and Rochester bee in Kēt Essex Middlesex part of Hertford belongeth to the bishoprike of London The bishop of Chicester hath Suffer Wynchester hathe Hampshire Surrey and the Isle of Wight Salesbury hath Dorsetshire Barkshyre and Wylteshire Excetor hath Deuonshire Cornwall Bathe and Welles hath Somersetshyre Worcester hath Glocestershyre Worcestershyre and part of Warwikeshire Hereforde hath parte of Shropshire and Herefordshire Couentre and Lichfelde Staffordeshyre and thother parte of Warwikshire Chestre hath Cheshire Darbyshire a piece of a Lancashyre nere the ryuer of Kepel The Diocesse of Lincolne which is the greatest hath eight shyres lieng betweene thei Thames and Humbre as Lincolne Northampton Leycester Rutlande Huntingdon Bedforde Buckyngham Oxford the residue of Hertfordshire The byshoprike of Ely hath Cantabridgeshire the Isle of Ely Suffolke and Norffolke be in the circuite of Norwiche Diocesse And thys is the Prouynce of the Archebyshop of Canterburye whyche is the primate of all England wyth Wales whyche hathe iiii diocesses as hereafter shall be declared The byshop of Yorke hath Yorkeshyre Notynghamshyre and a piece of Lancastshyre The byshop of Durham hath the bishoprike so commonly called and Northumberland Carlisle conteineth Cumberlande and Westmerland And this is the other prouince of tharch byshop of Yorke whiche is another prymate of England was of long tyme also primate of all Scotlande but these Diocesses take theyr names of the cities where those seas be placed The chiefe wherof is London where in the beginnyng was the Archebyshops sea but afterwardes transposed to Canterbury a Citie in Kent placed in a soyle amiable and pleasant London standethe in Middlesex on the northside of the Thamis That moste excellent and goodly ryuer beginneth a little aboue a village called Winchelcombe in Oxfordshyre styll increasyng and passeth fyrst by the vniuersitie of Oxēford so with a meruailous quiete course by London and and then breaketh into the frenche Ocean by mayne tydes whyche twyse in xxiiii howers space doth ebbe and flowe more then .lx. myles to the great cōmoditie of trauailers by whiche all kyndes of marchandise bee easylye conueyde to London the principall store and staple for all cōmodities within this Realme Uppon the same ryuer is placed a stone bridge a woorke very rare and meruailous whyche brydge hathe .xx. arches made of .iiii. squared stone of height .lx. foote and of breadth .xxx. foote distant one from an other .xx. foote compacte ioyned together with vaultes and Sellars Upon bothe sydes be houses buylded that it seemeth rather a continuall streete then a brydge The Ocean sea doothe bounde Englande the fyrst part of Britain east and South Wales and Cornewall west The ryuer of Twede deuideth England and Scotland north The length of the Island begynneth at Portsmouth in the South part and endeth at Twede in the north conteinyng 320. myles This Realme aboue other is moste fruitfull on this syde Humbre for beyonde it is fuller of mountaynes And althoughe to the beholders of that countrey a far of it may seme playn yet it is full of many hylles and those for the moste part voyde of trees the valeys wherof be very delectable inhabited for the most part by noble men who accordyng to auncient and olde ordre desyre not to dwell in Cities but neere vnto valleys and ryuers in seueral vyllages for aduoidyng of vehement wyndes because that Ilande naturally is stormye Humbre hath his beginnyng a little on this side York by by runneth southward thē holdeth his course eastward so into the mayn sea greatly increaced by the ryuers of Dune Trent Trent beginneth a lyttle from Stafforde runnyng through Darbyshyre and Leycestershyre passing by Lichfield and Notyngham on the ryght hand and Dune on the lefte so that bothe those ryuers dooe make an Ilande whyche is called Aurolme and then ioynyng together on this syde Kyngston vpon Hull a goodly marchant towne they falle into Humbre by whych ryuer they may aryue out of France Germanie and Denmarke England is fruitefull of beastes and aboundeth with cattell wherby thinhabitātes be rather for the most Grasiers then ploughmē because they geue them selues more to fedyng then to tyllage So that almoste the thyrde parte of the countrey is imployed to cattell dere red and fallow gores wherof there be store in the northe partes conyes for euery where there is ioly maintenāce of those kyndes of beastes because it is fulle of greate woddes wherof there ryseth pastyme of huntyng greatly exercised specially by the nobilitie and gentlemen Of Scotland an other parte of Britayn I purpose to say nothyng because I haue promised onely and briefly to remembre thaffaires of myne owne countrey as beste trauailed and acquainted with the knowledge of the same Wales the .iiii. part of Britayne lyeth vpon the lefte hand whiche like a Promontarie or forelande or an Isle as it were on euery syde it is compassed with the mayne sea excepte it be on the easte parte with the Ryuer of Sabrine commonly called Seuerne whiche deuideth Wales from England Although some late writers affirme Hereforde to bee a bound betwene Wales and England say that Wales begynneth at Chepstolle where the Ryuer Ueye augmented wyth an other ryuer called Lugge passyng by Hereforde dooth runne into the sea which riuer riseth in the myddle of Wales out of that hill but vncertain whether oute of that sprynge that Sabrine dothe whiche Corn. Tacitus calleth Antona For euen to that place there goth a great arme of the sea which passyng through the land westward on the right hande leaueth Cornewall and on the left Wales Whiche Topography or description although it be newe yet I thoughte good to folowe Therefore Wales is extended frome the towne of Chepstol where it beginneth almost by a straight line a lytle aboue Shrowsbury euē to Westchester northward Into that part so many of the Britains as remayned alyue after the slaughter and losse of their countrey at the length beyng dryuen to theyr shyftes dyd repaire as ancient writings report where partly through refuge of the mountaines partly of the woddes and marshes they remained in safetie which part they enioy euen to this daye That lande afterwardes the englyshe men dyd call Wales and the Britaius the inhabitauntes of the same Walshmen for amonges the Germaynes Walsman signifieth a strāger an alien an outborn or strange man that is suche a one as hath a contrarye language from theirs for Wall in their tongue is called a stranger born as an Italian or Frencheman whyche differ in speeche from the Germane Man signifieth Homo which is a mā in english Therfore englishmen a people of Germany after they had wōne Britain called the Britains which escaped after y e destructiō of their cuntrey after their countrey maner walshmen because they had an other tong or spech besides theirs the land which they inhabited Wales which name afterwardes both to the people and
contrey dyd remayn By this meanes the Britaynes with theyr kyngedome loste their name But they whiche affirme that name to be deriued of their kyng or queene without doubte be deceiued The countrey soyle towardes the sea coaste and in other places in the valleys and playnes is most fertile which yeldeth bothe to man and beaste great plentie of fruite and grasse but in other places for the moste parte it is bareyne and lesse fruitfull because it lacketh tyllage for whiche cause husbandmen do lyue hardly eating Oten cakes and drinkyng milke myxte with water and sowre whay There be many townes and strong castels and .iiii. Bishoprikes if the byshoprike of Hereforde be couÌ„ted in England as y e late writers declare The fyrst byshoprike is Meneue so called of Meneua whiche at this day they call Sainct Dauids a Citie very auncient situated vpon the sea coast and bouÌ„deth westward toward Ireland An other is Landaeffe the thirde Bangor and the fourthe All Saint Asaph whiche be vnder Tharchbyshoppe of Canterburye The walshmen haue a language from thenglishmen which as they say that fetche their Petigree frome the Troianes do the partly sounde of the Troian antiquitie and partly of the Greeke But how soever it is the walshemen do not pronounce their speache so pleasantely and gentilly as thenglyshmen dooe because they speake more in the throte contrary wise thenglishemen rightly folowynge the Latines do expresse theyr voyce somewhat within the lyps which to the hearers semeth pleasant swete And thus much of wales the third part of Britaine Nowe foloweth the fourthe and laste parte of Britayne named Cornewall This part beginneth on that syde whiche standeth toward Spayn westward Toward theast it is of bredth .iiii. score and tenne myles extendyng a lyttle beyonde saynt Germains which is a very famous village situated on the right hand vpon the sea coast where the greatest breadth of that countrey is but .xx. myles for thys parcell of lande on the right hand is compassed with the coaste of the mayne sea and on the left hande with that arme of the sea whiche as before is declared parteth the lande and runneth vp to Chepstoll where the couÌ„trey is in fourme of a Horne For at the fyrst it is narowe and then growethe broader a little beyonde the said towne of saint Germaine Eastwarde it bordreth vpon England West south and Northe the