Affairs in the Island the AEduans in Burgundy entertained to build their Temples and Publick Edifices Peace thus establisht in Britain and the State quieted Dioclesian who had hitherto employed his Valour with success against his Enemies now used his Rage in a bloody Persecution against his Innocent and Obedient Subjects the Christians This is the tenth Persecution and of all the fore-going the most Bloody and of longest continuance the fatal Bill of their Martyrdom was seventeen thousand a Month besides infinite numbers that suffered by Confiscation Banishment Prisons c. The Christian Churches were every where demolisht their Bibles sought out and burnt and death for any to conceal them and all means practiced not only to extinguish the Professours but to root out the very Name of their Religion The most remarkable that had their shares in Britain were first ALBAN of Verulam beheaded at Holmhurst since called Derswould where now the Town of St. Albans bearing his name is built of whom Fortunatus Priscus in his Book of the praise of Virginity writes Albanum Egregium faecunda Britannia profert Next his Instructour Amphibolus then Julius and Aaron of Caerleon upon Uske in Monmouthshire Bede saith of Leicestershire and in Litchfield so many that the place became another Golgotha and so the name importeth as John Ross of Warwick reporteth namely the Field of Dead Bodies For this cause the City even unto this day saith Mr. Speed doth bear for their Seal of Arms an Eschochean or Field charged with many Martyrs Dioclesian and Maximian reigned twenty years and resigned the Empire to their two Caesars Constantius and Galerius Dioclesian retired into Dalmatia and lived a private life in the City Solonia where afterwards he poysoned himself saies Aurelius Victor Eusebius reporteth he died mad Maximian again attempting to resume the Empire was slain for contriving the murther of Constantius Eusebius avoucheth he hanged himself in the City Marseittes thus ended these two Tyrants THE British History In the Daies of DIOCLESIAN AND MAXIMIAN AFter BONOSUS succeeded CARAUSIUS in the Kingdom of Britain in the year 289 the fourth of these Emperours He made the Picts his Confederates and entertaining all who flockt to him under the hopes of Pillage and Plunder He constrained the Britains to make him their King who not knowing now who was their Friend or Foe partly for fear and partly for want of a lawful Inheritour elected him to the Crown Having thus gained the Power first he rewards the Picts with the vast Territories in Albania and not content with Invading the property of his Subjects and dispossessing the Ancient Britains like a proud Tyrant he infringed all their Rights and Priviledges The Romans hearing thereof sent Alectus with three Legions to kill him and to restore Britain to the Empire Carausius accordingly was slain after he had reigned seven years but instead of giving the Kingdom to the Romans Alectus himself usurped it and assumed the Crown in the year 269. He punished with great slaughter those Britains who forsaking the Common-wealth had adhered to the society of Carausius and been partakers in his Robberies which they sorely resenting chose Asclepiodotus to revenge exhorting him to set upon him in London whilest he was celebrating a Feast to his Country Gods at whose Arrival Alectus forsaking his Sacrifice and marching out with the choice of his Souldiers entered Battle with him but was slain after he had reigned three years Livius Gallus a Captain of Alectus still held London to the reducing whereof Asclepiodotus now King summoned the Demeta or the Inhabitants of that part of the Island now called South-Wales the Venedoti and those of Deira and Albania With these Forces he beleagures the City and with his War-like Engines batters down great part of the Wall Gallus perceiving himself able to hold out no longer comes to Parly and surrenders the Town upon Condition to march out Armed which being agreed to Asclepiodotus enters but the Venedoti contrary to Articles fell upon Gallus and slew him at a Brooks-side within the City called after his Name Walbrooke or Gal-brooke Thus Asclepiodotus got the full possession of the Kingdom but being not able or skilful to defend his Subjects from the cruelty of the Roman Emperours who in his daies raised the Persecution in Britain he was slain by Coilus Duke of Colchester after he had reigned about one year COIL the third of that name after the death of Asclepiodotus assumed the Crown and now Constantius having heard of the Troubles in Britain under the several Usurpers lands upon the Coast Coil informed thereof sends Embassadours to crave Peace and promises Subjection and Homage upon condition that he should enjoy the Kingdom of Britain paying the accustomed Tributes and Tolls to the Romans To this Constantius agrees and receives Hostages and not long after marries Helena his Daughter than whom a fairer Virgin never lived and who besides that she was an excellent Musitian and generally instructed in all Liberal Arts and Sciences Coil after one years Reign died and left the Kingdom to Constantius who Governed in the Right of his Wife Helena so that again the British Succession returned to that of the Romans Fl. Val. Constantius Chlorus AFTER the Resignation of Dioclesian and Maximian the Empire which hitherto was held entire though often under many Heads was now divided into two several Estates independent of each other and ameanable only to their particular Princes which as Eusebius noteth proved the fatal end of the Imperial Glory The Western Provinces the Government whereof alone relateth to our present History fell to CONSTANTIUS the Son of a Daughter to Crispus Brother to Claudius the second of that name Emperour of Rome A Prince wise and valiant and so free from Ambition that he chose rather to Govern well than much resigning to Galerius the Provinces of Italy and Africk as lying too remote from the Seat of his Residence which he held in Britain He favoured and encouraged the Christians and abhorred the Superstitious worship of divers Gods acknowledging but One only the Maker and Ruler of all things and to try the Faith of his Courtiers he proclaimed a publick Sacrifice at the solemnity whereof whosoever should be absent and refuse to offer were immediately as he pretended to be discarded and those only that conformed should be retained Such were alwaies sure to be of the Religion of their Prince who had held the Faith only as a Court-fashion presently crept and cringed to the Gods as they thought of their Soveraign But the Complement took not that they were all turned out of their Services with this Rebuke That he who is difloyal to his God can never be true and faithful to his Prince Many other worthy Actions are reported of this Constantius in favour to the Christians but the full establishing their Religion and the publick Authorizing thereof was reserved to Constantine his Son and Successour
Instruments of their deeper Slavery so that what Kings of Britain for the future we shall find under the Emperours they were either Tributaries to the Romans if they lived in the Southern parts such as Lucius and Coelius or else they resided beyond Glota and Bodotria those Northern Regions the absolute Conquest whereof Agricola had not time to accomplish In the daies of this Domitian lived at Rome Claudia Rufina the Daughter of a Britain and Wife of Pudence a Senatour famous in the Verses of Martial for her Beauty Wit and Learning Claudia coeruleis cum sit Rufina Britannis Edita cur Latiae Pectora Plebis habet Quale decus formae Romanam credere matres Italides possunt Atthides esse suam Though Claudia does descend of British Race Yet her Behaviour 's full of Roman Grace Her Beauty does the Italian Dames surpass And for her wit she may for Attick pass But more famous was she for her profession in Christianity in the writings of St. Paul being the very same Woman as John Bale and Matthew Parker first Protestant Arch-bishop of Canterbury have written of whom he maketh mention in his later Epistle to Timothy neither is the computation of Time repugnant although others are of a different Opinion And now we come to the death of Domitian there being nothing more upon Record memorable in his Reign that relates to our British Affairs He was slain in a Conspiracy wherein his Wife was partaker the chief in the Action was Stephen a Procurator and Steward to Domicilla the Empress who feigning himself Lame of one Arm and carrying it in a Scarf secretly withal bore a Dagger therein and approaching to the Emperour under pretence of delivering him a Scrowl of the Names of divers Conspirators struck him with a Poniard into the Belly Domitian although sorely wounded yet was not wanting to himself upon so sudden an occasion for strugling with this Assassinate he had certainly wrested the Dagger from him had not the rest of the Confederates broke in and with seven Wounds put an end to his life It was upon the eighteenth day of September the name of which Month he had changed into that of Germanicus a Title vainly assumed to himself in the fifteenth year of his Reign and of his life 45 in the year of Grace 98. The chief Vertues of this Prince for his Vices were innumerable were that he favoured Learning and was the Patron of greatest Bounty and easiest Access of any in his time He was desirous of a lasting Name but took the wrong way in attaining it for being pleased with the Flatteries of some Writers who would make him an excellent Prince he neglected to be so and alwaies sought after the shadow of Vertue rather than the substance of it But these Parasites who were kept warm by his Bounty whilest living basely deserted him at his death and followed his Memory with all the Scorns and Reproaches of the succeeding Age. None thought of his Apotheosis or Deification after his Departure insomuch that it may be counted a Prophetick Spirit in him as well as Pride That in his life time he commanded himself to be called God and Lord. NERVA COGGEIUS NERVA succeeded Domitian he was chosen by the Senate with the assistance of Petronius Secundus Captain of the Praetorian Bands and Parthenius High-Chamberlain one of the Murtherers of Domitian His Birth was Noble and of Italy in the City Narnia of the Province of Umbria He was a prudent and Aged Prince but the shortness of his Reign which was only one year four months and odd daies hath given little matter for Writers to speak of British Affairs Mr. Hollinshead maketh Cneius Trebellius Lieutenant of Britain in his daies and the daies of Trajan and that under his Government during both Emperours there were troublesome times in this Island which last Circumstance may be certainly gathered out of good History in the time of Trajan his Successour and may perhaps be true under Nerva seeing that in his life time he accepted Trajan and made him Partner with him in the Empire and so his Reign alone was but of small continuance so that the little Remembrances of this Island in these Times shall be reserved to the next Emperour TRAJAN ULPIUS TRAJANUS was a Spaniard born of a Noble Family in the Province of Biscay he extended the Roman Empire beyond the bounds of all his Predecessors He subdued Dacia Armenia Parthia Mesopotamia and passing Tigris he carried his Arms to the remotest Indies making them feel the Roman Force who before had never heard of their Name And as he gained in the East so lost he nothing in the Western Provinces for although the Britains Revolted yet were they soon again reduced to Obedience by him as is evident out of Spartianus The time of their Revolting may be supposed to have begun after the removal of Agricola by Domitian as is gathered out of Tacitus and through the Idleness of that Prince and the short Reign of Nerva it might be neglected till the dates of this Emperour And no wonder if the Britains watched all opportunity of freeing themselves from the Roman yoke and the insufferable Grievances which accrued and besides the constant Tribute and Imposts through the Insolence of Garrisons the Exactions of Officers they were constrained to receive Publicans that is to say greedy Cormorants and Horse-leeches who sucked their very Blood confiscated their Goods and exacted Toll not only for the Living but in the name of the Dead The Ancient Laws of their Country began to grow out of use and instead thereof the Civil Law of Rome and the arbitrary Sentence of Judges was introduced Magistrates were sent from that City with absolute Power and Commission even in Capital matters and besides Praetors Propraetors and Presidents every City and State had their Municipal Lord over them At the solemn Sessions and Assizes the Praetor sitting alost upon an high Tribunal proudly executed his Jurisdiction shewing Terrible amidst his Guards and Lictors where Rods and Axes upon slight occasions were often presented to the backs and necks of the Common People Through the often changing of Governours there ensued great Confusion one destroying what another had established and the Successour often of course abolishing the Acts and Constitutions of his Predecessour Neither was this sufficient they kept on foot continually Discords and Dissensions favouring some above the rest that they might make them Instruments of their own Slavery As many of these Abuses had been sormerly rectified under the last Lieutenant Agricola so again were they redressed by this Worthy Emperour whose care in other matters is left upon Record namely his carrying of Roads and broad-Causies through the whole Island begun by Agricola a work of prodigious greatness and infinite Charge what with the drayning of Fens and Marishes through which they were continued and what with casting up of Banks through the low Vallies besides they were paved with Stone and
as hath been said be so soon decayed but the British Roads which by long continuance of War in many places were worn out and in others overgrown with Thorns and Thistles In the daies of Honorius and Arcadius as is sound in Ancient Records there were made other certain beaten High-waies from Sea to Sea no wonder therefore if these additions of new Waies made by the Romans together with the Repairing of the Old ones bath given them às it often happens in such cases the glory of the whole work and Beda as a testimony that the Romans lived South of Severus his Wall in that part of Britain now called ENGLAND brings in among other things the Street-waies as a testimony thereof The Romans called these Causies or Street-waies Vias Consulares Regias Praetorias Militares Publicas Cursus Publicos Actus so Ammianus Marcellinus termeth them Sidonius Apollinaris Aggeres tellures inaggeratas Beda and the later Writers Stratas that is Streets Along these waies were placed at first Young men as Posts within small distances one from another afterwards swift Waggons to carry Intelligence Upon these Waies were seated Cities and Hamlets which had in them Inns furnisht with all necessary provisions for Travels as also Mutations for so they called in that Age the places where Wayfaring Persons and Strangers as they Journied changed their Post Horses Draught Beasts and Wagons Along the sides of these Waies at every Miles end were erected by the Emperours certain Pillars or Columns with the name of the particular Prince that set them up engraven upon them and numerable Characters cut in them to signifie how many Miles from place to place These excellent advantages for Travellers as they are to be solely attributed to the Romans and much in particular to this worthy Emperour Trajan so were they the cause that many Ancient places of the Britains came to decay For the Romans either building altogether upon these Roads or else bringing the Old Roads to serve most opportunely for their Garrisons which at first were built in strong Passes more for convenience of Fortification than Travel It came to pass that the others grew out of use and unfrequented and so the Cities standing upon them necessarily decayed and therefore those places mentioned in the Itinerary of Antoninus as Mr. Gambden observeth must be sought out about these Road-waies of the Romans whose Garrisons and standing-Camps were oftentimes the Seminaries and seed-Plots of great Cities and populous Towns These are the only Actions of Trajan left upon Record relating to Britain He departed this life in the year of Grace 118 after he had reigned nineteen years six months and fifteen daies in the year of his Age 64. So much was he beloved that his Effigies after his death was born in Triumph in a glorious and pompous manner and his Ashes sent to Rome for he died at Seleucia in Asia the Less and were inclosed within the Crown of a goodly Pillar of one hundred and forty foot in height HADRIAN AELIUS HADRIANUS succeeded his Uncle Trajan in the Empire he was of the City Italica near unto Sivill his Father Noble and his Mother descended of an Honourable Family in Cales equal to his Race were the high endowments of his mind He dissented from Trajan in his policy of bounding the Empire and held to Augustus his Rule in placing the Limits thereof not so wide but surer insomuch that he excluded on the East all India Armenia Media Persia Assyria and Mesopotamia the Acquests of Trajan but excepted from the removal as to Rule Britain only which province by no means he would part with although he somewhat streightned it as shall be shewn immediately Under him Julius Severus saith Dion Cassius governed the Island an excellent Souldier and upon that account called away to suppress the Jews then in Tumult After his departure the Britains could scarce be held in Allegiance which caused Hadrian to make a Journey hither in Person in the sixth year of his Empire being thrice Consul where he reformed many things and seemed by force of Arms to have reduced the Britains to Obedience for as Mr. Cambden observeth upon a piece of Mony of his Coyning there is the stamp of an Emperour with three Souldiers whom he judgeth to represent the three Legions of which the Roman Army then consisted and under them this Inscription EXER BRITANNICUS and another of the same Prince with this Motto RESTITUTOR BRITANNI The Restorer of the Britains But the greatest Work done by him in this Island was the building of a Wall fourscore miles in length cross the Island from Solway-Frith upon the Irish Seas to the mouth of Tine by New-caestle on the German Ocean laying the toundation thereof with huge Piles or Stakes driven in deep and fastned together in manner of a strong Rampire or Mound This he did to keep out the Caledonians from infesting the Roman Province who could never it seems be contained within those Fortifications raised by Agricola between Glota and Bodotria the Friths of Edinborough and Dun-britton Thus he gave more room to the Northern and barbarous Britains to inhabit and quitting those barren and cold Soils inclosed only the most delicate part of the Island by which means the Bounds of the Empire as well in Britain as the East were reduced to a more convenient compass Of this Wall I shall speak more fully in the Life of Severus the Emperour who much strengthned it and repaired it In the Reign of this Emperour Priscus Licinius was also Propraetor or Lieutenant in this Island as appeareth by this Ancient Inscription in a broken Marble found in Adrian's Wall M. F. CL. PRISCO ICINIO ITALICO LEGATO AUGUSTORUM PR PR PROV CAPPADOCIAE PR PR PROV BRITANNIAE LEG IIII. GALLICIAE PRAEF COH IIII. LINGONUM VEXILLO MIL. ORNATO A DIVO HADRIANO IN EXPE DITIONE JUDAIC Q. CASSIV DOMITIUS PALUMBUS As for Cne Trebellius being Propraetor in the beginning of the Reign of Hadrian there is no Authority for it in Roman History yet Mr. Speed who so religiously avoideth the British Fables as he calls them hath nevertheless made use of them in recording this Lieutenant relating withal the Tumults in the Northern parts of this Island under his Government and the difficulty he had to reduce to Obedience which Errour he frequently committeth in other places and which I here mention as a prologue to the ensuing British History to shew that the greatest Enemies of it nay Mr. Cambden himself doth oftentimes make use of it THE CONTINUATION OF THE British History From the Daies of VESPATIAN To the fourteenth Year of HADRIAN ABOUT the fourteenth year of HADRIAN according to the best Computations died MARIUS who in the British History ruled King of Britain in some part of it from the daies of Vespatian in the year of our Lord 80 to this present Emperour His Reign is filled up with his Atchievments against the Picts who are
