Romans With the several Races of the British Saxon Danish and Norman Kings till the present year of his Majesty Charles the Second whom God long preserve It gives likewise an Account of all the Archbishops of Canterbury since it was erected into a Metropolitant See Of all the Mayors and Sheriffs of London since their First Creation till this present year It contains likewise a List of the Members of this present Parliament assembled in March last 1678 9 with the Names of the Lords and others of His Majesties present Privy Council the Commissioners of the Treasury and Navy And in a word enough to let us see how by the blessing of God the prudence of Governors and the unanimity and loyalty of the People this Kingdom though sometimes over-clouded by home-bred Dissentions yet has continued for many Ages to be the Envy and Terror of its Neighbours abounding in all the Worldly Enjoyments that were fit to be expected from a bountiful God or to be desired by a vertuous People To conclude We may expect still the continuance of the same Blessings unless our sins and wantonness bring upon us the same or worse Judgements than our Forefathers ever felt and instead of a delightful and fruitful Soil turn our Land into a Barren Wilderness and give us cause to say with the Poet Infelix colium steriles dominantur avenae T. N. MEDVLLA Historiae Anglicanae BRITAIN THIS most flourishing Island Britain is bounded on the South with Normandy and France on the East with Germany and Denmark upon the West with Ireland and the Atlantick Ocean and on the North with the Deucalidon Seas The length thereof from the Lyzard-point Southward in Cornwall to the Straithy-head in Scotland containeth 624 miles the breadth from the Lands-end in Cornwall in the West unto the Island Tenet in the East containeth 340 miles It is sited under the 9th and 13th Climates of the Northern temperate Zone insomuch that at the Summer Solstice in the Northern parts of Scotland there is no Night at all but only an obscure twilight A Country it is for Air mild for Soyl fruitful and for length of Days pleasant and delightful In Winter the absence of the Sun is relieved with the warmth of its invironing Seas and in Summer the heat is moderated by frequent showers and Sâ—a-winds O happy Britain said the old Panegyrist and more blisful than all other Regions Nature hath inriched thee with all commodities of Heaven and Earth wherein there is neither extream cold in Winter nor scorching heat in Summer wherein there is such abundant plenty of Corn as may suffice both for Bread and Wine wherein are Woods without wild-beasts and the Fields without noisom Serpents But infinite numbers of Milch-Cattel and Sheep weighed down with Fleeces and that which is most comfortable long Days and lightsom Nights And as our English Lucan sings The fairest Land that from her thrusts the rest As if she car'd not for the World beside A World within her self with wonders blest This Queen of Islands was at the first called Albion either from Albion Marcoticus who seated himself herein or ab albis rupibus from the white Rocks appearing towards the Coasts of France or from Olbion signifying rich or happy in regard of its fertility temperature and riches Next It was called Britain either from the two British words Pryd and Cain which signifie Beauty and White or from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying Mettals with which it aboundeth or from the British word Beyth that is painted stained coloured the Inhabitants of old using to dye their bodies with Woad to which the Greeks added Tania that is a Region thence called Britons-Land or Britanie At last The Southern and best part of it from the Angle-Saxons then inhabiting it was called Angle-Land now England which said part of Britain is bounded on the East with the Germane on the West with the Irish on the South with the British Ocean on the North with the River Tweed and a Line drawn from it to the Solway Westward The longest day in the Northern part of England is Seventeen hours and near Thirty minutes and the shortest day in the most Southern part thereof almost Eight hours long Englands dimension in length from Berwick to the Lands-End is 386 miles in breadth from Sandwich to the Lands-End 279 in compass by reason of the many Bays and Promontories about 1300 miles England in the Romans time was divided into Britania prima containing the South part of England Britania secunda containing the Western part now called Wales and Maxima Caesariensis containing the Northern parts beyond Trent The first of these in the Britains time belonged to the Arch-Bishoprick of London the 2d to the Arch-Bishoprick of * Glamorgan Caerleon and the 3d. to the Arch-Bishoprick of York The Britains or first Inhabitants of this Island were derived from the Gauls as both their Speech Laws Customs and Buildings manifest The Story of Brute with his Trojans Conquering this Island in A.M. 2887 or whenever else seems to be only a Fable of Geofry of Monmouths framing Amongst the Ancient Britains none save the better and more civil sort did wear any cloathing They painted their bare bodies with sundry Pictures representing all manner of