extendure and beautie of buildings but also in election of Companies and Corporations for better supply of the Magistracy and conueniency of all the aptest meanes thereto belonging this Branch of your honorable Society of S. Iohn Baptist deriued of that ancient and memorable Stem of Saint Iohn of Hierusalem grewe to burgen and spread it selfe in goodliest manner Beeing Tailors of the Linnen-Armory and brethren of Saint Iohn Baptist as most Companies in those times had a Saintes appellation they grew to be great in Kinges fauours who thought it no indignity to themselues to be stiled in the Brother-hood of S. Iohn Baptist and from theyr Guildes first Creation by King Edward the third with authority to hold a feast yearely at Midsommer and to make choyce of a Gouernor or Mayster according to the order of a Great Maister among the Knights Hospitallers of Saint Iohn Baptist of Hierusalem and Wardens to assist and ayde him in that weighty charge they proceeded on still by the ensuing Kings in further additions of gracious regard till King Henrie the seauenth confirmed their Charter naming them Merchant-Taylors of the Brother-hood of Saint Iohn Baptist to continue still the memorie of their Originall Heere may I not also forget that as the Knightes Hospitallers at Hierusalem were alwaies respectiue in seruice to Pilgrims and Trauailers euen so as if such an humble condition did well merit not to be forgotten in this Brotherhood at the beginning they did vse ech yeare to chuse a Pilgrime who attended the seruice of the Maister of the Company and trauailed in behalfe of the whole Society One of the Pilgrimes names is recorded by Iohn Stow to be Henrie de Ryall and that name of Pilgrime continued vntill the eleauenth year of Richard the second when the foure Wardens were then called Purueyors of Almes now called quarterage of the fraternity Seauen Kings haue borne Bretherens name of that Society viz Edward the third Richard the second Henrie the fourth Henrie the fift Henrie the sixt Edward the fourth and Henrie the seauenth and as is credibly affirmed wearing the Liueryhood on their shoulders they haue gone on the election day from the Hall to the Pallace of Saint Iohns in Saint Iohns Streete there to heare diuine seruice and graciously permitted the Maister to goe on the vpper-hand such in those times was the milde nature of Princes shewing by their owne example how Magistrates and other their meaner Ministers ought to be held in honor and respect Passing ouer the Dukes Earles Lords Byshoppes Knightes and Gentlemen who haue likewise beene Bretheren of that honorable Society and many other memorable persons of whom this little limit alloweth no speech I wil conclude this Epistle with a briefe note of two or three worthy Bretheren among infinite other whose deserts doe iustly challenge perpetuall acknowledgement Sir William Fitz William the elder being a Merchant Taylor and Seruaunt sometime to Cardinall Wolsey was chosen Alderman of Bread-street-Ward in London in Anno. 1506. And going afterward to dwell at Mylton in Northamptonshire in the fal of the Cardinall his former Maister he gaue him kinde entertainement there at his house in the Countrey For which deede being called before the King and demaunded how he durst entertaine so great an enemy to the State his answere was that he had not contemptuously or wilfully done it but onely because he had been his Maister and partly the meanes of his greatest Fortunes The King was so well pleased with his answer that saying himselfe had too few such Seruaunts immediatly hee knighted him and afterward made him a priuy Counceller This worthy Knight dying gaue an hundered pounds to poore Maids marriages His debs and debtors ouer whose names he had written Amore Dei remitto he freely forgaue He gaue to the Vniuersities forty pound to the poore thirty pound to mend the high-waies betwixt Chigwell and Copersale in Essex 50. pounds to mend other high-waies about Thorney and Sawtrie Chappell and the Bridge fifty pounds more And to the Merchant-Taylors his Bretheren hee gaue his best standing Cuppe as a friendly remembrance of him Sir Thomas White Lord Maior of this honourable Citty and a worthy Brother likewise of that Society beeing a louer of Learning and an earnest furtherer thereof first purchased the Hall in Oxenford called Glocester-Hall for Students and Schollers to receiue there the benefit of learning But his priuate thoughts very often solliciting him that he should in time meet with a place where two Elmes grewe and that there his further forward purpose should take effect At length he found out the place where at his owne cost and expences hee founded the famous Colledge in Oxenford called Saint Iohn Baptist Colledge where those two Elmes as I haue heard are yet standing endowing it with such liberall Guifts Lands and Reuennewes as would require too much time here to be remembred Beside his prouision for Learning in this worthy place he erected other Schooles as at Bristow Reading and a Colledge at Higham Ferries More he gaue to the Citty of Bristow the summe of two thousand poundes to purchase Land amounting to the yearely valew of an hundred and twenty pounds the Maior and Cittizens paying therefore yearely an hundred pounds Eight hundred pounds must bee lent to sixteene poore Clothiers fifty poundes each man for ten years space sufficient security being giuen by them for the same Afterward that eight hundred poundes was to passe to other sixteene Clothiers according to discretion of them put in trust Two hundred poundes beside was reserued for prouision of Corne and needfull occasions for the poore in the order and care of the Maior Aldermen and Cittizens c. Then according to his will which remaineth yet to be seene out of this bountifull guift to Bristow these memorable braunches and beneuolences were by himselfe deuised and ordered beginning in the yeare â—577 and thence forward they went on according to his owne direction Then was brought to the Merchant-Taylors Hall an hundred and foure pounds the hundred pound to be lent for ten years space to four poore men in the Citty of Yorke And the foure pound ouer plus to be imploied about the charges paines that no man vsed in the businesse might receiue discontentment Then in An. 1578. the like summe was to be deliuered thence to Canterburie and so thence-forward the same summes yearely to the Citties and Townes following orderly 1579. Reading 1580. The Merchant-Taylâ—rs themselues 1581. Glocester 1582. Worcester 1583. Excester 1584. Salisbury 1585. West-Chester 1586. Norwich 1587. Sothampton 1588. Lincolne 1589. Winchester 1590. Oxenford 1591. Hereford East 1592. Cambridge 1493. Shrewesbuâ—ie 1594. Lyâ—ne 1595. Bathe 1596. Derby 1597. Ipswitch 1598. Colchester 1599. New-Castle This summe of one hundred and foure pounds passing yearely to these fore-named places from the Merchant-Taylors Hall and to the good intended vses of the giuer that there might bee no breathing while for so iust a Stewards Talent but to haue it
kept on in continuall imployment for the poore the same order was to take beginning againe as before at the Cittie of Yorke and so successiuely while the World stands to the Townes before named in selfe-same course as it had the originall with great care and obseruaunce in them to whom it belongeth that the dead may not be abused nor poore mens right iniured But did he thus shut vp his Pursse and say to himselfe I haue giuen sufficient No hee did cast his pittying eie next on the Citty of Couentry distressed at that time in great and grieuous manner What his instant beneuolence was he tooke it to bee but as an houres Sun-shine after a whole day of storme and tempest although it might yeeld some comfort were the season neuer so short But to establish a certainty that no dismay or doubt should euer after bee able to remooue euen as a worthy Piramide erected to perpetuity he gaue to the Citty of Couentry 1400. pound therewith to purchase Lands rising to the anuall value of 70. li. Twelue poore Inhabitants of that Citty were to haue in free Almes twenty foure poundes each man forty shillings yearely on the eleauenth day of March Four young men were also to haue fortie poundes yearely ten pound each man and for nine yeares space vpon sufficient security giuen And their turnes thus serued then foure other young men to haue the like summe and like limitation and so from nine yeares to nine yeares for euer Afterward it was ordred to two poore men of the same Citty and lastly to one in which nature according to the seuerall limitations it doth yet and doubtlesse shall for euer continue Also the same summe to one young man in Northampton next in the Citty of Leicester Thirdlie in Nottingham Fourthly in Warwick Then returning to Couentrie again for one year it repasseth to the said Townes againe each after other yearely for euer And least his worthy intent should faile in the continuance hee enlarged his first gift to Couentrie of 1400. poundes to 2000. and 60. pound to bee imployed as hath beene remembred fortie pound yearely being paid out of it to Saint Iohn Baptist Colledge in Oxford And allowances also by himselfe giuen in each place that bonds should be made without any charge to the receiuer Sir Thomas Row Lord Maior of this famous Citty and a worthy Merchant-Taylor beside his charitable cost and charges in building the new Church-yard in Bedlem for such Parishes as wanted benefit of buriall Gaue forty poundes yearely to maintaine tenne poore men for euer such as were not Bretheren of his owne Society but chosen out of fiue seuerall Companies viz. Clothworkers Armorers Carpenters Tylers and Plaisterers As considering that by ouer-toyling labour dangers fals bruizes and such like inconueniences they were soonest like to become impotent and vnable to helpe or maintaine themselues Therefore to each of these ten men hee freely gaue the sum of foure pound quarterly to be paid them at the Merchant-Taylors Hall during their liues and then to succeede to other men in the same Companies according to due consideration of iust cause and most necessity Lastly worthy Gentlemen to hold yee no longer in matter better knowne to your selues then mee because it is in your owne eyes and eares almost dailie the neuer dying memory of a yet liuing and long may he so be Brother Merchant-Taylor shall be my conclusion This vertuous and Religious man knowing Death to be an vnindifferent Executor and Life much more worthy of trust and imployment hath preuented that gripple greedy Tyrant and made such large Legacies to Life that Death neuer deserued to be put in trust withall If men of this World such as GOD hath liberally bestowed his blessings on would with this good-minded man consider that let their willes bee neuer so wisely made yea all Art and Dexterity therein to the very vttermost imployed yet death and his long wide gaping Children haue many hangers on many meanes deuises but many more tricks and vnfaithfull performances they would trust life the better as this man hath done and let death haue only the reuersion which is the easier to bee considered on It is not for my pen to set downe his praises leaues of Marble or Brasse are meeter for those Carracters that the deuouring teeth of Time may neuer deface Let this thâ—n 〈◊〉 â—ome addition to your honour that you haue suâ—h a â—orthy Brother mindful of the works of Mercy to thâ—â—oore among your selues and many places else-where carefull of offendours whom law sentencing with Death by the Watch-bell of Prayer are encited to compunction and hopefull of al goodnesse to pursue 〈◊〉 vertuous determinations euerie where So that wâ—en â—is Dooue shall finde no resting place for his foote 〈◊〉 reason of this Worldes tumultuous waues hee may returne to the Arke of blessednesse the happy home that he you and all else that feare God should daily long for Yours euer A. MVNDY TO THE ANCIENT WOORTHY AND RIGHT Worshipfull Company of the Gold-Smiths the Maister Wardens Assistants Liuery and likewise to euery louing Brother and member thereof LEt me not be thought Right Worshipfull Society more bolde then becomes me that in search of Antiquitie and Successe of Times guided by good obseruation and probable Authorities I thus present you in vnfaigned affection what I haue gathered concerning your worthy Brother-hood If I had time heere to set downe without preiudice to any other Misterie whatsoeuer that which Holye Writ recordeth of you and of men then most expert in your profession this poore Epistle would encrease it selfe to a very large discourse and exceede the limit wherto I haue tied my self in the whol labor I passe ouer the captiuity of Gods chosen people in Babylon and the Offices of those three especiall chosen men Zerubbabell Ezra and Nehemiah the first being their Captaine to guide them home and prouided that the Temple was builded the second reforming manners and making a plantation of Religion the third and last to builde vp the wals and make a new Citty of Ierusalem againe Yet let me tell you that among the multitude of Officers and Offices appointed to this businesse for building the walles the Merchants and Goldsmithes do beare a remarkeable note the very words in Scripture being these Betweene the Chamber of the Corner vnto the Sheepe-gate fortifyed the Gold smiths and the Merchants Beside that which is spoken of Malchiâ—h the Goldsmithes sonne fortifying to the house of the Nethinims And then of Bezaleell the Sonne of Vri filled with the Spirit of God in wisedome and vnderstanding to worke in Gold Siluer Brasse who had Aholiab ioyned with him to make all curious workes appointed by God himselfe for the Tabernacle of the Congregation the Arke of the Couenant and the Mercy-seat c. If these be not Testimonies of extraordinary honour and respect in the very names of Merchants and Goldesmiths but much more in the matter of so