But our Historians make no mention of his ever changing his design or sayling into any other parts after his first landing and I am afraid the Coincidence of like Names honourably to derive a place was the cause of this neat invention for otherwise what reason could there be that he should forsake a Country wherein he had good success and from whence he might easier expect supplies from Saxony to go seek out new Territories further off and where for ought we know he had no reason to expect better quarters or kinder entertainment Let us see therefore where he placeth Cerdics-ford for by the course of the story Cerdic-shoar is not to be sought far from it and we shall find them both on the Coasts of Hantshire Hard by the Western bounds saith Mr. Cambden the River Aven carrieth a still stream and no sooner runneth into this shoar but it meeteth with the Ford of Cerdicus in old time Cerdics-ford afterward Cerdeford and now by Contraction of the word Chardford so named of Cerdic that Warlike English Saxon For here the said Cerdic in a set Battel so daunted the Britains that not only he enlarged the bounds of his Empire but also delivered an easie War unto his Posterity having before time in the year of our Salvation 508 after great Conflicts in his Tract vanquish't the most mighty King of the Britains Natanleod called also Nazaleod by others with many of his people Of whose name likewise a small Region reaching unto this Place was termed Natanleod as we read in the Annals of the English Saxons which I sought very curiously for but hitherto could not find so much as any small sign or sample of that Name neither can I guess who that Natanleod should be This seemeth naturally to be the place where the foresaid Actions were performed for besides the Testimony of the Name the place it self lying at a moderate distance from the South-Saxons new acquests it is reasonable to think that Cerdic would not go much further but rather sit down at such a convenient distance where he might give or receive Assistance as occasion should serve from his Country-men already settled It being therefore granted that this Charford was the ancient Cerdics-ford let us see if we cannot find Cerdic-shoar also upon this Coast. For since his Nephews are said to land at Cerdics-shoar and bring him thither new Supplies after his Battel at Cerdics-ford either Cerdics-shoar must be nigh this Cerdics-ford or else they must land at Cerdics shoar at Yarmouth and so through the Enemies Country march to Cerdics-ford in Hantshire which is fondness to suppose Or lastly the whole action must be laid at Yarmouth which will not suit with the foundation of the Western Kingdom I have sought many places on this Coast of Hantshire but can find none that answer exactly to the name of Cerdic but allowing that Cerdicford as Mr. Cambden says makes Charford we find another place of the same name not far off upon the Sea-side in the Isle of Purbek in Dorsetshire and Norwest of Pool a Town called Charborough as much as Cherdic-borough but herein I desire not to be too fanciful but certain it is by the consent of all our Historians where ever Cerdics-ford lay Cerdics-shoar was not far distant though the name be now worn out and perhaps the places aforementioned as likewise Charmouth by Lime may give some satisfaction that this was the Coast. Mr. Speed with whom nothing would go down of the British History whilst he followed the Light of Mr. Cambden now he is left to himself in the Saxon swallows whatever any fabulous Monk Trivial Legend or his Brother Stow imposeth upon him from them I suppose it is that he reporteth that the Isle of VVight after the Conquest of it by Cerdic was given to his Nephews Stuff and VVithgar the later of which slew the Iahabitants thereof and named the place of his Victory VVithgarbirg and afterwards reigning King there was after his death buried in his Royal City VVithgar This is a reach I suppose whoever was Inventor to derive the name of the Island for in Authentick story we find no such Relation Cerdic had Issue two Sons Kenric and Chelwolf the former succeeded him in the Kingdom Chelwolf died before his Father but left a Son of whose race afterwards sate upon the Throne Cerdic Reigned nineteen years after he had assumed Royal Title and left his Kingdom to his Son Kenric KENRIC KENRIC the eldest Son of Cerdic succeeded his Father in the Kingdom Twice he fought the Britains and foiled them once at Searesbirig now Salisbury in the eighteenth year of his Reign and four years after at Beranvirig now Banbury accompanied with his Son Ceaulin In this field the Britains saith Huntington were divided into three Battalions but the Saxon charged in one main body the success saith he was doubtful on both sides and the night parted them Kenric Reigned twenty seven years and had three Sons Ceaulin Cuthwolf and Cuth the last of which was notable in his Issue for his eldest Son came to be King the second was Father the third Grandfather of a King as in the following History will appear CEAULIN CEAULIN the eldest Son of Kenric his Father dead entered upon the Kingdom In the beginning of his Reign he employed his Arms against young Ethelbert of Kent who as hath been related aspired to an universal Monarchy and forced him to sit down quiet with the harassing of his Country and the death of two of his chief Earls In his tenth year he managed his Wars by his Brother Cuthwolf who encountering the Britains at Bedanford now Bedford gave them a great defeat and took four Towns from them Liganborough Egelsborough or Allsbury Besington now Benson in Oxfordshire and Ignesham or Evesham but he out-lived not long his good success but left a Son behind him who succeeded his Uncle in the Kingdom Cuthwolf dead Ceaulin in person with his Son Cuthwin undertakes the War and about the year 581 at a place called Diorth Deorrham in Glocestershire he obtains a great Victory slaying in one battel three British Kings Coinmagil Condidan and Farimnagil which good success was attended with the surrender of as many Cities Badencester Glocester and Cireneester About five years after at a place called Fedanly or Fechanly possibly about Fekenham Forest in Worcestershire he again met the Britains but not with like success for Matthew of Westminster giveth a clear Victory to the Britains and Huntington alloweth the beginning of the day to be theirs for with the death of Cuthwin the Saxons were wholly put to rout but Ceaulin rallying his scattered Forces not only put stop to the pursuit but as that Author writeth recovered an intire Victory with the purchase over and above of many Towns and large Territories But the sequel declareth nothing less for the same year or not long after we find the Britains again giving him battel and that in Wiltshire at
supposed after the Flood the Scriptures make no mention of it Noah had but three sons Japhet seven Shem five Ham four The greatest number was Jocktans who had thirteen a thing not unusual even in our daies Neither was the advantage of Polygamy so considerable as to swell the numbers of them to so great a height as is supposed Jacob with his Wives and Concubines had but twelve sons and Solomon but one But we shall see the Product of Mankind better if we take a measure and survey of them some hundreds of years after the Flood From the Flood to Abrahams daies are reckoned CCXCII years and yet the Land of Canaan so fruitful and so nigh to Armenia was not fully Peopled as by his words to Lot may be gathered Is not the whole Land before us CC years after Simeon and Levi without any other assistance destroyed a whole City Afterwards when Jacob went into AEgypt the pleasant Land of Gosben lay empty and we may judge of the Inhabitants of all AEgypt by the single Progeny of Jacob exceeding them which Progeny by a particular blessing of God encreased yet in CCC years to the number only of Six hundred three thousand five hundred and fifty besides Levites and Children which being added in proportion will not make at farthest two parts of three of the Inhabitants of either London or Paris and are a very small quantity to the Peopling of a Nation The Phoenicians afterwards driven out of their Seats by the Israelites possessed many parts lying upon the Mediterranean in Spain Africa Italy and other places of Europe and Asia which could not be supposed to be very well Peopled How then can we imagine that Britain lying so far West having such a vast Continent between it and Armenia and being secluded by the narrow Streights from being easily accessible by Sea should be Peopled in so short a time when far nearer places lay empty and desert If any one object and say That the Islands of the Gentiles among which Britain is one were given to Japhet and his Sons and therefore Britain was not so long before it was Peopled Let them consider that by Japhet and his Sons is meant his Progeny and that in order to the enjoying of his Patrimony and taking their Possession thereof the delivery of a Turf to him or his Sons was not necessary but sufficient that his Seed inherited the Blessing Some there are who to shew the great encrease of People in the East after the Flood have instanced in Ninus his Army whom Eusebius saies lived CCL years after the Deluge His Army by Herodotus is reported to consist of One Million seven hundred thousand Foot Two hundred thousand Horse and of Sythed Chariots above Ten thousand an incredible number in any Age and which might startle us if the Author was not sufficiently known But how came it to pass that the Assyrian Empire in One hundred years time afterwards should be grown so low as with its Confederates not to be able to resist Abraham and his Three hundred men What is become of all this Horse and Foot that they did not at least hinder him in prosecuting his Victory Certainly as Herodotus hath out-stretched himself in the number of the Army so has Eusebius in his Chronology Justin makes Ninus to be later than Tanaus King of the Getes which Tanaus lived about the time of the Argonauts and Bishop Usher hath placed his Reign in the year of the World MMDCCXXXVII and after the Flood MLXXXI or thereabouts so that we see almost a Thousand years difference in the circumstances of the Peopling of Assyria Thus much being said in short concerning the encrease of Mankind after the Flood namely that their Colonies were not so great and numerous as sufficiently to possess Asia and all those pleasant and delightful Countries about Armenia in the space of four or five hundred years Let us consider whether it be reasonable to suppose our Fore-fathers of so uneasie and restless a disposition as to be continually wandering from place to place and hunting after new Countries having no Necessities to move them thereunto Can we think that they could be drawn into the North into the cold and barren Countries of Sythea and Germany to pass thorow the neck of Scandia and overcome the ascents and difficulties of the Mountain Taurus if they had not been reduced to it by those exigencies of affairs by which naturally every Nation is obliged upon the too great encrease of its Inhabitants to cast out the worst of its People and disburthen it self of the superfluity of them Nor can we easily suppose that one and the same Leader could induce his followers to accompany him into Countries wherein they were to undergo the speedy and sudden changes of Weather It is more reasonable to think that Colonies crept on by degrees and every succeeding Generation added one step to the progress of their Fathers and so Mankind insensibly in different parts was accustomed to different Climates which became easie and familiar to them by reason that by long time and short journies they rather stole into them than suddenly jumpt upon them But granting that in the first Ages after the Flood Mankind encreased faster than now it does and that the Progeny of Noab did desire to disperse it self over the whole Earth yet could they not do it because they wanted sundry Materials and Necessaries for it the forging of Iron the curious working of it is said to be found long after the Flood an Art without which there could be no stirring and supposing that every Colony did know the way of managing of it it required time to find out Mines in order to the making of Instruments which must be supplied in every Country though not producing that Mettal and sufficient quantities be-provided before they could go on any further In like manner they must tarry for the growth of Provisions in the places where they came which would take up a year or two before they could be produced Neither could Countries in a moment be cleared from Wood or cleansed from Fenns with both which the Earth did then abound Sir Walter Rawleigh reports That the Spaniards in some parts of America scarcely proceeded into the Continent ten miles in ten years which if they with all necessary Instruments could not do how can we expect that in the first Ages after the Deluge Colonies could go on so fast when they were to encounter with no less difficulties and had not the same means to overcome them And if by this measure we should calculate the progress of the first Planters we might not be far out of the way but certainly as Europe extends in length IOCCCC German miles so we might modestly assign so many years to the filling of it which is four times the speed that Spaniards made in America But because it is reasonable to suppose that the first Colonies took the advantages of Navigable Rivers
Greeks received them from Barbarians more Ancient than themselves Cratylus taught Thucidides to confirm the other Report who tells us a pleasant story How that the fruitfullest parts of Greece often changed its Inhabitants the pleasure and profit of their Seats constantly exposing them to the fury and malice of more potent Enemies and the Traders fore-seeing that they were as liable to expulsion as others had been formerly tilled so much of their Grounds only as served for present necessity neglecting the rest not being willing to go away muttering like those in Virgil Impius haec tà m culta novalia miles habebit Barbarus has segetes en queis consevimus arva Shall the rude Souldier this rich Corn possess See with what care for Rogues our Land we dress They were resolved that the fruits of their Labour should never draw upon them their own Ruine so that all Greece saies he was not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 firmly or fully Inhabited by reason of these continual flittings and removings But Attica through the barrenness of its Soyl being worth no mans Ambiticn or undertaking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Was alwaies inhabited by the same men till at last it was so crammed and crowded with its own multitude that the Land it self would scarce contain much less maintain its Inhabitants that they were forct to send Colonies for the ease and relief of the rest into a part of Asia Minor calling it after their own Country Ionia thus far reaches the Graecian sigment But he that can believe that Attica was so well stored with People before Asia the Less had any may as reasonably conclude they were Aborigines i. e. sprung out of the Earth also Strabo out of Hecataeus asfirms That the lones came out of Asia into Greece which Opinion is probable enough for why might not Javan impart his Name to that Province or part of Asia Minor which is called Ionia as well as he did afterwards to that part of Greece which is generally known by the name of Attica Most Greek Authors bring the Name of Ionia from this Ion which we in favour to their Memory shall not be much against supposing we may have leave to conjecture that Ion himself took name from Javan it being a Custome observable in the Histories of all times to retain the ancient Name of a Fore-father in some the principal of his Issue Others have supposed they were derived from the AEgyptians grounding that Supposition upon the nearness and similitude of signification between Sais and Athene in Greece and that they were formerly Colonies from Sais a City of AEgypt scituated near one of the Mouths of Nile is concluded on from the Identity of many Customes common as well to the Saitae as the Athenians For as the Athenians distinguished their People by three divisions viz. into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Nobility 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Pcasants and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Mechanicks in like manner also did the AEgyptians the Athenian ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who were totally addicted to the search of Learning and Wisdome and therefore being had in great estimation by the People we may compare them to the AEgyptian Priests nay some of the chief Families in Athens had the Priesthood by Succession as Eumolphidae Ceryces Cynidae the Geomori who had Lands assigned them for the maintenance of the War are not unlike them in AEgypt who hold Possessions on these terms viz. to provide Souldiers when need should require to fight The Demiurgi resemble those Plebeians who skilful in some Art did set-out their Labour to daily hire and Herodotus is of opinion that they had their Religion from the AEgyptians although it is stiffly denyed by Plutarch the Reader who according to his inclination may make choice of which Opinion he pleases but the first is the most probable and best received But that which detracts much from the Antiquity of the Athenians is that CECROPS the first King and Founder of Athens who according to St. Augustine was contemporary with Moses was the first that reduced the Greeks living before like Savages or Brutes without Law or Religion into a form of a Body Politick He first advised them to offer up Sacrifices to Jupiter and divided the People into four Tribes taught them to dwell together civilly in Villages the People of Attica before being ignorant of the benefit of Societies and Corporations Afterwards Theseus collected the People of Attica into a Body and incorporated them into the City of Athens which he had beautified and enlarged but at first Greece was inhabited by Villages and not by Towns Athens was governed by this Cecrops and his Successors by no other Title than that of KING for the space of Four hundred years and upwards till the time of Codrus who in the Wars against the Dorienses being advertised by the Oracle that his Enemies should come off Conquerers if they did not kill the Athenian King for the honour of his Country and safety of his People put himself into the habit of a Common Beggar and entered the Enemies Camp where he behaved himself so strangly that they were forct at last to kill him But when the Dorienses understood what they had done they were so discouraged that they dismist their Army in haste and so departed homewards The Athenians resenting this noble and generous Action of their King so highly they thought no Man in the Commonwealth nay not his own Son worthy to succeed him as King resolving that as he had proved himself to be the best of Kings so they in honour to his Memory would make him the last intimating that all Royal Qualifications departed with him therefore laying aside Monarchy they constituted Princes for term of life differing from Kings only in this That the one claimed by the right of Succession the other by Election and favour of the People The first of these Archontes or Princes was Medon Son of the late King Codrus and these ruled Athens three hundred and sixteen years After this they chose a Governour in whom resided the chief Authority for ten years only expecting Justice and Moderation from his hands who at the end of Ten years was to become a Private man and consequently upon any Injury or Affront committed was liable to the power and severity of his Successors Seven of these Decennial Governours only ruled Athens which compleats Threescore and ten years then the Government became Annual the City being Governed by Majors or Burg-Masters and this form of Government was not only disturbed and shaken but quite dasht in pieces by Pisistratus in or about the time of Solon for he having calculated his Laws purely for the Meridian of Democracy and made it his business afterwards to put the Supream Authority into the hands of the People to which the People of Athens ever had a natural inclination he not only in his own time saw his Laws violated as