living creatures flowers and the heavenly bodies conceiting that this made them appear the more terrible to their enemies About their Wasts and Necks they wore Chains of Iron supposing them to be a goodly Ornament The hair of their heads they wore long which was naturally curled all other parts they shaved save the upper-lip Of all the Provinces the Kentish were the most civilized persons by reason of their converse with other Nations in Trafficking and Merchandizing Their buildings were many and like to those of the old Gauls French poor rude Cottages yet did they give the name of Towns to certain cumbersom Woods which they fortified with Rampiers and Ditches whither they made their retreat and resort to eschew the invasions of their enemies The Romans first taught them to build their Houses of Stone Their Wives were many Ten or Twelve apiece which they held common among Parents and Brethren yet was the Issue reputed his only who first Married the Mother when she was a Maid The Children they brought up in common amongst them Their diet was spare and mean being Barks and Roots of Trees and Milk also a kind of food they had no bigger than a Bean after the eating of which for a considerable time they did neither hunger nor thirst They eat likewise Venison and Fruits Their usual drink was made of Barley The Habits of the Ancient Britaine 's Printed for Abell swalle at the Vnicorn at the West End of St Pauls Page 4. F. H. Van. Houe sculp Their Religion was Paganish superstition They had many Idol-gods and used mans flesh in their Sacrifices They had Priests and Instructers the chief of which were called Druides who were the
since Plato Aristotle and Isocrates adored Mercury and the other gods he held it absurd that the Christians should learn from their Books whose Religion they condemned and loathed When he at any time seized upon the Goods of the Christians which he oft-times did upon slight pretences he would say he did it that they might enter Heaven with the less difficulty When he had disabled the Christians of all command Civil or Martial he said he did it because their Gospel taketh from them potestatem Gladâ— the power of the Sword If any poor Christian desired the redress of any grievance he would ansvver That it vvas the duty of their profession to bear injuries But Julian entring Persia vvith an Army Ten Miles in length put the Persians to flight vvhom pursuing as he lift up his hand in sign of victory vvas in the very instant struck vvith a Javelin into the lovver lappet of his Liver From vvhose hand this Javelin came is uncertain some say it vvas from the hand of a flying Persian others say from the hand of one of his ovvn Soldiers Calistus one of his ovvn Guard that vvrote this Battel in Heroical Verse affirmeth that some vvicked Fiend or Devil run him through vvith that Javelin But be it by vvhomsoever vvhen the Apostate had pluck'd the Javelin out he cast it into the Air uttering this blasphemous speech At length thou hast overcome me O Galilean For so in contempt he used to call Christ JOVINIANUS A.D. 363. FLavius Jovinianus a Christian vvas chosen Emperor by the Army and because of the distress that his Host vvas in for vvant of provision he made Peace vvith the Persians for Thirty years and so left their Country In his time Blazing-Stars vvere seen at noon-day And the Statue of Maximianus Caesar let fall the Globe out of its hand no force moving it Also horrible sounds and noises vvere heard in the Consistory These vvere taken for ominous signs of those troublous accidents vvhich befel the Army in their vvay homevvard from Persia Jovinian dyed suddenly of the obstructions and stoppings of the Lungs FLavius Valentinianus a Christian being elected Emperor he made Valens his Brother VALENTINIANUS A.D. 364. his partner with him in the Empire Into Britain Valentinian sent Theodosius his Lieutenant vvho recovered this Province out of the hands of their enemies the Picts Saxons and Scots that had miserably infested it re-edified the Cities repairing the Garrison Castles and fortifying the frontiers naming Britain Valentia in honour of Valentinian the Emperor Strange and dreadful vvere the signs that in the third year of this Emperor happened as Earth-quakes Inundations and the like amongst vvhich St. Hierom reports That there rained Wool from Heaven so perfect good that no better grevv upon the Sheep This Christian Emperor vvas so displeased vvith his Brother Valens an Arian for persecuting the Orthodox Christians that he denied to afford him help against the Goths vvhen they invaded his Dominions in the East saying That it vvas an impious thing to strengthen the hands of a man vvho had spent his days in vvarring against God and his Church He dyed of an Apoplexy or as some vvrite of the Plague And Valens flying from the Goths vvas in a house near Adrianople burnt to Ashes FLavius Gratianus the Son of Valentinian succeeded his Father GRATIANUS and VALENTINIAN to vvhom vvas joyned for Consort in the Empire his Brother Valentinian a Child about four years of Age. Whose advancement though done vvithout his allovvance he envied not but regarded his Brother exceedingly and brought him