ebbing and flowing hath long since subuerted them If then wee shall speake of Water-Gates as already wee haue done of Land-gates and being now in the west returne towards the East the first then was called Ripa Reginae the Queens-banck or Queens Hith deseruing well to bee estéemed a Water-Gate and the very chiefe of the Citty beeing a common Strand or landing place equall with and in olde time farre excelling Belines-Gate For beside the antiquity thereof and to whom in those daies it seuerally appertained I finde that King Henry the third in the ninth of his raigne commaunded the Constables of the Tower of London to arrest the Shippes of the Cinque-Portes on the Riuer of Thames and compell them to bring their Corne and Fish to no other place but to the Queenes-Hith only And when corn arriued betwéen the Gate of Guilde-Hall of the Merchantes of Colleyne and the Soke of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury for hee had then a House néere to the Blacke-Fryers it was not to bee measured by any other quarter then that of the Quéenes Soke or Hith on paine of forty shillinges amercement Afterward Queenes-Hith and the Farme thereof granted by Richard Earle of Cornewall was by the said King Henry the third confirmed to Iohn Gisors then Maior the Comminaltie of London and their Successours for euer as appeareth by his royall Charter for the sum of fifty poundes It was also ordained by King Edward the fourth that all Shippes Vessels or Boates bringing prouision of Victuall to the Cittie of what quality soeuer if but one Vessell only it came to the Queenes-Hith if two the one to Quéenes-Hithe the other to Belins-gate if thrée two to Quéenes-Hithe the third to Belins-gate c. so that alwaies the more part came to Quéenes-Hithe But if the Vessel were so great comming with Salt or otherwise from the Bay and could not conueniently come to these Gates or Keyes it was then to bee conuaied to them as afore-said by Lighters Downe-gate is the next and was so named as is supposed by reason of the waies suddaine descent or stooping from Saint Iohns Church in Walbroke to the Riuer of Thames It was some-time a large Water-gate frequented with Shippes and vessels like to the Queenes-Hithe and appeared by an Inquisition in the twentie eight yeare of Henry the third to be a part thereof being ordered by the customes thereto belonging Wolfes-gate now out of vse one part being builded on by the Earle of Shrewsbury the other by the Chamberlain of London and now called Cold-Harbor Ebgate so called of olde time but now it is a narrow passage to the Thames called Ebgate-lane or old Swan Oyster-gate so called of Oysters vsually there sold as chiefest market for them and other shell-fish There now stands the water-engine that serues the Citty with water made in the yeare 1582. by Peter Moris Dutchman Bridge-gate so called of London Bridge whereon it standeth béeing one of the Citties first foure and principall Gates and long before the Conquest when there then stood a bridge of Timber Buttolphs-gate so called of the Parish-church of S. Buttolph néer adioyning which Gate was some-time giuen and confirmed by William the Conqueror to the Monkes of Westminster by vertue of a former guift which Almundus of the Port of S. Buttolph gaue them when hée was there made Monke Belins-gate or Belingsgate the largest water-gate now on the Thames and most frequented Belin a King of the Brittons according to Geffrey of Monmouth first built it and gaue it his owne name about 400. years before Christs Natiuity There are two Water-gates more one on the west-side of Wooll-wharffe or Customers Key beautifully enlarged and built of late This gate is commonly called the Water-Gate at South end of Water-lane The other by the Tower Bulwarke and is the last and turthest Water-gate East-ward Beside these common Water-gates there were then diuers priuate wharffes Keies all along from East to West of the Cittie on the banck of the Riuer of Thames Before we part further frō this famous riuer let vs here remēber Londonbridge ouer it which before there was any bridge at al or it a bridge of timber there was a Ferry kept in the same place no other passage was there then to Southwark but by the Ferry onely The Ferry-man and his Wife dying left this Ferry to their only daughter named Mary who with her Parents goods left her the profits arising from the Ferry built a house of Sisters where the East part of S. Mary Oueries Church aboue the Quier now standeth and where she her selfe was buried giuing them also the ouer sight benefits of the ferry Afterward this house of Sisters being conuerted to a Colledge of Priestes the Priestes builded the Bridge of timber and kept it in good reparations till the continuall charges growing ouer-burthenous about the yeare 1176. the course of the Riuer being then turned another way for a time by a trench purposely deuised beginning about Rodriffe or Redriffe in the East and ending aboue Patrickseie or Batersey in the west the Bridge of stone began to be founded and continued 33. yeares in building The Bridge of timber in the yeare 1136. was burnt down by fire but in An. 1163. it was not only repaired but new made of Timber againe by one Peter of Cole-Church Priest and Chaplaine who also began the foundation of the Stone-bridge som-what néer to the Timber-bridge and liued till within foure years of the works ending being buried in a Chappell erected on the Bridge But the whole bridge of stone was finished by the worthy Merchants of London Setle Mercer Wil. Almaine Benedict Botewrite principal Maisters of that work Other bridges of stone also belonging to the City as Fleetbridge without Ludgate made at the charges of Iohn Wels Maior Anno. 1431. Oldborne-bridge so called of a Bourne which sometime ran down Old-borne Cowbridge by Cow-bridge-street or Cow-lane which beeing decaied another of timber was made by Chick-lane Beside there were other Bridges ouer the Town-ditch as without Aldgate Bishopsgate Mooregate Cripples-gate Aldersgate the Posterne of Christs Hospitall Newgate and Ludgate al paued ouer with stone and leuelled with the stréets beside diuers bridges in elder times ouer the course of Walbrooke While wee are thus speaking of Water and Bridges belonging to the Citty heere I thinke it most conuenient also to say somewhat concerning the Conduits and swéete-waters conuaied to them by Pipes of Lead The first Cesterne whereof castellated with Stone in the Citty of London was called the great Conduit in West-cheap which was begun to be builded in the year 1285. Henry Wales then being Maior The Tonne vpon Cornehill was cesterned in Anno. 1401. Iohn Chadworth then being Maior Bosses of water at Belins-gate by Paules-wharffe and by S. Gyles Church without Cripples-gate were
Corne market kept and the chappel of s Iames by Cripplesgate Hals of Societies Imbroiderers Hall in Guthurus Barbar Chirurgions hal in Monkes-well-street Sadlers hall in Cheap Butchers Hall in Chick-lane in the Shambles which serueth also for the Feltmakers This ward hath an Alderman and his Deputie twelue Common Counsellors seauenteene Constables eighteene Scauengers eyghteen wardmote Enquest and a Beadle It is taxed at 50. pound to the Fifteene Bread-streete Ward so called of bread there solde in elder time in that streete which giueth name to the whole Warde and hath foure Parish Churches in it viz. Alhallowes in Bread-streete saint Mildreds in Bread-streete saynt Iohn Euangelist in Friday-streete and s Margaret Moyses in Friday-streete Hals of companies are the Salters Hall in Bread-streete and Corwainers or Shoo-makers Hall in Maiden-lane or Distar lane This ward hath an Alderman and his Deputy tenne common Counsellors tenne Constables eight Scauengers thirteene Wardemote Enquest and a Beadle In London it is taxed at thirty seauen pound to the fifteen and in the Exchequer at 36. pounde 18. shillings two pence Queene-Hith Ward so called of the Queens Hith or water Gate whereof wee haue alreadye spoken In which warde are seauen Parish churches Viz. saint Trinity in Trinity lane saint Nicholas Cold-abbey at Knight-riders streete saint Nicholas Olaue on Bredstreet hill saint Mary de Monte Alto or Mounthaunt by Old Fishstreet hill or Fiue foot lane saint Machael at the Queens Hith saint Mary Summerset neere Broken wharfe and saint Peter called Parua by Paules wharfe Hals of companies are these Painter Stayners Hall in Trinitie Lane Blacksmiths Hall on Lambert hill This warde hath an Alderman and his Deputy sixe common Counsellors nine constables eight Scauengers thirtéene Warde-mote Enquest and a beadle In London it is taxed at twenty pound to the fifteen and in the Exchequer at 19. pound 16. shillings two pence Castel Baynard ward so named of an auncient castle there standing belonging sometime to one Baynard a Nobleman that came into this Lande with the conquerour and first builded it In this ward are foure parish churches viz. saint Benet Hude or Hithe by Paules Wharfe saint Andrew by the Wardrobe saint Mary Magdalen in Old-fishstreete and saynt Gregory by Paules church Halles of companies are these Wood-mongers Hall on the East-side of Paules wharfe Hill and the Stationers Hall neere the west end of Paules but conuerted to a Tauerne since then and the Hall was also in Milkestreet for a while but afterwarde translated agayne into Amen lane at the end of Pater noster row to a goodly auncient house in oldetime belonging to Iohn Duke of Britaine and Earle of Richmond Afterward called Pembrokes Inne as appertaining to the Earles of Pembroke in the time of Richard the second the eighteenth yeare and Henry the sixt the fourteenth yeare But it lately belonged to Henry Lord of Aburgaueny and was called Aburgauenie house This ward hath an Alderman and his Deputie common counsellers 9. constables 10. Scauengers 7. wardmote Enquest 14. and a Beadle In London it is taxed at twelue pound to the fifteen and in the Exchequer at 11. li. 13. s. There remayne yet two more Faringdon ward without and Bridgeward without or the Borough of the South-warke the round inuironing Suburbs without the wals the Dutchy of Lancaster and Cittie of Westminster All which beeing not comprized within this instant determination craue fauour for reference to our Chronicle of London wherein whatsoeuer is wanting heere and this slender pile woulde not permit stretching alreadye beyond expectation shall by Gods assistance be more fully effectually and largely performed then as yet Mayster Iohn Stow his Suruey or any other worke that I haue seene hath so amply deliuered especially concerning this honorable Citty and the Countie of Middlesex so far as the cities bounds and priuiledges do grant admittance Let me not be rashly censured in these gayseeming words to cast any disgrace or il aspersion on the painful labors of that worthy and industrious man Mayster Iohn Stow whom liuing I loued as a dear and intimate friend and dead I honor with all kinde remembrance for such as haue had knowledge of our inward respect of each other what hath past betwéene vs concerning this businesse for the Citty I know will no way mis-conceite of me they are too wise and vertuous to swerue in a knowne truth and more sounde and solide then malice can haue any power to seduce whatsoeuer then is referred to our further intention as it hath bin a labour willingly vnder-taken by me albeit both beséeming and requiring a much better Iudgement So by his helpe who is both the hope and helpe of all Vertuous endeauours it shall bee effected with all possible dilligence Of the Temporall Gouernment of this Honorable Citty since the Conquest To the worshipfull M. Rowland Smart Esquire Sword-Bearer of London PAssing ouer those Tempestuous times of the old Britons Romans Saxons and Danes till Ethelred or Alfred Earle of Mercia who had the custody of this citty in his power he no sooner dyed but both it and all other possessions belonging to the saide Earle returned to King Edward surnamed the Elder c. Remaining thus in obedience to him he then ordaining Portgraues to haue the gouernement thereof vnder him which name Portgraue or Portreue is compounded of two Saxon wordes Porte and Gerefe or Reue Porte signifyeng a Towne or City Gerefe or Reue a Guardian or Ruler of the said town or city Before the conquest in the daies of k. Edw. the Confessor one Wolfegare was Portgraue as appeareth by the kings charter to him thus Edward K. greeteth Alfward byshop Wolfegare my Portgraue al the Burgesses in London c. These Portgraues continued in William the conquerors time William Rufus and Henry the first when Hugh Buche was Portgraue and Leofstanus Gold-smith Prouost which name of Prouost then beganne for Aubery de Vere was afterward Portgraue and Robert Bar-Querel Prouost Then by the same King was the sheriuewick of London and Middlesex granted to the Cittizens of London In the raigne of King Stephen Gilbert Becket was Portgraue and Andrew Bucheuet Prouost and Godfrey Magnauilla or Mandeuil by guift of Maude the Empresse was Portgraue or sheriffe of London and Middlesex for the yearely farme of three hundred pound as appeareth by the Charter In the time of k. Henry the second those Portgraues were likewise in diuers records called Vicecomites Vicounties or sheriffes as being vnder an Earle and then as since vsed that Office as the sheriffes of London now doo Albeit some Authors tearme them Domesmen Elder-men or Iudges of the Kings court Heere then it shall not seeme impertinent once more to remember the wordes of William Fitz-stephen saying Euen as Rome is deuided into Wards so is this Citty It hath yearely Sheriffes insted of Consuls It hath the
many Princes Prelates of France who went and besieged Damieta where they were ayded by the knightes hospitallers Templers and the City was soon after surrendred to K. Lewes in the yeare 1250. Then did the Soldan of Egypt giue battel to the christians wherein King Lewes with his brethren Charles and Alphonsus the King of Cyprus as also the Great maister many knights of the hospitalers Templers were all taken prisoners Whych surprizall caused an attonement betwéene King Lewes and the Soldane the hospitall Knights lent mony to King Lewes to pay his ransom In the year 1251. Villebride the great maister dyed in the City of Ptolomais succéeded by election 18 Guillaum de Chasteau-neuf or de Castelno of the spéech of Auuergne He was a great obseruer of Iustice pope Alexander 4. gaue to the knights hospitallers the castle lands of Bethania in the yeare 1256. In his time the Christians lost their vtmost hope of any succour from the Princes of Europe and in the yeare 1280. the Great Maister of Castelno died when as the Hospitall Knights of S. Iohn elected in his sted 19 Hugues Reuelle or Reuel in the tyme of Pope Vrban the fourth who gaue to the knights of S. Iohn Mont-Tabor 1261. and in Anno 1262. they bought the Castle of Assur but in the following two yeares they tooke from the Sarazins a Castle named Lilion whereuppon the Soldan of Egypt concluded to worke the ruin of the Knights Hospitallers and as an instance he forcibly tooke from the saide Knights in the year 1265. the Castle of Assur at the surprizal wherof there were slaine to the number of 90. knights of S. Iohn which greatly abated their power and repute And in the yeare 1267. the Knights hospitallers and Temples were assailed and much confused in battaile by the Sarazins néere to the City of Ptolomais for they wasted and spoiled al the countrey thereabout In the yeare also 1270 the Knights of S. Iohn lost the Castle of Cracquo which was assaulted by the Soldane and all the knights within it were put to the sword It is likewise saide that this Great Master Reuel assisted King Lewes in the voyage to Tunis where the said King died of the plague and that in the ende about the yeare 1278. the Great Maister Reuel ended his daies hauing helde fiue Chapters or assemblies of the Brother-hoode of S. Iohn wherein manie notable Statutes were made for gouernement and reformation of the Order 20 After his decease Nicholas Lorgus was chosen Great Maister who not to swerue a iot from his predecessor wel knowing that nothing sooner procureth the ruine of Common-weales Comminalties then discord and dissention tooke such paines to reconcile the Knights hospitallers with the Templers that he drew them to accord and made them good friends In the yeare 1282 the Knights of S. Iohn woon a famous victorie against the Sarazins who proudely came to besiedge the Castle of Margate their very principal Fortresse which was very manfully defended by the Hospitallers and in the ende quitted at composition by the knights who returned with their Ensignes displayed to the Citty of Ptolomais And in the yeare 1288. Lorgus the Great Maister died with very griefe because hee saw the Christian affaires in the Holy land dailie to fall from il to worse