evidence of the Antiquity of that Sect whom I do make appear were Ancient Priests and Governours in Ecclesiastical and Civil matters in this Nation And by Reason Abraham lived under those Oaks of Mamre so piously the Druids in Example thereof although degenerating from the true substance and intent of so good an Example chose Groves of Oaks under which they performed all the invented Rites and Ceremonies belonging to their Religion To speak further we must confidently according to the Rule and Method of the British History believe Sarron to have Reigned as a British King from Anno Mundi MMVII to MMLXVIII when being Ambitious to extend his Empire he ended his life and kingdom and now we hear of Druis his Son DRUIS the Son of Sarron or as Basing stochius writes his Grand-son by his Son Namnes who died before him succeeded in the Kingdom He is made the Author of the Druids a famous Sect of Philosophers he began his Reign Anno Mundi MMLXVIII and held the Government but fourteen years Then BARDUS the Son of Druis next entered upon the Kingdom This is the King of Poets Musicians and Heralds called from him Bardi they were very much given to composing of Genealogies and rehearsing them in publick Assemblies but notwithstanding their great skill in this matter we see they have the misfortune to be put after the Druids in Succession whereas in the fore-going Antiquities it is probably made out they were an Ancienter Order than they in Britain This Bardus began his Reign Anno Mundi MMLXXXII and possest the Scepter seventy five years Now who would not have thought BRITAIN or SAMOTHEA an happy Island having so many Philosophers for their Kings but see the mischief of it Let Samothes Magus Sarron and Druis teach never so Divinely and Bardus Sing or Pipe never so sweetly yet the People will be Adders still there is no reclaiming of the Multitude No wonder therefore that giving themselves to a loose and luxurious life and not keeping up to the strict Rules that had been prescribed to them they were the sooner conquered and subdued by the Giant Albion so that Samothea was wrested from the Celts the Line of Japhet and brought in subjection to the Progeny of Ham. Now it is that stories complain of the miserable Thraldom of this Island by the Sons of Neptune and the delivery of it in part by the death of Albion slain by Hercules though long after it was molested by Giants until the Arrival of Brutus all which Circumstances I will pass over not because they are more Fabulous than the rest but because they seem if they were well timed and cleared of all the Ignorant Rubbish that by age and malice of Writers has over-burthened them to carry some foot-steps of the Phoenicians in this Island who were Men of exceeding proportion and of the Linage of Ham and early Traders into these Parts Likewise the story of Dioclesian or as Mr. Hollinshead corrects it Danaus his Daughter I will omit as too tedious a Fable and so proceed to the succession of the Celtick Kingdom of which Britain is feigned a part This I do not for Truths sake but Convenience It follows therefore out of Basinstoak LONGHO the Son of Bardus succeeded him in the Kindom of the Celtae He made War upon Scandia and gave name to the Longo Bards who afterwards proceeded from that Country I pass over how ridiculously and against all Geography Scandia by Basinstochius is placed about the Coasts of Britain and made an Island These are small faults He begun his Reign Anno Mundi MMCLVII and reigned twenty eight years BARDUS the Second succeeded him He carried Musick into Germany which had been first taught in Celtica by his Grand-father He Reigned seven and thirty years and left a young Son called Celtes who being not ripe enough to Administer the Kingdom LUCUS was elected King who Reigned but Eleven years and then CELTES assumed the Crown From this Prince the Celtae took their Denomination His Mother was called Galathea in honour of whose Memory he gave that name to his Daughter and afterwards married her to Hercules by whom she had a Son named Galathes from whom the Galli are derived He reigned but thirteen years and then HERCULES and GALATHEA succeeded This Hercules built Alexia and passing the Alpes he gave his younger Son Tuscus the Kingdom of Italy and his elder Son Galathes the Celtick Dominion The first Prince reigned nineteen years Galathes held the Kingdom of the Celts forty nine years and then left it to his Son NARBON the Son of Galathes during his Fathers life had the Island of Samothea intrusted to his Government but after the death of his Father he passed into Gallia and there built a City after his own Name he reigned eighteen years LUGDUS his Son succeeded him he built Lugdunum and reigned fifty one years BELIGIUS followed who gave name to the Belgae formerly called Beligici he died without Issue after he had reigned twenty years and the Kingdom of the Celts devolved on JASIUS This Prince was of the Line of Hercules and the year before was created King of Italy so that the two Kingdoms of Celtica and Italy were conjoyned in one Man Anno Mundi MMCCCLXXXIV This raised Envy in his Brother Dardanus who began a Civil-War but not being able to prevail by force of Arms he had recourse unto Policy so that feigning Reconciliation with his Brother he takes all his Goods and Shipping them enters into his Brothers Palace and there Murthers him as he was Bathing this being effected he flies into Samothrace afterwards into Phrygia Jasius had a Son named CORYBANTUS he succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of Italy but not of the Caeltes Jasius reigned fifty years ALLOBROX of the line of Hercules obtained the Kingdom of the Celti he Reigned sixty eight years and ROMUS his Son succeeded him he Governed twenty nine years PARIS the Son of Romus Ruled thirty nine years LEMANES the Son of Paris Reigned sixty seven years OLBIUS the Son of Lemanes Reigned five years From this Olbius Basinstochius derives Albion the Name of this Island GALATHES the Second succeeded him and Reigned eight and forty years NAMNES followed and Governed forty four years and being about to end his daies he bequeathed the Kingdom to his Son Remus REMUS the Son of Namnes Reigned forty years He left only a Daughter which he had married before to Phranicus a Prince of the Blood of Hector PHRANICUS held the Scepter in right of his Wife but leaving Samothea to be Governed by the Druids he betook himself to the Continent called by his Name France so that the Britains readily received King BRUTUS at his Arrival into this Island as is pretended by those who desired to claim an honourable Title from that Race of the Trojans This is the account of the Celtick Kings before BRUTE according to Berosus and Basinstochius Who can but wonder at the exact and
punctual Chronology in things of so vast a distance the Religious care of the Historiographers lest the minutest Circumstances should be omitted Who can but admire at their ingenious Contrivances least the Reigns of these things should want some diverting Circumstances and their Governments run dully without the usual rubs of Ambition and Usurpation If we seriously consider these matters we may easily find that the Government of these Princes began not many hundred years ago The Opinion of Isacius Tzetzes concerning imaginary Regions in the British Seas was never more true then when we consider these Aiery Princes and their phantastical Governments so that hitherto we find rather an History of Utopia than Britain From Samothes his Reign beginning An. Mundi MDCCCCX which is 254 years after the Flood to the end of Phranicus his Reign are 945 years so that the Entrance of Brute into this Island according to this account is in the year of the World MMDCCCLV and after the Flood 1199 years But as if there were some great truth in this matter that required wonderful Exactness we find much variance in Authors Berosus makes Samothes's Kingdom about 152 years after the Flood and that it continued 335 years in his Posterity Mr. Hollinshead saies 310 and then Albion Arrived but from Samothes to the end of Bardus his Reign is but 247 years so that here a vast Inter-regnum is made between Bardus and Albion Besides the differences between 254 and 152 years in which Samothes is said to begin his Kingdom cuts short the seventy five years of Bardus his Reign which are assigned him by the Count Palatine The Entrance of Brute according to this Computation differs something from that which is generally received namely That he arrived at this Island in the year of the World 2887 and after the Flood 1231 in the Eighteenth year of Eli his Priesthood and before Christ 1059. And here Mr. Speed comes upon Brutes History with his Scripture Chronology like a Goliah Let us see to what purpose Brute saith he is the fourth discent from AEneas namely thus AEneas Ascanius Silvius Brutus Now allowing favourably according to Herodotus and I add according to the Britains Thirty years for a Generation we shall find that if Brute entred this Isle Anno Mundi 2887 that the Trojan War in the daies of AEneas happened Anno Mundi 2768 in the Eight and thirtieth year of Gideons Government But this cannot be saies Mr. Speed why not Because saies he Clemens Alexandrinus alleadged out of Pergamenus and Letus placeth the Trojan War fully Two hundred and thirty years after namely in the Reign of King Solomon so that Brute entred not this Island in Ely's Priesthood but in the Usurpation of Juda's Kingdom by Athaliah in the year of the World 3118. and so we see Brutes Antiquity cut off Two hundred and thirty years O wonderful exactness in Chronology will any one henceforth be able to defend Brutes History no certainly especially if they consider the deadly blow that is coming Josephus saies he confidently affirms he is able to prove by Phoenician Records that the City Carthage was built by Dido Sister to Pigmaleon 155 years after the Reign of King Hiram which was Solomons Friend and 143 years and eight months after the building of his most beautiful Temple Now Dido and AEneas according to Virgil were contemporary By this computation we find Troys destruction fell out about the twentieth year of Joash his Reign over Judah which was in the year of the Worlds Creation 3143 to which if we add One hundred and twenty years for the Four discents from AEneas to Brute then will Brutes Conquest of this Island fall with the twelfth of Jothams Reign in Anno Mundi 3263 and thus we see Brute hath miserably lost again 375 years of his Antiquity The greatest loss is to follow and here it is that Mr. Speed saies that he has made a deep breach into Brute's History Manethon saies he the Historian Priest of Egyt in his second Book cited by Josephus affirmeth that the Israelites departure from AEgypt was almost 1000 years before the Wars of Troy and this Mr. Speed saith Josephus seems to allow By this measure Brute is lessened 752 years but I would fain know why he thinks Josephus allows this Computation when as before Josephus is brought in confidently maintaining another Account and that out of the Phoenician Annals Josephus might allow this Computation of Manethon the Egyptian perhaps according to the Egyptian manner of Years which consisted of three Months and so the 1000 years will in reality be but 250 effectually But what makes all this against Brute whose time depends upon the timing of the Trojan War for can any one be so mad or simple as by any Scripture Computation to bring down the War of Troy below the daies of Alexander and almost equalling it with the Punick Clemens Alexandrinus might erre in this Chronology and Virgil is generally reproved for making AEneas and Dido contemporary The Trojan War it self is so disputable that who can expect an exact timing of it If the Author that Jeffery of Monmouth pretends to have translated did place the Entrance of Brute under the Priesthood of Ely it was a fancy grounded upon some Computation of his own which whether it be true or false concerns not the question of Brutes Arrival who knew not and consequently could not deliver down his Entrance in the Priesthood of Ely There are too many Circumstances that condemn the story of Brute and it is vain to confute an Author in a small matter whereas greater things may be laid to his charge like him who declaiming against Nero insisted most in his defects in Musick so if there were nothing to be said against Brutes and Samothes's stories but the ill harmony of Time possibly they may be found as perfect in those points as most Histories But the destroying of Brute by any Computation is as if one would by the same Weapons prove there was never a Trojan Horse or Minerva's fatal Statue and so I proceed to Brutes History THE CHRONICLE OF THE British Kings CHAP. XI The History of BRUTE BRUTUS Brito or as the Count Palatine calls him Brotus is on all hands agreed to be the Off-spring of AEneas but whether by his Wife Creusa or Lavinia there is great variance manifested in Authors AEnaeas dying he left his Kingdom to Ascanius whom he had by his first Wife Creusae Lavinia his second Wife surviving and finding her self big with Child began to dread the power of Ascanius least the odious name of a Step-mother and the jealousie of an half Brother and Competitor in the Kingdom might carry him on to some violence against her Person Upon this she fled into the Woods and was delivered of a Son whom she named Silvius Posthumus from the place of his Birth and by reason he was born after the decease
the long wished for Island he Lands his Trojans and marches up into the Country to take possession Joyful was he to see the pleasant prospect of so large a Dominion and blest the Gods that they gave him so glorious a Reward for all his labours But all things were not so well as he imagined for from the Clyffs and craggy Rocks he began to perceive mighty Giants arising This sight he communicated to Corinaeus who at first was much surprized at the Object but at last they both pluckt up their wonted Spirits and with a few Trojans valiantly assailed these Monsters In a few Conflicts they found not their Weapons to want success so that they soon convinced these Goliahs that no strength or vastness of Limbs was able to resist a Trojan Puissance Corinaeus after several general Engagements had a longing desire to enter into a nearer trial of skill with some one of them Gogmagog undertakes him and a day of wrestling was appointed and attended with great expectation The Giant at his first grapling by a close-Hug breaks a Rib of Corinaeus but sorely paid for it by the fall Corinaeus gave him from the Clyff of Dover to his utter destruction which from hence is said afterwards to be called Cwymp y Cawr or the fall of the Giant This was a good Omen of the Trojans further success and Corinaeus for this piece of service was rewarded with the Principality of Cornwal Brute by degrees destroyed the whole Race of these Giants and quietly possessing the Island the first work he undertook was the building of a City which he called Troy-novant now London In this City he kept his Royal Court ordaining and enacting that from henceforth the whole Island should be called after his Name BRITAIN and so the Inhabitants Britains Being at the point of Death in the fifteenth year of his Reign and the four and twentieth of his Arrival he divided his Kingdom to his three Sons To Locrinus he bequeathed that part now called ENGLAND To Camber WALES To Albanact SCOTLAND and so called it after his name Albania Brute in that sickness is supposed to have died and was buried in his new City TROY Novant but the particular place where was never yet discovered by any and I much question whether it ever will SOME OBSERVATIONS UPON THIS History of Brute IT is not material whether this story of BRUTE be to be referred to Jeoffery of Monmouth Henry of Huntington or Segibertus Gemblasensis a French-man who lived an hundred years before Jeoffery and treats of Brute and his Trojans Arrival into Gaul and his passage into Britain For if Segibertus or any other Person had the name of Brute before Jeoffery and some particular Actions of such a Prince yet the composing of his Genealogy the methodizing the Circumstances of his Life the Timing of his Entrance the Succession of his Line depends all upon the Credit of Jeoffery and the truth of his Translation and so was esteemed in the daies in which he lived and put forth his History For how long a Trojan Original might be in these parts or how long Britannia might be derived from Brutus is not the thing in question but this was the custome of Ancient times to derive Nations from some particular Persons even amongst the Greeks and Romans and was an old Vanity of the World to refer their beginning to some Divine HERO To make this pretended Brute to be a Trojan and to fasten him upon a Genealogy contrary to the truth of those Histories from which that Genealogy is fetcht and upon whose Credit it depends is the thing for which Brutes History is chiefly condemned Segibertus Gemblasensis might have the same design in deriving his Britain in France from Brutus as the Britains might derive their Britannia I do not deny but Jeoffery of Monmouth might have several hints of Brutus nay a British History of him but it will not justifie the Fiction neither can the multitude of Authors in or about that time take away from the Credit of Ancienter Historiographers as Caesar Tacitus Gildas Ninius and as many as wrote twelve hundred years since who make no mention of any such Person more than that do profess by all their Enquiry they could learn nothing of the Britains concerning their Original so that whatever Original is pretended nevertheless the story of the Trojan Brute and all the Legend of his life seems to be brought into the World not long before those times as appears by Mr. Cambden and Speed nay Mr. Sheringham of late in his Vindication of this story in one place ingeniously confesses That these Tales might be invented and so intruded upon the Vulgar But where ever the story of Brute is to be told the Character of it and the Compiler ought never to be omitted It is the saying of William of Newborough who lived in the Age of Geoffery ap Arthur of Monmouth and writes thus of him In these our daies saith he a certain Writer is risen who deviseth foolish Fictions of the Britains he hath to Name Geoffery and a little after With how little shame and with what great confidence doth he frame his Lies About the same time was Francio invented for the Francks Scota Pharaolis Daughter for the Scots Hiberus for the Irish Danus for the Danes Brabo for the Brabanders Gothus for the Goths Saxo for the Saxons and is Brutus for the Britains any thing truer who can think it Scriverius in his Preface to the Antiquitics of Ancient Batavia falls severely upon Jeoffery of Monmouth and gives his History the name of Groote grove lange dicke taste lijck ende unbeschaemte logen that is A most impudent Lie a great one a heavy one a long thick one which like the AEgyptian Darkness was so palpable it might be felt Never had a Lie so many dimensions given it before nor so much substance ascribed to it Well fare Brute and his Trojans above all stories this carries the Honour of the day That which gave some Authority to this Fiction was the use King Edward the first made of it in vindicating his Title to Scotland against the pretence of Pope Boniface and the Church of Rome who laid claim to that Kingdom by Ancient Right as part of St. Peters Patrimony and that Churches Demesne This Action of the King stampt some Character upon this late Invention and the Judgment of so wise a Prince in favour of Brute in a matter of so high a Concern brought this new Embrio into some credit in the World It will not be amiss therefore to examine the whole Circumstances of this debate between the King Pope and Barons of this Realm King Edward having made a considerable progress towards the Conquest of Scotland and being there in Person receives a Prohibition from the Pope who was backt on by the French King to proceed any further in that business until he had proved his Title at Rome to which place the
