sonnes elected subdued and slaine 1. Aureolus in Illyris 2. Gallienus in Rome 3. Odenatus in the East Odenatus ouercommeth the Persians Galieâ—… seeketh Odenatus his death Apoc. 4. 3. Trebeâ—… Pollio Strange sighâ—…s in the Heauens Great and mighty Earth-quakes Galiâ—… staied the perâ—…cutions of thâ—… Christians Eusâ—…b Eccles. â—…st lib. 7. cap. 12. Apoc. 1. 16. Thirty Emperoâ—… 〈◊〉 oncâ—… Pomp. Laetus a Panlus Oros. b Cassidor c Iornandes Eusebius Apoc. 6. 4. Galienus times prophesied of by the Euangelist S. Iohn Galienus his death and continuance of his raigne An. Do. 269. His descent Aurel. Victor Flauius Claudius his vertues Iornandes Gothes inuade the Empire Paul Orosius Two thousand saile of Gothes Claudius Letter to the Senate Gothes vanquished Flauius Claudius died a naturall death His personage and qualities An. Do. 271. Eutropius Quintiliâ—… brother to the last Emperour Quintilius cut his own veines and so bled to death He raigned but seuenteen daies An. Do. 271. Aurelianus his descent Fla. Vâ—…p Aurelianus comparable with Caesar and Alexander Aurelianus inlarged the walles of Rome Chap. 37. Sabellicus saith she both tired him and put him to flight also Zenobia her Letter to Aurelianus * The great Citie Palmyra saith Iosephus was built by King Salomon whence their Nation tooke the name It bordered vpon the Parthians Kingdome in the middle betwixt it and the Roman Empire Ouid. Metam li. 6. * Tomyris was a valiant Scythian Queene who slew King Cyrus and all his Host and filling a vessell with their bloud did cast in Cyrus head saying Bloud hast thou thirsted now drinke therof thy fill To this doth Zenobia allude Zenobia vanquished Zenobia het beautie Flau. Vopisc Euseb. Eccl. Hist. lib. 7 cap. 39. Paul Orosius Aurelianus at first a fauourer now a persecutor of the Christians Aurelianus scard with a Thunderbolt from heauen Psal. 2. 10. Aurelianus slaine Entropius Aurelianus His feature of body and minde 〈◊〉 An. Do. 276. Aurelianus being dead no man sought to be Emperour Senate and Souldiers strain courtesie who shall choose the Emperour Eusebius Vopiscus Orosius Oneuphrius Claudius Tacitus elected Emperor Claudius Tacitus his vertues Claudius Tacitus his care to preserue the works of Cornelius Tacitus Eutrop. l. 9. Aurel. Victor Vopiscus Claudius Tacitus his Raigne An. Do. 277. Florianus made himselfe Emperour Florianus his death Chap. 38. Eutrop. lib. 9. Vopiscus Florianus his raigne An. Do. 277. Probus called the father of his Countrey and the highest Bishop His desceâ—… Sabellicus Probus comparable with Hannibal and Caesar. Probus slayeth 400000. Germans Henr. Mutint Saturninus cho sen Emperour His speech to his Electors Saturninus his death Vopiscut Bonosus and Proculus rebell against Probus Sabellicus Bonosus death Sabellicus Sabellicus Victorinus a Moore his Stratagem Hist. Mag. Brit. lib. 3. cap. 10. Vandals and Burgundians sent to inhabite in Britaine Vopiscus Sabellicus Wine made in England Probus his death Vopiscus Entropius Eusebius Eccl. hist. lib. 7. cap 29. Anno 282. Flauius 〈◊〉 Vopiscus Uictor 〈◊〉 Orosius Cardâ—… and Numerianus Casars Carinus slaine by a thunderbolt Hierome Paulus Orosius Eutropius Flauius Vopiscus Eutrop. Signonâ—… Oâ—…pbet Pomp. Laetus An. Do. 286. An. Do. 291. Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 6. * Now called Bâ—…leyn in Picardy Carausius defendeth his vsurpation seuen yeers Maximianus against Carausius Ninius A perfidious friend Allectus slaine Walbrooke in London of Gallus 〈◊〉 Tâ—…eb Mamertinus Panegyâ—… Orat. The Emperours extolled for recoucting Britain Mamertinus Paneg Grat. Many Artificers in Britaine Gâ—… Damasâ—… Sabellicus Eusebius Beda Rad. de Dicetâ—… The Christians torments for ten yeeres together Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 7. S. Albane put to death at Saint Albans Iob. Capgraue Amphibole a Britaine put to death Iulius and Aaron at Leicester At Lichfeild grâ—… multitudes in Cambden Ioh. 19. 17. Ioh Rossâ—… Wâ—…wicens in lib. de 〈◊〉 â—…pis Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 6. Apoc. 13. Dan. 7. Ezek. 38. 2. The violent deaths of many Emperors Psal. 45. 5. The first Seale Apoc. 6. The second Seale The third Seale The fourth Seale The fifth Seale The sixth Seale Exod. â—…9 Numb 17. Iosh. 3. 4. Iob 29 9. Euseb. eccles lib. 8. cap. 1. 2. 3. Euseb. hist eccles lib. 8. cap. 1. Amos 1. 3. Euseb. eccles hist. lib. 8. cap. 2â—… Euseb. eccles hist. lib. 8. cap. 14. Fox Act. pag. 119. 123. Euseb. eccles hist. lib. 8. cap. 19. Dioclesians practise The Pope an imitator of him and not of Christ. Dioclesian and Maximianus resigned vp the Empire the 9. Cal. of May in the yeere of Christ 304. Galerius and Constantius Emperors The Christians inioy peace Constantine the Great elected Caesar. Euseb. eccles hist. lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 16. Pomp. Latâ—… 2. Kin. 10. 20. Constantius policie to trie who were true Christians Constantius his wiues Eutropius Nicephor lib. 7. cap. 18. Beda hist. Angl. lib. 1. cap. 8. Holinsh. Chron. lib. 4. cap 26. Cambd. Brit. pa. 74 Baronius A Church builded by Helena in the place where our Sauiour suffred Helena buildeth another Church where the Inne stood in which our Sauiour was laid in a Cratch Ambrose his Oration vpon Theodosius Ioseph Antiq. lib. 20. cap. 2. Helena Queene of Ad abâ—…na a vertuous woman also Constantine escapeth Galerius His preuenting pursuit He commeth safe to Yorke to his father Constantius his speech to his sonne Constantius his raigne death Pomp. Laetus Socrates Eccl. lib. 1. cap. 2. An. Do. 306. Euseb. Eccl. Hist. lib. 8. cap. 14. Socrat. Eccl. lib. 1. cap. 〈◊〉 Panegyricke Oration vnto Constantine the great Eutropius Constantines descent Sabelâ—…icus Maximianus put to death by Constantine Niceph. li. 7. c. 2â—… Eutropius lib. 11. Zosoâ—… lib. 1. ca. 5. Socrat. lib. 1. ca. 2. Vâ—…spurgens Chron. Paul Diac. li. 11. Euseb. ecles hist. lib. 9. cap. 9. Sabellicus Constantines repose Pomp. Laetus Maxentius trusteth to Sorcerers Sabellicus An inscription made on memory of Maxentius ouerthrow The memoriall of his victorie ouer the Frankners Cambd. Brit. Licinius put to death at Nicomedia and his sonne after Anno 326. Sigonius In hist. tripart Eusebius Cambden in his Britannia Amianus Marcill Nineteene thousand foote and seuenteene hundred horsemen maintained in ordinary in Britaine Sabellicus A Iewish Doctor thus described this Citie in an epistle which himselfe deliuered to our English Ambassador remaining in Constantinople in Anno 1594. Hier. in his additions to Eusebius Constantinople built by Constantine Wil. Malmsbury Constantine the establisher of Christianity Ambrose vpon the death of Theo. Rufâ—… Cassiod Eusebius eccles hist. Hieromâ—… Eusebius Sigonius Constantine buried at Constantinople Socrates lib. 1. cap. 26. Eusebius in viâ—… Const. lib. 4. Sabellicus Constantines successors An. Do. 337. Constantinus his part of the Empire Constans his part of the Empire Constantius his part of the Empire Constantinus slaine Socrates lib. 2. c. 3. Cassiod trip Hist. A Councell against the Arrians called by Constans Constans slaine Amianus l. 20. c. 1â—… Fl. pop Nepohanus p. F. Aug. Simon Dunelm I. Stow. Galfridus
euen till the same at length went forth with a bâ—…lder countenance by the fauourable Edicts of Adrian Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius Emperors of Rome as Eusebius hath noted and in Britaine was established by the authoritie of Lucius their King whereby this was the first of all the Prouinces saith Marcus Sabellicus that receiued the Faith by publike ordinance Of the teâ—…chers of those times Bale from some other hath these verses Sicut erat celebris cultu numeroque Deorum Cum Iouis imperium staret Britannica tellus Sic vbi terrestres caelo descendit ad or as Expectata salus patribus fuit inclyta sanctis Qui Neptunicolûm campos Cambrica rura Coryneasque casas locadesolata colebant As were the Britaines famous for their zeale To Gentle Gods whiles such they did adore So when the Heau'ns to Earth did Truth reueale Bless'd was that Land with Truth and Learnings store Whence British Plaines and Cambri as desert ground And Cornewalls Crags with glorious Saints abound In which number were Eluanus Meduinus those two learned Diuines which were sent by King Lucius vnto Eleutherius Bishop of Rome with whom returned two other famous Clerkes whose names were Faganus and Damianus these together both preached and baptized amongst the Britaines whereby many dailie were drawne to the Faith And as a worthy and ancient Historian saith The Temples which had beene founded to the Honour of their many Gods were then dedicated to the one and onely true God For there were in Britaine eight and twentie Flamins and three Arch-flamins in stead of which so many Bishops and Archbishops were appointed vnder the Archbishop of London were the Prouinces of Loegria and Cornubia vnder Yorke Deira and Albania vnder Vrbs Legionum Cambria By which meanes this happy Kingdome vnder that godly King was nobly beautified with so many Cathedrall Churches and Christian Bishops Sees before any other kingdome of the world That this Lucius should be the Apostle to the Bauarians or that his sister Emerita was crowned with the flames of Martyrdome fifteene yeares after his death I leaue to the credit of Aegidius Scudus and Hermanus Schedelius the reporters and to the best liking of the readers But most certaine it is that the Christian faith was still professed in this Iland sound and vndefiled as Beda witnesseth notwithstanding the cruel persecutions of the bloody Emperours 19 For all this time saith the said Dicetus Christian ReligioÌ„ flourished quietly in Britanny til in Dioclesians time their Churches were demolished their holy Bibles castinto Bone-fires the Priests with their faithfull flocke bloodily murdered In which number about the yeare two hundred ninetie three as we read in Beda Malmesburie Randulphus and others Albane with his teacher Amphibalus were both of them martyred for the profession of the Gospell at the old Towne Verolanium as also in Leicester those two Noble Citizens Aaron and Iulius with multitudes both of men and women in sundrie places saith Beda as shortly after no lesse then a Thousand Saints suffered death at Liechfield wherupon the place was called another Golgotha or field of blood In memorie whereof the Citie beareth for Armes to this day in an Eschucheon of Landskip sundry persons diuersly Martyred And yet after these times also the Britaines continued constant in Christianity and the censures of their Bishops for the great estimation of their Constancie pietie and learning required and approued in great points of Doctrine among the assemblies of some Generall Councels as that of Sardis and Nice in the time of great Constantine the first Christian Emperour and this our Country man whose blessed daies gaue free way to that Profession to the Councels Authoritie and to the whole world Peace had wee our Bishops present whose forwardnes against the Arrian Heresie afterwards Athanasius aduanceth in his Apology vnto Iouinian the Emperor among three hundred Bishops assembled at the Councell of Sardice in Anno three hundred and fiftie whose words as Nicephorus reports them are these Know most Christian Emperour saith he that this faith hath beene alwaies preached and professed and that all Churches of Spaine Britain France and Germany at this day with one voice doe approoue the same As also at that of Ariminum in the yeare three hundred fiftie nine and in the raigne of Constantius who caused foure hundred westerne Bishops to be there sommoned in fauour of the Arrians whereof three were out of Britaine as Sulpitius Seuerus the good Bishop of Burges hath reported that gaue their suffrages against that Heresie These doth Hilarie tearme the Bishops of the Prouinces of Britaine by whom they were somewhat derided because beeing farre from their owne Countrie they liued vpon the Emperours charge And Beda testifieth that from Dioclesians time they both reedified their former Temples and founded new also in memorie of their then fresh-bleeding Martyrs and enioyed a generall and ioifull peace in their religious profession till that Arrian Heresic hauing first filled the Continent sought and found passage ouer the Seas into our Iland Gennadius in his Catalogues Illustrium Diuorum tels vs of an other learned Bishop of Britaine Fastidius who in the time of Cestius Bishop of Rome wrote vnto one Fatalis a booke devita Christians and another de viduitate seruanda of much diuine learning and comfort Chrysanthus likewise is recorded by Nicephorus to be sonne of Bishop Martian who hauing beene a Consular Deputie in Italie vnder Theodosius and made Lieutenant of Britaine where with great praise he managed the common wealth was against his will afterward made Bishop at Constantinople of the Nouatians that called themselues Cathari that is pure making a schisme in the Church by their deniall of Saluation to such as fell into relapse of sinne after Baptisme once receiued This is that Bishop of whom we read that of all his Ecclesiasticall reuenewes he reserued only for himselfe two loaues of bread vpon the Lords day And in the first Tome of Councels is mention of Restitutus Bishop of London whom because that as is most probable Christian Religion had in those primitiue times taken more firme footing in Britaine then in France the French Bishops called to their Nationall Councell the second at Arles in Anno three hundred thirty fiue that he might with his Suffrage approoue their Decrees About the yeere foure hundred seuenty was a Prouinciall Councell held in Britaine for the reforming of Religion and repairing of the ruined Churches which the Pagan mariage of Vortiger had decaied to the great griefe and discontent of the people a pregnant signe of the continuing zeale which vnto those daies had left a glorious memorie 20 And the Ensigne of Arthur wherein the Virgin with her sonne in her armes as is noted by Vincentius was portraied so often displaied for Christ and his Countries libertie against the Pagan Saxons is as a seale
scoffingly cauill at the godly applications of ancient Eleutherius But to our purpose 10. This Epistle with two other Preachers Faganus and Daminius sent vnto King Lucius did not a little encourage him in his godly purpose in somuch that receiuing Baptisme the Temples of the Heathenish Flamins and Arch-Flamines euen thirtie one in number were conuerted into so many Christian Bishops Sees whereof London Yorke and Carlein now Saint Dauids were made the Metropolitants of the Prouince 11. A table remaining in the Parish Church of Saint Peter in Cornhill London recordeth that the foundation thereof was by this King Lucius and that Church to haue been the Cathedrall to that Archbishops See There be that ascribe the foundation of Saint Peters Church at Westminster vnto him vnlesse the places are mistaken Others affirme that this King Lucius likewise built a Church within Douer-castle to the seruice of Christ endowing it with the Tell or customes of that Hauen Differences there are about the time of his Raigne but none at all for his conuersion and establishing of the Christian Faith As for those who would haue this Lutius after his Baptisme to saile into Gallia and other forrein parts where subduing many Pagans he became the Apostle to the Banarians and that his sister Emerita fifteene yeeres after was martyred in the City Augusta I find thereof no warrant in any sufficient writer but in this all others agree that he raigned twelue yeeres and lieth buried in Gloucester 12 This good Emperour possessed the Seate of Maiestie nineteene yeares and eleuen daies wherein he alwaies approued himselfe in wit excellent in life vertuous verie learned and eloquent full of Clemency Instite and Temperance nothing inferiour to most of the worthiest Emperours before him nor matchable in qualities by many of the MOnarchs that followed him He died the seuenteenth day of Aprill the yeare of our Sauiour one hundred eighty one and of his owne age fiftie nine leauing to the world a misse for the present and to posterities a perpetuall memorie of his vertues and happy had he been saith Capitolinus had he not left behind him a Sonne LIVIVS AELIVS AVRELIVS COMMODVS ANTONINVS CHAPTER XX. THE prudent life and loue conceiued of so good a Father gaue hopefull signes and ioifull entrance vnto the Raigne of yong Commodus his soone degenerating Sonne who had nothing from him but Nature and that also much suspected The knowne Adulteries of Faustina his Mother strongly confirming the opinion of Bastardie 2 At nineteen yeeres of age he was inuested Emperor his raigne not long but life as loose and impious as the worst in sottish pride equalizing Caligula for intemperancie another Vitellius and in cruelties a second Domitian Three hundred Concubines continually he kept and vpon one of them named Martia so doted that he wore her painted Picture vpon the outside of his Garment and instiling his money Herculi Commodiano or Romano which was stamped about the yeere 193. Sometimes Hercules-like would shew himselfe roabed in a Lions skinne bearing a Club in his hand in stead of a Scepter Other whiles wantonly clad in the habit of an Amazon woman alwaies costly but seldome ciuill 3 The Month August he named Commodus September Herculeus and December Amazonius according to his owne or his Concubines names Commendable in nothing but for his skill in darting and for some small breathing of the persecuted Christians which came not of himselfe but as Xiphilinus writeth by the mediation of Martia his beloued Concubine who was found very fauourable to their doctrine But the outragious wickednesse of his life made him so hatefull to all as that his death was often plotted and once by some of the Noblest with whom Lucilla his owne Sister conspired for which fact he put her with the rest of the conspirators to death The Empire and all things els he wielded at the discretion of others attending only his voluptuous pleasures howsoeuer the State or Prouinces fared vnder him 4 In Britanny the Northren Borderers brake thorow the Wall and finding the Frontiers but weakly guarded entred the Prouince where suddenly they surprized the Roman Generall and killing many of the Souldiers ranged the Country wasting without resistance all where they went Commodus at Rome hearing these stirres in Britaine rouzed vp his spirits and sent one Vlpius Marcellus to stay their fury who with great difficulty forced them back beyond the Wall and seeing the carelesse seruice of the Souldiers reuiued againe the ancient discipline of Warre that by long ease had been left off by the Romans The repressing of this incursion as it seemeth by some reuolt of the prouince was about the yeere of Christ one hundred eighty six as appeareth by the monies of this Emperor set in the entrance of his life at which time in memory of some worthy expedition and victory against the Britains he stamped them 5 This Lieutenant Marcellus is reported to be of a maruellous great temperance and strange diet for all the time of his abode here hee would eat no Bread but such as was baked in Rome neither slept he more then would maintaine nature whereby both his priuate businesses and proiects for publike seruices were commonly dispatched by night Seuere he was in the execution of his place not led by fauour of the person nor staid from iustice by corrupted Bribes esteeming Money only for necessity and riches no further then made for publike good But those his vertues though now with vs they get him honour yet then did purchase him Enuie with the Emperor Who liued saith Lampridius for his Subiects mischiefe and his owne shame For Commodus hearing Marcellus daily commended construed his Praise to be his owne Reproch and doubting lest he should grow too high thought good to crop him off betimes and so sent him Letters of discharge 6 The Armie then feeling the raines loose that ere-whiles had beene borne with a stiffer hand fell straight to a disordered mutinie and therein proceeded with such boldnesse as they openly refused any longer to acknowledge Commodus for their Soueraigne At which time Perennius was a chiefe Agent and so ruled all in Rome for the Emperor as that he entertained a hope to be himselfe in time an absolute and sole-ruling Emperour and hauing now fit occasion offred to spread his power further he tooke vpon him to redresse these disorders whilst Commodus wallowed in his lasciuious idlenesse and displacing some worthie Captaines at his owne pleasure sent other persons of meane respect or parts to command those Legions in Britaine that formerly had been led by Noble Senators and men of Consular dignity whereby greater mischiefe began to accrew and ciuill dissensions daily to burst forth the Armie scorning their vpstarst Commanders and the Captaines insulting ouer the Souldiers of all sides the Aides so disquieted that had the Britaines followed the aduantage the whole
