eldest Daughter and Child of K. Iohn and Queene Isabel his last wife was the first wife of Alexander the second King of Scots married vnto him in Yorke Iunij 25. Anno 1221. who returning into England to visite her Brother deceased at London and was buried in the Nunnery at Tarent in Dorsetshire 4. Martij in the 21. yeare of her Brother king Henries raigne in England and the 23. of king Alexander her husbands in Scotland Anno 1236. 70 Eleanor their second daughter was first married to William Marshall the yonger Earle of Pembroke and after his decease without issue and seuen yeeres Widow-hood remarried to Simon Montfort Earle of Leicester sonne of Simon Earle Montfort in France by Amice Daughter of Robert Blanchman Earle of Leicester who maintaining the Barons warres against King Henry her brother was slaine at the battaile of Euesham in the 19. yeere of her brothers raigne 1265 after whose death shee and ◅er Children were forced to forsake England she died in the Nunnery at Montarges in France Henry her eldest sonne was slaine with his father at Eueshan Simon the second was Earle of Bigorre and ancestor to a Family of Mountfords in those parts of France Almaricke her third sonne was first a Priest and Treasurer of the Cathedrall Church in Yorke and after a Knight and a valiant seruitour in sundrie warres beyond the Seas Guy the fourth Sonne was Earle of Angleria in Italy and Progenitour of the Mountfords in Tuscaine and of the Earles of Campo bachi in the Kingdome of Naples Richard the fift sonne remained priuily in England and changing his name from Mountford to Wellesborne was ancestor of the family of Wellesbornes in England She had also a daughter named Eleanor borne in England brought vp in France and married into Wales to Prince Lewellen ap Griffith 71 Isabel their yongest daughter was born An. 1214 when shee was 21. yeeres of age shee was married being the 6. and last wife to the Emperour Frederick the second at the City of Wormes in Germany 20. of Iuly 1235. Shee had issue by him Henry appointed to bee King of Sicily and Margaret wife of Albert Landgraue Thurin shee was Empresse 6. yeeres and died in Childbed Decemb. 1. of her husbands Empire 31. of her brothers raign 38. Anno 1241. 72 Iane or Ione the daughter naturall of King Iohn by Agatha Daughter of Robert Ferrers Earle of Darby marryed to Lewin Prince of Wales Anno 1204. her Father gaue with her the Castle Lordshippe of Elinsmore in the Marches of Southwales she like a most louing Child gaue her Father secret intelligence of the Treasons intended against him by the Welsh and English 73 Geoffrey Fitz-Roy a base son who transported some Souldiers into France when Archbishoppe Hubert forbad the King his father to goe thither 74 Richard who married the daughter heire of Fulbert de Douer who built Chilham Castle in Kent which Castle hee had with her and had Issue by her of which som families of good esteem are descended stant Lords at Newarke where the Generall assembly for that seruice was appointed The whole Army after the Musters rested there some dayes which they spent not in vanities but in deuotions receit of the Sacrament humbling themselues before the offended Maiestie of God and so all of them saith Paris being prepared resolue eyther to return victorious or to die in defence of their country their Soueraignes right and their owne Liberties and possessions all which seemed now to lie at stake To giue them the greater edge and spirite Wallo with great solemnity accurseth Lewis and his Coadiutors and thus the Army marcheth towards Lincolne and the Lewisians there in siege of the Castle the King himselfe being left with a strong guard at Stow about eight miles short of Lincolne accompanied with Wallo and others there without perill of his person to attend Gods pleasure in the euent of the enterprise Vpon their approch if the Counsell of some English Lords had beene followed the Lewisian Army had issued forth of the City giuen them battle in the opē field but the Earle of Perch the French Generall thinking the Kings party to bee greater then it was for that the Noblemen and Bannerets thereof had each of them two Ensignes the one born with themselues the other aduanced among the Carriages which doubled the shew of their numbers they did thereupon change that course closed the Gates of the City and plyed their endeauours against the Castle more fiercely then before The Earle of Pembroke therefore lets Falcasius slip in at the Castle-posterne with his Arbalasters whiles others breake vp the South-gate of the City at which the Kings Army most couragiously entring and they of the Castle sallying out in Flancke of the Enemy scattered and vtterly defeated the Lewisians The Earle of Perch their Generall being enuironed with the Royalists and willed to render himselfe sware that hee would neuer become Prisoner to any English vpon which refusall he was run through the sight of his helmet into the braines and so dyed without speaking any word In this conflict being on Saturday in Whitson-weeke the force of naturall propension was apparent for notwithstanding the fierie resolutions of the Kings People yet when they saw the faces of their kinsmen friends countrimen on the other side that fury relented so strōgly that the most part of the reuenge fell vpon the Horses and not vpon the Horsemen whom onelie they laboured to make their Captiues The whole riches of the Lewisian Campe of the City of Lincolne became the booty and spoile of the Kings Armie whereupon this discomfiture was called Lewis Fair Neither did the Clergy of the place escape for the Popes Legate had commaunded that they also should be rifled to a penny as persons excommunicated in partaking with Lewis The Chase was but coldly fainedly followed vpon the flying Barons otherwise not a man could haue escaped wherein yet the chiefest Barons were taken with about 400. Knights besides Esquiers and of other sorts without note or number though some say that this number of Knights were slaine matrons and women of the towne flying by boate which they had no skill to gouerne were drowned Such as escaped the fight were not therefore past the danger for the Country people fell vpon them as they fledde killing great numbers so that almost all the footmen tooke vp their last lodgings before they could reach to London where Lewis was The Marshal of France the Chastellan of Arras and about two hundreth Knights came safely thither but were not otherwise then sowerly welcome of the Prince who laid vpon their cowardise the losse of all the rest His feare of being taken Prisoner iustly encreasing hee fortifies London by the best meanes hee can and dispatcheth Posts into France for more reliefe This great victory was much the stranger if as some write the fame
Saint Augustine 5351. Isidore 5210. Orosius 5190. Beda 3952. Alphonsus 5984. And yet doe these disagreements helpe little the Obiectors if this be considered that the maine foundation of these diuersities consisteth chiefly in the first world before the Flood wherein it is manifest that the reputed Septuagint addeth to the Hebrew Originall fiue hundred eighty and six yeeres And from the Flood to Abrahams birth is accounted two hundred and fiue yeeres more then Moses hath As likewise the like is done in the latter times for from the Captiuitie of Babylon to the death of Christ one hundred thirty and seuen yeeres are added more then the Sunnes course hath measured so that it seemeth the differences were not great for the times of Heli Salomon nor Iudahs Kings in whose raignes Brute is brought to people and possesse this Iland But leauing these diuersities and to come to a certaintie let vs calculate the yeeres of the holy historie according as Functius Beroaldus and sundry other Theologicke Chronologers haue done who from the Scriptures most sure account so tie the stories of times together that like to a golden chaine the linkes are fastned each to other and the whole so compleat that a yeere is not missing from the fall of man vnto the full time of his redemption 24 First then from the Creation to the Flood are reckoned yeeres 1656. gathered by a triple account from the ages begettings and deaths of the fathers The like is thence obserued for foure hundred twentie and seuen yeeres that is to the seuentie fifth of Abrahams life wherein God began to tie the times accounts in holier summes for Terah the first recorded Idolater was the last in honour that had the Sunnes course measured by mans life And now the bounds of time tie the Promise to Abraham to bee before the Law foure hundred and thirty yeeres as the Apostle to the Galathians affirmeth From the Law to the building of Salomons Temple and that in the fourth yeere of his raigne were yeeres foure hundred and eightie and from that foundation to his death were thirtie six yeeres for his whole raigne was fortie From his death and Kingdomes diuision vnto the burning of that Temple which was executed in the nineteenth of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel were yeeres three hundred and ninetie as by the daies of Ezekiels siege and sleepe appeareth in the second and fifth verses of his fourth Chapter From the burning of the Temple to the end of Iudahs captiuitie were yeeres fiftie and one for the whole time of Babels bondage contained seuenty yeeres as Ieremy 25. 11. whereof nineteene were expired and fifty one remaining vnto the first yeere of Cyrus their deliuerer whom the Lord in that regard calleth his annointed Isay. 45. 1. In the first yeere of whose Monarchie he published an Edict for the returne of the Iewes and new building of their Temple as in the books of Chronicles and of Ezra is seene And from this first yeere and proclamation of King Cyrus vnto the last yeere and death of Christ our Sauiour the great yeere of Iubilie the acceptable time wherein he troad the winepresse alone to the finishing of the ceremonies the taking away of sinne the reconciling of iniquity the bringing in of euerlasting righteousnesse to the sealing vp of vision and prophecie and to the anointing of the most holy were yeeres foure hundred and ninety as the Prophet Daniel from the Angell Gabriel receiued and vnto vs hath deliuered Dan. 9. 24. all which added together make the number to be three thousand nine hundred and threescore yeeres And by this said computation I haue accounted Brutes story as all others wherein I shall bee occasioned to speake 25 Lastly if from among these misty cloudes of ignorance no light can be gotten and that we will needs haue our descents from the Troians may wee not then more truly deriue our blood from them through the Romanes who for the space of foure hundred threescore and six yeeres were planted amongst vs in which continuance it is most certaine they tooke of our women to be their wiues and gaue their women to be wiues vnto vs seeing that some of their Emperors did the like themselues and from whose blood saith Beda the Britaines Ambrosius lineally descended And if beauty and parts be the instigaters vnto loue as in the first world we see it was no doubt then the features of the Britains were mouing Angels vnto the Romanes whose faces euen in those times were accounted to be angelicall and whose personages as yet are respected as the best if not better then any other in the world But that the Romans themselues descended from the Troians or AEneas should be the roote of the Iulian family howsoeuer the fictions of Poets as a spring tide haue flowed from the fulnesse of their pennes yet Tacitus their best writer accounteth those things not far vnlike to old fables wherein he iudgeth that Nero to win credit before the Consuls and to get reputation in the glory of eloquence vndertooke the pleading of the Ilienses cause declaring the Romanes descent from Troy and the Iulij from the loines of AEneas which notwithstanding he censureth as is said And Iosephus in the dispersion of Noahs sonnes and families affirmeth that Romus was the Originall of the old Romanes and he of Chus and Cham if he meane as he speaketh To conclude by what destiny I know not nations desire their originals from the Troians yet certaine it is that no honor from them can be brought whose city and fame stood but for six descents as vnder the raignes of Dardanus Erithonius Troos Ilion Laomedon and Priamus during which time they were thrice vanquished twice by Hercules in the daies of Laomedon and the third time rased by the rage of the Grecians in the raigne of King Priamus and the Troians themselues made as it were the scum of a conquered people And therefore as France hath cast off their Francio King Priamus his sonne Scotland their Scotia King Pharaoes daughter Denmarke their Danus Ireland their Hiberus and other Countries their Demi-gods so let BRITAINES likewise with them disclaime their BRVTE that bringeth no honour to so renowned a Nation but rather cloudeth their glorie in the murders of his parents and imbaseth their descents as sprung from Venus that lasciuious Adulteresse THE MANNERS AND CVSTOMES OF THE ANCIENT BRITAINES CHAPTER IV. HAuing thus farre spoken of the ancient Names of this famous Iland and of the Nations acknowledged to bee the first Planters and Possessors thereof it remaineth that somewhat be mentioned of the Manners and Customes of those people and times though not so pleasing or acceptable as were to be wished for that the clouds of ignorance and barbarous inciuilitie did then shadow and ouer-spread almost all the Nations of the earth wherein I desire to lay imputation no further then is sufficiently warranted by most
from whom the eternall King of Kings descended in their offrings made in time of their highest glory were by the Lord thus commanded to acknowledge and say A Syrian was my father who being ready to perish for hunger went down into Egypt and soiourned with a small company And the richest stone of that most beauteous building in his highest pride is counselled by the Prophet to looke back to the rocke whence it was hewen and to the hole of the pit whence it had been digged THE GOVERNMENT OF GREAT BRITAINE CHAPTER V. WEE come at length to speake of the gouernment and politicall estate of the Britaines which doubtlesse the times then considered was as honorable in their rulers and as manageable in the subiects as any other nations in these West parts of the world their temperance religion learning and noble resolution shewing no lesse But in this point I must craue pardon of our British Heraulds and some learned Antiquaries if I bring not a lineall succession from Brute and a monarchicall gouernment in those times of obscurity through whose mists no Egles eies could pierce before the daies of Geffrey ap Arthur as before was touched And therefore following his counsell who is best able in these things to giue direction I will begin the succession of Great Britains Monarchs at the entrance and person of Iulius Caesar at which time it seemeth by him and other Latine writers the best Recorders of kingdoms affaires this Iland was gouerned rather after the manner of an Aristocratie that is by certaine great Nobles and Potent men then vnder the command of any One as an absolute Monarch though herein is a difference in that in the Aristocraticall regiment the rulers are all Peeres of one Common wealth whereas here as many Princes so many seuerall Publike weales For so Caesar himselfe found the state of Britaine to be diuided into Provinces vnder the names of her inhabitants and to be ruled by diuers Peeres or petty Kings 2 And such a Gouernor was Cassibelan ouer the Trinobantes Cingetorix Caruilius Taximagulus and Segonax all foure Rulers together in Kent Comes supposed to be King of the Atrebatij and to be the same Comius of Arras whom Caesar imploied to tease and worke the Britaines to his subiection Caractacus the warlike King of the Silures Galgacus the worthy King of the Caledonians yea and women also without exception of sex held gouernment among them such as was faithlesse Cartismandua Queen of the Brigantes and famous Boudicea Queene of the Icenians Whereby it seemeth that euery seuerall Prouince owed seruice and alleageance only to their owne Prince And as their gouernments were confined vnto certaine bounds and limits so were the Inhabitants diuided and distinguished by diuers Names of whom because we shall haue occasion hereafter often to speak it shal not therfore be amisse in this place once for all table-wise to lay downe the same whereby our narrations may passe vntroubled without more explanations and the readers mind carried with lesse incombrances Those ancient names of people and places for abode throughout the whole Iland from Ptolemie were as follow A TABLE OF THE ANCIENT INHABITANTS AND THE SITES OF THEIR POSSESSIONS AS THEY WERE CALLED BY PTOLEMY AND OFTEN SINCE MENTIONED IN THE ROMAN WRITERS People Countries CANTII Kent REGNI Sussex Surrey DVROTRIGES Dorsetshire DAMNONII Deuonshire Cornwal BELGAe Somersetshire Wiltshire Hampshire ATREBATII Barkshire DOBVNI Oxfordshire Glocester CATIEVCHLANI Warwickshire Buckingham Bedfordshire TRINOBANTES Hertford Essex Middlesex ICENI Suffolke Norfolke Cambridge Ely Iland Huntington CORITANI Rutlandshire Lincolnshire Northhampton Leicestershire Darbishire Nottingham CORNABII Staffordshire Worcestershire Cheshire Shropshire BRIGANTES Lancaster Yorkshire Richmondshire PARISI Duram Westmerland Cumberland ORDOVICES Flintshire Denbighshire Caernaruon Montgomery Merionethshire SILVRES Herefordshire Radnorshire Brecknock Monmouth Glamorgan DIMETAe Caermarden Penbrookshire Cardiganshire OTTADINI Northumberland Teifidale Twedale Merch. Louthien SELGOVAe Lidesdale Ensdale Eskdale Annandale Niddisdale NOVANTES Gallowey Carick Kyle Cunningham DAMNII Cluydsdale Renfraw Lennox Striueling Menteth Fifa CALEDONII Perth Strathern Albin GADINI Argile Lorne EPIDII Cantyre VICEMAGI Murray VENNICONES Mernia Auguis Mar. TAEZALI Buquhâ—…e CANTAe  CREONES Rosse CERONTES Sutherland CARNONACAe Strathâ—…ern CARINI CORNABII SIMERTAe Caithues LOGI 3 These States ambitiously banding ech against others to raise their owne Prince to a more soueraigne supremacy and to enlarge their Prouinces vpon the borders of the next were euer ready the least occasion ministred saith Pomponius Mela to enter quarels and seldome held amity or were quiet This was the cause as Tacitus tells vs which brought that puissant nation into bondage and was the only helpe to the Romans victories for seldome it chanced saith he that two or three states met in counsell and concurred in opinion to repulse the common danger so that whilst they resisted and fought one by one all at length were subdued But this was not at once performed by Iulius Caesar the first Roman enterer who as he saith rather shewed the place to posterities then gaue them the possession thereof supposing it his glory sufficient to haue done what he did For vnto the daies of Domitian they held play with the Romans and that with such valour that the subduing of some small part of this Iland was accounted by themselues to match the conquests of other mightier countries and more notes of honour shewed in their publike triumphs for one Britaines misfortune then vsually was solemnized for whole kingdomes subdued 4 That such people possessed and that many Kings together raigned here in Britaine Pomponius Mela doth shew Britaine saith he bringeth foorth Nations and Kings of nations though they be all without ciuility and barbarous And Caesars intendments being known vnto them it is said that many of their Cities sent him by their Embassadors profers of submission whereby appeareth their diuersities of States whereof only two held promise and the rest failing was the occasion of his second expedition for Britaine And Tacitus speaking of the shipwrack suffered by the Romans in the raigne of Tiberius saith that many of their souldiers then distressed and torne being cast vpon the coasts of Britaine were by the people curteously releeued and by their petty Kings sent backe vnto Germanicus their Generall into Germanie which Princes or petty Kings were drawn as else where he saith by emulation into many partialities and factions which was indeed their owne destruction And by Gildas these were termed cruell Tyrants taking his authority out of Saint Hierome 5 Let thus farre suffice in generall of these ancient Britains whose particulars we will further prosecute in the places of their resistances lest otherwise they should seeme to fight only against themselues And therefore so many of these Gouernors as either yeelded their subiections to the Romans or stood their opposits till their owne strengths were spent I will briefly touch vntill such time as the land