they were Aided by their Father who had Invaded and by this time Conquered all Gallia so that we see a vast part of Europe in the possession of Ebrancke and his Sons The Line of BRUTE never in so fair a way as now towards the Conquest of the whole Earth promised by the Oracle and performed as the Britains say in the Person of Constantine the Great This Prince built Caerbrancke now York and erected a Temple to Diana in which he placed an Archi flamen Mr. Cambden derives Eboracum or Eburacum from Eb-Ure standing upon the River Ure as the Eburovices in France the Eburones in the Netherlands and Eblana in Ireland from the Rivers Fure Oure and Lefny in those Countries This King also built in Albania now called Scotland the Castle of Maydens by King Eden afterwards called Edenborough This Mayden Castle hath since deserved the name of Prostitute being most Treacherously betrayed in the late Scottish War to Cromwell by Dundaste to the then great dis-service of his present MAJESTY and the dishonour of that Nation Ebrancke dying was buried in the Temple of Diana which he had built and the Ceremonies were performed with great pomp and solemnity He Reigned forty years BRUTE GREENSHEILD his eldest Son succeeded him Anno Mundi 3009 he perfected the Conquest of Gallia and revenged some Indignities put upon his Father by Brinchild Prince of Hannonia or Hanault conquering him upon the banks of the Sheld he received his Sirname from a Green-shield he used to wear in Battle He hath the report of a most excellent Prince just and merciful a most exact observer of his Word He reigned twelve years and was Interr'd in his Fathers City Caerbranck LEIL the Son of Brute Greensheild began his Government Anno Mundi 3021 he built the City Carlisle called also by the Romans and Britains Lugurallum or Luguballium or Luguballa from Lugus or Lucus a Tower and Vallum a Trench the Ruines of which is seen nigh the City and he repaired Carleon now called Chester which was supposed to be built by the Giants before Brutes time the vast Stones and Arched Vaults therein gave occasion to this Report He was a good Prince till the latter end of his daies when falling in to several Vices and Enormities created great Dissensions in the Nations which ended not in his life He was buried at Caerlile after he had swayed the Scepter five and twenty years LUD or Lud Hurdibras is also called Rud and Rudibras Sirnamed Cicuber he began his Government Anno Mundi 3046. The first thing he undertook was the ending of the Troubles began in his Fathers daies finding happy success in so great an Undertaking he studied nothing more than to beautifie Britain He built a City which he named Caer Gaut or Kaerkin now Canterbury and there placed a Flamin likewise Caerquent now Winchester and Caer Septon or Caer Palladur supposed to be Shaftsbury and having Reigned thirty nine years he died BALDUD the Son of Hurdibras Anno Mundi 3085 succeeded in the Kingdom He studied many years at Athens and from thence brought four eminent Philosophers to instruct the Britains in all Liberal Sciences assigning them Stamford for the place of their Teaching He built Caerbran now Bath and is said by the Art of Magick to have found out those Hot waters These Springs he dedicated to Minerva erecting there a sumptuous Temple in her Honour This Town Mr. Cambden takes to be Palladur This Famous City is seated in Somersetshire on the River Avon and is called by Ptolomy from the Hot Baths in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the Hot Waters by Antoninus Aquae Solis that is the Waters of the Sun by the Britains Yr ennaint Twymin and Caer Badon by the Saxons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and from the great resort thither of maimed People Akmanchester the City of sickly Folk It is seated in a Low Valley and the same not great encompast about with Hills almost of an equal height from which certain Springs and little Rivulets of Water descend to the great commodity of the City Within the City it self there boils up three Springs of Hot-waters which were caused by the wonderful Art of this Blayden named Cloyth i. e. Bleyden the Magician but as the Monks will have it it must be by St. David who coming to Bath cured the Infection of the Waters thereabouts and by his Prayers and Benedictions gave them a perpetual Heat and made them very healthful and soveraign for many Diseases to the wonderful comfort and assistance of all England to this present time These are the two Opinions Heathen and Monkish that are given concerning the production of these Springs The Water that bubbles or boils up is of a blewish or Sea-colour and sends up a thin Steam and Vapour of a strong scent caused by the veins of Brimstone and some Bituminous matter it passeth through These Baths are not wholsome at all hours but do require a time of purgation from that filth which by the exceeding heat and fermentation of them is cast up so that until by their Sluces they cleanse themselves they are shut up and none permitted to enter them The first and greatest is called the Kings Bath in the very heart and bosom of the City and nigh to the Cathedral Church It is enclosed within a Wall and is accommodated with two and thirty Seats of Arched-work for Men and Women to sit upon who when they enter are covered with Linnen Garments and are conducted by Guides who attend for that purpose Where the Cathedral Church now stands in Ancient times as the Report goes was that Temple consecrated to Minerva the Patroness of Hot Springs and this is collected out of Solinus who writes of these Baths in Britain The other two are in a Street on the West side of the City not two hundred foot one from the other One of which is called the Cross-Bath from a Cross that formerly stood in the midst of it It is of a mild and temperate warmth and hath twelve Seats of stones upon the brinks of it and encompast with a Wall The other is much hotter and is called the Hot-Bath Nigh these is a Spittle or Lazarus-House built by Reginald Bishop of Bath for the relief of poor diseased People I will conclude these Baths with the Verses of Necham Barthoniae Thermas vix proefero Vergilianas Thus translated The British-BATHS to Virgins don't give place To Aged Limbs They a warm Youth bestow And he who crazy maim'd and feeble was His Limbs benumm'd from hence does active go Nature on Crutches doth not here repair But springs and dances if once bathed here Some think that dark and subterraneous fire With Vestal heat under these Waters glow And that int h ' Head from whence these Springs retire Natures great brazen Caldrons doth bestow Such Limbicks foolish Chymists do create These Springs from Sulphur only take their Heat
more I could name had I time besides many Usages and Customes in England which participate of both Languages alike To instance in the Compounds of Iavel a British word signifying a Tenure among the Welch we find Gavel-kind Sand-Gavel Gavel Oat Swine-Gavel and many others Why therefore may not Ludgate be Luds-Gate although it hath both Languages mixt in it Let us hear therefore Verstegan's ingenious Derivation Ludgate saith he is as much as to say Leodgate or the Peoples-Gate Leod signifying People Here Mr. Sheringham asks him but a reasonable question What did the People pass only through this Gate and the Bards and Druids through the other only And I may demand of him also upon what grounds he supposeth the Concourse of People to have been greater through this Gate than any other Indeed since the Suburbs have been built and increased above the greatness of the City and since his MAJESTY and the late Kings of England for many successions have been pleased to live in the Western parts of them the Trade by necessity hath been drawn into these quarters and so Ludgate hath been made the greatest Thorow-fare but before the Suburbs were built or before they were brought into Credit by his MAJESTIES Royal Person and Court or when the Kings of England lived in the City it self How came Ludgate to be the Gate of the People more than of the rest Neither is Lelands Opinion any thing more to be embraced who calleth it Fludgate from the little Rivolet running beneath it It is a thousand pities for the sake of this invention that the Gate was not built upon the Rivulet but now as the case standeth this most miserable Derivation is not to be helped out but by a faith that is able to remove Mountains Let therefore King Lud enjoy the Honour of that Structure whose very mute Statue as Mr. Sheringham saith seems to call out against those who would deprive him of it But besides these two Magnificent Works the Wall and the Gate this Prince is said to have taken such exceeding delight in this City that he built himself a Palace not far from Ludgate supposed by some to have been in the place where the Bishop of Londons Palace stood Others think at Bernards Castle he is thought to have built a Temple also not far from his Court where St. Pauls Cathedral afterwards stood and by these great Works and his continual residence in that City the name of Troy-novant was changed into London or Lundain that is the residency of King Lud. The British Histories write that the changing the name from Troy-novant into Lundain was the cause of great dissension between King Lud and a bold Commander of those times Nennius who eagerly opposed this Innovation whereby the Memory of Troy which so long bad been preserved would be utterly abolished But this story is very much suspected of late to have been altogether Fabulous and there are other Derivations given of the Name of that most Famous City Erasmus brings it from a City in Rhodes called Lindus but this is rejected by Mr. Cambden who in the place of it puts down two Conjectures The first is That seeing the Britains called any place fenced with Trees a Town or City which they expressed by the word Lihwn that this City by way of Excellence might be named the Lihwn and afterwards by corruption London But the second is more probable That it was called London from Lihong signifying in the British Tongue a Ship and Dinas in the same Language a City so that it is as much as the City of Ships And to confirm this Opinion he proves that it was called Anciently Longidinium and by an Old British Bard Lihong-Porth that is a Harbour of Ships In my thoughts this seems to be the truest Etymologie of that most honourable City which in all Ages hath been a place of great Traffick and Commerce with the whole World and by the convenience of its Scituation upon so Navigable a River can receive Ships of great Burthen and in great Multitudes so that the Masts of them appear to be what the Britains called Llhwun namely Woods and Forrests As concerning the Name of TROY-Novant by which this City is supposed to have formerly been called because I am now taking my leave of the British History and am come to the time of the Romans I will freely put down my Conjecture Nant in the British Tongue or Novant for they are both one as Mr. Cambden shews signifies a Valley and Cre Cri or Cra a City and both taken from the Phoenicians as I have shewn by several Places in Cornwal Crinovant therefore is as much as the City of the Vallies for the People who were under the subjection of this City lived Low upon the River Thames and the whole Region in a manner lay in a Valley so that they may be supposed to have been called as other places have been upon the same account Noantes Novantes or Nantuates and this City Crinovant or the City of the Novantes the similitude of which Name as I have shewn in another place gave occasion to those who began the Trojan Original to call it Troy-novant or the New-Troy King LUD after he had Reigned eleven years and was Interr'd in his Temple near Ludgate left behind him two Sons Androgeus and Theomantius Com. Pal. saith that this Lud was Sir-named Immanuentius and was slain by his Brother Cassibelan at Troy-novant and that his eldest Son Androgeus was Sir-named Mandubratius and was the same Prince of the Trinobantes whom we find in Caesar's Commentaries to have sled into Gallia and to have put himself under the protection of Caesar. Of this Mandubratius I shall have occasion to speak in the History of the Romans in this Island whom we shall find Invading it in the next Kings Reign called cassibelanus And seeing now we are come to the Times of the Roman Histories the Authority of which is unquestionable I shall faithfully Collect the Government of Britain under their Emperours from the Latin Writers themselves yet not altogether so as to neglect absolutely the British Histories in the Lives of their Kings and the Circumstances of their Government This I do because that the Histories of the Romans concerning this Island as their Government in it is often broke off and interrupted and those Breaches are supplied by the continuance of the British Succession but I shall place the Roman History in the first place as infinitely surpassing the British in its Authority and all along the British History shall be set under it as attending only and subservient to it THE NAMES OF THE Roman Emperours WHO GOVERNED THIS ISLAND FROM The first Invasion thereof by Julius Caesar until it was quitted of the Roman Jurisdiction by Honorius immediately before the Entrance of the Saxons AND A Catalogue of the Lieutenants employed by them JULIUS CAESAR The first Invader of the Britains after whose Second
Expedition and Death there ensued an Inter-regnum of the Romans in this Island until the Conquest thereof by Claudius and his Lieutenants CLAUDIUS the second of the Romans that subdued this Island Reigned 13 Years Aulus Plautius P. Ostorius Aul. Didius His Lieutenants NERO. 13 years Verannius Paulinus Suet. Petilius Crealis Petronius Turpilianus Trebellius Maximus Lieutenants GALBA 7 months Trebellius Maximus Lieutenant under both  OTHO 95 daies   VITELLIUS 8 months 4 daies Vectius Bolanus Lieutenant  VESPASIAN the Elder 10 years Petilius Crealis Julius Frontinus Julius Agricola Lieutenants Titus VESPASIAN 2 Years Julius Agricola Lieutenant  DOMITIAN 15 years Julius Agricola Cne Trebellius Salustius Lucullus Lieutenants NERVA 1 year The Lieutenant not known  TRAJAN 19 years The Lieutenant not known  HADRIAN Reigned 21 years Cne Trebellius Licinius Priscus Jul. Severus Lieutenants ANTONINUS Pius 22 years Lollius Urbicus Lieutenant  ANTONINUS Philosophus 19 years Calphurnius Agricola Lieutenant  AURELIUS Commodus 13 years Ulpius Marcellus Helvius Pertinax Clodius Albinus Junius Severus Lieutenants HELVIUS Pertinax 2 months Clodius Albinus Lieutenant  DIDIUS Julianus 7 months Clodius Albinus Lieutenant  SEPTIMIUS Severus 18 years Heraclianus and Virius Lupus made Joynt-Lieutenants by Severus one of the South the other of the North.  