whereby the One-bodied Eagle became againe foure-headed and each almost of an equall authority Dioclesian chose Galerius Maximinus and Maximianus surnamed Herculius chose Constantius Clorus a Roman Senator enforcing them to put away their former Wiues to take their Daughters for an assurance of loue by the bonds of that Alliance of whom the former was imploied for defence of Illyricum and the other afterwards into Britaine against the Rebellions there raised by Carausius whose coine is here set 5 This Carausius by birth a Menapian but of low Parentage as Beda and Eutropius saith who being appointed Admirall by the Romans to guard the British Seas from the Pyracies of the Saxons and Lower Germans who with continuall robberies wasted the coasts abused his authority both in suffering those Pirats to passe vnder Compositions and in taking many Shippes and much substance from the true Subiect to his owne vse whereby in short time hee became very rich and like a cat set to keepe mice from the larder did more mischiefe then the Robbers themselues Sabellicus reports one very politike custome whereby he inriched himselfe and that was by suffering the Pirats to take as much spoiles as possibly they could before hee would surprise them whereby they were his instruments to rob others and nothing to better themselues 6 Maximianus then warring in Gallia and fearing the greatnes of his wealth and power sent secretly to slay him by treacherie and in the meane while surprised many of his principall men at Gessoriacum 7 Carausius now rich compassed with friends seeing his destruction thus intended and sought thought that death was but death as well to Prince as to Peazant and therefore with a bold resolution and aid of the Picts or Northerne Britaines who had been alwaies enemies to the Roman Subiection put on the Purple Robe and vsurped the Authoritie and Title of Emperour which hee most valiantly maintained in sundry Battles and so kept it for the terme of seuen yeeres 8 Against him Maximianus set forward with a puissant Armie and marched to the British Ocean but there vnderstanding the power of his Enemie and finding himselfe in want of men for Sea-seruice hee pitched downe his Tents and knowing Carausius a man meet to command the Ilanders and able to defend them against the other Warlike Nations sent him offers of peace the making of which is remembred vnto vs by the Coine of Carausius before expressed whereon are stamped the Portraitures of two Emperours ioining hands So himselfe returning against the Batanians left Carausius for Britaine who gouerned the Prouince with an vpright and vnstained reputation and with exceeding peaceablenesse notwithstanding the incursions of the Barbarous He reedified the wall as Ninnius the disciple of Eluodugus writeth between the moneths of Cluda and Carunus fortifiing the same with seuen Castles and built a round house of polished stone vpon the banke of the Riuer Carun which some thinke tooke name of him erecting therewith a Triumphall Arch in remembrance of Victorie Howbeit Buchanan thinkes the same to bee the Temple of Terminus and not the foundation of Carausius But the date of his noble Gouernment was brought now to a period by the Treason of Allectus his Familiar friend one whom he had imploied in managing of the State who thirsting after the Supreme Authoritie betraied his trust and treacherously murdered him by a wile putting on himselfe the Purple-Robe stamping this his Image vpon the publike Coine as an absolute Soueraigne and assuming the Title Imperiall about the yeere of Christ 294. 9 Constantius who had leuied an Armie and was come with great speed vnto Bulloigne in France a Towne that Carausius had sometime fortified and kept hearing now of his death determined the recouery of Britaine and after great preparations at length passing the Seas in a darke fogge or mist landed his men without impeachment which done hee fired his owne Ships therby to frustrate all hopes of escape Allectus who had laien to intercept his comming forsooke also the Seas and meeting at vnawares with Asclepiodotus great Seneschall of the Praetorium as a desperate man hasted vpon his owne death for encountring with him hee neither ordered his Battle nor marshalled his men but fought at randome very vnfortunately for hauing put off his Purple Garment he was among many other slaine when hee had held his estate the terme of three yeeres The Frankners and others of the Barbarous Souldiers escaping the Battle sought to sacke London and so to be gone but as good happe was the Souldiers of Constantius which by reason of a mistie and foggie aire were seuered from the rest at vnawares came to London where they rescued their Allies and making great slaughter of the Enemie slew Gallus their Leader casting his body into a Brooke that theâ—… ran thorow the Citie which thence after was called by the Britaines Nant-gall and by the English Gallus his Brooke where now a faire Street is built called vpon that occasion to this day Walbrooke 10 The deaths of these two Vsurpers with the recouerie of the Britaine 's vnto their wonted obedience was accounted so great a benefit to the Romans that it is most gloriously commended and Rhetorically set downe in a Panegyricke Oration ascribed to Mamertinus in the praise of Dioclesian Maximianus and Constantius where after hee had extolled the fertilitie of the British Soile and the Riches that the Empire reaped thence he set forth the strength of the Enemy growne to so dangerous a head and concluded with this Acclamation O what a manifold Victory was this worthie vndoubtedly of innumerable Triumphs by which Victorie Britaine is restored to the Empire their Confederates brought to obedience and the Seas secured to a perpetuall quietnesse Glory you therefore inuincible Emperour for that you haue as it were gotten another World and in restoring to the Romans puissance the glory of the Conquest by Sea haue added to the Roman Empire an Element greater then all the compasse of the Earth that is the mightie maine Ocean it selfe and afterwards now by your Victories Inuincible Constantius Caesar whatsoeuer did lie vacant about Amiens Beauois Trois and Langres beginneth to flourish with Inhabitants of sundry Nations Yea and moreouer that your most obedient City Autum for whose sake I haue a peculiar cause to reioice by meanes of this Triumphant Victorie in Britaine hath receiued many and sundry sorts of Artizans of whom those Prouinces were full And now by their workmanship the same Citie riseth vp by repairing of Ancient Houses and restoring of Publike Buildings and Temples so that now it accounteth that the old name of brotherly Incorporation to Rome is againe restored when shee hath you eft-soones for her Founder 11 But leauing Constantius to be further spoken of in his due place let vs pursue the Raignes of these two Tyrants who new began the Persecutions of Gods Saints in all the parts
the Mercian at Oswaldstree in Shrop-shire quinto Augusti the yeere of our Lord 642. when hee had raigned nine yeeres and was buried at Bradney in Lincolne-shire His wife was Kineburg the daughter of Kingils King of the West-Saxons and his sonne Ethelwald young at his death and therefore defeated of his Kingdome by Oswy his Vncle the Naturall Sonne of King Ethelfrid the Wild. Notwithstanding when Oswin King of Deira was murdered by this Oswy of Bernitia and he not past sixteene yeeres of age entred by force vpon Deira and kept the same Prouince by strong hand so long as hee liued and dying left it to his cosen Alkfrid the Naturall Sonne of the said King Oswy OSwy the illegitimate sonne of Ethelfrid the Wild at thirty yeeres of age succeeded King Oswald his brother in the Kingdome of the Bernicians at whose entrance Oswyne the sonne of Osrik that had denied the Faith and was slaine of King Cedwall raigned in Deira This Oswyne was slaine by King Oswye after whose death seizing all Northumberland he spread his terrour further into other parts and was the tenth Monarch of the Englishmen as in his succession we will further speake His wife was Eanfled daughter to Edwine King of Northumberland by whom he had many children His raigne was 28. yeeres and death the fifteenth day of Februarie in the yeere of grace 670. and of his age 58. EGfrid the eldest sonne of King Oswy by Queene Eanfled had beene Hostage in the Kingdome of Mercia and after his father was made King of Northumberland in the yeere of Christ 671. Hee warred but with great losse against Edilred King of Mercia neere vnto the Riuer of Trent wherein his younger brother Elswyne was vnfortunately slaine to the great griefe of both the Kings the one being his owne brother and the other his brother in law by mariage whereupon a peace and reconciliation was made But Egfred being by nature of a disquiet disposition inuaded the Irish and destroied those harmelesse and silly people which as Beda saith had beene great friends to the English Their resistance consisted chiefly in curses and imprecations for reuenge which though they could not open heauen yet saith hee it is to be beleeued that for their cause he was cut off the next yeere ensuing by the Picts or Red-shankes against whom he prepared contrary to the aduice of his Counsell and by them was slaine among the strait and waste mountaines 20. Maij the yeere of mans felicitie 685. and of his age fortie after hee had raigned fifteene yeeres His wife was Etheldred the daughter of Anna King of the East-Angles shee was both Widow and Virgin first maried to Tonbert a Noble man that ruled the Giruij a people inhabiting the Fenny Countries of Norfolke Lincolne Huntington and Cambridge-shires and after him also in virginitie continued twelue yeeres with her husband King Egfrid contrarie to his minde and the Apostles precept that forbiddeth such defrauding either in man or woman except it be with consent for a time and to the preparatiō of praier affirming elswhere that Mariage is honourable and the bed thereof vndefiled wherein the woman doth redeeme her transgression through faith loue holinesse and modestie by beating of children This notwithstanding she obtained licence to depart his Court and got her to Coldingham Abby where shee was professed a Nunne vnder Ebba the daughter of King Ethelfrid Then went shee to Ely and new built a Monasterie whereof shee was made Abbesse and wherein with great reuerence shee was intombed whose vertues and remembrance remained to posterities by the name of S. Andrie she being canonized among the Catalogue of English Saints ALkfryd the illegitimate sonne of King Oswy in the raigne of his halfe-brother King Egfrid whether willingly or by violence constrained liued like a banished man in Ireland where applying himselfe to studie hee became an excellent Philosopher and as Beda saith was very conuersant and learned in the Holy Scriptures and therefore was made King ouer the Northumbrians where with great wisdome though not with so large bounds as others had enioied hee worthily did recouer the decaied estate of that Prouince ruling the same twenty yeeres and odde moneths and departed this life Anno 705. His Wife was Kenburg the daughter of Penda King of the Mercians and by her he had issue only one sonne that succeeded him in his Kingdome OSred a child of eight yeeres in age for the hopes conceiued from the vertues of his father was made King ouer the Northumbrians whose steps hee no wayes trod in but rather in filthy abuse of his person and place wallowed in all voluptuous pleasures and sensuall delight violating the bodies of vailed Nunnes and other religious holy women wherein when he had spent eleuen yeeres more to his age his kinsmen Kenred and Osrick conspired against him and in battle by his slaughter made an end of his impious life His wife was Cuthburga the sister of Inas King of the West-Saxons as by the time may bee gathered from the computation of Marianus and the Annales of the English-Saxons who vpon a loathing wearinesse of wedlocke sued out a diuorce from her husband and built a Nunnery at Winburne in Dorset-shire where in a religious habit shee ended her life and hee by Kenred and Osricke leauing his Kingdome to them that wrought his death KEnred the sonne of Cuthwyne whose father was Leolwald the sonne of Egwald and his father Adelm the sonne of Oga the naturall sonne of Ida the first King of Deira after the death of Osred raigned two yeeres no other remembrance left of him besides the murder of his Soueraigne Lord and King OSrick after the death of Kenred obtained the Kingdome of Northumberland and raigned therin the space of eleuen yeeres leauing to the world his name stained with bloud in the murder of young Osred no other mention of parentage wife or issue of him remaining for want whereof hee adopted Ceolnulph brother to his predecessor Kenred and died vnlamented the yeere of Grace seuen hundred twentie nine CEolnulph the brother of Kenred after the death of King Osrike was made King of the Northumbrians which Prouince hee gouerned with great peace and victorie the space of eight yeeres but then forsaking the Royall Estate and Robes of Maiestie put on the habit of a Monke in the I le of Lindesferne or Holy Iland These were the daies saith Beda wherein the acceptable time of peace and quietnesse was embraced among the Northumbrians who now laid their armour aside and applied themselues to the reading of holy Scriptures more desirous to be professed in religious houses then to exercise feats of warre or of Armes For not only Priests and Lay men vowed and performed Pilgrimages to Rome but Kings Queenes and Bishops also did the like
so great so blinde I might say a deuotion was in their hearts and so holy a reuerence held they of the place Vnto this King Ceolnulph the said Venerable Beda a Priest in the Monasterie of Peter and Paul at Werimouth neere vnto Durham a great Clerke and Writer of the English Historie dedicated the same his Worke which he continued till the yeere seuen hundred thirty one and from the first entrance of the Saxons containing 285. yeeres according to his owne account EGbert the sonne of Eata who was brother to King Kenred succeeded his vncle Ceolnulph in the Kingdome of Northumberland and ruled the same with the like peace and pietie the time of twenty yeeres and then following his example also forsooke the world and shore himselfe a Monke as diuers other Kings in those daies had done whereof Simon Dunelmensis writeth and noteth their number to bee eight as Inas King of the West-Saxons Ethelred and Kenred Kings of Mercia Sigebert King of the East-Angles Sebbi and Off a Kings of the East-Saxons and Ceolnulph and this Egbert Kings of the Northumbrians These forsaking the world as they tooke it left the Charge that God vpon them had imposed whose authoritie in earth they swaied and wherein they might much more haue aduanced Gods glory and Christs Gospel then for a more easie and priuate life not warranted by his word but rather disliked and perhaps foreshewed by those heauenly creatures the Sunne and Moone which in those daies were fearefully darkned and for a time seemed to haue lost their light for Anno 733. 18. Calend. Septemb. the Sunne suffred so great an Eclipse that the earth seemed to bee ouer-shadowed as with sack-cloth And Anno 756. 