was made a Prouince by the valour and industry of Iulius Agricola the first Roman that found it an Iland and left it more ciuill and in subiection to the Roman Empire and by the way I will insert some of such ancient Coynes as among them were then vsed expressing their names and places of coynage THE KINGS AND GOVERNORS OF GREAT BRITAIN VVITH THE ANCIENT COINES VSED IN THEIR TIMES CHAPTER VI. THe first British Coyne as is supposed both by the fashion thereof being shield-like and Name thereupon inscribed REXCOM denoteth Comius if he be a Britaine King of the Atrebatij in this Iland whom some iudge to haue fled thence vnto Caesar as a traytor to his Natiue country and in Gallia vanquished those parts that lay coasted against the Whight wherein by Ptolemy the people called likewise the Atrebatij inhabited ouer whom he receiued the gouernment by the gift of Caesar and was by him imploied to worke the Britaines to his obedience And that he was King of the Atrebatij in Britaine may be strengthned by that which Caesar in his second book of Commentaries affirmeth where by his owne knowledge he saith that one Diuitiacus raigned ouer a great part of Gallia and some portion of Britaine also and so likewise this Comius is reported to be of great respect among our Britaines and able in that country to doe much Neither is it altogether vnlikely seeing the Britaine 's distasted his loyalty to Caesar and his Ambassage for their subiection with such dislikes that they laid violent hands only vpon him and cast him in prison vsing no such rigor against the rest of their owne Ambassadors Notwithstanding when successe altered they set him at liberty and made him their meanes to pacifie Caesar. Other Coynes I haue inserted to such British princes as by their inscriptions are known to be theirs And whereas some are not yet noted by that honor to the world I haue vnto such added only blankes if happily more be reueiled hereafter and the bowels of the earth deliuer to others her treasures hid as formerly and in these our searching daies she hath already done 2 Cassibelan as the most worthy among the Britains Kings to withstand the common danger now ready to light vpon them all by the inuasions and wars of the Romans was by a generall consent chosen their chieftaine though in times past he had molested his neighbouring prouinces to the inlargement of his owne Whose signiories as Caesar saith were seuered from the Cities towards the sea coast by the riuer Thames about fourescore miles from the same He had obtained the gouernment of the Trinobantes by the slaughter of Imanuence and the expulsion of Mandubrace his sonne And with great valour held opposit to the Romans vntill the reuolt of his chiefe Citie the Cenimagues Segontians Ancalits Bibroces Cassians and other states which drew backe and yeelded to the enemie his confederates the foure Kings of Kent ouerthrown his owne towne won and himselfe forced to yeeld vnto Caesar and the land to pay a tribute of 3000. pound yeerly to Rome A British Coyne of gold with the inscription CAS in scattered letters we haue inserted as also another wheron is instamped the word VER supposed to be his because it is thought to haue bin coined in antient Verolam the City of Cassibelan and that in his daies before the Romans won it 3 Cingetorix whom Caesar calleth Kings that raigned in Kent were instigated by Cassibelan suddainly to set vpon and to assault the Roman forces that lay incamped vpon the sea shore whilst he kept Caesar occupied further in the mayne which thing they attempted but failed of their hoped expectation their men being slaine three of them chased and Cingetorix the chiefest taken captiue This heauy newes and vnfortunate successe caused Cassibelan to sue vnto Caesar and by the meanes of Comius obtained his peace Caruill Taximagull Segonax 4 Mandubrace a prince of the Trinobantes but a traytor to his country whose father Imanuence being slaine by Cassibelan and his owne life likewise sought after and in danger fled vnto Caesar into Gallia and followed his fortunes in the wars wherein he was a great spurre vnto Caesars forwardnesse for Britain both to be reuenged vpon the murtherer of his father and to recouer the gouernment of the Trinobantes vsurped by Cassibelan preferring his owne ambitious desire and the reuenge of one mans death before the freedome of his natiue Country or the deaths of many his coūtrimen that daily stopped the Romans passage with streames of their blood He recouering his chiefest City with the protection of the Romans yeelded subiection forty hostages to Caesar whose example drew others to sell their owne liberty to buy many miseries at too deere a rate and with too late repentance him doth Beda call Androgorius 5 Cenimagues Inhabitants of Norfolk Suff. Cam. c. Segontians Hantshire Ancalits Hendly hund in Oxford Bibroces Bray hund in Barkshire Cassians Caishow hund in Hartf These people or states seeing the proceedings and happy successe of Caesar after the example of the Trinobantes whose chiefest Citie had yeelded him obedience and were thereby secured and protected from the harmes of his souldiers sent him likewise their submissions and were accepted into subiection so ready were they to saue their owne stakes that they left the whole to the hazard of losse which soone after followed as an ouerflowing flood wherein was lastly drenched the whole Ilands liberty 6 Cunobeline for so vpon his Coynes his name is instamped was the son of Theomantius and he the sonne of Lud as say our British historians by whom his name is corruptly written Kymbeline he liued at Rome and in great fauour with Augustus Caesar the Emperor by whom he was made Knight and by his meanes the peace of Britain was continued without the paiment of their Tribute as Fabian out of Guido de Columna hath gathered In the foureteenth yeere of his raigne the Day-star of Iacob appeared and the rod out of I shal did flourish from the wombe of a Virgin when the wonderfull Counsellor the mighty God and Prince of Peace the Emmanuel with vs was borne at Beth-lehem of his maiden-mother the blessed Virgin Mary and was made man like vnto vs in all things sinne only excepted These were the times that great Kings and Prophets desired to see but sà w them not when the Wolfe and the Lambe the Leopard and the Kid the Calfe and the Dyon fed together for war was not heard of then in the world but rather their swords were made into mattocks and their speares turned into sithes as the Prophets Sibyls and Poets from them haue affirmed In Rome the temple of Ianus was shut and in Britaine Cunobeline enioied peace with the rest of the world and his fame made more famous by the many Coynes instamped of him and whose face thereon among all the British Kings was first inscribed as
by these here inserted doth euidently appeare one with two faces like vnto Ianus and foure more with his owne besides three others wherein is read his name one of them with a womans head another with a horse and the third with a wreath all these if not more are knowne to be his which sheweth his wealth his fame and his ciuill respect The chiefest Citie for his princely residence was Camalodunum now Malden in Essex wonne by Claudius from the sonnes of Cunobeline as by the inscription of the Coyne next ensuing appeareth and wherein many of the British monies also receiued their impresse This City with the free towne Verolam afterwards felt the heauy hand of mercilesse BODVO in her reuenge against the Romans who laid the beauty and gorgeous buildings thereof so leuell with the earth that those walles and mounted turrets neuer since aspired to halfe their wonted heights 7 Adminius the first sonne of Cunobeline King of the Britaines by Suetonius his report vpon some offence was banished the Iland by his father and with a small traine fled ouer the seas into Belgia where Caius Caligula was in making his ridiculous expedition against the Ocean And yeelding himselfe to his protection added matter to his vaine glorious humors as of a great victory and conquest sending the newes therof to Rome with an especiali command that his letters should be deliuered in the Temple of Mars and that in the assembly of a full Senate It is iudged by learned Cambden that the Roman Coyne aboue prefixed vpon whose reuerse is inscribed Metropolis Etiminij Regis to be meant of this Adiminius the sonne of Cunobeline whose Citie Camalodunum Claudius Caesar the Emperour afterwards wonne and wherein a temple was built and consecrated vnto him attended by the Priests Augustals which heauily burdened the poore estates of the Britaines 8 Catacratus another son of Cunobeline immediatly after the death of his father found himself agrâ—…eued at the Romans for the retaining of certaine fugitiues the betraiers of their natiue country wherâ—… one Bericus was a chiefe and a great firebrand of Claudius his attempts against the Britains This Catacratus maintained resistance against Aulus Plautius the Emperors Deputy with such noble resolution and warlike encounters that often he endangered both his person and army But Fortune and victory attending the Romans brought at length Catacratus their captiue into bands with great slaughters of his Britaines himselfe led shortly after in great triumph through Rome in honor of Plautius his so fortunate successe The miseries of others thus made the Romans to mount the chaire of their triumphs and the chaines of their captiues the records of their present aspired pride But the bordering Dâ—…buni seeing his fall made their owne standings surer by yeelding themselues subiects to Rome 9 Togodamnus the third sonne of Cunobeline and successor to Catacratus prosecuted his countries quarrell with the like boldnesse and resolution as his brother before him had done was the only touchstone that gaue Vespasian his lustre whose interpositions as Tacitus saith was the beginning of that greatnesse whereunto afterwards he aspired And with such manhood followed the chase of the Romans that in a bloody battell he ended his life and brought Plautius their Lieutenant vnto a stand where straitned in dangers both of place and people he was forced to send to Claudius the Emperor whose conceit was then grounded that in Britaine was greatest glory to be gotten and therefore came to his assistance in person himselfe the first since Iulius Caesar that attempted their conquest His recorded compositions made with Aruiragus the mariage of his daughter and building of Glocester I leaue to be read out of Geffrey of Monmouth and to be allowed at the choice of his hearer only noting that the possession of so faire a land drew the affection and aged person of this Emperor to vndergoe so farre distant and dangerous a iournie as this of Britaine lay from Rome 10 Cogidunus a Britain borne receiued in pure gift at the hands of the Romans certain Cities ouer which he peaceably raigned their King For when they had conquered the neerest part of this Iland and reduced it into the forme of a Promiâ—… according to their ancient policie it was their custome saith Tacitus to vse Kings themselues for instruments of bondage both in admittance of their authority and in protecting them against their opposits Other memoriall of him none remaineth but that he is reported to haue rested euer most faithfull to the Romans and was of them accordingly esteemed albeit his owne people bare him no such good will but rather accounted him and others his like to be Romes only instruments and Britaines vipers that brought in strangers to eat out the home-bred inhabitants and fettered the freedome of their land with the heauy chaines of a forrein subiection 11 Caractacus the most renowned prince of the Silures in nine yeeres resistance waded through many aduentures against the common enemy For when as the Icenians Cangi and Brigantes began to faint and giue ouer he only with the Ordouices held out with such seruice and fame that thereby he grew both famous and fearefull to the Romans But Destinies determining the downfall of Britain the props that were set to stay it still vp proued too slender and brake vnder the waight For this bold Caractacus ouerthrown in battell his wife daughter and brethren taken prisoners and his forces defeated committed himselfe to the protection of Cartismandua the Brigantes faithlesse Queene who by her was deliuered to the Romans and by P. Ostorius brought to Rome where beholding the riches and glory of that City he openly and boldly checked the auarice and ambitious humors of the Romans who being owners of so great and glorious things were notwithstanding couetous and greedy for the poore possessions of the Britains And there being led in triumph with admiration he was beheld of all the spectators and for his vndanted spirit and magnanimous resolution released of bands and taken into fauour by Claudius the Emperor And the Lords of the Senate assembled together made glorious discourses touching Caractacus captiuity affirming it to be no lesse honorable then when P. Scipio shewed Syphax vnto the people and L. Paulus Perses or if any other had exhibited to the view of the people kings vanquished and ouercome The British Coyne here aboue shewed by the scattered letters therein inscribed is by the iudicious obseruers of such ancient monies supposed to be his 12 Venutius a famous King of the Brigantes and husband to Cartismandua a woman of an high and noble linage but of a base and vnsatisfied lust finding his bed abused by Vellocatus his seruant and harnesse-bearer raised his power against her and her paramour With him sided his Brigantes and the neighbour countries adioining whose good will went generally with the lawfull husband fearing the ambitious authority of a lustfull woman With her went the
the Senate in eternall memorie of his goodnes recalled from banishment the Christians seuerally dispersed and suffred them to enioy the freedome of their profession At which time Iohn the Euangelist returned from Pathmos wherein he had beene confined vnto Ephesus a Citie in ◅sia the lesse And Nerua raigning only one yeare foure mone◅s and nine daies died of a passionate anger conceiued against a Senator in the yeare of Christ his incarnation ninetie nine the twentie seuenth day of Ianuary seuentie sixth of his own age TRAIAN CHAPTER XVI VNto Nerua succeeded Vulpius Traian in the Roman Empire borne neere vnto Seuill in the Territories of Spaine of a noble familie but was much more ennobled in himselfe for his princely endowments which moued Nerua in his life time to adopt him into so high a calling and the whole Senate after his death ioifullie to confirme his Election and so often to honour him with the title of the Most Excellent Prince in publike dedications as on the Coine aboue 2 Hee raised the Romane Empire vnto the very highest pitch of glory and spread the power of their Command into the largest circuit that euer before or since hath beene possessed For the Kingdome of Dacia hee subdued Armenia Parthia and Mesopotamia made subiect Assyria Persia and Babylon conquered passed Tigris and stretched the confines of the Roman Empire vnto the remotest dominions of the Indies which neuer before that time had heard of the Roman Name And indeed if wee looke vpon his politicke managing of the gouernment he may seeme in comparison of others a right worthy memorable and louely Prince of much affabilitie and familiaritie euen with his inferiours and of such cariage towards his Subiects as he himselfe would wish his Prince he said to vse towards him if he were a Subiect A great obseruer also of Iustice insomuch that when he inuested any Pretor in giuing him the Sword he commanded him to vse the same euen against his owne person if he violated Law or Equitie But yet against the good Christians he vsed neither of both nay hee stirred vp their Third Persecution wherein Ignatius and many other worthy Saints of God receiued the Crowne of Martyrdome in such cruell manner as that his other vertues are much clouded by that taxation for mollification whereof he was compassionately intreated by Plinius Secundus his Tutor whose Epistles to that purpose are yet extant 3 The Iewes in his time rose vp in armes against the Gentiles and in Cyrene Aegypt and Cyprus slew a great number against whom Traian sent his Captaines with forces sufficient and in diuers parts of the Empire put the Iewes to death in such infinite numbers as that Massacre is accounted the greatest Execution that euer had beene in the world God suffring this their punishment to light vpon them for their infidelitie and obstinacie against his Christ. 4 Finally after his Conquests in the East returning towards Rome at Seleucia in Asia the lesse himselfe was conquered by the stroke of death by a fluxe the seuenth day of August after he had raigned nineteene yeeres six moneths and fifteene daies the yeere of our Redemption one hundred and eighteene and of his age sixtie foure whose ashes brought to Rome were inclosed within the Crowne of a goodly Pillar wrought of one intire stone containing one hundred forty foot in height 5 Of stature he was bigge of complexion swarthie thinne of haire both head and beard a hooked nose brode shoulders long hands and a pleasant eie whose liuely Image was borne in Triumph after his death and that in most glorious and pompous manner in celebration of his great renowne and fame attained in his life 6 How silent soeuer writers haue beene for this Emperours affaires in this our Iland yet it is to be thought that vnto this as wel as vnto other Prouinces both Propretors Lieutenants Presidents Pretors and Proconsuls were sent and euery Citie to haue their municipall Magistrates The Pretor that yearely proclaimed solemne Sessions wherin himself sate aloft vpon a high tribunall seate and guarded with his lictors about him in great estate did execute his authoritie throughout his owne iurisdiction and determined all causes brought before him where rods and axes were prepared for the common people that were enforced to receiue a new Ruler euerie yeare And surely as this yoke of bondage was grieuously borne of euery Prouince vpon whose necke it was imposed laid So the Britaines vnderwent the weight of that subiection with such vnwillingnes that in the time of this Traian they reuolted and rebelled though presently suppressed as it is euident out of Spartianus 7 The care that this good Emperour had for the weale of his Subiects is proiected by his prouidence in making waies passageable from place to place whereof remaine many testimonies by those his Causeies drawne with wonderfull diligence euen thorow the whole Iland which now though dismembred and cut in peeces by the Countrie people wherethorow they passed yet doe many remnants thereof remaine especially in pastures or by-grounds out of the rode way with bankes so high that euidently they shew themselues Of these Causeies Gallen writeth as followeth The waies saith he Traian repaired by pauing with stone or raising with bankes cast vp such peeces of them as were moist and miry by stocking vp and ridding such as were rough and ouergrowne with bushes and briers by making bridges ouer Riuers that could not bee waded thorow where the way seemed longer then needed by cutting out another shorter if any where by reason of some steepe hill the passage were hard and vneasie by turning it aside thorow easier places now in case it was haunted with wilde beasts or lie waste and desert by drawing it thence thorow places inhabited and withall laying leuell all vneuen and rugged grounds Along these Causeies the Emperour caused to bee set little pillars or Columnes with numerall Characters cut in thē to signifie how many miles was from place to place Of these Sidonius Apollinaris writeth thus Antiquus tibi nec teratur agger Cuius per spatium satis vetustis Nomen Caesareum viret columnis Breake not the ancient Causeies strong Whereon the Columnes stand along Nor names of Caesars doe not wrong HADRIAN CHAPTER XVII AFter the decease of Traiane his Nephew Aelius Hadrianus by the consent of the Armie who swore to him obedience was proclaimed Emperour the Senate likewise confirming their choice as beeing a man indued with gifts both of Art and Nature answerable to the fortunes of his Estate His birth was of Spaine in the Citie Italica neere vnto Cicill where Traian was born his Father Noble and his Mother in Cales descended of an honourable stocke 2 A great Mathematician he was skilfull in Arithmeticke Geometrie Astronomie and Iudicious Astrologie learned in the Greeke and Latine Tongues in which languages he wrote both Poesie