mayne sea is rounde about it It is a very barreyn soyle yeldynge fruite more through trauaile of the tyllers and husband men theÌ„ through the goodnes of the grouÌ„d but there is great plentie of leade and tyn in the myning and dyggyng wherof doth specially consist the liuynge sustentation of thinhabitants In this only parte of Britayn euen to this daye continueth the nation of the Britaines whiche in the begynnynge brought out of Gallia occupied inhabited that Ilande yf credite maye be geuen to them whyche reporte the firste inhabitantes of Britaine to come out of the Cities of Armerica The argumeÌ„t profe wherof is because y e Cornishmen do speake y e langage which the Britains vse now in France whom the Britons do cal BritonaÌ„tes This thing to be more true an old ancient chronicle dothe declare wherin I found written not Cornubia but Cornugallia compounded of Cornu a horne the forme wherof that countrey hath and of Gallia out of which contrey thinhabitantes came fyrst the maner of which name is not to be mislyked Their tongue is farre dissonant from englishe but is muche like to the Walshe tongue because they haue many wordes coÌ„mune to both tonges yet thys difference there is betwene them when a walsheman speaketh the Cornyshe man rather vnderstandeth many woordes spoken by the Walshman then the hole tale he telleth whereby it is manyfest that those thre people dooe vnderstande one an other in like maner as the Southerne Scottes doo perceiue and vnderstand the Northern But it is a thyng very rare and meruailous that in one Iland there should be such varietie of speches Cornewall or Cornugall is in the Diocesse of Excetour whyche was ones woorthye to bee counted the fourth part of the Iland as well for the contrarietie of language as for the fyrst inhabitantes thereof as is beforesayde Afterwardes the Normans which constituted a kyngdom of all those thre partes reckned Cornewall to bee one of the counties or shires of the contrey Thus muche of the particular descryption of Britayne that the whole bodye of the realm by the membres may be the better knowen to some peraduenture that neuer heard the same before The forme of the Iland is triquetra or thre cornered hauyng three corners or three sydes Two wherof that is to say The corner toward theast and thother toward the weast bothe extending northwardes are the longest The third syde whiche is the south syde is farre shorter then thother for the Iland is greater of length then of bredth And as in the other two partes is conteyned the lengthe euen so in the laste the breadth In whyche place the breadthe begynneth and so continuyng from the South parte to the north it is but narowe The fyrste and ryght corner of whyche Ilande eastwarde is in Kente at Douer and Sandwyche From whence to Caleys or Boloygne in France is the dystance of .xxx. myles From this Angle which is agaynst Fraunce to the thyrde Angle whyche is in the Northe in Scotlande the mayne whereof boundeth vpon Germany but no land seene and there the Iland is lyke vnto a wedge euen at the very angle of the land in Scotland The length wherof is .vii. hundreth myles Agayne the lengthe from this Corner at Douer in Kent to the vttermost part of Cornewall beynge saynt Myghels mount whych is the west part or weste angle is supposed to bee .300 myles FroÌ„ this left Angle beyng the west part and thuttermoste parte of Cornewall whiche hath a prosâ—ect towards Spain in whyche part also standeth Irelande sytuated betwene Britayne and Spayn to the northe angle in the further parte of Scotlande in which part the Ilande doth end the leÌ„gth is .viii. hundred miles in whiche parte there be very good hauens and saufe harboroughes for shyppes and apt passage into Ireland beyng not past one day saylyng but the shorter passage is from Wales to Waterforde a towne in Ireland vppon the sea coast muche lyke to that passage betwene Douer and Calaice or som what more but y e shortest passage of all is out of Scotlande From this last Angle to Hampton whiche is a towne vpon the sea coast with a hauen so called toward the southe and therefore called South-hampton betwene the Angles of Kent and Cornewall they doo measure by a strayght lyne the whole lengthe of the Ilande and doo say that it conteyneth 800. myles as the breadth from Meneua or Saint Dauids to Yarmouth whiche is in the vttermost part of the Iland towardes the East doth conteyn .200 miles for the breadth of the Iland is in
theim selues fell at greate discorde and warre whyche continued to the greate disturbance of the realme about .xv. yeares By meane of this forsaide discorde amonge the britons Seuerus was moued to make haste into thys Countreye as well to quyete the realme as to kepe backe the Pictes and Scotts which vexed them with warre hee caused a wall of turues and greate stakes to be made of the lengthe of 112. myles or after some repaired the wall of Adrian It began at Tyne and reached to the Scottyshe sea This Seuerus gouerned Britayne .v. yeares and was buried at Yorke BAssianus Caracalla succeded hys father in the empire and reygned vi yeres Of nature he was cruell and fierce able to endure al paynes and labours especially in warfare wherto he semed to be framed of nature In Britayne was yet no kynge but the Emperour was accompted as king wherefore as some write Carassus a britayn of lowe byrth but valyant and hardy in marciall deedes purchased of the Emperour the kepyng of the coasts of Britayn By meanes wherof he drue to hym many knightes of his countrey and addressed deadly warre agaynst the the Romayns hauyng the better hope for that he heard of the death of Bassianus the emperour who about this time was slayne by one of his owne seruantes But Polydore affirmeth that this Carassus toke on hym the gouernance of Britayne in the tyme of Dioclesian and sayth that thys lande was in good quietnes the space of .76 yeares with whom the latin histories seme to agree Alectus a duke of Rome was sente to subdue Carassus whiche unlefullye vsurped the crowne of Britayne To whiche Alectus fortune was so fauourable that he vanquyshed Carassus and lastely slew him when he had reigned .viii. yeres Alectus the Romayn gouerned the britaynes after he had subdued the land again to the Romains and vsed among them much crueltie tyranny Wherefore they intendyng vtterly to expell the Romaynes moued a noble man called Asclepiodatus to take on hym the kyngdom who gathered a great power and made sharpe warre vppon the Romayns and chased them from countrey to countrey vntyll at lengthe Alectus kept hym at London for his moste suretie whither Asclepiodatus pursued him and nere to that citie gaue hym bataâ—le in whiche Alectus was slayne when he had gouerned Britayn .vi. yeres Asclepiodatus after Alectus was thus slayn belayed the citie of London with a strong siege wherin was Liuius Gallus the Romayn capitayne and ere it were long by knightly force and violence entred the citie and slue the forenamed Gallus nere vnto a broke there at that day runnyng into whiche broke he threw him by reason wherof it was called Gallus or Wallus brooke and this day the strete where sometime the broke ranne is called Walbroke After which victorie Asclepiodatus gouerned britayne .xxv. yeares At this time happened a great discention in britayn betwene Asclepiodatus their kyng and one Coill duke of Colchester whereby was raised a greuous warre in whyche Asclepiodatus was slayn And Coill toke on hym the kingdome of britayne and gouerned the realme the space of .xxvii. yeres Constantius a duke of Rome was sent into britayn to recouer the tribute shortly after whose arriuall Coill whiche then was kyng died Wherfore the britayns to haue more suertie of peace wylled this Duke to take to wife Helena the daughter of Coill whiche was a wonderfull fayre mayden and therwith well learned Thys Constantius when he had recouered the tribute returned with his wyfe Helena to Rome as chiefe ruler of Britayne who gouerned the same .xxi. yeares he was buried at Yorke In this Constantius tyme was S. Albon prothomartir of England martyred at Uerolan Of hym Iohn Lidgate monke of Burye hathe compyled a goodlye storye in englyshe meter Heroicall COnstantine the soonne of Constantius succeded as well in the kyngdome of Britayne as in the gouernance of other realmes that wer subiect afore to his father This Constantine was a ryght noble and valiant prince and sonne of Helena a woman of great sanctimony and borne in Britayne He was so myghtye in marciall prowesse that hee was surnamed the greate Constantyne And had the faith of Christe in suche reuerence that alwaye mooste studyouselye he endeuoured to augmente the same In wytnesse of hys beliefe hee caused a booke of the Gospell to bee caryed before hym and made the byble to be copied out and sente into all partes of the empire Of this man the kynges of Britayne had fyrst the priuileage to weare close crownes or diademes he reigned .xviii yeres Constantine in the .vi. yeare of his reigne came with a parte of his armye agaynst Maxentius whyche vexed the Romanes with greuous eractions and tribute when he was in his iourney by a vision in the nyght he sawe the sygne of the Crosse in the elemente shynynge like fyre and an angell therby sayinge in this wyse Constantine in this signe thou shalt