After the daies of Severus we find not any more Lieutenants in Britain partly through the neglect or decay of Historians and partly through the Troubles of the ensuing times which lasted until the daies of Constantine who altered the Government  Years Reign Antoninus Bassianus Caracalla with Geta his Brother 6 Opilius Macrinus 1 Antoninus Heliogabalus 4 Alexander Severus 13 Julius Maximinus 3 Balbinus Pupienus 1 M. Ant. Gordianus 6 Philip 5 Gn. Messius Quintus Trajan Decius 2 Trebonianus Gallus 2 P. Licinius Valerianus 7 P. Licinius Galienus 9 Claudius 2  Years Reign L. Domitius Aurelianus 5 M. Claudius Tacitus 6 Months M. Aurelius Probus 6 M. Aurelius Carus 2 Dioclesianus Maximianus 20 Constantius Chlorus 4 Constantine the Great 13 Constantinus Junior 3 Constans 2 Constantius 16 Julian the Apostate 2 Fla. Jovianus 2 Valentinianus 12 Fla. Gratianus 3 Fla. Theodosius 14 Honorius In the daies of this Emperour Rome being seized by Alarick the Roman Souldiers were drawn out of Britain and Letters of Discharge written by Honorius to the Britains whereby they were acquitted of the Roman Jurisdiction A Catalogue of the British KINGS in the daies of the Romans from Julius Caesar to the Saxons CAssibelan in whose daies Caesar entred the Island Reigned 19 Years Theomantius 17 Gunobelyn 35 Guiderius 23 Arviragus 25 Marius 53 Coelus Primus 50 Lucius Sirnamed Leuer Maur 12 And then came an Inter-regnum of 15 Years Severus in Right of his Wife 15 Antoninus Bassianus 6 Heliogabalus 3 Alexander Severus 13 Maximinus 3 Gordianus 6 Another Inter-regnum of 13 Years Claudius 2 Another Inter-regnum of 7 Years Bonosus 4 Another Inter-regnum of 4 Years Carausius 7 Allectus 3 Asclepiodotus 1 Coel the Third 1 Constantius Priscus in Right of his Wife 11 Constantine the Great 30 Constantinus Junior 2 Constans Priscus 9 Magnentius 3 Constantius Junior 10 Julianus 2 Valentinianus 11 Gratianus Priscus 8 Maximus 5 Theodosius 7 Honorius 14 In whose daies the Britains chose three other Emperours Marcus him they suddenly Deposed in 3 Months Gratianus Ruled 4 Months Constantine the Third 4 Years Constans his Son Caesar 2 Years IULIUS CAESAR The first Roman that Discovered and Invaded Brittain THE WARS BETWEEN THE BRITAINS AND ROMANS CHAP. XIII JULIUS CAESARS first Preparation and Voyage into BRITAIN JULIUS CAESAR having subdued most part of Gallia quieted the Germans and stopped their Incursions into his Province by Locking up the Rhine and Scheld resolves for an expedition into Britain His pretences were that the Britains had under-hand sent supplies to the Cities of Armorica who the year before had Revolted from his Obedience and had joyned with the rest of Gallia in a general and dangerous Rebellion Not only so but that they had received into their Protection his Enemies the Bellovaci who had fled to them for aid and succour These seemed sufficient Causes to justifie an Invasion especially to a mind wholly possest as Caesars was with the desire of Glory and unlimited Conquests so that notwithstanding many Cities of the Britains having notice of this design and fearing the consequence of his Ambition and usual success sent Embassadors to him with a promise of Hostages and Obedience to the Roman Empire yet he altered not his Resolutions but after Audience given sent them back with fair promises and exhortations to continue stedfast in the same mind and with them Comius his Creature and Confident whom he had obliged with no less Bribe than the Kingdom of Arras giving him private Instructions to gain a Roman Party in the Island and secretly to manage his Interest with the States of Britain And what gave most Authority to his Embassy to signifie to them his Intentions to come speedily in Person to them Neither could the time of the year defer his design it seeming to be too high advanced for any new undertakings the Summer being almost spent and his wearied Legions expected rather their Winter Quarters than to be transported into a Foreign War Certainly Caesar had more than ordinary Motives to this sudden expedition and however he might give out among his Souldiers the vastness of the British Pearls their exceeding weight and value and the great numbers and quantities of them yet these were but as so many Baits to entice and allure them to his purposes and to draw them greedily to swallow his Motions such Cajoals as these were frequent with him during the course of his whole life By his future Actions we may guess that his main design in Invading BRITAIN was to inure his Souldiers and to accustome them to the most barbarous Enemies that they might not be terrified at his most dangerous Enterprizes but depend solely and entirely upon his Fortune and Conduct And indeed during all the Civil-Wars which no doubt by this time he had fore cast in his head we find these Legions his main prop and support they blindly following him in his most difficult undertakings Neither could the love of the Common-wealth or the Authority of Pompey ever shake them in their Alliance and although they were harassed about from Country to Country yet the change of Soil nor Enemy could ever break them asunder or shatter them In his Wars in Africa against Juba and his Confederates with what assurance did he pronounce before his Army the advance of the Enemy with an Army five times superiour to his own as not doubting they would be frighted at the Chariots of Africa who had been accustomed to those of Britain and this appears to be the intention of his Invasion of this Island the total Conquest whereof as he never performed so he seems never to have designed and I believe what he said
at variance Hirilda was slain whereupon Cassibelan summons Ewelin to appear before him to answer for the death of his Nephew but being encouraged by Androgeus refused to obey the Summons Upon this Cassibelan begins to make War upon Androgeus who finding himself not able to deal with him fled unto Caesar into Gallia and invited him to return into Britain for Caesar upon his ill success had left the Island Caesar took Hostages of him and among the rest Scaeva Androgeus his Son and so returns where encountring at his Landing with Cassibelan he was worsted until Androgeus coming upon the back of the Britains totally overthrew them Neither had the Romans any success against the Britains but what they obtained by the means of Androgeus whom I said before is called by Caesar Mandubratius and the aforesaid Reason is given by the British Histories of his flight unto Gallia Count Palatine writes that when Caesar was led by Androgeus he found the Britains drawn up at the Stowr in Kent he drave them from the opposite Bank with an Elephant armed with Iron-plates and a Tower upon his back and that the British Horses like those of Greece and no doubt all of Trojan breed could not endure the scent of the Elephant and so gave back drawing the Britains in their Charriots after them Likewise that the Breast-plate stuck with Pearls which Caesar dedicated to Venus Genetrix was presented him by Cassibelan at his departure from the Island and that Caesar in return of so seasonable a Gift for he had no time to gather any himself recompenced him with no less honourable Munificence After the final departure of Caesar Androgeus Mandubratius was not restored to the Kingdom of the Trinobantes but whether through the Ill will of Cassibelan or the general Hatred the People had to him for the enslaving of his Country is uncertain so that leaving Britain he again be took himself unto Caesar and attended him to Rome where he was entertained as King of Britain and saluted Friend to the Commonwealth At last he was slain in the Battle of Thessalia against Pompey Cassibelan after the Departure of the Romans reigned ten years which time he employed in Revenging himself upon the Cities that had Revolted from him during the Wars with Caesar. He was Buried at York in the year before Christ 42 and after the building of Rome 705. THE Inter Regnum OF THE ROMANS DURING the last ten years of Cassibelan and till the time of the Emperour Claudius the Britains were free from the yoak of the Romans and were ruled by their own Kings and governed by their own Laws so that for a while we must take our farewel of the Roman History collecting it only as we find it scattered here and there and follow the Succession of the British THEOMANTIUS or Tenantius Nephew of Cassibelan succeeded his Unkle in the Kingdom having before enjoyed the Principality of Cornwal far remote from the Troubles of the times and by that means not engaged by assisting his Brother to take to a Roman Interest or by ayding Cassibelan to justifie his Violences by which indifferent Carriage by the general Applause of the People he assumed the Crown Anno ante Christum XLV In this Kings Reign Octavius the Grand-child of Julia Caesars Sister obtained the Empire of Rome but before he had fully possest himself of it and was yet strugling with Antony and Lepidus Theomantius sends his Son Kymbelin to him to attend upon him in his Wars hoping thereby to ingratiate himself with Augustus and obtain a relaxation of the Tributes And indeed Cunobelin so behaved himself that he grew into especial favour with the Emperour and accompanied him to Rome where he was saluted by the name of FRIEND of the Commonwealth and bred up in all the splendour and magnificence of the Court. During his residence there Tenantius paid in Tribute which the British Histories set upon the score of this great Favourite of Augustus but the Roman Authors seem generally to imply That the Troubles of the Empire and the bandings of Great men after the death of Caesar were the causes of the Quiet of the Britains during these Civil Dissensions This carries most probability with it for we find Augustus no sooner setled in the Roman State but he began to cast his thoughts towards Britain And although Tacitus draws the neglect of this Island in Augustus to a wholsome State-Maxime of not making the Empire too unweildy and Strabo would have us think that he absolutely slighted it as a place of no importance and whose Enmity or Friendship conduced nothing to the good or ill of the Empire yet we find him twenty years after the Departure of Caesar Advanced as far as Gallia in order to the Reducing of it For had not a Revolt in Pannonia diverted him he had certeinly Attempted it About seven years after with the same Resolutions be once more drew down into Gallia and the Britains hearing thereof sent their Embassadors and promised their Tribute which Submission at the present he accepted of because some Commotions in Gallia arising he was willing to give himself totally to the Suppression of them The year following some differences arising about performance of Covenants he was again hindered by disturbances in Spain the Biscans and they between Gallicia and Portugal having Revolted This last designed Invasion was in the two and twentieth year of the Reign of Tenantius who in the thirtieth year died and was buried at London KYMBELIN or KUNOBELIN succeeded him in the Third year before CHRIST And if he was not Educated at Rome yet the kind Correspondence between the Romans and Britains about these Times gave fair occasion to the British Writers so to imagine it for now the Britains began to learn all the Arts and Intreagues of Courtiers to flatter for Advantage and by Gifts to appease a Prince and buy off a War They sent some Presents to Augustus and others to the Roman Gods to be offered with their Submission in the Capitol with such like obsequious Addresses This I suppose gave occasion to Horace to write Coelo tonantem credidimus JOVEM Regnare praesens Divus habebitur AUGUSTUS adjectis Britannis Imperio Gravibusque Persis JOVE we beleive the Heavens do sway CAESAR's a God below He makes the Britains Homage pay And the stiff Persians bow But although they shifted off the Tribute yet they yielded to Taxes and Impositions which were of more dangerous consequences to them For by that means they admitted the Romans into the Trading part of the Nation and although their Commodities vented on the Continent were inconsiderable such as Ivory-Bones Iron-Chains and such like Trinckets of Amber and Glass yet by this means the Roman Collectors were of necessity to be Admitted and their Enemies got more insight into them by this Amicable Correspondence than ever Caesar could do in both his Expeditions Nay by this means the
their Helmets and Laps with Cockles Muscles and other Shells calling them the spoils of the Ocean and due to the Capitol and Palace and as a Trophy of his great Victory he erected a mighty high Tower out of which as from a Pharohs lights might every night blaze to direct Marriners in their Courses the Ruines of which Pharoh's are sometimes seen at Low-water on the Shoar of Holland and called by the people there inhabiting to this day Briten-huts Having performed this mighty Exploit he pronounced a Donative of an hundred Denaries to every Souldier and as if he had exceeded all Examples of Liberality he bids them depart joyful with Plenty Had he stopped here and not proceeded any further in this vanity one might have thought he had been ashamed of so frivolous an Attempt but so fond was he of his Conceit that he carried of the Shells to Rome requires a Triumph and divine Honours for this foolish Enterprize Finding the State averse he was once in the mind to have murthered them all as envious of his Glory Thus stood the Affairs of Britain during the Reign of Cunobeline and long might they have so lasted in Freedom and Liberty had not this Nation by the Example of this Prince been too much addicted to the Roman Factions It is observed by some that about this time the British Potentates sent their Sons to Rome to be educated as not esteeming any Breeding that was not derived from that City No wonder therefore they were in the next Age enslaved by that People whose Customes they had already submitted to and what made most to their Misfortunes by a Prince of very small endowments no Conduct and of equal Stupidity with Caligula Cunobelin died in the forty fifth year of his Reign and was buried at London GUIDERIUS the eldest Son of Cunobeline succeeded his Father in the Kingdom of the Britains In his Reign Claudius the Emperour Invaded this Island but because in the Roman Histories to which we are again Arrived there is no mention made of this Prince I shall refer Him and his Actions to be related to their proper place Drusus Claudius CAESAR the 2. d Roman in Britain THE WARS UNDER CLAUDIUS CHAP. XIV DRUSUS CLAUDIUS CAESAR's Invasion of BRITAIN out of the ROMAN Histories THE Britains ever since the daies of Julius Caesar enjoyed their Laws Customes and Liberty they lived entirely within themselves and although they paid Tolls and Impositions yet it was not out of an acknowledgment of Submission to the Continent but from the necessity of Trading with it Being free from Forreign Disturbances which vented the Ill humors of the State they brake out into Inward Factions those secret Cancers which eat out the heart of a Nation and undermine the strength of it whilst to Lookers on it appears the freshest The different Parties which scarcely in Caesars time united against the Common Enemy now the Roman Rods for three Emperours that were taken off their backs were laid on again with greater Violence And whilst every petty state upon little Interest grew peevish one with another and pusht on for Principality they wer swooped away by the Roman Eagle who at several Morsels easily mastered that Prey which in a lump would have overgorged it Affairs grew to that height that by unnatural Ambition the Son rebelled against the Father and many adhering to that and other Factions being overtaken or prevented in their designs out of secret Guilt and fear of deserved Punishment fled their Country forsook their Allegiance to their natural Soveraign and betook themselves to the protection of Rome And like Vipers having eaten their way out of the bowels of their Common Mother they took especial care that the wounds they had made should not be healed nor the Breaches closed This they did by laying open the weakness of their Country and the easiness of a Roman Conquest They had a Party in the Island that wanted only opportunity of Rising and at the appearance of any to Head them would rise up in a moment These Practices were so openly carried in the Court of Rome that the British Potentates hearing thereof sent their Complaints and required that these Fugitives might be delivered and sent back to receive their due punishments What Answer was returned is not known but certain it is that no satisfaction was given in that point For continually others upon the same account flocked to Rome and were kindly entertained by the Emperour insomuch that that City as at its first Founding was continually made the Asylum or Sanctuary for all such as were disaffected to the present Government of their Country or any Villanies that had incurred the penalty of the Laws Adminius in the time of Caligula led the dance and now Bericus what he was further is not known was grown into such favour with Claudius that the Britains could no longer dissemble it but in a general Commotion and Uproar rose against the Romans who for Trading resided in the Island This News was brought to Claudius who by the instigation of Bericus resolves to revenge it and by force of Arms reduce the whole Island to the Roman Subjection To this end he sends Orders to Aulus Plautius at that time Praetor to transport the Army then lying in Gallia into Britain and withal commanding him that upon any great emergencies of Affairs he should not fail to give him intelligence Plautius in prosecution of his Orders calls his Army together but having laid open the Design they all fell into Mutiny complaining that they were to be led into a NEW WORLD and to make War out of the compass of the Earth In this matter they trifled out the time until Claudius sent his Freed-man Narcissus to appease the Souldiers and to hasten their Embarking But such was their Indignation at the sight of him who had formerly been a Slave that when he ascended the Tribunal to make an Oration to them they generally cried out 10 Saturnalia an Exclamation used in those Feasts where in the Servant takes place of the Master but immediately touched with the sence and shame of their Backwardness unanimously followed their General Plautius divides his Army into three Bodies and Embarks them in as many different Squadrons thinking thereby to secure his Landing which might be obstructed if they should all make for the same Port. Having put to Sea they were driven back by cross Winds and foul Weather which so much disheartned the Souldiers that had not a bright Meteor shooting from the East to the West seeming to direct their course to the Island put new life into them they had certainly drawn back and desisted totally from the Enterprize This happy Omen as sent by the Gods and presaging some good success so raised their Spirits that they resolved again to try the Sea which fell out so well that in a short time they were cast upon the Island and found no opposition at their Landing for the
