whereby he gate him great fauor and estimation among all degrees A publike disputation During the aforesayde Parliament aboute the xviij daye of October there was kepte at Paules Church in London a publike disputation appoynted by the Queenes commaundement aboute the presence of Christ in the sacrament of the Aultar which disputation continued sixe dayes Doctor Weston then being Prolocutor of the Conuocation who vsed many vnseemely checkes and tauntes against the one part to the preiudice of their cause By reason whereof the disputers neuer resolued vpon the article proponed but grewe daily more and more into contention without any frute of their long conference and so ended this disputation with these wordes spoken by Doctor Weston Prolocutor It is not the Queenes pleasure that we shoulde herein spende anye longer time and ye are well ynough for you haue the word and we haue the sworde But of this matter ye may reade more in the booke of the Monuments of the Church At this time was Cardinall Poole sent for to Rome by the Queene Cardinall Pole sent for home who was very desirous of his comming as well for the causes afore declared as also for the great affection that shee had to him being hir neere kinseman and consenting with hir in religion This message was most thankfully receyued at Rome and order taken to sende the sayde Cardinal hither with great expedition but before his comming Queene Marie had maried Philip Prince of Spaine as after shall appeare But here to touche somewhat the comming of the sayde Cardinal When he was arriued at Caleys there was conference had amongst the Counsaylors of the Queene for the maner of his receyuing The Counsell deuided about the receyuing of the Cardinall some woulde haue had him very honorably met and intertayned as he was in all places where he had before passed not onelye for that he was a Cardinall and a Legate from the Pope but also for that he was the Queenes neare kinseman of the house of Clarence Neuerthelesse after much debating it was thought meetest first for that by the lawes of the realme which yet were not repealed he stoode attainted by Parliament also for that it was doubtfull how he being sent frō Rome should be accepted of the people who in xxv yeares before had not bene muche acquainted with the Pope or his Cardinals that therefore vntill all things might be put in order for that purpose he shoulde come without any great solemnitie vnto Lambeth where in the Archbishoppes house his lodging was prepared The thirde of Nouember nexte following Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury notwithstāding that he had once refused plainly to subscribe to King Edwardes will in the disinheriting of his sister Marie and alledging many reasons and arguments for the legittimation of both the Kings sisters was in the Guild-hall in London arreygned and attainted of treason namely for ayding the Duke of Northumberlande with horse and men against the Queene as aforesayde and the same time also the Ladie Iane of Suffolke who for a whyle was called Queene Iane and the Lorde Guilforde hir husbande the Lorde Ambrose and L. Henrie Dudley sonnes to the Duke of Northumberlande were likewise arreygned and attainted and therevpon led backe agayne to the Tower In the beginning of Ianuarie next following Ambassadors from the Emperour Charles the v. Emperor sent into Englande an honorable ambassade amongst whom was the Conte de Ayguemont Admirall of the low countries w t Charles Conte de la Laing Iohn de Montmorancie Lorde of Curriers and the Chauncellour Nigre with full Commission to conclude a mariage betwene Philip Prince of Spaine his sonne and heyre and Queene Marie as you haue hearde which ambassade tooke suche place that shortlye after all things were finished accordinglye But this mariage was not well thought off by the Commons nor much better lyked of many of the nobilitie who for this and for the cause of religion conspired to rayse warre rather than to see such chaunge of the state of the which conspiracie though there were many confederates yet the firste that shewed force therein was one Sir Thomas Wyat a knight in Kent who in very deede was driuen to preuent the time of the purposed enterprise by this happe Diuerse of the partakers in this conspiracie being withdrawne from London where they had deuised their drift home into their countries amongst whom the sayd Sir Thomas Wyat was one it fell out that whylest he was returned into Kēt where his lands and liuings chieflye laye a Gentleman of that shire one to the sayde Sir Thomas Wyat most deare was by the Counsell for other matters committed to the Fleete wherevpon he verily suspecting that his f◅r is were bewreyed had no other shift as he tooke it but to put on armour and to begin the attempt before the time appointed with his complices and herevpon giuing intelligence of his determination to his associates
do and perfourme all such penance as the Bishop his Ordinarie should enioyne him The .ix. of Nouember the sayd Peter Burchet was remoued from the Lollards Tower to the Tower of London where on the nexte morrow about noone whilest one that had kept him companie was gone downe and locked the doore after him leauing an other with him called Hugh Longworth who stoode at the Window reading in the Bible the sayd Burchet walking vp and downe in the Chamber tooke a Billets ende out of the fire Peter Burchet killeth his keeper and knocked the sayd Longworth on the head and left not till he had stryken him starke deade for the which on the next morrow he was arraigned and condemned at Westminster and then returned to Somerset house where he remayned that night and on the next morrow being the twelfe of Nouember he was brought to the Gybet where after his right hande being striken off and nayled to the Gibet Peter Buchet hanged he was hanged nigh the place where he wounded maister Hawkins This yeare aboute Lammas wheate was solde at London for three shillings the Bushell An. reg 16. but shortly after it was raised to foure shillings fiue shillings sixe shillings and before Christmasse to a Noble and seuen shillings Dearth without searcitie whiche so continued long after biefe was solde for twentie pens and two and twenty pens the stone and all other flesh and white meates at an excessiue price all kinde of saltfishe verie deare as fiue hearings two pence c yet greate plentie of freshe fishe and oft tymes the same verie cheape pease at foure shillings the bushell Otemeale at foure shillings eight pens Bay salt at three shillings the Bushell c All this dearth notwithstanding thankes bee gyuen to God there was no want of any thing to hym that wanted not money The fourth of Aprill being Palme Sunday there was taken saying of Masse in the Lorde Morleys house within Algate of London 1574 Priests saying Masse apprehended one Albon Dolman Priest and the Ladie Morley with hir children and diuerse others were also taken hearing of the sayde Masse There was also taken the same day and houre for saying Masse at the Ladie Gilfordes in Trinitie lane one Oliuer Heywood Priest and for hearing of the sayde Masse the sayde Ladie Gilforde with diuerse other Gentlewomen There was also taken at the same instaunt in the Ladie Browns house in Cow lane for saying Masse one Thomas Heywood Priest and one Iohn Cowper Priest with the Ladie Browne and diuerse other were likewise taken being hearers of the sayde Masse All which persons were for the same offences indicted conuicted and had the lawe according to the statute in that case prouided There was also founde in their seueral Chapels diuerse latin bookes Beades Images Palmes Chalices Crosses vestmentes Pixes Paxes and such like A moon stru◅ fish but not so monstrous as some reported for his cies being great were in his heade and not in his backe The .ix. of Iuly at six of the clocke at night in the I le of Thauer besides Ramesgate in the Parish of Saint Peter vnder the Cliffe a monstrous fish or Whale of the Sea did shoote himselfe on shore where for want of water beating himselfe on the sandes hee dyed about sixe of the clocke on the next morning before which tyme he roared and was heard more than a myle on the lande The length of this fish was xxij yardes the nether iaw xij foote the opening one of his eyes being taken out of his head