the said place and sent them Prisoners to Orleaunce where they were very strictly kept and died Capet being the Conqueror maintained that the kingdome should wholy appertaine to him because Raoull of Burgundy his vnckle had formerly possessed himselfe thereof by the voluntary resignation of Charles the Simple Hée caused his son Robert who had followed his studies to be crowned at Orleaunce and to associate him in the kingdomes regiment taking away the authority of the Maire of the Pallace when thus he aduanced his son whom he had by Adela daughter to Edward King of England Hee appointed also the twelue Peeres againe beganne the dignity office of Constable and established the Marshals of France He raigned alone with his Son 9. yeares He founded the Abbay of S. Magloire at Paris and lieth buried at S. Denis 37 Robert the sonne of Hugh Capet béeing Crowned King in the life time of his Father began to rule alone in the yeare 997. as true inheritour both of the Crowne and likewise of his Fathers vertues He raigned worthily béeing a Man very deuout and méeke the Kingdome continuing peaceable and without warre This King was very wise and could compose in Latine very learnedlie for he made many Proses Himnes and answeres which yet to this day are sung in the Church He was also well skild in Musique and would oft-times sing among the Channons and weare a Coape for companie with them liuing as religiously as royally Henrie Duke of Burgundy his Vnckle by the Mothers side made him Heire of his Dutchie leauing it vnto him by his Testament and incited him against Landry Duke of Neuers béeing beloued and supported by the Burgundians who insulted vppon his right in which attempt they foyled him and droue him to flight Hée ioyned the Cittie of Sens to the Crowne by confiscation for a certaine delict doone by the Counte Reynard He sent his Armie against the Valentians with Richard Duke of Normandy to assist the Earle of Flanders his Kins-man against Henry the Emperor He had thrée wiues Luthard Bertha whom hee forsooke vppon some occasion and Constance by whom hee had thrée sons one whereof died during his raigne In his time was an vniuersal famine and mortality He dyed hauing raigned 34. yeares and lieth buried at S. Denis 38 Henry the first succéeded in the kingdome after his Father Robert in the yeare 1030. In his beginning to gouerne his younger Brother Robert warred against him béeing allied to the Earles of Champaigne and Flaunders who stroue to make him King by the procurement of his Step-mother but he assisted by the Duke of Normandy and the Earle of Corbeile mayntained his owne quietnesse He ioyned Meulanc to his Crowne by rebellion of the Earle of that place Raoull king of high Burgundy being dead the Emperor Conrade seazed on that part thereof which wee call La Franche Conte And the Dutchy béeing Roberts Brother to the King the kingdome of Burgundy which had so contied an hundred and thirtie yeares was then abolished The King seated young William the Bastard Duke of Normandy to whom he had béene Guardian peaceably in his Dutchy because some of his Subiects would haue depriued him thereof as beeing vnwilling to entertaine him He founded Saint Martine des Champs in the same place where his Pallace was without Paris By Anne his wife daughter to George or Gaultier king of the Russians he had Phillip and Hugh and a Daughter married to the Duke of Normandy Féeling himselfe to waxe weeke he caused his Sonne Phillip to bee crowned King of France And before his death he left Baldwine Earle of Flanders as Guardian of his Children He reigned 31. yeares and lieth buried at Saint Denis 39 Phillip the first succéeded after his Father in the year 1061. During his time William the Bastard Duke of Normandy conquered the Realme of England and Godfrey of Bullen was made King of Ierusalem also the Countrey of Gastinois came then to the Crown This king raigned 48. yeares and lyeth buried at S. Bennets on Loire 40 Lewes the sixt sir named le Gros immediatly after the death of King Phillip his Father in the year 1110. was sacred at Orleaunce by the Bishoppe of Sens the way of Rheimes not beeing then secure Some Princes and Lordes assisted by the King of England in the beginning of his raigne did giue him many molestations but still it was his happe to be Conquerour and the Warre of the English verie many times appointed was at last ended Pope Gelasius fled for refuge into France where hee was succoured against the Emperour In the yeare 1129. the King caused his Sonne Phillip to bée Crowned who two yeares after dyed at Paris by reason of a Hogges running betwéene the Legges of his Horse that threwe him violently on the Pauement and dying of that hurt he was buryed at Saint Denis Afterward hée had his other Sonne Lewes crowned and it was done by Pope Innocent he béeing then in France At this time were a great company of Lazers and Leapers in Fraunce who would haue infected all the rest of the people but they were all taken and burned The order of the Knights Templers Chartreux Monks began in this kinges raigne and the winds were so rough and impetuous in the yeare 1135. that they ouer-turned many Towers Castles Trées in Forrests and Mils This King appeased the troubles in Flanders Bouâ—bonnois Auuergne he builded the Abbay of Saint Victor néere Paris raigned 28. yeares died at the age of sixty leauing six Sons and a daughter and lieth buried at S. Denis 41 Lewes the seauenth sir-named the Young man beganne to raigne after his Father in the yeare 1138. He made war on Thibault Earle of Champaigne tooâ—oâ— him the Citty of Vitry And in a great â—age burned the Church with 13 hundred persons in it that had fledde thither for safety By the solicitation of S. Bernald he went to Hierusalem with his Queene and with the Army of the Emperour Conrade where besiedging Damas thorough discord in the Army hée could boast of no aduauntage but retyring thence had not the Shippes of Sicily befriended him and his they hadde remained Prisoners there Beeing returned into Fraunce hée made a separation betwéene him and Queene Aelianor his wife Dutchesse of Aquitaine and Aniou vppon two suspitions conceiued against her Henry Duke of Normandie who afterward was King of England married her with her Patrimony of the saide two Dutchies and there-about followed great Warres betwéene France and England The King married Constance Daughter to the K. of Spayn who dyed soon after And then he remarried Alice daughter to the Earle of Blois by whom he had Phillip Dieu-donne Gods gift Then happened great disturbance in England betwéene the King and his son who making his recourse to Lewes caused thereby a very troublesome war without any aduantage to either side But in the end they were accorded