ouercome wherfore he beyng greatly comforted shortly after vanquished the army of Maxentius who fleing oute of the battayle was drowned in Tyber Helena the mother of Constantyne at Ierusalem found the crosse on which Christ suffred his passion and the .iii. nayles wherewith his fete and handes were pearced OCtauius duke of Iesses or wesse Saxons whoÌ„ Constantine made lieutenant in Britayne rebelled and endeuoured to expell the Romayns out of the lande Whereof when Constantine had knowlege he sent against him a Duke named Traherne with legions of souldiours after whose arriuall in Britain was fought a fiers battaile neere to Wynchester In whiche Traherne was putte to the worse and constrained to flee towarde Scotlande whoÌ„ Octauius folowed And in Westmerlande gaue to hym the seconde battaile in whiche Octauius was chased and Traherne obteyned the victorie pursued Octauius so fiersely that hee was driuen to forsake the lande and sailed into Norway Octauius repairyng his army came agayne into Britayn but in the meane tyme an Earle whyche fauoured hys partie by treason murdered the fornamed Trahern And then Octauius called in the Englishe Chronicles Octauian reigned in this lande at the leaste liiii yeares In whiche tyme as sayth the Scottishe historie he was troubled with often warres by the Romaines Polidore saieth that this Realme was in good quiete all the tyme of Constantyne and his successours vntyll the fift yere of Gratian and maketh no mention of this Octauius whiche thyng I I speake not for anye reproche to Polydore whom I know right well to haue folowed moste certayne and commendable Authours but onely to shewe to the reader the dyuersitie of hystories whiche is great MAximus sonne of Leonine and cousyn germaine to Constantine the great was made kyng of britayne Thys man was mightye of hys handes but for that he was cruell and pursued somedeale the Christians hee was called Maximus the tyraunt Betwene hym and one
shewed to their kyng the ieopardy that might therof ensue and aduertised him to auoyde the danger and expell them out of the realme but all was in vayn For Uortiger by reason of his wyfe bore suche fauour towards the Saxons that he would in no wise heare the coūcell of hys subiectes Wherefore they with one wyll and mynde depriued him of his royall dignitie and ordeyned to theyr Kynge hys eldeste soonne Uortimerus VOrtimer as before is sayde beyng made king in all hast he pursued the Saxons and by his marciall knyghthode vanquyshed theim in iiii greate battailes besydes conflictes and skirmyshes Untyll at lengthe he was poysoned by meane of Rowen his stepmother after hee had reygned .vii. yeares Uortiger obteyned agayn the kyngdome of great Britayne and reygned after this tyme .ix. yeares But shortly after Hengistus whiche was chased of Uortimer into the Isle of Thanet entred the land with a nūbre of Saxons but when he hearde of the great assemble that the britons made against him be treated for peace which in fyne was concluded The Saxons in Britayne by priuy guyle and treason got the kyng Uortiger into theyr handes and kept hym as prisoner and by that meanes constreyned the Kynge to graunte vnto theym thre countreys in the land of britayne that is to say Kent Susser Suffolke and Norffolke Than Hengist beganne his dominion ouer Kent and sendynge for mo saxons to inhabite the other prouinces shortly after made warre vpon the Britayns and so chased them that he kept his kyngdome of Kent in peace and warre .xxiiii. yeares Uortiger fled into Wales and there buylded a castell Of whiche buildyng and longe lette of the same and of his prophete Merlyn the common voyce of the people speaketh many thynges Aurelie surnamed Ambrose and Uther the brethern of Constantius king of brittayne whiche was slayne by the treason of Uortiger landed with a Nauye of shyppes at Totnes and by the healpe of britaynes whyche gathered to them in all haste made warre vppon Uortiger and burned him in his castell in Wales where he kepte hym for hys moste sure defence Aurelius Ambrose was ordeyned kynge of Britayne whyche immediatlye hasted hym wyth an army towards Yorke against Octa sonne of Hengist who wyth hys saxons kepte the Citie where he discomfited and tooke prisoner the sayd Octa. A Saxon named Hella with his .iii. sonnes and a company of Saxons landed in the southe parte of britayne slue the britons chased many of thē into desertes and wods and subdued the countreys of Southery Somerset Deuonshyre and Cornewall which after was called the kyngdome of South Saxons A saxon named Porthe landed wyth his .ii. sonnes at an hauen in southsex After whome the Hauen is named Portsmouthe The kyngdome of the East Saxons began in Britayn vnder a duke named Uffa The kyngdome wherof conteyned Norffolke and Suffolke the kyngs of that lordeshyp were called Uffines great murder veration of the britains was at the entryng of those Saxons In the ende of Aurelie hys reygne Pascentius the yongest sonne of Uortiger who for feare of Aurelius fled into Irelande inuaded this lande with a great armie at which season Aurelius was sicke at Wynchester And therfore sent his brother Uther to resyst the malice of Pascentius Guillamour king of Irelande In the meane tyme Aurelius dyed as some write beyng poysoned whan he had reigned .xix. yeares VTher surnamed Pendragon was crouned kyng of Britayne and reigned .xvi. yeres He was enamored vpon the dukes wife of Cornwall and to obteyne his vnlefull luste made warre vppon her husbande Garelus and slew hym in bataile he was buryed at Stone hynge ARthur the sonne of Uther Pendragon a striplyng of .xv. yeres of age beganne his reigne ouer Britayne and gouerned the land .xxvi. yeares hauynge continuall warre and mortall battayle with the Saxons Of this Arthure be written many thynges in the Englishe chronicle of small credence and farre discordant from other writers but yet all agree that he was a noble and victorious prince in all his dedes◠and they testifie that he fought xii notable battailes agaynst the Saxons and was alway victour But notwithstanding he might not clerely void them out of his land but that they held theyr countreys whyche they were possessed of Iohn Frosarde affirmeth that kyng Arthure buylded the castell of Wyndesour and there founded the order of the rounde Table The fourthe kyngdome of the weste Saxons beganne in Britayne vnder a Saxon called Cerdicus They landed first at an hauē in Norffolk called Yarmouth With this Saxon Cerdicus his people Arthure had muche trouble and warre This lordshyp cōteyned the west part of Englande as Wylshire Somersetshire Barkshire Dorsetshire and other Arthure when after many and dyuers battailes he hadde sette his lande in some quietnes he betooke the rule thereof to hys nephewe Mordred and with a chosen army as saithe Galfride and other sayled into Fraunce where he dyd meruaylous thynges and vanquyshed Lucius Hibertus the Romain Capytayne whyche thyng semeth not to agree with other histories MOrdred whiche had the gouernance of Britayn in the absence of Arthur by treason was crouned kyng through the healpe of Cerdicus kyng of weste Saxons Of whiche treason when relation came to Arthur beyng then in Fraunce wyth all haste he made backe to Britayne where he was mette of Mordred whyche gaue to hym .iii. strong battails In the whiche manye noble and valyaunt knyghtes perished And lastely in a battayle foughten besydes Glastenburye Mordred was slayne and Arthure wounded vnto the deathe He was buried in the valley of Aualon and afterwardes at Glastenbury COnstantine kynsman to Arthur by assent of the brytons was ordeyned kynge of Britayne and reygned three yeares This man was by the two sonnes of Mordred greuouslye vexed For they claymed the lande by the ryghte of theyr father soo that betweene them was foughten sundrye battaylles In the whyche lastely the twoo bretherne were vanquyshed and slayne Holy Gildas our countreyman flouryshed in this tyme he was called Gildas the wyse Aurelius Conanus a britain raised mortall warre against Constantine the kyng and after sore fight slue hym in the field when he had reigned .iii. yeares and was buried at Stonehyng AUrelius Conanus was crowned kyng of Britayn he was noble hardy and therwith very lyberall but hee cherished suche as loued stryfe and discention wythin his Realme and gaue lyght credence to theym whyche accused other wer it right or wrong He imprisoned by stren̄gth his vncle whiche was right heyre to the crown and dyed when he had reigned .iii. yeares The kyngdome of Northumberland began fyrst in Britayn vnder a Saxon named Ida. This prouince was fyrste deuided into twoo kyngedomes The one was called Deyra which conteyned the lande from Humber to Tyne The other Brenicia whiche included the countrey from Tyne to the scottyshe sea