Britain taking notice only in this place of the words of our Gildas as followeth No sooner was the heat of the Persecution quenched but the Christians appeared with comfort and courage in Publick rebuilt the Churches so despicably laid low they founded the Temples of the holy Martyrs they built and compleated the Banners of the Victory in all places kept Festival-daies and with undefiled words and hearts performed the Rights and Ceremonies belonging to the true Church and this they could not do till they had been enabled by a freedom to leave their Woods Deserts and secret Caves which had before so long bound them up to such Slavery and Bondage for self-preservation This kindness of the Emperour to the Christians gained him a great Name nay many Names to advance his Dignity as high as might be IMPERATOR FORTISSIMUS A C BEATISSIMUS PIISSIMUS FELIX URBIS LIBERATOR QUIETIS FUNDATOR REIPUBLICAE INSTAURATOR PUBLICAE LIBERTATIS AUCTOR RESTITUTOR URBIS ROMAE AT QUE ORBIS MAGNUS MAXIMUS INVICTUS INVICTISSIMUS PERPETUUS SEMPER AUGUSTUS RERUM HUMANARUM OPTIMUS PRINCEPS VIRTUTE FORTISSIMUS ET PIETATE CLEMENTISSIMUS QUI VENERANDA CHRISTIANORUM FIDE ROMANUM MUNIVIT IMPERIUM DIVUS DIVAE MEMORIAE DIVINAE MEMORIAE c. Most Valiant and Blessed Emperour most Pious Happy Redeemer of Rome City Founder of Peace Restorer of Rome City and the whole World Great most Great Invincible most Invincible Perpetual Ever AUGUSTUS The best Prince of the World For Vertue most Valiant and for Piety most Merciful who also fortified the Roman Empire with the Reverend Faith of the Christians Sacred of Sacred memory of Divine memory c. He translated the Seat of the Empire from Rome to Bizantium now Constantinople and having Reigned thirty one years to the great commendation of all but especially the Christians he fell sick and counselled by his Physicians to go to the hot-Baths of Nicomedia a City of Bithinia he died on his Journy leaving his Empire divided among his three Sons To his eldest CONSTANTINUS he gave Britain France Spain and part of Germany To his second Son CONSTANS Italy Africa Slavonia Dalmatia and Greece To CONSTANTIUS the youngest Thracia Syria Mesopotamia and AEgypt Of which Emperours I shall write in their orders not as they held together the Roman Empire but as they successively Ruled this Island and first of Constantine THE British History In the Daies of CONSTANTINE THE GREAT SEEING that CONSTANTINE changed the form of Government in this Island it is no wonder that the British Histories will not suffer so memorable an Action to pass over in silence without fastning some remarkable story upon it We must understand therefore what was said before that Constantine having made a Praefect of the Praetorium of Gall under whom the Vicar of Britain was substituted the Britains who had hitherto lived in equal esteem with the Gauls taking it ill to be under the Jurisdiction of a forreign Commander rose up in Arms and began to defend their priviledges Octavius Duke of the Gewisses whom Jeffery of Monmouth calleth a British Lord the first as saith Basing stoak who held the employment of Praefect of the Praetorium taking occasion of the Revolt of the Britains enters the Island and having punisht the Revolters and secured his own Power at length taking the advantage of the Emperours absence and occupation in Forreign Wars seized the Kingdom of Britain to himself Constantine hearing of his Usurpation sends Trahernus his Unkle by his Mothers side whom he had made Senatour of Rome to reduce him to Obedience Traherne with three Legions arrived at Britain and at his landing took a City named Caerperis at which place Octavius meeting him with a great Army not far from Winchester in a set Battle overthrew and put him to flight Traherne escaping into Albania or Scotland by Sea saith Basing stoak was pursued by Octavius but not with like success for meeting him in a place called Vestenavalia the Manuscript hath it Westmarlandia he was by him overcome and constrained to flie into Norway leaving his quarrel to be revenged by the Count of Westmorland Whilest he is soliciting the Norwegians for help Traherne is slain in an Ambush laid for him in a Valley as he came from the City London of whose death Octavius having notice returns into Britain and again assumes the Kingdom This happened saith Fabian about the year 329 in the 22 or 23d of Constantine and about two years after the said Octavius had usurped Being again established he Ruled the Island as the British Chronicle affirmeth with great Justice and Moderation even to the daies of Gratian and Valentinian which saith Fabian was fifty four years But in this he erreth in not considering that Gratian was admitted by his Father Valentinian to the Empire in the fourth year of his Reign which was An. Dom. 368. and according to Fabian whose account differeth three years in the year 371 so that from the first usurping of Octavius in the year 327 to 368 in the daies of Valentinian and Gratian are but forty one years and adding three more for Fabians account are but forty four at most Octavius now grown Old began to think of a Successour he had one only Daughter whom he had thoughts to give in marriage unto Conan Meridoc the Duke of Cornwals Nephew but the Nobles not consenting he was advised to send to Rome for a Noble Man named Maximian Cousin to the Emperour Constantine by his Mother Helena's side to invite him to take his Daughter and with her the Kingdom Maurice the Son of Conan though the Historian might have chosen a fitter Person was sent on this Embassage and performed it in such effectual manner that Maximian readily embraced the motion arrived in Britain and notwithstanding the opposition made by Conan Meridoc to the contrary obtained the Daughter and with great solemnity performed the Nuptials This Maximian in the Roman History is called Maximus of whom we shall hear more hereafter Basing stoak writeth that Octavius was reduced by Constantine in Person and that after his Victory by the intreaty of his Mother Helona he encompassed London with a Wall of three miles in circuit having six Gates and where the River Thames begins and ends the City at those two Corners he built a Tower and Castle Hence he saith this City was called AUGUSTA and the Provost of the Augustian Treasury mentioned in the Roman History and first instituted by this Emperour in Britain had his name not from the Emperours who were called Augusti but being Treasurers of Augusta or London Constantinus Junior WHEN Constantine was dead Britain together with France Spain and part of Germany fell to the portion of his eldest Son the present CONSTANTINE but he not content with his share in the Empire though most considerable invaded the Right and Possession of his Brother Constans and was by him slain after he had Reigned the term of three years He is
Prisoners by the Enemy into Liberty to contribute largely when their Patron sued for any honourable Office of State to pay all pecuniary Mulcts arising from private Quarrels never expecting again eithe Use or Principal and to present on the Kalends of January their Patrons with New-years-gifts It was not lawful for them to give their Votes for any of the contrary Party if they did they were guilty of the breach of Statute made against Traytors and fell under the Curse of their Decemviral-Law viz. Patronus si Clienti Cliensvè Patrono fraudem faxit sacer esto By vertue of which Law they were mutually obliged to be faithful one to another The Roman Gentry took great pride in vying with one another who had in his Retinue most of these Clients nay many Provinces and Nations too had one of the Great ones at Rome for their Patron to plead for them in their absence the Senate many times referring their Causes to be decided by the Patron they had chosen resting satisfied in his determination This Custome kept them so entirely united that it preserved the City free from slaughter and those inhuman Civil Wars which through neglect afterwards followed though there were several Quarrels between the Commons and Gentry but soon compos'd for the space of 630 years After the Expulsion of Tarquin they were divided into Senatours Knights and People A Senatour was he which at first was chosen by the Kings next by the Consuls afterwards by the Censors into that great Councel of State called the Senate whether Noble-Man Knight or Plebeian The value of a Senatours Estate until the time of Augustus was Octingenta Sestertia 60001. A Knight a Name of great esteem and honour among the Romans was an Order betwixt the Senatour and Commonalty they were chosen into that Society by the Censors who at the time of their Election delivered them a Ring for distinction to the Commonalty a Horse to be maintained in Peace and War at the Publick charge so that the Commonalty were not allowed the use of Rings The estimation of a Knights Estate was Quadringenta Sestertia viz. 30001. which sum if any waies imbezelled or they had committed any notorious Crime those Ornaments were taken from them and themselves degraded from the reputation of that Order Their Robes were little different from the Senatours only the purple Studs or Tufts of the Senatours Garment were somewhat larger They degraded for unseemly Gestures and irreverent Responsals or for having lean and poor Horses which seems to prove that their Horses were kept at their own charges and not at the publick expence of the State The Commonalty whom Livy calls Ignota Capita Men of little or no account were the same there as in other Countries yet if any of them had attained to a Knights Estate and Procured from the Censors a Horse and Ring he was accounted a Knight and might be capable of being chosen into the Senate yet those Senatours that were chosen from among the Plebeians were for any notorious fault liable to be degraded and have their Names enrowled in the Caerites Tabulae or Censors Tables whereby they were deprived of giving their Votes as did other Citizens The next division of the People was into Nobiles Novi and Ignobiles Their Noble-Men were those that could produce the Images of their Ancestors which were equivalent to our Coats of Arms Their Novi were those that had only their own and were beholding more to their Vertues than their Ancestors for their Nobility Ignobiles were those that had none of their own or of their Predecessours Now an Image was the Effigies or representation of any Person of their Family whose glorious Actions had formerly preferred him to any of the great Offices of State which Images were used carefully to be kept in Wooden Presses in the best part of their Houses For to none but those who had born the Curule Magistracy was the use of Images lawful but after the Commons by an Act of Senate were made capable of obtaining those places as well as the Gentry without doubt they also might have the priviledges of using Images also These Images were sometimes placed over the Gates of their Houses with Inscriptions UT EORUM VIRTUTES POSTERI NON SOLUM LEGERENT SED ETIAM IMITARENTUR Upon daies of Feasting and Rejoycing these Figures were spruck't up with Garlands and Flowers but on daies of Mourning they were deprived of all their Jovial Ornaments seeming to sympathize and partake with their sorrow They were represented commonly but from the shoulders upwards the matter whereof they were made being Wax But when any of the Houshold died they were carried before the Corps as I have shewn more fully in the Ceremonies of Deifying their Emperours with a Body or Trunck annexed to them Addito ut magnitudine quà m simillima apparerent reliquo corporis trunco that they might seem proportionable in length to the Person deceased they were dressed up in the Robes peculiar to the quality of the Person the Ensigns of his Office being alwaies carried before him The Citizens of Rome were distinguisht by the difference of Freedoms in the City of Rome and were termed either Liberti Libertini aut Ingenui Libertus was he that had been formerly a Slave or Servant and afterwards was made free The Son of any Person thus made free was called Libertinus and the Son of two that were born free or of two Libertines was termed Ingenuus These were capable of the Order of Knight-hood but not of being elected into the Senate which we may gather from Suetonius his own words who saies That anciently the dignity and honour of being a Senatour was conferred not upon the Pronepotes Civium Romanorum but upon the Abnepotes viz. such as were removed four degrees from a Libertus The usual way of their making them Free was after this manner The Master bringing his Servant whom he desired should be made free took the Servant by the Head or any other part saying to the Praetor I will that this Man be made Free and then he let him go Some say They used to take the Servant a box on the Ear turn him round and then let him go out of their hands Then the Praetor laying a certain Rod called Vindicta upon the head of the Servant said I pronounce this Man free after the manner of the Romans his Head at the same time being shaved received of the Praetor a Cap in token of his Liberty Of their Civil Government AFTER Romulus his death his Successours till the Reign of Tarquin Sirnamed the Proud thought it not only their greatest security to govern their People with great Justice and Moderation but the highest point of Glory also to admit them into a share and participation of the Government that it might be said They Ruled over Princes rather than Slaves And although most Writers agree that the Polity of Rome was Monarchical it seems rather to
see that their punishment is much proportionable to the way of their idle living hunger lazy Servants and lingring sickness We read in the Danish History of one Harald Hildetand who took great pains to avoid coming to this place for being blind lame and Bed-rid and fearing that he might die either through his sickness or Age he commanded himself to be carried into Battle in his Charriot where he died with these hopes that lifting but a finger might be construed fighting and might bring him to Wodens Hall The Edda hath these words Odinn heitur all Fader thui hanner fader alira guda hann heiter og Walfader thui hanns oska Syner eru aller their er I vall falla Cheim Skipar hann wallholl og wingolff og heita their tha Einheriar Odin is called All fader because he is Father of all the Gods and Walfader that is the Father of Slaughter because they are his beloved Sons who fall in Battle whom he takes to himself into his Palace called Walholl and Wingolf where they are called Einheriar that is the only Hero's Thus we see what we read of the Scythians in Roman and Greek Authors is found true of the Saxons who descended from them who bred up in the same Religion could not but equal them in Valour and let History speak never so much in the praise of the Scythians as to their contempt of Death the same or greater Honour is due to our Ancestours who so much despised all other deaths besides dying in the Field that they gave them the Nick-name of Kerlina dond and established the honour of Fighting well with the rewards of another World Besides this place of Punishment that I have spoken of they had another for perjured Persons Robbers Murtherers and such like Malefactors who deserved more active and pungent Tortures These were sent to a place where one Nidhogg Commanded a most ingenious contriver of all sorts of Torments who drest them up according to the qualities of their Offences boyling some roasting others c. with great exactness proportioning their punishments to the demerit of their Offences But to return to WODEN He is said as to his form and visage to have been of a chearful and pleasant Countenance to his Friends merry jocund and facetious of such admirable Eloquence and sweetness of discourse that he charmed the Hearers and forced belief To his Enemies he was fierce and by a certain kind of Magick would take away their senses and strike Panick-fears into them In his Conflicts with them by certain charms he could blunt the edges of their Swords that his own Souldiers without either Shield or Armour like ravening Wolves or Mad-dogs wou'd overrun slay and make havock of them without danger to themselves And this sort of furious Onset was called Berserker besides he had such an admirable way of deceiving the sight that he could transform himself into various shapes Sometimes as though he held his breath he would fling his Body on the ground which there lying as dead would turn into various figures sometimes of a Bird sometimes of a Fish sometimes a Serpent When he awaked he would constantly aver he had been in forraign Countries and had exact knowledge of what passed in them He could squench Fires raise Tempests stop Inundations and with one word call up Winds at his pleasure He had two Ravens whom he taught the use of Language who flying into far distant places would bring back true intelligence of new Affairs This Fable the Edda thus interprets Hraffnat their sitia a Urlum hans og seigia t eitu honum oll tydende thang et their heyra og sia their heita suo hugin og Munni Cha sender hann umm daga ad fiuga umm heim a lann og koma their astur ad dagver dat ma ale that aff verdut hann margra Cydenda viis thuit kalla menn hann hraffnagud Two Ravens sitting on his shoulders whisper in his ears all new Occurrences they either hear or see One is called Hugtnn that is the Mind the other Munni that is Memory Odin sends forth these every day betimes that they should flie the World over and at Dinner-time return By these he receives information and therefore he is called Rafnagud that is the God of Ravens From hence the old Danish Kings bore in their Escutcheons two Ravens and Hungar the first Dane that entred England in his Royal Standard carried this Bird which Standard upon that account called Reafan was thought impossible to be taken and drew much People after it no doubt as consecrated to this Rafnagud or God of the Ravens WODEN saith the same Author introduced the way of composing Verses in numbers and such Rythms as are now used in the Teutonick Dialect differing in this point from all other Languages in the World whatsoever for that the last words of the Verses answer to one another exactly in sound And this he did with such pleasing cadences that mixing them in his common discourse he wonderfully allured the Hearers and is reputed the Inventer of Poetry among the Saxons and the Founder of that Tribe called Scalders which like the Bardi among the Britains made it their business to set forth in Verses and sing to the People the noble Actions of their Progenitors Tacitus of the Germans saies They celebrate in old Verses which among them is the only way of Annals and Records their God Tuisto and his Son Mannus the beginners and Founders of their Nation The same custome the Saxons and Getes first used in Scandia as Mr. Sheringham learnedly proves who when any Person had done some notable service for his Country they composed his History briefly in Verses and ingraved them upon Rocks and massie Stones in great and legible Characters such as the Gothick are This Custome of ingraving upon Stone they brought with them into Germany as appears from many Inscriptions few whereof are now legible in Denmark Swedeland and Saxony I shall only instance in one which time hath not quite defaced About the City Visby saith Wormius there is a stony Rock which preserves the Memory of the Entrance of the Goths in these Characters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the Year two thousand five hundred entred HELGO with his Goths Saxo Grammaticus writeth thus of the Getes in Denmark The Atchievments of their Ancestours they composed in Verse in their Mother Tongue and took care to engrave them in Rocks and Stones And the Arch-Bishop of Upsal giving an account from what Authors he composed the History of his Country hath these words From the beginning of the Gothick Kingdom there was alwaies found in the People a great ambition after Honour and Glory wherefore they composed Verses and Rithms in their own Tongue of the worthy Deeds of their Ancestours and frequently sung them upon great Festivals that they might invite their Youth to the emulation of their Actions and that these Verses by length of time might not perish they took care