doe affirme aboue two hundred thousand men At length he iournyed into Italy which he well-néere vtâ—erly ruined and retiring afterward into his owne Countrey of Hungary he died within fewe following moneths and on the day of his nuptials which was in the yeare of Iesus Christ 443. The Lombards were a Northerne people decended out of Denmarke as Eusebius maintaineth and no other reason had they to leaue their Countrey but onely a desire to win some other There happened in the time of Seno or Sweno as some call him King of Denmark a very great dearth or scarsity in the Land of victuals and because the people endured it very impatiently it was concluded by the King and his Councell to ease the Countrey of so many men as were ready to famish that all such persons as were vnable either for war or labor of the ground should be slaine whether they were old or young But this seuere Edict being reuoked they then resolued to make a leuy of all sorts of people that by the help of armes might trauaile to find out some other dwelling so to disburthen the charge of the Countrey This being put in execution they trauailed so far and carried themselues so couragiously in trauersing diuers lands that they came at last into Italy and there conquered the Countrey which was called Istria making themselues absolute Maisters thereof Now because these people were long and tall of stature the Italians and Istrians called them long Barbarians which by corruption of the word and succession of times made them tearmed Longbards or Lombardes Some are of opinion that vnder the raign of Valentinian the Emperor they began to make theÌ„selues first knowne which was about the yeare of Christ 385. and that they became commaunders in Istria in the yeare 570. Likewise according to Diaconus the Emperours made peace with them in the yeare 730. and euer since they haue held that Country which at this day is named Lombardy Let it here be further noted that where in any History mention is made of people tearmed Daces or Danians the Nation of Denmarke is thereby vnderstood out of which countrey many great Armies haue trauailed at sundry times and haue mightily troubled diuers kingdomes among which they continued long time in England but were thence expelled about the yeare 860. The Normanes were people of Norduegia or otherwise called Normania or Norwey a Countrey in the North being much addicted to crueltie and inhumanitie because they vsed many great Piracies on the Sea An hundred and fifty thousand men of this Nation bestowed themselues in vessels on the Sea and took possession of that part of Gaule or Fraunce which was then tearmed Neustria now Normandie which was doone in the yeare of Iesus Christ 600. others saie 884. and in the time of Charles le Gros. But bée it howsoeuer they haue since then kept it against all encounters of the Emperours Kings of France and England preseruing it still by the Name of Normandy and themselues reckoned to bee people of vndaunted courage There are diuers others that doe sauour of this their first originall and doe yet proule vppon the Seas committing many cruell Robberies The Nation which we call Swesses Zuitzers or Sweues who at this daie are auxiliarie to the French came out of Sweuia or Sweueland a Northerly Region like vnto the other They likewise by the dearth of food among them departed forth of their Countrey about the yeare of Grace 800. and went so farre as the Rhine which they would haue passed but were hindered therein by the Franconians Thence went they to the Land of the Heluetians who dispising the Suessians because they were poorely and wretchedly apparelled rude in their féeding and not looking like souldiers suffered them to wander about their Countrey At length perceiuing the kinde sufferaunce of the Heluetians they sought to abide in a certaine Canton of their Land Which when the Heluetians noted they demaunded of them to what ende they thus wandered about the World They answered that they were poore people and sought but to weare out their liues in trauaile by deluing or labouring in the Earth And séeing that there was wast Ground in those partes vnlaboured or any vse made of it béeing Hilles and Vallies enuironed with Lakes they desired the Heluetians to permit them to woorke in those rough Fieldes as yet not cultiue and they should receiue the benefit thereof onely allowing them but nourishment for their pains This was all that they séemed to pretend iustifying their requests with solemne oathes and protestations Theyr desire was graunted and not long after the Countrey wherein they liued was not onely called Suesia in regarde of the Swesians there dwelling but likewise the ancient Inhabitants had the same name giuen then and yet the country is very hilly and vnapt for Ryding Howe afterward it came to be called the Lande of Cantons or Leagues shall at large be shewne in our Generall history Iustinian and other Emperors both before after him entitled themselues Lordes of the Allemaignes for hauing receiued some victories ouer the Allemaignes But this may not be said as some doo that those victories were obtayned against the Germaines For euen at this daye when we speake or write of Allemaigne therein is comprehended all the Nations which are contained throughout Germany and that do speake the Language of the Tentones But as for Allemaigne or Almaines the Romains neuer vnderstood or meant any other people then those of Suaba And to speake vprightly they haue euer bin the true and ancient Allemaines as Cornelius Tacitus plainely confirmeth Drusus Nero was the first that styled himselfe Germanicus for hauing rather angered the Germaines then foyled them as diuers other Emperours afterward did Moreouer by Germany is to be vnderstood nine and forty great Prouinces as well of the lower part as the higher part of the sayde Germany comprizing the Countrey of the Suisses and Heluetians Now concerning the Alaines or Alans many haue supposed them to be a people of Germanie But therein they were and are deceiued for Ptolomy knew them whom he placeth in a parte of Scythia Capitolinus bestowes them in Dacia Marcelinus Plinie Dionisius the Poet giues them a being in Sarmatia of Europe Iosephus in his last Booke affirmes their aboade to bee betwéene the Riuer Tanais and the Palus Moeotides And saith moreouer that in his time the Alaines or Alanes accompanied with the Hyrcanians both robbed and spoyled all the Region of the Medes As for my selfe by that which I haue gathered from such as haue written on the actions of the Gothes I am perswaded that those Alaines were theyr companions and that oftentimes in their warres for their owne aduantage they sundered them-selues from them as one while they did with the Vandales But questionlesse their discent was from Scythia according to Ptolomies affirmation If we shall speake of the Gepides Girpedes
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