was more than sixe horse in a cart could draw a man stoode vpright in the place from whence the eye was taken the thicknesse from the backe where on he lay to the toppe of his bellie which was vpwarde was fourtene foote his taile of the same breadth betwene his eies xij foote three men stood vpright in his mouth some of the ribbes were sixe foote long his tongue was xv foote long his lyuer two Cart load into his nostrels any man might haue crept the oyle being boyled out of the head was Parmasite the oyle of his bodie was whytish and sweete of taste Obsequie at Paules for the French king The seuenth of August a solemne Obsequie was kept in Saint Paules Church at London for Charles the ninth King of Fraunce who deceassed on the twentie day of May last before passed The .xv. of August being Sunday Agnes Bridges Agnes Bridges and Rachell Pinder at Paules crosse for counterfeiting to be possessed a Mayde about the age of .xx. yeares and Rachell Pinder a wenche about eleuen or twelue yeares olde who both of them had counterfeyted to be possessed by the Diuell whereby they had not onely marueylously deluded many people both men and women but also dyuerse such persons as otherwise seemed to bee of good witte and vnderstanding stoode before the preacher at Paules Crosse where they acknowledged theyr hypocriticall counterfeyting with penitent behauiours requyring forgiuenesse of God and the worlde and the people to praye for them Also their seuerall examinations and confessions were there openly read by the Preacher and afterwardes published in prynt for the further posteritie hereafter to beware of the lyke deceyuers The fourth of September in the afternoone A lad of .xvii. yeares olde drowned in a chanell in London such a storme of raine happened at London as the like of long time coulde not bee remembred wherethrough the Chanels of the Citie sodainly rysing ranne with such a forceable course towardes the common shores that a lad about the age of xviij yeres minding to haue lept ouer the Chanell neare vnto Downgate was borne ouer with the streame and by the same caryed frō the Conduyt there towardes the Thames with such a swiftnesse that no man with slaues or other wayes coulde staye him tyll hee came agaynst a Cart wheele that stoode in the water gate afore whiche time hee was drowned and starke dead This yeare the Maior of London went by water to Westmynster No Maiors least at the Guildhall and there tooke his othe as hath beene accustomed he kept no feast at the Guildhall although great prouision had beene made for that purpose but dyned at his owne house with his brethren the Aldermen the companies dyned at their seuerall halles This was done by appoyntment of the Queenes maiesties Counsaile to auoyd infection of the plague like to haue encreased by comming togither of such a multitude This weeke from the .xxij. vnto the .xxviij. of October deceased in the Citie and liberties conteyning Cviij Parishes of all diseases one hundred three score and sixe of the which number lxxv were accounted to die of the plague Michaelmasse terme Terme adio◅ned which had beene adiourned by Proclamation began at Westminster on the sixt of Nouember The same sixte day in the morning Two tides in one houre there happened two great tydes at London in the ryuer of Thames the first
by course the other within one houre after which ouerflowes the Marshes with many vaultes and sellers neare adioyning The .xiiij. of Nouember being Sunday Fierie impressions marueylous about midnight following diuerse straunge impressions of fire and smoke were seene in the ayre to proceede forth of a blacke clowde in the north towardes the South which so continued till the next morning that it was day light The next night following the heauens from all parts did seeme to burne marueylous ragingly and ouer our heades the flames from the horizon rounde about rysing did meete and there double and roll one in another as if it had beene in a cleare furnesse The .xviij. day at night An. Reg. 17. was very stormie and tempestuous of winds out of the South I haue not knowne the like out of that quarter especially after mydnight till the next morning that it was day light These are to bee receyued as tokens of Gods wrath readie bent agaynst the worlde for sinne now abounding and also of his great mercie who doth onely thus but to shewe the rod wherwith we dayly deserue to be beaten This yeare at London after Haruest the price of wheate began by little and little to fall from seuen shillings to three shillings the bushel at which price it stayed little or nothing rysing or falling all the yeare after but bay salt was raysed from three shillings to foure shillings Bay salt deare fiue shillings and sixe shillings the bushell the lyke whereof had neuer bene seene or heard wythin this Realme 1575 Fies in Feâ—…uarie the â—â—her strange The .xxiiij. of Februarie the feast of Saint Mathie on which day the fayre was kept at Teukesburie a straunge thing happened there for after a floud which was not great but such as thereby the Medowes neare adioyning were couered with water in the after noone ther came downe the Ryuer of Seuerne great numbers of Flies and Betles such as in Sommer Euenings vse to stryke men in the face in great heapes a foote thicke aboue the water so that to credible mens iudgement there were seene wythin a payre of But lengthes of those Flies aboue a hundred quarters The Milles there aboutes were damned vp with them for the space of foure dayes after and then were cleansed by dygging them out with shouels from whence they came is yet vnknowne for the day was colde and a harde frost Earthquake The .xxvj. of Februarie betwene foure and sixe of the clocke in the after noone great Earthquakes hapned in the Cities of Yorke Worcester Gloucester Bristowe Hereforde and in the Countreys aboute which caused the people to runne out of their houses for feare they shoulde haue fallen on theyr heades In Teukesburie Bredon and other places the dishes fell from the Cupbourdes and the bookes in mens studies from the shelues In Norton Chapell the people being on their knees at Euening prayer the ground mouing caused them to runne away in great feare that the dead bodies would haue rysen or the Chapell to haue fallen part of Rithen Castell fell downe with certaine bricke Chymneys in gentlemens houses The Bell in the shire hall at Denbigh was caused to toll twice by shaking of the hall c. On Easter day which was the thirde of Aprill about nine of the clocke in the forenoone was disclosed a congregation of Anabaptysts Dutchmen in a house without the Barres of Aldegate at London whereof .xxvij. were taken and sent to prison and foure of them bearing fagots Anabaptists bare fagots at Paules crosse recanted at Pauls crosse on the .xv. of May in forme as followeth WHereas I. I. T. R. H. beeing seduced by the Diuell the spirite of errour and by false teachers his Ministers haue fallen into certayne moste detestable and damnable heresles namely 1 That Christ tooke not flesh of the substance of the blessed virgin Marie 2 That infants of the faithfull ought not to bee baptized 3 That a christian man may not be a Magistrate or beare the sworde or office of aucthoritie 4 That it is not lawfull for a Christian to take an othe Now by the grace of God and through conference with good and learned Ministers of Christ his Church I doe vnderstande and acknowledge the same to be most damnable and detestable heresies and doe aske God here before his Church mercie for my sayde former errors and do forsake them recant and renounce them and abiure them from the bottom of my heart professing that I certainly beleeue 1 That Christ tooke flesh of the substance of the blessed virgin Marie 2 That infants of the faithful ought to be baptized 3 That a christian man may be a Magistrate or beare the sworde and office of aucthoritie 4 That it is lawfull for a christian man to take an othe And further I confesse that the whole doctrine and religion established and published in this Realme of Englande as also that which is receyued and preached in the Dutche Churche here in this Citie is sounde true and according to the worde of God wherevnto in all things I submit my selfe and wil most gladly be a member of the sayd Dutch Church from henceforth vtterly abandoning