without any means or hope of remedy 21 In the same yeare Iohn de Villiers a Frenchman borne was created Great Maister of the Order In his time the Citty of Tâ—ipoly was taken from the Christians by the Infidels as in like manner were the citties of Sidonia Baâ—uth in the yeare 1289. all which were ransacked ruined and burned and the citty of Tyre brought vnder the Soldanes subiection whereon the christians of Ptolomais were gladde to séeke their owne peace During which time the Great Maister went to Brundusium with the Great Maister of the Templers to sollicite the christian Princes of the Croisade and the Soldane came to assaile the citty of Ptolomais which was vertuously defended by the Knights of the Hospitall and Temple with many braue sallies forth vpon the besiedgers Especially the Great Maister Villiers who was sore wounded with long sustaining the whol charges of the Barbarian Infidels the Knights Barricadoing themselues in a quarter of the Citty which yet was afterward taken on Friday the 18. of May the same yeare 1292. With this great losse the Christians were driuen out of the holy land 191. years ten months thrée daies after it had bin Conquered by Godfrey of Bullen The Great M. with the rest of his Knightes fled for safety to the Isle of Cyprus where they were very kindly entertained by the K. of the Island who assigned to theÌ„ the Templers the Citty of Limosson which was a Port Towne or Hauen on the Sea There did they inhabite and there did the Great Maister assemble two generall Chapters one in December 129â— and the other in October 1293. making therein dyuers good Statutes for the Order and in the yeare 12â—â— he dyed at Limosson then succéeded him 22 F. Odo des Pins borne in Prouence in the time of Pope Boniface the eyght He incurred the hatred and disgrace of the knightes of his Order by reason of his negligence and couetousnesse And there was a purposed determination to depriue him of his Great maistershippe but it was impeached by the Pope to auoide scandall and at length he was cited to appeare at Rome in person to answere to the complaintes of the Hospitallers and thitherward he trauailed But before he could sée Italy he dyed by the way in the year 1296. hauing in the precedent yeares held two generall Chapters at Limosson Hee caried also along with him a manuscript Chronicle wherein hee had appealed certaine letters of the Popes containing excommunication whereby he pursued and reléeued his owne appeale 23 The Knights hearing the death of theyr Great Maisters des Pins elected at Limosson the twenty foure day of March 1296. F. Guillaume de Villaret to succéed him who was of the same Countrey of Prouence and Prior of S. Gilles where he was at the time of his election But hauing intelligence thereof he trauailed immediatly to the Kingdome of Cyprus and gouerned in his charge very prudently In his time Vsau Cassanus King of the Tartares became a Christian and recouered the Citty of Ierusalem where hee placed the Knightes Hospitallers and Templers in Garrison in the yeare 1300. Hée tooke the Citty of Damas likewise but it was quickly regained by the Infidels and the Hospitallers and Templers returned then to Cyprus againe where the Great Maister departed out of this life in the yeare 1308. hauing helde fiue generall Chapters at Limosson and séene the vtter ruine of the Knights Templers 24 The great Maister being dead Folquet de Villaret of the same Nation of Prouence was elected in his roome He was a man of liuely spirit and great courage and
or Iupedes what people they were there are opinions enow concerning them Some say that they were at first of Scythia and came thence as the Lombards did into Italy But hauing made a more curious and dilligent search I finde that they were a people of Germany and called then Gepudij or Sepusij and according to Ptolomeus Matauastus now at this day Siebemburgs that followed the Gothes the Vandals and the Normands also beeing erring and Vagabonde people till at length they ventured on the Seas and went to inhabite the Isles of the Orchades whereof Thylle is the latest inhabited as Volateranus auoucheth and they are now subiectes to the King of Scotland In speaking of so many Nations who are all said to be deriued from the Scithians we may not forget the Picts who by most Writers opinion are said to be a people of Germany that had their Originall out of Scythia descending of the Agathyrsi in Sarmatia who vsed to paint and collour their faces thereupon were named Picts Before they entred into Britaine they inhabited the Isle of Orkeney for a long time together ferrying ouer into Cathnesse daily so multiplying both in power number that getting vp further into the land they possessed Rosse Murrey-land Merne Angusse whence passing into Fife and Louthian they droue thence the Brittain Inhabitantes who were onely poore people that liued by nourishing breeding Cattle This their entrance into Albion for so was it then called was in the year of the worlds creation 3633. Cruthneus Camelonus is said to be the first king of the Picts that he builded a famous Citty on the bank of the Riuer called Caron appointing it to be the chief City of all the Pictish kingdom He builded also the town of Agneda afterward called Edenbrough of Ethus king of the Picts and the Castle named The Castle of Maydens because the Pictish kings kept their daughters there vnder strict custody in all good exercises til their yeares of mariage Concerning the warres strifes and bloody contentions betwéene the Albion Scots and Picts thorough all their Kings raigns til their vtter ouerthrow and quite desolation of Pict-land by Kenneth the victorious King of Scots I referre it to our larger discourse Only letting you know that this subuersion and vtter ruine of the Picts hapned in the year of our redemption 839. in the sixt yeare of King Kenneths glorious raigne 1168. yeares after their first plantation in Albion The Getes haue bin and yet are a warlick people mollested greatly by the Turkes at this instant and yet they found the Romain work sufficient These are the Transyluanians Valachians Moldauians their country is neere to the Riuer Ister where it falleth into the Pontick sea The Bourguignons are helde by Orosius to come forth of Germany and Volatteranus saith that Iouinianus the Emperour vanquished some such people that liued by the Riuer of Rhine But there is nothing more certaine according as I haue gathered by the Germaine Histories then that they yssued from some remaynes of the Gothes Vandals and Hunnes who beeing altogether chased by the Romains threw themselues on that part of Gaule which is called after theyr name and there perforce enthroned themselues For afterwarde they coulde so well resist the Romaines that they were constrained to yéelde them tolleration and let them liue in the saide Countrey amongst the first Inhabitants There they builded Fortes Villages and Townes which they called then Bourgs of the Gothes Hunnes but being soone corrupted into one word from Bourgs-Goth-Hunnes they are now called Bourguignons as much to say as a martiall people Aetius Lieutenant to the Emperor Theodosius gaue them a battel in the yeare of Christ 435. and won the day But it cost him so deare that he would neuer after meddle any more with them About the yeare 430. they receiued and embraced the Christian fayth This people in these dayes are become very ciuill and are as much addicted to Learning as to Armes For they haue a goodly Vniuersitie founded by one of the Dukes of Bourgougne wherein many Lectures are read of all the Sciences to Schollers of all Nations at Dola the Capitall Cittye of that parte of Bourgougne which is vnder commaund of the house of Austria and there they hold a Parliament also As for the other part of Bourgougne in obedience to the Crowne of France Digeon is the Metropolitane Citty thereof where likewise is helde another Parlament And these two Bourgougnes are maintained in very good peace albeit they are in obeysance to diuers Princes We wil conclude this discourse with the kingdome of Naples which is a Citty very auncient and Noble in all respects and giueth the Title of kingdome to the whole Prouince by her owne proper name As concerning the name of Kingcome I do not hold it to be of any great antiquity because the Normanes took it from the Grecians who possessed this Prouince in diuers partes thereof and then it was entitled the Earldome of Apulia or Puglia as some do yet tearme it Robert Guiscard a verie valiant and woorthy man expulsed suddenly the Grecians thence and tooke Sicilie also from the Sarrazins entitling himselfe Duke of Apulia and of Calabria and Earle of Sicilie In no long time after his nephew Ruggiero or Roger hauing conquered the Citty of Naples which till that time had béene in the Grecians Gouernment receiued the Title of King of both the Scicilies by Anacletus the Anti-Pope in the yeare of our Lorde 1130. which afterwarde was confirmed vnto him in good and lawfull manner And from that time forwarde it was called the kingdome of Scicilie on this side Pharos vntill the raigne of Charles the first when it became deuided from Sicilie by occasion of that famous accident called Vesro Sciciliano the Scicilian Euening wherein so many of the French were slaine I finde moreouer in many good Historians that Naples hath had three seuerall Names to wit the Kingdome of Naples the Kingdome of Apulia and the Kingdome of Scicilie on this side Pharos ¶ Of the Kingdome of Portugall THe Kingdome of Portugall beganne in the yeare of Christ M.C.X. after this manner Henry Earle of Lorrayne comming thether performed many valiant déedes against the Sarrazins And his high deseruings mooued Alphonsus the sixte King of Castile to giue him a Bastard daughter of his in mariage named Tiresia and in way of Dowrye assigned him also that part of Galicia which then was contained in Lusitania Of this marriage was Alphonsus borne who was the first that euer stiled himselfe K. of Portugall and he was the first also that tooke the Citty of Lisbone from the Sarrazins For he hauing conquered fiue of their kings in seueral battels caused his Armes to bee adorned with fiue seuerall Crownes and Coat-Armors which euer after continued the Ensigne of the kings of Portugall in perpetuall memory of his valour But he quickly
stained this faire fame with crueltie vsed by him to his owne mother for after her second marriage he caused her to be imprisoned albeit the Pope labored the matter greatly by his Legate yet could hee neuer compasse her deliuerance Which sin was seuerely punished on him by his enemies who afterward tooke him in battell And then his son Sanctio succéeded him and after Sanctio diuers other to Iohn who was the tenth King in direct and natural line This Iohn was at the first expulsed from his Kingdome and made a Knight of S. Iohn of Ierusalem but at length he was re-called to his kingdome where he made very honorable proofe of his valour and among diuers famous déeds he tooke from the Sarrazins the Citty of Septia Hee had seauen Sonnes among which Ferdinand for intergrity of life was tearmed a Saint Henry another of his Sons was the first that found Noua Insula in the Athlantike Sea He being very skilful in the Mathematicks liued continually without a Wife and made his daily abiding in a Promontory which was called the Cape of S. Vincent and there he died in the yeare 1460. But Edward who was the eldest brother was made King and by warres he adioyned to the kingdome of Portugall Zelia Tigea and Alcazar in Affrica He had two Daughters or Sisters as some say named Ioane and Leonora the first was married to the king of Castille and the other to Frederick the third Emperor of whom was borne Maximilian the first who was afterward Emperor and Grandfather to Charles the fift He had also a Son named Alphonsus who succéeded him in the Kingdome and begate Iohn Emanuel who was 14. king of Portugal Emanuel had Iohn who took to wife the sister of Charls 5. Emperor called Katherine Lodwick died an infant but Isabel was wife to the said Charles he had another daughter that was maried to Charls D. of Sauoy After him succéeded Sebastian who in our time fighting with the Moors was slain and the king of Marocco with diuers other great Lords of the Moores Henry Vnckle to the deceased king followed him in succession he being then a Cardinal very aged holding the kingdom but some few months But he dying Phillip king of Spain entred on the kingdom resisting the claime of Don Anthonio beeing a Brothers-son of the dead King Henry and so out-wearied him that hée could neuer attaine thereto in full possession So it remaineth still vnder the Spanish gouernment ¶ The Kingdome of Italy COncerning the Kingdome of Italy the antiquity thereof when at first it was called Ianicula of Ianus Camesena of Cameses Saturnia of Saturnus Hesperia of Hesper and Italia of Italus with all the Kinges there raigning till the Latines and those likewise that descended of Eneas to the time of Romulus with the History both of olde Rome and Rome as it now is it remaineth to our generall History Onely we will say somewhat of the Originall of Venice moued thereto by iust occasion A breefe discourse of the Originall of the Venetians the foundation of Venice and how it hath beene gouerned from the year of our saluation 421. to thiâ— instant To the ancient Right Worshipfull and worthy Society of the Gold-Smiths HIstoriographers who haue written of the Venetians doe not agrée together in theyr true Originall For some doe write that they are descended of the Venetian Gaules inhabiting along the Ocean Sea in little Britaigne called Armorica whereof one of the principall Citties béeing a Bishops Sée was called Vennes Others and among them Titus Liuius borne in Padua assures vs that they came forth of Paphlagonia and that Philemon their Captaine being slaine at Troy the great they went with Antenor into Italy Others write that this Nation hauing béene Neighbours to the Cappadocians and venturing fight with the Cimmerians they hazzarded further vpon the Adriatick Sea in their Fortune The most common opinion is of them who say that the Hinitians or Henetes came with Antenor and in sometime after by changing of a letter were called Venitians or Venetes First of all they expelled the Euganeans who inhabited this Countrey betwéene the Adriatick Sea and the Alpes and builded the Cittie of Padua Afterward by successe of time they increased in such sort as they would not be satisfied to bee Maisters onely of that which had appertained to the Euganeans consisting of thirtie foure faire Citties and Townes but intruded farther to seaze on Bressano and Forli Some report this Countrey to be bounded with the Riuers of Pau and that of Adde as also the Lake of Guard aunciently called the Benack the Alpes and the Adriatick Sea And so the auncient Venetians in this manner extended their Dominion both in longitude and latitude in the most pleasant Countrey of Italy but the seating of the places did daily beget the elder estate of the Venitians hatred For on the one side the ordinary robberies of the Liburnians and on the other side the frequent and frightful courses of the Barbarians did hinder them froÌ„ any long time of continuing in quiet For without these impeachments this Nation had béene most fortunate in conquering by the right of Warre one of the most goodly and beautifull Regions in all Italie Nowe ouer and beside that on the South-side it is enuironed with a most calme circuite of the Sea and in regard thereof is the more capable of receiuing all strange Merchandizes So is it likewise wattered with very delectable Riuers whereby whatsoeuer commeth from the Sea is easilie transported to the very Nauell of the Prouince It aboundeth in Pooles Pondes Forrests and vnder-woodes and the whole Land is choicelie fertile in Corne Wine Oyle and all kindes of Fruites It is also plentifully stored with Countrey Houses Townes Citties and Villages Castles Fortes and such like very commendable for the scituation and enclosure of their Wals. These nâ—w Inhabitants when their weake estate beganne to growe in fairer forme they were seldome exempted from the Warres and incursions of Straungers For after manie bolde insolencies of the Barbarians with continued Warres against each other euen from their very beginning vntill the time of Attila they were yet much more dreadfully encombered with the furious assault of the Gothes a teÌ„mpest farre excéeding in turbulencie all other former disasters happening to them whatsoeuer For first the Hunnes a people of Scythia dwelling néere to the Riphean Mountaines conducted by Attila the Sonne of Mandluck dispersed themselues ouer Italie and making horrible spoyle wheresoeuer they went fell into the Prouince belonging to the Vinitians After a long siedge they tooke the Cittie of Aquileia and spoyled and burnt it wholly In like manner did they ruinate the Citties of Concordia and Altina and almost all the Venitian Region At the fearefull newes of this Warre the Venitians were more amazed then any other and so much the rather because they had béene formerly invred to sustaine their