whō he had not any children Much strife war and bloodie bickering happened betwéene him and the Byshoppe of Vtrecht with shrewd disaduantages on eyther side till by the meanes of some Noblemen they were reduced to amity This Duke VVilliam by what occasion it could neuer bee knowne fell distracted of his senses and slew a Knight with a blow of his Fist so that hee was shut vppe vnder good Guarde for ninetéene yeares space euen till he dyed Hauing gouerned his Prouinces of Holland Zeland and Frizeland before his madnesse seauen yeares and Henault two 26 Albert of Bauaria Brother to Duke William in the time of his distraction was sent for from Bauaria and made Gouernour of his Brothers Countries in hope of his recouery which by no meanes coulde hee compassed Hee vanquished the Frizons in many rebellions tooke the Towne of Delft and beheaded the Baron of Eughien vppon sinister informations which caused great trouble betweene him and fire bretheren of the said Baron but vpon their reconcilement Count Albert builded the Channorny of the Chappell at the Court of the Hage In his time a Sea-Woman by reason of great Tempestes at Sea and extraordinarie high tides was seene swimming in the Zuyderzee betwéene the Townes of Campen and Edam which béeing brought to Edam and cleansed from the Sea-Mosse grown about her by her long abiding there she was like to another woman endured to be apparrelled would féede on meates as others did yet sought shee all meanes to escape and get into the water againe had shee not very carefully bin tended She did learne to spin and exercise other womanly qualities being daily séene of infinite persons who haue made perfect testimoniall of this race accident and signified if for an vndoubted truth auouching that she liued fiftéene yeares and lyeth there buryed in the Church-yard In the yeare 1404. this famous Prince Albert dyed after hée had gouerned his Countries forty sixe yeares ninetéene as he was Tutor to his distracted Brother and twenty seauen as Prince Heire and Lorde of those Countries beeing buryed at the Hage in Holland 27 William sixt of that name after the death of Duke Albert of Bauaria his Father succéeded as his immediate Heire His first Wife was Daughter to Charles the fift King of Fraunce and shée dyed young without any Issue He secondly married the Daughter of Iohn Sonne to Phillip the bold Duke of Burgundie by whom he had one onely Daughtex named Iaqueline or Iacoba as the Dutch vse to call her This Count William wasted Frizeland spoiled Liege and preuailed against the Gueldres as also the Lordes Father and Sonne of Arckell at Gorrichom and reconciled the Duke of Burgundy to the French King The Dolphine of France Sonne to King Charles the sixt marryed Iaqueline Count Williams Daughter but he being poysoned by putting on a shirt of maile died without Issue As Earle William himselfe did not long after being bitten in the Legge by a mad Dogge which hurt could neuer bee cured So that Lady Iaqueline his Daughter and widow to the Dolphine of Fraunce was his true Heire in all his Seigneuries He gouerned thirtéene yeares and lieth buried at Valenciennes in Henault 28 Iaqueline or Iacoba Daughter and Sole-heire to William of Bauaria succéeded her Father in all his Earledomes and Seigneuries being then Widdow to the Dolphine of France and yet but 19. yeares of age In regard of her youth and widdow-hood she endured much mollestation in her gouernment chiefely in Holland for the two factions tooke head againe and bandied their boldnesse on both sides the Hoeckins fauouring the Countesses faction and the Cabillantines her Enemies by which meanes her rule was greatly disturbed For Iohn of Bauaria forsaking his Bishoppricke of Liege sought to make himselfe an Earle and marry his Nice Iaqueline vtterly against her will and yet to dispossesse her of her rightfull inheritance for which purpose he leagued himselfe with the Cabillantines and other powerfull Friends who neuerthelesse were slaine in their bolde aduenture at Gorrichome And to frustrate the Bishoppes vaine hope the Pope dispenced her marriage with Iohn Duke of Brabant albeit hee was her néere Kinsman whereby their Patrimoniall inheritances were the more strengthened and hée acknowledged as their Prince in Henault Holland Zeland Frizeland c. It were néedlesse here to relate the following molestations of Iohn of Bauaria the bishop to his Niece Iaqueline taking on himselfe the title of Earle and therefore by some rancked among the Earls of Holland or the after marriages of Lady Iaqueline to the Duke of Glocester Vnckle to Henry the sixt King of England the fourth and last time in great priuacy to Frank of Borsselle Lieutenant of Zeland or her no meane troubles by the Duke of Burgundy to whom she resigned vp all her Countries Let it suffice that she liued in continuall vexations 19. yeares and dying at the Hage was buried in the Chappell of the Court of Holland 30 Phillip Duke of Burgundy being both by Father and Mother rightfull yeire and successor to the fore-named Countesse Iaqueline was thus entitled Phillip Duke of Bourgogne Brabant and Lembourg Earle of Flanders Artois Burgogne Henault Holland Zeland and Namur Marquesse of the holy Empire Lord of Frizeland Salins and Macklyn He had thrée Wiues by the two first hee had no Children but by the last named Isabel daughter to Iohn K. of Portugall he had thrée sons Anthony losse who died young and Charles Martin Earle of Charolois and successor to his father This Phillip of Bourgogn instituted the order of Knight-hood of the golden Fliece had much discontent with his Son Charles whom at length he married to the Lady Margaret Sister to Edward the fourth K. of England The Rebels of Gaunt and Bruges dearly felt the valour of this Phillip he besieged Callis surprized Luxemboug subdued Liege and ouer-came the Hamecons Hee excéeded all his predecessors Duks of Bourgogne in riches Seigneuries height of Pomp and State He died the fift of Iune 1467. hauing gouerned about forty yeares In his time was the famous Art of Printing first inuented the men of Harlem in Holland do challenge the first honor thereof but it was reduced to perfection at Mentz by one Iohn Faustus who had béen Seruaunt to Laurence Ianson of Harlem as they constantly affirme it 31 Charles Sur-named the Warlique Duke of Bourgogne succéeded in all his Fathers Titles and Dignities The Inhabitants of Gant resisting him he brought them vnder obeysance defeated the Liegeois in battaile which enforced Liege to yéelde to him He made peace with the French King who doubted to be detayned at Peronne by Duke Charles Vpon a fresh rebellion of the Liegeois The Duke forced king Lewes to go with him to the siedge of their town which hee ruined and practised the like of the House of Brederode He warred against the Frizons and carried many