Iuory dressed with richest bedding and furniture of gold wherein was laid his image protraited to the life but yet in manner of a sicke man On the left side sate all the Senators and Princes in blacke mourning weeds on the right all the great Ladies cladde in white which then was the mourning colour of that Sexe The Physitians diligently comming to visit him and feeling his pulse as if he were aliue doe signifie that his disease did still increase vpon him This they all did seuen daies together at last as if then hee were dead all the prime of the Nobility carrie him in his Iuorie Bed to the * Forum where all the Patrician youth Noble Virgins incompassed him with most dolefull Hymnes and ruefull ditties Thence againe he was remoued to Mars his field where was erected a foure-square frame of Timber of a huge height and compasse the stories still mounting to the toppe with sundry ascents and richly beautified with strange varieties of gold and purple ornaments and images of great Art and price On the second of which ascents was placed the Emperours said Bed and Statue with infinite store of sweetest odours brought thither from all parts of the Citie which done the yong Nobles brauely mounted on Horsebacke rid round about in a kinde of dance or measure and another sort likewise who represented great Princes in their Coaches whereupon his successor in the Empire first setting fire to the frame forthwith all the people did the like on all sides and when the whole began to be on flame an Eagle secretly enclosed within was let fly out of the toppe which soaring a great height and out of sight the people followed it with shouts and praiers supposing that therewith the Emperours soule was carried vp to heauen And thus Seuerus which was before a man of Gods making was now become a God of mans making and the more to preserue the memory of his fathers glory Caracalla erected a magnificent Edifice which he instiled Seuerus his Porch wherein with most exquisite Art and admired workmanship were portraited all his Fathers warres and triumphs atchieued here in Britaine or elsewhere 3 But presently after these two vngodly sonnes of this new supposed God so much emulated each others glory that the deadly sparkes of enuy blowne a long time with the bellowes of their ambitious desires brake out into the flames of murther and blood being brethren by one Father but not by the same mother as it is said in this only like that they were both starke naught though both in contrarie kinds of Vices And albeit the Empresse Iulia had sought by all meanes to make peace betwixt them both formerly here in Britaine and now after their returne to Rome yet the desire of a sole Soueraignty had beene a long time so rooted in Bassianus his heart for which he had twice attempted his Fathers life and so much hasted his death that hee slew his Physitians because they had dispatched him no sooner could not indure an equall much lesse a confronter in authority and therefore in the Court and in the armes of the Empresse he slew her sonne Geta in a time least suspected when he had sate with him in state and disdaine the terme of one yeare and twenty two daies 4 And to cloake this fratricide with shew of constraint first to the Souldiers and then in the Senate he accuseth his Brother to haue sought his death and that in defence of his owne life he was forced to slay the other and flying to the Pretorian Cohorts for the safetie of his life as though further conspiracies had been intended against him in the City at his return commanded Papinianus the famous Ciuilian to excuse the murther in his Pleas at the Barre which when he refused hee caused him to bee slaine as also all those that had beene acquainted with Geta whereby so many of the Nobilitie perished that he was thereby accounted another Nero in Rome and by his fauorites the name of Geta was raced out of all monuments imperiall inscriptions as we haue seene some of thē defaced vpon some Altar stones found here in Brit. 5 Of nature he was subtile and could well dissemble with them whom hee feared and make shew of loue where hee deadly hated alwaies fitting himselfe to the humours of flatteries Among the Germans counterfetting their gate and garments In Greece be like Alexander bearing his necke somewhat awry In Troy would resemble Achilles alwaies so Camelion-like as the Romans his followers were therewith ashamed In a word Caracalla saith Dio neuer thought of doing good because as himselfe confessed he neuer knew any goodnes 6 And to fill vp the measure of all iniquitie as one regardlesse of humanity or shame he married Iulia his mother in law late wife to his owne Father a sinne saith S. Paul not to be named among the Gentiles and by Sext. Aur. Eutrop. and Spar. reported vpon this occasion It fortuned that Iulia in presence of Caracalla either by chance or of purpose rather let fall the vaile which she wore discouering thereby her naked breasts and beauty which was great whereat the Emperour casting his lasciuious eie and bewraying his affection presently said Were it not vnlawfull I should not be vnwilling to whom she replied without respect of modesty that all things were lawfull to him that made lawes for others but was subiect himselfe to none forgetting at once both the murther committed vpon Geta her sonne and the scandals that accompanied so foule a sinne the pleasure wherof they did not long enioy both their deaths by Gods vengeance soone after ensuing 7 For Caracalla remaining in Mesopotamia and carrying as it seemeth a guilty conscience and suspition of his life sent to Maternus whom hee had left Gouernour of Rome to assemble all the Astrologers Mathematicians vnto which learned imposters he alwaies gaue especiall credit and of them to enquire how long he should liue and by what death he should die Maternus hauing so done wrote for answere that Macrinus his Prefect of the Praetorium then with him in his expeditiōs went about to murther him Which is thought rather in enuy of Macrinus to haue beene fained then by any Astrologicall directions so giuen forth This letter and others comming to Caracalla his hand at such time as hee was busie about his disport he deliuered them to Macrinus to reade and giue him the report at his returne In perusall wherof finding himselfe to be accused of Treason and fearing lest by the sequell hee might bee brought into greater danger he incensed one Martial a Centurion whose brother the Emperour had lately slaine to murther him which was soone performed and occasion in the fields offred for Caracalla stepping aside from his traine to ease nature Martial as though he had beene called ran hastily in without hindrance or suspect and with his dagger stabbed him
notable or remarkable him obeied respectiuely to the number of the Prouinces two Consular deputies and three Presidents who had the hearing of ciuill and criminall causes For military affaires there ruled the Leader or Commander of the footemen in the West at whose disposition were the Earles or Lieutenants of Britaine the Earle Count or Lieutenant of the Saxon coast along Britaine and he Duke of Britaine stiled euery one Spectabilis The Earle Lieutenant of Britaine seemeth to haue ruled the Inland parts of the Iland who had with him seuen companies of footmen and nine coronets or troopes of horse The Earle Lieutenant of the Saxon coast who defended the Maritime parts against the Saxons and is named by Amianus Lieutenant of the Maritime tract for defence of the Sea coast had seuen companies of footmen two Guidons of horsemen the second legion and one cohert The Duke or Generall of Britaine who defended the Marches against the Barbarians had the command of thirty and eight garrison forts wherein their Stations kept consisting of fourteen thousand foot nine hundred horse So that in those daies by Pancirolus account Britaine maintained nineteene thousand two hundred sootmen and seuenteene hundred horsemen or thereabout in ordinary Besides all these the receiuer of the Emperors Finances or publike reuenewes the Prouost of the Emperors Treasures in Britaine and the Procurator of the Draperie in Britaine in the which the clothes of the Prince and Souldiers were Wouen and the Count also of priuate reuenewes had his Rationall or Auditor of priuat State in Britaine to say nothing of the sword-fence-schoole Procurator in Britaine whereof an old inscription maketh mention and of other officers of inferior degrees 12 After the setling of these affaires to the end that he might with the more facilitie bridle the vntamed Persians that seldome were in quiet he remoued the Imperiall seat of his Residence into the East for now Gallerius and Licinius both dead the rent and diuided state of the Roman Empire was in him vnited and purposing to build there a Citie as an eternall Monument of his name he chose the plot at Chalcedon in Asia but whiles they were measuring out the circuit an Eagle scouping at the Line fled with it ouer the Sea towards Byzantium in Thracia to which place the thing seeming ominous he transferred his new foundation and there built a most Magnificent Citie naming it New Rome as appeareth by an inscription of his Statue In imitation whereof he circulated Seuen hils with a Wall for Height Thicknesse and Beauty the fairest in the world and not only erected Temples Towers and most stately Palaces himselfe but by his publike Edicts coÌ„manded all the Princes of the Empire to raise therein some Monuments memorable Edifices beseeming the Maiesty of so glorious a foundatioÌ„ 13 Hither also from Rome hee caused to bee brought many renowned Monuments of Antiquities as the famous Goddesse Pallas of old Troy the Image of Apollo in brasse of an vnmeasurable bignesse the Statues of Iuno Minerua Venus and the like whereupon Hierome saith That Constantine to inrich this one Citie impouerished all others in the Empire and other Writers which saw it in the perfectioÌ„ of beauty report it to be rather an habitation for the Gods theÌ„ the dwelling place for Earthly men Herein also so studious was he of good Arts was built the Proud Palace of that Publike Library wherein were contained one hundred twenty thousand of the chiefest Written Bookes and in the midst thereof were the Guts of a Dragon in length one hundred twenty Foote on which was admirably written in Letters of Gold the Iliads of Homer The New Name of this new Citie lasted not long for the affection of all men to the Founder afforded it rather the name of Constantinople As a trophey then of this Emperours renowne though now a brand of infamie to another of that name who lost it in the yeere 1452. to Mahomet the Turke and as New Rome was reared and ruined in one name so had Old Rome in Augustus her pitch of height and in Augustulus her period 14 He drew likewise hither those Legions that lay for defence of the Prouinces as well in Germany and Gallia as in Britaine from whence hee brought saith Malmesbury a great power of British Souldiers through whose industry and forward seruice hauing obtained Triumphant Victories to his hearts desire and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Empire such of them as were past seruice and 〈◊〉 formed the painefull parts of Souldiers their fulltime he planted in a certain part of Gaule Westward vpon the very 〈◊〉 of the Ocean where at this day their posterity 〈◊〉 are wonderfully growen euen to a mightie people in manners language somewhat degenerate from our 〈◊〉 In which his doings he laid open the Prouinces to the irruptions of their Enemies and is therefore by Zâ—…imus hardly censured as being the onely man that by this meanes first subuerted the flourishing estate of the Empire And indeed by withdrawing his Forces out of Britaine the Picts and other their wonted Enemies had the bolder and easier entrance into the more ciuill parts of this Iland where by ere long being altogether abandoned of the Romans it became a pray of Conquest to the Saxons as shall be shewed in due place 15 But howsoeuer his policie failed carried as it seemeth by a Diuine inspiration to leaue Rome yet is this good Emperour much commended by all Writers for his many vertues especially for that hee so laid the foundation of the Christians securitie that the same hath stood vnder the protection of Princes euer since euen vnto this day And albeit that many Caesars his successors haue often attempted to shake it by their authorities and the sharpe instruments of heretikes dangerously haue vndermined it yet hath it borne out the Stormes of all their boisterous assaies and stood in the strength that this Emperor first laid it 16 And vpon this foundation that a glorious building might be raised hee congregated three hundred and eighteene Christian Bishops in the Citie Nice in Thracia where himself was present and also President of the same Councel though now his Beadsmen the Popes put him his Successors from that right and as another Moses he then pacified the contentions of the brethren and reestablished the authorities of the Bishops for the godly gouernment of the Church in that Primitiue age 17 But as the cleerest Sunne hath his set and the fairest day his night so Constantines glorious life drew to an end though his liuing-glory shall be endlesse for intending a voyage against the Persians hee fell grieuously sicke and counselled by his Physitions to be carried vnto Nicomedia a Citie in Bythinia to the Hot Bathes that naturally there sprang which caused some erroneously to write that he became a Leaper he died on the way neere to the place and in great deuotion commended his departing Soule to
seruice for Ierusalem wore continually vpon their backes a red Crosse whereby the name Crosse-backe or in old English Crouch-backe was to them attributed in which ranke Edmund Earle of Lancaster second sonne to King Henry the third was a principall and thereby got that name which he could not claw off from his backe euer since So likewise those men who entred that Religion of Monasticall life wore vsually vpon the outside of their Garments the signe of a Crosse whereby that Order was distinguished and noted from others by the name of Crouched or Crossed-Friers But whence or howsoeuer the name arose among all the Germans there were none in reputation for militarie deeds comparable vnto these Saxons neither had any aduentured by Sea and Land so farre to purchase renowne and praise or perhaps and that more likely to supply their owne wants ranging often from place to place as men alwaies ready to enter any action and in Germanie to this day a great Dukedome retaineth from them the name of Saxonie 9 The Gutae no doubt the Iutae Ptolomie likewise placeth in the Iland Scandia lying very neere the Coasts of Germanie vpon whose vttermost Promontorie as saith an ancient Manuscript the Iutes did for certaine inhabite which vnto this day of the Danes is called Iutland These Iutes Gutes Getes or Gothes or as Beda calles them Vites gaue names to those parts of Britaine which they inhabited as to this day the I le of Wight beareth their impression This variety of names we will no further inforce then that these Gothes were not the same that had passed Ister by Pontus Euxinus and ouer-ranne Europe who were also called the Getae by Iohn Maior Their name as Verstegan will haue it was taken from their agilitie or swiftnesse of foot and some of them as Sebastian Munster declareth went and inhabited among the Mountaines that diuide Germanie from Italie whereupon their name grew to be called the Hill-Vites which are now the Hel◅ans 10 The Angles by Fabius Quaestor Ethelwardus an ancient Writer and a Noble Person of the Saxons Royall Bloud are brought from Ould-Anglia a Portion lying betwixt the Countries of the Saxons and the Giots as he writeth them whose chiefe Towne was by them called Sleswic and of the Danes Haathby but more particularly it lay betwixt the Citie Flemburge and the Riuer Sly which Country by Albertus Crantzius is called Anglia From hence saith He◅ricus Rantzouius the Saxons who were also called the Angle-Saxons went to aid the Britaines And at this day there is a little Prouince in the Kingdome of Dania named Angell beneath the Citie Flemburge which Lindebergus calleth Little Anglia Their site notwithstanding is placed by most Authours in Westphalia where the Citie Engern standeth and where Tacitus and Ptolomy rangeth them among the Sueutans which in their times might very well be Others would haue them in Pomerania where the Towne Engloen doth somewhat sound their name so doe Engelheim Engleburg and Englerute places in Germanie beare witnesse and are prints of their footing among the Longobards and Sueuians But the most glorious remembrance of that their name hath beene for these many ages in this Kingdome of England though Saxo Grammaticus as erst we touched Lib. 5. Cap. 2 will needs haue Anglia named from Angul the sonne of Humblus and Giant-like brother of Danus the first King of Denmarke But Albertus Crantzius being offended at his folly telles him that England had the name of Britaine many hundred yeeres after that Angul was dead Others there are that deriue the name England from the manner of this Ilands situation being narrow in the West and North for that Eng in the ancient Teutonik Tongue as well as in the moderne doth signifie Narrow Strait or a Nooke and to that purpose doe produce this verse of a Portugals allusion Anglia terra ferax et fertilis Angulus Orbis Insula praedines quae toto vix eget orbe A fruitfull Angle England thou another world art said An Iland rich and hast no need of other countries aid 11 Callepine without proofe deriueth the Name frō Queene Angela but on as weake a ground as those who will fetch it from their Angel-like faces alluded vnto by Pope Gregory the Great Or that of Goropius from the Angle or Fishing-hooke because saith he they hooked all things to themselues and might verie well therefore be called Good Anglers a very meane conceit in sooth But howsoeuer most certaine it is that these Angles stole the name of this blessed Iland from their elder brethren the Saxons as Iacob did the birth-right from Esau and called it after their owne as wee shall further shew when our Historie hath gotten to the age of the Saxons Monarchie 12 These all claime their descents from Prince Woden called by the ancient Latines Othinus and who is deduced by our Antiquaries as hath beene said from the eldest Sonne of the Patriarke Noah and is accounted the most noble of all the Progenitors of the Saxon Kings insomuch as they and especially the Angle-Saxons our Ancestors haue in their superstitious conceit of such wodden gods imagined Woden to be their principall God of Battell whose Wife named Frea was by the like fancie held a Goddesse of whom more hereafter 13 These had issue between them sundry Sons and from fiue of them all the Monarchs of the English-men haue claimed to haue been descended Wechta the first being reported to be the Progenitor to the Kings of the Kentishmen Caser the second to the Kings of the East-Angles Wethelgeat the third to the Kings of the Mercians Wegdeg the fourth to the Kings of the Dierians and Beldeg the fifth to the Kings of the South-Saxons to the Kings of the Bernicians afterwards Kings of Northumberland and also the Kings of the West-Saxons only the Kings of the East-Saxons claiming to descend of the same race deriue not their descents from any of the Sonnes of the same men This may suffice for the Originals of these three people who as Cisner affirmeth retained still the same manners after they were seated in Europe as they had formerly done in Asia And what those were let vs heare the reports of Tacitus and other ancient Authors who together with the Germans among whom they dwelled doe thus describe them THE MANNERS AND CVSTOMES OF THE ANCIENT SAXONS CHAPTER III. THese Germans and among them the Catti and Sueuians our Ancestors according to Albertus Crantzius were a people saith Tacitus well set sterne of countenance tall of stature gray eied and of a firie aspect and their haire yellow Vnto whom Witichindus the Monke addeth and saith that They were faire of complexion cheerfull of countenance very comely of stature and their limbes to their bodies well proportioned bold of courage hardy in fight and very ambitious of