raise the Siege Sometimes the Inhabitants sallied out whilst others from the Woods and natural Fastnesses fell upon the Enemy in the Reer But Ella dividing his Army ordering one half to attend the motions of the Scouting Britains and with the other part plying the Siege at last won the Town by Assault and as some report put all to the Sword sparing neither Sex nor Age. The City it self he utterly demolished and with so through a Ruine that it never after could be rebuilt And at this day the ground whereon it stood beareth a little Village so small that it scarce sufficeth to point out the foundations of the Ancient City Ella by destroying this great Fortress had opened the whole Southern quarters of the Island whereby all that part of the Country lay at his devotion What he did in the following course of his Reign which is reckoned twenty two years or thereabouts is not particularly recorded but he is numbred the second Monarch of the English-men and is said at last to have reduced all on this side Humber both Saxon and Britain under his entire obedience But under his Successors who were but few and of no great fame the Kingdom was contracted into a lesser compass containing only Sussex and Surry and them not entire For the Kingdom of Kent on one side and the West-Saxons on the other both well settled Governments pressing hard upon it so daily wore it out that losing strength by degrees what remained of it was quickly swallowed up by Ceadwald the West-Saxon and afterwards by King Ine his Successour wholly annext to that Kingdom Insomuch that continuing so short a while not beyond the year 1601 having so few Princes and those in so great obscurity William of Malmsbury among other Writers have taken no notice of it at all CISSA CISSA the youngest Son of Ella the other two failing before him succeeded in the Kingdom of the South-Saxons he left nothing memorable behind him save a long Reign of 76 years as it is generally reported spent only in the foundation of two Cities bearing his Name Chichester and Cissbury of the former Mr. Cambden thus writeth Chichester in the British tongue called Caercei in the English-Saxon Cissan ceaster in Latin Cicestria a City large enough and walled about built by Cissa a Saxon the second King of this Province and of him so named for Cissan ceaster is nothing else but the City of Cissa Concerning the latter hear the same Author Hard by i. e. near Offington there is a Fort compassed about with a Bank rudely cast up wherewith the Inhabitants are perswaded that Caesar entrenched and fortified his Camp But Cissbury the name of the place doth plainly shew and testifie that it was the work of Cissa who being of the Saxons Line the second King of this petty Kingdom after his Father Aella accompanied with his Brother Cimen and no small power of the Saxons at this shore arrived and landed at Cimen shore a place so called of the said Cimen which now hath lost the name but that it was near unto Wittering the Charter of the Donation which King Cedwalla made unto the Church of Selsey most evidently proveth EDILWALCH EDILWALCH followed Cissa nothing more famous than he saving that by his example the South-Saxons though late embraced the Christian Religion The occasion of this Prince's Conversion is thus told in the History of St. Swithune Berinus Bishop of Dorchester preaching at Oxford before Wulfur King of Mercia it happened that Edilwatch then a Pagan was present who by the perswasion of Wulfur and the instruction of that Bishop embraced the Faith and was baptized being received at the Font by Wulfur who to gratifie his new Convert and new Adopted Son gave him the Isle of Wight and a Province of the Meannari adjoyning upon the Continent which Wulfur had newly gotten from Kenwalke the West-Saxon and had there as will appear out of Bede begun to plant Christianity At the same time following the example of their King the Dukes and Nobles of this Province received Baptisin at the hands of St. Berinus but the general Conversion of the South-Saxons was wrought by Wilsrid Archbishop of York driven from his Seat by Egfrid King of Northumberland The whole story of which as also the Conversion of the Isle of Wight take out of Bede as it is particularly related out of which relation our Historians gather by piece-meals whatever is recorded of this Prince The Conversion of the South-SAXONS How Wilfrid Archbishop of York Converted the South-Saxons WILFRID driven from his Bishoprick and wandring in several places at last went to Rome whence returning into Britain though he could not be received into his own Country and Diocess yet he refrained not the duty of preaching the Gospel but going to the Kingdom of the South-Saxons containing eight thousand Families yet sticking to their Pagan Idolatry he preached the Word and administred Baptisin Ethilwalch was King of that Nation not long before baptized in the Province of Mercia Wulfur being present and exhorting him by whom he was received at the Font and in sign of Adoption had of him by donation the Isle of Wight and the Province of the Meannari in the Country of the West Saxons Wherefore the Bishop by the consent of the King who joyfully embraced the motion baptized the chief Dukes and Officers of the Province but Eappa and Padda and Bruchelin and Oidda Priests baptized the Common sort about the same time or a little after Moreover Queen Ebba received Baptism in her own Island of Wight she was the Daughter of Eanfrid the Brother of Eanher who both with their people were Christians but the whole Province of the South-Saxons was for the most part ignorant of the Word of God and Faith But there was amongst them a certain Monk by Nation a Scot by name Dicul who had a little Convent in a place called Bosanham encompassed with Wood and the Sea and with him five or six Friars in an humble and poor life serving God but of the People none cared to imitate their Life or hear their Doctrine But Wilfrid the Bishop preaching to them not only delivered them from the pains of eternal damnation but from the sad calamity of temporal destruction For before his arrival into the Province for three years together no Rain had fallen in those parts so that a bitter Famine falling on the Common sort made lamentable destruction among them It is reported that fourty or fifty together wasted with hunger would creeping to the Sea-side and there clasping their hands together fling themselves off from the Rocks or Cliffs either to perish in the fall or drown in the waters But on the very same day that Nation received Baptism gentle and plentiful showers fell from heaven the Earth flourished and to the green Fields succeeded a glad and fruitful year So that casting off their ancient Superstition and hating their Idolatry
EGFRID eldest Son of King Oswy by his wife Eanfled succeeded his Father in the Kingdom A Prince as he is reported of an unquiet disposition His first wars were with Ethelred King of Mercia who had married his Sister with whom encountring by the River Trent he lost great part of his Army and his Brother Elswin a youth generally beloved who amongst the thickset was there unfortunately cut off Greater bloodshed had like to have ensued had not Theodorus Archbishop of York interposed and took up the quarrel so that a sum of mony being paid to Egfrid for the loss of his Brother the business was happily concluded His next wars were with the Irish a Nation saith Bede harmless and great friends to the English These he unprovoked furiously invades making no distinction between things holy or profane but with fire and sword laid waste the Country and buried it in the Ruines of its Cities Temples and Monasteries The Irish on the other side used no other weapons but Prayers and as my Author has it bitter Imprecations which may be supposed at last to have reached Heaven it self for the next year against the counsel and earnest perswasion of his sagest Friends and especially Cudbert the Bishop going to wars against the Picts he was trained into narrow straits by the Enemy and there cut off with most part of his Army This was so great a blow to the English that not only the Scots and Picts who before durst not look beyond their own Country but the Britains also began to bear up for Liberty and yearly to gain upon their old enemies This King took to wife Ethildrith Daughter of Anna King of the East-Angles she had been wife to Eunbert Prince of the Gervii a Nation lying in the Fens but notwithstanding marriage had kept her Virginity Nor did her second Nuptials with a King make her in the least alter her resolution and though invited to his Bed sometimes by passionate entreaties otherwhiles by perswasions of her friends who were made privy to it yet she continued obstinate contrary to the Apostle's Rule the dictates of Nature it self which at one time abhors communion and separation and against the Laws of common prudence and civility And all this to pursue an extravagant chastity and a purity of living against all other obligations whatsoever however she be cannonized St. Andrey of Ely where it seems leaving her Husband she ended her daies ALKFRYD ALKFRYD the natural Son of King Oswy during the Reign of his half Brother had retired into Ireland where he was well instructed in the Liberal Sciences and as Bede saith exceedingly well read in the Scriptures Advanced to the Crown he wore it with much prudence and moderation but the bounds of his Kingdom were much straitned by the inroads of the Picts and encroachments of the Britains But what he wanted in extent of Dominion he made up in the prudent management of what he had He married Kenburg Daughter of Penda the Mercian by whom he had an only Son that succeeded him he ruled twenty years OSRED OSRED the Son of Alkfrid was eight years of age when he came to the Crown but he was no sooner grown up to any ripeness but he gave himself to all viciousness of life committing Incest with veiled Nuns for which his wife Cuthburga weary of her own dishonour sued a divorce and built a Monastery at Winburn in Dorsetshire where she ended her daies But Osred lived not long after her departure for he was slain by his own Relations Kenred and Osric in the eleventh year of his Reign KENRED KENRED descended from Ida by a Bastard-line and succeeded Osred in the Kingdom of Northumberland his Reign is short being only of two years continuance during which time he left nothing memorable behind him OSRIC OSRIC Reigned ten years without memory of Acts Parentage Wife or Issue CEOLNULF CEOLNULF the Brother of Kenred Ruled the space of eight years when changing his Crown for a Cowl he turned Monk in Lindisfarn or Holy Island yet he proved none of the severest for he brought his Brethren from Milk and Water to drink good Wine and Ale bringing along with him good store of provisions and great Treasures by Simeon and all as the same Author writes to follow poor Christ. To him Bede dedicates his History but writes no more of him but that the beginning and process of his Reign met with many troubles and that the conclusion of them was doubtfully expected And this is the time of Peace so much commended by the foresaid Author when Princes Queens and Nobility forsaking their charges and other duties incumbent run themselves into Monasteries striving who should be foremost as if no salvation was to be obtained but in Cells and Cloysters His Brother was Archbishop of York and there founded a stately Library EGBERT EGBERT Nephew to King Ceolnulf succeeded in the Kingdom Whilst he was in wars against the Picts Ethelbald the Mercian taking advantage of his absence invaded part of Northumberland but upon what account or how revenged is not related In these Pictish Wars Egbert subdued Kyle and brought the Countries adjacent to it under his obedience Afterwards in the year 756 he joyns battel with Unust King of the Picts besieged and took by surrender the City Alcluith now Dunbritton in Lennox from the Britains of Cumberland and ten daies after lost his whole Army about Niwanbirig when resolving to lay down his Government though intreated to the contrary by his Subjects and Neighbouring Princes who profered to make good to him his losses by surrendring great Territories to him after the example of his Uncle turned Monk when he had Reigned twenty years About these times happened two extraordinary Eclipses one of the Sun in September Anno 733 the other of the Moon Anno 756. OSWULF OSWULF Son of Egbert succeeded his Father but in the same year was slain of his Servants at a place called Mikelwoughten ETHELWALD ETHELWALD sirnamed Mollo after the death of Oswulf was advanced to the Crown In his third year he fought a great battel at Eldune by Melros slew Oswyn a great Lord who rebelled against him and gained an absolute Victory but three years after he was slain by Alcred who succeeded him ALCRED ALCRED descended in the fifth degree from Ida King of Bernicia after the murther of his Soveraign seized the Kingdom of Northumberland In the fourth year of this King's Reign Cataracton now Catarik in Yorkshire a famous City in the time of the Romans was burnt to the ground by one Arnred a Tyrant who the same year came to the like end I should think that this Arnred might be Alcred did not others report that he Reigned five years Afterwards when driven out by his Subjects with a few Attendants he fled first to Bebba a strong Castle in those parts thence to Kinot King of the Picts He left Issue Osred who afterwards came to be
Christians For this King at first as is said was a great Persecutor of that way and if Fame belye him not after his conversion none of the sincerest Christians For the Bishoprick of London he sould to Wini who had been driven out of Winchester by Kenwalch the Saxon King But however this Simony be blameable in Wulfer yet he afterwards made amends in sending Jerumannus a painful Bishop to recover the East-Saxons who had fell from the Christian Religion into open Idolatry ETHELRED ETHELRED the Brother of Wulfer obtained next the Kingdom for Kenred the Son of Wulfer was put by upon what Account is not recorded His first Actions were the recovery of Lindsey and other Territories adjoyning which his Brother had lost to Egfrid King of Northumberland Afterwards he turned his Arms upon Kent wasted that Country sparing neither Church or Monastery and sacked the City of Rochester notwithstanding what resistance Lothair could make against him Putta their Bishop was forced to fly into Mercia where he sustained his old age by teaching School But Ethelred after thirty years Reign weary of the cares of Government retired to a Monastery at Bradney which himself had built and to make amends for his Injustice he restored the Crown to Kenred his Nephew though he had a Son of his own of Age able to succeed him His Wife Ostrid was slain by her own Subjects as Bedes Epitome Records Florence names them South-Imbrians but tells not the occasion of such horrid Treason KENRED KENRED having received the Crown from his Uncle Ethelred held it but four years when desirous to return to his private Life he commended the care of Government to Kelred the Son of Ethelred and in company of Offa the Son of Siger the East-Angle King and Edwin Bishop of Worcester went to Rome in the time of POPE Constantine the first where he and his Royal Companion were both shorn Monks and ended their days KELRED KELRED the Son of Ethelred by the Resignation of Kenred came to the Crown of Mercia in the year 715 he had an encounter with Ina King of the West-Saxons at a place called Wodnesburg in Wiltshire the success whereof is left doubtful Mr. Speed in his succession of English Monarchs treating of this Kelred gives him high commendations as a Prince beloved of his Subjects for his Vertues and much lamented by them at his death Thus he dresseth him up whom he will needs have to be the fourteenth Monarch but as his custom is without the least shew of Authority nay absolutely against it For we read in an Epistle of Boniface Archbishop of Mentz written to his Successor Ethelbald and yet extant that he was a defiler of Nuns and a breaker of the Priviledges of the Church And he admonisheth that Prince by his example to beware of such ossences lest they bring him into the same destruction For Kelred one day sitting at a Feast with his Nobles in the midst of his jollity was taken with an evil Spirit which worke him into high fits of distraction so that mad and raging he talked wildly by himseif and refusing the comforts of the Ministry and Saeraments finally died in despair of his salvation ETHELBALD ETHELBALD of the Royal blood succeeded Kelred not unlike him in his exorbitant life as the same Epistle of the Archbishop of Mentz doth witness but reclaimed in the end by that and other good advices he proved an excellent Prince Aften the death of King Ina the West-Saxon he so managed his affairs that all on this side Humber was intire at his Command He besieged and took the Town of Somerton about the year 740. And whilst Eadbert King of Northumberland was taken up in his Putish wars he entered his Country in his absence as the supplement of Bede's Epitome Records testifie Afterwards he waged War with Cuthred the West-Saxon newly come to his Crown whom he often engaged with inter changeable success But at last coming to a Peace they joyn both their Forces and invade the Welch whom in a great battel they overthrow But in the year 752 Cuthred the West-Saxon falling again at variance with him they sought another battel at Borford now Burford in Shropshire and a year after at a place called Secundune now Seckinton eight miles from Tamworth in Warmickshire He was slain as Huntington reporteth by the same Prince others say he was murthered in the night by his own Guards through the Treason of Beornred out of ambition to succeed him In this King's Reign at a Synod held at Gloveshow by Cuthbert Archbishop of Canterbury it was ordained among other things that the Lord's day should be carefully observed that the reading of the Holy Scriptures should be generally used in Monasteries that the Creed and Lord's Prayer should be taught in the English tongue and that publick Supplications should be made for Kings and all in Authority BEORNRED BEORNRED having trayterously slain King Ethelbald stept into the Throne himself about the year 754 but he enjoyed not long his ill-gained Honour for Offa the next of the Royal Family having for some time lain concealed until he could unite his Interest at length came upon him and in a set battel slew him after he had held the Kingdom by Usurpation for the space of two years or thereabouts as may be most probably calculated OFFA OFFA at the death of Beornred was received by the universal consent of his People and advanced to the Crown of his Ancestours He proved the Greatest that ever swayed this Scepter but though he often gave fair strokes for the whole Monarchy of the Island yet he was never able to compass that design His first enterprize was against the Hestings a neighbouring People whom he quickly subdued and added to his own Dominions Next he invades Kent and slaies their King Alric at a place called Ottenford then recalled by the West-Saxon King he engages with him at Besington where he wins the day and the Town for which they contended And now to add Treachery to his Conquests he invites Egilbert King of the East-Angles to his Court with fair promises of his Daughter in marriage whom no sooner come but he beheads ' and then seizeth his Kingdom But the baseness of this action blunted his Sword and we never after find him the same man as before so that the remaining part of his life will be spent in recounting his satisfactions Pilgrimage and such other deeds To expiate this murther he gave the Tenths of all he had to the Church and great possessions to the Church of Hereford where Egilbert was buried He caused the Reliques of St. Alban to be enshrined in a Cask of Gold set with precious Jewels and to the Martyr himself gives Lands and Tenements the Ancient demesns of his Crown He took a Journy to Rome to the Colledge of English there he gave a yearly Pension and a Tribute to the Pope through all his Dominions for which he