to the effusion of much blood He raigned 38. yeares sixe months and foure daies and was buried first at Chertsey and afterwarde remoued to windsore Edward Earle of March tooke on him the gouernment of the Realm being son to Richard Duke of Yorke that was slaine at Wakefield His raigne also was filled with many troubles broyles and Rebellions yet hee gouerned 22. years one month and eight daies and was buried at Windsore Edward the fift son to king Edward the fourth succeeded after his father being neuer crowned but deposed by his Vnckle Richard Duke of Glocester when he had raigned two months eleuen dayes and with his brother was murdered in the Tower of London where both theyr bodies were obscurely buried Richard Duke of Glocester vsurped the kingdome two years two months and one day and was slaine in battell at Bosworth fielde by Henrie Earle of Richmond and buried at Leicester In him ended the line of the Plantagenets Henry Earle of Richmond surnamed Tudor son to Edmund of Hadham Earle of Richmond who was son of Owen ap Meredyth and Queene Katherine the French kings daughter wife to king Henry the fift This king Henrie builded and repayred in his life time many goodly houses beside his Mannor of Richmond and his Chappell at Westminster as Baynards Castle in London the goodly Hospitall of the Sauoy neere Charing-Crosse to which hee gaue lands for releefe of an hundred poore people Sir Religious houses for Franciscan Friers of the Obseruant and Couentall orders viz. at Richmond at Greenwich and at Newarke for Obseruants at Canterbury New-Castle South-hampton for Couentals Hee gaue also manie sums of money to good and godly vses And for that one of the goodliest Chappelles in Europe was by his meanes finished formerly begun by king Henry the sixt called the Kings colledge Chappell in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge I cannot omit the summe he gaue to accomplish the same which was 10000. lt viz. 5000. pounds in his life time and the rest by will at his death vnder his great Seale of England which was truely paide as is yet to be seen in the same Colledge Hee married his eldest daughter Margaret to Iames the fourth King af Scots of which happy marriage we enioy our dread Soueraign now raigning King Iames the sixt King Hentie raigned 23. yeares and somwhat more then 8. months and was buried in his new Chappell at Westminster Henry the eight sonne of king Henry the seauenth succeeded next in the kingdome after hys father He banished the Popes authority out of England and was proclaimed King of Ireland because the former Kinges were onely called Lords of Ireland He wun Terwin Tourney and Bullen in Fraunce and gaue the Church of the Gray Fryers in London to the Cittie to bee a place of releefe for poore people S. Bartholomewes Spittle the Gray Fryers and two parish Churches the one called S. Nicholas in the Shambles the other S. Ewin in Newgate Market were then made all one parish Church and he gaue in Lands for maintenance thereof fiue hundred Markes by the yeare for euer He raigned 37. years 9. months and 5. daies and was buried at Windsore Edward the sixt onely son to king Henry the eight was crowned king at Westminster Hée caused the Masse to be vtterly abolished Images to be defaced in Churches and the Lords supper to be ministred in both kindes There was then good orders deuised for the poores reliefe poore people were distinguished by thrée seuerall degrées in manner following Three degrees of poore 1. The poore by impotency 2. Poore by casualty 3. Thristlesse poore 1. The poore by impotency were also diuided into 3 kinds 1. The fatherles pore mans châ—â—d 2. The aged blinde and lame 3. The diseased person by leprosie dropsie c. 2. The poore by casualty were also of three kinds 1. The wounded Souldior 2. The decayed Housholder 3. The visited with grieuous disease 3. The thriftlesse poore were likewise of 3. kinds 1. The Riotor that consâ—meth all 2. The Vagabond that will abyde in no place 3. The ydle â—erson as Strumpets and others 1 Christs Hospitall was appointed for the innocent and fatherlesse childe to be trained vp in knowledge of God and vertuous exercises 2 Saint Thomas Hospitall in Southwark was appointed for reliefe of the aged blinde and lame 3 Bridewel was also appointed for the Vagabond ydle strumpet and vnthrift Of all which seuerall Hospitals this Vertuous yong k. Edward was the founder and gaue the lands of the Sauoy which then serued as a harbour to Loyterers Vagabonds and strumpets that lay all day in the fieldes and at Night were harboured there to the maintenance of these houses which Lands were of the yearelie value of sixe hundred pounds and he gaue 4000 Markes beside of Lands taken in Mâ—â—tmaine so yearely valewed This worthy young King raigned sixe years fiue months and eight dayes and was buried at Westminster Mary eldest daughter to King Henry the eight and Sister to King Edward succeeded after her Brother She married with the Prince of Spain who was afterward king and raigning 5. years fiue monethes and tenne dayes was buried at Westminster Elizabeth second Daughter to king Henrie the eight and Sister also to king Edward came next to her right in the Crowne of England To write of the Princely life and raigne of that Virgin Empresse and matchlesse Queene woulde require large Volumes yet all too little for her high deseruing merit Hauing liued well neere threescore and ten years and happily raigned 44. yeares 4. months and od dayes she died the 24 of March 1602. was buried at Westm The lines engrauen on her Tombe may serue for her further memory A Sacrifice to Posterity HAuing restored Religion to the Primitiue sincerity established Peace reduced coine to the iust valew reuenged Domestical rebellion succored France greeued by ciuill war supported Belgia ouer-come the Spanish inuincible Nauy pacified Ireland by driuing out the Spaniards and compelling the Rebels to yeeld to her pardon increased very much the Reuennewes of both Vniuersities by a Law for theyr prouision of Victuall enriched all England administring most prudently the Imperial state thereof 45. yeares in true piety in the seauenty yeare of her age in most happy peaceable maner departed this life leauing heere hir mortal parts enterred in this famous and renowned Church by her conserued til by the command of Christ they rise againe immortall Iames king of England Scotland Fraunce and Ireland first Monarch of the whole Islands or Countrey was proclaimed king the 24. of March 1602. being the onely inheritour to k. Henry the seauenth and Elizabeth his Queene issuing from Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to them both In whose happy marriage ended the long ciuill dissentions of the two deuided families of Yorke and Lancaster And by his most rightfull succession in the deuided