vse of his owne youth and losse got thereby experience both to defense himselfe and to prouoke others and with such victories abroad repaired his losses at home that as farre as Humber he made all subiect to Kent 3 Thus growne to be the greatest of any Saxon before him hee sought to hold it vp by forraine alliance and to that end became suter for Berta a most vertuous Christian Lady the daughter of Chilperik King of France vnto whom by her father she was lastlie granted but with these conditions that she might reserue her Christian Profession enioy the presence and the instructions of Luidhard her learned Bishop with the place of his Queene 4 These couenants concluded and many French Christians attending her in his Court by their daily seruice of God and continuall practise of pietie drew many of the English to fauour their Religion yea and the King also to bee inclined that way And as these were working the saluation of Kent behold Gods proceedings for the conuersion of the rest 5 It chanced great Gregory then but Arch-deacon of Rome to see certaine youths of this Iland brought to that Citie to be sold for slaues His Christian heart pitying at such heathenish tyrannizing and beholding stedfastly their faces to be faire and Angel-like demanded of their Merchants of what Nation they came who made him answer that they were Angles and by that name were knowne vnto other Nations Indeed said he and not without cause for their resemblance is Angelicall and fit it is that they be made inheritours with the Angels in Heauen But of what Prouince are they said Gregory It was replied Of Deira a Country situated in the Continent of Britaine Now surely saith he it is great pity but these people should bee taken from Dei ira the ire of God And farther asking what was the name of their King it was answered that he was called Ella whereunto he alluding said that Alleluia to the praise of God in that Princes Dominions should shortly be sung 6 And to that purpose himselfe being afterwards Pope sent Austine a Monke with forty others for assistance whereof Melitus Iustus and Iohn were chiefe These landing in Tanet in the moneth of Iuly about fiue hundred ninety and six yeeres after the Incarnation of Christ and one hundred forty and seuen after the first arriuage of these Angles into Britaine had immediately accesse vnto the presence of King Ethelbert but yet in the open Field for hee feared to conferre with them in any house lest by sorcerie as hee fondly surmised he might be ouercome 7 These preaching vnto him the word of life his answer was that presently he could not consent to their Doctrine neither rashly forsake his ancient and accustomed Religion But seeing said hee you tell vs strange things and giue vs faire promises of after life when this life shall be ended wee permit you to preach the same to our people and to conuert as many as you can and wee our selues will minister all things behoouefull for your liuelihood Which promise hee instantly performed and in Canterburie his head City allowed them fit places for residence and sufficient prouision for their maintenance wherein these religious men following in some measure the examples of the Apostles spent their times in preaching and praiers watching for the peoples conuersions and exercising the workes of true piety as examples and motiues vnto others to embrace the Gospel which they sought to plant 8 Neere vnto the East part of the City stood an ancient Church built by the Christian Romans whiles they had dwelt in Britaine and by them dedicated to the honour of S. Martin and is so yet called To this Church the Christian Queene Berta with her Communicants the French daily resorted to pray and vnto these and in this Church Austine and his fellowes began daily to preach vnto whose Sermons so many of the Kentish also resorted that a plentifull haruest in short time appeared vpon the seede-plot of their tillage for it is reported that ten thousand of the English people were baptized there in one day insomuch that the King himselfe forsooke his Heathenish Idolatrie and likewise receiued the Sacrament of Baptisme vnto his saluation in Christ in witnesse whereof hee gaue the Lordship and Royaltie of his chiefe Citie Canterburie vnto Augustine and resigned his princely Palace therein vnto him who in the East of this City laid the foundation of that great and afterwards magnificent Church dedicated to the seruice and name of Christ which at this day is the Cathedrall of that Metropolitan See and Ethelbert to giue him more roome withdrew himselfe vnto Reculuer in Tanet where he erected a Palace for himselfe and his successours the compasse wherof may be traced by an old wal whose ruines remaine there yet to this day 9 Austine thus seated and in the well deserued fauour of King Ethelbert got one request more which was this that whereas by the Law of the Twelue Tables it was forbidden to bury the dead within the walles of any Citie the practise whereof wee daily finde by monuments taken vp in the fields adioining it would please him to giue to that vse an old Idoll-Temple standing without the East Wall of the Citie wherin the King himselfe had wontedly worshipped his Idols This obtained and the Church purged frō that prophane exercise to the seruice of God being honored with the name of S. Pancras King Ethelbert added thereunto a most faire Monasterie built vpon his owne cost and dedicated it vnto the name of Peter and Paul the Apostles appointing it to bee the place for the Kentish Kings Sepulchers and Austine likewise meant it for the burials of his successours in that See But first it became the Monument of his owne name for in regard of the Procurer both Pancras Peter and Paul were soone swallowed vp and the whole called onely by the name of S. Austines In this place eight Kings of Kent had their bodies interred and tenne of their Arch-bishops therein laid vntill that Cuthbert the eleuenth in succession in fauour of S. Iohns a new Church by him erected procured of King Egbert the sonne of Ercombert that the succecding Arch-bishops might be buried there This Monasterie as all the rest did came to her fatall period in the daies of King Henry the Eighth whose vncouered walles stood so long languishing in time and stormes of weather that daily increased the aspect of her ruines till now lastly they are made subiect to other publike vses and the whole tract of that most goodly foundation in the same place no where appearing Onely Ethelberts Tower in memorie and honour of the man as yet hath escaped the verdict and sentence of destruction whose beauty though much defaced and ouerworne will witnesse to succeeding ages the magnificence of the whole when all stood compleat in their glory together 10 These his happie beginnings Austine signified by
wantonnesse and secure in their owne conceit from impeach of danger which Elfred a most skilfull Musitian and an excellent Poet did not a little egge on by his sweet musicke and songs of their valour so that he was suffered to passe vncontrolled into the company of their Princes at banquets or else where whereby he both saw their negligent security and by diligent obseruance learned the designes that in their counsels they entended 13 Returning to his comfortlesse company he told them the condition of the hostile Campe and how easie it was to recouer againe their decaied estates whereupon shewing himselfe to his subiects vnto whose sight nothing could bee more ioyous on the suddaine set vpon the carelesse Campe of the Danes and made thereof a very great slaughter to the great terrour of others in other parts that had accounted him dead long since 14 Hubba that had harried the English and now rowzed vpon the newes of King Elfreds victory and life with thirty three ships sailed from Wales and arriuing in the mouth of Tau where it falleth into the Seuerne Sea assaied to take there the then-strong Castle called Kinwith vnto whom the Deuonshire men gaue battle and slew eight hundred and eighty persons of their retinue where died the Danish King Hubba whose corps being there interred vnder a great heape of copped stones gaue name to the place and was called Hubblestone There and then was taken the Danish much esteemed Banner called Reafan wherin a Rauen was purtraied wrought in needle-worke so Asserius Meneuensis reporteth by the three sisters of Hubba and Hungar the daughters of Lothbroke that is Leather-breach the Dane In regard whereof as also for the opinion of good lucke as they tooke it it was cuer born before them in their wars 15 These aduerse proceedings of the Danes designes especially falling when the game was neere wonne made them suspect how faire soeuer the ball lay to hand yet fortune would serue it in the end to their losse for Elfred now flocked vnto vpon euery side beganne to build fortresses behind his backe and forward to march with his conquering sword whereupon the Danes sent to him for Peace and deliuered him hostages vpon assurance that they meant as they spake The conditions were that their King should receiue Baptisme and the great Army of the Danes quietly to depart out of the land 16 Whereupon Gurmound or Gurthrun the Danish King repaired to the new built Castle of Edelingsey vnto King Elfred and in the place then called Alre was washed in the lauer of Baptisme whom Elfred receiued for his God-son by the name of Athelstane and gaue him in free gift the Country of East-Angles In the same fountaine of Grace saith Simond Dunelmensis thirty of the chiefe Danish Nobility were initiated vpon whom the truly Christian King Elfred bestowed many rich gifts And that the limites of the English might be free from their incursions thus the confines of King Elfreds kingdome were laide forth as we find it in the end of those Lawes that Elfred published whose words are these Let the bounds of our Deminioâ—… stretch from the riuer Thamesis and from thence to the water of Lea euen vnto the head of the same water and so forth straight vnto Bedford and finally going along by the riuer of Ouse let them end at Watling street 17 But so farre were the Danes from performance of couenants that in this eight yeare of King Elfreds raigne and the eight hundred seuenty nine after Christ this Gurmund and his company wintered at Chipnam in Wiltshire and a new supply of these Pagans known by the name of the Wicciâ—…gi wintred at Fulhâ—…m neere London yet after vpon better aduice the one went into their assigned circuit and the other departed to the realme of France and so to his twelfth yeare the land tooke some rest that had been kept long waking by the loud sound of warre 18 In the yeare of Grace eight hundred eighty fiue these last retired Danes finding France not fitting their purpose returned into Kent and put into Medway where on his East side they began a fierce siege vnto the City Rochester before whose gate they built a strong Castle Thither King Elfred hasted before whose power these Danes could not stand but were forced to their shippes and backe againe into France 19 Whereupon the King remoued his siege vnto London whence all the Danes fled as Wolues abide not the presence of the Lion the inhabitants reioicing to see the face of their King which City hee restored to her former liberty and beauty and committed the custody thereof vnto Ethelred Duke of Mercia that had maried his daughter the Lady Ethelfred whose title the King had maintained against Colwolphus made King thereof by the Danes Wherupon both Kent the South-Saxons and West-Saxons came willingly and submitted themselues to King Elfred The East-Angles being gouerned or rather spoiled by Athelstan the christned Dane who after twelue yeares raigne there died and was buried at Hadley in Suffolke 20 But in the one and twentieth of his raigne and of Christs Incarnation eight hundred ninety two those rouing Danes returned out of France againe arriued in Kent in the mouth of the riuer Limen with two hundred and fifty ships which they drew foure miles into the great wood then called Andreads Weald and there destroied a Castle that stood for defence building another more strong at Apulder wherein they kept At the same time likewise entred one Hastings a Nobleman of Norway with eighty ships but with a fairer shew as hee entended for he sent his oath vnto Elfred not to annoy any part of his dominions and withall his two sonnes to bee baptized which King Elfred accepted himselfe becomming the Godfather of the one and Duke Ethelred of the other and both they and his Ambassadors returned with rich gifts Against these Kentish inuaders King Elfred fought a great battaile at Fernham neere vnto Aelesford wherein he wounded their King and forced his Army to flee ouer Thamesis in passing whereof through ouermuch hast and great feare many of them were drowned and they that escaped fled to an Iland called Breklesey inclosed about by the riuer Colne 21 Newes then being brought into the East that the Danes from Northumberland had infested the West and with a strong siege begirt the City Excester Elfred left for Generall his sonne in law Duke Ethelred whilest he with a strong power went to suppresse their rage who hearing of his comming brake vp their siege and were gone vpon the aduantage of his absence perlured Hastings then wrought who out of his new built Castle at Beamfield made spoile of the Kings people and forraged all the Country before him Whereupon Duke Ethelred assembled a power and first assailing his wel stored Castle tooke thence his wife and two sonnes with exceeding spoiles of gold siluer and garments
following their award that being offended with their censure he presently assaulted and tooke the Castle of Burren neither did Robert for his part sleepe the whiles but surprised the Castle of Argenton which was by former couenants giuen to King William drawing likewise Philip the French King to his side who with his Army entred Normandy for his assistance 25 King VVilliam then waying into what danger hee had brought himselfe all approuing Duke Robert and disallowing his Acts he sought to doe that by money which he could not by sword Therfore to those souldiers which in heat of his furie he had commanded to bee sent him into Normandy euen twenty thousand now in readinesse and at Hastings staying for a wind he sent a countermand exacting of euery common souldier ten shillings in money for the release and so without further trouble to return to their homes with which summe he so pacified the French King that hee now left Robert to looke to himselfe who thus forsaken was constrained to come to an vnreasonable peace 26 And the more willingly for that the holy wars for Ierusalem deliberated of fiue yeares before were now hotely pursued by Pope Vrbane the second whome Bibliander blameth to be the causer of much Christian blood-shed onely to set vp that which Christ by Prophesie had laid in desolation Among these Christian valiant Captains Duke Robert would be one but wanting money no newes at all to his coffers hee sent to his brother King VVilliam to bee supplied and for the summe of sixe thousand sixe hundred sixty sixe pound of siluer Paulus Aemilius saith sixe thousand nine hundred thirty foure more morgaged his Dutchy vnto him giuing him the possession thereof before his departure 27 To make vp which summe hee did not only oppresse and fleece his poore subiects but rather to vse the words of Paris with importunate exactions did as it were flea off their skins for the Churches and Monasteries hauing sold away their Iewels and Chalices to satisfie his appetite and answering they could make no more the King replied with some scorne And haue you not I beseech you Coffins of Gold and Siluer for dead mens bones Accounting the money laid out vpon this holy Expedition to be better imploied then to garnish the reliques of the dead 28 The King thus finding his fortune in all things pliable to his wishes and his heart therewith greatly puffed vp his purpose was now at his returne from Normandy to make a full conquest of Wales therefore redoubling his forces hee drew into the Marches where piching his Tents hee consulted with his Captaines what was best to bee done The Welshmen finding themselues ouerweake fled according to their accustomed manner into the Woods and Mountaines taking thereby such aduantage against their pursuers that the King returned without any notable deed done and with the like successe he vndertooke an other Expedition against them the yeere following 29 But bearing a minde still to subdue al Wales he had first in his eie the Iland Anglesey against which he sent Hugh Mountgomery Earle of Shrewesburie and Hugh Lupus Earle of Chester who there executed their Conquests with very great cruelties cutting off the Noses Hands and Armes of their resisters without regard of age or sexe nor sparing either places or persons sacred or prophane At which very time it chanced Magnus King of Norway the sonne of Olanus the sonne of Harold Harfager to haue made his Conquest of the Iles of Orkeney and then wafting along the Seas sought to come on Land in Anglesey whom to impeach these Earles made all their powers where Hugh Mountgomery armed at all parts but onely the sight of his Beuer was shot into his right eye whereof hee died eight daies after 30 The holy voyage now set forward vnto which Pope Vrbane was a chiefe instigator thirty thousand Christians tooke the Signe of the Crosse wearing it on their garments as the cognizance of their deuoted warfare The chiefest Captaine of which Princely Army was Peter a poore Hermit who returning from Ierusalem certified the Pope of the Christians great miserie vnder those mercilesse Infidels but the good man more exercised in praiers the weapons of Votaries then expert to guide an Army was soone entrapped among the Bulgares and slaine with most of his souldiers But yet the businesse still prosecuted the number of all degrees and ages flocking to the seruice is reported to haue amounted a thing almost incredible vnto seuen hundred thousand In chiefe commaund of which huge Armie were imploied many braue Princes of Christendome as Godfrey the famous Duke of Loraine with his brethren Eustace and Baldwin Bohemund Duke of Naples and his Nephew Tancredus Robert Earle of Flanders Hugh le grand brother to Philip the French King Raymund Earle of S. Egidius and besides many other great Princes the foresaid Robert Duke of Normandy not the last in esteeme for his renowned seruice as his memorable prowesse in that imploiment did afterwards make apparant vnto the world All these meeting at Constantinople where Alexius was Emperour passed ouer Hellespont and proceeded with better successe then the Hermit had done subduing Cities and Countries before them with the slaughter of an hundred thousand Infidels and purchase of great spoiles and lastly tooke Ierusalem the holy City in the thirty ninth day after the Siege thereof But let vs from Iewrie returne into England 31 King William at rest whilst his Brother and the rest were in warres thinking now both of fortifying and beautifying his Kingdome caused new walles to be built about the Tower of London and at Westminster * where before was the ancient Palace of Saint Edward and his Ancestours said new foundations of a most large and Princely Palace the Hall whereof by the testimony of Paris should haue extended if he had liued to finish it from the Riuer Thamesis euen vnto the common high way as might appeare by the first groundworks at the time wherin Paris wrote but that stately Building which now we cal the Great Hall he finished as it now standeth containing in length two hundred and seuenty foote in breadth seuenty foure yet when some praised the largenesse thereof hee found fault that it was not made bigger accounting it scarse worthy the name of a Bed-Chamber in respect of that which he intended to build And certes of a right magnanimous disposition was this Rufus as appeared at such time when sitting at dinner purposing forthwith to take his pleasure in hunting a messenger brought him sudden newes of the Siege of Mayne a City in Normandy whereto when the King answered He would take aduice what to doe But thy Subiects replied the party are in distresse and cannot be delaied whereat the King swore his wonted Oath that if they could not they should not and