and forsaking all and euery Anabaptisticall error This is my fayth nowe in the which I doe purpose and trust to stande firme and stedfast vnto the ende and that I may so doe I beseech you all to pray with me and for me to God the heauenly Father in the name of his sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ The like recantation was made by them afterwardes in the Dutche Church The .xvij. of May Archbishop of Canterburie deceased about mydnight following the right reuerend father in God Mathew Parker Doctour of Diuinitie Archbyshop of Caunterburie deceased at Lambeth and was there honourably buried on whose Tombe being of blacke Marble is written this Epitaphe following Mathew Parker liued soberly and wise Learned by studie and continuall practise Louing true of life vncontrolde The court did foster him both yong and olde Orderly he delt the right he did defend He liued vnto God to God he made his ende Annabaptists banished The .xxj. of May being Whitsuneuen one man and ten women Anabaptists Dutch were in the Consistorie of Paules condemned to bee burnt in Smithfield but after great paynes taking with them onely one woman was conuerted the other were banished the lande On the first of Iune the nine women being led by the Sherifes officers the man was tyed to a Cart and whipped and so all conueyed from Newgate to the waters side where they were shipped away neuer to returne againe Fiue persons of the family loue stood at Paules crosse The .xij. of Iune stoode at Paules Crosse fiue persons Englishmen of the sect tearmed the family of loue who there confessed themselues vtterly to detest as well the Authour of that sect H. N. as all his damnable errours and heresies The .xxij. of Iuly two Dutchmen Anabaptists were burnt
Laurence Humfrey Dauid Whitehead Iohn Bale Iohn Dee Anthony Gylbie Chrystopher Goodman William Whittingham Roger Askam Iohn Martine Barthelmew Clarke George Ackworth Iohn Caius an excellent Phisition who founded Caius colledge in Cambridge or rather by augmenting a hall called Gunhill hall by a seconde foundation named it Gunhill and Caius colledge Thomas North. Iohn Marbecke Edmond Becke Iohn Pullen Thomas Phaer Roger Hutchinson Thomas Gibson George Constantine Richarde Cockes Iames Calfhill Iohn Willocke Thomas Cartwright Abraham Hartwell Robert Crowley Iohn Gough Fecknam Laurence Tomson Andrew Kingsmill Iohn Barthlet Iohn Harding Edward Craddocke Thomas Sampson Saunders Thomas Leuer William Fulke Thomas Hill Edward Deering Iohn Brydges Iohn Veron Iohn More Daniell Rogers Michaell Rineger Peter Morwing Iohn Northbrooke Anthony Anderson Chrystopher Carlill Thomas Palfryman Steuen Bateman Thomas Doleman Iohn Wolton William Whitaker Robert Watson Humfrey Llhuid Lewes Euans Iohn Yong. Iohn Mardley Iohn Plough Philip Nicols Iohn Iosselin Arthur Golding Edmond Campion William Harison Richard Stanihurst Richard Grafton Iohn Stowe Alexander Neuill Barnabe Googe William Pattin William Baldwin George Ferrers Arthur Brooke William Barker Leonard Digges Thomas Digges WilliaÌ„ Cunningham William Painter Lodowike Llhuid Richard Raynolds Iohn Raynolds Nicholas Whitalke Iohn Vowell alias Hooket Thomas Harman Vlpian Fulwell Iames Sandford Geffrey FeÌ„ton Thomas Twine Thomas Hedley William Salisbury Iohn Barret Iohn Procter Richard Candish Thomas Nicols Robert Greene. Raphe Leuer Edward Grant Iohn Heywood Thomas Drant Nicholas Allen Essentian Thomas Tim. Thomas Lusser Thomas Hill William Borne Leonarde Maskall Thomas Blondeuill Richarde Eden Edwarde Hake Otuell Holinshed Iohn Barston Iohn Harte alias Chester Heralde Iohn Shute Captaine Richarde Willies George Gascon George Turberuill Thomas Churchyarde Thomas Brice George Whetstone Nicholas Carre Iohn Higgins Edmund Bunny Iohn Barnarde Thomas Newton Meridith Hanmer Iohn Dauys Thomas Vnderdowne Richard Robinson William Wolley Barnabe Garter Abraham Flemming Reginalde Scot. Thomas Stockir Henry Dethike Iohn Boswell William Beuerley Humfrey Baker Dionyse Graye Thomas Bishop George Pettie Thomas Gale Iohn Hall Iohn Studley Edmund Tilney I Haue here Gentle Reader disorderedly set downe these names for want of due knowledge how to place them according to their degrees callings or worthinesse eueÌ„ as they came to memory Although I allowe not of the wrytings of euery of them yet bicause I haue vndertaken in the former order of my Booke to Enregister the writers in eche age indifferently I must of force so ende and leaue the iudgement of their writings to the discrete Readers I know there are others that haue written very well but haue suppressed their names and therfore cannot blame me though they be not here enregistred I wishe suche to go forewarde in well doing and to remember that vertue cannot alwayes be hidden but in time their names wil be remembred among the best that those that are vertuously giuen may by their worthy prayse be encouraged to follow their steppes and indeuour themselues according to duety to aduaunce learning and necessary knowledge in their countrey FINIS A Table seruing vnto both parts of the Chronicles of England wherein for thy better instruction gentle Reader thou shalt vnderstand that the first number signifyeth the page and the second number the line of the page which in some places thou shalt finde diuided into the lynes of the Columes and in some other to followe the number of the whole lynes of the page some pages are by ouersight escaped faultie which it may please thee to correct and so vse it to thy profite AAron and Iulius martyred for y e faith of Christ 88.32 Aaron a Iew payd to Henry the thyrde thirtie thousand markes 722.90 Abell hanged for the supremacie 1580.40 Aborigines what they signifie 6.101 Aborigines that there are any conâ—…uted 5.65 Abbot of Westminster conspireth against Henry y e .4 pag. 1 〈◊〉 col 1. lin 5. dyeth sodainly pa. 1129. col 1 li. 39 Abbey of Peterburgh Crowland spoyled by King Iohn 604.73 Abbeyes and religious houses founded by King Iohn 606.45 Abbot of Saint Albons payeth foure score markes to Lewes in y e name of homage 610.9 Abbey of Lucresse coÌ„moÌ„ly called delacresse built by Radulen Erle of Chester 618.12 Abbots and Priours depriued by Archbyshop Anselme and why 340.30 Abbot of Westminster William deposed for wasting the reuenues of the house and for inconstancie 582.90 Abbots bishops of Englande not the Ministers of God but of the diuell 279.115 Abbot of Hales hanged pag. 1154. col 1. line 2. Abbeyes searched and spoyled by King William 304.43 Abbeyes destroyed within the lymites of Mercia 235.81 Abbey Church of Batteil dedicated to S. Martin 325.36 Abbay of Amphibalus in Winchester 109.6 Abbeyes let out to ferme 333.59 Abingdon battaile fought betweene the Englishmen and Danes with equall victorie 213.33 Abingdon battaile one of the forest foughten fieldes that had bin hearde of in those dayes 213.31 Abingdon abbey buylded and restored 230.54 Abingdon Abbey finished and set in good order 234.7 Aburgalieny Lord committed to the tower 1510.27 confesseth misprison of treason 1519.45 Abuses of the .124 gouernours of England 752.6 Aburgenny Lord distresseth the Kentishe rebels 1725.20 Alcluid Citie 194.62 Abirnethi and the peace there concluded 307.68 Abuse in men too shamefull for wearing loÌ„g haires 364.53 Absolon a Monke of Canterburie 382.97 Acca succeedeth Wilfride in the Bishoprick of HexaÌ„ 190 91. Act against fishemoÌ„gers 1040 10. b. repealed 1042.23 a. Alcluid Citie destroyed by the Danes 211.54 Achikelmeslawe spoyled by the Danes 244.36 Acca daughter to Alla sister to Edwine 155.76 Acce of land how many pearches it conteineth 312.101 Achelnotus Archbyshop of CaÌ„torbury 262.115 Adelstan Byshop of Shirebourne 206.57 Adelstane putteth his Cupbearer to death for accusing Edwyn the kinges brother 226.9 Adelstane leadeth an armie against Aulafe lying nyghe Humber 226.24 Adelstane subdueth Northumberland and ioyneth it to his kingdome 224.51 Adelstane sonne to King Edward fleeth the Realme 224.82 Adelstane leadeth an armie against the Scottes welchmen 225.20 Adelstane inuadeth Scotland with an armie and wasteth it 225.67 Adelstane offreth his knife to Saint Iohn of Beuerly and redeemeth it with a large price 225.64 Adelstane repenteth him sore of his rigor towards his brother Edwyn 225.112 Adelstane Byshop of Shyreburne departeth this lyfe 209.72 Adelstans swoorde restored to the sâ—â—bbard by myracle â—…26 68 Adelstane departeth out of this world 226.106 Adelstane eldest sonne to King Edward beginneth hys raygne ouer the most part of England 223.104 Adelstane crowned kyng at Kingstone vppon Thames 224.7 Adelstane somtime called Gurthrun the Dane made King of Eastangle 214.96 Adrian Abbot departeth thys lyfe 190.116 Adrian an Italian sent ambassador into Scotland is made bishop of Hereford and afterward of Welles and Cardinal 1436.30 restoreth good letters ibidem Adrian Pope sendeth Legates into England 198.63 Adulf Byshop of Myeth 199.3 Adelbert succeedeth Egbert in the Archbishopricke of York 199.25 Adrian sent into England with Archbishop Theodore 178.38 Adrian stayed