ouer this Realme the .xxix. of September in the yeare of oure Lorde .1399 and lefte the same the .xx. day of March in the yeare .1412 So hee reygned thirtene yeares sixe monethes lackyng nyne dayes Henry the soonne of Kynge Henry was chosen Prince of Wales and duke of Cornewall Earle of Chester and heire Apparaunt to the Crowne hee deposed three Dukes that is to saie of Albumarle Ercester and Surrey and the marques of Dorset Anno. 1. Tho. Knolles Grocer M. wil. waldern S williaÌ„ Hyde S The lorde Morley appealed the Erle of Salisburye of treason and caste hys hoode for a guage to trye wyth hym batayle the whych saying he replied and caste frome hym hys gloues for guage to proue hys sayinges vntrewe which were sealed and delyuered to the lorde Marshall Syr Iohn Hollande Duke of Ercester brother to Kynge Rycharde the Duke of Aumarke the duke of Surrey with the Erles of Salisbury and Gloucester and other that fauoured Richard of Burdeur conspyred againste Kyng Henry and appoynted pryuily to murder hym at a feaste whyche shoulde be holden at Wyndsore but their treason was disclosed and they all put to death with as many knightes and esquiers as were of that alyance and confederacie Kyng Richarde was put to deathe in Pomfret castell by a knyghte called syr Piers of Exton and after brought to the tower of London and so through the citie of London to Poules barefaced and there stode .iii. dayes for all beholders and frome thense to Langley and there buried in a house of Friers but he was since remoued by Henry the .v. and lieth at Westmynster Upon the deathe of thys Kynge Rycharde Iohn Gower dothe wryte these verses in Latine as foloweth O speculum mundi quod debet in auro refundi Ex quo prouisum sapiens acuit sibi uisum Cum male uiuentes Deus odit in orbe regentes Est qui peccator non esse potest dominator Richardo teste finis probat hoc manifeste Sic diffinita fuit regia sors stabilita Regis ut est uita Chronica stabat ita Which may be englished thus O myrrour for the worlde mete Whyche shouldste in golde be bette By whyche all wyse men by forsyght Theyr prudent wytts may whette Lo God dothe hate suche rulers as Here viciously doo lyue And none ought rule that by theyr lyfe Doo yll example gyne As thys kyng Richard wytnesseth well His ende thys playne dothe showe For God allotted hym suche ends And sent hym so great woo As suche a lyfe descrude as by The chronicles thou mayst knowe Anno. 2. Iohn Frauncis Goldsmyth M. Iohn wakell S. williaÌ„ Ebot S. Whyle the Kynge was in Wales certayne persons enuyinge that he had so shortely obteyned and possessed the Realme blased abroade amongest the vulgare people that kynge Rycharde was yet lyuyng and desyred ayde of the common people to reposesse hys realme and royall dignitie And to the furtherance of theyr inuention they sette vppon poastes and caste aboute the stretes raylynge rymes malicious metres and taunting verses against Kyng Henry and kys procedynges He beyng netled wyth those vncurteous prickes and thornes searched out the auâ—tours and amongest other were founde culpable of thys cryme syr Roger Claryngdon knyght wyth two of hys seruauntes the Pryour of Launde and .viii. Friers Mynoures or graye Fryers who were drawen hanged and quartered at Tyborne in the moneth of February Owen Glendour of Wales rebelled and kyng Henry wente thyther with a strong armye but coulde not wynne to them they fled so to theyr mountayns This yeare was greate scarsitie of wheate and other grayn so that wheat was sold at London for xvi.s a quarter Anno. 3. Iohn Chadworth M. will Uenour S I. FreminghaÌ„ S Thys yeare the Cundite standing vpon Cornehill in London was begon to be made where as before tyme it was a pryson for priestes called the Tonne in Cornehyll A great batayle at Srewesbury began by syr Thomas Percy Erle of worcester and other agaynste the Kynge where syr Thomas Percye was taken and beheaded syr Henry Percy slayn wyth many other noble men Anno. 4. Iohn Walcot Draper M. Richard Marlow S. Robert Chicheley S. The Emperor Robert came into Englande only to see the countrey and coÌ„modities therof where he was receiued with great triumph The Lorde of Castile in Brytayne landed within a myle of Plymmouthe with a greate compauye hee lodged all nyghte in Plymmouth and on the morowe robbed and spoyled the town and returned agayne to theyr shyppes Anno. 5. WilliaÌ„ Alkham M. Tho. Fauconer S. Tho. Poole S. The Britaynes and Frenchemen whyche the yere before had spoyled and robbed the towne of Plymmouth were discomfited and slayn of the englishmen in a battayle on the sea nere the towne of Dartmouth This yeare one willyam Serle was taken in the marches of Scotlande and brought to London and there hanged drawen and quartred for the murdring of the duke of Gloucester at Calice Anno. 6. Iohn Hynd Draper M. Wil. Lowsche S StepheÌ„ spilmaÌ„ S Syr Rycharde Scrope then archebishop of Yorke and the Lord Mowbraye then marshall of England wyth other gathered greate strength to haue put downe the kyng as the fame went but they were taken and presented to the Kyng at Yorke where they were bothe beheaded Anno. 7. Io. wodcock Mercer M. Henry BartoÌ„ S wil. Croumer S This yeare was the bridge and Chapell of Rochester finished by syr Robert Knolles who also new reedified the body of the church of white friers standing in Fletestrete and there was buryed That Church was fyrst founded by the ancestors of the Lorde Gray Cotner Anno. 8. Richard WhittingtoÌ„ Mercer M Nic. wotton S. Geffrey broke S. Thys yeare syr Henry Earle of Northumberland and the lord of Bardolfe commyng out of Scotland with a stroÌ„g company to the displeasure of the Kyng as they intended were met and foughten wyth and dyscomfyted and theyr heades were stryken of and sents to London This Richard Whityugton Maior of London aboue named builded the house in London named Whittingtons colledge He buylded a great parte of the Hospytall of Saynete Bartholomewes in west Smithfielde he buylded the library at the Gray friers in LoÌ„don now called Christes hospitall he also buylded a great part of the east end of the guyld hall in London besyde sundry other notable workes done by hym Anno. 9. Wil. scondeÌ„ Grocer M. HeÌ„ry PoÌ„fret S Henry Halton S This yere was a great froste whiche began in December and lasted fyftene weekes Edmond Holland Erle of Kent was by the kynge made admirall of the sea who scouryng and skimmyng the sea at the last landed in Britayn and besieged the Castell of Briake and wan it but he was there wounded with an arrow wherof he dyed soone after Anno. 10. Drew BareÌ„tin Goldsmyth M. Tho. duke S wil.
when she had reigned .v yeares and was buryed at Leycester in Ianus temple by her father Morgan the eldest sonne of Dame Gonorell claimed Britayn and warred on his nephue Conedagus that was kyng of Camber that nowe is Wales and of Cornwall but Conedagus met with Morgan in Wales and there slue hym which place is called Glamorgan tyll this daye And then Condenagus was kyng of all Britayne he buylded a Temple of Mars at Perche that now is S. Iohns towne in Scotlande placed there a Flamyne he buylded an other or Minerue in Wales which now is named Bangor The third he made of Mercurie in Cornewall where he was borne he reigned .xxxiii. yeares and was buryed at London Riuallo sonne of Conedagus succeded his father in whose tyme it rayned blood .iii. dayes after the whiche tempest ensued a great multitude of venemous flyes which slewe muche people And then a great mortalitie throughe out this land whiche caused almoste desolation of the same This Riuallo reigned ouer this whole Iland .xlvi. yeres and than deceased and was buried at Caire branke that now is Yorke In the yeere .1554 after the vniuersall Floud and after Comerus the fyrst king of Italy .1414 after y e destruction of Troy .432 And after Brute arriued in England .356 Rome was buylded in Italy by Remus and Romulus Gurgustus sonne of Riuallo succeded in the kyngdom of Brytayne who reigned quietly but was a coÌ„mon dronkarde wherof folowed all other vices when he had reigned .xxxviii. yeres he deceased and was buried at Yorke Scicilius the brother of Gurgustus succeded in the Kyngdom of whome is left but little memory but that he reygned liâ— yeares and was buryed at Bathe Iago or Lago cousyn of Gurgustus reigned .xxv. yeares for his euyll gouernement he dyed of a litargie and was buryed at Yorke The game of Chesse about this season was deuysed by wyse men to mytigate the myndes or hartes of tyrantes the yere of the worlde .3339 the yere before Christ .614 Kynimacus succeded Iago in thys realme of Brittany wherin he reigned liiii yeares and was buryed at Yorke Gorbodug succeded his father Kynimacus in this realme of Britain as our Chronicles write He reigned .lxiii. yeres and was buried at London Forrex with his brother Porrex ruled this lande of Britayn .v. yeares but it was not long ere they fel at ciuile discorde for the soueraygne domynion in whiche Forrex was slayne And Porrex afterwardes by his mother was killed in his bed Thus cruelly was the bloodde and house of Brute destroyed when that this Realme by the space of 616. yeares had bene gouerned by that lynage After the death of the two brethren Forrex and Porrex thys Realme was deuided with ciuile warres for lacke of one soueraigne gouernour whiche continued by the space of .li. yeares vntyll that noble Dunwallo reduced the same into one Monarchie MUlmutius Dunwallo the sonne of Cloten duke of Cornewall reduced this realme into one Monarchie beyng before by ciuile warres and discention seuered and brought into dyuers dominions he was the fyrste that ware a crowne of golde he constituted good lawes whiche long after wer called Mulmutius lawes he gaue priuileges vnto Temples and ploughes and beganne to make the