him for Normandy Aquitane Angiou Main and Tourain which partly were his patrimony and partly the inheritance of Elianor his wife 6 His domesticke enemies being subdued or appeased hee put his brother Geffrey by force to a pension the summe whereof if it be any thing to the purpose to know was 1000. l. English and 2000. l. Aniou by yeere wringing out of his possession all such territories as by their Fathers last Will and Testament were bequeathed to him in France But Geffrey did not long enioy the said annuity or his brothers friendship for in the third yeare death brought a discharge and Henry was disburdened of those paiments For his violence in taking away those lands King Henry might alledge he was eldest brother but that allegation might bee auoided with his owne consent which once hee gaue but the great Elixar called Reason of State though falsly so called vnlesse it bee seasoned with Iustice and Religion hath so transmutatiue a faculty as to make Copper seeme Gold right wrong and wrong right yea when all Pleas faile it will stand for good while there are forces to support it 7 This accord between the two brethren being thus howsoeuer established the King repaires into England and at Chester enters amity with Malcolme King of Scots on such termes as his Grandfather had done yet Saluis omnibus dignitatibus suis sauing to himselfe all his dignities and the said Malcolme restored to Henry the City of Karleol Newcastle vpon Tyne c. and Henry restored to him the Earledome of Huntington in England And so iustly dreadfull did the growing puissance of this young Monarch appeare to his greatest enemies that Hugh Bigod Earle of Norfolke who had potent means to doe mischiefe rendred his Castle to bee at his disposall 8 The Welsh notwithstanding forsooke not themselues but did some memorable matters vnder conduct of the valiant Prince Owen against the English in defence of North-Wales and their Countries liberty to the losse of the English and extreame danger of the Kings owne person whose Standard roiall was cowardly abandoned and the King reported to be slaine for which Henrie de Essex the Kings Standard-Bearer at that conflict was afterward accused by Robert de Montford his neere Kinsman and in single battaile within lists was vanquished at Reading where the said Henry de Essex was shorne a Monke and died Mathew Paris relates the whole voiage of King Henry summarily thus That Henry prepared a very great Army against the Welsh with full purpose to ouercom them both by land and sea that hee cut vp the woods and forrests and laid open a way that hee recouered the Castle of Ruthlan and other fortresses taken from his Ancestors that hee repaired the Castle of Basingwerke and that hauing brought the Welsh to his will hee returned with triumph into England 9 After this himselfe and his wife Queene Elienor beeing openly crowned vpon Christmas day some say Easter day at the Citie of Worcester they both at the Offertorie laid their Diademes vpon the high Altar vowing neuer to weare them after this beeing now the third time in which at three seuerall places Westminster Lincolne and Worcester he had beene crowned This deuout act of his did flow perhaps out of some such speculation as that of Canutus who thought none truly worthy the name of King but God alone or that vpon which Godfrey of Buillion refused to weare a crowne of gold in Hierusalem where our Lord and Sauiour had beene crowned with thornes For this King had at times the pangs and symptoms of mortification and piety and did heerein acknowledge the onely giuer and taker-away of kingdoms God-almighty putting himselfe and Realme vnder the protection of that Maiestie of whom hee held paramount and professing as it were that from thencefoorth hee would direct his actions to the glorie of his omnipotent Master which is indeede the only finall cause of all true monarchie 10 Not long after hauing established his affaires in England hee crost the Seas into Normandie where successiuely sundrie matters of importance fell out as the seisure of the City of Nants in Britaine after his brother Geffreis death his iourney to Paris beeing inuited thither by Lewis and his wife the Queene the vnprofitable siege of Tholouze laid by King Henrie where Malcolme King of Scots was in companie with him the vnripe marriage of his sonne Henrie to Margaret the French Kings daughter whom Thomas Becket then Lord Chancellor had formerlie conducted with verie great State from Paris by consent of parents for that purpose the offence taken at those spousals by Lewis for that the children were but infants and that himselfe was a looser thereby the warre heereupon attempted by Lewis fortifying Chaâ—…mount which the French hauing quit the Field by flight King Henrie recouered with aduantage the Armies of both these great Kings being afterward at point as it were to ioine dispersed vpon reconciliation of the two Kings by reason of a marriage concluded vpon betweene Richard King Henries second son and Alice the French Kings daughter All which and some other not drawing with them any extraordinarie sequell nor offording much matter for ciuill document must not preponderate the handling of things more rare and considerable 11 For after these accidents beganne the famous controuersies betweene the King and his Arch-bishop Becket a man of an inuincible stomack and resolution in his life and after death reputed by some for a great Saint or Martyr as is likewise noted of Henrie that he was the most politike martiall rich and honoured Prince of all his time This Prelate by birth a Londoner though his mother a Sarazen say some by profession a Ciuilian was by Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterburie both made his Arch-deacon and also placed about the person of Duke Henrie who beeing now King aduanced him in the verie first yeere of his raigne to bee Lord Chancellor of England in which high honor he carried himselfe like another King and afterward vpon the death of Theobald though the Monks obiected against Becket that neither a Courtier nor a Souldier as hee had beene both were fit to succeede in so high and sacred a function yet the King gaue him that Arch-bishopricke partly in reward and partly in further hope of his ready and faithfull seruice Which to be true a Legender of his Miracles can best relate Nonnullis tamen c. Many saith hee iudged his promotion not Canonicall because it was procured more by the importunity of the King then by the voices of Clergie or People and it was noted as presumption and indiscretion in him to take vpon him to guide the Sterne who was scarce fit to handle an Oare and that beeing skild onely in worldly affaires hee did not tremble to ascend vnto that sacred top of so great dignitie Whereto agreeth the reports of two
violence or to engage others in the impietie gaue three thousand Markes of King Richards ransome to make siluer Censers through all the Cistercian order who generally refused the gift as parcell of an accursed spoile for as for those* seuenty thousand marks which hee forgaue to King Richard with as bad a purpose being to hinder peace betweene him and the French as he had taken the other vniustly they are not to be accounted as restitution but as the wages of sinne reuenge forsooke him not being pursued by his owne wife the Heire of the Crowne of Sicilia in reuenge of some cruelties done to her Countrimen and after reconcisement with her falling dangerously sicke he died at Messana excommunicated for King Richards cause And albeit hee had in his life time sent his Chancellour out of Burgundie of purpose to offer King Richard recompence for the iniuries he had sustained and although Constantia the Empresse had sent the Archbishoppe of Messana while the Emperours body lay aboue ground without buriall to Pope Celestine in humble manner praying Christian buriall yet vnlesse the mony which hee had extorted from the King of England were restored hee could by no entreaties obtaine it which accordingly was promised 54 Neither were the King of Englands afflictions vnprofitable vnto him for they gaue him occasion to reforme his life taking home to him his Queene Berengaria whose society for a long time he had neglected though she were a roiall eloquent beauteous Lady and for his loue had ventured with him through the world 55 King Richard after his ioyous returne into England hauing at the Abbey of Saint Edmunds in performance of his vow as may seeme offered vp the rich Imperiall Standard of Cursac Emperour of Cyprus which hee tooke among the spoiles of the Griffons Campe thence he marched and tooke in by surrender such Castles as the seruants of his brother Iohn beleeuing that the King was not returned held against him but Henry de Pumeray who had fortified Saint Michaels Mount in Cornwall hearing for certaine that King Richard was come died for very feare And now forty daies of summons being exspired which were allowed to Earle Iohn Hugh Bishop of Couentry for making their appearance to answere to such heinous matter as was prepared and they not appearing Iohn was adiudged by the Peeres and States of England to haue forfeited all that hee might forfeit in the Realme and the Bishop to be punishable by the Ecclesiasticall censures as hee was a Bishop and likewise as an Officer of the King by the Laitie Richard afterwarde bestirres himselfe to draw in money more greedilie then did become so great a Maiesty wherein yet saith * one he was rather to be pardoned then accused for that hee was presently to lead a mightie Armie against the French 56 But first of all to wipe away both the sadnes and contumelie of his late restraint for a better fortunes beginning he caused himselfe to be crowned againe at the City of Winchester which celebritie was honoured with the presence of William king of Scotland who bare a sword before King Richard betweene which two Princes there* followed great amity and tendernesse of loue then beeing granted to him and his successors Kings of Scotland a certaine pension with sundry other allowances and princelie attendances from the first day of their friendlie entrances at any time into England til their returne 57 The King likewise caused a new broad Seale to bee made requiring that all Charters granted vnder his former should be confirmed vnder this whereby he drew a great masse of money to his Treasurie subscribing such renued Charters thus This was the tenor of our Charter vnder our first Seale which because it was lost and in the time of our beeing captine in Almaine was in the power of another wee caused to bee changed c. Some haue obserued that as this Richard was the first of the English Kinges who bare Armes on his Seales as appeareth by the former so was hee the first who carried in his shield three Lions passant borne euer after for the Regal Arms of England And whereas we see heere the Moone in her full which in the other was but a Crescent which is the Turkish Ensigne it may seeme to be done Emblematically in that sence as wee read of another Prince who going against the Turkes gaue a Crescent with this word Plenior redibo I will returne more full The true draught of this second Seale we haue here annexed 58 A good Author reports that after this the King being at dinner at Westminster and receiuing aduertisement of the siege laid to Vernoil by his restlesse enemie Philip of France sware that hee would neuer turne his face till hee had gotten thither with his Armie to fight with the French whereupon hee caused the wall to be cut through the signe of which breach appeared aboue two hundred yeares after neuer resting till with an hundred great Shippes hee had crost the seas from Portsmouth into Normandy where the onely rumor of his approch made the French King raise his siege and without stroke or sight of his magnanimous Enemie but not without losse and shame to quite the field 59 Neither was his clemency lesse then his courage whereof needs no greater testimony then when vpon Earle Iohns dutifull submission his mothers intercession he so freely forgaue him as that he calmely said Would that thy fault may so be forgotten of me as that thy selfe maiest keepe in memorie what thou hast done and afterward restored his possessions vnto him the Earle from that time forward becōming his true Knight doing him very noble seruices especially against the French who had seduced him as a louing brother faithfull Leege-man whereby he made amends for his former excesses and fully recouered the hearty affection of his Lord and brother 60 There were after this sundry skirmishes takings of Prisoners and Townes and conferences betweene the French and English moued belike by such as religiously tendered the effusion of Christian bloud so as no great matter was yet effected that which was being rather by Stratagems and starts then by battle but within * thirty seuen daies after the French mens flight from Vernuil King Richard in reuenge of that desolation which the French King had brought vpon the City of Eureux where he neither spared age sexe nor Church comming to Vendome with purpose to surprise the King of France had the spoile of the French Campe their King a thing almost incredible now the second time flying without battle Many of the French were slaine and taken together with much treasure the Chappell roiall the Indentures of such as had left Richard to serue King Philip and all the * tents carriages and other furnitures for warre and from hence marching in Poictou and Engolisme hee had such successes
besought him My Soueraigne Lord and King I haue beene nourished by you and made rich in worldly substance confound not your own Creature but at leastwise grant mee a time of deliberation that I may render a competent reason for such points as I am charged with Thou shalt said the King be carried to the Tower of London there to deliberate till I am satisfied He was so Stephen de Segraue the Lord Chiefe Iustice whom the King also called most wicked Traitour had time till Michaelmas to make his accounts at the Archbishops and other Bishops humble entreaty and for other matters he shifted them off from himselfe by laying the blame vpon such as were higher in place then hee into whose office of Chiefe Iustice Hugh de Pateshull is aduanced The like euasion Robert Paslew had by leauing the fault vpon Walter Bishoppe of Carleil who was aboue him in the Exchequer and thus were these ciuill enormities reformed not without reducing store of Coine to the King 50 As those continuall turmoiles and plagues of the Sword much afflicted the land so this was the third yeere wherein God inflicted also for sin the plague of famine whereby the poore did miserably perish there being no Samaritan to pay for their barbouring or to annoint their wounds with the oyle of consolation Our Authors to make manifest how odious the mercilesse heart is in the sight of God relate a storie of that time with protestation that they doe it left so memorable an example should be in time forgotten Certain poore while as yet the Corne was greene pluckt the eares in the common fields to sustaine their liues whereupon the Owners call on the Priest to curse all such as had so done but one in their company adiured the Priest in the name of God to exempt his corne from the sentence saying it pleased him well that the poore driuen with famine had taken his corne and so commended that which they had left to God The Priest compelled by importunity of the rest was entred into the sentence when by a terrible interrupting tempest of thunder lightning wind haile and raine all the corne-fieldes about were desolated as if they had beene troden downe with Horse and Cartes that no kind of beast or fowle would feed vpon the corne thus laid But as say our Authors out of the Scripture seeing they who are pitteous find mercy that honest and compassionate hearted man found all his corne and grounds though interlaced with theirs altogether vntoucht and vnharmd Wherupon say they it is more cleare then any light that as glory to God on high is sung of Angels so there is peace on Earth to men who are of goodwill This dearth was in France and Gascoigne aswell as in England A Iewish impiety may well be annexed to want of Christian Charity There were brought before the King at Westminster seuen Iewes who circumcised a Child and purposed in contempt of Christ and Christianity to haue crucified him in Easter at Norwich 51 These now calmer times were made more happy by the marriage of the Emperour Fredericke with the Lady Isabel the King of Englands sister a beauteous young Lady about twenty yeeres of age The messengers arriued in March with the Emperours letters closed vnder a Seale of gold and there were sent to conduct her ouer the Archbishoppe of Colein and the Duke of Louain The King brought her to Sandwich with about three thousand horse in his traine and being imperially furnished with all worldly abundance shee tooke shipping in May and in one dayes and one nights space arriued at Antwerpe a City of the Empire was euery where most magnificently entertained her sweet humility and excellent beauty drawing all to loue and honour her At the solemnitie of her marriage were present three Kings eleuen Dukes thirty Marquesses Earles besides the number of great Prelates On whether superstition or obseruation of the Emperour is noted at this marriage that he forbare the Empresses company till a certaine howre which his VVisards or Astrologers had assigned and in the morning hee caused her to bee carefully tended as a woman with child and sent word to his brother the King of England that hee should haue a sonne so skilfull or confident hee was and God did fauour his iudgement for it proued so This Imperiall affinity gaue a worthy Historian occasion here to display and emblazon the Maiesty and glory of the English Princes but amongst them all none were higher aduanced then the Children of King Iohn one of whose sons was now a King the other afterward chosen to be an Emperour and one of his daughters a Queen this other here mentioned an Empresse And here doth VVendouer end his history to whom we haue hitherto been beholding for his labours sorry wee can enioy his good company no longer 52 There were spread through England about this time certaine Romane Vsurers called Caurfini who had entangled the King himselfe most of the great men and all others as had to deale with the Court of Rome in their cunning snares Their first entrance into England was some few yeeres past when the Pope requiring the tenth of all moueable goods in England Ireland and Wales towards his wars against the Emperour Fredericke sent Stephen his Nunce hither to collect it who brought with him that race of deuouring-Monsters vnder humane shape called the Popes Marchants vnder colour of Richard late Earle Marshall to commit that assassinate vpon him This execrable wretch hauing beene a Courtier and one of the Kings Knights supposing to haue found the King in his owne retiring Bed had about midnight gotten in at the Chamber window but God in whose special protection the liues of Princes are disappointed him for the King was elsewhere in bed with his Queen Neuerthelesse he gaue not ouer but with naked knife in hand sought vp and downe in some other Chambers One of the Queenes gentlewomen sitting late and very deuoutly at her booke by candle-light at sight of the furious villaine with her shriking noise wakened the Kings seruants who starting out of their Bed laid hands vpon him afterward he was drawne in peeces with horses at Couentree And worthily for as a vulgar Chronicler hereupon saith truly in wounding and killing a Prince the Traitor is guilty of homicide of parricide of Christiâ—…ide nay of Deicide William de Marisco who was saide to bee the instigator of this Treason knowing his danger became a Pyrate fortified the Isle of Lundey in Seuern where hee did much mischiefe the situation of that little Iland being inexpugnable At length hee was surprised therein and sixteene of his Complices who all of them after conuiction were put to death at London William to the last gaspe denying his priuity to the former treasonous attempt of
Priest if such an election might stand by law or lawfull fauour But the Pope who meant to make his aduantage hereof as well as the King exacted of him for confirmation of the same election fiue hundreth Markes of Church reuenewes to be passed ouer vnto the Earle of Burgundies sonne a childe which makes the Monke to breake forth into this bitter lamentation O Pope the Chiefe of Fathers why dost thou suffer thus the Christian world to be defiled worthily worthily therefore art thou driuen out of thy owne Citie and See and like a runnagate and another Cham art inforced to wander vp and downe ô God thou God of iust reuenge when wilt thou drawforth thy sword to imbrue it in the blood of such oppressors Though in these vniuersall abuses the Pope would neither redresse himselfe nor others yet God raised vp a stout and learned Prelate Robert Grostest Bishop of Lincolne who vndertooke to reforme the Monks and Friars but they who knew Râ—…e was from the beginning Asylum Latronum appealed to the Pope Whereupon the aged Bishop going to his holinesse tolde him that all offenders escaped by his opening his bosome to such as brought him bribes who snapping him vp with angrie Countenance and speech sent him home with reproach The Pope was at this time at Lyons where not long after the CouÌ„cel breaking vp Cardinal Huge made a Sermon of farewell to the Citizens wherein amongst other benefites which the Popes lying in their City had brought them he told them this was a Principall that whereas at their comming there were three or foure Whore-houses in the Lyons now at their departing they left but one but indeed that reached from the East-Gate of the City to the West Whereby wee see France had some part of the Popes Almes as well as England 77 The King now whollie intent vpon encrease of treasure neither gaue any rich presents according to the ancient Custome of England and also shortneth yet more the allowances of his Househould and entertainements without any regard to Maicstie or rumor And to spare his owne charge the rather he inuites himself sometime to this man and sometime to that but no where contenting himselfe with his diet hospitage vnlesse both he his Queene 〈◊〉 sonne Edward yea and chiefe fauourites in Court were presented with great and costly gifts which they tooke not as of Courtesie but as due This was the vnhonourable face of the Kings estate at that time But in the depth of his wants and rigour of his Parcimonie he could not shut vp himselfe against the suites and aduancement of his Poictouines and Prâ—…ncois so that it was become a common murmur in England Our inheritance is conuerted to aliens and our houses to strangers The matter seemed the more grieuous for that their pride and violence were intollerable About this time the clause Non obstante brought in first by the Pope was taken vp in England by the King in his grants and other writings as Non obstante priore mandato Non obstante antiqua libertate c. This our ancient Author cals an odious and detestable clause and Roger de Thurkeby Iustitiar fetching a deepe sigh at the sight thereof cried out both of the times and it saying it was a streame deriued from that sulphureous fountain of the Clergie 78 Another of the Kings Iusticiars and a learned Knight Sir Henry de Bath whose Lady because herselfe was well descended filled him with pride was so confidently greedy the better to satisfie her ambition that in one circuit hee appropriated to himselfe aboue two hundreth pound lands Corruption in Iustice which must needs be suspected to be there where excessiue wealth is gotten by the Officers of Iustice is but a sandie ground-worke of a vainely-hoped greatnesse and may well bee reputed in the number of crying sinnes and this moued a Knight Sir Philip de Arci to appeach him before the King both for vnfaithfulnesse in his office and treason against the King The King had no hold of himselfe after hee was once throughly kindled Bath knowes it and therefore writes to his wiues friends to come strong in his defence that the King should not dare to call him to his triall yet withall hee seekes all secret meanes how to appease the King who vnderstanding of this combination was the more enflamed The Earle of Cornwall his brother could not appease him no not though hee knit vp his intercessions with these minatorie words Wee must not forsake Gentlemen in their right nor in preseruing the peace of the tottering Kingdome In March there was holden a Parliament at London there the King caused Bath to bee sharpely prosecuted Thither Sir Henry Bath repairs strongly attended with Knights and Gentlemen of his owne friends and his wiues to daunt the edge of Iustice which he deseruedly feared The accusations were many for all meÌ„ were called to say what they could against him and among all these two most hainous that he troubled the whole Realme and stirred all the Barons thereof against the King so that a generall rebellion was to be feared which one of his fellow-Iusticiars did openly testifie that hee had for reward discharged a conuicted Malefactor out of prison without punishment in preiudice of the King and to the perill of his associate Iusticiars The King was so enraged herewith that seeing no other way to punish him being so strongly backed hee mounted into an higher place then before and cries out Whosoeuer kils Henrie de Bath shall be quit of his death and I here doe acquit him and presently departs Neuerthelesse although hee left behind him many men who would haue readily executed the Kings terrible doome yet by the wisdome of Sir Iohn Mansel one of the Kings priuate Councellors they were restrained His wordes are worthy to bee remembred Gentlemen anâ—… friends it is not necessary for vs to put that presently in execution which the King hath in his anger commanded It may bee when his wrath is ouerblowne hee will bee sorry hee said it Moreouer if any outrage be done to Bath loe here are his friends who will take all sorts of reuenge Sir Henry escaping thus from so present a danger found meanes vpon promise of money and great mediation of friends to obtain his peace safety for at thiâ—…me Iustice and all things grew saleable The North-East part of Wales was committed to Alan de Zouch who had it in Farme for eleuen hundreth Markes yeerely whereas Iohn de Gray whom he supplanted in the place paid but fiue hundreth so miserable Wales was let out to such as would giue most 79 Alexander the third succeeding his Father in the Kingdome of Scotland comming in Christmas to Yorke there espoused though very young the Lady Margaret daughter to King Henry There were present the two Kings in person with a most choice multitude of either Nation the