contrarie to the hope of all or his owne expectation The Arsenall was burned in his time and there then also happened a very great dearth of all thinges Selim Successour to Solyman tooke occasion to breake peace with the Common-wealth demaunding of them the Kingdome of Cyprus and mooued Warre vppon this Subiect He gouerned foure yeares fiue monthes and eight daies 85 Luigi Mocenigo Warre beeing kindled against the Turke lost the Kingdome of Cyprus Nicosia béeing taken and Famagosta surrendered The Common-wealth made league with Pope Pius the fift and Phillip King of Spayne so that their Armies béeing ioyned together in the yeare 1571. they obtayned a woorthy victorie against the Turkes Soone after Henry the third King of Fraunce came to Venice where hee was magnyficently entertayned This Prince dyed in his seauenth yeare 86 Sebastiano Veniero was elected by common voyce and with such applause that dyuers Turkes ranne to him and kissed his féete Hée created fiue Correctours of the Lawes for ruling the affaires of the Pallace The Citty was deliuered of a dangerous plague and the Pallace was againe very greatly defaced by fire This Prince gouerned not aboue one whol yeare 87 Nicholo de Ponte was created Duke a man very learned in al the Sciences and whereof he had made publicke profession in Venice He passed thorow all the honours of the Common-wealth wherewith the Cittizens coulde possibly gratifie him The Seminary of S. Marke was instituted by him Certaine Princes of Iapponia arriuing then at Venice were by him most honourably entertained He builded the Bridge of Canareggio and gouerned seauen yeares nine months and thirteene daies 88 Paschale Cicogna Procurator of S. Mark was elected when he was at diuine seruice in the Church In his time there was great warres betwéene France and Spaine about Piedmont and betwéene the Emperor and the Turke for some parts in Hungaria He caused the Town of Palma to be builded in the confines of the countrey of Friuli and a newe Castle or Fortresse in the Isle of Cephalonia He hadde the honour of the wonderfull Bridge of the Rialto which hee builded And gouerned ten yeares or thereabout 89 Marino Gâ—imini Procurator of S. Mark was so highly in grace and fauour of the people that on the day of his election they declared extraordinary signes of ioy and continued them for many following daies The second yeare of his Principality he caused the Dutchesse his Wife to be crowned in great Triumph At which time Pope Clement the eight sent hir the Rose of gold In his time much ioy and triumph was made for the peace concluded betwéen the Kings of France and Spayne Vppon occasion of the Popes comming to Ferrara obtained by the Ecclesiasticall Estate the Cardinall Aldobrandino passed thence to Venice where he was most honorably welcommed with diuers other Cardinals There was such an extraordinary ouer-flow of waters in the fift yeare of his Principality that the Barks Boats and Gundeloes floated on the place of S. Marke euen as if they had béen in a ful maine riuer He dyed and was much bemoaned of the people hauing gouerned ten yeares and eight moneths 90 Leonardo Dandolo hauing by his woorthy deseruings singuler wisedom and dexterity managed passed affaires and gone through al honors of the Common-wealth giuing euident testimony of his care and faithfulnesse was aduanced in the place of Grimani the tenth day of Ianuary 1606. He had bin sent Ambassador to Constantinople to Mahomet hee being newlie come to the Empire of the East in the common-wealthes-name to salute him with accustomed complements He hath such a practiue brain and so happy a memory seated in a soule so religiously zealous for common benefite that the Senate hath referred more to him then to any other of his Predecessors The Citty hath in his time béene excommunicated by Paulus Quintus now pope about some pretentions appertaining to his Sée But it may well be saide of this Prince that against such Thunder-clappes and lightning flashes he hath shewne himselfe like an immooueable Rocke in defence of that estate in generall In like manner two principall Pillers of Christendome threatned great disaster and ruine buâ— that most Christian Henry the fourth King of Fraunce embracing those two Collombes vpheld both the one and other redressed all discontentment by the entermise of his Ambassadors and hath erected a Triumphall Arche to the immortality of his glorie This Prince now liuing happily in peace doth dayly acknowledge to Fraunce his particular affection for such fauour and may in time much better declare it God long preserue him and all other good Princes ⧠Of the Kingdome of Spaine SPaine was in her yonger daies held by sundry petty Kings and Tetrarches and afterward became deuided into many Commonweals The Carthiginians a people of Affrica hazzarding their fortune thither helde one part thereof and possessed themselues of many Citties Townes and places vntill they were expelled thence by the Romaines in the time of the Punick warres Since when it was continually subiect vnto the Commonwealth of the Romaine reduced into forme of a Prouince only in the raign of the Emperor Augustus So it remained till the Emperor Honorius in whose daies the Vandales a people of the North parts broght it vnder their command But they were soone after chased thence by the Gothes who established there the seate of their kingdom which in that kind they maintained for the space of about two hundred years nor were they then called kings of Spaine but kings of the Goths In the raigne of Roderick king of the Goths the Moores of Affrica entred Spaine in the yeare 715. they beeing brought thither by one named Iulian in very despightfull indignation and to shape out a way to his bloody reuenge because King Roderick had dishonoured his Sister or as some others say his daughter And so did the Moores possesse themselues wel-néer of al Spain seizing the city of Tolledo which was theÌ„ the capital city Thus ended the kingdom name of the Goths in Spain Nor rested they so but pursued on their conquest still there remained none but Galitia the Asturies Leon which countries king Pelagius Vnkle successor of Roderick had fled to for refuge there shut vp himself in regard that those places were inuironed with Mountaines might wel defend shelter him for some time But his successors being hardly pressed by the Sarrazins could no longer resist wherefore vnder the raigne of Alphonsus the seconde they were forced to craue the helpe of Charlemaigne King of Fraunce by whose valour and Vertue the Moores were beaten thence a great way and had bin quite cast out of the Country if the Spaniards mallice had bin no hinderance thereto Afterward the kings of Leon and Galicia for such were then their only titles being so formerly preserued began somwhat to increase in power And in regarde of this expedition performed by the French the strength of the Moores was
of k. Childerick with other his predecessors In like maner he layed open to him the paines and Trauayles of his Father and himselfe only in defence of the Kingdome and how it was more conuenable that hee who attended the charge of publicke affaires should likewise beare the name of king rather then hee that waited not thereon at all but followed his own delights and voluptuous pleasures which being considered by the Pope by the intermise of Bruchard Byshop of Bourges and Folrad Chaplaine vnto the saide Pepin it was ordained that Childerick should be shauen and sent vnto his Monastery againe where he dyed with Gisala his wife hauing raigned nine years And then was Pepin with ful consent of the Nobility and generall sufferages of all the people proclaimed King of France Heere ended the first generation of the Kinges of Fraunce in the ligne Masculine beeing termed the race of the Merouingians which lasted from Pharamond to this Pepin 331. yeares And heere beginneth the second generation called the race of the Carlouingians PEpin surnamed Le Bref or Short Son of Charls Martel was made king of France in the year of grace 751. hauing bin nine years Maire of the Pallace from the raigne of Chilperick the third This man as well by consent of Pope Zacharie as fauour of the French Nobility his former good gouernment also especially considered was sacred King the first of that race Pope Stephen who succeeded Zacharie withdrew himselfe into France to haue succour against Astulphus King of the Lombards Pepin being acquainted therewith tooke part with the holy sée of Rome promising to restore that which was vsurped from it In requitall whereof the Pope sacred him againe with his two Sonnes And Pepin marching with his Armie into Italy sent the Pope home to Rome againe for Astulphus was besiedged in Pauia and constrained to make agréement with the Pope Pepin gaue to the Sée of Rome the Exarchate of Rauenna and many other Citties and Towns by him conquered He had many victories against Gaiser or Waifer Duke of Aquitaine who in the ende was slaine and his Country conquered in a battaile which he won néere to Perigord He subdued the Saxons who were reuolted from their allegeance And he instituted the Court of Parlament in France He died at Paris in the eyghteenth yeare of his raigne leauing two Sonnes and seauen Daughters which hee had by Bertha his Wife In his time was Robert Surnamed the Deuill Sonne vnto Aubert Duke of Normandy 24 Charles the Great called Charlemaigne son of Pepin le Bref succéeded in the kingdome the yeare of Grace 768. and was Crowned at Wormes after he had made partage with Caroloman his Brother when hee had raigned 32. yeares King of France by consent of the Cleargie and Romaine people in regarde of the great good done by him to Christendome the Church of Rome he was proclaimed and crowned Emperor of Rome in the year 800. vpon Christmas day the people crying aloud thrée seuerall times To Charls Augustus crowned of God the great and peaceable Emperor life victory He was the first called Most Christian King being a man of great stature admirable strength eloquent in many languages studious affecting to heare the reading of histories a great louer of learning and the learned as Parls and Pisa can well witnesse Nicephorus he deuided the Empire agreeing that the one shold be called Emperor of the East and the other of the West He quailed the commotion raised in Guiâ—nne by the procurement of his Brother Caroloman who therefore went in a rage to Rome and returning thence died soone after To please his Mother he married Theodora Sister or daughter to Didier k. of the Lombardes whom he quickly diuorced and remarried Hildegrande Daughter vnto the Duke of Swethen by whom he had Charles Pepin Lewes Rotrude Bertha and Gilette Hauing pacified the broyles in Aquiâ—aine at the request of Pope Adrian he went inâ—o Italy against Didier whom he subdued and so gaue ending to the Lombards kingdome sending the king his wife and children into exile He conquered the Saxons against whom he warred thirty yeares hauing twelue seuerall Battailes against them He repulsed the Sarrazins that wasted Spaine and lost one battaile in dealing with them wherein perrished thirtie thousand of his men but returning on them the second time he won a famous victory But too true it is that bringing his armie home into Fraunce and passing by Ronceuaux his arrieregarde was rudely assayled by the Gascoignes and there he lost a great number of his Knights among whome were Rowland and Oliuer He conquered the Hâ—nnes Sclauonians Bauarians and Danes loosing his two best Sonnes Charles and Pepin accomplishing many déedes woorthy of memory as well in war as peace He founded the Vniuersities of Paris Pauia and Bolongne apointing also Orders for Ecclesiasticall personnes called Capitula Caroli Magni and caused the Counselles of Maience Rheimes Tours Chaalons Arles Francfort to bee holden ordaining withall the twelue Péeres of Fraunce Such was the raygne of this great Charles till beeing crazed with a Feauer hee dyed in the sixe and fortyeth yeare of his Kingly Gouernement the fouretéenth yeare of his Empyre the seauenty one of his age and lyeth buried at Aix la Chapelle 25 Lewes Surnamed the Debonnaire or méeke succéeded his Father Charlemaigne both in the Romaine Empyre and Kingdom of Fraunce but not in his Vertue and greatnesse of courage for hee was so Nick-named in regarde of his ouer-much readinesse and facility which made his authority despised both of his owne people and straungers in the yeare 816. Many debanches hapned vnder his raigne as well on behalfe of Bernard his Nephew king of Italy his wife and children whom he caused to be put to death as also in his war against the Bretons who would not bee brought vnder his obedience He had thrée sonnes by his first wife to wit Lothaire whom he made King of Italy Pepin King of Aquitaine and Lewes King of Bauiere In second marriage hee had Iudith daughter to the Count of Altorfe by whome he had Charles the Balde who after him was K. of France Hee endeuoured to reforme the ouer-great pompe and dissolutions in them of the Churche by a Counsell holden at Aix la Chapelle His three first Sonnes made diuers wars vppon him being thereto prouoked as well by the Ecclesiastickes as by the partage which hee had made to Charles the Balde his yongest son In their first attempte they besiedged him at Compeigne where they tooke their second mother Iudith whom when they had shorne vayled they sent her in Religion to Poictiers leauing their Father then without any administration or royall charge But afterward beeing recouered from such seruility and causing his wife to be brought him againe he was so milde and méeke that he pardoned the Rebels all their offences A seconde time his Sonnes arose against