fower notable wayes in Britayne In London called then Troy Nouant he buylded a great Temple whiche some suppose to be S. Paules some Blackwell Hall whiche was called Templum pacis Finally when he had brought this Ralme to wealthe and quietnes reygnyng herein .xl. yeares He dyed honourably leauing after hym two valiant and noble sonnes Belinus and Brennus as Fabian writeth He buylded the towne of Malmsbury and of Uies He was buried at London in the temple of Peace before named BElinus and Brennus sonnes of Mulmutius deuyded thys whole Isle of Britayne betwene them Unto Belyne the elder brother was appoynted England Wales and Corn wall Unto the other the North part beyond Humber But Brennus a young man desyrous of glory and dominion thinking hym selfe equall with his brother in marciall prowes was not therewith content Wherfore he raised war agaynste Belyne But in conclusion by the meanes of their mother they were accorded and Brennus brynge geuen wholly to the study of warres lefte his countrey to the gouernance of his brother and went into Fraunce amongest the Galles where in the Prouince of Lions for his excelleÌ„t qualities he was greatly estemed of Siguinus kynge of the countrey whose daughter he maried And of the Galles was made Souerain captain wheÌ„ they made their vsage to Rome Belyne in the meane tyme both in ciuile iustyce and also religyon suche as at that tyme was vsed greatly increased his Realme He made three Archeflames whose seas were at London Yorke and Carlion He fynyshed the fower great waies begon by his father He subdued and made tributarye vnto hym Denmarke In London he made the hauen whyche at thys daye retaineth the name of hym called Belynes gate and as Iohn Leyland writeth whose labour and industry in most diligent serchyng out the antiquities of this Realm is greatly to be coÌ„mended builded y e tower of London He maried his daughter Cambria vnto a prince of Almayn called Antenor of whoÌ„ these people were called Cymbri and Sycambri Fynally after he had reigned with his brother and alone .xxvi. yeres he died and after the pagan maner with great pompe was burned his ashes in a vessell of brasse set on a high Pynacle ouer Belyns gate as saith Robert Fabyan he builded Carlion and also the temple of concorde whyche after the opinion of many is nowe the paryshe churche of the Temple Gurgunstus sonne of Belyne succeded his father He subdued Denmark compellyng them to continue their tribute and in his returne home mette with a fleet of Spaniards which were seekyng for habitations because theyr contrey was so populous and not able to susteyne them to whome the Kynge granted the Isle of Ireland to inhabite and to holde the same of hym as their soueraigne Lord But the Scots write that the Spaniards arriued before this time in Ireland This Gurgunâ—us reigned .xix. yeares and was buried at Carlyon Guinthelinus sonne of Gurgunstus was crowned kynge of Britayne A prince sober and quiet who had to wife a noble woman named Marcia of excellent learnyng and knowledge She deuised certain lawes which long time among the Britains were greatly estemed and named Marcian lawes Fynally when this vertuous prince hadde reigned .xxvi. yeres he dyed and was buried at London Cecilius the sonne of Guenthelyne and Marcia reigned .vii. yeres of hym there remaineth nothyng notable But that as the Scottes write in the fyrst yeare of his reigne a people of Almain called Pyctes arriued here in Britayn and possessed those parties which now be the marches of bothe realmes
Conon Meridoke a Britayn was a stryfe and debate in whiche they both sped dyuersly but at at length they wer made frends Maximus reigned .viii. yeares Maximus kynge of Britayne made warre vpon the Galles and sayled into Armerica now called litle Britayn and subduyng the countreye gaue it to Conon Meridoke to hold for euer of the kynges of great Britayn Maximus was constrayned of the souldiours to take on hym the imperiall crowne therfore beyng in France passed further into the lands of the empire subdued a great part of France and all Germanie Gratian the Emperour of hym was put to flight at Paris and slayne at Lyons Whyles Maximus was occupied in the warres in Italye Melga kynge of Pictes and Guanius captayne of the Hunnes vexed the Britayns Wherof when Maximus had vnderstandynge he sente a captaine named Gratian to withstande their force Saint Ursula with the .11000 Uirgins whiche were sent into little Britayne to be maried to the foresayde Conon and his knyghtes wer slayn of the barbarous people beynge on the sea Forthwith the foresaid Gratian that was sent into Britayne of Maximus to defende the land from Barbariens toke on hym the kyngdom of Britayn and exercised all tyranny and exaction vppon the people for whiche cause hee was abhorred of all the Britaynes and by theym was slayne when he hadde reygned fower yeares Then was the Realme a good space wythoute heade or gouernoure In the whyche tyme they were nowe and then very muche vexed wyth the foresayde Barbarous people and other foreyne enemies Nere about the yeare of Christ .427 the Britaynes were inuaded agayne by the Pictes and Scots which not withstandynge the foresayde wall that was made by the Romanes spoyled the coūtrey very sore so that they were dryuen to seke for newe helpe of the Romanes who sent to them a company of souldiors which agayn chased the Picts and made a wall of stone of the thicknes of viii foot in height .xii. foote Which thing when they had done comfortyng the britones and admonishynge them hereafter to trust to their own māhod strēgth they returned agayn to Rome The Scottes and Pyctes yet once agayne entred the lande of Britayne spoylynge the countreye and chasyng the commons so cruelly that they were altogether comfortelesse and broughte to suche myserie that eche robbed and spoyled other and ouer this the groūde was vntylled whereof ensued greate scarcitie and hunger and after hunger deathe In thys necessitie they sente for ayde to Aetius the Romayne capitayne beynge then occupied in warres in a parte of Fraunce but they had no comfort at his hand And therfore wer forced to send ambassade to Aldroenus kynge of little Britayne to desyre ayde and comforte whiche they obteyned in condition that if they atchieued the victorie Constantine his brother shold be made king of britayn for to that day they had no gouernour Which thyng of the Ambassadours beyng graunted the sayd Constantine gathered a companye of souldiors and went forth with them And when he had manfully vanquished theyr enemies obteined the victorie accordynge to the promise made he was ordeyned their kynge and guyded this land .x. yeres Here endeth fynally the dominion tribute of the Romans ouer this lande whiche had contynued by the space of 483. yeares from the tyme that Brute began to rule this lande .1541 After the citie of Rome was builded .1585 yeres THen it folowed that when Constantine brother of Aldroenus had chased and ouercome the Pictes and Scots as is beforesaid he was crowned kynge of great Britayne and guyded the lande the space of .x. yeares in quietnes In the courte of Constantyne kynge of Britayn was a certayne Picte in so greate fauoure and authoritie with the kyng that he myght at all tymes come to his presence who watchynge hys tyme by secrete meanes trayterouslye slewe the kyng in his chamber Then Constantius hys eldest sonne whyche for his lofte spirite was made monke at saincte Swithens in Wynchester by the means of Uortiger duke of Cornwal was taken out of the cloister and made king vnder whose name the foresayd Uortiger ruled all the land and vsed great tyrannye Constantius kyng of Britayn was slayne of certayne Pictes or Scottes whom Uortiger had ordeined for a gard to the kynges bodye Whereof when Uortiger had knowledge he wept and made semblaunt of greate sorowe and heauynes and caused the sayd Scottes or Pictes to be put to deathe thoughe he in dede were the chief causer of their treason and murder So this Constantius reigned but .v. yeares And Aurelius and Uther the kynges younger brethren fled into little Britayn Uortiger was by force ordeined king of Britayne and gouerned the realme .xvi. yeares not without trouble For the nobles of Britayne suspected that Constantius was not murthered with out hys consent And therfore alienated their myndes from hym In Britayne was so great plentie of corne and fruite that the lyke had not ben seen many yeares before Whiche plentie was cause of idlenes gluttony lechery and other vices so that through their incontinent and riottous lyuyng ensued so great pestilence and mortalitie that the lyuynge scantely suffised to bury the dead The Pictes and Scotts also hauing knowledge of the death of their knightes whyche were slayne by Uortiger for murderyng of the kynge inuaded and in most cruell wise spoyled the land of Britayne Uortiger beyng sore abashed for so muche ashe knewe the myndes of hys people to be alienated from hym after some mens opinion sente for the Saxons named Angli whiche had no place to dwel in gaue to them inhabitāce in Kent By their helpe and manhoode in many batails he vanquished and droue back the Pictes and other enemies and therefore had them euer after in greate loue and fauour Hengist one of the captaines of the Saxons founde meanes that Uortiger kynge of Britayne maryed his daughter Rowan a mayden of wonderfulle beautie and pleasauntnesse but a myscreant and Pagane For her sake the kynge was deuorced frome his laufull wyfe by whome he hadde .iii. sonnes For whiche dede welnere all the Britones forsooke hym and the Saxons daily encreased bothe in fauoure multitude and auctoritie and from this tyme sought alwaye occasyon to extinguyshe vtterly the power of the britayns and subdue the lande to them selfe The Saxons couenanted with the Britons that they shold attend to their worldly busynes and the Saxons as their souldiors would defend the lande from the incursions of all enemies for which seruice the Britains should geue to them competent meate and wages And vnder thys pretence caused more Saxons to bee sent for entendyng at conueniente tyme by force to haue the lande in their subiection Sainct Germain came into Britayn to reduce them from the heresye of Pelagius to the fayth of Christe The britayns consyderyng the daily repaire of the Saxons into this realm