8. Calend. Decemb. the Moone being in her full appeared both darke and bloudy for a Starre though there be none lower then the Moone seemed to follow her and to depriue her of light but passing before her shee againe recouered her former brightnesse This King Egbert had a brother that bore the same name and was installed Arch-bishop of Yorke where he erected a beautifull Librarie a worke well befitting a Noble Prelate and plentifully stored it with an infinite number of learned bookes His sonne was Oswulph that succeeded in the Kingdome OSwulph when his father Egbert had put off the Robes of Maiestie and clad himselfe with a Monkes Cowle ascended the Throne of Northumberland and sa◅e therein only one yeere for before hee had made attempt of any memorable act he was traiterously murdered by his own seruants at Mikilwongton the ninth Kalends of August leauing the Crown vndisposed of vntill the Nones of the same moneth in the next yeere EDitwald or Mollo was then made King of Northumberland and with great valiancie defended his Subiects Some say that at the end of six yeeres hee resigned his gouernment yet others affirme his raign to be eleuen yeeres and lastly that hee was slaine by Alured his Successour ALured the murderer of his Lord and Master beganne his raigne ouer the kingdome of Northumberland the yeere of Christs Incarnation seuen hundred sixty fiue and continued the same with such dislikes that hee lastly was expelled out of the Prouince by his own subiects enforced to abandon the same He was the son of Ta◅win the son of Bie◅hom the son of Bofae the son of Ailrick the naturall son of Ida the first King of Bernicia And the sonnes of this Alured were Osred afterwards King of Northumberland and Alhnud slaine by the Danes and canonized a Saint EThelred the sonne of Mollo was aduanced to the Regiment of Northumberland and in the fifth yeere of his raigne was driuen out of the same by Edelbald and Herebert two Dukes that warred against him who hauing discomfited and slaine his Generall and souldiers in a fierce battel so weakened the hopes of King Ethelred that he fled his Country and left the Kingdome in a miserable estate through the dissensions of those ambitious Princes ALfwald the brother of the foresaid King Alered aspiring to the Soueraignty of the Northumbrians ruled the same in great Iustice to his worthy commendations notwithstanding the wickednes of his people was such that without all guilt he was traiterously murthered by the conspiracie of Siga 23. Sept. the yeere of Christs Incarnation seuen hundred eightie eight after he had raigned eleuen yeeres and his body buried at Hexhaem His sonnes were Alfus and Alfwin both slaine by King Ethelred OSred the sonne of King Alured tooke vpon him the Rule of Northumberland the yeere of grace seuen hundred eightie nine and the same yeere finished his gouernment thereof being expelled by his subiects and depriued of all kingly authority EThelred the sonne of Mollo reuoked from exile wherein he had liued the space of twelue yeeres was againe restored to the Crowne but he minding the iniuries that his Lords had formerly done him sought the reuenge by their deaths as also to establish his Throne the surer slew Alfus and Alfwin the sons of Alfwald as wee haue said the right heires to the Crowne and inticing Osred the former deposed King into his danger commanded him to be put to death at Cu◅burge the fourteenth of September and yeere of Christ seuen hundred ninety two And to strengthen himselfe the more against all his opposites the same yeere he married Lady Elfled the second Daughter to great Off a King of Mercia forsaking his former Wife without any iust cause giuen on her part These things sate so neere the hearts of his subiects that after seuen yeeres from his second establishment they rebelliously rose in Armes and at Cobre miserably slew him the eighteenth day of Aprill the yeere of Christ Iesus 794. AFter whose death the Northumbrians were sore molested with many intruders or rather Tyrants that banded for the soueraignty the space of thirty yeeres The first whereof was Oswald that held the title of King only twenty eight daies then was forced to saue his life by flight vnto the King of the Picts Next Ard◅lfe a Duke reuoked from exile then Alfwold E◅red Ethelred Readulph Osbert and Elle slaine by the Danes in Yorke at a place frō Elle his slaughter called to this day Elle-Crofte and the Kingdome yeelded to the protection of Egbert King of the West-Saxons who was now become Englands first absolute Monarch as holding all the rest of the Kings no longer for his Associates but his subiects in the yeere nine hundred twentie six after it had stood in forme of a Kingdome three hundred seuenty nine yeeres and was made a Prouince and ioined with the rest vnto the English Monarchie THE CIRCVIT AND SVCCESSORS OF THE MERCIAN KINGDOME VNTILL IT WAS SVBIECTED TO THE WEST-SAXONS CHAPTER X. THis Kingdome of Mercia contained more Counties and the skirts of that royall Tent were spread with a wider compasse then any
two yeeres though this line againe failed before it was well begunne EDVVARD THE CONFESSOR SONNE OF KING ETHELRED THE THIRTIE SEVENTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN HIS RAIGNE VERTVES AND MARRIAGE CHAPTER VI. EDward the Third of that Name before the Conquest halfe-brother to the deceased Hardi-Canute and sonne to King Ethelred by Queene Emma his wife was by the prouident care of a Mothers affection when the variable successe of Warre doubtfully depended betwixt Edmund the English and Canutus the Dane sent into Normandy to Duke Richard her Brother there to bee secured from all domesticall stirres and now before the dead corps could be enterred wi◅ generall consent of the Nobles was elected their King 2 I know well that in the legend of this holy mans life more things are recorded then with safetie of truth may be either beleeued or deliuered as that he was chosen King by consent of Parliament when as yet he was in his mothers wombe Ethelred his Father at the same time hauing many other sonnes aliue as also when the destroying Danes had extinguished by their warres almost the whole Royall issue of the English the holy Monke Brightwold of Glastenbury deploring their losse and the Lands miserable estate had in vision this Edward then an Exile presented vnto him by the Apostle S. Peter himselfe who then annointing him King in his sight telling him that his Raigne should be peaceable and twenty three yeeres for continuance Brightwold yet vnsatisfied who should next succeed demanded the resolution and was answered by Peter that the Kingdome of England was Gods owne Kingdome for whose successors himselfe would prouide With such vaine predictions our otherwise true Stories are ouer-charged which moued Comineus the worthy French Historian to tax the English with ouer much credulitie that way 3 But most true it is that the English Nobilitie disclaiming all Danish subiection presently vpon the death of King Harold enacted That none of their bloud should any more raigne ouer them putting this their decree in execution by cassiering all Danes from the Castles Forts and Garrison Townes throughout all the Land whence some euen of their Bloud Royall were forced to depart Then sending securitie into Normandy with proffer of the Crowne vnto Prince Edward had his consent and assistance of Duke William his cosen germane 4 This Edward as elsewhere hath been said was borne at Islip neere vnto Oxford and tenderly educated by Queene Emma his Mother and after his Fathers death for safety sent into France where by his sweet conuersation hee gained the loue of all and as much himselfe affected those strangers which was some blemish of policie in the face of his gouernment when he had got the Diadem as being of disposition ouer-soft and euer too pliant an imperfection in a Soueraigne to take the impresse of any stampe In which mould the aspiring Goodwin Earle of Kent doth cast the fabrick of his owne designes who had made away Alfred his younger but of a more resolute spirit that so the basis of his owne piller whose top in time he hoped to crowne might be set if not vpon yet with the neerest to the Throne 5 Hee therefore the formost both in will and power vsed both to establish Prince Edward in his right being seconded by Leofrick Earle of Chester and Lyuingus Bishop of Worcester and indeed with the generall assistance of all the English who now were so iealous of all forraine powers that they forbad an ouergreat traine of Normans though comming for his aid to attend their new-chosen King 6 His Coronation was at Winchester with great concourse of people and the celebration performed by Edsine Archbishop of Canterbury vpon the very day of Christ his resurrection being also a new-rising day to the English Nation the yeere of grace 1042. himselfe being aged then towards forty and was in number the thirty seuenth Monarch of England where he raigned with such Iustice Piety that he obtained the venerable name of Saint and vnto posterities is distinguished from the other Edwards by the adiunct Confessor 7 In the entrance of his gouernement to witnes his loue to his people hee sought euery way the furtherance of their wealth and afterwards remitted the most heauy Tribute of forty thousand pounds yearly gathered by the name of Dane-gilt which had bin imposed by his Father and payed for forty years continuance out of the lands of all except only the Clergie because say our ancient lawes the Kings reposed more confidence in the prayers of holy Church then in the power of Armies Then from the diuers Lawes of the Mercians West-Saxons Danes and Northumbrians he selected the best and made of them one body certaine and written in Latin that all men of anie learning might know wheron to rely to be the touch of his Common-wealths Pleas and the squire by which he would haue euery right to be measured being in a sort the fountaine of those which at this day we terme the Common Lawes though the formes of pleading processe therein were afterward brought in by the Conquest 8 The raigne of this King by most writers records was more spent in peace works of true piety thē in warres and bloud though some dissensions happened both domesticall and forreine for about the yeare one thousand forty fiue and third of his Raign a royal Nauy was rigged in Sandwich hauen against Magnus King of Norway who then intended to inuade England and indeed had so done if the wars of Sweyn king of Denmark had not diuerted his purpose 9 This Sweyn was the sonne of Duke Wolfe by Ostryd his Duchesse sister to Hardi-Canut who as I find written in the manuscript of Aimundus Bremensis being in possession of two kingdomes prepared his Nauy for the conquest of England also But saith hee King Edward gouerning that Kingdome with great Iustice and Loue chose rather his peace with proffers of Tribute and promises that after his death the Crowne should be his yea though himselfe should haue children how beit this seemeth not to sound for truth For Sweyn sending his Ambassadors vnto Edward to craue ayde against Magnus his grieuous and mortall Enemy could obtain none and Harold Harfager the successor of Magnus and enemy to Sweyn presently thereupon sent vnto Edward for a league of amity which was ratified firmely betwixt them 10 Neither may wee thinke that euer hee meant his Crowne that way for that besides the decree enacted against all Danish claims his desire to establish it in the English bloud is most manifest by sending for Edward his Nephew the sonne of Edmund Ironside remaining in Hungary and that so long out of England that hee was called the Outlawe who comming ouer brought with him his wife Agatha and children Edgar a sonne and Margaret and Christian his daughters him Edward meant to haue made heire to the Crowne had he not beene preuented by hasty death
odious Hugh Bigod brother to the Earle Marshall was made chiefe Iustitiar The people seemed wholy theirs which made the Barons so rough and peremptory in all their conferences that when the Lord Henrie sonne to the King of Almain refused to combine or take their oath without his Fathers consent they roundly bad him know That if his father himselfe would not hold with the Baronage of England he should not haue a furrowre of earth among them And least anie thing which might tend to their securitie should seeme to be omitted they vsing the Kings name commanded London to stand vpon her guard by keeping their Cities gates carefully shut by maintaining strong watches night by night vpon pretence of danger to the Realme through the practises of strangers and after they dispatched thither certaine fit Agents who in the Guilde-hall made known their commission which was directly to vnderstand whether they would iâ—…utably adhere to the Barons and obey their constitutions by manfully aiding and effectually supplying them in the common cause Whereunto the Citizens condescended binding themselues thereunto vnder the publike seale of London 94 The Barons did as yet forbeare to declare what those reformatorie Prouisions should be because the Earle of Gloucester a principall man among them was in danger of death whose sicknesse did perplex suspend their proceedings the maner of his maladie did put them in doubt of their owne safeties making them grow in distrust of their Cooks their butlers and sewers for the Earle his body breaking out into pustules and his haire nailes teeth and skinne it selfe falling away was as many others of which some died thought to be poisoned But whither they were or no the Poictouines and strangers had the blame laid vpon them to make them the more odious to the Commons But the Earle partly recouered his health in time by the benefit of medicines and diligent attendance The poisons were said to haue beene tempered in the house of Elias a Iew afterward baptized The King himselfe perhaps would not haue beene sorry if that he Simon Earle of Leicester and some few others of the Barons had beene with God for howsoeuer his body was among them yet his heart was not at quiet which in this wise well appeared For being in the moneth of Iune vpon the riuer of Thames in his barge the aier sodeinly grew darke and there ensued a terrible shower with thunder and lightning of which the king impatient commands himselfe to be set on land at the next place which was Durham house whereas then the Earle of Leicester lay The Earle being thereof certified came out to entertaine him saying Sir why are you afraid the tempest is now past whereunto he answered with a seuere looke I feare thunder and lightning aboue measure but by the head of God I doe more feare thee then all the thunder and lightning of the world Whereunto the Earle replied My liege it is iniurious and incredible that you should stand in feare of me who haue alwaies beene loyall both to you and your Realme whereas you ought to feare your enemies such as destroy the Realme and abuse you with bad Counsels The Barons therefore remaining firme in their first purpose send messengers abroad to will all such as had beene wronged by the Kings halfe-brothers and other Poictouines and strangers to present their greeuances to the Barons and to prosecute them Moreouer because sundry other petty-tyrants of the English nation encouraged by their example had exceeded their limits in oppressing their inferiours they procured the King to appoint foure Knights Commissioners in euerie shire to enquire of all such iniuries and certifie the same vnder their seales within a certaine time limitted 95 The Barons in the meane time neglect not their enterprize at whose instance principally of Hugh Bigod the new chiefe Iustitiar Philip Louel the Kings Treasurer for abuses committed in the Kings Forrests and game about Stony-Stratford and many Officers of the Exchecquer were likewise remoued to giue roome to such as the Barons better liked The Sherifs likewise of Shires their practises and extortions were diligentlie seene into and it was ordeined that as well the giuers as takers of bribes should be seuerely punisht The welsh seeing these â—…und proceedings in England the peace reflorishment whereof they feared labored for reconciliation but could not then obteine it 96 Richard King of Romans hauing a desire to see the King his brother and his lands in England not without a purpose to bring an Armie or such a number of men as might greatly strengthen the King against the Barons as they suspected was aduertised that they prouided for his resistance aswell by land as sea This made him his wife and sonne to lay aside that purpose and to arriue in a priuate maner at Douer with a small traine in which there were onely two Earles and about nine Knights The king met him with great congratulation at the Sea side but nor King nor hee could bee suffered to enter into Douer Castle because forsooth it was the principall Key of England for the safegard whereof they openly exacted an Oath of him at Canterburie in this manner The holy Gospels being laide vpon the Pulpet in the Chapter-house of Canterbury the Barons reuerently brought in thither the Kings of England and of Almaine then Richard Earle of Glocester for Simon Earle of Leicester was gone with others into France to deale with the King and States thereof about a perpetuall league standing in the midst openly and in humble sort cals Richard King of Romans vnto him by the name onely of Richard Earle of Cornwall who obeyed accordingly to whom hee distinctly ministred the Oath following Heare all men that I Richard Earle of Cornwall sweare vpon the holy Gospels to bee faithfull and forward to reforme with you the Kingdome of England hitherto by the counsell of wicked men too much deformed And I will be an effectuall Coadiutor to expell the Rebels and troubles of the Realme from out the same This oath will I obserue vpon paine to forfeit all the lands I haue in England On the other side had the King known how to vse it there fell out such dissention between the Earles of Gloucester and Leicester that Leicester departed from England discontented saying he tooke no ioy to liue among men so mutable and deceitfull Neuerthelesse such meanes were vsed that these two chiefe Captaines of the Barons brake not forth into any farther diuision Thus whiles the Barons vsing the Kings name disposed of all things and Simon de Montfort Earle of Leicester was gone with others to transact with the French about an indissoluble league the King himselfe through desire not to be interrupted with forraine matters if warre should rise at home or through want of money or better aduise was induced if not betrayed to an act of little honour though it carried with it the