kingdomes of England and Scotland hath vnited them in one sole Monarchy of Great Britaine Long may hee raigne to Gods glory and comfort of his Kingdomes ¶ A briefe Catalogue of the Princes of Wales from the time that King Edward the first had conquered Wales to this instant 1. EDward borne at Caernaruon therefore called Edward of Caernaruon being Sonne to king Edward of England first of that name was the first Prince of Wales of the English bloud after the death of Prince Lhewelyn and came to Chester in the 29. year of his fathers raigne where he receiued the homage of the frée-holders of Wales 2 Edward of Windsore beeing eldest son to king Edward the second in the 15. yeare of his fathers raigne was created Prince of VVales and Duke of Aquitaine in a Parlament holden at Yorke 3 Edward borne at Woodstock sonne and heyre to king Edward the third in the 17. yeare of his Fathers raigne was created Prince of Wales at London This Prince was surnamed the Blacke Prince hee tooke Iohn the French King prisoner and dyed in the 46. yeare of his age his father yet liuing 4 Richard sonne to Edward the Black Prince was created Prince of Wales at Hauering in the Bower in the fiftie yeare of king Edward the 3. his Grandfather and was afterward king of England by the name of king Richard the second 5 Henry of Monmouth sonne and heire to king Henry the fourth was in the first yeare of his fathers raigne created Prince of Wales at VVestminster 6 Edward of Westminster sonne and heyre to king Henry the sixt in the 31. yeare of his Fathers raigne was created Prince of wales and Earle of Chester at westminster 7 Edward eldest sonne of king Edward the 4. borne in the Sanctuary at Westminster in the 11. yeare of his Fathers raigne was created Prince of Wales and Earle of Chester at London He was afterward king of England by the name of Edward the fift but neuer crowned because both he and his Brother were made away by the treachery of their Vnckle Richard Duke of Glocester that vsurped the Crowne 8 Edward the onely Sonne of king Richard the third being a child of ten years olde in the first yeare of the said kings raign was created prince of wales at London 9 Arthur sonne and heire to king Henrie the seuenth in the fift yeare of his Fathers raigne was created Prince of wales at London dying at Ludlow Castle in the 17. yeare of his fathers raigne was buried with great Funerall solemnity at Worcester 10 Henry Duke of Yorke son to King Henry the seauenth and Brother vnto Prince Arthur was after the saide Princes death in the ninetéenth yeare of his Fathers raigne created Prince of Wales and was afterward King of England by the name of King Henry the 8. In the 26. yeare of his raigne the Principality and Countrey of Wales was by Parliament incorporated and vnited vnto the Kingdome of England and all the Inhabitants thereof made equall in freedomes liberties rightes priuiledges lawes and in all other respects to the naturall subiects of England 11 Edward sonne to King Henry the eight and borne at Hampton Court the Principality of Wales being incorporated as hath bin sayde to the Crowne and kingdome of England was no otherwise Prince of Wales then vnder the generall Title of England as the King his Father was king of England and vnder the name king of Wales as it being a member of England Nor do I read of any other creation or inuesture that he had in that Principality He was King after his Father by the name of K. Edward 6. 1 Marie Daughter to King Henry the eight by the Princesse Katherine Dowager Widdow of Prince Arthur was Princesse of Wales 2 Elizabeth Daughter also to King Henrie tâ—e eight was in a Parliament in the 25. yeare of her Fathers raigne declared Princesse and Inheretrix of the crowne of England with all dominions to the same belonging and therefore was as her Sister Princesse of Wales All these fore-named Princes of Wales were created solemnely by and in Court of Parliament except three which were Richard the second Edward the fifte and Edward Sonne to Richard the thyrde Those that were created out of Parliament were Princes whose fortunes proued hard and disastrous For Richard the second was deposed and after murdered Edward the fift was also murdered in the Tower of London and Edward sonne to Richard the thirde dyed within three moneths after as a iust iudgement of God for his Fathers wickednesse 12. Henrie sonne and heire to our dread Soueraigne King Iames in the eight yeare of his Fathers raigne ouer England c. was created in the Court of Parliament at Westminster Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Rothsay Earle of Chester and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter The strong arme of Heauen be his continuall keeper and defender Briefe Obseruations not vnfitly annexed to this our short Summary of England ¶ Of Bishopprickes and their circuites CAnterbury erected first by Augustine the Monke in the time of Ethelbert king of Kent by prouincial regiment reacheth ouer all the South and west parts of this Lande and Ireland also and there are few shyres wherein the Arch-byshop hath not some peculiets But in it selfe as from the beginning was and is proper to the See It extendeth but ouer one parcell of Kent which Rudburne calleth Cantwarland the Iurisdiction of Rochester including the rest so that in this one County both the greatest Archbishopricke and least Bishoppricke are vnited together Canterbury hath vnder it one Arch-deaconry that hath iurisdiction ouer 11. Deanries or 161. Parish Churches In time of popery vndername of first fruites it paide to Rome at euery alienation 10000. Ducats or Florens beside 5000. which the new elect did vsually pay for his pall each ducat being then worth an English Crowne Rochester included within the limits of Kent was erected also by Augustine in the raygne of Ceolrijc ouer the west-Saxons It hath one Arch-Deacon whose gouernement in spirituall causes ruleth 3. Deanries or 132. parish Churches whereby appeareth that in Kent are 393. parish churches whereof the saide two Arch-deacons haue cure and charge It paid to Rome at the bishops admission 1300. Ducats or Florens London was erected at first by king Lucius who made it an Archbishops See as in due place hath already bin remembred and so it continued till Augustine translated that title to Canterbury It includeth Essex Middlesex and parte of Hertfordshire containing in quantity the ancient Kingdome of the East Angles before it was vnited to the West-Saxons It hath foure Arch-deaconries viz. London Essex Middlesex and Colchester that haue vnder them 363. parish Churches beside peculiers The Archdeaconry of S. Albanes was added thereto by king Henry the eight which hath also 25. parishes whereof foure are in Buckingham the rest in Hertfordshire It payed to Rome