both by Clergy and Laity Hereupon the Lord Henry Percy Hotspur who had redeemed himself was called from his charge at Callis and made Warden of the Marches against Scotland Thomas Moubray Earle of Nottingham succeeding in the Captaineship of Calys The Dukes chargefull emploiment in France bare no other flower then a yeeres short truce 89 The Kings wants still encreasing with his imploiments the Londoners carried away with euill counsell did a thing most vnworthy of their Citie and themselues and it might to them haue proued as hurtfull as it was vnworthy at such time as the King desired the loane but of one thousand pounds which was not onely churlishly denied but a certaine Lumbard honestly offering to lend the same was badly vsed beaten and almost slain Their liberties for that and other disorders are seised and their proper Magistracy dissolued Guardians being giuen them first Sir Edward Dallinging then Sir Baldwin Radington and their Maior and some chiefe Citizens layed in prisons farre off from London The punishment brought the fowlenesse of their errors to their sight but by the Duke of Glocesters intercessions who did not vnwillingly lay hold vpon such occasions of popularity the king and Queene are wonne to enter the City which gaue them triumphall entertainement The sea is not sodainely calmed after a tempest neither a Princes anger By degrees yet and not without deare repentance they were at last restored to their former condition in all points 90 The king declaring his purpose to crosse into Ireland had an aide of money conditionally granted foure yeeres truce by the trauaile of the two Dukes of Lancaster and Glocester being concluded in France This yeere was farther notable for many great Funerals Constance Dutchesse of Aquitaine and Lancaster a Lady of great Innocency and deuotion the Countesse of Derby her daughter in law Isabel the Dutchesse of Yorke and a Lady noted for too great a finenesse and delicacy yet at her death shewing much repentance and sorrow for her loue to those pestilent vanities left this present life But all the griefe for their deaths did in no sort equall that of the kings for the losse of his owne Queene Anne which about the same time hapned at Sheene in Surrey whom he loued euen to a kind of madnesse but Ladies onely died not for Sir Iohn Hawkwood whose cheualrie had made him renowned ouer the Christian world did in this yeere depart an aged man out of this world in Florence where his ashes remaine honoured at this present with a stately Tombe and the statue of a Man at Armes erected by the gratitude of that State and City which chiefly by his conduct courage and valour to this day admired amongst them was preserued The Italian Writers both Historians and Poets highlie celebrating his matchlesse prowesse enstyle him Anglorum decus decus addite genti Italicae Italico prasidiumque Solo. Englands prime honour Italies renowne Who vpheld all Italie from sinking down But the Duke of Lancaster hauing all things ready sets saile to Burdeaux there with the consent of the State to take possession of his lately granted Dutchie 91 The King doth the like for Ireland where that sort of the Irish which are called the wild had greatly inuested the English Pale and other good Subiects there to the great dammage of the Crown of England In the times of Edward the third Ireland yeelded to the kings coffers thirty thousand pounds yeerly but now things were so grown out of order that it cost the King thirty thousand Marks by yeere To reduce the rebellious himselfe conducts thither an Armie attended vpon by the Duke of Glocester the Earles of March Nottingham and Rutland all the Irish being commanded to auoid out of England The terror of the preparatiōs shining presence of a king which aboue al worldly things is pleasāt to the Irish had such effects that sundry great men were compelled to submit themselues To supply the Kings wants growne in the Irish expedition Edmund D. of Yorke the Kings vncle and Custos or Warden of England called a Parliament at London whither the Duke of Glocester repaired to declare the Kings wants and hath contributions granted Neuerthelesse so strong a party against the Clergy Fryarly abuses of those times discouered it selfe therein that the Archbishop of Yorke the Bishop of London and others prest ouer Sea to the King at Dublin beseeching him to returne the sooner to represse the Lollards so called they the embracers of Wicliffes doctrine and their fauourers who sought not onely as they vntruly pretended to wring away all the possessions of the Church but that which was worse to abrogate and destroy al Ecclesiasticall constitutions whereas they aimed onely at the redresse of exorbitancy in the Papal Clergy The King hereupon returnes by whose arriuall and authority those consultations of the Laity were laid downe Sir Richard Storie a seruant of his had been forward against the Prelates of him therefore hee takes an oath vpon the holy Gospell that he should not hold such opinions any longer The Knight takes that oath and we saith the King doe sweare that if thou doest breake it thou shalt die a most shamefull death The rest hearing the Lion roare so terribly drew in their hornes and would be seen no more 92 The King caused the body of the late Duke of Ireland to bee brought into England His exceeding loue to him was such that he commanded the Cypresse chest wherein his body lay embalmed to bee opened that hee might see view handle and openly expresse his affection The dead remaines of that noble young Gentleman by his birthright Earle of Oxford and by race a Vere were buried at the Priorie of Coln in Essex there being present the King himselfe the Countesse Dowager of Oxford the Dukes mother the Archbishoppe of Canterburie with many Bishops Abbots and religious persons but few of the Lords for they had not as yet digested the hate they bare him 93 The Duke of Lancaster was this while in Aquitaine where he had sought to winne the people with incredible largesse to accept of his Soueraignty according to the tenor of King Richards grant Little did he then thinke that within lesse then sixescore and three yeeres after an Ambassador of King Henry the 8. should write thus of Burdeaux it selfe the Capitall City of Gascoign and Guien Anglorum nulla ferè vestigia remanent c. There are saith that learned Gentleman scarse any foot-prints of the Englishmen remaining In the Churches and other places newly refreshed and reedified such Armories of the English as stood were vtterly blotted and defaced yet in the Church of the Fryers Preachers the Armories of the Duke of Lancaster stand entire in a Glasse-window and in the oldest wall of the City those also of England though consumed in a manner with age The Lawes Statutes and Ordinations which were
Duke of Orleance the Earle of Eu Guacourt and Guichard de Sisay should not be ransomed vntill yong Henry were of yeeres to gouerne 82 Thus said and drawing neere to the period of his short but glorious life he demanded of his Physitians how long in their iudgement he might liue wherunto when one of thē answered Sir thinke on your soule for your time is not aboue 2. houres he made his cōfession his Chaplains afterward kneeling in prayer when one of them out of the Psalms made mention of Ierusalem the king no sooner heard the name but with a loud voice he said Lord thou knowest that my purpose was to conquere Ierusalem from the Infidels if it had pleased thee to haue giuen me life then in a right faith assured hope perfect charity and sound memory hee rendred his soule to his Creator after hee had raigned nine yeeres fiue monethes and fourteene dayes leauing none like vnto him amongst all the Kings and Princes of Christendome for which cause his death was not onely bewailed of the English whom hee gloriously had ruled but also of the French whom hee had victoriously conquered This was the manner of this triumphant Monarchs end which moues men iustly to wonder at Hector Boetius who saith he was stricken by God for sacriledge and died miserablie Hectors friends haue occasion to wish that his Readers should not make that miserable iudgement the rule and measure of crediting or discrediting his other writings yet lamentable his end was indeed if he perished by poison wherof there was a vehement suspition as Polydor Vergill hath auerred and the carriage of the French affaires afterward makes it more then probable 83 His workes of pious affection were shewed in erecting the Monasteries of Bethlem Briget neere vnto his Manour of Richmond as also his princely gifts vnto the workes and furniture of Westminster Church besides the brotherhood of S. Giles without Creple gate London And which had surpassed all the rest hee intended such was his loue to learning and to the place where himselfe was a learner to haue founded in the great Castell at Oxford a magnificent Colledge for Diuines and Students of the seuen liberall Sciences the plot and ordinations of which foundation he had already drawne and resolued to endow it with all the lands in England belonging to Priors Aliens but his vntimely death preuented both that and many other noble workes To leaue a domesticke testimony of his affection to Armes hee first instituted Gartar principall King at Armes besides other augmentations to the Order of Saint George In a word neuer liued English King with more true glory nor euer died any in a more vnseasonable time nor more lamented for he was godly in heart sober in speech sparing of words resolute in deedes prouident in Counsell prudent in iudgement modest in countenance magnanimous in action constant in vndertaking a great Almesgiuer deuout to Godward a renowmed Souldier fortunate in field from whence hee neuer returned without victorie These with many other I might almost say all other vertues are attributed to this most renowned amongst English Kings the more to be admired in him in so short a raigne and in those yeeres hee being but of 36. yeers when he breathed forth his glorious soule 84 His bowels were interred in the Church of Saint Mauro de Fosses and his embalmed Corps was closed in Lead and attended vpon by the Lords of England France Normandy and Picardy was brought vnto Paris wherein the Church of our Lady solemne exequies were performed and thence to Rouen where it rested till all things were ready to set forward for England though the Cities of Paris and Rouen stroue and offered great summes of gold to haue Henries royall remains enterred amongst them His picture artificially was moulded of boiled hides and countenance painted according to life vpon whose head an imperiall Diademe of gold and pretious stones was set the body clothed with a purple robe furred with Ermine in his right hand it held a scepter royall and in the left a ball of gold in which manner it was carried in a Chariot of State couered with red veluet embroidered with gold and ouer it a rich Canopie born by men of great place Thus accompanied by Iames King of Scotland many Princes Lords and Knights of England and France he was conuaied from Rouen to Abbeuile to Hesdin to Menstruill Bologn Calais the Chariot al the way compassed about with men all in white garments bearing burning Torches in their hands next vnto whom followed his houshold seruants all in blacke and after them the Princes Lords and Estates in vestures of mourning adorned then two miles distant from the corps followed the stil lamenting Queene attended with princely mourners her tender and plerced heart more inly mourning then her outward sadde weedes should in any sort expresse 85 And thus by Sea and Land the dead King was brought vnto London where through the streets the Chariot was drawne with foure horses whose Caparisons were richly embroidered and embossed with the royall Armes the first with Englands Armes alone the second with the Armes of France and England in a field quartered the third bare the Armes of France alone and the fourth three crowns Or in a field Azure the ancient Armes of King Arthur now well beseeming him who had victoriously vnited three Kingdomes in one The body with all pompous celebrity was enterred in the Church at Westminster for so Henrie had by his last will commanded next beneath King Edward the Confessor vpon whose Tombe Queene Katherine caused a roiall picture to bee laid couered all ouer with siluer plate guilt but the head thereof altogether of massysiluer All which at that Abbeys suppression when the battering hammers of destruction did sound almost in euery Church were sacrilegiously broken off and by purloining transferred to farre prophaner vses where at this day the headlesse monument worthy to be restored by some more Princely and sacred hand is to be seene and with these verses written vpon his Tombe Dux Normanorum verus Conquestor eorum Hares Francorum decessit Hector eorum Here Normans Duke so stiled by Conquest iust True Heire of France Great Hector lies in dust His Wife 86 Katherine daughter to King Charles the sixt of France vpon an agreement of peace forementioned was married vnto King Henrie at Troyes in Champaine Iunij 3. A. D. 1420. and after Febr. 14. was Crowned at Westminster with all solemnities Shee was his Queene two yeeres and about three months and suruiuing him was remarried vnto Owen Theodore of Wales vnto whom shee bare three sonnes Edmund Iasper and Owen and a daughter who liued not long Owen tooke the habite of religion at Westminster the other two by King Henry the sixt their halfe brother were honorably preferred Edmund was created Earle of Richmond and marrying Margaret the sole
discontented shew The King as wary as Warwicke was cast no eye of dislike or of any suspition gaue him countenance in Court and in familiar conference heard him before others yet lest the stem of his greatnesse should ouertop his crown and his brethren the spreading branches shadow his designes hee tooke the Chancellorshippe from George Neuill the one of them then Bishoppe of Excester afterward Archbishoppe of Yorke and from the other Iohn Neuill Baron Montacute the Earledome of Northumberland bestowing the same at the suite of the Northumbrians set on by himselfe vpon Henry Percy whose father was slaine at Touton and himselfe at that present fled into Scotland for safety Whereupon Montacute was remoued and to auoid suspition was created Marquesse a greater name but farre lesse in power And to haue a stake in store howsoeuer the dice chanced to turne hee sought to ioine friendshippe with forraine Princes hauing offended France for the refusing of his Queenes sister so as hee sought and obtained the amity of Henry King of Castell of Iohn King of Arragon and tooke a truce with his neighbour the Scotish King for fifteen yeers following 27 But these confederates for the more part too farre to be called for by whistle fortune beyond expectatiō set him another euen at his elbow which was Philip Duke of Burgundy Prince of Flanders Brabant and Zealand whose onely sonne legitimate Charles Earle of Charoloys a widdower and without any sonne hee sought to conioine to King Edwards faire sister not so much for any loue hee bare to the house of Yorke himselfe being a Lancastrian by his mothers side as to bandy against Lewis King of France whom he had lately ouercome in a battell at Montleherry and as then stoode vpon his defence as hee was sure King Edward did This motion king Edward and his Councell well liked only Warwicke withstoode it in fauour of the French but the Lady Margaret sent ouer according to her estate and Warwicke left fuming with a discontented mind after some complements of mirth with his brethren the Archbishoppe and Montacute at his Towne of Warwicke brast forth into warlike consultations for the deposing of Edward and restauration of Henry whose wrongs as he alleadged did crie for right at their hands The Bishoppe lightly consented to side for King Henry but the Marquesse would hardly bee drawne from King Edward which Warwicke perceiuing laid his lime twigges yet another way 28 For being à man of a deepe reach and witte hee well saw that George Duke of Clarence the Kings second brother bare not the best liking to the sway of the times him therefore hee sought to allure to his fist which once mand Edward should loose the best Faulcon for his game him therefore by Problemes hee meant first to proue and according to their digest purposed to proceed So falling in familiar conference with Clarence beganne to complaine of some vnkindnes in the King both in breach of some promises and staine of his honour in the French Court The Duke as discontented as Warwicke interrupted his tale before it was told why my Lord quoth Clarence doe you looke that a Leopard should haue no spots in his skinne or a Camelion no colours but one in faith you are deceiued and loose but your labour to wash the naturall Blackamore for will you haue him kind that is by nature vnkind and to be respected of him that respects not his owne bloud or thinke you a Cosen and Allie to be raised by him that seeth if not seeketh his owne brethrens fals For the heire of the Lord Scales you see hee hath married to his wiues brother the heire of the Lord Bonuill and Harington to his wiues sonne and affianced the heire of the Lord Hungerford to the Lord Hastings marriages indeede more meete for his two brethren and kinne then for such new fondlings as hee hath bestowed them vpon But by my George I sweare if my brother of Glocester would ioyne with mee wee would make him know that wee are all three one mans sons and of one and the same mother 29 Earle Warwicke hauing that which hee greedily sought after seconded the resolution with his owne assistance imparting now boldly what confederates he had made and to ioine more faithfully in this his designe hee proffered Clarence his eldest daughter Lady Isabel in marriage faire and well qualified with the one halfe of his wiues inheritance she being sole heire vnto Henry Beauchampe Earle of Warwicke her brother and nothing inferiour to any of those whom Edward had bestowed vpon others which no sooner was spoken but was as presently embraced and the plotte conferred how to proceed which was concluded forthwith to saile vnto Calleis whereof the Earle was Captaine and where the virgine Lady lay aswell to confirme the contract betwixt them as to be absent whē the commotion should beginne as the safer from suspition and the surer to strike when the Ball came to hand to stir which the Archbishoppe and Montacute were appointed for the North. 30 The occasion pickt to make Malecontents was the abuse of Charity vnto an hospitall dedicated to Saint Leonard in the City of Yorke whose reuenew stood most vpon corne yeerly receiued from Farmers in the Country as an oblation of their first graine This the factious made their onely ground vnder a holy pretext forsooth that the poore were defrauded and the Master and Priests onely fed waxen fat To redresse which one Robert Hulderne entred in action and with fifteene thousand strong enterprised for Yorke in which City the Lord Marquesse Montacute was President for King Edward who with a small number but well chosen issued out against the enemy put them backe and stroke off the head of their Captaine before the gates of Yorke but whether hee did it in policie to grow more in trust with the King or else of duety of oblige not moulded throughly to the commotion is vncertain But certaine it is the Rebels were nothing daunted at Huldernes death but rather made resolute to continue what they had begunne 31 To which end they choose them two Chieftaines of greater account and eminent calling which were Henrie sonne and heire to the Lord Fitz-hugh and Sir Henrie Neuill sonne and heire to the Lord Latimer the one of them being Nephew the other Cosen-germane vnto the Earle of Warwicke these but young and not altogether experienced in Armes choose for their Tutor Sir Iohn Conyers a Knight of such courage skill and valiantnes as in the North-parts few were his like who meaning to strike at the head determined to march forthwith to London proclaiming in his way that Edward was neither a iust Prince vnto God nor a profitable King vnto the Common-weale 32 King Edward hearing of these Northern proceedings and that his brother and Warwicke were preparing against him sent for the Lord Herbert whom