Archbishop of Canterburie 349.2 Byshops through all Britaine forbiddē to consecrate Thomas the elect of Yorke 349.65 Byshops See of Ely erected 349.90 Biham Castle holden agaynst Kyng Henry the third 618.35 Byshops of Englād complaine to the Kyng of the extreame dealyng of the Archbyshop Thomas Becket 415.18 Byshop of Durham made an Earle 478.67 Byshops See erected at Carleil 362.82 Byshops that accursed Kyng Iohn and the Realme fledde out of the Realme 566.24 Byshop of Londons Palace builded 33.105 Bigot Hugh fleeth ouer sea into Fraunce after the discomfiture of Robert Earle of Leycester 432.71 Byshop of Salisburie murdered pag. 1281. col 1. lin 16. Byshop of Erceter being blind sent in Ambassade to Rome 352.5 Bayot Francis knight eftsones rebelleth 1569.27 Bisi Byshop of East Angles 179.90 Byshopriekes openly bought and sold for money 330.27 Byshops haue none aucthoritie to iudge of an Archbyshops cause 331.53 Byshoprickes let out to ferme 333.60 Byshops and Nobilitie forsake Northumberland 202.2 Byshops and nobilitie of England enuyng one another refuse to make an Englishman their Kyng and receiue a stranger 291.50 Bilney Thomas Bacheler of lawe brent 1557.40 Bigot Hugh conspireth against king Henry the second 426.113 Byshops dueties to care for the health of mens soules 353.77 Byshops See translated from holy Iland to Chester in the Streete 219.51 Byshop of Carlest bolde and faythfull pag. 1123. col 1. lin 47. attached pag. ibidē col 2. lin 19. dyeth through greefe of mind pag. 1129. col 1. lin 44. Byshops allowed of for their pompe not for their learnyng 274.66 Byshops refuse simply to obey the Kinges lawes 403.9 Biham Castle yeelded to Kyng Henry the third 618.66 Byshops Sees remoued from lesse renowmed to more famous places 303.62 Byshops See ordeined at Dunwich 162.60 Byll agaynst the Clergie pag. 1155. col 2. lin 36. Byll against the Clergie pag. 1168. col 1. lin 48. Byshops and Abbots of England not y e ministers of God but of the diuell 279.115 Bigod Roger in armes against King William Rufus 318.57 Bickncle Iohn knight 1450.17 Bishops forbidden to be iudges in secular causes 198.97 Byshops See of Westes translated to Salisburie 188.29 Bigod Roger made Erle Marshall 715.95 Byshops See of West Saxons placed at Winchester 180.71 Byshops take an othe simply to obey the Kings lawes 403.69 Byshop of Beaunoys taken prisoner 531.59 Byshops shrinke from the Pope for money sake 740.18 Bintre William 1463.2 Bigot Hugh suborned to periure himselfe 365.72 Byshopricke of London bought 171.78 Bylney Arthur abiured 1541. Byshoprickes vnder the dioces of Cantorburie 195.10 Byrth of Henry the thyrd 565.61 Byshoprickes vnder the dioces of Litchfield 195.15 Biligelhage 276.53 Brunan bright 226.27 Byshops wyll rather dye then part frō money 740.12.22 Bigot Hugh Earle of Norfolke a valiant chiefteine 367.43 Bigod William drowned 357.112 Bigod Rafe Knight 1448.47 Blasing starre seen before King Edwardes death the confessour 280.39 Blasing star appeering before the comming of Duke Williā of Normandie into England 284.5 Blecca gouernour of Lincolne conuerted to the faythe of Christ 162.67 Bloud rayneth in the I le of Wight 449.62 Blederike Duke of Cornwall slayne 154.73 Blasing star appeering in England 309.47 Blackamore supposed to bee Badon hyl 128.65 Bleothgent King of Wales 297.26 Blackwell hall in London supposed to be buylded for the temple of peace 23.30 Blauke Charters 1102.20 a. 1103.17 a. Bluet Robert made Byshop of Lincolne 323.104 Blasing star appeereth in England 182.6 Blasing starre appeering bringing famine among men murreys among cattel 235.75 Charles Earle of Bloys slayne at Cressy 934.32 b. Blanch King Iohns Neece promised in marriage to Lewes the French Kings son 548.28 Blaunche daughter to Henry y e fourth marryed to William Duke of Bauer pag. 1134. col 2. lin 48. Bleugent and Riuall sonnes to Griffin made gouernors of Wales 277.76 Charles de Bloys taken prisoner 940.50 b. raunsomed 947.40 b. Blind man restored to his sight by Augustine 151.31 Bladulfe brother to Colgerne 132.49 Bladulfe slayne by the Brytaines 133.25 Charles De Bloys wynneth townes in Britaine 916. 38. b. ouercome by y e Earle of Northampton 918.50 b. Blockhouses and bulworkes buylte along the sea coast 1572.40 Charles de Bloys slaine 970.36 b. Blasing starre pag. 1133. col 2. lin 32. Bloud of Hayles brought into England 781.100 Blanch sent into Fraūce 548.70 Blewberde a rebel pag. 1278. col 2. lin 56. Blackney William 1463.26 Blunt William Lord Mōtiny almost slaine by the mutining souldiours at Tourney 498.10 Blederike Duke of Tornewall 154.66 Blacke Crosse of Scotlande 891.47 b. Blacknesse yeelded to y e French King 1697.54 Blorehatha pag. 1295. col 2. lin 4. Blanche daughter to King Edward the third borne 915.16 b. Blasing starre 786. lin 10. a. 854.40 a. Boniface Archbyshop of Cantorburie departeth this lyfe 782.35 Bonifacius Archby of Mentz reproueth certain offences in Ethelbaldus 190.9 Bookes translated out of latine into Englishe by King Alured 217.78 Boues Hugh drowned together with a great armie of men vpon the sea as they were cōmyng into England to ayde King Iohn agaynst the Barons 593.65 Bodumni a people in Britaine 49.10 Bourgh Castle taken by the Scots 433.113 Bosa ordeined Bishop of Yorke 182.14 Boniface de Sauoy elect Archbyshop of Cantorburie 659.5 Iames Botiller created Earle of Ormond 892.14 a. Bouchier Thomas Archbyshop of Cantorburie dieth 1431.38 Bouchier Henry Earle of Essex 1447.1 Bowes Rafe Knight 1448.48 Bohun Iohn marrieth Margaret sister to Hugh Lupus Earle of Chester 323.65 Bohun Randulfe 323.66 Humfrey Bohun Earle of Herford dyeth 838.55 a. Bosworth feeld pag. 1416. col 2. lin 56. pag. 1422. col 1. lin 57. Bonner doctor restored to the Byshoprick of London 1721 16. Boallogie slayne 1604.40 Bokingham Iohn 1463.25 Boates might haue ben rowed in Westminster hall 649.4 Booke of Common prayer corrected 1708.24 Henry Bolinbroke created Erle of Derbie 1050.5 b. Boulbeck Isabel Countesse of Oxford dyeth 714.12 Bouencort Peter hanged vpō despite 502 45 Boucher Thomas Cardinal 1463.13 Bohom pag. 1243. col 2. lin 37. pag. 1244. col 2. lin 16. Bologne and Bolognous surrendred vnto the Frenche King 1703.50 Bologne besieged by Henry the seuenth 1439.41 Iohn King of Boheme slaine at Cressy 934.32 b. Boetius Hector cited 3.75 Boun Humfrey high Constable of England 431.64 Bond men and women in Sussex made free 182.86 Bolton Prior of Saint Bartholmew his madnes 1531 47. Boune Henry Earle of Herford 552.92 The Lord Boinren high admirall of France Ambassadour with a trayne of 1200.1505.47 Boune Henry Earle of Herford deceasseth 618.18 Bowes Robert knight fighteth vnfortunately 1637.8 Humfrey Bohun Earle of Herford slayne 866.30 b. Both parties to be heard before sentence be geuen 271.3 Boniface Archbyshop of Cantorburie intronizated 729.50 Wylliā Bohun created Earle of Northampton 900.13 b Henry Bolinbroke Earle of Derby married 1050.44 b. Boucher Thomas Knight 1447.21 Booke of Common prayer set foorth 1640.32 Boiac Almiramumoli kyng of the Sarasins 486.8 Bodinus Cited 1.93 and .4.80 and .4.92