great number that were wounded This foile did so highly offend the Soldan that he leagued himselfe with Amurath Emperor of the Turkes with intention to make himselfe Maister of the Isle of Rhodes and to kill or expell thence that famous Order of Knight-hood Héereupon in the yeare 1444. he came and besiedged Rhodes which was vertuously defended by the Rhodian Knights and in the moneth of September the same yeare a generall assembly was held at Rhodes to helpe the ensuing necessities of the Order So the yeare following the Great Maister by aduise of the Pope and the King of Cyprus made peace with Amurath and helde a generall Chapter at Rhodes At whiche time the Duke of Cleues passed by Rhodes in his returne from Ierusalem where he had visited the holy places In the yeare 1451. a general assembly was made at Rhodes wherein the administration and gouernment of the Treasure and whole Fraternity was giuen to the Great Maister who in anno 1452. after the death of Amurath renewed the peace with Mahomet the second his sonne And yet the yeare following Mahomet became Maister of the Cittye of Constantinople the 29. of May when beeing not a little proude of this fortunate successe hee sent to the great Maister of Rhodes that he shold pay him yearly two thousand Ducats in name of tribute otherwise he purposed not to hold any longer the peace sworne betwéen them Wherevnto the great Maister made a couragious aunswere to wit That neither his Religion the Isle of Rhodes nor himselfe were subiectes to any but God and his Church and that he would neuer pay Turke any tribute being rather resolued to dye both he and all his Knights then to indure Christian liberty which euer had bin free to come now by his meanes into thraldome Whereupon he sent Ambassadors to the Pope and Christian Princes to entreat supplye from them against the periured Mahomet And in the yeare 1454. the 19. day of May he died hauing valiantly gouerned his Order sixtéene years sixe months and thirtéene daies 36 Iacques de Milly borne in Auuergne whereof he was Prior succéeded as Great Mayster the first day of Iune 1454. being in his Priory when he was elected his Nephew George de Boisrond brought him first tydings thereof Whereuppon hee immediatly went to Rhodes and helde a generall Chapter the same yeare in the month of Nouember In the yeare 1456. the Isle of Rhodes was greatly afflicted with Pestilence and Famine whereby it became halfe desert and to re-people it againe many generall citations were sent abroad to all the Knightes to méete there at a certaine time The yeare 1457. Mahomet besiedged the Isle of Lango and the Castle of the Isle des Singes but he was couragiously repulsed the Knights hauing a very happy and signat victory against him which caused Charles the seauenth King of France to send the Knights as a gift sixtéene thousand Crownes The Bailiffes Commaunders and other Officers of the Order being then enioyned by a generall Chapter to come to Rhodes for more secure and strong defence thereof The seuentéenth of August 1461. the Great Maister dyed hauing with much prouidence gouerned his charge in hard and troublesome times seauen yeares two months and sixteene daies He was greatly lamented because he was very benigne affable and humaine desirous to preserue peace and vnity among his worthy Bretheren 37 Peter Raymond Zacosta born in Arragon and Castileon d'Emposta was created Great M. next he being then absent in Spaine but at his comming to Rhodes by a generall Chapter there holden the eight language of Castile and Portugall was then admitted into the Order For till that instant there were but seauen languages there before to wit three of Fraunce Auuergne and Prouence one of Italy one of Arragon one of England and one of Allemaigne or Germany The yeare 1464. the Venetians Army besiedged the Citty of Rhodes but the siedge was soone raised and the Venetians returned home to their Countrey the warre beeing appeased by the wisedome of the Great-Maister who caused the Tower of Saint Nicholas to be built at the mouth of Rhodes Port in the very same place where in elder times the great Colossus of the Sunne numbred among the seauen wonders of the world had stood As a helpe to this building Phillip Duke of Burgundy gaue tenne thousand Crownes of Gold The yeare 1465. the great Turke sent Ambassadours to Rhodes to mediate a peace betwéen him and the Knights Hospitallers but they worthily refused it and in presence of the Ambassadours denounced Warre against the Turke The generall Chapter beeing then transferred from Rhodes to Rome and the Great Maister béeing present in person thereat he died there the twenty one of February 1467. and was buried in the Church of Saint Peter 38 Baptista Orsino Prior of Rome an Italian by Nation and tongue succéeded the Great-Maister Zacosta No sooner was hee come to Rhodes but hee receiued intelligence that the great Turke prepared a puissant Army purposing to besiedge either Rhodes or Negropont Wherfore he sent for a great number of the Knightes that were then absent to come forth-with for defence of the Island Moreouer hee leagued himselfe with the Seigneury of Venice against the Turke Neuerthelesse in the yeare 1470. Mahomet forcibly tooke the Citty of Negropont the last day of Iuly committing very great and horrible cruelties killing in cold blood all the Latines there to be found and by sound of Trumpet he proclaimed open war against the knights of Rhodes which enforced them to séeke all meanes for their best defence prouiding euerie way to withstand the Turkish Army But in this time of preparation the eight day of Iune the Great Maister died of a long lingering disease which had afflicted him a whole yeare together and after him succéeded 39 Peter d'Aubusson borne in Auuergne Prior there Captaine of the Citty of Rhodes He being chosen Great Maister solemnely took his oath according to custom to kéep the statutes of the Order He visited the whole Isle of Rhodes and made very great prouision to defend it against the Turkes Army sending for all knights and Commaunders appertaining to the Order to repaire thither for defence of the Isle and renewing peace with the Soldane of Egypt The same yeare King Lewes preuailed to haue a Iubilie in Fraunce in fauour of the Knightes of Rhodes taking order that the Monies thereby arising should soly be imployed for their defence And by this Iubily came great store of Money wherewith Castles and fortifications were builded in the Isle Truce also was taken betwéene the Knightes and the King of Tunis for thirtie yeares and the Knights of the Sepulcher at Ierusalem were ioyned with the Rhodians of S. Iohn In the yeare 1479. Mahomet the second Emperour of the Turkes held a solemne Councell that Rhodes should bée besiedged with a powerfull Army as indéede soone after it was in which siedge many sallies forth were made