for their liues whom he most opprobriously reuiled in the termes of a Traitor with his Battell-axe stroke his brains out of his head when presently Glocester and after him the King entred the Trench wherein all of the Queenes part went to wracke for there were slaine in this battell on her side Iohn L. Sommerset Iohn Courtney Earle of Deuonshire the Lord Wenlocke in manner as wee haue said Sir Iohn Delues Sir Edward Hampden Sir Robert Whittingham and Sir Iohn Lewkener with three thousand others besides 72 Among them that fled Prince Edward was one whome Sir Richard Crofts apprehended before hee got to Tewkesbury but Edmund Duke of Sommerset Iohn Longstrother Prior of Saint Iohns many Knights and Esquiers tooke Sanctuary in the Abbey and other places of the Towne notwithstanding they were taken forth and arraigned before Richard Duke of Glocester who that day sate Constable of England where they were condemned and had iudgement of death which they immediatelie suffered vpon a Scaffold set vp in the Town With these two Lords died twelue worthy Knights besides others of inferior degrees 73 Then was Proclamation made for the apprehension of Prince Edward promising to his taker an annuitie of an hundred pounds during his life if the Prince were liuing his life to be spared vpon which promises Sir Richard Crofts presented young Edward vnto the King whom with a sterne countenance hee a while beheld and as sternely demanded how he durst so presumptuously with Banner displayed enter into his Realme wherunto the Prince made this reply to recouer said hee my fathers Kingdomes and his most rightfull inheritance possessed by his Father and Grandfather and from him immediately belonging vnto me how darest thou then which art his Subiect display thy colour against him thy Liege-Lord which answere moued King Edward so much as with his Gantlet hee dashed the Prince on his mouth whom Richard Duke of Glocester with others of the kings seruans most shamefully murthered euen in his presence and at his feete whose body was buried without all solemnity among other poore and meane persons in the church of the Monastery of the Blacke-Fryers in Tewkesburie 74 Queene Margaret in this fatall day of battell fled towards Worcester and by the way tooke into a poore religious house in that her present distresse but three dayes after shee was apprehended and brought vnto Worcester to King Edward who committed her to sure and straite keeping in which City she a while remained But sodain news brought him that the Northern men were in Armes and meant to aduenture for her liberty the Conquerour marched to Couentrie and there made preparation further to proceed which when these hote spirits pefectly vnderstood their courages grew colder their weapons cast away they came thronging to Edward to offer him subiection yet the Lancastrians were not so minded but rather inâ—…ended once more to trie whether fortune would afford them her smile 75 A fitte instrument they had to forward the enterprise namely Thomas Neuill bastard Fanconbridge sonne of Lord Fanconbridge Earle of Kent a great supporter of King Edwards Crowne howbeit this Bastard being a man of a turbulent spirit and forward for action Earle Warwicke had made him his Admirall to keepe the narrow seas that none should haue way to strengthen King Edward which his office he executed beyond his Commission and became a taker of all Merchants goods being aided with 300. Malecontents from Calleis 76 His enterprise desperate and his name growne fearefull at sea hee meant to make it no lesse on the land for putting in at Douer many misgouerned and loose persons dayly drew to him so as his power grew to bee seuenteene thousand strong with these through Kent he made his way towards London meaning to doe much the land so molested with intestine warres and lodging his hoast on the Southside of London commanded the Citizens to giue him accesse that with King Henry whom hee meant to release from the Tower he might passe through their streetes to meet and encounter the vsurping Edward But the Londoners knowing the rudenesse of these Rakehels kept their gates shut and garded the same with sufficient strengthes whence some Lords of the royall bloud therein residing sent vnto Edward of their present danger who presently sent them fifteene hundred of his best Souldiers after whom in person hee warily marched leading with him his prisoner Queene Margaret whose bounds hee well knew gaue him the full scope of liberty 77 Fauconbridge in the meane while thirsting after spoile with his shippes secured the Thamesis aboue S. Katherines purposing with his land Forces to passe the Riuer at Kingston but hearing that Edward was on his March and fearing to bee cut off from the benefite of his ships hee altered his mind when to open his way into London hee caused the Bridge to bee fiered and three thousand of his men being set ouer Thamesis by his ships diuided themselues into two Companies the one assaying to enter at Algate and the other at Bishopsgate both which they likewise set on fire so that the Citie was in three places fired and assaulted at once but with such euill successe to the assailants that seuen hundred were slaine and the bold Bastard driuen to his ships 78 Vpon the twentieth of May the Conquerour Edward with his Captiue Queen Margaret entred London and so into the Tower the one in pomp commanding the place at his pleasure the other in teares to remaine a most pensiue prisoner where her husband the downcast King Henry was kept in hard durance The place being thus charged with the presence of two Kings and their Queens the Crokebacke of Glocester intended to cleare by taking him away that stood in his brothers way whose successor as is thought hee then meant to bee and making his inward mind more deformed then were his outward lineaments without regard of bloud-defiled hands stabbed the most innocent Henry to the heart with his dagger in which act at once beganne the ones happy rest and the others foule guilt which accompanied his conscience to the day of his death 79 The body of this murthered King was vpon the Ascention Eue laide in an open Coffin and from the Tower guarded with many bils and glaues was so carryed through the streetes vntâ—… 〈◊〉 Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul where it rested vncouered one day and beganne to bleed againe afresh a sorrowfull spectacle to most of the beholders and thence was it carried to the Blacke-Fryers Church where it likewise lay bare faced and bled as before all men being amazed at the sorrowfull sight and lastly it was put in a boat without Priest Clerke Torch or Taper singing or saying and was ferried vnto the Abbey of Chertsey in Surrey there without pompe enterred But afterwards King Henry the seuenth translated his body vnto his Castle of Windsor
doubt lest hee might bee fetched from her is it not likely that shee shall send him somewhere out of the Realm Verily I looke for none other And I doubt not but shee now as sore mindeth it as we the let thereof And if she might happen to bring that to passe as it were no great masterie we letting her alone all the world would say that wee were a wise sort of Counsellors about a King that suffer his brother to be cast away vnder our noses And therefore I assure you faithfully for my mind I will rather maugre her mind fetch him away then leaue him there till her frowardnes and fond feare conuay him away And yet will I breake no Sanctuary therefore for verily sith the priuiledges of that place and other like haue beene of long continued I am not he that wil goe about to breake them And in good faith if they were now to begin I would not be he that should be about to make them Yet will I not say nay but that it is a deed of pitty that such men as the sea or their euill debters haue brought in pouerty should haue some place of liberty to keepe their bodies out of the danger of their cruell Creditors And also if the Crowne happen as it hath done to come in question while either part taketh other as Traitors I like well there be some places of refuge for both But as for theeues of which these places bee full and which neuer fall from the craft after they once fall thereunto it is pitty the Sanctuary should serue them much more manquellers whom God bad to take from the Altar and kill them if their murther were wilfull And where it is otherwise there need wee not the Sanctuaries that God appointed in the old Law for if either necessity his own defence or misfortune draweth him to that deed a pardon serueth which either the law granteth of course or the King of pitty may Then look we now how few sanctuary men there be whom any fauourable necessity compelled to goe thither and then see on the other side what a sort there be commonly therein of them whom wilfull vnthriftinesse hath brought to naught what rabble of theeues murderers and malitious hainous Traitors and that in two places especially the one at the elbow of the City the other in the very bowels I dare well auow it weigh the good that they doe with the hurt that commeth of them and yee shall finde it much better to lacke both then to haue both And this I say although they were not abused as they now be and so long haue been that I feare mee euer they will bee while men bee afraide to set the hands to amend the as though God S. Peter were the patrons of vngracious liuing Now vnthrifts riot and runne in debt vpon the boldnes of these places yea and rich men runne thether with poore mens goods there they build there they spend and bid their Creditors goe whistle Mens wiues runne thither with their husbands plate and say they dare not abide with their husbands for beating Theeues bring thither their stoln goods and liue thereon rio tously there they deuise new robberies nightly they steale out they rob and riue kill and come in againe as though those places gaue them not onely a safeguard for the harme they haue done but a licence also to do more howbeit much of this mischiefe if Wisemen would set their hands to it might bee amended with great thankes of God and no breach of the Priuiledge The residue sith so long agoe I wot neere what Pope and what Prince more pitteous then politicke hath granted it and other men since of a certaine religious feare haue not broken it let vs therefore take paine therewith and let it a Gods name stand in force as farre forth as reason will which is not fully so farre forth as may serue to let vs of the fetching forth of this Nobleman to his honour and wealth out of that place in which he neither is nor can bee a Sanctuary man A Sanctuary serueth alwayes to defend the body of that man that standeth in danger abroad not of great hurt onelie but also of lawfull hurt for against vnlawfull harmes neuer Pope nor King intended to priuiledge any one place for that priuiledge hath euery place knoweth any man any place wherein it is lawful for one man to do another wrong that no man vnlawfully take hurt that liberty the King the Law and very nature forbiddeth in euery place and maketh to that regard for euery man euery place a Sanctuary but where a man is by lawfull meanes in perill there needeth hee the tuition of some speciall priuiledge which is the onely ground and cause of all Sanctuaries from which necessity this noble Prince is farre whose loue to the King nature and kindred proueth whose innocency to all the world his tender youth proueth and so Sanctuary as for him neither none he needeth nor none can hee haue Men come not to Sanctuary as they come to Baptisme to require it by their Godfathers hee must aske it himselfe that must haue it and reason sith no man hath cause to haue it but whose conscience of his owne fault maketh him faine need to require it what will then hath yonder babe which and if he had discretion to require it if neede were I dare say would now bee right angry with them that keepe him there and I would thinke without any scruple of conscience without any breach of Priuiledge to bee somewhat more homelie with them that be there Sanctuarie men indeed for if one goe to Sanctuary with another mans goods why should not the King leauing his body at liberty satisfie the party of his goods euen within the Sanctuarie for neither King nor Pope can giue any place such a priuiledge that it shall discharge a man of his debtes being able to pay And with that diuers of the Clergy that were present whether they said it for his pleasure or as they thought agreede plainely that by the law of God and of the Church thâ—…â—…oods of a Sanctuarie man should bee deliuereâ—… 〈◊〉 payment of his debts and stolne goods to the owner and onely liberty reserued him to get his liuing with the labour of his hands Verily quoth the Duke I thinke you say very truth and what if a mans wife would take Sanctuary because she lift to runne from her husband I would weene if she could alledge none other cause hee may lawfully without any displeasure to Saint Peter take her out of Saint Peters Church by the arme And if no body may be taken out of â—…nctuary that saith he will biâ—…e there then if a child will take Sanctuary because hee feareth to goe to schoole his Master must let him alone And as simple as the sample is yet iâ—… there lesse reason in our case then in that for
were so dull that they could perceiue nothing what the Protector intended truth if they should procure her sonne to be deliuered into his hands in whom they should perceiue towards the Child any euill intended 37 The Queene with these wordes stood a good while in a deepe study And for as much as her seemed the Cardinal ready to depart and the Protector himselfe readie at hand so as shee verily thought she could not keepe him there but that he should incontinent be taken thence and to conuey him elsewhere neither had shee time to serue her nor place determined nor persons appointed all things vnready this message came on her so suddainly nothing lesse looked for then to haue him fetcht out of Santuarie which she thought to be now beset in such places about that he could not be conueyed out vntaken and partly as shee thought it might fortune her feare to be false so well shee wift it was either needlesse or bootlesse Wherefore if shee must needs go frō him she deemed it best to deliuer him besides the Cardinals faith she nothing doubted neither some other Lords whom she saw there present which as she feared lest they might be deceiued so was she wel assured they would not be corrupted and thought it would make thē the more warily to looke to him and the more circumspectly to see to his surety if with her owne hands shee betooke him to them of trust And lastly taking the young Duke by the hand said vnto the Lords 38 My Lords and all my Lords I neither am so vnwise to mistrust your wits nor so suspitious to mistrust your truths of which thing I purpose to make you such a proofe as if either of both lacked in you might both turne mee to great sorrow the Realme to much harme you all to great reproch For loe here is quoth she this Gentleman whom I doubt not but I could heere keepe safe if I would whatsoeuer any man say and I doubt not also but there bee some abroad so deadly enemies vnto my blood that if they wist where any of it lay in their owne bodies they would let it out We haue also experience that the desire of a kingdome knoweth no kindred the brother hath beene the brothers bane and may the Nephewes be sure of their Vncle Each of these children is the others defence whilest they are asunder and each of their liues lieth in the others body keepe one safe and both be sure and nothing for them both more perillous then to be in one place For what wise Merchant aduentureth all his goods in one ship All this notwithstanding I deliuer him and his brother in him to keep into your hands of whom I shall aske both before God and the world Faithfull ye be that wot I well and I know well you be wise power and strength to keepe him if yee list neither lack yee of your selfe nor lack helpe in this case And if you cannot elsewhere then may you leaue him heere but onely one thing I beseech you for the trust that his father euer put in you and for the trust I now put you in that as farre as you thinke I feare too much bee you well wary that you feare not too little and therewithall shee sayd vnto the child Farewell mine owne sweet son God send you good keeping let me kisse you yet once ere you go for God knoweth when wee shall kisse together againe And therwithal she kissed him and blessed him turned her back and wept and went her way leauing the child weeping as faste When the Lord Cardinal and those other Lords with him had receiued the yong Duke they brought him into the Star-chamber where the protector tooke him in his armes and kissed him with these words Now welcome my Lord euen with all my heart In which saying it is like hee spake as he thought Thereupon foorth with they brought him vnto the King his brother into the Bishops Pallace at Paules and from thence both of them through the Citie of London honourably attended into the Tower out of which after that day they neuer came againe 39 The protector hauing both the children now in his hands opened himself more boldly both to certaine other men also chiefly to the Duke of Buckingham Although I know that many thought that this Duke was priuy to all the protectors counsell euen from the beginning and some of the protectors friends sayd that the Duke was the first mouer of the protector to this matter sending a priuie messenger vnto him streight after King Edwards death But others againe which knew better the subtill wit of the protector deny that he euer opened his enterprise to the Duke vntil he had brought to passe the things before rehearsed But when hee had imprisoned the Queenes kindred and gotten both her sonnes into his owne hands then he opened the rest of his purpose with lesse feare to them whom he thought meet for the matter and especially to the Duke who being wonne to his designes he held his strength more then halfe increased The matter was broken vnto the Duke by subtil persons and such as were their crafts masters in the handling of such wicked deuises who declared vnto him that the young King was offended with him for his kinsfolkes sakes and if he were euer able he would reuenge them who would prick him forward thereunto if they escaped for they would remember their imprisonment or else if they were put to death without doubt the yong King would be careful for their deaths whose imprisonments was grieuous vnto him And that with repenting the Duke should nothing auaile for there was no way left to redeeme his offence by benefits but he should sooner destroy himselfe then saue the King who with his brother and his kinsfolkes he sawe in such places imprisoned as the protect or might with a beck destroy them all and without all doubt would doe it indeed if there were any new enterprise attempted And that it was likely as the Protector had prouided priuie gard for himself so had he spials for the Duke and traines to haue caught him if he should bee against him that peraduenture from them whom he least suspected For the state of things the dispositions of men were then such that a man could not well tell whom hee might trust or whom hee might feare These things and such like being beaten into the Dukes minde brought him to that point that where he had repented the way that hee had entred yet would he goe forward in the same and since hee had once begunne hee would stoutly goe through And therefore to this wicked enterprise which hee beleeued could not be auoyded hee bent himselfe determining sith the common mischiefe could not be amended he would turne it as much as he might to his owne commoditie 40 Then was it agreed that the Protector should haue the Dukes aide to