impositions whereby great seditions happened at Paris Rouen and Orleaunce The King tooke into the Armes of France againe the thrée Floure-de-Luces onely and fell sicke of a Phrenzy by reason of two factions in his Court the Dukes of Berry and Burgundy against the Dukes of Orleaunce and Bourbon whereby many lamentable mishaps ensued The Princes tooke the gouernment into their hands and diuision happening concerning the treasure the Duke of Burgundy caused the Duke of Orleaunce to bee slaine at Paris and the Duke of Burgundy was slaine at Montereau Phillip his Sonne craued ayde of the English who presently tooke well neere all Normandy beside the vnhappy day to the French of Agincourt or Azincourt where many woâ—ull Tragedies were acted on the Theater of France by the English Burgundians and the Kings Mother who was imprisoned at Paris The King of England maried Madame Katherine of France The Duke of Burgundy deliuered him the King the Quéene and the Citty of Paris where he caused him to be crowned King and many other Citties and Towns were deliuered him beside King Charls hauing raigned forty two yeares died at Paris and lieth buried at Saint Denis His raigne was long but full of calamity 54 Charles the seauenth Sonne to Charles the sixt was made King in the yeare 142. Hée found his Kingdome possessed in all partes by the English Paris and the greater part of the Realme beeing then commaunded by the Duke of Bedford Regent for young Henry King of England who called himselfe King of Fraunce held his Parliament at Paris was there crowned king and made the Seale and Monies also in his own name King Charles hauing nothing else but the Countries of Poictu Berry and Orleaunce whereon the English in a mockery called him the king of Bourges They went to besiedge the Cittie of Orleaunce but they were thence repulsed by the French Captaines For they had a Maide in their Company who was called Ioan the Pucelle and they verily beléeued that she was sent of God for the succour of King Charles and to chase the English out of France The King after the discomfiture of the English néere to Partenay was conducted to Rheimes and there crowned But the English got the Pucelle and burned her at Rouen The King made peace with the Duke of Burgundy who foorthwith left the English and afterward recouered Paris and Normandy from them King Charles raigned 38. yeares and lieth buried at S. Denis 55 Lewes the eleuenth succéeded his Father in the yeare 1461. beeing then in Burgundy whence the Duke conuayed him to Rheimes where he was crowned Hée found a number of notable Enemies both Domesticall and Forraigne For his Lords made warre against him which they tearmed The Weale-publike warre he lost the day to them at Montle-hery Gransson Nancy and Guinegaste The order of S. Michaell was then instituted and Iacques d'Armaguac beheaded His raigne was full of feare suspition and treachery which so pierced his hart that in a long time of dismay after 33. yeares gouernment he died and lieth buried at Nostre Dame de Clery 56 Charles the eight succéeded his Father Lewes in the yeare 1484. being crowned at the age of 14. yeares yet the States méeting at Tours appointed that hee should not haue any Regent Hee sustained a long warre in Bretayne which termined by his marriage with Anne eldest Daughter to Fraunces Duke of Bretayne by whom he had three Sons but could not long enioy any one of them At the request of his Confessour hee rendered to the King of Spaine the Earledomes of Roussillon and Parpignan which his Father had won Being in peace he aduentured to recouer the kingdom of Naples which he did without striking one stroke in full conquest K. Alphonsus and his son Ferdinand being thence retired left Glibert de Montpensier Vice-Roy there Returning home into France he was assailed on the way by the Romans Venitians and them of Milleyne at Fornouë where his person was in great danger the enemies being tenne to one Neuerthelesse hee charged them with such courage that he bare thence the victory He deliuered the Duke of Orleaunce béeing besiedged in Nouarre and made peace with the Duke of Millaine He returned home into France where hee dyed within a yeare after at Amboise as hée stood and beheld the Princes playing at Tennis He raigned fouretéene yeares and lieth buried at S. Denis Thus ended in him the direct ligne of Valois he dying without any heires Masle and then followed the collaterall Issue which began in 57 LEwes the twelft néerest of Kinne to Charles the eight in the yeare 1499. Hée beeing Duke of Orleaunce and also of Valois He repudiated Ioane Daughter to King Lewes the eleauenth whom hee had married perforce and espoused Anne of Bretaigne Widdow to the King his Predecessour He established a Parliament at Rouen gaue orders to the Uniuersitie of Paris sent his Army into Italy tooke Genes and Millayne and Lewes Sforza Duke of Milleyne who dyed a Prisoner in France The Kingdome of Naples was re-taken vnder the conduct of Monsieur d' Aubigny And the King vanquished the Venetians Army at Agnadell where hée tooke Bartholmew their Leader albeit the Pope banded with the Venetians against him Gaston de Foix tooke Boulongne and wonne the battaile néere to Rauenna where he was slaine by chasing the enemies ouer-far and yet notwithstanding the victory remained to the French with surprizall of the Cittie and many Captaines and great persons taken Prisoners Hereupon the Pope raised many heauy enemies against him whom in the ende hee woorthily vanquished He raigned 17. yeares and lieth buried at S. Denis 58 Frances de Valois as néerest of Kin succéeded King Lewes in the yeare 1515. This King bare such affection to learning that he was sir-named The Father and Restorer of the Sciences At his beginning he ouercame the Switzers took Millaine and Fontarabie Afterward being desirous to winne the Townes belonging to the Dutchy of Millaine and to bring his siedge before Pauia hee was taken Prisoner in the yeare 1524. and carried Captiue into Spaine Fraunce was then very greatly afflicted not only by this disaster but by a great Famine because the Corne was frozen vppe in the Earth The King was deliuered by a treaty holden at Madrill and married Elianor Sister to Charles the fift Emperour peace beeing then concluded in the yeare 1535. The King possessed himselfe of Sauoy Piedmont repulsing the Emperour out of Prouence But peace beeing made for tenne yeares the Emperour passed thorough Fraunce with very great entertainement War began in the Low-Countries which after many alarmes was accorded in the yeare 1544. euen then when the English won Bullen The King deceased at Rambouillet hauing raigned 32. yeares an lieth buried at S. Denis 59 Henry the second succéeded his father Frances de Valois in the yeare 1547. No way degenerating from the laudable
to haue got the start of his corage That the sacred person of so great a King should be vndone by the hand of an vnholy villaine and his owne vassaile that a Prince of the Sworde should be butchered with a Knife That he who had returned victoriously aliue from the heade of so manie Armies where death kept his open Shambles should bee robbed of his life by the hand of onely one and in the peacefull stréetes of Paris which were as yet euen warme with the glorie of his Quéenes Coronation perfourmed but the day before Is such a villanie as excéeds if it were possible the iust merrit of damnation and that two Kings of one Kingdome shoulde one after the other be so shamefully murdred the one by a Iacobine Frier the other sometimes of the Feliants Order is such an indelible blot on the brow of Fraunce as the vtmost date of time can neuer wipe off nor any Penne sufficientlie expresse the sorrowe fitting a Theame so vnpleasing 64 Lewes the thirteenth of that Name elbest Sonne to King Henry the fourth and Maria de Medices his Quéene being then scarcelie tenne yeares olde succeeded his Father in the Kingdomes Dignitie but the Queene his Mother was proclaimed Regent May hee long liue heire vnto his Fathers Fame and Heroycall vertues but defended by the hand of heauen from his fate and hard Fortune as all Christian Princes else I pray to God may be likewise preserued A Briefe Chronologicall Suruay concerning the Netherlands deuided into 17. prouinces with a Breuiate of the Earles and Princes there raigning from Thierrie who was the first Earle of Holland and Zeland to this instant time COncerning the Originall of the people inhabiting these countries we finde that two Brethren sons to the King of Cathes the one being named Battus or Batton the other Zelandus were the first Fathers of them and that from them they deriued theyr names For these two Princes being too extreamly pursued by the hatred of a Stepmother no way pittied or supported by the King their father escaping many traines and machinations of poysoning murthering and diuers other dangers by her daily deuised put in practise against them were forced to forsake their natiue abiding flie to an Island within the Rhine where Battus determining to make his stay called it Battauia after his owne name that is in plainer vnderstanding Holland Zelandus not liking to liue so néere or with his Brother least pursute should surprize them both reuenge there fasten which in more desperate place they had auoided he trauailed on to the vttermost couâ—nes of the Rhine and liking there to set down his rest imitated his Brothers example in styling the Country and called it Zeland Concerning their building of Citties Townes Castles and Fortes which afterward came to be ruined and defaced againe by wars with the Romans Saxons Gauls Danes c. or to what order of life the people disposed theÌ„selues and thorough how many and infinite encumbrances from their originall they passed for no meane store of years together these are matters méerely exempt from our intended breuitie and may more amply be séen in the history at large whereunto I referre any such desirous Reader and borrowing fauour for so large a leape I instantly procéede to the yeare 863. when Holland first became to be an Earledome In the yeare before mentioned Charles the Bald King of France at Bladell in the Prouince of Campeigne hauing there in his company a general assembly of his Princes and Barons for consultation of many important matters pleased to aduance the two Sons of Count Haghen who was Vnckle to the King for their great deseruinges and for the farther encouragement of the like vertuous minded Gentlemen Walger who was the eldest Sonne hee made Earle of Teysterbaudt and Thierrie the youngest Sonne or Theodor as some tearme him being formerly called Thierrie of Aquitaine hee made Earle of Holland This gift of the Kings especially that to Thierry was much withstood by the Frizelanders as scorning to be commanded by any new Lorde or Ruler wherfore they consulted with the Hollanders and a plot was layde to expell this newe Earle But it proued to no effect for the King comming thither in person with a powerfull army made such an example on the Ring-leaders in this Rebellion that the rest in great humility submitted themselues casting their weapons not onely at the Kinges féete but likewise at the Earles and vppon pardon they vowed theyr continuall bounden dutie to Thierrie His authority was then further strengthened in the yeare 868. by the Letters Patents of King Charles as also by them of Lewes King of Germany confirming him to be Earle of Holland Zeland and Lord of Frizeland This Thierrie maried Genna or Ienna Daughter to Pepin the Bald king of Italy Sonne to the Emperor Charlemaigne He woorthily foiled the Danes that then possessed the Towne of Vtrecht the Wiltes and the Slaues disabling them from any further footing in Holland which made them presume to meddle in Zeland but thence they were repulsed likewise By which meanes he remained afterward in peace beautifying his Countries both wyth fayre buildings and good Lawes Hee dyed verie old hauing raigned forty yeares and after him succéeded 2 Thierrie his Sonne second of that name Earle of Holland Zeland and Lorde of Frizeland who married with Hildegarde Daughter to King Lewes of France the Stammerer and Sister to King Charles the Simple The Frizelanders did twice reuolt from their obedience and would not allow Earle Thierrie to be their Lord but slew very many of them that obeyed the Earle wasting spoiling and burning all the way as they went But at length they were iustly repayed for their insolency and such a slaughter was made of the Frysons without any merrie that few or none of them returned home to their dwellings Afterward he forced them to make the doores of entrance into their houses so low and narrow that they must stoope very lowe before they could get in and this he did to make them the more humble and seruile receiuing a new Oath of allegeance of them And hauing raigned about fiftie yeares beeing then aged 88. yeares olde he dyed leauing two Sonnes behinde him the eldest whereof being named Egbert became Arch-Bishop of Treues and Arnold his yongest Sonne succéeded him 3 Arnolde or as others will haue it Arnulph youngest Sonne to Earle Thierrie followed in rule as his Fathers Successour But hee helde the Earledomes of Holland Zeland and Lordshippe of Frizeland no longer of the Crowne of France but of Otho the third Emperor and so became in fée to the Empyre A verie fearful Comet appeared in his time with strange Ecclipses both of the Sunne and Moone being as red as blood and terrible Earth-quakes a fire also fell from Heauen in similitude like an huge Tower burning for a long time after which ensued so violent