in the Abbey of Rhynsbourg his widdow Lady Elizabeth being carried back into England where she was afterward maried to the Earle of Oxford So that by the death of Earl Iohn in this maner those countries were deuolued to the earls of Henault issuing by the mothers side froÌ„ the Earls of Holland 21 Iohn second of that name called Iohn of Henault claiming his right from Alix sister to William king of the Romans succéeded after Iohn as Earle of Holland Zeland and Frizeland c. He had a long and tedious trouble with Iohn de Reuesse who perswaded the Emperor that Iohn Earle of Holland dying without issue his Earledomes ought in right to returne to the Empire according as Charles the Bald Emperor of the Romans had at first giuen them in sée homage to Thierrie of Aquitaine This suggestion raised the Emperor Albert in Armes against Iohn of Henault but the Bishop of Cullen compounded the matter betwéen them and Iohn de Reuesse was afteeward drowned by which means Iohn of Henault was rid of a turbulent enemy Iohn of Henault hauing gouerned Henault thirty years and his Countries of Holland Zeland Frizeland 5. years died was buried at Valenciennes 22 VVilliam the thirde son and heire to Count Iohn of Henault succéeded his fathers earldoms he was commonly called The good Earle william for his Vertues Iustice good life and honorable actions In his time happened so great a dearth and famine tn Holland that poore people died with hunger euen in the streetes as they went seeking also for hearbes and rootes in the fields and woods there they were likewise found dead and in the common high wayes litle children died sucking at their Mothers breasts and some were enforced to feede on their deade Children In this time of Famine a poore waman in the Towne of Leyden being extreamly ouercharged with hunger entreated her owne sister being a woman of better ability to lend hir som Bread which she would thankfully repay again when God should inable hir She very vnkindly without any pitty of hir extremity denied her oftentimes notwithstanding the others often vrgings that she was assured shee could not bee without bread Heereupon the vnmercifull Sister lying both to God and to her owne poore sister saide If I haue any bread I wish that it may instantly be turned into a stone wherewith the heauy displeasure of God laid hold vppon her words going afterward to her Cupboord to relieue hir self she found al her loaues of bread conuerted into apparant stones died her selfe with extreamity of hunger It is crediblie saide that one or two of those stones are yet to be séene in S. Peters Church at Leyden as a memorie of this iust iudgement of God There is also recorded another memorable Historie of vpright Iustice doone by this good Earle VVilliam to a poore Countrey-Man against a Bayliffe of South Holland who hadde taken a goodly faire Cowe from him that was the releefe of himselfe his poore Wife and Children as there are some Kine in that Countrey which doe giue twenty pottles of Milke and more in a day The Bayliffe at the poore mans complaint to this good Earle William who lay then sick in his Bed at Valenciennes yet neuer debarred any suters from audience were he sick or well was adiudged to giue the poore man an hundred Crownes of good Gold for the wrong he had done to him which was accordingly performed But for his iniury to publique Iustice being himselfe an Officer and abusing the authoritie committed in trust to him the Earle sent for an Executioner and caused his head to be smitten off by his Beddes side This good Count William beeing a vertuous Prince victorious in warre a Man learned wise well spoken and iudicious a great friend to peace gracious to all men beloued in all Princes courts hauing gouerned his Prouences 32. yeares died the 9. of Iune 1337. and was buried with great pomp at Valenciennes 23 William the fourth Sonne to the good Earle William came to his Fathers Earledoms by lawfull succession He was a man of high merit and a most famous Souldier whereof hée made good proofe first against the Sarrazins and Moores in the Kingdome of Granada Next with the Emperour Lewes and many Noble Earles ayding his brother in law Edward the 3. King of England against the King of Fraunce Thâ—â—ly in ouer-running all Lithuania Liuonia and warring against the Russian Infidels lading home his men with victory and wealthy spoiles And lastly in preuailing against the Frizons and Robert of Arckell Gouernour of Vtrecht Yet it was his hard hap to bee slaine vnknowne among the Frizons before any coulde haue power to help him so that he left no lawful Childe to succéede him and therefore his Sister being Empresse remained his onely Heire 24 Margaret Wise to Lewes of Bauaria then Emperour and eldest Sister to Earl William slaine as you haue heard by the Frizons by the Emperours interposition of his authority and her owne Natiue right went downe by the Rhine into Holland accompanied with a most princely and well beséeming traine and was acknowledged to be Lady and Princesse of Holland Zeland and Frizeland But before her returne backe to the Emperour againe shee constituted both his and her eldest sonne named William of Bauaria to be her Regent there in those Countries for a summe of Money yearely paied to her but remaining vnpaid she might resume all her rights to her selfe againe The Emperour deceasing the Empresse Margaret came thither againe and had resignation from her son William of all the fore-said Countries retyring himselfe into Henault as being well contented there to liue till by intestine discord dangerous practises of two intruded factions called Cabillaux and Hoecks wherein both Nobles and Gentlemen did too far enter the Mothers gouernment did grow vnsufferable and Duke William was recouered from Henault to vnder-goe the Sole-authority Two very bloudy battailes were fought betwéen the Empresse and her Son and in the first Earl William escaped with great difficultie and fledde into Holland for this battaile was fought at La Vere in Zeland But in the second there was so much bloud spilt that for thrée daies after the old Riuer of Mense at full Sea was all ouer red in that place The Empresse by helpe of a small Barke escaped into England and vppon an agreement afterward made betwéene them Duke VVilliam had the quiet possession of Holland Zeland and Frizeland assigned him and the Empresse Margaret had the County of Henault where fiue yeares after she ended her daies and lieth buried at Valenciennes 25 Duke William being peaceably possessed of his Seigneuries according to the former composition béeing also Duke of Bauaria Palatine of Rhine and Earle of Henault by his Mothers death tooke to Wife the Lady Mathilda daughter to Henry Duke of Lancaster in England by