halfe out of breath with headlong haste and terribly disordered with the perpetuall stormes of singing arrowes were now at hand-strokes with the Princes battell neither was it long but that the shining Battell axes swords lances and other weapons of our nation had lost their splendor being couered with humane gore which hauing thirstily drunke out of enemies wounds they let fall in bloudy teares The fight was sharpe and fierce but to what purpose serues writing if the high resolution of the king of Bohemia should be vnremembred he as onely seeking an honourable graue for his old age put himselfe into the first ranke of his owne horsemen and with full randome charging the English was slaine with sword in hand the troupe of his faithfull follower with their slaughtered bodies couering him euen in death There lay this Trophea of the English Cheualrie by whose fall euidently seene in the ruine of the Bohemian Standard his noble sonne the Lord Charles of Boheme lately elected Emperor whilest Lewis was as yet aliue was wisely warned to prouide for himselfe the matter appearing desperate For now was Philip himselfe in person with the ful power of his Armie come to the rescues of his brother and friends who were hard at worke while they had breath about their dreamed victorie but finding the mettall infinitely more tough which they had to deale vpon then they could possibly haue supposed were beaten to the earth in great numbers The young Prince neuerthelesse was not without danger though now the second battell of the English for preseruation of their Prince dashing in among the enemies fought most couragiously 95 Therefore King Edward himselfe was sent vnto whose battel houered like a tempest in a cloud ouer which vpon the hillocke of a Windmill with his helmet on which neuer came off till all was done he iudiciously watcht beholding the whole field and ready to enter into the conflict when iust necessity should inuite You shall heare a most noble answere The messenger dispatched from the Earle of Northampton and others vpon a tender respect to their young Princes safety hauing declared to the King that the Lords required his presence for that his sonne was in danger he bad him return and say Let them send no more to mee for any aduenture that may befall while my sonne is aliue but let him either vanquish or die because the honour of this braue day shall bee his if God suffer him to suruiue 96 The Messenger returned and though hee brought not men to their succours hee brought such accession of courage and spirite as hee that should say that King Edward failed them at their neede should neither vnderstand what belongs to magnanimitie nor the effect of such a checke from so excellent a Generall who neuerthelesse was maturely watchfull ouer the good of his childe and people on the other side King Philip whose quarrell it was did not forsake the duety of a noble Chiefe but so long contended in his owne person till his horse was slaine vnder him with arrowes himselfe * twice dismounted and wounded both in the necke and thigh but then the Lord Iohn of Henault Earle of Beaumont who had long since quit King Edwards seruice sets him againe on horsebacke and the French out of a loyall desire to his preseruation cried to retire him out of the fight who rather seemed willing to end his dayes in so noble companie which voice was as it were the vp-shot and last Gaspe of that most cruell conflict where none as yet were taken to mercy vpon any termes After their King had preserued himselfe the whole power of the French gaue away and sought to saue it selfe by flight whom the English warely fighting vpon the defensiue and loath to hazard such a victory by breaking their rancks to pursue the enemie too farre in the night time which now was come vpon them suffered them to be holden in chase by their owne iust feare contented to make good their ground by standing still vpon their guard according to true discipline For they saw not as yet the bottome of their danger and knew that there were so many escaped as might well serue to ouerwhelme their Army with their multitudes 97 King Edward seeing the coast for the present cleare of all his enemies aduanceth with his vntoucht battell towards his victorious sonne most affectionately embracing and kissing him said Faire Sonne God send you good perseâ—…erance to so prosperous beginnings you haue nobly acquit your selfe and are well worthy to haue the Gouernance of a Kingdome entrusted vnto you for your valour To which the most cheualrous of young Princes replied in silence most humbly falling on his knees before his triumphant father 98 Here there may be some controuersie whether the exemplary manhood of the English or their singular pietie were more to be commended but who will not infinitely preferre the latter chiefly in Souldiers among whom it is vsually most wanting Great was the victorie great was their prowesse great the glory but they like true Christian knights and Souldiers forbare all boast referring the whole thankes and honour of their preseruation to God the true Author thereof The night was so very darke as if it had mourned for the day times bloudshed therefore they made store of fires lighted torches and candles carefully tending their wounded companions and modestly reioycing in their owne faire aduenture 99 But the next morning presented new work for such a mist hauing ouerspread the earth that they could scarse see hard at hand yet were new swarms of French abroad who came from sundrie Cities and good townes as Roan Beauois c. to haue ioyned with King Philip in the designed spoile of the English these being mette with by King Edwards people were in sundry places ouerthrowne and slaine and multitudes of such as had lost their way in the last flight were seuerely put to the sword as the English chanced vpon them where they lay lurking in hedges bushes and by-wayes The Earles of Northampton Suffolke and Norfolke had the execution of the French which fled from this last ouerthrow for the space of about nine miles English from the ground where they encountred 100 There was leasure now to take an account of the slaine which vpon the enemies side amounted not onely in the number to very many but in their quality to very great For search hereof king Edward caused certaine principall commanders three Heraldes who by the Coat-Armours might iudge of the persons it being then a thing perpetuall and solemne not to fight without those signes of Noblesse to take an exact view of the field who about supper time returning made report to the King that they found the dead bodies of eleuen great Princes and of Barons Knights and men of Armes aboue one thousand and fiue hundreth Among the
made by the English are notwithstanding obserued at this day But the Dukes eye could not looke so farre into the times to come Neuerthelesse wee that see these things must confesse that the best kingdome vnder heauen is not so worth the getting as that with the wilfull contempt of God and conscience any man should seeke to purchase it 94 But while the Duke was thus busied in Courting the Gascoignes good will who had sent into England to shew causes why they should not atturne to the Duke and yet were wrought at last to the point of yeelding he receiues a commandement from King Richard to returne that he might goe with him into France which he obayed The King keeping his at Langley in Hartfordshire the Duke was there entertained with more honour as it was thought then loue Being licenced to depart for a time he repaired to Lincolne where he a widdower married his old loue the Lady Katherine Swinford now a widdow Men did wonder at it but hee therein obeyed the remorse of a Christian conscience without respect to his owne vnequall greatnes for hauing had sundry Children by her in his former wiues time he made her and them now the only sufficient amends which the law of God or man enioineth And further in a Parliament held the yeere following the Duke procured an Act to passe by which such children as he formerly had by his new Dutchesse were legitimated and surnamed them Beufot being foure of them Iohn Thomas Henrie Ioane the second of which was by the Kings bounty created Earle of Sommerset 95 The King being specially accompanied with those his vncles of Lancaster and Glocester at a most sumptuous and chargefull enteruiew between him and Charles King of France in the parts of Calis and Gynes espoused the Lady Isabell daughter of the said Charles At the deliuery of her King Richard in the presence of all the greatest Princes Peeres and Ladies of either nation gaue the King his father in law great thanks for a gift so noble and acceptable adding he tooke her vpon the conditions made betweene the two nations to the intent that liuing in peace and rest they might attaine to the establishment of a perpetuall amitie for auoyding the effusion of Christian blood which would in likelyhood haue followed had not at that time affinitie beene contracted betweene them The young Lady was not aboue seuen or eight yeeres old but the truce was taken for thirty yeeres Her person therefore was committed to the Dutchesses of Lancaster and Glocester and other great Ladies who conducted her to Callis From whence after a short stay the King his young Queene with whom he had great riches and all the glorious companie came ouer into England Their persons arriued safe but the Kings gorgeous Pauilions and a great part of his stuffe was cast away by tempest in the transportation This iourney besides his losses at Sea cost the King aboue forty thousand markes 96 The outward felicitie of England seemed at this time verie great and the rather seemed so because it was likelie to continue In the Duke of Glocesters persō that bright prosperity was first ouershadowed He Vir ferocissimus pracipitis ingenij as Polydor censures him a most fierce man and of an headlong wit thinking those times wherein he had mastred the King were nothing changed though the King was aboue thirty yeres old forbare not roughly not so much to admonish as to checke and schoole his Souereigne The peace with France displeased him that therefore he calumniates The King had restored Brest in Britaine to the Duke vpon reembursements of the money lent he tels the King that hee should first conquer a Towne before he parted with any yet the King answeres that he could not in conscience detaine the same now that the Duke had repaid his loane There were other things which could not so well be answered For a vaine rumor that he should be chosen Emperour put him belike into such a vaine of spending as carried a proportion with that maiesty his coffers in a short time sounding like empty Caske there was no great monied man in whose debt he was not nor any in a manner so meane to whome hee was not burthenous 97 The King had heretofore complained of this vncle to the Earle of Saint Paul a French-man then in England whose iudgement was that such insolency was to be reuenged but complaining to his other vncles of Lancaster and Yorke they wisely aduised the King not to regard his words but his heart which he and they knew sincere vnto him Neuerthelesse partly to weaken the intollerable humor of their brother who like a constant Admirer of his owne waies thought nothing well done but what himselfe either did or directed and partlie to auoid the scandall of the Kings bad courses they withdraw their presences from the Court The King notwithstanding is the same man still as the Duke of Glocester thinks wherefore he breakes his minde to such as he durst trust Arundell in Sussex is appointed the Consultation-place where he the Archbishop of Canterbury the Earles of Arundell Warwicke Marshall and others take an Oath of Secrecy and conclude to raise a power to remoue the Dukes of Lancaster and Yorke and such other as they thought best from about the King so to enact a reformation 98 They are charged by some to haue plotted the imprisonment of the King and Dukes and the death of all other Councellours which howsoeuer it was perhaps no part of their intention might yet haue beene a necessarie consequent The blustring Duke had breathed out dangerous words as that he would put the King of whose courage he spake contemptiblie into some prison there to spend his daies in ease and peace as himselfe thought best His brethren hearing hereof brotherlie admonish him to beware but as it seemes they found him deafe on that side This though some of the late Authors write yet there are both old and new who mention no such matter but the contrary not obscurely teaching vs that the Dukes ruine was but an effect of old malignities 99 Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham and Marshall a party in the reported plot though sonne in law to the Earle of Arundel reueileth the same to the King * The Duke of Glocester is hereuppon surprized by Mowbray lying in wait in the woods where hee was to passe sent to Callis where Nottingham was Captaine and there imprisoned the Earles of Arundel and Warwicke the Lord Iohn Cobham and Sir Iohn Cheiney are arrested Proclamation is then made that they were not committed for anie old matters but for hainous things newly contriued as in the next Parliament should be made manifest though the euent as Walfingham truly saith declared the contrarie But the Duke of Glocester and the two said Earles are endited at Nottingham The King to maintaine the accusation of treason obiected
him to draw his comfort out of holy meditations as one whose violent death ensued before long and turne ouer to his politike and martiall Successor 117 Yet in our way wee may not quite ouerpasse a cursory consideration of the affaires of the Church vnder this King which for auoiding often interruptions of other argument we haue put off to this last place For albeit the Kingdome indured great crosses in the affaires of State yet some haue thought that it found as great blessings in matters of religion which in those daies tooke so deepe root in this our land by the preaching of Iohn Wicliffe that the branches thereof did spread themselues euen ouer the Seas Nor were the common people only allured with his doctrine though the Londoners fauouring of him is thought by Walsingham to haue deterred the Prelates from proceeding against him and a scholler of his in Leicestershire is said to haue drawn by his preaching all the Laymen in that Countrey but as the same Authour reporteth sundrie of the Fryars themselues fell to him and imbraced his opinions amongst whom one being also the Popes Chaplaine so discouered by preaching the murders luxuries and treasons of Fryars of his owne Habit that the common people were astonied with the horror thereof and cried out to haue them all vtterly destroied which his accusations he particularlie iustified by publike writing professing he came forth of that Order as out of the Diuels nest But that which Walsingham much more admires is that Wicliffes opinions were not onlie entertained in ordinary Cities but euen in the Vniuersity of Oxford it selfe where was the very top of wisdome and learning and where not only two Chancellors successiuely Doctor Nicholas Hereford and Robert Rugge were most earnest maintainers of Wicliffes doctrine but also when the pope to suppresse the same doctrine sent his Bull to the Vniuersity threatning the priuation of all their priuileges the Proctors and Regents thereof were very doubtfull whether they should receiue the Popes Bull with honour or rather reiect it with open disgrace Yea the whole body of that glorious Vniuersitie as the Pope there cals it in his Bull gaue a glorious Testimony vnder their publike seale of Wicliffes religious life profound learning orthodoxe opinions exquisite writings all farthest from any staine of heresie 118 And therefore no marueile if not onely the Duke of Lancaster with sundry Peeres and great ones but King Edward 3. himselfe were as Capgraue testifieth a fauourer of him and King Richard 2. and the whole Parliament did according to his instructions much labour to abrogate the Popes Transcendent power which was a principall cause of the Popes hatred against him Notwithstanding to discountenance the truth which he taught in defence of Regall Supremacy against Papall Vsurpation as also against the Masse Transubstantiation Merit against Adoration of the Hoast of Saints Images and Reliques against Fryarly Orders Pilgrimages Indulgences many lewd opinions by misconstruction as his bookes yet extant euince are fathered on him yea some so monstrous and diabolicall as that Men ought yea that God himselfe ought to obay the Diuell that that any man which heareth them will presently belieue without further perswasion that they are but malicious figments This famous Doctor dying of a palsie hath this charitable Euloge or Epitaph bestowed on him by a Monke The Diuels Instrument Churches Enemy Peoples Confusion Heretikes Idole Hypocrites mirrour Schismes broacher hatreds sower lyes forger Flatteries sincke who at his death dispaired like Cain and stricken by the horrible iudgement of God breathed forth his wicked soule to the darke mansion of the blacke diuell Whereby Gods best children may learne not to regard whiles they liue the malice of the wicked nor to respect after their death ought else but their slanderous rancor And thus we conclude the raigne though not the life of King Richard His first wife 119 The first wife of King Richard the second was Anne daughter vnto the Emperour Charles the fourth and sister to Wenceslaus Emperour and King of Bohemia who was crowned Quene the 22. of Ianuary 1384. Hauing beene tenne yeeres his wife shee dyed without any issue at Sheen in the County of Surrey 1394. whence her body was conuayed and buried at Westminster the seuenth of the Ides of Iune His second Wife 120 Isabell daughter vnto Charles the sixth King of France was a virgin about seuen yeers of age when shee was affianced vnto King Richard 1396. Neither had her husband it seemeth anie nuptiall fruition of her by reason of her tender age before such time as his traiterous Lords to compasse their owne disloyall purposes and gratifie an vsurpers ambition had dethroned him What became of this young Ladie we shall further see in the ensuing storie HENRIE THE FOVRTH KING OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE LORD OF IRELAND THE FIFTIE ONE MONARCH OF ENGLAND HIS RAIGNE ACTS AND ISSVE CHAPTER XIIII HENRIE of that name the fourth hauing thus obtained the title of king in full accomplishment of all rites peculiar to Maiesty had the Crowne of England set vpon his head with all worldly magnificence and honour at Westminster by Thomas Arundel Archbishoppe of Canterbury vpon the selfe day twelue moneth in which hee had formerly beene banished vnder Richard the second Power and fauour can set vp and maintaine a King though they cannot create aright But such transcendent courses deuiating from all due regulation of Iustice haue been too frequent in this Kingdome What right had William surnamed the Conquerour what right we speake of a right of Equity had his sonnes William the second and Henry the first while their elder brother liued what right had that valiant and princely Stephen what was the interest of Henry the second during the life of his mother Mathildis or that of King Iohn till his Nephew Arthur Duke of Britaine died yea or that of Henry the third till Arthurs sister died in her prison at Bristow How beit in this present case not only Richard the late king but the house of Mortimer claiming from the onely daughter* and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarente an elder brother of Iohn D. of Lancaster doubly might haue withstood the legall challenge of this Prince That obstacle which grew by Richard was in apparance greatest but the other was onely dangerous Richard had no issue but the line of Mortimer engraffed by marriage into the house of Yorke feeling it selfe vnable to preuaile and during Richards life time hauing no right secretly fostered in it selfe those fires which afterward brake forth and taking hold of the roofe-tops of both the royall houses neuer left burning till no one principall timber was vnconsumed in either all the Male-Issues which could claime by a direct line vtterlie lopt downe thousand friends at Pomfret they proceed to Wallingford then to Abingdon and so to Circester The rumors vsed by