manner of this whole Islande called the same after the name of his Countrie from whence his originall came neyther Hengist neyther any Quéene named Angla neyther whatsoeuer deriuation ab angulo as from a corner of the worlde bearing swaye or hauing ought to doe at all in that behalfe What sundry Nations haue inhabited in this Islande Cap. 3. AS fewe or no Nations can iustly boaste themselues to haue continued sithence their countrie was first replenished No Nation voide of myxture more or lesse wythout any myxture more or lesse wyth other people no more can this our Islande whose manifolde commodities haue oft allured sundry Princes and famous captaynes of the world to conquere and subdue the same vnto theyr owne subiection Many sorts of people therefore haue comen hither and settled theÌ„selues here in thys Isle and first of all other a percell of the image and posteritie of Iapheth brought in by Samothes in the 1910. Samotheans after the creation of Adam Howbeit in processe of tyme and after they had indifferently replenyshed and furnyshed this Islande with people which was done in the space of 335. yeares Albion the Gyaunt afore mencioned repayred hither with a companye of his owne race procéeding from Cham Chemminites and not onely subued the same to his owne dominion but brought all such in lyke sort as he found here of the lyne of Iaphet into miserable seruitude and thraldome After hym also and wythin lesse than sixe hundred yeares came Brute with a great traine of the posteritie of the dispersed Troianes in 324. Britaines shyppes who rendring the lyke curtesie vnto the Chemminites as they had done before vnto the séede of Iaphet brought them also wholye vnder his rule and gouernaunce and diuided the whole lande among such Princes and Captaynes as he in his arriuall here had led out of Grecia with him Romaines From henceforth I doe not finde any sound report of other natioÌ„ whatsoeuer that shuld aduenture hither to dwell vntill the Romane Emperours subdued it to their dominion sauing of a fewe Galles and those peraduenture of Belgie who first comming ouer to robbe and pilfer vpon the coastes did afterwarde plant themselues for altogither neare vnto the sea and there buylded sundry cities and townes which they named after those of the maine from whence they came vnto vs. But after the comming of the Romaynes it is harde to say with how many sortes of people we were dayly pestered almost in euery stéede For as they planted their forworne Legions in the most fertile places of the Realme and where they might best lye for the safegarde of their conquestes so their armies did commonly consist of many sorts of people and were as I may call them a confused mixture of all other couÌ„tries Howbeit I thinke it best bicause they did all beare the tytle of Romaynes to retayne onely that name for them all albeit they were wofull guestes to this our Islande sith that wyth them came in all maner of vice and vicious liuing all ryot and excesse of behauior which their Legions brought hyther from eche corner of their dominions for there was no prouince vnder them from whence they had not seruitours Scottes Pictes How and when the Scottes should arriue here out of Irelande and from whence the Pictes shoulde come vnto vs as yet it is vncertaine For although their histories doe carie great countenance of their antiquitie and continuance in this Islande yet to say fréely what I thinke I iudge them rather to haue stolleÌ„ in hither not much before the Saxons than that they should haue bene so long here as from the one hundreth yeare after Christ Reynulph Higden is of the opinion that the Pictes did come into this Island in the days of Seuerus and that Fulgentius their captayne was brother to Martia the mother of Bassianus He addeth furthermore howe the Pictes forsooke Bassianus Li. 4. ca. â—… and held with Carausius who gaue theÌ„ a portion of Scotlande to inhabite and thus wryteth he But if Herodian be well reade you shal find that y e Pictes were settled in thys Isle before the time of Seuerus yet not so soone as that Tacicus can make any mention of theÌ„ in the coÌ„quest that Agricola his father in law made of y e North parts of this Island Neyther doe I reade of the Scots or Pictes before the time of Antoninus Verus in the begynning of whose thirde yere which concurred with the xvij of Lucius king of Britaine they inuaded thys South part of the Isle and were reduced to obedience by Trebellius the Legate Certes the tyme of Samothes and Albion haue some likely limitation and so we maye gather of the coÌ„ming in of Brute The voyage that Caesar made likewyse is certainely knowne to fall out in the 54. before the birth of Christ In lyke sort that the Saxons arryued here in the 449. The Danes and with them the Gothes Vandales Norwegians c. in the 791. Finally the Normans in 1066. And Flemminges in the tyme of Henry the first although they came not in by conquest but vppon their humble sute had a place in Wales assigned them to inhabite in by king Henry then reigning after the drowning of their countrie it is easie to be prooued But when the Pictes and Scottes should enter neither doe our hystories make any report neyther their owne agrée among theÌ„selues by manye hundreth yeares Wherefore as the tyme of their arriuall here is not to be founde out so it shall suffice to gyue notice that they are but strangers and such as by obscure inuasion haue nestled in thys Islande The Saxons became first acquainted with thys Isle Saxons by meanes of the pyracie which they daily practised vpon our coastes after they had once begunne to aduenture themselues also vpon the seas thereby to séeke out more wealth then was nowe to begotten in these west partes of the mayne which they their neighbors had alreadie spoyled in most lamentable and barbarous maner howbeit they neuer durst presume to inhabite in this Island vntill they were sent for by Vortiger to serue him in his warres agaynst y e Pictes Scottes after that the Romaines had giuen vs ouer left vs wholy to our owne defence regiment Being therefore comen in thrée bottomes or kéeles in short time espiing the ydle negligent behauiour of y e Brytons and fertilitie of our soyle they were not a little inflamed to make a full conquest of such as they came to ayde and succour Herevpon also they fell by little and little to the winding in of greater nuÌ„bers of their countrymen with their wyues and children into this region so that within a whyle they began to molest the homelings for so I finde y e word Indigena to be englished in an old booke that I haue wherin Aduena is translated also an homeling and ceased not from time to time to
coÌ„tinue their purpose vntill they had gotten possession of the whole or at the leastwise the greatest part of our couÌ„try the Britons in the meane season being driuen eyther into Wales Cornewall â—…n altogither out of the Islande to séeke newe inhabitations Danes In like maner the Danes the next nation that succéeded came at the first onely to pilfer robbe vpon the frontiers of our Island till that in the end being let in by the Welchmen or Brytons to reuenge them vpon the Saxons they no lesse plagued the one then the other their friendes then their aduersaries séeking by all meanes possible to establish themselues in the sure possessioÌ„ of Brytayne But such was their successe that they prospered not long in their deuise for so great was their lordlinesse their crueltie and insatiable desire of riches beside their detestable abusing of chast matrones young virgines whose husbandes and parentes were daily inforced to become their drudges and slaues whylest they sate at home and fed like Drone bées of the swéet of their trauayle labours that God I say would not suffer theÌ„ to continue any while ouer vs but when he saw his time he remooued their yoke and gaue vs libertie as it were to breath vs thereby to sée whether this his sharpe scourge coulde haue mooued vs to repentaunce and amendement of our lewde and sinnefull liues or not But wheÌ„ no signe therof appeared in our hearts he called in an other nation to vexe vs 〈◊〉 meane the Normans The Normans a people of whom it is woorthily doubted whether they were more harde and cruell to our countrymen then the Danes or more heauye and intollerable to our Islande then the â–ª Saxons or Romaynes yet such was our lotte in these dayes by the deuine appointed order that we must néedes obey such as the Lorde dyd set ouer vs so much the rather for that all power to resiste was vtterly taken from vs and our armes made so weake and féeble that they were not now able to remooue the importable loade of the Normanes from our surburdened shoulders And this onely I say agayne bycause we refused grace offred in time