the battell wâ—s fought whereon was engragen Marij victoria The Stone was set vppon Stanesmoore and the whole Country thereabout taking name of this Marius was cald Westmaria now Westmerland Marius raigned 53. yeares and was buried at Carleill Coilus Sone of Marius was after his Fathers death King of Britaine hauing bin educated among the Romaines which made him pay them the tribute all the time of his raigne Hee builded the Towne of Colichester in Essex now called Colchester he raigned 55. yeares departed this life at Yorke and lieth there buried as some say but others at Coâ—lchester Lucius sonne of Coilus succéeded King after his Father being a very godlye and Vertuous Prince And because since the comming of Ioseph of Arimathia into the land there was much talke about Christ and Holy Religion whych many had begun to embrace he sent to Pope Eleutherius that hee would send some more learned men to him whereby both he and his might fully be enstructed in the faith of Christ Eleutherius sent vnto him Dâ—ianus and Faganus by some called Fugatius and Damianus two woorthy learned Clearkes who at theyr comming conuerted the King and his people from Paganisme There were in those dayes within the bounds of Britaine 28. Flamines and 3. Ach-flamines that were as Byshoppes and Arch-byshoppes of the Pagan Religion in whose place King Lucius appointed the 28. Byshoppes and thrée Arch-Byshops of Christian Religion Oâ—â— of which Arch-byshops held his Sée at London another at Yorke and the thirde at Caerleon Arswike in Glaumorganshire To the Arch-byshop of London was subiect Cornewall and all the middle part of England euen vnto Humber To the Arch-Byshoppe of Yorke all the North parts of Britaine from the Riuer of Humber to the furthest parts of Scotland And to the Arch-Byshop of Caerleon was subiect all wales within which countrey were then seauen Byshoppes where now there are but foure This King Lucius is saide to builde the Church of Saint Peter at VVestminster and Saint Peters Church of Cornehill in London This Lucius raigned 12. yeares and dying without issue the Brittaines fell at variance by which meanes the Romaine Lieutenants go on againe with their Gouernement the Emperor Adrian comming in person into Britain then the wal of Adrian was built from the mouth of Tine to the Water of Eske containing thirty miles in length Adrian hauing quieted all disturbances in Britain Lollius Vrbicus Calphurnius Agricola Vlpius Marcellus Pertinax Clodius Albinus and Heraclitus succéeded each other as Lieutenantes ouer the Brittaines for the Romaines which manner of Gouernement so continued to the yeare of our Lord 207. Seuerns Emperor of Rome did now beginne his rule in Britaine causing a Trench to bee cast from Sea to Sea Hee raigned not fullye fiue yeares and was buried at Yorke His Sonnes Geta and Bassianus contended for the Gouernment Geta was slaine in battell and Bassianus ruled sixe yeares but hee was likewise slaine by one Caransius a Britaine of vnknowne Byrth whom the Britaines accepted as their King till Alectus was sent from Rome with his Legions of Souldiors who conquered Caransius in field and slewe him Aesclepiodotus Duke of Cornwall preuayling in fight against Alectus and Liuius Gallus or Wallus whom when he had slaine he threw into a Brooke which tooke name of him and was called Wallus Brooke nowe Walbrooke was admitted to raigne ouer the Britaines And discord being afterward raised betwéene the King and one Coell Earle of Colchester they met in a fielde of battaile where Asclepiodotus was slaine after he had raigned thirty yeares At this time was Britaine in cruell persecution vnder the bloody tyrants Dioclesian and Maximus Alban a Cittizen of Werlamchester being the first that suffered martirdome in Britaine hee being conuerted to Christian faith by zealous Amphibilaus and because he would not sacrifice to their false Gods he was beheaded on the top of the hill ouer-against VVerlamchester where a Church and Monastery was builded in memory of hys martyrdom and VVerlamchester being destroyed the place tooke name of him and is to this day called S. Albanes A number of Christians were likewise assembled at another place to heare the word of life preached by that vertuous man Amphibilaus but they were all there slaine by the Pagans and the place in their memory named Lichfield The fielde of dead bodies It is also recorded that in the dayes of these Tyrants Dioclesian and Maximus of godly men and Women professing the faith of Iesus Christe there were martired in sundry place aboue 17000. Coell Earle of Colchester began his rule ouer the Britaines in An. Dom. 262. But Constantius being sent from Rome to suppresse him hee couenanted to pay the tribute gaue his daughter Helena a Noble and learned Lady in marriage to Constantius King Coell raigned 27. yeares and is said to be buried at Colchester or rather at Glocester Constantius succéeded in the rule of Britain after Coell and had by his wife Helena a Sonne named Constantine that was afterwarde Emperor and sir-named Constantine the Great In this Constantius dayes Amphibliaus was apprehended and suffered martyrdome at Redburne néere to VVerlamchester fiftéene yeares after the death of S. Alban Constantius raigned eleuen yeares Constantine sonne of Constantius and Helena and sir named the Great was King after his Father and created Emperor in Britaine His Mother Quéene Helena went to IerusaleÌ„ where she found the Crosse that our Sauiour was crucified on and the Nailes which shee gaue to her Sonne Constantine who did set one of them in the Crest of his Helmet another in the bridle of his horse and the third he threw into the Sea to asswage a rough Tempest Octauius or Octauian beganne his raigne ouer the Britaines in Anno 329. being called Duke of VVindsore He assembled a great companye of people and fought with the Gouernours of the Land which Constantine had heere appoynted yet was he expelled by Traherne into Norway and Traherne being slaine by treason afterward Octauius sent Maximianus Cosin to the Emperor Constantine to whom he gaue his daughter in marriage Octauius raigned 54. years About this time the Empresse Helena Mother to Constantine for loue she bare to Colchester and London did newly engirt them both with Walles rounde about causing great Bricke and huge Tyles to be purposely therefore made which are yet to be seene in the Towne and Castle of Colchester Maximianus or Maximus vsurped in Brittaine the Title of the Empyre and assembling all the men of Warre and youth of the Realme he went into France expelled the French-men out of Armorica and placed Brittaines there vnder Conon Meridoc Duke of Cornewall whereon it was euer after called Britayne the Lesse This Maximus or Maximianus hauing slayne the Emperour Gratian at Lyons in France was slaine himselfe at Aquileia by the Emperor