swallowing about fiue hundreth in his vnknowne depthes as they who fled from the battell sought to passe This victory hapned vpon Holyrood in haruest The troubles which afterward hapned did not onely hinder the Lord Percie from farther prosecution of such a victorie but eclypsed the honour hee had gotten now and gaue his dayes a bloudy foule Catastrophe 29 The Lord Edmund Mortimer Earle of March next generall heire in bloud to the Crowne of England after the death of Richard the second hauing through feare of Owen whose prisoner hee was or hope of recouering his right or for reuenge because the King did not ransom him married Owens daughter by which hee must necessarily declare himselfe an enemie to King Henrie entertained intelligence with his neere kinsmen the Percies and sundry other his friends in Cheshire and elsewhere to what purpose will shortly appeare The night in which this Lord Mortimer though some referre it to Owens birth was born all the horses in his fathers stable are said to haue bin found standing Belly-deep in bloud A fearefull prodigie as euen then it seemed but verified afterward in the farre more fearefull euents when vpon the quarrell of Mortimers title by which the house of Yorke claimed the horses of warre did not onely stand belly-deepe in bloud but also swam therein The mischiefe was already begun for Henry Earle of Northumberland when now his owne and his houses strengths were mightily encreased by this late victory against the Scots which he vnder-hand seemes to haue conuerted to his secret priuate ends closely animated his brother the Earle of Worcester and his fiery spirited son against the King to both their confusions 30 The King tooke to wife the Lady Iane of Nauarre widdow of Iohn de Montfort Duke of Britaine named the Conquerour who died the yeere before by whom she had issue both sons and daughters but by the King none He met and married her at Winchester and crowned her Queene at Westminster The King was not trusted with the custody of any her three sonnes Iohn Richard Arthur who remained in France 31 Euents are the best interpreters of prophesies and prodigies Strange was that which Walsingham hath written of a fatall Spectrum or Apparitions in the summer time betweene Bedford and Bickleswade where sundry monsters of diuers colours in the shapes of armed men were often seene to issue out of the woods at morning and at noone which to such as stood farre off seemed to encounter one the other in most terrible manner but when they drew neer nothing was to be found Of another nature were the fiery attempts of the Percies The first of them who discouered in armes his mortall hatred was the noble Hotspur who vnder colour of the Scottish warre made head about Chester and the marches of Wales To him by the priuitie of Hotspurs father repaires the naughtie old man the Earle of Worcester leauing the young Prince of Wales and the Princes houshold ouer both which for their better Gouernment the King had placed him Now was the torch of warre lighted vp and began to blaze for though the chiefe plot-master the Earle of Northumberland was not ioined to them as hee did intend yet were their numbers growne mightily with which they meant to enter the Towne of Shrewsbury to make thereof a Seat of warre 32 Colourable causes of their armes were the ordinarie paintings of the like attempts Care of common-wealths reformation and their owne safeties for hauing first protested their intentions not to be the breach of loyaltie they pretend and by letters sent about doe signifie 1. That the publike monie was not employed vpon the pretended defence of the kingdome but vnduly wasted 2. That by reason of bad tongues about the King they durst not approach him to declare their innocency vnlesse the Prelates and Peeres of the Realme did first intercede for them 3. That they tooke armes onely to guard their owne heads and to see the Kingdome better gouerned These Articles had the place of the Huske but the kernell of the enterprize had principallie these 1. To thrust King Henry out of his seat and consequently to depriue him of life 2. To aduance the title of the Lord Mortimer Earle of Mâ—…ch their neerest Allie for the Earle of Northumberland had married Elizabeth the daughter of the Lord Edmund Mortimer the elder Earle of March by Philip daughter to Lionel Duke of Clarence 3. To take reuenge of King Henry for seeking to drawe the chiefe benefit to himselfe of the victory at Halidowâ—… hill whose principall prisoners he required and for such other priuate grudges 4. To share the Kingdome betweene Mortimer Percy and Owen Glendower Concerning which partition it is in some found written that Indentures tripartite were sealed showing that South-England should remaine to Mortimer North-England to Percy and Wales beyond Seuern to Glendower But Archembald Earle of Dowglas who did his Countrey good seruice by making one in our Combustions by common consent was allowed for his share to be free from ransome and to haue Berwicke 33 This in our English Adages is called to reckon without our host or to count our chickens before they are hatched But though at this time God would haue it so yet who doth not easily see what a wild horse a kingdome so gotten is and how hard to sit and not to manage onlie Yet it seemeth that if Mortimer hauing so iust a title to the Crowne had openlie professed the cause of his attempt against King Henry it might iustlie haue beene exempted from all staine of disabilitie But this partition is said to haue beene wisely built vpon a sound Welsh prophesie of Merlins as if King Henry were the Mowldwarp cursed of Gods owne mouth and Mortimer Percy and Glendower the Dragon Lyon and Wolfe which should diuide this Realme betweene them Surely the Welsh hauing any hand in such a partition it is not likelie they could thinke it had the right feete if it stood not vpon the supposed Merlins his ridiculous cosenages and riddles The English not to be behind in leasings doe in the meanetime euery where spread that Richard was safe aliue and in the Castle of Chester Who can wonder that this name should be so gratious as if alone it were enough to haue shaken Henry out of his State when Nero himselfe had so many fauorites that twenty yeeres after his death an obscure fellow faining himselfe Nero was so backt and countenanced by the Parthians and others that not without much difficulty the Romans could get him into their hands 34 On the other side King Henry assailed with so vnexpected ieopardies defends his cause by letters and strongly puts the blame vpon the accusers saying That he maruelled exceedingly seeing the Earle of Northumberland and Henry his Sonne had the greatest part of the publike moneys deliuered to them for defence of the borders against
13. of Richard 2. which disabled the Alien Religious to enioy any Benefices within England and now fearing to nourish a snake in his bosome King Henry forbad the French from all preferments Ecclesiasticall and those Priors Aliens conuentual who had institution and induction to put in security not to disclose or cause to be disclosed the counsell nor secrets of the Realme and that the French might hold his dealings honourable and open hee sent Antilop his purseuant at Armes vnto King Charles with letters of defiances next making Queene Ioan his mother in Law the Regent of the land he drew his forces vnto Southampton commaunding his followers there to attend him in readinesse by the feast of Saint Iohn Baptist ensuing 30 Charles the French King expecting present inuasion sent his Ambassadors vnto Iohn the sixt Duke of Britain who had married his daughter with an hundred thousand Crowns to leuie forces for his aide and a Iewell worth fiue thousand Crownes more to himselfe which the Duke promised to come in person to performe And as it is reported King Charles sent to Scrope Grey and Cambridge all three in especiall fauour with the King a million of gold to betray Henry into his hands or to murther him before hee should arriue in Normandy These to make their faction stronger though Scroope was Lord Treasurer Grey a Priuie Councellour Cambridge the sonne of Edmund Duke of Yorke meant to draw in Edmund Earle of March the sonne of Roger Mortimer and lineally the heire vnto Lionell Duke of Clarence the next in succession for the house of Yorke and reuealing their intended purpose forced him to sweare to their secresie which if hee refused they threatned his death whereupon he required but an howres respite which hardly granted he went to the King and reuealed the conspiracie euen the night before the day that hee meant to put to sea 31 The parties apprehended and brought before him in presence of many nobles King Henry thus spake With what horrour O Lord may anie true English heart consider that you for pleasing of a forreine enemy should imbrue your hands in our blood as also in the blood of our brethren to the ruine of your owne natiue soile reuenge herein touching my person though I seeke not yet for the safegard of you my deare friends and for due preseruation of the Realme I am by place and office to minister remedy against these Offenders Get you hence therefore you miserable wretches to receiue the iust reward of your deserts wherein God giue you repentance for your so foule sinnes 32 Notwithstanding this their offence their inditement as it standeth in the Record includes matter of other quality that Richard Earle of Cambridge of Conesburgh in the County of Yorke and Thomas Grey of Heton in the Countie of Northumberland Knight for that they in the twentieth of Iuly and third of King Henry the fifts raigne at Southampton had conspired together with a power of men to haue lead away the Lord Edmund Earle of March into Wales and to haue procured him to take the Gouernment of the Realme in case that King Richard the second were dead with a purpose to haue put forth a Proclamation in the name of the said Earle as heire to the Crowne against King Henry by the name of Lancaster vsurper and further to haue conuayed a Banner of the Armes of England and a certaine Crowne of Spaine set vpon a Pallet layd in gage to the sayd Earle of Cambridge into Wales As also that the said conspirators had appointed certaine into Scotland to bring thence one Trumpington and another resembling in shape fauour and countenance King Richard And Henrie Scroope of Masham in the Countie of Yorke was likewise indited as consenting to the Premisses Thus well appeared their purpose though Richard Earle of Cambridge considering the possibility of his owne issue had secretly carried that businesse whose sorrowfull letter of his owne hand writing as it came to ours we thinke not amisse here to insert Most dreadfull and Soueraigne Liege Lord I Richard Yorke your humble subiect and very Leigeman beseech you of grace of all manner of offences which I haue 〈◊〉 or assented vnto in any kind by stirring of other folke egging me vnto wherein I wot well I haue highly offended to your Highnesse beseeching you at the reuerence of God that you like to take mee into the hands of your mercifull and piteous grace thinking yee will of your 〈◊〉 goodnes my Leige Lord my full trust is that you will hauâ—… consideration though that my person be of none valew your high goodnesse where God hath set you in sâ—… high estate to euery Leigeman that you longeth plent 〈◊〉 to â—…ue that you like to accept this my simple request for the loue of our Lady and the blessed holy Ghost to whom I pray that they moue your heart euer to all pittie and grace for their high goodnes Notwithstanding this his humble petition vpon the sixt of August following hee with Scroope and Grey were beheaded and his body with head enterred in the Chappell of Gods-house in South-hampton whose apprehensions arraignements and deaths were so followed each after others as the French knew not but that the treason had successe and their returned Ambassadours told it for certaine that King Henry had either dismissed his Army or which was thought more true himselfe was slaine by the Conspirators so easie an entrance hath babling report into the wide eares of credulous desire 33 But King Henrie now ready to embarke his men vpon Wednesday the seauenth of August with fifteene hundred Saile tooke to Seas attended with sixe thousand speares and twenty foure thousand footmen besides Gunners Enginers Artificers and Labourers a great number and the fifteenth of the same month cast Anchor in the mouth of Seyne at a place called Kideaux about three miles from Harflew where he landed his men and falling deuoutly vpon his knees desired Gods assistance to recouer his right making Proclamation vpon paine of death that Churches should be spared from all violence of spoile that Churchmen women and Children should not be hurt abused or wronged then giuing the order of Knighthood to many of his followers hee assigned his Standards to men of most strength and courage which done he tooke the hill neere adioyning and thence sent his spiall to the Towne of Harflew making that the first assay of his fortunes in France But before we enter any further discourse in the affaires of that Kingdome it shall not be amisse to speake of things commenced in England before that King Henry tooke to the Seas 34 The Churches throughout Christendome hauing beene disquieted the space of twentie nine yeers and now growne intollerable through the schismaticall ambitions maintained by three Papall Monarchs mounted into Saint Peters seate each of them grasping the Chaire with so fast a fist that the ioints thereof
and bare-legged And such was their courage notwithstanding their wants as he that ere while could scarcely bend his Bow is able now to draw his yard-long arrow to the verie head whose roauing marke was the flancke of the French so rightly aimed at and so strongely stucke on that their sides were altogether larded with arrowes whereby the vantgard was instantly distrest and disordered into such a confused presse as they were not able to vse their weapons at any aduantage Their wings likewise assayd to charge the English but Mounsieur de Lignie in the one not well seconded by his troopes was forced back and Guilliaum de Surreres charging home in the other was slaine The Battalions now brokē for safety fled to the Main where they breed both feare and confusion by the vnrulinesse of their wounded horses so galled with arrowes as they could not be gouerned 56 The first troope of the French horse were exquisitely appointed whereon their riders much presumed and meant to haue burst through the Archers with a violent course but they giuing backe left their sharpe pointed stakes sticking which till then were vnseene the French supposing the Archers had fled came on with their horse vpon the spur and that in such heat as the earth seemed to tremble vnder their thundering feet and being forced forward without foresight of danger carried their proud Riders into the iawes of destruction for falling by troopes vpon those goaring stakes they were miserably ouerthrowne and paunched to death The tempests of arrowes still whisling in the aire sparkled fire in their fals from the helmets of the French and with their steeled heads rang manie thousands their knels that dolefull day who like to corne cut downe with the sith fell by whole plumps in that fatall field the English still following the aduantage against whome Anthoine Duke of Brabant hoping by his example to encourage others followed with a few turned head and brake into the English Battell wherein manfully fighting hee was slaine 57 With the like manhood Duke Alenzon a lusty French Lord pressed into the Battalion where King Henry fought and incountering Humfrey Duke of Glocester the Kings brother both wounded and ouerthrew him to whose rescue if Henry had not come he had died more honourablie then afterward hee did for King Henry bestriding him deliuered his said brother from danger and wanne himselfe much honour by the deed Alenzon then coped with King Henry in fight and with his Axe cut a part of his Crowne which blow was so surelie laid on that therewith his helmet was battered vnto his brow but the Lyon enraged with redoubled strength stroke the French Gallant vnto the ground and slew two of his men that seconded their Master The Duke thus down cried to the King I am Alenzon whom Henry sought to haue saued and so had done had not the deafe eares of reuenge stopt all sound of life against him that so had endangered their Souereigne Lord. 58 The French Reregard surprised with feare at the disaster of the vantgard and the maine battell fled not striking one stroake except some principall leaders and they not many the English horsemen fetched a compasse and wheeled about vpon their backes which no sooner was perceiued but that the taxe of fighting was ended and the worke of killing began as by the words of Walsingham doth manifestly appeare The way saith he is at length made by fine force the French did not so much giue place as fall dead to the earth for when they saw those beaten indeed vnderfoote whom they reputed inuincible their minds forthwith grew amazed and such an iciefeare slyd through their marrow that they stood still like senselesse Images while our men wrested weapons out of their hands and slew them therewith as beasts Slaughter then had lost the stay of it selfe and fight did follow no longer but all the warre was made at throates which as it were offered themselues to be cut neither can the English kill so manie of the enemies as may bee killed Thus therefore the whole glory of the French name is almost perished by the hands of those few wh◅ immediately before they held in most extreme contempt But the sword now made weary and drunke with blood all danger past and humanity retired prisoners were taken and liues spared which hitherto was neglected least mercy might haue proued the destruction of themselues 59 Whilst the King was thus busied the successe of the battell in dispute his carriages but sclenderly garded by the French were assailed all made spoile of that was to be had The Captaines of this cowardly enterprize were Robinet de Bourneuille Rifflant de Clumasse and Isambert de Agincourt with sixe hundred Peasants who had turned their faces at the first brunt of Battell as men of better practise to pilfer then to purchase by manhood the spoiles of the field Where among other things they found a rich Crowne and sword which they bare away in triumph-wise fayning that King Henry was taken and as a prisoner followed their troopes the sight of certaine English prisoners by them taken and led away cōfirming the report more strongly in the beholders conceit But King Henry breathlesse and in heat of blood seeing certaine new troopes of the King of Sicils appeare in the field and the same strong inough to encounter with his weary men fearing as hee had cause that the Bourbon Battalion vpon sight of fresh succours would gather into a body and againe make head considering withall how his men were ouer-charged with multitudes of Prisoners who in number surmounted their Conquerours that the charge would be double at once to guard and to fight and that the prisoners would be ready vpon euery aduantage to take armes and free themselues from their takers these and other necessities constrayning King Henry contrary to his wonted generous nature gaue present commandement that euery man should kil his Prisoner which was immediately perfourmed certaine principall men excepted Which done and falling againe in Order hee sent his Heraulds vnto these troopes assembled commanding them forthwith to come vnto Battell or else to depart the field either of which if they delaied he threatned to reuenge with their deathes without any redemption or mercy at which seuere sentence their hearts were so daunted that with shame and dishonour they departed the field The base surprisall of the Kings carriages the only cause as some alleage of the French prisoners death was so ill disgested by the French themselues that the Duke of Burgundie imprisoned the Actors thereof and was minded to haue put them to death had not his sonne the Count of Charolois mediated for them vnto whom they presented King Henries rich sword the guards whereof was gold set with stones of great price 60 The day almost spent in spending French