his sonne who inclosed y e same with a depe dyche and grauÌ„ted to the inhabitantes therof great fredom And after builded a church ouer y e place of his sepulture and ordeined there an house of monkes enduyng them with fayre possessioÌ„s And after it was vsed y e kings of EnglaÌ„d wheÌ„ thei wer crouned sent for an offering their crounes vnto S. Edmondes shryne and redemed the same with a good price The englyshe men sente agayne for Etheldred out of Normandye who by the healpe of the Normans and present assistance of his commons expelled Canutus but shortly Canutus returned agayne into Englande where he spared nothynge that myght be destroyed with sworde fyre In whiche tyme king Etheldred ended his lyfe when he had reigned .xxxviii. yeares and was buried in the Northe Isle of Paules churche in London aboue the aultar Fabian saythe that in the seconde yeare of this kynges reigne a great part of the citie of London was wasted with fyre but how it beganne hys aucthor telleth not But ye shal vnderstand that this day the citie of London had moste housyng and buyldynge from Ludgate towarde Westminster and littell or none where the chiefe or hart of the citie is now except in diuers places was housynge but they stoode without order So that many townes cities as CaÌ„terbury York and dyuers other in Englande passed London in buyldyng at those dayes as I haue sene sayth Fabyan by an old boke somtime in the Guyld halle of London named Domes daye But after the conquest it increased and shortly after passed and excelled all the other Aboute the .viii. yeare of this kyngs reign dyed Ethelwald byshop of Wynchester who was born in Wynchester and ther buylded an abbey of Nunnes as sayth Fabyan AFter y e deth of Etheldred great variance fell betwene y e englishe meÌ„ for the election of theyr kyng for y e citezens of London with certayn other named Edmund the son of Etheldred a yong man of lusty and valiant courage in martiall aduentures both hardy and wyse and one that could very well endure all paynes Wherefore hee was surnamed Ironsyde but the more part fauored Canutus the Dane By meanes wherof betwene those two princes were foughten many great battayles in the which either party sped diuersly to the great slaughter of theÌ„ that toke their partes But lastly it was agreed that the two Captayns shold try theyr quarell betwene them selues onely In which fight although Edmund semed to haue the vpper hand yet be condisceÌ„ded to deuyde the realm and make Canutus felow with him in the kingdom whyche agreement was at laste concluded In this tyme there was an englishe Earle called Edricus which by hys falshode had wrought muche hurte to hys naturall country and lastelye was aucthor of the deth of the noble Edmund And therof himself brought fyrst knowledge to Canutus the Dane sayinge in this wyse Thus haue I doone Canutus for the loue of thee To whom hee answered sayinge For my loue thou hast murdered thyne owne soueraigne Lord whome I loued most entierly I shall in rewarde therof exalt thy head aboue all the lordes of Englande And foorthwith commanded hym to be headed and his head to be set vpon a spear on the hyghest gate of London These princes reygned together .ii. yeares Thys Edmund was buryed at Glastenburye VUhen Canutus was stablished in the kyngdom he had knowledge how Olanns king of Norway in his absence inuaded the couÌ„trey of Denmarke wherfore in all hast he sped him thitherward by the maÌ„hod of the english souldiors obteined of them a noble victory recouered Norway to his seignory wherfore when he returned into England he demeaned him toward all men as a sage gentle moderat prince and so continued .xx. yeares Canutus called a parliameÌ„t at OxeÌ„ford where it was decreed that english men and Danes should hold the lawes of Edgare late kyng Canutus subdued the Scots wherby he was king of .iiii. kingdoms y t is to say of England ScotlaÌ„d Denmark Norway After that he weÌ„t into Denmark and so to Rome And after returned again into England Where he kept all his life tyme good iustice and did many charitable dedes And after his deathe was buried in s. Swithins at Winchester Of this Canutus Polidore hath writen a notable history in y e end of his vii boke of the historie of England HArold the sonne of Canutus by hys wyfe Elgina for hys swyftnes surnamed Harefote began hys reygne ouer thys realme of England In the begynning hee shewed some token of crueltie in that he banyshed his stepmother Emma and tooke from her suche iewelles and treasure as she hadde He reigned iii. yeares Hee was buryed at Westmynster and after at S. Clementes without Temple barre HArdikenitus king of Denmarke after the deathe of Harolde was ordeyned kyng of Englande He for the iniurie done to his mother Emma caused the corps of Harolde to be taken out of the sepulchre and smyting of the head caste it with the body into the ryuer of Thames where by a fysher it was taken vp and vnreuerently buried at S. Clementes as afore is sayd He burdeined his subiectes with eractions and tribute and in meat and dryncke was so prodygall that hys tables were spreade .iiii. tymes in the day and the people serued with great excesse whan he had reigned .iii. yeares he dyed sodeinly at Lambeth not without suspection of poysonynge and was buried at Winchester Hardikenitus beyng deade the Danes were beaten slayn and dryuen out of this lande into theyr owne countrey xxviii yeares after that Swayn began fyrst to reigne EDwarde the sonne of Egelrede or Etheldred by the aduice of Goodwyne and Leofricus Erle of Chester after the deathe of Hardikenitus was sent for out of Normandie to take on him the goueruaunce of this realme of Englande whiche hee guyded with much wisdome and iustice from whom issued as out of a fountaiue very godlinesse mercie pitie and liberalitie towarde the pore and gentylnes and iustice towards all men and in all honest lyfe gaue moste godly example to hys people He discharged the englyshmen of the great tribute called y e Dane gelt whiche was often before time leuied to y e impouerishyng of the people He subdued the Wesâ—hemen whiche rebelled and made warre vpon their borders The .xvi. yere of this kyng Edward died y e good Erle Leofricus erle of Mercia of Chester who was buried in the abbey of Couentrie which he hym selfe had caused to be buylded He purchased many great priuileges for the aforesaid towne of Couentrie Willyam bastard duke of Normandie about this tyme came with a goodly company into England and was honorablye receyued to whom the kynge made great cheere And at his returne enriched hym with great gyftes pleasures and as som write made promise to hym that if he died without issue the same
strong power came to London where they caused the kyng to cal a parliameÌ„t whereof hearynge Alexander Neuyll Archbyshop of Yorke Syr Lionel Uere Marques of Deuelen syr Mychael de la Poole ChauÌ„cellour erle of Suffolk fearyng punyshment fled the lande and died in straunge countreys The kynge by counsayle of the aboue named lordes duryng the parliament caused to be taken syr Robart Triuilian chiefe Iustice of Englande syr Nycholas Brembre late Maior of LondoÌ„ syr Iohn Salysbury knyght of houshold syr Iohn Beauchampe Stewarde of the kyngs house syr Symon Burley syr Iames Bernes and syr Robert Belknappe knyghtes and a sergeaunt of armes named Iohn Uske the whiche by authoritie of the sayde parliament were conuict of treason and put to death at the towre hyll at Tyborne And Iohn Holt Iohn Locton Rychard Gray Wylliam Burgth and Robert Fuithorpe iustice with the other foresayde lordes which before had voyded the land were banished and exiled for euer Anno. 12. Sir Nych Twyford M. Tho. Austen S. Adam Gathill S. This yere the kyng kepte a great iustes in Smythfielde whiche continued xxiiii days This yere on the fifth day of August was the battayle of Ottyrborn where syr Henry Percy slewe the erle Douglas of Scotland and after was taken prisoner Anno. 13. WilliaÌ„ Uenour M. Iohn Walcot S. Iohn Loueney S. An esquier of Nauarre accused an englyshe esquire called Iohn Welshe of treason for the triall whereof a daye of fyght was betwene them taken to bee fought in the kyngs palais at westminster where they fought a strong fyght but Iohn Welshe was victor