and woulde not heare when God by his Preachers did call vs so fauourably vnto him Thus we sée howe from time to time this Islande hath not onely bene a praye but as it were a common receptacle for straungers the naturall homelinges being still cut shorter and shorter as I sayde before till in the ende they came not onely to be driuen into a corner of this region but in tyme also verie like vtterly to haue ben extinguished For had not king Edward surnamed the sainct in his time after grieuous warres made vppon them wherein Earle Harald sonne to Goodwine after king of Englande was his generall permitted the remnaunt of their women to ioyne in maryage with the Englishmen when the most part of their husbandes male children were slayne with the sworde it coulde not haue bene otherwyse chosen but their whole race must néedes haue sustayned the vttermost confusion and thereby the memorie of the Britons vtterly haue perished Whether it be likely that there were euer any Gyaunts inhabiting in this Isle or not Cap. 4. BEsides these aforesayde nations which haue crept as you haue hearde into our Islande we reade of sundry Gyaunts that shoulde inhabite here which report as it is not altogither incredible sith the posterities of diuers â–ª princes were called by y e name so vnto some mens eares it séemeth so straunge a rehearsall that for the same onely they suspect the credite of our whole hystorie and reiect it as a fable vnwoorthy to be read For this cause therefore I haue nowe taken vpon me to make thys briefe discourse insuing therby to prooue that the opinioÌ„ of Gyaunts is not altogether grounded vpon vayne fabulous narrations inuented only to delite the eates of the hearerâ—… with the report of marveilous things But that there haue bene such men in déede as for their hugenesse of person haue resembled rather * Esay 30. vers 25. highe towers then â—â—etall men although their posterities are now consumed and their monstruous races vtterly worne out of knowledge A doe not meane herin to dispute whether this name was giuen vnto them rather for their tyrannie and oppression of the people then for their greatenesse of bodie or whether the worde Gygas dooeth onelye signifie Indigenas or homelinges borne in the lande or not neyther whether all men were of like quantitie in stature and farre more greater in olde tyme then at this present they be and yet absolutely I denie neyther of these sith very probable reasons may be brought for eche of theÌ„ but especially the last rehearsed whose confirmation dependeth vpon the authorityes of sundrie auncient writers who make diuers of Noble race equall to the Gyauntes in strength and manhoode and yet doe not gyue the same name vnto them bycause their quarels were iust and commonly taken in hande for defence of the oppressed Example hereof also we may take of Hercules and Antheus Antheus whose wrestling declareth that they were equall in stature stomacke such also was the courage of Antheus that being often ouercome and as it were vtterly vanquished by the sayde Hercules yet if he did eftsoones returne agayne into his kingdome he furthw t recouered his force returned helde Hercules tacke till he gate at the last betwéene him home so cutting of the farder hope of the restoring of his army and killing finally his aduersarie in the field The like doe our histories report of Corineus and Gomagot Corineus Gomagot who fought a combate hande to hande till one of them was slayne yet for all this no man reputeth Corineus for a Gyaunt But sith I saye it is not my purpose to stande vppon these pointes I passe ouer to speake any more of them and where as also I might haue procéeded in such order that I shoulde first set downe by many circumstances whether any Gyauntes were then whether they were of such huge incredible stature as the authours doe remember and finally whether any of them haue béene in this our ylande or not I protest playnly that my minde is not nowe bent to deale in any such maner but rather generally to confirme and by sufficient authoritie that there haue bene mightye men of stature and some of them also in Britaine as by particular examples shal be manifestly confirmed without y e obseruation of any methode or such diuisioÌ„ in the rehearsal hereof as sound order doth require Moses the Prophet of the Lord writing of the state of things before the flood hath these wordes in his booke of generations Cap. 6. ver 4. In these daies saith he there were GiauÌ„ts vpoÌ„ y e erth Berosus Antidi 1. also the Chalde writeth that néere vnto Libanus there was a city called Denon which I take to be Henoch builded somtime by
desire of diuerse and of many sore despised and abhorred so that Proclamations were procured forth for the condemnation and prohibiting of his bookes as before you haue hearde Finally hee was apprehended at Andwarpe by meanes of one Philips an Englishman and then scholer at Louaine After hee had remayned in prison a long time and was almost forgotten the Lorde Cromwel wrote for his deliuerance but then in all haste bycause hee woulde not recant any part of hys doctrine hee was burned as before you haue heard On May day were solemne iustes kept at Greenwich An. reg â—… and sodainly from the iustes the king departed not hauing aboue six persons with him and in the Euening come to Westminster Of this sodaine departing many men mused but most chiefely the Queene who the next day was apprehended 〈◊〉 Anne â—…ued to Tower and brought from Grenewich to the Tower of London where shee was arraigned of high treason and condemned Also at the same tyme were apprehended the Lorde Rochford brother to the sayde Queene and Henrie Norrice Marke Smeton William Brereton and sir Francis Weston all beeing of the kings priuie Chamber These were likewise committed to the tower and after arraigned and condemned of high treason All the Gentlemen were beheaded on the skaffold at the Tower hill 〈◊〉 Anne beheaded but the Queene with in sworde was beheaded within the Tower And these were the wordes whiche shee spake at the houre of hir death the .xix. of May. 1536. Good christian people I am come hither to die for according to the law and by the lawe I am iudged to die and therefore I will speake nothing against it I am come hither to accuse no man nor to speake any thing of y t whereof I am accused condemned to die but I pray God saue the king and send him long to reigne ouer you for a gentler nor a more mercifull prince was there neuer and to me he was euer a good a gentle and a soueraigne Lorde And if any person will meddle of my cause I require them to iudge the best And thus I take my leaue of the worlde and of you all and I heartily desire you all to pray for me Oh Lorde haue mercie on me to God I coÌ„mende my soule Iesu receyue my soule diuerse tymes repeting those wordes till that hir heade was striken off with the sworde Bycause I might rather say much than sufficiently ynough in prayse of this noble Queene as well for hir singular witte and other excellent qualities of mynde as also for hir fauouring of learned men zeale of religion and liberalitie in distributing almes in reliefe of the poore I wyll referre the reader vnto that which master Foxe in his seconde volume of Actes and Monumentes doth write of hir where he speaketh of hir maryage Pag. 1198. and .1199 and also where hee maketh mention of hir death Pag. 1233. and .1234 of the impression .1570 Immediately after hir death in the weeke before Whitsuntide The king maryed Ladie Iane Seymer the King maryed the Ladie Iane Seymer daughter to sir Iohn Seymer knight whiche at Whitsuntide was openly shewed as Queene And on the Tuesday in Whitsunweeke hir brother sir Edwarde Seymer was created Vicont Beauchampe and sir Water Hungerforde Lorde Hungerford A Parliament The .viij. of Iune beganne the Parliament during the which the Lorde Thomas Howarde without the kings assent affled the Ladie Margaret Dowglas daughter to the Queene of Scottes and Nece to the King The Lord Th. Howard attainted of treason for which acte he was attainted of treason and an acte made for like offenders and so he dyed in the Tower and she remayned long there as prisoner In the time of this Parliament the Bishops and all the Cleargie of the Realme helde a solemne conuocation at Paules Church in London where after much