Martij Anno primo Edw. 6. Sir Edward Bellingham Lord Deputy 22. Aprills An. eodem Sir Francis Brian Lord Iustice Sir VVilliam Brabeston Lord Iustice Sir Anthony Seutleger the third time Lord deputy 4. August Sir Iames Croftes Lord Deputie twenty nine Aprilis Sir Anthony Sentleger the fourth time Lorde Deputy September 1. Anno primo Reg. Marie Thomas Lord Fitzwalter Lorde Deputie 27. Aprilis Sir Henry Sidney Lordes Iustices Doctor Coren or Corwen Lordes Iustices Sir Henry Sidney Lord Iustice alone eightéen Ianuary Thomas Earle of Sussex Lord Lieutenant 19. Martij Sir William Fitz-Williams Lord Iustice Thomas Earle of Sussex Lord Deputy 6. Maij Anno primo R. Elizab. Sir Nicholas Arnold Lord Iustice Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputie the third time Doctor Weston Lord Chancellour Sir William Fitzwilliams Sir Henry Sidney Lorde Deputy the fourth time Sir William Fitz-williams Lord Iustice Sir William Fitz williams Lorde Deputy 11. Decemb. Anno. 14. Elizab. Sir Henry Sidney Lorde Deputy the fift time August 3. Sir William Drury Lord Iustice 14. Septem by patent 18. May. Sir William Pelham lord Iustice The Lord Arthur Gray Adam Arch-Byshoppe of Dublin Lordes Iustices Sir Henry Wallop Lordes Iustices Sir Iohn Perot Lord Deputy Sir William Fitz-Williams Lord Deputy Sir William Russell Lord Deputy Thomas Lord Burrough lord Deputy Robert Earle of Essex Lord Lieutenant Charles Blunt Barou Montioy Lord Deputie Sir George Carew Lord Deputy Sir Arthur Chichester Lord Deputy who yet to this day continueth in that honourable office ¶ Of the Kingdome of Scotland ACcording to the ancient Historiographers of Scotland in description of their Nations first off-spring and originall after Brutes first deuision of Brittaine to his Sonnes they make relation of a Noble man among the Grecians that was named Gathelus the sonne of Cecrops in the iudgement of some who builded Athens but according to the conceite of others the Sonne of Argus Nealus fourth King of the Argines This Gathelus being banished by his Father for some matter of disobedience departed thence into Aegypt in the thirty three yeare of Pharao Orus then King of that Countrey and there carried himselfe with such valiant and extraordinary successe against the Countries Enemies in the company of Moses Generall vnder the King himselfe that Pharao bestowed his faire Daughter named Scota on him in mariage hauing also then giuen him and his follâ—wers the Citty Thebes Aegyptiaca reported to be taken from the Israelites Vpon iust occasion Gathelus after his Fathers in Lawes decease leauing Egypt being prouided of Shippes and other apt necessaries tooke his Wife Children and a great multitude both of Greeks and Ethyopians and setting forth of Nilus determined to séeke his fortune in other Countries This was in the year of the worlds creation 2453. and after his abiding in Egypt aboue 39. years what accidents befell him in this voyage is néedelesse to report his first arriuall was on the Coastes of Numidia in Affrick now named Barbary but being not able to settle there he came into a part of Spaine long after termed Lusitania It is said that the place of his landing there was called Port-Gathele after the name of Gathelus which afterward became corruptly to bee called Portgale or Portingale the certainty whereof I referre to better iudgements The people there inhabiting gaue both him and his at the first a bold repulse but in the end hee preuailed victoriously and after further friendly conference with the Spaniards he began to builde a Citty named Brachara on the bankes of the Riuer Mundus and so at the first did hee name the Citty it selfe Gathelus by the Spaniards further perswasions promise of assistance to their vttermost whatsoeuer disasters should betide him and his remooued to the Northside of Spaine on the Cantabrian Sea coasts now called Galitia where he builded likewise another Cittie named Brigantia afterwarde called Nouium and nowe Compostella Héere did Gathelus bear the Title of king and gaue lawes to his people commanding that they should all be called Scottish-men to honour the name of his deare beloued wife Scota as hee had alwayes so tearmed them in the time of his trauailes In time they grew to be so great a Nation that the Spaniards warring with them for their owne safety sustained the worst though victory remained to the Scots yet such good Orders were agréed on that both Scots and Spaniards should obserue their own lawes without inuasion offered on either side Then did Gathelus liue in peace with his neighbors sitting daily on his Marble stone in Brigantia administring Lawes and Iustice to his people which stone was fashioned like a seat or chaire hauing such a fate thereto belonging as is said that wheresoeuer that stone should be found there shoulde the Scottishmen raigne and hold dominion Héereof it ensued that there first in Spain afterward in Ireland and next in Scotland the Kings ruling ouer the Scottishmen receiued the Crowne sitting vppon that stone vntill the time of Robert the first King of Scotland On the stone was this inscription engrauen Ni fallat fatum Scoti quocunque locatum Inuenient lapidem regnare tenentur ibidem Englished thus Except olde Sawes doo faile and Wizards wits be blinde The Scots in place must raigne where they this Stone shal finde This quiet life of Gathelus did so daily encrease the aboundance of his people that the bounds of his dominion was not able to containe them and he beeing religious in couenant with the Spaniards auoiding all meanes of breach of the peace hauing intelligence of an Island lying North ouer against Spaine and wherein was but fewe inhabitantes made readie his shipping leuyed an Armie of his subiectes and vnder conduct of his two sonnes named Hiberus and Himecus or Hermion which hee had by his Quéene Scota conueyed them ouer into that Island which after-warde was named Hibernia after the name of Hiberus The History recordeth that the Scottishmen offered no violence to the inhabitants but fought all meanes to win them by gentlenesse which in the end was easilie compassed and all thinges appointed in decent order which made Hiber leaue his Brother to gouerne there in Hilberland or Ireland and return backe to Spaine There he found his Father Gathelus to be dead and hee with the peoples ioyfull consent was admitted to succéed him as his son but in regard of his admirable courage not satisfied with those bounds that pleased his father he made conquest of other Citties Towns neere about him so that they were inforced to sue vnto him for peace and agreed to such conditions that a league concluded amity and mariage contracts betwéen both Scots and Spaniards causing them to become as one people continuing their succession of Kings after Hibers death
at Brutes arriuall was no Britannia but a rude and solitary Desert or wildernesse without name Ferarum altrix a verie nursery or place of store for wilde Beastes The Countries and Regions of Britayne were then all ouer-growne with Woodes replenished with all kindnes of sauage and cruell beasts as Lyons Beares Wolues Foxes wild Boares and all other game belonging to the Chase Beside diuers other kind of wilde Beastes and Cattell especially a certaine kinde of white monsterous wilde Buls and Kine with long shagd curled haire and maines which kind of Cattel were as fierce and cruell as Lyons and could neuer be tamed by mans art as you may finde it registred and recorded in our ancient Chronicles and noted in the very common Dictionaries vppon these wordes Caledonia and Caledonia sylua Britanniae alwayes mistaken and corruptly Written Caledonia for Calydonia because the reason why our Countrey was first called Caledonia sylua was no better knowne to the auncient Romaines in Iulius Caesars time then it is at this day knowne to dyuers of our Antiquaries and Chronicles of Britayne For one deriueth Caledonia sylua from Calden and another fetcheth Calydonia sylua from Kaled But the ones faire Daughter Kaled is too young to bee the Mother of Calydon or Calydonia sylua Britanniae And the others Calden or Hazellsticke is as weake to be the Mother of Calydon For Calydon of whom Calydonia sylua by Aetolia in Greece tooke name was the Sonne of Aetolus who was the Sonne of Mars the God or Patron of battaile Mars was the father of Aetolus of Parthaon of the bright Britona called Britomaris the president of Britayne Aetolus the Sonne of Mars and Brother to bright Britona was Father of Calydon of whom Calydonia sylua by Aetolia in Greece Mother of our Calydonia sylua the generall name of all Britayne tooke name but especially of Calydonia sylua secunda which is Scotland called Britannia secunda In which part of Brytaine at this day is the most ancient Towne of Parthaon now called Perth and Saint Iohns Towne the principall Towne of Aetolia now called Atholl a Region or Countrey of Britannia Albania or Calydonia sylua secunda where the great Calydon Wood which beginneth at Striueling called the Dolorus Mount runneth foorth thorough Mentieth and Stratherne to Aetolia that fruitefull Region of Grampius Mount which reacheth to Lochquhaber and to Calydonium Promontorium which is Cathnesse or Orcha the angle point cape foreland or lands end of Scotland This Calydonia sylua Brytannia was the daughter of Calidonia sylua by Aetolia in Greece who tooke his originall from Calydon the Sonne of Aetolus Aetolia now called Atholl in Britayne is the Daughter of Aetolia a Citty of Albania and Calydonia sylua in Greece so called of Aetolus the Sonne of Mars Parthaon now called Perth or Saint Iohns Towne the principall Towne of Aetolia in Scotland tooke his glorious name of Parthaon the Brother to bright Britona called Britomaris the president Brytaine Of whome all Britannia contayning all the Countries and Regions of England Scotland Wales and Cornewall called by Alexander Necham in his book De diuina sapientia Bruti tellus took the most glorious name of Britaine For Brute of Albania the Founder of Brittaine came to this Isle by the Oracle of Britona called Diana of Calydonia sylua therefore hee called this Isle of Britannia of the bright Britana c. The same Brute also who was borne in Albania bannished to Albania and the first founder of Britayne called Albania called all our Countrey of Britayne Albion seu Albania not of the White Rockes and Cliftes as some men suppose but of Albania in Asia and Albania Epiri in Greece the Countrey of Helenus and Andromache Quéene of Albania Epiri from whence Brute of Albania brought the Albanian Troyans the founders of Britayne To approue what formerly hath béene sayde without any néede of repetition wée haue a multitude of most glorious Recordes and Chronicles Written and Printed confirmed by the Testimony of Iulius Caesar by Pope Eleutherius by a Parliament holden at Norham vppon Twede and another at Lincolne in the time of King Edward the first who by his Letters sent from Lyncolne â—o Pope Boniface dooth approoue Brutes Historie to bee no Fâ—ble as some Criticks of our time haue done who will not beleeue our ancient written Records although confirmed by Emperors Kings Popes and Parliamentes neyther the Testimony of Strangers Wherefore by the Oracle of Diana called Britomartis the President of Britayne and by the Oracle of Diana Lucifera that is to say Venus called Bosphorus the bright Quéen of Phrygia and Caria Mother of Eneas and the Graces of whom came Brute of Albania founder of Britaine who brought in Carius a Noble Prince of Lydia and Caria with the people of Caria and Swannes of Carie in Britaine By the Oracles aforesaide the Swans of Carie in Britaine are now stirred vp to maintain the verity of the Brittish History The Goddes of the Gentiles whose Temples our fore-fathers of the Troyan race erected in diuers Countries and regions of Britaine especially at Troia-noua now called London in Britaine where the Troynouants did sometimes Sacrifice Buls Bullocks and Stags to Diana Tauropolia whome the Gentiles called the Quéene of Heauen whych was the same Diana called Bellona whome the Brigantes honoured at Yorke Brigantium Ciuitas And what were these Brigantes I pray ye Herodian saith that the Briges Phryges and Brigantes were all one Whereupon I conclude that the Brigantes that is to say our Northerne Britaines were Phrygian Troyans The Brigantes of Brittaine are the people of Yorkshire Richmondshire Lancashire Dutham westmerland and Cumberland hard to the Pictes Wall where the Abij and Picti Agathyrsi dwell about Abus AestuariuÌ„ now called Humber And what were those Abij but Albanian Troyans that came also from Abus a Riuer of Albania Epiri And the auncient Brittaines called Picti Agathyrsi what were they Euen Scythian Troyans of Albania who sprang of Scythes and Agathyrsus the Sonnes of Hercules that sometime raigned in Troy for the famous Cittie of Troy in Phrygia the head of all Asia was in Scythia The noble Troyans were called Taurini and Tauroscythi of a famous mountaine of Asia called Tauâ—us Mount which runneth thorough all Asia a great part of the Mountain Taurus endeth in Caria which is a countrey of Asia belonging to Troy Venus called Bosphorus the mother of Eneas and the Graces of whome came Brute of Albania the founder of Britaine was Quéen of Phrygia and Caria The famous Riuer of Maeander is in Caria which riuer hath Golden sands and singing Swannes that sometime serued Venus Quéen of Phrygia and Caria wherefore the Swans of Caria and Signets of Troy in Britaine must alwayes sing of Troy Troyans The daughters of heauen and earth Isis Themis Rhea Thetis Abus Arius Alanus Ax Tameres
and all our famous Riuers of Britain with the Deucalion Sea and Islandes of Brittaine especially Archadia Aemonia Arachne are glorious records of Brute and the Troyans the founders of Britaine Diuers our most ancient Citties and Townes of Britaine as Oxford vpon Isis and Themis Troia-noua vppon Isis Themis and Rhea Albanorum Yorke Brigantium ciuitas Antandros turned to S. Andros Parthaon Perthe turned to Saynt Iohns Town Albanum ciuitas turned to S. Albanes Chester and Doriscestria with the auncient Townes of Derby and Leicester and Tyanton vpon Tamares Riuer of Britaine with diuers other Townes and Citties of Britaine are Records of Brute and the Troyans Founders of Britaine The diuers Nations and people of Britaine as the Troy-nouants Brigantes Scotobrigantes the people of Albania Calydonia and Aetolia the Iberi the Albani and Georgij the people of Derbie and Leycester the people of Chester that came from Cestria Epiri with the Dores loues and Cares and the Tamarites of Tyanton commonly called Tanton All these are Records of the Noble people of Greece and Asia the remaines of the Troyans that came into to Britaine with Brute To these adde a Catalogue or Register of the ancient Princes Noblemen and Gentlemen of Britaine whereof there are some remaining to this verie day beginne wee then thus Brute Corineus Locrine Camber Albanacte Madan Mempricius Ebranke and hys twentie Sonnes Brute Greensheild Assaracus and Cecilius c. Belinus and Brennus Cambra or Cambria Antenors Wife Cambra Belinus Daughter Conidagus King of Albania slewe Morgan at Glammorgan Conidagus builded the Temple of Minerua at Bangor in Wales the temple of Mars at Parthaon now S. Iohns town of Aetolia in Scotland Aruiragus in whose dayes a Ioseph of Aramithia preached in Brittaine Leile Androgeus Brother to Cassibelanus this Androgeus let Iulius Caesar into Brittaine Pirrhus Alexander Arcadius Alexander Audax Achaius Etolus Helena Coile Constantine Graye Persie Dercie Carie Busir or Bousir Cicell Cydne Dennis Bridgis Andros Carowe Caros Tracie Rhese ap Rhesus Oen or Owen King of Calydon Brent the son of Hercules Thinn Euance Bryce Hil Drake Calais Nele Gryne Dorill Hodie Crane c. These and infinite more beside whiche Brute brought with him from the Countries of Isis and Themis and from Albania Calydonia Sylua and Etolia in Greece to Albania Calydonia Sylua and Etolia in Britaine are vndoubted records of him and the Troyans Founders of Britaine Thus much out of Maister Lytes Light of Brittaine which worthy Gentleman being deceased his Son Maister Thomas Lyte of Lytescarie Esquire a true immitator and heyre to his Fathers Vertues hath not long since presented the Maiesty of King Iames with an excellent Mappe or Genealogicall Table contayning the bredth and circumference of twenty large shéets of Paper which he entitleth Brittaines Monarchy approouing Brutes History and the whole succession of this our Nation from the very Original with the iust obseruation of al times changes and occasions therein happening This worthy worke hauing cost aboue seauen yeares labour beside great charges and expence his highnesse hath made very gracious acceptance of and to witnesse the same in Court it hangeth in an especiall place of eminence Pitty it is that this Phoenix as yet affoordeth not a fellowe or that from priuacie it might not bee made more generall but as his Maiesty hath graunted him priuiledge so that the world might be woorthie to