and constrayned the other to yelde Where he was dispoyled of his armour and draweÌ„ to Tyborn and hanged for his vntruth Anno. 14. Adam Bawme M. Iohn Francis S. Tho. Uiuent S. The duke of Lancaster vncle to king Richard sayled with a company of souldiours into Spayn to claym the realme of Castâ—le for so muche as he had taken to wife the eldest daughter of kyng Peter that was expelled his kyngdom by Henry his bastard brother be conquered the countreye of Galice and made league with the kyng of Portugall but by great mortalitie whiche fell among his people he was fayne to dismysse his armye and shortly after loste all that euer he had wonne Anno. 15. Iohn Hind Draper M. Io. Chadworth S Henry Uamer S A bakers man bearynge a basket of horsebread in Fletestrete one of the bishop of Salisburies meÌ„ toke out a lofe y t baker requyryng his lofe the byshops man brake the bakers head whervpon folowed suche parties takyng that the Maior and Sheriffes and all the quyete people of the citie coulde not order the vnrulynes of the multitude there gathered togyther but that they woulde haue hym deliuered to them who brake the bakers heade or els to breake open the gates of the sayde byshops palaice who was the kynges high treasorer for the whyche the kynge seased the liberties of the Cytie and discharged the Maior and Sheriffes of the rule of the Citie and committed the gouernement therof to a knight of the court called sir Edward Dalingerige The citisens making great sute and labour to obtein the kynges fauoure coulde not thys yere obteyne it Anno. 16. William Stonden Grocer M. Gilbert MaÌ„field S Tho. NewingtoÌ„ S Thys yere by the great sute labour of doctor Grauesend then byshop of LoÌ„don the liberties were shortly restored in reward of whiche paynes he desyred the Maior wyth the citisens of London in their liueries to resort yerely on their ix pryncipall dayes to the Churche of Poules vnto the graue of the same byshop after his decease who lyeth in the myddle of the west end of the sayd churche and there to say De profundis c. As ye may reade in Robert Fabyan Anno. 17. Iohn Hadley Grocer M. Drew BareÌ„tin S. Rich. whittington S. A truce prolonged betwene France and Englande for .iiii. yeares Thys years dyed Quene Anne wyfe to kynge Rychard Anno. 18. Io. FreÌ„che Mercer M Wil. BramtoÌ„ S. Tho. Knolles S. Aboute thys tyme was Wikliffe famous in England King Richard made a voiage into Ireland which was more chargeable then honorable And this yeare was greate tempest of wynde in England Anno. 19. Wil. More Uintener M Roger Elys S wil. SheringhaÌ„ S A truce for .xxx. yeares was made betwene England and France and kyng Richard toke to wife Isabell the daughter of Charles the Frenche kyng Anno. 20. AdaÌ„ bame goldsmith M Tho. Wilford S. williaÌ„ Parker S. The duke of Gloucester king Richardes vncle wyth the Earle of Arundell and other was put to cruel death for so muche as they rebuked the kyng in certayne matters ouer lyberally Anno. 21. Richard WhittingtoÌ„ Mercer M. williaÌ„ AskhaÌ„ S. Io. wodcock S. Thys yeare deceased Iohn of Gaunt duke of Lancaster He was buryed in Poules Churche on the Northe syde of the quyer The Duke of Hereforde and also the Duke of Norffolke were bothe banyshed the lande Anno. 22. Drew BareÌ„tin Goldsmith M. Iohn wade S Io. warner S Kynge Rycharde lette the realme of Englande to ferme to syr Wyllyam Scrope Earle of Wyltshyre and to .iii. knyghtes Busshy Bagot and Grene. And then in Apryll he wente wyth an armye into Irelande leauynge for hys Lieuetenaunte in Englande syr Edmund of Langley hys vncle and Duke of Yorke Kynge Rycharde beyng occupyed in Irelande Henry Bolynbrooke Duke of Hereforde and of Lancaster whyche was banyshed into France beynge sente for of the Londoners came into Englande wyth a smalle power and landed in Holdernesse in Yorkeshyre to whome the Communes gathered in greate number whereof Kynge Rycharde hearynge aboute September he returned and landynge at Mylforde hauen he went to the Castell of Flynt in Wales where he rested hym entendynge to gather more strengthe In the whych tyme Henry Duke of Lancaster came vnto Brystowe where he tooke syr Willyam Scrope Ealre of Wylteshyre and Treasourer of Englande syr Iohn Bushy and syr Henry Greene. Syr Iohn Bagot was there taken but he escaped and fledde the other .iii. were iudged and put to execution Kynge Rycharde beyng in the castell of Flynte hys noble menne forsakynge hym was taken and by Henry duke of Lancaster sente to the tower of London where shortly after he yelded vp and resigned to the saide Henry all hys power and Kyngely tytle to the Crowne of Englande and Fraunce knowledgynge that he worthyly was deposed for his demerites and mysgouernyng of the Common weale King Henry the fourthe Anno Regni .1 HEnry the fourthe was ordeyned Kyng of Englande more by force as it appeared then by laufull succession or election Whyche thynge tourned hym to muche vnquyetnesse and caused often rebellyon in thys Realme of courage he was noble and valyaunt and after the Ciuile warres were appeased shewed hym selfe very gentill and louyng to hys subiectes He began hys reygne
Anno. 6. George Monore Draper M. Iames Yarforde S. Iohn Mundye S. A peace concluded betwene England and France Lewes the french kynge coupled in mariage with lady Mary the kynges syster on newe yeres day folowyng he ended his life wherfore king Henry sent agayne for his syster by the duke of Suffolke and other This yere Richard Hunne a marchaÌ„t taylour of London was fouÌ„d hanged in Lollers tower Anno. 7. sir williaÌ„ Butler grocer M. Henry worley S. Richard Gray S. WilliaÌ„ Baily S. Lady Mary kyng Henries daughter was borne at Grenewich in February Lady Mary the kynges syster before maried to the Frenche kyng returned into Englande and shortely after was maried to the duke of Suffolke Margaret Quene of Scottes kynge Henries eldest syster fled into EnglaÌ„d and laye at Harbottell where she was delyuered of a chyld called Margaret In Maie she came to London where she taried a whole yeare before she departed into Scotlande Anno. 8. Iohn Rest Grocer M. Tho. Seimer S. Rich. ThurstoÌ„ S. This yere was suche a frost that all men wyth cartes myght passe betwene Westminster and Lambeth On May euen this maiors yeare the begynnyng of the .ix. yere of kyng Henry was an insurrection of yong persons agaynst aliens of the whyche dyuers were put to execution with theyr capitayne Iohn Lincolne a broker and the resydue came to Westminster with halters about their neckes and were pardoned This was called Euyl May day whereof ye may reade in Edward Hall And in May the Quene of Scottes returned to her countrey agayne Anno. 9. Sir Thomas Ermeâ— Goldsmith M Th. Balorie S. Rich. SymoÌ„ S. Many dyed in Englande of the sweatynge sicknes and in especially aboute London wherfore the terme was one day kept at Oxenford and adiourned agayne to westminster The admirall of Fraunce came into Englande as ambassadour with a great company of gentylmen The citie of Turney was delyuered agayne into the Frenche kyngs hande for the whiche he should pay vi C. thousande crownes and for the castell that the kynge buylded .iiii. C. thousand and 23000. poundes turnoys A peace was concluded betwene the kinges of England France and Castile for terme of their lyues Anno. 10. Thomas Myrfyn Skinner M. Iohn Alleyn S. Iames Spencer S. This yeare the Erle of Surrey was sente into Irelande as deputie and the Earle of Kyldare was of his office dyscharged Anno. 11. sir Iames Yarforde Mercer M. Iohn wilkinson S. Nicol. partrige S. This yeare was greate preparation made for the kyngs goyng into France to mete the frenche kyng at Arde. As Kynge Henry was at Canterburye wyth the Queene in a readynesse to haue passed the sea he hearde of the Emperoures commynge wyth whom he met at Douer and accompanied hym to Canterburie where after the Emperor had saluted the quene his aunt he toke shypping into Flanders the last day of May kyng Henry passed ouer to Calais and met with Francis the Frenche Kynge at the campe betwene Arde and Guysnes where was great triumphes and many goodly sightes in so sumptuous maner as the like had not ben sene Immediatly after he met with the Emperour with whome he went to Grauelyn and the emperor retourned wyth hym to Calais where he had great chere after whyche tyme they departed and kyng Henry returned into this realme Anno. 12. syr Iohn Bruge Draper M. Iohn SkeuingtoÌ„ S Iohn Remble S In this Maiors yeare the .xvii. day of May whyche was in the .13 yere of the Kynge was the duke of Buckyngham beheaded at London for treason as ye may rede at large in Edward Hall his chronicles the .12 and .13 yeare of Henry the .viii. hys body with the head was buried at the frier Augustins at LoÌ„don Kyng Henry wrate a boke against Luther and therfore the byshop of Rome named hym defender of the faithe To whiche booke Luther aunswered very sharply nothyng sparing the auctoritie or maiestie of the kyng The frenche Kynge attached all Englyshe mens goodes at Burdeaux and deteyned the kynges tribute and the Frenche Quenes dower All frenchemen were attached in the citie of London and cast in prison The .v. day of Iuly the cardinall rode through LoÌ„don to Douer to mete with the Emperor beyng accompanied with ii Erles .xxxvi. knyghtes an