disputation and debating of matters they published a booke of religion A booke published concerning religion by the king intituled Articles deuised by the kings highnesse c In this booke is speciallye mentioned but three Sacraments Also beside this booke certaine Iniunctions were giuen forth whereby a number of their holy dayes were abrogated and specially those that fell in haruest time Thomas Cromwel Secretarie to the king and maister of the Rolles was made Lorde keeper of the priuie Seale and the ninth of Iuly the Lorde Fitzwaren was created Earle of Bath and the morrow after the sayd Lorde priuie seale Thomas Cromwell was created Lorde Cromwell The .xviij. of Iuly he was made knight and Vicar generall vnder the King ouer the spiritualtie and sat dyuerse times in the conuocation amongest the Byshoppes as head ouer them The .xxij. of Iuly Henrie duke of Richmont and Somerset erle of Northampton base sonne to the King begot of the Ladie Tailebois departed this life at Saint Iames and was buryed at Thetford in Norffolke In September Thomas Cromwell Lorde priuie seale and Vicegerent sent abroade vnder the kings spirituall priuie Seale certayne Iniunctions commanding that the Parsons Eurates shoulde teach theyr Parishioners the Peter Noster the Aue and Creede with the ten Commaundements and Articles of the fayth in Englishe These Articles and Iniunctions being established by authoritie of Parliament and now to the people deliuered bred a greate mislyking in the heartes of the common people whiche had beene euer brought vp and trayned in contrary doctrine and herewith diuerse of the Cleargie as Monkes Priestes and other tooke occasion hereby to speake euill of the late proceedings of the King touching matters of Religion affyrming that if speedie remedie were not in tyme prouided the fayth would shortly be vtterly destroyed and all prayer and diuine seruice bee quite abolyshed and taken away Many sinister reportes slaunderous tales and feigned fables were blowne abroade and put into the peoples eares and diuerse of the Nobilitie did also what they could to styrre the commons to rebellion faythfully promising both ayde and succor agaynst the king The people thus prouoked to mischiefe and deceyued through ouer light credence incontinently as it were to mainteyne that Religion whiche hadde so manye yeares continued and beene esteemed they stiffely and stoutly conspired togither A trayterous conspiracie and in a part of Lincolnshyre they first assembled and shortly after ioyned into an armie being as it was supposed of men apt for the warres in number about twentie thousande Agaynst these rebels with all the hast that might be the king in proper person vppon intelligence thereof had marched towardes them being furnished with a warlike armie The Lincolnshire men in armes agaynst the king perfectly appoynted of all things that to suche a companie shoulde apperteyne The rebels hearing that his person was present with his power to come thus agaynst them began to feare what woulde follow of theyr doings and suche nobles and gentlemen as at the firste fauoured theyr cause fell from them and withdrew so that they beeing destitute
after that hir grace passed y e Crosse she had espyed the Pageant erected at the little conduit in Cheape and incontinent required to know what it might signifie And it was tolde hir grace that there was placed Tyme Tyme quoth shee and Tyme hath broughte me hither And so forth the whole matter was opened to hir grace as heereafter shall be declared in the description of the Pageant But in the opening when hir grace vnderstoode that the Byble in Englishe shoulde be deliuered vnto hir by Trueth which was therin represented by a childe she thanked the Citie for that gift and sayd that she would oftentimes reade ouer that Booke commaunding Sir Iohn Parrat one of the Knights which helde vp hir Canapie to goe before and to receiue the Booke But learning that it shoulde bee deliuered vnto hir grace downe by a silken lace shee caused him to stay and so passed forwarde till shee came agaynste the Aldermen in the high ende of Cheape tofore the little conduite where the companyes of the Citie ended which beganne at Fanchurche and stoode along the streetes one by another enclosed with rayles hanged with clothes and themselues well apparelled with manye riche furres and their liuery whodes vpon their shoulders in comely and seemely maner hauing before them sundrye persons well apparelled in silkes and chaynes of golde as wyflers and garders of the sayde companyes beside a number of riche hangings as well of Tapistrie Arras clothes of golde siluer veluet damaske Sattin and other silkes plentifully hanged all the way as the Queenes highnesse passed from the Tower thorough the Citie Out at the windowes and penthouses of euery house did hang a number of riche and costly banners and streamers till hir grace came to the vpper ende of Cheape And there by appointmente the ryght worshipfull Maister Ranulph Cholmeley Recorder of the Citie presented to the Queenes Maiestie a purse of crymeson sattine richely wroughte with golde wherein the Citie gaue vnto the Queenes Maiestie a thousande markes in golde as Maister Recorder did declare briefely vnto the Queenes Maiestie whose words tended to this ende that the Lord Maior his breethren and communaltie of the Citie to declare their gladnes and good will towards the Queenes Maiestie did presente hyr grace with that gold desiring hir grace to continue their good and gracious Queene and not to esteeme the value of the gift but the mynde of the giuers The Queenes Maiestie with both hir hands tooke the purse and aunswered to him againe maruellous pithily and so pithily that the standers by as they embraced entierly hyr gracious aunswere so they maruelled at the cowching thereof which was in wordes truely reported these I thanke my Lorde Maior hys breethre and you all And whereas your request is that I should continue youre good Lady and Queene bee yee ensured that I will be as good vnto you as euer Queene was to hir people No will in mee can lacke neyther doe I trust shall there lacke any power And perswade your selues y t for the safetie and quietnesse of you all I will not space if neede be to spend my bloud God thanke you all Whiche aunswere of so noble an hearted Princes if it moued a maruellous shoute and reioycing it is nothing to bee maruelled at since both the heartinesse thereof was so wonderfull and the wordes so ioyntly knitte When hir grace had thus aunswered the Recorder shee marched towarde the little conduit where was erected a Pageant with square proportion standing directly before the same conduit with battlementes accordingly And in the same Pageant was aduanced two hylles or Mountaynes of conuenient height The one of them beeing on the North syde of the same Pageante was made cragged barren and stonie in the whiche was erected on tree artificially made all withered and dead with braunches accordingly And vnder the same tree at the foote thereof sate one in homely and rude apparell crokedly and in mourning maner hauing ouer hys head in a table written in Latin and Englishe hys name whiche was Ruinosa Respublica A decayed common weale And vppon the same withered tree were fixed certayne Tables wherein were written proper sentences expressing the causes of the decay of a common weale The other hill on the South syde was made fayre fresh green and beautifull the ground thereof full of floures and beautie and on the same was erected also one tree very freshe amd faire vnder the whyche stoode vpright on freshe personage well apparelled and appoynted whose name also was written both in English and Latin which was Respublica bene instituta a flourishing common Weale And vpon the same tree also were fixed certaine Tables conteyning sentences whych expressed the causes of a flourishing common Weale In the myddle betweene the sayde hylles was made artificially one hollow place or caue with dore and locke enclosed out of the which a little before the Queenes highnes comming thither issued on personages whose name was Tyme apparelled as an old man with a Sythe in his hande hauing wings artificially made leading a personage of lesser stature than himselfe which was finely and well apparelled all cladde in white sylke and