enioy it whereto if friendship may preuaile as he hath bin already so shall he be still as earnestly sollicited Brute the sonne of Siluius hauing vnfortunately slaine his father in hunting as he shot his Arrow at a Deare was therefore bannished his Countrey whereupon he went into Grece where a great number of the Troyans liuing before in seruitude resorted to him and by his valour hee gaue them liberty by conquerring Pandrasus King of that Country who was descended of the Noble Achilles Hee compelled him also to let him haue his faire Daughter Innogen in marriage with furniture money victuals and Shipping wherewith after many hard aduentures passing along the straits of Gibralterra and coasting along the shore on the right hand hee met with Corineus and another company that came with him from Troy likewise with Antenor Ioyning then their powers together they sayled on til arriuing within the riuers mouth of Loire which deuideth Aquitaine from Celtike Gallia supposed to bee Gascoigne they landed in the Dominions of a King called Goffarius and Surnamed Pictus by reason hee was descended of the people of Agathyisi who were other-wise termed Picts King Goffarius with his men dyd sharply resist those new commers but sustayned the worst twice in the last conflict Brutes Nephew named Turnus was slaine in whose memory Brute builded there a City which to this day is called Tours in Touraigne Departing thence he and his traine came to the Isle of Britaine and landed at the hauen now called Totnesse Anno. 2855. and after the destruction of Troy 66. before the building of Rome 368. years which was before our Sauiours natiuity 1116. almost ended He found this land desolate sauing a few Giants who in short time were vanquished for Corineus wrastled with the strongest of them named Goemagot or Gogmagog at a place beside Doner where hee cast him headlong downe from one of the rockes in regard whereof the place is called Gogmagogs Leap or fal Brute builded London calling it Troy-newydh or Troia-noua He begate on his wife Innogen 3. sons among whom he deuided his kingdome before his death To Locrine who was the eldest hee gaue the middle part calling it Loegria or Loegiers To Camber his second sonne he gaue the west part of the Island calling it Cambria or Cymbry deuided from Loegria by the riuer Seuerne To his third son Albanact he gaue al the North part entitling it Alban or Albania according also to his name To Corineus his deare estéemed friende and companion hee gaue that part of the Land which after him to this day is called Corinwall Lastly when he had gouerned this land 24. yeares Hee died and was buried at that new Citty which he had builded Anno ante incarnat Christi 1132. Locrine after his Father Brutes death was king of Loegria and Lorde Paramount of the whol Island of Britain In his time Humber or Humyr King of the Hunnes entered into Albania and slew Albanact But Locrine and Camber to reuenge their brothers death met in Arms with Humber neere to an arme of the Sea that parted Loegria and Albania where killing him in the fight they threw his body into the water which in memory of his name is yet called Humber Locrine married Guendolen Daughter to Corineus but falling in loue with Estrilde a strange Lady in King Humbers Campe hee reiected his wife which caused her to raise an army againste him In triall of that fight Locrine was slaine and Guendolen drowned Estrilde with her Daughter Sabrine
of Britaine And among his other ordinances he first appointed weights and measures whereby men should buy and sel and deuised very seuere punishments for Theft He raigned 40 yeares and was buried at Troy-nouant Brennus and Belinus the Sonnes of Mulmutius had in their Fathers life time the Land once more deuided betwéene them Belinus enioying Loegria Wales Cornwall and Brennus all the Countries ouer and beyonde Humber But when Brennus grew couetous to exceed his portion and sought to compasse it by forraine assistance he was enforced to flight and Belinus quietly seated in the whole possession Then finished he the foure high-waies of Britaine which his Father had begunne which were called the Fosse Watling-streete Erming-streete and Hiknel-streete confirming to them the priuileges which his Father had formerly granted He builded the Hauen called Belines-gate and a Castle also East-ward from that Gate called long time after Belines Castel but is the same which we now call the Tower of London Hee raigned twenty sixe yeares and was buried in Troy-nouant Gurguintus the Son of Belinus succéeded in Britaine after his Father He subdued Denmark and made them pay tribute to Brittaine In his daies was the Towne of Cambridge with the Vniuersity first founded by Cantaber a Spanyard according to Caius Hee raigned 19. yeares and was buried at Troy-nouant Guintholinus Sonne to Gurguintus raigned after his Father beeing marryed to a vertuous Lady named Mertia who deuised certaine Lawes which afterward were tearmed Mercian Lawes He ruled 27. yeares and was buried at Troy-nouant Sicilus Sonne to Guintholinus raigned after his Father albeit hee was then but seauen yeares old but his Mother Mertia had both the gouernment of his person and of the Realme in which time shee deuised those Lawes before mentioned It is saide that then the Picts arriued in Brittaine and possessed those partes which now are the Marches of England and Scotland hee raigned seauen yeares and was buried at Troy-nouant Kimarus Sonne of Sicilius raigned thrée yeares Elanius Sonne of Kimarus raigned seauen yeares Morindus Bastard Son of Elanius In his time a came a wonderful Monster out of the Irish Seas that destroyed many people and the King in fighting with the said monster was deuoured by him hauing raigned sixe yeares Gorbouianus first Sonne of Morindus who builded the town of Grantham raignd 10. years Archigallus Elidurus Vigenius and Peridurus being all likewise the Sonnes of Morindus raigned seuerally in Brittaine by great contentions all their times scarcely reaching to 27. years yet Elidurus was crowned King three times ech after other But no sooner died Elidurus a King of most milde and princely nature but there passed aboue 185. yeares betweene the said Elidurus and the beginning of King Luds raigne in which time there raigned 33. Kinges of whose names and rule Authors doe so disagrée that I passe them ouer and come to King Helie who was the last of those 33. Kings who gaue name to the Isle of Elie builded a goodly pallace there with reparatiens of the Sluces Ditches Causies about the Isle for conuayance away of the water yet he raigned not fully a yeare Lud eldest son to King Hely succeeded in Britaines gouernment He enclosed Troy-nouant with a Wall made of lime and stone and fortified with diuers faire townes building also a gate in the west part of the wall which he cald Luds-gate He erected likewise a goodly Pallace somewhat néere to Luds-gate which is now the Byshop of Londons Pallace and in méere affection to the Citty hee altered the name thereof from Troy-nouant called it Caer-Lud that is Luds Towne since when corruption hath tearmed it London K. Lud raigned 11. yeares was buried néere Lud-gate He left two sons named Androgeus Tenancius whose minority in yeares made them vncapable of gouernment Cassibaline Brother to K. Lud was admitted King of Britaine or rather Ruler and Protectour of the Land during his Nephewes nonage In the 8. yeare of his raigne Iulius Caesar with his Romans came into Britain wher being wearied at first with a sharp battell after that his nauy well-néere destroyed by a sudden tempest hee returned back into Gallia or France But the next spring being the year before Christ 51. he crossed the seas againe with a greater army and compelled Cassibelane to consent that Brittaine should become tributary to the Romains Then raigned foure Kings in Kent Cingetorix Taximagulus Caruilius Segonax all whose power could not withstand Caesar whose preuailing thus in Britaine was Anno mundi 3913. and after Brute 1060. Cassibelane raigned 17. yeares Tenantius Luds youngest Sonne succéeded as lawfull King of Brittaine because his Brother Androgeus had assisted Caesar against Cassibelane He raigned 23. years and was buried at London Kymbeline or Cimbeline Son to Tenantius succéeded after his Fathers decease In his time was the Sauiour of the World our Lord Iesus Christ borne of the euer-blessed virgine Marie Kymbeline raigned 35. yeares Guiderius eldest Sonne to Kymbaline was King of Britaine in the yeare of our Lorde after his incarnation 17. Hee iudging the Romaines tribute to bée vniust denied to pay it This Guiderius was slaine at Portchester valiantly resisting against Claudius his Romains where one Hamo who was on the Romans side attired him selfe like a Britain changed his shield and armor and so entring the thickest of the British host cam at last where the K. was and so slew him But Aruiragus Brother to Guiderius perceiuing this villainy caused himself presently to be clad in the kings coat armor and other furniture whereby the Kings death was scarcely discerned He renewed the fight with such vndaunted courage the Claudius was beat backe to his ships Homo to the next adioyning Woods whether Aruiragus pursued him and slew him ere he could get off the hauen casting him peece-meal into the sea which Hauen in memory of his name was euer after called Hamans Hauen afterward by corruption Hampton Hauen and now at this day commonly called Southampton Guiderius raigned 23. or after others 29. yeares Aruiragus youngest Sonne to Kymbeline succéeded his Brother as King of Brittaine In his time Vespasian came into Britaine landing at Sandwich or Richborough Also about the yeare of Christ 53. and while this Aruiragus raigned Ioseph of Arimathia was sent by Phillip the Apostle into Brittain and one Simon Zelotes came then thether also Then began Brittaine to be gouerned by Romaine Lieutenantes and Treasurers Aruiragus raigned 28. yeares dyed in the yeare of Grace 73. and was buried at Glocester Marius sonne of Aruiragus succéeded his father in the State and then came the Picts with Roderick their King into this land but Roderick was slaine by Marius and his people vanquished In memory of which victory against the Picts Marius erected a Stone where
hundered shippes alwayes in readinesse and sayled therewith once a yeare about all great Britaine Hee had the whole Isle and all the Kinges thereof in subiection to him and was rowed vp and downe the Riuer of Dee by seauen Kings his vassailes Luduall one of those Kings did pay him a yearly tribute of Wolues He raigned 16. yeares and was buried at Glastenburie Edward eldest Sonne to King Edgar succeeded his Father being crowned at Kingston but by Counsell of Elfrith his Step-mother he was treacherously murdered when hee had raygned three yeares and was buried at Shaftesbury Ethelred or Egelred second Sonne to King Edgar was crowned at Kingstone but because his comming to the Crown was by his brothers murder he could neuer obtaine his peoples affection Al the Danes in England by the command of King Ethelred were murdered in one night He raigned 38. yeares and was buried in Saint Paules Church in London Edmund Son to King Ethelred and Surnamed Ironside was immediately proclaimed K. after his Fathers death as the Cleargy and Nobility did the like to Canutus because they hadde sworne fealty to his Father Swaine or Sweno whereon three great battailes were fought betwixt King Edmund and Canutus the Danes ouerthrowne at Otford in Kent beside the great battell at Ashdone in Essex neere Saffron walden where the Englishmen were foyled by the Danes and the Land once againe deuided betweene Canutus and King Edmund who was treacherously slaine at Oxford hauing raigned but one yeare and some few months and was buried at Glastenbury Canutus the Dane challenging all England to himselfe was crowned King in Saint Paules Church in London and maried Quéen Emma the widdow of king Etheldred hee raigned xx yeares and was buried at Winchester Harold surnamed Harefoot vsing the power of the Danes in England inuaded the Realme while his brother Hardi-kenutus Gouerned in Denmarke Hee raigned foure yeares dyed at Oxford and was buried at Westminster Hardikenutus or Hardy-Canutus Sonne of King Canutus and his Quéene Emma obtayning his Fathers Kingdome sent for his mother from exile He died with the cup in his hand as he sat merrily disposed at his Table in the third yeare of his raigne and was buried at Winchester With this Hardy-Canutus ended the dominion of the Danes in England who had grieuously oppressed this nation for the space of 250. yeares Edward the sonne of Ethelred and Emma was next crowned King at Winchester all the Danes being then quite expulsed the land This Edward was Surnamed the Confessor for hys vertuous life and worthy Lawes also he is saide to be the first that cured the Disease called The Kinges Euill Hee raigned three and twentie yeares and was buried at Westminster which in his life time hee had most sumptuouslye repayred Harold sonne of Earle Goodwin tooke vpon him the gouernment of the kingdome but William Duke of Normandy came into England with a powerfull Army and in battell Harold was shot through the braines with an Arrowe hauing raigned but nine months and was buried in the Monastery of Waltham in Essex by whose death Duke William obtained his Conquest of England William Duke of Normandy base Sonne of Robert Duke of Normandie and Nephew to King Edward the Confessor whom he perceiued more addicted to vertue then policy and through debility of body not like to liue long contryued his owne attaining to the crowne of this land after the decease of the aged King For hee placed diuers Normans in the cheefest roomes about him while he liued and when he was dead leuied an Army of diuers Nations and there-with pretending the Patronage of England agaynst Harold Earle Godwins Sonne who vsurped the Kingdome first fought with him and flewe him at a place now called Battell in Sussex and then tooke the Crowne on him by election of the Estates Seeking next to barre Titles he imprisoned Edgar Etheling the onely true heire of the Saxons bloud and by means of Ethelbert Arch-bishop of Hamborow procured Sweno King of Denmark for money to cease the Danes claime Hee builded foure strong Castles one at Nottingham another at Lincoln the third at York and the fourth neere to Haftings where he landed at his first arriuall in England Hee deuised the Couer le feu Bell to bee Rung nightly at eight of the clocke in all Citties Townes and Villages for preuention of mighty tumults He ordained the Tearmes and that they shoulde be kept foure times in the yeare and Iudges to sit in seuerall Courtes for desciding controuersiall matters betwixt party and party as is vsed vnto this day He appointed Sheriffes in euery shyre and Iustices of the peace to see offenders punnished and the Countries kept in quiet He ordained the Court of Exchequer with the Barons Clarkes and Officers thereto belonging as also the high Court of Chancery with the Booke then called The Rowle of Winchester nowe The Doomesday Booke whereby the whole Land was taxed and euery mans estate and wealth thoroughly knowne He raigned twenty yeares ten months and 26. dayes and was buried in the Abbey of Saint Stephen at Caâ—n in Normandy which he had founded And this is well worthy memory that hee being so great a Conqueror yet after his death coulde not haue so much ground to bury his dead body without wronging some other vntill that by his Executors it was bought for him William Rufus second sonne to the Conqueror by his Fathers appointment succeeded him in the Kingdom and was crowned at Westminster Robert elder Brother to King William Duke of Normandy went with Godfrey Duke of Bullen and other Christian Princes to the Holy-land to recouer it from the Saraziâ—s This King William Rufus caused new Walles to be builded about the Tower of London and layed the foundation of Westminster Hall Hee raigned thirteene yeares and was slain with an Arrow by one Sir Walter Tyrel a French knight in the New Forrest in Hampshire his body being buried at VVinchester In which Forrest not many yeares before had stoode 36. Parish Churches diuers faire Townes Villages and Hamlets containing thirty miles in circuite all which was laide wast by the Conqueror the poor inhabitants expelled thence and it was made a place for wilde beastes to liue in It was somewhat strange that in that very place the King should bee so vnfortunately slaine Richard his Brother blasted to death and Henry the Conquerors Nephew by his eldest Sonne Robert as hee ouer-earnestly pursued the game in the the bushes like to another Absolon straungely strangled to death vengeaunce from God as was thought punnishing the fathers offence in his posterity Henry sur-named Beauclerke for his Learning and youngest sonne to the Conqueror succeeded his Brother King William was crowned at VVestminster Robert Duke of Normandy being returned from the Holie-Lande warred with his Brother Henry for his right in the