in the Preachers mouth and should haue moued the people euen then to crie King Richard King Richard that it might haue beene after said that he was specially chosen by God and in manner by miracle But this deuise quailed either by the Protectors negligence or by the Preachers ouer much diligence for while the Protector found by the way tarrying lest he should preuent those wordes and the Doctor fearing least he should come ere his sermon could come to these wordes hasted his matter thereto who was come to them and past them and had entred into other matter ere the Protector came Whom when hee beheld comming he suddainly left the matter with which he was in hand and without anie deduction thereunto out of all order and out of all frame began to repeate those wordes againe This is the verie Noble Prince the speciall paterne of Knightly prowesse which aswell in all Princely behauiour as in the lineaments and fauour of his visage representeth the very face of the Noble Duke of Yorke his father this is the fathers owne figure this is his owne countenance the very print of his visage the sure vndoubted Image the plaine expresse likenesse of the noble Duke whose remembrance can neuer die while he liueth While these wordes were in speaking the Protector accompanied with the Duke of Buckingham went through the people into the place where the Doctors commonly stand in an vpper story where he stood to heare the sermon But the people were so farre from crying King Richard that they stood as if they had beene turned into stones for wonder of this shamefull sermon After which once ended the Preacher got him home and neuer after durst looke out for shame but kept himselfe out of sight like an Owle And when he once asked one that had beene his old friend what the people talked of him albeit that his own conscience well shewed him that they talked no good yet when the other answered him that there was in euery mans mouth spoken of him much shame it so strucke him to the heart that within few daies after he withered and consumed away 56 On the tuesday following this sermon there came into the Guild-hall in London the Duke of Buckingham accompanied with diuers Lords Knights more perchance then knew the message which they brought And there in the East end of the Hall where the Maior keepeth the hustings the Maior and Aldermen being assembled about him and all the commons of the City gathered before him after silence commanded in the Protectors name vpon great paine the Duke stood vp and as he was neither vnlearned and of nature maruellously well spoken hee said vnto the people with a cleare and loud voice in this manner Friends for the zeale and harty fauour that we beare you we be come to breake vnto you a matter of great weight and no lesse weighty then pleasing to God and profitable to all the Realme nor to no part of the Realme more profitable then to you the Citizens of this noble City For why the thing that we wot well you haue long time lacked and so longed for that you would haue giuen great good for that you would haue gone farre to fetch that thing we be come hither to bring you without your labour paine cost aduenture or ieopardie What thing is that Certes the surety of your owne bodies the quiet of your wiues and your daughters the safeguard of your goods of all which things in times past you stood euermore in doubt For who was there of you all that could account himselfe Lord of his owne goods among so many snares and traps as were set therefore among so much pilling and polling among so many taxes and tallages of which there was neuer end and often times no need or if any were it rather grew of riot and vnreasonable wast then any necessary or honorable charge So that there was daily pilling from good men and honest great substance of goods to be lashed out among vnthrifts so farre forth that fifteens sufficed not nor any vsual maner of known taxes but vnder an easie name of beneuolence and good will the Commissioners so much of euerie man tooke as no man could with his good will haue giuen As though that name of beneuolence had signified that euery man should pay not what himselfe of his owne good will list to grant but what the King of his good will list to take Who neuer asked little but euery thing was haunsed aboue the measure amercements turned into fines fines into ransomes small trespasses into misprision misprision into treason Whereof I thinke no man looketh that we should remember you of examples by name as though Burdet were forgotten who was for a worde in haste spoken cruely beheaded by the misconstruing of the Lawes of this Realme for the Princes pleasure with no lesse honour to Markham then chiefe Iustice that left his office rather then hee would assent to that iudgement then to the dishonesty of those that eyther for feare or flattery gaue that iudgement What Cooke your owne worshipfull neighbour Alderman and Maior of this noble Citie who is of you either so negligent that hee knoweth not or so forgetful that hee remembreth not or so hard hearted that hee pittieth not that worshipfull mans losse What speake we of losse His vtter spoile and vndeserued destruction only for that it happened those to fauour him whom the Prince fauoured not Wee need not I suppose to rehearse of these any mo by name sith there be I doubt not many heere present that either in themselues or in their nigh friends haue knowen aswell their goods as their persons greatly indangered either by fained quarrels or small matters agrieued with heinous names And also there was no crime so great of which there could lacke a pretext For sith the King preuenting the time of his inheritance attained the Crowne by battel it sufficed in a rich man for a pretext of treason to haue beene of kindred or aliance neer familiaritie or longer acquaintance with any of those that were at any time the Kings enemies which was at one time or other more then halfe the Realme Thus were your goods neuer in suretie and yet they brought your bodies in ieopardie beside the common aduenture of open warre which albeit that it is euer the will and occasion of much mischiefe yet it is neuer so mischieuous as where any people fall at distance among themselues not in no earthly nation so deadly so pestilent as when it happeneth among vs and among vs neuer so long continued distention nor so many battels in that season not so cruell and so deadly fought as was in that Kings dayes that dead is God forgiue it his soule In whose time and by whose occasion what about the getting of the Garland keeping it loosing it and winning againe it hath cost more English blood then hath twice
gaged on their silence the life of a good hound much lesse mine owne I doubt not may it please your honors to appose them how they came to the knowledge of those matters which they are so ready to depose but you shall find their tongues chained to another mans trencher and as it were Knights of the Post suborned to say sweare and stare the vttermost they can as those that passe not what they say not with what face they say it so they say no truth but on the other side it grieueth mee that your good Grace whom I take to bee wise and sharpe and who of your blessed disposition wisheth mee well should bee so farre gone in crediting these corrupt Informers that abuse the ignorance of your state and Country to my peril Little know you my Lord how necessary it is not onely for the Gouernour but also for euery Nobleman in Ireland to hamper the vnciuill neighbours at discretion wherein if they waited for processe of law had not those liues and lands you speak of within their reach they might hap to loose their own liues lands without law You hear of a case as it were in a dream feele not the smart that vexeth vs. In England there is not a mean Subiect that dare extend his hand to fillip a Peere of arealm In Ireland except the Lord haue cunning to his strength and strength to saue his Crowne and sufficient authority to take theeues and variets when they stir he shall find them swarme so fast that it will bee too late to call for iustice If you will haue our seruice take effect you must not tie vs alwayes to these iudiciall proceedings wherwith your Realme thanked be God is inured Touching my kingdome I know not what your Lordshippe should mean thereby If your Grace imagine that a Kingdome consisteth in seruing God in obeying the Prince in gouerning with loue the common wealth in supporting subiects in suppressing rebels in executing iustice in brideling blind affections I would bee willing to bee inuested with so vertuous and roial a name but if therfore you tearm me a King in that you are perswaded that I repine at the gouernmēt of my soueraign or winke at malefactors or oppresse ciuil liuers I vtterlydisclaim that odious term maruelling greatly that one of your Graces profound wisdom would seeme to appropriate so sacred a name to so wicked a thing but howsoeuer it bee my Lord I would you and I had changed Kingdomes but for one moneth I would trust to gather vppe more crummes in that space then twice the reuenewes of my poore Earledome but you are well and warme and so hold you and vpbraide not mee with such an odious terme I slumber in a hard Cabine when you sleepe in a soft bedde of Downe I serue vnder the Kings Cope of heauen when you are serued vnder a Canopie I drinke water out of my skull when you drinke wine out of golden cups my Courser is trained to the field when your Gennet is taught to amble when you are graced belorded crouched and kneeled vnto then find I small grace with our Irish borderers except I cut them off by the knees At these girds the Lord Chancellor much fretted and finding Kildare to bee no babe deferred the hearing of his cause till more proofes were produced from Ireland then in a great fume hee arose from the Councell board and committed the Earle vnto prison against the minds of most at the Table who knew well that this his accusation was more of hatred borne by the Cardinall then any occasion giuen by the accused late Deputy Whereupon Thomas Duke of Norfolke stept to the King and craued that Kildare might bee his prisoner offering to bee bound in goods and body for his forth comming whom hee obtained though with no great liking of the L. Chancellor who daily entertaind new plaints against him till at last hee pressed him sore with letters sent to Oneale and Oconor to encourage their rebellions against Osorie the Lord Deputy which letters were brought them by his own daughter and their sisters the Lady Elice Fitzgirald wife to the Baron of Slane 59 This presumption being vehement the King suspitious the Cardinall eager and his friends faint Kildare was sent to the Tower where he committed himselfe to God and expected dayly his death but with such couragious resolution as hee being in play with the Lieutenant at slide-groat when the mandate was brought for his execution on the next morning and seeing the Lieutenant strucke into a suddaine sadnesse by Saint Bride Lieutenant quoth the Earle there is some madde game in that scrowll but fall how it will this throw is for a huddle and when the worst was told him now I pray thee quoth he doe no more but learne assuredly from the Kings owne mouth whether his Highnesse be witting thereto or no the Lieutenant louing his prisoner well repaired to the King and shewed him the Cardinals warrant who then controuled the sawcines of the Priest for those were his tearmes and gaue the Lieutenant his Signet for a countermand whereat the Cardinall stormed but Kildare deliuered from his eminent death and not long after from his imprisonment also was sent into Ireland where at his entrance into Dublin he was met with a solemne procession and so brought into the City so welbeloued was this Earle abroad and at home 60 But the French Kings fortunes were nothing so good who was straitly imprisoned at Madrill in Spaine and great suite made for his deliuerance which notwithstanding would not be heard The Queene mother then Regent of France wise of her selfe and forwarded by others saw no better means to free her sonne the King then to enter amity with England which to accomplish she solicited King Henry working vpon the occasions then ministred which was some vnkindnesse growne betwixt the English King and the Emperour the one of them more strange by the greatnesse of his fortunes and the other in iealousie of lessening renowne The sparkes of which Cinders were steared to flame by Wolsey that euer was in the eare of the King alleadging his potency so much esteemed of all Christian Princes a sound very tunable in Henries wide eare would bee lesse regarded by the Emperours late victory who now beganne to carry himselfe with another respect and neuer after that victory gotten subscribed his letters to King Henry according to his accustomed manner your Sunne and Cosen but to the draught of his Secretaries in fixed his hand with the word Charles and no more 61 These dislikes and other intercourses of State drew Henry shortly to a peace with France In the exemplification of which league the Venetians and other Princes were left to their choise whereof himselfe notwithstanding would bee stiled the Protector And to his leaguer Ambassadors sent these instructions to moue the States to consider the Emperours
45. 7. Psal. 72. 1. Matth. 23. 37. Psal. 55. 23. Cambden Sabellic Ievvell Fox Parsons 3. Conuersions Part. 1. c. 4. Ibidem Parsonâ—… ibid. Cephas is a stone but all serues their turne Capgraue Marianus Lucius his reformation of matters vpon the Bishops letter Records of Saint Asaphs Church Chester as saith an old Manuscript chap. 34. S. Peters Church in Cornhill builded by Lucius Poll. Virgâ—…l Wil. Harrison W. Lamb. Peraâ—… Fabiâ—… Emerita a Martyr in the City Augusta Tertull. by Onuphr Dion Cassius Valerianus lib. 2. Ann. Dom. 181. Eutropius Commodus his qualities Cassiodor Commodus altered the Months Euseb. lib. 5. cap. 19. Acts and Monuments Vlpius Marcellus sent Lieutenant into Britaine Dion Cas. lib. 72. Vlpius Marcellus a man of great vertues Lampred Perennius the greatest substitute vnder Commodus Perennius deliuered to the British Souldiers to be put to death Lamprid. Heluius Pertinax sent Lieutenant into Britaine Out of a coine of this Emperors instiling him Brit. in the 8. yeere of his Tribuneiship and 4. of his Consulship Heluius Pertinax made suit to be discharged of his office Histor magna Brit. lib. 3. cap. 7. Clodius Albinus sent Lieutenant into Britaine Clodius Albinus more affecting Senators then Emperors Iulius Seuerus Deputy Commodus purpose discouered by his Concubine Eutrop. Lamprid. Maximus Commodus his portraiture Lampridius Maximus An. Do. 194. Dion Cassi. lib. 73. Heluius Pertinax made Emperor Heluius Pertinax enuied by the Praetorian Cohorts Sabellicus Heluius Pertinax asslaulted by his Souldiers Heluius Pertinax his speech to his Souldiers Pertinax killed by his Souldiers Pertinax his raigne Euseb. li. 5. c. 24. Eutrop. l. 8. An. Do. 194. Aeâ—… Spartianus Proclamation for the sale of the Empire Didius Iulianus buâ—…h the Empire of the Roman Souldiers Didius Iulianus his imploiments in State before he was Emperor Syria chuseth their Generall Germany chuseth theirs Albinus Gouernour of Britaine a Competitor for the Empire Seuerus wageth warre for the Empire Reâ—…useth composition He is proclaimed Emperour Iulianus slaine His raignes continuance Eutropius Spartianus Dio. Albinus made Successor in the Empire His death practised Proclaimed Traitor He wageth wâ—…te against Seuerus Albinus vanquished by Seuerus Spartianus 〈◊〉 why brought into Britaine Aemilius Papinianus a famous Lawyer Fifty thousand of Seuerus army dead through toylesome labor and sicknesse Sabellicus Herodian Caledoniane desire peace Seuerus surnamed Britannicus Maximus 〈◊〉 disloyaltie Caledonians rebell A generall Massacre of them by Seuerus The seed-plots of our Cities and Tâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sâ—…erus his speech to his Counsell and Captaines Spartianus Bedâ—… Seuerus his description Euseb. Eccl. Hist. lib. 6. ca. 7. Seuerus dieth at Yorke The first Ides of Ianuary saith Sauils Table Polychr l. 4. 〈◊〉 19. An. Do. 212. Godd 3. Tit. de rei viâ—…dicatione lege 1. Gâ—…ss Monmouth Sabellicus Some sâ—…y it was 〈◊〉 his â—…ame Sabellicus Herodian Sabellicus Forum was the châ—… place of publicke mee ungâ—… and pleadings Sabellicus Geta slaine in his mothers armes Herodian Dio Spartianus Papinianus slaine for refusing to desend a murther Dio. 1. Cor. 5. 1. Sextus Aurelius Eutropius Spartianus Sabellicus Iulia her wicked speech Antoninus seeketh to sorcerers Sabellicus Antoninus Caracalla kild Antoninus Caracalla his raigne Euseb. Eccl. Hist. lib. 6. ca. 20. Old Maâ—…scr cap. 136. Eusebius cals her Saâ—…iam alij Sarius and her monies Iulia 〈◊〉 that she was his whore not his wife Sabellicus An. Do. 218. An. Do. 218. Audentius refuseth the Empire Diadumenus appointed for Caesar. Called Antoninus Antoninus sonne of Caracalla Antoninus called Heliogabalus that is A Priest of the Sunne Herodian 〈◊〉 Capital Marâ—… and Diadâ—… put to death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 raigne An. Do. 219. Heliogabalus exceedeth in wickednesse all others before him Aâ—…lius Lamprid. Herodian A Priuy Sabellicus Euseb. Eccles. hist. lib. 6. cap. 20. An. Do. 223. Lampridius saith he was borne on the day that Alexander the great died and had therefore his name Sabellicus Lampridius Herodian Sabellicus * Lampridiâ—… the truest relator of this Emperours acts for Herodian speakes on spleene saith he caused this Christian poesie to be written all about his Pallace and sometimes commanded by voice of a publike Crier Lampridâ—… Sabellicus Alexander Seuerus incited to Christianity by his mother Mammea Euseb. Eccles. Hist. lib. 6. cap. 20. Ierome Sabellicâ—… Sabellicâ—… and others Seuerus and his mother murthered Seuerus the time of his raigne Maximinus Emp. Maximus Caesar. An. Do. 236. Iuli. Capitol Maximinus of a huge stature Capitolinus calles it Dextrâ—…cherium being a broad plate of gold set with rich Iewels an ornament in vse amongst the Romane Ladies Ioseph Antiq. l. 18 cap. 6. Maximinus his meanes of rising to preferment Herodian and Aurelius Victor â—…y that this was done Alexander yet liuing Maximinus of a naughty disposition Euseb. Eccles. hist. lib. 6. cap. 27. Maximinus persecuteth the Christians His death attempted Herodian Gordianus elected Emperour and his sonâ—…e elected his Caesar. An. Do. 238. Gordianus the younger slaine Gardianus the father strangled Maximinus and his sonne slaine Maximinus his intemperance in diâ—…t Iul. Capitol Euseb. Eccles. Hist. lib. 6. cap. 27. An. Do. 238. Iâ—…l Capitol The Emperours enuy one another An. Do. 239. * Old Carleil â—…tropius Gorâ—…us openeth the Temple of Iaâ—… Hâ—…er Iliâ—…des 4. Miâ—…beus poisoned by Philip. Philip his treachery Gordiâ—… his speech to the Souldiers Gordiaâ—…us slaine Gordianus his vertues An. Do. 245. An. Do. 245. Victor Eutropius Aurelius Viâ—…r Sabellicâ—… Orosius Eusebius Pomp. Laetus Euseb. Eccles. Hist. lib. 6. cap. 33. Sabellic 〈◊〉 7. lib. 7. Polychroâ—… lib. 4. cap. 21. Gothes infest Misia and Thracia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Decius enforced to be Emperour Philippus and his Caesar slaine Eâ—…trop Capitol Euseb. Eccles. â—…ist lib. 6. cap. 38. An. Do. 250. Decius his parentage 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 scourge of the Chriâ—… Apocal. 13. 〈◊〉 Orâ—… Ambr. lâ—…b 2. de Virgin Euseb. Eccles. hist. lib. 6. cap. 41. Vincent Niceph. lib. 5. cap. 27. Vinc. lib. 11. e. 52. Sabellicus Euseb. Eccles. hist. lib. 6. cap. 38. Psal. 2. 9. Pomponius Letus Iornandes Decius and his Caesar their deaths Cassiodor Decius his raigne Euseb. Eccles. hist. lib. 7. cap. 1. An. Do. 252. Gallus elected Emperour His parentage Pomp. Latâ—… Bloudâ—… Sabellicus Gallus persecuteth the Christians Euseb. Eccles. hist. lib. 7. cap. 1. Vniuersall Pestilence thorow all the world Paul Orosius Aemilian Maurus his victorie Gaâ—… and his sonne 〈◊〉 Bâ—…op 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hist. lib. 7. cap. 9. An. Do. 253. Aemilian Maurus his descent Entropiâ—… Aemilius Maurus his end and continuance of his raigne Anno Dom. 254. Herodot in Clio. Dan. 4. 27. Valerianus his descent Treb. Pollio Valeriaâ—… a protector of the Christians Paul Orosius a Necromancer seduceth Valelerian Apocal. c. 13. Dionysâ—… in Epist. ad Hermamâ—… apud Eusebiâ—… Sabellicuâ—… Volateranus Valerianus taken prisoner by Sapor Trebel Pollio Pompon Lâ—…tus Aureliâ—…s Uictor Eusebius in serm ad Conuenâ—… Sanctorum Valeriaâ—…s had his Eyes puld out Flaied aliue An. Do. 261. Rome in disturbance for election of an Emperour Marianus with his