Isabell his mother the Prince of Orange likewise came thither vnto Henry but because he required an Oath of him as a subiect of France he went away displeased saying he was a free Prince and ought neither obedience to England nor France At which time the Parisians with more respect of their owne safety committed their City vnto K. Henries deuotion who deputed his brother Clarence though Count Saint Paul with his French displeased Gouernour thereof and put Garrisons into the Bastile of S. Anthonie the Lowre and the Hostill de Nesle During this siege mandatory letters were sent by King Charles into Picardy to put all places that held for him in those quarters into Henries possession and to take the Oath of their obedience vnto him as to the only heire Successor Regent and Gouernour of France the execution whereof was committed to the Count of Saint Paul the Bishops of Therouenne and Arras the Vidame of Amiens the Lord of Vendueill the Gouernour of Lisle Pierre Marigny Aduocate of the Parliament and George Ostend the Kings Secretary beginning thus Charles par le Grace de Dieu c. 60 The distresse of Melun was wonderfull great aswell vpon the seegers as defendants the one afflicted and their troupes sore weakened with mortality the other oppressed with famine and other defects incident to a long indured siege In this State eighteene weekes were spent and more had beene but that the English were supplied with souldiers out of Picardie whose colours displaied a farre off put the Towne in hope of reliefe as sent from the Daulphin but vpon their neerer approach Melun was rendred by these capitulations 1. That the Towne and Castle should be deliuered to the King 2. That aswell the men of warre as the Burgesses should submit themselues to King Henry to be dealt with as pleased the King 3. That all such as should be found guilty of the Duke of Burgundies murder should suffer death 4. That all the rest of the souldiers should be receiued to mercy but to be prisoners vntill they put in good caution for their true obedience in after times 5. That the Natiues of France should be sent home to their owne Countreys 6. That all the moueables and Armes in the Towne should bee carried into the Castle 7. That all the Prisoners they hadtaken either before or during the siege should be enlarged ransome-free and acquitted of their promises 8. That for the performance of these Articles 12. of the principall Captaines and 6. of the wealthiest Burgesses should deliuer themselues in hostage 9. That all the English and Scots should be deliuered to Henry and left at his disposition These things accorded an English Garrison was put into Melun commanded by Pierre Varrolt Pierre de Burbon Seigneur de Preaux and valiant Barbason with sixe hundred Prisoners of quality were sent with a strong guard vnto Paris The guilties of Burgundies murder were all of them put to death amongst whom were two Monkes and Bertrand de Chartmont a Gascoigne a man in great fauour with King Henry for that he at King Henries entry into Melun had conuaied thence one Amenion de Lau who was proued guilty of Burgundies death The Duke of Burgundy himselfe as also Clarence earnestly labored with King Henry for Bertrands pardon but the King though much grieued and protesting that he had rather haue lost 50000. Nobles yet was resolued he should die for example to all such as should dare to offend vpon presumption of their nearenes and grace with their Princes 61 Melun being rendred and these things thus disposed the two Kings with their Queenes most honorablie attended returned to Paris before whose entrance the Citizens and Students met them in most solemne manner hauing beautified the City with flagges streamers and rich hangings throughout the streetes where they should passe The two Kings rode together vnder a rich Canopie Henry vpon the left hand next vnto whom followed the Dukes of Clarence and Bedford and vpon their left hand the Duke of Burgundy clad all in blacke the Princes and Nobles of either Nation mingled together in their degrees the Clergy with processions and their venerable reiiques going before them to Nostre dame Church and the next day the two Queenes entred the City with as great a shew King Henries Pallace was prepared in the Loure which was most rich and magnificent and Charles his Court in the Hostel of Saint Paul being but homely and meane for saith Millet young Henry commanded all and his brethren exercised supreme authority whiles olde Charles stood as a Cypher and the French Nobilitie had nothing to doe 62 During the two Kings abode here a great Assembly was called as well of the Spiritualty as of the secular Nobilitie in whose presence in the great Hall of the Hostell a State for Iustice was prepared where the two Kings sitting as supreme Iudges vnder one Cloath of estate the Court was furnished with Princes and Officers in most solemne wise Before whom Nicolas Rollin aduocate from the Duke of Burgundy and the Dutchesse his mother craued audience and had it granted vnto an inuectiue and long Oration against Charles Visconte Narbone Tanneguy Barbason and others for the cruell murther of Iohn Duke of Burgundy and not only that the murtherers might be accordingly executed but withall that a Church might be founded and furnished with sacred Ornaments for twelue Channons sixe Chaplaines and sixe Clerkes to pray for his soule for euer euery Chanon to haue yeerely two hundred pound Paris money euery Chaplen one hundred and euery Clerke fifty to be leuied vpon the Lands of the Daulphin and his associates in the murder that the same foundation should be engrauen vpon the Porch thereof and the like inscription set vp publikely in the Cities of Paris Rouen Graunt Diion Saint Iames of Compostella and Ierusalem This motion was seconded by a Doctor of Diuinity appointed by the Rector of the Vniuersity who concluded with an humble request to the King and those Princes that iustice might be done Whereunto the Chancellor of France in the behalfe of King Charles promised that no endeuour on his part should bee lacking and thereupon caused his sonne to be solemnely called to the Marble-Table to answere his accusation by the name of Charles Duke of Touraine and Daulphin de Vienne which done three seuerall times and he not appearing by arrest of the same Court of Parliament he was banished the Realme and iudged vnworthy to succeed in any of the Seignories as well present as to come But the Daulphin appealed from this sentence to God and his sword and still was the same though his fortunes were changeable Mounsieur de Barbason was vehemently accused to haue his hand in the murder and therefore King Henrie accordingly gaue sentence on him to suffer to death but he in open Court defended himselfe not to
bee guilty of the crime although he confessed to be a true seruant to the Daulphin Notwithstanding had he not appealed to the Officers of Armes King Henries iudgement of death had gone against him for the Law Military as he there alleaged forbiddeth that any man hauing his brother in Armes within his danger should afterwards put him to death for any cause or quarrell and proued himselfe to be the Kings brother in Armes for that he had in the Countermine coaped in combat with the King Thus by a quirke of Heraldry acquitted from death he was neuerthelesse retained in prison the space of nine yeeres and lastly at the winning of Castle Galliard from the English was deliuered out of most strait imprisonment to the great ioy of the French 63 This execution of Iustice on those Murtherers was a great but not the only act of K. Henry at this great Parliament of three Estates of France in Paris For therein also was the finall accord betwixt the two Kings openly acknowledged by the French King as made by his free assent and with aduise of all the Councell of France whereupon it was there also ratified by the generall states of France and sworne vnto particularly vpon the holy Euangelists by all their Nobles and Magistrates spirituall and secular who also set their seales to the Instruments thereof which were sent into England to be kept in the Kings Exchecquer at Westminster King Henries glory thus ascended to the highest verticall in France his Court was not only honoured daily both with Courtly and military shewes and pastimes but also was still frequented both with forraine Ambassadors and domesticke Commissioners whose directions depended only vpon his voluntary assigne himselfe redressing all things at his pleasure placing and displacing Officers and Gouernors causing also a new Coyne to be made called a Salute wherein were the Armes of France and the Armes of England and France quarterly stamped King Charles the while in his Palace was but for fashions sake visited and but by some of his olde seruants his Sunne was drawne so neere vnto the setting The great affaires of France thus setled as well as that vnsetled time would permit King Henry minding to Crowne his Queene in England ordained his brother of Clarence a wise valiant and a great Captaine his Lieutenant generall of France leauing also the Duke of Exeter with 500. men of warres to keep Paris and so attended with great state he came to Amiens and Callais where taking to Sea he arriued at Douer vpon the third of February and was receiued of his Subiects as an Angell from heauen or another victorious Caesar on Earth 64 All things in a readines for his faire Queens Coronation vpon the foure and twentith of the same month with all roialty the same was solemnized at Westminster and the English rich diadme set on her head The feast was great with all Princely seruices and the state such as deserueth the report for the Queene sitting at Table at the right side of her Chaire kneeled the Earle of March holding a Scepter in his hand the Earle Marshall kneeling on the left side held another and the Countesse of Kent sate vnder the Table at her right foote vpon her right hand at Table sate the Bishops of Canterbury and Winchester and vpon the left the King of Scots the Dutchesse of Yorke and the Countesse of Huntington the Nobles giuing their attendance each man according to his office and place 65 Presently after Easter in the month of May a Parliament was held at Westminster whose chiefest intent was to haue meanes to continue the Kings Conquest in France but such was the state of those lauish times that to stop the current of this melting mint some minding more the heapes of their money then the spreading abroad of Englands faire Monarchy exhibited their Bils vnto the three estates in Parliament and petitioned vnto the King to commiserate the pouerty of the commons which as they said were beggered by these warres For which cause as it seemeth no subsidy or ayde was demanded but the King againe pawning his Crowne to his vncle Beaufort the rich Cardinall for twenty thousand pound before the said month was expired with foure thousand horse and foure and twenty thousand foote returned into France to follow those warres 66 Neither was his hast more then needed for Iohn Earle of Bucquhanan and Archbald Dowglas two valiant leaders of seuen hundred resolute Scots repaired into France to ayde the Daulphin and ioining with the French in Aniou meant to haue surprized the Duke of Clarence before he had beene aware in which enterprize foure stragling Scots taken and brought to his presence as he sate at dinner reuealed the intent and strength of the Enemy whose approach was verie neere at hand This newes no soo nesty and mercy which shall crowne my memory with glory and free mee from blame and slander which in long raignes can hardly be auoided but you haue iust cause to mourne at my vntimely death and it cannot bee but a generall griefe to my people that in such an Ocean of businesse yet depending I shall leaue you and them destitute of a Prince able to gouern but your sorrow ought to be so much the lesse when you call to mind the frailty of worldly thinges and that euermore there will bee somewhat wanting which wee desire My first request vnto you shall bee this that with an vnanimous affection to aduise foresee and prouide that the counsel which I name may be followed I further ernestly entreat you to loue my Infant Henry to instruct him with your wisdomes that by your counsell care and loue hee may be made able worthy to weild so great an Empire Comfort my deare wife the most afflicted Creature liuing extend your loues vnto her in the same proportion as I haue euer loued you Touching the publike I admonish and exhort you to brotherlie concord and neuer to breake league with Philip Duke of Burgundie and if you shall thinke it good let my brother Humfrey Duke of Glocester gouerne England and not depart vpon any occasion whatsoeuer vntill my sonne Henry be of yeeres to sway the estate and my brother Iohn Duke of Bedford with the assistance of Philip Duke of Burgundy to manage the Realme of France Concerning Charles commonly called the Daulphin either he must by your swords be made to submit himselfe or else you shall neuer be in quiet and it were as good to render him the possession of what you haue wherefore sleepe not and while you haue meanes and opportunity be industrious Lastly I beseech charge and command you howsoeuer time or occasion may perswade or inuite you to the contrary that Normandy receiued by my industry and your swordes being the ancient inheritance of the Crowne of England be not alienated for any cause whatsoeuer Among other things then enioined he willed that the
you haue no need of a Priest yet and therewith laughed vpon him as though hee would say yee shall haue soone But so little wist the other what hee meant and so little mistrusted his present perill as hee neuer was merrier nor neuer so full of good hope in his life which selfe thing is often seene a signe of change but I shall rather let any thing passe me then the vaine surety of mans mind so neere his death Vpon the very Tower-wharfe so neere the place where his head was strooke off soone after there met he with one Hastings a Purseuant of his owne name And of their meeting in that place hee was put in remembrance of another time in which it had happened them before to meet in the like manner together in the same place At which other time the L. Chamberlaine had been accused vnto King Edward by the Lord Riuers the Queenes brother in such wise as hee was for the while but it lasted not long farre fallen into the Kings indignation and stood in great feare of himselfe And forasmuch as hee now mette this Purseuant in the same place that ieopardy so well passed it gaue him great pleasure to talke with him thereof with whom hee had before talked therof in the same place while he was therein And therefore he said ah Hastings art thou remembred that I met thee once here with a heauy heart yea my Lord quoth hee that remember I well and thanked bee God they got no good nor you no great harme Thou wouldest say so quoth he if thou knew so much as I know which few know else as yet and more shall shortly That ment hee by the Lords of the Queenes kindred which were taken before and should that same day bee beheaded at Pomfret which hee well wist but was nothing aware that the axe hung ouer his owne head In faith man quoth he I was neuer so sorry nor neuer stood in so great dread of my life as I did when thou and I met here And loe how the world is changed now stand my enemies in the danger as thou maist hap to heare more hereafter and I neuer in mylife so merry nor neuer in so great surety Oh good God the blindnes of our mortall nature when he most feared he was in good suretie when he reckened himselfe surest he lost his life and that within two houres after Thus ended this honorable man a good Knight and a gentle of great authority with his Prince of liuing somewhat dissolute plaine and open to his enemies and secret to his friends easie to be beguiled as he that of good heart courage forestudied no perils a louing man a passing well beloued very faithful and trusty enough trusting indeed too much Now flew the fame of this Lords death swiftly through the Citie and from thence further like a winde in euery mans eare 47 But the Protector immediately after dinner intending to set some colour vpon the matter sent in all hast for many substantiall men out of the City into the Tower at whose comming thither himselfe with the Duke of Buckingham stood harnessed in olde rusty briganders such as no more man should weene that they would vouchsafe to haue put on their backes except that some suddain neces sity had constrained them thereto And then the Protector shewed them that the Lord Chamberlaine and others of his conspiracy had contriued to haue suddainly destroied him and the Duke there the same day in Counsell And what they intended further was not yet well knowne Of which their treason he neuer had knowledge before ten of the clocke the same forenoone which suddain feare droue them to put on for their defence such harnesse as came next to hand and so had God holpen them that the mischiefe returned vpon them that would haue done it and this he required them to report 48 Euerie man answered him faire as though no man mistrusted the matter which oftruth no man beleeued yet for the further appeasing of the peoples minde he sent immediately after dinner in all haste an Herauld of Armes with a Proclamation to be made through the City in the Kings name conteining that the Lord Hastings with diuers others of his traiterous purpose had before conspired the same day to haue slaine the Lord Protector and Duke of Buckingham sitting in the Councell and after to haue taken vpon them to rule the King and the Realme at their owne pleasures thereby to pill and spoile whom they listed vncontrolled And much matter there was in that Proclamation deuised to the slander of the Lord Chamberlaine as that he was an euill Counseller to the Kings father entising him to many things highly redounding to his great dishonour and to the vniuersall hurt of his Realme by his euill company sinister procuring vngratious example aswell in many other things as in the vicious liuing and inordinate abusion of his body both with many others and especially with Shores wife who was one also of his most secret Counsell in this hainous treason with whom hee lay nightly and namely the night last past before his death so that it was the lesse maruell if vngracious liuing brought him to an vnhappy ending which he was now put vnto by the most dread commandement of the Kings highnesse and of his honorable and faithfull Counsell both for his demerits being so openly taken in his falsely conceiued treason as also least the delaying of his execution might haue encouraged other mischieuous persons partners of his conspiracy to gather and assemble themselues together in making some great commotion for his deliuerance whose hope being now by his wel-deserued death politickely repressed all the Realme should by Gods grace rest in good quiet and peace 49 Now was this Proclamation made within two houres after that he was beheaded and was so curiously indited and so faire written in parchment in so well a set hand and therewith of it selfe so long a processe as euery child might perceiue that it was prepared before For all the time between his death and the proclaiming could scant haue suffised vnto the bare writing alone had it beene but in paper and scribled forth in hast at aduenture So that vpon the proclaiming thereof one that was Schoole-master of Paules of chance standing by and comparing the shortnes of the time with the length of the matter said vnto them that stood about him Here is a gay goodly cast foule cast away for hast and a Merchant answered him that it was written by Prophecie Now then by and by as it were for anger not for couetousnesse the Protector sent the Sheriffes of London into the house of Shores wife for her husband dwelled not with her and spoiled her of all that shee had aboue the value of three thousand markes carrying her through London vnto the Tower and there left her Prisoner where for fashion sake he laid