C. gentilmen .viii. byshops .x. abbots .xxx. chaplaines all in veluet and satyn and .700 yeomen This yeare was a greate pestilence and deathe in London and other places Anno. 13. Sir Iohn Milborne Draper M. Iohn Britain S. Tho. Pargeter S. This syr Iohn Mylborne to his great commendation and the ensaumple of other the worshypfull of this citie buylded certaine almost houses wherein be placed .xiii. aged poore people who haue theyr dwellynges rente free and also .ii. shillinges .vi. d. the piece payde to them the fyrst day of euery moneth for euer The seconde daye of February the Cardinall declared howe the byshop of Rome had sent kyng Henrye the fifâ—e of defender of the christen faith and to his successours for euer Thys Charles the fyfthe Emperor of Rome came into England and was honourably receiued into London by the Maior the Aldermen and commons of the Citie the syrt of Iune the kyng hym self accompanying him from thens he went to Wyndsour and sate in the stall of the garter At this tyme was talke betwene the Emperour and kyng Henry for the mariage of Lady Mary the kyngs daughter being about the age of .vii. yeres after great feastes iustes and honourable entertaynment hee departed to Hampton and sayled from thense into Spayn Duryng this tyme the Earle of Surrey Lorde Admyrall brente Morles in Britayne and than retuurned into the Realme Not longe after hauyng an armye appoynted to hym by the Kynge hee passed ouer to Calaice and entred Pycardye and brent dyuers townes and castelles He besieged Hesdyng but because winter drewe nere he raysed his siege and returned home The Duke of Albanye began to enter this lande wyth a greate armye but hearyng that the Erle of Shrewesbury was commynge hee tooke a truce for vi monethes Anno. 14. Sir Iohn Mondye goldsmith M. Iohn Rudston S Jo. Champneis S The lorde Rosse and lorde Dacres of the Northe burned the Towne of Kelsey in Scotlande wyth fower score Uyllages and also dydde ouerthrowe eyghtene towers of stone with all their bulwarkes The Emperor Charles Kyng Henry of England Ferdinando duke of Austrige the byshop of Rome the citie of Venice and dyuers other in Italy were confederate against the frenche men The Turkes besieged Rhodes and on Christmas daye tooke it to the greate shame and rebuke of Christen men The lorde Marques Dorset wardeyn of the East marches brent dyuers villages holdes and other places in Scotlande The .xv. daye of Iune the Kynge of Denmarke and hys Quene aryued at Douer and the .xxii. day of Iune they came to London and laye at the byshop of Bathes
into the Hospitall at the gray friers called Christes Hospitall to the number of fower hundred In the sommer past the other yeare king Edward wēt in progresse into the west countrey where he had so muche exercise of haukynge and huntynge as was thought by some at that tyme to be daungerous vnto his health Towarde wynter he returned to London from thense to Grenewitche where all the Christmas season was passed with muche pleasauntnes and myrthe vntill at lengthe in Ianuarie he felle sycke of a cough whyche ended in a consumption of the lyghtes The sunday before Candelmas which was the .xxix. daye of Ianuarie in the vii yere of Edward the .vi. came a commission to the Churche wardens of all paryshes in London that all their lynnen as albes chesebels and surplices whiche were not occupied reseruynge necessarie linnen for the churche should bee geuen vnto the Hospitall aboue named The .xx. day of May by the encouragemēt of one Sebastian Gabota .iii. great shyppes well furnished were set foorthe for the aduenture of the vnknowen voiage to Moscouia and other easte partes by the northe seas And about the same tyme .ii. other shyps were sent foorth to seke aduentures southwardes In May whiles kyng Edwarde laye daungerously sycke Lorde Gylford the duke of Northumberlandes fourth son maryed lady Iane the Duke of Suffolkes daughter whose mother being then aliue was doughter to Mary king Henries sister whiche fyrste was maried to the frenche kynge and after to Charles duke of Suffolke In this tyme many were punyshed in Englande for talkynge rasshely that the Kyng shoulde be deade and dyuers also for sayenge that he was poysoned for that rumour was spred throughoute the Realme The .22 day of Iune a great thunder began about a .xi. of the clock and dured almoste the space of two houres and about .xii. of the clocke was a wonderfull terrible clap at which clappe the lyttell doore of saint Denyse church in London was driuen open and the locke thereof with a great parte of the lynyng of the same doore was torne awaye Kyng Edward beyng about the age of .xvi. yeres as is sayd before was long sick of a consumption of the lightes and the .vi. day of Iuly ended his life he was in this hys youthe a prince of suche towardnes in vertue learnynge and all goodly gyftes as Europe seldom tymes or neuer hath sene the like and therfore no meruaile considering the state of the realme if all true englyshe hartes dye muche lament soo vntymely death in so tender youthe and so toward a prince The .x. daye of Iuly beyng monday the deathe of Kyng Edwarde was publyshed The same daye in the after noone aboute fower of the clocke the Lady Iane doughter of the lady Frances the Duchesse of Suffolke whyche Lady Iane was maryed vnto the Lord Gyiford Dudley the fourthe sonne vnto the Duke of Northumberland was conueyed by water to the tower of London and betwene .vii. and .viii. of the clocke in the euening proclamation was made throughout the citie whereby was declared by sondry circumstāces that king Edwarde beyng deceased by his wylle had assigned the sayde lady Iane to bee quene and therevppon so proclaymed Quene of England Thys matter was very greuouslye taken of the commom people and a greate numbre of gentilmen for the loue they bare to Lady Mary and the ryghte of her title At thys tyme the state of this realme might wel seme moste myserable wherin the nobilitie and counsell on the one parte and the gentlemen and commons of the other appered to be fully bent to mayntayne two contrary titles For when it was heard that the lady Mary was fled to Framingham castell in Suffolk the people of the countrey almoste wholly resorted vnto her and in Oxenforde syr Iohn Williams in Buckinghamshire syr Edmunde Peckham and in dyuers other places many men of worshyp offryng them selues as guides to the common people gathered greate powers and with all spede made towarde Suffolke where ladye Mary was In thys meane tyme the .xiii. day of Iuly by appointment of the counsell the Duke of Northumberland the Erle of Huntingdon the lorde Grey of Wilton and dyuers other with a great numbre of men of armes went to fetche her by force and was on their way as farre as Bury but not long after the counsell partly moued with the right of her cause partly consideryng that the moste of the realme was wholly bent on her syde changed theyr myndes and assembled them selues at Baynardes castell and there commoned with the erle of Pembroke and immediatly came into Cheapeside with the kyng of heraldes where they proclaimed the lady Mary doughter to kyng Henry the .viii. and quene Katherine quene of Englande France and Irelande defendor of the faithe c. the xix day of Iuly kepyng as prisoners in the tower lady Iane lately proclaimed and Lorde Gylford her husband When this was heard in the dukes campe many of his souldiours forsoke hym and be returnynge to Cambridge proclaimed the Ladye Marye Quene and on the twenty day at nyght beyng apprehended of the garde he with other was brought to the Tower of London the fyue and twentye daye of Iuly Thus was the matter ended wythout bloudshedde whyche menne seared woulde haue brought the deathe of many thousandes Queene Mary Anno Regni 1. MArye the eldest daughter of king Henry the .viii. began her reigne ouer thys realme of England the vi day of Iuly in the yeare of our Lord .1553 deceased in the yere of our Lorde .1558 the .17 day of Nouember so she reigned .v. yeares .v. moneths .xi. days she was proclaimed Quene at London the .xix. day of Iuly and the .xx. day at the castel of Framingham and afterwarde beynge accompanied with a goodly bande of noble men gentylmen and commoners gathered out of all partes of the realme came to London and entred the tower the .iii. day of August In her fathers tyme and brothers tyme dyuers noble men byshops and other were caste into the tower somme for treason layde to their charge as the Duke of Norffolke and the Lord Courtney sonne to the Marques of Excester some for mainteinyng the Popes supremacie as D. Lonstall byshop of Durham and other whiche continued there prisoners at the Quenes commyng to the tower to all these and many other she graunted pardon and restored them to theyr former dignities Lykewise dyd she vnto doctour Gardener bishop of Winchester whom she dyd not only sette at libertie but also made hym hygh chauncellour of Englande For the greate fauour that she shewed to the lord Courtney whom she made Erle of Deuonshyre many men were in opinion that she purposed to haue maryed hym but in the end it proued otherwyse As all sortes of men almoste dyd reioyce that Quene Mary had recouered the crowne so many notwithstandyng muche feared alteration of religion by her For manyfest signification therof was geuen