up with all tenderness forgetting the wrong offered to himself and one Mother Severa for Valentinians Mothers sake whose name was Justina a Damsel surpassing all other Women so far that the Empress her self became in love with her and could not forbear extolling her beauty beyond compare in the hearing of the Emperor her Husband who provoked hereby took her also to Wife by whom he had this young Valentinian and three Daughters albeit that his Wife Severa was yet living In Britain Clemens Maximus descended from Constantine the Great had so won the affections of the Britains through his good service done against the Picts and Scots which last were those people inhabiting the High-lands of Scotland and came first out of Ireland planting themselves on the North-side of Cluid that they accepted him for their Sovereign and his Soldiers by constraint forced him to assume the Imperial Stile and Purple Robe And now Maximus hasts into Gallia with the chiefest flower and strength of the British Forces against whom Gratian advanced but after five days skirmishing being forsaken of his Soldiers he was forced to fly After which he sent Ambrose Bishop of Milain to sue for peace with Maximus unto which Maximus seemed to encline withall causing Letters to be sent and reports given out to soft spirited Gratian that his Empress was upon her journey to visit him which the innocent Emperor credited And accordingly set forward with joy to meet her but when he opened the Letter therein hoping to embrace her was by Captain Andragathius and his Ruffians sent in it on purpose treacherously murdered near unto Lyons But Theodosius undertaking the Usurper Maximus vanquished his forces and slew him and his Son Victor Howbeit young Valentinian was not in safety for by the Treason of Captain Arbogastes and Eugenius a Grammarian he was strangled to death in his bed FLavius Theodosius Magnus THEODOSIUS MAGNUS to revenge the the death of the Emperor Valentinian and also to oppose the proceedings of the Traytor Eugenius who had usurped a part of the Empire marched with his forces towards the confines of Italy where at the foot of the Alpes he found the passages stopt and his enemies powers far surmounting his and likewise having so beset him about that no victuals could be brought into his Camp this good Emperor therefore in this his distress applied himself with fasting and tears unto the Lord of Hosts who to vindicate Theodosius righteous Cause sent such a violent tempest and raging wind upon the faces of his enemies that when both Armies were engaged in fight his adversaries own Darts were driven back upon themselves whereby he obtained a most glorious Victory In this Battel the Usurper Eugenius was taken who whilst he was craving pardon at the Emperors feet had his head struck of by the Soldiers And Arbogastes escaping by flight two days after ran himself upon his own Sword Theodosius thus delivered repaired to Milain where he shortly after sickned unto death constituting his Son Honorius Emperor of the West and Arcadius of the East His Humility and Piety was such that St. Ambrose Bishop of Millain having forbid his entrance into the Church to communicate with other Christians in their devotions because he had rashly punished the Inhabitants of Thessalonica for an offence committed by them he accordingly submitted to this censure acknowledging his offence and for a future prevention of
into England bringing thence many sick Soldiers which dangerously infected the Nation with a long continuing Plague About the year 1564 the Irish sought to shroud themselves from their obedience unto Queen Elizabeth under the shelter of Shan O-Neal a man cruel by nature and claiming an Hereditary right to the Province of Vlster as the O-Neals formerly had done to all Ireland Against this rebel so great preparations were made that he terrified therewith came over into England and on his knees begged the Queens pardon which she granted him Howbeit not long after he rebelled but at length was slain by some of his own Countrymen A. D. 1567 so great civil dissensions were in Scotland that outrages were not only committed upon the best Subjects but even upon the King and Queen themselves him they barbarously murdred and forced her to leave Scotland Which unhappy Queen having embarqued her self for France Edward Grindal A. B. Cant. hoping there to find many friends was by cross winds drove upon the English Coasts from whence she might not return but was detained Prisoner in England A. D. 1568 by the working Instruments of the old Doctor at Rome there were discontents bred and nourished in some great persons of England as the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland Leonard Dacres Nevill c. who had in readiness certain English Priests Morton and others with Bulls and Instruments of Absolution Reconciliation and Oaths to be taken to the Pope These Romish rebels raised forces and with Banner displayed entred Burrowbridge old Morton being their Ensign-bearer in whose Colours was painted the Cross and five wounds of Christ But at the approach of her Majesties Forces the Captains of the rebells fled into Scotland and their followers