of Elie. 10. Gundeuill and Caius Colledge by Edmund Gundeuil Parson of Tertington and Iohn Caius Doctour of Phisicke 11. Trinity Hall by VVilliam Bateman bishop of Norwich 12. Clare Hall by Rich. Badow Chanceller of Cambridg 13. Katherine Hall by Robert Woodlark Doctor of diuinity 14. Magdalen Colle by Edward D. of Buck and Tho. L. Audley 15. Emanuell Colle by Sir VValter Mildmay c. In Oxford 1. Christes Church by King Henry the eight 2. Magdalen colledge by Wil. Wainfleet first fellow of Merton Colledge then scholler of Winchester and afterward Bishop there 3. New Colledge by Wil. Wickham Byshop of Winchester 4. Merton colledge by Walter Merton Byshop of Rochester 5. All Soules Colledge by Hen. Chichelie Arch bishop of Canterbury 6. Corpus Christi Colledge by Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester 7. Lincoln colledge by Richard Fleming bishop of Lincolne 8. Auriell Colledge by Abraham Browne Almoner to K. Ed. 2. 9. Quéens colledge by R. Eglesfield Chaplaine to Phillip Queene and Wife to King Edward the third 10. Balioll Colledge by Iohn Baliol king of Scotland 11. Saint Iohns colledge by Sir Thomas White Lord Mayor of London 12. Trinity Colledge by Sir Thomas Pope Knight 13. Excester colledge by Walter Stapleton bishop of Excester 14. Brazen-nose by William Smith Bishop of Lincolne 15. Vniuersity Col. by William Archdeacon of Duâ—esme 16. Glocester Colledge by Iohn Gifford who made it a Cell for 13 Monkes 17. Iesus Colledge by Hugh ap Rice Doctor of the Ciuill-law Hostels or Hals in Oxford Broade-gates Hart Hall Magdalen Hall Alburne Hall Postminster Hall Saint Mary Hall White Hall New Inne Edmund Hall ¶ The Names of the Shires in England and Wales THE first tenne Shires do lye betwéene the Brittish Sea and the Thames according to Polydore Kent Sussex Surrey Hampshire Barkshire Wiltshire Dorsetshire Sommersetshire Deuonshire Cornewall On the North-side of the Thames betwéene it and Trent which passeth thorough the midst of England are 16. other Shires sixe toward the East and the other toward the west Essex sometime all Forrest saue one hundred Middlesex Hertfordshire Suffolke Norffolke Cambridgeshire wherein are twelu hundreds Bedfordshire Huntingdon wherein are foure hundreds Buckingham Oxford Northampton Rutland Leicestershire Nottinghamshire Warwickshire Lincolnshire There are six also westward toward Wales Glocester Hereford Worcester Shropshire Stafford Chestershire These are the 32. Shires which lye by South of the Riuer Trent beyond which Riuer there are other eight Darby Yorke Lancaster Cumberland Westmerland Richmond wherein are fiue Wapentakes And when it is accounted as a parcell of Yorkshire out of which it is taken then is it reputed for the whole Riding Durham Northumberland So that in the portion somtime called Lhoegria there are now forty Shires In Wales also there be thirtéen whereof seauen are in South Wales Cardigan or Cereticon Penmoroke or Penbroke Caermardin wherein are nine hundreds or Commots Glamorgan Monmouth Brecknocke Radnor In North-wales likewise are sixe Anglescie Caernaruon Merioneth Denbigh Flint Montgomerie Which beeing added to those of England doe make vp 53. Shieres or Counties ¶ A Briefe Collection of the Originall Antiquity Increase and Moderne estate of the honourable Citty of London To the Worshipfull M. Cornelius Fish Esquire and Chamberlaine of the saide most famous Cittie COncerning the name of this auncient and worthy Citty by diuers Authors it hath bin as diuersly descanted on Tacitus Ptolomeus and Antoninus called it Londinium and Longidinium Amianus Marcellinus tearmed it Lundinum and Augusta Stephen in his Citties calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Britaines Lundayn the old Saxons Londonceaster or Londonbeig Strangers Londra and Londres and the Inhabitants London By other writers whom some iudge fabulous it hath bin called Troia-noua or Troynouant New Troy according to the Name that Brute first founder thereof gaue it Dinas Belin Belins Citty Caer-Lud or Luds-Towne of King Lud who not onely re-edified but also gaue it that name Erasmus deriued it from Lindum a Cittye in the Isle of Rhodes and so by variety of iudgements it hath run into the like variety of names In which straunge streame of opinion howe a man may best carry himselfe without impeach to any is freely to leaue each man maister of his owne coniecture whether Londons true name took originall from any of these fore-mentioned or whether Woodes and Groues being named in the British toong L'lhwn London should receiue her title by way of excellency and be called The Citty or A City thicke of Trees because the Britains called those woods and Groues by the names of Citties Townes which they had fenced with trees cast downe and plashed to stop vp all passage But leauing the name we finde that London was burnt and destroyed howe faire soeuer it was built before by the Danes and other Pagan enemies about the yeare of Christ 839. but afterward in the yeare 886. Alfred King of the west-Saxons both restored repayred and made it honourably habitable giuing the charge and keeping thereof to his Sonne in Law Ethelred Earle of the Mercians with whom hee had formerly married his Daughter Ethelfleda That it was strongly defenced with wals I read that the Londoners did shut vp their gates and manfully withstood the Danes preseruing their king Ethelred within their wals this was in Anno Christi 994. Also in Anno 1016. when Edmund Ironside gouerned the VVest-Saxons Canutus the Dane brought hys Fleete to the West part of the bridge and threw a trench about the Citty as hoping by assault to win it but the Citizens repulsed him and droue him from theyr walles Those walles were from time to time wel maintained repayred with stones from the Iewes broken houses in King Iohns iime 1215. when the Barons entring by Ealdgate or Aldgate brake their houses downe And in K. Henries time the thirde when the walles and gates were repayred in more séemely wise then before at the common charge of the Citty The circuite of London wall on the landes side is measured thus From the Tower of London in the East to Ealdgate commonly called Aldgate 82. perches From Algate to Byshopsgate 86. perches From Byshopsgate in the North to the Postern of Criplesgate 162. perches From Criplesgate to Ealdersgate or Eldrich gate 75. perches From Ealdersgate to Newgate 66. perches From Newgate in the West to Ludgate 42. perches amounting in all to 513. perches of Assize From Ludgate to the Fleete Dike 60. perches From Fleet-bridge South to the Riuer of Thames about 70. perches Which perches in compleat number rise to 643. each perch contayning fiue yards and an halfe which in yards doe amount to 3536. an halfe containing 10608. foote that make vp two English miles more by 608. foote There were but foure Gates at first made in the wall of this Citty viz Aldgate Eastward Aldersgate North-ward
Companies the Grocers Hall in Conyhope lane which Companie being first called Pepperers were incorporated by the name of Grocers in Anno 1345. The Mercers Hall sometime an Hospitall entitled of Saint Thomas of Acon or Acars wherein is said a Free-Schoole to haue béene long kept This Ward hath an Alderman and his Deputy 11. common Councellers 9. Scauengers 12. Wardmote Enquest and a Beadle In London it is sessed at 72 li. 16 s. to the fifteen and in the Exchequer at 72. li. 11. s. Colemanstreete-ward taking name of a stréet so called by one Coleman the first builder and owner thereof wherein are three Parish Churches viz. Saint Olaue Vpwell in the old Iewry called Colechurch-streete sometimes Saint Margaret in Lothbury and Saint Stephen in Colemanstreere It was named the Old Iewry because the Iewes had a Sinagogue where now standeth the Tauerne knowne by the name of the Windmill and their dwelling was all there-about The Founders Hall in Lothbury Lathbery or Loadberie so named of a Bery or Court in elder time there kept whereof some vse hath bin and is also made by the Merchants Aduentures and in Coleman street is the Armorers Hall who were made a Fraternitie or Guild of S. George in the first yeare of King Henry the sixt This Ward hath an Alder-man and his Deputie common Counsellors foure Constables foure Scauengers foure wardmote Enquest thirteene and a Beadle It is taxed at fiftéene pounds sixetéen shillings nine pence to the fiftéene Bassings Hall Ward and said to be so named of Bassinges Hall the very principall House of the Ward which appertained to the Familie of the Bassings a name of great renowne and antiquity in this Realme who builded the goodlie building afterward called Bakewell Hall of one Thomas Bakewel dwelling there corruptly tearmed Blackwell Hall and gaue it the Name of Bassings Haugh or Hall as by theyr Armes before the old worke was taken downe in very many places appeared In this Ward is but one Parish Church called Saint Michaell at Bassings Haugh and diuers Halles of Companies as Masons Hall of what antiquity appeareth not Weauers Hall being then Weauers of Woollen-cloath whose Fraternity or Guilde is of great antiquity and power confirmed by Charter from King Henrie the second as they held it in time of his Grandfather King Henrie the first or rather as the very wordes are fréeer better worshipfullier and wholier then in his said Grand-fathers time Other ordinaunces were there then beside that Woollen-cloathes shoulde bee in breadth two yardes within the Listes and as good in the midst as in the sides c. But if any Man made Cloath of Spanish Wooll mixed with English Wooll the Port-graue or principall Magistrate of London ought to burne it c. There is also Girdlers Hall and Coopers haue their Hall néer to the Parish Church of Saint Michaell This Ward hath an Alderman and his Deputy foure Common Councellers two Constables two Scauengers 17. Wardmote Enquest and a a Beadle In London it is taxed at 7. li. and so in the Exchequer likewise to the fifteene Cripples-gate ward so named of the gate called Cripples-gate wherin are 6. parish churthes viz. S. Mary Aldermanbury of a Bery or courthal there kept now cald the Guildhal s Alphage sometime Elfing Hospital or spittle by London wâ—l s Mary Magdalen in Milkstreet s Albons in woodstreet s Michael in Huggenlane and s Giles without Cripplesgate Halles of companies are Habberdashers Hall in Mayden lane and Waxchandlers Hall there also Pinners hal sometime but nowe Plaisterers Hall in Adle street and Pinners Hal is now in Siluerstreet Brewers Hall likewise in Adlestreete and Bowyers Hall not farre from Monkswel-street This warde hath an Alderman and his Deputy within the Gate eight common counsellers nine constables twelue scauengers fifteen wardmote Enquest and a beadle Without the Gate also it hath a Deputy two common counsellors foure constables foure Scauengers seauenteen wardmote Enquest and a Beadle It is taxed in London at forty pound to the Fif-teene Aldersgate warde taking name likewise of Aldersgate hath six Parish churches in it viz. saint Marie Staining in Stayning lane s Iohn Zachary in Engaine or Maidenlane s Leonard in Fauster-lane saint Olaue in Siluerstreet saint Anne by Aldersgate and saint Buttolph without Aldersgate Hals of companies first Goldsmiths Hall at Maydenlane end they beeing an ancient and very worshipfull society for the first Maior that euer was in London was a brother of that society named Henry Fitz-Alwin Fitz-Liesstane who continued Maior more then 24. yeares together The Cookes or Pastelers haue a Hall also in Aldersgatestreet and they were admitted to be a company and to haue a Mayster and wardens in the 22. yeare of Edward the fourth This ward hath an Alderman and his two Deputies one within the other without common counsellers fiue Constables 8. Scauengers 9. wardmote Enquest fourteene and a Beadle In London it is taxed at seauen pound to the fifteene and in Exchequer at six pounde nineteene shillings Faringdon ward within or Infra distinguished by that word of difference from the other warde of the same name which is without the citty wals and thereon fearmed Faringdon extra or without Yet in elder times these two wardes were but one and vnder the care of one alderman vntill the 17. yeare of king Richard the second when the greatnesse thereof caused it to be deuided into two wardes being then ordered by parliament to haue two aldermen also as to this day it continueth This whole great ward of Faringdon both within and without deriued her name of W. Faringdon or Farendon Goldsmith alderman of that warde and one of the sheriffes of London in anno 1281. the ninth yeare of King Edward the first when he purchased the aldermanry of this ward as is euident to be seene by an abstract of deedes from Thomas de Ardene or Arderna to Ankerinê° de Auern Ralphe le Feure and so to William Farringdon or Farendon cittizen and Goldsmith and to his heires so comming to Nicholas Faringdon son to the said William which Nicholas was a goldsmith also and 4. times Maior liuing 53. years after his first being Maior and hee buylded the Arch or gate by S. Augustines Church whych giueth passage into the South Churchyard of S. Pauls In this ward of Faringdon within is the goodly Cathedrall Church of S. Paule and 9. other parish Churches beside viz. s Peter at the crosse in West cheape Saint Fauster in Fauster-lane Christ Church made a Parish churche of the Gray-Friers Church and of two Parish churches S. Nicholas and saint Ewin and also an Hospitall for poore children saint Mathew in Friday street S. Augustine by Paules gate Saint Faith vnder Paules Church S. Martins at Ludgate Saint Anne at the Black-fryers S. Michael ad Bladum or at Corne corruptly called the Querne by Pauls gate where somtime was a