directly ouer hyr head was sette hir name and title in latine and English Temporis filia the daughter of Tyme Whiche two so appoynted wente forwarde toward the South side of the Pageant And on hir brest was written hir proper name which was Veritas Truth who helde a Booke in hir hand vpon the which was written Verbum veritatis the word of trueth And out of the South syde of the Pageant was cast a standing for a child which shoulde interprete the same Pageant Againste whome when the Queenes Maiestie came he spake vnot hir grace these words This old man with the sythe olde father Tyme they call And hir his daughter Trueth which holdeth yonder Booke Whome he our of his rocke hath brought forth to vs all From whence this many yeares she durst not once out looke The ruthfull wight that sitteth vnder the barren tree Resembleth to vs forme when common weales decay But when they be in state triumphant you may see By him in freshe attire that sitteth vnder the baye Nowe since that Tyme agayne his daughter Trueth hathe brought We trust O worthy Q. thou wilt this trueth embrace And since thou vnderstandst the good estate and naught We trust welth thou wilte plant and barrennes displace But for heale the sore and cure that is not seene Whiche thing the Booke of trueth doth teach in writing playne She doth present to thee the same O worthy Queene For that that words do flye but writing doth remayne When the childe had thus ended his speeche hee reached his Booke towardes the Queenes Maiestie which a little before Trueth had lette down vnto him from the hill whyche by Sir Iohn Parrat was receiued and deliuered vnto the Queene But shee as soone as she had receyued the Booke kissed it and with both hir hands helde
vp the same and so layd it vpon hir brest with great thankes to the Citie therefore And so wente forwarde towardes Paules Churchyarde The former matter whiche was rehearsed vnto the Queenes Maiestie was written in two tables on eyther side the Pageant eight verses and in the middest these in latine Ille vides falcem laeua qui sustinet vncam Tempus is est cui stat filia vera comes Hanc pater exesa deductam rupe reponit In lucem quam non viderat ante diu Qui sedet à laeua cultu male tristis inepto Quem duris crescens cautibus orbis obit Nos monet effigie qua sit respublica quando Corruit at contra quando beata viget Ille docet inuenis forma spectandue amictâ—… Scitus aeberna laurea fronde virens The sentences written in latine and Englishe vpon both the trees declaring the causes of both estates were these Causes of a ruinous common weale are these Want of the feare of God Disobedience to rulers Blindnes of guides Briberie in Magistrates Rebellion in subiects Ciuill disagreement Flattering of Princes Vnmercifulnesse in Rulers Vnthankefulnesse in Subiects Causes of a flourishing common weale Feare of God A wise Prince Learned Rulers Obedience to officers Obedient subiects Louers of the common Weale Vertue rewarded Vice chastned The matter of this Pageaunte dependeth of them that went before For as the first declared hir grace to come out of the house of vnitie the second that she is placed in the seate of gouernemente staid with vertues to the suppression of vice and therefore in the thirde the eyght blessings of almighty God mighte well bee applyed vnto hir so this fourth nowe is to put hir grace in remembraunce of the state of the common weale which Time with Trueth his daughter doth reueale which Trueth also hir grace hathe recieued and therefore cannot but bee mercifull and carefull for the good gouernement thereof From thence the Queenes Maiestie passed towarde Paules Churchyard and when shee came ouer againste Paules Schoole a child appoynted by the Scholemaister thereof pronouÌ„ced a certayne Oration in Latine and certayne verses whiche also were there written as followeth Philosophus ille diuinus Plato inter multa preclarè ac sapienter dicta hoc posteris proditum reliquit Rempublicam illam faelicissimam fore cui princeps sophiae studiosa virtutibusque ornata coÌ„tigerit Quem si vere dixisse censeamus vt quidé verissme cur non terra a Britannica plauderetâ—… cur non populus gaudium atque letitiam agitaret â—… immo cur non hunc diem albâ—… quod aiunt lapitly rotâ—…retâ—… quo princeps talis nobis adest qualem priores non viderant qualemque posteritas haud facile aernere poterit dotibus quum a noni tum corpuris vâ—…diâ—…que faelicissima Casti quidem corporis dorels ita apertae sunt vt oratione non egeant Animi veru tot tantaeque vt ne verbis quidem ex rimi possint Haec nenipe regibus summis orta morum atque animi nobilitate genus exuperat Haias pectus Christi religionis amore flagrat Haec gentem Britannicam virtusibus illustrabit clipeoque iustitiae teget Haec literis gracis latinis eximia ingenioque praepollens est Hac imperante pictas vigebit Anglia florebit aurea secula redibunt Vos igitur Angli tot commoda accepturi Elizabetham Reginam nostram celeberrimam ab ipso Christo huius regni imperio destinatam honore debito prosequimini Huius imperitjs animo libentissimo subditiestote vosque tali principe dignos prebete Et quoniam pueri non viribus sed praecibus Offâ—…cium praestare possunt nos Alumni huius sâ—…holae ab ipso Coleto olim Templi Paulini Decano extructae teneras palmas ad Caelum tendentes Christum Opt. Maxi praecaturi sumus vt tuam celsitudinem annos Nestoreos summo cum honore Anglis imperitare faciat matremque pignoribus charis beatam reddat Amen Anglia nune tandem plaudas laetare resulia Presto iam vita est praesidiumque tibi En tua spes venit tua gloria lux decus omne Venit iam solidam quae sibi prestat opeâ—â— Succurretque tuis rebus quae pessum abiere Perdita quae fuerant haec reparare volet Omnia florebunt redeunt niâ—â— aurea secla In melius surgent quae cecidere bona Debes ergo illi totam te reddere fidam Cuius in accessu commoda tot capies Salue igitur dicas imo de pectore summo Elizabeth Regni non dubitanda salus Virgo venit veni atque optes comitata deinceps Pignoribus charis laeta parens veniat Hoc deus omnipotens ex alto donet olympo Qui caelum terram condidit atque regit Which the Queenes Maiestie most attentiuely hearkned vnto And when the childe had pronounced he did kisse the Oration which hee had there fayre written in Paper and deliuered it vnto the Queenes Maiestie which most gently receyued the same And when the Queenes Maiestie had heard all that was there offred to bee spoken then hir grace marched towarde Ludgate where shee was receyued with a noyse of Instruments the forefront of the gate beeyng such trâ—â—med vp agaynst hir Maiesties comming From thence by the way as â—â—e went downe towarde Fleetebridge one abdure hir grace noted the Cities charge that there was no cost spared Hir grace answered that shee did well consider the same and that it shoulde be remembred An honourable aunswere worthie a noble Prince which may comfort all hir subiects considering that there can be no point of gentlenesse or obedient loue â—â—â—wen toward hir grace which she doth not most tenderly accept and graciously wey In thys maner the people on euerie syde reioysing hir grace went forwarde towarde the Conduyte in Fleetestreete where was the fyft and luste Pageant erected in forme following From the Conduyte which was beautified wyth paynting vnto the Northsyde of the streete was erected a Stage embattayled with foure Towers and in the same a square platte rysing wyth degrees and vpon the vppermost degree was placed a Chayre or seate royall and behinde the same seate in curious artificiall maner was erected a tree of reasonable heigth and so farre aduaunced aboue the seate as a did well and seemely shadowe the same withoute endamaging the fight of anye part of the Pageant and the same tree was beautified with leaues as greene as Arâ—â— coulde deuise being of a conuenient greatnesse and conteyning therevpon the fenite of the Date and on the toppe of the same tree in a Table was set the name thereof which was A Palme tree and in the aforesayd seale â—â— Chayre was placed a seemely and meete personage richely appatayled in Parliament Roâ—…es with a scepter in hir hande as a Queene crowned wyth an open Crowne whose name and ryth 〈◊〉 in a Table fixed ouer hir head in this fort Debora the Iudge and restorer of the house of Israell Iudic. 4. And the other