were taken without any resistance Of these Traytors were put to death at Durham by Martial Law an Alderman a Priest sixty-six Constables besides others of them in other places about A. D. 1570 Leonard Dacres of Harlsey renewed the rebellion and had amongst his followers many Women-soldiers but upon a Moor nigh unto Naworth the Lord Hunsdon dispersed them in fight August 22d of this year was the Earl of Northumberland beheaded at York where in his last speech he avowed the Popes Supremacy denied that subjection was due to the Queen affirmed the Realm to be in a Schism and that obedient subjects were no better than Hereticks For you must know that Pope Pius the fifth had by his Bull dated 1569 deprived the Queen of her Kingdoms absolved her subjects of all subjection to her and pronounced all that yielded her obedience accursed Which Bull was privately hung upon the Bishop of London's Palace-gate at the West-end of St. Pauls And such influence it had upon the spirits of many persons disaffected to the Reformed Religion that they sought by divers means to work the Queens destruction Many were the projects and devices to ruin the Church and Queen but by the good providence of Almighty God the projectors were defeated in their purposes and suffered deserved punishment In Norfolk John Throgmorton Brook Redman and others sought to raise a commotion for the which they suffered death Dr. Story executed for his treason 1571. John Sommervil instigated by one Hall a Seminary Priest to murther the Queen was executed John Payn imployed to murther her as she took her recreation abroad was executed so was Edmond Champion a Seminary Priest also executed Francis Throgmorton for endeavouring to procure an Invasion was executed William Parry who purposed to have murdred the Queen was executed Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland being privy to the Plots of Throgmorton for the bringing in of foreign powers was committed to the Tower where to save the Hangman a labour he shot himself to the heart Thomas Howard being too busie in some Popish designs was also put to death John Whitgift A B. Cant. Other Popish Traytors were likewise deservedly executed whose names facts and places and times of execution for brevities sake are omitted A. D. 1572 Novemb. 18 appeared a strange Star or Comet Northward in the Constellation of Cassiopeia not much less than the Planet Venus never changing place fixed far above the Moons Orb the like to which never did appear since the beginning of the world that we read of saving that at the Birth of Christ A. D. 1573 was built at London the Royal-Exchange so named by her Majesty whose founder was Sir Thomas Gresham A. D. 1576 Sir Martin Frobusher sailed into the north-Northeast Seas far further than any man before him had done giving to those parts the name of Queen Elizabeths Foreland A. D. 1577 and Novemb. 15 Capt. Drake set sail from Plimouth and in three years wanting twelve days he encompassed the Earth landing again in England on Novemb. 3 1580. In America in the Country which he named Nova Albion the King thereof presented unto him his Network Crown of many coloured feathers and therewith resigned his Scepter of Government unto his dispose The people there so admired the English men that they sacrificed to them as to their gods At his departure from thence he reared a Monument to witness her Majesties right to that Province as being freely given to her Deputy both by King and people The little Ship called the Pelican wherein this admirable Voyage was performed was at her Majesties command laid up in the Dock by Deepford as a Monument of Englands fame and Captain Drake was honoured with Knighthood A. D. 1581 was the motion renewed for a Marriage betwixt Francis Valois Duke of Anjou and Queen Elizabeth and so effectually was the suit moved and acceptably heard of her Highness that the Monsieur came over in person though to the little liking of many of the English Nobles and to the great discontent of the Commons as was made known by a Book written against it which cost William Stubs the Inditer thereof the loss of his right hand About A. D. 1583 the Pope and King of Spain sent supplies to the Irish rebells under the command of Thomas Stukely an English fugitive whom the Pope had stiled Marquess of Ireland These landing in Ireland raised their consecrated Banner built their Fort Del Ore but the Lord Grey of Wilton Lord Deputy quickly put most of them to the sword A. D. 1585 after several suits made unto the Queen by the distressed States of the Netherlands and their Grievances recommended to her by the King of France with promise of his own assistance her Majesty was graciously pleased to undertake their protection sending to their assistance Sir John Norrice with 5000 Foot and a thousand Horse all retained at her Highness pay during those Wars against Spain which monthly amounted to 12526 l. Sterling For which moneys so disbursed the Towns of Flushing and Brill with two Sconces and the Castle of Ramekins in Holland were delivered to the Queens use in pledg until the money was repaid The considerations moving her Majesty to assist â—he United Provinces were The