he forth with sent one Iohn Greene a seruant in especiall trust vnto Sir Robert Brakenbury Constable of the Tower with a letter of credence that the same Sir Robert should in any wise put the two children to death 16 This Greene thus posted to London deliuered his errand vnto Brakenbury whom hee found kneeling at his Orizons before the Image of our Lady in the Tower the businesse being of such weight as the King must bee serued before hee had ended with his Saint The Constable reading the letter and perceiuing the bloudy intent of the King answered plainly he wold neuer put those innocent babes vnto death to die therefore himselfe With which answere Iohn Greene returning recounted the same to King Richard being at Warwicke yet in his way to Glocester wherewith he was maruellously perplexed and thereat tooke such displeasure that the same night hee said to a secret Page of his Ah whom shall a man trust those that I haue brought vp my selfe those that I had weened would most surely serue me euen those faile me and at my commandement will do nothing Sir quoth the Page there lyeth one on your Pallet without that I dare well say to doe your Grace pleasure the thing were right hard that hee would refuse meaning this by Sir Iames Tirrell who was a man of a goodly personage and for Natures gifts worthy to haue serued a much better Prince if he had well serued God and by grace obtained as much truth and good will as hee had strength and wit 17 The man had an high heart and sore longed vpward not rising yet so fast as hee hoped being hindred and kept vnder by the meanes of Sir Richard Ratcliffe and Sir William Catesby who longing for no more partners of the Princes fauour and namely not for him whose pride they knew would beare no Peere kept him by secret drifts out of all secret trust which thing this Page had well marked and knowne wherefore this occasion offered of very speciall friendshippe hee tooke his time to put him forward and by such wise to doe him good that all the enemies he had except the Diuell himselfe could neuer haue done him so much hurt For vpon this Pages words K. Richard arose for thiscommunication had hee sitting at the draught a conuenient Corpet for such a Counsell and came out into a Pallet-Chamber where hee found in bed Sir Iames and Sir Thomas Tirrels of persons much like and brethren in bloud but nothing of kin in conditions Then said the King merrily to them what Sirs bee ye in bed so soone and calling vp Sir Iames brake to him secretly his mind in this mischieuous matter in which hee found him nothing strange Wherefore on the morrow hee sent him to Brakenbury with a letter by which hee was commanded to deliuer Sir Iames all the keyes of the Tower for one night to the end hee might accomplish there the Kings pleasure in such things as hee had giuen him in commandement After which letter deliuered and the keyes receiued Sir Iames appointed the night next ensuing to destroy them deuising before and preparing the meanes 18 The Prince in the Tower slenderly attended and altogether neglected by the Nobility lastly had newes that his vncle had left the name of Protector and taken vpon him the Title of King who with full consent of the Lords was to be crowned within a few daies following with the same Crowne and in the like estate as had beene prouided for his solemnity whereat the deiected Innocent sighed and said Alasse I would my vncle would let mee enioy my life yet though I loose both my Kingdome and Crowne Which words hee pronounced with such a feeling feare as much moued the Relater to pitty and to perswade him with the best comforts hee could but forthwith the Prince and his brother were both shut vp and all attendants remoued from them onely one called Black-will or William Slaughter excepted who was set to serue them and see them sure After which time the Prince neuer tied his points nor cared for himselfe but with that young Babe his brother lingered with thought and heauines till their traiterous deaths deliuered them out of that wretchednesse for the execution whereof Tirrell appointed Miles Forrest one of the foure that kept them a fellow fleshed in murther before time To whom hee ioined one Iohn Dighton his horsekeeper a bigge broad square knaue 19 About midnight al others being remoued from them this Miles Forrest and Iohn Dighton came into the Chamber and suddenly wrapped vp the seely children in the Bed-clothes where they lay keeping by force the feather-bed and pillowes hard vpon their mouthes that they were therein smothered to death gaue vp to God their innocent soules into the ioies of heauen leauing their bodies vnto the Tormentors dead in the bed which after these monstrous wretches perceiued first by the strugling with the paines of death and after long lying still to be thorowly dispatched they laid their bodies naked out vpon the bed and then fetched Sir Iames their instigator to see them who caused these murtherers to bury them at the staires foot somewhat deepe in the ground vnder a great heape of stones Then rode Sir Iames in haste to the King vnto whom he shewed the maner of their death and place of buriall which newes was so welcome to his wicked heart as he greatly reioiced and with great thankes dubbed as some hold this his merciles Instrument knight But the place of their buriall hee liked not saying that vile corner should not containe the bodies of those Princes his Nephewes commanded them a better place for burial because they were the sons of a King Whereupon the Priest of the Tower tooke vp the bodies and secretly interred them in such place which by the occasion of his death could neuer since come to light 20 The continuer of Iohn Harding tels vs from the report of others that King Richard caused Sir Robert Brakenburies Priest to close their dead corps in lead and so to put them in a coffin full of holes and hooked at the ends with two hookes of iron and so to cast them into a place called the Blacke-deepes at the Thames mouth whereby they should neuer rise vp or be any more seene Wheresoeuer they were buried thus they died and by these murtherers For very certaine it is and wel knowne that at such time as Sir Iames Tirrell was in the Tower for Treason committed against King Henrie the seuenth both Dighton and hee were examined and confessed the murther in manner as is said but whether their bodies were remoued they could not say And thus as I haue learned of them that knew much and little cause had to lie were these two noble Princes these innocent tender children borne of most roial blood brought vp in great wealth likely to haue liued
Sauage bearing her Traine * and Doctor Lee doing the rites of their coniunction who was afterwards consecrated Bishop of Chester Couentree and Lichfield and President of Wales 83 The Romanists much fearing that Babel would downe if Queene Anne might bee heard against wicked Haman sought to vnderproppethe foundations thereof with certaine deuises of their owne and that the same might passe without note of suspition they laid their forgery euen vpon Heauen it selfe whose pretended Oracle Elizabeth Barton commonly called the holy maide of Kent was made to bee and the pillers of this godlesse Fabricke were Edward Bocking a Moncke by profession and doctor of Diuinity Richard Masters Parson of Aldington the Town wherein she dwelt Richard Deering a Monke Hugh Rich a Frier Iohn Adestone and Thomas Abell Priests put to their helping handes and Henrie Gould Bachelour of Diuinity with Iohn Fisher the Reuerend father of Rochester imploied their paines to daube these downe-falling walles with their vntempered Morter The Scribes that set their pens for her Miracles were Edward Thwaites Gentleman and Thomas Lawrence Register besides Hankherst a Monke who writte a letter that was forged to bee sent her from Heauen and Richard Risby and Thomas Gould were the men which dispersed her Miracles abroad to the world This holy maide Elizabeth made a Votarisse in Canterbury was taught by Bocking her Ghostly Father and suspected Paramour to counterfeit many fayned trances and in the same to vtter many vertuous words for the rebuke of sinne vnder which more freely shee was heard against Luthers Doctrine and the Scriptures translation then desired of many neither so onely but that shee gaue foorth from God and his Saints by sundry suggestiue Reuelations that if the King proceeded in his diuorce and second marriage he should not raigne in his Realme one moneth after nor rest in Gods fauour the space of an houre But the truth discouered by Gods true Ministers this Oracle gaue place as all other such did when Christ by his death stopped their lying mouthes for her selfe and seuen of her Disciples were executed for Treason at Tiborne and the other sixe put to their fines and imprisonment With the like counterfeit reuelations and fained predictions this Generation of Hypocrites had brought Edward Lord Stafford Duke of Buckingham vnto his vnhappy ende when as by the working of Iohn de la Court his own Confessor together with Nicolas Hopkins a Monke of the Carthusian Order in the Priorie of Henton in Somersetshire who by his visions from heauen forsooth heartned him for the Crown but before his owne Coronet could aspire to that toppe hee worthily lost both head and all vpon Tower-hill for his treason Ann. Dom. 1521. Vnto such sinnes the world was then subiect and into such conceites their reputed holines had brought them not onely among the simple and vnlettered but euen with them that seemed to bee learned indeed for by certaine predictions foreshewing a great deluge Prior Bolton of Saint Bartholmewes in London was so fearefull that hee built him a house vpon the height of Harrow hill storing it with prouisions necessary to keepe himselfe from drowning in A. D. 1524. 84 But the Popes Holinesse fearing the euent of the game if euery man might set and cast at his Crowne thought it high time to lay hand on his own State and to keepe what was left lestal would bee gone to which end he sollicited many Christian Princes to stand on his part and among them sent his Brief vnto Iames the fift king of Scotland desiring his assistance against King Henry of England whom in his Consistory hee had pronounced to bee an Heretike a Schismatike a manifest Adulterer a publike murtherer a committer of Sacrilege a Rebell and conuict of Laesae Maiestatis for that hee had risen against him who was his Lord. And therefore he had iustly depriued him of his said Kingdom and would dispose the same to him and other Princes so as they would assist to recouer the same a very good prouision and very well foreseene for notwithstanding these boisterous blasts from Rome the King kept his Crowne and was rather feared of the Popes best Abetters then did feare any potent power that the world could afford whose thoughts were now busied for the Coronation of his Queen 85 For Queene Anne conceiued and perceiued with Child her royall Coronation was forthwith prepared which with all royall obseruances vpon the first of Iune being Whitsunday was performed and the seuenth of September following shee bare into the world that excellent Princesse which afterwardes proued the mirrour of the world euen Lady ELIZABETH our late and most famous Queene 86 True it is that the zealous conuersation of this godly Queene gaue great encouragements vnto many more publikely with boldnes to professe the Gospell so that the Ministers formerly fled in case of Religion returned againe into England where the new Testament translated by Tyndall was read but with such dislikes to the Bishoppes that they got it to be burnt Notwithstanding to tickle the Kings eare they preached against the Popes supremacy and tooke the oath for the King themselues abolished his authority by Act of Parliament and suppressed many Monasteries leauing their reuenewes to the Kings will faire introductions indeed for what they intended as the sequell of the sixe Articles by them procured doth manifestly shew and those purposely made against the maintainers of the Gospell whereof Queen Anne was the chiefe who first was most fauourable to those learned Diuines that laide mans saluation vpon the Rocke Christ next in procuring a tolleration from the king for them whose doctrine did daily vndermine the Papall foundation lastly she by no means would consent to marry the King vntill a lawfull diuorce was had for his separation from Lady Katherine his brother Arthurs wife which thing this Pope greatly withstood these were causes sufficient to moue his Holinesse to bend his brow and by his Instruments in Court to cutte off the principal mouer who foreslowing no time tooke the Ball before his rebound 87 For the Queene deliuered of a dead Child and the Kings affection wandring elsewhere gaue them occasion to worke on that Subiect which God in his wisdome would haue downe lest his deliuerance from the bondage of darkenesse should be attributed to any fleshly arme or that shee who then sate in the throne of the worlds full felicity should fixe her senses on so fickle a Center who hauing had experience what it was to bee a Prince must henceforth practise the patience of a poore prisoner which in the third yeere of her marriage and second of May to act the wofull Scene of her Tragedy shee came vpon the Stage being sent to the Tower of London and charged with high Treason against the King at whose first entrance shee fell on her knees before