had been ordained in France also dividing the Province into two Diocesses To him he gave Winchester for his Episcopal Seat at which Agilbert being highly offended that the King had done this without his advice he returned into France and receiving the Bishoprick of Paris he died there an old man and full of daies But not many years after his departure from Britain Wini was driven out of his Bishoprick by the same King who repairing to Wulfur King of the Mercians bought of him with a good sum the Seat of London and remained Bishop of it during his life So the Province of the West-Saxons for no small time was without a Bishop at which time the forementioned King of that Province being often afflicted with great losses in his Kingdom received of the enemy began to call to mind him whom by fraud he had formerly made forsake the Kingdom and resolved to call him back considering that the Province destitute of a Governour was bereft likewise of Divine protection He sent therefore Embassadours into France to Agilbert promising satisfaction and submissively desiring he would return to the Bishoprick of his Nation But he excusing himself by solemn protestation that he could not possibly come because he was bound to his own City and Diocess yet nevertheless not altogether to be wanting in his assistance to so ardent desires he sent thither a Priest by name Eleutherius his own Nephew whom if he please might be ordained Bishop for him giving him this Testimonial that he himself thought him worthy of the Bishoprick who being honourably entertained by the King and People they sent unto Theodoruc then Archbishop of Canterbury desiring that he might be consecrated their Bishop who being consecrated in that City for many years held alone the Bishoprick of the West-Saxons as it had been ordered by Synodical Decree KENWALCH KENWALCH the Son of Kingils followed his Father in the Kingdom of whom what relates to his Ecclesiastical Affairs hath been before related Having divorced his second wife whom he had unlawfully wedded and retaken Sexburg the Sister of Penda whom he had unjustly put away He enjoyed the Crown in peace for some years even until Anno 652 falling into wars but with whom is not related Ethelwald calls them Civil He fought a battel at Bradanford by the River Alene Mr. Cambden makes the place to be Bradford in Wiltshire upon the River Avon and saith that it was with Cuthred his near Kinsman he was engaged in Civil Wars but I wish he had told us from whence he gathered it for we find no such thing in History Certain it is that not long before Kenwalch had given large possessions to Cuthred but whether it could oblige him to sit down quiet with the loss of a Kingdom is uncertain for no doubt his Title was precedent to Kenwalch's if Cuchelm his Father was eldest Son of Kingils and Stow writeth but upon what grounds I know not that he did really succeed his Father and possibly there may be some Record extant concerning these Troubles not commonly appearing But things being settled at home and Kenwalch desirous to enlarge his Dominions invades the Britains and had a fight with them at a place called Witgornsborough mentioned by Malmsbury but without any other circumstances afterwards at Pennum or Pen in Somersetshire the success of which is not left so doubtful for the Victory was great on the Saxon side who followed the pursuit to a place called Pedridan now Pederton afterwards the Royal Seat of King Ina and the Britains for a long time after would scarce look the Saxons in the face But Kenwalch falling at variance with his old enemy Vulfur had not the like success for fighting with him at Possentesburg though Ethelwerd relates he took Vulfur prisoner yet the Saxon Annals record clear contrary and the sequel shews that Vulfur won the day for not long after he wasted the Country of the West-Saxons as far as Eskesdun and took the Isle of Wight till then in their possession with other Provinces of the Meannuari and gave them to Edilwalch his Godson King of the South-Saxons These are all the memorable Actions of Kenwalch for his good deeds he is reported to have founded the Cathedral of Winchester and the Abby of Malmsbury and as appeareth in a Grant of King Ina afterwards made to the Church he bestowed several priviledges on these places Ferlingmere Beokerey Godein Martinesey Edredesey He reigned 31 years and left no Issue to inherit Sexburg his wife for a while after his death assumed the Government but she was driven out saith Matthew of Westminster by the Nobles who could not endure the government of a Woman Some say she died the same year others that she built a Nunnery in the Isle of Shepy wherein her self was a otress and afterwards became an Abbess of Ely ESKWIN ESKWIN derived in the fifth degree from Kerdic the first founder of this Kingdom of a younger house succeeded Kenwalch He Reigned but two years in which time he fought a battel with Wulfur wherein many of the Saxons on both sides were slain the place was Bidanheaford soon after which he died KETWIN KETWIN younger Son of Kingils whose Right preceded Eskwins and who as Bede and Malmsbury write was Partner with him in the Crown after the death of Eskwin proved the scourge of the Britains pursuing them even to the Sea-shore but no other circumstances are related of him or this action He is allowed nine years Reign In a grant of King Ina to Glastenbury it is reported that this Prince highly favoured that Monastery by freeing it from the secular Services and often calling it the Mother of Saints CEADWALLA CEADWALLA of the blood Royal derived in the third degree from Guth the third Son of Kenric succeeded Ketwin He had been banisht his Country by the prevalency of some faction but returning obtained the Crown He made war upon the South-Saxons whom he overcame and annexed to his own Dominions took the Isle of Wight and twice wasted Kent the circumstances of all which Actions have been formerly related under the Kingdom of Kent and the South-Saxons Afterwards he went to Rome for as yet he was a Pagan to receive Baptism which was given him by the hands of Pope Sergius on Easter eaven in the year of our Redemption saith Bede 689 and was called Peter but on the twentieth day of April following he died and was buried at St. Peter's Church at Rome under a fair Monument with this Epitaph Here CEADWALL otherwise named PETER King of the West-Saxons lieth buried who departed this life the twentieth of April in the second Indiction At the age of thirty years or thereabouts in the fourth year of the Reign of JUSTINIAN the most Noble and Mighty Emperour and the second of Sergius who then sate in Peter's Chair being a true Pattern of the Apostles The British Writers from the similitude of name will needs have
was propagated in this Island but whether by Joseph of Arimathea who as the first Protestant Bishop saith had a Seat allotted him in the very ends of Arviragus his Dominions or by Simon Zelotes or St. Paul himself or some others is uncertain But it is plain out of Tertullian that the British Nation to which the Romans had no access had owned Subjection unto Christ which was in this Age. But the most received Opinion of the Inhabitants and which seemeth to carry the greatest Antiquity is That JOSEPH of Arimathea the same who embalmed our Saviours Body was sent into Britain by St. Philip where he preached the Gospel and founded a Church in a place called Ines withren in the British Tongue now Glastenbury which place was granted to him by this Arviragus King of Britain the dimensions of which Church according to the Custome of those Primitive times not very Magnificent is taken out of* Sr. Henry Spelman as he collected it from a Plate which was fixed on a Pillar in the New Church and preserved after the demolishing of that Monastery the words of the Plate are these ANno post Passionem Domini xxxj duodecim Sanai ex quibus JOSEPH ab Arimathea Primus erat buc venerunt qui Ecclesiam bujus Regni primam in hoc loco construxerunt qui Christi in honorem suae Matris locum pro eorum Sepultura praesentialiter dedicavit Sancto David Meneventium Archicpiscopo hoc testante Cui Dominus Ecclesiam illam dedicare disponenti in sompnis apparuit eum a proposito revocavit necnon in signum quod ipse Dominus Ecclesiam ipsam prius cum Cimiterio dedicârat manum Episcopi digito perforavit sic perforata multis videntibus in 〈◊〉 apparuit Posten ver ò idem Episcopus Domino revelante ac Sanctorum numero in eadem crescente quendam cancellum in Orientali parte huic Ecclesiae adjecit in honore Beatae Virginis consecravit cujus Altare inestimabili Saphiro in perpetuam hujus rei memoriam insignavit Et nè locus aut quantitas prorsus Ecclesiae per tales augmentationes oblivioni traderetur erigitur haec Columpna in linea per duos Orientales angulos ejusdem Ecclesiae versùs meridiem protracta praedictum Cancellum ab ea abscindente Et erat ejus longitudo ab illa linca versùs Occidentem lx pedum latitudo verò ejus xxvj pedum diffantia centri istius Columpnae à puncto medio inter praedictos angulos xlviij pedum Thus rendered into English THere arrived here XII Holy Men of whom JOSEPH of Arimathea was Head in the year from the Passion of Our Lord XXXI who built in this place the first Church of this Kingdom who viz. Joseph of Arimathea appointing a Place for their Burial dedicated it in honour of the Mother of Christ David Archbishop of Menew attesting the same to whom the Lord intent on the Dedication of that Christian Church appearing in a Dream recalled deterred and advised to desist from that purpose and in token that the Lord had before dedicated that Church and Church-yard he bored the Bishops hand through with his finger which appeared so bored through on the Morrow to many Eyewitnesses Afterwards the same Bishop the number of the Saints of that Church increasing the Lord revealing it to him added to that Church on the Easternpart a Chancel which he consecrated in Honour of the Blessed Virgin the Altar of which for a Memorial of the same to future Ages be adorned with a Saphire of unknown value and least the place and plat-form of that Church through such Augmentations might be forgotten there is erected a Column or Pillar in a Line drawn through the Eastern Corners of that Church towards the South dividing the aforesaid Chancel from the same and the length of it was from that Line towards the West threescore feet its breadth twenty six feet the distance of the Centre of that Column from the middle Point between the afore said Corners forty eight feet The first Church of the Christians In Britaine a b c d The compass of the Church-yard the extent whereof is not certainly known but so large as to contain according to Melkinus who lived in the year of our Lord 550 a thousand Graves amongst whom lies Joseph of Arimathea c. about the South Angle of the Oratory about K and f where also St. Patrick Abbot of this place was also Entomb'd under a Stone Pyramid which was afterwards according to the devotion of the time overlaid with Silver e f The length of the Church sixty foot f g The breadth of the Church twenty six foot b The Walls of the Church according to Malmsbury made of Twigs winded and twisted together after the Ancient Custome that Kings Palaces were used to be built So the King of Wales by name Heolus Dha in the year of our Lord 940 built a House of white Twigs to retire into when he came a hunting into South-Wales therefore it was called Cyguyn that is the White House For to the end it might be distinguished from Vulgar buildings he caused the Twigs according to his Princely quality to be barkt Nay Castles themselves in those daies were framed of the same Materials and weaved together for thus writes Giraldus Cambrensis of Pembroke Castle Arnulphus de Montgomery saith he in the dales of King HENRT the First built that small Castle of Twigs and slight Turf Such Reed Houses as these we all along see in Ireland and in many places in England I The Roof which according to the usual Custome of the Britains was of Straw or after the nature of the soyl in that place of Hay or Rushes So Bede A great fire being kindled in the midst of the House it happened that some sparks flying high set the Roof of the house on a flame which easily took fire because it consisted of Wicker and Straw After the same manner was the Old Roman Capitol it self built according to Ovid Quae fuerat nostri fi quaras Regia nati Adspice de Cannâ Straminibusque domum Ka the Door the top whereof reacheth to the Eeves of the house which in those daies were very low Kb the East Window over the Altar KKK the South Windows Having delivered thus much concerning the Antiquity of this Christian Church I will conclude the same with some necessary Observations thereupon Observations upon the before-mentioned Inscription in memory of the first Christian Church in Britain THe Character upon this Plate is not so Ancient as not above 300 years old if so much and though there might be in other places which is difficult to prove Churches built so early yet that they were encompassed according to the Modern Custome with Church yards will hardly be granted There were many Churches in the Cities of Britain soon after the first Times of Christianity but never any Church-yards till the time of Cutbert the
tenth Archbishop of Canterbury from St. Augustine who in the year of our Lord 798 procured the priviledge of having Church-yards in Cities from the Pope Whoever of the Ancient and Primitive Christians made mention of burying any body in Churches or in those Times of the dedication of Churches to Saints or that the Blessed Virgin Mary was called upon and worshipped by her Contemporaries And this is to be observed that there is no mention made concerning Dedication before the time of the building of that Church which is reported to have been in the year from the Passion 31 nor in the time of Joseph of Arimathea or about five hundred years afterwards until St. David who was made Archbishop of Menew Anno Dom. 519. and held that Seat 65 years for he is reported to have lived 145 years that first discovered it THE CONTINUATION OF THE Roman History UNDER CLAUDIUS BY HIS LIEUTENANTS AULUS PLAUTIUS left by Claudius in Britain after the Emperours departure gave himself to the diligent prosecution of the War and so behaved himself in quieting the Rebelling Countries and gaining new Conquests even to the West of the Island that Claudius decreed he should have a petty Triumph and at his Entrance into Rome himself went to meet him giving him the Right-hand both in his going and coming Neither were the Actions of Vespatian afterwards Emperour less remarkable in this War for partly under the Conduct of Claudius himself and partly of Plautius he fought thirty Battles with the Britains two most powerful Nations and above twenty Towns together with the Isle of Wight he brought to his Subjection for which Worthy Deeds he received Triumphal Ornaments and a little while after two Sacerdotal Dignities and a Consulship His Son TITUS served under him in quality of a Tribune and was much renowned for his Valour and Diligence He had the good Fortune to rescue and releive his Father and his Modest Behaviour was as signal as his Courage as appearreth by many Inscriptions upon his Images dispersed through the Provinces of Germany and Britain OSTORIUS SCAPULA succeeded Plautius in the quality of a Propretor a Man no less experienced in Martial Affairs At his first entrance into Command he was welcomed with many Commotions and Troubles for that part of Britain which was not yet subdued broke in upon their Neighbours who had entred into League or made any Submission to the Romans wasting their Fields and with so much the more vigour for that they thought this new General not yet acquainted with his business nor having experience of his Army would not be able to Revenge it especially considering that the Winter season was drawing on and the time unsit for Action But Ostorius knowing that the first Success makes the greatest impressions of Fear or Confidence resolves to put a stop to their Inroads betimes before they proceeded too far and to that intent he snatched with him some of his lightest Cohorts and unexpectedly set upon them killing many and following them that sted so clofely that he gave them not time to Rally and lest for the future he might be continually plagued with a dangerous and unfaithful Peace which would be alwaies beating up his Quarters and give neither to himself nor his Souldiers any rest he disarms all whom he suspected might Revolt and set Garrisons on the two Rivers Sabrina and Antona thereby to tie up the Incursions of the Enemy By this means he reduced the most Southerly parts of the Island into the nature of a Province and to secure his Conquests the better he gives several Cities to Cogidunus to be held of the Romans under the Title of a King by which Bribe he engaged him deeply to his Party it being an ancient practice of that State to flatter Princes for their advantage and by a specious shew of Honour and Respect to make them Instruments of their own Ambition and Vassals to their will a haughty Pride observable in Commonwealths First they drew them up with the Plumes of Majesty and seemed to adore them and afterwards their turns once served with as great Contempt and Ingratitude they trampled upon them And this I take notice of here because Tacitus seems to glory in it and it way possibly be the Humors of others as well as the State of Rome The Iceni or the People of Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgshire and Huntingtonshire a potent Nation and not yet wasted by War because they had voluntarily entred into Alliance with the Romans finding that upon the least suspicion they might be disarmed as well as their Neighbours and perceiving that they should be enclosed in the Roman Line which was stretched as far as the Severn and Avon or as some think the Trent Northward could not brook these proceedings of Ostorius so took Arms and by their Example encouraged many of their Neighbours to do the like This done they encampt in a place chosen for that purpose casting up a Rampier of Earth and leaving the Entrance narrow for fear the Enemies Horse might break in upon them Ostorius although he had not his Legions with him but only his Auxiliary Forces yet resolved if he could to break down this Fence which he perceived was but rudely thrown up and setting all his Cohorts to work the Horse also allighting to that Service he giving the signal at once they rent down the Works and fell upon the Enemy and levelled their narrow Trenches Here the Britains were sorely streightned but knowing that if they were overcome the reward of their Revolt would be slavery and that if they had a mind to escape their own Fortifications were against them They did whatever men in Anger and despair could do bravely revenging themselves upon the Enemy In this Battle M. Ostorius the Son of the Lieutenant gained the Honour of having saved a Citizen But at length being overcome other States by their sad Example were confirmed in their Obedience to the Romans having hitherto waited the success of the Iceni standing in a doubtful posture between War and Peace After this success Ostorius marches into the Country of the Cangi supposed to be a small Territory in Somersetshire for I cannot imagine them to be the Inhabitants betwixt the Iceni and the Humber because they lay not in the way to the Irish Seas as by the following Progress we may imagine the Cangi did where he plundered and laid waste their Fields they not daring to give him Battle And if at any time they ventured out of their secret Coverts to fall in the Reer and endeavoured to cut off his Marches they alwaies met with sharp entertainment At last he came to the Irish Sea where News was brought him that the Brigantes supposed the Inhabitants of Yorkshire Lancashire the Bishoprick of Durham Westmoreland and Cumberland were up in Arms. Upon this he resolves to return being fully purposed not to attempt any new Design till he had fully quieted these Commotions behind him