treason and fellony and the same vrged vnto extremity with many amplifications and bitter inuectiues especially that hee had sought and pretended the deathes of the Duke of Northumberland the Lord Marquesse and Pembroke where after many mild answeres to these matters obiected he put himselfe to be tried by his Peeres who acquitted him of treason but found the inditement of felloniâ—… when presently the Aâ—… was commaunded away whereat the shout of the people shewed the great affection that was boâ—…e to the Duke little mistrusting that the sentence of death was pâ—…ounced against him or that the kiâ—… vncle should die as a fellon neither did Staâ—… intend any such thing as some are of opinion but rather was purposely made for the suppression of â—…bellions and vnlawfull 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 herein such as should seeke or procure the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Câ—…sellor should be guilty as in case of felloniâ—… But such was the pleasure of the all ordering power 〈◊〉 he which knew no theft should die for that sinne so that neither himselfe nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 demaunded the benefite of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 would haue saued his life if it had beene required 69 His sentence thus pronounced hee was againe sent backe to the Tower wherein he kept a very sad Christmas yea and that in the Court inclined to little mirth the King lamenting the condemnation of his vncle had not some witty disportes broke off his passions which how and by whome they proceeded let others report and vs continue the Tragedie of this Duke who vpon the two twenty of February following being Friday was brought to the Scaffold vpon Tower-hil by eight in the morning where turning himselfe towardes the East he spake to the people as followeth 70 Dearely beloued friends I am brought hither to suffer death albeit I neuer offended against the King neither in word nor deed and haue alwayes been as faithfull and true vnto this Realme as any man hath been but for somuch as I am by law condemned to die I doe acknowledge my selfe as well as others to be subiect thereunto wherefore to testifie mine obedience which I owe to the lawes I am come hither to suffer death where unto I willingly offer my selfe with most hearty thanks vnto God that hath giuen me this time of repentance who might through sodaine death haue taken away my life that I neither should haue acknowledged him nor my selfe 71 These words vttered besides others exhortatory that the people would continue constant in the Gospell sodainly was heard a great noyse wherby the assembly was strucke into great feare some thinking that a storme or tempest descended from aboue some supposed that the barrels of Gunpowder in the Armorie had taken fire were all blowne vp into the Aire others thought that they heard a noise of horses prepared to battell some againe affirmed confidently that it did thunder and others thought verily it was an earth-quake and that the ground moued vnto such confusion and terrour were they presently brought which saith Stow was none other but that certaine men from the Hamlets warned with weapon to guard the Tower-hill came thither somewhat after the hower appointed whose formost seeing the Prisoner on the Scaffold beganne to runne forward themselues and call to their fellowes to come away which word away sounding as an Eccho in the peoples eares they thought that rescue had come to the Duke to take him away and seeing the Bil-men to make forward so fast beganne themselues to shrinke backe from the hill euery man seeking to saue one and by this accident and confused cries this feare among them fell and beganne This stirre scarce ended another ensued by the running of the people towards the Scaffold who seeing Sir Anthony Browne riding thitherward supposed a pardon had come from the King so that a sodaine shout arose apardon apardon God fane the King by which it onely appeared in what loue hee was had and how much his life was desired of the Commons 72 The Duke whose mind being altogether prepared for death was little moued either to hope or feare and thereupon addressed his second speech to the people and with no deiected countenance spake againe and said Beloued friends there is no such matter intended as you vainely hope and belieue It seemeth thus good to the Almighty vnto whose ordinance it is meet that wee all bee obedient wherefore I pray you bee quiet and without tumult for I am quiet and let vs so ioyne in prayer vnto the Lord for the preseruation of our Noble King vnto whose Maiesty I wish câ—…uall health with all felicitie and abundance of prosperous successe Moreouer I wish to his Counsellers the grace and fauour of God whereby they may rule all things vprightly with Iustice vnto whom I exhort you all in the Lord to shew your selues obedient the which is also very necessarie for you vnder paine of condemnation and also most profitable for the preseruation of the Kings Maiesty And thereupon asking euery man forgiuenesse freely forgaue euery man against him and desiring the people to bee quiet lest the flesh should be troubled though his spirit was willing hee meekely laide downe his head to the Axe and receiued at one stroke his rest by death 73 Howsoeuer this Dukes cause was ballanced by law and him taken away that stood betwixt some and their Sunne yet was his death heauily disgested by the people that spake very bitterly against the Duke of Northumberland but most especially the young King sore mourned and soone missed the life of his Protector thus vnexpectedly taken away who now depriued of both his vncles howsoeuer the times were passed with pastimes playes and shewes to driue away dumpes yet euer the remembrances of them sate so neere vnto his heart that lastly he fell sicke of a Cough which grieuously increasing ended with a consumption of the lungs 74 His sicknesse continuing with great doubt of his life vpon purpose saith Grafton to alter the succession of the Crowne three marriages were in one day solemnized whereof the first was betwixt the Lord Guilford Dudley fourth sonne to the Duke of Northumberland and the Lady Iane eldest daughter of Henry Duke of Suffolke the second was betwixt the Lord Herbert sonne and heire to William Earle of Pembroke and the Lady Katherine the yonger daughter of the said Duke of Suffolke and the third was betweene Hanry L. Hastings sonne and heire of Frances Earle of Hantington and Katherine the youngest daughter of the Duke of Northumberland which tending saith he to the diâ—…erison of the rightfull heires they proued nothing prosperous for two of them were presently made frustrate the one by death and the other by diuorce 75 The policy established and languishing sicknesse of the King gaue way vnto such as sought the euersion of the State alienation of the Crown In whose eye no head was scene fitter for that faire Diademe
lib. 49. Octauians preparation for Britaine Dio. Cass. lib. 53. The Britains appease Octauian Strabo lib. 4. Augustus third preparation against Britanny The Britaines excuses Customes first paid in Britaine The Britaines loyaltie Cunobeline prince of the Trinobantes Malden The first stamped Coines in Britaine Caesar. Com. lib. 5. A generall peace thorow all the world Mâ—…cah 5. 2. Isay 9. 6. Gen. 3. 5. Isav 7. 14. Gal. 4. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 building of 〈◊〉 Temple Ioh. 3. 19. Luk. 2. 14. Paulus O 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Temple is shut â—â—rg Aeneid li. â—… The fruits of a true peace Lactan. li. 4 ca. 〈◊〉 Dâ—…ples 〈◊〉 c. 32. Eclog. 4. Saâ—…urne whom Virgil nameth was esteemed the father of the Gods 1 Magnum Ioâ—… is incrementum c. 2 Mâ—…tri longâ—… decem c 3 Nec Deus bâ—…c â—…ensa c. 4 Assyriuâ—… vulgâ—…â—…scetur c. 5 Cui non risere parentes c. 6 Pacaâ—… 〈◊〉 reget patriâ—… c. 7 Soluet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 8 Si qua 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 9 Fallâ—… herba veneni c. 10 Occidet serpenâ—… c. Sueton. in vit August Sect. 94. Dâ—…ples veritat Christi 32. sol 518. Niceph li. 1. ca. 17. Iuuenal Saâ—…yr 3. Zephan 2. 11. Our Sauiour Christ borne in the fourteenth yeere of Cunobeline Luk. 2. Dan. 2. Augustus described His raigne Tacit. Annal. li. 5. cap. 〈◊〉 His deuotion to Christ. Niceph. li. 1. ca. 17. Suidâ—… His endowments of bodie Sueton in vitae Augustâ—… The moneths of Iuly and Augst Tiberois Nero his parents Sueton. in vit Tiber. His actions and conditions Tacit. Annal. li. 1. cap. 〈◊〉 Tacit. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cap. 3. His plotting against his Nobles Tacit. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cap. 7. Tacit. Annal. li. 〈◊〉 cap. 7. 〈◊〉 his hypocrisie His libidinous â—…esse Tacit. Annal. li. 6. cap. 1. His 〈◊〉 * A wine-â—… Carelesse in gouernment The prouinces vâ—…defended Britaine without forraine garrison or gouernment Tacit. Annal. li. 2. cap. 5. Ieffrey Monm Our Sauiour Christs death Tertâ—…l in Apolog. adâ—…s geâ—…es c. 5. Eusâ—…b â—…ccles hist. li. 2. ca. 2. Tiberius hiâ—… raigne age and death Tacit. Annal. li. 〈◊〉 cap. 7. 2. Chr. 21. 20. Tacit. lib. 〈◊〉 ca. 12. Tacit. in vitae Agric. Casigula intendeth to inuade Britaine Dion Cass. lib. 59. Sueton. in vita Caligula Adminius banished flieth to Caesar. Caligula his vaine ambition His deluding of the Senate His warring with the Sea Caligula his great victorie Ortâ—…lius Geograp His ambition Affrighted in his sleepe Pontius Pilate banished killeth himselfe Euseb. lib. 2. cap. 7. Ioseph Antiq. lib. 19. cap. 1. Caligula slaine His personage Sabe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7. lib. 2. Dion lib. 60. His hatred after death Claudius Drusus chosen by the Pretorian Souldiers Ioseph Antiquit. l. 19. cap. 3. Claudius his Parentage The Britaines detaine their Tribute Dion Cass lib. 60. Anno Domi. 45. Aulus Plautius sent against the Britaines His Souldiers vnwilling Dio. lib. 60. Incouraged by a signe from heauen Tacitus in vit Agric C. Sidius Geta his valour The Britaines retire to places of aduantage Togodumnus slaine Claudius the Emperour commeth into Britain with a great Army Dion Cassius lib. 60. Elephants first brought into Britaine Claudius entreth Britaine He surpriseth Camulodunum His clemencie maketh him to be honoured for a God Claudius returneth to Rome entreth in Triumph Sueton. in vita Claud. Sect. 17. His manner of encamping His animating of his souldiers His resolution Ostorius his care The Britaines put to flight Caractacus wife daughter and brethren taken prisoners Himselfe betraied by Cartismandus Hee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tacit. Annal. 12 cap. 8. Caractacus led in triumph His habit and attire Ex histor magn Britan. His vndauntednesse His Oration to Claudius Caesar. Euents of warre variable Britaines wall Ambition hath no bounds Nature disdaineth seruitude Tocit Annal. li. 12. cap. 8. Ostorius and his fortunes decline The Britaines take heart again Their victory Caesars threats make the Britains more resolute Ostorius dieth Aulus Didius sent Lieutenant into Britaine Tacit. Annal. 12. c. 8. Manlius Valens encountred the Britaines with ill successe Didius for a while keepeth them in awe Tacit. Annal. 12. 〈◊〉 Claudius his own words the occasion of his death * Messalina was his first wife a woman of vnsatiable lecherie who was put to death Tacit. Annal. lib. 12. cap. 13. Ioseph Anti. lib. 20. ca. 5. The continuance of his raigne ANNO DO 56. His indowments of bodie His imperfections Wiues and seruants most misleade great personages Nero assumeth the Empire His parents Suetonius in vita Neronis His excessiue lust and bloodshed Suetonius in vita Neronis Tacit. Annal. 16. cap. 3. Rome set on fire by Nero. Suet. in vita Nero. Tacit. Annal. 15. cap. 10. Christians in Neroes Court. Peter and Paul put to death Euseb. li. 2. ca. 25. Tertul. Apol. ca. 5. A great ouerthrow of the Romans Tacit. Annal. 15. cap. 2. Tacitus in vita Agric. Suet. in vit Nero. Anglesey inuaded Romanes amazed at sight of the British The Receiuer of tribute his oppression Diâ—…n Cass. lib. 62. Tacit. Anâ—…al 14. cap. 10. * 〈◊〉 * Vâ—…dica Prasutagus his Testament Tacit. in vit Agric. pag. 190. Prodigies daily seene Dio. lib. 62. Other Prouinces shake off the yoke In the battaile against Quintilius Varius Tac. in vit Agric. Their Resolution Queene Boudicâ—… chosen Leader She surpriseth the Romanes She putteth Petilius Cerealis to flight She forceth Catus to flie into Gallia She sackâ—…th Verolanium Seuentie thousand slaine by her Army 〈◊〉 in vit Nero sect 39. Diâ—… Câ—…ss lib. 6â—… London long since renowned Boudicea surueiâ—… her troopes Her attire Her Oration to her Armie Tacit. Annal. li. 11. The custome of this and other Monarchies to be gouerned by women Iustin. lib. 1. Semiramis Nitocris Tomyris Iustin. lib. 1. Cleopatra Messalina and Agrippina Shee disclaimeth all superioritie Reioiceth in her innocencie The indignities offred by the Romans Dion Cass. lib. 62. Tacit. Annal. lib. 14. cap. 11. Caesar. Com. lib. 5. Britannith vipers Tacitus in vita Agric. Domesticke conspirators most dangerous Caesar. Com. li. 2. Motiues inciting to pursue the Romans Her deuice at concluding her speech The Britaines vanquished Eightie thousand Britaines slaine Boudicea poisoneth her selfe Tacit. Annal. lib. 14. cap. 11. Paenius slew himselfe Tacitus hist. lib. 2. cap. 4. The Britaines miseries Iulius Classicianus a receiuer Promiseth Clemencie Tranquillus in vit Nero. Sect. 40. Polycletus sent to reconcile Classicianus and Suetonius Liberti or Freemen were such as being first bond slaues by their seruice obtained freedome and many of them about the Emperor came to be of great sway Suetonius deliuereth vp his charge Petronius his disposition Petronius Turpilianus giueth vp his charge to Trebell Max. Petronius Turpilianus slaine because true to Nero Iulius Vindex opposeth Nero. Tacit. histor in vit Nero. Proclaimeth Galba Emperour Nero seeketh to fly into Eegypt The Senate send to apprehend him Nero hidâ—…th himselfe He killeth himselfe
Marmodius a Welsh King Offaes ditch Chron. Wallis Marmodius treachery The Britainâ—… accessary to it Saxons assistance Offaâ—… ple 〈◊〉 Marmodius vanquished by Offa. The Ligger of 〈◊〉 M. S. King Charles congratulateth Offa. Ro. Houed â—…nal part 1. The second Councell of Nice * Alcuinm Offaâ—… last wars Offa went to Rome His repentance Off-ley Towne I 〈◊〉 S Alâ—…s M. S. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the life of S. Albane prefixed before the Ledger booke of that Abbey Offa affectioned to Quendâ—…d Quendâ—…d her trechery Quendred rewarded with the like paines Egfrid the only son of Offa. Ethelburga the first daughter Cap. 7. Sect. 16. Polycbr â—…sted the second daughter Elfrid the third daughter Iohn Capgraue Burghard Egfrid Monarch 17. An. Do. 794. Egfrid restoreth antike priuiledger Flâ—… Albinus The continuance of his raigne Monarch 1â—… Kenwolfe An. Do. 794. Keâ—…olfes praise Wil. Malâ—…b Winchcombe Monâ—…ry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elfridâ—… 〈◊〉 vnâ—… Kenâ—… dâ—…th Chap. 10. â—…ct 14. Quâ—…dred thâ—… eldâ—…st dâ—…ughter of Kâ—…wolfe Burgâ—…ild 〈◊〉 younger daugâ—…ter Monarch 19. Egbert An. Do. 800. The seuen fold gouernment mutable west-Saxons ambition Egberts exigents and reliefes Simon Dâ—…el saith 80â—… Mat. Westminstâ—… saith 801. Iohn Bâ—… Chap. 12. Chap. 10. sect 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Egbert the first sole Monarch An. Do. 819. Floren. â—…igorn Simon Dâ—…n Henry Hunting Mat. Wâ—…st 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sonâ—…e Eâ—…an yonger sonne 〈◊〉 a daughter Monarch 20 Ethelwolfe An. Do. 837. Roger Houeden Iohn Brampton Henry Hunting Mat. Westminster Wil. Malmsb. Simon Dunelm Henry Hunt An. Dom. 838. Henry 〈◊〉 Arâ—…â—…iual Siâ—…on Dun. See Chap. 10. Sect. 20. Wil. Malâ—…sbury Simon Dun. Wil. Malâ—…s Ethelwolfes time of raigning Osburgs parents Iudith a second wife 〈◊〉 the first Sonne Ethelbert the second sonne Ethelred a third sonne Elfred a fourth sonne 〈◊〉 a daughter Neâ—… a supposâ—…d 〈◊〉 S. Needâ—…s Towne Monarch 21. Ethelbald An. Do. 857. Floroâ—… Wigoâ—… His wars against the Danes â—…l 〈◊〉 The time of his raigning 1. Cor. 5. 1. Monarch 22 Ethelbert An. Do. 860. Hen. â—…unting The Kentishmen compound for their peace Ethelberts tiâ—… of raigning Athelm the eldest sonne Ethelâ—…ld the second sonne Heâ—…y Hâ—…ing Monarch 23. Ethelred An. Do. 866. Hunger and Hubba The Danes march Northward Ingâ—…s An. Do. 870. Flâ—…es Histor. Assendon battaile Scala Chronicon Basing battaile 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scala Chrâ—…n Marian. Scot. Elfred the eldest sonne The Abbesse of Quedlingburg Oswald a yonger sonne Thyre a daughter Monarch 24. Elfred An. Do. 872. Marianus Florentius Asser. Speculum hist. Ricardus Cirencestrencis Mat. West Polychro lib. 6. c. 〈◊〉 An. Dom. 875. Elfreds composition Three Kings against Elfred An. Do. 876. Abington Seuen battailes in one yeare An. Do. 876. Simon Dunel Elfreds exigents Edelingsey Iland Asser. Sâ—… Histâ—… Ric. Cirâ—… Polydor. Virg. 〈◊〉 Hâ—…y Hunt An. Do. 878 An. Do. 879 Asser. 〈◊〉 Danes send for peace Slâ—… Dâ—…lm 〈◊〉 Lambere in his booke of the old English lawes An. Do. 879 Marâ—… An. Do. 889. Asserius Flo. Wigorn. Wil. Malmsbury An. Do. 892. Siâ—… Dun. Fernham battaile * Beaâ—…fles Hastings wife and children set at liberty Excester and Chester besieged An. Do. 895. Florâ—… Wigorn. Marian. Scotus * Ware The riuer Lea deuided and â—…ade vnnauigable Henry Hâ—…ting An. Do. 897. Seal Chr. Regist. Hyde Tho. Rudburne Reg. Hig. Asserim Men. wil. Malmsbury Elfreds good studies Alfredâ—… Riâ—…essit 〈◊〉 in Apologia Oxen. Aserius Grimbald Iohn Scot. Annales of Winton Monast. Malâ—…s de Reg. l. 2. 〈◊〉 4. Wigornensis Th. Rudburne Elswith Malcolme King of Scots Edward the eldest sonne Ethelward the second sonne Rudburne Annales 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elfleda the eldest daughter Ethelgeda the second daughter Elfride the yoâ—…gest daughter Edward Monarch 24. An. Do. 901. Speculum hist. 〈◊〉 Ciren Iohn Stow. Ethealwld his minority Winborne taken by him Henry 〈◊〉 Ran. Higd. S. Edmunds ditch An. Do. 905. Ioannes Leo Aphâ—…r in Descripâ—… Aâ—…ric lib. 3. The Danes breake truce with the English An. Do. 910. Simon Dunelm Two Danish Kings slaine Wal. Mapaeus Leolin his homage to King Edward His admiration of King Edwards mildnes Hen. Hunting An. Do. 912. Elfleda dislike of wedlocke She winneth Brecâ—…k Darby Many towns planted by her Polydor. Edrick his doings The time of King Edwards raigne His death and buriall Eguina Prince Edward marrieth Sgâ—…inae Elfleda Stephen the sixt Bishop of Rome Edgina Two Kings her sonnes Ethelstan the first sonne Wil. Malmsb. Elfred the second sonne Crowned King in his fathers time Editha the first daughter Mat. Westminster Poâ—…dor Tamworth Castell Elsward the third sonne Buried at Winchester Edwine the fourth sonne Wil. Malms Iames Maier in his Annals of Flanders Elfleda the second daughter Râ—…msey Monastery Eguina the third daughter Her marriage with Herbert disliked Ethelhild the fourth daughter Edhild the fifth daughter Edgith the sixth daughter Elgiua the seuenth daughter Married to a Duke of Italy Edmund the fifth sonne Three yeere old at his fathers death Edred the sixt sonne A good Prince Edburg the eight daughter Ran. Higd. polic lib. 6. cap. 4. 〈◊〉 the ninth daughter Aquitaine belonging to 〈◊〉 Monarch 26 Ethelstan An. Do. 924. Crowned at Kingston vpon Thamesis Wil. Malmsb. Pope Iohn the tenth Parasites Edwins death The occasion of the founding of Midleton and Michelnesse Monasteries His Cup-bearer put to death Sithrick Wil. Malmsbury A law against Fellons Godfrey and Anlasse the sonnes of Sithrick * Ludwall saith Malmsbury An. Do. 937. Mat. West Rand. Higd. King Constantine assisteth Godfrey Wil. Malmsb. Simon Dun. Ran. Higden Anlafe King of Ireland Hector Boetius Anlafe his policy Anlafe his souldiers fidelity Wil. Malmsbury Fiue Kings and twelue Dukes slaine Polier lib. 6. cap 〈◊〉 Dunbaâ—… Castle Beuerley The Princes of Wales tribute Corn. Wal. Wil. Malmsbury Ran. Higd. in Polier lib 6. cap. 6. The King of France his Presents to King Elâ—…elstan Constaâ—… sword with 〈◊〉 naile of the Crosse sent into England Holinshed S. Swithens Abbey King Athelstans beneficence Iohn Stow. Ceolnothus coine An. â—…31 〈◊〉 vertues The tiâ—… of his raigne Iohn Rouse Papulwick Monarch 27 Edmund An. Do. 940. Siâ—… 〈◊〉 Wil. Mâ—… An. Do. 942. Mat. Westminster Wil. Malms An. Do. 944. Simon Dun. King Dunmaile Wil. Lambert Marianus Wil. Malms Elfgine Edwâ—… Edgar Edred Monarch 28 An. Do. 946. Polier lib. 6. cap. 〈◊〉 Edred Malcolme Anlafe commeth into Northumb. Wil. Malâ—… Râ—…nd Higd. Sâ—… Dun. Wolstan Wil. Malms 〈◊〉 Elfred Bertfrid Monarch 29. Edwy An. Do. 955. Edwyes 〈◊〉 M. Fox Acts and Monuments Wil. Malmsb. Iud. 1. 11. Abbot Dunstan Iohn 〈◊〉 Monarch 3â—… Edgar An. Do. 959. 〈◊〉 Ran. Higâ—… Wâ—… Mâ—… Saxon 〈◊〉 Edgar the Peaceable Polâ—…er lib. 6. cap. 9 Wil. Malmsbury cap. 38. Sect. 〈◊〉 Cron. Wald. Marianus Alred 〈◊〉 Ran. 〈◊〉 Edgars honest vigilancy Edgars league with diuers Kings Gal. 6. 14. Polychron Monastery bulk by King Edgar Ex chart Reg. M Fox in his Acts and Monuments Râ—… Higden Wil. Malmsbury Mathew Paris Mat. 〈◊〉 Policr lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 9 Osbern in vitâ—… Dunstan Nicholas Trinet Ioan. Paris